Journal
Another Journey
It’s nonsense for Dave & I to imagine we’re making solid plans. We do scheme and plan….but then the wind blows and in the blink of an eye off we go in an entirely different direction. This way of living isn’t for everyone. I know why. It can be stressful. In general, I think most […]
Read More
Journal
You Can’t Lose Anything
Memento Mori – Remember that you must die. In truth, you can’t lose anything. Because you never really possess anything. One day you’re going to die. You’ll leave this world and all the stuff in it. Anything you think you own is, in reality, only temporarily yours to experience. Our belief that you can “own” […]
Read More
Recipes
Soap Making – Basic Recipe
I’ve been making soap for years now. I’m not too fancy about it. I usually make this basic recipe with the addition of essential oils and/or oatmeal. I do not claim to be a soap making expert, but I’ve made this recipe many times and it’s never failed to produce good quality soap. This recipe […]
Read More
Journal
June in Texas
The weather is shifting to blazing, summer hot. The nights aren’t cooling down enough to offer much relief. In summer it’s often high 90s (Fahrenheit) from dusk till dawn. This is my least favorite season in Texas. In the daytime, I’m not bothered so much. But hot nights make me restless. It isn’t fun to […]
Read More
Recipes
The King of Coleslaw (Dave’s Spicy Slaw)
Dave & I made a video of him creating his spicy coleslaw. You can check it out HERE. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this coleslaw. It’s delicious and you should try it today! The citrus & serrano peppers are KEY ingredients. Also, the resulting coleslaw very much depends on the way you process the ingredients…finely chopping […]
Read MoreJournal
Back To Texas
In December 2019 we loaded the truck camper and hit the road headed for Mexico. After a leisurely drive down the Baja peninsula, we arrived in Todos Santos, B.C.S. We removed the camper from the truck at a trailer park. We intended to stay at the location for a few months after which we would […]
Read MoreRecipes
BEST Pancake Recipe
Pancakes. We don’t eat ’em often but every now and then there’s nothing like pancakes for breakfast (or even lunch or dinner.) This is my “Great Pancake” recipe. Tried and true. The pancakes are fluffy for optimal syrup soaking ability. They’re poofy every time and they freeze well. This recipe makes about 8 pancakes 5″ […]
Read More
YouTube
ME On YouTube
Hi. Can you help me? Would you be willing to go subscribe to my YouTube Channel? – it’s under my name: Sandra Begotka THANK YOU SO MUCH! Muchas Gracias! You may already know I work on another channel: Sandra and Dave. It’s been around for years and is going on 500 videos as of this posting. […]
Read More
Journal
Living In Mexico During The Pandemic
Dave and I are in Mexico. We’ve been here since December 2019. (We still own property in Texas.) As of this posting, things here are good. We’re both doing well. This isn’t going to be a long post…..but I did want to let anyone who visits here know that I’ve been posting things at the […]
Read More
Journal
El Conejo
El Conejo – “The Rabbit” – Baja California Sur Thanks to the work of these Pescaderos (fisherman) we were able to purchase lobsters that couldn’t be much fresher. They were still alive and kicking! Yup. Another trip down under….south of the border. The Baja peninsula of Mexico which is actually broken into two states. […]
Read More
Art
My First
This is the first skull I painted. A whitetail buck deer skull I found beside a country road. Most likely it was hit and killed by a car. I’ve always loved skulls and bones. All natural specimens, bits, and pieces. Rocks, shells, nests, twigs, seedpods leaves, and on and on. Endless layers of beauty […]
Read More
Journal
Get’er Done
Dave & I spent this summer in Texas. I’m glad. This past spring, we went on a trip. That was enough to satisfy my wanderlust for a bit. During that journey, I meditated on the work I wanted to get done when we returned home. Projects at our TX place….there’s no such thing as maintenance-free property […]
Read More
Art
Art WIP: Painted Goat Skull
I’ve been spending time making things. Some of it art. The picture: It’s a weathered skull I found years ago. I’ve been painting it and the skull has been done for some time. But I’ve been working on a way for it to be displayed. There was a moment when I thought it might be […]
Read More
Recipes
Recipe: Pineapple Meringue Cake
I make this recipe over and over. It’s that good. This recipe was in an issue of Country Living that was given to me in a box of magazines. I knew this one was a keeper the first time I made it. It’s a cake that I always crave in the warmer months. The meringue […]
Read More
Journal
Spring 2019 – Truck Camper Travels – Marfa, TX
Marfa is the seat of Presidio County. We rolled into town on day 2 of our travels. The first night we met up with an old friend in San Angelo, Texas where we spent the night in the Walmart parking lot. Frosty & Camper in front of the Courthouse. We enjoy looking at Texas courthouses! […]
Read More
Journal
A Little Bit of Arizona
We’ve been through Arizona several times. Definitely a state we’d like to explore more.
