What a Day? Mad Bull

   The man came and tried to get the bull yesterday morning, he had brought an other man with him. Two hours of chasing the bull and almost getting him in the trailer but bull broke through them. The bull ran around the yard then broke the gate to get back into his field. Tommy always went out and helped load cows, while I stayed in the house. Boy, I sure wish he was here again. The men left without the bull and said they'd be back last night.

   The man came back by his self. The bull went into the stall and we used a rope to hold the gate closed so he could not get out. The man had me hold the rope to keep a 500lb  mad bull in there. I had no gloves on and no where to wrap the rope around but my hands. Well the bull didn't want to stay in there, and he pushed and rammed the gate. I kept losing my grip on the rope, which allowed the gate to open some. After 10 minutes of fighting with this mad bull, some thing popped in my chest and by now I have rope burn and now a big deep cut on my finger where the rope was. My nerves are shot now, and I'm shaking all over. I told the man I could not hold any longer and let go. He was not happy but he was also smart enough not to open his mouth. He did say he would be back today with a gun that would put the bull to sleep while they loaded it. I said good and walked away.

   I had wondered if my decision was right to get rid of the bull was right, NOW I have no doubts, none! The sooner that bull leaves the happier I'll be.

   The guy brought my truck back last night. He said that with the big trucks, it had extra oil lines for pulling large loads. And since I would no longer be pulling loads, he did away with the lines and plugged the holes. Total cost $2.00. Thank you Lord. The guy has worked on Tommy's and my trucks for years.  So I know he has blessed me when he fixed my truck the last two times. Please pray the Lord would bless this guy.

   My farm will now just be chickens and gardens.   That decision has been made very very clear. No more cows, I can't handle them by my self.

   It has rained here on and off now for more than two weeks. So getting into the garden to work has not happened.

   Yesterday was an eye opening day, and I'm so glad it's over. I know the Lord walked closely with me yesterday. And for that I'm thankful.

   Life was so much easier when there was two of us making decisions.  Now every time I make one, I wondered if it's right.

   Becky

"Forgive always, and show unconditional love to everyone you meet."

Technorati Tags: beef cow,blessings,farming,self sufficiency

Just Tommy and I this Weekend & Farm Update

Shawn and Cindy came and got TommieLynn for the weekend, Friday night. TommieLynn was overly happy to spend the weekend with her brother. Thank you Shawn and Cindy. Tasha went to Carl’s for most of the weekend. So it was just Tommy and I. Oh, what a treat. It has been many years since we have had a weekend alone together.

I took him out to eat Saturday night to his favorite restaurant to get his favorite meal. The restaurant had 4 men walking around singing to those of us eating. The restaurant had candles and flowers on the table. It was a wonderful evening, which we both really enjoyed. Thank you Lord, for blessing our evening and time together. I did have to give Tommy a dose of morphine while we were there but he said he had a great time with a smile. When we got home he did put on his oxygen and rested with a full belly and a smile in his face. His smile on his face so very much blessed me. I have found that the smaller things bless my heart so much more now than ever before. Thank you Lord again for a wonderful evening.

It is now time to cut down my chickens. We have 25+ chickens. And their feed bill is getting to high. People are no longer buying eggs. So I am giving away 2-3 flats of eggs a week. Don’t get me wrong, I do not mind giving eggs away, but their feed bill is about $30 a week. We no longer eat a lot of eggs a week, maybe 1-2 dozen. So we are down sizing the chickens. More than like, we will give the extra chickens away, to those who need them for food. Tommy is no longer able to butcher them,and I just can’t bring myself to do it. Now I could if I had too, but right now I don’t have too. Thank you Lord. So we will get the chickens down to 8-12 hens and a rooster, that way we will still be able to bless others with some eggs without over spending on feed. The beef cow is getting fatter, and will go into the freezer hopeful by late spring/early summer. And then all the pasture fences will come down.

