Farm Day Yesterday......It Was The BEST Day!

Hello Sweet Ladies,

What a fun filled day I had yesterday on the farm. Worked, worked, and worked some more. I cleaned places that needed cleaned for some time. It was wonderful. 

Moved teenage chicks to a new pen that I put up. I used old wire panels. A friend gave us a ton of them. We use them as a support for our tomatoes also. I use zip ties and then hook how many I need to make a square. Yesterday I used two existing pens for two of the sides. I then use the smallest chicken wire that is 3 feet tall and with ZIP TIES. I tie it all around the inside cage. I start at the bottom of the cage, level with the ground. It works fantastic! Then we put a panel on the top, lay a piece of plywood, run some chicken wire over the top to brace it down and ZIP TIE the chicken wire to the sides of the cage. I don't want to go into a lot of expense until I can build another coop off the old one and this works great. Fill a small galvanized wash tub with dirt add some flowers and the area looks sweet!  

I cleaned all around the outside of the big coop.......much needed! It was so fun to burn old wood that had fallen from the wind storms. I raked and raked and raked! Filled this bucket with dirt. Planted some of my many little plants of shasta daisies I have that I started last Feb. They are coming in so handy. They will be all over this farm by the time I get done!!!!!!!! Just what I wanted...shasta daisies!!!!!! See Mr. Turkey to the left. He is getting all fluffed up!  Silly guy!

I  repaired one of the rabbit hutches that was given to me some time back. It will be great for something! When it gets warmer I can put the baby chicks out for the day so they can get some fresh air. I filled an old small milk can with dirt and planted some more vinca. Vinca does great here in Kansas, rain or shine. Just needs some water. I enjoy looking at pretty things as I walk around the farm. Doesn't have to be much or perfect.......just pretty! 

Moved Momma Hen, who I bought at the Yoder Auction into a bigger cage. She and her babies were scratchin' all day long. Babies are really getting big. Won't keep them all, probably will sell at the auction. 

Momma kitty was being sweet and letting kitten have a snack. They were not even sitting.....they were standing. Sweetness!

I started at 8 in the morning and finally quit at 9 last night. Farmin' hours.........LOVE IT! The weather was wonderful and the company was perfect.......sweet man was walkin around farm...... doing farm things.....love knowing he is mine........made my day a sweet memory! 

Just wanted you to know that I loved, loved reading your stories. I felt like I was getting to know you a little bit better. Thank you so much for those who did it. I know you are also busy, but the time I spent at my computer reading who you are..........I was overwhelmed with gratefulness that I can call you my sweet ladies and friends! God has truly blessed me and I so want you to know that! Thank you. If you didn't write........and you have time today.....just jot a little something about yourself! What you like, what kind of things you do......anything! 

May you be blessed today and able to get some rest. I will be enjoying worship and my sweet family!

Hugs to your day and Lord bless!

Linda

A Work Day On The FARM!

Hello Sweet Ladies,

Today is a work day for me on the farm......I have a list a mile long.......but had to say hello and tell you I have been thinking about you all!!!!!! I am not working on the pattern today......will be a nice break! It is getting almost finished.....I keep telling myself that!

Anyway.......off to go finish up this old rabbit hutch that was given to me a long time ago. In fact I have 2 that are double. I think they will work great for cages for the bigger chicks........I will take some pic's and show you. Using a lot zip ties!!!!!! Love those things.....they hold anything together. I have so much to do............wish you all were with......I would give you jobs to do along side me......what a dream that would be! Then I would serve you dinner.......and sweet tea.....and we would sit on hay bales covered with quilts........and you would tell me your stories and I would think I was living the sweet life!!!!!!!

In fact while I am working......and you read this......could you tell me a little about yourself. I would love to know you better. 

Okay I will start first........I born and raised in Alaska, Juneau, the capitol. I lived under a mountain. It was named by my Grandfather. It's name was Thunder Mountain. I had a sister, Shanny, and a brother Bud. My parents worked hard when we homesteaded 48 acres when I was maybe 7 or so. No electricity, just a generator and an outhouse. I loved it! We gardened and had livestock.....kind of like I am doing now with my life.......maybe that is why I love farming so. My Daddy had a big incubator.....we did chickens, ducks and some geese. I guess he gave me the love for poultry! He is gone now......he would love my life......wish I could share it with him. Okay......I would love to here a little of your story if you have time. 

Enjoy your day! I asked the Lord to bless you!

Hugs from the farm!

Linda

Twig and Leaf Are Growing!

