Hopeful Housewife

Guess time flies when you’re having fun afterall.

Small updates:

Goats are doing well, still dont know if one of them is pregnant like we thought. Time will tell I suppose. Haven’t been making many goat milk products because I’ve been bottle feeding four puppies all of the milk.

Chicken stats: I have seven hens as of today. At one point, I had 11, the next day I had six…and the following day 3. We’re now back up to 7, and hoping it stays there for a while. Neighbors dog got five of em’, the others just came up missing without a trace. Think we have all the predatory issues figured out though, so we should be good for now. No eggs yet, waiting ever so impatiently. lol…

Garden Gab: Its SO pretty. LOVE spending time in the garden…what a joy it is. Right now I have corn, watermelons, tomatoes, zuchini, yellow squash, garlic, beets, jalapenos, serranos, and habaneros, romaine lettuce and herbs thriving. Potatoes look a little sad, and my honeydew and canteloupe just flowered, so we’ll see what happens there.

Doggy drama: Had to let go of yet another dog. The pups’ mom is half pit, and she just completely snapped on us. Started mauling the neighbors little dog completely unprovoked and growled at my youngest. She also abandoned four of her nine pups, which is why I have been feeding them the milk. They are almost big enough to move along, and I’m SO ready for that. Finally have what I think is my here-to-stay companion dog: Cornelia Marie, my 3 mo old pug. I have to find the memory card for my camera. You’ve gotta see this “so ugly its cute” face.

Fire news break: paid two really sweet Duggar-esque boys to weed whack the property. They did a phenominal job and for the first time, I can see my entire property. So exciting!  It’s starting to look like someone lives here LOL!!

I have a long list of “wanna do’s” and at the top is bee keeping and heritage turkeys. I also really want to look into keeping ducks safely here…our predator issue makes it tough. Gotta find a way to get some pekings and keep them alive.

Guess thats all I’ve got right now, gang. Just praising God for His amazing love and blessings. I just cant get over what an amazing joy this house is…

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So I mentioned that laundry is harder to keep up on yesterday. 

My girls have days of the week underwear…and my observation about those is that they now only serve as a reminder of how far behind I am on laundry. If its Saturday, and I’m washing Monday, its an instant blow to my homemaking ego. Its even worse when the girls come to me and say “Mom, it’s Sunday.” followed by “I’m wearing Wednesday.”

Accountability in the oddest form, I tell ya. 

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I miss you guys! I hope some of you will still be around to read this post.

I have a few reasons for being MIA this time.

1.) I am crazy busy

2.) I am crazy, crazy busy

3.) I dont have internet. Maybe that one is the most troublesome.

I am basically in the middle of a dream come true, gang. Every day we get closer to my homesteading dream, and every day I wake up thinking “I cant believe I live here.”

I am on borrowed internet time, so I will do my best to give you the latest. I am uploading pics, but I doubt they will be finished in the short amount of time I have right now.

Our first couple of weeks here were rough. Lots of clean up, painting, the works. Sometimes, the amount of dirt under disgusting (now removed) carpets was overwhelming.

Our third weekend here, it snowed. It was so pretty to stand outside and watch it fall. I realize its not a ton of snow like so many of you are used to, but to a girl who hasnt seen snow fall in 12 years, it was pretty amazing.

After we settled in a bit, we started taking on a few projects. A gate at the end of the driveway, a finished classroom (thanks to some friends from church!!)…and just some overall upkeep. Lots of weed whacking. LOTS.

We have built a chicken coop, but dont have the hens yet,  LOL…I do, however have two goats. Nubians. One is in milk, the other is pregnant. I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to milk our sweet girl, Ginger. I just giggle while sitting there with her.

When I can blog more, I’ll share some goat milk recipes I’ve learned. I also have pics of my sweet girls!

We have two barn cats in training, and they are incredibly cute. One is already proving to be quite fierce, so hopefully she’ll catch plenty of mice for us.

