tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32731446808325944582024-03-13T03:03:59.186-07:00The Poor FarmDonna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-21674314405425324472019-08-28T22:21:00.000-07:002019-08-28T22:21:14.901-07:00So Long Best LGD Ever.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fannie, our best livestock guardian dog ever, died a couple weeks ago and we've all had a hard time adjusting to her absence. She had been with us several years on the old farm and moved with us here in 2014. But old age and bad hips caught up with her. Prior to that she was the star in livestock protection. Roaming the property's boundaries, she kept coyotes at bay during the night and warded off piglet and chick seeking hawks that circled overhead, in the day time. As ferocious as she was towards predators she was extremely meek, mild and gentle with all our gks. The younger they were the closer she stayed by their side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The photo below is Fannie with our oldest grandson Wesley, now 11. He's known her since infancy. The two of them had a thing for hanging out under trees watching squirrels. </span><br />
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S<span style="font-size: large;">he was the Alpha dog here in our pack of two. Ashland, our 1/4 German Shepard, 3/4 Husky was always more timid than she and he didn't eat, lie down, or venture forth unless Fannie gave permission. Five years younger than her, he was the annoying puppy she had to train. He, however, never minded his role as number two dog. In fact, I could lay an entire raw roast beef at his feet and he would not even sniff it until Fannie had her fill and gave him permission to imbibe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They were good buddies but there was a pecking order to be followed. Now that she is gone, when I feed Ashland he still looks up and about waiting for her to come around the corner and give him directions. The first few days after she died he didn't eat at all. He just laid in front of his bowl, looking side to side for his buddy. "She's gone" I'd tell him. "She's not coming back." Still though he waited. Eventually he felt better, as we all will. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the last picture I took of my girl, the one who would meet me at the car and allow to me to grab the scruff of her neck to steady myself while walking through snow and ice on the way up to the house. It was a hot day when I took this and she was resting in the shade by the swing all the gk's love to use. I knew then her time left on this farm was limited; I think she knew it too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></span>Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-19713931993891774002019-08-20T14:35:00.003-07:002019-08-20T14:41:46.354-07:00Chicken Dinners Coming Soon to a Homestead Near You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">In about three weeks Keith and I will venture south to <a href="https://centralilpoultry.com/">Central Illinois Poultry Processing</a> in Arthur Illinois with our fifty broilers we've been raising on pasture. Last year was the first time we used their services and we were extremely happy with the results. The facility was clean and efficient, the staff was friendly, and the price of </span><span style="font-size: large;">$ 3.20 per bird (whole) or $3.80 (cut up) was fantastic value.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We used to butcher our own, did it for twenty-four years, but last year we wanted to raise more birds with less hassle, so we caved to hiring someone else to do it. So happy we did. No more freezer burnt birds because my package sealing didn't take. No more huge feathery/offal mess in the yard. No more horrible fresh bird in hot water smell, AND...we got to hang out in the cute little shops in <a href="http://arthuril.com/arthur-illinois-bussinesses/tour-and-travel/">Arthur, Land of the Amish </a>, while our birds were processed. Oh how I love a good "Date Day".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The big bonus for me, besides a clean yard and tidy kitchen, is the whole horse and buggy scene. My most favorite animal in the whole stinkin' world is the horse.</span><br />
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Grandson Wesley (then age 8) with my horse Ennis.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our birds this year are the same as other years, The <a href="https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/freedom-ranger-chickens.asp">Freedom Ranger Chicken</a>. We buy them for $1.70 each, feed them certified organic feed, raise them outdoors on pasture with plenty of grass, weeds, and bugs. They grow so well. No huge leg deformity problems like the common white Cornish Chickens. I also love their pretty red color and their meat is moist and tender even when the broilers get over the five pound finished size. The carcass is dense, and ordinarily it takes about two hours at 325 degrees to bake them to perfection. Low and slow is my manta,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">unless I am frying them, then it is quick and hot in our own pig lard, then finished in the oven. Coated with flour, copious amounts of hymalayan salt, and pepper (after soaking in our own raw milk for an hour). The results are fabulous. I am now thawing our last chicken from the 2018 crop for tomorrow's lunch, which means we will have a three week dry period between chicken dinners.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Therefore, our first meal from our 2019 chicken crop, will taste that much better. Absence makes the heart, and the stomach, grow fonder. </span><br />
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<br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-3877885762675543192019-07-23T22:51:00.001-07:002019-07-23T22:56:47.480-07:00Crossing the Picket Line<span style="font-size: large;">It's all Colton's fault. Last year for Mother's Day our oldest son gifted me with a hand crafted gate for my kitchen garden. he apparently was listening when he heard me say-about a millions times- that I wanted a white picket fence for that space, one day. So he got me started with the gate. I have greatly enjoyed going in and out of it this past year. The rest of that garden spot was enclosed with a hodge-podge of wire hog panels and chicken wire. it wasn't attractive but it get critters out of that space and it was what we could afford at the time.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Several weeks ago I turned 60. It was a grand day altogether. My sister and daughter organized a surprise party at Destihl Restaurant in Normal, Il and we had a great time. Then my friend Jay asked me to come out to the parking lot so he could give me my gift, which was taking up space in the back of his truck. Voila! It was the remainder of the fencing I coveted. Several eight foot sections of Gothic Style Picket fencing. Eighteen sections to be exact. He also promised to help us install it and thats what he did, alongside Keith, this past weekend. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Prior to his coming though, I had serious work to do, get the fencing painted. Of course Jay's gift came with paint and brushes so in the hottest week we've had so far this summer, I got to work like Tom Sawyer. Well, harder than Tom because there was no Becky around for me to pawn off the work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I set up in the barn out of the sun with an old box fan to simulate a breeze, and a radio to simulate company. I painted and painted and painted. I also sweated profusely. What a pain it was to cover all those surface edges! But what a joy it was to see my dream coming true. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciz-kcDqqNzTNF__-uG6o0Ivb4xAUlZiKdkgrRXZDOV4lkyU6oHpqCBDL8c7M6R-RhYYAExjbGIZjTIlPNtYXcWZGVNwUYJourmQYFh0iN66QYfTzTBNxsC3sFBELDfLb3eGnwEeZWFM/s1600/20190717_100817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciz-kcDqqNzTNF__-uG6o0Ivb4xAUlZiKdkgrRXZDOV4lkyU6oHpqCBDL8c7M6R-RhYYAExjbGIZjTIlPNtYXcWZGVNwUYJourmQYFh0iN66QYfTzTBNxsC3sFBELDfLb3eGnwEeZWFM/s400/20190717_100817.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYY00f-CryzmVPYF0EnSDgl1BEDhb-RS0ipr4_JbyTlsed1U7Fwp89djX_qWeXjLVWrcjqlfIBzx37RuVSvHNBJ7VgMi84jyqzyJZHNUu60ZFsH75TFi0ZEqVB1vaYkaDXTSSXUrzGJ0/s1600/20190717_102338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYY00f-CryzmVPYF0EnSDgl1BEDhb-RS0ipr4_JbyTlsed1U7Fwp89djX_qWeXjLVWrcjqlfIBzx37RuVSvHNBJ7VgMi84jyqzyJZHNUu60ZFsH75TFi0ZEqVB1vaYkaDXTSSXUrzGJ0/s400/20190717_102338.jpg" width="300" /></a></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then, as planned, Jay showed up this past Friday ready to work AND with a hydraulic post hole digger. Happy day. Although Keith has dug hundreds of post holes over the years with his manual post hole digger, he wasn't looking forward to it with the projected high heats. And criminy, did it get hot on Saturday when the guys did the bulk of the work. 97 degrees with a heat index of 110. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And what did I do while those two die hards were putting in the fence posts? Well I painted and painted and painted some more. Keith had built a second gate a couple weeks ago to match the one Colton had made and it needed painting too. Of course Keith built it out of scrap lumber pieces which shined up nicely with a couple coats of Behrs Wood and Fence Stain in Tintable White. That product was amazing!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKrMajvWvlSof_5x2o5zOOH4faIjAotAZuBEvHTEHfqZuhWIqduq7PW9amjtzRYvRH6Sor9OuM7NUNWHaJa0lFWUGox-CloaCY1sF8RBh0CsmVeZXMwi-du-7AguqCXbkfuVp68GHpmM/s1600/20190718_114927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKrMajvWvlSof_5x2o5zOOH4faIjAotAZuBEvHTEHfqZuhWIqduq7PW9amjtzRYvRH6Sor9OuM7NUNWHaJa0lFWUGox-CloaCY1sF8RBh0CsmVeZXMwi-du-7AguqCXbkfuVp68GHpmM/s320/20190718_114927.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JPtVa_61R7G-EjFUDT_LWjPQMgUrYUJjBjvLw5YwnkENLh9anCL5gV-d1Pq1H2xuzPMCLxdr86LqjAWfaHi9uqSEazpX9N8FMhky4iZH2-6prvKFE32PxnT2C6C5WebFsgY10J0feRs/s1600/20190718_120746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JPtVa_61R7G-EjFUDT_LWjPQMgUrYUJjBjvLw5YwnkENLh9anCL5gV-d1Pq1H2xuzPMCLxdr86LqjAWfaHi9uqSEazpX9N8FMhky4iZH2-6prvKFE32PxnT2C6C5WebFsgY10J0feRs/s320/20190718_120746.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also kept the fellows well supplied in cold drinks. By 9 pm that evening we were all sound asleep, exhausted. Even with the hydraulic post hole digger, the work was strenuous taking both the guys and many muscles to hold the machine in place and or repositioning it when it hit heavy clay or rock. Most definitely a two man job. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFpBi9GQCYhJNwXK3U9UfmBm_0Xr15sMa2WUSfNxDQt7OdYZQXM0bRGawqUNpT54joopb8_MNJVZWhknCI7LpDWQzCCzDRM_n_eMXeOOIJsF0rMU-aCTvyKypReIkH_eKDfEeIjygCrQ/s1600/20190720_115528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFpBi9GQCYhJNwXK3U9UfmBm_0Xr15sMa2WUSfNxDQt7OdYZQXM0bRGawqUNpT54joopb8_MNJVZWhknCI7LpDWQzCCzDRM_n_eMXeOOIJsF0rMU-aCTvyKypReIkH_eKDfEeIjygCrQ/s320/20190720_115528.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51YoWrW5surclVh3z7BQLoZBsbBtp9A-n_lTunT67b-aZuIHdAVb4wyZ_dqAJC3nMkaXrcby3SMpSegRHHQZgAHKsu5roswOPWX_LeewY5OXAuQ0FwWuK3k9l1A2dVyGn0dCFfXmrwXo/s1600/20190720_103654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51YoWrW5surclVh3z7BQLoZBsbBtp9A-n_lTunT67b-aZuIHdAVb4wyZ_dqAJC3nMkaXrcby3SMpSegRHHQZgAHKsu5roswOPWX_LeewY5OXAuQ0FwWuK3k9l1A2dVyGn0dCFfXmrwXo/s320/20190720_103654.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">By Sunday am most of the posts were in place with only five more to go. They had that done by 10 am and started with the fun part of attaching the fence sections. We ran into a bit of a snag around the old well tiles I had filled with zinnias. They needed to come forward about two inches. At first the guys thought they might be able to just push the tiles (filled with soil and flowers) forward , but they quickly discovered they were too heavy. That's Jay below, trying to pull with his legs parallel to the ground, while Keith is laying behind them, trying to push. Didn't work. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They then wrapped some chains around the bottom of the tiles and used the tractor to scoot them forward. It worked well, even though I was concerned the tiles might break. A few petunias were sacrificed as were several other flower plants during the whole fence installation, but I had expected that. In fact I was impressed with how many border flowers were saved overall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">By 1 pm Sunday 75 % of the fence was up. The last section on the south side still had to be painted and installed, and the gate nearest the grain bin had to be hung but we were all ready to call it quits. The heat had worn us down. Keith and I will finish the rest of the fence this week, it's supposed to be much cooler, and then I can get busy weeding that garden spot of ours. Below is the view out our second story window. Makes me so happy to have a white picket fence after decades of wanting one!! I am so grateful to my dear hubbie and dear friend for making this a reality. Happy 60th to me. </span></div>
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<br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-75563955181549062182019-07-05T22:01:00.001-07:002019-07-05T22:01:20.592-07:00Barn Update with Loft Room<br />
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Two years ago Keith and I bought a 1950ish metal machine shed about 9 miles from our farm. We paid someone to dismantle it and deliver it to us, then we brought it back to life here piece by piece, post by post, as our barn.<br />
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Two years ago. Where did that time go? It's still not finished but not for lack of effort and hard work. With Keith working full time off the farm, his hours for barn work are limited, but he does manage to keep at it whenever he can, repurposing so many, many materials from the old 1868 house we are tearing down on our property.<br />
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He has even recycled the old insulation, some of it loose, some in the form of Styrofoam panels, some in strips. See below.<br />
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To date , we are able to store hay, hog grain, our tractor, our lawn mower, our freezers and all of Keith's shop materials, even though he does not yet have walls for his shop area, in our barn. Details, details. We also have stalls for our three steers and my horse.<br />
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While I was in Texas visiting a niece last week (a blog about that is next in que) Keith took a week off from his job for a Farmcation. He was as excited about staying home and getting work done here as I was about getting OFF the farm for several days.<br />
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In my absence he made tremendous progress on the loft room which will house the homesteading supplies we need, but don't use everyday, like: canning supplies, soap making equipment, winter chore clothes, sewing equipment, plus we'll have room for a full size bed for guests. Or Keith and I will sleep there and the guests can have our fancy 10 x 10 grain bin bedroom. This new barn loft room will have four walls, a pitched roof, three big windows and a reading nook. (The raised platform just behind Keith in pic below.)<br />
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We don't plan to heat or cool it so guest overnights will depend on weather but when your GK population keeps growing it's nice to have options.<br />
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The best part of this new space are the truly awesome floors! Keith recycled each board from the 1868 house. Some were floor boards, some were wall boards, but all were sturdy and well made as they were in the 1800's. My plans are to lightly sand the boards and then just cover with several coats of polyurethane. Most are already over 150 years old, they should hold up for a few more.<br />
