what's been going on

Oh I feel so rusty settling back into here!  It's only been a little over a month since last writing in this space, but our days have been so full that it feels longer.  This past month has been full of learning for me.

Back in January, when I was praying about what this year new year should hold for me, the word G R O W kept coming to mind.  I tried to speculate what that could mean.  Relationships?  Knowledge?  Being mama?  Ministry?  Marriage?  I wasn't sure, but I've been trying to stay focused on that and see where God would have me grow in certain areas.

In the late spring, a dear friend of mine was setting up a store in town and asked if I would consider selling some of the salves that I make for our personal use in her store.  I thought, sure, why not?  I set about trying to find supplies, and that almost made me throw in the towel!  It was too much work!  And the shipping was too high!  Ha!  But she continued to encourage me, and finally, I had a few products to sell.  A couple of salves and a deodorant cream.  I am so surprised and pleased to say that this little venture has been a success!  We have been selling out of items on weekly basis!

I had also posted some pictures of what was going on onto my Instagram account and have had so many encouraging friends there order items, that I have finally decided to open an online store!  It launches on Monday and I am so excited!

Two weeks ago I didn't even know how to log into our PayPal account.  True story.  In the past month I have grown in ways I didn't expect.  I didn't expect to be a cottage industry owner.  I didn't expect to spend hours upon hours tweaking recipes to find the most effective one.  I didn't expect to have to know how many ounces a package can be before it has to be shipped Priority.  Those were areas that were never in my brain to GROW in.  But that was God's plan all along.  It has been a wonderful surprise.  Such a surprise!  I have felt encouraged in the feedback I've gotten from the products.  But I have felt most encouraged by the support of friends.  Friends who saw this potential in me to do something just a little bigger than I had expected.  And I am so grateful.

Are you on Instagram?  Find me!  @herbanhomestead

broody hen {part 2}

Well that didn't work!  The moment we placed her in the new coop she stopped sitting.  She wouldn't go anywhere near the nesting box.  She paced and made such a racket!  After about three hours of hoping she would sit, and her NOT sitting, I moved her back into the original coop.

That afternoon we picked up our fertilized eggs.  After marking each one with a small "X", we put them all under her and she cozied herself right up on top.  The next morning an egg was missing.  By that afternoon, another one had been eaten.  With a little investigating, we found that our barred rock was standing under the nesting box (that is chicken wire on the bottom so the poop will fall through) pecking at the eggs and eating them.  We had to come up with a Plan B, fast!

I moved said barred rock (she does have a name- and it is Bumblebee) into the smaller coop, and put another chicken in there to keep her company.  They pecked a little, re-establishing the pecking order in the new coop, and then went about their merry way.  Fast forward 21 days.

The chicks began hatching!  It was like magic!  We could hear them peeping through their shells, and the eggs were shaking.  Two hatched successfully, while one did not.  We found that little one had been cleared out of the nest right after hatching.  I was amazed to see how clean mama kept her nest.  All egg shells, and any other debris were quickly discarded down below.

After a few days of waiting and worrying, we decided that we were only going to get the two chicks out of the deal, so we quietly moved the other eggs out.  Mama hen immediately got up and began stretching her legs.  She went down to the water and drank for a very long time.  Just like that, she was done nesting and was ready to mother.

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This was an absolute learning experience for me.  No matter what I read, or who I asked, no one could speak directly to this experience.  Because every time it is different and has its own variables.  Here are some things I learned:

• I will move the mother hen much earlier next time.  Probably 2-3 days before getting the fertilized eggs in.
• I will place fresh water and food next to her, instead of shooing her off of her nest to the waterer in place.

broody hen

I mentioned in my last post that we have a broody hen on our hands.

You can't really tell from this photo, but she is hunkered low in her nesting box protecting all of our (unfertilized) eggs.  When we go to collect eggs she puffs up big like a turkey and lets out a low, long cluck.  She never pecks, because she is a sweetheart, but we know that she does not approve of us taking her eggs!

We do not have a rooster right now.  From our experience, roosters are hard to handle in a backyard flock where you are interacting daily with your chickens.  Our last rooster was very protective and continually attacked Buddy, drawing blood at times.  He had to go on to that great big pasture in the sky.  Because of our rooster-less situation, we have no fertilized eggs on hand for our girl to hatch.  We were at the feed store over the weekend and I asked if anyone knew someone local that I could get fertilized eggs from.  One of the employees told me that she would be happy to donate a dozen eggs for us to try and hatch.  We go after lunch today for pickup- we are very excited!

