I've been going thru a chicken catalog getting ready to order my chicks. Hubby is working on the new door to the chicken house. The wind, which can be ferocious in my area, keeps ripping the door right off the hinges. This time instead of repairing the door, it's all new with super duty hinges and better hooks to keep it closed. Hopefully, this door will last awhile.
A minimum order of 25 chicks is required and I have that number plus I keep saying I should have a couple of this breed and, oh, look at that one! I talked to my sister-n-law on Saturday and if she can get my brother to build a shed she's in for some chicks. Maybe a nephew as well. Guess the order will be for more than 25 no problem.
This is nice. I've been trying, subtly, to get family members to prepare more, have some food storage and maybe alternative ways to heat and cook. I haven't had much luck so far. If they get some chickens though, they will at least have fresh eggs and perhaps a stewing rooster or two. Not much in the way of being prepared, but hey, it's a start. Hmmm, I'd better get the catalog over there so she can fall in love with some chickens.
Monday, January 14, 2008
More kids!
I don't plan on turning this into a goat blog, but goats are on my mind. I have 3 does and all 3 have now kidded. Sister kidded on Thursday, 01/10 with twins. Three hours and 40 minutes later she had a triplet. She is now refusing to nurse the third baby since she arrived so late. Thank heavens my hubby is home to bottle feed Squirt. Sister had 2 girls and 1 boy.
Saturday I opened up the barn for fresh air. When I went back out after a couple of hours, I was missing a goat. Desi was gone. As she was due any time I figured she headed out to the blackberry area to have her kids in peace. It was raining and quite chilly. Hubby and I searched thru the blackberries for an hour looking for her. I asked him to check the, now empty, buck pen and he said the gate was closed. Darn, that would have been easy. We're soaked and cold and bleeding from those darn blackberry vines and beginning to search areas twice when he calls out that he found her. Where, you might ask? Why yes, in the buck pen as the gate was wide open. Arrgg. She hadn't kidded yet so I haul her back to the clean barn. She kidded with triplets, 2 boys and 1 girl about an hour later. Good mom, too.
Sunday I opened up the barn for fresh air. One goat left to kid and I was guessing maybe Monday. Went in the house, came back and yes, indeed, missing a goat. Sigh. I had to listen to hubby tell me 'I told you so'. Having learned a lesson, I went to the buck pen and there she was. Hauled her up to the barn and closed the doors. Hubby was working on a new door for the chicken house and left. I turned around to find Chelsea showing every sign of being in labor. About 25 minutes later we had a kid born. Five minutes later, another one. One of each sex this time. Now I have 4 boys and 4 girls, all healthy ones too. Barn sure seems smaller all of a sudden. Once the last kids are at least 3 days old I'll open up the barn during the day and kids can bounce all over outside. If it's not raining anyway.
I may try selling a boy or two at the 4H sale depending on how they grow but they are meant for the freezer. It's a good feeling knowing that we will have meat in the freezer come fall. Meat that we know has no anti-biotics or growth hormones. Meat that has had a good life prior to being meat, that knew sunshine and grass, jumping and playing with their buddies. Meat that was killed in a humane manner. My brother owns a meat store so I'll talk with him about doing the butchering, cutting and wrapping. That way I know for sure the meat I get is the meat I took in. I'll know it was prepared in a clean manner. Nice to know that I don't have to worry about getting sick eating that meat. That will make it all taste so much better.
What's in your meat?
Saturday I opened up the barn for fresh air. When I went back out after a couple of hours, I was missing a goat. Desi was gone. As she was due any time I figured she headed out to the blackberry area to have her kids in peace. It was raining and quite chilly. Hubby and I searched thru the blackberries for an hour looking for her. I asked him to check the, now empty, buck pen and he said the gate was closed. Darn, that would have been easy. We're soaked and cold and bleeding from those darn blackberry vines and beginning to search areas twice when he calls out that he found her. Where, you might ask? Why yes, in the buck pen as the gate was wide open. Arrgg. She hadn't kidded yet so I haul her back to the clean barn. She kidded with triplets, 2 boys and 1 girl about an hour later. Good mom, too.
