Reflections of katlupe: Peaceful Forest Homestead

Showing posts with label Peaceful Forest Homestead. Show all posts

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Peaceful Forest Homestead Video

This is a video my husband made a few years back about our little homestead here. I hope you will enjoy it and please "LIKE" it on YouTube.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Updates From Peaceful Forest Homestead

I have badly neglected this blog. Not that I meant to. No, I have just had so many things taking me away from my writing. Even my other blogs were neglected. I am trying to remedy that. It seems like summer just started and it is already over with. Not that it bothers me. I am not one for hot weather anymore. It is too uncomfortable for me and I enjoy cooler temperatures. You will not hear me complaining when the weather changes this year. Besides cold weather is easier for me as far as cooking and cleaning goes. Hot water and hot food cooking on a wood stove is super simple compared to any other methods.

My treasured curio cabinet is now part of my everyday life!

This past spring and summer there were many changes on our homestead. Since we moved here, we hadn't done too much work on the inside. It was always the barn or the solar/wind system that came first. I was tired of that. Why should we always be last? So we made a few changes inside and what a difference it has been. I added colorful curtains and moved some pieces of furniture around. It made me feel happier and more content. I love bright colors and now every time I look around the room, I smile.

Cooking with electric now!

Another change we have made this year is increasing our power coming from the solar panels. We had to replace our lead acid batteries in our battery bank and I am so glad we did. The batteries we bought are Battle Born LiFePO4 lithium ion batteries and we could only get two at this time. Even with just two replacing the 24 lead acid battery bank, we have not run our generator since we installed them. Over 3 months now! Now maybe that doesn't sound so exciting, but it means that I can now cook with electric. Most people who know about off the grid systems will tell you that it can't be done. But we have done it. I figure I won't be doing it in the winter when it is pretty sunless around here, but I will be cooking on our wood stoves then. Life keeps going on here at Peaceful Forest Homestead and we just do the best we can each day.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

After the Winter at Peaceful Forest Homestead

After so many days of below zero temperatures, it felt like spring would never get here. Even the robins who usually are here by the fifteenth of March. Some years they are here as early as the 7th (last year). It was past spring before I saw even one. They were out in the forest because we could hear them. I guess staying within the shelter of the forest is easier then being out in the open of our yard when it is still cold. Now they are here all the time.

It finally feels like spring here! We are all enjoying it. Our horse love it before the hot weather gets here. They will lay down several times a day out in the paddock. As for me, I have been starting my seeds as I told you on my previous blog posts. This year I have more room since my son now has his own place. It gives me more room to spread out the seeds that I am starting in the house.The reason I start so many is that I want to be able to eat them during the summer too. There are some that just won't give us anything till later in August or September.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day that my cat, Hobo, and I went for a walk. I am trying to do that every day. After being cooped up all winter in the house, I need to get outside. It has been hard for me to walk in this last year, but I think I am doing better. I was able to walk all the way past the paddock. It was great to see all the signs of life coming up. We still have some patches of snow, but in a few days, that will be all gone too.

Hobo

Happy Spring to all my readers!

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Wordless Wednesday At Peaceful Forest 2013

Friday, October 28, 2011

Light Snowfall Last Night

Our first snowfall!

We got up this morning to a white lawn. It wasn't bad, but one of our truck doors was frozen shut. So my husband had to work on it to get it thawed. We had to go to town to run some errands. We like to get an early start.......in and out, before the stores are crowded.

Our backyard covered with that white stuff!

I knew it would make Nikita, our dog happy to see the snow this morning. Though she usually likes it deeper than this. At least it brightened her day, to know more snow will be on the way soon. She made her rounds in the yard checking out what critter had visited during the night. Mostly, a stray cat that I put food out for because he seems to live here. He is not our cat. He doesn't seem to want to know us up close. Of course, he does watch the house a lot from a distance. Hobo is his friend and hangs out with him. I wonder what she has told him about us?

