August 2022

August was the month that I hit a homesteading wall. After months of pushing myself to the extreme, I crashed and burned, limping my way to the processing finish line. Thankfully, by month’s end and a little restructuring of my workload, I’m in a much better mental place and ready to tackle the rest of the year. Here’s what we accomplished in August:

+ After the big storm back in June, we let our 27 laying hens free range. We mostly had our eyes on them throughout the day and everyone always came back to the coop at night…or so we thought. After a few days of asking, “Does this look like 27 chickens?” we decided to count them and eight were missing! My husband and boys walked the property and could see clumps of feathers in places but no bodies, so we’re assuming a fox was picking them off one by one. So sad. We quickly beefed up the fencing around the coop and that seemed to fix the problem.

+ I harvested corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and jalapenos. We are also having a banner year for green beans – they keep coming and coming!

+ Fiona finally made it to the processor! We definitely learned some things from the first trip and made a paddock with the trailer inside the Thursday before. (So thankful for a farmer friend who let us borrow it for so long!) Fiona was nervous and skittish, but she eventually warmed up to it once we left her alone. We put all of her meals inside, which forced her hand once she was hungry enough. On the big day, she went in easily, but man, the look on her face! Once we locked the ramp, she was confused and shocked and looked like she couldn’t believe we had just betrayed her. We felt horrible. We’ll sure miss our little puppy pig, but are thankful for the meat she’ll provide.

+ The ducks started laying! We’re hoping for little baby ducklings in the future.

+ After a few months of being together, we separated Fred and Ethel in different paddocks. If Ethel is pregnant (we’re still not convinced that she is…) she needs increased feed for the last third of her pregnancy. Fred can be quite aggressive with food, often pushing her out of her own feed pan, so this arrangement works better. And if it turns out that she’s not actually pregnant, well…she’s just going to be well fed for a month.

+ We worked on the construction of a permanent pig pen that will double as a winter paddock and a place for farrowing. Really excited with how it’s coming along!

+ I amended the spring garden soil and sowed a few things for a fall garden. My heart’s not completely in it (I’m so tired!) but I’m going to try and see what happens anyway.

+ And the biggest August accomplishment: we processed the Broilers 2.0 and are officially done with chicken season 2022! Like last time, we split the processing between two days (this time back to back!) and hired friends to help. It went really smoothly and I felt so much pride for my family. Homesteading requires all hands on deck and the kids have worked so hard. So grateful that we can live this life together.

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The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // We recently had quite a scare with Fred the pig. All of a sudden, he became really lethargic and refused to eat. Fred loves food so we immediately thought something must be really wrong. A quick search online showed me all the worst case scenarios and I scared myself silly thinking he must certainly be close to death. You should have seen me babying this 300+ pound animal, coaxing him with treats and water. Praise the Lord, he eventually perked up and is hopefully getting back to normal.

As I look around the house // Our first week of school went really well! I am always nervous because I never how it’s going to go – some first days go wonderfully, others have me questioning all of my life’s decisions. So thankful that this year was a smooth transition with a group of (mostly) enthusiastic students. Looking forward to Week Two.

On this week’s to-do list //
– finally get the new armchair repaired! – finish up the permanent pig shelter for Ethel – start hauling over wood chips – order straw – clean up the flower beds at the front of the house – inventory my fall/winter wardrobe and jot down any needs

– order birthday gifts

Low buy month update // Week 4!

We spent less on groceries, but still spent the saved money on different things that popped up like a birthday gift and the admission fee to a competition. Always something! At this point, I feel like I’m spinning my wheels. To make some significant progress on our financial goals, I think I’m going to need to get even thriftier (how??) or start supplementing our income with more focused side hustles.
We had two days of zero spending.
Side hustle update: I didn’t have much time for reselling/decluttering, but did find 6 items to list. By week’s end, I had 3 sales. We also sold some eggs to a friend. Total money earned: $52.69

Currently reading //

On the menu this week //

Monday: sheet pan mini meatloaves with potatoes and green beans
Tuesday: breakfast for dinner – I’m thinking ham, egg and cheese biscuit sandwiches
Wednesday: baked chicken quarters with veggies
Thursday: Refrigerator Clean-out Night
Friday: shrimp fried rice and egg rolls

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission of any sale made at no extra cost to you.

#48. CHRISTUS VINCIT: CHRIST’S TRIUMPH OVER THE DARKNESS OF THE AGE by Bishop Athanasius Schneider // ★★★★☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

I really enjoyed this book. Written in question and answer form, Bishop Schneider addressed many issues happening within the Church in a clear and balanced way. Like society at large, the Church sometimes seems extremely polarized on issues and it was a breath of fresh air to read someone intelligently discuss the good and bad of each side without compromising on Church teaching. We attended a Solemn Pontifical Mass with Bishop Schneider last year and it was beautiful. He is a holy man.

