Staring down a long road....

Hello All,  I'm at work again.... so is the life of a business owner.  But, while I'm here, I can't help but think about my little wanna be homestead.... :)  At least I'm at work while still enjoying the company of my hubby and little guy.  Ok, so let's get started!

This is my oldest kitty Di-Di.  I just had to show you her.  She's my sweetie!  She is 16 1/2 and still going strong. Although, she needs some meds! 

Here it is.  The dismal, empty sad back yard.  This is a view from my back sliding glass door.  Don't you just love the uninterrupted view of the neighbors yards?  Yea, I sooooo love being in my back yard and not have ANY privacy whatsoever!  All I can say is I will like it better when we have a FENCE!  My neighbors are nice, but sheesh!  At least I have an empty canvas to work with. 

Here's one of my new lima bean sprouts.  I have 3 total.  As you know, I have a 0 dollar budget this year, so this evening I'll be going into our crawlspace to see if I have any materials I can use to get these little guys a trellis to climb on!  I'm so excited though!  I've never grown limas before and I am hoping they will bring lots of beans to eat and to store away for winter. 

Here's lots of squash sprouts!  I'm excited for these guys.  There are easily 10 plants and I will probably need to thin them out.  They are Queen Acorn Squash.  If you've never had roasted acorn squash, you are missing out!  I'm hoping to get a lot of squash for fall and winter.  I'm going to try different recipes.  Maybe even a pie???  Hmmmmm.... that sounds interesting....

Lastly, here's my blackberry bush.  The berries are starting to ripen and I have harvested just 2 little berries so far.  I had some berries last year, but they all shriveled up in the heat before ripening. This year I have read that you gotta water water water to get them to ripen properly.  I've done that and already it's been better. 

So there you have it.  The only picture I didn't get was the onions and garlic that I have already harvested.  Trust me, it was nothing to write home about.... but it's one more step in the right direction.  So now you understand how I'm staring down one really long road.  The road ends at a beautiful, lush backyard garden and will hopefully also be surrounded by a fence.  I've already taken the pressure off myself and keep saying I'll get it done bit by bit. 

Thanks for coming along on my gardening journey!

Until next time friends!

Getting my mojo back....

Hello All,
  Today you find me at work, I know, again.... but I'm a happier girl.  I think I've found a good balance between the business me and the wanna be homesteader me.  Here's a picture of my flowers in the front of my house.  I know, I promised you pictures of my dismal veggie garden, but now that I think I've figured out how to put pictures on my blog.... I can do that!  I get out in the garden when we get home in the evening.  It has been so nice.  I've got a goal, but I'm not running a sprint here.... I know that it will take a looonnnggg time for me to complete my vision, but I'll get there.  One step at a time. 
I recently re dug and re weeded an over grown raised bed that used to house tomatoes or potatoes.  This time I laid down our used cardboard boxes that our shipment came in under the soil to deter the weeds.  I'm still not sure how to build up the soil.  I've got some beds that aren't working out being ground level (rain washes the soil away) so I think I'll harvest the garlic and onions from those and put that soil in my raised bed.  I've got some compost as well.  I have to make do with what I have for this year... so it's been kinda fun watching out for free stuff on craigslist and freecycle. 

We're still hanging in there on the business.  We have already beaten last months number, so slowly slowly we are getting there and eventually we will arrive.  But, hey, a girls gotta have some fun in the meantime.... and being self sufficient or at least partially will never hurt.  I've even had some thoughts on growing mushrooms...... hmmmmm..... no one else around here sells mushrooms at the farmers markets..... maybe, just maybe.....

Anyway, I better get back to work.... I'll do another post and get those pictures for you soon!

