Warm weather tease

Snow covers the ground. The sky is full of sun. It has been an amazing weekend. With temps reaching 40 we feel like it's a heat wave. Let the sun shine!

The ground is wet with the snow melting. Brings us to thinking about mud season. When we moved to Maine we quickly got our lesson in mud season. We live on a dirt road. After living here a month our car was stuck in the mud. Even did damage to the transmission getting it out of the mud. This year we know the soft areas. We will try not to get stuck again. The town spends most of the summer re-grading the road. Big trucks go up and down the road one or even two times a month. It does not stay smooth for long. The road is not traveled by many cars. Just the few homes that live on our road. 

But that is enough to make pot holes that have taken a muffler off one of our cars. Living in Maine you need 4 wheel drive cars for sure. If it's not the snow then the mud will do you in without it.

Well today is spring ahead daylight savings. This bring happy thoughts of our upcoming spring. Let the Sun Shine!

Burning that wood

When we moved to Maine we were prepared for the cold weather.  I remember some of our first days here. I thought to myself, more that once, boy I have never been so cold in my life.  Many people were surprised when we said we were moving to Maine.  They would say, it's so cold there.  Well it is.  Being here a year now I would say I have adjusted, somewhat.  I could never work outside in this weather.  But I will go out even when it is below 0 out.  I have found ways to dress in many layers.   I have, at least, a few shirts on and maybe even two pairs of pants.  I wear hats now.  I never would wear a hat before.  When its below 30 degrees you want to keep all the heat in so a hat is a must.  I don't care about my hair.  That is so funny.  I care about being warm first, that is more important to me.   I make sure I am by a roaring fire as much as possible.  Firewood is something we go through and I just don't care.  We burn firewood as our primary source of heat.  We have two wood stoves.

 One on our round side of our home and one on the Gabriel side of the house.  We filled the oil tank when we moved in a year ago.  We used oil for heat at first but with the prices being so high we wanted to make sure we were not waisting our money.  So one day we turned down the thermostat to 50 degrees.  From that day we have been using wood to heat.  It has been a year later and we still have 1/2 a tank of oil from our first delivery.
When we first moved to Maine we had to pay a higher price for wood that first season.  We did not know anyone and it was late in the season.  You find out fast in Maine that around March wood runs dry and is hard to get.  So that means you pay top dollar for it.  Last season we paid more per cord than we do this year.  We did find a great guy at the end of last season who will bring us two cord at a time for a great price.  That is who we have used all this winter.  So far we just had our fifth and sixth cord delivered to us.

 
I would like to hope this will last us till the end of the season.
We started off the season with about two cords of wood that we harvested from our own land.  We have plenty of woods.  Most of it was trees that had fallen or we had cut through-out the summer.  We did notice most local residents working on wood piles during the late summer and fall.  Our mistake for starting to late.

  Next year we will start pruning our land when spring comes.  We hope to gather at least half our wood for next winter season.  That should be a big savings next year.  Next we hope to find someone to deliver us some tree length wood.  If you get it in the summer or fall tree length we can cut and split it ourselves. That should save a lot of money.
So our goal will be to start the winter next season with eight cords of wood.  If we do that the savings would be huge.
We have also entertained the idea of a pellet stove.  They are said to burn cleaner and more efficient.  The only down side is you still have to buy the pellets.  We will not be able to harvest them from our land.  So that is just a thought for now.

