Rain

We finally got some rain yesterday. Not enough. But we were grateful for the bit of respite from the heat.

The whole state of Texas is suffering from a drought.
Growing up in southern California we were always in a drought. But it meant nothing to me. Actually, I did feel guilty when leaving the hose water to run down the driveway.
Here in farm country drought is real and gravely effects everyone. My neighbors haven't been able to grow food for their animals. And around here, animals are income. For the last few weeks hay has been trucked in from Colorado, doubling the average price. Horses are being given away because they're too expensive to feed. At the livestock auction last week they were auctioning-off over 3,000 head of cattle.
My neighbor had to sell over 200 of their herd.
The ground is crispy under our feet. Throughout my pasture the earth has cracked open; begging for water.
We are thankful for an afternoon thunderstorm. But we need so much more.

There's a fella at the farmer's market who is earning money to buy a washing machine.
He paints buckets.

I think I know the girl painted on that bucket.
We've outfitted the pots with handles to use as egg collecting pails.

Drake the Duck is new to the farm. He was given to us by the plumber.
The rest of Drake's flock had been abducted by coyotes.
He is happily recovering with us. He fits right in.



These are my girls, Nigerian Dwarfs Misty and Sally.
I'm searching for a suitor buck to knock them up.



Have you ever heard the phrase, "we do what we do, ese".
No?
Maybe that's a California thing.

I bet you wonder what I do all day out here in the country. Honestly, I have no idea because the days are all the same. The heat varies on levels of intensity, the kids run around yelling and making messes, I clean up the messes, and I cook and cook and cook...forever and ever. And then I clean up the kitchen and cook again. seriously.
And I wear the same thing every day



I'll even admit that everything is from Walmart.
wow.

Today I served:
breakfast - Pear cake (pears from our trees)
lunch - cheesy pasta
choco chip cookies for our friendly guests (David has friends...I don't)
dinner- eggs, refried beans, and veggie bacon strips
*a note about the dinner- we eat eggs so much that I promise my kids will despise them when they're grown. Someone will offer them eggs and they'll be like, NO, please!
And about the refried beans - going to the market is no longer convenient. One must plan ahead and be most prepared. I do neither. Therefore I've cracked open my emergency food storage.

Cow Hunt

I've been neurotic about checking my email this morning. 
I'm awaiting a response from a breeder.
Good news will require a 5 hour drive and learning a new set of skills.

I've been on the hunt for a calf. But not just any calf...a Dexter calf.
Did you know that there are over 800 breeds of cattle recognized in the world today?
Each breed has its purpose. Some have better meat quality, some have better milk quality, some are more heat tolerant and others are easier on pasture.

I've grown attached to the Irish Dexters. This breed is also known as the mini cow. 

There are cows all around me. But Dexters are hard to come by. Their owners love them and aren't so keen on selling. Sure I could buy a Jersey at auction; they're practically giving them away. But Jerseys and Holsteins (the average dairy cow) become BIG cows. Honestly, they frighten me.
I've gotta be able to grab her tenders to get my milk.
So, I'll be patient for the girl I want (and am not afraid of).
If I don't get the response I'm hoping for then we'll keep visiting breeders.
At least we're meeting some fun people.

When they say Texas is hot, BOY do they mean it. 
I can't get anything done around here because the heat hits me upside my head with its obnoxiousness.
But, thankfully, my hens will still lay eggs in this heat.
Typically, hens lay less eggs in hotter months.
However, we have been collecting 8-10 eggs per day from our 12 hens.
Most of our eggs are brown.
But, the Araucanas lay a most beautiful blue Easter egg.
True farm raised, free range chicken eggs are not even the same product as their grocery store cousins.  The yolk is so yellow it's orange.  The flavor is richer and yummier. They even bake better.




Livestock Auction

It's a whole new world out here y'all!


Every once in awhile I sing the Little Mermaid song, "It's a whole new world."

With that said...we are in the market for a dairy cow. 
I don't want the corporations' hand in my milk.
I want my family to be able to provide our own food.

I also really love livestock.  When I was little we went to the L.A. County fair in Los Angeles every year.  My favorite part was the livestock area. 
I've always had a tenderness for cows (that's one reason I don't eat them).

So begins our search for a dairy calf.  Here in cattle ranch country there are 2 ways to obtain cattle; from a breeder or from an auction.  Each small town has its own auction.  There are auctions going on a few nights a week and they sometimes last until the wee hours of the morning. 

