the kitchen demo/remodel

has begun!  We ordered some of our countertop and bought some of the cabinets for the remodel. We are only doing chunks of the kitchen, many have asked us why. Well number 1 we are budgeting for this, number 2 we have two children 6 and under and it is always an adventure trying to do projects with them! haha

We are working on getting alot of this done not only because it will look nice and be better for daily storage,ect. But also because it will help with the selling of our house. I will post pics shortly once I get a chance to get on here without having to run out the door!



Hope you all are doing well! Anything new going on at your homesteads?



Katie

A weekend away

Do you every have that feeling when you just need a weekend away? You know no kids, unplug and go do something fun kind of feeling?

Well, Hubby and I are starting to plan a weekend or a little longer away for this summer. I really want to go to Lehman's in Ohio, but also want to look into  a Bed and Breakfast on a farm. Even one that wouldn't mind some help feeding the chickens, milking the cows or just some good homesteading talk while making breakfast .  A place where I can sit on a front porch, sip some coffee while over looking green pastures with cows enjoying the sunrise with me.  Just the sounds of birds, chickens and farm animals. No cars, trucks, or town life. Just the quiet of the country.  Oh how I would love that!  I will keep you all updated on the end result ! :)


Do any of you have any favorite places like this? Where do you all go when you just want a weekend away?

Would love to hear any recommendations on Bed and Breakfast places like this!

Hope you all have an amazing day or night depending where you are reading this.

God Bless,

Katie

Lessons

Well the Lord is really teaching us the lesson  of patience.  Tom and I were going to look at a homestead that was perfect for what we wanted, well God had other plans! The day we were going to go to the showing our realitor called and said the house was under agreement! ( it was only on the market for about a week). If that   wasn't God shutting the door I don't know what! LOL So he obviously didn't want us to move there.

So we will keep looking but just wait for God to point out the perfect place for us! Its out there somewhere! :)


Other news, we are beginning to make a list of places we would like to go this year for summer vacation. We like to stick around the area and do day trips. We are definitely planning a day trip to the beach since Kyle hasn't been there since he was around 1 yr. old and Tyler has never been. Even if the kids don't want to go in the water, we will have a fun day in the sand! Other vacation ideas are the zoo and aquariums around. The boys love animals and fish so I think that will be a big hit for them!


And one of my favorite highlights will be when I have a summer break from work and get to go to our local farmers market!! I haven't been there in so long and truly miss it! Tom and I are also going to be going to the animal auction that the farmers market has in the evenings there. To see how much rabbits go for so we have an idea of how much we will be getting for Happy's babies.

News about Happy, still looking for a male to breed her . It is seeming to be quite a trick to get the breed we are looking for in this area. All breeders of this breed seem to be down south. But we will keep looking!


The garden is doing really well. We are enjoying some lettuce from it already! I didn't get my tomato seeds started soon enough for my tomatoes or peppers ( hectic life and cold), so I will be going to get those at a local greenhouse. Hopefully next year I will be on top of the seed starting a little better.


I have been reminding myself to pray throughout the day for all the blessings that my family and I have, even the ones that I think are small! I encourage you to be thankful and pray to Thank God for every little blessing He has and will give you! Without Him none of this ( our little homestead, vegetable garden, my children, loving husband, our little house, food on the table, coffee (haha had to stick that in there)  Would not be possible!

God bless you all and your little blessings God has given you!,


~ Katie

Hello everyone!

Yes I am still here! Things got very hectic with getting the gardens started and doing some projects around the homestead. Also I came down with a cold that I am still fighting off and so has Little Farmer T.  So as we are fighting this and hoping no one else gets it . Things are kind of calm here for now.

We are still on the hunt for a male meat rabbit to add to the homestead to start breeding Happy . But so far no luck. If any know of a good breeder of meat rabbits would love info.!

The Farmer and I are looking around more seriously for bigger homestead to move too. We are fixing this homestead up and are hoping to get ready to move hopefully by next year. ( Unless the Lord has other plans).


How are your homesteads doing? Any new projects? Would love to hear about them.  I am hoping to do more of  a garden update soon with pictures! Should have it up by the end of the week. Hope you all are staying healthy!!



~ Katie

another canning day

      Well I had gotten the canning itch again! :) So yesterday I canned some baked beans for the first time! They are soooo good! Totally recommend trying it!  I also canned a few jars of mixed veggies for soup. And last but not least canned some chicken stock because I always run out!

        I am excited to be reading the book Country Skills by Alison Candlin. This is now my all time favorite book! I know you all will love this book as well!

 Here are the chapters:

Starting Out
Calendar of Seasonal Tasks
Growing Vegetables
Growing Fruit
Directory of Pests and Diseases
Keeping Animals
Food from Nature
Preserving your produce
Water and Energy Conservation

      Now can you see why I am in love with this book!  I would totally recommend getting this book! There are so many ideas and it gets me so excited to get more land and the ability to get animals!  But for now I will be doing the things in the book that I can do!  So if you want a great read with lots of wonderful information! Check this book out!


     Do you have any books you just love about homesteading or self-sufficency you would recommend? I would  love some new ones to read!

Have a wonderful day!


~Katie

update

Since it has been a little since I have posted last , I thought I would update you on what is going on at our little homestead. Last Saturday/ Sunday we prepared our raised beds for planting. Kyle and I planted carrots, two kinds of lettuce, our sugar snap peas and some potatoes. We also put in two new blueberry bushes (since our dog ate the last two!).

We also finished up splitting Happy's rabbit cage into two cages so we could fit smokey outside with her. It looks great and we used things we had laying around the house and shed to make it so didn't cost us a thing! Love when that happens! :)

We have also gotten the opportunity to bottle feed some baby boar goats for a lady who works with my husband. The boys love it! I will share pics soon ! We are so excited about this opportunity to work with the same kind of goats we are wanting to raise! So blessed! Kyle really wants to show one now at our fair! haha


I am planning on doing some canning this week/weekend. Also getting some canning ham recipes since Easter is just around the corner and I'm sure there are going to be some awesome sales!  I am hoping to get some baked beans canned, chicken broth, dried beans, and a sausage soup.

Any canning recipes you think I should try? I would love some new ones to try!


I hope everything is going great on your homesteads!


God Bless,

Katie

Great giveaway!!

Head on over to Kendra at New Life on a homestead blog. She is giving away this book! So head on over for a chance to win. Also stick around and check out her awesome blog! Here is her link:

Newlifeonahomestead.com

Good luck!!

~ Katie