#49. THE QUINTLAND SISTERS by Shelley Wood // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This story was so infuriating, even more so because it was based on a true story! Have you heard of the Dionne Quintuplets? Five baby girls born in 1934 and taken from their parents by the Canadian government to become wards of the state. They quickly became a tourist attraction and were paraded around like a circus. I went down another rabbit hole and it appears that the rest of their lives didn’t get much better. So so sad. I’d be interested to read their autobiography someday. (I picked this for my Reading the Alphabet Challenge.)

#50. ROOTS OF THE REFORMATION by Karl Adam // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This slim little book was mentioned by someone as one that helped in their conversion to the Catholic Church, so I was intrigued. At times an easy read and at times really dense, I found it very fair and thought provoking.

#51. THE RECKONING AT GOSSAMER POND by Jaime Jo Wright // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

This one is a Christian romance suspense novel…did you know that was even a thing? I didn’t! It had duel timelines and lots of secrets. I appreciated the “clean” reading experience, but found the book pretty forgettable. Good, but not great.

#52. INDESTRUCTIBLE: THE UNFORGETTABLE MEMOIR OF A MARINE HERO AT THE BATTLE OF IWO JIMA by Jack H. Lucas // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop // better world books)

The crazy true story of a teenage boy who fibbed his way to the front lines of WWII and the battle of Iwo Jima. There, in an act of true heroism, he covered two grenades with his body to protect his fellow Marines…and survived!

#53. MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY by Susan Elia MacNeal // ★★☆☆☆
(amazon // bookshop)

This book is loosely based on a real life mother/daughter duo who became spies to foil Nazi plans within the United States during WWII. Definitely well researched (the author cites all of her sources in the back), but I found the storyline itself slow and the characters one-dimensional. There were also a few parts where I had to suspend my disbelief at the spy skills of two civilians – would Nazi sympathizers really be so trusting and gullible? I don’t know…just an okay read for me. (Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book! Mother Daughter Traitor Spy will be published on September 20, 2022.)

#54. WHEN I WAS YOU by Minka Kent // ★★★☆☆
(amazon // bookshop)

I was in the mood for a thriller so I chose one that’s been on my Kindle for ages. I think I must have gotten it for free through Amazon? It had plenty of twists that kept me guessing – just the book I was looking for.

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Well, I lost my “blog every weekday in August” streak last week. Too much going on and not enough energy to write anything coherent. We start our school year this Wednesday, but hopefully I’ll be able to publish a few more posts before month’s end. I think I can, I think I can…

The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // We processed our last batch of meat chickens last weekend and like everything we do around here, we ran into some roadblocks. On day one, we somehow misplaced a tiny piece of the plucker, making the machine inoperable! As the boys and I imagined (in horror) the idea of hand plucking over 70 birds, my husband finagled a way to fix it with random things we had on hand. The day was saved! Thankfully, day two went much more smoothly.

As I look around the house // My house is a disaster. Definitely need to do a thorough tidy before school starts.

Reflecting // on 2022 so far. This year has been good. So busy, so full. Yet as the growing season winds down, I can feel myself craving some more margin in my life. I think about the farm all the time and every single day – how to keep the animals healthy, how to improve production, how to streamline chores, how to expand further. I think I need a break from carrying that daily load. I’m already brainstorming some goals for September.

On this week’s to-do list // – scrub out and pack away all of the chicken feeders/waterers – install math programs onto the computer – empty out the cabinet to be moved to the dining room (I’m moving things around again!) – finalize week one lesson plans – catch up on laundry

– start school!

Low buy month update // Week 3!

This was not a great week for saving. We had a couple of Aldi trips and some purchases for the farm/processing. It is also our tradition to eat out after broiler processing (we joke that we’re organic farmers, but we still like our local pizza/Chickfila!) so that filled two meals.
We had one day of zero spending.
Side hustle update: I had no time to focus on decluttering/reselling so listed 0 items. I feel like the more I list, the more I sell (maybe it’s an algorithm thing?) so it doesn’t surprise me that I only sold two items. Total money earned: $7.30

Currently reading //

On the menu this week // Can I be honest and say I have no idea what we’re going to eat this week? As we get back into the school routine, I’m going to need dinner to be simple, simple, simple.

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One last (partial) finish for the summer break challenge before we head back to school. While I had hoped to complete all six pillows, I’m satisfied that I finished three. (My biggest three boys will have to wait just a little bit longer, ha!) For the boys’ cross-stitching, I used a 28ct evenweave fabric and it was just okay. Very thick and stiff; linen is much easier to handle. The pillows aren’t perfect but thankfully, the kids don’t seem to mind.