Our garden is flourishing, and that has been a blast. I have a ton of corn and tomatoes (mostly for canning), potatoes (red and purple), garlic, various herbs, shallots, beets (lots of those too), zuchini, crook neck squash, various melons, jalapenos, serranos,  habaneros and lettuce too. I love watching stuff come up and grow every day. So gratifying. The other day I made stuffed jumbo shells with fresh goat cheese and home grown basil. I served it with fresh baked amish white bread and topped dinner off with goat milk ice cream. I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I was at the end of the day. I really almost cried. Its almost a little pathetic how happy I am LOL…

I get up refreshed and excited every day. I sweep my floor 547 times a day, but I’m ok with it because I’m reminded that the dirt is part of living on a mountain. I have more laundry than ever, but I actually laugh at all the jeans with goat poo and grass stains. Makes me happy, believe it or not. I spent three days canning about 50 pounds of cherries that my FIL brought me 2 weeks ago. It was quite exhausting just pitting them, but I stand in my huge walk in pantry and admire the light shining through those gorgeous jars of jam knowing we’re set on jam at least til’ winter comes. I make it to the dinner table every night a bit beat up but really feel like I have earned my meal at the end of the day. Great, great feeling. I tell ya, if I dont lose a few pounds up here, something is wrong. LOL!!!

Everything God has taught me over the years is all making sense now. I am amazed by watching His plan unfold. I know He’s not done yet…but I am just so grateful for the now.

I’ll try to get pics up soon folks…until then, I’m off to get the kids in bed and soak in my spa tub for the night. I’ve earned it.

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Weird day. Woke up cloudy headed and frustrated. My house is a disaster…I hate moving.

Boxes everywhere, laundry without a home,  not enough stuff packed, but yet the thing I need most always seems to be in a box. taped up. stacked in the living room….bottom of the stack of course.  I dont care how many bloggers say they can move in an organized fashion. Its the pits, and its not easy. Maybe said bloggers didnt have to use THIRTY gallons of paint on their new house before moving in, making their current living quarters a cross between a rest stop and a dumping ground.

Two more days, and moving begins. By Saturday, Lord willing, it will be over. Whats wonderful about this move? It will hopefully be our last one. This is our first home that we OWN…and our hope is that it is our last home for quite a while. By Saturday night, I’ll be surrounded in boxes stacked to the ceiling…but they will be in MY home. By Saturday, I’ll be exhausted, sore, and probably overwhelmed, but I’ll be able to rest in my new bedroom or spa tub. By Saturday I may not be able to find that one thing I really need, but I’ll have all the time in the world to find it.

Perhaps, by Saturday, my grease-burned fingers will have healed enough to not need the bandages and gel packs in order to go through boxes. *sigh*

Hopefully, by Saturday, the pain from having to sell our little pup will have subsided as we enjoy the company of the neighbors dogs that seem to love us so much.

And without a doubt, on Saturday, we’ll have a moment to take a deep breath and know that we’re on our way in this new adventure.

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Haven’t done a Gratituesday in a while…but this week, its a must. I think instead of a theme, I’ll just do a checklist of amazing-ness.

1.) A new, beautiful home. We are hoping to get the keys within 48 hours. I cant beleive it…I just cant get over how good God is to us. I just dont deserve such grace and love from Him…but I suppose that is the beauty of His love in the first place. If only we could have that same love for one-another.

2.) A really cute new dog. His name is Dallas, and he’s a redbone coon hound. He’s so super cute, but SO super puppy too. :P  We took this pic the second or third day he was here. He’s significantly bigger now, and more “hound” looking too. I’ll have to find my camera and get a new pic up soon.

3.) Homeschooling. We are finally “on our own” away from a charter, and its just been amazing. I cant get over how much JOY there is in homeschooling when you’ve got some freedom. God has really shown us why the pull to go independent was so strong. I love to see the way He works.

4.) These kids of mine: They are just awesome kids. Sometimes they drive me absolutely insane, but as I watch them sleep at night, I have the clarity of mind to contemplate how incredible they really are. I love these kids, and I am so grateful for their love and innocence.

