You Won't Believe It......I'm Back!

It's sure been a while, and I have plenty to share, however it won't be in just one blog post.

In May, my husband, Bulldog Man and I traveled to Dallas to see our youngest daughter, (M) marry her soul mate, a Dallas Police Officer, (J).  The wedding was beautiful, and so was the reception.  My husband and I have the privilege of adding another son to the family.  

On July 17th my sister passed away from pneumonia complications, she was just 53 years of age.  This was totally unexpected, and devastating to my family.  I'm thankful God gave my family the opportunity to have a couple of days with her to say goodbye before she passed away. 

Back at home we put up a portable garage to store the tractor and lawn mower.  Putting this portable garage up, using the instructions enclosed was a nightmare!!!  They weren't clear, or detailed enough.  Bulldog Man, Tank, and I just decided we would attempt to put it together without using the instructions.  It took a little while, a couple of hours.  In the end, we have a completed portable garage.   We put in several bars of Irish Spring Soap to deter the little critters from taking up quarters inside.

We've been working very hard on the property, and I have to say there's been some major changes, and additions.  In the next several posts, I will share with you those changes, and additions.

Merry Christmas My Friends!

Merry Christmas Dear Friends, From My Family To Yours!!! Enjoy a Few Pictures of Some of the Wild Life on Our Property.  Pictures Were Taken Will a Game Camera. 

DEVASTATED

Based on my last post, we were experiencing some ups and downs trying to get our homestead in order, and exactly the way we planned.  We made a list of projects to complete, and were in the process of completing them.  When on July 17^th, my young sister and my dear friend, Kim passed away after a brief illness.  Her passing was a complete shock to my entire family. 

Please understand, I will be back, I just need a time to grieve.

Chores/Projects List, Thank You, Knives, Garden, & Good Bye RAT

I'm sure every one of you has a to-do list of chores/projects for this spring; our list is considered a continuous, ongoing, working list. A couple of weeks ago, Bulldog Man and I compiled this list of chores/projects. We've even completed and crossed off several tasks.

CHORES/PROJECTS
Property Fence Line (clear weeds under fence- weed whack)
Remove Underbrush (ongoing)
Cut Tree Branches (ongoing)
Fell Trees (ongoing)
Remove Red Cypress Trees
Fence in Orchard, Add Gate
Lagoon (remove unwanted weed/bird drop seeds - ongoing)
Garden (fence in 8 foot with 10 - 12 inches in ground)
Garden (skim, remove rocks, add compost, soil, and till)
Garden (plant seeds/seedlings)
Rye (plant)
Water (install drip system)
Garage (get rid of rat)
Garage (clean and organize)
Garage Light (install and hang)
Poles (create pole holders for bird feeder)
Gutter (finish last install)
Soil (use to change ground angle against and around home and garage for directing water away)
Remove Bamboo (planted by previous homeowner)
Wagon (fix garden wagon wheels)
Screens (fix house screens)
Silicon (finish siliconing home)
Rear Porch (clear)
Water Heater (change to gas)
Gas (install large propane tank for heat and cooking)
Lean-to storage (make)
 
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Thank you M.E., Masterson at Adventures of Our Life blog for hosting a seed giveaway, and selecting my blog as a recipient to receive seeds. I'm so looking forward to planting the seeds in my garden, once we get it totally situated for planting.

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Bulldog Man and I started creating a fruit orchard this year by planting 4 trees (1 Honey crisp apple, 1 Early plum, and 2 peach.... Summer Prince #5, and Majestic). We placed fencing around each tree to keep the deer away.
Next spring, we will add 4 to 6 additional trees. Before doing
this, we'll need to remove a couple of red cedar trees. That is a large job, requiring the removal of the roots as well.
 
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The area Bulldog and I cleared for a vegetable garden is coming along nicely. We've tilled the area about three times, and I used a hard tine rack to remove rocks and hard balls of red clay. We've outlined the garden area with twine and stakes to set a line for installing T-Posts and 2x4. Once this is finished we'll install the fencing 8 foot high, and bury chicken wire to prevent critters from getting in the garden.

