My chickens are growing

My chicks are starting to look like chickens, Its so neat to watch them root around in the dirt and Dust bath!

They are eating Like crazy and enjoying their new coupe, I cant wait to see what they look like full grown!

I have to say I cant believe how easy raising chickens has been so far, While you do have to clean the coupe out (Not hard since the bottom slides out and is lined with newspaper!) and you have to check their food a few times a day...But they are the EASIEST animals I have cared for yet!

I hope anyone afraid to have chickens for fear that they are hard work reads this, They are easy, and fun!

Its so funny to watch them day in and day out...They have such personalities! Annebelle is a fighter LOL she likes to Jump and Abbigail....Abbigail is Lazy when you let her out to roam she falls over and goes to sleep (Not always but allot!)

I have to say I LOVE CHICKENS!

Could they survive?

Could most people survive if we had a crisis and their was no gas, Not food at the Store, and no one to save them?

I dont thinks so,It maybe Crazy to think about, maybe its scary (It scares me) But Sitting back acting like that cant happen is a death sentance if it does happen!
People now Dont have basic survival Skills, They wouldnt know how to Forage for food, How to garden or save seeds, They wouldnt know how to get meat, They wouldnt know how to survive!

I dread the topic, Because I usually am made to feel as if I was crazy, But to me its crazy that no one else seems to worry about how they and their families would survive.

I wish more people would open their minds to what could happen if things keep going in this direction....we could not be able to afford foor, or gas...and State Aid isnt going to be able to bail out everone.

living a frugal Life

It seems simple enough right?

Its harder then it seems sometimes, Especially when you need things!
I had to buy canning gear, and get food at the store (I HATE buying food anymore), we needed some pectin and other things.

I hope that soon I will be better at being frugal, So far I haven't done so well...But doing better at it day by day.

I am Learning to quilt now, and going to start making summer Dresses for the girls.
I Learned how to can, that will save us money in the Long run though!
I Have re-started making my own laundry soap and got some kerosene lamps_sp_ (thanks Grandma!)
I have made all my cleaners except dish soap.
I am also hoping to learn to make bath soaps as well.

I have been thrifting, Hoping to find fabric and odds and ends like buttons and other things of that nature.
I Did find an old petal foot singer sewing machine(My mothers day gift From My Hubby) which I will be learning to use, but for now I am using the singer Sewing Machine From Wal-mart that Hubby got me for x-mas (LOL I have 3 machines all together now, I also have a singer "rocketier" from the early 60's).
Its So much more fun bargain Hunting at Yard sales and thrift store then going to the mall....I cant count how many Items I find with tags still on!

I have started Meal planning and that's going well, It stops me from impulse Shopping (well Mostly).

I am Learning the Ins and outs of the frugal Life...slowly mind you.

Now its time for me to iron some fabric for my daughters new Quilt...she needs a New blanket since her store bought one is a bit tattered (Yeah, One year and it looks like crap...Thanx wal-mart :(

Garden

The garden is growing like mad!

We have Huge tomatoes Coming in, They should start ripening soon!
The Blueberries are turing Purple and the strawberries are Red!
My bell peppers are coming in and the Zuccini plants are Huge!
Peas are up to my knees and The beans are getting flowers.
My salad greens are Getting Bigger By the Minute!

We even got to eat a bit from the garden today, Just Green Onions But they where the best ever!

Its so nice to see our Garden in full swing! everything is Doing SO well this year, and I hope that they produce Like they are growing now!

My Cherries are also starting to turn Red! (Woooo Cherry Pie!)

I am SO excited, It seems we will have a great year, Lets just all Hope those bettle things dont destroy anything later this Year.

canning

I canned for the first time today.

It was fun and easy! I was so amazed at how easy it was! I was putting it off because I was afraid that it was going to be way to difficult to do all summer long.

I decided To learn how before my garden came in so I picked up organic strawberries and made jam, Its a little thin but Its still REALLY good!

So now I have confidence in canning everything for winter!

I hope everyone who thought it would be to hard gives it a try, I had Fun doing it and can wait for picking season to start so I can learn to make all kinds of great canned food!

long weekend

This was such a long weekend.

Family picnic and grad party....and other things as well.

I need to get caught up on my Garden now and fix somethings around the house (I swear Gone for two days and everything falls apart!)

We had fun though and the Amazing thing is we have family who shares some of our values when it comes to Organic Gardening and the Like (Which is cool because we dont have allot in common with allot of the family....we are the "weird" "country" family who doesnt want to swim in the same stream as everyone else.)

Our Grandma Liked what she heard about the Garden and our chicks....She thinks its great!

It was in all a fun weekend filled with family, friends, and Good food!
And the Only real damage was my camera is ruined due to a thunderstorm and My leaving it outside in the rush.

this week

Had a Bad week I guess.

It was a "good" week but not for me.

I spent far to much money, and we shopped to much...

I hate spending money, and Part of my goals is to spend less stay home more and thiss week I failed at it.

It wouldnt have been so bad but I didnt spend money on things I need just junk I didnt need.

But Nothing I can do about it now, I will just have to suck it up and do better this week.

Well, I have more updates coming soon and new pictures of my garden to post.