the newest disaster

The story as told by my daughter . . .

Today, as per my usual Thursday routine, I hopped on my bike to go down and clean church. This hardly qualified as my most pleasant ride: the rain that had so deceptively let up for 20 minutes before I left did not stay absent.

The neighbor who lives four houses down from us (in other words 1/10 of a mile) owns a couple dogs who do not particularly like my weekly trek through “their” territory. Mr. G is usually home and is very good about  keeping them in check. Today, however, he was not home. I was already a wee bit cranky about the drenching, and apparently Ebony (one of Mr. G’s dogs) was too. She came running alongside my bike, nothing unusual about that. What was unusual was when she reached over and sunk her teeth into my leg. My response was of course a yelp; I believe I yelled “Ouch!! Ebony, you bit me!” She slunk off back home; I made my way home as well, though a little slower than before.

As soon as Mom saw the injury, she rushed me back out to the drive way (but into the Mountaineer this time) and down to the doctors. We don’t know if Ebony has had her rabies shot, you see. At the doctor’s I had to fill out a report to the Health Department about the dog–well, I guess you could call it “dog attack”. Now when the HD comes out, Ebony will have to be put in quarantine, and if Mr. G can’t prove that she is rabies-free…they will have to put her down.

Mr. G took all this really well when we stopped on our way home to tell him. He was very sorry, very upset at Ebony and not the slightest bit upset at us (I’m really praying that he can find her rabies tag–I’d rather keep it that way).

when ck was a boy

grocery store wars

I hope I did this right.  HM showed us this video and we all loved it.

Happy Easter

bunnies

Remember me telling you about the bunnies that HM found in our colony?   I think she found them about March 13 or so.

Here is a picture of them.

between a laugh and a tear

I’ve been pretty quiet on here lately.  I seem to have come to a crisis point on several issues.  I’d rather not get more specific right now, but I will have to publicly deal with them eventually.

Suffice it to say, I am learning that teachers (who usually proclaim themselves to be the good guys) can make huge errors.  What I thought they were teaching with integrity sometimes was a deliberate deception.

This song by John Mellencamp is one of my favorites.  I’m trying to find that balance between a laugh and a tear and smiling in the mirror as I pass.

Between a Laugh and a Tear

When paradise is no longer fit for you to live in
And your adolescent dreams are gone
Through the days you feel a little used up
And you dont know where your energys gone wrong
Its just your soul feelin a little downhearted
Sometimes life is too ridiculous to live
You count your friends all on one finger
I know it sounds crazy just the way that we live

Chorus:
Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And thats as good as it can get for us
And there aint no reason to stop tryin

When this cardboard town can no longer amuse you
You see through everything and nothin seems worthwhile
And hypocrite used to be such a big word to you
And it dont seem to mean anything to you now
Just try to live each and every precious moment
Dont be discouraged by the future forget the past
Thats old advise but itll be good to you
I know theres a balance see it when I swing past

Chorus:
Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And thats as good as it can get for us
And there aint no reason to stop tryin

Between a laugh and a tear
Smile in the mirror as you walk by
Between a laugh and a tear
And thats as good as it can get for us
And there aint no reason to stop tryin

When paradise can no longer amuse you…..

a reminder to myself

Written on August 14, 2007 and edited to reflect 2009!

My motto is:  Living a Simple Life on a Little Bit of Land.

Living: Living is active.  I want to be busy.  Not with busy work, but with important tasks.  I want to sit down at the end of the day and be able to see what I have done.  I think that is why I like to crochet and knit.  There is progress you can identify.  It wasn’t there and now it is.  Reading is active; working logic/sudoku puzzles is active; tv/movies are not active.

That isn’t to say that we don’t watch movies.  Right now we are plowing our way through Chuck and Kyle XY from Netflix.  It is something our family does together in the evening when everyone has finished their work.

Simple Life: A Simple Life is one with a focus or purpose.   Our purpose is clearly stated in the Westminster Shorter Catechism.  It says, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”  How our family chooses to do this by living close to the land.  We find our calling in nurturing this little homestead.

Nurturing the homestead means we will not have more animals than our land can feed.  This is becoming increasingly important as the food supply for people and animals becomes more tainted.  If we import feed (like hay) we make sure we know the source and its condition.    We are fortunate.  “Hay Bob” cuts our hay only 0.75 miles from our barn.  We can see it growing.  We know how and when he harvests it.

Nurturing the homestead means keeping all plant, animal and food waste right here.  We compost it to feed the new trees and garden.  We never apply commercial herbicides or pesticides.  If a bug needs squashing then one of us better get out there and squash it.  It isn’t always pleasant, but it is necessary.  Nurturing the animals means giving them a life as close to natural as possible.   They are free to wander the pasture and eat what appeals to them.   I believe they get a better mix of nutrients this way.   They also fertilize their own pasture.  That means nobody has to spread poo!

