Sunday, December 29, 2013

Life on the Homestead this Last Week

I hope that everyone has enjoyed their Christmas and is looking forward to 2014.  2013 has been a rough year for my family and I'm not too broken up about seeing it leave.
I have been spending time with my hubby and kiddos, basically doing whatever they want to do and using the in between times to try out some new things.  Here's what I have been up to lately...
I work with some wonderful ladies at my school.  They are always going above and beyond what they need to do to make life better for the kids.  Our staff does something for them, but I decided that the ladies that work with my kiddos deserved a little extra.  I took some pint jam jars, painted them white, the put some red stripes on it.  I sanded it a little bit to rough it up.  I love the distressed look.  I found some really cute flannel with 2 bears hugging for the top, then spray painted the screw bands white and filled it with mints.  Just a little something to say thanks!  for all they do for out kids!
Next, I made up some of this super easy, yummy bread!  This is from the book Artesian Bread in 5 minutes a Day.  It is delicious!  I will take pictures and share the recipe when I make it next time.  It make four loaves.  I gave one to my mother in law, along with a basket of canned and frozen goodies.  I forgot to take a picture of it, gotta get better at that...LOL
I tried to make some felted soap.  This is with a  bar of Ivory soap that I had in the cupboard.  I have a couple more that I am going to practice on before I use my good scented soap from Melaleuca.  I like the way it turned out and enjoy using it in the shower.  The wool is supposed to be a good exfoliater and the lanolin in the wool, makes it a softener.  Also wool is supposed to be anti-microbial so the soap doesn't get all smelling.  I'm just not real satisfied with the way it looks.  The stripes are too... stripey!  I will keep you up dated as I perfect my technique.  
Well, this is just a bit of what I have been up to this last week.  What have you been doing on your homestead?
  

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Welcome

Hello all, and thank you for stopping by.  I am settling into my home here in blogdom and looking forward to sharing my journey in homesteading.   I grew up on a farm and was determined that I would not end up on a farm again, I did pretty well for 22 years, but the homesteading bug has bit me bad!  :)  Now, I'm not talking about a full fledged working farm in the way I have always thought of, but I am thinking of a farm that will sustain my family and allow us to pursue our dreams.  We have quite a way to go to get to this place, and that is where this blog comes in!  I am hoping to chronicle my journey and I hope you will join me.  For 2014, I plan on following the book by Anna Hess, The Weekend Homesteader.  I am looking forward to learning as I go.   
I also plan to work on my family preparedness and will be sharing that.  
I am the mom to 4 adult (well almost) children.  My oldest is 20 and my youngest is 17.  Luckily none of them have indicated the desire to fly the coop anytime soon.  ;)  Being with my family is my greatest joy and is one of the reasons I am moving toward homesteading.  I got caught up in the dream that I could have it all, the job and the white picket fence, you know the Super Woman dream.  Now I realize that dream isn't the one for me and I need to get back on track.  It might take awhile, but with God's strength and grace, I will make it.  I hope you will join me in my journey.