Queen's Edge Farm: It's a Frosty One!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

It's a Frosty One!

The past few nights have been quite cold outside. We have spent the days getting ready for each evenings cold. The first night (Christmas Eve) I didn't realize it was going to get as cold as it was until I returned home from my sister's house. It was so dark I couldn't do much. I draped a blanket over the pipes at the well, and left the water running at the outside spigot, and in the shower. It did no good, the pipes froze. As the day warmed up, the pipes did unfreeze, and I examined every junction to ensure that everything appeared to be working.

On Christmas, I wrapped each outside faucet, and exposed pipe, with material I had on hand (fleece, flannel and old towels)> I used zip ties and rope to secure the material. We also took an old tarp that had torn and finished dividing it down the middle and then secured it with zip ties to the north fence of the goat pen. I am hoping this helps to keep a good amount of the wind from blowing into the lean-to where the goats sleep. I cleaned the pen, added hay, food, water, and a few pumpkins I had around. The goats have been hanging out in there all evening, once the sun set, and it turned chilly.

Tonight it is supposed to be 29 degrees. I finished bringing in a load of wood, as I normally stay up late keeping the fire going. This helps keep the drafts from the bedroom. It is very warm and snug in here, and the new heater works great. (Muffin has taken up residence on the couch right by the wood stove.)

We did hang out here at home this afternoon. The kids ran around, pulling James in the wagon, which he LOVES. I could hear his giggles from where ever I happened to be working. I cleaned up a lot of trash, and placed in the truck for the trash guy to pick up Wednesday. Thursday it is going in the shop....I plan to walk from the front gate to the barn tomorrow and pick up all the trash and place in the truck. I have several small trash piles that have accumulated and they need to go, in addition, to the old pool that the dogs chewed up. I am trying to get everything nice and neat. I cleaned up a large amount of debris by the cabin door, and once the barn is organized (next on the list after trash detail) we will be moving all the excess "stuff" behind the cabin to the barn. The larger trash piles will have to wait until next week, as the truck is almost full now. Oh, note to self, need more trash bags.

I installed the indoor clothesline in the "laundry room"/playhouse today, and hung a load up in there, plus one outside on the clothes line. I have several more loads to get done, so am hoping it is sunny again tomorrow.
Little by little we are getting more accomplished. I have been a lot more motivated lately, which is helping. Thank you Lord!

Cleaned the front room some, tossing out stuff, folding laundry and putting away, and getting Christmas gifts put in their place. Swept the floor, washed dishes, cleaned the bedroom, and made dinner. Now we are watching movies, well I am, the kids are sleeping.

No comments:

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.