Sunday I opened up the barn for fresh air. One goat left to kid and I was guessing maybe Monday. Went in the house, came back and yes, indeed, missing a goat. Sigh. I had to listen to hubby tell me 'I told you so'. Having learned a lesson, I went to the buck pen and there she was. Hauled her up to the barn and closed the doors. Hubby was working on a new door for the chicken house and left. I turned around to find Chelsea showing every sign of being in labor. About 25 minutes later we had a kid born. Five minutes later, another one. One of each sex this time. Now I have 4 boys and 4 girls, all healthy ones too. Barn sure seems smaller all of a sudden. Once the last kids are at least 3 days old I'll open up the barn during the day and kids can bounce all over outside. If it's not raining anyway.
I may try selling a boy or two at the 4H sale depending on how they grow but they are meant for the freezer. It's a good feeling knowing that we will have meat in the freezer come fall. Meat that we know has no anti-biotics or growth hormones. Meat that has had a good life prior to being meat, that knew sunshine and grass, jumping and playing with their buddies. Meat that was killed in a humane manner. My brother owns a meat store so I'll talk with him about doing the butchering, cutting and wrapping. That way I know for sure the meat I get is the meat I took in. I'll know it was prepared in a clean manner. Nice to know that I don't have to worry about getting sick eating that meat. That will make it all taste so much better.
What's in your meat?
Friday, January 11, 2008
Kids have arrived!
I have 3 nubian/boer cross goats that are pregnant, Sister, Desi and Chelsea. Sister is a big goat with a red roan coat. Desi is much smaller, more delicate (shows the dairy goat more) and is predominately black. Chelsea is mid-size and is brown. All have been bred to a black full-blood Boer buck and are due any time.
Sister was listed as being due last. Ha, she fooled us all. My hubby called me about 4:50pm last evening (I was in the parking garage getting ready to drive home from work) saying he was quite sure Sister's water had broken. When I got home about 6:05pm I watched the news for a few minutes (Vancouver, WA had a tornado!), changed clothes and headed to the barn.
My barn is in two sections. One section has hay storage, pens and a strawed floor. The other is a new addition and is a loafing shed type with 1 wall open. It has a dirt floor. The goats have been making nests in the straw and dirt the last few days so there were piles of dirt in the open part of the barn. Why I didn't have hubby bring the goats in and shut the doors is beyond me. When I got to the barn Sister has already delivered 2 kids - in piles of loose dirt. Birthing goo is bad enough but now it was all covered in dirt.
Cleaned up the kids and we had 1 boy and 1 girl. Nice size, healthy kids. I was hoping for dark colors on the kids and got it. The boy is a nice red and the doeling (I'm calling her Keeper as when I saw her I told my husband that she was a keeper) is a dark black and brown. Very pretty. I already have the black buck picked out for Keeper when she gets that age. Made sure the kids were nursing and that mom had plenty of water and feed.
I went back to the barn a few hours later prior to going to bed. Sister was in obvious labor. Looked closer and there was 1 foot hanging out. Uh oh. I finally had to go in. I found the one leg and the bum but couldn't find the other leg. Hubby had to come out and help. I held and he searched and finally a third kid was born. Three hours and 20 minutes after the first 2 kids! I think that's pretty unusual. We didn't think the kid was alive at first but hubby cleaned off some goo and yes, she's moving. She was small, very weak, couldn't stand at all and pretty much just sprawled there. We put her in front of Sister who cleaned her up and then I held her to the teats. She knew just what the teats were for and nursed sooner than her older siblings. I'm calling her Squirt.
This morning all three kids were up and bouncing even Squirt. Squirt nurses a lot, probably because she's smaller. I'm betting she'll catch up in size quickly. If not, her personality will be huge anyway. Sister doesn't thing Squirt is hers; she gently pushes Squirt away when she tries to nurse. I hold Sister's head and once Squirt is nursing, mom doesn't seem to mind. We'll force her to let Squirt nurse for the next couple of days and hopefully Sister will completely accept her.
