Homestead Happenings!

We were able to pick a small bowl of strawberries a few days ago, but today we got a large bowl full. I think we're having strawberry shortcake in place of birthday cake for my birthday tomorrow! We also have as much lettuce as even a family our size can go through. I've made two meals out of our homegrown spinach so far. Most everything else went in late since this has been the wettest Spring on record and my gardens were too wet to till until last month. Some of the late plantings are starting to come up, but it will be a while before they're ready to harvest.

Peas

Bush Beans

Squash, I think Butternut, but I can't remember for sure.

The chickens are already demolishing my currents. They got all of them last year before they ripened all the way. We have a whole bunch this year, so I was hoping they'd share, but it's not looking good so far.

Some sort of Brassica, but between kids, dogs, and chickens nothing managed to stay labeled.

Apples We've never gotten more than 5 or 6 apples off this tree before, but this year it's loaded.

Asian Pears

Another apple tree

More apples, we planted several varieties.

I wasn't sure if we'd get any plums this year. Our trees contracted some sort of fungus and had to be very heavily pruned last year, but it looks like we might get a few!

We were having some problems with our blueberries, so we tried a different mulch and it seems to be working! These blueberries are an old heirloom variety and they stay very small, but very flavorful.

Pears

Raspberries

We have a large raspberry patch since my kids love raspberry jam best of all. I like current jelly, but the chickens haven't let me have any the last couple of years.

Cherries

The cherries aren't quite ready. I'm watching them closely so I can get to them before the birds do. Or before Brenna does. She was trying so hard to reach them.

I'm trying really hard not to count my peaches before they ripen, but it's getting difficult. Homegrown peaches are sooo good!

The hazelnut trees have been horribly attacked by tent caterpillars this year and I'm not sure how much of a harvest we'll manage to get, but the walnut tree is doing quite well.

I can't wait until a few more things are ready to harvest. I love having our own private produce department just outside.

Garden!

Brenna chose a package of eggplants

We're getting the main garden in a little late this year since it's been too wet to till before now. I've done a lot of reading about no-till garden methods, but haven't managed to put the ideas to work in my garden yet. This garden is being planted with tomatoes, brassicas, carrots, and a few other miscellaneous things. The big lower garden is getting corn, peas, beans, and squash/melons. Salad greens and perennials are in my raised beds.

The kids have been having fun "helping" us work in the garden. I'm a very lazy gardener. I always tell myself that I'm going to buckle down and actually do things like make a garden plan and start seeds ( without killing them) and have one of those beautiful productive gardens people brag about on all sorts of internet sites. Instead I always end up throwing things together at the last minute without any sort of plan. I overplant seeds and forget to thin them out. I have lots of help from kids, dogs, and chickens which can make for some interesting planting patterns. But somehow it always seems to work out and we end up having a bunch of fresh, chemical free food even if I have to wade through knee high weeds to find it.

My raised bed gardens got planted a while ago and I now have a few things ready to harvest! Most of them were actually volunteers from last year, but this years plantings are doing pretty well where the chickens didn't scratch all the seeds away.

New rhubarb which won't be ready to eat for another year or two.

Jerusalem Artichokes which just got moved this year.

The Egyptian Walking Onions are doing great this year!

Brand new asparagus which won't get harvested for a few years.

Lettuce

 A self-planted spinach

I can't wait until we are eating from the garden everyday! Everything tastes so much better when it's homegrown and we're much better about eating veggies when we can just pick them fresh.

Updates! {May 2014}

I think these two are the most alike looking of all my kids.

WOW! I know I'm always saying I'm busy, but this last week has really been something. I had 4 sick kids for part of the week. Nothing major luckily, Owen ran a fever for two days, but Owen is well known for spiking high fevers for no apparent reason. Duncan also had a little bit of a fever and the 4 younger kids all had cold type symptoms. The two little ones still have drippy noses, but I think we're on the mend.
Connor had 3 drives last week in addition to his two driver's ed classes. so we had to take him back and forth all week instead of just two days like usual. His next drive is actually just at the end of class, so I won't have to make extra trips.
With the weather finally drying out, we've been busy getting the garden up and running. I've had my raised beds planted for a while, but the main garden areas were too wet to till until now. We've also been fencing in the rest of the pasture. With the alpacas joining the goats, we need a little more space.

