Day of Firsts

Today was quite a day here on our little place...

Started out with the first real harvest. I have picked a few items here and there over the past several days, but this was the first *haul*.

Then upon returning from town, picking up the children, we found that Maybelline has hatched her first baby!

Finally, I made the first batch of canned goods of the season this evening. It has been 2 years since I canned anything. Jalapeno jelly!!! It was pretty much a "have to do today" or the jalapenos would have ruined. I had a few I had picked the other day and added them to the ones today to have enough to make a batch of jelly. We love Jalapeno jelly!

So it's been a very busy day here at Eason Acres; just the way I like it!

What a difference

just a few days makes!

I am so sad, though, because I hate the "thinning out" part of gardening. It makes me sad to have to pull up those baby plants and just toss them away.

What's in my garden?

Today I finished getting everything in the garden! YAY!! I haven't had a garden in ummmmm.....30+ years, since I was in high school.

I am so excited! Cannot wait for the next few months to pass and see what all goodies I harvest!

The garden is located where the old house was sitting. In the photo above, you can see the entire thing. The old house was 960 sf. The garden takes up the entire space, with the exception of where I am creating a sidewalk with concrete stepping stones.

I planted things close together (I will probably curse this later in the summer), following the concept of "The Holy Trinity" of Corn/Beans/Squash. It is also called "The Three Sisters". Here's a link with info on this. This is something I found out about on Facebook. I also used this method to help with watering issues. We are in a drought here, and keeping things planted close together helps keep them as wet as possible, as well as keeping it compact helps with ease of watering.

I planted the following. Rows starting at the far left side of photo.
Zucchini
Bodacious Corn
Kentucky Wonder Green Beans
Yellow Crookneck Squash
------->>>narrow walkway here
Banana Peppers/Bell Peppers/Okra
Kandy Corn
Red Beans/Black Eye Peas
second row same as above
Pickling Cucumbers/Jalapeno Peppers/Cantaloupe
Pickling Cucumbers/Purple Hull Peas (Cowpeas)
------->>>narrow walkway here
Peaches & Cream Corn/Tomatoes
second row same as above
Pinto Beans/Black Beans
Lima Beans/Rhubarb
------->>>narrow walkway here
Japanese Popcorn/Bountiful Bush Green Beans
second row same as above

1 hill Watermelon
3 hills Pie Pumpkin

There is a small area on the opposite side of the sidewalk, Glass Gem Corn is located there.

Once harvest is over with the 60-75 day crops, I will plant Turnips, Mustard greens, Collard greens, beets and carrots. I may even attempt lettuce, but we probably wouldn't eat it as fast as it would be ready to harvest....We will see.

With teamwork

We're going to give it a shot.

Even though I posted a couple of weeks ago about re-homing all of the chickens and the goats. About not really being a farmer....

It seems that really is my calling. But it takes teamwork. I cannot do this alone.

I am not a "farmer". I am a mother and wife providing for her family.

Last weekend, I pulled out the seeds from last summer that never got planted because I broke my hand, and decided, since the place where the old house sat won't grow grass and turns into a mud puddle when it rains, that I would give it a shot at being a "front yard" garden.

I was skeptical. I planted a few live plants (peppers, okra, pickling cucumbers and zucchini), and some seeds (2 types of corn, 3 types of beans, yellow squash). I left the tomatoes and lots more seeds un-planted. I decided to stop where I was and see what happened. I was prepared for the worst, for nothing to happen.

Well, to my surprise yesterday, I found lots of baby seedlings that had broken through the ground!!

Here they are this morning!

So today, Felicity and I will plant the tomato plants and the rest of the seeds I have to plant.

Last weekend, the friend that bought the Seramas (trio and all the babies) said it wasn't working out. He said Seramas are too sensitive. Of course, this is after he lost all but 2 babies. Makes me so, so sad, but nothing I can do.

Yesterday, my precious babies came home! Boudreaux, Penelope and Maybelline will stay permanently. I missed them so much more than I thought I would. I love them so much!

The first thing David told me after the laying flock was picked up a few weeks ago is "I'm going to miss those chickens". I knew I would miss them, but wouldn't miss having to take care of them by myself. David pretty much takes care of them when he is home on R&R, that does give me a break.

Well, I do miss them, too!

By hatching so many all within such a short period of time as I did....that was my downfall! Lesson learned, though.

My babies are home. Later in the summer, after vacation, I will either hatch some eggs or order some pullets and we will begin again with a new laying flock.

No goats, now, though. We need to do some modifying on fencing before we get goats again. I do think, though, that I would enjoy breeding the Pygmy goats. So when the time is right, I will buy only registered babies and begin our breeding program. In time.

The children are learning to help me more around the place. Imagine that....taking away all electronics then finally getting help!

With help and teamwork, we can make Eason Acres work :-)

Every living thing

deserves a chance.

We had a very late freeze here in the Texas Panhandle two weeks ago. Snow, even :-(

I had gone into Lowes for something, and as usual, I went into the garden center.

