LambTime 2010

We have over 17 lambs this winter season, this one has to be one of the most unique ones out there. My sister says she looks like Angela Jolene, another friend says I should call her "Kisses" good name but dont want to name her if we eat her.

Lots of rain this pic was after the rain now its more flooded. I am worried about hoof rot on the sheep so I am glad they are staying in the barn for now. The lambs are safe at least and dry. Hoping it will stop raining.

We despertly need some sun. I need it for energy the farm needs it for growth. Our truck is in the shop right now and as always about this time we need to be in three different places at once. I was really hoping this would be a quiet semester but with Miranda taking her new sewing class every Mon/Wed its really time consuming but its so worth it for her. Its things I wouldnt be able to teach her in sewing plus it comes with a 36hr certificate for fashion sewing.

I still have 4 bags to crack of pecans but havent had the time. I have though got my coupons back and order and saved over $28 on coupons tonite. We are hoping to put the garden in but with the rains its preventing us from prepping. My chicken feeder is half way done again had to be stopped cause of the rain. Hopefully the wood is not rotted :(

Well thats about it for our farm updated other then my chickens finally started to lay, funny thing is that its the older chickens laying not the younger ones. The ones I was going to cull. sigh..

Pallet ideas

Love this picture not my farm but I thought it was so cute

Pallets!!

For a while now I have been intrigued by the use of pallets. They seem to be everywhere and if you look for example at certain business or on the craigslist or free cycle you see people trying to get rid of them all the time.

On my internet search I have seen, sheds, chicken coops, garden fences etc.. I decided to start a link section of these places and ideas so I don't have to keep repeat looking for them when I am trying to tell people about how wonderful they are:

 Here is our picture of are newly made pig pen

Buldings; Structures: 

**Check it out I added a pinterest link to tons of pallet ideas I have been collecting!

https://www.pinterest.com/ldytutor/pallet-ideas/

Tiny House out of pallets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKgSoKedbos&feature=fvwrel

A pallet home
http://www.instablogsimages.com/1/2011/11/11/pallet_home_jswec.png

Another small house design out of pallets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z7WI2v1Mh8&feature=related

This guy has pictures of sheds that he had made..ingenious!
http://summerville-novascotia.com/PalletShed/

Making a childrens playhouse with pallets its in another language but at least you can see the finished product
http://en.espritcabane.com/furniture-plans/pallet-coffee-table.php

Wooden fence (This one is my favorite which I featured on top)
http://www.ruralramblings.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Chicken-Lovers-Day_4310.jpg

Fence made of pallets for goats etc..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVRouZJI7aQ

Stairs made out of pallets
http://www.readymade.com/file_uploads/10763/14-doghouse7__large__large.jpg

Kewl a wood deck made with pallets
http://en.espritcabane.com/garden/pallet-wood-deck.php 

Another little add on porch/deck
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1018/4732121236_e4c962eb05.jpg

Inside a home made out of pallets
http://www.mytophomes.com/architect/pallet-recycling-home-designed-university-vienna-students/

Outdoor pallet shelf
http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/upload/280208408035993356_UikmJaJR_b.jpg

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Kids stuff made out of Pallets

Small playhouse for kids
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSwyN7dTHQ-LmVndBqR_WAqluO9Km6L-86IOBz4ZRkFMuP951UG355DpFshcgGuRPjQMEEZ8iTQX1vdFBXw7ASfzz0wodDEd_y0jnjexOIl3jo47yjIktRNJ3UtWYMuAIWlGSad70BZtQY/s1600/DSC02506.JPG

Kids playhouse made with pallets
http://www.poetichome.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/repurposed-pallet-house-300x203.jpg

Playground for kids made out of pallets
http://thepalletplayhouse.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-progress-photos.html

Tree house made of pallets
http://www.instructables.com/image/FJEQIPMGPBDFQ4L/Tree-playhouse-without-a-tree.jpg

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Dog house made of pallets

Ideas for a dog house made out of pallets. This site has a video!
http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Doggy-Retreat/

Dog house made of pallets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qETgvYc5Wys

Have a favorite dog here is a dog bed for them.
http://www.shelterness.com/pictures/diy-pallet-dog-beds-1-500x375.jpg

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Gardening with pallets:

Making a Raised bed with pallets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEUd-m2rBEI&feature=youtu.be

Recycled work bench. Great idea!!! I want one!
http://onlygotaminute.blogspot.com/2009/09/our-new-garden.html

Pallet pen for compost another great idea with detail instructions
http://www.co.hanover.va.us/works/composting2.htm

Great idea on making a picket fence out of pallets cute!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1fJ8by3T_4&feature=fvsr

Vertical garden using pallets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQKCm7wKS8I

Using a pallet as a garden! Great idea thanks Debbiehttp://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-turn-a-pallet-into-a-garden

Potting bench made of pallets
http://s3.amazonaws.com/atimg/1568058/pallet_potting_3_rect540.jpg

This is a garden table from pallets
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/howto/pallet-table.html

Here is another detail instructions on building a garden bed out of pallets
http://www.ehow.com/how_5171668_use-build-raised-garden-beds.html

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Furniture made with Pallets:

A few ideas for outdoor gardening furniture
http://s4.hubimg.com/u/4616731_f520.jpg

Large desk made with pallets
http://www.shelterness.com/pictures/large-diy-desk-made-of-wood-pallets-3-500x333.jpg

Pallet shelf
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5261941819_86ed20c313_z.jpg

Cute day bed with pallets
http://littlelovely.typepad.com/littlelovely/2010/01/nursery-diy-pallet-daybed.html

Another cute bed for kids I would make sure to sand this really good!
http://www.ecoblogs.org/design/a-pallet-bed-for-kids/


This guy made a table out of pallets
http://www.palatablewoodworking.com/projects/PalletTable/PalletTable.html

A bed frame they made out of pallets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P_nLk4gftQ&feature=related

Tv stand some guy made kewly
http://www.jacksbackyard.com/reclaimed%20pallets.jpg

A smaller tv stand with rollers
http://cdn.webecoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/pallet-reuse-television-stand.jpg

Pallet computer desk
http://www.charm.net/~jriley/pallet.html

This person made a garden chair from pallets..Great idea~
http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/howto/garden-chair.html

Coffee table made from pallets
http://en.espritcabane.com/furniture-plans/pallet-coffee-table.php

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Chicken Pallet ones:
 
Standing chicken coop or rabbit cage
http://www.oklahomahistory.net/ttphotos9a/ChickenCoop051709a.jpg

http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=23574-maran-pallet-coop

Small chicken coop, though I wasnt really impressed with this guys building skills he is very dangerious.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Turn-Old-Pallets-Into-A-Chicken-Tractor/

Here is a better chicken coop build with pallets
http://www.backyardchickens.com/coops/pallet-coop.html

Here is a nest box made out of pallets
http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/04/nesting-box-from-pallet.html

Here is a blog of someone that build a smaller chicken coop with pallets
http://mountainmama-jenny.blogspot.com/2009/07/pallet-chicken-coop.html


Garden and Furniture Pallets:

http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/creative-reuse/before-and-after-pallets-used-for-outdoor-furniture-081685

http://www.epinions.com/content_4747731076
This guy talks about building a green house planters with pallets

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Stuff made with pallets

Shoe rack made with pallets...simple idea could be made just a wee pit better at least paint it? Just saying
http://www.calfinder.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/wood-pallet-shoe-rack.jpg

Firewood holder kewl idea
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2C-eFK4_IPIE7Wj4XcgamQ7Pswy6vYp0CIKhz_ft-3-U9QGv0H6LyTqSQGqQdL-GIXbNqiyV8oyfym5r2ruy4zqDpzHpdfkNQYOTpD_GPqobmu9EBEzxAQ6rfxLngehSpfC9wnIcL4eVk/s1600/CIMG2020.JPG

A place to put your plates pallet design
http://remodelista.com/img/sub/katrin-arens-kitchen-jordi-canosa.jpg

Very rugged to place your picture frames in, I can see this in someones cabin
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsT81_lM4TPZ68M__1R_du9_OwqzarqK4S4NB95i0lUjxhF4qDThKS0YH8WfubkyQp0az082cY293o3lJAlJPCwj4Hf4WXZFzyckwuH1uQ_DlCZWI0TxUkF6fhmEEQBd35x6_bu0FgAFi/s400/Pallet+picture+frame.JPG

