The year of the fence, part 2.

 

The field is now completely enclosed with temporary fencing.  Yay for free grazing.  I took a break from all the fencing projects to clear out the deep bedding in the stalls and chicken coop.  Last week I started on the new chicken fence.  I managed to get get 6 posts in the ground, along with turning and planting the 8x8 raised bed with root vegetables.  I still have about 25 posts to put in for the chicken run, and then get the new wire up.  Everything I've accomplished either has to be done with my two little helpers or during nap time.  It sure has revised my view of what a 'big accomplishment' is for one day.  
I was hoping to purchase a rototiller this year, but decided that our little expendable cash could be better budgeted to other expenses.  For now I'm turning everything by hand.  Between digging up the garden and digging fence posts my dislike for our rocky soil has grown immensely.  This happens every Spring, but luckily for me I have a little boy who loves the job of removing rocks from the garden.  In 5 years time I will have rock free garden spaces I'm sure!

 

2014, the Year of the Fence

For us, this year is the year of the fence.  I started working on enclosing the remainder of our field in a warm spell in January.  A snow storm moved in while I was working on it, so we left it partially completed and got dumped on.  It's now 3 months later and the snow is finally gone, and ground finally thawed.  I'll be finishing enclosing the field tomorrow. 
After the field is completely enclosed I need to put fence openings in the right areas, and come up with a solution so the horses can drink from the river.  After those tasks are accomplished I'll be stepping back from pasture fencing for awhile. 
Next up is upgrading the chicken enclosure.  I have very naughty chickens who like to pick through the gravel on the side of the road.  This annoys my neighbors who in turn call animal control to complain, so we try to keep them penned up.  Last year's attempt was a big flop.  I'm hoping to use 2x2 posts that we already have on the farm to keep the budget low, then staple chicken wire up, top with thin boards and run hot wire along the top.  I'll also be clipping their wings this year, as the Aracunas like to fly out. 
After the chicken run is finished I need to tackle fencing in the backyard.  Before I know it I'm going to have to running boys to chase, so a fence to keep them away from the road is necessary.  I plan on putting one fence, with a large gate between the stone foundation from the summer kitchen, and the stone fence that borders the pasture field.  Another fence will be placed between the corner of the house and the corner of the barn.  Before that can go in I need to level off the ground.  There is a 2.5 foot drop from yard to where the garden is, and that just isn't safe or pretty.  After that I need to work on fencing in along the rock wall and the pasture, but I haven't come up with a solution for that.  At least with the two boundary fences in they won't be able to run towards the road.

Lastly, we need some sort of privacy fence put up along the foundation for the summer kitchen.  I have a vision of a backyard patio where our family can hang out, cook, and relax.  However, those aforementioned neighbors? They drive back and forth staring onto our property, instead of watching the road.  It makes me uncomfortable to be observed so often, so I'm dreaming of something to put up to block their view of us when we're having family hang out time.

tooth powder recipe

You'll have to forgive me for the lack of photographic evidence in this post.  I'll try to add photos in after the next batch we make. 

Homemade Re-mineralizing Tooth Powder

1 TBS Bentonite Clay
1 TBS Calcium Magnesium Citrate Powder
1 TBS Baking Soda
1/2 TBS Sea Salt*
1/2 TBS Xylitol *

These last two ingredients need to be run through some sort of coffee grinder, or food processor to turn them from large granules into a powder. 

You'll notice that the measurements are large, and I don't use teaspoons.  This is because it allows my son, who is nearing is third birthday, to make it himself. 

I have used different things to flavor the powder, but he hasn't liked any of it.  He much prefers the citrus taste combined with the sweetness of the xylitol.  In the past we've tried ground peppermint leaves, cloves, and cinnamon.

The bentonite clay is used to pull impurities from the mouth, such as toxins or heavy metals. 
Cal-Mag powder is awesome in itself.  Calcium is obviously something we need to help remineralize teeth.  Everyone knows that we need calcium for healthy teeth and bones.  However, lots of people don't know that adequate amounts of vitamin c are needed to help the body absorb the calcium properly.  Magnesium is an extremely important mineral that is lacking in most modern day diets.  So yay, lets throw some of that in too!
Baking Soda works as a light abrasive, and aids in balancing your PH levels and fighting the bacteria that cause cavities. 
Sea Salt also works in fighting those cavities causing bacteria
Xylitol again is to work against the bacteria.  In this case, it makes the mouth inhospitable to the bacteria.  It also works to balance the PH levels in your mouth. 

