I am such a sadist! I keep looking at homes with land enough to farm knowing that they are out of my financial means. I really need to stop looking and find that homesteading supporting job first. Or just save enough money to buy out right ... like that'll happen in any reasonable amount of time.

Goals:
Acquire homestead-able property

Steps:
Homestead supportable and loan acquiring income
Pay off car
Get farm!
Livestock shop!

I'm already saving so that step was removed. Once that car's paid off my savings will increase dramatically.

I just gotta keep my spirits up!

It was just wee Evelyn and me today. We did a walk about the park, learning which plants were edible and which aren't.

Creepy...

Right in the middle of the woods

Good quote

No idea. For as fragile as this looks it withstood Evelyn tromping over them.

Looks poisonous.

I've got so many things going on ... per usual. I'm working hard at becoming self-sufficient, and boy is it hard. Working two jobs, heading to mothers to work my garden, job hunting, and most importantly (for me at least) house hunting. To say the least about selling my crafts. If I can get my farm I'll be one step closer so homesteading.

I'll have less travel time because my garden will be right outside my home. Watering will be so much easier and I can do it in the morning to reduce the chance of mold. When I get home I can weed while I unwind from social over exposure! Quick canning/fermenting/smoking ets. Though bringing everything home isn't really a big deal. (unless I'm riding the bike and I find a lot of ripe goodies)

I'll have more room for organizing.  As my garden supplies will be in the garden shed ... or the garage. Either way out of my craft room! Plants (aside from a few house plants) will be outside growing strong. I may even move my crafts to the barn. A small office as it were, not a dusty stall. In case anyone's unfamiliar with clean barns. Oh, and a full sized kitchen! Even a small kitchen will have plenty of room for a pressure caner and my cooking supplies.

I'm super excited about my lemoncello. I only started it last month, so I have 2 months to go but it's already looking good. I need to rain in my
impatience.

I mentioned yesterday that my niece loved her new dress. The effort and attention to details makes me very proud of myself. I lined the antique rose bodice with a pale pink cotton. The skirt is a dark mahogany which is pleated. There's a pocket made from scrap pieces that I hand stitched. I also hand stitched the front neck with an uneven blanket stitch. I even stitched around the arms.


Photo curtisy my sister

Chain stitch/crochet button loops

Detailed stitches

Pocket actually works

French seams and narrow hem

Side note:  Queen Anne's Lace! I thought the heart was only purple, but last evening I found one that was red. A deep red to be sure. Makes a more accurate legend. Apparently she loved making lace and one day she pricked her finger and a single drop of blood landed on the flower. Now, I know purple is the royal color but I'm sure they still bleed red.

End note:  What does a white caterpillar mean again? Bad snows? While working in my garden last night I found this little cutie hanging out with the sunflowers. I moved him to the bushes!

Random-ness ... Speedway surprizingly has good lunches!

Wee dress for my niece. She loves it!

I'M BACK! Did ANYONE miss me?!

 

I participated in the Old Northwest Territory Primitive Rendezvous, this year known as the Old North Wet! For there was never a lack of rain! Taking advantage of a most wonderful thunderstorm I did some rain dancing. I was quickly soaked and it was good fortune I was wearing a bodice as chemise become transparent when wet. The rain wasn't good for most people though. Were all the people who came early set up; flooded out! The staff had to get a pontoon to move the camps I heard. Even moved a lot of people had creeks flowing through their tents after that thunderstorm. We were fortunate that ours was dry ... ish!

 

It was just my uncle and me as my cousin and brother both worked. In fact my girlfriends couldn't come wither due to work. Makes me begin to like my job again ...

 

We made interesting new friends and caught up with old ones!

 

Wolfy! I think the only person to hit the squirrel!



Showing off his fancy duds!

I got a fancy tent. When we were setting up camp uncle Greg offered a rug for my floor. So couldn't pass it up. I got a woven blanket due to my skin not liking the wool, a fleece sleeping bag, and I put the wool blanket at my feet over the woven one ... and I was still cold! Oh and I had an air mattress! Woot! I then went out and got another woven blanket and a cast iron skillet! Which I can season with beeswax! I'm so trying this now that I'm home.

My fancy tent!

I took first place in archery. It wasn't too hard considering everyone was having a bad time of it. However I spent most of my time working on a bow! Two Knives helped me start with a log, split it and whittle it down to a bow! I'm still stoked about it! I can't wait to see it after he takes it home and twists the limbs for me. When he brings it to the Eastern he's gonna tell me how to finish it!

Sanding the bow

Bowyers Apprentice

Working hard!



I consider myself to have a weak immune system for I get sick a lot. I hate doctors (they're just out to get paid) and the poisons they press upon me. SO! I self medicate.

Click image to go to Good Food Matters!

Recently I came across this lovely cure of yee olden days. Local Honey, Cayenne, Vinegar and ginger. I whipped up a batch and to my surprise I was without my cold in under 2 weeks, were as normally I'd be sick for 4 or more. It even had a pleasant taste. Not thinking it would work, I furthered my research and came across 'Thieves Oil'. I didn't have all the ingredients however, I diffused the few I had. So I conclude that the tincture helped cure my cold and the diffused oil kept Daniel from getting it. On that knowledge I shall add both recipes to my book and make some proper 'Thieves Oil' to diffuse on a regular basis!

Yet another accomplishment. Last night at about 9pm I finished my rustic repurposed trellis. Small trees and branches taken from a pile someone left in mom's front yard atop our old tree. I technically still need twigs to connect the horizontal branches for easier climbing. 

On another note yesterday I went to my first fiber festival. There were pretty yarns everywhere and whining sheeps! I ended the day with about 2k yarns of yarn. 2 aliens of hand painted beauties.