Read More
Journal
Travel: Baja Banos
The bathroom situation in different countries can vary quite a lot. I’ve driven the length of Baja (actually 2 states: Baja California & Baja California Sur). I’m sharing some thoughts about the bathroom situation in case you might find it helpful. In 2018, for three months, I lived with my husband in a truck camper […]
Read More
Journal
Minimalist Reflections At Christmas
I’ve minimized my participation in Christmas. I used to be way more “into” Christmas. Oh my gosh. At one time I had at least five trees. Decorations for all of them. Then I had the non-tree decorations….stand-alone stuff. Enough twinkling lights to string them for miles. Indoor stuff. Outdoor stuff. It took me several days […]
Read MoreJournal
Laying Low
Grey skies. Rain. Cool temps. That was today. Dave made a fire. Warm house. Also, I painted for several hours. Skulls. That’s what I’m painting. A deer and a goat. Outside for a walk. I’m thankful I have clothes that keep me comfortable in this weather. The walk is pleasant and outdoor time is so […]
Read More
Journal
Baja in Black and White
Mexico is a colorful place. It almost seems wrong to do a post of Baja images solely in black and white. But the light creates some pretty interesting contrast that takes center stage in monochrome. All of the following pictures were taken somewhere on the Baja peninsula between 2016 & 2018.
Read More
Recipes
Osso Buco-Style Meatballs
I found this recipe in a publication that my electric cooperative sends out monthly. Great Recipe! A wonderful comfort food on a cold, dreary day. MEATBALLS 1 slice whole wheat bread (I used fresh baked, white bread that Dave made) ⅓ cup whole milk 1 pound ground beef 2 oz of smoked bacon finely chopped […]
Read More
Art
Painted Whitetail Deer Skull
YouTube Video I started painting skulls several years ago. I love animal skulls. It is fascinating how bones linger on. They’re a beautiful reminder of life…..as well as death. The intertwined and inevitable cycle of life. As I hold the bone in my hands I consider the life of the creature that once lived and […]
Read MoreJournal
September 2018 Update
This year we’ve done a lot of traveling in our truck camper. We’ve made quite a few videos about the camper. In January 2018 we took off on our maiden voyage in the camper/truck rig. First, we drove west. Southwest of Yuma, Arizona we crossed over into Mexico at the border town Los Algodones. From […]
Read MoreJournal
Football….no thanks.
I didn’t watch the super bowl. I grew up in a small, football-loving town. I participated in football season at my school. It was fun. For a number of years, I could enjoy watching but I feel I’ve outgrown it. It’s destructive to the health of those who play it. Brain damage is almost inevitable. […]
Read MoreJournal
Chris Hedges & I Can’t Go Along The Way It’s Going
Yall ever hear of Chris Hedges? I appreciate his skill in discussing various societal issues. Hedges has provided me with thought-provoking information. Here’s a link to him talking about “The Myth of Human Progress and the Collapse of Complex Societies”. If you’d like to stretch your thinking I recommend his talks on YouTube. Also his books and essays. […]
Read MoreJournal
Propane & Pop Stars
There’s a propane shortage in the USA. People are paying over $5 per gallon. People are complaining about it. WHY is the price up? I’ve seen reasons provided by the mainstream media. The one I tend to favor is this: Supplies are low because companies are sending it abroad to sell where money is worth more. Capitalism. […]
Read MoreJournal
Being Sick Is NO FUN.