A room divider great idea!
http://www.recyclart.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/room-dividers.jpg 

This is pretty kewl a farmers market stand made with pallets. Might be pretty heavy but great idea
http://www.roscoejackson.com/storage/post-images/design%20harvest%202010%2003.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1295543308377

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Other Sites that have pallets pictures

Unstitched a few pictures that I dont have on mine love the magazine rack!
http://www.unstitchedblog.com/2011/07/the-find-wood-pallet-diy-ideas-part-2/

Practical Enrichment
http://practicalenrichment.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/recycled-pallet-furniture/

If you don't have time to order a book try this kindle version of pallet DIY projects get it right now!


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Please leave a note and let me know which one was your favorite design with pallets. Add your own too!

thanks

A new Year 2009

Wow the last time I wrote on here it was Oct I almost forgot I had a blog. Inspired by the movie Julie and Julia I decided to get out my cook book, "Better Homes and Gardens" New Dieters Cook Book & try some of the recipes. I have always loved this book so much because of the pictures it shows for each and everyone of the recipes. It also gives you the nutrition value for each food as well as the calories.



For the new year as a lot of people I am not going on a diet but I am going to try to watch what my family and I eat in the coming year to try to lose weight and become more organized. On my fridge I have a calender to write down each meal we have for each day, this will give me an idea of what we eat to get a variety plus see how many times we actually go out and eat.



My taste buds have been so dulled lately with the same old foods. I discussed with my husband we need to read more of the Sunday food section and try out new restaurants in the San Antonio area at least one every pay day rather then go to our same old restaurants.



Besides cleaning up for after the holidays I am trying to organize better too. I decided not to do Co-op this year as much as I love the people in co-op I am just too busy during this semester. I still have pecans to crack save/sell and it will be lambing season soon. I need to also sell some more of our sheep so we dont have to feed them this winter. Lots of paperwork to do still.



I guess I could have just helped someone but I dont want to let someone down when we missed a few days....So I have decided to just go to lunch onces in a while so Tommy can play. Tommy is really involoved with his cubscouts right now & its going to be derby time and Miranda is really involoved with her girl scouts and Yes its that time again...Cookie time. I am sure we will get drafted for some booths again this year.



Farm is going well but my chickens havent laid in months because of the cold and being old. I am relucant getting anymore till my husband fixes my coop for me. We need to put the feeder inside the coop to keep the sheep away so I dont have to be dragging that fense each time I move it. Right now its a two person job it shouldnt have to be. I should be able to get into the tractor and move it myself.



Its been colder then normal here in Texas which has been nice. As long as my sun is shining I dont care how cold it gets :)

Rain finally Oct

My son is now a cubscouts and is doing really well in it. My husband a new den leader also joined for the first time and has taken to it like a fish to water. We have 10 boys in our den which is one of the biggest ones out of our pack.

Well we have finally been getting some much needed rain out on our farm, though I still feel like we have a bubble around us with only cracks of it letting the rain in its very strange. Dad is doing well next door but he is sick with a cold right now. A cold is no big deal for a lot of us but I worry for my dad because of his age.

We got a few pears this year from our pear trees, our apples fell to the ground and rotted so we didn’t get any apples. Our pecans are slowly following down; we have been trying to find a dry day to go out to the orchard to pick up branches and get some for firewood to some families I know that could use it.

Tom is doing well at work, we are blessed he has a good job where I am able to stay at home even during these tough times. We are going to have a few events happen in the next couple of months. One is our family reunion in my home town coming up this month.
Next is Halloween. Our small town has a great turnout for Halloween each year. The school and one of the Baptist church always has a carnival. Our routine is always to go to sonic for the special deals they always have that day 25cent corn dogs and icecream then we head off to trick or treat. A couple of houses have haunted houses, the fire department gives out candy, even this one house always gives out glow sticks for the kids.

Yes we do this “trick or treating” , no we are not wicked people, and by golly we are still Christian after this day. I find nothing wrong with doing what we did as kids, my daughter and her friend are 16yr and they still love trick or treating and taking her little brother out, we do this as a family. Some say they may be too old but what is too old? Who declares it? I say let them be kids for as long as they can, they have years ahead of them to be grown up.

