Farm life, I'm still learning

 

What can I say? Living this life style is a constant education, whether you want it or not! There is always something to learn, a new way of thinking, new techniques that can change your direction, new monkey wrenches to alter your plans, or a good dose of reality when Mother Nature is in serious need of some Midal! 

One major thing I have learned from this life style is planning. You spend 6 months planning for the other 6 months...every single year. You see, rural America is not an easy life. Simple, mostly...but easy, no way! During the late Fall, Winter and early Spring...it can get pretty treacherous out here. Our cold months can range from temps in the 30's or drop, as some years have to wind chills pushing 50 below zero. Snow or ice, could means days of not getting out since our closest highway is 10 miles away. It means out in that cold breaking open water for livestock several times a day, making sure everything outdoors has adequate bedding for warmth, plenty of food to keep body fat up, and if there are any babies born...heat lights running - which sets in the constant watch to make sure they don't light hay/straw on fire. This is just for the animals. Then you have the concerns for your family. That means making sure you always have food on hand, extra water, candles, firewood, medical supplies, pet items, and the like. So, as I said, planning is inevitable. 

You spend May through about November, getting supplies together. Baling hay to get through, getting feed delivered, getting mineral, baling/purchasing straw, checking equipment/making repairs, planting a garden, preserving any foods you can, getting your pantry restocked from the previous winter, making household repairs, and again through the heat of summer....checking animal water several times a day. Everything you gather in those 6 months, has to last for the following 6 months - December through April. Having some overlap is a good thing. That means you planned appropriately. 

While I love to learn, sometimes...you learn the hard way. I have spent the last few winters learning new or different gardening ideas. I will never claim to know all, about all. Honestly, you just don't know what you don't know! Gardening, at least for me, isn't just going out working up some soil and throwing in some seeds. My garden planning is a year round thing. The only time I am not actively planning for my gardens, is from Halloween through New Year's Eve. I'm usually pretty busy with holiday stuff during those times. Even now, as my vegetables are still setting on, I'm watching to see what I can do differently, what is working or not working, and what I can do better next year. Every area has a different zone of growing, different soil types, and different means of weed/insect control. What I find works for my zone/weather/soil, may not work for others. I've had to learn ALL of this! I do experiment a lot. Sometimes it works, but usually it's a learning experience. This year, I have done some experimenting, but it was too critical for the garden to produce to do too much. Having learned a few new ideas for later reference is a good thing. Finding the past couple years that seed didn't germinate as it had previously, meant a lot of adapting to unfamiliar territory. While I was very fortunate to have been taught a lot of basics from some incredible women, no one can fully prepare you. You have to learn through trial and error. 

Another thing I have learned is making sure you have a recipe for everything! I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to make something and either no one has a recipe because the person that always made it is no longer here, or the internet goes down about the time you decide to dig through them. My kids laugh at me, because I don't measure much of anything. They are constant after me to write down my recipes. Honestly, I need to. Some of my/our favorite recipes have been handed down or the cookbooks I use, have become pretty thin from use. You can always tell the recipes I use often by the stains on the pages of the books. I am notorious for altering recipes too. I will usually try one, the first time, as it's written. Then, I will try it again, and alter to fit my own likes the second time. One thing many people that talk about "prepping" seem to forget, is the recipes. You can fill your house with everything under the sun, but if you don't know how to do something with all those beans/flour/rice/etc. it won't do you a ounce of good. 