5.) And last but not least: The hubs. He’s amazing. I love that man like crazy, and “gratitude” doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel.

He has the sweetest smile, and the kindest heart. I am so grateful for his devotion to finding God’s will for us, and obediently following it. He hasnt always been so devoted to God, and it has been such a blessing to watch him seek God, and strive for Godly Manhood.

You’re a good man, Charlie Brown!

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My house smells like a bakery right now. I have the world’s best waffle recipe for you guys, you know, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Mine look tastier than that, but you’d never know that because I cant find my camera. (I do, however have my keys in my posession again, so I’ll take what I can get!)

Ok, staying focused- I give you Yeast Waffles:

Start these the night BEFORE!

2 c milk

2 1/4 tsp yeast (or one packet)

1/2 c butter, melted

1/2 c warm water

1 tsp salt

2 TBSP sugar (original recipe called for 1 tsp, but it was almost savory so I added more)

3 C flour

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 tsp baking soda.

Warm the milk until bubbles form, then remove from heat and set aside. Mix the yeast and water in a small bowl, and give it about 10 minutes to proof. In a large bowl, combine the milk, yeast mixture, butter, salt, sugar, and flour. mix well, cover with tea towel, and leave on counter overnight. In the morning, before preparing the waffles, add the eggs and baking soda. I find that every waffle iron is different, so I’ll just tell you how to cook them in mine. I spray the iron, add about 1 cup of the mix, close, and leave it for about 3 minutes. Then, I flip it, and leave it again for about 5. Flip once more and leave for another min or two. So much for the waffle iron that boasts being able to make a waffle in 4 minutes. Hopefully your process is faster.

These waffles almost have a sourdough taste to them. Such a nice contrast to the sweet syrup. YUM!!

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Made the YUMMIEST DINNER tonight!!

Bacon wrapped chicken drumsticks, mashed cheesy bacon potatoes and orange slices.

Here’s the breakdown:

six pieces of chicken from my value pack of drumsticks.

six legs: about $1.80

I seasoned them with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and some adobo seasoning. I suppose thats about .25 cents in seasoning, but I doubt it was that much. OH! I sprinkled some dry basil on it too. Then, I wrapped each piece in a strip of bacon. 

seven strips of bacon (one cooked and crumbled for the taters) from a pack of 12 slices:  $1.05

I baked the chicken at 350 degrees, uncovered, for about 1.5 hours.

About 30 min before the chicken was done, I cubed up the peeled potatoes, and cooked until fork tender. I put the cooked and crumbled bacon, slices of cheese, and butter in the bottom of my mixing bowl, and poured the potatoes on top, (so it would all melt together.) I beat them into submission w/my kitchen aid, adding buttermilk until I reached the desired consistency. Lets be honest, I added some of the bacon fat too.

six russet potatoes:  $.66

Half stick of butter: $.25

4 thin slices of colby jack: estimating about $.25, if that.

1/2 c of buttermilk: $.11

I salted to taste, and we were ready to pull out the chicken. 

I sliced up some oranges, and dinner was served.

Oranges: Free from family’s trees

The hubs and I loved it…but my kids who dont eat ANYTHING werent nearly as impressed. I anticipated that they wouldnt be too pleased, which is why I only made six of the drumsticks. I am working with my kids on the whole “you eat what I cook or dont eat” thing, with the agreement that if they at least taste what I cooked they can have something simple along with dinner that requires no extra cooking for me. If I can at least get them to try new foods, I’ll consider it successful.

Total for meal: $4.37!!  It will go up when my kids decide to eat something decent, lol, but even if I doubled the chicken, its only an extra three bucks or so. Give it a try, ladies, its so, so yummy!! This, coming from someone who doesn’t even like dark meat. Delicious, affordable, and completely fool proof!

