Memory Lane

Funny how the littlest things can make you take a trip down Memory lane! I made those Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies last week and they turned out pretty good. Now the ones I made last night, not so good, they were gooey and never did set up and get hard. Boo cookies! Thought I might share a quick flashback, hope you enjoy!
When I was about 14 Billy Ray, who is my brother who has gone on to the the Lord, was about 2 years old. He absolutely adored those cookies! Well, ANY cookies! Every day when I would get off the bus he would meet me at the door wanting me to make them for him, right then! He did not want to wait, not even long enough for me to lay down my school stuff! He would say " COOKIES SISSY!! Of course being 2, it did not sound exactly like that, but I knew exactly what he meant, so I would say "No way, cookies are yukky!!" He would get all wild yelling that "NO SISSY!! Cookies are MMMM  MMMM!" while rubbing his little tummy. Of course, if we had the stuff to make those cookies he would soon be all chocolatey and full of cookie goodness. If not, I can tell you we made SOMETHING, and he was right there in the middle helping every step of the way! I think here we are making chocolate chip cookies, lol

Stirring!

My little helper

The part I remember the most, is him sitting on the counter the whole time, watching me make those cookies. Talking his little head off about things that are important to little boys. Then if it were spring we would take a walk down the road where I would brave the briars and brambles to pick March flowers for him to bring back to Mom. To this day those cookies, and those flowers hold a very special place in my heart as they remind me of that little blond boy who waited at the front door each day just for me.

We Are Still Here!

Whew!! Things have been so busy here at the Backwards Homestead! I thought when summer came to a close that things would be slower. It seems that it has not been like that at all! If anything it has been even crazier!
First off, Lee and Cayce bought a home of their very own! I know right? When did Lee even get old enough to do such a thing? The house is only a very short distance from ours, it even connects to our property. I will say that it was quite the ordeal as there were many hurtles to jump, and several issues that needed to be unraveled. But, it finally happened and with a little elbow grease, and a lot of teamwork it has come together.  Now they are moved in and happy as two bugs in a rug! Here are a few pictures, Yay! These are Cayces' pictures, which I snitched off her facebook, lol THAT is why there are none of her included. I MUST make them take a good picture in front of the house soon!

Here is the house!

Beautiful painting done by Lee and Cayce,

First supper in their new home! Yummy!!

Jayne is feeling right at home!

 We even captured a very rare picture. I think it is called: "Man Mopping" 

Look at Lee go!

We have also gotten a new addition to the Backwards Homestead! Katrina and Joy now have a new little colt named Baelfire. We call him Bae, and he is a real sweetheart. He is about 6 months old, so just a little sprout!

Yummy Grass!

Ciskgo is not too sure about the new baby!

Bae was trying to be friendly, but they were having no part of it!

He has already grown a lot, and is doing great. I think he will make an awesome addition to the farm. I know the girls are just crazy about him already. He has even captured my heart with his big brown eyes and total fuzziness!
As a quick catch up we have also:

Bought some turkeys!

Gotta Love a sale!

Made delicious ham broth and turkey stock!

So pretty!

Canned some Cabbage soup! Which I might say, was not a good idea. After canning it tastes SOO strong..Boo!! Very disappointed!

Soup!

And even canned some venison!

Mmmm!

Well, not too much of an update, but I hope that it at least fills in some of the blanks of how things have been going here on the farm.
I am planning a few posts in the near future that will be a bit longer, lol  Please, comment below with any comments, or just a note to let me know you were here!

Making Butter!

Today was butter day! Well, it was actually Tuesday, but since I have to dry off Flossie in another month I have been trying to save as much milk as I can to at least make yummy butter! If you have never made butter, then maybe this post will be a little interesting! I know it never ceases to amaze me when the cream suddenly turns into yummy yellow butter!
First, you need one of these. Well, maybe not your very own, but at least what one can give you which is cream. For me, cream comes from Flossie.

For Flossie to make delicious milk with lots of cream she needs plenty of food, such as this green grass. She will munch and munch all day long.

Yet another tractor! Mmm green green grass!

 The grass is cut, dried and rolled for her and the rest of the animals to have during the winter when the pasture is all brown and dead! Flossie gets all the hay and grass she can eat and also mixed feed twice a day.

Pud'nins trusty tractor and a nice roll of hay!

All hooked up and my goodness, look at that baby bump!

Twice a day when she has her breakfast and her supper I clean her up till she is squeaky clean, disinfect her little milk faucets and hook the milker up so it can do it's job.

Flossie gave all three gallons one warm summer morning!

 The milk goes into the house, gets strained and put into jars where it will get chilled and the cream rises to the top. Then I scoop it off, and into a bowl it goes. Well, in this case it goes into a kitchen Aid mixer bowl.