I’m mending things, gardening, and tackling the never-ending projects around our place. Cutting firewood, making art, selling online, reading, going for walks & bike rides, taking pictures, and getting sick. Yup. Last Friday I was out of commission for a day due to illness. Woke up in the wee hours Friday morning not well. I’ll […]
Read MoreJournal
Helicopter, Wild Hog, Beautiful Days
Dave and I went to town yesterday morning. There’s a community rummage sale being held at the courthouse square. For $20 anyone was allowed to set up and sell whatever. I wasn’t impressed with the turn-out for sellers. Not many and a poor variety of stuff. I’m betting the poor participation has a lot do […]
Read MoreJournal
Gratitude and Dead Sheep
I live where roads are more often dirt than paved. Rural living. It’s what I wanted. I went into town today. Got a coat at the thrift store. A heavy-duty canvas number which will keep me warm during the wet, muddy, cold winter months. Also from the thrift store: a book about a Native American […]
Read More
Collected
Quote: Questions of Life
“When I consider the short duration of my life, swallowed up in the eternity before and after, the little space which I fill, and even can see, engulfed in the infinite immensity of spaces of which I am ignorant, and which know me not, I am astonished at being here rather than there; for there […]
Read MoreWord Art
Work In Progress – Dark World Poem
All around Is quiet. Close, quiet dark. Thick and soft Nothing but this space. Meanwhile in the world Everyone is staring. No one is seeing. Catatonic Industrial Institution Send out for HELP. Caustic tears Closing fears Eroding the spirit of love. The world she asks You to compromise yourself daily In a thousand tiny moves. […]
Read MoreJournal
Endgame
I’ve been reading Derrick Jensen’s Endgame volume II, Resistance. Slowly. I’m reading it. Slow because it’s distressing. I can ingest only so much anguish at a time. Derrick could have titled the book “Why We’re Totally Screwed Big Time.” Or taking a more optimistic view it could be, “Rare Evidence of Slim Chances and Minuscule […]
Read MoreJournal
November Day
“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.” – Henry David Thoreau Mornings and evenings are brisk. I enjoy this weather. The straw bale house is cozy and there’s a lot of contrast to when I outside where it’s cold enough to see my breath. The […]
Read MoreJournal
No Coffee Experiment
We continue harvesting greens from the garden. We couldn’t survive off the yield but a meal here and there with fresh produce grown a 30-second walk from the kitchen is awesome. Breakfast today is garden chard with eggs from our chickens + grocery store tators and onions. I’m on day five of no coffee. Instead, […]
Read MoreJournal
Brrrr
This morning it was 30 degrees F. Brrrrr! Somewhere in northern Wyoming I saw it was 3 degrees. Well….. 30 isn’t so bad. After the sun climbed up into the sky the temperature rose. Warm enough to go for a bike ride, hang some laundry out to dry, and plant the remaining onion bulbs needing […]
Read More
Journal
Raccoon Skull
Last night the winds were strong. Fiercely screaming through the trees and around the house. The sort of weather that makes me wish I lived in a cave. This morning I was rounding up things that got blown around the yard. We got up early to pick up pecans. Gathered up about 20-30 lbs. We […]
Read MoreJournal
A Woman of No Nation
I’ve been getting up earlier since the time change thing. My internal clock remains the same. I haven’t set an alarm clock in 7 years or so. This alone would make many people despise me. Picking A LOT of pecans. The wind has been blowing strong out of the south. Knocking nuts to the ground. […]
Read MoreJournal
Willie Nelson For President and Line Dried Laundry
Maybe a better choice than the two primary candidates for president. Tomorrow it’ll be over. All the build-up to the election fiasco. Based on available data and how the electoral college works I’m betting on Obama being likely puppet to fill president position for the next four years. Even in the medium big picture, I […]
Read More
Journal
Moonshine: My ancestors were rebels.
