Well its been a busy Oct/Nov here on the Farm. as you can see our orchard did outstanding this yr I am still picking pecans! Below is our new piglets, first time raising them, and no they will not be pets. They are cute and I have a hard time not falling for them.

I've sold a lot of pecans already this yr plus did some awesome trades. I did a few homemade jelly trades from the northwest I am happy cuz I can never get any fresh jelly around here much plus I also traded for a bread maker hardly used.

I've send some to our soldier and I need to send some to family now. I wish I could send some via mail to sell but the cost of postage is just not really worth it plus the cost of someone buying it compared to just buying it at store I dont know.... However our pecans are non sprayed and it is from this yrs crop. While store bought is sprayed and you never know how old they are you know.

Well so much to do I got to get cracking...get it?? cracking? lol

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Well we picked a few bags of these mustang grapes this summer, it was about the only thing that grew around our farm this summer. At least I will have jelly to can. We are still waiting on pecan season, that won't be till the end of Sept. All around us Texas is burning up, its getting scary now.

It always rains on my birthday week so I am hoping it follows tradition and rains on my week. My dads been away from this heat, he went to visit family in Calif but now its getting hot in Calif too so its time for him to come home. Not much going on right now, just been hiding out in the house its been too hot to go outside to do anything.

We did wake up early in the morning and started clearing up some of the pecan orchard for pecan picking. I need to prune the roses they say, I've been trying to water when I can, but we have restrictions right now. We need to move some fencing to the garden to cover up my black berries then let the sheep take over the garden, keeping them in there for days will clear the area for our future garden for fall or spring. Thats about it dull Summer. Hot hot.

Fall can't come fast enough

Our pecans are almost done!

Fall is so close to us I can taste it but sure don't feel it in our triple digit weather in Texas. I made announcement to my family this yr I am going to get out our fall stuff really early from the shed. If we can't have cool weather here it will look like fall in our house!

My daughter made these flower arrangements for fall can't wait to put them up.

Well as you can see from the picture above our pecans are almost ready! They will start falling down at the end of Sept and continue to fall till the start of Nov. This is a busy time of yr because I will be out there fighting the squirrels picking them morning & afternoon before the squirrels can get their hands on them! I pick in the afternoon too because the winds we have in the early evening hours will knock some more down and the racoons at night will eat them if I don't. The squirrels are a pain because they only eat the tip of the pecan and leave the rest to rot! Luckily my sheep will find those and finish them off!.

After I have gathered enough I take them into Hondo to get them cracked I learned long ago to do this instead of manually having to do this by hand. Hubby bought me a machine pecan cracker but it still takes one at a time & it takes a long time. I barely have enough time to peel the pecans I have!

I will take these pecans and store for us in a freezer for this coming yr for Thanksgiving and Christmas cooking as well as sell a few & this yr I am going to send some to the soldiers. You would think with 80 trees I would have a ton but not all the tree's are still producing and not every yr the tree's produce.

Everyone thought because of the drought we wouldn't have pecans but with the canal's constantly running the roots of our tree's are constantly getting water. The water runs underground about 3 feet & you will hit water. We found that out the hard way when trying to build our septic tank lol.

Sam

Boy Scout camp vs Girl Scout camp

My son trying to catch a fish.

Well summer is almost over for some its been one hot summer here in Texas the worst in Texas history. My son went to day camp then summer overnight camp. The first day of daycamp my daughter & I went to, to help. I was impressed a bit with the camp location but not the program or how it was run.

Impressed:
1. Ranch is donated to use by the owners each yr. Pretty camp
2. The arts director/BB gun director/Archery Fishing director all had it planned on what they were going to do. The boys got there they went over safety and they did it!
3. Director did a fantastic job on the safety of the boys in keeping them safe.


Problem:
1. Program way to long for this Tx heat boys got tired after 12pm they wanted to go home instead we were there till 2pm.
2. Hardly No shade boys forced to be in 100' degree weather tieing knots. They need more canopys.
3. Older boys forced to wear pink hats that didn't fit properly to cover ears, because the current volunteer camp director loves pink, even though I begged her not to make them wear it this yr. I saw three of the boys actually shove the hats to her this yr & refused to wear it.
4. No pool or any water games at all. It would have helped in this heat. Who designs these without water programs!
5. Being told by the director constantly to chill and go w/the flow cuz it was not organized enough for me as I try to direct 22 boys & not sure where to go cuz they haven't figured it out yet.