Mix Mix Mix

Butter breaking, or forming, is the coolest thing. Watch the video very carefully and you will see exactly when it goes from being cream to butter!

THEN, after you actually have butter the fun is not over.  Now you have to pour off the buttermilk, which is great in pancakes and biscuits. Then take your butter and add cold water. Stir and mash the butter under the water, changing frequently. When you stir the butter, and the water stays clear, it is washed enough. 

Now you keep mashing, and the water will work its way out of the butter. Time to add a little salt, stir well, and then store in the refrigerator. Yummy!! 

This is the butter that I keep in my fridge. Not the prettiest picture as we well, use it in cooking and since I didn't have a new bowl I just snapped a picture of the one I am using! This stuff is delicious! Spread it on one of the fluffy homemade rolls and you will be hooked for life on fresh butter!

Fluffy, yeasty, toasty and yes, buttery rolls! Yummo!

 I didn't get any pictures of the washing and pressing as it is hard to take pictures of yourself, lol One day I will try to corral some of the kids to take a picture of that process as well. The main thing I was hoping to show was the moment your cream turns to butter, which I find so fascinating! Hopefully this was at least a tiny bit interesting and if you have any questions or comments please, really, leave a comment below!

Just Normal Happenings

Nothing awesome and interesting happening around the farm these days. Been one of those hum drum spells, with the normal just trudging along all normal like..Cows are still cows, pigs are still pigs. horses are still horses and on down the line. So, that being said, this post will probably be totally boring!

Blu taking root!

Horses having supper

There was also a cool Blood Moon! I sat out with Austin and watched until it was to light for him to take pictures. It was alot of fun, I really enjoy spending time with my kiddos, they are just awesome people.

Picture compliments of Austin Mathis

We are also awaiting calves from two of our girls. Flossie and ClaraBelle are both expecting. Flossie in January February and ClaraBelle we are not so sure. We were thinking October, but so far nothing! I am a bit worried that she is not preggo, but her tummy looks like something is doing somersaults! So cross your fingers!

Mmmmm! Water!

Scratch my neck pleeeeease!

Clara Belle looking all cute!

Is this my good side?!

Eleanor is also growing like crazy! She is almost as tall as her Mama!

Ellie having breakfast

We will also, possibly have little oinkers in February. Wilbur decided that he could not be apart from his honey for one second longer so he broke into Charlottes pen and they had a little couples time! We went ahead and moved her in with him, but alas, his first attempts were for naught, as last week she came back in and well...We shall see!  I will say, Piggy courtship is a bit unsettling as the boar makes a really deep rumble that the sows may find appealing, but it just kinda gives me the willies!

                                       Ignore the wind in the video, it was crazy that day!

There will be more really awesome things happening in the near future, but I just can't share yet! Stealing thunder is just not cool. So I will wait for the Ok to share the news! I will say, so I don't have a million people thinking I am getting more grandbabies, that is NOT it..YET! Although I am always open to anyone who wants to grace us with more grandbabies...
Now I am off to go check on the cast iron I have in the oven, if you like the post, or just want to say hey, feel free to comment below.

Looking a lot Like Fall

Fall on the farm is almost as busy as summer. We have to get all the animals settled and make sure they will have what they need for the cooler temperatures. Not to mention getting things squared away for the people here on the Backwards Homestead! As busy as it can be I will say, Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. The temperatures are much milder and the colors of all the leaves are just amazing!

Fall Sunset

This Fall we have two expectant mamas. Flossie is due in January/February and ClaraBelle is due anywhere from October to, well, we aren't too sure, lol Both girls are getting all round and although Flossie is not due for a while she looks massive!

Little herd of girlies!

Flossie having breakfast

ClaraBelle getting a little nibble of hay

We did manage to get the roof on the side shed off the barn, but still have to get the end boxed in for the expectant girls so they can stay warm and dry when the weather gets nasty. When you have animals it seems the winter preparation is never completely finished. There is always something that needs attention. Like hay, which Pud'nin has been baling like crazy!

Trusty Tractor

Square baler and yet another trusty tractor

The little piggies are growing like crazy. We only have two left that we will be saving for ourselves. The rest have gone on to their new homes and from what I hear they are getting fat and sassy. Charlotte is enjoying the smaller crowd and in November will go back in with Wilbur for a little couples time, lol

Wilbur

Charlotte and babies

Baby piggies having breakfast

Hard to believe that before we know it snow will be blowing and we will be looking for the coveralls. I know that it is coming, and I sure am hoping that it will not be as icy as last year! But no matter what the weather, we will be out and about making sure the Backwards Homestead is running smoothly!

Walk To End Alzheimers. Why WE walk!

