Just another Day on the Farm

No Buy November “The lead up”

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Just another day on the farm

Oct 25

It’s a lovely mild day out there today but the wind is bitter, I have been watching load after load of corn go by, the local farmers are running from dawn to dusk. I wonder when they will get to the corn around my own little plot of land. Worked on getting a Christmas present ready (Flame color changing Pine cones).

I also trimmed and got the Canadian Bacon weighted and prepped and into the fridge for later use. Made the High Bush Cranberries into juice and pulp today.

Needed to figure out how to make a new recipe using the pulp left over from the High Bush Cranberries.

the chickens will be very happy when they get the seeds. Did a rice wash on my hair today, I always love how my hair feels afterwards.

Spending-0

Oct 26th

Up early this morning, lots of canning and processing to do today. Processed Elderberry Juice, Made the High Bush Cranberry Pancake Syrup. Baked off three large deer roasts that will be used in other dishes. Made Bone Broth. Pressure canned 10 pints jars of Sausage meats (half honey garlic/half Italian) and 8 pints of Venison stew. Cold today -8

Hubby left me a note that said: check your camera and this cute photo was waiting for me 🙂 I love how sweet my farm dogs are with “their cats” The rest of the day will be spent on clean up, house work and regular farm chores, we are having company arrive tomorrow. Heading in to town tonight to get my last shopping done before we hit the no buy November in full swing.

Nope hubby ended up with enough overtime that he did not get home till quite late, so he stopped at the store to get a few things for the gathering happening tomorrow and a few things for the house

Spending -40

Oct 27th

Its a relaxing day with company coming, Cooking, Canning and a few drinks with a movie to round out the night. Lets back that up just a touch LOL. The first few hours of the day were spent working around the house, including getting things cooking till the first of the company Miss L arrived around 10am.. we had a great visit and a lovely lunch, we got a bit of outside work done, but then the electric screwdriver quit. So not near as much as we wanted and I will need to get a new one. Our second set of company pulled in around 3pm but she was staying the night, so we had my birthday cake (Pineapple fluff with cherry topping), coffee and presents.

Then Miss L headed home to beat the dark and the coming snow. Miss D stayed over so after a lovely supper of roast pork onions and carrots with mashed and gravy, we got a bit of canning done, I got the High Bush Cranberry Jelly made and the Elderberry Syrup canned up.. At that point we took a break and had a few evening drinks and watched a movie. It was a delightful day other than the equipment breaking.

Cost -0

Oct 28th

Woke up to snow.. it had started late the night before.. still snowing!

Good thing I stuffed the outside rabbit boxes with fresh hay yesterday as extra bedding, they will be all snug in the colder temps in their inner houses. So Miss D gave me a hair cut this morning before she left (saving me at least 40 or more at the hair dressers) and my hair is around 5 inches or so shorter, but still long enough to get in short or high ponytail

I added in a new color to go with the new hair cut 🙂 I like it, very natural looking to me

We need to head to town at a later point today and get my shopping list done while I have the car to do it.. but I think that is an afternoon thing, we will see. Ended up going while it still snowed in the hopes that it will stop snowing this afternoon.. We will see.

Shopping was busy but we did stick to our list. We needed to get a new electric Screwdriver, which as a direct replacement full price with Tax is pretty much $200. So you can understand why I got really excited when I found an amazing sale on a kit that included extras and the driver I needed on sale for 60 plus tax.. WHOOOT!.. We got two of them!

I got two for one with the all the extra’s in the kit which would be worth another 150 at least if bought by themselves. That means we have three charger, four batteries and we will both have a driver for when we are working on bigger projects and or different spaces. Given it had to be replaced, this was outstanding Sale!

Then we did a bit of Christmas shopping, some farm critter shopping, some cat food and such. Finally we got to the grocery shop, I only got one case of 12 of a canned ham (different version of spam really) for the pantry and the rest was pantry replacement or top ups. I had 50 per week for regular shopping, and I came in just a dollar over.

So I can honestly say that I am coming into No buy Feb without spending more than normal or feeling like I have “added” anything extra to cover etc..

If the snow keeps up this heavy, we will work in the house for the afternoon, really only heading out for chores, it feels like a bundle up with a hot drink and just watch the snow fall day.. Alas there is work that still must be done.

Ah, shoot.. something came in the quiet of the storm and killed one our geese in their outdoor pen, so that means the two left got moved to an inside pen and no more free ranging ducks/chickens until we can figure out what came. once they get a free meal, they will be back..