 

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It's that time of year when I need all kitchen knives sharpened. Bulldog Man has the old fashion sharpening stone to use for sharpening knives. Tank offered Bulldog Man use of his electric knife sharpener; this sped up the knife sharpening process. It's nice to have knives that cut; the only downfall......is to remember they're no longer dull. Yes.....I cut my finger....nothing a good old band aid can't take care of.
                                

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For those of you who can't deal with killing critters you may want to stop reading NOW!!!

Last fall, a wild rat dug a hole under our garage door and made himself at home. For months we tried to catch the rat with total failure. This particular rat loved natural oils whereas every other rat or mouse hated peppermint oil. Every evening after dinner we would set those large wooden rat traps with bait (peanut butter) and each morning the rat ate the bait and avoided getting trapped. This went on for days, and then we graduated to the glue traps. The rat would get stuck on the glue trap and
literally pull himself off the trap leaving skin and hair behind. Since this didn't work it was time to try something else.................


We purchased a bait hotel designed for rats. Placed the bait in the hotel, and stored the remaining bait on a shelf in a plastic bag in the shop/garage. The rat ate the bait in the hotel, picked up the hotel and threw it across the garage. He then proceeded to knock the extra stored bait off the shelf, and ate the plastic bag, box, bait, and left us a little bit of cardboard. Mr. Rat didn't die, it was time to put our heads together and try something else. We setup a live trap with bait. The damn rat knew how to hold the trap to prevent getting caught and he ate the bait. We even went as far as just putting a smear of peanut butter on the bottom side of the metal bait holder so the rat would have to work at getting the bait in hopes the trap would capture him.....NO LUCK!!!! 

Tank suggested placing some coca cola in an old cake pan; because he heard rats will drink the coke and die because they couldn't burp the bubbles out. We setup an old cake pan with coke......the rat enjoyed the coke, he drank it all..........no dead rat!!!

Frustrated, I remember watching a video from a Vlogger friend over at Red Tool House who talks about a wildlife critter killing chickens and taking eggs. I responded to his video in the comment field, and explained the problem we were dealing with regarding a rat. One of his followers, Hyder Enterprises, suggested we use the following mixture to kill the rat, because it works for him all the time; equal parts sugar, baking soda, and flour. The sugar and flour attract the rat to eat the bait, and the baking soda creates a gas in the digestive system which blows the stomach up internally. We setup the concoction, and it worked!!!!!

The rat stole tools, created a large nest inside Tank's toolbox; he chewed wires on electrical tools, and ruined all kinds of stuff.
Good riddens Mr. Rat!!!!!!

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Below are a few pictures and a video proof spring has rolled in, I hope you like them.

Along the old Highway 59 going into town.

Have you been able to start your gardens?

Prepper's Survival Retreats (REVIEW)

Molly Conway, with Ulysses Press, reached out to me about reviewing a new prepper book, and sharing it with my Blogger friends.

The new book, written by Charley Hogwood, Prepper's Survival Retreats:  Your Strategic Relocation Plan for an Uncertain Future.  Published by Ulysses Press, Copyright 2018, Pages 168, Cost $15.95 U.S., ISBN: 978-1-61243-726-2, and Library of Congress CN 2017938177.

Prepper's Survival Retreats: Your Strategic Relocation Plan for an Uncertain Future is a quick read; the book provides guidance on making the ultimate decision when relocating to a long term survival retreat. 

Charley Hogwood lays out, "Eight Main Areas of Survival" all of which apply to anyone surviving and living in an urban, rural, or suburban environment. He suggests before making a decision to relocate or move, to consider creating a plan, complete a budget, and address the needs of your family and animals involved in the potential move process. Charley Hogwood's perspective and writings are based on his experience in the military, construction industry, and as a commercial and residential inspector. Charley provides direct resources, facts, considerations, education, and the basic needs of what to look for when making a sound platform change.  I would recommend this book as a great source not just to the Prepper looking to relocate to a retreat, but to the first time home buyer.

Charley Hogwood has also authored:  The Survival Group Handbook and MAGS: The People Part of Prepping:  How to Plan, Build, and Organize a Mutual Assistance Group in a Survival Situation.