This coming Saturday, October 4, 2014 we will participate in The Walk To End Alzheimer's, Yay! We are pretty excited, and although we have managed to raise no money, we are undaunted! This post will be about why we are walking and the family members who shaped our lives by their walk down a very difficult path. Alzheimers disease is a disease that steals the person away, piece by piece, but there was a time when they were vibrant and full of life.

Grandaddy, Memaw and Mom! Such a happy family!

This is how I like to remember my Grandaddy. Here he is with Josh when he was a baby. He was such a sharp dresser! I remember him standing at the front of the church, leading us as we sang songs of praise from the rough brown hymnals.

Josh and Grandaddy

But as the years clicked by, Alzheimers stole him away too..

Grandaddy and Billy Ray

As bad as it sounds, I am glad that my Memaw did not have to see her daughter go through the same struggles that she watched her husband endure.

Mom and my Memaw

But I will say, My Memaw stuck by my Grandaddy till the end, and from her courage I hope to draw my own as I walk this path with Mom.

MeMaw and Grandaddy

Mom was a beautiful child, all blond curls and big eyes. All the pictures I see of her she is smiling. So full of life. It is so hard to believe that the gene that would eventually take the memories of all those happy times was already there, waiting to awaken and steal her away.

Mom in her first car! Look Out!

Mom and her duck, lol

So young!

Love! Sonny, Mom and Scherrie. Grandaddy photobombing in the background!

So pretty!

Yay, Graduation!

Mom went to dances, fancy balls, had dates, loved and was loved back. I remember looking at a frilly red dress and Mom telling me about her wearing it, and how much fun she had at the dance. I wanted to wear it so badly, but I was way to little. Years later I grew into a young lady, and could actually wear the dress. I felt like a princess. Of course there was no dance, just me twirling around my room in my Moms dress. But I will never forget that feeling.
When I was very little, mom made the most beautiful paintings. She had this brown case that had the most interesting things tucked away inside. I remember how wonderful the paints and chalks looked and smelled. Mom was so talented. I also remember sneaking into her room and playing with all those nifty paints and chalks and getting in trouble!
Mom had a hard life at times. She had another child, Billy Ray, who passed in her arms when he was only seventeen. Billy Ray had a small hernia, and during surgery he suffered a loss of oxygen causing severe brain damage due to medical malpractice. This was devastating to Mom, but she stood strong, making sure he had all that he needed and was his voice when he had none. She took such care of him and devoted herself to his care and comfort.She was strong. She was fierce when it was needed.

Mom with Billy one Christmas

Mom went to college, something she remembers to this day. She was smart, So smart! She loved gaming with the the grandkids, and doing crosswords. She loves reading, and has a massive collection of books. So many that they are in every corner of her room, and the rest of the house! 

Mom and a lap full of kiddos! Josh, Katrina and Billy Ray

I have covered many things that Mom was, and I can tell you, there is not enough room in this blog, or time left for me to tell you all the things that she was that the disease has taken from her.
But, I can say, there are so many things that Mom is now. Right now.
Mom is a mother, a friend, a Nana. She has a sense of humor, a sneaky streak and a heart that holds her family close. She loves playing with the great grandbabies, making all sorts of lego creations and drawings. She will sit still and stroke Kaelis hair when she falls asleep on her lap, draw and color for hours. She loves the cats (sometimes) and will slip Brandy bits of her supper no matter how many times we tell her that darn dog will poop in the floor if she eats "people food!) LOL!

Mom in 2012 with Kitty

Mom at Lee and Cayces wedding. Mom, Cayce, Lee, My Dad, and my other Mom.

I am blessed though, as I have my family to help me with Mom. Everyone here works so hard to make sure Mom is happy and healthy. Their love, care and kindness to Mom is without a doubt amazing. Without them I am not sure that I could manage. We may not all be blood related, but we are a family and I love them all as if they were my own. They have no idea how they make my life and Moms much fuller than I could ever imagine. My Pud'nin is also my saving grace. My strength when I have none. I thank God for them all..

Mom at her birthday this year! 70 years young!

This is why we walk on Saturday, for Mom. For the woman she was, the woman that she IS! For all the things that are forever gone. For all the things she has lost, forgotten, and misplaced. For all the ones that suffer with her. Her Dad, Rogers Dad and so many others that have had their lives slowly fade to black.
I know that this post can never even begin to cover the life of my Mom, or any of the others. Nor is it meant to be all inclusive. But I hope that it has at least given you a glimpse into what Alzheimers takes from a person, and from everyone that knows and loves them in their lives. Mom may forget. She may even forget that I am her daughter.  But as long as I am able I will be her memory. I will always be her daughter whether she knows it or not..


*For anyone who wants to support us with a donation for Saturday, here is a link to the Alzheimers.org where you can find our team. (Nanas Minions) Yea, she LOVES Despicable Me, lol  There you can  donate to our team.* Walk to End Alzheimer's