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  1. journey11

    Is it CRAZY to even think about doing this?

    Now it's not nearly as cold here in zone 6a as it is in Alaska, but I heated a cold frame one winter with raw horse manure mixed with leaves. Come spring the stuff was black gold. I dug a pit about 18" deep and dumped it in with a layer of soil above it. (The breakdown of the manure generated...
  2. journey11

    How to make buttons

    That is cool. :)
  3. journey11

    Deer meat...

    Good points, Lori. That's the same reason you have to quietly butcher chickens and not chase or scare them prior, so it makes sense. I think another major reason people get a bad impression of venison is that most people will take theirs to the butcher who is usually quick and sloppy about it...
  4. journey11

    We need a new vacuum - Bagged or Bagless ?

    I have a Hoover Windtunnel (bagless) that I got at Walmart for about $200 four years ago. Even though it's annoying and a little messy to have to empty it each time I go to vacuum (I take it out to the garage to dump it), it picks up EVERYTHING and is very thorough and has awesome suction. The...
  5. journey11

    Deer meat...

    My favorite way to cook those bone-in shoulder roasts is in a cast-iron dutch oven with a little water and herbs of your choice, and tsp or so of salt at 325 until it's falling off the bone. Then I take the meat out to use for veggie-venison soup, toss the bones, and use whatever broth there is...
  6. journey11

    Holidays and Relatives

    :gig :lau :clap :gig Ahhh, whew...now that I can breathe again... I totally feel your frustration. I suppose most people have "relatives" they are dreading to see over the holidays. I was just crying on my husband's shoulder today because of my ill-begotten kin and the fact that Thursday is...
  7. journey11

    Rendering Fats?

    I was just looking into this yesterday myself. I'm going to save all the fat off our deer (if we ever get any!) to render for suet. You can make soap and all kinds of cool things with it. Doesn't seem to be much to it. It's flammable, so make sure you use a big enough pot or whatever so it...
  8. journey11

    Home Buying advice needed...

    Establishing good credit is definitely the first step. Does she have any student loans or installment-type debt she can work on paying off? They look at the ratio of debt to credit extended to an individual. Like, if you have a credit card and your spending limit is $5000, but you only owe...
  9. journey11

    SALE ALERT - Turkey

    I'm still watching for mine to go on sale! :/ The best they've had so far is 49 cents a pound, but it's limit one per purchase of at least $25. That's no sale! :tongue
  10. journey11

    How many chickens do you have? Or if your Wifezilla how many ducks?

    5 fabulously productive EEs, 26 black stars nearing point of lay, and 1 rooster too many. :lol: I tried to sell 10 of the black stars on Craigslist to free up a little room in the coop (and in my feed budget), but now that they are ready to lay, I did the math and found out they are worth more...
  11. journey11

    Chicken waterers in the winter

    I put mine down inside a heated dog water bowl (but mine is a different waterer than yours). I've also heard that you can put a brooder bulb (I'd use red) over your waterer and it will keep it thawed AND still provide the girls the light they need to keep laying. I would also do something...
  12. journey11

    Do I have to (or should I) Pasturize my ACV??

    Nope, I didn't cook it because I was hoping you guys would tell me I didn't have to! :D I'd read a couple things that said to pasturize it so it would keep....I didn't know if it would spoil if I didn't. This is my first-ever batch. So like most things, it gets better with age then! :cool:
  13. journey11

    Anyone stockpiling lightbulbs?

    Although the CFL's have their quirks, I've gotten use to them and haven't had one burn out yet (so nice not to have to change them constantly). I'll tell you what though--my toddler broke one once (knocked the lamp over) and the haz-mat clean-up procedures are no fun. It's a very small...
  14. journey11

    Do I have to (or should I) Pasturize my ACV??

    It's been 5 weeks and I think my ACV is done. It made a mother. It tastes acidic, but it's not as strong as I thought it would be. I went ahead and filtered it. So do I have to pasturize it before I bottle it or will that reduce its healthful properties? If I don't, will it degrade (or will...
  15. journey11

    Frugal to a Fault?

    At least Dawn makes a large refill size... :D That's what I get too. It also makes a good multipurpose cleaner, since it cuts grease so well. We also use it to wash up if we've gotten into the poison ivy. If you get to it fast enough (and use cold water), the Dawn prevents a bad rash...
  16. journey11

    Tanning deer hide with BRAINS?!

    I'm getting ready to do one and HOPE I can handle the brains. They say it makes the softest leather. *sigh* Hope it's worth it! :P
  17. journey11

    Frugal to a Fault?

    Yeah, I'll always try to make my own first if I can. My hanging feed bucket worked out great -- free 5 gal. from the deli, cut some 1.5" holes around the base for the feed to let out, and bolted a round plastic planter tray to the bottom. Ya win some, ya lose some! :P
  18. journey11

    Bee's Guest House

    Sorry for your loss, Bee. :( Dogs are family, that's for sure. Mine are getting up in years now and I dread that day of parting. My pit is my big baby. So loyal and loving, always at my feet, follows me everywhere I go, knows when I am sad and puts that big ol' head up in my lap and looks...
  19. journey11

    Wannabefree...guess what I got in the mail today!?!?!?!?

    Congratulations, you'll love it! Deb is sooooo right. I don't know how, but it adds a deeper flavor to the potatoes. I wish I could do them that way all year long. They're wonderful! My tip would be make sure your wood is good and dry and well-seasoned. Creosote is a pain in the butt and...
  20. journey11

    Buck Picture

    My husband's really wanting a trail cam for next year (after he saw my BIL's). It is pretty neat seeing what's come by your stand, what time it was there and if there's a pattern.
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