I was very concerned that Sister might have one more kid yet to be delivered. I didn't feel anything in there though but to be safe I took her to the vet's this morning. The vet didn't feel anything either but noticed signs of internal infection. 'Going in' can do that. So Sister had a huge anti-biotic shot, a shot for pain, a shot to help clean out anything left inside and a huge shot of CMPK to prevent ketosis. The canopy was off the pickup and it was raining so I put a tarp down in the back of my small station wagon and off we went. And people wonder why I bought a station wagon.
Hubby made sure that Squirt got to nurse at 1pm and will do so again at 3ish. I'll make sure when I get to the barn after work, and then once more before bedtime. Kids are so darn cute. I may have to see if I can post pictures here. I'm betting we'll have more kids this weekend as I'm pretty sure Desi is that close. Desi, being black, should have really black kids. Color is nice but body conformation is more important, which is why I think Sister's kids should grow up nicely. I'm going to start working with Keeper for the first show in April. She would show in the percentage class. If the boy grows up nicely he'll go into the wether sale at the April show. Otherwise he'll go into my freezer. Goat meat is very delicious. Boys usually get names like Chops, burger etc.
I can hardly wait until my 3yo granddaughter gets to see the kids. She loves the goats and will just flip over the cute kids.
Sister was listed as being due last. Ha, she fooled us all. My hubby called me about 4:50pm last evening (I was in the parking garage getting ready to drive home from work) saying he was quite sure Sister's water had broken. When I got home about 6:05pm I watched the news for a few minutes (Vancouver, WA had a tornado!), changed clothes and headed to the barn.
My barn is in two sections. One section has hay storage, pens and a strawed floor. The other is a new addition and is a loafing shed type with 1 wall open. It has a dirt floor. The goats have been making nests in the straw and dirt the last few days so there were piles of dirt in the open part of the barn. Why I didn't have hubby bring the goats in and shut the doors is beyond me. When I got to the barn Sister has already delivered 2 kids - in piles of loose dirt. Birthing goo is bad enough but now it was all covered in dirt.
Cleaned up the kids and we had 1 boy and 1 girl. Nice size, healthy kids. I was hoping for dark colors on the kids and got it. The boy is a nice red and the doeling (I'm calling her Keeper as when I saw her I told my husband that she was a keeper) is a dark black and brown. Very pretty. I already have the black buck picked out for Keeper when she gets that age. Made sure the kids were nursing and that mom had plenty of water and feed.
I went back to the barn a few hours later prior to going to bed. Sister was in obvious labor. Looked closer and there was 1 foot hanging out. Uh oh. I finally had to go in. I found the one leg and the bum but couldn't find the other leg. Hubby had to come out and help. I held and he searched and finally a third kid was born. Three hours and 20 minutes after the first 2 kids! I think that's pretty unusual. We didn't think the kid was alive at first but hubby cleaned off some goo and yes, she's moving. She was small, very weak, couldn't stand at all and pretty much just sprawled there. We put her in front of Sister who cleaned her up and then I held her to the teats. She knew just what the teats were for and nursed sooner than her older siblings. I'm calling her Squirt.
This morning all three kids were up and bouncing even Squirt. Squirt nurses a lot, probably because she's smaller. I'm betting she'll catch up in size quickly. If not, her personality will be huge anyway. Sister doesn't thing Squirt is hers; she gently pushes Squirt away when she tries to nurse. I hold Sister's head and once Squirt is nursing, mom doesn't seem to mind. We'll force her to let Squirt nurse for the next couple of days and hopefully Sister will completely accept her.
I was very concerned that Sister might have one more kid yet to be delivered. I didn't feel anything in there though but to be safe I took her to the vet's this morning. The vet didn't feel anything either but noticed signs of internal infection. 'Going in' can do that. So Sister had a huge anti-biotic shot, a shot for pain, a shot to help clean out anything left inside and a huge shot of CMPK to prevent ketosis. The canopy was off the pickup and it was raining so I put a tarp down in the back of my small station wagon and off we went. And people wonder why I bought a station wagon.
