Finding My Place
Heartland Farm is taking shape more day by day. Every day is another chance to bring it into life as we see it. My guys are gone for the day, one working and the other attending Fire Department classes. I don't have Leah, my two year old granddaughter today as I am using the time to recover from a stomach issue from the weekend.
So I have the day to work as I am able. Which in my case for today will be in slow motion. I was able to wash 3 loads of clothes and hang them out in the summer sun to dry (which did not take long). By making use of the line in front of the chicken coop and the one by the driveway. where the grape vine died last year during the drought. I was sure to hang the "undies" near the house just in case I had an unexpected visitor come by.
Drying in the sun gives the clothes a nice fresh scent of "air" that tells you the clothes have been sanitized by the rays of light. But it can also leave the clothes a bit stiff with only a vinegar rinse to soften them. Hence the inspiration for the day. After bringing them inside I tossed them on air only cycle of my dryer for about 5-10 minutes. To see if it would take some of the coarse feel out of them. Hurray. . . . it worked very well and the items came out soft like they had been dried in the dryer instead of on the line. With only a fraction of the cost and I still kept the air fresh scent.
I think I will continue to do our laundry like this and see if the guys will notice any difference. I am sure they will see the laundry on the line, can't help it considering where the clothes lines are. But my question to ponder is, how will this work during the winter season? When the ole sun is not quite as hot and rain falls more frequently. I have read where others hang their clothes out year round, so I know it can be done. I will have to give it some extended thought and make some observations as I hand them out during the pleasant days of Fall that are right around the corner.
The girls have taken up laying on an increasing frequency, giving us an egg or two for the past 2 weeks. Something inspired their little hearts and we got 3 yesterday. Being that it was Sunday I wonder if they were just celebrating the Lord's Day and offering a tithe of one.
The Summer garden is winding down in production and it is time to pull up the zipper peas and summer squash. We have already purchased seeds to plant a Fall garden and need to prepare the place for them pronto. Though I have yet to find the baby pumpkin seeds that I wanted to plant for Fall decorations.
The crabappple tree is bending some under the weight of it's fruit. I am not sure when I need to pick them but I do know I want to beat the deer to them. They have already enjoyed ALL of our apples and plums this year. I may have to sit out there and guard that tree from being stripped like the others. I hope they do not discover the muscadine vines next to the garden that are loaded with clusters of grapes. I see a lot of work in my future if the harvest goes well. As I have already been instructed to put their juicy goodness into jars for winter buttered biscuits.
Heartland Farm is taking shape more day by day. Every day is another chance to bring it into life as we see it. My guys are gone for the day, one working and the other attending Fire Department classes. I don't have Leah, my two year old granddaughter today as I am using the time to recover from a stomach issue from the weekend.
So I have the day to work as I am able. Which in my case for today will be in slow motion. I was able to wash 3 loads of clothes and hang them out in the summer sun to dry (which did not take long). By making use of the line in front of the chicken coop and the one by the driveway. where the grape vine died last year during the drought. I was sure to hang the "undies" near the house just in case I had an unexpected visitor come by.
Drying in the sun gives the clothes a nice fresh scent of "air" that tells you the clothes have been sanitized by the rays of light. But it can also leave the clothes a bit stiff with only a vinegar rinse to soften them. Hence the inspiration for the day. After bringing them inside I tossed them on air only cycle of my dryer for about 5-10 minutes. To see if it would take some of the coarse feel out of them. Hurray. . . . it worked very well and the items came out soft like they had been dried in the dryer instead of on the line. With only a fraction of the cost and I still kept the air fresh scent.
I think I will continue to do our laundry like this and see if the guys will notice any difference. I am sure they will see the laundry on the line, can't help it considering where the clothes lines are. But my question to ponder is, how will this work during the winter season? When the ole sun is not quite as hot and rain falls more frequently. I have read where others hang their clothes out year round, so I know it can be done. I will have to give it some extended thought and make some observations as I hand them out during the pleasant days of Fall that are right around the corner.
The girls have taken up laying on an increasing frequency, giving us an egg or two for the past 2 weeks. Something inspired their little hearts and we got 3 yesterday. Being that it was Sunday I wonder if they were just celebrating the Lord's Day and offering a tithe of one.
The Summer garden is winding down in production and it is time to pull up the zipper peas and summer squash. We have already purchased seeds to plant a Fall garden and need to prepare the place for them pronto. Though I have yet to find the baby pumpkin seeds that I wanted to plant for Fall decorations.
The crabappple tree is bending some under the weight of it's fruit. I am not sure when I need to pick them but I do know I want to beat the deer to them. They have already enjoyed ALL of our apples and plums this year. I may have to sit out there and guard that tree from being stripped like the others. I hope they do not discover the muscadine vines next to the garden that are loaded with clusters of grapes. I see a lot of work in my future if the harvest goes well. As I have already been instructed to put their juicy goodness into jars for winter buttered biscuits.
So much is changing in our lives and thoughts about how we want to live out the days we hope to have around here. It is surprising and thrilling to hear one of us mention a new idea to build up the function and heart of this "farm". It is taking shape one step at a time. It may not look like the typical farm seen in books, but we plan to make some more chances that will help it's appearance. The true image is tucked away in our minds and heart. That is why I named it "Heartland Farm". It is our farm of the heart on land we already own. Some day it may take up residence on a back road in rural surroundings that fit the recognizable shape known to many. But until then it is our little farm where we get the opportunity to live out our dreams one day at the time.
This journey is exciting and I am enjoying life as a homemaker turning homestead wife. The simple pleasure of canning, knitting, gathering eggs, hanging out laundry, picking home grown flowers for our table, crocheting gifts, cooking fresh veggies from our garden, coffee porch chats, reading, watching sunrises and sunsets are the stuff an abundant life is all about. My place in all of this will be discovered as I keep my heart and mind open to where the Lord will lead me. I know it will be a place of deep peace and inexpressible joy.
Deborah
This journey is exciting and I am enjoying life as a homemaker turning homestead wife. The simple pleasure of canning, knitting, gathering eggs, hanging out laundry, picking home grown flowers for our table, crocheting gifts, cooking fresh veggies from our garden, coffee porch chats, reading, watching sunrises and sunsets are the stuff an abundant life is all about. My place in all of this will be discovered as I keep my heart and mind open to where the Lord will lead me. I know it will be a place of deep peace and inexpressible joy.
Deborah
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