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It's funny how Keith and I were all about downsizing when we sold the old Chatsworth farm in 2015, which had about 3000 SF of living and storage space. We figured a grain bin house of 670 SF would be plenty of room for just the two of us and it is. It's just not enough room for all our homesteading crud! Eventually, if we keep going the way we are we'll have the same amount of space we used to have, only scattered about in three or four buildings. Oh well, all the walking between house, barn, lofts, studios etc...should keep us in shape.Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-51156385173446886352019-07-03T19:27:00.000-07:002019-07-03T19:47:10.268-07:00The Prodical Blogger Returns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, those of you who have emailed or reached out in one way or another to check on me, it was deeply appreciated. I've reached back to most of you and will finish up emails to those not yet contacted, right after I finish this post.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Obviously I have not expired, Keith is well too, but life sure got sticky and I took an extended, not entirely intended, blog break. I even considered ceasing this blog entirely but I have decided against that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I need the outlet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In May my youngest sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and in that same month our 7th grandchild, a gorgeous wee girl, was born with a serious cleft lip and palate. My sister faces a long run of chemo followed by surgery and our granddaughter faces many future surgeries. The prognosis for both is good but I felt my time was best utilized in the area of support and time availability. I was so grateful that since I work from home I was able to help where needed. We are even more blessed that our children all live within fifteen minutes of us and my sisters and sole brother are all within an hour.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In the midst of those family changes, my mother-in-law required more trips to the doctor (she fell and broke her arm) and another elderly friend needed help back and forth to her doctor appointments. It rained, it poured, but the sky is now lightening up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Keith and I, in the mean time, have kept busy with continued barn work and projects on the farm. I have lots more to share and will do so in future posts. In the meantime here are a few pics of my flower and herb garden just outside the grain bin. The wonderful colors there are constant reminders that to every thing there is a season, turn, turn turn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">No wonder I'm so dizzy!</span><br />
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<br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-27650639147937379192019-04-01T21:57:00.002-07:002019-04-01T22:03:58.576-07:00Good Riddance Winter <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Finally, winter is moving on and with it, I hope the crap storm of bad and sad. My immediate family, our children and their families, are well but the periphery about all of us (friends of relatives and relatives of friends) was filled with cancer related deaths and serious medical issues. March came in like a lion and acted rudely all thirty-one days.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Today though it's better. Temperatures are creeping up, the sun was brilliant, I was able to hang up laundry and there are no funerals or visitations on my calendar. Gardens are being cleared of last falls debris and tomorrow we'll sow radishes, lettuces and peas. Hope springs eternal as the cliche' lovers might spout. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Keith further lifted my spirits by installing some garden gates. The first one closes off our large main garden sitting west of the grain bin house a couple hundred feet. He <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> made the gate from an old hog panel I've been hanging onto for years because I loved the vintage red and yellow paint on it. He used vintage black hinges that HE has been hanging onto for years. <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Now that it is installed I may paint it white to match the white picket gate on our kitchen garden below. We shall see.</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><b></b><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRtDTqfzdgWIp8ZxArv6E5FVLdg_d1Hc3yYHSbtkZ6I6lhpymW3QzMUrGuKn4g4tCCe55pCSZNy4x5HKGFA8xGS4nxtzefyPvsFeomwm8IrZBfpuXgf-nM3s3Lsoi-hKLFpvJ2sM_H-E/s1600/IMG_20190329_132038296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRtDTqfzdgWIp8ZxArv6E5FVLdg_d1Hc3yYHSbtkZ6I6lhpymW3QzMUrGuKn4g4tCCe55pCSZNy4x5HKGFA8xGS4nxtzefyPvsFeomwm8IrZBfpuXgf-nM3s3Lsoi-hKLFpvJ2sM_H-E/s320/IMG_20190329_132038296.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgQ3u-KFKOoUPrUpkDqjjNgigi-kLjz2lW91X_GWsfUei15VOSgR5RR5Q12aUYufUwGioKcHM7kNMwpblm_SQpxNGJ7BanCG8QotONRdJNEKezcsLeLnXTJb8jl__eUzMXz8keCaGJnY/s1600/IMG_20190329_132029738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgQ3u-KFKOoUPrUpkDqjjNgigi-kLjz2lW91X_GWsfUei15VOSgR5RR5Q12aUYufUwGioKcHM7kNMwpblm_SQpxNGJ7BanCG8QotONRdJNEKezcsLeLnXTJb8jl__eUzMXz8keCaGJnY/s320/IMG_20190329_132029738.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYvfSR86XjuEfTOxNYRlxOMZQgznQRdXvZr4czU6vdoNf3qytclgS6fYKDzuaNPBvFwGum6ZsQobVXrQ_2T8VXCnEDRVa7FiykjqKisIU6IFxBGM2KVexLTew45oB2mBOGmFY-hO16us/s1600/IMG_20190329_135001540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYvfSR86XjuEfTOxNYRlxOMZQgznQRdXvZr4czU6vdoNf3qytclgS6fYKDzuaNPBvFwGum6ZsQobVXrQ_2T8VXCnEDRVa7FiykjqKisIU6IFxBGM2KVexLTew45oB2mBOGmFY-hO16us/s320/IMG_20190329_135001540.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheUfBhyphenhyphen4S1XWP1bv4MkPrAKgOH-FXNFtSfqFMk54Zxf2Lvpi9bde9T1aDuI2aF3H_LY431vSLWFJw4D_jr9_NIyzv3MfvOa9m033HMtXJxUfnWQXykxMqfeGfoiD_ABAJhg4IcSH69M0/s1600/IMG_20190329_135009848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiheUfBhyphenhyphen4S1XWP1bv4MkPrAKgOH-FXNFtSfqFMk54Zxf2Lvpi9bde9T1aDuI2aF3H_LY431vSLWFJw4D_jr9_NIyzv3MfvOa9m033HMtXJxUfnWQXykxMqfeGfoiD_ABAJhg4IcSH69M0/s320/IMG_20190329_135009848.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><b>
T<span style="font-size: large;">he smaller kitchen garden gate was a birthday gift to me from our son Colton last May. He built it, painted it and gave us all the hardware to hang it. Keith <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">put in the posts a couple days ago and VOILA' I have the quaint garden gate I have always wanted. This summer we will build the rest of the picket fence <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">from salvaged wood harvested form the 1868 house which is still under deconstruction. I love our cute little kitchen garden where I grow my herbs and salad veggies, plus numerous spirit lifting annuals.</span></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is everyone else doing to welcome spring and/or lift spirits? </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">PS. I have no idea why Blogger is messing with my blog by highlighting words and corrupting my font. You get what you pay for eh?</span></span></b><br />
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<b></b><br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-42719359886791173902019-03-02T11:08:00.001-08:002019-03-02T11:09:26.597-08:00 It's a Fact, We're Low Class<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_UIIG5CNKFKifvL67fQqW7YGaCktmiGp8rsPpKfzNgwgGZTby6XSOGrF0k8U5aIUrg7xfpnIBIr5XVW6_ECTGpj3-emDaEoKJm9vioVpi0IpmZpM2xg-hPvFZVBeFj5LOuEzRgttgXU/s1600/IMG_20190213_102446348+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_UIIG5CNKFKifvL67fQqW7YGaCktmiGp8rsPpKfzNgwgGZTby6XSOGrF0k8U5aIUrg7xfpnIBIr5XVW6_ECTGpj3-emDaEoKJm9vioVpi0IpmZpM2xg-hPvFZVBeFj5LOuEzRgttgXU/s400/IMG_20190213_102446348+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice Capades at the Grain Bin House. Winter 2019</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Years ago at our "finest" (it's debatable) Keith and I had an income of over $135,000/yr. Our farm was certified organic and we sold to four grocery stores and ten restaurants in the Chicago area, plus one in Champaign. In addition we managed our own retail farm store on our property. Neither of us worked an off-farm job. We were considered upper middle class.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We also ran ourselves ragged and paid a huge hunk of income tax.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But now on our new farm, coming up on our four year anniversary, we've realized one of our key financial goals, to obtain lower class status. In Illinois, where the median income was $ 62, 992 in 2017, lower middle class was considered at $37,473 per year. Less than that, for a family of two, is considered lower class.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Keith and I, with his county custodian job and my small nursing pension, bring in about $26,000 a year. Now, if we made less than $16, 910 we'd be considered "impoverished" or just plain poor. But, we don't think much of the state's definitions anyway, they've done a horrible job of managing their own money, so it's all a moot point, except for the fact that we pay far less income tax than we ever have, and that makes us giddy happy. We completed our taxes last week and we will receive $17 back from the Federal government and a whopping $78 return from the State of Illinois.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How shall we spent this huge mother lode? Should we invest in stocks? Take an Alaskan cruise? Purchase some diamond earrings for my trips to Aldi's? Put a down payment on a car less than twenty years old? No. I believe we'll buy some OSB plywood panels for Keith's shop in the barn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's us. Always living on the wild side.</span>Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-76473475915871705002019-02-10T20:49:00.001-08:002019-02-10T20:51:57.836-08:00Windows 4.0<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6wMWPlOhLSP6QPaGg7VN2xL2m86iEI8_VMNH5Zn4ETGaWZjpJPElf6uT8xWeH39mGNUlDJJEsmSKCV3hMaPGazPlk5zhdSe-Mb6b_3rxC7aS-lsCh80sziX-ca5W_vp_S_2cmp_fzbE/s1600/IMG_20190210_170128796_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6wMWPlOhLSP6QPaGg7VN2xL2m86iEI8_VMNH5Zn4ETGaWZjpJPElf6uT8xWeH39mGNUlDJJEsmSKCV3hMaPGazPlk5zhdSe-Mb6b_3rxC7aS-lsCh80sziX-ca5W_vp_S_2cmp_fzbE/s400/IMG_20190210_170128796_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The weather has eased a tad, and in between snow and ice storms, fog and floods, Keith has managed to work on the barn build. Winter 2019 has been a serious challenge for outside work here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today he and our son Jason put in the four large, double pane windows (36" x 48") that Jason sourced for us for just $40 each. His boss was remodeling and no longer needed them. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It took Keith many mornings to get the framing done, all with recycled wood form the 1868 house, but tonight the two of them made this homesteader very happy. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsvntlGep0AdKvIg0Tvhv15CRdDiosJDCzGPDYAWKB7YLt8pTtT4zEcOY2ejDNp2HeoWHH_kP4S_Avofhr_TJsMR3ls4R92TemGqmtsF-m3Tgl2rXNpU9snQgvYf86q05Ephl7LziPvs/s1600/IMG_20190210_170141694_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsvntlGep0AdKvIg0Tvhv15CRdDiosJDCzGPDYAWKB7YLt8pTtT4zEcOY2ejDNp2HeoWHH_kP4S_Avofhr_TJsMR3ls4R92TemGqmtsF-m3Tgl2rXNpU9snQgvYf86q05Ephl7LziPvs/s640/IMG_20190210_170141694_HDR.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After the electrical is complete, the upper windows installed, the walls are finished, the doors put in place and the ceiling installed we'll have a room big enough for our large farm table, about 16 x 24 feet. The room, not the table. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLB1oGKtVXGCw-Br_yONZewPiSstF0Ee3rEPoZMXZkKnfXYc7vX9VtE3bNp2GHG8lqJnqadmB8zu6qibrzGE8hhb8cOhDkOgAS3IPzGgFABXiZrI16PXiLgMWyWQKnIgQxTkKD8jgCrU/s1600/IMG_20190210_170328460_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLB1oGKtVXGCw-Br_yONZewPiSstF0Ee3rEPoZMXZkKnfXYc7vX9VtE3bNp2GHG8lqJnqadmB8zu6qibrzGE8hhb8cOhDkOgAS3IPzGgFABXiZrI16PXiLgMWyWQKnIgQxTkKD8jgCrU/s400/IMG_20190210_170328460_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
The Upper Loft Area </div>
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For Non-feed Storage</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This means in good weather we can host larger groups of folks for meals, holiday get togethers and the like. It also means that we'll have a green house area since the windows face south.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A few tall metal racks, which I'll be looking for at future garage sales, will hold our garden seedlings and/or extend our growing season.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Up above this room will be our storage loft for non-feed items like soap making supplies, extra furniture, my canning supplies, seasonal clothing, our bee keeping items and all the stuff we need but not on a daily basis. We have discovered over the last four years that although small house living is nice in theory, it sucks for storing the items homesteaders need to function. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm so excited to see these two rooms coming closer to completion!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The animals are too since the window installation will now slow the wind and snow from blowing into their areas just to the right of Keith in the picture below. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolVWjdVD92lk3eMBzYY_cOzohet2XooydzKPGv0aXdZMOaoqIW5S5wUKgv_JVJkuBbm-tgO_nq9HQEo7ccyrEPumOmXUaT7zxV0sPTnINXPzIyigGiq9KNdcGymq2Yt-HTev6GfVHfjs/s1600/IMG_20190210_170518588_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolVWjdVD92lk3eMBzYY_cOzohet2XooydzKPGv0aXdZMOaoqIW5S5wUKgv_JVJkuBbm-tgO_nq9HQEo7ccyrEPumOmXUaT7zxV0sPTnINXPzIyigGiq9KNdcGymq2Yt-HTev6GfVHfjs/s400/IMG_20190210_170518588_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I see red geranium filled window boxes below those windows, don't you?</span><br />
