Are You Ready for Winter?

September 23rd, 2011

Well, it’s been eons since I’ve written my blog -

My heart is so heavy after reading Grandpappy’s website and a Katrina review from people that actually lived thru it. . .

I have a few questions for you – as we are soon approaching bad weather time around here. I’d like to know if you have 3-4 days worth of food for you/your family for when the power goes off. It often does you know. Diapers, paper products, medicines, water, etc. What do you have to cook with and drink if the power goes off for a few days? Do you have charcoal and cast iron and know how many briquettes it takes to cook a dinner in it? Do you have a camp stove and a sheltered, but not enclosed place to use it safely? Have you PRACTICED??? Do you have a hand operated can opener with those cans of food?

What if, God forbid, like in Katrina that the “help” arrives after 4-7 days and doesn’t start with any emergency supplies until the 7th-10th day after a disaster? Now I know that this doesn’t happen often, but we could be awaiting a very large earthquake – maybe of Biblical proportions. Maybe a huge tornado will not go around us this time but hit dead on . . . lots of maybes and still we’re not living in fear. Hopefully Godly wisdom instead – learning from others mistakes. Like not depending on the water supply to operate if one of the electric stations goes down for any period of time. Happened here in the ice storms – no water and the people were completely cut off from help for weeks. Are you preparing for anything like this?

OK, last question: Here’s a true story from Katrina with a make-believe name to protect my source. Say we call my example person Ken. Ken was located nearby, but not in where Katrina hit. He told two families about his ability to take care of them “if it got bad’. These people told 14 families about this nice offer. 30 people showed up at his door right as Katrina hit. They brought things with them – trailers full of it – but nothing practical to save their lives. After a few days his entire house was emptied of all the provisions he had saved up. These people had credit cards and checks from banks now under water. They had no cash. This ended up being a very long term situation that Ken thought he was prepared for. The additional people caused a life threatening situation because they did not prepare and assumed Ken’s preparations for his family of 2 would see them thru the duration of the emergency.

Any slight bump in the system and we’ve got trouble in the U.S. Just-in-time-inventory at the stores means 3-4 days supplies only – ever. If a large storm is coming the stores do not stock up extra anything. Have you ever been to the store right before a storm and seen how fast things leave the shelves? What if you can’t get to the store? What if the “something” hits and you didn’t prepare? Where would you go for help? Are you sure “they” will help you? Can you depend on the government to supply all your needs and when will that start? Are you depending on someone else to prepare for you?

After reading “Ken’s” story of Katrina’s troubles – I am sure now that I don’t want to wait until a disaster to try to rely on FEMA or someone else to help us. I’ve got to figure out what we would need now and get it, use it, practice and rotate it in/out. I think we need to practice. I think we need to figure out what long term camping looks like. What a time without hot showers would be like.

And last thought: how long does it take people to start looting after they feel an injustice has been done to them???? Last few instances – less than 12 hours before the stores are looted, banks are destroyed and the “system” breaks down.

Please, think about this and do something . . .

Catching up …

October 29th, 2010
It’s been a while – too many crazy things taking my time to tell you what I’ve been up to!

Today, it’s butter and whatever we decide to make WITH ALL THIS MILK WE HAVE! LOL
Goat milk (Sam), Cow milk – the rest of us. Today’s butter shows that the seasons have really changed – or are in the midst of it. No green grass, no warm weather, no YELLOW butter – it’s back to white. But, it still is going to be made, white or not.

Gearing up for it to turn cold – not my favorite time. I do like when it cools off – no humidity like in the summer and I can work in the garden putting it to bed and getting the beds covered with a blanket of good stuff that will be nice black soil for next year.

The boys are passing the hand crank butter churn around and I’m using the food processor. My favorite tool – my Vitamix  – alas is no more unless I can find another metal container. They now have fancy new models – but nothing is wrong with the old one except the container’s gear just couldn’t keep up with all the work I made it do over the many years we’ve been together. Buying a new one is out of the question  and we haven’t found one on EBay yet . . . .

The yogurt is going and today we’re trying a new recipe for Cheddar. It’s in an advanced cheesemaking book and I should be at this point by now – although I’m not sure I feel competent yet. I need to get, I think it’s called, a hygrometer so that I know what humidity level is in the area I want to store cheese. I can use a refrigerator with a controllable thermostat – a diff. kind that comes with the refrigerator. Can’t wait to try this!