Not growing up around a farm, tends to leave you at a serious disadvantage. You don't have that innate knowledge of the work and pressure that comes from living/working on a farm. You have to learn. While having a farm takes money, you can't just throw money at it and expect it function. It takes a lot of hard work, a lot strain, and a lot of effort. You have so many "not-so-obvious" situations that come into play. You don't think about the time, money, effort, energy, or so many other things. As far as the financial side, you have electricity, water, fencing, heat lights, tank heaters, hoof trimming/shearing equipment, you have vet work, you have hay, mineral, salt, rubs and chemical for flies, you are constantly checking for pink eye, hoof rot, udder issues, idiots hunting off you land that shoot cattle and claim they thought it was deer, you have straw for bedding, you have egg cartons, banders, medications to be able to do some vet work yourself, you have different chemicals to control flies/ticks/fleas for every different animal on the place, you have fertilizer cost for pasture and hay ground, the cost of reseeding that pasture/hay ground, you have tractor/baler/rake/mower repairs, diesel fuel, oil, filters, tires, baler belts(these are currently about $3000).  None of this includes your time. Here, part of our family works off the farm for 8-12 hours a day, then they come home to work another 3-4 hours a day - or until dark during the longer daylight hours. Those of us at home all day, don't just sit around eating bon-bons, and watching soap operas. It's checking and filling waterers twice a day, it's educating the last child, it's preserving foods, it's keeping the garden from becoming a jungle, it's keeping up with all the book work, it's ordering feed and supplies, it's juggling the budget, preparing meals, keeping the house and clothes clean, it's managing and keeping up with dates for husbandry/important events/attempting to make time for something "fun." 

I did not grow up this way. I have had to learn everything from the basics and honestly struggled at times. Now, I can't imagine living any other way, I wouldn't want to. Yes, it's hard, and challenging. Yes, I get frustrated and irritated. Yes, the constant juggling act is stressful. However, there is only one thing almost as rewarding as being a parent....that is the very life I get the honor to live everyday. Many of us that live this life know the struggles we are currently dealing with. We have seen many others that have had to sell out because of the increased costs. If you know a farmer or producer, support them as you can. Times are hard for everyone. Farmers/Producers have taken a major hit the past 18 months, and without them...we don't eat. 

Today, I hope you find time to be grateful for what you have, the life you live, and the progress you are making. Be sure to pray for those you love, our farmers, and our nation.

New Day, Coffee Chat

 

Good Morning! It's Friday morning, and while I am still a little anxious, it's a fresh new day to see where my path may lead. I try to force myself to start each day with a "fresh start" attitude. It does not always work, I'm not perfect, but I do try. The chaos we live in, sometimes hinders my ability to just let go of the weight of thoughts in my head. 

I took time yesterday, to spend in nature. Several hours outside in the heat, sweating out the toxic imperfections and spending time in my garden. Typically, time in my garden is when I talk to God/Creator/Source, whatever term you use. I allow my thoughts to whip around where they will, and I release them out through my hands into the soil for God to handle. I spent extra time yesterday, loving up my chickens/ducks/goats/and outside dogs. I even ended up "playing" in the garden hose as the dogs thought it was fun to jump around while I was giving them some cold water. I went into the garden basically just to pick the ripe tomatoes I chose not to pick the day before. What I ended up with was half a 5 gallon bucket of picked vegetables, a wagon load of beets(half a row actually grew!), and spent 2 hours weeding and preparing the garden for a fall planting after my amazing husband offered to till up the areas that I cleaned out. I have spent years loving to garden, but this year I feel a calling to it and my critters. I find peace in the garden, in the duck pen, in the chicken coop, with the goats, and even the outside dogs. I find peace in mowing the grass, walking through my tiny orchard and my little grape vines. Yes, it's all a lot of hard manual labor, but I feel that I am actually accomplishing something. Even when things don't grow, I get upset, but then I set out to find information on how to do better next time. I have experimented with container planting, herb planting and strawberry plants again this year. While it seems to be more and consistent work, I have kept the containers alive this year and even have 14 strawberry plants(out of 75) that have survived. I spent the winter months learning how to do different things with my tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and sweet potatoes...so that I could harvest a better crop. I can tell you, at this point from experience, "what you reap is what you sow," is so true. The more effort you put into something, the better the results will be...for the most part. There are always contingencies, but typically, you will only get what you are willing to work for.

As someone who "feels" deeply, I find myself anxious from time to time. Sadly, I spent part of my life trying to please the people I held as important. The older I get, I still feel deeply, but I no longer depend on approval of anyone. I make decisions based on experience, choices available, and my instinct/intuition. I go with the theory that when things don't feel right, there is something wrong. Sometimes my intuition nags at me, or screams if I ignore it too long; until I recognize an issue and work to correct it. Sometimes, I just can't seem to figure out the "feeling" so I turn it over to God, and let him deal with it or ask for help in a way that I can recognize. 

