Conversation and updates

 

Well, where do I start today?! I have thought about a video for weeks now...but there is never time without wind, rain or noise. I have had so much to talk to about, but I have limited myself to really thinking about what I share very deeply before sharing. There are just too many that are not strong enough to handle my unfiltered thoughts without completely melting into a pile of offense. 

Let's start with one of the big changes for me. After being so sick this last time, I stopped smoking. 2 months now, and there have been some really rough days and some set backs...but I am pushing through. When I was smoking the most, if I was really busy...I didn't smoke. It's when I got bored, upset, depressed, or royally stressed out when I would smoke a lot. If there is one thing I know as fact...if you are going to do anything difficult, you have to want it more than anything for it to happen. As far as giving up most addictions, you have to do it for yourself. It can't be something forced, or even for other people - no matter how much you love them. It's not easy. Just ask anyone that once smoked, drank or anything else. Even after 2 months, having a really bad day or a stressful situation; there is a chance of giving in. The one thing I will not do to anyone, and try to always remind myself of anything I'm doing...beating yourself up and degrading yourself is not going to help anything. You have to take a deep breath and keep going. It took Noah, what, 40 years to build the Ark?! I can't bring myself to trading one bad habit for another...so I will do everything I can to work those tough days. 

All that being said, it's that time of year for outdoor work! My favorite times of the year...gardening, mowing and landscaping. This year is allowing me to make some changes in my gardening. There are now just 3 of us left at home, and that means I am no longer having to bust my butt to provide food for 5+ people anymore. This year I get to grow less for preservation and more for fun or trial. It's strange not needing as much but I am looking forward to making some changes. Maybe even expanding some skills and furthering my knowledge. I am planning to add some new trees and berry bushes this year also. I would also like to add a lot more flowers to the landscaping. One thing I have learned over the twenty-plus years of gardening...without flowers and pollinators, your gardens won't grow to their potential. I had hoped to enroll into an herbalist class this year, I just haven't found one available that isn't outrageously expensive. That is an area I need more education in. Anyway, I am excited to start mowing too! I know, most people dread this chore...I look forward to it! It's time when I can't hear anyone, no one can talk to me, and I can just allow my thoughts to go where they will. 

For a couple years now, I have been working on my recipe book. This has turned into a bigger project than I planned. I've found recipes that are only half there, have gotten mixed up(if multiple pages), or only have ingredients but no title or directions. So, I have to go through every one of them and try to write them legibly, with full directions and titles. I promised these to my kids 2 years ago...but was not anticipating the work I had to put in so they could even read them. It's one thing when you are a cook and know the basic directions for any recipe...it's another to have only an ingredient list and have to guess how much of each ingredient and what order to mix them, then the pan size and oven temp. At least when I am finished, they will have a good size cook book, measurement conversions, and even some natural health tricks and tips. I just hope they enjoy them and get use out of them. 

I am also moving forward with our annual disabled veteran deer hunt. I have messages sent to both large foundations we have worked with. We have secured some donations already, and are building a donation/sponsor tier to allow our volunteers to move forward in our fundraising. We are still trying to secure the items for the annual raffle, but hope to have them locked down in the next couple of weeks. I'd like to see this year's raffle kick off June 1st, but that means having everything ready the last week of May...which means getting tickets ordered by the 10th of May to have in time. IF I can get this pulled off, the raffle will run June 1st with the drawing to be held October 12th at 1 pm. This event alone this year is looking to average about $815 per veteran, for just the hunt. We had funds left last year that allowed us to give 25 veterans a free lunch on Veterans Day. We are also looking into providing veterans in local nursing homes and VA homes a Christmas bag this year, if our donations allow. Once I have a chance to visit with the foundations we have worked with, the scope of our plans will clear up a little. We are in a unique situation, as we are not locked into a single phase cause - when it comes to helping veterans, we can utilize the tools in our tool belt, to work with 2 great foundations that offer very different options to also help veterans. I am just lucky enough to have gotten to know these groups and see that their missions are truly about helping veterans. 

As for the farm, WOW! After 2 1/2 months 63 of 65 ewes have given us lambs. The final 2 are super late! We have 123 lambs on the ground(6 of those are our sons, and 1 is our daughters). Now the next phase of chaos begins - weaning, sorting and selling. This will happen in phases too. Those born in January and early February, are basically ready to wean now. The next phase will be those born mid-February to early March, then mid-March to April. We try to offer them for sale off the farm first, as this gives buyers better options at the colors and sizes they choose. The ram lambs are the same - better options of size and colors from the farm. That being said, some will end up going through the sale barn. The sheep market is ok right now, but we've seen the bottom drop out of it over the last few years...so a good year would be awesome! My chickens and ducks decided their pasture area wasn't enough, so they have decided to claim about 4 acres is their playground. You just never know where you will find a chicken or an egg for that matter. They run with the goats, the sheep, the dogs, in the pasture, in the drive...you name it! Crazy creatures just think they own the place. Ha! At least they will help keep the ticks, insects and snakes at bay! Now, I just need to keep them out of my strawberry bed! 

