FAMILY

                         "   I seem to have started a tradition " 

Our winters are long and cold here in Northern Maine. The kids are busy with Christmas Balls, then comes ski-team and basketball, cheering (all my nieces and nephews are involved in one way or another) But about mid February everything starts to die down except for recreational sking.

Last year we spent our weekends at our camp where there's lots of snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and ice fishing. I started inviting family up on Sundays for a big dinner. I so enjoy cooking, and love to have company. 

Well I've been thinking about it lately and the kids are almost done with there sports for the season, so I'm thinking a turkey dinner in a couple weeks (I still have a couple turkeys in the freezer)

I think we'll make this a NEW TRADITION.

A MORNING WALK AROUND THE YARD

BACK ON TRACK

Good evening everyone. Well I'm back to my little homestead for a few days. The chickens were really glad to see me, when I'm home for a few days they get to free range. A few weeks ago the raccoons had a feast, I'm down to only 5 hens, 1 rooster and 2 chicks (oh and 3 less racoons) I've decided I would like to take the chickens to the lake with me. We've bought a little coop from Tractor supply, and have it all put together. The only problem I have a rooster!! Not so sure the neighbors will like a rooster so trying to find him a home, then the girls will be going with me.

Home for a couple days helping my Dad move into his new home, and while I'm here I will be restocking the pantry.

Tomorrows list: Help Dad in the morning
                      : Blanching and freezing corn in the afternoon.
While I'm home I'm Hoping to pick up a case of locally grown broccoli to put in the freezer.

So far this summer I've put up 40 pints of fiddleheads
                                             30 pints of green and yellow beans
                                             12 pints of carrots
                                             15 pints of peaches
                                             20 Quarts dill pickles
                                             10 jars of relish
A bunch of different jams. Blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, Strawberry rhubarb, lemon marmalade, oh and I learned to make clover honey. I think I did 12 1/2 pints of honey.

Even though I've been spending a lot of time at the lake I'm still really busy when I'm home. After all we still have to eat.

Well that's it for this evening, hope you all had a wonderful Holiday weekend.

                                           Hugs Janice

A SIMPLER SIMPLE LIFE

 Hi ladies it has been a while.

I've been pretty occupied with a new lifestyle. I still have my little homestead under the windmills, my garden, my chickens.  I'm still canning, making soap and all the things that come with homesteading. The difference is I'm doing a lot at the lake.

My husband and I have purchased a little cabin on a lake about 45 minutes from our home. I've been spending most of my time there. Life seems to slow down when you get to the lake and I am very much enjoying it.

My plan is to get back on track with posting information on homesteading basics. but for today just wanted to let you know I was still here and enjoying my summer at the lake

Life Is Busy

                                        Good evening Everyone
I know you haven't heard from me in a while so I'm going to just fill you in on what I've been up to.

First: We bought a camp on a lake, I'm planning to have some pictures to post later, anyway the camp is a little bit of a fixer upper. So our weekends have been spent working on the camp because as soon as all this snow is gone I plan to be working on the outside. I've been mapping out in my head the flower beds, herbs, and a few veg.  It's only a 45 min. drive from our house so it's not unusual for my husband to sit down at 8:00 in the evening and say lets head to camp for the night, you don't have to ask me twice it usually takes me about 10 minutes to get ready. We are really enjoying our new camp.

Second thing that has been keeping me busy are my grandparents, they now need 24 hour care so between staying with them, cooking meals and running to Dr. appointments my life has been pretty busy.

Not only have I been slipping on my blog but my food storage has dropped way down. We have been eating out of it all winter plus I've been preparing a lot of meals for my grandparents from my own storage. So that is what I need to work on. I did purchase 25lbs of sugar a couple of weeks ago. I think by the looks of my flour bin that will be my next purchase. Then I will start watching the local sales flyers. When pasta is on sale 10 for $10 I will be buying ten. I will make a few purchases like this until I'm stocked back up. My meat is holding out but considering I started the winter with half a pig, 1/4 of a cow and 11 turkeys we have really made a dent in it.

I don't know about you but I am so looking forward to spring and getting my gardens started, but when I look out my window and see all the snow, I guess I'll just throw another log on the fire and save my day dreaming for another day.

Well ladies I need to end my post for today as I'm headed to our local food pantry to volunteer this evening.
                                         Hugs Janice

LET IT SNOW!!!

The Mountain in front of my house(It's snowing hard)

Yes it's snowing hard just like the weatherman said it would, and I'm enjoying it just like I said I would. This is a picture of the ski area taken from my front yard. Yes there are skiers up there you can here them but you can't see them because it's snowing so hard. You can't even see the mountain

THE POND ON MY WAY DOWN TO CHECK ON THE ANIMALS

The turkeys are all in out of the wind and the cold.

 

Now that the animals are in from the storm come inside and see a few of my favorite things. First is one of my many sets of China. This is actually my Great Grandmothers pattern which my grandmother has in her home. My mother and I came across this set at an antique store in Va Beach. I couldn't bring myself to spend the money, but three months later they arrived in the mail for my birthday. "Thank you Mom"

A Santa Pitcher and mugs I purchased at an auction

This is a punch bowl a very good friend gave me. It gets used a lot

Now I'm all settled in the laundry is going, the floors are scrubbed. Time to sit down and enjoy being snowed in because it's not looking like it's going to let up anytime soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you all have a wonderful day.

        Hugs

       Janice

 

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

                          Happy Holidays

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We spent Christmas night with my son it was a wonderful visit but I was feeling horrible and was running a fever. Today is much better. I decided I would just stay in my P.J's all day and relax, and that I did. I must say "I am feeling 100% better," sometimes we just need to slow down.

The ski-area is in full swing. I've chose not to work much at the mountain this winter. maybe I'll be doing a little sking (Grin) Anyone who knows me well knows it's hard to get those skis on my feet, don't get me wrong I love to ski, I grew up living at the mountain(Because my family owned it) but as I get older I hate the cold. These days a nice warm fire and a cup of hot cider is what I enjoy.

The chickens and turkeys are still keeping me busy. Egg production is way down because our days are so short. The week before Christmas I actually had to buy eggs at the store. Please don't tell my husband as feed is still costing about $15 a week, and turkeys? yes we still have turkeys, I kept three of a breed that are able to reproduce but it seems you need to have at least one female in order for this to happen. Guess what? I have three toms so the freezer will soon be there resting place.

We are expecting a big snowstorm starting tomorrow going into Friday so I will need to get up early, get to town to check on my grandparents then home to snuggle in to a nice warm home for a couple days. I just love being stuck at home in a snowstorm, a couple more days to rest(smile) 12 to 14 inches is expected in this storm. Maybe I'll do a little cooking.

Hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season with friends and family. I'm looking forward to 2013.

Happy New Year and God Bless You and Your Families

                               Janice