The Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #99

A note from Farmgirl Friday creator Deb- 

How can this be? Where did the last 99 Fridays go? All over the blogishpere that's where!

Frankly, Heidi, Dolly and I are honored and humbled by how long The Farmgirl Friday Blog hop has continued to thrive and grow! 

You have yourselves to thank for so many wonderful posts shared over the last 99 weeks! It's you who keep'um coming back for more and we thank you from the bottom of our farmgirl hearts! 

We want to show you how much we appreciate you for sharing your talents and know-how so come back next week for a chance to enter three separate giveaways sure to get your farmgirl hearts all a flutter!  

 Farmgirls love anything to do with homesteading, keeping chicken's, embroidering, sewing, knitting, spinning, quilting, natural home remedies for health care and cleaning, horses, goats, cows, organic gardening and cooking, caring for their loved ones and friends and are community minded. Re-purposing and UP-cycling are high on their list of " fun things to do too! Our resident "FARM-BOYS ' ( Clint the Redeemed Gardner and Rob of Bepa's Garden ) bring wheelbarrow's full of good organic gardening tips to this hop and we are honored to have them join in the fun each week!   

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses~  

Heidi of My Simple Country Living and White Wolf Summit Farmgirl Blog

Dolly of Hibiscus House and Dolly is Cooking and me of course!

It's still snowing in some parts ( like here ) and folks are still working on inside projects to pass the time in a fun and frugal way!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #92

Happy Farmgirl Friday Friends!

Sorry I'm a bit late to post, but we experienced technical difficulties today when my sweet hubby accidentally disconnected my internet cable.  We've been working on our new home this week, trying to improve energy efficiency.  Jerry is working on changing out all the old single pane windows, a room at a time.

The dining room was home to a ten foot wide sliding glass door built in the 50s or 60s that was single pane and left the back of the house very cool.  The door and wall sink at the corner making it very difficult to open and close the door.  This was an urgent problem to fix. 

Once he got the door removed Jerry started to see signs of termite damage, lots of it.  

 In the picture above you can see the "frass" or waste left behind by the termites.  It looks a little like the honeydew waste left behind by aphids, though not sticky.  More like sand particles.  Dry and hard.

 Poor Jerry.  This job just kept growing.  He had to keep going, removing and replacing every damaged board along the way.

We got very lucky.  It could have been MUCH worse.  I sprayed everything thoroughly, saturating all of the wood.  Then, after 24 hours I sprayed one more time.  Now, Jerry can begin to rebuild the wall and floor.  

Unfortunately, the sun faded and it got cold before he could finish so he put temporary walls up again for the night.  Hopefully, I will have a brand new wall featuring a small window and recycled french doors we got from a yard sale by the end of the weekend.

For fun this week... oh yes we PLAYED!

We took a drive up to the end of our road... 

 It ends at one of the prettiest campgrounds in the Sequoia National Forest Park.  Ladybug Creek Campground.  

 Along the route we were flanked by calves and cows.  Lots of beautiful moo moos.

Then, we took a drive up to a ranch to take a look at a young bred jersey cow for sale.

There was a setback in my plans for dairy goats this week.  The darling little Nigerian Dwarf dairy goat I was gloating about a few weeks ago, was injured by her mother and is not going to be coming to my farm afterall.

I have been waiting for two nigies since last summer and it's looking more and more like that is a dream that is not meant to be.  I am not giving up just yet though.

In the meantime, I am trying to research whether or not I can find a smaller jersey milk cow locally.  That led me to attend my first stockyard sale this morning.  I have to learn to do my own evaluation of body conditioning in dairy cattle so I can find a sound cow eventually.

We finally made it to the local nursery that everyone raves about late yesterday.

  I was very pleased.  It's such a clean environment and it was full of healthy plants...

I found so many wonderful bareroot fruit trees.  I had to resist the urge to overdo it.  I am going to be planting these by myself this week so I stopped at ten, for now.

I got fresh eating and cooking varieties for apples, peach, cherry, nectarine and apricot.  I then got a pear and plum for my hubby.  I plan to go back soon.  They will be getting boysenberries, blackberries, and grapes next week.

We got home just as the sun was about to set so I put them into moist soil temporarily, until I decide where to start my orchard..  Now, to watch the sun as it moves across my yard and within the giant oaktree canopy.  I need to select a spot that offers atleast 6 preferably 8+ hours of direct sun light daily...

