Mini Homestead Happenings for 5/18/2011

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There has been so much rain as of late! Rarely do we have a great weather day, and I am usually at the library working on articles and blogs when we do. I did manage to take Mothers’ Day off, and my daughter and I went hiking so I could photograph the beauty of nature. I got some good shots.

 All of this rain means that I have not started seeds yet. I should have done this inside last month, but my cats will only eat the seedlings. I had planned to start them on the porch, but haven’t had a nice day when I am not working. Everything will get into the ground, though. Have no doubt.

My mother is saving milk jugs for me, and they will be used as mini greenhouses to go over seedlings once they start if the need be. It is still so chilly here due to all of the rainy weather. If I don’t need them this year, then I will use the jugs next spring.

Shannon

Mini Homestead Happenings for 2/10/2011

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Dare we hope for an early spring? I would like to. I can’t wait to get out and work in the yard. I am working on a to-do list of everything that I want to accomplish out on my little lot. I am also going through seed catalogs and planning what I want to grow this year, and am trying to get ahead on the ‘spring’ cleaning so I don’t have to do it when I want to be outside.

We have had many sunny days as of late, which always keep me motivated. Some of those days have been nice enough for me to walk outside without the air irritating my lungs. I have asthma.

I don’t know if I mention that I learned to make apple butter . Very exciting. It turned out great, and is almost gone. I have one more jar in the freezer. I will be making more soon.

This winter, I have re-watching movies and shows like The Waltons, Little Women and Little House on the Prairie. I love these. I am also re-reading the Little House on the Prairie series.

Hope you are all doing well. I feel some gardening posts coming up soon.

Shannon Buck

Mini Homestead Happening for 1/29/2011

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Not much has been happening on the home front. I have mostly been writing articles and working on the Living the low-Income Life and Frugal Recipes blogs. I have also set up the How to Live the Freelance Life blog.  I have also begun a newsletter titled Freelance Ponderings and Advice. Work has been coming in steady, and I have spent much tome at my sisters using the wireless to be able to accomplish it all.

Zowie has moved back onto campus, and I am plucking away at the heavy duty cleaning and organizing that was not kept up on while I was sick and throughout my surgery and recovery. Things on this front are coming along slowly. I just packed away the Yule stuff this past week, and placed the items in storage a few minutes ago.

I had some good news this past week, in that I may be getting health insurance. I hope so. It would be nice to have my asthma meds refilled so that I can actually breathe normally again.

That homemade apple butter was a success, though I am still looking for a simple, good sour dough recipe that will go the distance. I am rereading the Little House series, and Ma had one that she only had to start the night before. She didn’t keep it going at all times. That is more along the lines of what I want. Any ideas?

Hope you are all enjoying your winter.

Shannon

 

Related Articles

• Frugal Recipes Happenings for 1/29/2011 (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)
• Frugal Recipes Happenings for 11/13/ 2010 (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)

Mini Homestead Happenings for 11/17/2010

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It has been a busy week Hope you are all doing well. Went grocery shopping the other day. I picked up the ingredients to make my first two batches of apple butter. Someday, I want to have my own orchard.

I have yard work that needs to be done before winter. The outdoor furniture needs to be put away, as well as other items. Some of the banking will have to be replaced around the bottom of the trailer. The yard needs some minimal cleanup, and the planters will have to be emptied into the compost bin.

I will be going around the trailer soon, closing up all of the windows for the winter. I don’t want to do it quite yet because there are still nice days where I want the windows open.

I am planning to take Zowie to see the Harry Potter movie, and I am expecting IW to visit one or two days over Thanksgiving break.

Shannon

Mini Homestead Happenings for 11/07/2010

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Yes, I have been away a long time. In all honesty, I really wasn’t following my homestead goals here in 2010. Thus far, anyway. I had been ill, for about 4 years. This year, it all caught up to me and I had a much needed surgery on August 4th. And I feel 100% better now. Yay!

There was then a recovery period, that I got through with the help of my daughter (Zowie), my neice (Carlee) and my mom. I cannot express my appreciation to them fully, because I just do not know how.

Now that I am fully recovered, and have had time to catch up on some things financially by working my butt off as a freelance writer. I am back here on this blog. I have missed it.

It is time to begin again with the homestead learning process, to be prepared for when I am able to acquire a piece of land. This is where I am right now:

• Hanging from hooks in my living room and kitchen, I have three types of herbs drying: Rosemary, parsley and sage. These smell divine, and will soon be placed into small canning jars to be used in cooking this winter.
• I have some garlic stored.
• I have cleaned out the candle jars of their wax, in order to make the recycled candles for people. These are gifts that I give at the holidays. The jars themselves need to be cleaned.
• I am now feeding the cats solely human food. No cat food for them. They are much healthier now. Tigerr, who was always so sick, is rarely ever sick any more. And Fae’s skin has cleared up most of the way.
• My nephew Isaiah, who is now 13, did some yard work for me a couple of weeks ago, and organized the shed pretty well. I have a few things to put away, and I have an area of banking to fix on the trailer, then I am set for winter.
• I have acquired a NuWave oven and a Juicer so that I am eating healthier. This, on top of surgery, has allowed me to lose a significant amount of weight. And I am still losing.
• I updated the side bars and pages to this site yesterday, to give my readers an idea of how my life has changed over the course of this year.

