The Best of Both Worlds

I always thought I was born 100 years too late. As a little girl I would dream of doing homework by the light from a oil lamp while dad sat warming his feet by the fire and mother baking bread in the wood cookstove. I dreamed of using a wash board helping mother scrub clothes and hanging them out on a line to dry. Of going to the well and carrying water to the house and animals. Later in life I dreamed of doing all these things as a wife and mom and later still with grandchildren. I guess as you get older you really do get wiser. A light bulb moment happened and I suddenly realized I am actually living my dream but with added bonuses. We have over a dozen oil lamps around the house. I enjoy winter nights with some of them lighting up our home in a warm cozy glow. I love sitting and reading by the light from my favorite oil lamp.

 We heat our home with a wood stove. Coming in from the cold and feeling the warmth from the stove and the wonderful smell of the different woods burning is a dream come true. I also love keeping the tea kettle simmering on top of the stove for cups of tea whenever the urge arrives. We haven't set up our wood  cookstove yet but keeping a pot of homemade soup or pinto beans cooking on the back of the wood stove all day makes for some very, very, good meals. I am blessed with washtubs, wooden scrub board, and a hand crank wringer

. I can do laundry anytime I wish this way and hang them out on the lines to dry. I have the best of both worlds. I can choose to do things the simple hard way of my ancestors which I really do enjoy or I can do the easy, fast way by flipping a light switch, turning on the electric stove, throwing clothes in my nice front loader washer before tossing them in the dryer. I can watch a movie, enjoy the computer, take a nice hot shower, flush the toilet and still have mostly the simple hardworking life I dreamed. I wasn't born 100 years too late. I was born at the right time for me. A time where I can have the best of both worlds. I am truly blessed!

Wednesday's Wonderful Blog Neighbor

Because I think I have the most awesome blog neighbors I wanted to share some with you. Each Wednesday I will post one of my blog neighbors and hope you will drop by their blog for a visit. You don't have to follow them or even leave a comment (though that would be nice). Just stop by and check them out. Who knows you might like them so much they become your neighbor too! My wonderful blog neighbor today is Kelly from Mainely Ewes Farm .

 I drool  a lot each time I visit her blog. Not only does she have the beautiful farm home I love, she lives in Maine and gets lots of snow, she has the wood cookstove I dream about. She is a nurse that works long hours and still find times to do so much at her farm. She has sheep she shears and then spins their fleece. She does all kind of crafts as well as being a awesome cook. This lady is what I want to be like if I ever grow up! She and Ted have remodeled most of the farm house on their own and man is it really beautiful. I love her goat stories, her sheep photos, and love reading what the dogs have been up to. Mainely Ewes Farm is my ideal dream farm. Stop by and pay a visit. Check out some of the older posts and see some of the remodeling as well as a little bit of her daily life on the farm. Get comfortable and grab a drink because you are gonna want to sit a spell while you meet and catch up with Kelly.

Lil Tidbits

Had a major headache for 3 days but think I gave it myself while getting soaps ready for Craft Fair Saturday.
Think smelling all the different scents while bagging soaps was my downfall.

The Craft Fair, Farm Tractor Demonstration, Flock Swap was a big hit. Our Tractor Supply always has such awesome things each month to take part in. I sold lots of soaps, laundry detergent,lip balms, jams/jellies, herbal teas, and my cream cheese filled pumpkin muffins were a big hit! We also sold Bonnie and Clyde (a pair of our geese) Rocky, Porky, and Prissy (our New Zeland meat rabbits), and Farley (one of Buttons bucklings) as well as 4 roosters. The lady that bought the roosters wants more every week which will really help bring our rooster population down along with the feed bill. The other animals sold each went to loving homes and won't be eaten.

We found a really good deal on hay so traveled to Cameron after the craft fair to bring home 45 bales. The goats were very happy with the hay and we are very happy with the price.

