Mud,sweat and gears

Yes spring has sprung, the break up has come and the breakdowns abound. Finally got the four wheeler parts in, dear hubby got the wheeler back together after a month. The water pump had a bearing sieze up and one of the balls went into the gears ground them down smooth it did but we had spares from a parts 4 wheeler I aquired so half the battle was won but Apparently Polaris forgot to list 2 bearings on the parts list book. Through much  diligence  and perseverance I found them!  I have to say that every job I have ever held in my life has taught me something and being a parts gal I remembered lots of tricks on finding parts!

The axle on the trailer has finally given up and cannot be welded anymore as it is just cracking again but woo hoo we actually had a piece of square tubing to fix it! My hubby won’t be laughing at my dump treasures anymore! Yep I proudly admit I scrounge things at the dump and that little gem just saved us 50 bucks easy! So now he will rebuild again and hopefully we can use it after breakup is done. Please pray for dry weather for the next couple of weeks! 

My cream separator arrived and I just love it! 

 I have to tell you I was apprehensive about it having a plastic bowl and spouts but now that it’s here I can tell you it’s built heavy duty! I have only used it once but find it very simple to use and it separates the cream very well. I will post more on it as time goes by but it is a product I will recommend simply because it is well built and it works! If you are looking here’s where to get the best pricing http://www.slavicbeauty.net/cream-separators/separators

Critters are all happily running around and enjoying the warmer weather. 

           

Kids are happy to have friends out to play with.

 

I’m busy with the many projects I have and the guys busy building for my many projects. Life is good here on Two Moose Farm and getting better everyday. 

I do have a request though-I need your input. I want to build a Calendar of pics for 2016 and would like to know what pics you all enjoy most-critters and projects or scenery. If you like both just answer both in the comments! Thank you for your help!

I’ll leave you with a pic of the sunset and a prayer of blessings.  

 

Happy Anniversary to us Part 2

August was one of the wettest times I had ever seen. It rained seemingly non stop and I found myself learning to laugh at getting stuck in the mud. Finally September arrived and it was dry for 2 weeks straight!  With the break in the weather we took advantage of it and began moving the saw mill.

  

Inch by inch we took it slow and finally got the job complete and then……you guessed it more rain! We did manage to get the plywood roof up and covered with plastic so we almost had a real roof!

October gave us sunny days and cool nights but we were able to get some lumber cut and get the kids a lift floor in and start the insulation but it never got really cold even though there were mornings with ice on the water barrels.

November was much the same as October although we did get a bit of snow. It was beautiful but it didn’t last long. 

   

Our first Thanksgiving here was exciting though. Cati and I worked together and made a wonderful dinner and enjoyed our “pioneer” life with the family.

December was all about Christmas. Remembering the day of our Saviors birth is important to us and we celebrate regardless of finances. We hadn’t any room for a tree but the girls and I got creative and made one out of construction paper. Of all the Christmases I know this one will be the most memorable.  I have to mention that the kindness of old and new friends made our first Christmas spectacular. We wanted for nothing and yet was given so much. Thank you to All of you who sent gifts and care packages. Finally Christmas Eve we had a new addition to the farm when little Henrietta made her appearance. 

   

New Year’s Day brought little Racer in with much fanfare as he had to be pulled due to having a leg back but he was a tough little fella! 

   

We ushered in the New Year to more rain but then it turned cold. A two week period of time when the water would freeze before we could get it home from the spring. During that time we spent countless hours thawing ice and hauling water to the animals and the littlest ones spent the night inside and I would carry them out to their mommas for feedings.

February it warmed up and began melting. That got the spring fever started along with the longer days but it proved to be a false start. The cold returned, our 4 wheeler broke down and it was a repeat of January’s routine of keeping everyone warm and watered. My bees that I had wintered over I lost in the last cold snap as did many of my rabbit babies and that made me sad but overall everything else did well.

Here we are one year later! We have a nice little farm started with goats reproducing, chickens laying, rabbits having babies, the goats are rebounding in the milk department and we finally have enough pens,hutches,barns and coops to keep everyone happy. Oh and we now have turkeys too!

