Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[Denim Deb]

W/my own kids, it was one thing. I never shied away from any question they may have asked. But w/someone else's kids, I don't want to get into that type of discussion-unless I know the parents aren't going to get upset.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'm kinda middle of the road on those kinda things. The 17 year old HS student wo works for me asked me if roosters had to sit on eggs for them to hatch. I had to 'splain the whole process to him. But, at 17, I thought it was 'bout time he learned those things, lol. I might have reacted differently to a question asked by a total stranger or their kid....

Crazy busy day today. Last weekend we killed and quartered the pigs. They've been aging in ice chests for a week. Today we did the cutting and packaging for the freezer and made pan and link sausage. It took three of us six hours to do it all, but that was two pigs. We made over 100 lbs of pan sausage and about 50 links of kielbasa. That's not even counting all the pork chops and pork loins and butts and ribs and hams....AND all the bacon that I've got curing.

It was an awesome learning experience and I wouldn't trade it for nuttin! I think those kinda skills are lost to most folks - unless they are hunters or farmers. Next on the butcher list has gotta be goats. Never done it, but I gotta learn!

I did get a little bit of gardening done while grandbabies were sleeping. I got some yard long beans and some rattlesnake pole beans planted. I also put in some rutabagas even though it's probably too late...I put 'em into a somewhat shady area in hopes that it'd help.

Woo-wee I'm tired. I'm good for a few more minutes and I'm gonna turn out the lights and tuck myself in....

 

[Denim Deb]

Normally w/those kinds of questions from a strange kid, I simply say he's helping her to lay eggs. The thing I get that most w/is dragon and damselflies since they fly in tandem w/their butts hooked together. That way, I'm not giving them information that their parent may not want them to have and they're satisfied.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Today I got 2 rows of bush beans planted along with a bunch of summer squash and some more pole beans. Weird thing - I had NO zucchini seeds in my stash. I hope that the 'summer squash medly' that I got from Heirloom seeds has some zucchini in it. If not... I will be zucchini-less this year. That's a horrible thought - may have to go shopping tomorrow.

 

[FarmerJamie]

No friends with potential surplus? Around here, you have to pay people to take it in the middle of the season...

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Perhaps! I saw my neighbors trying to till today - maybe they'll have a garden this year and we can swap some veggies. You're right though - usually you can't give the stuff away. I've been known to drop a bunch on someone's porch, ring the doorbell and RUN!!!!!

 

[SSDreamin]

I haven't planted zuke's in years - between our old neighbors and the in laws, I usually get more than I can use and end up dehydrating a bunch for winter!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'll prolly go pick up some seeds today, lol. I'm usually the one giving the stuff away and come to think of it, no one has given me any in years. They all know I'm the big garden person, so I'm gonna hedge my bets and pick up a pack of seeds.

We love zucchini and I use it in practically everything, but I've never even thought about dehydrating it. Thanks for the reminder, SS!

Spring break is over... I didn't even get close to accomplishing everything on my list. I had my grandbabies for four days so that means all farm work was halted, except for cutting up and packaging the pigs Saturday. DH was the man in charge of the kiddos for about 6 hours. They all loved it! I'm gonna look for apple wood chips today and try smoking my bacon and sausage with it. I'll probably do the sausage tonight and the bacon tomorrow. I need a bigger smoker.

Weather forcast is for a high of 89 today. If we get there we'll break a long-standing record for high temps. Thankfully, we're supposed to cool down again later in the week and by the weekend highs will be in the 60's again. Geeze, is it any wonder that all the plants and animals are so confused.

Have a great day everybody!

 

[Denim Deb]

Could you send that heat up here? We're below normal. If feels more like February.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'd like to share it with you, but supposed to cool off again tomorrow.... geeze!