Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Gardening Tips and Tricks

 




Well,  hopefully we can shed our coats, hats and gloves for the year. I am so ready to get my hands in the dirt and bring new life to this season. I just want to take the time to give you a few tips to get you started for the season. 

Before I start planting anything, I will first take an inventory of what is in my pantry and freezer. If I see I have enough of something to last for another season, I will skip a summer. Then I can use that space in the garden to plant something else that I may want to try, or grow what I'm out of or need to restock. By doing this, you don't overplant something that you don't have room for, or get overwhelmed by an abundance of several things coming in all at one time. This helps us year after year. We had such a blessed season last year that this year all we have to concentrate on is tomatoes, peppers, a few plants of zucchinni so I can process some more pickles, because those are about gone. My grandkids have just about eaten all of them, and maybe a few more stalks of okra. They have just about eaten all of my pickled okra too. 

This year will be more relaxed for us because with growing minimal items this year, we can focus on our flower beds around our home and other areas. Last year we were so busy harvesting a big garden that they were all neglected. We never got around to them. So the visual around our home was not as pleasant as we wanted. 

Gardening tip number two:  if you are just now wanting to get into planting your own food,  I would love to suggest planting these 6 Garden Staples to get you started. Green Beans, Corn, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Squash and Zucchini. There are so many things you can do with just these 6 veggies. They are so easy to plant, grow, maintain, harvest and process. Not to mention, some fine eating. 

Normally people start seeds indoors in January and February, depending on your zone, or as late as March and April. If this suits your fancy, check into seed starting indoors. If you would rather wait until all danger of frosts are gone and would rather purchase the plants, feel free to do that. 

These are just a few quick ideas to  get you started,  but if you would like to have a full detail tutorial of how to grow a garden, you can check out my Gardening Page here and I will walk you through planning, planting, growing, maintaining and harvesting our garden and the things we grow in ours. 

If you are a visual learner and enjoy watching videos, you can check out our Gardening Playlist here on our YouTube Channel. 

If you enjoy or blog and content, be sure to sign up to receive emails of when a new post is published so you don't miss a thing. You can find the sign up box on the top right hand side of the screen. We would   love it if you would join us. Enjoy your reading. 

If you are curious of any products you see in our images or that we use in our kitchen, please feel free to visit our Amazon Store where we have everything organized onto lists for each category. 

Check out our Amazon Storefront here:

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4D Farms LLC. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Our storefront link is an affiliate link that earns our farm a commission at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase. You can trust that we recommend products that we use in our own home and love and maybe some we wish to have. Our storefront is designed to help you locate items easily by specific organized and titled lists. 

Thank you for your support. 

If you like video versions, feel free to check out our You Tube Channel here:  

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Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Thinking Of Planting A Garden

 


Are you wanting to plant a garden this year but you just don't know where to start? Well, I can help. Check out our Gardening Page here and find out how we plant all that we do. 

You can also check into Garden Towers and self watering pots if you are not able to have an outdoor garden. You can check out all the neat ideas of indoor gardening and plan away. Just visit here and check out all the cool indoor gardening supplies. Click on the Garden Essential List and you will see. 

You can also try Hydroponics Systems. They are also on our Garden Essential List from the link above. If you want a video version explaining these you can catch these two videos:



I hope you enjoy your journey into gardening and growing the best you can for your family and mostly saving money on the grocery budget. 

Happy Gardening. 

I'm Asking A Favor

 


I have a passion for helping people and sharing my knowlege. I love to journal and share those experiences in my writing. That is the reason for my blog. I would love to reach as many people as I can. I need your help in doing this. I would love if each of you would share my blog with friends and loved ones or just total strangers. The more people I can help, the better I feel. I would love to know that my knowledge and writings do not go in vain. 

If you could start sharing, liking, and subscribing to my blog, I would so greatly appreciate it. 

If you could encourage others to sign up to receive emails of when a new post is published so you don't miss a thing. You can find the sign up box on the top right hand side of the screen. We would   love it if you would join us. Enjoy your reading. 

