Apple Picking

The boys and I drove to our favorite apple orchard today in the crazy wind storm and picked apples. I think the woman at the orchard thought the same thing.

I also my homemade pumpkin puree for the first time from our pumpkins. It was easier than I thought it was going to be to make. I was able to use my blender to make it.

I made a small batch of applesauce in the crockpot to see if the guys will like it.

Tomorrow I will make an apple pie and then I want to can apple pie filling and make some apple butter.

Pretty soon we will be getting our whether sheep. I'm just waiting for another addition to be built onto the barn.

Tomorrow I begin weening the cows off their milk and start them on calf starter grain. They both eat hay already.

I started making decorations for Halloween. I finished half of a wreath last night while the debate was on. Later this week I will finish it.

Today when I was at tractor supply getting animal food I got a cute journal that was on clearance.

Isn't it so cute??

Have a good night everyone.

Harvest

BMW's do not make good farm cars but I was able to bring them to be processed regardless.

Checking in

Things have been going pretty well here. 

Today I had groceries delivered as my car is having a brake issue. I dont think I'd do it often but I am enjoying ordering ahead of time as I do not impulse buy.

While I was out today someone decided to open the 3 of our 4 barn doors. Only 1 goat ended up staying out but all of my turkeys and bantam chickens were running wild. I dont know if my grocery delivery guy interrupted someone opening the 4th door or what. Guess we need to invest in some cameras🙄

I started decorating for fall today. I put all my fall scents in my scentsy warmers and apple cinnamon in the glade plug in.

I absolutely love the rustic truck decor and am happy it is not just a Christmas thing. I put a couple wooden truck cutouts on the wall in the living room. Also put out some of my fall floral arrangements that my grandmother made. I did add some cute glittery pumpkins from dollar tree in them.

The cows are getting so big!! They moo now whenever you get ready to go feed them or they see you go out the back door 

We have been getting 1 leghorn egg every once in awhile and 3-4 duck eggs a day. I love baking with duck eggs. I will end up selling some as well where I have SO many!

Homesteaders of America

I am SO excited to attend the Homesteaders of America 2020 conference this year. Usually it is in Virginia every October for a weekend but this year it is online and the keynote speaker is Rory Feek!! 

I have followed Rory on Facebook and Instagram for a few years now. I love seeing his daughter grow up Virtually.

Some of the other speakers I know from a women homeateader groul on facebook. Some of the others I follow on youtube.

It feels great crossing off another bucket list item.

Stayed tuned for Sheep and piglets coming to the farm soon!!

Around the Homestead

I'm slowly adjusting to getting up every morning to feed Clarabelle and Babe. I can tell you I am completwly ready for bed at night!! I am sleeping pretty good through the night.

I will upload videos of the animals as soon as I figure out how.

Here are some photos instead!

We expanded the fencing for the cows and goats.  We will be getting another 100.ft of fencing in the next couple of weeks as we are going to be getting 2 whether sheep. They are dairy cow colored.

Arent they adorable?? They are Jacob Sheep and will not weigh more than 100 lbs. The top ones name is Pontiac. Not sure if I will change it yet or not. Im looking forward to getting their fleece and spinning it or needle felting.

I need to go wash the calf bottles and finish the laundry. 

💜Have a great day💜

New to the Homestead

For my birthday today my family gifted me 2 bottle calves!! We added onto our barn and this week we are going to expand our fencing. They are twins, Babe (after Paul Bunyan's Babe the Blue Ox) and Clarabelle. (Yes of course it is a Disney name)

I am learning my flip-flops may not be the best suited shoe to wear while bottle feeding them as being stepped on rather hurts even though they are only a week old.

I enjoy watching them jump and prance around after they have eaten.

One thing I have learned is getting up earlier allows for me to get things done in a timely fashion. There really are enough hours in a day you just cant sleep in every day.🤣🤣

Although the first morning I got up really early feeding the cows I admit i took a nap that afternoon. Early to rise and early to bed it will be!!

We have lots of tomatoes growing in the garden. Later this evening when it is a tad bit cooler, (I wish we could just bottle up this heat and humidity then the temps are below freezing) I will be harvesting peas and Kale.

My pumpkins are doing amazingly. My herbs are absolutely loving the hot humid weather. Im already thinking ahead to next year's garden ;)

The Blue Swedish ducks, Penny and Bolt are adjusting great!! Penny likes to get into the pool with the other 3 ducks. Bolt just watches from afar or will seim when noone else is in the pool.

This week I discovered one of my hens outside is really a Mr. He has gorgeous tail feathers though.

This pic you can kind of see his tail feathers.

The Bantam chickens are still inside in one of the bedrooms we are getting ready to renovate. Hearing ine of them try to cockadoodle dopo is so funny.

Our Tractor Supply has Polish Bantams right now. Do you know how hard it is to just walk on by??!! I've behaved so far lol

Time for me to finish getting stuff done around the house. 

💜Enjoy your day💜

Blue Swedish Ducks

Tonight we added 2 more ducks to our homestead. Someone was giving away their 2 Blue swedish ducks here in town and I couldnt resist. Mainly because I love animals and 2 because my son has wanted them for awhile. 

They seem to be adjusting ok so far and wont let the other animals get too close to them. I will lost more photos when they have adjusted more.

Here is Penny and Bolt. (Thats the names they came with and Im not changing them)

 I have been making corn hole bags to order and finished these 2 sets recently. I also figured out today a pricing guide to make them.

I've also been visiting beaches I have never visited before. I went to 3 in Belfast, 2 in Camden and Lincolnville Beach. I've been collecting Sea Glass and plan on making necklaces and earrings from some.

We've harvested some radishes from the garden and peas are almost ready to harvest as well. I need to cut some Kale tomorrow and freeze it for soup. I also need to check on my potatoes.

My friends and I went to a strawberry farm and last week we went to a Lavender farm.  The lavender is upside down drying. I'm oping to make some soaps and candles from the lavender. I always enjoy visiting other's farms.

This week I plan on making masks for my family. It is getting closer to the time of my boys leaving for college so I want to get them done soon.

It was nice to catch up with you!! Have a great evening.