Update on the Homestead

Well I've cleaned up the beds for the winter and have tried my best to winterize the house. It's still freaking cold. The dogs are getting along so far,as long as Ollie doesn't aggravate Orion too much.
I finally finished my what I call my frustration basket.I started it when I stopped smoking a couple of years ago. I think it turned out pretty.

I had fun doing it but was sad I finished it.

Now for another one I'll probably start this winter.

I have already sat down and planned out the garden for next year. I'm adding more beds and now I'm trying to find some good grow bags for the Moringa trees.I planted kale and spinach in the totes and have been eating off them.Setting up the Christmas tree this weekend,Ill post a picture of it.This will be the first tree in over 15 years .Long story. Anyways I'm putting those new ornaments on and the tree will be green,blue and white, I also got garland to go over the doorway going into the dining room from the living room.What the heck I'm getting the fever. But that"s about it,I've lost a little more weight. That"s going great.I have already started buying new clothes. So lifes good so far. I have collected a huge amout of seeds,cant wait til Spring.Ok so that's it and have a great week.It's freaking getting cold here.

Boy I've Been Busy!

Well I got a bug in my butt and here is what I've been doing.

Ollie is my sweetie.

I have been on a recycling kick.I had alot of denium.

Maxi skirt.

Same one.

My big baby now.

The Crown of Thorns were beautiful this year.

 Christmas ornaments

Thats an apron made out of denium.

My tea plant decided to put out a bunch blooms this year.

Going to start growing Moringa trees this spring.Hit me up if you want one.

More ornaments I made.

I am now a hunters soap maker!

Another picture of that little puppy who grew into this cow.

I made my own wreath this year.

So I have been busy making stuff,cleaning stuff out of my closet. I've lost over 80 pounds and was trying to figure out what to do with the clothes I couldn't wear. I've got another skirt on the table I have yet to sew. 

The garden did ok but it was late coming in.We didn't have enough rain at first and alot of my plants died but my hot peppers and cherry tomatoes did ok. My yardlongs did great,ate off the few plants I planted all summer. The raised beds are needing more dirt,I did a hugelkutlur bed on one and just added leaves and compost on the other. I got alot of marigolds this year too.No need in buying any seeds!

I also now have my logo for the homestead.

Very excited for that. If you see it,that's me!

Well I am settled in. Doing good so far.Next year will have one less payment on this place.Been doing alot of scouting out on the hill next to the house and came to the conclusion that some of it will have to become a forest garden.So much potential going on there. I've been waiting til this place is paid off before I do any major changes to it,but already making it ours.

The first of this year was so bad,me coming down with shingles which I'm finally bouncing back from that.Did a lot of crying too.It was too much all at once. Getting Ollie was a blessing because he calmed me down,I can't explain it. Now I feel fine.

I now have 5 dragon fruit trees.3 avocado trees. I have so many more to get. Hubstead is gonna put some dwarf fruit trees in the back,I still have a fig tree and elderberry bush to get.Hopefully we can get them to grow. The Moringa trees will have to be put in pots and it said you can keep them trimmed to grow in pots. Moringas can only grow in zones 9-11.They don't like the cold. I'll get them growing and see. I have a plant light(finally) coming the first of next month. Did cut open a persimmon seed and guess,we got a spoon,which means snow this year. In the process of getting ready for that.yeah I do believe in stuff like that. 

I hope you enjoyed my page. Leave a reply so I can tell ya there. I am so excited again for whats going on. Its getting a little easier every year.Thanks Ya'll!

Puppy and The House

Whew things have been hectic around here. Ollie has settled in and thinks he runs the house now,which,Orion isn't going for it.But Orion has now bonded with him and he watches over him.Ollie is 4 months old and just about as big as his big brother.

He was so little!

Playing with big brother.

Something about that rocker he loves.

He graduated from puppy collar to big collar.

Then this,seriously I got to put up with that?