Keeping it real....... simple

Hello All,  I hope today finds you with warm beautiful weather as it is here in my neck of the woods.  Beautiful Blue skies, warm with a gentle breeze.  Simply Heaven. 
Today you find me at work.  Hubby is out back teaching his very first class from our store!  I'm excited to say that business has picked up and I think we will beat last month.... but God has taught us to not become cocky or too confident, because she will teach us quickly to not get too comfortable.  We'll have wonderful days for most of the week, but barely anything on one day... we have given up on trying to predict or say why this happens.... we are being taught patience and to go with the flow.  But all in all, on the business front we are doing well.  The store is not supporting us yet, but I think it will within the next few months. 
On the homefront, I'm back into attempting to grow something in my garden.  I am taking advantage of the long days and getting out back as soon as we get home.  Even when I'm tired, it seems to calm me to get out there and play in the dirt.  The quiet, singing of birds is so soothing.  I got a "cleaning checklist" off pinterest this past week and have used it.... let me tell you what a lifesaver!  It makes everything go by simply and complete.  Adding in all those little chores that tend to be forgotten... like organizing the fridge or wiping out the inside of the fridge.  (at least in my house they tend to be forgotten!) 
I have taken out all the lettuce.  It had become over grown and bitter.  I'm happy to say that I still have carrots, onions, garlic and one wee little fennel growing....oh! and spring onions!  I had forgotten that I had even put those seeds out.  Also, there is one wee little tomato plant coming through!  I also have some red raspberries on the bush, but they aren't ready to pick yet.  I just hope I get to them before the birds do!  I put out some Lima bean seeds and some "queen squash" seeds.... they reminded me of acorn squash.  We'll see how they do.  Fingers crossed.  When it gets cooler I'm going to do lettuce, peas and possibly broccoli for fall.  Maybe even try beans again. 
I've decided that I'm spending so much time watching tv or on the internet that I need to get back to my world that I enjoy.  A simple life.  Yes, I own my own business with my hubby and it takes a lot of my time... but I do have the capability of doing things here in the slow times.  Instead of surfing the net, I can read books or read blogs that inspire me.  I feel better already.  I will take some pictures of my pathetic little plot so you can watch my progress.... I'm not giving up my dream.
On the financial front, we are still hanging in there.  We have enough money to finish June and money for July, but August is still sketchy.  We are hoping for a good paycheck at the end of this month to help with August.  But as it stands now, we only have $300 for August. 
Hubby and I talked about the possibility of selling a guitar or dropping internet and our land line.  We are dropping our disc through Netflix, we don't have cable.  We'll see.  Honestly, I wouldn't mind if we got rid of the internet or land line phone.  But my hubby and son, well, lets say they wouldn't like it to put it lightly!  :)  Ok guys.... thanks for walking this journey with me.... I will put pictures up soon...
Very Simply Yours,
Homemaker Kim

First check and summer fun

Hello All!  I'm home today finishing up some much needed cleaning and lawn care.  Hopefully the internet won't tank out on me this time! 

Anyhoo, I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the weather.  It is officially summer here in my neck of the woods, but with the temp. only reaching the low 70's today, it feels like spring! 
So lets get going.... so much to tell!
On the financial front.... we got our first paycheck from our business!  Not enough to cover our home expenses yet, but we're getting there.  We are still working our budget to the max.  We budget every dime and are looking for summer fun on the cheap this year.  SUPER cheap if at all possible.  A couple days ago I took my son to the local museum and we had a great time.  It has an awesome civil war exhibit with an interactive game type exhibit which my geeky game playing son loved!  It has all sorts of fun hands on activities and exhibits for kids, but interesting things for adults as well.  Also, they have beautiful gardens to walk through (and run through if you are an energetic 10 year old!)  It was Sunday afternoon, so we practically had the whole place to ourselves!  The best part was that the whole adventure was FREE!  I asked for a membership to the museum for christmas this past year and my sweet mama got it for me.... this means for one year, we can go anytime and not pay a thing.... this includes myself, hubby and little guy!  I totally recommend this if you have a museum that does this in your area.  The rest of the summer we'll take advantage of free movie times at the theatre, smores out in the back yard, playing in the creek and "camping" out in the back yard..... The one thing I need to find a deal on is the water park my son REALLY wants to go to..... at $7 a person it doesn't sound so bad, but since we're the crazy, self employed, not sure when we're getting our next paycheck kinda family, we need a discount.... we'll see what we can find. 
On the home front, I'm still trying to figure out a good balanced way to run a household and a business.  I tried doing a chore when I got home in the evenings, but honestly, I was so tired from working 9+ hrs a day the last thing I wanted to do is more work.  Hubby and I are still searching for what works so that we are both happy.  So, truth be told, if you come to my house, you will most likely find dishes in the sink waiting for their turn in the dishwasher, laundry that needs to be washed and bathrooms that need to be cleaned.  It's not horrible, but it's not pretty either. 
On the garden front, the bigger lettuce plants are becoming bitter, so we are using the younger sweeter ones... but they only have a bit more time till they will be done as well.  Carrots are still plugging along and I have one itty bitty basil and just one itty bitty fennel that are doing well.  I have some berries on my blackberry bush that are ripening, garlic is plugging along and some onions are managing to stay alive.  We have had a good bit of rain... so I think that's good.  I think I may put some beans out and see what happens.... if I have time.  My sweet neighbor noticed that our yard was getting away from us with the grand opening of the store and all, so he came to mow it for us while we were at work.  Part of me was relieved to see it done, but part of me was embarrassed to not have done it myself.  Oh well, it was a blessing.  I still need to do a small patch in the back and some trim work, but that's no big deal. 
On the business front, we are doing pretty well.  We had a really slow week, then a better one and now we're getting back to the full steam we were having.  Things are looking good this week so far. 

Thanks for hanging in there with me guys!  Have a great day!

Darn Internet!

Ok guys.... so I did another post, the internet tanked and I lost it all!  I will re-write it another day.  For now, know this.... we are pluggin' along and even earned a paycheck and we are doing a summer of fun, but on the majorly cheap! 
Until the re-write friends!