I have spent a lot time trying to find what it is that I "feel" is pulling me. I have spent about 8-10 years feeling a nagging of being pulled to do something and hadn't been able to figure it out. Writing is a great release for me, but there is only so much I care to "bitch" about. It grates on my nerves, so I can only imagine what others feel. I'm sure there will continue to be those blogs, but I want to help people. I want to help teach them to go back to their roots. Teach young people where their food comes from, how to raise animals, how to cook, how to preserve food, how to be self-sufficient. I know most young people, don't give a rats patoot about these things...but I really think this should be taught. I have been pushed to share recipes, by my kids, for meals that are homemade, from scratch, from the garden, or the butchered livestock, meals that are budget friendly. My kids have actually asked me to put together a cookbook for each one of them. You see, several years ago, my extended family did this. I have used this book so often the pages are actually falling out, and wearing thin. This may end up being a Christmas gift for them. Anyway, in my family cookbook...there were not only recipes, but preservation information, old family photos, stories of my Great-Grandparents, and so much valuable information..I wish I had about 5 more books to pass on and one to keep just for the stories and photos. You don't realize the value of your elders until you are older. 

Today, I have lots of canning to do. I am happy to have that issue! I have potatoes to dig, onions to hang, and beans to dry for seed. I need to make some seed "tapes" for the fall garden, and finish inventoring the pantry and freezers. My house is wreak, I have laundry to do, I haven't dusted in probably 2 months, I have a duck kennel to clean, floors have dirt tracked across them, and aside from regular chores, I have neglected I will focus on what has to be done immediately. Something I think many forget, is that we are just one person, and there are only so many hours in the day. We live in a world of break-neck speed. Constantly racing from one thing to another, and we forget the small but important things. Taking the time to actually be present for the important people in our lives. Taking the time to spend with our loved ones. Accepting that our homes may not always be spotless, but took the time to laugh, dance, and enjoy moments. 

For today, I'm taking the time to thank God, for a new, fresh day. Another day I opened my eyes and have the opportunity to do something good in this world. Today, I pray: "God, thank you! Thank you for every blessing in my life, and for every lesson. I pray you watch over my and I, our extended families, and our friends. Walk through their struggles with them and guide them. I ask you continue to keep us safe and healthy. Watch over our soldiers, and our country. Amen"

WARNING: On a rant!

 

 

 

"WARNING,  warning...danger Will Robinson!" This was a thought that came to mind today. Yes, I know, I'm dating myself but the meaning is pretty accurate. Have you paid attention to social media, or any "media" lately? Ok, I know my own answer to that is not really...it's a joke. Anyway, I just shared a video on my social media about the dangers now facing people shopping alone, mainly women. I can tell you from my view point, shopping is typically the only time I get alone! 

Here recently, within the past 2 weeks, there was a warning on Facebook about a shopping experience at a local Wal-Mart(45 minutes away...it's our closest one). It involved a woman shopping with her infant, a guy that spoke to her in broken English, his "wife" joining in and they spoke in a different language, asked to photograph her baby, when she said no...they proceeded to follow her through the store. She was smart enough to get management to make sure she got to her vehicle safely, but this was a reality check for me. This store, is the main one I go to if I have to go to that store. I have gone many times alone, or with my daughter. I never thought twice about it. I do a lot of shopping alone or with my kids. I try to go during the day since our evenings are full with chores, etc. Anyway, I hate that store and avoid it as much as possible and I am never comfortable in there. I have always gotten a weird vibe from those stores. The last time I went, I had a car load of people with me, and still couldn't get what I needed and get out fast enough! My husband made a comment that further exacerbated my concern. He said we should lock the car, since we had just finished shopping at the Aldi. My car does not have a trunk, it's an SUV, so everything is in plain site. I had not even thought about it. I always take the keys out when I shop...but never lock it. He had heard or read something about vehicle thefts when there was food visible. Y'all...this is freaking crazy!!