What’s the next thing I’m going to try? Well, canning clarified butter! I will keep some in the freezer for normal use and then try some that can be stored for years . . . Will it work? A young homesteading lady told me it would – so I’m off to try.

Being very thankful for a family that puts up with all my homesteading stuff!!!

Special Blessings

March 17th, 2010
Here's a picture of the cream crock and skimmer that she gave me. What's interesting is that the skimmer is extremely light - aluminum I think

Here's a picture of the cream crock and skimmer that she gave me. What's interesting is that the skimmer is extremely light - aluminum I think

I have to tell you about a HUGE blessing that I received from a very
special friend. Joyce comes every week to get her eggs and things from
us. Last week she was watching me skim the cream off the milk. I asked
her again how they used to do it. (My "always" question to her). She
told of this special crock called a cream crock with a skimmer that
her family always used. It was so much easier than the way I was doing
it. I went on-line and researched it and while I saw a lot of things,
I wasn't sure any of them were what she was talking about. Today,
Joyce came and had me meet her at her car. She was feeling terrible
and didn't want to have to walk. Yes, Joyce is about my mother's age -
but my dear friend. She had brought me her cream crock! And that's not
all - she brought me the special skimmer and a meat grinder (we'd been
making turkey sausage the week before with a much smaller electric
grinder)!!!! I tried not to cry. She's moving out of a farmhouse and
if I need it and the kids don't want it, she knows it'll be used and
loved here - isn't she sweet, kind and just the best????

Milking vacation is officially over

March 1st, 2010
Well, it’s out! The Saponifier magazine for March and April came out today.
Beth Byrne did a great job with what I had to tell her – she turned it into a beautiful article!!!
During the crazy week of losing Maggie, they asked for a picture and I’m afraid the one we gave them was just horrible. It was a quick snapshot, not a portrait picture.

We are barely starting to milk Star – who is horrible. She kicks, jumps and tries to get down off the stanchion while she eats the whole time. She’s quite “athletic” let’s say. Whisper is back to milking nicely – she doesn’t give much. Her newborn “tank” boy has decided that she has two teats and they belong to him. Bother! Megan does not get milked. She is put on the stand, rubbed, her udder washed and dried – anything to make it pleasant for her while she eats enough to feed 3 growing babies. Now if it was Whisper who had the 3 babies on her, I think I wouldn’t worry so much. After Wednesday Star’s babies will have to be put away late at night and let out after we milk in the early am. We have to change back to our “hours”. Sorry boys – vacation from milking is over! The babies run with their moms all day and late into the night to make sure they get all the nutrition they need – plus they’re now drinking water and eating hay.

We need to do the nasty deed called de-horning. It makes it safer for the moms, children and people that want to be around the goats – and the goats themselves. They cannot get stuck in the fence line with no horns. We also must do all the adult hooves. I think the cow needs done too – but I’ll leave that to the vet if he thinks it needs done.

Well, that’s the update from the goat woman – Now let’s see if I can get the inside of the house back in some kind of order after this crazy month of February is finally over! Plant more seeds, make more cheese, make yogurt, make kefir . . . . well, at least I have job security!!!

Marilyn, aka the goat woman

Coming Soon… New Babies!!!

February 2nd, 2010
We’re anxiously awaiting a new set of twins from our Star. Star’s bag is getting huge – probably bigger than any other goat we’ve ever had – and she’s going to be a brand new mommy! We’ve got her organic oats/raisins ready and will heat her molasses water for the grand celebration moment.

Our cow is also due. Since she wasn’t trained to a halter, we’ve been looking at different ways to make it easier and pleasant for all. Pat and the boys set up a series of fences and gates so she will have an alley way to walk to her pen where she can give birth (she might trick us on timing of course). I’ve read that Jersey babies can freeze in 40 degree weather and get chilled easily. So, Pat’s hurrying to make her a deep bedding box stall so that the baby can snuggle down and be warm when it’s born. (Or move there if she is sneaky on her timing!).

I have been planting seeds for our CSA. We are trying to do several sets of plantings this year. (Last year we lost a bunch of plants due to chickens and didn’t have any to replace them with). We will be doing a lot of our beds in back like square foot gardening beds and will start assembling them next weekend (after the 12th). We will also be collecting all of our compost beds and materials to fill the beds with. Although we’ve been working on the soil in the garden for over 4 years, we have to stop the take over from the Johnson grass. We have to do it naturally and organically and NOT try to dig/sift it out ever again. We will be using the smother technique to a new level. We are adding a lot of beds out front to attract attention – can you imagine what people will say when they see 30 pound pumpkins growing on special trellis panels??? I can’t wait to get pictures!