Pictured is a copper still for making moonshine. It’s from the late 1800s and was made by my great great grandfather. He used it during prohibition to make his own hooch. I don’t know yet if I’ll have a go at using it. Not sure I want to risk blinding or blowing myself up. At […]
Read MoreJournal
Word Art
Poetry and Squirrel Stew
I’ve indulged in hippie dreams, Swirling like smoke in cedar groves. Those backroad corners of my mind. The dreams my upbringing promised me. This is the first day of the regular deer hunting season. This means more traffic on the road past our house. The paved road ends not too many miles past our place […]
Read MoreJournal
Dumpster Divers
Yesterday I saw a video of a reporter covering what’s going on in NY city since storm Sandy blew through. People were climbing into dumpsters to get food. The reporter made a big deal out of this. He kept talking about it as if it were the most fascinating and horrific action. Someone ought to […]
Read MoreJournal
Mint Tea Among Other Things
Today was a golden day. Sunshine aplenty. I wish I would’ve spent more time outdoors. But I was busy working at online money earning endeavors. This weekend a medium-sized town near us is having an annual city-wide rummage sale. I go every year and score items that I can resale on evil-bay (eBay). It’s always […]
Read More
Journal
Gorman Falls
Today we drove to Colorado Bend State Park. The Colorado River (the one in Texas) cuts through the land near where we live. In the park there’s a 60 foot waterfall called Gorman Falls. Mineral springs feed the cascade which then empties into the Colorado River. The 1.5 mile hike from a parking lot to […]
Read MoreJournal
Pecans & Ivan Illich
Full Moon. Today was cool and sunny. It was a real nice day. My parents visited and we cooked hamburgers on our little charcoal grill. The pecan trees are starting to drop their bounty. Picked up 6 lbs of nuts (technically they’re a drupe). This is just the beginning. There are 15 pecan trees here. […]
Read MoreJournal
Sack The Next Farm Please
“Also it is commonly believed that happiness depends upon leisure; for we occupy ourselves so that we may have leisure, just as we make war so that we may live in peace. ” (Aristotle. Ethics. book X,vii) I don’t think humans have changed much in the time since we’ve been writing stuff down. We have the […]
Read MoreJournal
Freedom of Sleep
Sometimes I stay up late and sleep later in the morning. Other times I become an early riser. I rarely wake up to an alarm clock. I’m really grateful it’s not part of my routine. In the past, I did wake up this way. For jobs. For school. For what my life was. I […]
Read MoreJournal
Noble Work
If work were so pleasant, the rich would keep it for themselves. (Mark Twain) In my small-town Texas, USA upbringing I was taught work was the noble cause. Being a hard worker for society is good. You are contributing to our human endeavor. I don’t find it to be that simple. There are different kinds […]
Read MoreJournal
Terence McKenna Hairdo
The bigger you build the bonfire, the more darkness is revealed. – Terence McKenna Today the female goats in a neighboring pasture met up at the fence with our billy goat Conky. The fence kept him from his lady loves but now he’s ramped up all his billy goat behavior: peeing on his face, making […]
Read MoreJournal
Eating off the Land
SQUIRREL. First squirrel into the stew pot. I liked it. The Other Half liked it. Worth repeating? Definitely. How I cooked it: Chopped the body into four pieces. Browned these pieces in pre-heated coconut oil. Added water. Simmered for 2 hrs. After 2 hrs in went carrots. When the carrots were almost done I […]
Read MoreCollected
Links About The Collapse of America
A Forbes article about the Shadow Economy….a.k.a. Underground Economy, Black Market, System “D”. http://www.forbes.com/sites/benzingainsights/2011/11/07/rise-of-the-shadow-economy-second-largest-economy-in-the-world/ A Forbes article about the Shadow Economy….a.k.a. Underground Economy, Black Market, System “D”. http://www.forbes.com/sites/benzingainsights/2011/11/07/rise-of-the-shadow-economy-second-largest-economy-in-the-world/ The Underground Economy IS the place to be. It’s growing because the conditions are ripe. Great post about the “soullessness of Americans”. http://hipcrime.blogspot.com/2012/01/soulless-or-why-americans-love-vampires.html I agree. I feel […]
Read MoreJournal
Study of Humans
Utah: Online Porn Capital of America? – article at PC World Hmmm… the more conservative and religious a person is the more likely they are to treat themselves to porn. I’m not surprised. Humans need to grow up. There’s my plan for saving the world. Too bad it’s about as likely as my dog laying […]
Read MoreCollected
The Westerner (poem)
The Westerner by Badger Clark (1947) My fathers sleep on the sunrise plains, And each one sleeps alone. Their trails may dim to the grass and rains, For I choose to make my own. I lay proud claim to their blood and name, But I lean on no dead kin; My name is mine, for […]
Read MoreJournal
Cleaning Up Caradan
The temperatures have been 20s-30s at night and early morning. Fifties during the day. Perfectly wonderful in my book. I’ve been working outdoors every day. General clean-up and organization. When we became the new owners of this property it had many things I’d rather not have acquired. We’re still dealing with this stuff. There was […]
Read MoreJournal
From Inside A Turkey
These items were retrieved from the craw of a turkey that lived on my farm. I raised poultry for many years. When left to roam freely, they find all sorts of objects they’re inclined to eat. But some things (that aren’t food) wind up collecting in their craw.
