Baby Watch!

I am so excited!! The time is here to start keeping a close eye on Flossie because she is in the last stretch of her pregnancy. I get so nervous at this point!! I love this darn cow so much and the thought of her having any issues, and God forbid...I just cannot say it.. Who  knew that I would have such warm fuzzy feelings over a cow.

I have most of my birth kit ready, but I do need to get it all together and in the barn. We have everything for her yummy molasses water after the birth. I have come CPK in case of milk fever. I have Mineral Wells Animal Clinic on speed dial! Who by the way, is an AWESOME group of people. I swear, they are so patient with me, because I am quite a question box once I get going! Just LOVE them!
We also have little piggies on the way! Charlotte is also in the family way, and I have NO idea when they little oinkers are due, Oh no! I know when I thought they were Boom Chicka Wow Wow..ing. But, that due date came and went, so it was obviously just for fun. Now I have to get busy making a piggy maternity ward. So much to do! So little time! There she is, at the farthest trough. Pigging out!

 Here are the last babies, rooting away, lol They have really grown and may get a chance to go out into the pasture soon. I haven't asked them what they think about that, so it may be a bust.

 So, keep an eye out, I will be posting about all sorts of new babies soon. We all know that EVERYONE loves baby pictures!

Busy Day In The Barn!

Today was quite the busy day! We have had our barn for quite a while and only managed to get one stall wall partially finished. Boo! We were going with concrete, but have decided to keep Flossies milk stall concrete, but the rest of the barn stalls will be wood.
We started as soon as we got done feeding this morning. Let me tell you,  Pud'nin was a  force to be reckoned with today! He was a man on a mission! Did I mention that it was like 20 degrees today?
First we started by taking down the old panels. That was kind of bittersweet as we had put them up when Ciskgo was sick and needed to be inside. We are so blessed that he has healed and is now such a peppy pants! But now the panels had to go to make way for nice sturdy stalls!

Pud'nin working hard! Yea, that IS his happy face! :)

Panels down, now ready for some real stalls!

Then we had to dig some holes. Sounds easy, right? In theory, it would be a breeze, but in reality it was terrible! The ground in the barn is harder than heck! I mean the posthole auger just sit there smoking. Literally! Spinning, spinning, going nowhere. Pud'nin was determined, so he gave the tractor more gas! It was screaming!!Still nothing...
We finally had to resort to an unsafe practice that I will not document and finally had two lovely round holes!

Gorgeous I tell you!

The cool thing about this is I actually got to operate the tractor! Yea, the lift, the gas, and the PTO! I was pretty nervous, but I managed to get it done with Pud'nin patiently explaining the steps. He was probably so sweet and patient because he knew he would shortly be behind that tractor, with me in the seat!
Then it was time to set the posts. We had two awesome helpers today and they were perfect! Not only were they big helpers, they also found a whole nest of eggs that some hen had hidden in the hay!

Pretty Little Farm Girl!

Steady! Of course, Payton and his silly face!

WooHoo!

Then add in some boards, and you have a stall! All we have left is the gate. I am so excited! Now we only have four more to go! This is actually on my 101 list so look at me go! We are going have that list knocked out in record time.

TaDa!!

Joshua giving it the once over!

Since Flossie is possibly due to calve in a few weeks, we could not have waited another minute. She is getting rounder and rounder by the day. She has not bagged up yet, but that can happen in a flash. I do feel so much better knowing that she will have a warm safe place to bring her little one into this world.

Look at that belly!

I really like the look of wooden barn stalls. They remind me of my grandfathers barn where he used to let us use the hand corn sheller. I loved watching all the yellow kernels falling down into the wooden box and then he would let us take a scoop to Midnight the pony. Those were some of the best times of my childhood. Helping on the farm and learning how to properly care for the animals has stuck with me. I really think that early exposure to the simple lifestyle is the reason that I love it so much now!
Well, there you have it, our day in a nutshell. Let me know what you think!

101 Things in 1001 Days

101 things in 1001 DAYS!!





Well, here we go! Yesterday I started the 101 things in 1001 days. What is that you ask? Well, let me explain with a nifty little copy paste from my bestie Rickki Wallace and  her Blog "The Wallace Homestead!" Which by the way is an awesome blog! You should give it a peek!
http://wallacehomestead.blogspot.com/

So, here is the explanation!

FIRST!!

You make a list of 101 things you would like to do.
You aim to get everything ticked off in 1001 days.

It’s that simple.

The rules? Each task must be specific, with clearly defined or measurable results. Tasks must also be realistic — something I believe I can accomplish within 1001 days — and stretching; I can’t add things I already do or which don’t require any effort.

Why 1001 days? “The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time…because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks.”

1001 Days =
143 Weeks =
33 Months =
2 3/4 Years

It seems like a reasonable amount of time to get a lot of stuff done!  I  will ready to start on Thursday January 1, 2015 and hopefully everything will be ticked of by September 28, 2017.

