Free Frugal Fixes

Getting free samples and small items in the mail is always a treat for those cutting corners and trying to get by with the least amount of money outlay. Usually there is a catch for the "free" item as the promoters have an alternative plan attached to them and your pocketbook. Coupons are one type of a freebie that can be used generally whenever we decide to, but I am seeing fewer of them available now days. Advertisers are keeping watch on their bank accounts as well during these economic rumblings. Yard sales will no doubt increase as individuals seek to capture as much loose change from those looking for a deal in the months to come. At times you can find some really good bargains for the items you are looking for. They were a good source of baby items, toddler bed, toys and miscellaneous items several years ago when we were waiting for our granddaughter to be born.

The best deal we have found of lately was seen as we were driving down the road nearby our home. A local buisness had a large stack of wooden pallets placed out by their dumpster. A quick call to the owner gave us permission to gather as many as we wanted. Out of that first load we have already built 3 item that was needed around here.

One was the large crate we used to haul our goats home in. A feat we were unsure as to how we were going to pull off. As all of our calls to borrow a livestock trailer brought deadends.

After getting the girls home, I then needed a place to milk Amber. Hence our second project from the free pallets. Lon cut the pieces and put it together their first night home. It has been a handy tool every day since.

The makeshift pen we had for them needed a sturdier gate for easier access with a feed bucket and milk pail in hand. The third free project came all in one piece and only need a couple of hinges and a few slats added to keep little miss Sugar behind it and unwelcome visitors out.

One stop shopping gave us 3 free frugal items from something that was destined for the dump.
(Try saying 3 free frugal items three times and see if it doesn't tie your tongue up too.)

I believe this is the first ever use of throw away items in such a big way. All for FREE too. We are on the speed dial for this shop and whenever they get a stack, we are given a call to come pick them up. The last load had several over-sized heavy pallets that look like future walls to me in our soon to be built barns and. The owner is much appreciative as he has to pay to dump them at the local landfill. It's a win - win situation, he saves money and we save money. No trip to the local home improvement store for wood pieces, just a step outside to our own supply house. I wonder what else we will find hidden in the stack of pallets. Waiting to be discovered and put into good use. It will be fun to see how we can turn them around into useful items that will help us build up our farm.

Seeing things in a new way,

Deborah

Life is Full

So much Spring activity to be found around here these days. The freshness is seen as the leaves unfurl on limbs of the trees, the small blades of grass are springing up across the yard, small chirps can be heard in the vicinity of the bluebird box (a family with 4 babies), shimmering color in the blossoms of spring bulbs, and so much more. It truly is a breathe of Spring flowing through out neck of the woods.

Life up at the coop has steadied out to a rhythm of daily chores done with ease. Mary is progressing with "motherhood" on her 4 eggs. The Welsummers and new biddies hatched out by "Big Mama" are growing nicely. Crowding each other in the brooder box in the living room. I am glad at present that the 25 chicks we ordered from the hatchery will not be arriving till the end of May. We had decided to add to our laying flock and ordered 15 Isa Browns and 10 Silver Laced Wyandottes. With the delay in shipping they might just arrive after we get moved to the farm. Which will make raising them easier as we plan to put the current coop into operation as a brooder house once there. A new chicken coop will need to be built to house the future 50+ layers. Word has gotten out in the fellowship of Bethel Baptist Church, a mile up the road from the farm and we have several who already want to buy eggs. Other news at the coop comes from "Little Bit" the Barred Rock rooster from the first hatching of "Big Mama's". He has started crowing the cutest baby crow. I hope Chester is listening to these morning greetings I've been getting and will "speak up" before too long himself.

Amber and Sugar are settling into their new home and routines as well. We are already seeing a difference in Amber's appetite. That is evidence in a small weight gain and a healthier looking coat. I have read recently that BOSS =black sunflower seeds are good for them and will give some added fat to her diet. Sure to boost the luster of her coat and fill in the thin spots on it.

Out at the farm today we sowed grass seed in one of the pasture areas and around the house. I also cut the grass in the front yard and the area destined to be for the goats. Which my husband as dub "Goat Valley" with our new "used" riding lawn mover. Circling the areas round and round I almost felt like I was on a tractor plowing some imaginary field.

Interior changes are well on the way and I am still hopeful that we can get moved in by the last week of May. It was during breakfast this morning that I came up with an idea for a new book. One that my husband thinks that I should write along side of the one he says will help him retire. I might just put this one together for fun and give it away to family, friends and our customers. Nothing fancy just some simple tabletop publishing. I think I will keep the title a secret for now, but be assured it will be a funny look at farm life.

