Homesteading through a Blizzard

Barn under snow. And still falling.

Soon Bonnie won't be
able to see out the back door!

First things first during a storm.
Rob and the boys shovel
small pathways so we can get to the barns.

Blizzard Kolbe! Even though his
name is spelled different from this
blizzard I knew it was going to be
a whopper!

Butch is wondering
when all the white stuff will stop falling. 

Daisy at another hay feeder. There is
plenty for every goat!

Snow doesn't bother the goats
as long as they have yummy hay in their barn.

Gigi hanging around outside the goat barn.

Tommy wondering if we
are still going to milk the goats
in this weather.
Every morning he gets a sample!

The chicken run is under snow.
So we opened the entry way and
made it into a make-shift patio for them.

Katniss checks out the new chicken patio.

Chickens in their patio!

Chores done . . . let the games begin!

Bonnie having fun on the path.

Millie makes a bee-line
for the house. 

Yummy. Homemade
Hot Chocolate to warm the soul!

Homemade Hot Chocolate

For every 10 oz. of milk (we used goat milk of course)add:

2 Tablespoons sugar

a pinch of salt

1 Tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla 

Whisk in pot on low heat until sugar and cocoa are dissolved. Continue to heat until desired temperature.

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Homestead Reality

A pretty little display
I set up in my kitchen

Before I started blogging about homesteading, I used to read a lot of homestead blogs. I would wonder about these blogs. I would see all the pics of their pristine land and beautifully clean homes. They would write about doing all these different things. How in the world did these people do all this stuff? Their homesteads stayed clean and they have the time to blog about it. Since I started homesteading it has been anything but clean and perfect. It has been more like: mud, sweat, tears and sometimes blood. 

Calm, cute goats hanging out by the fence.

So why did I add myself to the many other homestead bloggers. It may have started with our friends telling us we were unique and we should blog about our life. Seriously? I could barely get through a homestead day never mind blogging about it afterward. 

Just when I started to think I was a homestead failure I started to see our homestead from a different angle. The angle from the lens of my 14 yr. old son Kolbe's camera. And so I began to blog. Wow, pictures and a little thoughtful writing can really put things into perspective. I guess I could make us look as cool as all the other homestead bloggers.

HOMESTEAD REALITY: Goat getting into the feed
bins in the barn. Donovan and I struggle to get her out!

But for the sake of honesty to myself, the homestead and my faithful readers I have to show and tell you some of the  bad realities of homesteading. 

Homesteading is a lot of work. It is often times messy and tiring and downright gross.  Rain, snow or sun chores must be done.

HOMESTEAD REALITY:
Home under construction.

HOMESTEAD REALITY: Endless hours
in front of the
stove in a tiny, messy kitchen.

We make plenty of mistakes, but we learn from them. Every time we are completely exhausted we appreciate our rest.  I could give you so many examples but I will spare the long boring post.  Just know only a few homesteaders continue to live "the simple life" I just hope we are one of them.

HOMESTEAD REALITY:
Getting hay in the pouring rain.

I know I am starting to make it sound horrible. But for every homestead bad reality there is so much amazement and joy. Watching our garden grow, watching our kid goats grow, watching the chickens and collecting there eggs. We get to watch our children grow and learn so close to all of God's creations. Homesteading with all of its realities good or bad is just the right thing for us.

Fresh goat milk being poured into a filter.

HOMESTEAD REALITY:
Covering a milk pail
with a towel
to keep flies out!

HOMESTEAD REALITY: Junk piles from old barns,
home construction and other toys and projects.

Beautiful serene farm scene.