We are getting the buck paddock ready for the rotovator. We will clean up anything that might be in the pen and spread the composting hay everywhere. Then Galen will come and rotovate it all. We will make mounds and put the 3 sisters garden out there. Corn/green beans/squash – just like was done by our ancestors to save space and to create the perfect growing environment.

We are awaiting the seeds for the hyssop . . . special hyssop plants that bees love that will support the hives even during a time of drought. We need it – with all our neighbors having 100′s of acres of manicured grass – there’s not a lot for our bees to find unless we plant it right here ourselves. We are going to take back the strip of yard that runs along the driveway where our neighbors horses have been for years. We will fill that pasture with several kinds of clover and the hyssop. Along the driveway will be wildflowers for CSA cuttings. By the bees will be bee-friendly flower gardens. Still looking for a few more farms to put some hives on.

Did I tell you that a week or so ago that I was interviewed for The Saponifier Magazine??? The article will be in the March/April issue. I think the interview went well and was very pleased with the  rough draft of the article I was sent to check for errors.

I’m still waiting on hearing from The Artisan Center at Berea . . . January judging time is over – so, I guess the answers could be anytime.

Pat is taking off Thursday – - – we have the final giant white turkeys to do. We’re doing a couple for the freezer and for others . . . but most will end up turkey sausage or ground turkey for the year. Anyone that would like to help – I’m sure we’re starting around 12. We always share with helpers!

We would enjoy having your company for any of our projects if you’d like to come help – and who knows? If you time it right – you might get to see the miracles of birth that happen this time of year!!! (Feb. 13th is when Star is due and the cow is due to calve in Feb/March). Call us or email us if you want to come help and learn how to survive away from the grocery store!

Blessings -

OK – What have you done this week????

January 22nd, 2010
This week has been a whirlwind of restocking and product testing. So far I’ve restocked on *Non-chemical baby wash*, Med-Dry Shampoo, Med-Oily Shampoo and Summer version Shower Gel. I just made a new exciting No SLS, SELS or anything but soap Bubbly Bubble Bath . . . Right now it only comes in  Cucumber Melon but if the testers (aka Guinea Pigs) love it – then I’ll be bottling it in those gorgeous green/black bottles with our goat milk lotion in the same scent as a set. With more scents to come.

I’m working on Baby Shampoo and will trying out my new Ph tester sets (I have 2 kinds now). I need to see how close it is to Ph of 7 (no stinging sensation) without adding those nasty chemicals. Personally, I’d rather just be careful not to get it in a young one’s eyes than put chemicals in it to make it Ph of 7.

I’m in the middle of making cloth diapers in several different styles for a sweet friend of mine – saving the landfill of 1800 disposables. I’m also working along these same lines to get the final products in the baby carriage basket and making possible non-scratch baby mittens and a snuggle blanket or swaddle sheet to line the basket with as an additional practical, fun gift for babies. After this little hurdle, it’s off to the local baby shops and either etsy or EBay. My dream is almost finalized – - my own natural, safe, non-chemical baby line that I can be proud of.

Still waiting to hear on the Artisan Center at Berea . . . but I will be patient – I have too many distractions to think about it much.

Goats due soon . . . I love watching babies being born and helping when I can. Next month it’s baby cow. Isn’t life great??

If it weren’t for the muddy, yucky mess outside and the half-done, barely started projects here and there, I’d tell you to come over for a nice chat and a cup of tea . . .

Marilyn, aka the Goat Woman

One of the “Soaping” Greats has Passed Away

January 18th, 2010
Ah, I’m very sad to inform you that one of the soaping greats has passed away. My dear mentor and friend, Rita from TLC Soaps has gone to be with her Savior this morning.

This precious woman fought her breast cancer bravely and it did not win. In the midst of her meetings with the chemo team she always made her products available to all the patients in there with her. My own salve came from the careful tutorship of Rita herself.

I have her books to cling to. Reading them will be like sitting across the table from her sipping tea with a dear friend discussing the merits of herbs and the horrors of fragrances . . . it’s just the way she wrote.

Our family will be praying for her family in the midst of their deep loss and Heaven’s gain.

Marilyn, AKA The Goat Woman

Happy Thanksgiving

November 25th, 2009
Hello all – and Happy (almost) Thanksgiving!