Hello Sweet Ladies, 

You can see that Twig and Leaf are growing........and very much acting like sheep!!!!!!! They have had me running around the farm this morning....... catching them and getting them back in their pen.

They are on the wrong side of the fence!

They were eating my shasta daisies and blue salvia sage plant.......that can't happen! 

My sheep are stubborn.....want to do their own thing.....and I have to go after them soon.......because if I don't they will run far from my farm and it will be more work to bring them back. They did that one other time and it was not a fun day! I would not let them just go and he was stronger, he could hold them and get them in the pen. 

We made the fence stronger.......that will help. 

Made me think of this precious verse. 

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.  So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18: 12-14 ESV


Hope you are enjoying your day........it is very very cool here and had another good rain this morning. I walked in both gardens......things are growing beautifully because of the rain. I am so so excited that we finally got what we had prayed for. It has made a huge difference already! Thanking Jesus!


Thankful the Lord thought of rain!!!!!


Hugs from the farm,


Linda

Rain........Just Makes A New Day better!

Good Morning, how are you sweet ladies?!!!!!!!!! 

Our daughter Tay took this right when the storm was coming in.......thought it was a beautiful picture!

 It is so wonderful here on the farm, nice and cool. Last night we had a huge storm that came through. Not a bad one, for which we were very thankful! The sky was so blue, green and black and rolling. We were so excited, when we looked at the image of the storm on the internet, we were actually going to be dumped on. Precious Lord....... to come to our rescue and give us rain. WE WERE ALL SO EXCITED!! Can you tell? 

Here is my little pickle......it is 1" long.......with the rain the garden will pop up big time. Can't wait to see how fast it will grow now. I have a few more on the plant that are just starting. I will be making pickles before I know it! The rain really came down, so the plants are all dirty! I will brush them off when the sun gets them nice and dry

We always make a Garden Pickle recipe.......this squash will be perfect in the batch. This recipe is so so easy and very good. I use Kosher Dill Quick Process Pickle Mix. It has all the ingr. and tastes wonderful!

Yesterday I checked the potato patch and beans before the storm came. A few were blossoming. I took a peek.........can't wait until both are ready to add some bacon to and cook for dinner!!!!! One of our favorite meals.  

Whipperberry, Rosemary & Sea Salt Rolls In A Jar Recipe

Yesterday I was on Pinterest.........I enjoy serving warm homemade breads. I found some really nice easy recipes to try. My rosemary went through the whole winter without dying and so I will use fresh rosemary to make.  She used Rhodes 100% Whole Wheat Texas Rolls. I don't have that so I will use the Whole Wheat bread recipe to make ours. I will have to find my little jelly jars that I have like this. Sweetness!

Real Mom Kitchen

Aren't these beautiful? I bet they taste good also. 

Jazibe's Recipes

This is a must!!!!! Doesn't it look so easy? I will let you know how they turn out. 

Alfredo Chicken Basil Pizza

Here is the recipe that we used for our pizza dough the other night. It is wonderful and really fast to make. I just dumped all the ing. in my bread machine. Let it do the mixing.  I took it out after it made a nice ball. Take ball and place it in a bowl with olive oil. Let it rise for 5 minutes. Follow directions to finish process. 

We bought a jar of alfredo sauce and spread it on top of the pizza dough. Cut up cooked chicken, onions, and basil leaves. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. NUMMY! 

My mozzarella cheese I was making the other night......well it didn't turn out, but it did make cream cheese.  That is the first time it hasn't worked for me. I will try again. We had a little cheese on hand and some cheddar.....it tasted wonderful...guess that is all that matters. 

Hope you have a sweet day! 

Hugs,  

Linda

P.S. Another little duck hatched during the storm last night. The electricity went off for a bit.....scared me for the rest that were hatching.......lights came back on soon after!!!!! Thankful!

Hello......I am back HOME!

Good morning sweet ladies!

V and his first time driving a boat. Please keep praying for him....thank you!

It has been some time since I have checked in. Our whole family had some time for fam and fun this last weekend! It was so nice to not have to worry about anything for a few days. I started to post yesterday and everything kind of fell apart ;like a Monday on steroids, so here I am today......saying hello sweet ladies!!!!!!! 

 Yesterday I woke early to get chicken wire all around the inside of the big cage for the Momma Blue. I didn't want our cats to be able to get at them. Momma Blue had a bunch of babies hatch. Talk about a sweet Momma. She is doing well with her little baby ducks, but you can tell the babies aren't quite sure what she is saying. You know the eggs that were suppose to be the "Araucana eggs", that turned out to be duck eggs?  They are all happily hatching one at a time.......like 17 so far. Two hatched last night and are in the incubator still "fluffin out". I got them all taken care of and all the other babies on the farm. Then you add unpacking, washing clothes, watering the garden, picking tomato worms off my tomatoes and then on top of that you add helping our son's plant soybeans..... it was a fun long day and no post! It was so good to be back HOME!!!!

