Cedar Fence Post's (DIY)

We have decided to put a fence up around our place. We're hoping to keep our great pyrenees, Sugar in that's a big hope so.  We decided to do cedar fence post since we have an abundance of cedar trees on our place.  This was our first shot at this and I think we did pretty well.  We have a good size stack curing for later use. We just got the lane cleared the other day for the fence. Thank God we have so many boys willing to help.

                      Sugar and her buddies

Lye Soap

Long time no see.   I've been a little busy lately.  A new project. I learned how to make lye soap and fell in love with it.  I did not realize how many people actually use lye soap.  So thanks to my husband and kids with their little chuckles at me looking like a mad scientist in the kitchen I've been having a lot of fun.  They even like to help out a little and the house smells so good.

My Country Boy's

I thought I would give you a look at the "Country Boys" in my life.



The "Grown" Country Boy
My Grandaddy Kenneth



Pickin' Blackberries with
my Grandad this year.
 



Dad (Kelly) and Uncle Kraig checking out his
new toy.
 



My oldest Cody, Dad & Grandaddy(in the boat)
working on the pier.
 



My husband Quinten & our youngest son Garrett in Oklahoma this summer at Grandma's house
 




Cody playing in the mud at Grandma's in Oklahoma



Dalton, my middle son, enjoying some of the rodeo festivities at the Waynoka, OK rodeo in August 2013.
 



Cody (a few years ago) killed these two chicken snakes in my chicken coop.  He skinned them and still has the skins.  A guy thing I guess.




Garrett (left), Dalton (right) and I enjoyed a day of fishing at my Grandparent's lake.










Black Beans

Every year I try to grow something different in my garden.  I can't say that it always turns out to be something that we actually like, except for this year.  My "something new" this year is black beans.  I bought a couple small packages of seed at the feed store that I typically shop at.  Of course I had spring fever as usual and that was just one of the many different seed varieties that came home with me on that trip.  There were several.  What can I say, I get a little excited when it comes to my garden.  Anyway, back to the beans.  The boys and I planted them a while back and really didn't know what to expect from them.  Oh but we have been watching and waiting and waiting and finally got to pick our first little batch the other day.  I shelled them, washed them up and put them in the crockpot overnight.  I have to say, we will be growing our own black beans every year now.  They are so much better than the dry ones you buy in the store.  I paired them with some homemade "Dirty Rice" and had one happy family.

The Garden and Pickled Jalapeno Peppers

Corn before the rain.

The last few days have been nothing but busy.  Garrett had basketball camp Monday through Wednesday.  We had rain on Monday (2.5 inches) then rain again on Wednesday (1.25 inches).  Mondays rain made all my corn fall over.  My feelings were really hurt about that.  Quinten, aka "The Hubby",  Dalton and I all had to go stake it up so it didn't just lay there all over the ground.  I have happy corn again, thank goodness. 

We picked half a bushel basket of squash that I put up yesterday.  It made seven quart bags blanched in the freezer and 54 squash patties that I froze for later use.
 

Garrett and I went out and picked jalapenos, banana peppers, cucumbers and okra before the rain came yesterday morning.  After all that was said and done it came out to 4.5 pints of sliced japapeno peppers (see recipe below), 6 pints dill pickles, 1 pint pickled okra, and 3 pints hot banana pepper rings.  I do so love my garden. 


 
Easy Pickled Jalapeno Peppers

Yield: Approximately 2 1/2 Pints

Ingredients
1 pound of jalapeno peppers, sliced
2 cups white vinegar
2 cups water
2 tablespoons pickling salt

Instructions
Pack clean, hot jars with peppers. Pour hot brine over top. Remove stubborn bubbles. (I use a butter knife).  Wipe rims (i use vinegar on a paper towel), apply lids and bands.
Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes. Store in cool, dark place for up to a year.

Notes

This technique can be used for just about any small, hot pepper. Measurements are for 1 pound of peppers and yield approximately 2 1/2 pints. Recipe can be doubled.






 

Canning Apricots

This year we were lucky enough that the last few cold snaps didn't cause any harm to the Lone Apricot Tree in the back yard.  I am so glad especially since the apricot jam was such a big hit in our family last year.  We were down to the last jar on the shelf.

 

After my fill of eating more than my fair share off that wonderful old tree I decided I had better get to work and put some in jars.  My middle son, Dalton, volunteered to help me out.  We picked, washed and pitted the fruit.

I decided to make some apricots in light syrup. (And yes, I put the date on the lid)  We used the recipe at the following link www.simplycanning.com/canning-apricots.html which was very helpful.  We found the info at www.gopresto.com/recipes/canning/fruits.php to be very informative as well.  I don't think we could have gone wrong either way. After all was said and done we canned 10 pints in light syrup and 10 half pints of Jalapeno Apricot Jam.

We followed the Apricot Jam recipe from the Ball Blue Book guide to preserving and I just added a few jalapenos from the garden for a sweet and spicy twist.  It went great with our farm fresh eggs, bacon and biscuits this morning. 

We have only picked half the apricots so far and thank goodness, I don't know if we would have ever gotten to bed that night since we didn't start until 7:30 pm anyway.  Dalton and I both agree that we will start in the A.M. on the next batch.

A Little Bit Goes a Long Way

The boys finally got out of school today for the summer.  I am so glad and so are they.  I think we were all ready for a much needed break.  I know I have a lot of catching up around here at Busy B Acres. 

My boys, Dalton and Garrett, helped me till up the ground and plant the majority of everything this year.  Cody, my oldest, prefers to drive my dads big tractor and plow up the ground. Dads been teaching him how to plow and plant with the big equipment this year over at their place.  The Hubby was still in the process of trying to get transferred closer to home so was busy most of the time during planting time.  I had surgery back in February and Dalton decided that he was going to make sure I didn't do too much and get hurt so he was the main tiller man.  Garrett, still being a little to small to handle the tiller, not from the lack of trying, decided that he would be the seed planter man.  I am so proud of them.  They have really learned a lot and seem to be retaining a lot of it too.  They are learning the difference in the plant leaves and can identify most of them now.  Garrett is mainly concerned with the watermelon and corn as they are his favorite.  Dalton's favorites are the corn, pinto beans and the different varieties of summer peas.  Cody on the other hand.. well, lets just say I haven't figured out how to grow peanut butter or grow a chocolate milk cow yet.

Last week The Hubby and I picked the green beans from the garden.  It was the first picking and I canned nine pints.  We picked again on Monday and only got five and a half pints.  The way I see it, I little bit goes a long way and I am so proud to have 14 1/2 pints in my store room so far.  That's not to mention the 11 half pints of  blackberry syrup that I canned.  It was actually supposed to be jam but the berries and I couldn't see eye to eye this time.  Who doesn't enjoy a little blackberry syrup on some fresh hot pancakes for breakfast or over some vanilla ice cream on a hot day.   Sounds pretty good to me.

Well it's getting late, gotta walk the dog and turn off the sprinkler..