Bountiful Acres

Luffa or Loofa

Do you like luffa sponges? I do. And this year I grew some.  But boy are they a chore to get to the sponge part.  Here's a picture of the green gourd after it has dried on the vine for awhile.

And here is how they look after several weeks of sitting in the sun

The brown one is the one that's been sitting on the sun for over a month.  The green ones I just got out of the garden on Wednesday. 

Then after I soak them and peel them this is what they begin to look like

There's a luffa sponge starting to emerge

Just wanted to show you the seeds for next years luffa also. Those black spots are the seeds.

And finally here is the finished sponge....

Here's another view of it from the side that you might recognize Sorry about the turkey. Looks like he as a new head..lol.  But he's always by me when I'm outside.  He helps me get the scratch and feed the rabbits and peel the luffas and feed the sheep and goats and do my little projects.  He's also very fascinated with my wedding ring..I guess it sparkles in the sun and he wants to peck it. 

When I'm inside on the computer..this is my constant buddy in there
 
 

This is Emmy.  Such a sweet kitty.

If you're interested, we'll be selling the luffa's in another week or so. 

Update on the 'dream home'

I posted about this house two posts ago and had some encouragement to ask about it...find out about it...what could it hurt?

So I did....

We have a farmer that has been helpful to us and shares some knowledge with us and I also get some of his produce that he grows and I don't..like the most fabulous sweet potatoes...anyhow I asked him about it today since he seems to know a lot about what goes on in these parts.  He told me that it was the McClanahan farm(we live on McClanahan Road) and the lady that lived in there is now in an assisted living facility.  Her family is getting ready to sell the farm as they need the money to support her.  He tells me that there is one man that has first dibs on the farm.  If he isn't interested, or can't buy it then Farmer Bill's son-in-law is second on the list.  He had run some cattle there until they asked him to move them so they could sell.  So chances are that he might get that property.  I'm said I hope they sell it to a farmer.  Farmer Bill's son-in-law would keep it as a farm..someone else might come in and divide it up and sell it off in tracts.  UGH!!!  I asked him what his son-in-law would do about the house if he got it and he said probably rent it...I told him WE'D BE INTERESTED IN THAT...for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!   Maybe we could even convince him to sell us the acre or so that it sits on.....  maybe....  still dreaming....

Waiting for the Fed Ex guy.......

I finally have been able to get a spinning wheel....The Elizabeth from Ashford is on her way to me and I'm waiting.......

We keep checking the gate to see if there are any packages...

This is what she is supposed to look like when she gets here...

Oh I can't wait!!!!!!

Dreaming of things that may never be...

We moved to Bountiful Acres in Feb 2007 and we have 8 acres here.  Well almost..technically we have 7.78 acres.  Surrounding us is farm land.  While we do have some neighbors they are far away and we like that.  This house sits on the hill right next to us.  It's the old farmhouse that is part of the farm that the land we are on and all the land around us was once a part of.  This old beauty sits empty.  I look at her often and I wonder how I can be the one that cares for her now and decorates the natural beauty she holds.  I know someone had to have lived there not to long ago...look closely at the picture.  Do you see the satalitte dish?   I often think of calling the county and finding out who owns it now and seeing what I can do to be there....  She also sits on 100 acres... 100 acres...100 acres of hills and valleys and spots that don't flood.  I dream of what it would be like to have Bountiful Acres become part of that land and home also....our goats and sheep frolicking on the land and me in that old home.  I can see our wicker furniture on that old porch and smell the fire that I've built in the fireplace.  I can see the lace curtains billowing in the breeze as the windows are slighty ajar on spring mornings.  I can hear the birds chirping as I take my morning coffee on the porch sitting in my wicker rocker. I can see the chickens, ducks, guineas, turkeys all watching from the other side of the white picket fence I've put up around the house(it replaces the chain link fence that is there now, of course).  I can see my laundry flicking in the wind.  I can imagine my current pasture all set up in crop as my goats and sheep could move over here to the hills and valleys. 

