Simple Saturday

Taking a look at the ground wondering if they should get out or not.

(They are a week old in this picture.)

Hey, this ain't so bad!

Silent contemplation.

Wee! Let's go!

Have a blessed day in THE LORD!

Amanda

Matthew 6:33

Breeding Chickens GOD's Way Part 2 (They're Here!)

1. The baby chicks are here! We had 2 eggs hatch  last Wednesday, 6 hatched on Saturday and the last 3 hatched yesterday. There are still 4 eggs under the mama hen but we are not sure they will hatch. We're going to let her *sit* on them until tomorrow and if nothing happens we'll get rid of them.

The above picture is one of the chicks that hatched on Saturday. Hubby had to *help* this one out of the shell because 2 others had already died while trying to get out of their shell. He wanted this one to have a better chance and indeed it did.

The chick I am holding was less than an hour old.

Here are the other chicks that were born, all worn out and sleeping peacefully.

The chicks are a day old in this picture and already eating and drinking.

Here's one taking a sip of water. It's just too cute ;-)

Here they are today with my oldest daughter. That's a handful of chicks! A total of 11 in all!

Another view.

This one is having a hard time staying awake. It's head is slowly falling until it finally passes out.

Poor thing is wore slam out!

This is one of the chicks that was born on Wednesday. DD took it out because it was pecking the smaller ones. I am just about sure its a rooster. We'll see!

GOD's creation  is just so amazing!  Living on our little farm and seeing all of HIS creation renew itself is simply amazing! HE is so good and ever to be praised!

Amanda

Matthew 6:33

http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2013/08/homestead-barn-hop-124.html

Saturday Blessins'

Isn't GOD's creation amazing? That is the littlest frog I have ever seen. I have seen some of his bigger *brothers* in the yard. But this one is by farthest the cutest!

Another view.

Angel, Grace and I went to the farm/garden store the other day to pick up an autumn mailbox cover and garden flag. While there I noticed these awesome broccoli plants. They were just screaming for me to take them home to plant. 

Now we have never planted broccoli in the fall only the spring. This will be a new *experiment* for us. (There are about 36 plants in that flat.)

 We have been having some unusual cool weather lately. Maybe this will entice these plants to produce for us.

These broccoli plants are called Pacman. and have a maturity date 45-55 days. If all goes well, we should have fresh broccoli by mid October.

Well, gotta go! There is a lot to be done around here today. Just remember that GOD is good all of the time and is ever deserving of our praise!

Amanda

Matthew 6:33

We Have Babies (Uh, I mean Biddies!)

Well, we had a little surprise last night when we went to check on Mama Hen. These two little beauties were sitting under her. Aren't

 they adorable? We bought them inside because the other 15 eggs had not hatched. (There were a total of 17 under her.)

We took these for 2 reasons. #1, Mama Hen had gotten off the nest and left the other 15 eggs exposed. So to get her to *finish* setting the other eggs, we bought these in after placing her back on the nest.

Reason # 2, I saw a BIG black snake in the yard on Tuesday. The last  time we left baby chicks with mama Hen , they were eaten by a snake. (Caught it in the act.) We didn't want to lose any in the batch.

Here they are this morning already eating and drinking. When I put my hand down to pick one up it will peck at me already. Little bugger, it has got to be a rooster!

So, how many more baby chicks will we get? Only THE GOOD LORD knows! We'll see!

Have a blessed day in Sweet JESUS!

Amanda

Matthew 6:33

Homestead Chore # 9 Breeding Chickens (GOD's Way)

What a Mama!

LORD willin' we will have baby chicks with in the next 10 days. This Buff Orpington has 17 eggs under her. All seems to be going okay right now. No bad smells indicating rotten eggs and she has been faithfully setting.

We chose Buffs this time around because they are said to be a very broody breed. Well, this one sure is!

We haven't decided whether we will let her keep the chicks or take them from her and raise them ourselves. The last time we left chicks with their mama, a snake got to them. Baby chicks left on the ground are a magnet for snakes. So we'll see ;-)

Stay tuned!

Amanda

Matthew 6:33

http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2013/08/mondays-homestead-barn-hop-123/

Waning Summer Days

Ah, the waning days of summer here on the farm. There is still a lot to be harvested and we have been so blessed with what THE LORD has already given us. 

The apples should be ready within the next week or so. It's not a *bumper crop* with only one tree bearing but its enough to make some some awesome apple crisp and  then some.

These are some taters we found in the hay growing. Hubby did an experiment growing the potatoes in the hay. It actually worked. There were just not as many taters nor were they as big as the other ones we grew the regular way. Interesting to see that it could be done.

These were the surprise this year. We didn't plant cherry tomatoes, yet here they are. It took awhile to think, how on earth did we get those? Then it dawned on me. After my daughter's wedding in April, we had a lot of cherry tomatoes left from the reception. So rather than throw them out we threw them out to the chickens. These were what came from the seeds from the ones that the chickens didn't eat. So we transplanted them into the garden area and  let them grow.

The chickens are still reaping the benefits from those April tomatoes. Since we started letting them out to roam again, as soon as the tomatoes start getting ripe, the chickens are all over them. Could you call that *wild foraging*? Not sure, but its less food for us to have to buy for them and a whole lot better for them.

