Queen's Edge Farm: Happy Birthday!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Happy Birthday!

Today is my daughter's 12th birthday! wow! Where did the time go? The day started out good, we had rain in the early a.m., but then the birthdaygirl copped an attitude, and was being mean to her little sister. Even though it was her birthday, I had to correct her, and she was crying up in the loft before lunch. She told me she thought she should be able to do whatever she wanted on her birthday. But rules and expectations stay the same on your birthday, meaning you still treat your family with kindness.

We headed out for her birthday dinner this evening. We had a great time, just the four of us. We ordered a HUGE piece of chocolate cake for dessert, it came with ice cream. Afterwards we headed to Claire's where she spent her birthday money. They were having a 75% off sale, so it worked out good. She did want this pair of moccasions but they were $28.00 and NOT on sale, so we didn't get them.

We then stopped at Lowe's. We always love looking at their storage buildings and little houses. We have played this game for 3 years, where we go in and mentally decorate and put our rooms and stuff in certain areas. I'd love to buy their largest building, it's a two story red barn, and double the size of what we live in now. I could really see us living in it, but it is $13,000 so out of our price range. We are good where we are now, though I admit the extra width would come in handy, not to mention the second floor bedroom.

We stopped to get dog food, and then headed home so we could beat the night. We needed to feed everyone, and make sure everyone had somewhere to get out of the rain. We locked the goats up, put trash in the bed of the truck to run to the dumpster this week, and brought in wood for the wood stove.

Along with the 1.5 " of rain today came cooler temperatures. It is in the mid 50's out here tonight, though the temps in town are registering low 60's. It is always cooler, and windier here it seems (except when it is 105 LOL!)

We retreated to the bedroom tonight, and we strung fleece blankets on the side walls under the loft. We are all sleeping on the king size bed. So it's me, a 12 year old girl, a six year old girl, and an infant snuggled in here together tonight. We found a rubber maid tote in the barn full of blankets and another of sweaters so hauled them into the cabin. The blankets that aren't strung on the walls to serve as a measure of insulation between us and the cold metal walls, are piled on the bed. The girls were all excited over their large tent. They piled into the bed, turned the light off and are watching Tinker Bell on the Disney Channel. So, while it shocks people to see and know where we are living, they don't know really how nice and cozy it is...we truly love it, though it can be rough at times. We all have flannel pants on, tshirts and socks to sleep in, and plenty of blankets. I don't think it's cold enough for the heater or stove, but the morning may tell a different story.

We are locked in here, very snug, listening to the rain come and go. The baby's soft breath is sounding in my ear as he sleeps. It's nice knowing that the diapers are drying in the kitchen on the drying rack, the house was cleaned earlier, I have wood by the stove if it is necessary, there is food in the house, dogs outside to help protect us along with my trusty rifle. So, it's off to bed so we'll be ready for another day on the homestead. Tomorrow, we absolutely have to do some more laundry, even if it rains. So, I expect the inside of the cabin will be draped with drying clothes.

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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.