Summer overnight camp

Impressed:
1.The boys did well entertaining the boys well enough with skits and songs.
2. Nice boating program for the boys.


Problem:
1. Food was horrible & had no nutrition that they ordered at local school cafeteria, they would have been better off preparing their own food!
2. Too rocky the current camp first day there my son sprang his ankles along with others a mother took a plunge down & had to have stitches on her head.
3. Very disorganized boys scouts not set up for classes when the boys arrived so took 10-15 to set up b4 starting each day! And they have been having classes for weeks now.
4. Instead of sleeping with other boys in the tents the parents (who would have been in the tent next door) the mothers insisted their sons boys sleep with them in their tent. These are 10-11yr old boys- Way to go making a man out of your son lol need to untie that string sometime Ma'ma!

=============================

Girl Scout camp:

1. Girl scout camp they have paid counselors there for the summer they have been trained 2 weeks ahead on what they are going to do. They have a plan! Marine instructors would have been happy to their precise schedule!
2. Food is prepared by experienced cooks & at least one night is a cook out per week that the girls do themselves with help from counselors.
3. They go swimming at least once a day or at least have water sports to keep the girls cool.
4. Girls as little as 6yr are staying in cabins without their parents. Yah sometimes they cry cuz they are homesick a bit but by second day they are fine!

================
So when I worked at a girl scout camp eons ago I used to gripe about it but compared to the boyscout's I think its a luxury resort lol

I know the boyscouts is run by volunteers but maybe that is the trouble, maybe they need to have some more paid people. From what I heard the director of the boyscout camps runs more then one so he is run ragged between them all.

The director from the day camp though she does a great job in organizing at the start to get it going with all the paper work & is a volunteer, maybe she could listen to some suggestions instead getting all alpha when someone try's to offer any advise or suggestions. Instead of trying to add more programs maybe she can improve on the ones she has already has going. Pink hats need to go don't like my son being emasculated by a color lol sorry but this is big problem with me & apparently the boys too.

So camp next yr? Did the boys have fun? My son had fun in both camps even when he got injured he is a happy kid that just likes spending time with his friends. Other boys there did not look happy did not want to be there. Whined, cried the whole time. Wanted to go home. How was camp? I asked a couple of our boys from our den when they got home. "Glare" While after a week of girl scout camp girls would be crying leaving the counselors & friends.

We are not planning to attend next yrs cubscout day camp while its not a problem to others how she ran it, I clashed w/her to much. Most people have no gripe cause they have never been to no other camp but this one. I was a counselor & riding director for 4 yrs for the Girl Scouts. I know the current director won't change anything with anyones suggestions I found that out this yr. After day camp my daughter & I were sick for a week from being dehydrated even though we drank water like a camel. They didn't allow Gatorade for the boys though the last two days I started sneaking it in for myself though i felt guilty the boys couldn't have it ;/. My feet were so badly damaged from walking and standing for hours I had to wear a cast on my foot for 5 weeks.

Even if I could manage to change the program in the day camp, my son would only be going one more yr so why bother & bust her happy bubble? Over night camp my husband & the other den leader are looking at another camp to go too next summer plus we will be having some of our own cubscout family camping soon.

It was good experience this yr for us and our son. Hopefully next yr will be better!.

Couponing

(These freebies were given to the local food pantry) The week before they were given to the homeless shelter in San Antonio. This coming basket will be given to the military.

I have been couponing for over 22yrs ever since I got married & went overseas. I went to the commissary for the first time with my lil budget of getting grocery's & discovered a barrel full of coupons they had for the spouses. I spent over 30min going thru the barrel desperately trying to get enough to be able to buy more grocery's.

Through the yrs I slowed down on couponing till it was time to try to get out of debt, then I went hog wild on collecting coupons again. After getting out of debt I slowed down again on collecting coupons. Recently 9 weeks ago frustrated that my grocery allowance hadn't gone up in yrs & we were trying to eat better I again went back to couponing. Yes It feel like a yo yo life w/coupons.

This time I had found a wonderful book called "The coupon mom" lil did I know this was a classic and in high demand this book. She took me to her site a long with other sites where I looked up deals. It was so much simplier then it was in my old days of trying to look up deals. They did it for you. The facebook local forums told me any deals they might have found while shopping in San Antonio. It was a another world opening up for me.

A lot of people asked me after I told them how much I saved that payday, "Well how much did you spend? Well I would say, "all of it!" All my allowance which is $125 a week for a family of 4 sometimes my dad too including non food & food goods. Last payday for instance I saved $99 with coupons, to me that's $99 extra stuff I bought that week & stayed within my budget.