DETAILS

+ Patterns: Avengers, Storybook Princesses, and a design created by a big brother + Cross-Stitch Fabric: 28ct Evenweave in white for the boys, a white linen from my stash for the princesses

+ Pillow forms: 12″x16″ Basic Insert

+ Tutorial for finishing the pillows: Envelope Method tutorial from Sew Crafty Me + Skeins of thread and fabrics: from my stash

TOTAL FOR ALL THREE PROJECTS: $36.47

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I recently watched a video from a “Booktuber” who shared her reading goals for the rest of 2022. I was inspired! I’m typically a mood reader, so pre-planning is a little outside of my comfort zone. We’ll see how this goes. Here are my five goals for the next 4.5ish months of the year:

+ Read four books for the Alphabet Fiction Challenge. (Q, R, S, T)

I’m on a roll with this challenge and would like to get as close to the end as possible. Four possible choices:

+ Read a book from last year’s Mother Culture basket.

I’d like to read Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson. This would also satisfy “I” for the Alphabet Author Challenge.

+ Read three books for the 20th Century in Books Challenge.

I’ve been working on this challenge since 2019 and am almost to the halfway point. Oops! I really need to prioritize this in 2023. Here are three possible choices:

+ Read three religious books.

Still plugging away on the Daily Spiritual Reading Challenge. I read these at a slower pace, but still hope to get three finished by December 31st. Three possible choices:

+ Read two WILLA Award Winners.

And finally, my newest reading challenge! I’d like to read these two books:

Whew! 13 books with room for a few wildcard picks in between. I’ll keep you posted.

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The weather outside is //

Look at that weather forecast! Highs in the 70s in August is pretty unheard of around here.

As I look outside my window // This is our last full week of summer break and I’m torn between being completely lazy and going 100-miles-an-hour tackling farm projects. I’m going to attempt to balance both goals by working hard in the morning and then relaxing all afternoon. I really need to weed the garden and finish up one of the permanent pig shelters. We’ll see how this goes.

As I look around the house // I’ve been searching the house for things to donate/sell and I’m happy to report that I’m having a little trouble! Decluttering regularly (and then not bringing in tons of new stuff) has really helped keep the house at a comfortable level. We’re nowhere near minimalists, but I think we’re getting closer to the Goldilocks feeling of “just right.”

Recovering // from the shock of our latest electricity bill. Between this month and last, we haven’t changed our routine at all, but the “rate adjustment” increased our bill by almost $100! To add salt in the wound, we were also told that another rate adjustment (the third since May) will be implemented next month.

On this week’s to-do list // – celebrate the Feast of the Assumption – prep the schoolroom for the new year – respond to blog comments (I apologize for the delay!) – look into PO Boxes – shred junk mail – organize my master closet

– prepwork for Broilers 2.0 processing

Low buy month update // Week 2!

After successfully getting Fiona onto the trailer and off to the processer, we bought lunch from Chickfila. Eating out is never cheap for our family, but this felt like a worthy time to celebrate.
We had three days of zero spending.
Side hustle update: I listed six items on ebay/Poshmark and made nine sales! We also sold some chicken and eggs to a friend. Total money earned: $98.31

Currently reading //

On the menu this week //

Monday: sheet pan mini meatloaves with potatoes and green beans
Tuesday: bialy pizzas
Wednesday: breakfast for dinner – maybe this egg casserole?
Thursday: skillet chicken nachos
Friday: shrimp scampi

A monthly project featuring ten photos throughout the day that show a peek into our extraordinarily ordinary life.

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Highlights of the day:

I’m running out of time to complete all of my farm projects before the school year starts! I spent the morning dismantling Fiona’s old paddock and amending soil for the fall garden. I also cleaned up “The Barnyard” (where the chickens and ducks live) and put away some of the unneeded fencing. Little by little, tasks are getting checked off the list.
I’ve fallen into the rabbit hole of 60 Minutes Australia Youtube videos. I know, so random. I usually watch/listen while working on other things. Have you heard about the woman who went missing after conning her family and friends out of millions?
My daughter and I made blueberry banana bread. We must not have greased the second pan well enough because when I went to upend it onto the cooling rack, the middle fell out but not the crust! Oh man, we laughed and laughed. Thankfully, it still tasted the same, even though it looked hideous.

It’s been awhile since I’ve experimented with my vintage cookbook! My daughter and I decided to try a German Blueberry Kuchen, which the cookbook described as a “delicate, fine-grained coffee cake” that is perfect for “breakfast or dinner dessert.” We thought it was delicious and not too sweet. Would be wonderful with a cup of hot coffee!