Read More
Collected
Friedrich Nietzche
Friedrich Nietzsche offered these bits: 1. People who have given us their complete confidence believe that they have a right to ours. The inference is false, a gift confers no rights. 2. He that humbleth himself wishes to be exalted. 3. The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in […]
Read MoreJournal
Garbage In Garbage Out
Jacob over at Early Retirement Extreme – blog post – Garbage and excessive spending from the post: “The United States produces 265 million tons of garbage each year. Since there are 300+ million [United States of] Americans, this means that each person on average produces slightly less than a ton of garbage each year. Although it […]
Read More
Journal
Social Hermit
“My passionate sense of social justice and social responsibilty has always contrasted oddly with my pronounced freedom from the need for direct contact with other human beings and human communities” – Einstein I hear you E. I’m critical of humanity/people. Passionately interested in this human experiment. But tending to get really wiped out energetically by […]
Read MoreJournal
A Month Off – MOVED Into the Straw Bale House
I’m back after a month off. I accomplished a lot during the blog hiatus. We are officially living inside the straw bale house now. It’s beyond wonderful. No more living with a cold wind blowing through the walls. No more sharing our space with all manner of insects, rodents, and reptiles. We are OUT of […]
Read More
Word Art
I am No One
I have been defiant. Stripped bare to the bone. Where I became no one, No one but myself.
Read MoreCollected
Discipline Quote
“It’s easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.” Leonardo da Vinci
Read MoreCollected
Minimalism Quote
“There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.” -Jackie French Koller My YouTube Videos About Minimalism
Read MoreJournal
Minimizing
Exercised this morning. Drove into town after lunch to run errands and acquire supplies. The fridge was looking pretty bare. Dropped off stuff I don’t need at the local charity/thrift store. The store is inside an old house and it’s referred to as The Green House. Donated items are sold and I am told […]
Read MoreJournal
Quote: Life Sai Baba
Life is a song – sing it. Life is a game – play it. Life is a challenge – meet it. Life is a dream – realize it. Life is a sacrifice – offer it. Life is love – enjoy it. ” -Sai Baba
Read MoreWord Art
Brains, Heart, Guts, Soul
Sometimes existence is overwhelming. It helps to find particular coping mechanisms. You can’t depend on the biochemical conglomeration of goo squishing about in your skull to know what to do in all situations. Heart. Gut. Soul. These are also sources of input that should not be overlooked.