Oct 29th

Well, its Monday and its -4 today and the morning was fogged in and the afternoon is grey overcast and its lightly raining out there. Damp and cool all day long.

As is normal on Monday its bread making day, I am planning toast or sandwich loaves’ and one Herb bread that will be more for soups/stews, I will need to bake-off muffins for breakfast and then make a batch of cookies for work lunches.

The oven light burned out since yesterday, I flipped the switch and nothing.. so no warming in the oven this way, so back to the old boiling water trick. Just fill your kettle nice and full and then make yourself a cuppa and pour a quart of boiling water into a jar and carefully with oven mitts place it in the oven next to your proofing bowl.. the heat will spread and warm the oven and the bread will rise.. reuse the water in the dogs bowl or to water plants or into the sink for dishes etc

The bread is super soft and moist today, its lovely but the weather as always does effect it the end result. I just realized that I am out of mozza cheese, I have cheddar and parm and of course I can make cheese but I don’t have a milking animals so that means I will have to make it with dried milk if I want to do so.. as I have already spent my regular funds on the lead up.. I guess I am heading into nov with no mozza in the house.. Given I am planning on pizza for supper this could be interesting!

Oct 30th

Cold, damp and raining for the day.. one still must do chores.. time to start get out the pompom and scarfs.

Hubby got up at his normal time before 5 am and decided that he is affected by his cold enough not safe to drive with a spinning head and after meds crawled back into bed for more rest. otherwise its a putter day. Going to keep it quiet while my guy has a sick day

Time to get out the elderberry syrup to give a helping hand to his immune system and of course I will need to make him hot soup..

So I am posting this run up today as tomorrow the 31st is already booked in as a double post day. I will include it on next weeks week post up, which should be running on weds if I keep to the plan..

So for those that made it to the end.. I have a question for you, what do you want me to talk about in no buy November? Got a question for me? Want me to expand on certain subjects? Want lots of photos in the weekly update?

Posted in At the kitchen table, No Buy November | 9 Comments

How to make Pumpkin Jam

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Just another day on the farm

This is an old fashioned recipe that uses weights in its measurements for the pumpkin/sugar amounts, use your kitchen scale. The pumpkin is weight after its cleaned, prepped and ready to use.

Pumpkin Jam Recipe

5 pounds of pumpkin
4 pounds of sugar
3 lemons sliced thin and finely diced
1 orange sliced thin and finely diced
1 tsp of salt

Peel and cut pumpkin into pieces about 1/4th thick and finely dice or put them in a food processor and chop them finely, place in bowl with the sugar and allow to sit overnight

Remove the pumpkin pieces and bring the liquid to a boil, add the pumpkin, the lemons the orange and salt, cook very slowly on a low heat until thick to your desire, bottle and process for 15 minutes in a hot water bath process.

This is just a yummy, yummy pumpkin marmalade like jam, yes its sweet and has a different flavour. can be used as a cake filling, or as a tart filling with a dollop of whip cream. Make an outstanding glaze mixed with icing sugar an a touch milk over a pumpkin loaf.

Happy National Cat Day

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Just another day on the farm

Our Current Purr Pride of farm cats send a big old hello to all of you 🙂

Sunny Cat is now our old man, approx. age 8 or older now.. unknown age so its just a best guess. He is a total lover but a amazing hunter here on the farm.

Henry is one of our new boys, he is seven and taking his time settling in, he is a ghost in the yard but always loving an sweet when he does appear. We currently have him in the little barn, very good hunter!

Patrick is three this year and a amazing boy, he is a crazy love bug cuddle follow you everywhere boy.. he is a momma’s boy! He is so-so on his hunting.. more of a .. well I guess I should kinda guy

Faith is full litter sister to Patrick, she is so quirt but she is gentle and always watching.. she really likes to be up high, on the hay, in the rafters up in a tree, sitting on the roof.. crazy hunter, she does them all..

then come Sofie.. unknown age.. but around 3, this girl is one of the best hunters..

River is a year old now and she is a quiet shadow cat here, a altered female, She is shy but always around..

Need to try for a update photo of her, she is a large female cat, never seen her hunt, never see her much.. she hangs around but watching.. her favorite spots are under the spruce trees

Leeloo is coming six weeks of age this week.. she is the baby of the farm..

Our maybe new guy.. Mac

Posted in Critters | 11 Comments

DIY Pinecones Colored Flames Project

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Just another day on the farm

Simple DIY project using free picked up pinecones turned into a neat colored flames to use in your outdoor fall fires.

We had collected a large bucket of pinecones and I roasted them at 200 for 20 min to make sure they were clean, no bugs/eggs etc being brought into the house itself.