Got such a sweet phone call! Megan called and put the phone to Skyler's ear and let me talk to him. He goo'd and goo'd while I talked like he was talking back. Megan said he also kept turning to look at the phone like he was trying to see me. LOL

I love and miss my snuggle buddy. Grandson Quintin had his birthday party last night. From what I hear it was the perfect 15 bash with music and dancing.


Had a hen show up from the field with 2 baby chicks. Found her nest right out in the open so surprised she even hatched 2 eggs with all the rain we have had. The other 6 eggs didn't hatch and William tried putting them under a light. They didn't hatch but my love seat has a burnt spot (another post in itself LOL)

A new friend William made at the flock swap gave him a LOT of hot peppers, sweet peppers, and eggplant so I will be doing something with them tomorrow. The guy and his family are organic and really was nice meeting and talking with them. Also chatted for a while with a lady that has more goats than me and even bought 4 keets from her. (Yes Mike, 4 more birds).

I won a give away from a country cowgirl which I will write more about her blog on one of my Wednesday's Wonderful Blog Neighbor post. She sent me a beautiful necklace and earring set, a book on true stories of horses and humans. Already got me in tears but is a beautiful book. A screen frame that I absolutely love! She is a sweet young lady and I thank her very much!

Have been trying not to post too much about the election on facebook though it has been hard. I hate when one side writes how bad or stupid the other side is doing or saying things but when their side does some of the same things or worse they say nothing but good things. Our country is is deep trouble no matter who wins. We need to stop blaming, calling names and make America united once again. No one side or person can do this... it takes ALL of us regular Americans to take our country back and stop letting the people we elected do what they want. They work for us!!! Okay enough of the lil tidbits floating around in my mind. Time to get back to things I can handle and finish the laundry!

Double Nickel Farm: Before President Obama Part 2

For those that read Part 1 of Double Nickel Farm's before Obama post. Here is the link to part 2. I wish our country had the faith and trust in God this family has.
 Double Nickel Farm: Before President Obama Part 2

Wednesday's Wonderful Blog Neighbor

Because I think I have the most awesome blog neighbors I wanted to share some with you. Each Wednesday I will post one of my blog neighbors and hope you will drop by their blog for a visit. You don't have to follow them or even leave a comment (though that would be nice). Just stop by and check them out. Who knows you might like them so much they become your neighbor too!

Now you know I am doing some major drooling over not only her house but that wonderful snow!

Today I would like for you to visit Hickery Holler Farm    Just when I think I have done enough she goes and post a little something she done in her spare time. Recipes, quilts, gardening, you name it this lady can do it in a blink of an eye. If I even think I am a great homesteader my blog neighbors make me realize I have a long way to go. She is from the south with hubby from the north, they moved to the midwest on a 72 acre farm. Her posts always leave me wanting to do more here on our tiny little homestead. Even if you don't garden or quilt you will enjoy visiting her blog. Reading her posts are like you are right there with her while she talks you through what she is doing. Now take a break and go visit Hickery Holler Farm.... you won't be disappointed!

Happy Birthday Grandson

Happy Birthday to a awesome buddy and grandson

To a guy with a wonderful sense of humor

To a guy that is a fantastic big brother

And a loving and caring son

To someone who had rather fish than do anything else in the world

Who is a great baseball player without even thinking about it

Who plays football like a pro

Happy Birthday to one of the kindest, smartest, most sensitive, loving, understanding young man I have the honor of knowing and calling my grandson. Quintin, the world is yours. You can do or be anything you set your mind and heart to. I know having September the 11th as your  birthday saddens you but I hope your day turns out to be as awesome as you are to me. I love you Q!

Double Nickel Farm: Before President Obama Part 1

Times are hard or getting hard for everyone. Grocery store prices are soaring. Those of us with animals hold our breath when we go buy animal feed. Each time we go its up another dollar or more. It is time to start being frugal if you aren't already. If you are its time to squeeze those pennies a little harder. Things are going to get a lot worse before or even if they get better. Sharing a link I think will bring it home much better than I. Will share part two when she posts. You really should take time to read. Consider it food for thought.
 Double Nickel Farm: Before President Obama Part 1