Hubby made sure that Squirt got to nurse at 1pm and will do so again at 3ish. I'll make sure when I get to the barn after work, and then once more before bedtime. Kids are so darn cute. I may have to see if I can post pictures here. I'm betting we'll have more kids this weekend as I'm pretty sure Desi is that close. Desi, being black, should have really black kids. Color is nice but body conformation is more important, which is why I think Sister's kids should grow up nicely. I'm going to start working with Keeper for the first show in April. She would show in the percentage class. If the boy grows up nicely he'll go into the wether sale at the April show. Otherwise he'll go into my freezer. Goat meat is very delicious. Boys usually get names like Chops, burger etc.
I can hardly wait until my 3yo granddaughter gets to see the kids. She loves the goats and will just flip over the cute kids.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Peak Oil/Global Change
I'm a believer in Peak Oil and Global change. I think most people at least know the terms now but many people do not believe that anything will come of them. One of these people is my brother J. J and his wife, S, live in the jungles of Peru as Field Coordinators for Missionary Ventures. In simple terms they find things that need to be done and host volunteer teams that come to do the work. They've been in Peru for something like 7 years now. Maybe more, actually. They don't get back to the States very often but they are here now for about 3 months.
They live a pretty primitive life due to where they live, at least compared to the average American way of life. He's built several schools and homes with composting toilets, dug wells by hand, and has very little electricity. He is currently living what many people would say is a post-peak lifestyle.
He's been in Peru for several years without a visit home and now that's he is back he is amazed at the average American lifestyle. I like to think that I'm working on reducing my usage of things. I'm good at turning off lights (CF lights), I recycle, I compost, we keep the house much cooler than years before and so on. He is amazed at how much light we use. He sat in my kitchen and said "look at all the lights you have one" counted them and said "six lights. In Peru only 1 light would be on." They are on one light switch and spaced thru the kitchen. "In Peru they would have unscrewed all the bulbs but one." Hmmm.
Flush toilets are another point for him. His composting toilets work great for the school with many users and at his personal home with only a few users. We flush, although not after every usage. Now, I've been meaning to switch to peeing in buckets and using that pee water (1 part pee 10 parts water) to water plants but hadn't done so as the house was for sale and I didn't think pee buckets would look good. Now that the house is off the market I need to do that. I have the buckets, I just need to set them up. I've also done a lot of reading on composting humanure but haven't put it into action yet.
Coming from Peru they were freezing in our winter cold and, really, due to our location it's not that cold out there. They piled on the layers though, which is more than most of us were doing. My other brother's house is so hot they have to open doors to cool the house (woodstove). J marveled over the variety of foods available. He's used to getting whatever the market has that day and vegetables are always poor quality there. I'm working on eating more local and in season but for their visit I have been buying things I wouldn't normally buy. I was very unhappy to see Safeway (a large local chain) had spinach from Mexico. The store I usually shop at has been having spinach from the next state. We Americans take such abundance and good quality for granted. He marvels over the huge cars most people drive. In Peru he has a motor cart and walks a good deal.
Now, I can remember when they first moved to the jungle, changing locations from the high desert area of Peru. He moaned at how primitive life was in this fairly good sized city in the jungle. He adjusted quickly though and having embraced that way of life is now appalled at how we live. All the things that Peak Oilers talk about that need changing, he's already doing. He lives comfortably and mostly likes how he lives. He does admit that his climate is much better for primitive living than ours.
I tried talking with him about Peak Oil but he doesn't believe in it at all. He remembers how 'they' predicted no oil in the '70s, how Y2K didn't occur. And I wondered how I could talk to him about why this time is different. I'm not good at remembering all the arguments, the reasons and explanations.
There is a blog that I read daily called Casaubon's Book. The writer covers Peak Oil, global change, reducing etc. She firmly believes that our lifestyles must change, change a lot, and change now. She had a post today that recaps reasons for Peak Oil now that I thought was right on. This is a link to today's blog: http://casaubonsbook.blogspot.com/2008/01/why-is-this-apocalypse-different-than.html
They live a pretty primitive life due to where they live, at least compared to the average American way of life. He's built several schools and homes with composting toilets, dug wells by hand, and has very little electricity. He is currently living what many people would say is a post-peak lifestyle.
