Reporting from down on the homestead - Sept 28th - Oct. 4th

**homesteadmamma** · 09-28-2003, 10:15 AM

Well our little homestead increased by 3, 3 kittens that is. They are so cute and mommy is so good so far. Dd is thrilled seeing as cats are her absolute favorite animal, although she is crazy about any animal. I always tell her she should be a vet's assistant.

Were almost into October and you can sure tell here by the feel of the temperatures and the color on the leaves. This morning it was -4 C here and is expected sometime this week to get to -10 C.

Seeing as today is Sun. its going to be a day of rest. Not sure what we have planned, but we may go for a ride in the country exploring. I love doing that on a Sun.

Thats the news down on the homestead.

**grneyegrl** · 09-28-2003, 11:08 AM

i have to work to day..im greatful for the job but the communte and hours on my feet are killing me..last nite i washed my uniforms and i have to iron one for to day. although i love the store i work at and i will have full free benefits in 60 days or so..

i plan on bring the paper with me and will read it on lunch.

**MJsLady** · 09-28-2003, 11:17 AM

Well I am still kind of woozy so I will be lazing around today!
CJ I miss the cold so much! I wish I could move up there! I love snow and such! Of course if we lived with snow I would be prepared for being snowed in!
Well no buzz from here. DH has declaredi t his week in the kitchen.
So I plan to play with my sewing machine and see how creative I can be!
Haaaaaaaaaave a goood'un ya'll! (I would say ladies but I am not sure if Gabe reads this or not!)

**homesteadmamma** · 09-28-2003, 03:45 PM

Well we didn't quite have a day of rest, but the whole family got involved in getting the outside ready for winter. We raked, mowed the lawn and put the bird feeders up. Even Michael took part in mowing the lawn, with his daddy right beside him. He was grinning from ear to ear.

Dh also got into the basement and cleaned the furnace and insulated the water pipes along with another small area that needed insulating down there.

So were all winterized except for plastic on dh's windows in his workshop and plastic on a couple windows in the house we haven't gotten replaced yet.

It was a busy but fun afternoon. Babies are doing well with mommy upstairs and the kids are at the park with dh, so I have some quiet time here.

**guest2** · 09-28-2003, 05:03 PM

Hi All,
Today I stayed home wiile my DH took the kids to church. I woke up with a horrible sinus attack (allergies) and spent the morning on the couch. The decongestants finally kicked in and I was able to get a few things done around here. So far I've got 5 loads of laundry done and either haning on the line or in the dryer ("laundry dude" for this month will be so happy since he got behind on this job). I also picked up the living room and got rid of lots of old newspapers, trash and magazines that were hiding all over in there.

I'm reading a new book by Phillip Yancy ~Rumors of Another World~ and love it so far! I also spent time reading in my new "The Message" Bible that DH bought me as an early Christmas gift since it was on sale and I had been wanting one for years!!!!

Our kittens have been up and playing today and are getting cuter every day. They both kept rolling around wanting their little tummies rubbed today~too cute!

**Heather** · 09-28-2003, 06:42 PM

It must the time of year for sinus' and allergies. I am so stuffed up and have sinus headaches. Being outside all weekend at the fair I'm sure didn't help but I wouldn't have missed it for anything!!

Today has been quiet and I've been enjoying it. Church this morning and I taught Sunday School. After church DH and kids went shopping for my birthday. We had late lunch/early supper when they got back and had yummy cake. DH is sleeping now as he has to leave tonight and drive all night.

CJ and Debbie, enjoy your kitties! Aren't they adorable!

**mustang80** · 09-28-2003, 07:57 PM

Today we just took it easy, since Ashlee and I were out late the last 2 nights with the marching band.

We went to church and then I picked up lunchmeat and rolls for the week. I figure for the small money I spent, we'll have hoagies and sandwiches all week, much cheaper than buying sandwiches at the convenience store.

Raechel cooked breakfast today. Courtney enjoyed them so much she was saying "Cha Cha, more eggies peeese". She calls Raechel "cha cha" because she can't say her name. It is adorable.

This afternoon I just tidied up a bit and then settled down to watch the race from Talladega. Scary crash for Elliot Sadler, I hope he is okay.

Raechel volunteered to cook dinner, so I let her. We ate a little later than I like to, but I knew it wasn't my night for dishes, lol.

Courtney is in her pj's watching "Big Comfy Couch". That's her new fave show, lol.

It's nice and cool outside, about 65 degrees. Great night to sleep with the windows open.

**homesteadmamma** · 09-29-2003, 09:10 AM

Good morning y'all. Everyone is still sleeping here so I have some quiet time. Mamma cat is doing great and the wee little ones are so sweet.

Today I look at the calendar and think another year is almost gone. Where did it get too.

Today I need to do some mending and a bit of sewing. Then I'll do some quilting later tonight. Want to get the tutorial done for finishing the quilt by the end of the week and then get the pictures developed on the weekend.

I need to grind some grain and then make bread. I'll also do some muffins while I'm baking and freeze some. I also need to see whats left in my freezer. I haven't purchased any meat has I want to use up everything thats in the fridge. Will probably get another deer come hunting season, so I want everything cleaned up by then.

I have one load of wash to do but may wait until tomorrow. I need to get the bedding done as well.

Thas the buzz on my homestead.

**Heather** · 09-29-2003, 10:01 AM

Good morning!

Today is going to be a clean up, put away day! Wow, with the fair this weekend we were just in and out, drop this and way we go and boy does it show it!