If you are curious of any products you see in our images or that we use in our kitchen, please feel free to visit our Amazon Store where we have everything organized onto lists for each category. 

Check out our Amazon Storefront here:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/keeperofthehomeat4dfarms

4D Farms LLC. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Our storefront link is an affiliate link that earns our farm a commission at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase. You can trust that we recommend products that we use in our own home and love and maybe some we wish to have. Our storefront is designed to help you locate items easily by specific organized and titled lists. 

Thank you for your support. 

If you like video versions, feel free to check out our YouTube Channel here:   

https://youtube.com/@keeperofthehomeat4dfarms?si=UwX-ofYFu9GhriXp

When you visit our channel, be sure to subscribe and turn the notifications bell on so you will be notified every time a video is uploaded. We will see you there. 

Monday, March 11, 2024

Spring Break Tips and Tricks



 Spring Break is upon us. Is it for you? We all know how this is going to go don't we. "Are we there yet?" "I'm hungry!" "I gotta pee!"

I've got you covered with tips and tricks on traveling with kids. Everything from car organization for you and the kids, tips and tricks for keeping them busy for the long ride, and even stroller hacks for moms and even us grandma's. 

Check out my Traveling and Car Organization Playlist on our YouTube channel here 

I promise you will thank me later. 

Sunday, March 10, 2024

All Natural Cleaning and Disinfectant Products

 Are you tired of all the chemicals that are in our products these days? Are noticing how they are negatively effecting your health? Do you want to get away from all those products? 

Well, I can help. First let me say I believe God made everything for our purpose for sustainability.  Wether it's our bodies or elements. He knew what he was doing when he created plants, trees, etc. He even has detailed instructions in the Bible stating how to use them for specific things. 😉 

 I started expiermenting with some natural products like vinegar, peroxide, essential oils etc., and started researching the properties and benefits of each one. Vinegar and peroxide are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Believe it or not, lemon juice is too. 

I wanted to start making my own Homemade All Purpose Cleaner, Homemade Disinfectant and Homemade Deodorizer (Febreeze). 

Here is what I came up with and how I make them. 

Homemade All Purpose Cleaner:


To a spray bottle, large or small, I add (no measurements) some vinegar, lemon juice, anti-bacteriall Fabuloso and a little Awesome cleaner. Next, I fill the bottle with water the rest of the way reserving a little space to add a few drops of Dawn Dish Soap. Put the cap on and shake. 

The reason I don't have measurements is because you can adjust these to your liking. I will recommend using just a small amount of the Awesome because it is concentrated. The reason why you wait until the end to add the dish soap is so you don't create a lot of bubbles while you try adding water. The water will force it out. So put it in last. If you do not want to use the Fabuloso and Awesome, omit them. The rest will be fine. You can add a citrus essential oil like Lemon, Orange, Grapefruit etc. 

I use my All Purpose cleaner on everything from, kitchen countertops, sink, cabinets, appliances, stove,  table and chairs, to shower,  tubs, toilets,  sinks, bathroom countertops,  cabinets,  basically everything.

  

Homemade Disinfectant:


To a spray bottle (large or small) add equal amounts vinegar, alcohol, and peroxide. Then fill the rest of the bottle with water. I didn't give measurements because you can make this as strong or weak as you want. Then add 10 to 20 drops each of tea tree essential oil and a citrus essential oil of your choice. Lemon and Orange smell really nice. Give it a shake and spray.  All of these ingredients are super power anti everything. Use this just as you would a can of Lysol or off brand disinfectant. Allow to dry. 