Read MoreJournal
Much Too Wasteful
“Keep in mind how fast things pass by and are gone — those that are now, and those to come. Existence flows past us like a river: the “what” is in constant flux, the “why” has a thousand variations. Nothing is stable, not even what’s right here. The infinity of past and future gapes before […]
Read More
Word Art
Only You
Like a child stripped of all knowing told Run away into the dark Where losing yourself You will find You are a billion stars Companion of universes floating across endless expanse of nothing. nothing No fear. No worry. No pain and sorrow. Only you. and more than you. Beyond you. where freedom is. Oh to […]
Read MoreJournal
100 Plus Degrees
Triple-digit degree temps are here. We felt some relief here for a few days. It WAS in the upper 80s during the day. The fire hazard is extremely high and small towns around here are running low on municipal water supply. I’m beginning to think it’s never going to rain again. The grass and vegetation […]
Read MoreWord Art
Land of the Free
Oh what a pity Sitting here sucking on the gov’ment titty. That’s what they tell ya… You middle class sitting on your ass watching the news Instigat’in a class war Telling you the man across the river in the shoddy house is reason for fear. While the rich man Deals death by the millions debt by […]
Read MoreJournal
Minimizing, Living Simple = Ahhhhhhhhhh
Last week and over the weekend we gave away and sold some things that we did not use or need. This lightening of the load is part of a continuing process that started slowly about 2 years ago when we moved from Wisconsin to Texas. When I look around my environment and take inventory of […]
Read MoreWord Art
The Feed
Here I find myself Cast into this dimension or is it dementia? I digress, Here I was….I am here Like it or NOT? In a swirling whirly dirl Of input. Input Input Input A buzz, awash, Swimming like drunken fish With all the other cast-a-ways Human vessels launched like ships into this sea of shit. […]
Read MoreJournal
Minimizing
“Most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities.” ~Dalai Lama Dave & I are in the active pursuit of minimizing our lifestyle. There are a lot of reasons we feel compelled to do this. The most important reason is that it is improving […]
Read MoreCollected
Collection of Albert Einstein Quotes
“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” “I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.” “The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility.” “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” “Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds.” “Common sense is the collection of prejudices […]
Read MoreWord Art
Buzzard Ladies
Buzzard ladies, I salute you. You are the topic of the hour, The fodder of gossips, And the inspiration for a thousand questions. You don’t seek the spotlight, but claim it all the same. Hermits of the hills, I admire you. The audacity to not need us, Your solidarity of one, The tenacity to shirk […]
Read More
Collected
Essentialism
“I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to […]
Read MoreRecipes
Rainy Day Baking: Spicy Molasses Cookies
Since it is raining and raining and raining I decided to spend a little time baking some cookies. I made these Spiced Molasses Cookies during the holidays and shared them with family and friends. They are simple to make an yummy….will make your house smell great too. All the good stuff that goes into the […]
Read MoreRecipes
Crepes Recipe
Crepes are kind of like fancy smancy pancakes. We love to have them as an occasional treat for breakfast on weekends. I’ve made this recipe for crepes several times. It always turns out very good. These go good with a variety of toppings and fillings. We have enjoyed them with cream cheese, fruit, and a […]
Read MoreJournal
Happy We Survived This Storm
Yesterday evening was an adventure. Around 6 pm our area began being hit by a large storm. Wednesday we experienced a huge storm as well that had us worried, but it paled in comparison to Thursday’s event. When the worst of the weather reached HTF we were in the older wood frame portion of the […]
Read More
Journal
Lizzards and Chicken Tractors
Today while Dave was taking Shorty for one of her mandatory walks around HTF, they spotted a rather large lizard. I was going to try to catch a photo of him….but he evacuated the area when I moved in for a closer look. FAST! He was hanging out (literally) on a big stalk of some type […]
Read More
Journal
In Pictures
I’ve been finding lots of bits of broken glass in the garden and certain areas on HTF. I am considering using some of the pieces in a mosaic of some sort. Perhaps some artwork object for the garden. Pictures of the new chicks are on the way!
Read MoreJournal
More Chicks
The chick count is now up to 25. Unfortunately, this number may soon be down by one. The reality of having animals is not always happy or fun. Life has many components that we may not perceive as good, but it is what it is. One of the chicks hatched out in the incubator has […]
Read MoreJournal
Paradise Found, Gardening in Unlikely Places (book)
Paradise Found. Every time I step outside at the Caradan place, this is what I think. I also recently discovered a book with this title. Paradise Found, Gardening in Unlikely Places The author is Rebecca Cole. I hadn’t heard of her before, but apparently she has appeared on TV and radio regularly and her work has […]
Read MoreJournal
Spraddle Leg
Today the chick count is up to 14 and I hear peeping noises coming from inside the incubator…so I expect more eggs to hatch soon. All chicks are doing great. We do have one that had spraddle legs. I read that this is sometimes caused by them not getting good footing right after hatching. I […]
Read MoreJournal
More Hatching.
