Harvest Moon

It may not be officially the harvest moon, but since it is harvest time, looking at the full moon reminds me that it is that time of year again.  I always like the moon this time of year, it looks so big, and is more yellow than white. 

The horses are doing good, prospering and growing used to being part of our family.  We have a couple of goats due to kid any time now.  Their udders are getting nice and large, so that is a good indication of impending labor.

A few days have been quite chilly already, but recently it has been in the high 60's at night.  We are expecting a cold front this coming weekend, just in time for Halloween.  Our congregation isn't partnering with another church this year to help out at their Fall Festival.  So, this year we will be at home.  I'd love to have people over, but many don't want to drive so far.  Of course, they think nothing of my driving the distance to participate.  Hmmm, me thinks I know a bunch of lazy people. ;-)

I had a visitor.  Brenda from one of my homesteading yahoo groups.  She was driving through the area with her mother, and stopped in for a few hours to visit.  I was very excited.  No one ever wants to come visit me, so it made it extremely special, at least to me.  We showed her around the land, talked about gardening, animals, and living off grid.  She currently has lived off grid for about 7 years.  I would love to get to this point, but it will take a bit of time, money and work.

I'd like to encourage any readers that happen to check in here, that a time of rising inflation is in our future.  I strongly believe we are in the middle of a depression, and it will get worse for a while.  I am trying to acquire hard assets that will see us through these tough times, but am not sure if I can get it done in time.  Please pray for guidance and wisdom during this time.  I am making a list of things to be done, and prioritizing them.

Well, I am off to get our lunches ready for co-op tomorrow.  Have a good week everyone!

African Fat Cakes

We have a new missionary family from Africa in our co-op.  This family is here to study at the Baptist University of the Americas to get their theology degree.  The mom and daughter are really sweet, though a bit shy.  The little girl's name is Johannah, and she is 6.  One of the classes being offered this semester at co-op is a study on Missions.  Apparently, the class studied South Africa and made a really good treat on Monday.  It was so good, I immediately came home and looked up the recipe.  I found a really good one at http://www.foodfunfarm.blogspot.com/.  They are called African Fat Cakes or Mandazi.  There are several types, but the one I made is made from a dough and not a batter.  Here is the recipe:  http://foodfunfarm.blogspot.com/search?q=Mandazi  ENJOY!

Have to go get Violet's head out of the fence AGAIN! 

Happy Fall!

We have been really busy the past month.  Fence repairs, general outside cleanup and such takes up most evenings.  We have three horses now that we are fostering from a local rescue group, with plans to adopt after Christmas.  I love taking care of them in the evenings, and so does Lauren.  She spends a lot of time grooming the horses, and they ride every other evening, if the weather is good.  For now we are only riding Samson, the paint pony, but have hopes the others can receive refresher training soon so we can use the others.

The Quarab mare (Arab/Quarter cross) has had foot issues that I believe are related to "green grass founder".  This is caused by too much green grass after being used to a diet of coastal hay.  With all of our rain, our fields are overflowing with wonderful coastal grass, but it can be too rich a diet for a horse not used to it.  We ended up placing Selena (Quarab) in a stall for two days for her to rest her feet, and hopefully improve her limping.  She greatly improved and every so often we pen her up and give her hay to give her system a break from the grass, sometimes just pen her up without anything, so that she can completely digest the grass and help empty her system.  (This is all at the vet's advice.)  Also, she has had two sores on each of her back hooves, which I believe is due to walking in wet grass.  Praise God we have been without rain for a while, so her feet have rested some.  We have been using a combination of irrigating her hooves with water, hydrogen peroxide and Vetricyn to help heal the sores.  So far they appear to be healing nicely, though still aren't completely healed. 

Lauren celebrated her 13th birthday.  We had a party here for her on the 24th, and had about 40 people attend, which was wonderful.  We had a bonfire, looked at the stars with the telescope, rode the horse, the kids had fun playing hide and seek using glow sticks and riding the zip line. 

The weather here has turned chilly, and I am in the process of getting the cabin winterized.  The bedroom is done, blankets have been aired out, and space heaters found.  Now, on the agenda is clearing out the front room, and getting the wood stove cleaned and primed.  It will be 51 in the morning..not too cold, but when your house is made of metal, it can get really cold quickly.