Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year! Anyone seen my hamster?

I'm sitting here watching the weather and wondering,is that stuff coming down further or is it just me? I think it is.Sooner or later here in Central Texas we are gonna get it.We have only had a couple of dustings from these systems moving through.I see right now when we get home(Alabama) there is not going to be a shortage of water,better get my rain barrels together.

You know how people make these New Year Resolution? Well,I don't make any cause usually I break them anyway.This coming year will be full of hard work.Clearing and cleaning the property,planting a new garden,fixing up the cabin,watching to see what the heck Washington is going to do,and just try to be content.That's not that much to ask is it?

I went thru some of your blogs and wished you a Happy New Year and if I didn't comment well Happy New Year! Let's all try to make 2013 great,irrreguardless of what is going on in this crazy world,I know I am.Sooner or later that dang hamster is gonna have to come home.(some of you know what I mean lol).If not,the wheel is there but the hamster is gone.My screwy mind.

I found a site where there were alot of tiny houses.I spent hours last night looking through it.I thought my brain was gonna explode!I got some really great ideas.Some pictures had them sitting in snow and they were so pretty.I loved it.Others were in the woods.I'm going to take as many pictures as I can and yes I'll include myself in them.I am so excited about this move now even though I wasn't at first cause I do like it out here but after much thought this is what I have always wanted to do.And it will be nice to be close to family cause that's the kind of person I am.

I told hubstead that within two years I wanted to be some what or completely dependant on ourselves,I don't know if it will happen but I'd like to see it happen.I know it may take that long to get the compost bin going good,get the chicken coop and chickens clucking.He still ask me do we have to have chickens?They stink he says.I tell him yes we do, you like eggs and I cook with them.Besides it more convient having eggs available here than spend it in gas and going to the grocery store.I'm hoping to turn him,maybe have to use the force on him more!

Well this is gonna be the last post for 2012 so I hope you stay safe and have a Happy New Year!









Friday, December 28, 2012

What to Do?

I've been getting my seed catalogs in this month and trying to decide what to plant.Not even there yet and making plans!But that's just me.I have packed up more boxes and need so many more.I decided not to get rid of too much because you know when you get rid of something you are going to either be looking for it later,forgetting you got rid of it,or you going to need it.Who knows right? The sad part is my clothes,I've gained so much weight here that I can't wear what's in my closet.Do I get rid of those clothes or keep them?Oh the agony HA!.

Back to the seed catalogs. I still am looking for more flowers to plant.I got all the veggie stuff going on but I don't have enough flowers.I can't make up my mind if I want to plant roses,which we like,and iris and lilies.I know we may have a deer or two passing thru and that has me concerned.North Alabama has a large deer population.I like the trailing vines like morning glories.

We are in the market for a wood burning stove.We've looked at a few but hadn't made a decision on what to get.I want the small one because it's a small cabin and we don't need something that is going to sweat you out,hubstead has his eye on a bigger one.

I'm still having a thought problem about our septic system that's gonna need to be installed and soon.I don't know exactly how long we can be without it before something is said.There it's going to cost $1500.00(my cousin is gonna help with the install) and that's something we aren't going to have right off the bat.Any suggestions? The ground will be hard right now and we can get away without it for awhile but if they know we are there they will want it installed.This is the only thing that will keep us from being bothered.Everything else will be at this point bliss!So if anyone can give me some advise I'd love it.They are laxed there but not too laxed ya know.


It's still icy cold here and will be for awhile.I won't let Orion stay out too long even during the day.Yes,I worry like a human mom.I am very particular about him.I can't wait to get him in a bigger yard,he's getting fat but I am one to talk lol.I need to get rid of this mess too.The closer it comes to moving the more nervous I am getting.I just want it to be over with.I talked to my brother and he's is anxious for us to get there too.


















Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!

Woke up this morning to a red dawn.This usually means bad weather coming this way.North of here,we're suppose to snow and maybe some of it may get this way.We got a 20% going on.I've seen this so called 20% here for rain and we got 100,so we will see.
No doubt the cold is coming though.It's going to really cold this week and we are ready.

I've been reading blogs and seeing all the pretty trees and ornaments.I hope our tree for next year will be just as pretty.There really wasn't any use in putting one up this year because of the move and besides we have to find out how much room we have in the cabin to put one up for next year.I know it's gonna be small lol.

I want to say Merry Christmas to everyone,Myself being from the south that's how I was raised.Knowing that America has different cultures and not knowing what the traditions are then however you celebrate this season.

I started this post this morning and now its getting to where the sun is soon going down.We are having Ham for our Christmas dinner.We switch up sometimes from having turkey for Thanksgiving and ham for Christmas and the other way around.Depends really on what is on sale or what the grocery store is offering in that way.We do pretty good finding good deals out here.But the Ham is going in tonight.We prepare everything the night before and warm it up the next day,not only does it leave the day open but not alot of mess to clean up.Our motto "get it out of the way".We are all set if the cold weather gets bad and it gets icy or snows for the week.YAH!

Well everyone I'm off here for a couple days and I want to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Chicken Dinner


Yep we did,last night we had Chicken Parmesan and this is what it looked like and boy it was good.I don't always cook with thinner chicken and with this recipe I wouldn't advise it but we did this time.I prefer the thicker chicken breast.I grabbed my camera while hubstead sprinkled the cheese on top and he asked me what I was doing.I told him I thought all of you would like to see what it looked like after it was cooked so I was taking a picture.It's addicting and almost gone lol.One thing about this one,if you put it in the refrigerator and let it set over night,the next day it's even better because the chicken and spinach soaks up some of the sauce.WOW.

We are having a nice sunrise over Texas this morning and cold again.


It's 38 degrees and clear so far.I've been watching the weather channel and see all that snow that is only a couple of states away and it makes me shiver and glad we aren't getting it.I can deal with the cold but that's alot of snow!

Well just a couple of early saturday pictures for you to see.Have a great day!
















Friday, December 21, 2012

Baskets are in!









This one I've had for awhile and I got it at a market for when they were selling them for a small donation for the needy.




The big basket is actually a basket for potted plants,may have to think of something else to do with this cause it is too nice for that.They are fairly good size I was surprised!The dark small basket is made of metal.Gosh I am so pleased.One word (tilts head)Ebay lol.$20.00 and free shipping.We also got our 9th season for NCIS which finishes off last year season.I am starting to feel better now,you know when you lose something and you finally get it back but better? I want to get some smaller ones but I may go ahead and make some myself.I don't have a bread basket yet.

oh I forgot to mention tonight for dinner,chicken parmesan(earlier post),oh YAH!

Well have a great FRIDAY!May your Christmas be Merry and Happy.









Thursday, December 20, 2012

One of those days

I've had one of those days that I should of just stayed in bed.Got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,can't function.So for the rest of the evening I'm gonna relax and try to breathe!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A Nasty Morning

I was sleeping so peacefully this morning.Nice and warm under the covers and in the right spot on the bed,I was dreaming such good dreams.When I went to bed I was thinking wow it would be nice if it was snowing outside and I guess I started dreaming about it.Hubstead had stayed up and washed a load of clothes and I guess I had been in bed about an hour when I got a nasty awakening.We have drainage problems here in the park and it seem that the pipes were smelling again.It woke me up alittle and I covered my nose thinking it will go away in a few minutes like it always had.NOPE,oh my gosh it was getting worse.So I was half asleep and got up and went into the bathroom where the source of the smell was coming from and what did I see? The sewer line had backed up right into the shower,the tub,and the commode.YUCK and I about starting gagging.I made a mad dash for the kitchen and hubstead was asking what was wrong and I ask him "don't you smell that?"it's the sewer.I got the bleach and went back into the bathroom and poured most of the half gallon down the toilet,shower and tub.I don't like bleach at all and I didn't like doing that but I had to do something.I only use bleach when it is neccessary.I deemed it neccessary this morning.
So far the commode is flushing better and all of the water drains out of the pipes.I hope this is the only problem today.

I was watching a show Frontier Alaska and one of the guys on there has never had an indoor toilet.Yeah I see why now.He said he never understood why people had their toilets inside their homes lol.Some of you may have watched this show,I loved it.
If it wasn't for the cold,oh yeah I'd be living like that too.It would be better than what I smelled this morning.