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<br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-36961102309117747132019-02-06T17:59:00.000-08:002019-02-06T19:04:44.923-08:00The Outrageously High Cost of Cheap Milk<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPiMyrxteh6WW783PauEbM946Bogxip9yW6dcpZJuj3c965olmXt07QX7F1UhWjZp4yAjNGB4AJDh59O9iDNVy606hN9BlMbiR1q5v9KUBdJgS9q5re05TiakA_RmZpA_gjvuWABPRYA/s1600/IMG_20190204_163110697_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiPiMyrxteh6WW783PauEbM946Bogxip9yW6dcpZJuj3c965olmXt07QX7F1UhWjZp4yAjNGB4AJDh59O9iDNVy606hN9BlMbiR1q5v9KUBdJgS9q5re05TiakA_RmZpA_gjvuWABPRYA/s400/IMG_20190204_163110697_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our single can milking system for our single cow.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am embarrassed to admit that I was in Walmart the other night, a store I abhor, (I was buying fabric for a sewing lesson my daughter graciously bought me as a Christmas present) when I noted that milk was on sale for $1 per gallon.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It chills my blood to see that. Sure, it might seem a great deal to the consumer, but it is the producer, the dairy farmer, that suffers. Walmart loves doing it because offering this milk as a "loss leader" brings in additional customers who will no doubt pick up ten other items they don't need on their way out of the store. It's no coincidence that this bargain is located at the back of the store, so many other useless items to see on your journey back there.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But when milk is offered at this cut rate price everyone suffers. The dairy farmer cannot exist on the payment they receive for their product as it is. Currently in the US, they collect $15.30 per hundred weight of milk if they are selling conventional (non-organic) milk to a large conglomerate like Prairie Farms. That's right, they receive jut $15.30 for every hundred pounds of milk . Since there is 8.6 pounds of milk in one gallon they are therefore getting approximately $1.32 for every gallon they produce. At least this month they are. Milk prices for conventional famers fluctuate widely in the US.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In addition it is unlikely they are able to produce that gallon of milk for $1.32/gallon which is why so many farmers work off farm jobs to pay expenses or, they will increase their herd size in order to spread out expenses. But more cows means more feed, bigger barns, more equipment, more land, more insurance and increased debt. This move towards bigger farms began decades ago when Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz spewed his mantra "Get Big or Get Out".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thus the reason so many smaller dairy farmers, those who own 200 cows or less, have run screaming from the dairy business, and why more mega dairies like <a href="https://fofarms.com/about-us/">Fair Oaks</a>, have erupted with their Factory Farms.<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> There<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> they keep over 35,000 cows which produce nearly 300,000 gallons of milk a day.</span></span> Don't let the red wood veneered barn on their web site fool you, this outfit is a full blown profit centered corporation that offers restaurant dining, gift shop cruising, and bus tours. Because you know, one can really get an accurate sense of true farming from the inside of a cushy-seated, climate-controlled bus! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you do take a Fair Oaks tour (only $10 for a three year old) don't expect to have the opportunity to actually pet one of these bovines. Heaven forbid. Fair Oaks is "bio-secure" so as to protect their herd from any nasty germs visitors might bring in and furthermore, we can't have wee Sally leaving the farm with manure on her shoes can we?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All of this is to say that small family farms are rapidly disappearing from our landscape. Over the last eighty years in the US the number of farms has decreased from more than six million in 1935 to less than two million in 2019. Meanwhile, the farm SIZE has more than doubled. Gone are the days where a drive in the country revealed sheep, pigs, cows, chickens and goats on pasture. Instead they are kept "bio-secure" in sterile metal buildings often with concrete under their feet and fluorescent lights over their heads. Their lifespans are short and they have virtually no immune systems. They are fed cheap corn, prophylactic antibiotics, and confined to inhumanely small areas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And every time you as consumer purchase that cheap milk you are compounding the problem.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What to do? Take a bit of time to think about your purchases. Explore the small farmers in your area who sell milk (or meat or vegetables) directly to the consumer and consider buying from them more often. If every consumer just purchased 10% of their food directly from the farm, through farm co-ops or at farmers markets, a difference could be made.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Either that or the only farm livestock you or your grandchildren will see fifty years from now will be from a helicopter tour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-14783802949393058822019-01-29T20:18:00.000-08:002019-01-29T21:33:16.092-08:00For the Love of God and All That is Holy PLEASE TURN UP THE HEAT!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Good Lord! (I say that as invocation, trust me) but could you please ease up a bit on the deep freeze? The past few days we felt like we've been homesteading in Antartica, and it's predicted to get worse. Before I drudge on, if indeed you<i> are</i> a homesteader in Antartica please feel free to leave a comment mocking my weak nature, I'm sure you've had it much tougher.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But for us wussy Illinoians who are used to winters that dip only now and then below zero, this double digit stuff below ought is mad I tell you. Mad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Winds started kicking in yesterday and have been steadily whipping about for over thirty-six hours. Coupled with the snow we're getting on and off and now the horrific wind chills the temps outside are literally life threatening. In Chicago today fires had to be lit along some of the railroad tracks to allow the trains to keep running and huge ice blocks are forming in the river.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight it is expected to drop to -23F with wind chills possible of -50 to -60F. Schools are closed all over Livingston county, many businesses have reduced hours or are not open at all and the United States Postal Service announced no mail delivery tomorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Good for them. No one is going to die if they don't get their daily allotment of junk mail or subscription to Martha Stewarts Living delivered to them. I did however order a box of Barry's Tea from eBay which probably won't turn up until Thursday which will make me crabby but not terminal. I've already been out for two days. I guess it's Jameson for breakfast again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4QnKXiH2H5cuxdHHwG2X4OBNfQGrxkfjlJ2YpeDwd2amoFQVpZt85zvlHW9eAM8vEwA6uovH6hu1mu1nqCEKRP_xN3qXeI74UoB2JyAAJc82OcTEkw2wYS0bzmgc2o4_I2akncylbMg/s1600/IMG_20190124_162611500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4QnKXiH2H5cuxdHHwG2X4OBNfQGrxkfjlJ2YpeDwd2amoFQVpZt85zvlHW9eAM8vEwA6uovH6hu1mu1nqCEKRP_xN3qXeI74UoB2JyAAJc82OcTEkw2wYS0bzmgc2o4_I2akncylbMg/s320/IMG_20190124_162611500.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chores tonight were no fun a'tall. Double socks, double gloves, double hat and double dogs! Our two guardian dogs walked on either side of me like they knew I needed the extra warmth. All our animals are doing ok though as Keith worked hard this am bedding everyone well. They are also getting extra feed and water to keep body temps up. So happy we have the small farm now and chore time takes less time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Biggest concerns are for two of our sons who work outside. Middle son is employed by another farmer whose cattle herd is in the midst of calving. Most are inside a large barn but some are not and if their labor is not caught early enough to move them indoors, there is loss of animal life and risk to the farmers trying to get them indoors.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Oldest son works for a large utility company and is required to stay at his place of employment around the clock until Friday morning. As folks crank up their heat and more natural gas flows at higher speeds there are more breakdowns which is where he comes in. Sometimes the electrical repairs and programming issues take place in the office, and sometimes out in the field.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the mad, mad, and more mad side, temps are predicted to go back up with a high of 45 degrees F on Sunday!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I might have to break out my shorts and tank top.</span><br />
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<br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-74071759087727225072019-01-22T18:51:00.001-08:002019-01-22T19:05:17.242-08:00"I Don't Have the Time" and other ridiculous phrases.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">People.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">People. People. People.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You do say the silliest things.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Recently, an acquaintance said the following to me when I mentioned that I make my own soap, deodorant, and toothpaste. "Oh, I'd like to do some of those crafty things but<i> I don't have the time."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i>
I'm sorry (not really) to break this to you, all of you who spout this nonsense, but you do indeed have the time. You see, here's the kicker, we all have been gifted the exact same amount of time each and every day-twenty-four hours-no more, no less.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What gets in the way, is the Free Will thing. I have it and so do you, unless you are currently being held captive in some hippie freak commune just outside Podunk Pennsatucky. And if you are, get off the World Wide Web and take the next rutabaga truck out of there.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My point, is this. It's up to each of us how we spend our time. I chose to leave a well paid nursing gig, and a few years after that, we chose to sell our big farm. After purchasing our new farm and building our small grain bin house, we were left with minimal cash but tons more time. We now choose to spend this time growing much of our own food, building barns with recycled materials, heating our house with scrap wood that we gather and cut, and making most of our meals and personal care products from scratch.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You, on the other hand, may have choosen to stay within the proverbial rat race where you work hard for others every day, earning enough money to buy the food and personal products you desire at the restaurant or mega store of your choice. Because of your dedication you might choose to travel more, to purchase a newer car, or to buy the people you love nice things from Amazon. No one is holding my feet to the rocket mass stove fire or your Guccis to the corporate grindstone.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Every time I hear that phrase "I don't have the time" I want to flick that person hard in the middle of their forehead with my formally Cheeto stained fingers, as in,<i> Hello! You do have the time to do whatever you want, take accountability for how you spend it!"</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps it seems an overreaction on my part, but this annoying phrase is indicative of a major flaw tearing through society's moral fiber these days, the avoidance of personal responsibility. Kids who misbehave at school and their parents who pass the buck onto TV shows and video games is just one example. Unplug you wee one once in awhile and/or monitor the shows that you use to anesthetize them, and their behavior might improve or perhaps...and this action is really out there I know...apply a little discipline when they misbehave. Take away some of the hundreds of toys/phones/screens they scatter all over your home, make them do regular chores, and require them to earn the money to buy items they covet. Hold them accountable. Hold yourself accountable. Use your time wisely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The hourglass does not refill for any of us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5XDdhWEgXkFyAjCa2x4pql-vcjpiuXOhFt1kDrcI-YuHTeS6oa4AE3ZpiCihyo0pqbEynUSNR1gHUJ3q1_3kRVMUXdzP6GGR-iCWcbuRJ8RoTsKtc30WAP7cRZKc4_epl2_9gRSyTXg/s1600/sam_1356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #e1bb28; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5XDdhWEgXkFyAjCa2x4pql-vcjpiuXOhFt1kDrcI-YuHTeS6oa4AE3ZpiCihyo0pqbEynUSNR1gHUJ3q1_3kRVMUXdzP6GGR-iCWcbuRJ8RoTsKtc30WAP7cRZKc4_epl2_9gRSyTXg/s1600/sam_1356.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: #35372d; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0%; background-position-y: 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: rgb(40, 225, 186); border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(40, 225, 186); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(40, 225, 186); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(40, 225, 186); border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.2); padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another phrase voiced by yet another acquaintance when I gifted them some homemade soap for Christmas was, "<i>Someone really has some extra time on her hands." </i>Grrrrrrrrr. That one absolutely made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and wave the Bite Me flag.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> A simple "Thank You "would have sufficed. I hear that phrase often when one person gives another a gift of art, poetry, or homemade food. Obviously, that individual thought I had recently purchased extra hours at the All The Time You Need in the World Store. When I choose to make a gift for someone I am also choosing not to do something else, such as clean my bathroom, weed my garden, email an old friend or scrape dried sweet potato left on our bedroom floor. Don't ask. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Regardless of which essential task I neglected in order to make a gift, so be it. It was my<i> choice.</i> </span><span style="font-size: large;">So, guess who will not be receiving handcrafted soap from me next year?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm sure I just won't have the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-86109135471889698922019-01-12T15:31:00.001-08:002019-01-12T15:31:33.910-08:00New Year, New Goals, New Stairs<span style="font-size: large;">As I write, we are in the midst of snowmageddan 2019. A one thousand mile swatch of snowy, icy weather has graced the Midwest. St Louis was hit the hardest last night with up to 14 inches of snow in some areas, while we here in central Illinois are dealing with 4-7 inches. Winds are moderate but drifting is rearing its ugly head and travel is not advised. This makes for a great excuse to stay inside and do some serious farm planning. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We were gifted with several aerial farm photos over Christmas and we're thrilled to use them to complete one year, three year and five year plans for The Poor Farm. I was even more thrilled to see that from up on high, our piles of "inventory" were not so noticeable, nor did they consume as much land area as I thought they did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's good to put things in perspective. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We'll be working with this main shot, which shows are entire seven acres, all bordered by conventional (chemically treated) fields on three sides and one county road on the north side. Our grain bin house is hidden behind the evergreen trees to the far right of the driveway. The pig area is even father right. Our small pond is to the left of the drive, with yellowish tree cover, near the road. Family cemetery area is lower left.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdiHrjWoZqbNVz-OcTwV70k4zHt3_vDnCA9pnu-1uxytul6gr9uEaMynOfedqWed6fsLF91vNsvnwctFiDULQdcTpCeFePTYeB-eusOh929RxUhYvfHv_F2p7Qs7wSronrLZyqEVqeC0/s1600/FARM_OVERHEAD_STDRES_16DEC18+%252813%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdiHrjWoZqbNVz-OcTwV70k4zHt3_vDnCA9pnu-1uxytul6gr9uEaMynOfedqWed6fsLF91vNsvnwctFiDULQdcTpCeFePTYeB-eusOh929RxUhYvfHv_F2p7Qs7wSronrLZyqEVqeC0/s640/FARM_OVERHEAD_STDRES_16DEC18+%252813%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Below is a flipped view (with north on the bottom) which shows our Grain Bin House and it's relationship to the other buildings. I used the Microsoft paint program already on my pc, for the lettering. Old dog, new trick. Woof.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaAoUBpHOd3zJLbW7ePhq6eTTCdTw-AjlfPL1vVAllCUhVXPGNPot_tnCpLI6pHGfrPvxQpR6UlA6QhCOwyAtu3AMNyXKOyNjvGraqxIQLn7aFPrff0aT8R0KPNyR7xEfup8Syj88TZM/s1600/Farm+Aerial+2018+with+Labeling.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMaAoUBpHOd3zJLbW7ePhq6eTTCdTw-AjlfPL1vVAllCUhVXPGNPot_tnCpLI6pHGfrPvxQpR6UlA6QhCOwyAtu3AMNyXKOyNjvGraqxIQLn7aFPrff0aT8R0KPNyR7xEfup8Syj88TZM/s640/Farm+Aerial+2018+with+Labeling.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On yet a third picture, which we had made into an 11 by 17 poster size, (thank you Vistaprint) we slid it inside a large plastic sleeve and used dry erase marker to plot out existing pastures, cow paths etc...It worked great, just draw and erase. Pink lines designate current pastures, black is our cattle path, black square in upper right is family cemetery area, and pond is in lower right. Once satisfied with our plan I'll take a permanent photo to use for future reference. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Primary goals for 2019 include (but are never limited to)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Complete the teardown of the 1868 house</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Complete new barn build (two enclosed storage lofts, one open hay loft and Keith's shop)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Build picket fence to enclose kitchen garden</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Start hügelkultur area behind barn with wood from two large oaks we felled last year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Install small propane heater for studio so I can use in winter</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'll share three and five year goals and financial budgets later this month. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, about that 50 foot by 60 foot barn build. Before this recent storm Keith had many mild days to work inside the barn. Stairs are nearly complete up to the loft area which will house the last of the stuff we still have in storage in the surviving half of the 1868 house. An end is in sight! Our shepherd/husky mix Ashland and Keith demonstrate correct use.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">It doesn't look like it in the picture below, but floor to ceiling height in the upper loft is seven foot. </span>This area will be walled in with a door and windows to keep out birds, rodents and the occasional free ranging horse. </span></div>
