More Snow

So after my rant the day before yesterday I have to say I have enjoyed the snow texture for the last two days. I've heard Eskimos have many words for snow and I understand it. I would describe the recent snow as squeaky, like the sand on a gorgeous Whitsunday island beach.

Add to that yesterday the sun came out in a glorious show. However the cold has come back in so I am sure the texture is about to change again.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet some more of my husbands extended family. This time my FIL's brother and his daughter came from Nebraska. So along with FIL his other brother and hubby we all went to a local diner. Food's not bad but I really do miss Melbourne food.

Some disappointing news 2 dead chickens. Hubby and I have transferred the brood from their coop into the barn in cages they were fine for a week but then I went in and sadly 2 were stone cold. They also seem to have completely stopped laying, so we are considering getting some new chicks in the early spring.

Hubby and I are making plans for the garden for next year. Trying to calculate how many plants are needed so we can can/freeze for the following year. I have already run out of tomatoes, cauliflower, green zucchini, brussel sprouts, there are still carrots, parsnips and rutabagas in the garden but when the ground freezes it does make it a little difficult to harvest.

Still must go and make dinner.

Bye

No blogging......Lazy????

Well it's not like the farm has disappeared except that it has under a blanket of snow. I do not have many chores but it seems to take 4 times as long to complete them. While snow is pretty to look at through a window in a cozy lounge it is not so friendly in my experience in person.

The first snow falls and melts and makes a muddy gunky slippery mess, then it freezes to make an icy slippery bumpy hard mess and when you think that is not enough it snows again blanketing the devious maze of neck breaking perilous paths. All of which are harder to negotiate with a 5 gallon bucket of hot calf feed or a bale of hay for the kids.

Now we are not talking about enjoyable winter sports but rather the daily grind. And I can not really complain (even though I am) as my husband maneuvers all of the above in the dark at 4am every morning.

I think Dairies are the hardest farms of all, the never ending unforgiving twice a day milking timetable. Oh to be in beef.

Anyway Christmas has been lovely except my SIL and her husband were not here and are due in 4 days, so I am madly finishing her Christmas present a crocheted scarf. It seemed practical as living in SD is as cold as it is here in South West Michigan.

On other fronts it seems the USCIS has 'lost' some of my paperwork and so we have had to resubmit it. So whilst I was job hunting in hopes of my Green card arriving soon I am now still waiting.

So again I am fodder for the local gossips. Who think that because I have full access to my husbands and my bank accounts I should spend freely. Well to be honest they think I do. I think frugality is lost on them. They miss the fact I barely buy from anywhere other than Sam's Club, Save-a-lot and Walmart and if its not on sale I mentally think it is a waste. They also seem to forget the hundreds of hours I spent over the summer nurturing the garden, the harvesting canning and freezing, why would I then just go out and blow cash???

Anyway need to go do a couple of loads of laundry.

In the beginning.

I am an Australian who at times feels outside my comfort zone. I guess I am in many ways a city girl whose heart lies in the the country. As a result marrying a farmer was my destiny. Being here has been an experience, it continues each day.

So maybe to begin with I should explain I have been married to my farmer for 5 months and some odd days. We live on a dairy farm in Southwest Michigan. Also living across the drive is his parents.

Hubby and his dad farm together. Whilst MIL manages hog barns nearby. BIL is a mechanic for John Deere and SIL is also newly married living in SD and is a veterinarian.

I can hardly believe it is Autumn (Fall). The spring and summer have gone in the blink of an eye.

This year my hubby and I established a garden. I am pleased to say I haven't bought vegetables in months and as a result of extensive canning and freezing hope to make it some way through the winter.

We grew onions (brown, white and green/spring), asparagus, broccoli, beans, peas, corn, butternut & spaghetti squash, Halloween pumpkins, watermelons, cucumbers, lettuces, spinach, strawberries, concord grapes, quince, almonds, corn, potatoes (red, white and blue), tomatoes, celery, chili's, cabbages (White and purple) cauliflower, yellow squash, green zucchini, apples, blackberries, mulberries, capsicums (green, red & yellow), parsnips, swedes (rutabagas), carrots and cantaloupe.

Along with these some successful herbs parsley, coriander (cilantro), basil, dill and peppermint.

I am still harvesting root vegetables, chilis, celery, tomatoes and the squash.

We also have our own animals butchered so I have freezers full of beef, pork and a little bit of lamb.

It is a simple life I am trying to embrace while adding my own bit of pizazz. Hope you will come along for the ride.