On a professional level, my career is going well.

• I am still writing for Demand Media Studios, which brings in the bulk of my income.
• I have updated the Frugal Recipes blog to better reflect how I am currently eating, and concentrates on a healthier diet. I now write the Frugal Food column on Experts123 as well. Currently, I have also authored 4 eCookBooks, the links to which can be found in the right side bar.
• My articles can be found on eHow.com, GardenGuides.com, Suite101.com and Assciated Content. I have posted some as links on the left sidebar.
• I also have 3 housekeeping books that I am selling. Again, look in the right sidebar for more information. And I have numerous eBooks, Mini eBooks, Special Reports and eCourses that I am offering to those desiring freelance careers of their own. These can be found on my storefront.

Wow! It has been a crazy two years building this freelance writing career. I enjoy every minute of it.

Anyway, be expecting new posts now that life is back to normal. It is time to start planning for next years’ garden, and to learn about ways to preserve the bounty that I will harvest.

Shannon

 

Related Articles

• Guide to Planting Rosemary (brighthub.com)
• Steps to Growing Wheat on a Small Homestead (brighthub.com)

Mini Homestead Happenings for 1/16/2010

Just wanted to note that we are researching natural cat care in an effort to take better care of our fury family members. All 6 of them. If anyone has any tips, we are open to hearing about them.

I have made two stews for the cats, which I will post one per week over the next couple of weeks. I hope your fury friends enjoy them as much as mine do.

Shannon

Mini Homestead Happenings for 1/9/2010

During the week after Christmas, I received the first 2 seed catalogs. One was from Burpee. I was super excited, and keep going back to the catalogs time and again.

I am beginning to formulate a plan in my head for next spring. I have my compost that will be ready to be used, and I will also do trench composting this year when preparing the garden beds and planters.

I have the two mini greenhouses that I purchased at the yard sale last year, so starting plants early out on the porch will be a breeze.

I want a sunflower garden, an herb garden, flower beds and produce. I just have to set everything up for growing on my small lot in this trailer park. LOL…I’m not sure what our new landlords are going to think about this.

Have a nice day.

Shannon

Mini Homestead in a Trailer Park for 1/1/2010

Happy New Year!!!! I have ll of my goals written out and posted, for me to work on throughout the year.

I hope you are al doing well.

I have been clearing out some of my clutter. My nieces and nephews are mighty happy with some very special items that I have handed down to them, and my best friends boyfriend is enjoying ,y hand-me down wizards.

We are supposed to be having 1 or more feet of snow this weekend here in Maine. So far, it has only been a few inches. Zowie is gone for the weekend. Some of the shoveling will have to wait until she gets back.

The holidays were nice, filled with friends and family, and few gifts. We gave home-baked goods and homemade candles as gifts. I’m thinking this will be a yearly tradition.

I hope you are all doing well.

Shannon

Mini Homestead Happenings for 12/30/2009

Snow. We had a storm the other night. I didn’t even know it. We lost he power while we slept, but i was back on before I woke. I shoveled the porch yesterday, came back in and couldn’t breath. Asthma attacks are no fun.

Last night, Zowie tried to shovel, but it was too cold. She finished today. My stepdad plowed last night.

The holiday celebrations are over, and we are settling back into our normal routine.

Zowie was accepted into three universities for the fall semester next year. We are so excited.

***

2009 is on its’ way out, and 2010 is right around the corner. I always take the first day of the new year off to reflect on the previous year, figure out what I want to accomplish in the new year and create my goals list. I will post career related goals here.

What are your homesteading goals for 2010? How do you intend to go about accomplishing these goals? Feel free to let us know in the comments of this post, or post them on your own blog. You can even post a link to your blog post here if you would like.

Be sure to post these goals in a prominent place in your home, so that you can see them every day. This will help to keep you motivated to accomplish the goals throughout the year.

Happy New Year!

Shannon

Mini Homestead Happenings 12/10/2009

Hello. Much has been happening here:

The windows are all closed up, the air conditioner is out of the window and the shovel has already been in use. We are ready for winter. Yup! We had a Nor’ Easter yesterday. Zowie had a day off school, which she was not happy about.

I have ordered wigs, so we will soon be making candles again. These will be given to friends and family as holiday gifts.

We are discussing what treats we will be making to give as gifts.

We have been doing some organizing and deep cleaning.

I have written an eBook and a few Special Reports for my freelance writing business, and am waiting for Zowie to edit them so that I can get them online. Zowie gets paid for her efforts.

What is going on at your homestead?

Shannon