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<br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-11922005446252897952018-12-26T19:47:00.001-08:002018-12-26T20:02:21.516-08:00Piggies Moving Up in the World<span style="font-size: large;">Christmas was wonderful with lots of great food, (many thanks to daughter-in-law, Chef Tab, who made us a scrumptious breakfast) special time with family, and gifts that were extremely thoughtful and generous. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But as happens every year, December 26th comes along and farm work beckons. Pigs needed bigger housing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our current crop of feeder pigs are now four months old and growing unlike weeds. Weeds tend to grow UP while these little porkers are growing WIDE, as intended.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are a group of five Red Wattle crosses we purchased outside of Springfield, Illinois back in September. The cost was fabulous at just $20 each since full Red Wattle feeders can easily run $100 per head. This group was a bit underweight and we were prepared to lose the smallest one, but still we were willing to take the chance since the price was good. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzOwvxAfdF6Pw2fBchfHCsrRTLTNG59TE9M8e7oBhGtzwRkeGtzO5nR9EwV-HgLiY6swuFbgSuCwOyhzBbAOxDUmq5XlUx5qOjwjYPH2pNNC_fV4SWUrQwCeeV5TFRmczkSCYK9ZJdPo/s1600/IMG_20181226_123952737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzOwvxAfdF6Pw2fBchfHCsrRTLTNG59TE9M8e7oBhGtzwRkeGtzO5nR9EwV-HgLiY6swuFbgSuCwOyhzBbAOxDUmq5XlUx5qOjwjYPH2pNNC_fV4SWUrQwCeeV5TFRmczkSCYK9ZJdPo/s640/IMG_20181226_123952737.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We got them home, put them on organic ground grain and raw milk from our lovely cow Liz. Within two weeks these babies were thriving. Even the smallest one rapidly gained ground. He is in fact now, our second largest, the gray hog in the picture above. We attribute this positive growth and robust health to a few things: lots of room outside in the fresh air to run and dig, organic feed (free of GMO grains, antibiotics or hormones), deep bedding for warmth and comfort, and raw milk for protein. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmR9OQqah4ebHBGjgWst1x6-Kfr2DP_s5s1V2342w0gAWxY6pTh5omMbj0vKpqXnOT725wvyeUS35WvsiQyTtbN3_FfjrvNvo4lcm1kxDaJa29lGMCA2m5Ua6DQM8WEAAkJdtAuAmoAs/s1600/IMG_20181226_123257671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmR9OQqah4ebHBGjgWst1x6-Kfr2DP_s5s1V2342w0gAWxY6pTh5omMbj0vKpqXnOT725wvyeUS35WvsiQyTtbN3_FfjrvNvo4lcm1kxDaJa29lGMCA2m5Ua6DQM8WEAAkJdtAuAmoAs/s400/IMG_20181226_123257671.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today we moved our larger Hog Condo into the pigs lot, as they are outgrowing their original petite hutch seen above to the left. Keith used our Kubota tractor and heavy chains for the task. This larger home has been used as a farrowing hut for our full grown sows back in the days when we had our "farrow to finish" operation on our old farm. One sow and her litter would get this larger condo, thus the "Maternity Ward" labeling. Now we just buy feeder pigs at 6-8 weeks, in both the spring and the fall, and raise them for our own meat and meat for a few family members. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T6ySyi8pHqC08g4W-GGgSd2yRfK6DbgDtd5VSoO-0z1Nxb7HS2l0UD_bSNcTOUZHkukhwKqIoP7Cy6C-JQqkEo2Mmj8n9gzRExK61F9_D9-N6z6OyX_hDPbEk8a-WDyFAjKcwfEkhK8/s1600/IMG_20181226_123112688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6T6ySyi8pHqC08g4W-GGgSd2yRfK6DbgDtd5VSoO-0z1Nxb7HS2l0UD_bSNcTOUZHkukhwKqIoP7Cy6C-JQqkEo2Mmj8n9gzRExK61F9_D9-N6z6OyX_hDPbEk8a-WDyFAjKcwfEkhK8/s400/IMG_20181226_123112688.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiEc5pnOgi70Bu1waKVqdyBNtT5KRPnFhXwdxmgtqqAdLgnKvJdB9sRkZUYqaXqNYy6jDC7YDSQlJIKli5nbHIC9VQcxHO68xJAK4i8wzRiXbBKdjKFMXkqvWoTTwZgGKQ-uGUeOvkhI/s1600/IMG_20181226_123710793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiEc5pnOgi70Bu1waKVqdyBNtT5KRPnFhXwdxmgtqqAdLgnKvJdB9sRkZUYqaXqNYy6jDC7YDSQlJIKli5nbHIC9VQcxHO68xJAK4i8wzRiXbBKdjKFMXkqvWoTTwZgGKQ-uGUeOvkhI/s400/IMG_20181226_123710793.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You can see that this larger hutch has had some serious use over the years. Just after I took this picture Keith boarded up the holes on the side and added a large piece of plywood along the bottom to keep winter drafts out. The hogs never seem to mind that the wood is a mixed variety and recycled. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> In a few days, after this group gets used to the upgraded digs, we'll fence off the area around their old place, clean up that area, pull out posts and store everything until the next group comes in this spring. We like to move each group of pigs to different areas of the farm so as not to spread any possible parasites from one group to another. They also do an excellent job of tilling and fertilizing the earth of any new site, and getting it ready for whatever crop we might put in that area after they move on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soon we'll contact the locker and make a processing date for these five, probably end of March. This is a good thing, because we are almost out of pork chops and bacon. </span>Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-53729136848163835932018-12-20T20:44:00.000-08:002018-12-20T20:46:51.792-08:00A Couple of Day Trippers <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">She was a day tripper, a Sunday driver yea</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: #666666; display: inline; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Took me so long to find out, and I found out</span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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-The Beatles 1965<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just like Paul, Ringo, John and George, Keith and I are big into Day Tripping. Our lifestyle no longer allows us to go away for weeks at a time so we settle for the shorter, less expensive day trips. This past weekend we stayed OVERNIGHT at <a href="https://www.starvedrocklodge.com/">Starved Rock State Park</a> in Utica, Illinois. It was for us, a big hairy deal. It was also our pre-planned Christmas present to each other. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We did chores early Sunday morning and made it up north by noon. Our son Jason did the evening chores for us and we did them late Monday morning when we got back. The cows milking schedule was off a bit but she's very accommodating. We don't call her "Laid Back Liz" for nothing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The lodge itself has been around since the early 1900s and has a beautiful open lounge area with huge fireplaces and a rustic log interior. Decorated nicely for Christmas it boosted my soul to see all the lights, ribbons, packages etc...I was hoping for snow on our trip, this area is gorgeous with the white stuff, but no such luck </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBT4eE2deut6cMGq4FMg1SqahSdA4BSNv0GoYSZMg-iDtYsO00pyYg6DDjdlKkLyh2iCuQZUGJvODFHbiZ5Bl5SibyO5qZc_xuBDWDy3edOzHlZcdwgSWwRICuUc-jkxiR6BKAiN2Id8/s1600/IMG_20181216_154735508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBT4eE2deut6cMGq4FMg1SqahSdA4BSNv0GoYSZMg-iDtYsO00pyYg6DDjdlKkLyh2iCuQZUGJvODFHbiZ5Bl5SibyO5qZc_xuBDWDy3edOzHlZcdwgSWwRICuUc-jkxiR6BKAiN2Id8/s320/IMG_20181216_154735508.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAK8BJ9FlDKA1I_TDBsGjdgPoovCQYO9czYm1b3zQm-X0cFFO7XOB2PxAzZJOjd82MZG2o8dLWQA5Iou6vJK4GWl36ynZhH1DpiNhF23akH4yHecepmxnQjnrjempkv2ICCVrDtJ2ObdE/s1600/IMG_20181216_154758587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAK8BJ9FlDKA1I_TDBsGjdgPoovCQYO9czYm1b3zQm-X0cFFO7XOB2PxAzZJOjd82MZG2o8dLWQA5Iou6vJK4GWl36ynZhH1DpiNhF23akH4yHecepmxnQjnrjempkv2ICCVrDtJ2ObdE/s320/IMG_20181216_154758587.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There was however, a rare sighting of the sun when we arrived and the weather was super mild, in the high 40's. Perfect for a two mile hike in the hundreds of wooded acres up there, just as the sun was setting. Paths were a tad muddy but nothing as deep and sloppy as the cow path at home. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCr7Ai00PwBnRbUeXkt9AGHca96JauVurW66tAmHBRlbpdGLHHYgiD4dO4XGHIlVoZWjNiSkrqJx__nj3VvU6zGolPsuMba76XQkaq3BAYv4N1wXNMPxGPnMuUF_FwOXHCppgRkx6Dfo/s1600/IMG_20181216_144456859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCr7Ai00PwBnRbUeXkt9AGHca96JauVurW66tAmHBRlbpdGLHHYgiD4dO4XGHIlVoZWjNiSkrqJx__nj3VvU6zGolPsuMba76XQkaq3BAYv4N1wXNMPxGPnMuUF_FwOXHCppgRkx6Dfo/s320/IMG_20181216_144456859.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1gWHuj4shR4rLPMuIfQgpqvHZJtYmXhLxt7zh_CbwMqZO7Ifw6wC8Qji48oBIRCu-M5l1HtHy80xzjkS2utBfq1WZhq5zWAcPu8G30gVkB-hAKUkQgoRu1YmTNHTTcVhm5JPZyi9moU/s1600/IMG_20181216_144759675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1gWHuj4shR4rLPMuIfQgpqvHZJtYmXhLxt7zh_CbwMqZO7Ifw6wC8Qji48oBIRCu-M5l1HtHy80xzjkS2utBfq1WZhq5zWAcPu8G30gVkB-hAKUkQgoRu1YmTNHTTcVhm5JPZyi9moU/s320/IMG_20181216_144759675.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdNpKJQE3xS1RCrn2R2eHl4pxjmcYoh2bl5VjYNtr881o8nEK13s7fFNc2UNCOpomwLSgg09RdspDFAvfaZlz_ilDVUdBwRRl-FQB8gDggvKx9zwQSpqjvyGOeKz69iubievIZLwlQIk/s1600/IMG_20181216_144752244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdNpKJQE3xS1RCrn2R2eHl4pxjmcYoh2bl5VjYNtr881o8nEK13s7fFNc2UNCOpomwLSgg09RdspDFAvfaZlz_ilDVUdBwRRl-FQB8gDggvKx9zwQSpqjvyGOeKz69iubievIZLwlQIk/s640/IMG_20181216_144752244.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We were both amazed at how much plant life was still thriving in late December and how colorful the area was. Of course we've been living in fog and deep clouds the last few weeks so any sliver of light was basically blinding to us. Mushrooms were crazy abundant on the fallen tree limbs and shaped like blossoms. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgtIN9j78byO3MQEN8goisrel1sj7RBWHrE_N00A8-4r67h4NHWql4GsTebCe7TJt5o7FDXNAojCHsP2CUVE_1UXkW_Qi_rLxwfI8ven2WjcNV1v4QZEuG_rBqYvN-K-qANLeuaHb0Zc/s1600/IMG_20181216_150229096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgtIN9j78byO3MQEN8goisrel1sj7RBWHrE_N00A8-4r67h4NHWql4GsTebCe7TJt5o7FDXNAojCHsP2CUVE_1UXkW_Qi_rLxwfI8ven2WjcNV1v4QZEuG_rBqYvN-K-qANLeuaHb0Zc/s320/IMG_20181216_150229096.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeIVhaHQ7VZ_c-KjEhOIERFkcaBrCbLxbJu-RBlnSr3X5NMVjg2eNoYDqj8EnwFydttoerT0aIA3PUqR5XrjmofoQMrqMM15R6KWx-BDcJxoVAqVAPkWYEhKWHrwph93FaOb8ffUubfo/s1600/IMG_20181216_150241733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeIVhaHQ7VZ_c-KjEhOIERFkcaBrCbLxbJu-RBlnSr3X5NMVjg2eNoYDqj8EnwFydttoerT0aIA3PUqR5XrjmofoQMrqMM15R6KWx-BDcJxoVAqVAPkWYEhKWHrwph93FaOb8ffUubfo/s320/IMG_20181216_150241733.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">During the hike I convinced Keith to pose for our very first selfie together. It took me a bit to make him understand he'd have to get<i> close to me</i> for it to work. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxzv4QoBJU1G7GkLFkZrdfGjAgf704S242f-NQO3JrlxtQPnksKq5Hfgp9_Irr2l8YRxEei_3BbAFJyYmPIriSkTRLwf877PRiBBtBeeKlKHkyNrBKsYQ11NdEWQFjG-xvQKQof13dg0/s1600/IMG_20181216_150816031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxzv4QoBJU1G7GkLFkZrdfGjAgf704S242f-NQO3JrlxtQPnksKq5Hfgp9_Irr2l8YRxEei_3BbAFJyYmPIriSkTRLwf877PRiBBtBeeKlKHkyNrBKsYQ11NdEWQFjG-xvQKQof13dg0/s400/IMG_20181216_150816031.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It took a bit but we were finally successful in capturing a decent enough shot. I wanted to try for a few more reminding Keith how one never knows when one might keel over dead, (my years a hospice nurse totally warped me) and how the gks would appreciate having more pics of us, but he lost interest and wandered off. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lPlAOnEz2b2dVGfYdBuOVkfz1L_oVqOtaQzABAiKQoIPbfgezJWRoMqWd5Q9WPFjbVMj9OxbDzTZbaQvbVUFQplHo-8QnISanJCdSitS5fUdea_ii-KBfEGhN5j3JOaV1crl4foFU_s/s1600/IMG_20181216_150846084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lPlAOnEz2b2dVGfYdBuOVkfz1L_oVqOtaQzABAiKQoIPbfgezJWRoMqWd5Q9WPFjbVMj9OxbDzTZbaQvbVUFQplHo-8QnISanJCdSitS5fUdea_ii-KBfEGhN5j3JOaV1crl4foFU_s/s400/IMG_20181216_150846084.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And kept wandering off. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXNGjGFMHgyinE0iMdWJjoqUn5RHKo8kpuNv3YJRmWuw3lHiyWj1f9U7ZM3wa_rjLhRbqmhBdVfNyI18F8xum3_WN_qFNMFIZ4b4YuLIWDX1LMAudx_0SA6flNmG-9xL82ZP8q8aHAl0/s1600/IMG_20181216_150912744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXNGjGFMHgyinE0iMdWJjoqUn5RHKo8kpuNv3YJRmWuw3lHiyWj1f9U7ZM3wa_rjLhRbqmhBdVfNyI18F8xum3_WN_qFNMFIZ4b4YuLIWDX1LMAudx_0SA6flNmG-9xL82ZP8q8aHAl0/s400/IMG_20181216_150912744.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He came back after I put the smart phone away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-73614594733763848322018-12-10T17:21:00.002-08:002018-12-10T17:22:23.984-08:00This Blogger Should Be Flogged<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNPMM5Td3TJrKCq0QvHSQz4vXVzaaZimvLnBFjfQPxtZri6t3BwaC1NoPqqd6FOoEoJq4NuxZjC39syhJUggt8iurJkXMsGuvhs1okd4-9u0U_LFDXSna1xKzlkbJl-IBoLH3On9ZBis/s1600/IMG_20181210_110508688_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpAxkIUrPNj0xy-uLkE6QWMLYJPlxZBrokZlQ1VRRo8sHN7FpwDiHvflfenTEu11U8bEYejer3ZIgFNKPpOHe2O4fXGrhzKVZUHkOQZS-oRKCGGCntoqNgaAi5QV49A1xOQEe7iW7GAQ/s1600/IMG_20181210_123408468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpAxkIUrPNj0xy-uLkE6QWMLYJPlxZBrokZlQ1VRRo8sHN7FpwDiHvflfenTEu11U8bEYejer3ZIgFNKPpOHe2O4fXGrhzKVZUHkOQZS-oRKCGGCntoqNgaAi5QV49A1xOQEe7iW7GAQ/s640/IMG_20181210_123408468.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I should be publicly flogged and have my blogging license revoked. I'm so all over the road lately. I blog every couple of days and then not for over two weeks. I read other blogs but forget to comment. I comment in public when no one has asked my opinion. I'm full of excuses for this errant behavior, but I have not a single good reason. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The sun wasn't even in my eyes. Too cloudy and foggy for that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At least when the fog freezes, as it did this morning, we are graced with some botanical art. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYX8e2WYJVCbZC8Ex6xS_vGIUnhasOt_4Tm3OddfqjuWj_ky2W8muCrN7309rIKtO789wvdO2YrpsVVvgS3wmlbvQU6U5DA7Dq_8_bpMWjkjxxuIZFv94g_Iwq-d_r_s2_7Qw59weHms/s1600/IMG_20181210_110454303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYX8e2WYJVCbZC8Ex6xS_vGIUnhasOt_4Tm3OddfqjuWj_ky2W8muCrN7309rIKtO789wvdO2YrpsVVvgS3wmlbvQU6U5DA7Dq_8_bpMWjkjxxuIZFv94g_Iwq-d_r_s2_7Qw59weHms/s320/IMG_20181210_110454303.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdsCuKPhoO4ANBdsQB47ApyU-YBCKg1r4qoSVz16xroi8rdxaWpWZoCzC_rGz5d_7mxGX1CthMOXjsBuQtzWfSOlst1ScwlOutw70vMFYAAC5h0A1duHbQwdKEAlEPvWKTng_VXnzeLg/s1600/IMG_20181210_123521197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdsCuKPhoO4ANBdsQB47ApyU-YBCKg1r4qoSVz16xroi8rdxaWpWZoCzC_rGz5d_7mxGX1CthMOXjsBuQtzWfSOlst1ScwlOutw70vMFYAAC5h0A1duHbQwdKEAlEPvWKTng_VXnzeLg/s320/IMG_20181210_123521197.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our early winter continues, even though it's a good two weeks before the calendar officially deems it so. Temps at night are usually in the teens. A few days have been warm enough to turn the frozen ground into soppy wet divots which then freeze and threaten to snap this homesteaders delicate ankles whilst doing evening chores. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The good news is, my ankles are far from delicate, and the evening fires we build in the rocket mass heater feel that much better when the air outside is cold and damp. Still, I hate that it gets dark so early when I haven't yet cleaned up the garden debris, let alone put a few garden chairs away. We take the high road on this and tell folks we purposely leave the garden littered with last summers' vines, seed heads, rogue weeds and collapsed kelp, all in the name of feeding birds and providing shelter for wee critters. But the truth is, we haven't made it a priority.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAYdjdyl1upxvQdxJFx48SSkZG2F038ZvrD6XqOf9FLlUEL4MMXgFxKJDxz4Ro_0lx6xwoGv-l8N37BleOjUtSOUjhJt2ciEADJIC4EHBgafIjoH5lKVrQrLL7U3-gQ2ko3pgFFBiNsU/s1600/IMG_20181210_123424244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAYdjdyl1upxvQdxJFx48SSkZG2F038ZvrD6XqOf9FLlUEL4MMXgFxKJDxz4Ro_0lx6xwoGv-l8N37BleOjUtSOUjhJt2ciEADJIC4EHBgafIjoH5lKVrQrLL7U3-gQ2ko3pgFFBiNsU/s640/IMG_20181210_123424244.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I still have a bag of fifty tulip bulbs hanging in my mudroom waiting to be planted. Perhaps when it thaws in February I'll get those in the ground. Just in time for a 2020 bloom. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyone else out there way behind in their Fall work while busy dealing with the Early Winter of Our Discontent? </span>Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-61974539427912179852018-11-24T19:34:00.003-08:002018-11-24T19:37:12.419-08:00Yes. I've Already Decorated for Christmas. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpONz8XUeTx4hfy98vqfviSHXkNygy1wzVsFBuLODu8K359_Woi13Q0C4jbkcC4__iQSnHkSIn1AZ_amjuCU-UpI_MI4kQ5QAl1Rwc-Zq2MJuM3Gk9LGcZbxGb_0ExkMgQaW-MOX-WWc/s1600/FB_IMG_1542205354822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpONz8XUeTx4hfy98vqfviSHXkNygy1wzVsFBuLODu8K359_Woi13Q0C4jbkcC4__iQSnHkSIn1AZ_amjuCU-UpI_MI4kQ5QAl1Rwc-Zq2MJuM3Gk9LGcZbxGb_0ExkMgQaW-MOX-WWc/s400/FB_IMG_1542205354822.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I see you judging me. Stop it.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have a tradition here in the US; no Christmas decorating until AFTER the turkey is gobbled. Unless of course you are a retail store who is now putting some Christmas items out in August. Heathens. But generally, the average American puts off pulling out the totes and bags and trees until the Pilgrims and Indians are stashed away.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Or as one four-year-old member of our family called them years ago, the Pig-rims and the Idiots. She may have been talking about the table top figurines or her immediate family, we'll never know.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This year though I broke the rules, mixed up the routine, challenged the décor gods and put up Christmas Crapola (my mothers' words not mine) two weeks ago. Not all of it of course, too shocking, but a doorway here and a window there. The flannel valence below was a thrift shirt I cut up and hot glued. My mother didn't call it 'crapola' for nothing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcwa7I4Hv46OEHBtB3FjUl07ScRUq010ME2HFMCUSrDThrxJiNdTFnqh_ESm-ynEe2VQPEjVnunqLNIx6ScVop3LigCxlrl107serIcfEnYqcUKttgZ1o9D23GZa6D1Xsqv_YUfrX0Sg/s1600/IMG_20181116_090821027_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcwa7I4Hv46OEHBtB3FjUl07ScRUq010ME2HFMCUSrDThrxJiNdTFnqh_ESm-ynEe2VQPEjVnunqLNIx6ScVop3LigCxlrl107serIcfEnYqcUKttgZ1o9D23GZa6D1Xsqv_YUfrX0Sg/s400/IMG_20181116_090821027_HDR.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Lone Door Through Which All Must Pass</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsvv1CcoXX3M1jYW0to5QQhpMDTXdZmnphtGMcNIvo_nlE2Ww4JUYSgmdblId4_nm6sewXZuPY3asKwMroWtxkXzYEQudnNkT9XJ49C0URfbMk1LBpdTaOOJztj94ZJGSvOpT_Rah0SU/s1600/IMG_20181115_072526707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsvv1CcoXX3M1jYW0to5QQhpMDTXdZmnphtGMcNIvo_nlE2Ww4JUYSgmdblId4_nm6sewXZuPY3asKwMroWtxkXzYEQudnNkT9XJ49C0URfbMk1LBpdTaOOJztj94ZJGSvOpT_Rah0SU/s640/IMG_20181115_072526707.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Door Into Our Mudroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwboQSfA383PcoTsiVPtS8BVTQnHJRWinzqVVzEtOFXeZyge69kxA0kfjOD98yB9ecZoVpK1QXUEktufJN5Sh_tH_21jYl7avtHq9wTvcJunpicqvxRpghtSB5sG03_eJGhud18pgqqw/s1600/IMG_20181116_090800353_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwboQSfA383PcoTsiVPtS8BVTQnHJRWinzqVVzEtOFXeZyge69kxA0kfjOD98yB9ecZoVpK1QXUEktufJN5Sh_tH_21jYl7avtHq9wTvcJunpicqvxRpghtSB5sG03_eJGhud18pgqqw/s640/IMG_20181116_090800353_HDR.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
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Inside the Looney Bin. </div>
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The Barn Picture is currently up for sale on <a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/113380794783">eBay</a> if interested </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But since we only have one doorway into the Looney Bin, it was still an impressive start. I blame the grandbabies for this, and the aging process, and the aging process going on within the grandbabies. It all rolls back to that blog I wrote recently about time going by too fast.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I also blame the <a href="http://3frenchhensmarket.blogspot.com/">Three French Hens Holiday Market, </a>visited recently by myself, my daughter and my two daughter-in-laws. Below are pics from that wonderful event in Morris, Illinois. I was-how shall I say -inspired. I mean after all, we have 90% of this type of inventory all over our farm, all I have to do is gather it together.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Like the sign my daughter saw that read "Yes, we know you can make it yourself, but <i><b>will</b></i> you?</span>"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwBDW2uIqd-jhtXfXMpgzraAcuhfLa1bE41MLoG66KLUrZHOGW43fcu9J3k9F4fnmcNI4TepofDSu87qZ_KlFFOnlv0MhmVN0e5ZalHzVWGcJU6fMKqMddvJT4S8ItJKygjYROKvrry4/s1600/IMG_20181104_125441288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwBDW2uIqd-jhtXfXMpgzraAcuhfLa1bE41MLoG66KLUrZHOGW43fcu9J3k9F4fnmcNI4TepofDSu87qZ_KlFFOnlv0MhmVN0e5ZalHzVWGcJU6fMKqMddvJT4S8ItJKygjYROKvrry4/s400/IMG_20181104_125441288.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EKLdFCFRMdnxe3z26nJ-x9-5KUoOWNm97hN2EL8XevlMaW0gJPffOXzxv2KS24lAaeiR0L01lL_MPcYXNUe3on-P8GPYf1FWZfshBd15cJn4xeK3uAC0HZCqlSLkx1NdQfqTkad9OFA/s1600/IMG_20181110_102945078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EKLdFCFRMdnxe3z26nJ-x9-5KUoOWNm97hN2EL8XevlMaW0gJPffOXzxv2KS24lAaeiR0L01lL_MPcYXNUe3on-P8GPYf1FWZfshBd15cJn4xeK3uAC0HZCqlSLkx1NdQfqTkad9OFA/s400/IMG_20181110_102945078.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9gv7_spTZzpsFuWltNV_TBVnNHhhB27sh6E98diKCCxvTHBJVsIPkKovFps0bZEHkqdZ8FhQf-EfwL5Z9brbgp7SV9nLc0xcpbG99yiUhdGQlTAfu6xxOVzkLnMuU65Eg2uLyays-7g/s1600/IMG_20181110_102833243_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9gv7_spTZzpsFuWltNV_TBVnNHhhB27sh6E98diKCCxvTHBJVsIPkKovFps0bZEHkqdZ8FhQf-EfwL5Z9brbgp7SV9nLc0xcpbG99yiUhdGQlTAfu6xxOVzkLnMuU65Eg2uLyays-7g/s400/IMG_20181110_102833243_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYjqStcSW45ifYDF_aZKJXeMI2uDhs9u0kWlafgJtAXRrUB8TU0KY1GH7t5JOc3WCnsmjL2KqBXIjsP4S207ZzOUlvaEyfh7sGfcCYMLVMW11E4IJdUmWh5SjAGraDdM2HEv_BfOL5_o/s1600/IMG_20181110_102121571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYjqStcSW45ifYDF_aZKJXeMI2uDhs9u0kWlafgJtAXRrUB8TU0KY1GH7t5JOc3WCnsmjL2KqBXIjsP4S207ZzOUlvaEyfh7sGfcCYMLVMW11E4IJdUmWh5SjAGraDdM2HEv_BfOL5_o/s640/IMG_20181110_102121571.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">I decided that when the GK's come to visit each Sunday this next month, I'd like them to have a bit</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">more <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Santa/Angel/Snowman/Reindeer folly to revel in. The season is short. The babies grow up too fast. The parents will continue their eye rolling behind my back.</span></span></span></span></div>
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</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Besides, the dreary, gray, rainy, snowy, November weather continues and I needed some additional lighting effects and the proverbial red bow, to lift my spirits.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHP9BASnBv6eE4tgHMslshq1XBilzB5XT20YTkAB6AqtfJMTcnz-SA7GNRk1bj_7x4qVojXU68iJJL-fiRydcqLv78XS-cVNbFSYP6t6_s7Z8u-zYDSMClpOFPt2q0OjBbwtnxRnRejE/s1600/IMG_20181115_072533323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHP9BASnBv6eE4tgHMslshq1XBilzB5XT20YTkAB6AqtfJMTcnz-SA7GNRk1bj_7x4qVojXU68iJJL-fiRydcqLv78XS-cVNbFSYP6t6_s7Z8u-zYDSMClpOFPt2q0OjBbwtnxRnRejE/s400/IMG_20181115_072533323.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-70869626094099329352018-11-16T17:42:00.001-08:002018-11-18T15:20:55.938-08:001868 House Reduced by Half<span style="font-size: large;">My husband.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Such a hard worker.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I so envy his ability to keep (literally) pounding away at this old house on our property. He has almost singlehandedly removed nearly 50% of this building and board by board recycled all that he could. He often works all morning on the house then works all evening at his off farm job. Fortunately he is home weekends.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8hPutVO9LIUns-J5_U1J2vpG11SUh_g4v4P7_obsRUs95lMnzdS6CbkECSAzHo8FqV-ZB5ZmSzhYPb-kF3Wt4oVmQKOubhPCPvpQU0e4mt6PY4XQSyWxomWUMqDt2h_Ec0r23T0EGNk/s1600/IMG_20180629_090443723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8hPutVO9LIUns-J5_U1J2vpG11SUh_g4v4P7_obsRUs95lMnzdS6CbkECSAzHo8FqV-ZB5ZmSzhYPb-kF3Wt4oVmQKOubhPCPvpQU0e4mt6PY4XQSyWxomWUMqDt2h_Ec0r23T0EGNk/s400/IMG_20180629_090443723.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 1868 house in June</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t0rjPyPETNQKotP09SUm4PUIZJRiJbErLp4lF3Jiqi33A1KAqoePNQfaiUyqOOeBzc5J1nwWVBvGNwoiytyJgKL6bnPNg8fFNoWUAsm78h0WJvq_hshZw_U0X6QILNJxigOCi5reZPg/s1600/IMG_20181105_123544030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t0rjPyPETNQKotP09SUm4PUIZJRiJbErLp4lF3Jiqi33A1KAqoePNQfaiUyqOOeBzc5J1nwWVBvGNwoiytyJgKL6bnPNg8fFNoWUAsm78h0WJvq_hshZw_U0X6QILNJxigOCi5reZPg/s400/IMG_20181105_123544030.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 1868 house in November<br />
Missing its south side</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although I help some with burning of trash and pick up duties, my main focus on this project has been in the sidelines. I do all the evening chores and some of the morning chores if he's strapped on time. I keep Keith well fed, well clothed and well hydrated. You know what they say; <i>Behind every demo man stands a woman with fresh cinnamon rolls.</i> Or something like that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, that we've accepted the fact that Fall has been stolen from us and winter is here to stay, we're on our fifth snow already, the demo work will slow and the construction work in the barn will accelerate.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Last week Keith and son Jason started on a couple of the inside barn walls and closed in most of the south side which was open all last winter. This has cut down the wind inside the barn dramatically and makes a more comfortable place to work.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Living in a simultaneous destruction/construction zone is a challenge, especially with the freezing, snowing, melting and subsequent mudding of the property, but at least we have plenty of scrap wood to burn in our rocket mass stove. We expect a messy, chaotic and very cozy (inside) winter!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBmR4r-cxPDxe0AWv_4Rb2haO7eFwtqlfeZjXqFvpWYv69xWSmigbsmY7Drd3c_xVK8kp6uNP7w4DflBjhmO5jb4i_GBuCE0Ox_816krY25UZjzgF7SvfSnttau-CjXK8iWaLsJDDfCo/s1600/IMG_20181109_165251994_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBmR4r-cxPDxe0AWv_4Rb2haO7eFwtqlfeZjXqFvpWYv69xWSmigbsmY7Drd3c_xVK8kp6uNP7w4DflBjhmO5jb4i_GBuCE0Ox_816krY25UZjzgF7SvfSnttau-CjXK8iWaLsJDDfCo/s400/IMG_20181109_165251994_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My writing studio at dusk last week</td></tr>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-62812594884764988652018-11-06T09:14:00.001-08:002018-11-06T19:05:07.474-08:00And Hello ...Cold, Wet November!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A beautiful fall day in Pontiac Illinois</div>
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Last week</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir010YeWCYZ6MkT50ZwmLhQEvc8KUEHnAax_rDCQePc26MctOHYwCvC8TkN2txXwkfFlscXLgSTm06rH0JFPzZZfpcj-5SzkiPDfx0WNZ8TFdrFKYyh5nrsHKBnXZsBA5ktWPX29opHqw/s1600/IMG_20181016_075935168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir010YeWCYZ6MkT50ZwmLhQEvc8KUEHnAax_rDCQePc26MctOHYwCvC8TkN2txXwkfFlscXLgSTm06rH0JFPzZZfpcj-5SzkiPDfx0WNZ8TFdrFKYyh5nrsHKBnXZsBA5ktWPX29opHqw/s640/IMG_20181016_075935168.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