Well, I could blather on and on for hours and bore you to death with all of my projects.  We are warm, well fed and happy on our little mountain.  I hope you are well this week too.  Now let's get hopping!

Heidi

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses are:

Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House 

Dolly of Hibiscus House and me of course!

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!

 Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop! 

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals,  quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the  Linky tools space to your  Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop! 

 DON'T BE SHY~  

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop! If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too! 
As always, thank you for your continued participation and welcome new friends and followers!

Yours, in farmgirl spirit.
Deb, Heidi and Dolly

    

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #90

Welcome back friends!

A STAR is born...

Meet Lokelani (Heavenly Rose).  Born to Joyful Hearts Napua on New Years Day.  She's a twin.  This little girl will soon be the foundation of our new Nigerian Dwarf dairy goat herd here at White Wolf Summit Farm.  Fern and Jeff, the owners of Joyful Hearts Farm (my Nigie mentors) have graciously agreed to keep baby Lokelani with her family until she and another little doeling (not yet born) are ready to come to their forever home here at our farm.

We have quite a bit of work to do yet, in preparation of these beautiful little girls.  We need to fence the pasture and prepare them a new home and yard.  We also have to find two experienced livestock guardian dogs.  We are preparing to work with the Great Pyrenees Rescue of Northern California to start fostering (as soon as our fences are up) so we can get adult LGDs that will work successfully with goats and poultry.

In the meantime, unpacking continues and plans for remodeling do too.  We ordered a kitchen full of "in stock" hickory cabinets and when they arrive at the big box store Jerry will pick them up and install them himself to save some money.  We are waiting for my Christmas/Birthday/Anniversary present to arrive too- a dual drainboard farmhouse sink.  I can hardly wait to have it for harvest season.  Outside, Jerry is making good progress using his Dad's old tractor to build a nice road down to the river, from the house.

It's been sunny and clear for about five days and things are drying out nicely.  I plan to walk around the entire property to sketch and measure the terrain to help me determine where to plant what.  It's starting to look like the garden, orchard, and livestock are all going to be housed above the house adjacent to the large 5 acre pasture.  That seems the most economical and efficient use of space to me.  I can fence it all at once to get them safe, and go about sectioning it all off as time and money permits in the future.

My next task is to make cafe curtains for all my new windows.  Okay, sorry for rambling on...  

Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses are:

Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House

Dolly of Hibiscus House and me of course!

Farmgirls love anything to do with homesteading, keeping chicken's, embroidering, sewing, knitting, spinning, quilting, natural home remedies for health care and cleaning, horses, goats, cows, organic gardening and cooking, caring for their loved ones and friends and are community minded. Re-purposing and UP-cycling are high on their list of " fun things to do too! FARM-BOYS like to join in from time to time and we are glad to have'm. 

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the Linky tools space to your Farmgirl Friday post.3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop!

DON'T BE SHY~

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop!

We want to get to know you better! 

Have a great week and I'll see you on the hop! 

Thanks to all who participate and welcome new linker- uppers!

If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too! If this is your first visit, come on back and join the hop! Thank you all for an amazing 2012 and for your continued participation!

Love,

Deb, Dolly, and Heidi

Have a Happy New Year!  

May 2013 be your best year ever.

The Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #89

A Christmas Story…

We moved into our home two weeks ago and quickly realized that the old Wedgewood cookstove was not working properly.  

After calling every appliance repair business within two counties and finding nobody willing or able to tackle this vintage stove, we were feeling a little down.   Christmas was just a few days away, and I was very nervous.  It’s expensive to eat out all the time and our budget is tight so I had to fix this.   

In desperation, I reached out to an internet antique stove parts company in hopes that they may have a name for me and they did, Jerry of Jerry and Michael’s Appliances.   Jerry is a repairman with Wedgewood experience, and he was willing to come up to our mountain; about an hour from his city, to repair it.  Experience, and within driving distance! Imagine that.

I liked him immediately.  He was an older gentleman, in his late 80s and he has more than 50 years of experience working with these old stoves.  He brought an assistant to help him with the elbow grease.  He spoke softly, and took the time to explain everything to me and his assistant Chris (whom he was training) as he went along.  Our old stove had more than a few problems.  One by one Jerry and Chris isolated and repaired/replaced every broken item until they had this old stove licked. 

The job took several hours to knock out so we had a lot of time to sit, listen and watch the magic happen.  There were a few expensive parts broken that had to be replaced.  Luckily, he brought lots of Wedgewood parts.  Jerry taught me how to properly clean and maintain this great old stove so things don’t break again.  He later told me that if I follow his instructions this stove will outlast me because they don’t make them like this anymore.   

