Bird Brain

This is what I do at some point each day. 

I go online and look at my "shopping cart."  I don't buy anything, but I look.  Periodically my cart goes away and then I get to "shop" again.

See I am just totally in love with the idea of raising chickens.  I talk about it, dream about it, and I stare at my cart and wish I could get started.

It would be so easy to just click purchase and then move forward.  But I am trying to be a good little homesteader.  And a better wife.  Which means that this needs to be a joint decision.  Husband thinks we should have the coop planned out before we order, and ready to go once the chicks arrive.  He feels we should have a solid idea of our Chicken Budget.

I would rather jump in right away.  It is so much more exciting that way.

Make A List

I read some good advice over on the Cold Antler Farm website (which rocks, by the way.  Just sayin').  Jenna suggested that the best way to make your dreams happen is to write it down.  Seems simple, and I am fairly sure I have heard this advice before.  So this year I am doing it.  And unlike the usual New Year's Resolutions, I am making my list public.  I hope that will make me more accountable.

So here we go, in no particular order.

Jen's List 2011

1. Knit or sew one project per week.  I admire people who set these types of achievable projects with a one-year deadline (a la A Year of Slow Cooking, and the Julie/Julia project).  So, with this book as my guide, I am going to do something similar.  One knitting or sewing project per week.  Maybe I will finally run through my yarn stash.
2. Chickens.  I would like us to have chickens by the end of 2011.  That means saving up for and building the coop.  We already have volunteer help from family to help build the thing, now we just need the financial end to line up.
3. Wood-burning stove.  The heat pump just can't hack these winters.  It is running constantly, even at its low setting, and I am always cold!  So this summer, we need to look into installing a wood-burning stove.  Pretty sure we know where it would be most efficient, now we just need to get saving.  What's more, if we get an old-style one, we can cook on top of it if the power goes out (or just for fun!)  And our property already has some dead trees that need to be cleared, so we can season some firewood ourselves!
4. Financial end.  We need to get these medical bills paid off and our nest egg rebuilt.  This is a priority, obviously.  Maybe the right job will open up for me, locally.
5. Financial, part two.  I am going to keep up with our budget on a weekly basis.  I already told this to my husband, so it has to happen.  And I am starting this week.  Not waiting until January 1st for this one!
6. Garden!  My super-smart husband has an idea for drainage in the garden, so maybe the babies won't wash away this spring.  I am also going to start the plants inside and not sew the seeds directly, unless I have to.  I already have seeds stored for tomatoes, peppers, edemame, and pumpkins.  We also want corn, potatoes, onions, squash, carrots (in raised beds) and melons.  Add mulch and compost to this list, because we still need to work that soil.
7. Rain barrels.  We need to water the garden and orchard, so we are finally going to make our rain barrels.  We have one, pre-made, that the 7-year-old won at a fair, and barrels for 2 or 3 more.  This should be a weekend project, all we need are the connectors.
8. Mud.  Grr, mud.  With three dogs and red-clay, mud has become a major issue.  Basically, the dogs have created a mud patch at the bottom of the deck stairs, from which they track the mud back into the house each time they go out.  We had nice carpets six months ago when we moved in; now they are almost a complete loss.  I just can't get them clean.  Which leads me to number 8.  I can't rage war on mud, so I will just brick over the mud patch!  We are going to install a brick walkway from the deck stairs out to the fence line.  No more mud patch.
9. Then I am getting the carpets cleaned!
10. Keep trying one new dinner recipe per week.  I've been doing that for a while and discovered some delicious meals.  Maybe one day the kids will try them!

So that's the list, for now.  And now I am accountable for it.  What is on your list?

Jen Sews!

(I didn't forget about the blog, I swear.  Life has just been a crazy mess lately and there hasn't been anything homesteady to write about.)

My oldest has to have surgery next week.  It isn't a major issue, and the problem shouldn't recur, but life on the homestead is definitely shaken up and turned around this month.  And since hospital bills are going to be a major blow to our tiny budget, we are tightening our belts.  Which somehow lead me to a new project this afternoon.

My son has a very special stuffed dog that he loves and depends on.  Doggie is going to the hospital with us next week, and I thought it might make my son feel better if Doggie was also in a hospital gown.  However, a certain company that makes clothes for these types of toys is on the pricey side. So, in the spirit of our new lifestyle, I decided to sew it myself!

Caveat: I am not the world's best seamstress. 

I started with an old, unused pillowcase and cut out a basic pattern.  I even measured Doggie first!  I hemmed the edges before joining the pieces.

Then I matched up the edges to be joined.

Then I sewed it all together and added the ribbons to tie it in the back.  The ribbons were by far the hardest part.  But the finished product looked pretty good!

Until I tried to put it on the dog!  Remember when I proudly said that I measured the dog?  Well, I guess I didn't allow for the hemming!  (Remember my caveat?  I tell the truth!)



So the sleeves are a little tight on old Doggie, but it otherwise fits.  And it was free!

And look at that happy face!  I hope this will make surgery a little easier for my little man.

Afterward:

My idiotic sewing machine decided to break (again) when I tried to make a matching surgical mask.  It is something to do with the bobbin tension, I know that much.  I just had the machine cleaned and adjusted before we moved, so I think it is at the end of its rope.  I know I am at the end of mine, and I don't think using it is good for my blood pressure anymore!  Would someone call Santa and request a new one for me?  Maybe one of these?  ('k thanks)

PPS, I have no clue what is up with the spacing on this post, but I am giving up trying to fix it.  Please pardon the huge amounts of white space.  I blame my sewing machine.