It was nice to be back on internet. Thank you for all the orders for the kits and pattern. Go to our store HERE, if you are interested.

I also have a kit available, which makes it easy to have everything you need to finish this project. Go HERE, if you would like to purchase. 

It got busier at about 10:30 last night we were finishing up feeding the horses.  Kayray (Kansas Rain), was acting real funny to me. I just knew something wasn't right........and it wasn't. She had colic. That meant she had to be walked......and walked.......and walked. Colic we have a friend that knows lots about horses. He helped a lot and then our daughter, had heard that you can take them in a horse trailer and drive them around. For some reason that gets them to start moving their bowels. It did help some. Poor girl, you could tell she wasn't feeling well. Finally she passed some urine. That did it! We were so thankful. By this time it was 1 a.m. I was tired and so was everyone else. A close to another day. It was good to lay my head on my pillow!

Father, I thank You for the vivid picture You paint in Your Word as You promise to cover me with Your feathers and grant me refuge under Your wings; Your faithfulness will be my shield and rampart. I need not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but You will keep destruction from coming near me (Ps. 91: 4-7). Praying God's Word, Beth Moore

I am thankful for all the lessons that a farm teaches you about God. The scripture opens up for me, as I encourage my children and grandchildren to walk in His ways. 

Wanted you to see this cute pic. I put it up on fb yesterday. The Asian beetles were everywhere at the lake! Biting us all the time. Saw this one morning.....they were eating some of my coffeecake. 

Here is my coffee cake recipe. I got it when I was in La Leche League all those years ago......precious memories,

Coffee Cake Hellivig (Finnish) 

1 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. white sugar

2 1/2 c. unbleached flour

3/4 c. oil

1/4 tea. nutmeg

1/2 tea. cinnamon

2 eggs, beaten

1 c. buttermilk

1 tea. soda

1 tea. baking powder

Topping 

1 tea. cinnamon

1 c. pecans

Mix together sugars, flour, oil, salt and spices. 

TAKE OUT 3/4 c., add to it the cinnamon and chopped nuts for the topping; set aside.

Add to the remainder of the first mixture the eggs, buttermilk and soda. Beat well and add baking powder before putting in greased 9" x 12" pan. Sprinkle reserved topping on top and bake at 350 degree for 30 to 35 minutes.

The girls and I took it to the lake. Should have taken two pans! It is a recipe that never fails.

I hope you all enjoy your day.......I have taken you before the Father.....just know that He loves you a lot. Some might need to hear that, I know I do! Smile!

Hugs to your day sweet ladies....from the farm,

Linda

Winner of the Gooseberry Cookbook and Tea Towel!

Hello Sweet Ladies, 

I hope all are enjoying your Memorial Day weekend. I am sure that some will be having a hard day as you go to the cemetery of your loved ones. Know that I am praying for you today!

Wellllllllll, that was a fun Gooseberry Patch/Prairie Flower Farm Cookbook Party. So many came and I loved everyone of your ideas! I am hoping to do something in the near future when there is a little more time on my plate and maybe do a little e-book. You ladies are so clever, thank you so much for taking the time to leave such sweet comments!!!!!

Okay, the day we have been all waiting for!! 

Grammy's Heirlooms

I will need your mailing addy please.

Thank you for signing up 

and also, all you other precious ladies!!!!!!

Karla won the 

The CHRISTmas Table Cookbook, it is full of wonderful recipes and great crafty ideas!!!!!!

and she will also win

my new 

All Hearts Come Home for CHRISTmas Tea Towel Stitchery 

e-Pattern!

Two ladies had the idea of putting the artwork from the top piece. and a few had the idea of the words

All Hearts Come Home For CHRISTmas! 

They didn't even know that .... that was the name of the fabric collection of the top part of the pattern that I designed. I thought that was really neat?

I so loved all the ideas, scriptures and sayings you all had......... 

I really want to do a e-book!

I  designed a new

All Hearts Come Home for CHRISTmas 

Tea Towel Stitchery e-Pattern!

$3.00

Click here to purchase and download

and a Kit with, tea towel, fabrics for front (with snowman and lady) and facing (matching fabric), batting, red check for strip on bottom of towel, DMC floss, and covered button!  

All Hearts Come Home for CHRISTmas 

Kit (sold separately from pattern)

$9.50/ includes shipping!