So that's what has been going on with them two.It's been something having another dog in the house.He's gonna be a big one which means he's gonna eat a lot of dog food.

Had an inspector come thru from the insurance company. They gave me til October to fix some things on the house.I understand the concept but I called them and told them I wouldn't have that fixed by then because money was short. So I called the bank and gave them a heads up. It just pisses me off that they didn't inspect this place BEFORE we moved in. Of course I wouldn't have a roof over my head if they had of. Got less than 1 and half  years and I got this place paid off. I want to sell it and get one of those small cabins but I don't know yet.It seems I just can't keep up with this place and I'm getting aggravated about it.We'll see.

I guess your wondering why I keep saying I. Me and hubstead aren't getting along. We have talked about getting a divorce but nothing final. Circumstances I just gave up and he has too. So there is no use going any further with the relationship. It's all mutual and I'm fine being alone. That's why I want the cabin,it would just be easier.

I've thought about staying here in Alabama because I have everything established with things but I really want to move to New Mexico. I just love that state.

The garden this year didn't do too good. Maybe next year(I'll still be here) it'll be better.I thought I would have time to tend to it but as I said things have been hectic.I ended up with 4 dragon fruit  trees,well they're not trees yet but they will be if I'm lucky. My bush beans I did get a few handfuls,the yard longs are just coming in,the cherry tomatoes are doing great but my dragon peppers aren't. A lot of people said their peppers didn't do well this year. I planted bell peppers but they didn't come up.I'm not buying  seeds from Walmart anymore. My zucchinis aren't doing well. They get about 3 to 4 inches long and rot. They said the blossoms aren't being pollinated. Bees have been scarce around here. I wanted to get some beehives, that will have to wait and the chickens too. 

So that's what has been going on. Everyone tells me things will get better,maybe I don't know.My head is always hurting from thinking too much. Well that's it for now. Everyone have a great day! Oh by the way,my,diet?, I've lost 80  pounds and 30 more to go!!!!

Puppy makes His Self at Home

He has made his self at home.Loves Orion like crazy and Orion has gotten attached to him.Ollie is growing like a weed.He loves the air conditioner,he's a cool weather type dog.AND so dang spoilt it isn't funny.Just a small update here.

Garden is Growing,Feeling Better,New Puppy

The garden has been growing great!

Dragonfruit

Green Beans

Zucchinis

Tea plant

Swiss Chard

Things have gotten alot more since these pictures were taken. I have been eating peas and lettuce already. Next month this is going to be ready,I hope.It's wild Lettuce.

I'll be using this as a tincture for pain relief. I have found out I can't take Ibuprophren anymore so I'm going to add this to my arsenal of homemade stuff. I'm making salves right now. I made some plantain salve for my shingles that worked fairly well,I think though I should have made the plantain oil stronger.It came out nice.It does stop insect bites from itching.My soap I made came out nice too.I made a dozen bars for family and friends.

Yep meet Ollie!

Sweet as honey when he's asleep and a holy terror when he's awake!.He's half Lab/Shepherd.He loves his big brother but big brother doesn't care much for him. I got Ollie for a companion for Orion but I think that was wishful thinking on my part.BUT he's gonna stay and has already made himself quite at home.I have alot of work to do with him.

Well just a quick catch up about what's going on.I'm almost over my shingles and I'm praying  NEVER to get those again.I've never had something as painful besides child birth to hurt like that.I was alright with the itching and burning but the headaches were so bad. So now it's almost gone and I'm feeling so much better. Well this is Memorial Day weekend,y'all have a safe and great time!

Updates,Shingles and the Garden and Sad News

Well I am almost over the shingles.I have some itching left but at least the pain is gone.I still have a little headaches every now and then but just not as bad. I do not want to see anyone get this!

Now the garden part.

I have 4 in buckets and two that needs a home.

Sage,yeah I planted too many but my SIL will get some.

These plants are loaded.

Swiss Chard trying to grow.

Green beans-Bush and Yard long.