Something as simple, mindless and unassuming as grocery shopping should not be anymore stressful than just dealing with the "people of Wal-Mart" mentality! For me, this has inflamed my need to become even more self-sufficient and more local shopping driven!! I am seriously hesitant to even leave my little corner of the earth! I don't fear - in the sense of safety, so to speak. I fear for my child who is typically always with me, my own inability to tone down my temper, and the overall theft of items my husband has worked hard to provide the money for! It is inconceivable to me how brazen these losers have become. 

I spend a lot of time working on most things around our farm. I work hard to make sure things run as smoothly as possible. I get upset when I feel like I am being taken for granted, but this is my full-time job. I mow, garden, teach, prepare meals, juggle the budget, organize, clean, etc. The past couple of years, I have had to add in extra planning due to the rising costs, the increasing news of shortages and a growing concern of safety. I do not like feeling like I have no control over anything happening. The strain of the inflation on small farmers, an area I can speak of with knowledge, is crushing. The pathetic 10 cent price drops are a slap in the face to every working American. Do you realize what our government overspending is costing us?! If you make $15 per hour, that is $120 per day before taxes. It is about $96 after taxes. If you drive 20 miles each direction for work = 40 miles per day, just to get to and from. Just for an easy figure, assume your vehicle gets 20 miles per gallon...that means you use 2 gallons per day or at $4.39 a gallon = $8.78 per day in fuel = $43.90 per week. That means half of one day per week is what it costs you in fuel. That is if you do nothing else. That is 4 hours per week worth of work, to dump in your fuel tank. Compare that to just 2 years ago, it would have been $16.90 or just over an hour a weeks worth of wages. Add that into the increase in food and utility costs, and a $15 hour wage, is now equivalent to about $8 per hour. 

When you break things down, it's really quite disturbing! It's not enough to be taxed on our income, taxed on our vehicles, taxed on our property, taxed on fuel, taxed on utilities, taxed on clothing, taxed on food, taxed on medicine; we are being taxed to death! I don't know about you all, but I want to know where all this tax money is going! Our roads across the country suck! Our communities are begging for financial help - whether from the federal government or through fundraisers. Our county roads are a joke. Our schools are supposed to get parts of our taxes, yet our teachers are paid beans. Our emergency workers in my rural area, are all volunteer. That means if you have an issue, they are leaving their paying jobs to save your butt. The federal government gets a massive amount of taxes, where does it go? It is being sent to other countries, to start with. Why??? We have sent billions to Iran, why? They hate us! We sent billions to Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, NATO, UN, South America, and the list goes on and on. For what purpose? Our entire tax system is giant Ponzi Scheme of money laundering. Did you know, the federal tax system is "voluntary?" There is no where in any of codes, that make federal taxes a requirement. Did you know, I believe prior to 2001, our birth certificates were bought and sold through the stock market...based on what the "elites" thought our lifetime value would be?! That means this freak show is buying and selling us like cattle. Which, is fitting since, we are considered vessels through the United States of America, INC. Which was established in 1871, when a second constitution was placed, illegally, through the creation of the corporation of America on foreign soil(Washington, District of Columbia). The federal reserve is not federal at all, it is a private entity, which was also established in 1871. 

Ok, I am moving on. Y'all, I am tired!! I'm tired of trying to explain the mess we are really in. I'm tired of trying to help people be prepared and maybe save themselves a little money. I'm tired of people arguing with me because my research proves the history taught to us is a big fat lie. I'm tired of people defending a bunch of criminals, all the while, these criminals are still free to continue their treasonous activities. I believe I will be taking some time, who knows how much, since there are a few people I still want to keep up with. I'm burnt out. Enough is enough.

Let's Chat

 

You truly don't grasp how often this sentiment not only goes through my brain, but also comes out of my mouth!!! I once believed that the majority of people were good, kind and intelligent...now, I'm not so sure. From my own personal and limited experience, it seems an awful lot, have become selfish and self-absorbed. Too many are not thinking for themselves, instead are listening to the noise box, their religions, or some nit wit who is out to line their own pocket off the ignorance of others. I have truly questioned the overall good of humanity a lot lately. 