Looking to spring: We will not have the big garden down in the field this year. The strawberry & tomato patch (were I have many raised beds and is fenced in) will be used again this year. And I have to fence in an area for potatoes and some corn, up closer to the house but away from the strawberry patch. So I have been scouting the yard for the right place to put it. It will not be real big as there is only 4 of us now. I will only plant 50 lbs. of potatoes instead of 200 lbs. We love potatoes. Our potatoes did not do very well last year, maybe a new spot will help. I have really missed our potatoes this winter. And just enough corn to eat fresh and a little to freeze, not 8 rows 150 ft. long. All other veg’s will go into the raised beds. So this will be our first year with a small garden.

The only seeds/plants I have to buy this spring are: potatoes, tomatoes, onions sets. I have enough seeds for the other things we grow for about 3 years. Which is a great blessing. We were blessed last year with a really big box of seed packets: veg’s. , flowers, herbs seeds. Yes, not all of them will come up due to being last years seeds, but more than 80% will. So I just replant seeds that don’t come up, and have done so for years. Every fall when our feed store marks that years seeds to half price, I buy the seeds I need to plant the following spring. I save money on seeds. As the seeds get older the percentage of the ones that will come up goes down some. I have planted some seeds that were over 3 years old, and had a good crop.

As the girls and I will be doing all the yard work this year, I am looking for ways to cut back on as much as I can. One things I am going to do to cut down on weed eating is: put straw/mulch/hay around things and places that usually need to be weed eat-ed. I can get all the straw and hay from our feed store for free:I pick up the broken bales off the ground, there is always a lot. TommieLynn has been begging to use the push mower, oh little does she know what she’s asking for. She starts this year, we’ll see now long she’ll want to mow.

We have friends coming in this coming weekend, Scott and Ann. Then the following week, Tommy’s sister, Linda, is coming for a visit. He has not seen her in 6+ years. They both are really looking forward to this visit.

Well I am going to finish enjoying my quiet weekend. Hope you all have a great week.

Becky

Changes in the Mist - Ready Or Not

I have been looking ahead and trying to make a plan before Spring and Summer gets here. There has been a lot of changes in my life this year - some good and some not so good - little and big. I am not very good at change.  Some changes are good for us, some hurt really bad, some don't last to long. My family is smaller in size now, needs are changing from a few years ago, and I'm getting older. We loved are full farm and all it gave us. But now there are not as many hands as before working the farm. And it's finally hit me, I can't run the farm by myself. Don't get me wrong the girls help all they can. But a farm is a  lot of work year round.  And I really would like to spend more time with my family.

So here is some of the ways we are going to down size some:

• I am selling my milk cow as soon as I can. We love the milk but thinking ahead there is no way I can keep the fence lines weed eat or all the fields mowed and do a garden.  And come fall, the thought of loading and unloading a 100 bales of hay for winter use, is not a good picture. And we no longer drink 4-5 gallons of milk a week. So it's time to say good bye to milking.
• The Black Angus Bull now running in the field, will be fatten up and put in the freezer as fast as we can. And while we are eating his meat, I'll put some money back every month to buy a half cow for meat. I know where I can do this cheaper than store prices and the cows are feed the way I feed mine. ( I'll also be able to buy half a hog when needed). So we will still be able to get great meat without all the work. I worked the price out, it's only 50 cents more a pound if someone else raises it.  Which is about $1.09 a pound, cut and wrap and fast froze. Still cheaper than the store meat, and better tasting too.
• My husband is selling his big tractor. We will not be mowing the fields any more or having a great big garden. We are switching to raised beds for most, and making a fenced in area for potatoes. We no longer need a big garden to feed us. I still will be able to get apples and pears off the ground from friends.  So I think I have our food planned out.
• We will keep our chickens for meat and eggs. And sell chickens and eggs.  They are very easy to care for. And I HATE STORE BROUGHT EGGS.
• We have 3 freezers that I would like to get down to using just 1 or 2. Which means canning more meat. 

We  will be growing a few more vegetable and I'll can every thing I can get my hands on.  This new life is going to be really different, as we have lived this way for 10 + years. And it has kept us feed well. But changes are here like it or not. The Word says there is a season for  everything, I guess my season is changing again. Time to learn new things, new and different ways.