WOW! So many babies had been frost bit and were reduced at 50-70% off regular price.

This Hydrangea was on the clearance rack. It had really taken a beating.

I saw the branch that was split down the middle and just knew I would have to cut off the entire branch, but I didn't care. I have always wanted an Hydrangea and now I was going to have one at a price I was willing to pay.

So I gave it a few days to see what happened and I couldn't believe it! The split branch was not dying!!! It was generating new growth!

I bought a roll of floral tape today and taped it up good. Now I am hoping it will graft itself back together. Time will tell.

Repurpose and Reuse

I have held on to two old water bath canning pots for a couple of years.  I knew I wanted to use them as planters, just have never gotten around to putting the holes in the bottom (used a screwdriver and hammer).

So yesterday, I just did it!

And I think it's just pretty as can be :-)

I can't wait until the plants are growing and filling out more....going to be gorgeous!

That Old Potting Soil

I just loved this article. I am so guilty for letting my pots sit around all winter with dead plants.

Source: Old World Garden Farms

Make Super Soil from Summers' Left-overs

One Acre Self-Sufficient Homestead

This is a fantastic article that goes through the guidelines to be successful.

Source: Mother Earth News

Even though I am already on my way with my little homestead, this sure helped me with loads of more information.

If you choose "print" the article converts to "print ready" and will print as a complete article.

Start a 1-acre Self-Sufficient Homestead

Here's some top rated books on Homesteading that you may enjoy!

 :    

Let's go for a walk in photos

I was outside in the yard this morning taking photos and thought to myself that all these pretty photos would make a great post to show you around my yard/flowerpot garden.

Not looking great, but I still have hope. I had been neglecting all my little pretty plants and they almost died on me. A little Miracle Grow and they will look great really soon.

Pat-a-Pan squash blossoms. Never heard of it before, but the fruit is cute and edible, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Baby ears of popcorn for David! I honestly think my man can eat popcorn every single day and never tire of it.

Baby Big Bertha bell pepper.

A tiny little marigold flower trying to do it's job as a natural insecticide.

Rhubarb is something entirely new to me. Never grown it, never even eaten anything made with it. Oh the places we will go things we will do to grow food.

Baby heirloom tomato. This variety (can't remember the name) is the semi-equivalent to Roma.

Babies that I started from seeds. I know one is squash, maybe two. The other, I am not certain what it is.

Strawberries!

 

 

Harvest time for many herbs again!  Chamomile, Lemon Verbena, Oregano, Sage and Thyme.

See the baby Basil plant?!

Three different corn varieties, Okra, Cantaloupe and Watermelon(I think). Must re-pot all of this very soon!

New growth on the rose bushes that I nearly let die.

Well, that was my morning walk around the yard. Hopefully in a week or two, everything will perk up and look wonderful and provide lots of fresh food for our family.

In my world right now

Our new home (manufactured home) is on the local lot and awaiting it's time for set-up and delivery!!!  David, the kids and I are so excited! We have decided to buy a new lot and have the new house put there, instead of on the existing land I am on. That way, we can do everything the way WE want it, not having to convert horse barns, trees where we wouldn't have put them, etc.  We will then either remodel and rent this little place or sell it. We haven't made that decision yet. It does need quite a bit of work on it. So, we will see.

So, I have begun the process of getting things sorted out, trashed, sold/given away and packed. I have moved so many times in the past 6 years since moving to Amarillo, you would think it would be an easy task for me. It's not. Never will be. The older get, the less organized I am and it just stinks.

On a great note, though, once we get into the new house, I will finally have a studio! A place to work and call mine. I am working to release a new product line of baby/child items and I will finally have the space to do what I love to do!

We are ordering one of those "Amish built" wood portable storage type buildings and will "build it out" into my studio/guest room/bathroom over the course of a little time.

This photo is awful, I took it with my cell phone and just couldn't get a good shot. This one is NOT ours. It is just what ours will look like from the front. I am torn between a metal or shingle roof. But ours will be painted to match our new house. These are so reasonably priced, rent-to-own in 3 or 5 years(your choice), with no credit check. Pay for it and keep it as long as you like...or pay it off and keep it forever.  So easy!

Ours will have my studio, guest room and a 3/4 bath on the ground floor, then storage galore in the attic area! There is even a neat ledge on the front inside that will be a gorgeous place for plants and displaying my creations. I am so excited!

Working on the layout. I love designing floor-plans of houses (or buildings of any type).

I have also been busy a little with continuing my knitting journey...

Remember back in May, I made my first knitted project (dish cloth) while on the road to Louisiana? I so love making these! Quick and easy. Just the way I like it at this point.

I am also working on a crochet afghan for our new grand-son due the end of this month.

My garden....it's taken quite a beating. Since we decided to buy a new piece of land, I never got things out of pots and into a garden properly, so nothing has done much of anything. Next year will be different!

Here's hoping the weekend is wonderful for you and yours.