Lots of progress in the hatching department here at Happy Texas Farm. Chick on the way Our first chick finally made its way out of the shell with a little help from me. I know there are many sources that say you should never “help” a chick to hatch. However, after 10 hours the little […]
Read MoreJournal
Hatching
FINALLY. It appears that one of the eggs in the incubator has started to hatch. I noticed it this afternoon when I was turning some of the “younger” eggs. I heard peeping. I stopped and listened; I thought it might have been a bird singing outside, but no….it was in the incubator. So I looked […]
Read MoreJournal
Memorial Day Weekend
Happy Texas Farm is located in an area that used to be a small settlement. Like so many of its kind, the little community has faded and the businesses are long gone. Not far down the road in either direction are some old structures covered in vegetation on their way to being swallowed up by time. Grey wood farmhouses and buildings that were once the […]
Read MoreJournal
Fence Up!
This is cause for celebrating on HTF! The fence is finally up. Hooray- Hooray! I still need to paint everything- including the artwork on the gate (which I am looking forward to)- but the wire stringing is done and no more t-post driving. How did we do it? I’ve assisted on fencing projects and so I had knowledge to […]
Read MoreJournal
Overwhelming? Maybe it just “Is what it is”
Often when I look around HTF I see ALL the work I want to do and I am inspired! Other times I feel overwhelmed. Aaaahg! How can we ever hope to get it all done?!!! Then I realize I’m allowing myself to be swept up by a certain perspective. All the work just “is what it is”. […]
Read MoreJournal
Farm News
Here is the latest goings on at HTF. CHICKENS We experienced a loss- (see this post). One of our roosters bit the dust. New life is also springing forth. Huey (the recently deceased) may soon be a father. We have had a Buff Orpington hen sitting for about 3 weeks. One of our “wild” girls is […]
Read MoreJournal
RIP Huey
Huey – 04/2008 thru 05/2009 Our Light Brahma Rooster, Huey passed away on 5/12/09. He literally dropped dead. Weird, but then having animals often does expose you to these sort of tragedies. Dave was taking some pictures of Huey and he was posturing toward Dave (as he always did) and suddenly he got a funny […]
Read MoreJournal
Offline For the Weekend
We are back online as of yesterday. Last Friday a big storm came through our area. I haven’t seen lightening of that magnitude in some time! WOW. I’ve always enjoyed big storms…of course you keep you fingers crossed that mother nature doesn’t body slam you. Realistically there’s nothing to do but be as prepared as possible for […]
Read MoreJournal
The latest: Fence, Critters, Plants, & more
No sign of them yet….potatoes planted in old tires filled with soil I have heard from more than one source that this is a good way to grow potatoes. Since we inherited some old tires with HTF, I have decided to put it to the test. I only set up 2 stacks….if it works and […]
Read MoreJournal
Wildflowers
Wildflower Things are really getting green around Happy Texas Farm. The land is bursting with color. These are some pictures I snapped of the wildflowers growing on HTF. Every day it seems like there are more….. Flowers by the well house.
