We are so happy Spring is here! Winter has been rough with all the crazy weather so we are definitely ready for warmer temperatures.

There are some green things starting to sprout up and that’s exciting to see. Spring is my favorite time of year. Lots of things will be happening on our little farm throughout Spring, Summer and Fall so stop back to see what is happening.

​Blessings all

Most people don’t even give dryer lint a second thought and that it’s only a byproduct of drying your clothes. Well I can tell you it does have some uses-
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1. It can be composted and become a benefit to your garden. It is considered a brown material so it will need to be mixed with green material.

2. It can also be used as a fire starter. When I use it to start a fire I fill a empty toilet paper tube with the lint and light it. It works great in a pinch when we don’t have kindling to help start a fire. Keep in mind like using paper your wood stove chimney will need to be cleaned more often.

I hope this helps to change your outlook on dryer lint and that it isn’t just trash.

​Blessings all! Thank you for stopping by!

This video is from early 2018 to early 2020 and shows how things have evolved since we started to seriously try to regenerate our property.  We have just under 4 acres and each year we work on a new section to help improve our soil or try to improve where the native grasses are already growing.  There's always work to do but its fun even if it is hard work.  Getting chickens, ducks and turkeys back in 2013 was the start of it all.  We both worked full time jobs but I decided to work part time and pursue the farming/homesteading passion that was building in me (from growing up around farms).  I'm still working on hubby about different animals I would like on the farm but he still has some reservations which I can't blame him on some of his points.  We need a truck to haul water, hay/straw and feed for the critters since I can't do that with my car.  So for now I'll still dream about what our farm can be.......

​Sorry the video is a little long

The peppers are doing so much better than past years of starting seeds. I started the pepper seeds really early compared to when they should actually be started because of previous years failed attempts but this year has been a success for whatever reason. I'm excited to say the least with the successes with all my seed starting but the peppers have always been my nemesis.   

A few days ago I contacted my daughter (in law) and asked if she had any butter and told her I had some toilet paper I’d be willing to trade. Now that seems like a weird trade but I always keep an extra pack of 🧻 on hand because we don’t live close to town and I for one never want to run out.

She said yes and we exchanged items and I was happy to get the butter since we use it often and when I bake I only use real butter.

This was the first time we exchanged anything because we often give each other items we need but it made me wonder if people still trade or barter items.

Let me know what you think?

Blessings all!

Cooking on the wood stove is one of my favorite methods of cooking.  When the weather outside is yucky I don't mind standing by the wood stove staying warm.  Please check out my video below.

If you have animals you already know there is an abundance of poop, manure whatever you want to call it.
We have chickens, ducks and a big ole tom turkey. The turkey and chickens are easy to clean up after for the most part but ducks are another story. Their poop is mostly liquid and can dry up to be almost like cement (see photos). Each year I dig soil out of the run to use in the gardens and breaking through the ducks poop can be a challenge when it’s extremely dry.
Oh but that’s not the worst of it when the ground is wet from rain or snow melt it gets very slick. I can’t count the times I’ve almost slipped and fell walking around in there.
I’m really not complaining I love our mixed flock of fun. They are spoiled and that’s my fault. We will always keep critters because after all these years I can’t even imagine not having them poop and all.

​Blessings all

My choice is clear gel it by far exceeded my expectations. The first picture is a cherry pie using corn starch and it bubbled over the crust. The second is a cherry pie I made for Thanksgiving using the cherry pie filling with clear gel I canned in September 2021. As you can see it didn’t bubble over because the filling is thick and wonderful.

From now on I’ll definitely be using clear gel for all my fruit pie fillings that way they can be canned if I chose too. Fruit pie filling cannot safely be canned with corn starch but clear gel can.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Just when I thought I could sleep in on Thanksgiving morning…the dogs decided to wake me up at 2:23 am. I looked to see what time it was and rolled back over knowing I’m not cooking the turkey this year.

Our family friend is cooking the turkey, stuffing and gravy which I have to admit I’m glad I don’t have to this year. I am however making homemade pies, homemade rolls, spiral ham and the mashed potatoes. Not sure what else I’ll make since it’s just the 3 of us.
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We love leftovers but we don’t want to be eating them for the next couple weeks. Other then football on the tv it’ll be a quiet day. Thank you all for stopping by, have a great day everyone.

Wow! Almost 10 years in the Arizona Cottage Food Program. Back in 2012 when I first got my certificate it was called Home Baked and Confectionary Goods Program. After they updated the program in 2019 to include jams and jellies I got a number and a new certificate. I’ve lost track of how many baked goods I’ve made since then not to mention I had a food business from 2005 that I baked for too. My baking has always been part time because I had to work to pay household expenses but baking is definitely one of my passions.