Since this weekend saw so many "firsts" for our homestead, I decided to take a few minutes to record them. If I had time, I would write a post about each item, including some of our hopes and desires for the future. But ,alas, it is late, and I need to turn in soon. At least these things will be recorded so we will be able to look back and see when they took place.
This weekend saw our first foray into alternative energy with a solar shed light. We had purchased it last week at Harbor Freight, which is very near the meat market where we were picking up our fresh pork. It is just a small light with a small solar panel and a 4 watt florescent bulb, but it is a start. It was on sale for $20, and I have long wanted to explore solar power. I figured this would be a cheap way to get a little experience with it. I finally put it up in the chicken coop yesterday morning and it actually works!
Yesterday afternoon we went to the stock market in town which has a big flea market attached. I’m thinking of taking our pigs there and wanted to see how it all worked. Anyway, while we were there we came across a Mennonite couple selling various things. What caught my eye was the baby guineas. We have talked about adding them to our poultry flock for some time, but you have to order too many of them in the catalogs. These were 4 week old Lavender Guineas and they were selling them for $5 apiece. We were glad to welcome our first two Guineas to our homestead and we might go back next week to try to get a couple more.
Also at the flea market we came across a big black dinner bell. It appears to be the very same one that I have considered buying from Lemans for $70. I got our first cast iron dinner bell for the homestead for a much better price. It was only $35! I’ve looked at old ones this size for $150, but I think this one will do well for us. I didn’t get a chance to put it up this weekend, but when we get it up, I think we will be able to hear it anywhere we might be working on our property. It is something I have wanted for many years, and I think we will make use of it often.
We have been visiting a small Baptist church just a mile down the road for the past several months. I preached the sermon there for the first time this morning, and it went very well. I believe there will be many future opportunites to preach there. It has been wonderful attending a church so close to home in our own community. This may be the church that God will have us work and worship in.
The last first for this weekend was going squirrel hunting with Simon and Matthew. Unfortunately, we did not see any squirrels, but it was still fun for the boys to walk around the woods carrying guns. Maybe next time we will bring home several squirrels.
A first for last weekend was picking up 7 bushels of apple peels and cores and chunks for the pigs and goats. I found a church that was doing a fundraiser of making and selling apple butter. I’m always looking for sources of free pig food, so I just called them up and asked them what they were going to do with all the left overs. They were happy to let me come and haul it off for them. The animals love the stuff. Yesterday, that church was at it again and this time they had 9 bushels of leftover peels and cores and chunks! It is really good food for the animals just for the price of the gas to go get it. So after the flea market and some work around the farm, I was happy to go over and get the boxes of apple stuff.
By the way, it has been very hot, humid and dry around here. We have been in the 90′s everyday, and no rain to amount to anything. My county is under a burn ban to try to deter the forest fires that are sure to start if we don’t get some rain.
I know this post has been a bunch of unrelated facts and firsts, but I think it is better than not writing anything at all. I am still wanting to be in the business of recording these days and happenings. The overwhelming main fact on my mind right now is in no way a first, and that is God’s blessings and love so abundantly shed upon us. To Him be the glory!
No comments:
Post a Comment