Sounds awesome right?

Here is my list, and it will be posted on the 101 things tab here on the blog so that you can keep up with my progress if you like!
So here we go! I am SO ready for 2015 and to get started on my 101 things!!

ID	101 Things
1	Make homemade bread at least twice a month for at least 6 months                    (0/6)
2	Clean up Office
3	Become financially independent
4	Start keeping production/spending records for the farm
5	Finish siding
6	Start a financially viable business
7	Have the animals where they are a resource instead of a draw.
8	Raise and process meat chickens
9	Can at least 800 jars of anything
10	Prepare and use cold storage area for root vegetables/ect
11	Finish the outside of the house
12	Read one book a month
13	Go a full month eating totally "store free" at least 3 separate times                       (0/3)
14	Post 3x weekly on my blog for at least 6 months                                                         (0/6)
15	Take a painting class
16	Learn to knit…Well.
17	Prepare and submit at least one grant proposal having to do with the farm
18	Write and mail at least 10 actual letters                                                                      (0/10)
19	Create and maintain a household notebook
20	Set up a booth at the farmers market at least 6 times                                                (0/6)
21	Build a greenhouse
22	Use greenhouse to completely start garden at least one summer
23	Spend an entire weekend away with Roger
24	Get Bees
25	Build and hang at least 5 birdhouses                                                                              (0/5)
26	Hang at least 3 bat houses                                                                                               (0/3)
27	Build at least 3 raised beds for garden produce                                                           (0/3)
28	Make a quilt
29	Learn to drive a tractor
30	Set up home office
31	Plant asparagus
32	Grow enough feed to take care of the animals at least part of the winter
33	Paint the outbuildings
34	Send handmade presents to at least 5 people                                                              0/5)
35	Make homemade Christmas Presents for at least 10 people                                  (0/10)
36	Learn to shoot a gun safely
37	Make jelly from grapes grown on the farm
38	Make dandelion jelly
39	Start an exercise program and stick with it at least 1 month
40	Do 20 things from Pinterest
41	Grow and harvest at least 2 Turkeys                                                                               (0/2)
42	Have a bonfire/cookout and invite all the kids/grandkids
43	Go fishing at least three times
44	Redo flower beds
45	Hang pictures
46	Put Moms pictures on a CD
47	Make wine
48	Donate Blood
49	Get a tattoo
50	Volunteer somewhere at least twice                                                                            (0/2)
51	Write down at least 3 recipes a month to share                                                         (0/3)
52	No sugar for a week
53	Build a scarecrow
54	Make a farm Notebook and USE it!
55	Make a drawing of fruit tree names and placement
56	Start a worm farm
57	Rebuild the pond
58	Make 3 kinds of soap                                                                                                        (0/3)
59	Organize recipes
60	Spend 15 minutes a day in quiet meditation/reflection/thanks
61	Grow a decent watermelon!
62	Take down trailer
63	Finish the feed room
64	Finish the milk room
65	Have Flossie and Ellie AI'd
66	Limit computer time to 1 hour a day for one month                                                (0/30)
67	Wash all the windows on the house
68	Repaint my room
69	Take wallpaper out of my room
70	Build side porch
71	Finish and paint hallway
72	Do Alzheimers walk at least once
73	Plant Blueberries
74	Enlarge pig pen
75	Organize file cabinet and important papers
76	Can 33 new things that I have never canned                                                                    (0/33)
77	Clean and organize the brown storage building
78	Clean out silver storage building
79	Put up pool
80	Grow peanuts
81	Season all the cast iron I have sitting around
82	Make yogurt
83	Clean around Rogers shop
84	fix counter over washer and dryer
85	Make and follow a cleaning schedule
86	Fix sewing area
87	Make first aid kits for the house and barn
88	Declutter at least 1 room a month                                                                               (0/15)
89	Plant garlic
90	Make and stick to a budget
91	Get life insurance
92	Make a folder of Moms medications and important information
93	Have a movie night at least once a month                                                                  (0/33)
94	Build rabbit hutches
95	Go through my clothes and toss or donate what I do not/cannot wear at least once
96	Finish sheetrock in the bathroom
97	Start a kitchen garden
98	Sell leftover homeschool books
99	Make crockpot meals at least once a month                                                              (0/33)
100	Make sourdough starter and maintain it at least 6 months                                       (0/6)
101	Make new 101 list!

These are not in ANY order, kinda like my life, lol They are just listed as they came to me and I may even have a couple of ones that are on here twice. I will change them out if I do find them, or just let me know if you find a double!
Anywho, feel free to join me, or just give me a comment or two letting me know what you think of my list. Or hey, just a few words of encouragement!
Happy New year to everyone, may 2015 bring you the best of everything!