Homemade Upholstery or Linen Spray (Mock Febreeze):


To a spray bottle add the amount of your choice of a floral scent warming oil like the kind you put in a candle warmer. I love the smell of Lilac or Rose. It doesn't take much oil, probably a capful to a small bottle and maybe two to three capfuls for a large bottle. then fill the rest of the bottle with water. A second choice is to use liquid fabric softener. To a spray bottle pour the amount of liquid fabric softener of your choice, then fill the rest of the bottle with water. Give a shake and spray. Your house will smell amazing. Use this just like you would Ferbreeze Upholstery Freshener. I love using this on our couches and bedding. We go to bed at night and our sheets smell like they were just wash. Comes in handy refreshing them between washings. 

Another homemade cleaner you can make is by using the peels of oranges, lemons, limes or grapefruits. Yes girl, save those peels and add them to a jar with a screw on lid. Maybe a Mason jar. Then fill with vinegar all the way to the neck of the jar. Let this steep for about a week maybe two. This will be a concentrate so it will need to be diluted. When it is done steeping, pour a small amount into a spray bottle and then fill the rest of the way with water. Give a shake and spray. Great all natural cleaner. 

Vinegar, Alcohol, Peroxide, Citrus Oils, and Tea Tree oil all have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral properties. They are great for killing germs. You can also use Tea Tree Oil and a citrus essential oil in a diffuser to kill virus's in the air as well. 

Hope you give these a try. 

If you enjoy or blog and content, be sure to sign up to receive emails of when a new post is published so you don't miss a thing. You can find the sign up box on the top right hand side of the screen. We would   love it if you would join us. Enjoy your reading. 

If you are curious of any products you see in our images or that we use in our kitchen, please feel free to visit our Amazon Store where we have everything organized onto lists for each category. 

Check out our Amazon Storefront here:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/keeperofthehomeat4dfarms

4D Farms LLC. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Our storefront link is an affiliate link that earns our farm a commission at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase. You can trust that we recommend products that we use in our own home and love and maybe some we wish to have. Our storefront is designed to help you locate items easily by specific organized and titled lists. 

Thank you for your support. 

If you like video versions, feel free to check out our YouTube Channel here:  https://youtube.com/@keeperofthehomeat4dfarms?si=UwX-ofYFu9GhriXp

When you visit our channel, be sure to subscribe and turn the notifications bell on so you will be notified every time a video is uploaded. We will see you there. 

Friday, March 8, 2024

I Highly Recommend This Book

 I highly recommend this book. I would like to encourage every wife or soon to be wife to read this. This book will take you through every aspect of what your husband's needs are and how to pray specifically for him.

This is one of the very first books I ever read after David and I got married. Ladies, we think we struggle with the things in our lives and minds. What about our husbands? Men do not talk much, they hold it in. They don't come to you and just act like you're a therapist and tell you how they are feeling or do a brain dump on you. Men's brains are created differently. They struggle with the powers that be of their minds just like we do.
I can not tell you how much this book opened my eyes to areas that plague a man and his mind. Yes, it's been years since I've read it. When I read it then, it served my purpose for that season. Now I wan to read it again for this season in our lives. We grow older. Our lives and circumstances change over time. Our needs change. Things still need to be prayed for and over. I saw with my own eyes what this book did for us years ago when I prayed over my husband. Now I wan to do it again. Not only did it help him grow to becoming the man he is today, it pointed out things in me I needed to change as well. It's time for me to read it again.



Monday, February 26, 2024

Take Your Health Back

 I am all for getting a Dr's help when needing it. God did give us common sense. However, I do firmly also believe God put everything here for well being. Sometimes we have to be the advocate for our own health. When you feel like you are not getting the help you need or something seems off, start doing research and asking questions.

I am no stranger to learning about natural herbal remedies and essential oils. They are a whole lot safer and healthier. I will try to reach for those first. When I feel I'm at the end of my rope, then I will seek professional help and ask God to guide me in the right direction.
If you feel you would like to go a more natural route and use Gods resources, I know a gal. Her name is Deanna Smith. She is a Certified Herbslist and studied botanical and homeopathic remedies. She is also certified in Acupressure.
Also, if you are interested in Home Birth, she is a Certified Midwife, Breastfeeding and Lactation Consultant.
You can find all her credentials on her Facebook page and her Business Blog. You can find them both here and here. Even if you do not live in the same state, she is still open to phone consultation and questions.

