Life on the Farm

About 4 years ago we decided to find our old farm house, which was harder than we thought.  Since it was not our first home we had things we wanted and knew to get some things up front as you never get around to doing everything. I was still in Oklahoma and my hubby was on the hunt for our new home.  

Since we moved in almost three years ago so much has changed in our life. I have always loved cooking, sewing, animals and of course friends. I always have to be busy and wanted to stay home and watch my kids grow up.  At this time I can say all of that has happened and I feel so blessed. I support local as much as I can and hope others do as well. I have learnt that I can do more than I ever thought I could. In saying all of this I believe you have in dreaming and planning to live the way you want. Still working on that.

I have also learnt more and more about where our food comes from. It is crazy to think how much food has changed over the years and how we all think what we buy in the stores are good for you. All I can say to all of you is look to see what is in your food and know what you are eating. Set little goals for yourself and work on them and then add more.

As for us this year will bring more animals and fruit trees. The garden I'm sure will grow and I will be busy learning about more food I can make and put up for these colder days where I can't go out and get it fresh. I'm cleaning out my house and getting it the way I know we love it before Spring.

As I get busy making lunches and watching kids, enjoy your day and many more to come.
Thanks for stopping by..........

Saving a buck

Not many know that we grew up with not much money. At the time I was not happy about not having everything and more. As a kid you think you should get whatever you want and why should your Mother not buy it for you. Most of my friends got what they wanted.
Looking back I would not want it any other way. Because we couldn't afford much, my Mother learnt to garden, cook, sew and anything else that came our way.  Which in turn she passed it all on to us that wanted to learn. So my sister and I have wonderful memories of cooking together. Making anything from cookies to full meals just for the family.  All of us learnt to plant veggies and have a love for the outdoors and gardening, picking food off one of the many food trees we had.  My Mother was also smart enough to learn that you don't need sprays or chemicals to make plants grow. Just some good time and love, well compost and water. But they grow and then you eat the best food in the world. We learnt to eat want was in season so it was forever changing and we learnt how to wash cloths, hang them on the line and iron what was needed.
As I have got older I also want to pass the art of being a true homemaker along to my kids. They have their gardens, they are learning how to sew and they are learning that they can do anything they want to do. 
So learning how to make things and cook at home we can save hundreds or dollars every year. If you work hard every day why would you not want to save some money and learn to live better.
Every week I try to find something I have never done before and stop buying it.

 If I can make more with less then I can save money.

PS My mother has just learnt to paint so I leave you with this piece I got for my birthday.

Wood Stove

One more step to living on less. Our biggest expense was fuel oil for heating in the winter. Living in the midwest and the first year we were here, we had snow on the garden for 3 months. It cost us an amount I don't even want to think about. The next year we had already decided to put in a wood stove for more than one reason. First to save money, second to not have to worry about heat if the power went out, third because it went along with our plan to learn to live of the land and lastly because I always had one as a kid and they heat so well.

In the midwest they have outdoor wood burners. These push heat into the house and work really well, however if the power went out we will still have to worry.  So we ending up with a beautiful cast iron woodstove.  As I sit here and watch the fire and feel the heat coming across the room,  I remember my childhood.  Sitting by a fire talking, laughing and playing cards or boardgames. I guess a fire brings people together. 

I still have to paint the wall behind but this is our first fire.

Spring Time

I love this time of the year but it always gets away on me. I have this long list of stuff to do before the Spring time gets here. I try so hard to get everything done inside before all I want to do is play outside. WELL I missed it again. Here I am inside cleaning out rooms and I want to be outside building a new chicken coop or planting veggies.

Today I was inside cleaning out my daughters room. I'm not sure where all this stuff comes from but she is doing well at helping me get her big room the way we want it.  Next will be paint and putting stuff in the right place. Something she needs to learn. She is all about horses, dance and flowers. Just a mini me.

Next I will be cleaning out the rest of the house, working out what I can sell, upcycle or give away.  One day I would love to have everything where I need it and in it's place. No more stuff coming in the house, but food and no more leaving. I don't need half the stuff I have. I'm not sure I use it all anyway.  Been here two years and still feel like we just moved in.

Where to Start

I have so many friends ask me, how do you recycle, how do you have chickens, how do you decorate a cake, how do you cook. The list goes on and on........

Where do you start. I think everyone changes their lifestyle for different reasons, for me it was about moving back to the country, having more land for my kids to play and neighbours not so close. Don't get me wrong, I love people and neighbours, I just wanted land and no one watching me.  Believe it or not I was sewing at 4 (crazy I know) and cooking about the same time. I would not call myself great at any of it but, I had a great Mum/Mom who let me do this stuff.  As time goes on, I kept wanting to learn more. I think there is always something to learn, something I can be better at.

As for everyone else, I think it is about what you really want to do. I want to be able to take us off the grid. (I hope one day it happens).

• If you want to recycle and pay for a trash man. Stop him coming and work it out.
• If you want to learn how to cook. Buy a cookbook and read the recipe. If it doesn't turn out the first time, keep trying. I have made many mistakes.
• If you want to learn to decorate a cake. Keep following me, I want to help you all out.  (just need to work out the best way online).
• If you want a garden, through some seeds in dirt and see what happens. (Ask all gardens, sometimes things don't grow). We don't give up we keep trying and please don't use sprays.
• Chickens, well I just love them and want more. They are so much fun, but take time and work. You need a place and you need to know what you are wanting.

As I said there is so much I want to do and learn and it is all baby steps. I would love to write again and say we are living off the grid. BUT I'm not there and not sure if I can, but I'm going to give it my all.

Thanks for reading and just give it a try. We all make mistakes and we all love what we do. I love putting good food on the table and living simple.  One step at a time.