This is another view from my pasture looking across the creek up to the house.

And I know the goats see it and think the same thing....'if only we could frolick on those hills'

But then reality hits and I realize just how wonderfully blessed I am to have the home and the land that I have and that I have goats, sheep, and all the birds and that I am living my dream come true...as a wife to a wonderful man and as a farmer.  Just sometimes I think about what might be......

Here's some pictures of our pastures and trees and the creek....

The creek is beautiful when it stays where it's supposed to stay..;-)

This is my new friend.  He likes to follow me and he seems to be talking to me.  Nope he doesn't have a name...other then Dinner.

While out in the pasture one can never be alone.  The goats love people and want to be where you are.  Here they come.....

These are the sheep.  Couldn't care less if I'm around.  Unless I have some food....

And one past picture for today...

I've learned to solder and made some necklaces.  I love it! And I loved making these. 

Have a fabulous day!

Pin Swap

In early fall I joined another swap. 

 This one is called A Creative Heart Pin Swap.  We are all making pins for each member of the group and then sending them to the swap mama.  Our swap mama had some difficult times on her life recently and wasn't going to be able to continue the swap.  So I volunteered. 

We have a yahoo group and chat with each other and we are all excited about future swaps as well.  This week I'm mailing all the fall pins to each of the artists and then I'll post pictures here of what each artist made.  This has been a blast!!  Now we are doing a one-on-one Christmas pin and we have plans for more pins for more seasons or holidays.  Does that sound like something you might like to be part of?  Have you been burned by swaps in the past? What's cool about this is that you make pins for the number of participants and then send them to me...I then send you one of each back and if someone flakes out you get the extra pin(s) back also.  So everyone gets something.  Yeah!

And as far as farming..tonight I'm going to go see Joel Salatin!! If I had  hero's Joel would be one of them.  I'll let you know about that tomorrow.   So Excited!!!

Enjoy your fall!

Wet days and crafty pictures.

  It's been raining here in middle Tennessee.

Most of the time I'm ok with that as it's so good for our gardens, crops and pasture.  But now I"m just tired of it.  Guess what! It's raining again today.  I got soaked when I was outside feeding everyone and making sure they were snug in their homes.  I hurt my back Sunday and yesterday spent the day in some serious pain.  I knew when I had overdone it on Sunday but kept going anyway.  Why don't we know when to say when?  Oh well...moving on. 

Here are some of my latest offerings from Bountiful Acres Farm Goods.   Hope you enjoy the pictures.

 

 

This is a Santa star that I sew, paint and decorate.  His beard is wool from our sheep.

These snowmen are really neat.  We make them on old clothespins so that they come with a built in ornament hook.  Cool huh?

I love gingerbread men.  So I make several different kinds.  Here is one that is a little more primitive.

He is coated in cinnamon after I paint him.  He smells so good!

These are some of my other gingerbread men.  They are so cute and sell so well.  I sew each little doll, then I paint them and then I coat them in cinnamon and bake them until dry.  Then I get to dress them and decorate them.  So cute!

I love old vintage stuff! And since I've started making these candy canes, I love it all the more.  They look just like the candy canes I remember hanging on great grandmothers tree.  They are quite a chore to make, but golly they sure do look authentic.   They come in two sizes and we are working on a giant one for this season.

The Santa in the middle here is fashioned after a vintage ornament.  I make the faces out of clay and I make each one individually.  The beard is more sheep's wool.  The cups are painted and decorated with vintage clip art.

 

Scarecrow and Pumpkin Pete

Instead of a wreath on your door how about a Santa Hat stuffed with goodies?  I make each of the elements in this hat.  There's a gingerbread man, candy canes and some snowballs. 

This snowman's wreath lites up.