Latest Videos

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Enjoying The Temperature

 There is nothing like getting kids outside and teaching them about nature, deer poop, digging for worms and pruning bushes and trees. 






There is also nothing like coming in and having a tea party with them because you can. 






\And a little board game fun. 



Not to mention teaching them responsibility and rewarding their accomplishments. 



Children come into our world and complete it, not to be drug around in our world just for the ride. When children come along, your priorities change. Well, they should anyway. The Bible says, Train up a child in the way they should go and they will not depart from it. This was not a suggestion. It was a commandment in the OT and God even goes into detail of how to do this exactly. 




I love it when they go shopping in our pantry and get what they like 




They love to help with our herbs too. I have been dehydrating some and I let them crush them and fill the matching bottles. They are learning to recognize the herbs too.






We love sleep overs and forts too. 


It is time to get their measurements again because they have grown so much and I am ready to make them some new outfits. This always helps for when they are not here to see if something fits or not. I draw them off onto a big piece of paper and take all their measurements. This is the neatest trick I have used so far. 




Any time they get lonely and they are not with us, we love to video call. Even if I get the stinky eye or if they just want me to watch them color something. 


This was mine and dear hubby's view one night for supper. 


I hope everyone is making it and hanging in there. Spring is on its way and weather will be looking up. Be sure to get those early spring seeds started indoors so they will be able to be transplanted to the outdoors soon when the weather breaks. Take care of yourselves and have a blessed day. 



Friday, February 16, 2024

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Fresh New Starts

 This us what I've been longing for. Digging in the soil, planting, digging in barn fertilizer 🤣🤣 (good for the immune system), fresh air, new growth, saving seeds, and  vitamin d. 😀 💩🐎🐄💐🌸🪷🏵🌹🥀🌺🌻🌼🌷🪻⚘️







Monday, February 5, 2024

Getting Back To Normal

 Well, the snow and ice all melted and things are getting back to normal around here. 

Baker Caroline wanted to make Poppie a treat so we got one of Nannys recipes. She made these all by herself with little to no assistance. She also worked on her measurements and letters while they were baking. Needless to say we will double the recipe next time because Poppie has about ate them all. 🤣🤣💜💜


All this turned into this. Baked porkchops from a hog we had processed. Home grown roasted zucchini with catija  cheese, home grown fried corn with home canned roasted peppers, and duck poppers from duck hunting trip. 👌


Turned home canned pineapple 🍍 into pineapple 🍍 upside down cake. If you want to know how to can pineapple and see how many other uses I got out of a pineapple, check out my video on YouTube, So Many Uses From A $2 Pineapple. Buy them when they go on sale and stock up. The link to the video is in the comments. #canning #preserving #pineapple #baking #cooking



Last night's and tonight's dinner is smashed potatoes dipped in ranch, BBQ chicken, and home canned pork and beans turned into baked beans with some duck poppers from a duck hunting trip. 😋 

#cooking #dinner #homemaking #fromscratch


I can grow a garden with no problem and great success, but when it comes to house plants, let's just say I have a problem. But look Jordie, I didn't kill them. 🤣 They have done so well that I am having to transplant to bigger pots.


It was time to transplant some herbs today and I love my self watering Planters. You fill the pots with water, plant your seeds or plants, put the inner pot inside the outer pot full of water. The string draws the water to the roots. The longer planter, you just add water until the gage pops the red tube to max level. It goes down as the water level drops letting you know it's time to add more water. Easy.



Turned somemore home canned and freezer goods to chicken tortilla soup. #soup


I use to think I was born in the wrong generation. Nope, some of us just know how to keep it going. Follow along and I can teach you how too. #generation #homesteading #homemaking #canning #preserving


The Farmers Almanac has been known to be wrong on occasion, but so has the Ground Hog. But one person that is never wrong and that is God. He can go from 0 to 60 in no time. With that being said, we know ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME. The past 10 yrs should be good examples of that. With that being said, lessons should have been learned and God gives us the good sense to prepare. So no matter WHAT is coming or comes, don't wait til the last minute. Prepare now. That is all. Carry on.

