An Egg or a Fart?

Can you see it? What would you call it? I don't think it's an egg. Probably just a hard shell fart.

And what's with the little outy belly button on the end? That's just nasty.

Calling all meat rabbit raisers. I need some help. We're working on getting some meat rabbits and I'm trying to decide on cages or hutches or whatever you want to call them. We had them when I was a kid and we had wooden hutches. I know that's not the preferred hutch due to sanitary conditions. So, do I get wire cages and hang them or put them in a wooden frame? I've also heard that stacking is not the preferred way. I will have these cages under a shed with access to fans for summer heat. I'm tossing around which is the best way to go so any and all comments and suggestions are welcome.

Happy Trails...

Our Latest Addition

Remember a few days ago I was moving around the furniture? Well, now I will tell you why...

When we built our home, we put in vinyl flooring throughout the house because here it's either mud or dust. Some of that had to come up this week..

To put down tile...

To cut a hole in the ceiling...

(you can't imagine how this hurt..I thought I was going to be sick!)

To add our new Jotul 500 wood stove. This was the designated spot for it when we drew up the house plans but just now got around to putting it in. We missed getting it in before this record cold snap but feel fortunate to have found one. After doing all the reviews and deciding on this one, we learned that the middle man distributor will no longer be carrying them and it was going to be difficult to get one in..they are built in Norway. This is all in our big scheme of becoming sustainable. With our luck, now that we have the stove, we're probably going to get a Texas Heat Wave. I'm still waiting on the back heat shield to come in.. should be today. Coming out of Maine, we checked the other day and it was in Illinois with the temperature there at 0. Then we'll be able to crank up this lil' puppy and stay snuggly warm.

Happy Trails...

Escape the Cold for a few minutes

Climb aboard and let's continue soaking in the warmth of the sun and viewing the countryside.

Don't you just love old barns?

Oh, give me a home...

of blue skies and sunshine...

Happy Trails...

Sending Warm Wishes Your Way

A few of us Texas gals got together and wanted to send some warm Texas thoughts and wishes to all you battling snow and below freezing temperatures. It's been cold here but nothing like what y'all are having to deal with up north.

So we're collecting a few of our pictures from the past in hopes of bringing you a little sunshine and hope that warmer days are ahead.

Take off your coat and take a walk through our orchard and feel the warmth of the sun on your arms and the sun glaring in your eyes as you walk through the field of flowers. Can you hear the birds singing as the fly from tree to tree chattering about their newly built nests full of anticipated little chirps?

Oops, watch out..don't run over the new litter of baby armadillos. Don't worry, they can't see you but they can smell you.

Keep on walkin'..the heat is turning up..can you feel the crunch of the drying grass under your feet?

And Jess no longer has her winter coat but a slick warm coat shining in the sun.

Don't go far...I'll be back with some more warm thoughts coming your way.

Warm and Happy Trails...

How to NOT do something

This is way too cold for Texas..and this is mid-morning after the temperature has gone up a few degrees. I went out this morning to feed and break up ice for the critters and had a pot full of hot oatmeal for the chickens and my camera in hand. Okay, I forgot my hammer to break up the ice. When all else fails, you use your trusty booted foot to break it up. I got the chicken's water broken and they were so cute..they had their fuzzy butts showing and one was even standing on the ice.





I've got Rooster Cogburn confined to a cage because he's always bothering Big Hilda. I don't know why but he picks on her and then the other girls start being mean to her and she gets isolated and won't come out of the chicken house or is off by herself to avoid Rooster. So, since Big Hilda is a favorite (yes, we play favorites), Rooster gets penned up. Maybe that's why we're getting so many eggs every day in the bitter cold. But I caught of picture of Big Hilda parading in front of the rooster as if to say "Na, na-na, na, na--na!"

Anyway, so I get the chickens taken care of and get the horses some hay...















Now, I need to go break up the ice in the horses' water trough...with oatmeal pot and camera in hand, I need to do this and not get my camera wet...hmmm, no hammer. Okay...I'll use my foot again. It works..but only a small hole. Mind you, this is a good size water trough. I really need to get my foot up and over and slam it in... yep, I did just that and ended up practically falling in! Wow! Ice shock! That's cold!




I've got on two thick layers of clothes and my boot is sloshing full of ice water. This is NOT the correct way to break up ice.

I can only imagine what these animals are thinking.....
Bridget seems to think it's funny...

and Cinch turns around to say "you stupid klutz!"

Happy Trails...

What d'ya think?

Do ya think I need a hat rack or what? Buddy comes in the door and this is where the hats go..even the nasty, stinky hats that he will not part with. And to think he just brought home a box, yes, a box of 20 new caps from our son's business.

Most of the furniture is getting moved around this week (for reasons I will disclose later) so something's gonna have to give. Aha!..stay tuned.

I don't know what's going on with the girls but we're getting about 16-18 eggs a day. For 20 chickens, that's a lot. I guess it's been because the sun is out. It's supposed to get down into the teen's here the end of the week. That's just not right for Texas!

I'm working on my frugal living..still baby steps. I went to the store the other day for a few things and ended up stockpiling on paper goods. I have concluded that I don't need a whole Kleenex to wipe off my face at night.. I tear off and use only half. Now, that brings up another subject...why do we use the universal term "kleenex" when they are clearly marked "facial tissue"? I could go on but won't bore you.

For several days now, Buddy and I have been smelling something like cooked cabbage every time we walk in the door. We have searched everywhere. My nose led me to the stove. I'm thinking.."what in the world could have slid down the side in the cracks?" I found my answer this morning. The temp was down to 25 so a bowl of hot oatmeal sounded good. I grab some water to put on to boil...aha! out of propane! How'd that happen? I didn't even think about the propane being low but that was the smell. When we moved in last May, we put a minimal amount in the tank thinking we would not use much in the stove and hot water heater. That's what we get for thinking! I did get a dual stove/oven...the range is gas and the double oven is electric. I figured that even if the power goes out, I can always cook...there I go thinking again...Well, better head out and prepare for this cold we're fixin' to get.

Happy Trails...

Now Comes the Hard Part

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe New Year celebration. We welcomed it in quietly with just the two of us and, yes, early to bed as usual. Buddy set the alarm for 12:01 to wish me a Happy New Year. I returned the gesture and then we rolled back over to sleep. Typically, I make the usual New Year's resolution of losing weight. Of course, it's the same one every year...ha! I'm still my own fat self. This year I had a list of resolutions..
This is where the hard part starts....I resolved to become frugal. I can't say more frugal because when I read the definition, I have been no part of frugal.

Frugal is defined: to be economical in use or expenditure, prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful; entailing little expense; requiring few resources.

This is going to be baby steps for me as I "prepare". I can't do this overnight. I was trying so hard yesterday to not be flipping on lights out of habit and functioning in low light. I made deviled eggs last night by the light of an oil lamp (and of course Buddy had on the tv). I said this was my resolution, not his. He thought I had gone nuts yesterday and just kept shaking his head. So, can you see how hard this is going to be? I think he will put in an honest effort eventually. But, anyway, back to the deviled eggs...I managed but it was sure different. How do folks to it? How did the pioneers of our past do it? I am so spoiled!
We built our home to be efficient but this is going to be a challenge. I read other's blogs about frugal living but most live up north. I am in Texas. I have no cellar or no ice house. We deal with humidity here.
So, please join me on my 2010 journey of learning frugal living in Texas. As I take this journey, I will share my trials and successes with you. I welcome any advice or suggestions. This should prove to be an interesting and educational year at RiverBend Farm.
Happy Trails...