To Blog, Or Not to Blog, That is the Question!

Beautiful Drought Resistant Weeds

Summer 2016 is in full swing, as mid August looks us square into our sweaty faces. A rough summer of drought and heat has caused this City Gone Country Girl some stress that I have not had to endure before. My lack of blogging about our adventures? I am learning that it is difficult to do everything here on the hobby farm and write about it on a consistent basis. There is so much to do!

This summer has been quite challenging on the Allen Family Homestead. The lack of snow from this past winter combined with the lack of rain this summer has caused some interesting issues for us this year. The water table is so low that our wells are running dry. Yet the weeds are blooming beautifully!

Luckily on our little hobby farm we are blessed to have two wells; one for the farmhouse and one for the barn and gardens.  Both of these water sources have been tapped to the bottom this year, our first time experiencing this since we bought the homestead. We hear that others local wells are going dry, so we know that we are not alone. We have been watching the corn fields curl and go brown, and many fields are dying before even having a chance to tassel. My husband and I are grateful that we postponed having any bigger critters this year.

Because of the drought, our crops have been hit or miss this growing season. We haven't had enough of anything to sell, just enough production to feed our family and our 40 chickens. It has been heartbreaking watching crops and plants wither and die because of the lack of water. The animals have to come first with the water source, plants second. Needless to say there won't be much for canning and winter storage this year.

Iron Stained Washtub

It has been an interesting lesson, as a former City Girl, I was used to unlimited water from the local town municipal supply. Never had to think about water rationing or water recycling. I have learned a lot this year about well systems and water conditioning. Problems with our water smelling of sulfur, and yellowing of clothing was a frustrating learning experience. As the water table depletes, we are bringing up the well sediment from the bottom, which for our source has an abundance of iron. The iron build up destroys clothing! All our not-so-white clothing due to staining had to be replaced, and this new to the country girl had to frequent the wash machines of town friends and laundromats to keep from losing anymore. Ugh. And forget taking a shower... the smell is enough to knock your socks off! Double ugh.

This is where living on a Homestead is not about self-sufficiency. Homesteaders need to connect with the community for support. Talking to local friends with similar issues, we learned of a hometown business that specializes in water and well supplies. After listening to these knowledgeable folk, we learned that adding chlorine to our household well will help immensely with much of the problems that were were seeing here. Boy they were right! Following their directions made a complete difference! I am still nervous to put in pure white clothing into the wash machine, but this has helped limit the laundry hopping and replacement shopping trips.

Truly the best!

We have also learned of some cleaning supplies that have helped us clean out the stains on our appliances, sinks, and tubs. After trying many products, I have found "Iron Out" to be the best product to deal with iron stains. I highly recommend it for cleaning and can also be used in your laundry loads to protect from stains as well. Totally worth a few bucks!!

I see that our local weatherman is calling for some rain this week, and oh how I pray that he is right! Our area needs the water, but I wonder for the crops if it may be too little, too late.

But for the well? Let's fill that baby up!!

Please excuse me as this City Gone Country Girl is off to do a rain dance!!!

~Jenn

Shoveling... Water?

So our first snowstorm of the winter forced my husband and I to pull out our dusty shovels!

~ Our Slushy & Icy Driveway ~

Yes, Shovels. We have a snow blower, but we received ice and rain first, so the snow was so heavy the snow blower wouldn't work. 

Dressed like Eskimos, and armed with shovels, we attacked our very long gravel driveway by hand! I heard on the news earlier in the morning that this is called "Heart Attack Snow", and with the first scoop, I understood why. I also heard that each shovel of snow weighs about 15 lbs. with this moisture filled slush. We have one ergonomically designed shovel, which my husband used. I got stuck with the muck shovel from the chicken coop. Oh joy! 

~ My Muck Shovel ~

I feel like we just stepped onto the set of the television show, The Biggest Loser. Our task is to shovel out the slush filled driveway as quickly as possible before the temperature drops and it turns to ice. With another foot of snow predicted to fall on us, we knew we had our work cut out for us before our whole driveway becomes an ice skating rink!

I had never seen so much water in "snow" before! We were literally shoveling water down the driveway. Chris would shovel scrape the snow off, and I followed behind him shoveling the water underneath. It was crazy! We could watch the water left behind me begin to freeze immediately, which made walking back up the hill drive tricky. 

Our task took two hours, just to dig out the essential driveway areas. As much as this projects was a challenge, we tried to stay positive and have fun! Reminding ourselves that this is the first time we had to shovel snow this year helped. Reminiscing of the hard winter we survived last year really made us feel better! I couldn't help but giggle as Chris "slipped shoveled", it made for great entertainment! 

Working hard on the Homestead with a positive attitude... 

this City Gone Country Girl found muscles she forgot she had!

In the City, there would have been a plow service that would have been called to clean out the driveway in a swoop. But there is something about the fresh air and the happy tiredness of a good job done. Not to mention the exercise Chris and I just clocked in for the day! 

~ Frozen Lilacs and Barn ~ 

As the snow came down around us,we knew that we would have to attack this driveway again. But after two hours of shoveling 15 pound scoopfuls of snow, we were toast!

Time for a break, Chris went in to warm up by the fire, and I went sledding in the back yard with our youngest daughter.

After all that work, it was time for some fun! 

Jenn ~ City Gone Country Girl

Life's Learning Curve

~ Sometimes, I Miss the City ~

For a 6 month stint, I went back to the City for a job.

Managing an upscale women's clothing store was a fun experience, getting off the homestead and dressing up was a treat. But it didn't take long to be reminded why I left the City and became the country girl that I am.