We are nearing the end of my girls Sophomore year. Yikes! We have met the requirements for the state, but not for this momma! We have until the end of June to complete this school year, but I do believe we will continue through the summer again, in case we need more breaks during the next school year. Trying to catch up or remember where we leave off, when things get crazy here, is a pain. Besides...that  just givens my girl and I an excuse to go on a few more adventures. 

I think that pretty much gives a quick nutshell update on everything I am keeping up. I am thankful it's Spring, but I am ready for sunshine and 75! 

Salli

Life and Farm Ramblings

 Life and Farm Ramblings...

 

 

For the moment, I can't even call this coffee chat. I haven't been able to drive coffee for nearly 3 weeks, and that makes me pretty sad. I got really sick a few weeks back, and it has completely uprooted my life. I've managed to keep off the internet because I am trying to focus on healing, but it kind of feels like being being ambushed by a dozen different illnesses, all at once. That illness resulted in me quitting smoking, after a week that all I could do was sleep...smoking and eating did not matter. Since then, I'm slowly getting a little more energy back, but still battling to eat much at a serving and going on 3 weeks without a cigarette throws in a whole other mess to the mix. The awful coughing, tastes changing(everything still tastes like ass), sinuses and allergies in a tail spin as they try to readjust to the nicotine/tar/carbon monoxide being out of my body. So, recovering from a flu and adding in the quitting smoking...it's not been a pleasant few weeks. I know I will feel much better once I get through the worst of this but right now...I'm really contemplating the benefits with how bad I have felt. 

 

So, along with everything I mentioned earlier, we started our 2025 lambing season on the 25th of January. This year, we had 65 ewes that should have been bred. We had a few slow days, but very few. As of today(2/24/25), we have had 60 ewes give birth to 119 lambs. We still have 5 that are straggling, and only 2 of those are visibly bred. So, we'll see how that all turns out. We have had some chaos, that is expected with that many sheep. Richard had to pull several babies this year. Even with the extreme cold snaps, we have had minimal loss. We have 4 bottle babies this year, which is the most we've had for a bit. We are sitting pretty good on hay, and knowing there's about 10-12 weeks left before we can turn out on pasture is reassuring. I am really happy we have our chickens still. Saturday, I went to the store and decided to look at egg prices. OUCH! An 18 pack of best choice white eggs, $13.95. I do believe if I hear anyone complain about $2-$3 a dozen of my eggs....they will be dodging them as I throw the eggs at them! 

 

Just a couple weeks and my baby will be 16. It's unbelievable how quickly the time with my kids has gone. I suppose every parent feels this, and I am no exception. My baby turning 16, has really been hard though. I have loved being a full time mom. I have loved my kids, and all the kids that adopted our family as part of their chosen family. I tried to raise my kids to understand the importance of putting our family first. I personally worked through a lot of traumas to give my kids everything that I wished for growing up. I have made plenty of mistakes as a parent, every parent has, but loving them - unconditionally, has not been one of them. When my oldest got married, I was happy to have a daughter-in-law I thought I had gotten to know pretty well. One phrase that I was told about a year ago, has sadly been accurate. "A son is a son, until he takes a wife; a daughter is a daughter, for the rest of your life." It's been a difficult transition to go from a house full of young people, to only one. It's difficult to watch as the ones we raise choose to remove you from their their life and idolize poor behavior. I can just hope that when these young people become parents, they find some wisdom in the direction I tried to lead them.

 

I have had to really back off on everything that has not been focused on getting myself healthy again. Each day, I am feeling a little more human, and will be getting back in the saddle with everything. The big priorities right now, are the Disabled Veteran Hunt and the gardening. I need to touch base with a couple of the non-profits we have worked with, and get a plan in place with them; and get their sponsorship pledges in the books. I have  secured 4 donation pledges since the first of the year. I will be working to secure our raffle items over the coming month, and we will be securing our disabled veteran hunters in June. 

 

Gardening for this year is going to look a little different. Since there are just 3 of us now, I no longer have to plan for hundreds of jars of food each year. So, I am going to try my hand at some fun gardening - containers, raised beds, patches thrown in where ever the urge hits, and some flower gardens too. I will be on the look out for trees, fruit trees, berry bushes, and some wind block trees too. I will still be canning, but I definitely don't need 800 plus jars each year. 

 

Well, that's the nutshell ramblings to catch up. I'm sure there is plenty I missed, but this covers most of it.