As a child I loved my parents Christmas decorations.  Especially the little houses from Japan.  They were tiny and sat on our TV.  My mom had a little collection of them.  I used to imagine the people who lived in them.  In 2005 I started making these houses in memory of those that my parents had.  (I now have those houses in my collection).  I made the patterns for these and build each one, then paint and decorate them.  Some are on small boxes some are just pain old little houses.

Can't you just hear the church bells ringing?

Ok, so this got a little picture heavy.  :-)   I'll post more at a later date.

Have a great day!!  Stay dry (or warm, depending on where you live)

Sue

And the thunder rolls...

We've had some days of relief.  It's raining off and on but nothing like Tuesday - Thursday.   Right now the thunder is rolling and the rain is coming down lightly.  The creek has receeded.  Everyone is breathing a huge sigh of relief.

Here are some pictures of before and after:

This is the same picture as below.  On Tuesday this was the view into the pasture.

This is the pasture today(Sunday)

And here is a picture of the pasture gate (with a make shift shelter I threw together for the chickens to hide under).  This was also taken today(Sunday).

This is the view looking back.  The far blue tarp is the rabbit area..

This is the same area from Tuesday.

This is our fence between our back garden and the orchard gardens.  The debris is how high the water was.  (We lost a lot of fence line)

That's all the pictures I'm going to post today.  I have to tell you about what happened on Friday.  I was home feeding the critters in the afternoon and I saw some movement out in the pasture.  Then as I looked I noticed a truck was parked on the bridge.    Three men had come into our pasture and down by our creek and took (TOOK) our fence posts and other things that had washed down there.  SOME PEOPLE SUCK!!!  I yelled but I was just me versus three men.  I ran into the house and grabbed my car keys to drive over there and at least get their license but didn't get there fast enough..they were gone by the time I got to the bridge.  I drove around looking for them...with my blood at a boil!!!  That is NOT what we needed.  We lost a lot of fence line in this flood and it's very irritating that people will take advantage of this sort of situation.  I've told people about it and what kind of truck it was..  folks are looking for them.  But I know it's most likely too late.  I'm gonna post a sign that says "Nothing on this property is worth your life! Owner has gun and 7 dogs" 

Good news:  The camera that took a swim decided that a few days of rest and relaxation were enough and when my sister put the battery back in...it worked!! Thank you Lord!!

Our critters were feeling sick the few days after and I got to them with herbs and other natural substances..and they seem to be back at full speed.  The Lord really does watch out for even the beasts of the field. 

My wounds are healing nicely also.  I still have quite the swollen ankle and am trying to stay off of it, but I can't.  I don't know how.  I don't like to sit idle.  My hubby and sister have been at me this weekend..to sit down!  It was good.  I slept and I rested.  Both things were desperatly needed as I was exhausted.  If I wasn't out in the rain and waters I was pacing from window to window to door checking and worried and checking again..and then going out to check again. 

Thanks for all the prayers!  God is faithful! God is good! And He Is Lord of all!

Soggy days

Thank you to everyone who has been thinking about us, praying for us, or sending well wishes our way. 

We feel it.  We are encouraged and we are learning.  The rain hasn't stopped.  From what I understand from the weathermen this is hitting TN, AL, AR, MS.  Whew! Rain rain go away!

We flood and then it goes away..and then it floods and then it goes away.  Argh!

There are no pictures to post today because in all the excitement on Tuesday my digital camera also went for a swim..except it didn't come out squeeky clean like everything else.  Once this all settles down I'll be shopping for a new one.  (drats!)

The good news is that our pond which was empty due to the drought the last two years..is now full! Probably more full than it's been in decades! :-)

The bad news is that our animals are now starting to feel the effects of the stress and the weather.  I have some sick goats and sheep.  I'm hoping that with some probiotics and supportive herbs they will be bounce back quickly.  They are strong and healthy..and now this.  The barn is a wet gooey mess and that doesn't help.  Last night we spred fresh straw and wood chips down so that they had somewhere dry and clean to stand and lay down.  Hopefully we don't flood the barn again and lose all that. 