The video explains it.. one gallon warm water,

one cup of your choice of

Borax -green-yellow flames
Salt- yellow
Epsom Salt- white
Boric Acid- Green

Once Drained after soaking, allow to dry in well on a tray, shaking the tray to move them around twice a day until fully dry, then bag them up and store till needed. use a few at a time in the fire for color changing flames.

The reason, I do not have a wee video of these in action yet? this was on the plan for the weekend.. but.. Snow! lol

Posted in frugal | 4 Comments

How to Make Pineapple Fluff Dessert

Posted on October 28, 2018 by Just another day on the farm

Pineapple Chery Fluff is so easy to make. it’s a light fruity creamed cheese dessert.

Bottom

3 cups of graham crackers crumbs
1/2 a cup of butter melted.

Now you can make this a soft bottom, just mix your melted butter in and put it mixed gently in the pan and press it down and let it cool and go.. That would make this dish a no bake.

However I like a nice lift able firmer bottom, so press it down and bake it for 10 minutes at 350 in oven. Cool totally before putting it together.

Filling

8 0z of room temp cream cheese package
1/4th cup of butter
2 cups of Icing Sugar
3 cups of whipped cream
1 can of crushed pineapple (very well drained)
1 can of cherry pie filling.

Beat the cream cheese and butter together, then add the Icing Sugar and beat it in with the above. In a different bowl beat 1 cup of heavy whipping or use a tub of cool whip, your choice.. Beat the cream till its fluffy, then add the whipped cream and the crushed pineapple and gently fold it into the Cream Cheese, Butter and Icing Sugar mix..

Spread softly over the bottom layer. Open and spoon out the pie filling on the top and then gently spread it out as needed with great care to not mix the layers. Chill at least an hour ideally in the fridge

Cut and serve

This was my birthday dessert for Saturday’s get together.. it was a total hit with folks enjoying seconds and taking home a extra piece This is modified version of Pineapple fluff that was a popular dessert in the late 70’s and early 80’s and was at every potluck.

Posted in Baking | Tagged fluff cream cheese dessert, No Bake pineapple fluff, Pineaple cherry fluff recipe, Pineapple cherry Fluff Dessert | 3 Comments

Lilli & Lotti’s Bunnies in a Bag!

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Just another day on the farm

Next up in the Lilli & Lotti Christmas Catalogue are bunnies in a bag!

These debuted last year at this time and have been a huge hit. Each little bunny is hand made and embroidered to show their own distinct personalities.

Each comes with six interchangeable skirts, a crocheted scarf and a cozy drawstring bag to tuck everything into.

I am taking orders for Christmas now, they are $25 each. Bags and skirts come in a variety of fabrics, and I can do my best to fulfill specific requests. I can also do PANTS 👖 if so desired. Because of the small parts, these aren’t recommended for kids under the age of 3.

Now, are they not just SO cute.. they also have other things on their facebook page to check out!

So here is me following the rules.. I did not get anything for promoting this company, I was not gifted anything nor was I paid in any way. To the best of my knowledge, following the link at the top of the post will not create any “cookies” beyond what facebook does in its normal way.

Now that I have that out of the way! The lovely ladies that own this small company, I meet one of them many years ago when she lived in the country and had her own little Canadian Blog, we were blogging buddies seven or eight years ago.. life changed and she no longer blogs but we became facebook friends and have stayed in touch since then.

I offered to put a post up here to promote their page because it means supporting a small handmade product. She does use new items but she is also totally open to using recycled material as well. So Perhaps you or your children or your friend is looking for a one of kind Christmas gift that was handmade with love.. Take a look, there are a number of different items, I just picked the bunny in the bag because I think its adorable 🙂

Posted in Life moves on daily | 2 Comments

Around the Kitchen Table Rambles

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Just another day on the farm

Come on in, Grab a seat.. Coffee or would you prefer Tea today?

I have been jotting down notes this week on things I wanted to talk about today on the Friday ramble post. They are in no real order LOL

We chunked out just over several hundred this past two weeks on building materials and hubby didn’t check each board and so we got a split dud. I want it to go back.. he says he can find a use for it. It’s almost impossible to get that guy to take something back or to get picky in the lumber yard.

I am sure the guys always want to see him pull in instead of me! I want to see the boards, I want to check each one. It’s a full hour of my time to go there and back and I do not want to waste the gas to bring one back and get it replaced so I tend to be picky at the start. Dear Hubby on the other hand is not as picky, nor does he want to take it back.. So at least one of my costly boards is not of quality. The price of lumber has gone up another 15% in the past two months.