Building a smoke house out of recycled materials

On the farm we started raising pigs as soon as we could make a place to keep them.  We have had a lot of fun with them.  They really are easy animals to raise.  We have been raising them for the purpose of feeding our family.  For myself that is not always an easy thing.  I have said in other blogs that I don't eat meat.  I have not eaten meat in over thirteen years.  I don't think I ever intend on eating meat again.  I really don't miss it.  The animals we raise on our farm I spend a lot of time with.  So the thought of seeing them every day  and knowing that they will end up in our freezer gives me mixed feelings.  I have to look at the facts.  I treat them humanly.  Every day of their life I give them the best quality they can have.  I treat them like I think they should be treated.  We make sure they have plenty of food, water, space, shelter and whatever care an animal should need to live a happy life.  It's funny the children don't seem to be bothered by the fact of raising the animals knowing that in the end the animals will be slaughtered and the family will end up eating them.  They have no problem naming them.
We did raise two pigs that we slaughtered over the fall.  With slaughtering pigs there is quite the process to it.  I will have to say most everything we have done to this point on this farm we learned from a book or from and online video.  YouTube has been our best friend.  When it came to learning how to process a pig that was the first place we went.  There are hundreds of how to videos.  We found one we liked and watched it over and over again.  Felt confident we new what we were doing.  When I say we I mean Russell.  Then we did it.  With the first pig it went well.  It took a little time.  But went OK.  We were able to slaughter and process our own pig.  Now with doing this you have to make sure your meat is cured properly.  We brind it for 24 hours and then smoked the parts that needed to be smoked.  We smoked the hams and bacon for 24 hours.  Well it turned out great.  They say they have never tastes pork so wonderful.  Its March now and we are all out of fresh pork but two pigs did last a long time.
We built our smoker from all recycled materials.  Everything we picked up from the local dump.  Basically the frame of it is made out of pallets.  Then the rest is made out of other salvage wood we found at the dump week after week.  Then we picked up an old wood stove from the auction for $25.  But I am sure you could get one from the dump if you kept a good eye out.  The pipes we picked up from a salvage yard for only $5.  So the total cost of our smoker was only $30.

The best smoke house!

Please check out Round House Farm Etsy page

As I have blogged before the cost on the farm can add up. Round House Farm started an Etsy page to showcase and sell the item we have for sale. Please look often for new items. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/181342383/hand-crafted-wooden-welcome-sign-palm

Lilly & Lolla Thank You for your support!