Tommy and I are not looking forward to selling the milk cow or his tractor, we worked long and hard for both, Tommy and I together broke the milk cow to hand milking and  she was  born here on the farm, and Tommy has wait years to be able to buy the tractor: but now it's time.

This blog will still be about farm life, now just a mini farm life. And I will still share all I have learned and will be learning here. 

Well for now we will be down sizing to fit our needs better. Will I ever have a full farm again, only the good Lord knows that and He's not told me yet. So for now it's one day at a time, going where the Lord leads us.

Change is in the air,

Becky

Tommy's Tractor

Peaches milk cow, bull meat

Comments:

1. You have some big decisions to make. It sounds like you are up to it. They are unfortunate, but necessary. Realize that not everyone is as insightful as you nor could they look at things so realistically and make the right decisions. Comment by Sheila Smith | December 29, 2008 | 

2. I know there are many tears being shed into your pillow right now. You are having to face some very difficult truths about your family’s health and children coming of age, your finances, and your own physical limitations. I pray God holds you very close, and the Father of mercy comforts you as you pass through all the coming changes. Comment by teri | December 29, 2008 |

3. Good luck- I think you fair just fine.. just so you know we have been church “Searching” and think we may have settled on one here close to us. Thank you for inspiring me and my family in ways you may not even know of….I will keep you and your family in my prayers  Love Amanda Comment by Amanda B | December 31, 2008 |

4. I only just started to read your blog, and find it amazing. I take my hat off to all you do.
   Hope to read more soon. hugs gwen Comment by gwen | January 1, 2009 |

5. [...] bookmarks tagged black angus Changes in the Mist - Ready Or Not « Becky’s Farm … saved by 5 others     mightguy1 bookmarked on 01/01/09 |  Pingback by Pages tagged "black angus" | January 1, 2009 |

6. I haven’t seen an update from you in a few days so I’m hoping that is good news! God bless you today, Becky, as you live for His glory, depending on His grace, one minute at a time. Comment by Georgene | January 5, 2009 |

 

Another day on the Farm -a little of this and that.

We got a good rain today.  I have another 3 hens sitting on eggs (6, 12, 6) and 9 chicks: we'll have chicken this winter.  Peaches, our milk cow, is giving us a lot of milk, now we're getting  3  1/2+ gallons.  Time for me to make ice cream again. Would you like some? :)  Tommy's doing better, still at times having a hard time breathing, but this to is getting better. I will be picking green beans again in the morning.  The Lord has really blessed our garden and farm, thank you, Lord. 

Recipes:

Homemade Mayonnaise

1 whole egg

2 teaspoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 tablespoon vinegar

dash pepper

1 cup oil

Put all ingredients in the blender, except for  3/4 cup of oil. Blend together well. While blending, slowly add the remaining oil until the mayonnaise is thick.

 

Tortilla Chips

1 dozen corn tortilla   and oil for frying

Cut tortillas into triangles ( like a pie) and fry a few at a time in a pan of hot oil. Salt to taste.

** Variation** Try frying flour tortillas the same way and sugar mixture. 

These recipes are from the  "Cooking with Home Storage"  by Vicki Tate , used with permission of author. A most have book. This book has pioneer recipes, dried foods recipes, and more.   This is the last of the recipes I'll post from this book.   It is well worth the $14.95. If you'd like to see the book index it's HERE at the end of post.

The New Cookin' with Home Storage- New and Expanded version with Index

By: Vicki Tate    (435)835-8283 in Utah, USA

Vicki has said if you call in to order the book price is $14.95 + S&H, and can order a CD of her lecture for $4.00, too.

 

Home:

Plant sweet basil around your doorways as this repels flies. I know this works, even on a farm. I have a net bag on my screen door and fill it with sweet basil leaves every few days ( leaves- the snips I take off every few day, so it'll grow bigger, some leaves get dried for winter use).