So at the hardware store was an interesting little sign, it said..

Due to the lack of sawdust, we are not able at this time to get in bulk volumes of wood pellets for the wood burning stoves. We will update as soon as possible.

This made me go hmm.. why do we have a lack of sawdust, clearly our lumber mills are working, we have lumber, we have our own forest’s and our mills.. so why are we in lack of sawdust?

Now this is an issue for sure for all the folks that have the big cast iron wood pellet burning stoves to heat their homes. It will lead to higher “heating” costs if they need to use backup systems which tend to pull power to do so.

The way the stoves are made, they can not use regular wood in them and while you can get cords easy enough in our area. The cords have gone up another 1o dollars this year..

So tell me, are you seeing a sawdust shortage in your area for wood pellet stoves, can you get your firewood locally and if so, have you seen a price increase?

The weather has turned and winter is truly nipping at our heels this week. -8 this morning and under a weather warning that we will be getting our first true snow storm of the year this coming weekend, thankfully it is not to be arriving till later Saturday afternoon which means we can idea get our build done Saturday morning. Talk about pushing it right to the line.

My second subject today is passing the buck! Sometimes when it comes to cats I feel like there is a sign on my farm that says.. hey.. drop them off here.. she has cats, I am sure she would not mind one more. I had already spoken to the vet about booking in and fixing momma cat and that is one of the things we are saving for in the month of Nov. So to say I was not happy when “Mac” (we had to give him a name) appeared this week.

We heard a cat “talking” just off our deck and both hubby and I looked at each other because it was clearly a “help call” and so off we went to see who needed us.. and there he was a 2 to 4-year-old in good shape none feral intact male cat. He is not afraid of other cats, he is not afraid of dogs, he loves people, full on purr, head bop and body curl up and down when you pet him. This boy has been well-kept and well-loved..

So I thought, maybe he is just doing a fall walk, so I let those up and down the road that we had him.. nothing.. I had him scanned for chip (long shot I know) no chip.. we had locked him up for a bit in case we found his home fast.. we let him back out.. he shows up on our deck and sits on my lap for a cuddle.. NOT A STRAY!

While I am thrilled that we had added our little wee LeeLoo to the farm, I was honestly not looking for another cat this fall. Now the perk of this boy is that is outside only, he is a good hunter, he has a good temperament.

However in order to get him his rabies, altered and get him his meds (even for just one month) it will cost us around 300. The simple truth of the matter is.. I am pissed.. not at Mac, not his fault.. but instead at whoever loved and dumped him. It’s not like this is a farm born feral that I need to trap, fix and put back into barn because there is no hope of him being rehomed.

Rat-B@#%tard’s for putting it on us! Do you have a low-cost alter clinic in your area? Do you have a farm cat placement program? We have a low-cost program in the city but we make too much money a year to use it.

There is a very good low-cost no frills Rabies shot clinic held each fall. Thankfully we can give the rest of our vaccines ourselves to the cats to help keep costs down. Not many do.. but if you have knowledge and skill to do it properly, it will save you a lot.

We will tighten our belt just a bit more and we will do what is right.. Maybe I will be able to rehome him, if not.. he will be looked after properly.

So how was your week? Did you see something in a store that made you go hmm? Did you read something in the news that you thought was interesting? Is winter nipping at your heels as well?

Leeloo says Dezbot is warm and me snuggle!

Looking forward to our visit next Friday!

Posted in At the kitchen table | 12 Comments

Dill Pickle Pizza

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Just another day on the farm

Have you ever had Dill Pickle Pizza?

No, me either till last night! Hubby said, stay out of the kitchen, I got this!

My darling hubby is over the top on his happy birthday song but I think its adoreable.

So what does a Dill Pickle Pizza taste like.. well its like a garlic cheese bread pizza with thin slices of dill pickle.. its good! Its different but very good.. I love that I got to try something totally new on my birthday!

He also brought home a truly bad store cake.. I scraped off the fake icing and got a piece of the cake/cherry in me but he will be the main eater of that cake.. The older I get, the more I do not like “fake” food.. but none the less the thought was sweet as can be!

Hubby got me two pairs (on sale two for one.. good man) pairs of hot socks!

I also got the most lovely metal tree for the wall from my mother in law.. I like it very much 🙂

Now I must say thank you to those that took the time to wish me a happy birthday on the blog, facebook, by phone, by private message and by email! Over a hundred people took the time out of their busy lives.. Bless you all!