I am still reading non-stop with an ever present book by my chair or traveling with me as we journey out to the farm. At present my companion is an old book written about using herbal treatments and remedies for livestock. Written by Juliette deBairacli Levy and called "The Complete Herbal Handbook For Farm and Stable". It is full of useful information and I believe it would prove to be a necessary part of our reference bookshelf that we are acquiring. Plans are to check on line for a used copy or a really good deal and order one.

Living with 2 homes at present,

Deborah

Digging in the Dirt Again

The remodeling efforts out at the farmhouse is going quite well. This new phase of living part time at our Georgia home and working part time at the Alabama home has us stretched. Trips out to the farm are exciting as it puts us one step closer to moving out there. Trips home at the end of work days sees weary bodies and all that has been left undone here. A few days here and there tucked into our schedules would do wonders in getting things caught up. Making room for the desirable amongst the necessary.

Our days begin with early risings to milk Amber, feeding her and Sugar, letting the chickens out to feed, checking nesting boxes, filling water buckets, and seeing to the needs of the chicks living in the brooder box. Then we can have our breakfast, pack a lunch, gather tools needed and load up the truck for the hour long trip to Alabama. It has really become a part of our lives and working with the animals is a pleasurable part of the mornings. I look forward to the time when it will be done in a more leisurely fashion for there will no longer be the need to travel to the farm. But to just walk out the door to greet it each morning.

When we arrived yesterday the company servicing our well was already there. We were able to get the well fixed easily enough, giving us access to water for the house. Washing hands and cleaning up will be considerably easier now. We still want to have the water tested before we start drinking from it. So carrying jugs of drinking water will still be on my to-do list for awhile. The heating/AC was serviced yesterday also. With a few minor adjustments and a new thermostat we had both heat and cold air flowing through the house. Two major components of living; water and comfort from the weather extremes was put into working order.

But the highlight of my day day was digging in the dirt. I had brought out some transplants that were dug up from home to start the outside renovations. A few Irises, Day Lillies and hosta pots were snugly tuck in the load of supplies for today. Finding new homes for them was a job that I was looking forward to. I have only seen a few plants here and there on the farm. Previous owners did not establish any type of flowerbeds or plantings. Leaving the grounds an open canvas to create on. I have started from scratch before, but I seem at a lost at how to begin this time. So I simply started at the end of the house with some weed pulling and grass removal. Digging holes for a few of the transplants along the way. The remainder was tucked along side a row of plants found out in the front yard. A space destined to be the dividing wall between the yard and the goat pen. Pulling back the leaves and cleaning the area revealed exactly what I had found at the end of the house. . . . rich, loose dirt. A gardener's dream. Sitting on the ground in the shade of the old oak was a sensory pleasure of extremes. It felt like I had come home and could envision hours upon hours of doing the same in the future. Having your hands in the dirt is uplifting for those who love to garden. A time for daydreaming and reflection about life is an unconscious pursuit while digging, pulling and planting.

On the opposite end of the house is an area dotted with healthy garlic plants that will have to be moved. Scattered in part I think from whom ever bushhoged the area in the past. For this is the area we have decided to put our vegetable garden. Lifting them temporarily so it can be plowed with be a challenge. But then they too can be tucked into their new beds for years of productivity. Someone had tried to pull some up at one time and left them laying by the dogwood tree at the backdoor. Where they lay all winter before sprouting up again from the individual garlic cloves that had fallen on the barren ground there. It appears that they multiply quite easily and so I feel sure that even it I loose a few in the transplanting. There will be plenty to start a new bed with. I pulled a few to bring home for Amber to munch on and the aroma was mouth watering. I have never had garlic growing in my vegetable garden before and look forward to using these in recipes. We have grown to love the taste and ease of using it in our cooking over the years. I had tried last fall to order some to start a bed but the company was sold out before I was able to place my order. Disappointed then, but thrilled now as I have been given some for free. Another blessing just waiting to be discovered at our future farm.

Hands in the dirt, heart lifted to the Creator,

Deborah

New Babes in Town

It was wonderful not to have to think about what day this is. Tax day! As we were able to get ours completed and filed last month. I do believe that it was the earliest we have ever had them ready. Instead for the past 2 days we have spent the time out at the farm, working on the house. Already it is taking on a new appearance as we remove the old to make room for the new. I believe the changes we are planning will give the place the look and feel of home for us. I catch myself standing in front of the windows looking out and daydreaming about how it will all look once we move in. Jason is helping us some and the days that he is there we get tons accomplished. More hands equals quicker success. We might actually make our proposed goal of moving in by the end of May, with his strong back and energetic stamina.