Ive been keeping track of all the money I have been saving with coupons including the freebies and Husband gently reminded me not to forget to add in the cost of paper & ebay coupons I bought those two weeks. Darn! Rats! I almost forgot, it seemed fair cause why would I be doing this if I am breaking even or losing? So I had to recalculate it still came out pretty good. In 9 weeks I have saved w/coupons over $604.74 or $67 each week :)

I know I can do better the first of my ebay buys were bad I didn't know how to bid correctly so I spent to much. I have gotten better since then :) Hanging out with my coupon group has really helped too, learning new techniques and trading coupons.
I've been able to buy extra to donate to the homeless shelter, the local food pantry & now I am getting 4 boxes to go overseas.

The couponing world is good.

Care packages for Soldiers

When my husband was in the army he lived off of most of our care packages cause he said the Army hired local vendors & the food wasn't good sometimes even making them sick. So between my family & his he lived off our pacakges. Once's I sent him a Mexican feast of taco shells, canned beans, salsa I knew he had the cheese from the MIR kits. Of course word got around & I couldn't find a taco shell for the life of me at the commissary anymore lol

Time's have changed and the care package ideas are great now. I am going to paste some of the ideas down just in case their websites go down & it will be a shame to see it all gone but I will give credit to where credit is due. If you haven't at least sent one care package out to our soldiers this year please consider doing that. If you don't have time to fix one try

www.treatsfortroops.com or treatanysoldier.com or uso.org


http://www.cafepress.com/lovethetroops/491788

First and foremost - letters of support & encouragement along with pictures of friends and family. (include your name, address, phone number, & email along with a "what can I send you" note if you want to hear back from them).

Use Priority large boxes that you can request from the post office for free! Has no weight limit so the price is always going to be $12.95 to send. This has a logo for the "Support our Soldiers" & it will go faster the post office person said when they see this logo. Also grab form 2976-A you don't have to list every single item I don't just list all the big items or any liquid like soap.

If you must send food items with other non food items make sure its very well packed. Tape the soap bottles close. I usually put mine in double zip lock bags just incase something leaks. They say if you put something that smells it might make the food smell too ;( ick.

Please check with the soldier on what they request b4 sending stuff they don't need like a video if they don't have a video player or microwave food if they dont have a microwave. Number one thing I see them request so far

1.Wipes
2. To go Gatorade & lemonade to go drink mix
3. Beef Jerky
4. Number one snack they request is protein bars or girl scout cookies!

You can do theme boxes too!
Birthday boxes!
Halloween, Christmas, Valatine, Thanksgiving boxes

Remember no PORK products because of the country they are in.



DVDs (recently released pre viewed DVD movies are fine, TV shows on DVD are great too), music CDs, & CD storage books Coffee, coco, tea, hot cider mix (powdered flavored creamer, too) - not liquids Mugs (unbreakable like camping gear is better) Microwaveable non perishable just-add-water foods like soups and mac-n-cheese

Snacks - candy (not too melty), chocolate, trail mix, granola bars, gum, cookies, nuts, popcorn, chips, etc (Entenmann's Products were specifically requested)Slim Jims, jerky, pre cooked vacuum packed meats, & canned chicken - NO pork items Canned fruit (pop top is best - not the ones with foil lids), canned veggies (the kind you would eat.)

Hair brushes deodorant (the guys like Old Spice Red Zone) lotion (body & face) Beanie Babies, etc - for the soldiers to pass out as good will gifts to the local children Room deodorizers/air fresheners and scented candles (nothing too melty)
Nail files & nail clippers (nail polish for the girls)Toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, & floss Hair bands & barrettes for pony tails Razors & shaving cream girls like "Venus" disposable razors, guys like Mach 3 and Mach 3 Turbo Refill blades)