Thanks again for all your well wishes.  There are lots of farmers right now scratching their heads.  Wherever you are in this country..support your local farmers, please.  They go through a lot to keep producing quality food and prodcuts to put on your table.

Stay Dry!

Sue

What a day this has been

Today the rain started falling and falling and falling.

 

I went out to lunch (mistake) and when I got home I could hardly breath and believed I might be having a heart attack.  You see I've invested most of my life into Bountiful Acres. My days and nights are spent working, planning or dreaming about/on Bountiful Acres.  This is a dream come true for the 44 years of my life.  Maybe I"m being a little dramatic but let me tell you what has happened.

 

Water has taken over 80% of our 8 acres.  And, I'm not talking puddles.  I got home, put some sweat pants on and headed to the barn. I could hear the goats and sheep crying and I could see chickens and roosters floating away..down stream...toward the rapids that was a creek this morning.   I had to swim through chest high water to get into the barn.  And, I was alone.  I grabbed the biggest goat and pulled her through the water. (goats don't like to be wet and they don't swim).  We swam back to high ground and I still had 12 more animals in the barn.....

 

Fast forward...

 

pictures have been taken.  Emergency managementhas been here, and LOTS of farmers/neighbors stayed on the road and watch me swim/retrieve goats/chicken/sheep. Our feeders have swept away...some of our chickens have been lost...and here's the worst part for our CSA...

 

The gardens (All of them..and the orchard) are under about three feet of fast moving water.

 

As I write this the water is already receding..but it's horrible.  I want to cry but I have things to take care of...like what to do tonight if it rains again.  It's suppose to ...and tomorrow.  Golly..we havn't had rain in a month and now this.  The emergency management guy said that he's been doing this for 29 years and hasn't seen it like this in a LONG time.  Great. That makes me feel like singing.  NOT!  It's happened.  And, now we have to recover.

So there might be a gap in deliveries this weekend.  We have to access the damage.

 

I'm asking all those that pray...please ask God to spare us anymore of this.

 

 

 

 

This is the gate that leads out to our pasture where the sheep and goats live.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The blue tarp? That's where our rabbits live.  Did you know rabbits can float?  (just kidding..need some humor today...their cages stayed just above the water...thank you Lord)

Looking back though is our first garden, then our orchard, then our large garden.  All under water. And the waters took down the fence line and the pasture gate back there..that was held up with a wooden pole that was cemented in! Water is terribly STRONG!

 

 

 

 

 

This is the barn...after we had already gotten sheep and goats out.  This is about two hours after the flood was at it's worst.  We had taken care of things...and then thought..let's get the camera.

 

6 sheep and 7 goats and lots of chickens were in there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again- these were taken several hours after the flood started.  Those dogs weigh about 100 lbs each and Farkle(my hubby) is 6'6".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My legs knee deep...in the potato patch. 

 

And this was after it was receeding.

 

My pants are soaked because I had been swimming chest deep to get the goats and sheep to high ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that I'm out of the water, showered, and feel like I can breath again let me tell you what we learned today. 

1) Sheep float.  :-)  We have shetland sheep and the water was deeper than them.  I was trying to get one across the water at a time. I was taking my little lamb, Tiny Tim across and all the ewes started swimming with me.  I was frightened as the water was moving very fast.  I got him across, and pushed several of the ewes, but one got caught in the current and she started get swept away..she was crying to.  I jumped into the deep water and went after her..the fence line stopped us and I held onto her wool and she was floating, like a bobber, and I pulled her with one hand and kept my other hand on the fence until I could get us to where I could stand in the water.

2) We need to get a new shelter for the critters on high ground

3) Chickens can swim.  Well most.  We lost some today when they got swept into the rapids.  But the roosters were floating away on a feeder until they got to far, then they jumped in the water and started swimming to the barn.  Wings spread and kind of hopping and swimming.  I caught them and brought them into the barn and put them on the walls between the stalls.  My hubby and sis later would carry them one at a time to high ground.  Even the mean rooster

4) Spiders will jump on anything(or ME!) to get out of the water..and they bring their eggs with them!  Gonna need a bunch more showers to get that out of my mind.