Read MoreJournal
Buying In Bulk – Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose
What I wouldn’t give for a old fashioned general store right out of a western movie! A place where the stuff of life could be purchased in bulk without all the plastic, cardboard, glue, etc. We have a “General Store” nearby. It is worth a visit just for atmosphere! Wooden floors and a variety of quality goods that […]
Read MoreJournal
Garden Gate Pictures
Garden Gate Latch This is the latch Dave made for the gate. We’d been thinking it over for a few days. I still didn’t have any ideas. I was hung up on using the old gear that Dave found half-buried in the dirt near the old gin foundation. It just wanted to be a door/handle […]
Read MoreJournal
Building a Sturdy Garden Gate
Dave has been designing and building the gate for our garden fence project. HE is happy to report that this endeavor is nearing its conclusion. Dave doing some maintenance on the welder cord so we don’t get zapped! The gate is going to be large. We wanted plenty of room for the wheel barrows of garden […]
Read MoreRecipes
Homemade Laundry Detergent Review
Two loads of Sandra & Dave laundry have now been washed using the Homemade detergent. I am happy to report that it works. Laundry is clean. Mine smells a bit like Ivory soap….I dry on a line outside….so that may air out some of the scent. I have read that other people have added essential oils […]
Read MoreRecipes
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Ingredients and supplies I made my own laundry detergent today. We finally got to the bottom of the giant sized thing of detergent we bought about 8 months ago. Instead of buying another one….I wanted to have a go at this. Here is the recipe I used: 1 bar of Ivory Soap 1/2 cup of […]
Read MoreJournal
Stop and Smell the Roses
Roses The rose bush in the “front” yard is blooming. This is the first flower….but it shows promise of many more. I will have to get an updated picture when it is covered with more flowers. Stopping to smell the roses….a good thing to remember to do. Dave and I have been exploring our new […]
Read More
Journal
A Day In the Life (pictures)
A common sight in Texas. This one is in our neighborhood. This old truck is also near HTF. Squash- ready to soon go in the garden! On the day’s list- get chicken food
Read MoreJournal
Treasure Hunt
We have begun our hunt for materials. In building our house we are hoping to use salvaged material as much as possible. The internet is being utilized to help in our search. We’ll see what results that yields. I am optimistic. I will be reporting on this as things progress. We are planning a 900 square foot house. In addition there will […]
Read MoreJournal
Future Farm Projects
Completion of the Fence is the priority right now. We might have been much farther along on that project, but mother nature has been an intervention. Too much wind….now rain. But- only a bit more welding to do. Dave has a gate to make and I have four more 2′ holes to dig. Not a big deal…won’t […]
Read MoreJournal
Rain
In the early morning hours we were awakened by thunder shaking the house. Texas thunderstorms can do that. Because the house has almost zero insulation in between the roof and our ceiling, we get wonderful rainstorm accoustics. At about 5am we got some musical hail. It wasn’t large enough to do any damage. The intensity […]
Read MoreJournal
Old Building, Goldthwaite, Texas
I’m interested in architecture. Structures can be works of art. A lot of old buildings in small Texas towns are cool in this way. Here are some pictures of buildings in Goldthwaite, TX. Same Building Lines
Read MoreJournal
Goldthwaite, Texas BBQ & Goat Cook-off
I believe this year marked the 12th Annual BBQ & Goat Cook-off in Goldthwaite, Texas. Dave & I went and checked it out. Small town festival atmosphere. Held in the city park shaded by huge trees beside a small stream. Lots of families out and about. Things for kids, crafts and other vendors, food, and […]
Read MoreJournal
Late Start Garden
Some seedlings on the porch. Due to the recent move, we are getting a late start on garden projects. Even so….I’m just going to try to deal. We shall see what happens. Planted these about 2 weeks ago. Tomato cold frame Those plants got their start in this swing-set frame that came with the property. We wrapped […]
Read MoreJournal
Fencing: Farm Sport
We are putting a fence around our garden spot. It was never a question of whether we’d need the fence. Only when and how. Not only do we have free-ranging chickens, but the deer out number the people around here by a great deal. While some of our new neighbors claim no issues with deer […]
Read MoreJournal
Before & Progress Pictures
Things left behind. We had to remove these items from the garage and small storage building in order to clean them and make space for our things. There’s the front of the garage…now holding our tools and equipment….and everything that WAS in it…out on the yard. Dave surveys all the stuff we now have to […]
Read MoreJournal
Life During Moving
Our new place was vacant for some period of time before we purchased it. When we had our first look at the property it was clear to see that there was work ahead in the cleaning. There is a large pit that was filled with trash located near the house. Over time pieces of trash from The Pit had […]
Read MoreJournal
Moving…Are we THERE Yet?
When I went to college I moved a few times. My load was a bit lighter then. When I met Dave, I made my biggest move to that date. He flew down to Texas to attend a friend’s wedding with me and then we drove to Wisconsin with all my meager belongings crammed into my […]
Read More
Journal
End of a Search, Start of a Farm
On the last day of February 2009 Dave and rose early. I filled a green metal thermos with coffee, gathered the dog gear, and my backpack. All the necessities of a journey. Then we loaded ourselves and two Jack Russells (Shorty and Tuff) into the Toyota and hit the road. We cut through the back way from […]
Read More