1st Time for everything!

Grim and I have been camping since we first started dating. It was a cheap, fun getaway. I remember taking UN monster when she was just a couple months old and having the playpen set up in the tent. We continued to tent until Picky was a couple years old and we got caught on Memorial day weekend in a rainstorm that flooded the tent and damn near froze us to death… LOL! We just didn’t think to go camping again for a long while. Then about 4 years ago we decided to try it again… This was great fun as Mouthy monster had never been camping. After a couple trips, we even upgraded to one of the giant tents that had 2 rooms and even closets. That was the tent that only got used 1 night before it was killed by the weather…. See the evidence photo below…… In this shot you can even see the other two tents that were destroyed.

So as you can see we have done lots of this camping thing…. The one thing that Grim and I had never thought to do was Fall camping… You know once the pool is down and the monsters are back in school…. Who camps?!? Especially here in the NORTH! Well, I actually got the idea from Kristina over at Pioneer Woman at Heart And what a great idea it was…. I had to find a campground… Which I thought should have been no problem at all…. Boy was I wrong. Come to find out Fall camping is huge… To the point that most of the campgrounds are booked 6 months ahead of time just for this prime time!

I was lucky enough to get a canceled spot at one of the State Parks. On the website, they explained that it was a Halloween weekend… But we had no idea what to expect…. I made sure Mouthy had a costume. We had a couple small things and some lights!

I’ll tell you what, even though it rained both nights we were there…. We had the best time… There was a ton of activities for the monsters…. Each site passed out candy… Each site was decorated…. They even had a dance for everyone Saturday night. The monsters had a better time there then they have ever had here in the neighborhood. Now I know why these sites are booked 6 months in advance… I know I will have our site reserved by May 31st next year!

Yart

I've given up!

I can't find my list of things I wanted to write about for the month of October.... That's ok as I really haven't had the time.... Remember in the last post I told you that Zaycon had contacted me... Well, I went to work for them and I made $22.90, not a bad haul.... that money is in my account to be used for future purchases! ( If you want to sign up at Zaycon... could you use me as your referrer... I get $1 for each person I refer, Thanks!) Which is good because they have burger coming up next. I got my 80 pounds and so far I have canned 11 quarts (1 didn't seal) and used 4 of the breast for a meal. I still have lots of chicken to process... But I was smarter this time and froze the majority of it to be pulled out and processed at a later time. Which was a very good thing as once I was done working for the day I couldn't move for almost 3 days after. 

Grim and I hit all the farm markets over the weekend.... I got 50 lbs of potatoes, 50 lbs of cooking onions, a bushel of red delicious apples, 12 pints of blackberries & a bunch of miscellaneous stuff. The onions and potatoes will last most of the winter. The apples will be eaten by the end of November and the blackberries will be made into jam in the next day or two.

Grim believes that winter is going to be a hard one this year. I can't say that I fault his reasoning. This morning we were down to 33. All the windows except for one have been closed up. All the bedding has been changed out for big, warm, fuzzy blankets! The tea pot has been going non stop for days as the littlest one has picked up some nasty from school. Praying that it doesn't spread through the house like wild fire.

We got the yard cleaned up while the weather still liked us. Grim cut down the apple tree, dug up the grapes and rhubarb. After all the years that they have been in the ground they really produced very little. So it was time for them to go to make room in the spring for something that will produce. That's one of the sucky parts about gardening... You take the time and energy to get something in the ground and growing only to have to get rid of it because ( the soil sucks, not enough water, to much water, to hot, to cold). You understand! I'm thinking a mulberry for in behind the garage.... I'm going to move the raspberries to the spot where the grapes and rhubarb was. Then where the raspberries area now.... That will be the only raised bed for veg that I have.

I have just about 2 weeks to get what needs to be done here at the house done.... Because I'm going to be swamped with work. I have an event each and every weekend though the end of the year. I would have started on next year, but I don't have the entrance fee.... So wish me luck on selling items and booking shows! I love this product it is so easy to use.

Yart

Oct. 15th / 16th

This was suppose to be another Autumn / Halloween inspired post... But of course I lost my list of days... Anyways, I wanted to quickly do an update...

I got a call yesterday from the people over at Zaycon.... They asked if I would be interested in working for them for a couple hours.... They will pay me in credit toward my next purchase... All I have to do is help the driver unload and help with the customers. By the way I have chicken coming.... So for the next couple weeks I will be canning that up... I haven't put anything up this year. Nothing.... I know bad homesteader!!!

I will be going this weekend and getting bags of potatoes and onions. I will also try to get lunchbox apples for the monsters. But other then that nothing. The reason is I still have strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, chestnuts and lots of other things still in the freezer from last season. I still have jars of sweet potatoes, white potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, applesauce and jams / jellies on the shelves, that all need to be used up. I didn't feel the need to can up more stuff when I still had an abundance in the basement.