5) Ducks and geese and Great Pyranease dogs are the only ones that like this stuff

6) Mice and rats swim really well.  UGH!

7) Water is strong! Moved felled trees and took out a cemented mounted pasture gate.

8) That I have an amazing husband and sister.  They came running home from their jobs when I called them and they heard the panic in my voice.

9) Most importantly...God knew this was gonna happen before it did..and He kept us all safe. Us and the critters all made it without injury(besides for scrapes and scratches). We are wet...but we all are drying out.  Our garden will be replanted and thankfully here in the south we have some time before frost to still get some produce harvested.

 

God is good ALL the time!

Good days at Bountiful

Today it's getting hot again.  We've had wonderful weather. It's been in the low 80's and even upper 70's and all I can say is "Ahhhhhhhhh".  I love this type of weather.  When we moved here in 2007 it was hot! This week of that year it was 102+ degrees!  I'm so thankful for our summer this year.  I'm thankful for any summer, but really thankful for this one.   Today we are at 89 degrees!  <<Shock>>  It's August and it's hot?? But I went outside and took some pictures that I wanted to share. 

Remember the first 10 ducks that our duck hatched about 2 months ago?  Here they are

They grow really fast.  These are kept in a cage(the only birds we have that are) because we aren't keeping them.  They are headed to market very soon.  And, then we have another 10 to raise.   These are Muscovy ducks.  A farmers best friend.

This weekend when we found our new baby ducks we knew we had to get the guineas out of the brooder box so that the ducks could go in, but they aren't big enough yet to be let loose.  So what were we to do?  When we moved here our pasture had a large hay feeder and since we don't have cattle or horses it has just sat empty all this time.  Until Sunday.  We moved it closer to our outside light, left it in the pasture, put chicken wire all around it, added a roof and then a tarp, and a perch and we now have a guinea house.  At least for about another month, then they will be set loose.  It looks goofy but that's because we forgot to take in to account that goats like to climb..on anything...and everything...and we just made something they couldn't resist.  I fretted over what to do so that the goats wouldn't get hurt and the guineas wouldn't get killed...this is what I came up with.  Stick PVC pipes(that we had extra of in our barn) out of the wire thereby creating obstacles that the goats couldn't get over and would be more of a nuisance to them.  I'm happy to say...IT WORKED!!  So far, no goats in the cage, and they have lost interest in the 'new thing'.  Hopefully we can take the PVC pipes down soon.  Here's a picture Goofy huh?

These are the babies.  They were born July 10th. Such a wonderful bird to have on a homestead.

I also took some pictures of the goats while I was outside.

LaMancha's really have a fabulous personality.  They are curious and friendly and love to be rubbed and if you don't they will rub against you.  They really enjoy just hanging out with us.

Bigsby

Maxwell House(on the fence) and Maxine(his mom, in the background)

These are the twins..Nitespot(white head) and Maxwell House.

This is Bebe.

We have two other goats also, they are a little more shy when the camera comes out.  :-)

I also took some pictures of my dogs.  They are 2 Great Pyrenees and 2 great Mutts.  LOL.

This is Thor checking on the goats.

Once he figured out they were ok, he went back to his favorite activity...

It looked so inviting....

Zeus decided to join him.

Hard working farm dogs.....

I had to share this next picture because it makes me smile.  After feeding the goats and sheep the other morning I went in and got some coffee.  I came back on to the deck and saw this sight.  The ram, Dodge and the goats were all in line, single file, headed to the barn.  But they were stopped.  There was a chicken in the way.  And they all waited a good 10 minutes, right where they were, for that chicken to move.  Couldn't get off the trail..oh no...just stand in line and wait.  So funny!

I will post some crafty pictures soon...

Have a wonderful day!