Well so far so good.I still haven't got it fenced in,right now no money but its a slow process anyways.

Now on to the sad news. My sister Linda ,she lived in Opelika,Alabama passed away. She was one of my sisters who helped me thru bad times and I loved her dearly. Her husband is still in bad health so we hope he will pull thru this. Then my sister-in-laws mother passed away.She also had been in bad health for awhile so we hope this has eased her suffering.She was a good woman and very decent human being.

It rained yesterday pretty good and no I did not go out and garden naked.It was garden naked day for all who didn't know! Our mosquitoes are going to be rough this year.I have managed to spread some stuff in the yard for ticks and fleas and so far so good. Rion hasn't been scratching. Rion is my hound.He is loving  being able to go lay on the front porch now.He sleeps out there more than he does in the house.I don't much blame him I would too if it wasn't for the bugs.

After all this time I finally got curtains and a set of blinds to put up on the windows.The curtains went in the bedroom and the blinds in the diningroom.Now its feeling like a permanent place. Yeah for all who is trying to figure that out,read the start of this blog.


Ok I have made more soap AND I have learned how to make salve.I made plantain salve for the bug bites and itches and  I made some cayenne pepper and ginger salve but it doesn't have the warm feeling it should.My next batch I'm using fresh cayenne peppers instead of powder.I think that should do it but I got to be careful about how much I put in it.The soap done great,I got it sitting and curing on the shelf.

So thats what has been going on and I hope y'all have a great Sunday.Please leave me a message I will check back!!

Shingles,not Good,Garden doing Good

I know alot of you have had shingles,for the older ones,well,I got them.They are clearing up finally.I have them around my neck and scalp and right ear.I'm hoping there is no damage.Y'all would not believe the pain it has caused.The deep throbbing is shear pain. But I am clearing up and I read where Vitamin C helps.So I had some here and have been taking them and yes it does help shingles.

My green beans are coming up! Frost got two of my little cherry tomatoes. Right now we are under a tornado watch.Going to get alot of rain today.While I'm writing this I'm also keeping an eye on the weather.I went and bought two more blueberry bushes and two raspberry bushes.I know we aren't going to have any berries this year or next but I like the idea of investing in these things.I'm looking to get a couple of fig trees and some elderberry bushes next.So I am so excited about getting this homestead going!. The chicken coop has yet to be gotten but it's gonna be here this year.

For the beans ,front,tomatoes,middle,and pea trellis,back.I also have Swiss Chard planted between the peas under the trellis.

Peas and the that space in the middle I have the Swiss Chard planted.

Can't wait to have beans climbing up this! I planted bush beans and yardlong beans.

I made my own plant markers .I found this idea on Pininterest.

Dragonfruit in the white pot with the pole,avocado(big leaves),and behind it is the tea plant.

Well there ya go that's what's going here and it's all coming together,slowly,but coming together.Y'all have a great Saturday!!!

Started the Raised Beds and Poison oak

I was so excited about the raised beds we put in and I did a booboo though.I had raked up some dried leaves to put in the bottom of the beds and I raked up some poison oak with it.Well needless to say I got that stuff on my neck and hairline. I have never had it before so my body is going crazy. But it hasn't stopped me from working in the yard. This is what I got done so far.

I planted green beans and yard long beans here.

This is where I have peas and Swiss Chard.

Those are cherry tomatoes and peppers.I have regular tomatoes to go in the middle.My eggplant did come up and I will be putting them somewheres.Got zucchini too.

I am going to put a couple of more beds in.I know it doesn't look like much dirt in them but in one I have some branches and leaves and the other just leaves.Today I'm putting rabbit manure on them and I want to see how well they deal with it. I haven't been doing well with the containers but I am going to put some stuff out in containers in the space.As soon as I can all this will be fenced in.Hubstead isn't happy about it but.....

Since I skipped Easter on here,hope you had a good one! This is what's going on here so far.Have a great day!!