Anyways we have my family reunion in Oct and I have family flying down from Calif to see us. Then we are off to Vegas for my husbands army reunion. Somewhere in Jan or Feb we are suppose to go sledding and skiing with the kids if we can find a place so if y’all know of a place where we can sled on bunny hills during this time that is close to Texas please let me know.
Chickens are still chickens laying just enough, our sheep we have to bring in every night there is a couger that comes around our area and takes one down if we leave it out I am hoping it will move on. That’s about it for now on the update on our farm.

Sheep

Well we got rid of 22 older sheep at the auction, but didnt get much from them. The only good thing is we got them off the field. Grass is scarce with hardly any rain. 1/2 was the only thing we go in months now.

Sold 6 to customers and will take more to another butcher to be able to resell individual parts. Pecans getting big, rotted ones are dropping, End of Sept they should start to fall.

Its been so hot here its hard to think straight some days even with air conditioning. Tommy passed his swim level 3. Both kids are now in Krav Maga I have been shuffleing things around to try to fit only two days a week to SA.

Hot, Hot, I am melting

Canning Tomatoes

Canning Tomatoes



These are notes for myself for when I have to process them again

Mistakes and Suggestions:

Make sure kitchen sink and counter are clean not only work space but you need use the sink a lot too. This took the longest time because I didn’t have things cleaned off first.

Make sure to find the right size pans for the quart or pint jars with the wire bottom so they won’t be touching the bottom of pan

Don’t underestimate the size of jar the Quart jars take in a lot! Check the tips of it to make sure not broken and bottoms!

Pan & Lid

Tongs that hold the jar

Funnel

Don’t use chopping block too messy use bowl so you can use the juice to put in jars that are not that full.

Bag of ice on hand

Start to bowl water for cans when you are done blanching the tomatoes it takes a long time to boil water. You don’t want it boiling when you put it in though because it might crack, needs to be in there as it boils.
Also in jars 2 tablespoons of lemon juice 1 tsp of salt per quart jar.

Takes about 30 seconds or longer to blanch the tomatoes keep an eye on them some take longer than others as it starts to pull away the skin is the best time.

45min for 6/7 quart jars. 12 hours to rest and let pop the lid

Would have liked to add some color

Before sealing the lid put a something in the side of inside of jar to get air out.

You may remove the ring when done if you want, press in the middle to make sure if its sealed and won’t easily come off.

If anyone knows of some kind of colorful herb I can put in the jars without the taste going crazy with it let me know.

Links:
http://www.canning-food-recipes.com/canning_tomatoes.htm

http://www.dinnerplanner.com/canning_tomatoes.htm

**** http://www.pickyourown.org/canning_tomatoes.htm

http://canningusa.com/IfICanYouCan/TomatoSauceHerbs.htm

The water cure

Farm life: Turkey chicks are doing great, almost chance of rain today but it blew by us so sad just half mile away it rained. Field is going really dry. We really need to cull our sheep but haven’t had the time. Pecans are still looking great!
Garden is doing ok, ants and other bugs are starting to attack it along with the over grown grass its been hard to go out and weed though. I did weed over the rose garden/Herb garden today.

It’s been one week since I started the water cure program with the book, “You’re not sick you’re Thirsty” I wanted to mark this day so I know exactly when I started. In one week Pros: I feel tons better. If I drink two glasses of water before I go outside I don’t have much allergys infact it’s been a week since I have taken any meds for it. My skin feels clearer. I am not eating as much.
Cons: I keep having to go to the bathroom they say its gets better as you go along you won’t have to go as much I hope that is true. My chiropractor gave me these strips to test to see if I am dehydrated; it has certain levels to let you know. Mine wasn’t really bad but I am still dehydrated the same for my kids. My husband was the only one that is doing really well with his water intake.

My sister also took the test and I laughed when she said, “But I just drank water” Your body is like a dry sponge when you’re dehydrated and each time you drink water it’s like only a drop being put into the sponge. It will take many drops to make to fill and heal you. It’s so fascinating the book I found out when you feel thirsty its already too late for your body, which means your body is already in red alert that you needed that water long ago.

Also found out those sensors that try to let us know we are thirsty we usually lose it as we grow older. Which might be the reason why so many people are overweight when they get older the signals get weak and they might think they are hungry not thirsty.