Nurturing ourselves includes a return to the old ways.  We knit, crochet, quilt, embroider, cross-stitch, draw, and sew.  We eat a very simple diet.  It is well rounded and provides us with abundant nutrition, but it isn’t exotic. We garden.  We can, dehydrate, and cold storage food.  We split firewood with an ax.  We heat with wood.  We read and we talk.

On a Little Bit of Land: This reminds me to “bloom where I am planted.”  We bought this little bit of land in May 1997.  God willing, we will be here until we are planted in the ground.  I am content with my home.  Not that I don’t putter about fixing it up or planting new flowers, but I am content to be here the rest of my days.

snow and ice

snow angel

HM just  had one of those blonde moments!  They’re sort of rare these days, but this was a good one.

Said while rubbing her head as she walked through the door:  Now I know whey they call them snow angels not ice angels.

winter and animals

We’ve had some really cold weather this week.  Our animals are pretty well set to handle normal Indiana weather, but this was an Alberta Clipper coupled with an Artic front.  Brr . . .

We piled 6 additional inches of hay in the chicken coop house and put as much as we could in their yard.  The problem with hay in their yard is they scratch it down to dirt in a matter of weeks.  So we’re constantly adding new.  They seem to have stayed warm.  Their water froze over within 10 minutes of being set out.  So HM and AN needed to go out a lot to water them.

The rabbits fared better.  They carry around a nice fur coat.  We still piled as much hay as we could into their shelter.  These goofy critters ate it as fast as the girls could carry it.  Same water problem.  Frozen in minutes.  Thankfully rabbits don’t drink that much!

The goats hung out in the hay room of the barn.  Yep, that’s why our hay supply is going fast this year.  They figured out how to jump the gate between the halves!  They are warm and fat!

The sheep didn’t seem to notice the weather.  They don’t like the wind though.  They just stayed in the barn while it was windy and came out to nibble every time the wind stopped.  They are so wooly that I can’t tell if they are fat or not.

The sheep and goats share a 100 gallon stock tank.  It froze solid.  One gigantic ice cube!  HM broke a pitch fork trying to break a hole in the ice.  They have smaller rubber feed bowls.  We used those for a while, but then they froze to the ground and froze solid as well.  In the end she carried water out to them in my dishpans.

The human animals stayed huddled in the living room as much as possible.  The girls would do the animals and come in to thaw by the stove.  Poor AN didn’t much school work done, but she had a good time!

One thing I learned this winter — the chicken coop shouldn’t  be so close to the house.  Our cat is extremely pleased with this winter’s hunting, but I am not amused.  We’ve had more mice than usual.  So as beautiful as my chicken coop is, I am afraid CK will have to build another back by the garden.  I’m not sure if he’ll be able to get to it before next winter, but I hope!

Kim

new years 2009

Changes are afoot for 2009.

I am rethinking many of our homestead choices.

• I am quite happy that the chickens and rabbits are in permanent housing.  I love that.  I’m thinking that we’ll keep fewer rabbits from now on.  Maybe just a buck and 2 does.  We don’t eat rabbit anymore.  Why?  I can’t stand dealing with the slaughtering.  I can’t eat something that I knew!  It comes down to that.
• I don’t want to keep expanding the garden.  I don’t want to scythe the grass.  I keep forgetting that I am not going to get any younger.  I make decisions using generalizations and uniformitarian thinking — in plain English  I decide something based on what was, not what is or will be.  The children might not always be here to help.
• Sheep.  I love my sheep.  I really do.  They are the image of peacefulness and contentedness.  However .  .  . I still haven’t done a thing with the wool from the 2008 shearing.  2009 shearing is coming up quickly.  If I don’t get my butt in gear and get this wool processed then I am going to thin my herd.  2 ewes would be enough to look pastoral — don’t you think?
• I will not buy any new livestock this year.  No goats, no sheep, no rabbits, no chickens, no new “whatever sounds fun.”  NONE!

On a personal level I am getting ready to start a BIG project.  CK and I have decided that I should study and train to be a certified dog trainer.  (This probably won’t surprise KGH.)  I love doing this.

• I have a book list that is approaching 50 books to be read.  Everything from breed specific books, AKC rule books, positive training method books, psychology books, and physiology books.
• I will be taking AKC training classes through the advanced level with Jake.  We are planning on earning our CGC (Canine Good Citizen), PD (pack/trail dog) title, and the CD obedience title.  That alone will keep me busy this year.
• Jake and I will also be taking Rally-O classes and Agility classes.
• CK is planning and building an outdoor training yard for me.  That way I can practice with the appropriate amount of space.   Agility training will take quite a bit of space.  Later on we’ll use that to hold outdoor classes in the warm months.
• I have to make brochures, business cards, a business plan, and handouts.
• I also need to round up 6 clients.  3 for references and 3 for case studies.
• To start I’ll be doing pre-puppy consultations, new puppy/dog consultations, puppy manners class, puppy obedience (10-16 weeks), and basic obedience classes.    I’m thinking of doing a combination of private lessons and group lessons.