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Followed by cold, frosty weather, the very next day</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A little ticked about our lack of fall here. A few nice days in October but seems like we're spiraling quickly towards winter. The leaves have been stripped from the trees due to high winds when coupled with the Daylight Savings leap backwards into time and night falling that much quicker, it's obvious what's coming.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Can't complain too much though because we only fired up our rocket mass stove once so far, last night. With the recent damp days our concrete floors were getting cool and even though I bake and/or cook every day, which heats up the ambient air in the grain bin, it's not enough to keep the place warm for too long this time of year.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Still, we made it to November 4 which is over two weeks past our initial rocket mass firing of 2017. Not sure if the weather stayed warmer longer or we are just tolerating cooler temps better each year. Generally if it's 64 degrees or more in the grain bin we are comfortable. But last night the rain made it feel colder and so we broke down, cleaned out the RMH and set our first fire for the fall.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Prepping the stove for another winters' work does not take long. We removed the lid from the steel barrel and vacuumed up all the fine dust that accumulated in the fire brick tower (wrapped in Kaowool, a ceramic fire insulator) and down at the bottom of the barrel. Because the fire burns so hot, the ash is fine and a years accumulation equated to about a half gallon worth of ash.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vIIGxIsN9Qw8siGeQFmvlZ63GJRO3kA5wWdQJRsjrvGlB84LL9SYDXun1H72V5Fc7uKlucMp-azXrG0l-1-znNR6wf3EAGzMieH10est7wuKmaA4I-BrNubqBhaCGWxA_XwqIiu0VNk/s1600/IMG_20181104_151621945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vIIGxIsN9Qw8siGeQFmvlZ63GJRO3kA5wWdQJRsjrvGlB84LL9SYDXun1H72V5Fc7uKlucMp-azXrG0l-1-znNR6wf3EAGzMieH10est7wuKmaA4I-BrNubqBhaCGWxA_XwqIiu0VNk/s400/IMG_20181104_151621945.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4LpzO7yqatM/W-Eo5ESU7DI/AAAAAAAANwY/K9QFsCtqQqgqT8ELEavwkOXxO4SeQ2iAQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20181104_151638226_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4LpzO7yqatM/W-Eo5ESU7DI/AAAAAAAANwY/K9QFsCtqQqgqT8ELEavwkOXxO4SeQ2iAQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_20181104_151638226_HDR.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then we vacuumed ash from the take out point (black disk to left of barrel) which was minimal. That's the coolest thing about a RMH. There is very little ash or creosote build up in any of the stove pipes we have buried under our concrete floor, and by the time the heat/smoke gets to the main stove pipe leading out of the grain bin, it has been converted into a very clean steam.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is the ugliest, most efficient heating device we have ever used.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After the cleanouts, we fired up the RMH and within thirty minutes the temp had risen 5 degrees and when we shut it down about two hours into the burn, it was 75 inside! Keith was walking around bareback and I found sleep uncomfortable. I love a cool bedroom. Now, over 24 hours later since firing up the RMH, the inside temp is still cozy at 68 degrees.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4mFBJwqqZ05iIcSTsEjPsIO295PV4WaV_xXUjNSADXs3dC6eQB97z4uAJUde-8bVz78s_OLJP9BMEmppb2x4pThhPVAoarirXswd1UITw51ri9kvvLJ1fgIu673_tPnTZJZkf1tvreE/s1600/IMG_20181104_201119617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4mFBJwqqZ05iIcSTsEjPsIO295PV4WaV_xXUjNSADXs3dC6eQB97z4uAJUde-8bVz78s_OLJP9BMEmppb2x4pThhPVAoarirXswd1UITw51ri9kvvLJ1fgIu673_tPnTZJZkf1tvreE/s320/IMG_20181104_201119617.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5M_0ErYq4yy6Huo2t8c_M4I6O_OOChvTmE110IuYDRKDgCCxdJOb6acJLlQtUfkWL5plEZj9hFi0aP_Tf9MFlN9OFbdrrXVXQJL2fiIIH8xt6CIWd1LBexOQa0K9ThPhyphenhyphenHusz_1g6NWM/s1600/IMG_20181104_215947280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5M_0ErYq4yy6Huo2t8c_M4I6O_OOChvTmE110IuYDRKDgCCxdJOb6acJLlQtUfkWL5plEZj9hFi0aP_Tf9MFlN9OFbdrrXVXQJL2fiIIH8xt6CIWd1LBexOQa0K9ThPhyphenhyphenHusz_1g6NWM/s320/IMG_20181104_215947280.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Freezing temps are expected later this week however, so we'll likely run the RMH some tomorrow night to keep the concrete floor "battery" charged with heat, which will be slowly released in the hours in between burns.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The stainless steel barrel, which acts as the primary conductor for the heat generated by wood burning, was hot enough last night for Keith to cook an egg on and warm enough today for me to rise bread and then finish drying a couple pair of jeans still damp from hanging outside.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO009ioRRaCNNTQy-e0m9ezleMhV-fLRg0YDeS82RORc3WnrD4PEJvDyvN9peayjFWKgpRtzK12FfQ0ikNbqwkbAzgp9NJKTWmPIq6T1WGZRUmx2SCC5bJo6k2-JdzWxLPM5_HifPHZts/s1600/IMG_20181105_125910449_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO009ioRRaCNNTQy-e0m9ezleMhV-fLRg0YDeS82RORc3WnrD4PEJvDyvN9peayjFWKgpRtzK12FfQ0ikNbqwkbAzgp9NJKTWmPIq6T1WGZRUmx2SCC5bJo6k2-JdzWxLPM5_HifPHZts/s320/IMG_20181105_125910449_HDR.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7_j8aQQdqo8NzIC0rFCL8USugXu8Z_-iGOyzbrSmUG_RXpRctJDS38a1jSzW1hI-kA96dRKiHTrXzj81VI_VNkMUbe3BlR2GH97CITq8ApHX8wsuELsEB132g_hIMWLv7o1mkl6TtvA/s1600/IMG_20181105_164609818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7_j8aQQdqo8NzIC0rFCL8USugXu8Z_-iGOyzbrSmUG_RXpRctJDS38a1jSzW1hI-kA96dRKiHTrXzj81VI_VNkMUbe3BlR2GH97CITq8ApHX8wsuELsEB132g_hIMWLv7o1mkl6TtvA/s320/IMG_20181105_164609818.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ah, if only I were so multi-talented.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Soon we'll be full blown into the routine of gathering wood every day to burn, stacking it in the mudroom to ensure a dry load for the next burn, scooping out the ashes from the wood feed chamber the day before, restarting the fire and then sitting close to the RMH for 2-3 hours every evening while feeding wood into it, but for now we'll probably only need to burn it every two-three days.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's part of our ritual for bringing in the next season, and considering the person who stocks the stove ends up sitting/reading in the rocker next to it, we're not that disappointed to see this cool season arrive a bit early. Pros and cons, pros and cons.</span><br />
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<br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-84908436367634384502018-10-31T21:45:00.001-07:002018-10-31T21:51:41.914-07:00Ba-Bye October<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Yard Décor Seen on The Spoon River Drive</div>
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Fulton County, Illinois</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I blame all of it on aging, the way time just screams past. The older I get the shorter the days. I blink and my own children are middle aged, I take a deep breath and my GK's are in high school. I cough and...never mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My baby sister, for crying out loud, turned fifty a couple days ago! Below is a rare pic of Keith and I together at her birthday party. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Each day I wake up with a long list of things to do, excited about the possibilities and then realize seconds later it's already midnight and I've accomplished only 1/10 of my goals. Faster and faster this carousel goes-but most days-I'm happy to ride it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'd just like to have one day a week drag a bit. Just one. I might blog more (among other things). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We did take some down time this past month though, and I'm so glad we did. I love the fall and hate how it speeds by. Early in the month Keith and I did the <a href="http://spoonriverdrive.org/">Spoon River Drive</a> on the west side of Illinois. It was rainy and cold that weekend but that meant better deals at the flea markets! It's always easier to run around on rainy days anyways as we don't feel so guilty about not working back home</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In mid- October my three sisters and I went away for two nights to the <a href="https://www.visitlakegeneva.com/">Lake Geneva</a> area in Wisconsin. We try to get away together every year for a couple nights and this year we travelled about three hours north and rented a .<a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4792182?location=Delavan%2C%20WI&s=1wThIbi-">Quirky-Fun-Eclectic-Artists</a> home. We also found a farm slash winery that offered wine tasting out of their garage! We shopped, thrifted, ate out, talked and talked. I love my sisters dearly and treasure them more each year as we creep towards that sixth decade of life. Well, at least I'm creeping in that direction. Those other three are lagging behind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the midst of the short trips I've been running a bit between some of the elderly folk in our family with Dr. appointments and surgeries, while enjoying the First Birthdays (!) of two of our youngest GK's born just 10 days apart. Happy birthday again to little Eli and September. We also found out last week that GK number seven is on its way. Our youngest son Kyle and his wife Amanda are expecting child number three due in May. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We're still plugging away at tearing down the old house. The second story is half gone and most of the good floorboards of the second story bedrooms are now relocated to the new barn where they'll be used to build lofts. Keith boarded up the open south side of the house for winter. Yesterday he started building some walls in the new barn and had me helping with some small concrete pours. It's nice to be back building up again instead of just tearing down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then finally today, the last day of October and Halloween. Below is eleven year old GK Wesley aka Spiderman. I was able to spend an evening with him last week at his schools Fall Fest followed by a morning of thrift shopping. We are so blessed to have all six of our GK's within twenty minutes of us, not all in the same direction, but still, all are close. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Fall !</span></div>
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Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-30843131817881498702018-10-25T21:03:00.001-07:002018-10-25T21:03:07.462-07:00Homesteader Defined<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">A couple of days ago I made pork chops for dinner and then posted the above photo and following comment on Facebook. "<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>Pan fried, pasture raised, Red Wattle pork chops with home grown garlic. Tonight is an excellent night to be a homesteader."</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A Facebook follower then sent me a message and asked "<i>Could you explain the exact meaning of homesteader in this day and age?" </i>An excellent question. So, here you go M.K. a blog post about being a homesteader in 2018, but first a bit of history.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The original definition came from the federal Homestead Act of 1862. Specifically it applied to large areas of unsettled land, usually about 160 acres in the western states, which could be granted to any US citizen who lived and farmed that land for at least five acres. Today the definition is broad and encompasses a house, some outbuildings and people to live and work there. Usually, homesteader is applied to those who live in rural residences but the term "urban homesteader" has gained popularity. Think of those folks who raise veggies and bees on New York city rooftops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The almighty Wikipedia further defines it as a lifestyle of self-sufficiency which includes food preservation, sustainable agriculture. and small scale production of salable goods like textiles or crafts. They also state that homesteading is more than just rural village or commune living in that most homesteads are isolated. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJgbYZUPJDwFbbc7vZOdqVv-JRI6-HBZVP-hJRqEdd-1PjMYO8OrFqHBFCFGrrMUAvVWl1n2dIe2uj_GAfHVtlMe0uDY_R3zgWRoUBl2i4Wgd9epTfAyQri5GHEL7O9GcoiqYZ7d8ysk/s1600/_20180930_215043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1600" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJgbYZUPJDwFbbc7vZOdqVv-JRI6-HBZVP-hJRqEdd-1PjMYO8OrFqHBFCFGrrMUAvVWl1n2dIe2uj_GAfHVtlMe0uDY_R3zgWRoUBl2i4Wgd9epTfAyQri5GHEL7O9GcoiqYZ7d8ysk/s400/_20180930_215043.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Our unconventional homestead above surrounded on four sides by conventional fields</div>
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New barn is the silver building in the middle</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With all that said, here is what homesteading is to Keith and I. Simply, it just means raising, growing, cooking, preserving, recycling, reinventing, reusing as much as we can while spending as little as we can. We work extremely hard here at home so we don't have to work so hard away from home in order to enjoy our home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I understand, that's a bit convoluted, especially in light of the fact that Keith has a full time off farm job. In fact, since we started this whole self-sufficient hippie homesteader thing just four years ago, it's unlikely we'll ever be totally self-sufficient by the time we die. But each year we get a bit closer. Our plan is for Keith and I both to be home full time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lets talk specifics about our self proclaimed homesteader label.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Food. We raise or grow about 80% of all our own food. This means all our meat: beef, pork and chicken, all our eggs and milk. We preserve (via canning or freezing) lots of veggies from our summer gardens but not yet enough to get us through the whole winter and spring. We do buy fruit, flour and sugar but raise bees for lots of honey. One day we'll raise our own wheat for flour, and we have several fruit trees gaining maturity. Any food scraps goes to dogs, chickens or pigs. Extras become fall décor.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4lOD-SoTEiUTGeLTGuwSSHsMAXE6GjXSUSXqdBuy8dzWonLbEhdwXXaT2eD4lbuqeFhTiPhDk57-_fSQiwhx8UIMYpvht4moWH8AI3QFmVE1TURKgKWk8gFa4ZKLFJDMJYvXJM4mYhk/s1600/IMG_20181003_152028182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4lOD-SoTEiUTGeLTGuwSSHsMAXE6GjXSUSXqdBuy8dzWonLbEhdwXXaT2eD4lbuqeFhTiPhDk57-_fSQiwhx8UIMYpvht4moWH8AI3QFmVE1TURKgKWk8gFa4ZKLFJDMJYvXJM4mYhk/s640/IMG_20181003_152028182.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Clothing. No, I don't make our own clothes but we buy about 95% of our clothing in thrift stores or at garage sales. We also happily take freebie clothes offered from relatives. Keith usually needs replacement chore boots once a year and it's unusual to find good ones in his size at the thrift stores.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Utilities. We provide 100% of the heat needed in our grain bin house via our Rocket Mass Stove. The wood comes from our property which we gather and cut. We do use a small 100 pound propane tank to run our gas cook stove. Electricity still comes from "the man." as solar panels are not in our current budget. We do not own a microwave, dishwasher or clothes dryer so our electricity bill is small. We each have a simple smartphone and use TracFone for our data at the cost of $25/month for both. We do not have cable or regular TV, just Netflix at $7.99/month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Transportation. We drive very old vehicles with very high mileage. Three vehicles insured at minimal liability costs us less than $40/month. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Disposable goods. We only buy toilet paper. A girl needs <i>some</i> luxuries. We do not buy paper towels, plates or napkins. No glad bags, aluminum foil or plastic wrap. We do use plastic bags given to us by family and we use newspaper to spread oil in pans, clean windows, wrap leftovers or to wrap gifts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Personal hygiene. I make our own toothpaste, deodorant, laundry soap, bath soap and shampoo bars.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4B3YDWJn4NRaRwp_ehloNXebv3kK5oRUM7h2G3tXJQSTx_ZoYrlKm704KrflCPDLyesofa-s6Y7Co5zUo7u8alE6-h7O76KZysEPRuoyiAiuFS2tf2B3TrIJiQcBf-zSZHX0IlZJ9ukg/s1600/IMG_20181008_112730967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4B3YDWJn4NRaRwp_ehloNXebv3kK5oRUM7h2G3tXJQSTx_ZoYrlKm704KrflCPDLyesofa-s6Y7Co5zUo7u8alE6-h7O76KZysEPRuoyiAiuFS2tf2B3TrIJiQcBf-zSZHX0IlZJ9ukg/s640/IMG_20181008_112730967.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot process soap, made in a crockpot</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Home improvement projects. We recycle, reuse, beg, borrow and barter for supplies whenever we can. Currently we are dismantling an old house on our property and setting the pieces it aside to finish the building of a 'new" barn made with about 70% recycled materials. For example, the floorboards of the old house have been removed and set aside and soon will serve as the new floorboards in the two lofts of our barn. See picture below. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsgjPo17-IBC6qp3hb2lOdNPwF5bGY2Qd4EQQ-EW7BPXCmO0tFTJ2VCJIpzyMEq56VAyox4yIl55Mp2c3U_UJh91gOObz79-g-4eLZOz4NyYdGO04F76qgp56m_N-OgAAOdz3d33OAMY/s1600/IMG_20181020_171558594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsgjPo17-IBC6qp3hb2lOdNPwF5bGY2Qd4EQQ-EW7BPXCmO0tFTJ2VCJIpzyMEq56VAyox4yIl55Mp2c3U_UJh91gOObz79-g-4eLZOz4NyYdGO04F76qgp56m_N-OgAAOdz3d33OAMY/s400/IMG_20181020_171558594.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I<span style="font-size: large;"> thinks that's enough specifics. Overall for us M.K., homesteading means that if (when) our country's infrastructures begin to fail, we will have the ability to feed, heat and shelter ourselves and any other family members who want to jump aboard. Like the homesteaders of the past, our residence is not likely to ever make the cover of Better Homes and Gardens but it will fill our bellies and keep us comfy and warm for some time to come. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why do we homestead? Because it is a deeply satisfying (although often exhausting) way to live. I worked for others outside the home for decades, mostly in nursing. I made a good salary and had all the wonderful benefits but I did not have the benefit of time. My time did not belong to me, it belonged to my bosses. What I gained in "security" I lost in time away from my children, my husband and the pursuit of things that made me happy, like reading, writing and making super excellent tomato juice. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjOThb32XkEiayP-n29hgV6iGAFQ_YCRhf1A05ualOJdorYzjZetYdSPKHvYTBPyhgrahcIg1x0Gq62wYcGKne8n7cV1mmxvq5QQVtD9Y50Vs0Kt5eHDhyLvkYBW_pJ9ZJEQBLZOH-eA/s1600/IMG_20181022_221641094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjOThb32XkEiayP-n29hgV6iGAFQ_YCRhf1A05ualOJdorYzjZetYdSPKHvYTBPyhgrahcIg1x0Gq62wYcGKne8n7cV1mmxvq5QQVtD9Y50Vs0Kt5eHDhyLvkYBW_pJ9ZJEQBLZOH-eA/s400/IMG_20181022_221641094.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope that answers your question M.K. Thanks for asking it!</span><br />