So proud of our family

Sometimes I am not sure on what I should blog about.  What do people really want to hear or know about our family.  But the truth is I started this blog because I feel like writing.  Expressing what is going on in our world.  I have always felt I have had something to say.  Not everyone has always wanted to listen.  That has been OK with me.  Some how I seem to always get my point across.
I don't want to always paint a pretty picture.  Life is not that way.  In my home or house there has been ups and downs.  I have been places in my life I would never talk about.  I have been places in my life I would brag about.  Sometimes you find it hard to find a happy medium in today's world.  At least that is how I have found it to be.  Everything I have or don't have I have worked hard for.  Nothing has been given to me or just fell in my lap.  I am not a person that goes to church but I believe there is someone up above that watches over me and helps me when I may start to stray or should I say always had made sure I have been able to provide for my family.
With writing this today I am so very proud of my family.  Proud of each of my children and who they are and who they have become and what they are doing in there lives.  As I sit back and look at my life I feel so blessed with healthy children and grandchildren.  It makes me not want to take a single thing for granted.  If there is something I can pass on at the end of the day, material items don't mean a thing without the loved ones by your side.  We all have to make a living.  We all have to provide for the family.  But we must take time to look at the big picture.  I have to say I have had the opportunity of raising my children a few different ways.  Having my older children when I was younger compared to having my younger children while I am older.  I am not saying one way of raising my children is wrong or right.  I was doing what I had to do at the time.  The best I could do with what I had.  But if I had know then what I know now.  Boy maybe I heard my grandparent say something like that.  If only we listen to our elders.  Sometimes we just have to learn on our own.  I believe that is OK also.  This is what makes us the strong people we are.  My grandparents lived in the same house from the time they got married or not long after.  My grandmother stayed home with the children.  They didn't have credit cards.  If they didn't have the money they didn't buy it.  They raised four children.  All grew up fine.  Sure nobody perfect.  They were not a perfect family but when my grandparents died they left behind an estate for my mother and her siblings.  My grandparents made an average living probely less than we do but were able to live within there means.  Why cant we do that.  Why cant we teach our children that lesson.  Well we can.  We do.  We haven't always.  We tried to live up to the "Jones" next door.  But no more.  For the past few years we stopped that insanity.  It was something that took me becoming ill for us to do.  A change in us from being a two income family to a one income family.  We are better off because of it.  We are much happier.  If we don't have the money we don't buy something.  What is wrong with that.  No more credit cards.  None!  I love it.  That means we don't pay interest to anyone.  We keep all our money.  Yes at times we look at things and say boy that would be nice.  We used to have nice cars, boats, and if you seen an item you just bought it without worrying if you had money, not now.  We have to have the money.  With only one income in the family we don't have the money for much.  It is hard for the children to adapt.  But they do.  No- is hard to say all the time but we do.  We teach them about the pride of owning something rather than owing a credit card company.  Saving for something, makes you appreciate it even more when you get it.
I look at my older children who grew up with both parents working and having what they wanted, most of the time within reason.  I will say my children worked also.  They had jobs from the time they could work.  I always thought it important to install work ethic.  I worked for my father from when I was real young.  He instilled a work ethic in me.  That is what made me the go getter I have been all my life.  My oldest Christopher, went off to college and never called home asking for money.  He got a job and payed his way.  Now he is in California following his dreams as an inspiring screen writer.  Still paying his own way struggling waiting tables until he becomes the famous Screen Writer I know he is destine to become.  He never calls home and asks for money.  We tell him every phone call, let us know if you need something.  Never does he ask.  I am so proud of him and all his accomplishment's.
My Daughter Jen, she is just an amazing Mother and Wife.  She is married to a man that his career is in the  Army.  He has spent most of their marriage deployed over seas in Afghanistan.  He is off at this time in Afghanistan for six months.  My daughter just gave birth to her third child five weeks ago.  It is amazing the way she handles her home and children while he is gone.  We thank our son-in-law for what he does for this country but we thank our daughter, Jen, for being such a strong, loving person that can handle being a Army Wife.  Her and her husband make us proud on how they are raising their children.  They are being smart about money and living wisely.  It just kills me they live so far away.  Having grandchildren and family live thousands of miles from you is heartbreaking.  Thank goodness for skype.
Our Daughter Jessie is 21 and in the Navy.  How proud are we of that!  My husband was a Navy man and Jessie went in the Navy to follow her fathers footsteps, that's what we say anyway.  She just does the right thing.  For such a young girl she still calls home for some advise, some times.  She doesn't always take it, but at least she ask.  Jessie re-enlisted for a second term and lives in Virgnina now.  It's not close either.  But we talk or text all the time. She is smart with her money and works hard for our country.
Our youngest son, Russell, I don't think will stop growing.  At 6'2'' and fourteen years old he is just starting to find himself.   When I look at him I see a little bit of his older siblings.  When he was born they all had such a big part in his upbringing.  "Little Russell" as we call him was a favorite not only to our children but to all the childrens friends.  He was almost like a mascot to all the sports or activities that the older children were involved in.  It was a great upbringing for him.  Russell is a pretty easy going young man.  When we planned on moving to Maine he was very scarred.  Going into a new school at his age could have been real bad.  But it was the best move for Russell.  Russell has excelled in academics, sports and the social aspects of his high school years.  I can not be prouder of him.  He loves it here and calls it his home town.
Now the baby.  Melanie, the youngest of five born with a carrot top.  I say this because she is different.  All the other children have dark brown hair and here comes baby Mel with the red hair.  Oh wow.  We were all thrilled.  We still are.  She is a ball of fire for sure.  She amazes us every day.  Much like her oldest brother she has been given the title of gifted.  She excels acedemiclly.  Beyond her years.  Thank goodness for schools having accellerated programs to promote her abilities.  Melanie loves to stay active.  She participates in Gymnastics twice a week in a home team at the local gym.  She also takes part in an after school program that promotes good health and activities such as skiing and other outdoor sports.  She is always on the move.  We cant stop saying how proud we are of her.  She amazes me everyday.
When I write this I have to think how lucky I have been to be a part of these five wonderful human beings.  They have blessed me with the opportunity to be their mother.  People may ask how do you raise such successful children.  One I would say do the best with what you have.  Don't second guess how you feel.  You dont have to be your children's best friend, they don't have to like what you say all the time.  As parents we do things we think are the right thing at the time.  It might turn out to be wrong or not the way you thought but we live and learn.  Don't kill yourself over it.  Move on.  Everyone learns from it.  Most of all love yourself and your family.  The rest will come.  Remember no one is perfect!
This is a picture of my children about five years ago I don't remember when we were all together for a picture.

 This is a picture of my Daughter Jen and her husband Zach and their children, Zachary, Addalynn and Abraham.  My wonderful grandchildren who I love with all my heart!

Flower Pot Ice Cream Treats, Yummy and Fun!

Melanie had her birthday in January.  She is a gymnast and we had a birthday party for her at her gymnastic school.  One of the fun party treats that Melanie and her brother had a great time making was this great Flower Pot Ice Cream Treat.  They were a big hit.

We started by picking up a clay pot for each party guest.  You can get whatever size you want but the small ones are fine.  

Then Melanie cut a lot of pictures out old gardening magazines.  Most of them were flowers.  She was expecting a few boys so she cut out some animals for the boys clay pots.  Then she took some modge podge glue and had a great time placing them on the outside of the clay pots.

They came out so cute.  

