February Itch – Planning A Project

According to the “Mr.” dictionary...

Feb·ru·ary Itch noun \ˈfe-b(y)ə-ˌwer-ē, \ˈich\

the time in which one is beyond stir crazy, is ready to crawl out of his or her skin with boredom, therefore pacifying oneself with reading and planning spring and summer projects. One must be forewarned that graph paper will be used in excess and more money than planned will be spent.

The February Itch can be blamed for many all of the projects around here. No matter the project, it has the same rhythm and mimics my favorite children’s book… If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. The projects go something like this…

“If you give Mr. a new book, he’s going to order another one. When the post office delivers the second book, he’ll probably ask for some graph paper. When he’s finished, he’ll make a list of everything he needs. Then he’ll want to look through all of the most recent building supply sales flyers. When he looks through the sales flyers, he’ll get another idea that could make his project better. So he’ll probably ask for more graph paper. When he’s finished with the second round of graph paper, he’ll want to take a trip the building supply store. He’ll start shopping. He might get carried away and find a new really expensive tool that will make the project that much easier. He may even end up buying a cordless 4-tool combo kit.

When he brings the new tool kit home, he’ll have to put it together and “play” with it immediately. You’ll have to bear with him as he decides to tinker with an already completed project. He’ll get rejuvenated with the original project and might even make it more complicated because after all, he has these new tools that will make these complicated additions possible. He’ll probably place his order for supplies. So you’ll receive the phone call that the massively huge truck is going to deliver several tons of supplies by driving up your narrow driveway tomorrow, (without driving through your yard, your flower beds or getting stuck to the axels in your front yard…right) and he’ll take the day off to wait for the delivery.

When he looks at the piles of new supplies, he’ll get so excited he’ll want to check everything off his list to see what remains. He’ll see he’s still missing a few things and ask if we have received any new sales flyers. He’ll make a new list. When the list is finished, he’ll decide to make another trip to the building supply store. Then he’ll get another idea. Which means he’ll need more graph paper. He’ll stare at his graph paper, his lists and his piles of supplies. Looking at his plan on paper will remind him that there was one technique that he wasn’t quite sure of and needs more research.

So…he’ll ask to see one of his books again. And chances are if he looks at that book, he’s going to want to order another one specific to that technique.”

There you have it…the February Itch. And you’re probably thinking, “It’s October, why does this matter now?” Mr. ordered his first book last week…and then he ordered another one. And you’re right, it’s only October. Be afraid…I know I am.

Beekeeping 101 and 102

During a conversation with Miss Effie this summer, I mentioned something about our bees and doing a hive check. This reminded her that Zan Asha of Bronx Bees would be coming at the end of September to do bee classes. I asked her to keep me posted on the details so that Mr. and I could take the classes. She explained that she didn’t know anything more than the date, as she didn’t have a location in mind…so I volunteered our home and hives (in an effort of full disclosure and in true student teacher’s pet fashion, this should actually read…I threw my arm in the air, jumped up and down and said, “Pick me, pick me!”) And she graciously accepted my invitation.

Fast forward to this past Saturday…our home was transformed into the site for Beekeeping 101 and Beekeeping 102 classes.

The Queen Bee leading her students to the hive.

Unfortunately, the temperature hovered barely above 55 degrees and the clouds stayed nearby for most of the day, so opening the hives was kept to a minimum. When they were able to open one of the hives, the bees responded with their disapproval and quickly accomplished what they set out to do…the beekeepers retreated.

Weather aside, the day was extremely fun and educational. When asked about the class, I heard one attendee say, “Zan is extremely passionate and knowledgeable about bees. I think she could have taught for three days and still had something to say about them.”

It was so amazing to hear so much about bees and to meet other area (near and far) beekeepers.

Thanks Miss Effie and Zan!

1st Day of School – Stay in Town or Go Home?

Today is Bug’s 1^st day of pre-school – sniff, sniff. We both did better than I thought we would. Tears welled up in the back of my eyes, but she was solid. Doodle, on the other hand, was a little upset. Upset may be the wrong word – lonely. Her friend, big sister and playmate was not by her side and she was very worried we would forget to pick her up.

Pre-school is three mornings a week from 9:00 – 11:30…in town and we live in the country. I’ve been planning stressing about what I was going to do. I couldn’t justify driving home and there are only so many errands a person can run, especially since we’ve lived in the country for seven years and we’re used to only coming to town a couple times a week. So what to do in the meantime?

Today, I ran my one errand and it was 9:24. Hmmm? We drove to a local restaurant armed with crayons and a coloring book for Doodle and my infamous to do list. But I can’t just park at a booth without buying something, so the to the very nice and understanding waitress, “I’ll have coffee, she’ll have apple juice and we’d like to have a cinnamon roll to share.” Cinnamon roll is good. The bill came…$6.92 and with a tip, let’s just figure $10.

Time is at a standstill. This is not working. So I ponder…

Gas is currently $3.75/gallon. From our front door to pre-school is roughly 30 miles round trip. Car gets approximately 20 MPG. That comes to $5.63 roundtrip.

If I leave school at 9:05, I can be home between 9:20 and 9:25. I would need to leave home to go pick her up by 11:10. This would give me a little over an hour and a half at home to get things done. I can’t believe it but it would be $4.37 cheaper for me to drive home instead of sitting at a restaurant thinking about my lengthy to do list.