On the way back home last week we stopped off in Graham, Alabama to meet a lady I had been talking with about some baby chicks she was hatching. We have been looking for a local source of "Welsummers" to add to our flock without much luck this year. While looking through the GA Market Bulentin I was thrilled to see that she lived near our new home in Bowdon, Ga. A quick call and a meeting place was set for pickup. Ten, one week old chicks rode home with us that day to join the growing flock in our backyard when they are old enough. At present they are eating, sleeping and being baby chicks in a plastic tub in our living room. The tub has clear sides and we catch ourselves staring at them through it. A soft peeping is heard when they are awake and is like a sweet music to our souls. New life and another sign of Spring has joined us here.


The very next day "Big Mama" hatched out her second clutch of eggs. Five new biddies joined the Welsummers in the brooder box. One looks just like she did as a chick, cheery yellow with feathery legs, 2 are a honey gold with dark streaks in their fluff (Orphingtons possibly?)and 2 are black with yellow spots on their heads (future Barred Rocks?). Fifteen chicks all looking for a warm place to grow and giving Leah plenty to talk about. Her favorite thing is to point to one for me to pick up for a closer look and a gentle touch from a tiny finger. At present our chicken flock numbers at 38. Boy did that number climb quickly from the 16 we started with a year ago.


It was as if the "mothering" hormone was flowing through the chicken coop on the winds of Spring. For Mary (Barred Rock) became broody two days after Big Mama's deliveries last Saturday. On Tuesday I placed 4 eggs under this insistent Mother-to-be. Again all fat round ones. If all goes as smoothly for her we should have additional biddies to place in the brooder box on or about the 5th of May. We will be celebrating another birth that day as it is my daughter-n-law's birthday. We have definitely added new births and lives to our Spring this year. I look forward to having the opportunity to be apart of our goat's kidding (s) next year. I have been by my cat's side during labor and delivery in the past. But from what I have read on the milk-goats emails I receive, it is a wonderful experience. A little nerve wracking for first timers but a pleasure too.

Each day I look over the biddies to see if I can tell how many will become hens. Odds are there will be a rooster or two in the mix. It will be a few more weeks before we will be able to tell whether our experiment worked or not, in placing a certain shape egg in the nest for hatching. Good news is that the father to our friends who will be living right down the road from us has offered the use of his incubator whenever we want to use it. Hurrah! ! ! ! Lon had been talking about getting one after we moved but this will let us try one out before we buy. The Lord's blessings keep raining down on us. We are most thankful for them, too.

These future layers will be a big boost to our egg production come this Fall. For some reason we have been unable to discover the cause of why the girls have been slack in their laying for about a month. One would think with the warmer weather, increased plant growth and emergence of insects that they would be "fat & happy" right now. I pray that it is only a temporary lull in production, as we still have customer orders to fill and we do not want to go back to eating store bought eggs again. I have tried to eat them at a restaurant and can't stomach the smell or taste of them. Having fresh eggs and milk will definitely re-educate your taste buds to what real food tastes like. Going back to "confinement-grown" foods is not an option for us anymore. I even have one son who is a convert to the new way of eating and stated that the "name brand" milk tasted awful now.

Step by step we are gaining ground on the goal of raising our food sources and eating fresh, locally and nutritionally. With each one established comes the satisfaction of knowing we are contributing to our health and future.

Mother hen to many,

Deborah

It's Official

As of this afternoon our dream of owning a farm has come to pass. HURRAH! ! ! We closed on the property in Alabama today. The 21+ acres and house is completely ours now. Along with all the re-modeling and fencing to install too. It seems almost surreal right now. I don't think it has fully sunk in yet. Probably won't last for long as we have so much to do. We are on our way to establishing our Heartland farm in it's new location. Lon has to work tomorrow, but you can bet that we will be out at the new place come Friday.

With some hard work, good weather and dependable helper we are setting our goal to move in by the end of next month ~ May. Would be a great birthday present for my husband, it's on the 27th. The amount of details to be considered and taken care of is staggering right now. Though once we start I am sure the excitement to live there will drive us to get things done. I have already set up the power and phone service for the place. We have even gotten our first piece of mail there . . . The Alabama Farmer's Market Bulletin. How appropriate is that?

I am sure the good news we have received will be met with mixed feelings from family and friends. Some are happy for us, others are sad to see us move and some wish we would stay right were we are. Let me just say this to all of you, You only have one life to live. Decide how you want to live it and START living it. To put dreams on hold for too long can lead to never seeing them take shape. We are not guaranteed a tomorrow, so live today.

Pinching myself and feeling thankful,

Deborah