I ordered a hank of beads and some delica beads and got them in.I'm trying to renew some of my stash so I won't have to order for awhile.All I'm waiting on now is my baskets to come in.Well that was my thrill to start the day off with.I did go back to sleep but it took awhile so I slept good too cause now it really smells clean in there lol!


Oh just a quick add-Hubstead has finally got his 5 years in working for this company!Now we'll see how much longer we stay.We need to stay til March I don't know if that is going to happen but he's going to try to.The more money we have the better off we will be.









Monday, December 17, 2012

Off Time

Can you believe this? Hubstead is getting two weeks off from work!They are shutting down the plant here and he gets to get some needed time off.This will help alot because we got to go find some boxes to pack some stuff up with.I really have been needing his help for this.He can pack his office stuff up and label the boxes,that way he knows where it is.I got our closet to clean out of old clothes and shoes.It will be fun I told him and boy the look he gave me LOL.

I have been trying to find something to take home for my brother and sister-in-law from here.He likes to fish and hunt and she is into pretty much the things I like which is a whole range of stuff.It's hard to find something for someone when you don't know.I thought of a Southwest blanket,some pottery and some spices but I want to give them something they both can use.I'll know it when I see it.LOL

I bought a bunch of baskets from a guy off Ebay.I love baskets and they come in handy around our house.


As small as my kitchen is I'm going to find a piece of a 4" tree trunk and put dowels in different places and hang my baskets on it.I am going to get some more if I find them.The kitchen in the cabin is going to be very small and I have to figure out "how" to use the space I'll have.I'm not really thinking so much of cabinets right now but other alternative means of storing stuff.I know this table we have will take up alot of room so I might end up getting rid of it and put in a eat-in bar.

I went and made a small order for more beads,yep,me and my beads.I also picked up some yarn to do my kitchen towels with.I'm going to crochet the tops and hang them.Yeah the ones with the chickens.I told hubstead when we get settled down from this move and all the other stuff that has to come first,I'm setting down and doing some beadwork and crocheting.I would really like to get my store opened back up on Ebay but I'm not going to hold my breath on that one.Up in Russellville they have a small flea market people can sit and sell their "stuff" but I'm not a sitting person.I don't like the crowds and you sometimes see people who you really don't want to run into.Yeah I got people like that.I may find an alternate route for selling.I don't know when we will have internet service yet or eletricity so it's up in the air about that.This is just something I thought of.

We're hoping the winter isn't going to be too cold in Alabama this year,it seems to be shaping up as being fairly mild.Our major problem that we see right now is trying to get the cabin paperwork signed before we get there.They won't let us do it,yet.Because it's one of those rent to own things.If not that means we will have to find something to stay in for almost two weeks or rent a motel room which is 30 miles away,or stay in a tent.There is no law there that says you can't camp out on your own property.We decided to put our things in the shed and I really don't like the idea of leaving it there without some kind of security.So this has been heavy on my mind.

























Saturday, December 15, 2012

Does this sounds Familiar?

I usually don't write two blogs in one day.But for some reason this day it was different.I had mentioned to hubstead about people doing their own homeschooling of their children because of these shootings.I thought that maybe we are going backwards instead of forwards.After all we are growing our own food,canning,making our own clothes,staying around the farm,raising animals for meat and milk and eggs,oh and cheese.Why go to the grocery store anymore.This keeps a person so busy there is no time for T.V. or even being on the internet unless you want to look something up.Back then it was talking to more experienced farmers to learn what was wrong with your garden or livestock.Some still do this too.If you wanted to go to "town" you just got into your horse and buggy and go.Getting close to that because of the gas prices if they go up again.During the winter if you were fit,you used snowshoes to walk on.If not there was always a sleigh or horseback or wagon.Back then it was to survive and feed your family.So much has changed in our world now.The movement of getting back to our basics are growing stronger in alot of people and I think that is where we are headed.I hope so.I feel like people are are just dead dogged tired of living the way they are,we aren't made to live in this world as slaves to money.It's nice to have, comes in handy to buy those special things every now and then but not like what it has done to the human race.

In most religions we are told to be in Harmony with the earth,God put us here to take "care"of the earth not destroy it.We are to keep it clean and bountiful and green and to teach our children what each living thing is.To show compassion and restraint.To help when we can.To not be selfish and give what we can.I don't know about you but I would rather have this than what I have now.To say wait a minute this isn't working.If this is what it takes then so be it.I would rather have my peace and quiet and a compassionate attitude than the all the money in the world.Someone told me if you aren't happy with the way you live then change it.Looks like that is around the corner.Do what you love to do.Live the way you were meant to live.You have one life and only one.And FYI I am not afraid of anything in this world except one thing and that's if I do something wrong I get the wrath of God on me. Yes I do believe this ,it has been proven to me over and over.Since we have committed to this adventure we are starting,everything has fallen into place like it's meant to be.God gives you only as much as you can handle.He puts you where you are suppose to be.This is what I believe.


Ok now I'm done I just wanted to share something that was on my mind ever since I woke up this afternoon.I wonder what it's going to be like to live like my ancestors did.But with a few changes?








What I know about Mental Illness

Ok this is going to be really hard to explain but hang in there with me.I am using myself as an example of this real story because I DO understand the state of mind the shooter was in.

As a child I was traumatized from age 5 to 14 and by the time I got into my teens I was totally out of control.Back then they called it schizophrenia but I could not talk to the doctors about what was really going on for fear of reprisal from the person who was abusing me.Later I was on Valiums to keep myself calmed down which lead to a attempted suicide.I was in a marriage I didn't want to be in and he also abused me.

Then came the drugs and alcohol including LSD,cocaine. Until I met my husband I am now married to.He told me it was either him or them.I chose him.Which I am happy about the choosing him too.Later a doctor that I gave my family history to told me I had a chemical imbalance and that is where the Bipolar came into the picture.You can look it up on Yahoo Health.Please look this up and get an understanding of the disorder.

Now let me explain the basics of trying to find a doctor to treat you.Remember the insurance companies come in the picture too.

If you have a doctor to treat you,great,you are in like flint.But these doctors charge alot of money to treat you for mental illness.Mine?for 15 minutes $90.00 bucks.Think if I wanted an hour? I only get maybe 10 to 15 minutes with my docotor to tell him what is going on,why?,I'm on medicaid and this is all I have right now.I get my meds but even these aren't working.So I have to keep going back and going back and be a guinea pig to find something that works.In the last two years since being treated I have gained 60 pounds off these meds.

It is expensive to take a person whether it's a child or teenager or an adult to see these doctors and then the insurance companies tell the doctors what they can do and not do.What they can prescribe to the patients.I have a book on these meds.I feel for parents when something is wrong with their children and can't get them help,it's a hard and cruel world out there.

Now here is another factor in this equation,parents who both work and even then they can't make ends meet because of bills being so high.What do you choose,food ,car payment,medicine,utilities to be paid?Little is left over by the time it's all said and done.If you have regular insurance you still have to pay the 20% that is left over.Which at times these people don't have.

Single parents with children are hit hardest,what does this have to do with mental illness? I tell you,it's called the stress factor.Parents get under stress which spirals down to the point that depression sets in and then a don't care attitude comes about.It happens it's a fact.Now we have a depressed parent and the child feeds off this and looks for other routes to feel wanted.This is what is wrong with our world now.We can't cure everyone but if you know someone having a problem you can help just by being there for them.Being supportive.

This chemical imbalance works like this-from my view-you live in a euphoric state of mind.Somethings are real some isn't.You can also hallucinate with an imbalance,thinking someone is out to get you or you think you are invinceable.You get the feeling you can get away with things and no one will notice.Anger is off the charts and you take it out on others.You also will mutilate yourself as in cutting yourself cause you want to "feel" something(which I have never done).And that comes down to not being able to "feel" because you shut down inside or numb yourself to the outside world therefore becoming antisocialable.It's a hellish state of mind and it's a place anyone would not want to be.But I've been there and back.

This is what is happening to people.This is the new generation of people here and it's here to stay if we don't change the system.This is reality people.We see it we hear it we try to hide from it but it won't go away.Unless Congress and the States come up with something different,we are in for a hard ride.I am still having to work out my state of mind,but it will get better when I get home because the doctors there are better than here.

I'm not going to get into the gun control issue or what I think should or should not be done.Only to say this,my husband is trying to get his FFL and on the paperwork,you have to have a background check and not be mentally ill.Beside most of these shootings have occurred with the person taking the guns from someone else.That enough said.