As you can see, the corn patch has been harvested. We had the best harvest of sweet corn this year in many a year. We had a lot of rain in June and it was the blessing we needed to keep that corn growing. We ended up putting up about 300 good sized ears. We gave away about 80 or so ears. Then there were the ears that the squirrels got to and ruined. 

I am going to try and use the old stalks as fall decor this year. Not sure how though, since most of it looks like bamboo sticks because the leaves have started falling off. We'll see.

Angel & Justin didn't have anywhere to grow a garden this year at their place. So Richard tilled up a little area for them. They planted squash, okra, green beans, and watermelons. Here they are harvesting some okra. The green beans did so well that Angel was able to put up enough for them for the winter. She says she doesn't want to see another green bean for a long time ;-)

They came away with a lot of watermelon last night as well as okra. They were very pleased with their summer garden. Their first one as a married couple.

Kershaws. That's what Richard says they are. They seem to be finally growing. He had them growing up as a child and has talked about planting them for some time. He got some seed from his Mama and now, we wait. Anyone know what to do with these things? He said his Mama cooked them with butter and brown sugar. We'll see.

Last but not least, AnnaBelle at her stall waiting to be milked. When she sees me with the grain and bucket in hand she usually heads off to the stall for her *treat.* 

Last nights milking was a disaster though. I was trying to get pictures for a pictorial on milking a cow by hand. All was going well until she decided to release her bodily fluids. I'll have to try that again another time.

Where has the summer gone? I won't complain though because autumn is drawing nigh and it is my favorite season of all!

Have a blessed day in Sweet JESUS!

Amanda

Matthew 6:33

Homestead Chore #8 Home Education

Yep,it's back to school this week!  I got to hang out my *school* flag. It says, "Learning begins at home" I couldn't agree more.

We are starting our 13th year of Homeschooling. I only have Noah (14) left in our home school. Where has the time gone? He is the only one of our children that I have home educated the entire time. I started homeschooling when my oldest DD (23-next week) was in the 5th grade. Again, where has the time gone?

Noah had been doing the Abeka Academy for the past 2 years. With Noah being in the 9th grade this year, I wanted to tailor his work to his needs and the Abeka Academy (video) is just not that accommodating without having to pay extra to meet  his needs. So this year I was a bit more eclectic with his school work. 

It was something that I really prayed about and THE LORD led me to the following materials for Noah's education this year.

I chose:

 Teaching Textbook (PreAlgebra)

Apologia Physical Science

Easy Grammar (9th grade)

Etymology (ACE)

Landmark Baptist Bible (The Book of Proverbs)

Landmark Baptist Literature (Character Stories)

(Not pictured is the Abeka Geography course)

There is a lot of writing in the Landmark Baptist courses which Noah really needs. I LOVE the Teaching textbook! I wish it had been around when my daughters were still being homeschooled.

Noticed I said that Home education was another *farm chore*, it really is around this little homestead. A *chore* that I treasure!

Thank you Sweet JESUS for the gift of being able to educate my children at home for your glory!

Blessings,

Amanda

Matthew 6:33

A Courtship & The Marriage

Angel & Justin starting their *courtship* in February 2012.

Praying together before the ceremony. They never actually laid eyes on each other until the ceremony began.

Angel & Justin's first kiss ever! They saved themselves for this special day to glorify GOD!

First prayer together as husband & wife.

Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Justin Bishop!

                                                                     

 Sweet Sisters! What a blessed Mama I am!

Angel and Justin began their courtship in 2012 and married in April of 2013. Before Justin could start seeing Angel, he had to ask for permission to *court* our daughter. By doing this, we knew that Justin was wanting a serious relationship and not just a *dating* partner.

We wanted something different for our daughters other than the worldly *dating* scene. We really weren't sure what the alternative was. That's where GOD started showing us what HE wanted. Through other people and their experiences we found the *courtship* idea. So totally different from the world.

Even though Justin didn't know anything about *courtship* he knew that dating was not what he wanted. He had read I kissed Dating Goodbye- as had my daughter. It basically says that to have GOD's best for you, simply wait and trust in GOD to bring you the person HE has for your life. 

The actual *courtship* was pretty simple. Justin spent a lot of time with our daughter in our presence. We invited him to family outings and he just hung out with us in general. They spent a lot of time getting to know one another in a natural/safe setting. They set in in their minds to begin with that they wanted to honor GOD. So until they were actually engaged, they never even held hands. No physical contact other than the hand holding was instituted until the actual day of their wedding.

They did go to dinner alone in  a public setting. I have heard that a lot of people who believe in courtship would say that is wrong. I differ on that because these are not 2 immature young teenagers. They set it in their heart to begin with to honor GOD, with or without another person looking in on them. GOD was honored throughout the who *courtship*.

I know that only GOD could have set this up between my daughter and Justin. You see, there are no likeminded families in my area who understand courtship. To see how GOD planted what HE did in Justin's heart and Angel's is a testament to HIS goodness and most of all, HIS plan.

I just wanted to share and encourage other families who find themselves on the road of *courtship.* GOD is in control and what HE has planned for those who love and serve HIM is more than we could ever imagine! HE is so good and ever to be praised!

                                                                           Amanda
                                                                      Matthew 6:33

You can go here-http://shycountrygal.blogspot.com/ to learn more about my daughters courtship, in her blog.