We have learned to adapt to our surroundings and to create when we have a need such as the kerosene lamp brooder. Life is not easy out here and for many it would be intolerable but for us it is perfect! 

As for me I have learned faith does matter. I have seen insurmountable problems quickly resolved by giving it to God. I question less why he chose here to put us and find comfort in knowing he is in control so I don’t have to be. I have made many friends from around the world who encourage us and many here locally that want to see us succeed. I have a friend who I talk to daily that I couldn’t imagine living without as I rely on her to keep my grounded. Cathy DeHaven this is dedicated to you. You are always there when I need advice, a sounding board or just to talk. God may not of made us sisters by birth but in my heart you will forever be my big sis. 

I will leave you all with my favorite view and a promise of more to come here at Two Moose Farm. May you be blessed with peace and happiness. 

   

Happy Anniversary to us! Part one

It’s been a year since we landed in Alaska and started out on this journey. Looking back we have definitely come a long way. Many lessons have been learned, a few sorrows and a lot of happiness found.  I thought a quick walk through our progress was just what my mind needed today as I sit and wait still for yet more 4 wheeler parts to get us mobile again.

Our first spring in Alaska began in April 2014 with experiencing the break up. For those of you unfamiliar with “the break up” it’s normally a fast process that takes 2-3 weeks of ice melting, water everywhere, then mud and finally drying up for the most part. We missed the drying up part-it didn’t happen. It rained, then rained some more and finally it rained even more! 

April was spent slogging through the muck to attempt to quickly (ha ha) erect a cabin to shelter us at night from the bears and wolves.  In Alaska quickly means sometime in the next few years-lesson 1!

By May we had an Alaskan cabin erected. Yep a true Alaskan cabin-no roof!  But we did have four walls and a door-that was progress!  We were also uppity Alaskans as a blue tarp where the roof should of been was not for us we had a canvas roof-I liked to tell the kids “just like the pioneers”!   

May it rained, June it rained are you getting the picture? I spent many nights up all night emptying the dips and Swales in the canvas “roof” to keep it somewhat dry inside. During the day we would dodge rain showers and attempt to quickly (yes that word still cracks me up) an outhouse and animal pens.  

 

We had brought my beloved rabbits with us-yes I do love them as they keep us well fed. Babies were growing and new cages needed built and as you all well know the breed prolifically so many cages needed built. 

   

June brought chickens, pigs, goats and Luna the rescue horse to the homestead and for me a broken foot. Keeping in true homesteader fashion I set it, made a makeshift cast, covered in an oversize boot and life went on, albeit a bit slower for me for the next 6 weeks. 

          

 

June also was when we completed (somewhat) the outhouse minus a door. Between animal pens and cutting wood for lumber it was a busy month of building and usually done in the rain.

July was much like June except it was a bit sunnier and the fireweed was blooming. Oh the fireweed!!!! If you’ve never experienced a field of fireweed as tall as you are you have not lived! 

 To be continued…….

Hey hey hey it’s another busy day!

Just a quick post to let you all know I haven’t forgotten the blog I have just been incredibly busy. 

In the last few days I have butcherd a hog, made sausage and rendered lard. I will go into more details later. I also am frantically trying to get my website up which is difficult with this snail internet.

Parts  for the 4 wheeler should be in today and also my cream separator. A trip to town is in my schedule. 

The break up is coming fast and there’s mud everywhere but yay!!!! It’s spring!!!!!!!

Off and running again but want you all to have a very blessed day!

Another day in paradise

Yesterday was such a beautiful day, 50 degrees and a bit breezy but hey, it was 50 degrees out!  

The family had ground wheat the night before (yes it’s a family affair as hand grinding wheat is a lot of work) so I got to work after chores and baked bread. I was expecting it to last for at least a few days but the minute the first loaf came out it was reduced to a few crumbs in seconds. Literally!  



There’s still a loaf for today but I will be baking again this afternoon for sure.

Baby rabbits got to finally see the sunshine now that the cold snap has broke. Their mommas allowed them to the screened section of the hutch and they were quite active hopping and frolicking. Bunnies are so darned cute don’t you think!



Rooster Jack and Henny made complete pests of themselves all day running in the door of the cabin everytime they found an opportunity.