Next we baked a cake.  Just a regular box cake mix. We used a sheet pan 10x13.  Then let it cool completely.  We cut out wax paper into circles the size of the bottom of the pots and placed it in the pot.  We took some strips of wax paper and lined the inside sides of the pot.  You don't have to do this but we didn't want the food to have a funny taste.  

Now you take a circle the size of the bottom of the clay pot.  We used a drinking glass.  This is to cut out a piece of cake to place in the bottom of the clay pot.  Do this for every clay pot you have.  

Next you will take some of your favorite ice cream and fill the clay pot almost to the top. Place a cut straw the size of your pot in the center.  This is where you will place your flower. 

 You will need to leave room for your dirt.  Your dirt is a bag of Oreo cookies ground in a food processor.  But before you place the dirt on the ice cream we placed a few gummy worms in each pot on the ice cream for a sweet surprise.  Place the dirt over the gummy worms and you are done until the party.  Place your treat in the freezer.  When its time for the party take your flower pot and place your flower in the center straw and surprise your guest with a great Ice cream Flower Pot!

Don't leave your day job

Making a farm work and then making the farm work for you takes time.  You will need an income to pay for all the start up cost that come with it.  It is not like you have to put a lot of money out the day you start your farm but each week you must invest time and money.  Other than selling a few eggs and maybe a zucchini or two all the money has been out going and not an incoming status.  So far.

As much as we try to use our resources wisely you still have many weekly expenses.  Repairs is a major one.  With an old farm house always something needs to be replaced or repaired.  Animal feed and supplies you need to get them going can add up fast.  Being self sufficient is a major goal of ours but there are items you just have to buy from the big box stores.  We try to be informed shoppers and make sure we are not paying more than we have to for anything.  We never impulse buy, we always do our research and find the best place to purchase. Try to find out if any discounts are available.  We look around our own home first to see if we might have something that would do whatever job needs to be done.  Then we might go to our local dump and see if they might have it there.  While there we look to see if there is something we might need in the future.  I will write a blog later on how we built a smoker house on just supplies from our local dump.  All the wood was free.  The best place we have discovered is our local auction.  When we first moved here we found they have an auction every week.  Then every few months they have an equipment action.  Well we bought thousands of dollars of farm supplies for pennies on the dollar.  It was a fun day also.  Be careful an auction can become an addiction.  We love going.  I mean what is better than finding recycled items and helping someone make a buck at the same time.  The best part is you are not giving all your earnings to the big box stores and you are keeping it with the little guy, just like you.  

The other recourse's are Internet.  Craigslist, ebay, and other swap and trading sites help you save money.  They can help you make money also.  Look around your house.  I am sure you have items you have not touched for months, even years.  Sell it.  You don't need it.  You could use that money for something else.  Trading is big now.  You can make out better sometimes if you trade items.  You don't have to be a farmer to do this.  It works for everyone.  Clear out the clutter and make some money.  Plus we might be able to use something you have. :)

We are trying to make some money selling the handmade crafts Russell makes with the kids.  This will help with repairs and animal feed/care.  You can check out our farm store often for new items they make.

www.etsy.com/shop/RoundHouseFarm7 follow this link and you will see what we are selling this week.  All the profits will go to our homesteads incurred cost to get it going and thriving as an active farm.  

Russell works hard.  He goes to work as a car sales man at Central Maine Toyota in Waterville, Maine.  He works long days and when his day is done there he comes home and does his farm work.  He works hard on the farm on his days off.  He is always repairing or building something.  He has a list a mile long.  He could be home full-time on the farm and have work to do 12 hours a day.  At this time in our journey he is our major income provider and has to keep his day job.  Selling cars is what Russell has done for years and he is a great guy to buy a car from.  He knows the Toyota brand better than anyone.  Plus he is an honest person and likes to get to know people.  That helps him in the business.  Winter is a slow time of year in the automobile business but he works for a great dealership.  They have great customers and a great following.  So he is doing fair for this time of year.  All we can ask is that our bills are paid and that we can move ahead with our farming way of life.  Him working hard most of his day has made this happen for our family.  

So if anyone needs a Toyota, they sell other vehicles also, please go to Central Maine Toyota in Waterville and please ask for Russell Bradley.  Tell him you read his family blog.  He will love it.  

So I guess in closing my blog today I want people to follow their dreams.  Everything takes time, hard work and energy.  The ending result can be your own piece of mind.  The happiness of you doing what you dreamed of.  Most of all if you don't try you will never know.   Give your dreams a try!