The kids are finishing up school stuff this week. With the weather getting nice out, we have spent a lot of hours taking care of the three gardens we have. Mia is the champion garden tiller this year and Brad likes to plant seeds when he feels like it. 😂. We have survived three rounds of frost and only lost a small amount of tomato plants. Good thing I have more in the green house! We have three garden plots. Mia is pictured with our raised herb garden behind the house. We also have matching gardening hats. At least she acted excited when I brought them out. She has been a huge help this summer!
I’ve been working on up cycling my great-grandmothers sewing machine. I love old stuff and like to find ways to put it back into use. I needed a desk for my office at home and was super excited to get dusty doing some woodworking. It turned out so great. I hope it continues to be something passed down the family.
We have been trying to find more homesteading ideas to stay home and shop less. I know my Amazon account probably thanks me for that! 😂. Yikes!
This week we tried out second batch of dandelion jelly which worked beautifully. My last batch I used older pectin and it didn’t set. This time it was gorgeous! My kids weren’t sure about eating “weed jelly” but I assured them they would like it. And I was right! I just love watching them run in the field picking dandelions.
Our ducks and chickens are doing well. Brad usually gets pooped on once a day! 😂😂. I keep telling him ducks have zero control of their poop.... he still HAS to told the ducks all the time. This last week...it was the chicken that pooped on him all the way down to his shoes. Epic. The duck coop is also complete with a sweet turtle plastic pool. Those ducks are going to be living it up this summer. I was just watching them jump around in the rain this evening. They are so funny to watch!
Brad is the ultimate poultry keeper. Mia is scared of the chickens and screams when she has to pick one up. Parenting is so fun sometimes.... I have to get a video of Mia wrangling the chickens next time we clean the coop.
Brad is the ultimate poultry keeper. Mia is scared of the chickens and screams when she has to pick one up. Parenting is so fun sometimes.... I have to get a video of Mia wrangling the chickens next time we clean the coop.
| The duck palace |
We were excited that Clinton County Conversation had started compost kits last week. So cool! Brad and I got our compost up and running this week. He just likes the fact that we are collecting worm poop for the garden. Boys are weird...
| Compost bin |
As for me, I’m rocking 2020 like 1896. I’ve been sporting fun t-shirts, long skirts, and garden clogs like a champion. I’m like zen hippie Laura Ingalls Wilder. It works. 🙋🏼♀️ If there is one thing I have learned from all this it is that really... we are not in control of anything. Nothing is promised. You might as well wake up and make it the best damn day possible. Usually this time of year I would be running around like a chicken with my head cut off prepping for concerts and end of the year activities. This year is quite different. But, I'm going with the flow. In bible study this week, Psalm 40:2 hit me hard. "He sets me on a rock and gives me a firm place to stand." I'm standing firm in this trial of life. When you know the truth, and live the truth, it changes everything.
| My FAVORITE shirt! |
Blessing to everyone!- The Ruley Family