Have a great Saturday and we need to pray for the children and teachers and the parents of these children who lost their lives to this brutal shooting.














Friday, December 14, 2012

Kitty and Orion Never MOM!


Hubstead found this kitty at work and brought it home.It was a sweet kitten and very lovable.It must have had a run in with dogs because he did not like Orion.I brought this kitten in and when it seen Orion well I got the worse end of it.I now have scratches on my face and head(yes head) and back where it decided that was the safest place to go.I took it into hubsteads office and shut the door.Meanwhile Orion is having a fit.So he gets mad and decides to leave kitty alone and stay right up under my feet.When hubstead gets home I hope his office isn't a mess lol.Anyway he found someone from work to take kitty home because we see right now Orion won't put up having a cat in the house.I know Orion is a good mouse catcher so I guess we won't get one for the farm.He can sniff out a mouse like crazy,I've seen him do it.


Today we are going to our local movie place and pickup another series of NCIS(we love that show) and going to get some fish and chips or shrimp or something in that line.I've been watching the weather channel and I feel for the people in Arizona and New Mexico and Colorado,they are getting snow right now pretty hard.Hope they stay safe!

Have a great Friday today everyone!!!!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Chili and Anniversary

I made chili today.Something about the cold and chili always goes together.So I made a crock pot full.I can't eat chili to often,another one of those allergy things and I have to be careful.It's 26 degrees here and so cold.Even with the heat on the trailer is cool but not enough to freeze your patootie off lol.

Today is mine and hubsteads anniversary of 27 years.Been a long time uh? Well we've had our ups and downs but after awhile the road smooths out.So today we will relax and do whatever comes along and just enjoy it.It's been awhile since he has been home for it and he got lucky this year to have it off.

Monday, December 10, 2012

This was really good

Ok this was so good,I fixed it today and had to put it up and not eat all of it LOL

1 can cream of chicken
2 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 1/2 cups of FRESH mushrooms-sliced
olive oil

make enough season flour(I use onion powder,garlic powder,salt,pepper,marjoram)
I floured the chicken and cooked it in the olive oil over med/low heat until done,I added a little water into the bottom of the pan and added the mushrooms to the chicken,covered until the mushrooms were soft.Drain the excess liquid and then I added the cream of chicken and cooked until hot.I ate this with mashed potatoes and green beans.I try not to shrink my mushrooms when I cook them.These were really fat and I sliced them thick.I'm a sucker for this stuff!I've put this over rice,noodles and mash potatoes.

Thought i'd share lol!!!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Squeaky toys and Cold

Hubstead and I went to the store last night and they have all the Christmas stuff out.Since it's just him and I and Orion,we don't "buy" Christmas,not this year anyway.As we were walking around they store looking at this and that,we ended up on the dog isle.Wrong place for us to be,we always get Orion something and bring it home to him.While looking thru the toys,now Orion has never really played with store bought toys not that we haven't bought him any it's just he annilates them in a very short time so we quit buying him any and just made him some out of old socks and material well I decided to get him one of those cheapy plastic filled stocking thing with toys on the inside.It came with a ball,football,and some squeaky stuffed looking toys.And I brought it home.Orion knows what a ball is and a football,he has a big football he gets in the mood to play with.Well he has never really like the squeaky toys much,he likes to tear out the squeaky plastic thing.Well he got one tore out and I told him not to tear anymore toys up.And-he-listened!Now all he does is walks around with the squeaky toy in his mouth and makes it squeak.Driving me insane.I guess he figured since he couldn't tear it up,he'd aggravate me.Yeah he knows how to get to me too.But I was happy to see him playing with them and he was having a really good time.He picked his favorite two and leaves the others for just a quick play minute(attention span of about 1 minute),a squeak and a toss that's about it.

Dang still didn't get any yarn to do my dishcloths with!!!

We ended doing some grocery shopping,looking thru the Christmas stuff they had and you know it didn't even faze me.I personally thought that some of the stuff they have come out with is gaunty looking,this is my opinion and I can't help it lol.I like the old colors of Christmas and it's just to me has gotten out of hand.I've seen specialty stores have better stuff.I am definitely gonna let my imagination go wild when I get home and able to do Christmas next year YAH!


I got some mushrooms to fix with some chicken and chili stuff.Tonight I put on a roast in the slow cooker.I cook alot when hubstead is home,he uses alot of energy at his job and he needs the calories.He worked one job in a concrete plant and he lost so much weight I started getting worried about him.He ended up getting so sick he had to quit.
He thinks he uses energy here just wait til he gets on the homestead ha!But at least when he gets tired there he can rest when he wants to.He'll love it.I have been blessed with a hard working man.

It's getting cold here.We are getting a really cold front pushing down from the north today and it's going to be in the twenties tonight.I had to hunt down the plastic sheets I put on our windows.Makes a huge difference.They said we might have a light dusting of snow,last time it came down in buckets,hence the store run,I
always like to be prepared! I'm a plan ahead thinker on these things and always expect the unexpected,oh yeah.Well learned lessons.If it does I have fresh batteries for the camera so I can take some pictures.

I love going thru the blogs and checking out all the snow pictures.I know for some of you the snow can be a pain in the butt.Well,I'm probably gonna be thinking the same thing back home if northern Alabama get snow.But wow it's so pretty there when it does.Here if it snows,you can't even see where the road and the side of the road is,it's scary to drive like that.First time I got a dose of it was coming home and all of sudden we had whiteout conditions and I barely made it home.I slid sideways into the drive lol.Boy was I glad to be home.Back home I'll have to manuever the hills,but I really don't plan on being out in that mess if I can help it.I have been in the Colorado Rocky Mountains before in snow and it was awesome,if you have never been there,no words can explain it but only one-BEAUTIUL and dangerous too.I said at one time if I could choose where I wanted to live,that would of been the place.But now it's too expensive to live up there.Land is outrageous.Cost of living is worse.The New Mexico idea changed this past summer for me.After much looking for property there and talking to people,to me there is too many HOAs and I don't like living some where that other people can tell us what we can have and not have on our property.When I talked to the realty lady I was dealing with,she acted like she knew nothing about the HOAs rules when I think she did but just didn't want to scare away potential buyers.So that was shot to you know where,that's why we bought property back home.There,where we are going to be,one guy pretty much owns everything around us and it's alot.

Well not much ado for now but some thoughts here.So have a great Sunday and keep warm!


















Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Kitchen stuff

All my kitchen stuff I ordered came in so here a few of them.



and some close ups..

this is the stainless steel pedastle and mortar.



sugar bowl


top of sugar bowl with the veggies.


The rooster towel set,I wasn't going for the roosters but I like the colors in these.It's funny you can find roosters all over the place on things but it's harder to find hens? So this is the new stash I got going.


The cutting boards come in different catagories.They have one for veggies and fruit(green),one for raw meat(red),one for cooked meat(brown)one for dairy and cheese(white)one for raw seafood(blue/purple)one for for raw poultry&chicken(yellow).

you can find these here
http://stantontrading.com/







Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Ornaments ,beads,leatherwork

We haven't celebrated Christmas in years.Why? Well when you have only two people and a dog for the most part you have a tendency to just want to be together during that time.There has been times hubstead has had to work or just money was tight.We didn't mind it and still don't.We don't get out during these holidays,people get crazy and like to rush theirselves too much.So this year with all the packing and plans we are going to skip it again but next year is going to be totally different.Next year we'll have relatives being curious about our cabin and see what we are up to and that will feel strange cause we haven't had relatives close by in a long time.Here I have a sister who don't like me very well and won't have anything to do with me.A nephew who lives a block over who hasn't been in our house since we moved in 5 years ago.So you see how my family is.The ones in Alabama are more family oriented and will be curious about us til the new wears off lol.So once we get use to each other it will smooth out.They already know about my bipolar and it's nothing to them,they still want to see me.Most run the other way and I'm not kidding on that.

Now for the good part,I have ordered some brass rings to make my own little dreamcatcher ornaments for next year.I have these stray beads I have been saving for this project.When I get one made I'll post it. Every year I find one ornament for a tree and save them.I have one that is a wooden carved bear that I transformed into a Zuni fetish.The bear is suppose to lighten emotional burden. I'm making some little dolls and animals to hang up.It's gonna be so cute.I haven't really found anything here in Texas to get yet.I've been looking.I'd like to find something to represent us being here for these 5 years.I don't think a rattlesnake around the tree will help lol!