My critters have the idea that they run the place! 

I am very excited that I am finally getting my cream separator. It should be here in around a week. I am receiving it from a company that I will be reviewing it for. I will share more on it later in my posts.

Dear hubby spent the day preparing for hog butchering day on Thursday. We originally planned for it today but a phone call changed all of that. I was asked by a gentleman who teaches an anatomy class if they could join us as a hands on field trip and of course I said yes! Any time people can further their knowledge is time well spent and I am happy to be a part of it. I will attempt to video tape this and share later.

Soap is finally aged and ready for sale so I will have to spend today working on the website. I will immediately post a link when it is up and running. We will have soap, lip balm, powdered goat milk hot cocoa mix and leather items available for purchase with many more items coming in the future. 

Yes the days are getting longer and busier here at Two Moose Farm and we are blessed to be able to share them with you-stay tuned!

Have a beautiful and blessed day all.

A prayer answered!

I am getting my cream separator!!!! This company sending me one for review so will be sharing a lot of info and probably more than you want to hear on the joys of separating cream! 

Cream Separator 80-100 l/h Hand-operated Model #07

http://www.slavicbeauty.net/cream-separators/separators 

3 Season kind of day

Today was an odd day. Starting just after midnight our cold snap broke and the temperature began to rise. This morning found us in the middle of a beautiful snow fall, I know I have been complaining but it truly was a beautiful site.  By noon it had warmed up to 41 and the snow switched to rain. By 2 p.m. The sun was shining and it was a glorious warm afternoon. By 6 p.m. The wind was getting quite blustery and now we are back to rain showers and around 34 degrees.  The old adage “if you don’t like the weather just wait a minute” sure rang true today!

I had such big ambitions today to get things done but once again I was side tracked-my attention span is about as long as each sentence, but you have probably  noticed that already. My friend Cathy and I refer to those moments as “squirrel” meaning the squirrel ran by and diverted our attention. No real squirrels are ever harmed during these episodes- (giggle).

Speaking of Cathy she scared the daylights out of me today, texted me she was involved in a car accident.  Now many of you know Cathy is very dear to me-sisterly love kind of dear so my initial reaction was fear then anger. After I heard the details I just wanted to cry. Thankfully she is alright but she sure went through a lot in just a few seconds. Let me explain, Cathy has MS and is in a wheel chair. She was in her wheelchair in the back of the van with her husband driving and sees a vehicle  coming at them and knows that it isn’t going to stop-imagine yourself in that situation! Scary!!!!  They were hit in the rear drivers side back where she is a passenger. I thank God for watching over her today as it could of been much worse. Cathy, I know your gonna read this and please don’t be mad but you know I have to put everything to words to deal with it. I only wish I could be there for you now.

Today reminded me how life can be changed in a split second.  I hope all of you take a minute to hug those you love and tell them daily how much you love them. 

Well it is getting late and there are still animals to check on so I will bid you all a good night and I pray you are home safe and sound, surrounded by those you love. God Bless and Good Night

Some days you just have to go with it

Woke up this morning to snowy weather but it’s warm!  I know I have been complaining lately about winter being here but there is something about fresh snowfall that makes me smile. Maybe it’s the freshness it brings, where everything is pristine and white. Trust me as a homesteader it’s the only time everything is pristine and white! 





No new babies yet but the goat ladies are packing around heavy bags and have begun to waddle. Who knows maybe soon maybe not.  

Children are enjoying a snow day today. They needed to run off some much needed energy that has been bottled up for days and I needed them out of my hair so I could get a few things done around here.

Bread baking is a priority around here many times a week. Yes we are carb junkies! I have many friends who cannot tolerate gluten and I feel so bad for them as breads are so important to our daily life.  There is no aroma more welcoming than the scent of freshly baked bread.

Spring is still in my heart so I will begin my spring cleaning. It amazes me how much soot, dust and cobwebs accumulate over the winter months.  I cannot get it all done with the rain snow mix we are having but neatly organized shelves will be a great start.

Well I must get busy but will post more later with pictures of my progress. Have a blessed day all.

Let it snow-No! make it go make it go!