Don't get me wrong, there are good people. Many are doing their best to help others, to be kind to others in any way they can, and I've seen some great people that do good things without the need for recognition. However, the other side of that coin, are the ones that completely irk me. Then there is the 3rd group, that just seems to have their head stuffed in the sand. These are the ones touting, "yeah, prices are higher but that's because we are getting back to normal and our economy is recovering." SERIOUSLY?!?!?! I believe this is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard! So, it's normal to be paying $5 a gallon for gas, $6+ for diesel, $4 a dozen for eggs, $150 an acre for fertilizer, not be able to get tractor parts/vehicle parts/chicken/tires? It's normal to have 102 food processing plants burn up, natural gas refineries burn, have China/Bill Gates buying hundreds of thousands of prime farm ground, a base inflation of 9.1% but if food/gas/utilities was included would be over 20%. It's normal to watch people from every income level start to shed unnecessary expenses in groves? It's normal to watch business closures, fast food chains close or change hours due to lack of staff? It's normal to see interest rates double, a mortgage crisis that is causing the layoff of realtors and mortgage loan processors? It's normal to have nearly 40% stock market shed in the first half of the year? None of this is normal, folks! None of this is "good news" for us, as a whole! If you believe this is normal, you have your head stuffed so far up your backside, that you can't see daylight!!!

People from every walk of life are struggling! You have to understand, there are some well noted people out there talking about buying houses now, investing in the stock market and other investments. This is shear stupidity! These people are not giving you sound advice. They are out for their own bottom line. You need to find out what they are gaining from this horrible advice! Now is NOT the time to invest in housing, the stock market or anything of those sorts. You want a sound investment...physical gold or silver, period! You want to be productive, go out and stock your pantry, help someone fill their gas tank, help  an elder fill their pantry! If you listen the "experts," they are talking in circles and attempting to cover their own butts. Investments are truly one of the most volatile things right now. 

We are in a crisis, in case you weren't aware. Grocery shelves are thinning or bare. Transportation costs have tripled in the past 2 years. Flights domestically and internationally, have been cancelled by the thousands. Railroad workers are set to start striking July 18th. Railroad companies have limited the loads of fertilizer, fuel, and DEF for months...in the height of planting season. California has knocked out over 70,000 truckers from pickup and deliveries with AB5 bill. Fuel, diesel, DEF and motor oil has severe shortages and is disappearing from shelves faster than it's being delivered. There have been 102 food processing plant fires THIS YEAR! Interest rates are increasing to alarming rates for the average borrower. Home and land prices have increased to unsustainable levels since the housing bubble burst in 2008, and is on the verge of complete collapse. The stock market is currently being propped up by short sales and fraudulent trades. Insider trading among our Congress and Senate members, and many others up to the top. 

I know everyone has to be exhausted trying to get through each day. The news, no matter how you get it, is overwhelming! It's a struggle to just get through a day with all the negativity, the increasing costs, and trying to find a balance of prepared but not extreme. The division and hate being thrown out from every angle is unbelievable. It seems that the average person is constantly being berated while the political asses are the antagonizers. Honestly, at this point, I don't care what political party you prefer...they are both corrupt to the very core. Human trafficking is a serious issue that the media keeps sidelining, all the while pushing for race/gender/nationality/etc. division. It's upsetting to anyone with a heart and soul, how bad our country has fallen. 

I need to end here, I could go on for days. I encourage everyone to stock up. Have backups for your backups. Have some cash on hand, have some extra fuel on hand, if you can. Stop looking through rose colored glasses, and realize that our country has been in a digital war for awhile now. Realize that our politicians are lining their pockets while causing the inflation we are forced to live with everyday.

A little farm chat

 

Let's chat a little about farm/homestead life in today's situation. While I myself, am no farmer...I can usually grow a mean garden, and raise some incredible critters. I leave the farming itself to the boys, who are capable. I may manage the ins and outs, scheduling, and all the "little" things; my boys are the backbone of our farm. We don't farm 100's or 1000's of acres, but we still produce and we operate just on a smaller level. We keep livestock and harvest hay, that is our market. However, with all markets of late, it's getting tough.