It has been an adventure being here going from zero,nadda,nothing,walking in the door with only what we had in our truck and then having to rent a truck to haul it back home.It's been a some what of a rough ride but it has been so worth it.



This is my doll I made all by hand.



These things have seen better days.I use to go to the PowWows(Native American gatherings) in them.

I have a great time making traditional stuff.I have a full length cape(not native) I made when hubstead and I first got married and I still have it.The things is 27 years old and I can still wear it.We are into old things like the mountainman/indian era and I try to make it as orignal as I can.Now you see why we are gonna love living off the land and a cabin.I'd love to have a log cabin but this one will do just fine.



This was a joint effort-


Some of hubsteads work-

I thought I would share some of the beadwork and hope you have enjoyed it!














Monday, December 3, 2012

Just One of "those" Days

I'm always talking about the bloggers on here to hubstead and telling him about how much I have learn over the past months.We were discussing the property last night and about all the clearing we had to do(over time yeah) and I told him about goats and sheep.I said I didn't know about getting any but it would be helpful to keep things cleared out.And then I said well I don't think so that chickens would be enough.Wow is he ever thinking,he said don't ever say never because if it came down to it we probably will.That kinda floored me.Of course he knows how much I like animals.I'm thinking right about now,mmm milk cow!

He wants a small farm tractor for the acres.He's looking forward to getting one and has his eye on one already.Who is this man? At first he was hestitant now he's talking farm tractors?Oh well I think it's great and funny.He wants to do some clearing on the trees we have and will have to have one so....


We did some running around today and by the time we got home I was already tired.So I stayed up for about an hour and finally had to lay down.That was around two I think,I got up before 10 tonight.I think I was tired.We took a trip to Lowes to look at wood burning stoves and found a possible one and took a ride over to Walmart,when we got there ,there seem to not be a lot of people but when we left,I swear some were trying to run over me with their carts.I can't stand to be around fast moving people anymore,they make me nervous.Bipolar stuff going on there.When I started sweating and my hip froze up I said lets go home lol.Really didn't get half of what I went there for in the first place.



My pestle and mortar came in today and I love it.The round crushing stick thing(ok don't laugh)its one of those words,you can just about knock somebody out with it,it's heavy as all get out! I couldn't believe the huge box it came in either.I laughed about that.I had one before made of wood(that was a long time ago),I upgraded.Now if I could only win the stainless steel kitchen I'm gonna be all set lol.Oh well.My next thing coming in is two cutting boards,one for veggies and one for meat.

Well that's how my day went,not much on the homefront going on.The day started out crappy because of a dogfight outside in the alley next to the trailer(not my dog) but a neighbors and a pitbull.I had to call the police and they called animal control for me because it was so early.I have never seen this pitbull but he may have been a "drop off" here in the park.We have alot of them here.After animal control was here I didn't see the dog anymore so I hope they got him.Any other time I wouldn't of done that but it was looking pretty bad for the other dog.We have to go outside our fenced in area to go to our cars and one fear I have is going to mine and one come around the trailer at me.It's been done before.Scary uh?

Ok so much for my rambling today have a great tomorrow!














Sunday, December 2, 2012

Contest entries,YAH!

I have a FB account and I like entering contests(as some of you know),soooo I entered a bunch this morning LOL.Two were for kitchen appliances and the others were for different things. I got Orion some dog cookies and dogfood(free).He probably won't eat the things cause he's so picky.Dang dog.
But I'm trying any way.I have no idea what I would do if I won a complete kitchen setup or two, probably pass out and break my hip!But wouldn't it be nice?(not the hip part). Then I wouldn't have to worry about getting stuff for my kitchen in the cabin HA!I am ordering mostly stainless steel stuff cause it's so easy to clean.I was looking for one of those pot holders that hang from the ceiling til hubstead said something about it may not hold from the beams.We'll see.By the way the kitchen setup is stainless steel too.
I've never really "won" anything but it's great to dream uh?

Well this has been the highlight of my morning.Hope your day goes great today!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Thoughts on some Stuff

I've been on here on and off today and this morning while I was on here,I was also watching a show about 7 things you shouldn't eat.Well what an eye opener considering I already knew some of them.These are the things that make you "fat".Ok.Can you guess them?
Sugar and sugar substitutes(yeah that's right)
Soy-lets admit it that stuff is nasty no matter what way or even how you say it.
Peanuts-eat other nuts instead.
Corn-GMO is really bad for you duh I knew that.
Eggs-So much for the chickens.
Dairy-including cheese AHHHH
gluten-yeah we know about this too.

Now it hit me while I was watching this(by the way I am not promoting anything here)that almost everything we consume in the supermarket has this crap in it.You can't pickup anything in the so called"middle isles" of a grocery store without most products having any or all of these ingredients in them.What's a person to do?I agreed with her on these things because long time ago I had a physical therapist tell me the same thing.We've been told to stay away from the middle isles of a grocery store before BUT when most Americans are trying to feed their families the higher price food isn't feesable to buy.So therefore people shop in the middle isles and we all know that there is alot of goodies in them and the cheap stuff.

I can truly understand the organic prices in these stores and I am wondering what Americans would buy if those prices came down?Wouldn't it make more sense to up the other prices and lower organic?Yeah that's the problem it does make sense but for who?

I would love to go to the store and buy organic veggies and fruits but.....
So that was one of the reasons to buy property and grow our own. I know most people can't grow their own because of space.So I want to tell you I will give anything I have to family,friends,or even strangers anything out of the garden because I know what it's like to live like that and how bad you want to eat right.I know I do right now but as always food here is high and it's gonna get higher.I have always shared with people because I know things will go good for us when we do.That's the way it's suppose to be.Oh she never mentioned honey or non gluten stuff.mmm

Irreguardless we are going organic and al la natural(take it how you want it lol)







Thursday, November 29, 2012

My Take on Lotteries

Ok who hasn't played them? I have never won anything from them.Not a number picking person I guess.I can get one maybe two of the numbers but that's it.So I quit playing unless I can remember to pick up a slip to fill out when I am at the store.No biggie lol.Then I remember about ALL them taxes that come with winning.They will slice and dice you to death on them things no matter how you receive your winnings. No I don't think I would like to win the lottery.It's a dangerous thing for normal working people to all of a sudden win that much money.They become wild and crazy on the spending and yes they will spend.Most accountants(you really need to get one)will say spend this much and invest the rest.Do you really want to invest your money in the market NOW? Can you imagine what the taxes are going to be in the upcoming years for millionaires?OMG No.The only way to keep what you won is to move to another country and give up your citizenship and I won't do that.So I am happy being who I am and what I have cause this is the way God wants me to be.No more no less.Besides do you know what kind of damage a person with Bipolar could do with a wad of lottery winnings?LOL You have to be me to get this humor.I'll stay poor thankyou very much.


I have however won around a thousand dollars on the scratch offs over the years.I kinda like those.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Sugar bowl and Stainless Steel stuff

It's starting to look alot like fall here in west Texas.Our local trees are turning a pretty shade of yellow.I would take a picture but most of them are in front a trailer or two.This time change has messed up our clocks alittle and now it's getting dark early I have to keep checking the clocks to see what time it is.

They changed hubsteads days and now he has more time off maybe we can get some things done around the house.Still have alot to do as far as packing.We are planning on going to Lowes and pick up a wood burning stove for the cabin.After much thought we think this is the way to go for now as far as keeping warm.March and April can still be cool in the south and has been known to snow in March.So I don't want to take any chances.I have noticed it has still been raining there so I am excited about getting the rain barrels setup.

I have gotten over my cold ,it took a week and half to get rid of.It seems it's going around and I talked to some people who have had it.They said the same thing.You start feeling better then it makes you feel nasty again.The only thing that is bothering me is this dull headache I've had but hopefully it will go away.I didn't eat too much but drank alot of fluids while I was down and I didn't drink my usual coffee amount,I'm thinking it could just be a caffeine headache.

I ordered a sugar bowl finally.It has little veggies around side and top and a stainless steel mortar and pedestal for my herbs I'm going to grow.



Keep your sugar bowl full and it brings your home good luck,so I heard,works for me lol.I decided I am going for the veggie look in my kitchen.