I guess I have been spoiled all winter by the lack of true winter weather. Now that spring fever has hit full force it becomes bitterly cold and now I see white flakes falling from the sky. Make it stop!!!!!! No really, I’m done, bring on spring in the form of sunshine, skip the rain, mud and all things that could possibly hinder my progress and just let me have sunny days and green grass…..please! 

The latest cold snap has little frost bitten ears on my goat baby, a chicken with frozen toes now residing in the cabin and we lost several baby rabbits who got out of their snuggly nest and froze. Oh how I hate to see little ones suffer. 

As I sit pouring over garden plans and day dreaming of green grass I must remind myself it will be here entirely too fast and will leave even sooner but I just can’t help myself. I do this every year and after all these years it hasn’t gotten any easier.

The cold has increased the workload immensely with constant thawing of water dishes, bottles and bowls for all the critters and I have lost feeling in the tips of several fingers now due to frostbite. It will return, it always does but somehow whining about it makes me feel a tad bit better-you know misery truly does love company! On a good note the weather man says we have warmer days ahead so I’m holding him to it! 

I am on high alert now as it is typical for momma animals to pick the worst weather to have babies in so night checks will continue indefinitely which translates to a lot of sleepless nights for me. I really am not complaining about this though as I love seeing new life enter this beautiful world and it does bring me joy.

Still waiting on parts for our 4 wheeler. It seems to take forever sometimes but once again I am getting impatient.

Not much else happening in our neck of the woods so I will bid you all a good night and pray health, happiness and dreams of Flowers blooming, chest high hay and fields of grain dancing in the breeze. God Bless you all.

It’s that time of year.

It looks like our little taste of winter will be ending in the next couple of days and then the fun begins!

Big plans to get the greenhouse project kicked into high gear, hopefully the parts for the 4 wheeler will come in soon and we can resume cutting wood for all of the projects. 

Whenever you plan a project around here you can bank on it taking 10 times as long as predicted. Making do with what you have there are always adjustments to be made and absolutely nothing goes as planned but it eventually works itself out and we find a way.

Big on our list of “must acquire” this year are a gas powered weed eater for cutting hay, a cream separator, aggressive tires for the wheeler that will go through the mud and praying another wheeler makes it our way. We have been actively searching for a polaris 400 that may need work. So many are sitting around abandoned for newer models I have faith one will make it our way. We were blessed by a kind soul who gave us a small one that needs rewired but appears to be in good shape otherwise. Yes we do love our projects and other peoples trash is our treasure!

The cold weather has us all sapped with constantly running in and out thawing critters water and making sure they are comfortable. The goats although warm enough have slowed down a bit on milk production but I believe it will pick up again in warm weather.

Made 2 batches of cheese in the past couple of weeks both bombed. After discussing the problem with my cheese guru friends it appears my cultures are bad so back to doing things the hard way and making my own-see nothing is ever easy!  Perhaps I could of salvaged them but I am not one to take any chances when it comes to food. In the mean time we will be happy with farmers cheese that while still tasty lacks that delicious bite that aged cheddar gives you.

Rabbits are having little ones and a couple of my girls have slowed down in the production department so will be culling them and replacing with some of my upcoming females. I was also blessed by a friend who contacted me to see if I would be interested in giving hers a new home so that brought a lot of excitement as I like to add new bloodlines every year. 

Birch trees are still in a holding pattern as the cold keeps them from producing sap but with the predicted warm up we will for sure be on high alert.

Everyone is excited that we made it our first year and now are officially residents so can get hunting and fishing licenses. Our awesome friends Dan and Robin so kindly offered to assist us with our subsistence fishing for salmon and that will be such a blessing to our family. I am excited that we can finally get a moose and hopefully a bear as both will provide lots of tasty meat and oh bear lard is the best for baking!  All of this must be heavy on my

Mind as last night I woke up out of a sound sleep, arms flailing and realized I was dreaming of netting fish. Mind you I know in the past when I was very young my paw paw did this and I vaguely recall watching it but have never actually done it but in my dream I was sure catching them!

We are supposed to be getting a good view of the aurora tonight so I will cut this short so I can keep an eye out. I pray your all blessed with good health and happiness. 





3 generation off grid family following God and living in Alaska