We got to surprise our girls one night and took them to the rodeo. We had the best seats in the house. 



When I was little our Sundays after church consisted of westerns and in the evening, it was Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and a Disney movie. Anyone else remember?

I guess 2024 is going to be about fixing me. I have had nothing but Dr appt after Dr appt since December. 🙄 I've been sick and my ear closed since January. This crap needs to go find someone else to aggravate. 

 I've got issues that I have been putting off for years because I've tried to fix everyone else and keep everybody else healthy. 💯 I am at the point to where I am at the Dr's feet begging to FIX ME OR ELSE. Next will come my back and figure out what to do about it. I'm going to check into making some changes for myself. We will see. Welcome to 2024.

Tried getting some vitamin d and fresh air so maybe this crud will leave me and go pick on someone else. 

One loves to help plant flowers with Gmaw and the other wanted to dig worms with Poppie. Then they love to help him prune trees.


If it's one thing I can that dear hubby loves, it's my caramelized onions in gravy. We use this on alot of things. 


One dish, microwave breakfast casserole. Good way to finish up leftover  breakfast items.  Spray a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk eggs, milk, seasonings, and anything you want to throw in like spinach,  peppers, onions, cheese...etc. Crumble up left over biscuits, toast, stale bread, dinner rolls, bagels, english muffins etc. Make sure it is soaked in the egg mixture. 

Next, crumble left over meats like sausage, bacon, ham, bologna, spam, etc. Stir to make sure all is combined and soaked. Cover with shredded cheese. 

Cover and place in microwave and cook til eggs are set. Wholah. Breakfast is served.


Sorry for such a long post. I surely hope you got inspired to make some great meals with some things that you preserve. If you don't know how to grow and preserve, we have alot of videos on our channel that can show you how. I truly hope you give it a try. 

You can check out our channel here


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Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Last Day of Snow Days

 We had the best day today and school will be back in tomorrow. 

Well, yall remember the little project I said I wanted to do with the girls? I took them to let them pick out their own fabric. And we made pajamas. Notice the fabric that Atleigh picked out? Yep, you see that right. It's TN Vols. Did I tell her no that she couldn't get that fabric? Nope. Did I encourage her to find some with AL? Nope. This was her decision and that's what she chose. Just goes to show I'm not a team hater so bad that I would do that to her. Caroline picked out leopard and Superwoman. Atleighs other choice was the doggie bones. They are so proud that Atleigh declared it pajama day.





Even though it's pj day, we still have to clean our rooms. Work first, then play.



On to our next project. They made their first pillows. Atliegh had enough material left over from her pj's that we were able to make two pillows. Dakota has a TN quilt inhad made for him when he was a teenager and Atleigh wants it for their bed at home. So now they have matching pillows they did.







We got to make our pizzas in our easy bake Ovens.







Identifying, cutting and drying herbs.



How dare she!!!!!!! But I'm going to let her own this one. A TN homemade quilt of her Daddys and the pillow she made, reclining in Poppies chair like she owns the place. 🤣🤣🤣🤣


These girls love watching Woody Woodpecker. They love calling Granny and asking her to do her Woody Woodpecker laugh. Then they try it. 😁😁 Now I'm listening to them in Dakotas truck on the way home singing, OOOH EEE OOOH AH AH, TING TANG, WALLA WALLA BING BANG, OOOH EEE, OOOH AH AH, TING TANG. WALLA WALLA, BING BANG.....if you know you know.



Daddy came to pick them up and they got to take their pillows and quilt home. She was so excited. They are going to put them on their bed tonight. 

Then it was time to make mine and dear hubby's suooer. 

Home canned chilli, shredded cheese from the freezer and French fries from the freezer we put up. Chilli cheese fries. 🧀