If anyone does their own herbs how about an opinion on the ss pedestal because I have been told some herbs don't do well mixing in these.The reason I got this is one is because almost everything in my kitchen is stainless steel except my mixing bowls which is next.Stainless steel is so much easier to clean.I have pots and pans I adore for this reason.I think once we get home I may try to get my cast iron back again.We have a cast iron dutch oven with the legs,which,I am not real fond of.It doesn't sit on top of a stove too well.

I got a feeling we are going to have to do the off grid thing for awhile so I have been reading on the internet and trying to figure out what we need and don't need.We'll have heat and water(fingers crossed on the water ,hoping the well is usable)so for now that's all we'll need. I have oil lamps already and other battery operated lights. Hubstead wants to insult the cabin FIRST.Which is the best thing to do.Everything else will have to come second.And yes we will have a portable toilet to do our thing in lol.I am so happy to let this country girl back out after all these years!


Have a great Tuesday folks and may your day be Blessed!




Saturday, November 24, 2012

Rest finally

Hubstead is finally getting some much needed rest.He sleeps most of the time when hes' off anyway.It's done got cold here and the last two nights it's been around the thirties.It's the wind that will get you here,chill you right to the bone.We got up this morning and took a run to Hastings to get a movie.It has become our favorite place to go.Once the electric is turned on at the cabin I got a feeling we are going to be watching alot of movies.So we are stocking up on our favorites.Then we took off and came back around to Sams.God knows Orion would of pitched a fit if we didn't get him some dogbones and thats a mild statement.I have several recipes for homemade dogbones but I haven't tried any yet.I better learn cause once we get back home hes' gonna be outta luck on them.He hasn't had deer meat so that's going to be a tested treat.I had some pumpkin pie last night and tried to give him some and he wouldn't eat it.So later hubstead got some and Orion decided he wanted some of what daddy had and dang dog ate most of it.Yeah that's gratitude for ya.

Once we got home and got the groceries unloaded we were too poop to pop and laid down for awhile.I get tired easily still but I have been trying to do more and more to keep myself going.I have figured out I got a thyroid problem because of the pills these doctors gave me.I am not a happy camper.I'm going to wait til we get back home and I'm going to find me a doctor there for it.Trusting doctors is a big issue for me.

One thing I have found or rather not found is while I have been blogging is I
haven't found alot of people from the southeast blogging much about their farms or off grid living.I'm talking about people from Alabama.I have you Jason I know but you notice not many on here are from there.I would like to find more people around where we will be so we can exchange ideas and maybe barter stuff.I do have a friend on FB who by the way is a very nice lady and she's a Native American and she is trying to open her own herbal store.Come to find out we are related thru our family.We are all kin to someone in that corner(NW Alabama).I'm kin to most of the people in the county.Anyway if you look her up her name is Wanda Reed.She very insightful on herbal stuff.

Ok puttering out here and so have a great weekend and be careful during this sale weekend especially out there on the road.











Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!







Yeah Turkey MOM!!!




Simple meal today,Smoked(yes smoked in a smoker) Turkey,Stuffing(bread and cornbread),Green Beans,Pumpkin Pie later.I didn't really go all out for our last Thanksgiving here.I'll be doing the same for Christmas too.Next year will be a whole lot different!




Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I Share I Like,Recipe for Chicken Parmesan

I'm always reading everyone elses recipes and our favorite comes from this cook book.
The Fannie Farmer Cookbook by Marion Cunningham


Chicken Parmesan (no tomatoes were harmed in this dish)

1 egg
1 cup freshly grated bread crumbs
1/2 cupfreshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 pounds skinned and boned chicken breast
1/3 cup flour
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 cups chopped spinach,or 1 package frozen chopped spinach cooked
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup heavy cream


Mix the egg with 2 tablespoons of water in a shallow bowl.Combine the bread crumbs and cheese on a piece of wax paper.Coat the chicken breasts with flour and sprinkle with salt and pepper.Dip them into the egg and then into the bread crumb-cheese mixture;set aside.Add the lemon juice and nutmeg to the spinach and stir over low heat until warm.Melt the butter and oil into a large skillet.When it foams,add the chicken and saute over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes on each side,or until just done.Spread the spinach on a warm platter,place chicken on top,and keep warm.Remove all but 3 tablespoons of fat from the skillet.Place it over high heat and add the cream.Stir scraping the bottom of the pan,until the cream comes to a boil.Spoon a little of this sauce over the chicken and spinach,pour the rest into a serving bowl.


This does not last long around us and we have made it so much now we can cook it without looking at the recipe! The cream keeps everything moist.If we have company we cook this cause it's a good meal and most like the spinach.


If you try it let me know how it turns out.Dang well it looks like another trip to the store,done got myself hungry.We serve ours on our turkey platter and it fills the platter up.We also add alittle more here and there depends on how hungry we are.On the parmesan we get the little triangle real parmesan cheese and I grate it myself,makes a big difference.Those triangles aren't that much.In the milk section we get the small carton of heavy cream(also called heavy whipping cream)and the lemon you can use fresh squeezed or the lemon in the plastic squeeze bottle(produce section).The first time we ate it we were hooked! It's all worth it.


I've had a pretty good day today and have been on the up side of life.Haven't slept too much,still coughing but I'll get over it.I think it has finally ran it's course.Have a great evening folks.










Sunday, November 18, 2012

Orions' new harness

We had given alot of thought about buying something new for Orion to wear this winter.He has a thick collar of hair around his neck,usually means we are going to have a cold winter I was told,well heck!But anyway,he has never been one to walk around without a leash,yes,he will take off like a rocket,something we have never been able to break him of,so in order to keep him in check we have always put a dog collar on him.I noticed he has a hard time because he pulls me a little too hard,hubstead says he has no problem with him(go figure)so I suggested about getting him a harness to put on.

Well we bought one for him last night and he don't like it.It's going to have to be something for him to get use to.Hubstead put it on him and adjusted it to fit him and we let him go.It makes him walk funny because of the straps that go under his legs.I started laughing at him and he got so insulted and gave me the evil eye.He tried to chew on it and we scolded him about it,which he gave both of us his full evil eyes.So today he gets to wear it for awhile,yeah this is gonna go over well.I'm not going to sleep anytime soon while he is wearing it.



This is really a nice harness with a stretchy mesh front to it.I just hope it holds up to his weight.He's a really strong animal and he can just about pull your arm out of the socket if he wants to run.So we will see.I would show it on him but unfortunately the harness is jet black and so is he,it would be hard to see.But the walking is hilarious!



We also went and got stuff for our Thanksgiving meal.I bought some can green beans(so sad)but a friend told me to wash the beans real good and then add the seasoning and they taste better,they do it works,been doing it for years.I have all my stuff and some pumpkin for my pies.This year I think I am going to try to make my own pie crust.Some of you have posted some good recipes for homemade pie crust so I'm gonna give a twirl.We got a twenty pound bird.We used to smoke our bird in the smoker but here there is so much wind it doesn't work.Year before last,yep,food poisoning.Another story.But we have been cooking it in the oven since then.Even if it's the two of for Thanksgiving it's the one holiday that I go all out and cook on.Christmas not so much.We were talking about a smokehouse and hubstead wants to build one YAH! A lot of people don't like smoke meat but it's a great way to preserve it.Hubbys people in Kentucky had a smokehouse and he said he wished he could of gotten the big meat hooks before they sold the house.That house was a self substaining piece of work.It had a well,his uncle always had a HUGE garden,livestock,the whole nine yards and it was an old two story house.His aunts were actually born in the house.It sits next to the Cyrus house and yes he knows Billy Ray.I'll download a picture of it.The smokehouse sat right out back from the backdoor which at that time was convient.It has a wonderful maple tree in the front yard that is so big and so pretty when the leaves turned,apple trees in the backyard and more maples.A little about hubstead here lol.

We picked up(I say we because if one goes some wheres usually we are together)some other kitchen gadgets.He found a good whisk to work with,he likes to cook too when he gets in the mood,and I needed a timer because I forget sometimes when something is cooking duh me!We also got a new roasting pan for the turkey with the forks to pick it up.Tomorrow is stove cleaning day top and inside and out.I know,you don't feel sorry for me,I don't either it needs it.

Well this is the last winter we are going to be here.Next years holidays are going to different.I told hubstead I wanted a real tree next year for Christmas and I wanted to make my own ornaments for it.Hopefully by then we will be eating deer meat and fresh veggies!