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So in the interest of honesty, I’ll say it. We’re buying a house (should have the keys in less than a week) and we’re on a spending freeze. Any money we have is reserved for the down, and we are also coming into rent week in the place we’re in now. Add to that, we have the majority of our bills this pay period too. Dont get me wrong…we’re not drowning or anything, we’re just being really, really, reallllly careful. Every penny counts, and before long things will level out again, but we’re treading lightly on our bank account for now.

Until we know exactly what our down is going to be (today or tomorrow) we put a freeze on all spending. Problem is, it happens to be grocery time. This is my last week watching the 2 wee ones I watch, and I had 54.00 left after buying some necessary supplies for my Mom’s wedding on Sunday. I told the hubs to not stress about groceries, that I had a little cash, and I’d make it work.

54.00 doesnt go far these days, but I had a plan. I had a loose menu in my head (some old frugal stand-by’s) and figured I’d just let God show me what to get. Sounds crazy I know, but bear with me. I went from aisle to aisle (skipping some like the cereal aisle) and just sort of waited for things to pop out at me. I kept a running total in my head, but it seems that as soon as I get everything I think I need, I remember I needed something else. Never fails.

Here’s what I got at the grocery today…

Jumbo pasta shells (For ricotta stuffed shells to go w/the sauce I already had) 1.87

Corn Husks (to make 5 or 6 dozen tamales that will feed us for a while) 3.29

Value pack of chicken drumsticks 4.15

Case of top ramen (gross, I know, but it saves me sometimes) 3.12 for 26 packs

ten pound sack of potatoes 1.98

3 pounds of dry pinto beans 1.89

Bacon 1.78

2 18 pks of eggs 4.38

lard .98

buttermilk (1 qt, needed a new carton to get my own brews going) .87

1.5 lbs colby cheese, sliced by the deli, 4.69

tomatoes 1.48

Non fat milk gallon 2.08

whole milk gallon 2.50 (for buttermilk and other lacto ferments)

2 giant cans of spaghettio’s (I know, I know…but it was a cheap quick lunch today) 1.96

ricotta cheese 2.27

chili sauce for tamales 2.11

1/2 gallon whole milk (for yogurt) 1.48

2.27 lb sugar .91

4.23 lb pink lady apples 2.03

3 lb bag onions 1.78

2 pints half and half (for sour cream brewing) 1.08

“Masa Preparada” for tamales  2.44

chili packet seasoning to make chili for Cincinnati style spaghetti .38

plain yogurt to use as starter .44

3.77 lb white rice 1.39

jalapeno peppers .36

As the checker is totaling it all up, I’m just praying “Please God, dont let it go over 54.00….Please God dont let it go over 54.00″ I knew I was in the clear until I realized I needed ricotta and bacon. I thought for a second about whether or not I needed it, and felt a peace about getting it, so I put it in the cart, and figured God would alert me if I wasnt supposed to buy them. LOL! I had prayed while shopping…silently asking God to guide me and show me how to get the most for my money, and felt confident that I had followed His direction.

I’m standing there, sort of nervous, but really more curious to see what my total would be. I watched as she scanned the last few items…52 something…53 something….yikes. Last thing was the jalapeno peppers. .36 cents. Before I could total it in my head, she scanned it.

Total for 30 items?

$53.99

See? Every penny counts.

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Three things I NEED to do in my house today: 

1.) I need to find my car keys. They have been gone for 3 days. Nice, right?

2.) I have to find the source of the pee smell. I can smell it in my room, and have no idea where it is. SO.GROSS. Dont even try to pretend you havent had to do the same thing!! LOL!

3.) Gotta make somethin’ outta nothin’. We get the keys to our new house in six days (hopefully!) so I’m really trying to pantry cleanse and buy as little food as possible. Whatever I buy I have to move, and in this case, less is more. I have Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboards while living in a shoe.

How about you?

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I’m adding a seperate blog to the adventures of the Hopeful Housewife lol…

This one will be devoted to Mexican cooking. Without further ado (sp?) I give you, “In Guera’s Kitchen”

http://ingueraskitchen.blogspot.com/

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