Queen's Edge Farm: Happy New Year!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Happy New Year!

The New Year's Eve get together was wonderful, even Rodney enjoyed it. My mom arrived early, about 2 p.m., and we headed out to the land to get everything set up and ready. Rodney came out later with picnic tables, and got the bonfire going. We had people coming and going throughout the evening. I had lit a fire in the wood stove in the cabin, and the women hung around in there for a while before we headed out to the bonfire. I tried to rest as much as possible.

After everyone left, around 1 a.m., we (me, Rodney and kids) stayed the night at the cabin. We were up about 9 a.m. I made pancakes and cocoa for breakfast, and Rodney started working on cleaning up trash, fixing the coop, and a variety of other things. Primarily I rested in the cabin on the bed reading, and we didn't end up leaving until dark.

I had a friend visit from Kentucky. I hadn't seen her in two years, so it was wonderful to see her and to show her around the land, which she had never seen, since we have only had it for one year. I had different plans and goals when I first met her a couple of years ago. I am now in the process of shifting those goals over to the new land, but it is taking awhile to adjust them, and work out any kinks, especially being 9 months pregnant. I have a distinct lack of motivation to plant a winter garden, or get involved in any project in depth. My main goal being to get the container moved closer to the septic tank, so that Rodney can install the toilet and shower.

The weather here was hot yesterday, about 84. I thought the weather would be the same today, but it is over cast, drizzly and chilly. Taylor went to church with us, and we ate at the Acadiana Cafe afterwards, then headed home. I changed clothes, then we went out to the land to feed the animals, before the weather became darker and colder.

Hannah, and maybe Lauren, will be spending the night at Bonita's tonight. I have a dr. appt in the morning. Taylor asked to go with me, so we'll see.

I'd like to get the dishes done today, as that is my main worry right now.

Oh! our new breeding doe, Jessica Rabbit, had babies on January 1st. We have 10 little black baby bunnies squirming in her cage at the land. Rodney was able to get the barn cleaned out, and the cage rack set up in the barn, with the cages lined up. This is a better set up, as the rabbit poop can now fall down out of the cages onto the ground below, and then we can just rake it up, and put it in the garden or the compost pile. They are also better sheltered from drafts, heat and moisture.

One Cuckoo Maran hen has started laying, as well as, either a Buff Orpington or a Rhode Island Red, as I am getting a light brown egg also.

Bonita gave me four dozen eggs that I took to church this morning, the ladies at church were very excited. They seem to like it when I bring "country" stuff in. I brought a variety of vegetables to church, and watermelons this past summer, that everyone seemed to enjoy.

Today's sermon in church was very thought provoking and came from Genesis 3:8-9. The pastor talked about how God was walking through the Garden and asked Adam and Eve "Where are you?" The pastor challenged us to think where we are in our relationship with God, and how we can improve it. I confess that I have stalled recently. I get easily frustrated because I feel God leading me in a certain direction, but I don't know how to accomplish certain things, or I feel hampered often by family obligations and the lack of motivation of other Christians around me. I am not trying to pass the blame on to others, just acknowledging that I don't know how to juggle all these things to accomplish certain goals. Confessing this in church this morning, the pastor reminded me that my greatest responsibility as a woman, wife and mother was in caring for my family, which I know, so not to get discouraged because I didn't feel like I was contributing to anything "greater".

Our pastor also asked if we could have our Easter Service at the land this year, which of course we can do. After wards we would have our Easter church dinner, an egg hunt, and more. I was very excited over this, as not many people like visiting me, because they feel I live too far out. I don't agree, but realize many people look for the easy way, and convenience before anything else. It's amazing how lazy some people are, oh not, just some in our congregation, but in general.

The pastor and his wife, Cheryl, gave us a Moses Basket for the baby. I have been wanting one, but the cost has stopped me. Even the plain one was about $50.00, and one with a mattress and/or cover was about $129.99. She found this one at Ross for $20.99 on clearance! That is a great price. It is a 4 piece set that includes the basket, a mattress, mattress cover, and bumper pad. The color is what I would call a taupe color, darker than tan, lighter than a chocolate cover. Very pretty. I will take a picture and post as soon as I can. I really like the Moses baskets, as they are very portable and easy to use. The plan is to keep this one in the living room for the baby to sleep in during the day, I may take it back and forth to church also though, but we'll see what happens.

Taylor stayed until this evening. I dropped him off at his grandparents around 6 p.m., and then I had to practically force him to go, as he doesn't like staying over there, at least that is the story today. His cousin is home from college, and evidently starting to get on his nerves. He is "supposed" to be getting his driving permit, and with luck his driver's license....soon, we hope and pray. He went with me to drop the girls off at Bonita's, where they are spending the night. I'll pick them up after my doctor's appointment tomorrow morning.