As silly and impractical that I once thought it was to come home, it’s all in the math. Now, it’s 10:35 and she doesn’t get finished until 11:30. The cinnamon roll is gone, this post is finished and we wait…

Scoot over Doodle, let’s color…tomorrow we’re going home.

Quotes and Observations

"Everyday is like Easter when you have chickens."

~Mr.

(And sometimes you really do have to look under, over, behind to find them.)

Where Have I Been?!?! …Confessions

I know you’re well aware that I haven’t written in over a year. Why? The answer is simple…I haven’t had time. It’s also quite complex…I haven’t had the nerve or better yet, the insight to write this. Recently, a new outlook hit me, so here goes…

In October of 2009 I lost my job – very unexpectedly and without the payment that was due to me for the previous month of work. I had bills to pay and in my mind Christmas was creeping up on me at an alarming rate. After I stopped crying, I picked myself up and I did what I know…I started making things. The list of new things that I wanted to make actually started to come to life. I was happy.

During a relapse of self pity Mr. looked at me and said, “If you could sell things from here, I would be okay with that.” I was baffled. “Sell what?” I asked. “Sell the things you’re making. If you can make enough money to help pay the bills, I’m okay with that. You’re happy doing this,” he said.

I had just been given the green light to do what I love – make things. I went for it and I went for it big. I got gutsy and I signed up for a craft show. Just one; just enough to test the waters. I loaded my table and sat and waited… and I fought back tears. Did I just spend money (that I didn’t have) on supplies to make things and I’m not going to sell a thing? And then it happened. I sold something and then something else.

I had confidence and I was going to make this work. By mid December I had enough confidence that I opened my big mouth at a local store and asked for a meeting to discuss selling my wares. She said yes. By mid January 2010 she had placed her initial order. I couldn’t have been happier.

Fast forward to now… I make and sell hair bows and accessories for little girls and women and I have another product line of goat milk soap and lotion. I sell at the Farmers’ Market, craft shows and I have six retail stores that carry my products. I have a website for my hair bows and accessories that is fully functional and a website for the soaps and lotions that is in the development stage.

I did it! So what’s the big deal and why so secretive? The entire time I’ve been doing this, I’ve been thinking, what does making girly hair bows and accessories have to do with being self reliant?

And then one day recently it hit me like a ton of bricks…DUH!!! It has everything to do with being self reliant – I am reliant on myself to make and sell my products to be able to pay the bills.

So there you have it… No super duper, top-secret plan; just me finally getting out of the way of myself and looking at things from a different angle.

All the while I’ve been busy with all of this, our farm life has story after story that you need to get caught up on. It will just have to be after the fact.

Egg Shell Seedling Starters

Have you checked the 2010 Egg Counter lately? I'm amazed at the number of eggs that 11 hens have produced thus far...239 in the month of January. Wow!!!

So what does a person do with all of those eggs? We didn't sell many this past month because everyone thinks (as we did) that hens don't lay very well in the winter. We've eaten many baked custards, we've eaten breakfast for dinner many times and we've given many away.

It really bothers me that we just throw away the shells. Well we don't throw them away, we compost them, but surely there's something else that can be done with at least some of them.

Here's what I came up with.


It's my little (hopeful) herb garden. I have basil, chives, lemon balm and sage planted. That little "holder" is a tea light candle holder.

So far the only thing to sprout is the basil and the lemon balm. The only thing still living is the lemon balm. I don't know what happened to the basil, but my little sprouts died.

I think it's been long enough, so I'll have to replant. Maybe the seeds are bad??

Potty Training and The Farmer's Almanac

Yes, the two things are related. I never would have thought, but I am a true believer.

At the end of December we pulled out the panties and the potty chair and got everything ready to start…again. It was a no go. I had to do several loads of laundry on day because we only had 6 pair of panties. Day 2 was much better. Only a few accidents. Day 3 was non-existent; she refused to put on the panties.

I was talking to my mom about my frustration and she recommended that I check the Farmer’s Almanac. Do what? She explained that they have days that they recommend that you do things like this. Hmmm. We have a Farmer’s Almanac, but I thought it was for the weather and planting, not potty training. What did I have to lose?

I pulled out the Farmer’s Almanac and checked. Nothing. I read the chapter on how to read this book twice and I still couldn’t figure it out so I went to the internet. And guess what I found. This is awesome! It tells you the best days to do all sorts of things. I found it. There are 10 days every month that are the best for potty training. For January it started on the 12th.

I decided to give it a try according to the Farmer’s Almanac, so Tuesday, January 12th, we started again.

January 12 – 3 accidents, but went several times in the potty
January 13 – 1 accident
January 14 – 1 accident in a diaper while running errands (perfectly acceptable and understandable)
January 15 – More errands. Every store we went into she asked where the potty was. While at the grocery store I abandoned the cart with Mr. and we ran for the bathroom. The big potty with no little seat freaked her out and she couldn’t go. She finally had an accident in her diaper on the way home.
January 16 – 1 accident while trying to get to the potty.
January 17 – No accidents
January 18 – No accidents

I’m convinced. I recommend that everyone in need of potty training (or a million other things) give the Farmer’s Almanac a try. Please note that when I talk about our success I’m only referring to when she is awake. She still wears a diaper at nap and bed and she wakes up wet from both, but 2 diapers a day is a considerable improvement.