*wordless Wednesday

*the simple woman's daybook

FOR TODAY  March 1, 2011

Outside my window...I see freshly raked yards, a jungle that is in the beginnings of being tamed. I see green grass that will soon need to be mowed on a regular basis- oh the smell of fresh grass clippings!
I am thinking...of my day ahead.  Today I have to go to several different governmental offices in order to apply for homestead exemption on our property here in Florida. Before I can apply I have to have changed my NC license to Florida, register our vehicles to Florida - basically establish residency.  Today is the deadline for all of this. I am not looking forward to all the running around.
I am thankful for...a hard working mother who not only works alongside me but encourages me in all of my new homesteading duties.
From the kitchen...how's about cornbread muffins! Henry has request sweet cornbread muffins for breakfast a couple of times this past week. I found a great recipe at allrecipes.com, he is grateful.
I am wearing...a pair of skinny jeans, a red and white striped short sleeve, button up shirt, and a pair of vibram five fingers.
I am creating...a haven that is welcoming and relaxing for my husband and son, so that they might take refuge from the outside world inside their cozy home and among our property.
I am going...to seek some actions that I can take today to show true Christian love to those most unsuspecting; I have got to make the best of this day in and out of governmental offices.
I am reading...Redeeming Love (again) by Kay Arthur as well as several homesteading books!
I am hoping... to get license changed over to FL, to get our vehicles registered and the homestead exemption all completed today.
I am hearing...a choir of birds early this morning. Our property is covered in large oak trees which foster care for many a bird and squirrel.  Each morning as the sun has risen these past few weeks I have awakened to the chorus outside my bedroom window.
Around the house...I see so many things that are vying for my attention. So I have made a list of things that can be done by myself and Henry while Eric is away.
One of my favorite things..is the relationship that I share with my best girl friend in the wide world. Our relationship is a gift from God. On my list of favorite things (people) you would find FranZiska written on the top section of that list.
A few plans for the rest of the week: raking (didn't I say that last week?), helping my mother weatherize her RV, visiting my oldest son and his girlfriend this weekend, finish prepping the garden spots.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

If you are interested in doing your own daybook stop in at Peggy's to join me and many other ladies!

*the simple woman's daybook

FOR TODAY  (February 22, 2011)


Outside my window... I see so much life. I see new grass peeking through where it has just recently been grays and browns, I see spring flowers starting to emerge from the soil and in the midst of all of that I see Robins, Blue Birds, Cardinals and many many squirrels.
I am thinking... of the long running list of things that I need to either start or finish for getting our garden ready for planting.
I am thankful for...my darling husband of 25 years! Today is our 25th anniversary and he is in another state.  He is a treasure with so many gifts to give, over the years I have from time to time seen the lack in him, but God has changed my vision over the last number of years and I see his gifts. I am truly grateful for my beloved and everything about him.

From the kitchen... does a bowl of Raisin Bran cereal count? Our youngest son is at our oldest sons for the night, so I haven't cooked in a few days. Chili is on my mind here at the end of the winter though.
I am wearing...the overalls that my beloved gave me for Valentines along with an undershirt and I am barefooted.
I am creating...a layout for some patchwork pieces that I started more than a year ago. I hope to get the quilt top laid out soon so I can sew a bit.
I am going...to pick up Henry soon so we can come home and get some planting done.
I am reading.. Her Daughters Dream by Francine Rivers, almost done!
I am hoping...to get all the raking done this week.
I am hearing...the lovely music from Dianna's blog playing in the back ground. I usually automatically turn the music off on any blog I am visiting. It is too distracting for me, in addition I often already have my own music playing, but this is simply soothing..
Around the house...it is quiet. My dear beloved was here for 9 days, and his parents were here for the last three of them but all is quiet now.
One of my favorite things...is watching my sons and husband interact with each other.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Finish tiling the ground for our rows of potatoes, plant the fruit trees we picked up, plant the berry bushes, lay some more tile, grout the tile, finish raking and spend an afternoon with some dear friends who are coming over for a visit from southern Alabama.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing..

I have decided to join many other lovely ladies who are journaling in their own Simple Woman's Daybook each Tuesday. My friend Dianna has several journal type post she makes and I always look forward to reading them, perhaps mine will be enjoyable as well!

If you are interested in doing your own daybook stop in at Peggy's to join me and many other ladies!

*one day old chicks fly (to Florida)

When I told my dear husband that more chickens would arrive during the time he was in Florida he expected that someone local was going to delivery them. Well, someone was going to deliver them - the postal office.  I wanted to add some interest to our flock so I made an order from Ideal Poultry (www.idealpoultry.com) with an assortment of chickens that were hatched out on February 16th.  The tiny chicks were boxed up just a few hours after hatching and sent on their way.  Our chicks left the hatchery on the 16th and arrived here at EriLyn on the 18th at 8:00AM.  When you order from a hatchery it is best that you contact your postal office and let them know you are expecting chicks so they can call you upon their arrival. The baby chicks do not need to ride around on the delivery truck all day waiting to be hand delivered to you.  

We started with Rhode Island Reds, Black Giants, and Americanas, upon the arrival of the new chicks we added these breeds:  White Giant, Buff Leghorn, Barred Plymouth Rock, Light Brahma, and the Deleware breed.  I ordered several of each of these, so we now have a total of 22 chickens in our flock!

*it's daffodil time!

Awake, thou wintry earth -

Fling off thy sadness!

Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth

Your ancient gladness!

~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

These showed up just a few days ago.. quite a beautiful surprise. This spring will be like gift giving/opening time for me.  All that lies beneath the ground will soon burst forth and makes its grand entrance; I can hardly wait!!

*a dog, cats, chickens and RABBITS, OH MY!

Recently I teased you all with a picture of some ears, so let me explain:  My dear husband has desired to become more self sustaining as far as feeding our family is concerned.  I am excited about what this will mean for our family; our boys and perhaps one day their families as well.  Although there will be more work here than either of our boys have ever experienced when we lived in North Carolina, it will be a simpler more back to the basics kind of life.  The property we bought came with all these cages we have used thus far as well a the feeders for the rabbits - what a blessing that has been!

We started out as you all know with 10 baby chicks which is the humble beginnings to our "farming" foundation.  Just a couple of weeks ago I made contact with a Californian and New Zealand Rabbit breeder.  These are the top breeds for meat production, so after talking with Bill on several occasions, I made an appointment to see and purchase some of his rabbits.  I left with two does and one buck to start with.  We are hoping that we can get one more of his bucks this week.

The rabbits are sweet. They are soft. They are beautiful.  They are a food source. I am totally alright with that.  I do hold the rabbits twice each day and I am sure I will get close to them over time. They will be with us as breeders for several years. We will always have 4 or 6 breeder rabbits and many kits waiting to reach fryer age or perhaps stew age at any given time if things proceed as has been planned. Rabbits can breed 4 times a year, hopefully giving birth to 10 to 12 kits each time.  The kits will be ready for butchering anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks of age. 

FYI:  Just an interesting bit of information you may find curious:  Do not feed rabbits lettuce!  Lettuce will give your rabbits diarrhea and that can be fatal for the critters.  Isn't it funny how all of the cartoons or advertisements show lettuce being fed to rabbits as a great and favorite source of food?  If you do by some chance find your rabbit has diarrhea you can feed him/her some Weeping Willow leaves which will clear this problem right up!