We went to our first auction in Pittsburg, TX.  I was a bit flabbergasted of sorts.  Wow, the clientele was most unusual.  Where have these people been all my life. 
How have I gone all these years and not been in a room with such "interesting" people.  Heavenly Father forgive me.  I enjoyed every minute as each animal was marched across the auction block.  Everything from cows, goats, chickens, to boxes of dollar store packaged pastries.  Yup, nothing was exempt from being sold at this auction.
I relished in the amazement that was this new experience. 
With every heifer (female cow) the auctioneer said:
"look at dat purty heifer rait der". 
magic.

We walked away that evening wondering where we had landed.
Nathan asked us why it was so crusty in there. 

We gave another auction a try.
Next we went to the auction in our town, Winnsboro. 
I'm glad to announce to that it was a much better environment.  The room was filled with gentleman in large hats seriously participating in the orderly process. 
The auction was clean, organized and exciting. 

It so happens that during the auction my kids were being most ornery, especially Rachel (surprise).  I had to throw her on my hip and head down the steep stairs.
I fell.
I sent David a text. But, I added the wrong number to my cell phone.
So, an unfortunate stranger received this text message:
"Did u see me fall down the stairs? These damn kids".

Still haven't gotten my cow.

4th Festivities

The 4th of July is typically a day of parades, an abundance of food, a house full of friends, swimming and more swimming.

Parade...check
Food...check
House full of friends...womp
Swimming...does a plastic pool count?

Actually, we found a familiar face at Winnsboro's first annual 4th of July Parade. And thank God we did. We were feeling most lonesome. Our friend goes to church with us and we bombarded her with our friendliness and convinced her to go to Sonic (predictable as we are) with us.
We parted ways and came home to spend the sweltering afternoon boiling in our newly installed (from the box) plastic pool. It sufficed.

Later we went back into town for the fireworks.

Enter culture shock. God bless rural America.

A storm rolled through and delayed the fireworks. We took shelter in the truck as we waited for the rain (that we've been praying for) to pass.

Around here it's well known that everything moves on country time.
Which means really s.l.o.w. 
Until the folks are waiting for their fireworks show. That's when they demand diligence.

But it was well worth the wait. Seriously the most bestest fireworks show ever. Typically, I require Elvis' Trilogy to be played in conjunction with a display of fireworks. But this year Elvis was not necessary. So good.

Different and unfamiliar can be good.

Crummy cell phone pic



Backyard Picnic

The littles have been getting lost...finding themselves in the backyard.

The lazy days of summer have been filled playing with animals, catching frogs in the creek, petting the neighbors horses, picnicing and camping in the forest...all in their swimsuits.

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Guns - Our First Country Lesson

We've always believed that if you're gonna shoot an animal, you should eat it.

But I've changed my tune.

We have guns (just in case the shiz hits the fan). 
I even have my Concealed Weapons Permit...and there's a funny story attached to that.

But we've never shot at anything. 
The ammo sat, collecting dust, in an ubber safe local.

UNTIL...a rabid skunk skunked my baby and dogs. 
Rachel learned a valuable lesson that day; never try to catch a skunk. 
That skunk sprayed my baby from head to toe and continued to go after the rest of our clan.  I whisked the kids into the house and beckoned David from his chores
to "GET the GUN!" 

As Rachel sat in a bath, covered in tomato paste, David waged war on Pepe le Pew. 
The skunk charged David from under the house.  David's first attempt at target practice was a success.  Just as the skunk turned and lifted it's tail...B A M!

I never saw the dead skunk (I was forever bathing Rachel), but I smelled him until trash day.

Welcome to the Country.

It's fair to say that our life is completely different.

I'm still scattered from this move. But, I've been taking pictures and will share soon.

Here's the long and short:
For many years our understanding and inspiration, regarding the way we provide for ourselves, has grown.  We felt an urgency to reduce our out-go and learn to produce as much of our own food as possible.  We were inspired by those who left the city in search of greater purpose.  So, we did just that.

We have been grateful for the business we knew and worked for many years. 
But, we knew it wasn't sustainable.
This change has required great faith in our Heavenly Father and in eachother, as a family.

First, we set out to find land that met the following criterion:
price
rainfall
soil quality
growing season length
GreatSchool rating
Winnsboro, Texas met the mark.

We sold our house in Georgetown and found a piece of land in the middle of the countryside with a very simple house.  People in this part of the country aren't city savvy and they talk real slow.  But they're genuine, kind, and good.  The nearest Target is an hour away and Winnsboro doesn't even have a Mcdonalds!

We don't exactly know how we're gonna do this;
(that's where our faith is being s t r e t c h e d) but the plan is to start a homestead for ourselves and then help and encourage others.  We figure we'll do odd jobs, breed and sell small scale farm animals (for homestead use), and sell food at the farmer's market. 

When I named this blog (about 3 years ago) I had NO IDEA what was in store. 

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