Print Recipe taken from Farm Journal’s Country Cookbook

1½ cups flour sifted
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup soft shortening or butter
⅔ cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp grated lemon peel
1 egg
1 cup fresh blueberries
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp grated lemon peel

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and ¾ cup sugar. Add shortening, milk, vanilla and ½ tsp. grated lemon peel. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes, or 300 strokes by hand.
Add the egg and beat with the mixer 2 minutes longer (200 strokes by hand).
Turn into a greased 8″ square pan.
Lightly stir together the blueberries, 3 tbsp. sugar and 1 tsp. grated lemon peel. Sprinkle over the batter in the pan.
Bake in a moderate oven (350°) for 40 to 45 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool slightly in pan. Cut in squares and serve warm.

Check out some other recipes from “A Year of Vintage Recipes” series:
Cheese and Bacon Pie
Old Fashioned Oatmeal Bread
Sugar-Top Coffee Cake

This is more of a progress report than a finished product, but I am so happy to see this first part DONE! Definitely the most time intensive goal from my summer “Get Things Finished!” Challenge.

This is a quilt top with a story, each piece lovingly sewn together by hand. I learned to sew this way from my maternal grandmother and now that she has passed away, I am so glad I took the time to sit down and pay attention. There are fabrics in this quilt that she passed along to me. There are fabrics from my early days of quilting, where the only fabric I could afford were fat quarters at Joann’s. There are a few vintage fabrics, a pillowcase, even a stained chambray blouse! It’s loud and colorful, but beautiful in its own way.

Right now, the quilt measures 37×80″, but will grow slightly with the binding. I copied the size from one of the childhood quilts my grandmother made for me; it’s the perfect size for wrapping up. Oh! A fun aspect of this quilt is the way I “fussy cut” different fabrics to make a sort of “I Spy” activity. Some examples:

Next up: the “quilt sandwich” and then hand quilting the entire thing together!

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Another year, another reading challenge!

Have you heard of the WILLA Awards? According to the website, “The WILLA Literary Awards honor the best in literature, featuring women’s or girls’ stories set in the West that are published each year. Women Writing the West (WWW), a nonprofit association of writers and other professionals writing and promoting the Women’s West, underwrites and presents the nationally recognized award annually at the WWW Fall Conference. The award is named in honor of Pulitzer Prize winner Willa Cather, one of the country’s foremost novelists.”

I’d like to read the last six years of award winners (2016-2021) in the Historical Fiction and Contemporary Fiction categories. I’ve already read a few of them and will update this post as I go!

HISTORICAL FICTION WINNERS

CONTEMPORARY FICTION WINNERS

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The weather outside is //

As I look outside my window // As you are reading this, we are hopefully (!!) getting Fiona onto the trailer and off to processing! We borrowed a farmer friend’s trailer last Wednesday and it’s been in her paddock ever since. She’s been stubborn and even put herself on a hunger strike (we put her food in the trailer, but she refused to go in)…but I think we turned a corner on Sunday. Praying for a smooth moving process today.

As I look around the house // The weather forecast looks like I’ll be spending a lot of time indoors, which could be dangerous! Last week on a rainy afternoon, I had the crazy idea to bring the old loveseat in the basement up two flights of stairs to the schoolroom. One of my sons helped me move it (we only dinged one wall!) but he definitely looked at me like, “Oh no. Mom’s got that redecorating look in her eye again.”

A low buy month update // I’m considering Week 1 a success!

Most money was spent on groceries. Our local grocery store has been having shortages and limits, so we decided that continuing to add to our pantry is probably wise. (This week we added some peanut butter, jelly, and marinara sauce.) I’m still hoping to keep the grocery budget low throughout this month, so we’ll see if I can accomplish both goals at the same time.
We had four days of zero spending.
I began decluttering again. I started a box for Goodwill and listed 14 items on ebay/Poshmark. By the end of the week, I had made three sales. Money earned after fees: $31.30

Returning // to this post after feeling like my Year of Simple has been a terrible fail so far. Thankfully, it’s only August…plenty of time to turn this ship around.

On this week’s to-do list // – get a start on fall garden planting – work on the permanent pig shelter

– make a DIY grout cleaner

– post a few toys on Trash Nothing – troubleshoot the sanding problem with the laundry room walls

– celebrate the feast day of Saint Lawrence by having a BBQ (weather permitting)

Currently reading //

On the menu this week //

Monday: breakfast enchiladas
Tuesday: cheesy meatballs casserole
Wednesday: Refrigerator Cleanout Night
Thursday: chicken on the grill
Friday: homemade cheese pizza