Last week we dropped the floor in the mother in law house to start fixing. We were hoping to quickly fix it up so that our relatives, Abby and Keanu, could move into it and finally remove it from my to-do list. We were severally disappointed in our hopes. This week we go into the…
It is Always Worse than you think
You know how when you start a project and you think you know how what it will involve. Then you get into it and you find out you vastly underestimated things. Well, this week I experienced that in a big way, and I was reminded that when it comes to home repair and maintenance it…
State of the Homestead Address: 2021
This time of year is often a time of reflection on the past and planning for the future. Since we moved to the homestead a lot has transpired. We have learned a lot, accomplished a few things, and started laying the groundwork for our homesteading dream. This is a cliff notes version of what we…
What to do with leaves: exploring leafy opportunities
What to do with leaves? If there are any trees on, or near, your property then you have looked across your leaf-covered front lawn each fall. A great many people round them all up and ship them off to the local dump. However, leaves can be a treasure trove of opportunity. Protect flowers One of…
Home remedy mishaps: learn from our painful mistakes!
Home remedies are a great way to take care of your family with having to go to the doctor. A lot of home remedies find roots in folk knowledge, like eating chicken soup if you have a cold. However, home remedies can be more complex. A little access to the internet and before you know…
How to make sweet pickles: Great grandmas sweet memory pickles
Sweet pickles are a yummy year round treat that are easy to make. These sweet memory pickles have been in my family for generations and are still a favorite after all this time. The recipe is a little unusual and takes a little advance planning but the resulting pickles are well worth the effort! A…
Yard cleanup: reclaiming our driveway!
Whether you just bought a home or have lived there for years there are always things you want to change and/or fix. It could be as simple as finding the time to trim up those rose bushes, or re-landscaping the backyard. One of ours has been our driveway. When you first enter our yard you…
Planting fall garlic for the first time
Our family uses garlic in our cooking daily! It is a delicious vegetable that has some great health benefits as well. We have grown garlic before in the summer. This will be our first attempt at planting garlic in the fall for a summer harvest. Preparing the garden for planting garlic We prepare our garlic…
Let the rototiller rest and start double digging
If you have ever planted anything then you know that soil preparation matters! Most gardeners go for the rototiller, its quick, and brutally efficient. However, it may not be the best tool for the job. Rototillers do a great job loosening soil and killing weeds, however, they only go 6-8 inches deep. Plant roots go…
A bird with a broken wing
Where we left our heroes When we left off in our adventure our bird was still, well, here: We had tried dislodging it by throwing rocks, getting ropes around the branch to shake it, shooting a sling shot at it, and our neighbor even tried to break the branch by shooting a rifle at it…