On Our Way To Town!

Our drive to town takes us through a few miles of state forest land. It was a beautiful drive this morning. The sun was shining and it was bright. But then when we got out of the state forest, started up Tyner Hill, this is what was at the top......what a difference!

Foggy in Oxford this morning!

Oxford was very dismal this morning! Only six miles from our house........but what a contrast it was. I was glad to get our errands done and be on the way back. I know many people, even after coming to our homestead, think we live really remote and secluded. But we are only six miles from Oxford. About the same from McDonough. Nine miles from Smithville Flats, and ten miles from Greene. Norwich, which is a small city is about thirteen miles away. Binghamton and Oneonta, which are in opposite directions from each other are both about 35 miles or so from us. I'd say we are centrally located.

Almost home!

Even so, we order much of our supplies online these days. Using Alice, Netrition, Swanson's and of course, Amazon. It has made our household run so much more smoothly by shopping that way. Has cut our driving down a lot and now it seems that we hardly ever run out of things. One thing I really like about shopping that way is that we always find exactly what we want and do not have to go from store to store looking for something. So our errand time is cut in half. I like that.

Have a wonderful fall week-end!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Wordless Wednesday At Peaceful Forest Homestead

Monday, October 10, 2011

Peaceful Forest Homestead's Fall Projects

This morning

As our days grow longer, our temperatures get cooler, our forest around us becomes a work of art.I appreciate the beauty around us. It kind of softens the knowledge that the cold winter will be here before long. Winter is expected. The snow is expected. We have to accept it. Time to take stock of winter clothing and bedding. Make sure we have enough of everything we need. Cold temps are not fun if you are cold. Keeping the house warm is one thing, but if you have to do some chores outside, you need to be warm there too.

Forest Path

I have tried to prepare for the winter every year. It is hard to do, as some things that need to be done cost money (Surprise!). And we never seem to have any extra money for those things. Every year, I am determined to complete those projects, but am never able to. At least we try, work at it and don't give up. So I work on my own projects, which are things like building up our food supply, our household supplies, organizing our house. Of course, I am always building up the piles of kindling and cook stove wood. Everything is easier in an organized household. So I am kept pretty busy around here.

Our yard this morning

Our biggest project for the last 3 years has been trying to finish our root cellar, our battery room, and now to hook up our wind turbine. If those things can be finished, it will allow us to complete some other projects that are waiting. Projects such as insulating the walls of the pantry, shelving and flooring in there also. The pantry and root cellar work together, like pieces of a puzzle. If we can finish those projects, then the following spring or summer, we can set the water system in place inside the house. We have waited too long for that! But when you start working on a house like this, so many things are found in the process that have to be repaired, before you can go on.

Maples turn first

As I work on some of my projects I will post them here. That way you can give me ideas of things you do too. In that way, we can help each other. Hope you have a nice fall day!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Busy Time Here At Peaceful Forest!

One spring morning recently with Hobo

I have been very busy the last couple of weeks as we are building a new website. This one is not specialized like Larry Gene Music and String Baby. Our new one is Lupe Shop and will be completely different. It will have a variety of products for the home and garden. For sports minded people also. I love working on it! I have been working on it daily and I am pleased with the way it looks.

The same morning with Patches

In between working on that and writing my blogs, I have been trying to get some gardening chores done in between. This morning I pulled some weeds even though it was raining. When I pull up some weeds that I know my horses like, like dandelions and clover, I put them in a separate pile. Then when I have bigger pile I carry that to the girls. Dirt and all! I am not kidding, they will eat it all very eagerly and then wipe the dirt off on the ground.

Lettuce and salad greens, herbs are planted in this bed.

My lettuce beds though, do have some plants coming up. So this week I am hoping to get at least some of my new plants out in the ground. My husband will bring compost and fill one of the beds and I will put the plants in. We will do it like that as we can. With it raining it is easier to weed them, then add the compost. Then plant.

