Sunday, June 23, 2013

Week 23, 24, 25

I can't believe we are almost half way through the year!!! Time flies when you are having fun.  Its been a busy couple weeks. We had friends come stay with us for a couple days, so we had a house full! 


 My friend Amy and her boys came to visit us for a couple days. The boys got schooled by my girls! It was fun! 

Brittany wrestling with Josh
Adyson schooling Zach! 


At the CMA Fest in Nashville I got to stand next to the beautiful Clydesdale!!! 
 GARDENING-  It was time to put poles up for the beans. So I put the kids to work! They all did a great job. I tried the "Sisters planting" this year and it didn't work out very well. I planted corn, squash and beans together. I got the idea from Pinterest. The idea is that the bean will grow up the corn, the squash will protect the corn and beans (and you also shouldn't have to put poles up for your beans) but some corn didn't come up so I had beans running a muck in my garden. 
 

The cardboard worked extremely well in the garden except next year I need to remember to weight them down. Until the cardboard got good and wet/pounded down in the ground it kept blowing all over the yard. The cardboard was an EXCELLENT weed barrier for the garden! So we had to put some plastic down to prevent weeds in the bigger spots of the garden. I have already had a little harvest of squash and zucchini this year!

FAMILY TIME- it was great having good old fashioned fun. We actually bought water guns and the kids and Daddy had a ball!!!  The fun lasted almost 2 hours! 
 


Then we went on vacation to Florida and had a blast! We did go to the Ponce Lighthouse, the Marine Science Center and LOTS OF BEACH TIME!!! 
 


 



READING- Thanks to my WONDERFUL husband who bought me the NOOK Simple touch I was able to read to my hearts content on the beach! I was in the "murder/mystery" mood so I read....
 Malice by Lisa Jackson, AWESOME

Suspicions by Christine Kersey- this was OK, written for ALL reading levels (in my opinion) little too simple for me. 

Swim by Jennifer Weiner VERY SHORT e-book, not worth the time, only 40 pages

EATING HEALTHY- Well when I went to Florida that went out the window, especially after I found Salt Water Taffy..... My favorite! When we came home from vacation I couldn't find my paddle to the bread maker! So I have ordered another, hopefully it will come soon, my dying for homemade bread again. 

FARM HAPPENINGS- We have found out that Rella, the spotted cow LOVES to play in the sprinkler! it was so funny to watch her. I had turned the sprinkler on the garden and she walked the fence following the sprinkler! 


Then my husband built a fence for the Pigs!!!! We have 2, a male and female! So lets Welcome Hammy (the little girl) and Bacon to the Appleby Farm!!! 


NO CHEMICALS- I am glad to be home from the beach, I actually missed having a full schedule during the day, gardening, dealing with the animals, etc. What I missed most was my homemade face wipes!!! I forgot them when we left, and after using all that sunscreen on my face and the poor diet down there my face is punishing me for it! So I made my toner and wipes as soon as I got home! 
Link for face wipes
Link for toner

I'm feeling very blessed the last couple weeks. I can't wait to see what else comes up! Until next time! 



Saturday, June 1, 2013

Week 20, 21, 22

I know I have gotten lazy about posting every week. I am going to get better about this. I PROMISE! Time flies on a small farm. The animals need attention, the kids need attention. You get caught up in projects around the house. Crafts the kids want to do. This past week was a special week in our house. My oldest daughter graduated the 8th grade. We ARE SO PROUD OF HER. Time flies when you are having fun!







FARM HAPPENINGS- this past week Tessa went down. My neighbor & I FINALLY got her back up and to the water bucket. She has milky mucus coming from her nose and the scours really bad. The vet determined she probably ate something that didn't agree with her. Both girls are doing fine and the horns are healing nicely.

I have had flies REALLY bad on all the animals and the "summer" is just starting! So I went to TSC (Tractor Supply Co) and bought Permethrin 10. Its great for all animals and their living spaces/kennels/stalls. You mix according to directions and spray on animals/living areas.

My poor husband, every time he comes home there is always something for him to do. This time he had to put up a fence for the pigs pen.

Adyson's chicken finally laid an egg!!!!! She was so excited.



I was able to rescue a hummingbird from my garage. It was really weird. The little guy was caught between the blinds and window in the garage. He couldn't figure out how to get out. So I GENTLY used a broom to trap him. It was so cool to hold him. I couldn't feel him on my arm.

 



GARDENING- I saw on Pinterest (somewhere) a gardening tip using cardboard. Basically you use all you old cereal boxes, etc and lay them around your garden as a "barrier" for weeds. So this week me and the kids got out there and made a "pathway" of cardboard in the garden. As the cardboard decomposes it also provides some nutrients! Less waste in the garbage, less weeding for me! I'll let you know throughout the season how this works out!

NO CHEMICALS- So this past week I ran out of facial toner. I searched and searched for the "hoemmade" version and found several recipes. My "standards" for making homemade toner weren't easy to come by.
#1- I had to have all the ingredients. As you slowly make the transition to homemade products it gets a little frustrating because of all the stuff you have to buy, but if you make the change slowly/as you run out of the "chemical version" its not too bad. I have been chemical free since I made a COMMITMENT to switch my family over to homemade/chemical free products at the beginning of the year. I love knowing whats in ALL of my stuff.

#2- can't be too drying. I have combination skin. I do not want more steps in my routines (putting on lotion, rinsing my face, etc). When I apply toner to my face I shouldn't have to rinse it off, or apply lotion afterward.

#3- simple to make. I don't want something that takes days to "set up". I want to be able to use it by the next day, not 2 weeks from now. I also don't want to cook it! Some recipes I found you actually had to warm/cook it, NOT ME!!!

So here is what I have found for a homemade facial toner

3/4 cup green tea - take 2 green tea bags & steep in hot water, until the water cools down to room temp
1/4 cup witch hazel
10 drops tea tree oil

Mix all ingredients together. Apply toner to cotton ball and then to your face. No need to rinse. No lotion needed afterward. I have been using this for almost 2 weeks and LOVE IT!

HOMEMADE- I was searching Pinterest for side dishes for dinner. Since I am not purchasing packaged stuff anymore I had to find a "break down" of the stuff that's in the "Pasta/rice & sauce" packets. I found a wonderful pin on Pinterest, from Suzanne her website she writes wonderful recipes and everything. I check her out at least once a week. So on her website/Pinterest I found a wonderful Herb & Butter recipe for rice/pasta. I tried it on the family and it was a HIT!!!! It tastes so much better then the package junk! I can't wait to try another flavor.

UPDATE FACIAL WIPES- I love the face wipes I made during week 13 & 14 they take off the make up. They are gentle, they don't dry out my face, best of all I know whats in them!

UPDATE ON DRYER- During week 15 & 16 I was having "air flow" issues with the dryer vents. The dryer is still working FABULOUS!!!

Hope everyone has a great week and I'll see you next time!

Rella LOVES the camera!