He's been in Peru for several years without a visit home and now that's he is back he is amazed at the average American lifestyle. I like to think that I'm working on reducing my usage of things. I'm good at turning off lights (CF lights), I recycle, I compost, we keep the house much cooler than years before and so on. He is amazed at how much light we use. He sat in my kitchen and said "look at all the lights you have one" counted them and said "six lights. In Peru only 1 light would be on." They are on one light switch and spaced thru the kitchen. "In Peru they would have unscrewed all the bulbs but one." Hmmm.
Flush toilets are another point for him. His composting toilets work great for the school with many users and at his personal home with only a few users. We flush, although not after every usage. Now, I've been meaning to switch to peeing in buckets and using that pee water (1 part pee 10 parts water) to water plants but hadn't done so as the house was for sale and I didn't think pee buckets would look good. Now that the house is off the market I need to do that. I have the buckets, I just need to set them up. I've also done a lot of reading on composting humanure but haven't put it into action yet.
Coming from Peru they were freezing in our winter cold and, really, due to our location it's not that cold out there. They piled on the layers though, which is more than most of us were doing. My other brother's house is so hot they have to open doors to cool the house (woodstove). J marveled over the variety of foods available. He's used to getting whatever the market has that day and vegetables are always poor quality there. I'm working on eating more local and in season but for their visit I have been buying things I wouldn't normally buy. I was very unhappy to see Safeway (a large local chain) had spinach from Mexico. The store I usually shop at has been having spinach from the next state. We Americans take such abundance and good quality for granted. He marvels over the huge cars most people drive. In Peru he has a motor cart and walks a good deal.
Now, I can remember when they first moved to the jungle, changing locations from the high desert area of Peru. He moaned at how primitive life was in this fairly good sized city in the jungle. He adjusted quickly though and having embraced that way of life is now appalled at how we live. All the things that Peak Oilers talk about that need changing, he's already doing. He lives comfortably and mostly likes how he lives. He does admit that his climate is much better for primitive living than ours.
I tried talking with him about Peak Oil but he doesn't believe in it at all. He remembers how 'they' predicted no oil in the '70s, how Y2K didn't occur. And I wondered how I could talk to him about why this time is different. I'm not good at remembering all the arguments, the reasons and explanations.
There is a blog that I read daily called Casaubon's Book. The writer covers Peak Oil, global change, reducing etc. She firmly believes that our lifestyles must change, change a lot, and change now. She had a post today that recaps reasons for Peak Oil now that I thought was right on. This is a link to today's blog: http://casaubonsbook.blogspot.com/2008/01/why-is-this-apocalypse-different-than.html
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Stress is a killer part 2
I meant to talk a bit about stress. I ramble I'm afraid and other things got in the way. So, my co-worker's doctor actually talked to him about the possiblity of changing jobs since his stress is primarily job related. Will the stress at work end? Not with his particular job although it may lessen, we hope. What can he do to help relieve stress? He is a very musical person so his music is a great stress reducer. He is in a band, in charge of a jr. band and gives lessons. Stress there so he may cut back on things. He has to start thinking now on how to reduce stress.
For me, stress was financial and my husband's health. His drinking. He is now sober and hopefully will stay that way. My stress level is waay down. Why? Well, ends are meeting and I actually took the house off the market. The market sucks and I didn't want to sell anyway. It's nice not to have to worry about strangers trouping thru at any moment. I'm unpacking boxes and getting back stuff I have been looking for since I packed everything up. I'm also going thru and putting a lot of stuff into the spring garage sale box. Three large boxes so far.
I've been thru counseling for spouses of alcoholics. I know I'm the enabler personality. Still, I'm dismayed at how much my husband's drinking affects me. Lots of stress. I need to work on that. Having some money in the bank helps relieve stress. I'm knitting these days and have actually finished a couple of things. I'm working on a shawl right now. It'll be a very warm one. Thinking about each and every purchase I want, deciding if I really want it and how I can save for it is putting me in control of purchasing, and I feel less stress that way.
Planning for the future, planning my garden, choosing chickens, planning for kids all help me to relieve stress. I feel the future is less than rosy but I'll have food from my garden, from my chickens, meat, milk and cheese from my goats. It all helps me to feel, at least somewhat, in control of my life. Now if I could get that house paid off. Tain't going to happen but I'm working on it.