Saturday, November 17, 2012

More beads



My new stash of beads and findings.I couldn't resist a good sale.So I decided to get a few things and for the life of me have no idea what I'm going to make.The packge with 6 is natural jute cord,that's for baskets.I like making coiled baskets for stuff.I'm going to try my hand at making pine baskets since we'll have some pine trees on the property.I have every intentions of crocheting when we get settled in our cabin.I want to make some of those kitchen towels with the crocheted tops.

We are now on the look out for a wood burning stove.We will be doing some clearing on the trees and it would be good to have some use with the timber.And it will still be cool there in March,it'll be nice to have some warmth.Besides going great with the "look" of the cabin.It's been so great to look at the winter pictures people have been posting.So pretty and it makes the landscapes look so clean.

I still got this lousy cold.It's trying to clear up I think.It feels like I got two more days on it and it'll be gone.I hate these one week things,it throws my whole week off.As long as I stay home I'm fine but I can't stay in forever.LOL.I have been sleeping alot with this one and I haven't lost my apetite either so that's a good thing.

Well We're down to needing a love seat,a refrigerator,a stove(haven't decided an electric or gas)and a couple more bookshelves.I wanted to get a good bed but haven't found one yet.Hubstead wants to make a platform bed,I'm not so sure about it.I like a soft bed to snuggle in.Yea we'll see where this goes.I know we aren't going to be able to put a whole lot in the cabin but everything we have will fit.Soon after we get in we got to put together a utility room for the washer and dryer and chest freezer.











Thursday, November 15, 2012

These stores will give away anything!

You know I went to the big store(W) and wanted to pick up a few things Sunday.Yep I now a have full blown cold.I didn't know they gave these away for free! Chills ,fever,headache.Tonight I got under a bunch of covers and managed to sweat my fever out.Just my head stopped up for right now.Hubstead picked me up some chicken noodle soup and 7up and that made me feel so much better.I have been filling up on fluids and keeping myself in check.I know it's just a cold but you know I haven't had one in at least three years.So I guess it was about time.Oh well! And really there were not that many people in the store either.

This is the reason why when you get your can food home,wash the cans good and wash your veggies and fruit before you put it away.I went to one store and watched the employee sneeze on the milk he was stocking,I kid you not! I wash the milk jug and any soda bottles too.Yeah can't wait to get to the cabin.At least I am going to know where my food comes from and how it was put up.

Besides all this I am in a pretty good mood this morning.Hope everyone has a good morning too and stay well!

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Family History Finally Done!

I haven't been on here because I have been trying to finish up some extra leads on my family history.I have been trying to find two people that were elusive and yesterday both got dumped in my lap.It's so thrilling to find people(I get that way)I haven't been able to find but if I can get a bead on them either by name or date or county,I do pretty good finding them.Now I am sending information out to others who are related to me.You have to share with others when they share with you.That's basically genealogy good manners.I found some new sites and have been scouring them for more(you really can't have "enough")so I write or type or copy anything I can get my hands on.I really would like to do a book on our family but for now I got to wait.

Packed a few more boxes and doing some cleaning out.Not much going on besides that.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Windy Saturday,Cooking Ribs

It has totally amazed me living here in Texas how much wind we get.No wonder they have so many windmills here.There is a mesa not too far from here that has nothing but large windmills setting on it.I was so fascinated(everything fascinates me anyway)the first time I saw them in Palm Springs when we went to California.They were huge up close. I borrowed this picture but this is where there were.It seem they crammed these things in any nook and cranny they could.Here we only have a few on the mesa.You can kinda feel the change of weather here going on.TexWisGirl you feeling it yet up there lol? I also got the sneaky suspicion we may just get some snow here this winter not unless it stays up north.Usually the day before or on Thanksgiving day it get really cold.We use to smoke our turkey on our smoker but we get so much wind it futile.I am trying to talk hubstead into building us a smokehouse when we get home.He don't know it yet but it's on "the list".Of course I have alot of projects on my list he don't know about yet(grin).





I'm cooking ribs today and I cook them in beer.I don't know if anyone does this but they sure are good.I cut up onions and whole garlic and parsley,about three bottles of beer.We use Michelob only because it better.We found out the hard way about using the cheap stuff.
Let it simmer until the meat comes off the bones unless they don't have any and then put them on pan put bbq sauce on it and bake for a few minutes.I am dying to try the Jack Daniels BBQ sauce.I heard it was good.I'm cooking these babies for all weekend.I hate cooking on the weekends,I figure I cook all week I need a break from it.






Its done.

Yah!Put it in the crock pot,suppers doing it thing!!!!



I have started packing stuff up,things we don't use.So now I got boxes starting to pile up but that's ok makes it feel more real.Still haven't found anyone to rent us a camper for those two weeks.Plenty of you can come stay with us but I tell them no because of Orion.I won't put him out when it's cold,he's a house dog.So I told one of my friends if it comes down to it,we'll just get a two room tent and bunkout for those days.Not like we haven't done that before.I think it might be nice to do something different since we have been cooped up here for so long.It would give us a chance to do some clearing on the property and get use to it.I like it LOL.





















Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Looking at the World Different

Each person in this world is different.This is a fact that I have accepted.Each person has their own ideas of how they want their life to be.One may want more than the other or one may want less than the other.Some just want to be comfortable while another makes their life unmanagable.It's all up to the individual.

Now me,I do look at the world different.I see beauty where others may find ugliness.I find the most simplest way to live and make it work for me.When I was a teenager(I don't usually tell this)I had severe problems at home.So I did the one thing I thought at the time that would solve these problems.Yes,I ran away but not from the problems just the situation.I gave myself a whole new set of trouble but I faired it pretty well.After years of trying to figure out this thing called life,I set my goals on my dreams and at the time that was all I had.I finally figured out the only thing I wanted was to just be left alone and let me live the way I wanted to.What's so strange is I ask myself why I had to wait til now to get to that point.I guess God figured I wasn't ready but now I am. Someone always told me "God gives you as much as you can handle"and that stuck in my head all these years.They were right.Now I feel like I can be "ME" you know.

Sometimes people are cut out to do great things while others are there for support.We're all here for one united reason and that is to take care of this planet.To me that is the simplicity of life.

On another issue,our health.There is so much information out there,it gets the mind boggled.Heres' my outlook.How we function is like this. We know our bodies consist of mainly water,bones,tissue and blood,cells included,right. If you were to take a jug and fill it with water and add a few skin tissues and a few drops of blood and a few bones they will swirl around and this is what we are suppose to look like on the inside.Now add grease,sugar,flour,additives and what you got?Yep a nasty mess and that's what we do.We add all this stuff and become all murky inside.No wonder we have health problems.Simple isn't it?


Finances,we all got to have money but if this planet keeps on going like it's going,are you willing to put all you have on a small looking credit card? Trust a bank?Trust the fact that they take your money and put it elsewhere? I have to do what I'm doing now but later no,as soon as we get the property up and running I'm calling it quits on alot of things. I have set my goals on being totally and independent of anything.I know it can be done because I'm sure there are people out there doing it now.The world even if people don't want to acknowledge it is going back to a simple form of living.We have to it's always meant to be this way.This is the way I look at it.I am a simple person who wants to live not live to be someone else.

One thing I personally have a problem with but it's just me I guess is the way people treat each other.Yes I know,all people are different and I accept that.A large population of people mainly in bigger cities become like robots and I feel for them I really do.I went that route and I did not like it.I did it cause I thought that was what other people wanted me to be.But if you look at the way things are now,employers want you to come to work,keep your mouth shut,do your job and go home.And please don't think for yourself.There is no such thing as retiring from a job now.So you see,I do look at what's going on and seriously don't want no part of it.As far as money,later, well,guess what, I probably wouldn't have it later anyways.So that is that.It's all good to feel like you are accomplishing something but it's a different story when someone else gets credit for it.And that happens more often that not.

One more thing,someone very special I knew told me later you will know the difference between reality and fantasy.I do really I do but I have found a way to do both.It works for me,maybe not someone else.Bipolar can be fun,sometimes.I don't go out of my way though to involve anyone else.Besides God knows whats in me even if someone else don't.

My two favorite guys?Check!
A cabin in the woods?Check!
A garden to grow?Check!
Woods surrounding us?Check!
My idea life?Check!
Calling myself the Wild Woman in the Woods?Check!

















Sunday, November 4, 2012

Something Different


I bought this today.It's a bottle of red wine.I'm planning on using it in the kitchen when I cook or maybe when my nerves get frazzled,I haven't decided yet.Depends on which comes first.