I sure hope you all have much to be thankful for this season! Bypass the negative things happening and your list will grow and grow.
I know mine did when I put aside the worrying and the ugly things swirling around me for a time.

I was thinking of you all while cutting up my white pumpkins from the garden and butternut squash from a dear neighbor’s garden. I will be draining the pumpkin and the butternut squash and they will turn into pumpkin pies and butternut cheesecake on a pecan crust by tomorrow. The weather is cooperating for a lovely fall day with a slight chill in the air.

Last night we got our turkeys ready for our table and a few friend’s and neighbor’s tables as well. It was rather chilly. I didn’t have one small enough for a family that was trying to do the “American” holiday and offered them a very large chicken – but they didn’t understand that that was ok – at least it was for me. I went to Whole Foods website to see if they had a variety of turkeys for people to buy and they did. But what shocked me was their information about “fresh” turkeys – how the government says it’s ok to kill the turkeys in February, keep them at 27 degrees all year and sell them as fresh!!! Oh my goodness! Natural, fresh, what other words can I use to describe the wonderful bounty that has been provided to us here at the farm?
We have several turkeys out there that will be well close to 35/40 lbs it looks like before they are prepared for the freezer/canning or whatever else we decide to do with them. I can’t put them in the freezer right now because of all the frozen milk and frozen chickens that we have! 2 full freezers and 2 over the fridge freezers full to the brim.

After the craft fair season is done you can bet that I’ll be pulling a lot of them out and baking them to ready them for fast food – we call  home-canned chicken our fast food. Make up a bit of bbq sauce, heat the meat in it and serve it on homemade ww/oat rolls – yum! (I guess we’ll be using some of our giant turkey for this too after Thanksgiving dinner). Oh turkey and homemade noodles – I’d better stop – I think I like making the after Thanksgiving food better than the big day’s food!

Well, off to finish up something – I have a lot of soaps that we’ve run out of for the season and have to get them made and ready for you all . . .

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being our friends, family and customers . . . we are so very thankful for you!!!!

Marilyn

Craft show season!

November 23rd, 2009

I have done nothing but mock set-ups, packing, re-packing, labeling of bags, etc., etc. to get ready for this show coming up.
Ryle HS in Union, KY is by far the biggest show we do all year – It is the only Tri-State show so far that is inspected by the Health Dept.  It is finally paying off to have gone through all the leaps and bounds of the licensing hurdles to have become the First(!!!! Yeh!!!) Licensed Cosmetic Manufacturer in KY. This is so exciting to me – can you tell??? LOL.

We are still trying very hard to get into the KY Proud Market in the Shops at Lexington. It’s been a LONG process. Now, instead of waiting for “them” to come and check out the farm, I will be taking in a selection of products to the store itself. I am also waiting for the final application for the Equestrian Games for the 16 weeks it will run in 2010. The will have a KY Proud Pavilion at the games to showcase KY products . . .

So, you can imagine the state of the farm here . . . the animals are top priority and everything else takes a 2nd or 3rd seat.

My lemon tree is almost done ripening its first lemon. I think it will be perfectly yellow by the time Christmas comes around. I can’t wait. It was a lovely anniversary present from my sweet Pat – 2 years ago. A little reminder of all the citrus we had available to us in Fall/Winter in AZ.

This year of course was the addition of Fern, the Miniature Jersey to our family of animals. (My 12 year old has already claimed Fern as his own – - – I’ll remind him, but since he’ll be milking and teaching her more than I am, I’ll share!!!).

I hope to visit with you all soon . . . December thru February is a little bit more relaxed around here after the shows are done the first week in December.

Blessings – Marilyn

OK, the Goatwoman has a new project – Say Cheese!

October 29th, 2009
The Goatwoman pets her newest family addition - Red Fern

The Goatwoman pets her newest family addition - Red Fern

Say Cheese!!!  – well, in about 5 months we’ll have lots of cheese, butter (and yes, ice cream too Pat).
Meet my new friend Fern.

She’s not halter broke or anything to do with 2-legged broke, but we’re working on it.
She gets her grain by following me on the lead line – she does now know what her grain pan looks like and what it has in it – some kind of a treat. She got brushed all except her hind end today – first time. She looks so much better.

But the amazing thing is the picture . . . she came to the fence 2 times after I was done and outside just talking to her and she let me scratch her all over. Does she have her eyes closed in the picture – oh yes, she’s loving it!

Thanks Sam for the picture!