If you want the kit, please email me at 


prairie flower farm at gmail dot com

with AHCHFC in the subject line. Thank you so much!

Payment: paypal, money order or check is 

accepted. 

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend!!!!!!! I will not be posting until Tuesday......spending time with family!

You may order if you would like though. I will fill orders on Tuesday......if you order anything!

Until another party..........have a good day and know that you are being prayed for!!!!!

Hugs from the farm!

Linda

Our Day Today On Our Farm.....Tired!!!!!!!

Good Morning!!!!!!!! Sweet Ladies,

NOTE....my internet went off just as I was working on this post......and while it was off so much happened.....must tell!

Before I came into the house the sun was just coming up a bit. Shining on my hollyhock. Isn't it so pretty? Another little bud is starting to unfold.......I so enjoy things when they bloom! Thank you Jesus.....such simpleness and yet such an incredible Designer we have, can't help to tell Him.......a lot......all the time.......I bet He smiles...... when He hears all of us! 

Worms, caterpillars whatever they are called, are here and trespassing in my garden!!!!!!!!! With the drought last year and the mild winter we are going to be fighting them I think. I am prepared! At least I hope I am prepared. I have never seen them like this. I had at least 1-3 on most of the tomatoes. Even on my lavender, lemon verbena plant and cantaloupe. The pickle plants, honey dew and watermelon all seemed to be okay. I am not going to let them get them. I sure hope the citrus juice works. 

This morning when I wokethe ground was covered with a thick cover of dew and misty rain was coming down........out the door I went to check on the south garden. It has been so neglected as of late. This was on the first tomato plant. UGH! I started hand picking the worms.....some quite big......I hardly ever do that. Don't like the feel on my hands, but I was a serious farmgirl at this point. I was throwing them in a bucket or squashing them with a stick. I can't believe now that I did that.

Citrus Juice find recipe Here

Yesterday I made up the citrus juice to spray on my rhubarb. I am going to use it on my tomatoes also. I don't think it will hurt them. Maybe I should try only one. I will let you know. 

I poured the citrus mixture into a fine strainer.

I had to use a spoon to push the juice through a little.

After I poured the juice into my sprayer........

we went out to spray and pick off the worms and caterpillars. Ick........was this in the farmgirl notebook? When you pick them up they squirt this green juice on you. 

Then I came into the house to write my post........then the electricity went off.........then the phone rang and it was our farm neighbor saying his dog was loose (the one that killed my chickens). I knew that Missy White Cochin was laying somewhere, because she came to drink and eat yesterday... so out the door I went to go find her. I looked everywhere. Then I came around our little barn and I thought I heard her. I remembered the lid we had from a cat litter carrier where Shelby (another chicken I had who was killed, remember the one that slept in our tree by the kitchen window) had sat on her eggs. Sure enough there she was ....sitting on 8 sweet eggs.....all tucked under her. She was not going to get hurt by that dog......... I was going to have to move her.  

I thought, if I put a division in the pen where Big Red Hen is setting  she would be safe.  Now the key was, would she sit on her eggs again. She scratched the straw, ate some food and drank her water.......all the while I am still standing waiting and she wouldn't sit.  Then she scratched so much straw that she covered her eggs, this wasn't working. Silly girl?


So...........

I thought maybe....if I got the lid that she had been using and placed it over the eggs....just maybe she would go in. 

She got inside!!!!!!!!!

She was getting all comfy.........tucking all those precious eggs with sweet little fluffy babies on the inside........they were going to make it! LIFE....again on the farm! It is hard being a Mom.....I am talking about me, wink! 

She is happy and I am happy! Isn't she the cutest?


Well that was my day and I am tired....back to working on the pattern! Keeping a farm is fun.......but it also hard work! 
Fun Work!


One More DAY for the

This says May 22, but we extended the party......until tomorrow May 25th at noon.......can't wait to see who wins!


Gooseberry Patch/Prairie Flower Farm party!!!!!!


Go HERE and sign up!


 The CHRISTmas Table Cookbook 


is  packed with wonderful recipes. 


I baked this recipes from The CHRISTmas Table Cookbook .....


Chicken and Asparagus Quiche, NUM! 

Strawberry & Raspberry Strata, very good!

and these


The Best Scones Ever, a wonderful recipe!

and I 

have been stitching on the towel......can't wait to show you!!!! 




Please sign up, if you would like to, 
would love to have you!!!!!! 




Hugs from the farm, 
Linda


Linked up with 

Go Here! You will love her!


Thank you Deborah for doing this!