Good luck with your garden in this rainy weather! I hope your garden is coming along, especially with the price of food in the stores. Yikes!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Life At Peaceful Forest - Wordless Wednesday

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Projects Around The Homestead

Living in a cold climate keeps us on our toes all winter. It tests us daily. Warmth, water, food, comfort of critters is all part of it. I try to see where I am lacking now. So in the warmer months those are the things I will move to the top of my priority list. It is pretty though. Even though my husband doesn't think so. January and February are the toughest months we have. I feel like the time is passing fast, but I am not outside much in this weather. It affects my knees more than the warm weather. I suppose that is why so many people move south or out west as they get older. I can handle it though when I am prepared. When I am not or I run short in one area then it is hard. The key is to not run short!

This morning at 7:30 AM!

We are trying to remodel our house and that takes time and money. We are not anywhere near finished. It is not all insulated yet and needs new windows. It also is open underneath where the root cellar is because my husband had to work on the foundation and the battery room. He also wants to rebuild the stairway to the root cellar so it is easier for me. Money projects though. So the house is not holding the heat as good as it should. That is a big point with our struggle with the cold weather. Next year though it will be different.

I am the type of person who is always looking up. I envision how things will look or what I will do to change things. Constantly talking in that way seems to help my husband and gives him hopes. Then he catches my enthusiasm for the projects we are working on. I know it is hard to do when you can't actually start the project yet. I do research and make plans and lists and that helps me along. It seems to help him too, but not all the time. Not easy doing so much work with a crushed arm that will never be as good as new, only gets worse as he gets older.

Icicles hanging from the roof.

Last night I had to remind my husband of all the projects we have accomplished in the last few years. We have done quite a few. Instead of looking at what you haven't done yet...........look at what you have already done! That is the way to make your way going through your goal or project list. And when I did that I realized we did a lot of projects. In fact, we did things I never thought we could get done. Like putting our solar panels on our barn roof. That was a job and the most expensive part was the wiring, not the panels.

Early morning before solar panels are cleaned off.

Today, I am working on a few projects around here. It is a snowy Saturday and I can keep myself busy getting these jobs completed for my new week on Monday. Hope you all have a good week-end!

Sunday, January 09, 2011

Winter At Peaceful Forest Homestead

Snow On Our Homestead

Snow makes much work, but is a thing of beauty too. I love the way it settles on the branches of the trees. Trees make up so much of my surrounding view, that I have developed such a deep love for each and every one. I know when my husband has had to take one down that is really close to our home and yard, I feel a little sad. Though all the trees he takes down are usually "standing dead," as he calls them.

Ludlow Creek Near Our Home.

The thing is that if you are well prepared for winter, like the squirrels, then winter is not a big deal. Having your pantry and root cellar stocked with food and supplies, Having a wood shed full of wood and kindling, ready to go. Having prepared in the spring, summer and fall, goes a long way to making the winter not so difficult to get through.

Hay keeps our horses warm in winter.

I like to shop in thrift stores. And I fill our winter clothes closet with warm clothes for cold weather. Flannel pajamas are really good and you can wear them under your clothes for extra warmth. I pick up hats, gloves, boots, socks, mittens, scarves and coats. Long johns are something I find a lot of at thrift stores. Sometimes even in the package they came in! I figure they were a gift to someone who did not wear them. Socks, especially hunting socks, is an item that is usually plentiful at thrift stores and garage sales. I especially like to find a church rummage sale. They offer a lot of warm winter clothing for very low prices. Don't forget sweat shirts and pants. I love them! My husband doesn't care for them. He wears flannel shirts and I find them just about everywhere too.

I pick up all the blankets and afghans I can find at the thrift stores too. We have many comforters that I found for free. The two thrift stores in our area are basically free. You can leave a donation if you so choose. I always give something. Another good thing are those long, thick robes made of blanket material. Sometimes I use them as an extra blanket. They are very warm and I have about 5.