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Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-61101390844935142482018-10-03T21:58:00.000-07:002018-10-03T21:58:13.343-07:00Room with a View in the 1868 House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Demolition continues in the 1868 house with the roof of the south side completely removed by Keith along with a good hunk of the side walls in that upstairs section. The picture above and on the left is taken looking south into what was once two upstairs bedrooms and a hallway. The picture on the right is taken while standing on a ladder and looking north into the section of the house which we will we will leave standing this winter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looks a bit Chalet like doesn't it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The pics below give a better view of the floor boards that will be removed after the walls are down. We'll use that wood to build the lofts in the new barn. <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Since the staircase comes out of the newer (1900?) area of the house, we believe the two original floors were connected by only a ladder, Little House on the Prairie Style.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyrVTwfsGC7Iu1YcK4GJBrsDcGm5E2wKwRDh9smzpxMtfA5rl0End_qhq8hnfFqsX10hSgk24hcPgp2gDoevem8JC7FvCbgnn9RX9YAvr_9_mlCuoFb_eBdGbWL6ZHR0GacPr3feiFHo/s1600/IMG_20181001_155019377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyrVTwfsGC7Iu1YcK4GJBrsDcGm5E2wKwRDh9smzpxMtfA5rl0End_qhq8hnfFqsX10hSgk24hcPgp2gDoevem8JC7FvCbgnn9RX9YAvr_9_mlCuoFb_eBdGbWL6ZHR0GacPr3feiFHo/s320/IMG_20181001_155019377.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZwGltZOdKN7OgYqOdIXu8z5MAd-KocW7H6tTkMcTEGILFFCGztaOPvTFVjfW4WvyWFXmqIeOTcTt11OM281M6hGi-k6BEjVDWe6sTcakrBQ_uI96e7qmgpERHJVslkmGOBLc6huhDsA/s1600/IMG_20181001_154734060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZwGltZOdKN7OgYqOdIXu8z5MAd-KocW7H6tTkMcTEGILFFCGztaOPvTFVjfW4WvyWFXmqIeOTcTt11OM281M6hGi-k6BEjVDWe6sTcakrBQ_uI96e7qmgpERHJVslkmGOBLc6huhDsA/s320/IMG_20181001_154734060.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While up there I couldn't resist climbing on the ladder and taking some shots of the surrounding areas, even though everything all around the 1868 house is generally an organized mess.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24O-8amlzUcm4eL4IZY5aDNZI1gXpsTXGg46esvL3t1x9xEekNP2-iA1rVtEAQlcVygWlOxaj320BR5wtk0l8mi13sCsuBmgCCxdfscwGV8Sxi8hsxTsmjbStuWXy0frQ_br9WmX64D4/s1600/IMG_20181001_155004383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24O-8amlzUcm4eL4IZY5aDNZI1gXpsTXGg46esvL3t1x9xEekNP2-iA1rVtEAQlcVygWlOxaj320BR5wtk0l8mi13sCsuBmgCCxdfscwGV8Sxi8hsxTsmjbStuWXy0frQ_br9WmX64D4/s400/IMG_20181001_155004383.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This is the old deck that Keith is using to sort lumber for reassignment, burn pile vs keep pile to be used in the barn. It was likely added onto the house in the 70's. Just south of that is...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoI6wmzaEOxkHUWSYvvMJy_fUVgoalZPhreGs1pmC1REh829IHmpFhAIExPe_HmNPnvFsLjwiFxTUMW4rmE0vGIPCcL6K8TUjdzIcoHPfLMHciQqBfUYXPKOfgOF6lc8iv_93YSfcPgU/s1600/IMG_20181001_154930217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoI6wmzaEOxkHUWSYvvMJy_fUVgoalZPhreGs1pmC1REh829IHmpFhAIExPe_HmNPnvFsLjwiFxTUMW4rmE0vGIPCcL6K8TUjdzIcoHPfLMHciQqBfUYXPKOfgOF6lc8iv_93YSfcPgU/s400/IMG_20181001_154930217.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">our new barn. I like this view because it shows all the recycled steel sides from the 1950's machine shed we bought, had dismantled and moved here, and then reconstructed, along with the brand new steel roof. The south side of the barn still needs closing in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Behind the barn is my horses pasture. To the right is our current feed shed which is in poor condition but we'll tackle THAT project another year! Moving around to the east...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nmMdtdUWJwljbrGKfWGUuFRzy7fiG-RL2DE7xmCL3-BuXKDOQSbHsMJTRjEMAfiGb_tCUumbfnbep08QuNSuNbikWrYzfmdXbHHufc2YwPVwYAWLeMiEHPOeivHaHGQFbKcVx0FdfaA/s1600/IMG_20181001_154937961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nmMdtdUWJwljbrGKfWGUuFRzy7fiG-RL2DE7xmCL3-BuXKDOQSbHsMJTRjEMAfiGb_tCUumbfnbep08QuNSuNbikWrYzfmdXbHHufc2YwPVwYAWLeMiEHPOeivHaHGQFbKcVx0FdfaA/s400/IMG_20181001_154937961.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">is our current cow milking shed. Keith built it a few years ago and it's holding up well. The white pipe running from it to the old house, connects to the vacuum pump still located in the small section of back porch of the house not yet removed. That part won't be torn down until we can move the vacuum pump into the new barn for milking. It's huge and heavy. We use the green metal pen just to corral Liz long enough for milking. The rest of the day she is out on pasture. Moving further north east...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrj-4weYSDIE9vc3mUgVw-hiDIFp5LAnW6WO-FbUFmBEuniYBWLwOBdr8YN9wlAsNxtgvju6VeK0LiQmAHlAF3bAplLACRJWAO5iKAkI5-TByEh79Tf95ls7mojuD_PlxqfBEpFjkml0/s1600/IMG_20181001_154958374_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrj-4weYSDIE9vc3mUgVw-hiDIFp5LAnW6WO-FbUFmBEuniYBWLwOBdr8YN9wlAsNxtgvju6VeK0LiQmAHlAF3bAplLACRJWAO5iKAkI5-TByEh79Tf95ls7mojuD_PlxqfBEpFjkml0/s400/IMG_20181001_154958374_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">you can see the livestock trailer which will be loaded up with all the recycled aluminum siding (the pile of beige) torn off the house. That livestock trailer has been put to use for many tasks this year, not the least of which was actual hauling of livestock. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That concludes todays tour. Please leave your donations at the front desk.</span>Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-57990986906875772822018-09-27T20:51:00.000-07:002018-09-27T20:51:23.081-07:00Meat, Meat and More Meat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZagf0CH1BeQXaVxbSk0gNQWtN0sR5saOYpUOKBmx6VicqIvXQU0omb3jMTXjPOcXOq15QAkWobGZZtJFSzBXl7_Jw47IiFfk_y4RYAJCJcM_TzYvovB6VT-KeUZ8YbTttDS6usUHayRg/s1600/IMG_20180910_185334879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZagf0CH1BeQXaVxbSk0gNQWtN0sR5saOYpUOKBmx6VicqIvXQU0omb3jMTXjPOcXOq15QAkWobGZZtJFSzBXl7_Jw47IiFfk_y4RYAJCJcM_TzYvovB6VT-KeUZ8YbTttDS6usUHayRg/s400/IMG_20180910_185334879.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is Fall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Fall in Illinois means cool nights, sunny warm days, rapidly changing leaf colors and of course, in our instance, livestock to the lockers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our Freedom Ranger broilers were more than ready (size wise) for their trip to Arthur, Il and Central Illinois Processing Plant. We were up at four last Friday in order to get chores done and make the two hour drive south. We borrowed chicken crates from our friends at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/Timberfeast/posts/?ref=page_internal">Timberfeast</a> (thanks again Katie and Mark) and loaded up the birds after dark on Thursday. Easier to catch that way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Exact butchering/processing cost was $134 for 38 birds or about $3.53 per bird which included the slaughter, the carcass cleaning, the cutting into pieces of half the birds while leaving the other half whole, the vacuum packing, and cooling of carcasses. We dropped the birds off at seven am and they were ready for pickup at noon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So happy we did it this way instead of butchering our own as we've done for the last 20 years, especially since Keith is spending any free time he has on the 1868 house demo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After dropping them off with our instructions for cut up, we cruised the wild Amish streets of Arthur, got a bite to eat and found a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, garage sale. Seriously, it was big. The owners were "Storage Wars" folk who buy up at auction, various storage units. They sell some of the loot on Craigslist, but what's left becomes part of their twice a year garage sale. I forgot to take pictures as I was too busy stuffing my basket with deals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I scored great, inexpensive stuff, for future Birthday and Christmas gifts as well as our own farm needs. Work boots and jeans for 50 cents each ? Yes, please. My savings from my purchases there more than paid for our gas, the cost of the broiler butchering, and our meals out that day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the way home we took a detour west to Lincoln, Il where we purchased five tiny piglets for our winter hog crop. They are cross bred Red Wattles and we'll raise them until early spring 2019. They are the replacements for the three big fat summer hogs who went to the locker yesterday, plus two more as a couple of our regulars voiced a need for a whole hog rather than just half. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiCF2tDz4qlfW0xXhLbLnlZSEle9ZQNygu89jE7WQHDnx8kNFh32_ceQjcv374Bc1FaV3BkLIeDt1iN34iNxZcxyN4JIIYz1Mn7QCJPKVZokp6UIDCbOhIeFLRuCqtigTvbIGYeMYPBs/s1600/IMG_20180925_175616903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiCF2tDz4qlfW0xXhLbLnlZSEle9ZQNygu89jE7WQHDnx8kNFh32_ceQjcv374Bc1FaV3BkLIeDt1iN34iNxZcxyN4JIIYz1Mn7QCJPKVZokp6UIDCbOhIeFLRuCqtigTvbIGYeMYPBs/s640/IMG_20180925_175616903.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Below are the 7 month old big hogs meeting their five week old replacements. Note the difference in the pasture area. Hogs, over time, do a great job of tilling the earth and working organic matter like bedding and manure into the soil, while eating grubs at the same time. Here in the US less than 5% of all hogs raised get to feel the earth under their feet as ours do. The rest suffer their entire lives within the walls of concrete bedded confinement buildings. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeri2CbOm_p7sXWS9I4wTByw3l6ApBmqlh6N3avF-SDRtZT16CEuAGv3e3okFASUx6qlubD-v3GLJZB7nE376Q9tJ6MDGn4UA53Sqjfx4c9h1xeWFLnRJVbz8_MNpWTnnvq9lgfbB3Mc4/s1600/IMG_20180922_104403892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeri2CbOm_p7sXWS9I4wTByw3l6ApBmqlh6N3avF-SDRtZT16CEuAGv3e3okFASUx6qlubD-v3GLJZB7nE376Q9tJ6MDGn4UA53Sqjfx4c9h1xeWFLnRJVbz8_MNpWTnnvq9lgfbB3Mc4/s400/IMG_20180922_104403892.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.L0d9YYW2lQL6ex9rKfM_TwHaEs&w=280&h=178&c=7&o=5&pid=1.7" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of the three big hogs, one will go into our freezer while the other two will grace the freezers of three other customers. They had a most excellent time here the last few months eating organic grain, slurping up leftover milk from our cow, digging happily in their large pasture, and bathing at will in their spa like mud hole.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Even their last day was filled with pleasure as I used a few eggs to tease them onto the livestock panel before their ride down porkchop highway. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYvD_yg-k76kTdK5EDdmugyw07PGaBbhEmWj8Q6kASTPGpwhesgVWmmG97-Ilx_JQjinPoaAAdG9k4Xcs0lDcPRooAc1K8VGH0_SuCTqVFcK4l0_28eFSXhwZrowy__C2NALlDRoEf8M/s1600/IMG_20180925_123457561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYvD_yg-k76kTdK5EDdmugyw07PGaBbhEmWj8Q6kASTPGpwhesgVWmmG97-Ilx_JQjinPoaAAdG9k4Xcs0lDcPRooAc1K8VGH0_SuCTqVFcK4l0_28eFSXhwZrowy__C2NALlDRoEf8M/s400/IMG_20180925_123457561.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Now the issue is rearranging all the meat in our freezers, (those big birds took up tons of space) so we'll have room for the bacon, chops, hams, sausages, hocks and shoulder roasts that will be ready for pickup in about three weeks.</span><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, you're right, we have nothing to complain about, our meat needs are more than met! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Except for Salmon. We need to figure out a way to raise Salmon here on the prairie.</span><br />
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<br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-15446221851172739022018-09-18T14:10:00.001-07:002018-09-18T14:10:23.339-07:00The 1868 House Blows its Top<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjN8pArBRXnpQ-pdZ-EzthAb6dUUYm8wnt_nMQuXCjOR6QYtR3RgGZSAGUHScnPTpMJMcEQb7zHprb5g82pnVkRQbJKrpantDFFKmx07fctYAPf7870TKumEKSVdBL_SEXSiHvkGF434/s1600/IMG_20180915_175444924_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjN8pArBRXnpQ-pdZ-EzthAb6dUUYm8wnt_nMQuXCjOR6QYtR3RgGZSAGUHScnPTpMJMcEQb7zHprb5g82pnVkRQbJKrpantDFFKmx07fctYAPf7870TKumEKSVdBL_SEXSiHvkGF434/s400/IMG_20180915_175444924_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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The two stories on the left of the old 1868 house</div>