More personal goals for this year include:

• reading through the Bible for the 24th year in a row
• getting to my ideal weight and staying there (Helped by the amount of hiking Jake and I will have to do to earn the PD title).
• keeping the garden weeded through September this year.  (August was our goal last year!)
• reading at least 2 non-dog books a month

Whew!  What a year!

So . . . anyone have a suggestion for a cool business name for a dog trainer?  I really need a good name and I am terrible at coming up with such things!

Kim

perspective

hands and paws

Kendra — here is a picture to help give some perspective on his paw size.  I think your hands are about the same size as mine.

He should be 88 pounds, but you just never know!

The human members of the family are all doing well.    MA still loves his job.  Really loves his job.  He seems to be doing well.  They’ve had pretty steady work until this week.  A lot of people don’t want their house all in a bind the week before Christmas.  His dog Opal is just as nuts as ever!  She is doing pretty well with the puppy though.

HM is contemplating getting either a bassett hound or a miniature schauzer in the Spring.  She really wants a dog of her own.  Jake has taught her that she needs a smaller dog.  She has trouble handling the weight of a large one.  Plus she wants one that can curl up on her bed with her.

CK has a couple of easy weeks coming up.   They don’t have to do for any projects until after the first of the year.  He’s also really tired from not sleeping all night!  He’s doing great though.

I am totally distracted from my normal life right now.  But I bet you could have guessed that!

Kim

Cute?

7 weeks

Could he get any cuter?  Probably not.  He has settled into the family really nicely.  So what has he learned this week?

• bedtime (Which today also included walking himself to bed, lying down, and groaning with pleasure as he drifted off.)
• to sleep more than a few hours at a time.  Last night 6 hours!  All at once!
• Are you hungry?
• Sit (including sitting before I put his blue food plate on the floor)
• Not all blue plates are for him
• come here
• his name
• we potty outside, not inside.  This now includes letting us know he needs to go out.  He isn’t perfect, but pretty consistent.
• the clicker means “Good Jake”
• collars are for big boys (and big boys in training)
• leashes are kind of scary (they get tangled up in your feet)
• brooms, rakes, and vacuums aren’t so scary
• cats are interesting, chickens are smelly
• kisses are better than biting (not that he doesn’t bite — he does, a lot!)

life with the little man

Jake at 6 weeks

He is home.  We went Friday afternoon to pick him up.  He did great on the trip.  We stopped once for him to get a drink, potty and stretch his legs.

He’s really doing well.  He’s a little ‘gator!  His teeth are razor sharp.  We’re working on controlling that bite instinct, but at 6 weeks – - – it’ll be a while.  Housetraining is going pretty well.  He knows why we go out.  He just doesn’t know that is the only place you’re supposed to leave your mess!

Friday night he was up once an hour.  I finally figured out that the chimes on our mantle clock were waking him.  So I did what any rational (or perhaps sleep deprived) person would do.  I cut the speaker wire!  Worked like a charm.  Saturday night he was up every other hour.  He went outside each time and peed!  Last night he slept for 2 1/2 hours at a stretch.  Maybe we’ll get lucky and sleep for 3 hours at a time tonight.

More later.

Kim

getting low

I constantly need to review the things I have learned.   So today I am reviewing all the practices we use to keep our impact numbers low.

Garbage is an easy category for us.  I try to buy foods with as little packaging as possible.  Paper bags for bulk foods, cardboard boxes, newspaper, and mail all get added to the compost heap.  I use cotton bags for all my errands and mesh bags for produce.   The only containers that can’t be composted or re-used are tin cans.  We have 4-5 of those a month.  We get two magazines a month that come in plastic sleeves.  Those go into the garbage along with all the “slick” newspaper pages.

Water is a category where we are comfortable with our level of usage even though it is above the 10% threshold.  I base our acceptable water usage on our rainfall average and how much we could collect from our roof and the animal enclosure roofs.  The bunny barn roof is large enough to supply all the water the rabbits can drink year round.  The chicken coop roof is large enough to supply the chickens, sheep, goats,  and dogs with plenty of water.  Right now the barn roof run-off isn’t collected.   We don’t have a cistern for back there.  In an emergency we could use plastic totes, 5 gallon buckets, and new trashcans.  Right now we don’t need to do so.