When I go out I really try to find the unusual. I see what I want in my head then try to go from there.I won't be able to get much for my kitchen because it's going to be small but I want it to have an impact on the rest of the house.We decided on as much rustic as possible.So getting some things here will be great.We have some antique stores that carry the tubs that are on lions feet.I have always wanted one.They're deep and you can just soak in them.Don't know yet on that item.They also have some old cabinets with the windows I thought would be cute and old diningroom tables and chairs.My poor brain has been in overdrive in the last few months and it's getting even hard to sleep.I lay there and think of all the things I can do with the cabin lol.But's that o.k. I am entitled I think!

Well anyhoo I called the cabin place and they told me I would have to be there in person to sign the paperwork and then they would order the cabin for me. I told them I had wanted the cabin to be there before we got there so we could at least have a roof over our heads(it's still going to be cold there in March),so I asked her if she could send us the paperwork and I could sign it here and send it with the money back to her,she said she would have to ask because they usually don't do that. If we can't that means either we will be doing some camping out for two weeks or I have been asking my relatives if they knew someone with a camper we could rent.Why not stay at my brothers?No Orion would not be allowed in the house and they have a bad coyote problem there.He is not an outside dog.And I'm not giving him up for no one,not this time.

So we will see how it goes.








Saturday, November 3, 2012

Charlies' Friends(the lizard)




Well I found them after looking thru EVERYTHING!So here are the rest of the scrap pictures I did.We have-
Rattlesnake
Butterfly
Hummingbird
Flower and vine
Cactus

Just remember I was bored and threw these together.I am wanting to find some kind of frames to put them in together.If I seperate them I'll never find them.After going and trying to find them they were three feet away from me.Last place I looked in.Yeah I know.

It's been quiet here today for a change.The only thing I've done is clean some things up and put things away.I just hope I find them.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

In the Mood

I'm not much of a Halloween person even though the origin of it is pretty interesting.
I'm more of a Thanksgiving and Christmas type.So I thought I would just post this,hubstead said it was just wrong.







ok I got them turned around but you get the picture.

Alright off to another subject.I have been watching the news and reading articles on the storm Sandy.I feel bad for the people in New York but at the same time people who live along the coast should know how to be prepared for a storm.Living in Florida and Louisanna for many years taught me some very valuable lessons.Always never let your guard down when it comes to storms.They tell you it's coming do what you got to do.I personally can live with out a cell phone(I know bite my tongue)but seriously if you can't get a signal you can't call right? Have a backup plan especially if you have young children,they are looking up to you when they are scared.I replied to a post earlier saying that when Hurricane Katrinas high winds came thru Birmingham,Alabama we lost power.No problem we had oil lamps that were on the wall and we lit them and went about our busy way.As far as cooking,we had a Coleman stove to cook on and make coffee.We were fine thru that ordeal.What was off was our neighbors came to our house wondering why we had lights.Oh yeah it was time for a lesson and a walk thru the house to show them we were prepared.I did not mind at all showing them how it was done.And as you know we are moving back home and the only thing(so far) we will have is water but no electric.No biggie for me I got my Coleman stove and my coffee pot,I'm good to go.Brother is going to let us use his generator,which,I really don't like using some eles stuff you know,I'm that type of person.But we are prepared.I got a can opener and a pot and fire,it's heaven to me.

Maybe this disaster is something that will jolt people into being more prepared.I pray for them and hope them all the best.



Tuesday, October 30, 2012

As much as we can Handle

A lady friend of mine when I was going through a rough time told me "God gives you as much as you can handle Ann".It didn't sink in till much years later that what she said was true.I watched as important and unimportant things slipped away and new things appeared.Human as we are, we experience joy and sorrow and pain and we cry and ask God why.He opens one door and shuts another.He gives and he takes away.This is life.So here is what I'm thinking,maybe he is telling people we have forgotten what is truely important in this life.We need to depend on him more and less on all the material things we have excess to.Simplicity is not a bad way to live,simplicity does not mean you have less,it means you have more.More peace of mind.Less stress and more time for family,friends and people who you care about.Things that you need to do that you enjoy.This is the way I see it.

When we get ready to move,we don't have much,really, we don't, and, I do not mind it at all.Everything we lost before has been replaced with very little but better things.Sometimes that happens we lose what we have only to be able to replace it with something better.But I have learned to not get stuff in excess.This where my simplicity comes in.I also now depend on talents that I have accumulated over the years.Like making a quilt or crocheting or sewing.Learning how to cook different stuff.I don't go with what in style,whats hot for today.We pick up only useful items ,like a phone,something we need.There is a difference between a want and a need.This has proven to be painful at times lol.But I got over it.

I guess what I am trying to say is for the people who have gone thru a rough time or are going thru a rough time,don't give up.One door may have closed but another one will open and it will be better than before.It could also completely change your life.It has mine.



I am a grain of sand on the beach that rode the waves of time to get here.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

A Denium Quilt for Orion

We have several pairs of hubsteads jeans that were wore down in the crotch so I got them out today and made me a seed bag for the garden.(A bag that will hold the seeds when I am planting.)I still have to make a strap for it.I left the back pockets in,as soon as I get more batteries for my camera I'll take a picture.

I don't have enough for a big quilt so I decided to make a small quilt for Orions' bed.Hubstead is going to make him a real bed when we get home.In the meantime I have alot of black and some dark blue denium to mess with.I have to just figure out the designs I want to put on it.I made a full size quilt long time ago and I was really surprised how it turned out.I couldn't sew a straight line if I tried back then but it was fun.I've gotten better at it since then.If I sewed enough I could get really good but as some knows Orion decided to chew my sewing machine cord when he was little.Now I have to do it by hand.I still love him,he didn't know any better.Another thing on my list to get.

It has cooled down here in Texas and it's about time.I had my front door open numerous times already and letting the trailer air out.Cuts down on the electric bill.Orion loves it when the door is open,he thrives on running in and out(we don't have a screen door).I wll be putting one on the cabin though.Poor baby has been sick and I'm keeping an eye on him.His stomache has been messed up since yesterday.I have noticed that when the weather changes he gets like this.His eyes were watering the other night.

Well I just wanted to let ya'll know what's up and when I can do,I'll take some pictures.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

My Lizard,Meteors

I was looking for something to put up top for a picture and found Charlie,my lizard.Charlie was done on a scrap piece of paper during one of my "slow" days.I have several pictures I did like this,done in Southwest designs.I have cactus and flowers and a rattlesnake.I took my water base markers and some water and took my fingertip and smeared some of the ink.Yeah I can amuse myself in such ways.I get bored I'll pick up something and start piddling with it.I've yet to find a frame for these pictures and can't quiet figure out how to place them.Most are 3x5(index card size).

Silly me,I love sitting outside and watching a good meteor shower.It was a little disappointing cause I only seen about 8,3 were very nice and the rest were small and quick.Orion thought it was special cause mommy was sitting outside with him and stayed on the steps.I was smart and got a chair.So a pot of coffee later and no really significant meteors I decided to come in.It was windy here this morning and yep I got the sniffles.But it was worth it.I don't get a chance to sit outside much especially during the summer so it felt really good.I put on a pair of sweat pants and got a blanket and was in heaven looking at the stars.And no mosquito bites!

It wasn't as dark as what I hoped it would be.The street lamp was a bit bright and some of the neighbors had their porch lights on.I'm going to try again when the next one comes thru and maybe we'll be on our property by then.Sister-in-law said it was dark there and we would have to install some kind of lights outside.

When I find these other pictures I'll post them,right now I haven't a clue where I put them.Which is what happens a lot.You know when you go looking for something and you find other stuff and say hey I was looking for that, well, I get side track and forget what I was looking for in the first place.

Have a Happy Sunday!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Everything Going Up

They warned us.

They said that this year and the years to follow that prices were on the rise.Everything from clothes to gas and all in between.Wow,my thoughts,pitiful.I can see why more Americans are doing what they are doing.I've even heard of people moving out of the USA because of this.Now small farms are popping up and people raising their own livestock.Being self sufficient is what they don't want.They want us to depend on them.But I also wonder how long it will be before they start new rules to regulate our small farms?Some states are already doing this from what I have read.

The last few years to me have been the worst.Prices are getting outrageous.I know how to sew clothes,cook,gardening(always room for improvement),livestock?we'll see lol.But if you have talents,use them.Now is the time to shine! Someone told me I have too many theories about life.We'll let's see if you think so.