It's getting chilly in the house, and I am waiting for Rodney to arrive home from his marathon movie session.

While I was sitting here, I thought I'd write down a couple of goals I want to accomplish this year. I am not really into making resolutions each year, as I don't like to set myself up for failure, but goals I can work with...

1) Have this baby ;-)
2) Get cabin moved and toilet installed
3) purchase three more containers
4) Commit to daily bible reading/study
5) Take a hunting safety course
6) Sell/Rent the house and MOVE to the land

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Grandma's Yummy Cinnamon Rolls

2 pkgs active dry yeast or 5 tsps if using bulk yeast
1/2 cup warm water (not too hot)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening, butter, margarine
2 tsps salt
2 cups milk, scalded
1 1/2 cups cold water
10 to 12 cups flour (white or whole wheat)

Yield: 4 loaves

Soften yeast in warm water, springkle in a tsp of the sugar
In LARGE mixing bowl blend sugar, shortening, salt and milk until shortening is melted. Add cold water, cool to luke-warm. Stir in yeast. Gradually add flour to form a stiff dough. Knead on floured surface until smooth and satiny, 5 to 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover with foil or damp towel. Let rise in warm place (85 to 90 deg) until light and doubled in volume about two hours. Punch dough down by plunging fist in center. Knead dough for about 5 minutes.

Roll out one fourth of dough to a 16 X 12 inch rectangle. Brush with 2 TBSP of melted butter. Combine 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon (or more to taste). Sprinkle mixture over dough. Starting with 16 inch side, roll jellyroll fashion. Either cut into 16 1 inch slices or leave as a whole loaf. Place on a greased pan, cover and let rise in warm place until light, about 30 to 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees about 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Mix one box 10X sugar with 2 tbsps water. If too stiff, add more water until icing consistency, add a drop of vanilla too. Spread on baked bread while bread is still warm.

2010 Homestead Stats

Laundry Soap

Homemade Laundry Soap:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small washpan or bowl that holds about 2 gallons.

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the washpan. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Transfer soap (using a funnel if necessary) into empty plastic laundry holders, milk containers (I use my empty glass milk bottles and old Fab containers) Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

Wild Mustang Grape Jelly

5 cups grape juice (about 3 1/2 pounds of ripe grapes)1 (1 3/4 ounce) box of sure-jel pectin7 cups sugarBefore getting started it is best to clean the entire kitchen, making sure the sink is empty. Bleach the sink and all utensils used in making jelly (I do this as I sell my grape jelly as part of my homesteading business.)

Wash the canning jars in warm soapy water, and rinse well. Set off to side.

Place a large pan of water on the stove to heat. Once it starts steaming, place lids and rings in the bottom, and 2-3 jars (depending on if you use actual jelly jars or pints) to sterilize.

Next make the grape juice using clean washed grapes (make sure you use rubber gloves when picking or washing wild grapes)To 3 1/2 pounds of clean grapes (6 cups of grapes) add 1 1/2 cups water.Bring to a boil and simmer covered for 10 minutes.Strain and squeeze out all of the juice with cheese cloth (see paragraph below)
I didn't have cheese cloth, so I poured the grape mixture into a large spaghetti strainer with a large pan underneath. I had to stir it around some as the skins and seeds would sink to the bottom, and clog the colander up. Stirring allowed the liquid to drain out. I then used a large metal spoon and squished it some to get more of the juice out.

In a very big pan, put 5 cups of the juice (it’s okay to add no more than ½ cup water to even out amount)Add the fruit pectin to the juice.Mix well.On high heat, bring to a full rolling boil, and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.Stir in sugar all at once, and bring back to a full rolling boil, again boil hard for 1 minute stirring constantly.
Remove jelly from heat, skim off foam
Use a large spoon inserted inside the jar to lift CAREFULLY out of the water. DO NOT TOUCH THE INSIDE OF THE JAR OR THE RIM WITH YOUR HANDS.
Ladle jelly into hot jars, place a lid and ring onto jar (do not tighten yet).
Set jars to the side. After a while you should start hearing “pings” as the jar seals.
When jars are completely cool, tighten rings and store on pantry shelf.**SIDE NOTE: Wild Mustang Grapes are normally ready the end of June, so be prepared. Keep an eye open for vines on the side of the road, or any that friends and family may have growing in their yard. Many people just let them grow and don’t do anything with them, so it shouldn’t be hard to find a good supply. Also, the more you pick off the vine, the more the vine produces new grapes, so you probably won’t EVER run out of grapes to use until the vine dies or you get sick of making jelly. Good luck and feel free to contact me at queensedgefarm@yahoo.com for questions.