Tampons & pads
Magazines (mostly men's mags, not too old), books, word game books
Playing Cards, board games, chess, checkers, ect.
AA batteries (they have access to all other sizes)
Blank cards, stationery & pens
Baby wipes - for when there's no water
AT&T phone cards for phoning home
Black wool knit caps
Black wool or leather gloves
Black wool socks or insulated boot socks
Black t-shirts (air force)
Brown t-shirts (army/marines)
Black underwear
Foot powder
Soap
Shampoo, conditioner, Leave-In Spray conditioner
Twin size sheet sets and pillows

http://thefuntimesguide.com/2005/09/soldierpackages.php

Deodorant
Shower to Shower body powder
Jelly beans
Disposable camera
Rice Krispie treats
Altoids or mints
Beef jerky
Snack mixes
Sunflower seeds
Chewing gum
Nuts
Long-distance phone cards
Little Debbie’s snacks
Ziploc bags (for keeping things airtight, watertight, and fresher)
Coffee
Gatorade
Jaw breakers
Poker game
Playing cards
Dice
Music CDs
Toothbrushes & toothpaste
Inflatable pillow
Cookies or muffins in individual packages (Big bags often fill with dust if not eaten right away.)
Dominoes
Canned food items
Footbag/hacky-sac
Spices (crushed red pepper), salt, pepper
Smoked oysters and sardines
Squeeze butter
Pringles chips
Individually-wrapped licorice
Microwave popcorn
DVD movies
Ramen noodles
Macaroni & cheese
Disposable shower towels
Olives, pickles, peppers (Be sure to add lots and lots of bubble wrap around these items.)
Cereal bars/granola bars
Microwave pasta that doesn’t need refrigeration
Bed pillows (these were a hit with my nephew!)
Hot cocoa mix
Soup mix
M&M’s (plain or peanut)
Newspapers
Magazines (these don’t have to be brand new)
Koozies to keep water
bottles and cans cool
AA batteries
D size batteries
Air fresheners (…like stick-ups, F’breeze. My personal favorite is Citrus Magic in the pure linen scent.)
Canned air to blow dust out of electronics
Stress relief squeeze balls
Sewing kit
Baby wipes
Board games
Shoe laces for gym shoes and boots
Brown t-shirts
Boot socks
Underwear
Hand warmers
Inflatable seat cushions
Razors
Juice boxes and drink pouches
Ink pens
Notepads of paper
Word Puzzle books
Air activated heat wraps for sore muscles
Foot massager
Icy hot patches
Microwaveable plates, bowls, paper plates
Foot powder
Vitamins
Paperback books
Gift baskets filled with lots of useful items and packaged as a present
Video games (Nintendo Wii, Playstation, Xbox)

http://www.thesoldiersfamily.com/Care_Package_Ideas.html

Baby Wipes
Phone Cards
Magazines
Books
Movies
Hand Warmers
Foot Warmers
Tooth Brushes
Mouthwash
Frebreeze
Body Wash
Body Spray
Pringles
Crackers
Cookies
Beef Jerkey
Comic Books
Travel Size Games (chess, checkers)
Deck of Cards
Memory Cards (i.e. PSP's)
Memory Sticks
Suntan Lotion
Non Carbonated Drinks (Propel)
Uniform T-shirts (which can either be ordered on line
from AAFES or bought at the PX)
Underwear
Pictures From Home
Thumb Tack (to hang the pictures)
Hard Candy
Blue and Black Pens
Notebooks
Envelopes
Fly Paper (some areas where the soldiers live have lots of flies)
A multi-tool or really good folding knife
Sun Glasses
Digital or Disposable Cameras
Travel Size Packets of Laundry Detergent
Powdered Drinks, especially Gatorade
Blank Writable CD's
Crossword Puzzles, Word Searches, Soduku

Duct tape prom

Well my homeschool daughter was invited by one of her anime friends to his high school prom. She has always liked the movie, "Pretty and pink" so I had always figured she would make her own dress from a thrift store since she is so talented with her sewing, but never did I imagine what she decided to do instead.

Miranda started sewing at a very young age. I wasn't her teacher, I could barely sew on a button instead our homeschool co-op offered a beginning course in sewing then later on more advanced. In highschool I put her in an advanced sewing class for kids interested in becoming fashion desinger's thru San Antonio community schools. Miranda was more interested in flower arranging and running her own business but still she took the course wanting to improve her sewing skills.

After asking my husband for permission to take my daughter her date came back with a flyer he got from school, from the makers of DUCT tape they offered scholarships to any students willing to go to their prom in duct tape and made the top 10. I can tell you even though I was willing for her to buy an old dress & fix up the idea of creating a dress from duct tape was a shocker to me. Yes her whole outfit is made from duct tape!

She showed me previous contest's and what they wore and I warmed up to the idea a bit. She drew up a few pictures decided on a color (duct tape has many colors!) then began to design, cut & sew. Took two weeks for both of them to create their outfits. I will always remember fondly watching H2O (mermaid show) til 1am in the morning helping her cut tape out. I have to admit it wasn't too expensive either.