For me, stress was financial and my husband's health. His drinking. He is now sober and hopefully will stay that way. My stress level is waay down. Why? Well, ends are meeting and I actually took the house off the market. The market sucks and I didn't want to sell anyway. It's nice not to have to worry about strangers trouping thru at any moment. I'm unpacking boxes and getting back stuff I have been looking for since I packed everything up. I'm also going thru and putting a lot of stuff into the spring garage sale box. Three large boxes so far.
I've been thru counseling for spouses of alcoholics. I know I'm the enabler personality. Still, I'm dismayed at how much my husband's drinking affects me. Lots of stress. I need to work on that. Having some money in the bank helps relieve stress. I'm knitting these days and have actually finished a couple of things. I'm working on a shawl right now. It'll be a very warm one. Thinking about each and every purchase I want, deciding if I really want it and how I can save for it is putting me in control of purchasing, and I feel less stress that way.
Planning for the future, planning my garden, choosing chickens, planning for kids all help me to relieve stress. I feel the future is less than rosy but I'll have food from my garden, from my chickens, meat, milk and cheese from my goats. It all helps me to feel, at least somewhat, in control of my life. Now if I could get that house paid off. Tain't going to happen but I'm working on it.
Stress is a killer
I was talking with one of my co-workers this morning. He's been having problems with stress and his heart. He's OK but stress is not good for him. He asked how I was doing and I said great. I'm glad I never went back to the doctor for the anti-depressants. With hubby getting better every day, still sober and a good attitude, my stress level is way down. I still stress a bit over finances, and I think I should actually. Ends meet, I get a little in savings each month, but I need to remember not to spend, spend.
I think being in too much debt, and some will say any debt is too much debt, is probably one of the top reasons our economy is in the trashcan. It's too easy to get there and so hard to get back. Before my economic crash I would have told you I had little debt, and compared to many I was right. I had a car loan that would have been paid off in another 2 years, a small personal loan (bought a goat) that had another year of payments and a credit card with a balance under $3000. With hubby's income those payments were met with ease, I was able to add to my food storage each month (plus other long term items), had a 401k deduction, paid a little each month into an IRA, a little extra on the house and usually got some money into savings.
Right now any extra money is going into savings. I have 2 savings accounts: one at the good ole bank and one in my 'personal' safe account. A large bank account won't help you if you need cash right now and it's late, on a weekend or during an emergency. Everyone should have a stash of cash where they can easily access it when needed. I also keep a small cash stash in my car for emergencies. Last month I had to use $40 of it for gas when my planned gas money ran out.
I've been in a bit of a dither about retirement savings, like the 401k and IRA. If the US has an economic crash would I have access to that money? Both accounts are invested in stocks, bonds and such, so would it all be lost? Would I be better off paying extra on the house and saving, saving, saving? No one can answer those questions although lots of people try. As I mentioned, my current plan is to just save and put some extra towards the mortgage. Some people say 2008 will be the start of the Long Emergency. I plan on seeing how this year goes and make changes as needed.
With the prices of food these days I'm not able to add much to my FS but some. This month I added 25lbs of wheat berries, 25lbs of rice and a large bottle of canola oil. Next month I plan on a 25lb bag of beans for sure and probably more oil. Oil stores nicely at very cool temps and I don't have much on hand. Not exciting food but I have spices and other things to make some good eatings out of what I bought. My grain mill has both electric and manual abilities. I suppose I should try out the manual version when I make bread this coming weekend. Maybe.
Catalogs are coming in. Couple of seed catalogs which are fun, but even more fun, is the catalog from Murray McMurray. Chickens, ducks, geese - all kinds of feathered critters. You have to order a minimum of 25 chickens for the day old chicks to survive the trip (heat) and I didn't want 25 chicks. My hubby said we should go for it though so now I'm picking out which breeds I want. I always get Austrolorpes and I know I want Orpingtons. Can't remember what all I have picked out without the catalog in front of me. I'm going to order a couple of banties as they are good brooders and I want to hatch out some of the eggs. Hopefully one of my friends that is overrun by her neighbor's chicken will have a rooster for me. If not, I'll order one. I'm also trying to talk my brother, parents and one nephew into having a couple of hens. Hey, can't beat those fresh eggs. Better than anything you can buy in the store. Plus, you don't have to go to the store for them. Gas saved!