Comments:

 

 

Garden and Farm and Home

I have been going full speed last few days. Right now it's over 90, so I am taking a break in front of a fan. I am mulching everything I can, this so helps with less weeding, and holds water in longer. I canned more quarts of milk and quarts of green beans. Froze milk and eggs, and some cream(the only things you can not do with cream that has been frozen, is whip it. I make butter, ice cream and cheese with it as time allows). Thank you Lord, for a great garden and a milk cow who is giving more milk ( over 3 1/2 gallons a day, now)than I can keep what with, and 80+eggs to eat and eggs to put under hens( meat this winter). I hoed up another row of potatoes. One of our hens hatched 3 more chicks ( total so far this spring 11 chicks). I have got to find time (somewhere) to make strawberry jam, and I'm almost out of butter. The Lord has really blessed our farm and garden again. I am putting up everything I can get my hands on. Our daughter is bring in more blackberries than I can keep up with and finding them in places they were not in before. I know it's going to be a very long, hard winter. And the Lord is providing food now to put up. Usually, when our garden and farm do above average, the winter coming has been hard and long. It has happened three different years, here. So that is why I am preparing more than I normally do, not just because of our economy and our income dropping to a third. This blog, Becky's Farm Life , has gotten some many hits, from people looking to stock up on food and stretch their money, I know the Lord is trying to prepare them too. I am just trying to help all I can. It's becoming my mission for the Lord. People, I talk to face to face think I'm crazy for telling them to stock up and get ready. So the Lord showed me to start this blog, and they will come, and they have. Please if any of you have ideas to add, please do so. As we are to help one another. And again, I don't have all the answers, just telling what I know and what has worked here on our farm for years.

Tommy still has not gotten the gas line fixed under the house. So I am glad I have a gas stove top outside( this is where I can in the summer). In a way it's a blessing, I can cook simpler meals,and the kitchen does not get so hot. Last night, we had eggs and bacon and toast and milk. I just have to keep an eye out for the cats, they think it's their dinner. I am checking all my stored things as I go to the store next week. I have cut going to town to every two weeks, it would be once a month but I don't have room to store that much animal feed. As it is I get 700 lbs, every two weeks, this feeds 3- cows, 30 chicken, 4- dogs, 4- cats, 6- kittens. Do you need a kitten? And many food we need for the next 2 weeks, I am so blessed to have a truck big enough to carry it all. When I come home from a day in town, the truck is packed tight. And usually takes us about 3 hrs. to get everything put up.

The milk cow has been giving me a hard time. She was in her worse heat the other night. She want to play with the bull more than she wanted to eat and get milked. It took me 3 1/2 hours to milk her out, usually 20 min's. She a great milk cow for it being her first year milking. Tommy says, It's a female thing, men think they know it all. I have another chicken wanting to sit on eggs, I will let her in a few days. I have strawberry runners to cut off, and sucker the tomatoes, clothes to wash and hang out side. Hope every one has a blessed day. So I better get up from in front of this fan and get more things done today.

Becky

Technorati Tags: canning,eggs,farming,food storage,freezing,garden,stocking up

Updates: Home, Garden, canning, Tommy's health

Good morning,

We have had 2 days of blessed rain. Thank you Lord. The gardens and well really needed it. And it helped to cools us off. It's been up above 90's, no AC in house, only AC in food barn ( some days I wish I was a jar of green beans and get to stay where it's cool).

The farm is doing great too. I am getting 21 + gallons of milk a week( I'm making cheese, ice cream, butter, canning, freezing, it all as Fast as I can), 80+ eggs a week ( I'm freezing eggs too, this works great when they slow down, you can freeze store bought eggs too), 2 chickens sitting( meat for this winter and replacing hens), 7 young chicks so far, the beefalo bull will being leaving us soon( I need steaks and I do not want to feed him this coming winter), 7 kittens( any one need one). I hope to dig up some new potatoes this week as I really do not want to buy any more store (yuck) potatoes, we ran out of our stored potatoes from last year two months ago. And tomatoes are almost ready to enter our bellies.