So that is the short of why we use these ingredients in our tooth powder.  Maybe some day I will take the time to write about how exactly we 'healed' my son's cavities.

movin' on out

We're in the final stages of moving out, so work can get accomplished on our house (for  more details see: The House that Apollos Built).  It's crazy, and hectic, and nuts, and you probably get the point by now. What would make it even more stressful? A huge custom order. 
I've been working on expanding the tiny bit of sewing for profit that I do.  In fact, I even set a monetary goal for myself, for the year.  $365, or one dollar a day.  So far, I'm no where near that goal.  In steps my friend's husband.  With a request for alterations on his uniform, 2 undershirts, and 2 new coats for his reenacting hobby.  I'm excited, and nervous at the same time.  Honestly, I think I'm more nervous about getting this order right for him, than when I sewed her wedding dress!
Back to the moving out topic.  We're trying to keep the amount we take with us minimal.  Then this order comes in, on top of the work I had planned on doing while we were staying at my in-laws.  So now I'm bringing one plastic tote of projects, a sewing machine, a serger, my knitting, AND having fabric shipped to their house.  Oh, and I need my reference books.  I'm a compulsive researcher.  If the littlest thing strikes my fancy I can spend hours reading up on it.  So, here are my research books I'm bringing with (I have other ones waiting for me at the library in town)

Home EC...homesteading economics.

I'm starting an on-going challenge to post tidbits and how to's on the how what and whys of homesteading.  Despite growing up in the country on a 'farm', I feel like I've had a ton to learn, and still have miles to go.  I'm also going to be hosting guest bloggers on this, since I am, admittedly, not an expert in much. 
So...here is the first tidbit:

When it comes to being a woman, but having to break open livestock water in the winter, don't do it the way men do.  Men go out with their BFH (big friggin hammers, for those of you who didn't grow up in the Midwest) and bash away.  That's how I've been doing it.  Until today that is. Today I had to shovel a foot of snow off the top of the water before breaking it open.  Rather than walk the extra 10 steps back to a scoop shovel, I grabbed my garden spade.  Turns out it works great for breaking ice up.  In fact, it works better than the sledge.  I was able to break more ice open than in the last couple weeks, and then scoop the ice out of the water as well. 

It's the little things...

Jenny

Attempting gluten.

Now that January, and my attempts at limiting foods are over, I'm going in the opposite direction. We've been gluten free for 10 months, and Paleo for about 9 of them.  I'd like to try reintroducing grains into our diet again, because we miss breads.  I'm still very cautious about gluten, as they led to stomach upset and cavities for Braeden last year. 
The cavities are healed (another post is coming on that subject), but the stomach upset still lingers.  Grains don't affect him nearly as bad as soy does, so we're experimenting with reintroducing soured and sprouted grains.

 I made a sour dough starter with the flour from my cupboard, so it's definitely not fresh.  I've been experimenting with biscuits and pancakes.  I'm slowly getting my chops back when it comes to baking with gluten, however Braeden's stomach doesn't seem to be appreciating it.  My wheat berries are sprouted, and going in the dehydrator today, so hopefully some freshly ground sprouted, and then soured grain will sit better with him. 
I also still have spelt and rye flour in the pantry to experiment with.  I'm hopeful we can find something that his gut will tolerate, so we can have 'normal' baked goods now and then. 
Jenny

Happy February and a Giveaway!

HAPPY FEBRUARY!
I am so excited that it's February, and we're that much closer to Spring and warm weather.
To celebrate I'm having my first give-away! 1 pair of felt cupid wings, just in time for Valentines day!
Each person to enter will have their name written on a piece of paper and thrown in a bowl. The drawing will be next Saturday, February 8th.
 I have a couple ways to enter:

1.Share Spruced Corner's facebook page on your wall.
2. Have a friend 'like' our page and comment on our wall about who sent them. (Both you and your friend will we entered this way.)
3. Follow us on Etsy at :https://www.etsy.com/shop/SprucedCorner?ref=shop_sugg
4. Follow one of our blogs: (or both for two entries) http://sprucedcorner.blogspot.com/ or
http://apolloswilliamshouse.blogspot.com/ If you already follow both blogs, comment on a post and let us know you want to be entered!

That's right, there is the potential to get entered 5 times to win a set of wings for your little one!

The wings you'll win!