I spent hours last Saturday cleaning my barn. It's now full of clean straw and waiting for kids to arrive. I have 3 goats (nubian/boer crosses). Two are due to kid any day and the third is due the 11th on. No one looks like they'll pop any minute though. The longer it takes them to kid the dirtier all that nice fresh straw becomes. These goats have all kidded before and I was told they are easy kidders and good moms. Any boys born will grow up nice and strong and end up in the freezer. I hope to keep at least one girl and sell the rest. Guess I'd best wait to see what pops out first before planning though.
Kids, chicks, planting seeds. Ah, spring will be coming soon.
I think being in too much debt, and some will say any debt is too much debt, is probably one of the top reasons our economy is in the trashcan. It's too easy to get there and so hard to get back. Before my economic crash I would have told you I had little debt, and compared to many I was right. I had a car loan that would have been paid off in another 2 years, a small personal loan (bought a goat) that had another year of payments and a credit card with a balance under $3000. With hubby's income those payments were met with ease, I was able to add to my food storage each month (plus other long term items), had a 401k deduction, paid a little each month into an IRA, a little extra on the house and usually got some money into savings.
Right now any extra money is going into savings. I have 2 savings accounts: one at the good ole bank and one in my 'personal' safe account. A large bank account won't help you if you need cash right now and it's late, on a weekend or during an emergency. Everyone should have a stash of cash where they can easily access it when needed. I also keep a small cash stash in my car for emergencies. Last month I had to use $40 of it for gas when my planned gas money ran out.
I've been in a bit of a dither about retirement savings, like the 401k and IRA. If the US has an economic crash would I have access to that money? Both accounts are invested in stocks, bonds and such, so would it all be lost? Would I be better off paying extra on the house and saving, saving, saving? No one can answer those questions although lots of people try. As I mentioned, my current plan is to just save and put some extra towards the mortgage. Some people say 2008 will be the start of the Long Emergency. I plan on seeing how this year goes and make changes as needed.
With the prices of food these days I'm not able to add much to my FS but some. This month I added 25lbs of wheat berries, 25lbs of rice and a large bottle of canola oil. Next month I plan on a 25lb bag of beans for sure and probably more oil. Oil stores nicely at very cool temps and I don't have much on hand. Not exciting food but I have spices and other things to make some good eatings out of what I bought. My grain mill has both electric and manual abilities. I suppose I should try out the manual version when I make bread this coming weekend. Maybe.
Catalogs are coming in. Couple of seed catalogs which are fun, but even more fun, is the catalog from Murray McMurray. Chickens, ducks, geese - all kinds of feathered critters. You have to order a minimum of 25 chickens for the day old chicks to survive the trip (heat) and I didn't want 25 chicks. My hubby said we should go for it though so now I'm picking out which breeds I want. I always get Austrolorpes and I know I want Orpingtons. Can't remember what all I have picked out without the catalog in front of me. I'm going to order a couple of banties as they are good brooders and I want to hatch out some of the eggs. Hopefully one of my friends that is overrun by her neighbor's chicken will have a rooster for me. If not, I'll order one. I'm also trying to talk my brother, parents and one nephew into having a couple of hens. Hey, can't beat those fresh eggs. Better than anything you can buy in the store. Plus, you don't have to go to the store for them. Gas saved!
I spent hours last Saturday cleaning my barn. It's now full of clean straw and waiting for kids to arrive. I have 3 goats (nubian/boer crosses). Two are due to kid any day and the third is due the 11th on. No one looks like they'll pop any minute though. The longer it takes them to kid the dirtier all that nice fresh straw becomes. These goats have all kidded before and I was told they are easy kidders and good moms. Any boys born will grow up nice and strong and end up in the freezer. I hope to keep at least one girl and sell the rest. Guess I'd best wait to see what pops out first before planning though.
Kids, chicks, planting seeds. Ah, spring will be coming soon.
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