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will be gone by late fall...we hope.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hate that I am not blogging more but oh well, que sara sara.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It remains super busy here and I am looking forward to our first big snow day where we have good excuses to work INSIDE. Between garden produce management, livestock chores, demo duties, junk in the trunk events to sell more items we no longer need, and family...we are in a run-run-run-state. I also recently decided to go back to school for my MFA, but I'll blog about that later. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's an insane decision, I'll say that. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For now our main outdoor focus continues to be on the tearing down of the 1868 house in order to salvage enough wood to build up the new barn. Keith has toiled long and hard in between working his regular 40 hr a week job and our farm responsibilities. He has removed one porch and the sole bathroom plus torn the kitchen part down to the studs. This past week he's focused on removing the roof.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our plan remains to demolish the south side of the house, both stories (probably added on between 1900 and 1950 in bits and bobs) but to keep the original 1868 house (just four small rooms) as storage until all the loft storage is built in the new barn. It is our hope to have the south side of the house gone by late fall this year. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRxYAooun-cSVOOXL8UdcqYnMEWtgO8qjU8FMZY_gC8C4vEZDI7jMKQ9OFo3_nc3vnBD9YrDYcB3OIE9BTY9j49W663MEk5bSzt8TPkhIyC6TnoaD7zxk_zsS1m01fvEx3oxHrxYNAF8/s1600/IMG_20180915_143923171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRxYAooun-cSVOOXL8UdcqYnMEWtgO8qjU8FMZY_gC8C4vEZDI7jMKQ9OFo3_nc3vnBD9YrDYcB3OIE9BTY9j49W663MEk5bSzt8TPkhIyC6TnoaD7zxk_zsS1m01fvEx3oxHrxYNAF8/s320/IMG_20180915_143923171.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMBZ86WtKmL5f-jyUBT09oV8LW_BbW7bIuw-ILHtDIT1NEtuealap1Jd696fIAOdIRa9dSOd8xqiARbZWWjmuMfh23LQZqPHKpS-b-pZzdxyQPDtbTgeQuvnk0ziSevdpYtdQPRxvKSQ/s1600/IMG_20180915_180821253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMBZ86WtKmL5f-jyUBT09oV8LW_BbW7bIuw-ILHtDIT1NEtuealap1Jd696fIAOdIRa9dSOd8xqiARbZWWjmuMfh23LQZqPHKpS-b-pZzdxyQPDtbTgeQuvnk0ziSevdpYtdQPRxvKSQ/s320/IMG_20180915_180821253.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Keith's approach to tearing off the roof is one I love safety wise. Working from inside the house, standing on ceiling joists, he is able to avoid actually getting up on top of the roof. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs0lhtePIwYxFypfwAZ1tuOlfnoCLLVSFxsixyUuDJIFs7RpClnCJl6t2C3jYQgLXTDvBpqSHoZmhsdZobCVqPTEIsLXbM4YrSgjaOpysFkHP6wcbin82Pycvwc1rfl0P2Pk6eHyPqU8/s1600/IMG_20180915_145712196_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVs0lhtePIwYxFypfwAZ1tuOlfnoCLLVSFxsixyUuDJIFs7RpClnCJl6t2C3jYQgLXTDvBpqSHoZmhsdZobCVqPTEIsLXbM4YrSgjaOpysFkHP6wcbin82Pycvwc1rfl0P2Pk6eHyPqU8/s320/IMG_20180915_145712196_HDR.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwjRI103NAFaDJr6zHwW03rGxg6IzeehyqoBgeWo8s2TR0Ggxxn8hXmzDHSzgfjf3QD-uphyVxiVoTMhaLN0gYYT0JuMwiB4hLt3FEgPDZrGKN0ZeBvQONbuZFe2XVNk6OEH9Xx60y7Y/s1600/IMG_20180915_145649891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwjRI103NAFaDJr6zHwW03rGxg6IzeehyqoBgeWo8s2TR0Ggxxn8hXmzDHSzgfjf3QD-uphyVxiVoTMhaLN0gYYT0JuMwiB4hLt3FEgPDZrGKN0ZeBvQONbuZFe2XVNk6OEH9Xx60y7Y/s320/IMG_20180915_145649891.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvfm1ftMnSanTsBPJzU7w_JDT8r1M1EbEoUHhkWHbOyF1tJVcWzRPHIH2zl5791s-wwjyiWouuXQLw3Kx4MfMB8M7hIkd9GrMk1bZAnxlMi8VnzjD3Wf8XBF9uV9Px2EB7v2cKTAFe1Q/s1600/IMG_20180915_180811896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvfm1ftMnSanTsBPJzU7w_JDT8r1M1EbEoUHhkWHbOyF1tJVcWzRPHIH2zl5791s-wwjyiWouuXQLw3Kx4MfMB8M7hIkd9GrMk1bZAnxlMi8VnzjD3Wf8XBF9uV9Px2EB7v2cKTAFe1Q/s640/IMG_20180915_180811896.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely in the trees and you'll see Keith</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P-9UI9fV2OITwzK44Kio2CX1BOk1euKiowANrK4zbXJ76xAe08uQG3zmfxo9-4YEO4AooqvavSx2yoWQSQGwoS6XQxezc69xh5_QNYCN5cuLmn_ifnHi6iq16hBjO6GaS2akQB41gfI/s1600/IMG_20180915_145600425_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4P-9UI9fV2OITwzK44Kio2CX1BOk1euKiowANrK4zbXJ76xAe08uQG3zmfxo9-4YEO4AooqvavSx2yoWQSQGwoS6XQxezc69xh5_QNYCN5cuLmn_ifnHi6iq16hBjO6GaS2akQB41gfI/s640/IMG_20180915_145600425_HDR.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Each day he gets in a couple hours where he rips off old boards with their layers and layers of tar shingles, and slides them down the roof and onto the ground. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXrcLtzReAr9U73PyizR5Z5TJLZN2XtTCgEUonCAlVg7Kpi1um-oSg8Qj0rHOMOZrdUsBb0c4nkyLXc2uDblszf54cq026B7_U5Fn9ZR8Tndt50Y3fD3NFVRSqep0S9CqYG-ETEqXTN8/s1600/IMG_20180915_125029383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXrcLtzReAr9U73PyizR5Z5TJLZN2XtTCgEUonCAlVg7Kpi1um-oSg8Qj0rHOMOZrdUsBb0c4nkyLXc2uDblszf54cq026B7_U5Fn9ZR8Tndt50Y3fD3NFVRSqep0S9CqYG-ETEqXTN8/s320/IMG_20180915_125029383.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2XEwqejnEBa1zMj4JlFLtdW6u6Z52hT8gt2YZe8jWUZ1BXLewx2lWvGl6uol9-nEgJCsl7GwxgrquaimISkHi025rfYlzx2S2uH7zfTejnfmpZy4BwJsCfOkkXDAw1XeRPgX9C8D8rg/s1600/IMG_20180915_125033557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2XEwqejnEBa1zMj4JlFLtdW6u6Z52hT8gt2YZe8jWUZ1BXLewx2lWvGl6uol9-nEgJCsl7GwxgrquaimISkHi025rfYlzx2S2uH7zfTejnfmpZy4BwJsCfOkkXDAw1XeRPgX9C8D8rg/s320/IMG_20180915_125033557.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My job is then clean-up. After he leaves for work I'll pick up the shingles and get them in the dumpster via the tractor. I will also separate the wood we can hopefully recycle from the wood that must be burned. Some of it goes directly on the burn pile while smaller pieces is piled up for use in our rocket mass stove for this winter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The days have been hot, high 80's, and humid, but the nights have cooled off enough for good sleep. Summer just keeps hanging on here in Central Illinois. By Sunday though we expect rain and cooler days. Looking forward to it. </span>Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-61320571310022785432018-09-06T22:08:00.000-07:002018-09-06T22:08:39.023-07:00Hurry up, it's LONG DISTANCE! My Outdoor Phone Booth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Z6-0lc-7Cnn5O15SVlUWDij0jy6iNqex7hEtvRxdWwpHcz-hY89eoz6-oQ-UuM323OmawzHqcSWjrJpoo9A6XCa_z9e8VYlCBQQEPkSPYl88l0OBF0n89JWdK47Jimq9f6LEi_5mqtg/s1600/IMG_20180829_184341116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Z6-0lc-7Cnn5O15SVlUWDij0jy6iNqex7hEtvRxdWwpHcz-hY89eoz6-oQ-UuM323OmawzHqcSWjrJpoo9A6XCa_z9e8VYlCBQQEPkSPYl88l0OBF0n89JWdK47Jimq9f6LEi_5mqtg/s400/IMG_20180829_184341116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I miss that, the excitement that permeated the air when the phone rang and the caller at the other end, an aunt, a grandparent, or an old friend, from another state would call. If someone called<i> long distance</i> you ran to the phone, because it was expensive and you paid by the minute.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In that vein, I have a special spot here on The Poor Farm, complete with a vintage phone that once belonged to my Aunt Bernie. She never wasted time on the phone but got to the point quickly. Always sensitive to the financial needs of her siblings, she had never married and took her oldest sister responsibilities seriously, she gave or received information on the phone in a most efficient manner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Time wasting conversations such as those about weather, family gossip or political arguments (she loved those!) could wait until she saw that caller in person. She died a few years ago at the age of 93 and I miss her. So when I wanted to create a quiet spot here I had to include her old phone which she owned and used for decades.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">None of those lightweight, silly pink princess phones for her, let alone a cell phone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The decking in this spot came from our old farm and is getting on in age. We'll need to replace it in a year or two. The impatients were an anniversary gift from Keith back in June. I lined up some old posts running parallel to the sides of the deck and filled the 6 inch gap with our compost. I blocked off the end with recycled brick to keep the soil in place. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5w_78Ah4Qp18EWirKECUKYSKGruxZN9VFDm8ce1HVyWU_bG2H1UW7XryZemzk1GbAK_TnzT5QYdegle9MffQVnhw23A_v_wzdbL_dGo4xl4mx9nrSsla217AKfxE5ZZoiMEvQtbA5TE/s1600/IMG_20180829_185916648_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5w_78Ah4Qp18EWirKECUKYSKGruxZN9VFDm8ce1HVyWU_bG2H1UW7XryZemzk1GbAK_TnzT5QYdegle9MffQVnhw23A_v_wzdbL_dGo4xl4mx9nrSsla217AKfxE5ZZoiMEvQtbA5TE/s320/IMG_20180829_185916648_HDR.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRgajLiTeEu_rflfm3e7Gamiyn1b2Q1_TjWVNpMx8q567_lZy0raw9D_W2pf24FDoW7Ywk9zCXMNvbPmU5UrIJnPCkBgPTWkJzJG6GTrC93wEUrrraOo6BJTMkqpdbI2sUYp99OkxYdI/s1600/IMG_20180829_185845222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRgajLiTeEu_rflfm3e7Gamiyn1b2Q1_TjWVNpMx8q567_lZy0raw9D_W2pf24FDoW7Ywk9zCXMNvbPmU5UrIJnPCkBgPTWkJzJG6GTrC93wEUrrraOo6BJTMkqpdbI2sUYp99OkxYdI/s320/IMG_20180829_185845222.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the top I placed some coated wire mesh to keep the chickens out. It looked ugly when the flowers were little but soon it was barely noticeable. It took a couple months for the impatients to fill those areas but now in early September they look wonderful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This spot, which is located between my clothesline and our front door to the Looney Bin , gets a nice breeze and is always in the shade. A cool oasis, especially earlier this week when temps were back in the 90's again</span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFbV_OTYOoPB4eNCAj6oSPPg7fQIhjhikkC9rjpAi9zq-XlnZGv6oKCKocmN4Wc3NY1qHHg8ysWmf3mES-XKGo4aMnkAjNkI7_CmX_XwqMjj-A5IEvyAJor-yZWFncRJQTahxxu1ajZ4/s1600/IMG_20180829_184320887_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFbV_OTYOoPB4eNCAj6oSPPg7fQIhjhikkC9rjpAi9zq-XlnZGv6oKCKocmN4Wc3NY1qHHg8ysWmf3mES-XKGo4aMnkAjNkI7_CmX_XwqMjj-A5IEvyAJor-yZWFncRJQTahxxu1ajZ4/s640/IMG_20180829_184320887_HDR.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When the GK's visit we'll sit there and I'll let them practice dialing on the phone the old fashioned way. I'll pretend talk to my Aunt Bernie which cracks up the 3 year old grandson and makes the 10 year grandson roll his eyes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's why I'm here. Entertainment and embarrassment. </span>Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273144680832594458.post-56522106307594999912018-08-28T08:02:00.001-07:002018-08-28T08:02:16.549-07:00Una Vita Dolce<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Una vita dolce is Italian for "a sweet life". I took three semesters of Italian when I returned to school a few years ago, and I'm going to use it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course now that I've used up one of the four phrases I remember, I'll have to pace myself, but the sweet life reference has never been more prevalent here than it was a few days ago.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5rcIWwvABRbPa7zXmr5udmc_uofMPvoScUZSwy6IYf6rTHaVqqzsYbwKIxxT4dkI_NnYMhvzSDqJKCOm3axUfGMO0jXAW-dpCE1HU8RhGEh3rN_HasxEiwng1A0EzVEF5EArup9oqxM/s1600/IMG_20180818_123553928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5rcIWwvABRbPa7zXmr5udmc_uofMPvoScUZSwy6IYf6rTHaVqqzsYbwKIxxT4dkI_NnYMhvzSDqJKCOm3axUfGMO0jXAW-dpCE1HU8RhGEh3rN_HasxEiwng1A0EzVEF5EArup9oqxM/s400/IMG_20180818_123553928.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLDj9NCfQsKdXMO87BhaV3LDaAsPT55Ow68Wgz7RQAb0YArT-U50j8wlyyj84AfJU6IXlBs8GvA6oA6xZUYbTDnxyXj0SL5nGvhIyfMiXq4-Gf2Kk95zN6ZRjOF-JX09v74OJbkErnGQ/s1600/IMG_20180818_134300271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaLDj9NCfQsKdXMO87BhaV3LDaAsPT55Ow68Wgz7RQAb0YArT-U50j8wlyyj84AfJU6IXlBs8GvA6oA6xZUYbTDnxyXj0SL5nGvhIyfMiXq4-Gf2Kk95zN6ZRjOF-JX09v74OJbkErnGQ/s400/IMG_20180818_134300271.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our two older GK's Allana (14) and Wesley (10) helped us harvest this years honey and at the end of the day we had 160 pounds of the golden post-nectar liquid. Most of it ended up in bottles and pails but a fair amount is still stuck to parts of the floor, and as my daughter-in-law Tab discovered yesterday, on the seat of one of our kitchen chairs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What a sticky mess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have to harvest it inside where the bees won't follow us. They are a bit possessive of their hard work. It makes our work area, the 21 foot diameter Looney Bin, a bit crowded but workable. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzCmBijB30NRtIT24WpygTss5uFeL_O_7yDDJN9r5DxutDB6P9haX-OjtrE_OpLuXj_a8FGwSc41GLse7Sj2SNeko__-_jlpX7tFxvnGqoTlq33qQbihKt8bZE6cGAStYA2cUk3S6hMY/s1600/IMG_20180818_132701461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzCmBijB30NRtIT24WpygTss5uFeL_O_7yDDJN9r5DxutDB6P9haX-OjtrE_OpLuXj_a8FGwSc41GLse7Sj2SNeko__-_jlpX7tFxvnGqoTlq33qQbihKt8bZE6cGAStYA2cUk3S6hMY/s320/IMG_20180818_132701461.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYnaVPVGtRiFBJwEcUbMeVTR1_HwUjjk0R0qvSFON-l7GnXrwCPQG67dPjqmwkgcpxAECN3cpJ84TztLhgGNHKM48me7M1JMmxWG4uoa3qRiSQ_0NM-hRo6F5eRg2m1kmzl0UHiRncmU/s1600/IMG_20180818_132905931_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyYnaVPVGtRiFBJwEcUbMeVTR1_HwUjjk0R0qvSFON-l7GnXrwCPQG67dPjqmwkgcpxAECN3cpJ84TztLhgGNHKM48me7M1JMmxWG4uoa3qRiSQ_0NM-hRo6F5eRg2m1kmzl0UHiRncmU/s320/IMG_20180818_132905931_HDR.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We were thrilled that our hives did so well since many of our neighboring bee keepers in the county have lost some or all of their hives due to pesticide spraying by conventional farmers, hive mites, malnutrition or queen bee failure. (Sure, blame it on the mama bee, how typical)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Xpj29fUUv60v0YAf3Bs3sjd0DYjmxoDQP1Df6wLOAUgbSZx870piCH_2pDTXm-r25-IRLalZ9b_QlxWz0OoKc360y6Pj7Gb-QKfnqnzRIcNjxJnK5Wul8Tvww5acAatiw9nRrZfaDiU/s1600/IMG_20180818_160010697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Xpj29fUUv60v0YAf3Bs3sjd0DYjmxoDQP1Df6wLOAUgbSZx870piCH_2pDTXm-r25-IRLalZ9b_QlxWz0OoKc360y6Pj7Gb-QKfnqnzRIcNjxJnK5Wul8Tvww5acAatiw9nRrZfaDiU/s320/IMG_20180818_160010697.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyJbhmD10YbqVsGMTwnqLUx82dFBRUAqak8Q1UTcjMeTeIH4UGy_K2gJl0-K251KoIDS3I-w1KEf7fNkaP1dtZc4NVVSQchI3q4w-C9uOZiM3SSS4qin6WSq6tdWbO79K7GMCtppROS4/s1600/IMG_20180818_133633499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyJbhmD10YbqVsGMTwnqLUx82dFBRUAqak8Q1UTcjMeTeIH4UGy_K2gJl0-K251KoIDS3I-w1KEf7fNkaP1dtZc4NVVSQchI3q4w-C9uOZiM3SSS4qin6WSq6tdWbO79K7GMCtppROS4/s320/IMG_20180818_133633499.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, our bees thrived this year. We attribute it to the fact we did not harvest honey last year leaving the bees with plenty of food for winter. Plus I planted tons of bee-loving annuals for the bees to party in and I kept birdbaths, bowls filled with water. We made it easy for our bees to stay home instead of having to fly all over the county to get the nutrition they needed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We also keep our hives on the center of our property in an area of high weeds and tall trees, all of which act as filters should one of the neighbor farmers get a bit heavy handed with their chemical spraying. This combo of food , water and shelter paid off well in that we'll have plenty of honey for our own needs and extra to sell, which always helps with The Poor Farm's budget.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The other huge benefit of this years harvest was working side by side with our GK's and later, with our middle son Jason who dropped by and was recruited to help. (You would think people would learn not to "drop by" as it often ends in extra work for them.) Allana is our true bee whisperer and started working side by side with Keith back when she was 6. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, three bee suits later, she is just enamored with the bees as she was that first summer. Her favorite thing to do is crouch down next to the buzzing hive and lay her head against it. "I love to hear them talking" she says. Her ten year old brother Wesley just expressed an interest this year so he is a new apprentice for us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Both kids stuck with us the entire four hours it took to move the honey laden frames from hive supers to the back of pickup, from pickup into house and into the honey spinner, from spinner into buckets and from buckets into bottles. Truly, we had honey spattered over most of the kitchen surfaces and we did more finger licking than Colonel Sanders himself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Una giornata fantastica</span>!<br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Donna OShaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08266654110280149719noreply@blogger.com25