To keep our water usage within the acceptable range we don’t let the water run while doing dishes, washing faces, brushing teeth, or washing hands.  I handwash dishes using the basin method (takes less than 2 gallons per meal).  We have a small hot water heater so that naturally shortens showers to 4 minutes (and we use a low-flow shower head).

Natural gas isn’t used in our home.  We do have a camp stove that uses propane.  We use that during power outages.

We also have a wood burning fire pit that we can use for heating large amounts of water, cooking and even baking.  All the wood we use in it is from our woods.  It is all storm downed wood, fallen limbs, or dead trees that we have to remove.   We use that same wood (in larger chunks) to heat our home.  We’re also getting wood from a friend’s woods that were logged summer before last.

Electricity coming up on Friday!

Kim

Finally a glimmer of internet connection.  We still aren’t back up to normal, but today for the first time I have been able to get a signaland have a moment to sit at the same time.

Lots to tell . . .

1.  Sabrina is setting on 3 eggs.  She’s been there almost 2 weeks.  She’ll get up and eat a bit, grab a drink and then right back to the nest.  With any luck at all we’ll have home-grown chicks in a week to ten days.

2.  We have rabbit babies too.  Six of the healthiest, fattest, cutest little kits I’ve seen.  They are just now 2 weeks old.

3.  My pantry room is almost full.  We’ve been busy dealing with produce.  Lately it has been apples.  Tons of apples getting dehydrated.  Pumpkins are in now too.   It is very comforting to see the fruit of our labor piling up in all the corners.

I’m going to keep this short, just in case the connection goes down again.

Hopefully I’ll be posting again tomorrow!

Kim

hurricane ike

We’re off-line due to damage from Hurricane Ike passing through our part of Indiana with 75 mph winds from 11 am to 4 pm.

I’ll post again as soon as the internet is back up!

Kim

the little church

New Church

We have a new church home.   It is a small country church located just 2.5 miles from our home.  We passed this church for years on our way here and there.   It just never beckoned us to worship.

About three months ago (maybe a little more) I mentioned that we were attempting to find a local church to call home.  We visited almost every church in biking distance.  This was the last one we visited and the first one to feel like home.

The membership is mostly older residents, a few younger families, and a three young adults–not a terribly healthy congregation right now.  The new pastor has hopes and dreams both the for the church and the community.  Our hometown is sort of a red-headed step-child around here.  He has a vision and the drive to make some real changes.

The little church has real ties to the community.  They help deliver pies to older people in the community.  They will begin feeding and tutoring several children tonight.    This is the first church I have ever attended where a great deal of food sharing is done.  Not only eating together, but bringing in the produce that is grown.  The ladies talk about how the gardens are growing, what they have been preserving, and willingly share both produce and recipes.  It is a little slice of heaven for this country girl who had been spending Sunday mornings in the city!

So this Sunday at 9:45 we will covenant with these people.

Kim

plum conserves

We tried this for the first time yesterday. It is great! We had it over homemade yellow cake.  I think it would be good over chicken and maybe roast pork.  It makes 5 pints.

• 10 cups plums, pitted
• 3 oranges, peeled and chopped
• 2/3 c orange peel, sliced thin
• 2 c raisins
• 5 c sugar
• Stir frequently until sugar dissolves.
• Let come to a boil.  Boil 10 minutes.
• Add 2 c pecans, chopped
• Boil an additional 5 minutes.
• Water bath can 15 minutes.

too many roos?

My bantam chickens are perplexing me.   I thought I had 12 hens and 2 roosters.  Now I’m wondering if I have 7 roosters and 7 hens.  They are getting these strange combs.

Sabrina, top picture, was a favorite hen.  A few days ago she opened her mouth and crowed at HM.  Now, that is NOT normal hen behavior.  Like I said — perplexed.  Check out the comb on the chicken in the bottom picture.  (Clicking on the picture will make it larger).

In the second picture you can also see the chickens’ garden bed.   The sunflowers are nearly as tall as the 8 foot fence.  That will make for some nice winter eating for my girls (I hope they’re girls!).

Any bantam raisers out there with a clue?  I could sure use some help.

Sabrina

Bantam in yard

girls grown up

My little lambs have really grown up.   They are 3/4 grown.  I think they will get a little taller and add a little weight.  I am pleased with their size and so thankful that I went with Shetland mixes.

Sheep are peaceful creatures.  They seem content to eat, walk, sleep, and play a little.  They never seem to go anywhere alone — not even to get a drink.  It is funny to watch.    They aren’t overly curious either.  The goats will often get right in the middle of whatever we are working on, but the sheep hang back.  They watch,  watch some more, then ramble off to eat.

Abby and Elsy

Libby and Lizzy

Oh look, I learned how to put captions on the pictures!  Cool.

Kim