I could have listened to Jerry explain things all day.  He reminisced about the good old days a bit too.  Jerry grew up with an old wood/gas Wedgewood stove in his Mother’s kitchen and he later bought her one almost just like mine.  These are special stoves to him too, and it made him smile just to see one being used today. 

At the end of the day we had to say our goodbyes and thank Jerry and Chris for their hard work.  The guys had one more repair to do before they could call it a night and drive back to their town. 

Our old Wedgewood works fantastic now.  It baked up some perfect sugar cookies for Christmas, a few wonderful chicken dinners, and it heats up water for tea so quickly I can hardly believe it.  I am planning to use the old griddle for the first time tomorrow morning for some hotcakes… 

Jerry and Chris may not realize it, but they saved my Christmas and I will forever be grateful to them for not only fixing my broken stove, but to Jerry for taking the time to teach me how to identify what’s wrong with my stove so I can replace the parts myself, if they're no available.  

Nobody else would have gone to that much time and trouble to help me keep my kitchen running smooth.  Jerry was my Christmas Angel this year and his service was a blessing.  I pray the Lord blesses Jerry and Chris and sends them many more Wedgewoods to repair.

Have a wonderful and safe New Year’s farmgirls and boys!

It’s YOUR turn to link up and share!

Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals,  quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the  Linky tools space to your  Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

4.) Enter up to three entries per hop! 

 DON'T BE SHY~  

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop!

We want to get to know you better!

Have a great week and I'll see you on the hop!

 Thanks to all who participate and welcome new linker- uppers!

 If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!  If this is your first visit, come on back and join the hop!

Thank you all for your continued participation! I'll see you on the hop! 

Please don't forget to check out my co-hosts blogs- 

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop Founding Farmgirl 

Deb of Deborah Jean's Dandelion House blog

and 

the incredibly talented 

Dolly of Hibiscus House blogs...

P.S. Don't forget about YOUR Farmgirl Friday Recipe Box on Pinterest! Deb's adding new recipes each week!  It's become a terrific resource for meal planning!

The Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #89

Howdy Friends! 

I have a stable internet connection again. Yippee!  I had hoped to be able to use my cell phone as a wi-fi hotspot, but that's not very reliable during heavy rains as I found out recently.  The only internet service available this far up on the mountain was satellite (which is metered) so I will have to learn to use fewer words I guess. Lol.  Anyway, I am back up and running and ready to report all of our homestead progress.

Since our move things have been moving right along.  I figured out the fancy woodstove and can keep it simmering all through the night to keep the chill off.  My hens and roosters have settled into the new farmyard nicely.   

The Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #88

Merry Christmas Friends

I have been away from this keyboard for a long time it seems. I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms.  We don't yet have an internet connection at the house, but hope to be connected by next week's hop; in time to link up a few of my own holiday posts.  In the meantime, here's a little bit of what we've been working on around our new farm...

Since we moved in (about a week ago) we found a few of the home's appliances uncooperative.  Our wall furnace, both bathtubs, the kitchen sink, water heater, shower pan, oven, and a few overhead lights were in need of repair.  

Please don't worry about us.  We're not boohooing.  We have been blessed with the help of a few really kind and experienced appliance repairmen and things have been working out better than we could have imagined.

Monday was the first night we got to sleep inside our new home.  Hooray!  It was amazing to sleep in a real bed again.  I am excited to report that I am now cooking and baking inside my new-to-me kitchen instead of the travel trailer- just in time for Christmas Eve baking too.  Yay!  Our home came with a large wood stove for an alternative heat source so we are staying toasty warm while we wait for a new wall furnace.

We are taking it all in stride as best we can and are learning to laugh at these little things.  We are both healthy, our kids and extended family are well and we are all going to be together for Christmas. Nothing else really matters, does it.

Heidi

As promised, til I can upload new images and share complete posts... here's the weekly Farmgirl Friday guest post from our very own Deb, farmgirl extraordinaire, and founder of the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop.  Thanks Deb!

"Welcome to the Christmas Edition of the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop # 88!

The place where we gather to flaunt our farmgirl/boy spirit every Friday no matter what!

  Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses are:
Heidi of My Simple Country Living 
Dolly of Hibiscus House and me of course!