They use pesticides on plants(Roundup) which causes all sorts of diseases in humans,THEREFORE,you have to go see a doctor,THEREFORE your insurance premiums go up,THEREFORE,your medications go up,THEREFORE,you have more side effects,THEREFORE,more doctor visits,SEE?

Now let's look at clothes.I have never in the 52 years I have been on this earth see clothes that fall apart now so easily.My hubstead has had to buy jeans every two months because in the seat of these jeans keep wearing thin and ripping.Not in the seams,in the fabric.Have you ever bought a pair of pants and washed them a couple of times and the thread comes out? or even a blouse or a shirt? That's what they do so either you fix it or you have to buy another one.It's set up like that.I tried to find the company listed so I could call and complain,yeah right,no number was listed.It was thru the store I bought them and would of had to take them back.No I wanted to let the company know how flimsy those were. Drats!

Appliances.This is a good one.Appliances are only meant to work so long and then you have to go get another.Have you notices that most appliances will last a year or two?Or even on some ,not even that? I knew a man who had a coffee maker that was HIS mothers' and he was still using it long after she died.WOW,all he had to do was buy a cord for it one time.Now that is a miracle.No wonder our landfills are packed.

Understand that I have seen such atrocities in this American.I wonder though would it be different if things were more American made,would it have an impact on what we use? I was looking thru a catalog of non electric appliances and reading reviews(which that's a must for me)and read one appliance I wanted was made of plastic and the hoses would break off.Was made in China.MMM don't want that,whatever happened to metal parts? Oh yeah that's right,plastic is the cheap way to go so consumers will spend more money,ahhh the agony.Not this gal.

And we wonder in all of this why we are stressed and angry and aggravated.See doctor visits.I am not going to list all the things wrong in our world because it would be too many pages,I'm sure you get the picture.Where are heading?remember the old ways?Yep that's where we are going.Instead of forward we are going backwards. I personally think that for people who don't earn enough money and are basically poor,it's the way to go.And we have plenty of people in America who are poor.I get so mad when people who are trying so hard only to get knocked down for their efforts.We have done that,plenty of times.And I said if I could help when times are good for us I would.
This is my promise to God for his blessings on us.Our garden won't only be for us,it'll also help my family so they can eat.We have to help each other in bad times.Hubstead and I have given food to friends who couldn't afford to eat before and I've took people to grocery stores and bought food,why?because when we got down,something or someone always helped us.That is how it works.We have been down to our last dollar and all of a sudden something comes about that we have money.It's alway been like that.

I'm just expressing that whatever we put out we get back.I also think that for some reason or another ,people have become cold,indifferent.That to me is what is pitiful.I don't ignore them but I don't let them get to me.This is my opinion and I am sticking to it.

Once we get this thing we are doing going on,I'd like to see others be able to do the same.I know it will be hard work,I'm ready for that(with the help of a pain pill every now and then but..)I'm in not so good of shape right now but that will change when we get home.

You know there is so much talent out there.I'd buy from someone who made things that I want quicker than buying things from overseas.The problem is either people can't get their stuff out there or they just don't have the means.Another theory coming on.Not everyone is bad,there are good people who have a hard time because of rules and regulation that apply.And they just don't get a chance.You have to make a stand and like they say if you can see it with your mind you can make it become reality.It may take a while,I got more patience than most people,makes a big difference.

Well I'm going to quit here because I could ramble on all day about this stuff but I won't so have a great THURSDAY!













Monday, October 15, 2012

Tuesday Morning Ramblins'

It's cool here this morning at 50 degrees.I love winter.Nothing like sitting in front of a crackling fire and all snuggled up in a warm blanket watching the snow fall,crap I just woke up lol.That's not gonna happen here,for one I don't have a fireplace.Eventually I would like to put a fireplace in the cabin,that would be nice and northern Alabama gets snow but not that often.My hubstead said here while back that he bet if we were there they would get a snowstorm of epic proportion.Thats what happened when we came here,Texas never had a deep snow,hubstead said it happened because we were here.yeah ok.Sounds creepy uh? Stranger things has happened.

I'm cooking a crock pot full of roast and veggies today for supper tonight.If something can go into one skillet or pot,I like it.I got a load of recipes for stuff like that.I talked to my sister-in-law yesterday and her brother passed away.I let her talk(I'm a good listener) and by the time we finished she was feeling better.Her and I are so much alike it's scary.I've never met anyone who likes the exact same things as myself.She can't wait til we get there and get away from all the noises she puts up with.She has a house full of people running in and out all the time.She was sick from a sinus/cold and she sounded bad.I tried to tell her of some remedies that I thought would help.I told her when we get home I'll doctor her right up and make her feel better.She wants to be able to come to our house and hide from her family,they live next door to her.I told her great she could help me unpack and stuff like that.Hubstead and brother will be busy exploring the property anyway.

Hubstead asked me last night how many chickens we are planning on getting.I said between 6-8 to get started.He said I guess we will have to have a rooster too uh?Yeah most likely.That was about the end of that conversation.He is still getting use to the idea.But ya know the more he thinks about it,I think he is getting into it cause he is looking stuff up on the internet and telling me to come look and see what he has found.
He looks at ponds which he would like to have and things he wants to make from wood.I do know that he may hestitate now about this but....he will feel different when we get there and he be busy,plus all the help he'll get.My crazy cousin told him,look,you'll like it when you can pee off your front porch and nobody will say anything to you!Yeah ok.

I did find a good way to keep Orion in the house when I have my front door open and I don't want him outside.My neighbor was throwing away her wooden baby crib and I used the side railing for a gate.Works wonders.I'm gonna have hubstead to put a piece of wood on the end and hinges so I can put it on the porch.He doesn't seem incline to jump over it or maybe because he is just too lazy to do it.





We were thinking of getting a used baby bed and doing some remodeling on it and making a dog bed out of it.Orion isn't going be the only dog we have I bet.He gets cold at night and likes to curl up in a ball so this would get him off the floor out of drafts.


Well I can smell my roast and the dishes are screaming to be washed and the kitchen needs to cleaned.I got a couple of loads of clothes to do and some to be put up.And not enough time in the day to do what needs to be done. What's a girl to do?















Saturday, October 13, 2012

Tornado Watch today

We have a Tornado watch today here in Texas,nothing new on that home front.I wonder if the weather people knows that we sit in a bowl and everything passes over us?Yes it does,that's why we don't get much.We do get dust blowing all over the place during the summer.The weather man here has done some looking into the fact that everytime a storm approaches the city it either goes around or fizzles out.Well he hasn't found out too much,maybe it's just the way we are situated.We also get a lot of wind here.Great place for windmills.East of the city gets all the bad storms and heavy rain.I've been watching the weather for awhile now,mainly to see what this winter is going to do.We are hoping it stays fairly nice so we can move after the first of the year and it won't be really cold.I'm keeping my fingers crossed.Not like we haven't moved when it was cold before.


This was daybreak here this morning.We had a little rain and a couple of rumbles of thunder not too much just enough to let you know it was raining then it quit.
Starting to see some pop up showers west of here and a 40% chance of rain.It's 2:40 P.M.

Ok I've been trolling thru some blogs and have quite enjoyed reading them.I really like to read the ones where people start from scratch and take progress pictures.That's what I'm going to try to do as long as I got batteries.

I wanted to post this little thing-I got it from Ebay,it came from Jerusalem.It's an oil lamp and it's very small about 3 inches long and you can actually put olive oil in it.Well the problem with it?,it leaks the olive oil thru the pores.It's made of clay.But I just love it and unfortunately they don't make a bigger one.I asked.





The guy I talked to told me that this kind of oil lamp is what they use in the homes there.Just an interesting little tidbit here.


I can't wait to get going. I don't want to start any beadwork until we get home. I seem to not want to finish my beading if I get interrupted.I'm just that way.Once I start a design I want to finish it. So I'm gonna wait and see how much room we are going to have.I would really like to set up an area that is all mine to make a craft work area out of. I told hubstead he can have the barn to make a work shop.He is thinking of getting into woodworking .I hope so,he can make stuff for the cabin.Oh yeah he'll be busy.It will be so great to not have to move again ever.Oh one more little item,remember I said we were hoping that the well was ours? It is it's directly behind the barn on our property.YAH! we got water to work with.



It's starting to getting more cloudy here so everyone have a great Saturday!