Her date and her went to the prom I would like to show his picture too but I don't have their permission to do that so I won't; However I will show you the flower she made for him above and hers. He wore mostly black but he did have the same silver and blue colors to match on certain parts of his suit.

She even managed to put her finger nails the same color and her shoes as well. Unfortunately they didn't make the top 10 so they won't be winning any scholarships which was starting at $4000! Each...but it was a great learning experience for them both & everyone at school loved their dress/suit that they asked to take picture with them and of them.

Another plus that day was my niece from California was visiting us. She had just finished cosmetology school so she did her hair and make up for her cousin. That was really sweet of her and she did an awesome job as you can see.

My daughter has grown up to be a beautiful woman I am glad to have taught her the value of a dollar to not be afraid to do and try new things. That will be a night she will always remember I am sure of it.

New ideas on the farm

Well isnt that a niffty idea I thought to use on my compost pit when we re build it. We are using cinder blocks for a compost pit but recently we need to movie it. In the past I have put herb plants on top of it but they always dry up or fall down this is a great idea!

This Weekend marks mothersday weekend. For a present I told hubby I wanted him to finish making the aquaponics center. I just can't wait to have it done to start growing things in it.

Not much going on at the farm. We still havent gotten rain and the fires have started. This one started yesterday due to a faulty wire system on the electric companys part. It burned down a few acres across the canal from us and burned down 3 of his much needed hay bales.

The scary part was it was close to 3 small oil wells you can see them on the left hand side. The other day we got 40% chance of rain we were soooo hopeful then nothing :(

On to happier things I have taken up couponing again. I joined a club in San Antonio to keep me motivated. Already I have saved and gotten so many freebies. I am hoping to start up a swap book at our local libaries. Two of the libaries loved the idea and the one I love the most said, "No" they don't have the room. I think I caught the libarian on a bad day :( well her loss and that community it seems.

Still doing cubscouts infact Friday night we have another meeting. Tom my hubby just finished up a camping training session. The cubscouts have done a lot for my husband and my son I am so glad we got into it. They have bonded closer I think.

Talked to my beef man the other day, he dosent have any calfs right now :( but hopefully in the winter he will have some, by then I will be out of beef so its good to restock up my freezer. I ordered 5 broilers from a local chicken producer but it kills me that we havent done R own. Tom would need to fix up a moveable coop the old ones we have could not hold them.

I also need to order new chicken layers but it cost money and we just dont have the extra right now especially right after the huge Easter party we had.


Sam

Future Aquaponics

Well we finally got started on our aquaponics system by cutting the barrels in half. Tom's been on the look out on our farm to find wood laying around to use for the stand for the barrels.

I can't wait to get this system up and running. I really want to grow lettuce in it since its so dangerious to buy it from the stores lately cause of contamination. The idea of fresh fish too is a big plus.

Well not much going on farm. We could really use some rain. We are in stage one of restriction in San Antonio for water usage. Dosent affect us here but it just goes to show you how dry we are up here.

The canal people have decided to build a canal on our property to get to my neighbors house that has about 11 acres...1 acre is the house....so it seems a big deal just to put a lil water on their field. Not much we can do about it, can't really fight the goverment and thats what the BMA is...our lawyer told us to just work with them if we can...so thats what we are doing for now.

They orginally wanted to put the canal smack in the middle of our field but that would have blocked us off from getting to our other side of the field, not an option and we would fight it then I am pretty sure.

Most of my family been in the hospital in and out all this last month. It has to be a record for my family its so strange...Whats the saying, "When it rain it pours" I lost my voice during the process of my family being in and out. Just really tired plus trying to keep up with farm work and homeschooling the same time.

I got us another male goat. He's name is Alfie I will write about him when I get a picture. Thats about it for now. I am going to my first coupon club today I am hoping it will be fun and helpful for my collection of coupons I am starting again. Maybe make some new friends will be really nice too.

Have a great week everyone

Sam

Aquaponics weekend

A few months ago we did an introduction aquaponics class. A few weeks ago hubby got the stuff to make our own so we decided this time to take a hands on class on it by the same guy that did the introduction class.

It was taught at a local farm near us so it worked out really well, the aquaponics system is going to be a learning tool for some disabled kids on a farm. It took more then 9hrs with a few people working but we finally finished it up.

I can't wait to start ours but we have a long way to go with only two of us making it and hubby of course has his own ideas on making his own. We plan to put fish in it, not sure which kind, I perfer perch.