The garden is doing great, the Lord has blessed it yet again. We got a load (big) of mulch, to put in walk ways of the upper garden. Which will save me a lot of time, in not having to weed so much. I have canned 22 jelly jars of cheese sauce, 7 qt's. of milk, 4 qt's. of green beans, froze 6- 2liter bottles of milk. I'll have to pick green beans again Monday. This coming week I have to make strawberry jam, I had to freeze the strawberries because at the time they came in I was to busy to make jam. I have 8- gallon freezer bags of strawberries calling my name. I dried 3 batches of herbs.

Tommy is doing a little better. He still is tired all time and at times has a hard time breathing, but thank the Lord the pain is not as bad as before. We still have not as of today found a way to pay for his med's or doctor visits. So please keep praying.

We are so blessed, we may have no money, but we have what money can't buy. Thank you Lord, for your blessings on us. Lord, help me to always count my blessing and not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow is in YOUR hands. Thank you for always supplying all our needs.

Thank you all for your friendship. May God bless you all. Becky

Technorati Tags: blessings,food storage,garden,prayer,stocking up,Tommy

Comments from Becky's Farm Life:

Your blog is fasinating. Could you please tell me how to freeze eggs? I am buying fresh eggs from my friends now but as you now the chickens can be fickle And how long do they last in the freezer? What is the best way to freeze milk? How do you can cheese and milk? Do you use a water bath or pressure canner? Thanks for the help.
Comment by hopefulheart June 29, 2008

Becky, I consider myself a religious person and know our Heavenly Father will look after our needs if we do our best to do what he asks of us. I love your blogs. My husband had emergency surgery two years ago (had over 18-inches of his bowel removed and was in the hospital two months). I am his caretaker now and am so glad to have our food supply to tide us over. I work at rotating and adding to all the time. It is so satifying to look at the stash and know that our tummies will be full. I don’t have a cow, chickens, etc., but I do watch for sales on everything I do buy. We, too, have been so blessed. I feel a kinship with what you are doing. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Comment by Bev. June 30, 2008

A few days of blessings and photos

Our son, Raymond and his female friend, Faris, came up for a visit on Thursday.  They are on their way to Alaska for a 1 1/2 year stay.

Raymond and Faris (Our new farm hands)

Friday morning, we got a call saying, We could get hay out of the field for $3.00 a bale, and we could make payments on it. But we would have to get it that day as rain was coming in the next day. Now here is the Blessings: First, Raymond and Faris said them help me load it ( as Tommy was having a really hard time breathing and was hurting, there was no way he could loaded the hay), we loaded a 112 bales. It took us two trips to get it home. Tommy drove the truck around field, and even that was hard on him. Second: We have been paying $7.95 a bale, and we need a 100 bales to make it through this winter. We are still in a drought here, so we were not sure how to get the hay this year, or how to pay for it.  The Lord opened His window on us. So thank you, Raymond and Faris for your help, and saving us almost $500 on the hay. Below is some photos of us getting hay and these two city- beach kids helping us and blessing us:

Raymond and myself loading hay.

They both were really happy when I told them we didn't have to get the big rolls of hay, just the square bales.

Faris and myself

She said," This is not so bad".

They both did such a wonderful job. Faris had not been on a farm before. She tried cows milk and butter, and really like it. I sent her some milk in a cooler for their trip.  She also said, "Haying was fun." That's a city-beach kid for you.  I am so thankful our winter hay is on the farm. The Lord poured His blessing out of us. Thank you, Lord. A friend on the blog is blessing us with homemade goat soap and shampoo, and sending yard. Thank you again my friend. May God bless you to over flowing.  Well, my haying muscles are calling for another hot shower. Just wanted to Thank Raymond, Faris, and my blog friend and mostly to thank the Lord.

God bless you all,

Becky

If you would like to see all the photos of the day and the haying tractor see:  All the haying day photos   http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordansfarm/sets/72157605514358302/

 

Technorati Tags: haying,blessings,farm

Check out= City,Beach kids on farm

Will write later. But wanted to show off photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordansfarm/sets/72157605514358302/
Great photos.
Becky