Brenna NOT cooperating for pictures

Last week was the 4th annual Flats and Handwashing Challenge. I did actually finish the challenge, I just didn't manage to blog about it the last two days. I had a much easier time of it this year, which I attribute to only having one child in diapers and having nice enough weather to hang the diapers outside to dry. I'm still not planning to wash diapers by hand unless it is absolutely necessary, but I am planning on using flat diapers more often. Brenna has very sensitive skin and we have very hard water. I've had a horrible time finding a washing routine that keeps her from getting rashes ( she breaks out from disposables too, so that's not really a better option). The rash she had going into this week has cleared up entirely. Since I really don't want to hand wash all the time, I'm trying to use flats more to see if they just get cleaner easier since they are only one layer. I'm hoping to get the benefits of the last week while still enjoying my washing machine. I already hang dry my diapers whenever the weather cooperates, so that won't be a change.

Last night I got to attend the Helping Parents Night Out put on by Parent to Parent. Back before Owen's seizures stated up again( he had a few just after birth, then didn't have any for over two years) I attended the training to be a Helping Parent. Helping Parents are parents of special needs kids who agree to be a resource person for other parents with children who have similar diagnosis or needs. I haven't been able to make the Night Out event before due to Brenna's birth and Owen's medical issues, but this year I really needed a break, so I decided Brenna could go to bed without nursing for one night. It was just exactly what I needed! I got a mini massage and paraffin hand and foot treatments. I got to make a beaded bracelet and most importantly, I got to talk to other parents of children with special needs. Everyone brought appetizers and beverages and we nibbled and chatted all night (well until 10:30). Then I got to bring home a bag of goodies! It was so much fun, I think I'm putting this event at the top of my priority list for next year.

Updates!

Pixie is the white one and Sonata is the black.

We are having so much fun with our alpacas. Brenna especially loves to help me with them. I've gotten all the quail cages finished and set up under the rabbits, complete with their own automatic watering system. We've finally gotten both of the lawn mowers in working condition. Most of the yard has dried out enough to mow. There's just one little section that will have to wait. I haven't gotten the garden tilled yet, as it isn't quite dried out enough for that. I'm almost finished planting my raised garden beds though.

Glory B is the brown and white alpaca

We're adjusting to a new schedule around here. Devon just started Spring quarter and has different class times. Cameron is no longer going to his reading tutor and Connor just started Driver's ed. I feel like I don't have a clue who's coming or going, let alone when. We should get used to the new routine in a few weeks. Especially, if we can keep everyone from getting sick. I had three sick kids last week and this week a few of us have the sniffles. I'm hoping it's just our pesky seasonal allergies. Mine started the day Rod mowed the lawn which certainly fits my seasonal pattern. You'd think with always wanting a mini farm as bad as I have, I could have been born without allergies to things like animals and hay, but no such luck. I simply refuse to give in to them and get used to the stuffiness and rashes(from the hay, no rashes from the animals).

Doesn't Surprise have the cutest little face?

Owen seems to be getting back to normal after his illness last week. His ketone test finally came back a little on the high side, but not dangerously so. I'm guessing he had so many problems because of getting the stomach bug when he was already borderline over from trying to adjust to the new ketogenic diet ratio. He's eating and drinking like normal again although he's still complaining a lot. He really doesn't like taking the extra baking soda, not that I blame him, but it's necessary right now.

Roscoe in the far field away from the girls for now.

Millie and Chico seem to be getting along great with Roscoe

Pixie

Sonata and her daughter, Surprise

Glory B

I did finish up the Kids Clothes Sewing Week challenge, but I didn't manage to get anything else finished. We were so busy over the weekend that I barely got my hour a day in. I have one dress almost completed, I just need to sew the bodice onto the skirt then do the buttons and buttonholes. The other dress is about halfway finished so hopefully I'll have pictures of those later this week.