I know many farmers/homesteaders that have faced the sharp increases that we have. Feed prices doubling and tripling, hay prices increasing to cover the cost of diesel/DEF/repairs/netting-twine, fertilizer price spike, seed prices increasing with less germination, property tax increases, human food price increases of 11-56%, declining availability of parts/foods/etc, utility expenses rising, and the decline of livestock sales has lead to some pretty lean times.  At the current prices(which increase by the week) our annual feed bill will exceed $6000 which is nearly double from the annual feed bill of 2021. We switched from regular fertilizer/manure this year which had increased 2 fold, to a different type of fertilizer/manure that was still $400 more than last year. Baler netting that was $260 last year, was $320 this year. Repair parts for tractors, balers, rakes, etc. have all doubled...if you can get them! While our expenses are crazy high, I would not want to be a big farmer! We can not absorb too many more increases. I know many of the bigger farms are also having a struggle to absorb their expenses, struggle through not being able to get the parts/repairs to their equipment, not being able to get seeds or seeing seeds not germinate and large sections of the row crops are just not growing. The struggle is real for all farmers & homesteaders, no matter what their size! 

On my personal channels, I have urged people to get stocked up on food, water, medications, first aid supplies, pet/animal foods for well over year. Being the one that manages every aspect of our farm, I have studied the market ups and downs, I have seen the products availability wavering, and I have pages of notes of livestock pricing fluctuations that are alarming. It's my job, to be aware of the stock markets, the livestock markets, the financials, the trends and times of the year that the markets fluctuate. I have to stay on top of these things in order to make sure this small family farm stays, at least, a float. I have encouraged people to grow their own gardens, preserve the foods they grow, and learn to barter and trade. I want to see everyone succeed in a time when things are not looking so good. Utilizing your local farmers markets/producers (eggs, gardeners, meat producers, and dairies), are your best paths. Just this morning, it was announced that egg prices have increased nearly 33% in the past 3 months and that the "experts" are expecting a shortage. Sadly, we are seeing and hearing the word "shortage" in every market. 

With all the chaos in the world, farmers/homesteaders are still working our butts off! We are out daily or several times a day caring for livestock, gardens, and/or crops. Here at our farm, we have reached baling season. We are having to do ours in sections, between the weather and off-the-farm schedules, we have to manage the time for that too. The hay crop on our farm, is looking pretty light to this point, which is not good. If the yields don't increase, it will mean having to purchase part of our hay usage from another producer, and the prices are already stupid! At the same time, we are taking more cautions to be easier on our equipment, since parts are hard to come by and the ones we can get are double the normal price. 

 

My area of production is in my gardens, and I have been overall, pretty disappointed in the germination area.  I have have planted 3 rounds of green beans, and have less than 20 plants that have grown. I planted 75 strawberry roots this year and 14 plants that grew. I have planted beets that are just not producing. I was finally able to locate some sweet potato slips and hope they will have time to produce before the frost sets in! I will also be planting a fall garden that I have not done for several years. There were several seeds/plants that were hard to come by this year, so I have been learning to raise/grow some things to save seeds...something else I have not done much of. I have tried growing herbs again, in containers. This has been a venture through many years...I just can not seem to keep them alive. So far, I've kept this years crop growing. I planted potatoes again, for the first time in several years. When I harvest those, they will be canned up. I've had a run in with blight this year, that I haven't dealt with before. I am working to curb that, but I have several pretty sickly looking plants. I have seen many recommendations on Captain Jacks, so I have some that I will be applying tonight. We have had a terrible infestation with Japanese beatles this year. They had taken over my fruit trees and grape vines. Some Seven spray, seems to have curtailed that mess for now. My pepper plants, while not growing as I believe they should, are setting on flowers and peppers. I'm hopeful that they produce well. I have banana peppers and jalapenos that are setting on and looking good...even though the plants are kinda puny in size. I have paid attention to our pollinators this year more than ever before. I noticed this year we do not have many honey bees. It seems like they have just disappeared. So, I have already decided to add a massive flower garden to our mix this year. Being allergic to bees, I have concerns about that, but we MUST HAVE bees, to pollinate, period. Plus, flowers are a pretty bonus. I added some flowers to my regular garden this year, but it's just not enough.