I have been working on the big scrap-ghan... That will now be the color block scrap-ghan. I am about 1/2 way through one of the last 4 skeins. I'm thrilled that its almost done, with the exception of tying in the ends. I still have the sunburst to finish... But I went out and bought more yarn to work on the next one... I know really... I need to get sewing... That was the original plan for this down season.

Oh, I don't remember if I told you.... Grim and I found out that it will only cost a couple hundred dollars to put in the electric at the property if we do the work ourselves.... We have friends and family that said they would help out with the work and expenses....WOO HOO! So it looks like we will have electric this coming Spring!!!! Once that's done then we can figure out what to do about a septic system.... Since we have an artisan well, we may not be able to have a standard system.... It may have to be a lagoon. I still have yet to talk to the code and building department... I wanted to find out about the address and electric first. I still need to fill out that paperwork to get the address going.

Its weird being a family of 4 now. I am looking forward to when she comes home at Winter break. Because she will be here for a month. Thanksgiving will be a whirlwind of visits and food and sleep. With Winter break it will be at a more relaxed pace, so we can get stuff done. The basement needs some serious attention as does the bedroom of the older 2. Work work work! Its never done.

I am doing pretty good with the new business venture. I like the Uppercase Living product so it's easy to sell. I have every weekend that's not taken up with family time, devoted to vendor shows. I really need to get more product to sell... LOL! I was able to find some windows to use. I'm hoping to be able to sell all the stock that I have. That would be such a great feeling!

Well, tons to do as usual.... I have to go! Until we meet again!!

Yart

Good things come in 3's

Odd music, Skulls and Jack o Lanterns! A nice little trio even if I do say so myself!

I am absolutely in love with both of these make ups.... I think they are stunning!!

 

Dry ice inside a pumpkin. Add a green glowstick to make it even eerier.

After you scoop out and carve your pumpkin, dip it in a large container of bleach and water...

Yart

Oct. 11th

I can say that I didn't know this....

Yart

Bonfires, Hot Chocolate, & Werewolves!

That is what the last few days have suppose to be about... I wasn't able to get all the posts ready ahead of time... LOL! These are 3 that ended up on the back burner, waiting for me to get to them and of course I never did.

I'm so going to do this at the Halloween camping trip that I'm planning for next year! I absolutely love this idea!

Its just the image... But I love the werewolf having attacked the wedding cake... So cool!

And it wouldn't be complete without Werewolves of London!

Yart

Oct. 7th

Don't you just love getting several posts from me in one day.... We were gone a Halloween camping trip this weekend... The monsters had a blast and can't wait till next year to do it again. Every single campsite was taken and decorated! We had more fun there then we have ever had at the house during the Halloween season... Because everyone was like minded and no one was under or over dressed. Next time we will know that we can bring the inflatables and more lights and definitely more candy... With 3 big bags we ran out half way through.... I'm lucky to give out 2 regular size bags at the house.

But without further ado.... Today is Vampires....

I can't find the meme... But it showed the vampires from Lost Boys and it said in my day we were scared of vampires, we didn't want to date them... LOL!

Yart

 

Oct. 6th

Children of the hay field... nope that's not right either... LOL! Corn! That's it!!!

Yart

Oct. 5th

Squish... no.... Splish... no.... SQUASH!

Never heard of a Rumbo Squash.... so I figured I would share in case you haven't either.

Yart

Oct. 4th

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Yart

New Developments

Grim and I took the monsters 9 hours away to see their older sister, who is away at University. It has been 6 weeks since we have really seen her.... I mean we did manage to figure out skype... maybe... LOL! She is doing really well, except for having lost weight. She is eating, but not my cooking... and she is walking a lot. So its to be expected that she loose 10 pounds or so. Not to worried because there is a reason behind it.

We were able to get to the property for a couple hours. The older girls went down the tracks and put up posted signs. Grim and I found a boggy area... But there might be a reason for it... I will get to that later. As we went exploring we were able to get back in a couple hundred feet. It was dry and we couldn't see the trees for the forest. LOL! We found a fairy area. Grim took pictures, which of course I don't have to show... It is so pretty... I'm just happy that no brownies came out to greet us.

   

This is how we found the property... In all its Autumnal glory.

Since we got home I have been trying to get things in order. While we were there we realized that we didn't have an address. So today I put a call into the post office, who directed me to another office. While I was on the phone, I was able to get the form. Now all I have to do is get it filled out and then its a waiting game. Then I contacted the electric company, luckily, I had the numbers off the pole. They were going to send someone out to see what could be done. I was also told that I would need to pull a permit, hire an electrician and hope the state says we can have it. Depending, on the cost we might just end up getting solar instead.

If there is a Solar company that would like have me do a review on your product, send me an note and we can talk. :)

Yart

Oct. 2nd

Today is the day of Pumpkins! I searched Pinterest for new things to share with you this year! There are crafts, recipes and lots more! To see more just click on the picture!

Remember come back everyday this month to see new things to help spice up your October... Plus, there might be a giveaway to two this month!

Yart