Our Wood Cook Stove.

After finishing up our outside chores we can come inside and relax. With a fire in the stoves to warm us up, then I can cook some food. In this way, being prepared, keeping warm and fed makes the winter not seem quite so bad. For us, at least, we don't have to drive anywhere most of the time. If we need feed or hay for the horses, that's another story. Have to keep those girls fed and happy! I try to keep stocked up with pet food, as well, as household supplies. Especially in winter! I do as much stocking up as possible every time I go to a store or order online. Even when you are stocked up, you keep replenishing what you use. It is an on going job.

Stay cozy and warm if you live in a cold, snowy part of the country or world today!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Peaceful Forest Homestead 2011 Garden Plans

Raised beds in the back yard under the white stuff!

This year's garden is long gone. But it was a good gardening year for us and one of the best we've had in all the years we lived here. Could be I am more experienced now. The worst thing that happened this year was the Late Blight hit my tomatoes for the second year in a row. I told about it in this post, Late Blight Destroys My Tomatoes Again! This coming year I am planning on giving my garden a rest from tomatoes. I will buy them from the farmer's market this year.

The funny thing is that both years I have done what they tell you to do. I pull up all the plants and take them to the land fill. But I still got the blight this year. My father on the other hand, had the blight last year and did not take his dead plants to the land fill. He just threw them in his brush pile. This year he had good tomatoes and never got the blight. It made me sick as my tomato plants were beautiful.

I did manage to get a lot of cherry tomatoes and we ate the fresh all through the late summer and fall. I did not plant these and they grew in my raised bed that the year before had grown garlic. So at least we had some for salads.

Raised beds under the snow in the side yard.

This coming year's garden is already in the planning stage. I started lots of my seeds in the house last year, even the ones I don't usually start inside. I was thankful I did that as I got a real good head start on the garden. The zucchini, yellow summer squash fed us all summer. The winter squash fed us all through the fall and now we are using the ones I canned like the Hopi Pale Grey Squash and pumpkin.

I am checking on my seeds since all the catalogs are now arriving daily. The main thing I need to do this year is to purchase some blueberry bushes. I have wild ones all around me but they are a very small berry. I want the big ones with larger yields. Strawberries are another thing I'd like to work on. I had trouble with my first strawberry bed as they were in a circle and they just kept putting down roots and it became a big mess. I pulled them up and took them out of there. I need to research how best to do them. My father grows them in regular garden rows. He doesn't use raised beds at all.

I am making a list and will make good use of every inch of my raised beds and gardening areas. The plants we grow must be foods we really love and will eat. If I plant anything new, it will be only a few plants to see if it is something I want to invest my garden space in. I guess you could say I am eager to get into the gardening mode again. It is a lot of work, but the enjoyable kind. What about you? Are you planning your garden already? What changes are you making this year?

Updated 2018

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve On Our Peaceful Forest Homestead

Georgie Girl

Merry Christmas to your house from our's. Our animals don't seem to know we are celebrating, as every day is the same for them. When you own livestock you must take care of them and do chores regardless of holidays or any family emergency. I know when my husband was hurt at work his boss came to take me to the hospital. Before I could even leave, I had to feed and water my horses. Then I had to catch my pet hen and get her inside. Feed and get all my cats and dog in the house. Then I could finally leave, and see how my husband had survived an accident at work when he was almost killed.

Dark Shadow

So all days of the year, you have to be able to feed, water and care for your animals. Horse stalls need to be cleaned out. Hay needs to be brought in when we are almost out. Which yesterday my husband had to do that job. Pick up hay and then load it upstairs into our barn.

Tawny

We are definitely celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ! Hope everyone has a good Christmas Eve and a Merry Christmas too! For us, Christmas will be a nice dinner here at home with just the two of us. That is fine with us. I like having a stress free holiday and that is how our holiday is now. So God bless all my readers and know that each and every one of you is important to me. After all, you are reading what I write!

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