Educating yourself is a never ending goal. I spent most of last winter, learning everything I could about gardening ideas, container gardening, different styles of gardens, and how to care for plants better. I also keep copious amounts of paper notes on things that have worked or not worked in previous years. I have used so many of the notes from my Winter learning to help this year! I have several notes already from this growing season, and will be paying attention to how different methods have impacted my garden. I bought myself a small, cheap greenhouse...to try my hand at that side of growing. I can tell you, that was a rewarding experience. I was able to grow seed indoors, until the weather cooperated to put them out. I was able to get plants when I could find them and keep them alive until I could plant them outdoors, and learned a lot in the process. Not to mention the stress relief that being able to work with plants and soil, when it was still cold and snowy outdoors, was for me! Although, it made me daydream of having a full time sunroom/greenhouse attached to my house for year round use!  So, there is that!

I need to finish up some paperwork, so I will finish up here. I hope you all are preparing as much as possible and getting so great vegetables from your gardens.

Coffee Chat

 

I want to start with so much gratitude for the kindness and friendships I have had. As many know, I get a few not-so-nice people that will occasionally send me snarky emails but the large majority that reach out, are sweet. Thank you!

I've been told a lot lately that I look "tired." I am tired. It's not the kind of tired that goes away with a restful sleep though. What I have been dealing with is a tired of the mind and spirit. I have been bogged down with information overload, not being able to have open conversations, constantly having to reign in my thoughts, trying to make sure my family is prepared for whatever chaos may come about, seeing and feeling so much ugliness come out of people(many whom I would have never expected), attempting to help whomever I can, feeling used & taken for granted, and battling within myself to keep my own spirit of hope from dying. It's mentally exhausting...even more so when you don't have anyone to confide in. I have spent a LOT of time on my gardens this year, out with my chickens/ducks/goats, planning for more gardens, and doing everything I can to be outdoors more than in! Sadly, a lot of my research has led me to information that is very dark, and once you see the evidence, you can not unsee it nor can you justify trying to keep quiet about it. Again, it's sad, but most don't want to hear about it because they can't handle it. I get that!!! Imagine what it feels like to know, have seen and NOT be able to talk through it. I get it, I really do. There is so much negativity in the world today, it's hard to believe what we see, does not even scratch the surface of dark and evil behaviors that has been in my research. It's hard to believe that 3 years after trying to debunk a "conspiracy theory," it would open such a web of pure evil by people that are admired by so many. It has truly changed me forever.

None of that tired even touches my personal life. I won't go into a lot of detail there, but I promise it's not sunshine and unicorns shitting skittles either. It's not bad...just not where it should be either. The inflation has taken a hit on a lot around our little farm. The extreme price increases in every aspect of a farm, a home, buying food, buying fuel, and utilities have increased and our incomes have not. Just like all of you. We are no different that 98% of everyone else. We are having to cut expenses, we are doing less than we already did, many of our projects are put on hold for a 3rd year, repair costs are higher than a big tree but still cheaper than buying something different. We have parked the diesel truck and are solely using my more economical Jeep...which means I don't have a vehicle to use through the week...not that I did much anyway, but still. Our errands are limited to one day, after everything piles up so we can make one trip and do it all. It's a serious strain, and that tends to put strain on relationships - spouses and children too. 