The daily commute was pure torture for me. It took me one hour to get to work, and one hour home. This was two hours of my day away from my family and my responsibilities on the Homestead. My thoughts would wander to my to do list, that is always larger than time allotted. I would beat myself up because the two hour commute was time lost that I could be getting chores done around the Homestead. This time loss was essential; I can get a lot done at home and on the farm in two hours, and my responsibilities were neglected.

Working retail means long hours. It can be as early as 7 am shifts, and as late as 11 pm evenings. Now add that hour drive. Ugh. It means 7 days a week open scheduling, where weekends area must. Ugh. No more family events, no more social life. Evening and weekend hours were my specialty, so that meant days without seeing my family. Double Ugh.

Once I started calculating how much of a paycheck I actually brought home, my eyes were opened once again. Another reminder to why I chose to spend my life on the homestead, and this desire became once again appealing. The math does not lie:

~ My First New Car! ~

• I bought a new, reliable car for the commute.
• I spent 2 weeks of my paycheck just on gasoline and wear and tear on my car to get to work. 
• I had to purchase professional clothes that represented the store I worked at. Even with the employee discount that was quite a chunk! 
• If there was a day I forgot to pack a lunch, eating out took a heavy dime from my days pay. Unfortunately, most edible options are not the healthiest food at the mall food court.
• Many days of ordering out instead of home cooked meals cost us more $ than that of the meal planning that was done when I was home. Again, nutrition 

Was I actually bring home a paycheck that constituted this expenditure? NOT A CHANCE.

I understand where this experience fits into my worldly puzzle. I had to be reminded how good I have it here on The Allen Family Homestead. I have my moments, where I wonder if I should be doing more, bringing in a professional salary, and feelings of loneliness. But I learned that the stressors of the professional life don't fit into the simpler lifestyle that I am setting up here for my family. 

I have returned to substitute teach at our local school district, and I cannot believe what a better fit it is for me, my family, and our homesteading lifestyle. With nights and weekends off, I can spend time with my family again. With the days I do not get called into school, I can focus on our farm business. I go to work with my family, and get to work with the kiddos that my heart loves to be with. I am free once again to enjoy school vacation time with my husband (teacher) and children. 

~ Home Sweet Homestead ~

Will I be rich? No. Am I happy? Yes. 

It truly is a winning combination for our family on the Allen Family Homestead.

The grass is not greener on the other side. But sometimes it takes a taste of the other side to truly appreciate what you have. 

This City Gone Country Girl has been reminded that the Simple Living here at the Homestead is truly the life that suits me! 

Bloom Where You are Planted!

City Gone Country Girl ~ Jenn 

I'm Dreaming of a Green Garden

Under the blanket of snow and ice my happy garden plots sleep, dreaming of the seeds that I will be planting in spring.

Okay, maybe the dirt isn't dreaming, but I know I am! 

By mid winter, I am dying to play in the dirt. I miss the smell of the earth. I miss the sun on my face. I miss the fresh air, as the wind blows around me. I miss the colors of nature; the beautiful green seedlings that blossom into colorful ripe fruit and veggies.

To keep myself from going stir crazy, by mid-winter I begin looking forward to the mail. Yes, I still like getting snail mail. No, not the bill part! My motivation to jaunt down the snow and ice covered driveway to the mailbox in my boots and parka is for...

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The Catalogs of course!

Oh! The excitement, I cannot contain myself!

The seed catalogs! The garden supply catalogs! The farm supply catalogs! The chicken catalogs!  Nothing is more fun than flipping through the vastly colorful pages with images of flowers, fruits, vegetables. Photography depicting Mother Nature's artwork in a kaleidoscope of colors when Upstate, NY is mainly snow white. 

I sit next to my wood stove with a hot cup of coffee and a big red pen. 

My wish list begins with big red circles around everything I would like to purchase. Of course the wish list is always larger that the pocketbook allows, so whittling the list down to the purchase list is painstaking. With my garden journal in hand, I take notes of what I would like to try. I look back through to previous years of garden notes to remember what we liked and were successful at. In my head I begin to map out my garden layout. In my journal, I sketch out where my darling little plants might find a home. I cannot think of a better way to hibernate indoors when the temperatures outside are freezing. 

Now to survive the farm supply stores as they set out the seed displays.... oh, the torture of having to wait till planting time!

I think this City Gone Country Girl will continue to hibernate...

~Jenn

A Country Adventure for a City Girl

The Porch is Always Open at 

The Allen Family Homestead!

Rain or shine, hot or cold.

I suppose the weather is a little chilly right now in Upstate, NY. The snow flurries make it look like a scene from a snow globe. 

If you are willing to put on you long underwear... I am willing to share the porch view and a hot cup of cocoa!

Pull up a rocking chair on the porch, or the cozy chair by the wood fire! As my guest I am excited to pamper you with country hospitality. Good food, conversation, and cozy relaxation. 

The smell of down home country cooking is always in the kitchen! Make sure you check  What's Cookin'? 

Whatever yumminess that baking in the oven will first be picked from our fruit and vegetable gardens! Check out our page called Garden Green to see what's new at the The Allen Homestead Greenhouse!

Growing our own food and cooking our own meals has helped me lose 40 lbs, so I encourage you to check out my Healthy Living page.

Looking for some creative ideas? There is always a project to be done here on The Allen Family Homestead! It may be fixing fences, sewing curtains, building in the woodshop, or making our own play-dough... check out our Gettin' Crafty! page to see what we are working on!

After growing up in the City, the daily experiences while living here on The Allen Family Homestead has given me a different perspective.

Visit my Simple Thoughts page for positive inspiration.

I hope you enjoy your venture to the country! 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come back for a porch visit again soon!

Jenn ~ City Gone Country Girl