Posted in Blogging | 6 Comments

Farmgal’s turning 46

Posted on October 24, 2018 by Just another day on the farm

I am on the back side of my 40’s starting today 🙂 I am glad to be starting a new year. I have to admit that I am happy to put the year of my 45th behind me and have that feeling of starting a new year in my life.

I will admit that my 45th was a wild ride.. while there were certainly a number of highs and lots of just really good moments, events and days.. there was also a lot of lows, a lot of struggle and more time finding my footing after it felt like it had been swept right out from under me.

I had a very hard time on my 44th as it was the year that I truly was forced to accept that we would not be able to keep trying or have another child. For those that are knew to the blog, we were blessed with both a daughter (Maeve) and a son (Nathaniel) but both were born as premies and passed within days or hours of being born.. There was years of trying, many lost little ones within the first months over the years.. Its hard to let go.. The gentleman above is my rock, he has been with me though it all and I am so lucky to share my world with him!

I come into 46 with a more narrow view of what is important to me, what I want in my life, what I do not want in my life. There are changes afoot. I also come into year 46 with many blessings, a better understanding of what has value to me. I feel like 45 did some trimming of things to make room for what is to come. I am ready to spread my wings and let go of what must be and let the wind carry in the new.

This is scary, hard but a needed thing.. I am looking forward to all the new things we have planned for the coming year.. plans for myself, plans for the farm, plans with my wonderful dear hubby! Plans with my friends and family Some will be local, like when we went hiking just down the way in the photo below.. other’s might take us to further place and maybe even see new land.. I have a craving to go in the coming year!

So hope you will stick around for the coming year here on the blog, there will be recipes, lots of photos, more video’s, lots of farm things but also some trips in there. Bless you all

I want to send out a big Thank you to my readers, you have no idea how much your comments at times have meant to me over the past year.. some of you reached out when I was off line and sent me the most wonderful notes! Some of you just made my day, some of you I feel like I have gotten to know you and that if we ever could, that it would great to sit down and have a meal and visit in person. Thank you to the those that we have done just that.. I am grateful for those that I have been able to connect with face to face 🙂

Posted in At the kitchen table | 17 Comments

November No Buy

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Just another day on the farm

Now normally it is No Buy Feb and I might do that one as well.. but I have been reading along on a couple of blogs and a Facebook group that are all doing “reduce” or no Buy challenges.

The Facebook group is asking for 7 days.. really I have to admit that I went huh.. cuz 7 days really does not get the point home to me.. I mean I guess if you truly are the type of person that really only does keep 3 days of fresh food in your house, maybe.. or maybe if you are a skip the dishes regular or count of the good food box (which I am not knocking as at least it is Fresh food in a box that comes with recipes that you make at home, I would never knock fresh food/home cooking.. you go!)

But if you count on ordering it to give you meals because you do not have extra’s well then I guess the 7 day no buy could be felt. I think for most of us who are homesteaders in fall, our pantries overflow with things but on the other hand, Nov at least in my zone and many area’s of the states means that our gardens are done.

I am looking at doing a No Buy Nov for a few reason’s

I want to save a bit of money for other projects
I want to focus on the farm
I want to push myself to use what is available right now on the farm and explore possibility’s that I miss because I normally do this in Feb
I do not have any milking animals this month which means that I have limited milk products, I do have dried milk powder, dried buttermilk powder and of course canned milk.. So I am not without but I am limited.

My regular rules for a no buy apply here.. I will pay my bills, I will buy all needed farm and farm critter needs. I will allow us to buy what ever is still needed in regards to fall/winter repair on the farm.

I will if I need to have a small? hmm 20 dollar budget for the whole month for possible blog projects, if required. It’s not free money for any other use.

Hubby as always is out of the challenge when traveling for work but is in the challenge when on the farm and or taking his meals/snacks and such from the farm. He needs a new pair of boots but we will get them before Nov arrives. His old pair earned their retirement.

As always required vet/farrier needs for my farm or house critters will be done on time.

I have really enjoyed reading and back reading on The Realm of Silveryew and her weekly posts that have a daily little putter note on how things went.. I am not sure my time on the farm will be as interesting as I find her’s .. I am just in awe of some of the finds she has gotten.. I want bags of apples for 45p (and yes I had to look that up to confirm that would be 45 cents) and then to have the store owner just gift them.. how lovely!

I will be allowed to barter.. I am not sure what if anything I will be bartering for or with.. but it’s still allowed!

We will see how the month goes. It will be a good thing to switch it up to a different time of the year! I will let you know now much I saved at the end of the month to go towards the project I am saving for.