We are about a week away from one of the first dates I have read to watch for. Sometime around the 15th, it is predicted that prices will further increase - as much as double from where they are currently. The jobs report came out today and while they fluffed it up to sound promising, there's an awful lot of layoffs coming about, businesses closing, and mortgage loan professionals being let go. I truly believe we have been in a recession since about October/November of last year. The financial experts are expecting another housing market crash, a stock market crash, and the supply chain is about to get worse thanks to California's new law on owner/operator truckers. In a time when the supply chain is already in trouble, those idiots decide to take a minimum of 70K truckers off their roads. Congratulations California, you truly are in a battle of the "The Dumbest...." right up there with Washington D.C.  I swear, sometimes all you can do is shake your head. Our federal reserve oil is being shipped overseas to China and India, all the while, potato head and admin are begging to buy oil from Saudi, Iran and South America. Israel has had another government shake up, as their latest Prime Minister steps down. Now, the UK, also has a shake up with Boris Johnson being completely disgraced and upwards of 35 in the cabinet resigning. Is that what we are about to see in D.C.? Is that why there has been a barrage of resignations from potato heads staff? Sadly, we have dumb, dumber, and dumbest at the helm if potato heads resigns...then there's the cackling witch, or drunken Nancy. We're screwed with all of the above! There are repercussions for lying and cheating!!

I truly hope you are working diligently to get your homes prepared for the coming months. Not just with food, water, first aid, medicine, and pet supplies...but also keeping some cash on hand, and setting money aside in the event of a job loss. I know I have been busting my tail to try to get our debts paid down the past 5 years, but that is a slow process and was slowed even more by a covid layoff. While ours is not what most have wrapped up in just a house...I don't like debt. I was able to do more for awhile, but like so many, that left in a hurry. Now, I am home 24/7, doing everything I can from here to make sure my family has what they need, and hope to have enough we could survive a complete system melt down, that appears to be barreling towards us. 

Everyone stay safe. There is a lot of crazy stuff happening. Stay aware of your surroundings and don't let your children out of your sight! Protect those babies with every fiber of your being. Avoid poorly lit areas, try not to go places alone, keep your cell phones charged and pay attention!!!  

God Bless!

The weight of the world...

 

Today my heart feels heavy, and it feels as the weight of the world is resting on my shoulders. I have felt this a lot the past few years. It seems like the more chaotic the world appears, the more withdrawn I am becoming. It's almost suffocating to feel so deeply, to be able to "feel" others emotions and to see such ignorance spread.

I started out to write about every single thing that is in complete melt-down mode, but I just can't do it today. I have felt so many energy shifts the past couple of years, that it has thrown off my own balance. Being sensitive to energies, you are in a constant state of a balancing act. One person's negative energy will throw you into a negative emotion yourself...unless you are aware and know how to protect yourself. When you live in a household of several people, it feels like emotional popcorn popping all the time. It's mentally draining. Most people on have a flight or fight moment or moments in their life. Many of us that have energy sensitivity live in a constant state of flight or fight. It drains your own energy, and it drains your physical energy. Especially, if you do not take time to recharge or have an outlet. 

We live in a time of inundation of information. We are constantly ambushed with energy. It hits us through television, social media, and our cell phones. We are fed information 24/7. The energy is put out there to feed off of people's emotions. Think about all the videos we watch, how every headline story is written, and how the lead off stories on the noise box begin and end. I quit watching television nearly a decade ago. I have no desire to watch it at all. Even the Christmas shows I used to love, are no longer appealing. The enjoyment of just relaxing and watching a good movie has been replaced with violence, crime, and unrealistic crap. There are no wholesome, good/positive movies left. I find myself online less and less, and returning to reading books and taking time to pray more. I find myself focusing on more spiritual paths. Spending more time focused on my family, our farm and a simpler life. 

I need to take some time to recharge. My balance is off, and my energy is all over the place. I know the world feels like it is in complete meltdown. Everything that many of us alive today, have known, has changed. We have had several generations of abundance and having everything at our fingertips. That appears to changing at a rapid rate of speed. Many don't know how to handle these disruptions, or changes. With that, it has created a lot of fear and a change, that many can't handle. Needless to say, it makes for a lot of angry and emotional people. This creates more stress to those sensitive to energies. 

Today, I am going to just see where the day takes me. So much is changing(not for the better), and the energy is not pleasant. I will encourage everyone reading this to make the effort, and be kind to everyone. None of us know what other's are dealing with. Most of us, have issues we face, and no one knows about them. We don't broadcast or make public what is going on in our lives. 

Be a blessing to someone today!