We spent some time this weekend setting up an area for our broody girl to be safe and alone.  We are using our smaller coop (with attached run) for her so she can sit undisturbed.  This morning she is practicing on fake eggs getting nice and cozy in her new spot.  We will trade out the eggs later today.  Once her body heat begins heating the eggs, the embryos will begin to form and grow.  It is so fascinating to me how they can be laid on different days, but all hatch at the same time, at the end of a 21 day incubation period.

This is our first go at hatching our own flock.  I know that Blackberry up there will be a good mama to her little brood!

don't wait

my current spring garden

Anyone else out there dreaming about their own little piece of land?  Somewhere out of town with enough room for chickens and goats and pig and bees?  Maybe enough woods to get lost in, but enough sunshine for a garden?  Oh, and a meandering creek to explore!  Cannot forget the creek!

This is my dream.  

But I learned a while back that I don't have to wait to live my dreams.  My just right property may never come.  My life outside of town may just never happen.  I decided in our last home to just jump in.   To dig up the front yard and plant gardens.  To add chickens to the back.

And now we are in a home that we do not own.  I have not let that stop me.  I may not be building on our forever property, but I'm not going to let that keep me from planting.  I have blueberry, raspberry and blackberry bushes coming in.  Those are things that are supposed to sustain you forever.  For us, it may not be that long.  I didn't want to wait!  

one of our girls getting broody!

We have our chickens.  We have our garden.  We are waiting for fall to add a flock of meat birds, and maybe some dairy goats.  Please let there be dairy goats!

If you are stuck in an apartment with no yard, and wishing for a little extra space...don't wait!

If you are living in the suburbs and dreaming of small town living...don't wait!

If you are in the middle of the city and thinking that you need just a bit more space...don't wait!

the urban community garden begun by my mother in law in downtown Houston

If you are living in small town America where the neighbors will surely talk...don't wait!

By beginning your homesteading journey now you will be living out your dream.  Put the books down and jump in with both feet!  The only regret you will have is not starting sooner!  Trust me- I know this from experience.

Everything doesn't have to be just right.  It doesn't have to be your forever place.  Begin experiencing the life you want right now!

a basking bee on one of our spinach plants

Don't wait!

the garden

I was fortunate enough to grow up with a dad that gardened. In my high school years especially, he had a garden almost as big as our backyard. The first time I saw a striped tomato, or a purple one, was in my own backyard.

We have been in our current home for over a year now, and I feel like the soil is just getting better and better! We have already been harvesting from our spring beds. We are having higher yields at this point in the season than we ever have gotten.

And even though I've had my own garden for the past 12 or so years, the feeling I get when I harvest is the same as the first time. I feel so sufficient and confident. I can produce food for my family! Yep- that never gets old. 

What's in the spring garden: 

kale 

arugula (lots of arugula)

spinach 

mini red romaine lettuce 

mini green romaine lettuce 

onions 

carrots 

snow peas 

radishes 

I am going to put in beets and swiss chard today, because I forgot to plant them initially. It is probably too late, but I never let that stop me!

the problem with supper

It never fails, it is supper time, things are about half way through, and my mind starts wandering to all of the projects that I have put on the back burner today.  Whether it be a sewing project or an herbal concoction, it's hard for me to put it off any longer.  So the way it always goes is when there are vegetables to be chopped and salads to be made, I find myself at my sewing machine, or digging through our home apothecary, trying to squeeze one more project into the day.  The kids are engaged with daddy, the space in my brain has opened up just enough for the ability to multi-task.  And I can't resist.

a birthday crown for the baby bird

I find myself saying, "just one more stitch, I can get one more stitch in before supper is to be served".  Wouldn't you know that usually, I can't seem to step away from it, and all of those stitches come together and holler "done!".  Supper may be a tad late getting on the table, but no one seems to mind.  That's the problem with supper isn't it?  It always seems to fall at the most inopportune times!

rainy day sewing

It's another overcast, chilly day here.  The oldest is working on her Amelia Earhart report, the youngest is sleeping, and the middle is building with his Legos.

Middle.

I still get fluttery in my stomach when I think about the fact that I have three children now.  That's enough to have one in the middle.  I am the middle child in my family- it's a special spot.  One of distinction, even!

With everyone quietly at work and at rest, I have found myself cutting out another peasant blouse for my baby girl.  This is the fourth one I have made for her, but only the third wearable one.  The first was riddled with "learning", and passed over to the doll chest.

I have had this fabric forever in my stash.  Never touched.  Just waiting.  It's funny to think that I bought this before there ever was a baby Birdy, and now it is just the thing to wrap her up in.  It never grows old- the wonderful way this world works.

Here is a blurry Instagram shot of Miss Birdy in one of her shirts.  Another buttery, soft Anna Maria Horner voile.  If you want to join me on Instagram I'm @herbanhomestead.  Hope to see you there!