Mini Homestead Happenings for 11/17/2010

Image via Wikipedia

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

Image via Wikipedia

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 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

Spent Time With Mom

Mom picked me up this morning. We went to the bank, then out to the cemetery. I lover the ride out there, seeing all of the old farm houses and barns. All the fields are cleared now. Mom always tells me about when she was growing up living on the farm and at other places. She shows me where family used to live, and the old families.

She had made a few holiday arrangements and we placed them on the plot. Her parents and grandparent, and aunt and uncle are buried there, as well as her uncle Albert who was killed during the war. My brother was given his first name.

Went to the grocery store then out to moms. She already is completely decorated for the holidays. She has so much stuff and it always looks neat and tidy. She has a huge tree, and has kept the things that my siblings and I made when we were kids, and as adults. It is all very homey.

It was a good day.

Shannon

Mini Homestead Happenings 11/29/2009

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. While my daughters and I do not celebrate the old Thanksgiving, we do celebrate all that we are thankful for: Food, shelter, warmth, family and friends.

We have spent some time preparing for winter. We cleaned out much of the junk from under the trailer, left by previous owners, cleaned up the yard, banked the trailer and closed up windows.

Oil has been delivered, and we have a little food stocked. Not a lot, as funds have been limited this year. But enough to feed us a couple of weeks.

Moxie kitty has gone home to her mama. My friend was able to procure a small apartment, and she brought Moxie home to it last week. We miss Moxie, here, but she is safe and well cared for.

Our cats have their winter coats, and they are settled in for the winter. The two who go out during good weather, but do not like winter.

Zowie needs boots, and we will get them next month. We are all set with coats and such. I purchased us gloves last month.

The furnace runs at 65* during the day, 70* in the evening for showers and such, and at about 55* at night. This will take place all winter, and we will turn the furnace off as soon as we can next spring.

Zowie is doing just fine in school, and has her college applications and essays in. We are hoping for a good school. She wants to major in Psychology, and eventually work with adolescents.

I am working at my writing career, and building it up nicely.

How do homesteaders prepare for winter? I am interested in learning about all of the necessities involved. I will add this information to my homestead notebook for future reference.

Warmest Wishes,

Shannon

My Daughter is Learning

Skye just turned 20. She has been living up state for more than a year go, and has been seeing her boyfriend for 5 months. She has been living with him, his sister and their parents.

I went to visit a couple of weeks ago, purely for the weekend. I stayed in Skye and Kevin’s room, and they stayed on the futon in the livingroom.

This is the first time that I have visited her up state, and I am happy that I did. My mind is set at ease. Skye helps out with household tasks, helps Kevin’s sister with her homework, and has even learned some valuable skills.

For instance, she now knows hoe to grind and freeze moose meat. And, she helps with stacking wood and whatnot. She also works seasonally at a hunting lodge.

I am very proud of her.

Shannon

Mini Homestead Happenings for 10/18/2009

Zowie and I spent some time yesterday starting to bank the trailer. We will finish the task this week. We will also have to clean the fans and the air conditioner and put them up, and close up the windows.

My stepfather and mom helped to fix some areas of the skirting that needed extra support, and mt stepdad replaced the broken window. I am thankful that these things were accomplished before winter.

I had already pulled the previous owners trashed items out from under the trailer, and Zowie had taken what wasn’t reusable to the dumpster.

The compost that I started last year was allowed to sit this year, and will be ready for garden use in the spring.

Shannon

Snow…Brrr

Yesterday we had rain mixed with snow all day long. Obviously, the snow didn’t stay. It melted right away. It was cold, though.

Zowie and I will have to bank the trailer this week.

Shannon

Mini Homestead Happenings for 10/12/2009

We replaced the broken window. My stepdad had an extra window from when he changed the windows on his trailer. He brought it over and installed it.

I have cleaned out the previous owners trash from under the trailer while it has been opened up under there. Zowie will be lugging everything to the dumpster for me.

Mom and I closed up most of the underside of the trailer. When Zowie and I were out to breakfast one morning, Mom and Lloyd closed up the rest.

Mom and I will be banking the trailer soon to prepare for winter.

Friends and family have dropped off used candle holders and candle ends so we can make recycled candles for everyone at the holidays again. They all loved the candles last year.

I purchased myself a new outfit while at Wal*Mart with mom. It was under $20.00, and is the first one that I have purchased in forever.

Shannon

Oil Lamps and Candles

I purchase oil lamps at yard sales, paying $1.00 or less for each. This is very frugal. The oil I get on sales, along with the wicks.

I also purchase many candles at yardsales; sometimes a whole bag for $1.00 or $2.00. These can also be purchased on clearance after any holiday, and you can get good size candles for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree.

We use these not only when we lose the power, but as a way to save on electricity during the evening hours. When we only need minimal lighting.

Shannon