Sam

Hugelkultur

This weekend we finished with digging out our hole for our first Hugelkultur project bed. If you don't know what that is, I am going to put more on it in my gardening blog. http://samsveggies.blogspot.com/

We had a really productive day, we spent the morning picking up sticks around our place for the hugelkultur bed, finished digging the hole. I moved the chicken coop and took them food as well as water.

Made cream puffs out of the fresh eggs we got, watched a show with my family, made dinner, picked up raw milk from the farm down the road and the Sunday paper. Yep it was a really nice productive day. I even made a few phone calls to my family and friends.

I am trying to fight off a cold so far, so good. I got to keep moving. There is always so much to do in the spring. I should be more inside cleaning but I would rather be outside right?

Snow day

Every 10 or so years it snows here south of San Antonio. We get really excited when it does. Water goes off the shelfs, our roads are closed down. I swear most are hwy's were closed that day. No school no work for a lot of folks. I rememered the last time it snowed it was in the 80s and I was a teenager.

I know its funny how we react to snow but you got to remember we have no snow plows and to get us to go to work or school on a snow day is asking for the impossible lol.

So that night my husband and I heard ice hitting our house then later on I guess a bit of snow fell. By the time we woke up in the morning the sun was out already melting everything. My son was able to make a mini snowman & throw snowballs at the cats.

I walked around my chicken coop and fed the sheep, nothing new to them it seems. It was nice seeing the snow glitter in the sun, very pretty. I like snow but only during Christmas time. If I wanted more snow I would have asked hubby to move to a colder climate. I am a sun worshiper I have to admit. The sun gives me energy.

It was a nice snow day, I wouldnt mind another one next year maybe in December but I am not holding my breath.

My chicken catalogs have arrived!

Thats me moving my chickens this last year.

It finally came in my handy dandy chicken catalog with chick prices. I am in badly need of more chickens! But wait do I really want to do this anymore? I used to make a delivery to San Antonio every other week but it gets harder and harder to sell the eggs. Don't get me wrong I love having chickens and I will always continue having chickens but not sure I want to get that many and try again getting new customers.

There is 2 much competition out there & they don't care about the food safety rules that I had followed. If they say its from the farm people believe them even if they are locked in a coop all day long. All the people see is CHEAP and FARM. I saw some the other day and the eggs were so dirty they had poo from the chickens still on it which could be really dangerous if not properly cleaned & chickens get infection. Sooner or later someone is going to get the swine flu or something bad & all the people that sell eggs will be getting a bad rep because of someone that was lazy.

I don't force my chickens to lay having light on all night. As soon as they go into molt I don't kill them or give them away. I have some chickens out there as old as 5 yrs. My chickens are old they lay when they feel it's time to lay. I clean my eggs with warm/water/vinagar. Only a very small handful appreciate the "Pasture raised method" it's good for our field as well as the chickens.

Right now with just the small amount of eggs I am getting I sell to a few loyal customers and anything extra I give to the milk farmer down the road in exchange for raw milk. It suits me fine. I would love to sell at the farmers market because I love the idea of meeting new & old customers. I looked into it once. You have to get a license, have the rug torn out from the back of my van to sell from it. Get a background check & pay the farmers fee. So would it be worth it in the long run? Not sure. I would lose my Saturdays too

Anyways I am still excited about getting more chickens I just need to rethink how I want to run this business or just keep to providing for my home only. I am also thinking of raising broilers just for my family & maybe a few to trade?

Traditions

I love and live for traditions, I was lucky enough to marry a wonderful man that loves to cook and took the time to study and learn from my mother before she passed away. This is our third year of making tamales without my mother. He did an awesome job of cooking the meat and preparing the masa for it. I was kind of worried that no one would show up from my family most of them want to buy those awful store bought tamales, "They taste ok" they tell me. Who are they fooling? Yuck.

In the end we had a whole table full of volunteers plus always someone comes new to want to learn which is fine with us we could use the help. We buy Mexican pastry's the coffee and hot chocolate flows freely. Us older adults have some wine coolers maybe, we talk, we joke, we make fun of someone who is not spreading the masa on correctly.

Its a good time and we ended up with 75 dozen tamales for the year that we divided up among the volunteers the ones we didn't eat yet :) I hope my family continues wanting to do this some of them gripe each year because its at the end of Christmas & every one's tired. I wonder what would happen if my husband decided not to do this for a few yrs would they get used to those store bought tamales? Would they forget about the fun times as we meet up as a family? This is a tradition I hope we never stop.