Sunday, April 13, 2014

Beach Trip

We are blessed that our mini-homestead is 45 minutes away from the Atlantic Ocean. Our girls love the beach.

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Ben’s first Saturday off since December called for a family trip to the beach.

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I love the one-gallon white buckets from my soap-making for picking up shells. They have lids! No more sand spilled in the car.

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Even Eliott had a nice time, wrapped up with Mama.

He was born at home on March 31, 2014, with Mama and Daddy in attendance. His big sisters were in and out of the room with my Mother (Gaga) watching over them.

He was 8 lb 1 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. Born at 10:58 AM. Everyone is doing well. :) <3

When my pregnancy carpal tunnel finally goes away, I will add his birth story to my Kindle Book, Unassisted HomeBirth- a Collection of Real Life Stories, available here.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Strawberries and Roses

 

After this long cold rainy pregnant winter, I’m happily surprised to see that some plants survived.

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I love winter for the greens. And the fact that we don’t have to mow. My red lettuce is so pretty. Lyli picked the chives flowers soon after I took this picture. She’s been having a blast snacking on brocolli and cauliflower. I confiscated the chives flowers for stir-fries.

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I sure am looking forward to strawberries!

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I hope I get some this year. Last year, Lyli and the birds and snails beat me to them.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

A New FarmGirl Laundry Tip

I’ve been looking for a way to get rid of dryer sheets for ages. I know about the chemical residue they leave on your clothes, the toxins they leach into your skin and the environment, and you know what else? They cost too much!

But I live in Florida, and we have static problems. I plan to build a clothesline. But I haven’t yet. In the meantime, I’ve finally learned how to easily and without chemicals get rid of the static cling!

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A tiny ball of aluminum foil. I just ripped off a sheet, balled it up, and put it in the dryer.

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I wanted to try it out before I recommended it to you all, so I’ve waited through five loads of laundry.

I LOVE THIS!

It’s not giving us rashes or harming us or the environment. It just gets rid of the static.

I am sold!

Next, homemade herbal laundry soap.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

A FarmGirl Night Stand

This rustic step stool makes a perfect night stand. My homemade candles made from upcycled tea canisters sit on the top shelf, my magazines and books fit perfectly on the middle steps and my glass of water rests on the bottom step.

What things have you upcycled around the farm and home?

Monday, July 1, 2013

FarmGirls Need PotRacks

It only took me nine months to make this pot rack. I scored some free wood at Home Depot, bought 8 S-Hooks, 13 Pot Hooks, a 10-foot chain (only needed 4 feet- Oops), and 8 Eye-Hooks.

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I am SO happy to have my most often used pots and tools handy. We bought this white hanging basket at WalMart way back when we moved into the efficiency. I love having the potatoes and onions out where I can see them. They mold so quickly with all the humidity in Florida. The top basket is full of tomatoes Lyli and I picked today.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Grace Under Pressure

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This picture has nothing to do with the post, but look how pretty. These were growing wild at the edge of the pond this morning.

A helpful babysitter allowed for a trip to the Jacksonville Farmer’s Market yesterday. I am so excited to have scored a box of tomatoes, a box of corn, three bags of onions, a box of okra, a box of chilis and half a box of hot banana peppers for a grand total of

$60.00

The thing is, most of it is old and starting to turn. Quick freezing and canning is key to getting this kind of deal. Buying in bulk is a lot of work in the kitchen.

So today, on Ben’s day off, I’d planned to can and freeze and wash and chop and roast and cook all day. (Got 7 quarts of mixed veggies put up last night.)

But… the power went off. And stayed off for 4 and 1/2 hours. We had another storm.

Oh- that brings up another thought--- we’ve finally named this place.

SOGGY BOTTOM MINI-FARM

Because it is. Ben mowed the yard this morning (before the rain came) and said that it was his first time ever mud-bogging on a lawn mower. :)

So, now I am canning. And I’m going to work as much as possible tonight to put up corn, okra, and make and can salsa. We go through 12-15 pints of salsa per year. It’s a great thing to have on hand. I love salsa on baked potatoes or chips or burritos. Sometimes if I don’t have any fresh tomatoes, I’ll put salsa on my salad greens. And this is my first year putting chilis and hot peppers in. I think I’ll roast the chilis first. Any thoughts?

So 4 hours behind schedule, actually a little more because the power went out in the middle of canning a batch of mushrooms, so they are in the canner now- had to start all over. And here’s where the grace under pressure comes in…

I’m praying for it.

Lol. No, really. We had a fun time playing games and practicing drums for Lyli’s drum lessons. I had some canned chicken in the pantry, and the lasagna was already cooked for me to put it together and into the oven for lunch. So we rolled some chicken salad into half pieces of lasagna and ate chicken salad rolls for lunch. I have to say, they were delicious.

But I’m much happier now, with my hot cup of tea and air conditioning.

I am spoiled and I love it!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

It’s A Blooming Miracle

…that I was able to grow anything at all this summer.

I know most Yankee gardeners think that we have it made in Florida. But what we have is an actually short growing season before the sun burns everything up. Including us- the heat chases us indoors just like the snow chases you.

And bugs. We have LOTS of bugs. Big mutant mosquitoes. Lovely little moths that lay their eggs all over my garden; their offspring especially love my tomatoes. Aphids. Stinging gnats. Ants… the list goes on.

But I was able to grow a few things this year, including flowers. :)

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Potatoes

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Roses (Knock-Out and Don Juan) and Gardenias

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Spearmint                                               Nasturtium

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Some cucumbers

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These zinnias bloomed so prettily for about a week before the heat got them.

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The pretty zinnia that Lyli and I grew from seed.

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And a Chianti Sunflower growing along the garden fence.