May in a nutshell

I posted about the beginnings of my garden on April 30, then I looked up and it was mid-May, then May was gone. Oh how I have missed blogging. I am going to share with you in photos a re-cap of how May went for our family. You will realize, then, why I missed posting.

My birthday is May 1. I turned 46 this year. I don't feel it and if you ask most folks, they will tell you I don't act like I am 46 years old.

Vintage Postcard postmarked Jan 1910 and its mine :-)

David got me a Kindle Fire for my birthday and I just love it!  THEN a couple of days later he surprised me and was able to take his R&R two days ahead of schedule, so he arrived on the 6th instead of the 8th. While he was in route coming home from overseas (he is a civilian contractor over there), I used the information I got when I watched "Homestead Blessings: The Art of Making Candles" to make beeswax tapers. The night I was working on these, I was continually texting with David while he was in a holding pattern waiting to get on his flight home.

We traded in my 2009 Dodge Caravan and David's 2004 Avalanche in on a new truck! It is a 2012 Ford F150 Crew Cab. The new models have so much space in the back seat, it would compare in side to a small car.

This gorgeous machine drives amazingly & rides like a car!

While the kids were spending some days with their father, David decided we would take a road trip and head to the casino in Clinton, OK. It's only 2.5 hours away and was nice to spend the time together. On the way back, we stopped in. Shamrock, TX and saw the vintage gas station that was depicted in the movie "Cars".

David being his typical silly self.

"Look at that price! $.38 per gallon!"

Then we headed on down I-40 back toward Amarillo and stopped in Groom, Texas to see the GIANT cross.

The next adventure was to Palo Duro Canyon. It is less than a half-hour from our house.

Even though I have been several times....the canyon is still gorgeous to me!

Whew and I am only to the 13th!

We have been trying for the past couple of months to decide what to do about where to live. I currently have 1.17 acres with a 1981 very small manufactured home on it. David and I have gone through so many scenarios about what we want. This piece of land keeps calling us thought, to stay right here. So, we ordered a new manufactured home! OUR NEW HOME! Together. It is 320sf larger than the one the kids and I live in now. NOW this little homestead is OURS. We just found out yesterday that the home is built and will be in Amarillo sometime this coming week.

 

Ours is hunter green on the top and beige on the bottom.

We went with a single-wide because we don't want to put too large/pricey a home here and price it out of the area when one day we decide to sell the place.

The next thing I have to tell you is not easy to talk about. Many of you that have been reading my blog back to my old one, are familiar with Roosevelt, our Serama rooster. He hatched in my hand on January 2, 2010 and played a vital role in Gregory learning to talk. One afternoon, Felicity went out to the barn and found him dead. We don't know what happened. But I am thankful that David was here. The kids and I were in tears for quite a while. Losing Roosevelt was a huge loss for the kids and I.

Rest in peace our special little man.

Next, we headed to David and I's hometown, Leesville, Louisiana. I am the youngest of eight kids and we have not all been together in one place since 1983, when we buried our father. This weekend...we were all together! I am not sharing photos, because I don't know how they would feel about it.

Margo our Poodle, Petunia our Chihuahua

Bailey, our Maltese mix

Yep, all FOUR of our dogs went on the trip with us. (Ariel is in a later photo) They all did amazingly well and enjoyed the travel and meeting all of the new people.

I started and finished my first ever knitted project while we were on the road!

My daughter, son-in-law and first born grandchild, Madeline.

On Saturday of that weekend, we all headed out to Toledo Bend Lake for a day of fun in the woods (and on the water).

Toledo Bend Lake

Later that week, David and I enjoyed sitting out by the pool at our hotel and watched the kids swim.

Favorite things to read for me while watching the kids.

David was "pondering"...I don't remember what, though.

This was really the first time to swim in a big pool for Gregory, to the best of my memory. He loved it! It took him a few minutes at first, but then he realized his floaties wouldn't let him go under water.

Felicity loves to swim. She is now 11 and as tall as me! She is such a wonderful big sister to Gregory, too.


Oh how I miss the green of Louisiana! I love the State flower, Magnolia.

Then before we were ready, it was time for David to fly back overseas and the kids and I to come back to Amarillo.

We stopped in Canton, TX at a little place called Dairy Palace for lunch and Gregory actually ate BEANS AND RICE!!! Of course, I mashed it all up together, but he ate it! This is MAJOR for him! He still has such problems with food textures.

At the end of our first day on the road headed back to Amarillo, we stayed in Dallas. I took the kids to Bass Pro Shop because I thought they would think it was pretty neat. We were in that store for 2 hours! Felicity really enjoyed it...Gregory not so much.

We were all exhausted at the end of the day. Even Ariel our 3 month old puppy.

I ended the month of May with 15 fewer chickens due to a dog that got into the yard while we were gone. BUT on a better note...my first harvest of the year. HERBS!

 

Basil, Chamomille, Oregano and Cilantro.

Hope you enjoyed your little tour through our month of May. I will be back to blogging now and am so glad!