Happy Fall Y'all!

 Well, it's fall on the farm and the chores have changed with the season and the lesser day light has us rising earlier and going to "roost" earlier too. In the early mornings before the sun has come up over the ridge and the air is still crisp and frosty, I go out to gather kindling from the woodshed, the smell of hickory wood smoke and the sounds of farm around me- wild turkeys gobbling in the woods and the horses neighing at me from the barn and pastures- I love this time of the morning.

Mama has kept busy these past months drawing and re-drawing the Homestead Blessings Coloring Book. Every page is hand sketched and is a work of homesteading art- each drawing reflecting our life on the homestead and many drawings are memories and have stories behind them. We are very excited about it being finished and available now, just in time for the holiday gift giving season.

You did a beautiful job, Mom!

Earlier this fall we spent some time on the back roads up on the ridge tops gathering wild muskadine and fox grapes.

We made quite a few jars of jelly from these gatherings.

Almost every day we make at least one or two handwoven homestead potholders.

These potholders sure are handy around the kitchen. We love using them!

The other day we went out to gather the purple cone flower to make our tonics and such...

We ended up capturing some gorgeous pictures of bees on the purple cone...

The newest member of the farm...

A beautiful 17month old registered Quarter Horse gelding...

who is a beautiful red dun and a sweet little guy

Hannah and I look forward to training him this winter

His name is Pistol.

Our neighbors beautiful cows

What a pretty Jersey girl!

Here's a parting shot from the homestead, the peaceful creek meandering along, the tire swing hanging on the sugar maple, brilliant autumn colors... simple homestead blessings!

Put Your Chickens To Work

Dear friends,
    We hope this video will encourage you to let your chickens make your compost! They love to scratch anyway, so when you give them the materials, anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, you should be harvesting compost helpful to your garden and plants.
Thank you all for your encouraging comments!

Happy homesteading,

Vicki

"It's Lambing Season!"

 

 One of our ewe's, Lassie, lambed in December!

 It's always so much fun to have babies on the farm!

 The little ewe, Holly, and Mama

 It's supper time!

Our other ewe, Starr, had just one lamb, we call her Cocoa.

 Getting kisses from Holly.

 Winter days brings out sewing, stitching and crocheting to be worked on in front of the woodstove. 

The finished product, a crochet rug made from rags!

 Blessings from the Homestead.