 Farmgirls love anything to do with homesteading, keeping chicken's, embroidering, sewing, knitting, spinning, quilting, natural home remedies for health care and cleaning, horses, goats, cows, organic gardening and cooking, caring for their loved ones and friends and are community minded. Re-purposing and UP-cycling are high on their list of " fun things to do too! "FARMBOYS like to join in too and we are glad to have'm on board!
  This week I'm sharing a Cape Cod Christmas over on the MJF Beach Farmgirl Blog so please come by and see me there if you have a minute or two!  

 

And, a few fun posts from last weeks hop!

I loved Modern-steads Christmas Coop ! 

So fun to include the girls in the holiday hubbub!

Rebecca, of Natural Mothers Network blog shared several inspiring green Christmas posts including a tutorial for creating this darling little felt dove perched for peace. 

And, Treat and Trick author shared an easy recipe for Butterhorn Rolls that had me running fora stick of butter and apricot jam!

 A big thank you to all who participate in the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop! I'm looking forward to some down time after Christmas to sit down and enjoy your entries!

 If you have ever been a FEATURED FARMGIRL please feel free to copy and past this button and display it proudly on your blog!

 

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Holidays to all! 

Thanks for all the bloggy love in  2012! 

May this week's post find you surrounded by loved ones and experiencing the peace and joy that the Christmas season brings.  

Now let's get H-O-P-P-I-N-G- farmgirls and boys!!!

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #87

Welcome friends old and new! 

Last picture at our old place, me n' the old chicken coop

Well, this week has been amazing for us.  Our new home closed escrow less than 24 hours after our old home closed escrow.  We are the newest residents in our brand new hometown.  Us and our 15 chickens, 3 dogs, and a beehive.

We are still sleeping and cooking in the travel trailer, but that is bound to change soon.  Jerry completed our new chicken coop and yard and the girls and boys moved in a few days ago.  Other than some residual horse and cattle manure that needs to be removed, the new place will do just fine.   Our only source of heat in the new place is an old wood stove right now, but it's doing the job so far.  It's supposed to freeze tonight so I am ending this short update to go finish covering some newly discovered water pipes outside.  

I will be getting internet service next week and I plan to add a few posts to catch up on our busy month so far...  Until then,  please have a HAPPY week ahead farmgirls and boys.  

 Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals,  quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the  Linky tools space to your  Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!
4.) Enter up to three entries per hop! 

 DON'T BE SHY~  

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop!

We want to get to know you better! 
Have a great week and I'll see you on the hop! 
 Thanks to all who participate and welcome new linker- uppers!

 If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!  If this is your first visit, come on back and join the hop!

Thank you all for your continued participation! I'll see you on the hop! 
Love,
Deb  

PS. Don't forget about YOUR Farmgirl Friday Recipe Box on Pinterest! I'm adding new recipes each week!  It's become a terrific resource for meal planning here at Dandelion House!THANK YOU! 

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #86

Howdy friends! Whew doggies! Where has this week gone? Sorry to leave you chomp'n at the bit to get your posts linked up for the 86th Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop! Here's where you get to meet up with your farmgirl/guy friends over the garden gate, in the barn or the backyard farmyard and some of the best down home kitchens and craft rooms in the blogosphere!

Let's get right to it shall we? But first, a big welcome to our new participants, friends and followers and this week's featured Farmgirl's !

  Your Farmgirl Friday Hostesses are:
Heidi of My Simple Country Living 
Dolly of Hibiscus House and me of course!

 Kelsey of Keeping up with Kelsey shared her enviable basement grocery store! I'm not so sure she should have done that as we all just might descend on her during a bad storm! What a fabulous job of home organization and preparedness! Way to go Kelsey!

Black Fox Homestead has started a twelve month series of their first year as homesteaders. Brilliant idea! They're sharing from the heart right from the start! 

Cow Love 

Robyn of The Ranch Wife Chronicles shared a touching November Poem alongside her amazing Farm Photos Photography. 

Now, it's your turn to link up for your weekly dose of farmgirl soul food!

 Here are the rules for the Farmgirl/guy Blog Hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals,  quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the  Linky tools space to your  Farmgirl Friday post.

3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!
4.) Enter up to three entries per hop! 

 DON'T BE SHY~  

Be sure to leave a note if you're new to the hop!

We want to get to know you better! 
Have a great week and I'll see you on the hop! 
 Thanks to all who participate and welcome new linker- uppers!

 If you haven't clicked that follow button yet, please join us and be sure to stop by our FACEBOOK page and like us there too!  If this is your first visit, come on back and join the hop!
Thank you all for your continued participation!
Love,
Deb