Dylan will do his school work until around 2 p.m. He then has a "ton" of stuff to burn for me. I have an ongoing laundry basket in the woodshed and when it gets full Dylan burns it.

I am going to be doing laundry and more laundry, need beds done too. Chocolate chip cookies are in the oven now and raspberry muffins waiting to go in. The house smells heavenly!

We are getting a damp day here today, on and off again rain. Very cool. I have on my jeans, warm sweater, socks and slippers, nice and cozy!

I also have to phone and make appointments for haircuts, Kody's therapy for his arm and the consignment shop.

Have a great day down on the homestead!!

**Mom23boys** · 09-29-2003, 10:22 PM

I don't know where the time went either CJ. Seems like another year is just flying by us all.

The weather was in the 80's today with a gentle breeze. It wasn't bad at all. I enjoyed it.

After work, I picked Chris up from football practice and then we went to the grocery store with coupons. I hate to pay full price for anything, especially when I know I can get it at a better price.

Richard's school called me while at school to come get him because he was sick. He seems better. I think it is mainly allergies, but there is a virus going around too. I will just watch him and see.

DH had to go to a fire chief's meeting for the vol. fire dept., so he got his dinner for free. They always serve them at the meetings.

Dakota has been helping me with laundry. I didn't do much yesterday after coming home from my mom's for the weekend. Now I have to catch up.

Well, that is the buzz here on the homestead.

**mrscornbread** · 09-29-2003, 10:43 PM

Yup, time is flying friends, the years are slipping by and lo and behold all of my babies are at least independent. My baby is already 12, where have the years gone?

MY HOUSE LOOKS GORGEOUS!!! Dh put the first coat of basic color on it Saturday, at first I liked it, then I didnt, then I did ( I know wishy wahsy) I went to work and dh put a little trim and accent on and it is absolutely beautiful. When the camera is full I will scan and post. I dont think the neighbors like it tho, they have not said anything and I can see them out there looking, they just wave. Oh well, its my homestead and I love it.

Got some tough classes, even tho it was the first day of school last week the Monday Wednesday classes are starting this week. Its gonna be a long wild ride,. but I am determined.

Have a good week friends.

**Heather** · 09-30-2003, 09:38 AM

Good morning!

Robin I bet your house looks great, can't wait to see pictures! I had to laugh when you said the neighbours were out looking. Anything we do here, they are checking it out, driving by etc.....funny, I wish they would just come on in and I'd show them

The latest was....DH is making a dirtbike track in the front field so we have piles of dirt sitting around.....two weeks ago at church 2 ladies asked what we were doing and jokingly I said, "Oh I'm getting a new house"(real joke!!) and they looked at each other and said "We thought so!!!!" NOT! Oh my the stories that get around town. I got a chuckle out of it anyways.

Today we are getting cool temperatures again...10 degrees and very windy. Clothes will dry real quick today in this wind.

I plan on getting my laundry caught up, didn't get it all done yesterday. I am going to be doing more baking this afternoon and put alot in the freezer. The boys must have a hollow leg!!! Food is disappearing around here fast!

I am concentrating on one flower bed later and pulling dead plants and trimming.

That's it for today, have a great day!!

**homesteadmamma** · 09-30-2003, 09:55 AM

Good morning everyone. I'm late today, slept in. It was just too cool to get out from under the quilts.

Robin and Heather, awe the neighbours. Aren't they just the best. They know your every move, the know exactly what your doing even if you don't and their tongues wag like crazy.

But like me, I'm sure you would have it any other way!!!

Well I finally had to turn the furnace on. It just isn't getting warm enough during the day to warm up the house and last night I was so cold I couldn't get warm. I have it set at 60 though so it shouldn't come on much. Were only at +8 C during the day now and with the wind yesterday it was unreal.
The Farmer's Almanac says were suppose to have a much colder winter and way more snow. Actually I hope they are right.

I did to get more painting done today. We only have 25 days until our first craft sale. Dh cut more ornaments out last night, but needs to cut more yet and then needs to get busy and make some craft items.

I also need to fold clothes from yesterday and do some baking.

I also need to get a list ready to see what all I need in my stockpile and then look at the budget to see what I can get.

We purchased the acrylic plastic for the windows yesterday. The paper on the plastic had gotten wet, so the guy gave us the sheets with $7.00 off each sheet, a savings of $28. Now dh has to cut the sheets and then will put it up on the weekend. It will be permanent because we don't plan on replacing those windows. We just don't have the $$ right now to do it.

Thats about it on my homestead. Think I'll go see what those neighbours are up to.

**mustang80** · 09-30-2003, 10:32 AM

Good morning! Courtney and I just took a ride to the local market to get some apples. I picked up 1/2 basket of Red Delicious for about $7.50. I thought that was a pretty good price. They gave her a free tiny pumpkin

. I also got some apple butter and 1/2 gallon of cider. I'll be busy baking today!

I'd like to get dinner in the crockpot so I don't have to worry about dinner this afternoon when I'm pooped from baking, lol.

Have a wonderful fall day!

**Mom23boys** · 09-30-2003, 03:16 PM

Good afternoon ladies. The weather here is nice. It is still in the 80's, but there is a breeze. This morning it was 54 and the boys thought it was cold...lol! Just wait until it really gets cold.

I stayed home today because I had a miagraine. I took the boys to school and then an hour later the school nurse calls and said Chris was sick and I needed to come get him. So we have both been napping on and off throughout the day.

The only thing I have really accomplished is laundry. I also got the kitchen cleaned. I will worry about the rest of the house when I feel more up to it.

That's the buzz here on the homestead.