Homesteaders

[Raech]

I have had the same Christmas list for 5 years, at least, cookie cooling rack and a metal colander. He bought me new pots and pans "because the current ones dont match." I like the new set, but the old ones worked just as well, and the items I wanted were cheaper and I didn't have any already. Hubby wants car parts, I don't buy car parts for him. I think we are up to 8 or 9 new "show cars" in 7 years. He keeps trading them up, not owning all at once. Im stubborn like that, if it is going towards the car I won't buy it, I have bought tools previous years but never car parts. This year the boys picked out a toaster oven, I don't have room for a toaster oven, so they bought a toolbox cadi/suitcase thing instead. He can put his chemicals and rags in there along with the tools, and it will all fit in his trunk.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

After 5 years I would have broke down and bought them myself. Mine is pretty good at it. I like those figurines that you can get at Hallmark that show mothers and fathers with children, the ones with no faces. So when in doubt he gets me a couple of them. Last year he got me a nice cedar hope chest, he knew I was looking for one. I got lucky, mine was already trained by a favorite niece.

 

[Raech]

I had/have a small broken colander, and can do without the cooling rack, it was just a simple thing that would be nice to have. I try to save up for things I need instead of the extras I can do without. I used my cutting boards or counters for cookies and a towel for muffins, so it worked and will keep working. When I win the lotto I might splurge on kitchen supplies.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I had/have a small broken colander, and can do without the cooling rack, it was just a simple thing that would be nice to have. I try to save up for things I need instead of the extras I can do without. I used my cutting boards or counters for cookies and a towel for muffins, so it worked and will keep working. When I win the lotto I might splurge on kitchen supplies.

I appreciate saving money, but the things you would like are small. Life is too short to wish for a cooling rack. If he fails to get you one again this year, do not be disappointed, just get one...a colander too. Much happier that way.

 

[Raech]

He actually bought me a rubber expandable colander AND a huge metal colander, for no holiday reason. 1 was right before Thanksgiving, and the other was 2 weeks ago. He tries to get whats on my wish list, but he also does my Christmas present with the boys. Got red polka dot pjs last year, almost got a barbie this year lol. My oldest can't keep a secret, so I know the cooling rack is out this year, they couldn't find any. But for us Christmas is more for the kids than for adults, so they get the brunt of the presents. The tree is for the cats to destroy, wrapping paper was for Hubby's dog that past last year, and boxes are for the kids to destroy as spaceships.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Yes, the kids are more fun to buy for. And nothing wrong with spaceship boxes, though ours are usually castles..
This year DH is actually getting a couple decent gifts. I got him a gun, he has no idea because I am trading my father a very nice shotgun I own for it (otherwise it would be hard to hide the money) and I told him to buy a pair of cowboy boots.
But the girls are making out like bandits. Santa is even bringing mama a gift of a small trampoline for indoors, which I will share with two girls who have way to much pent up energy this winter.

 

[Raech]

I know the feeling of kids with too much energy, the oldest is very hyper on his calm day. I am debating on a treadmill, I have a bad feeling about a trampoline in the house mixed with my children. I would love a house with an extra basement so I can put a treadmill down there with weights for Hubby. Starting my dog on weight pull this next spring, so it would be handy for her too, but it would also give the boys more walls to bounce off of. Saw a trampoline where they dug the ground out and sunk it so the top was even with the ground, then put the net around.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

5 kids single wide trailer with 2 bedrooms built on the back. Yup, I totally understand winter craziness. Luckily this year has been very Mello so they are outside a lot. Usually we have single didget temperature and feet of snow by now.

 

[KlopKlop]

SO i have my prototype fodder system set up finally! I had all these fancy ideas in my head and I was starting to measure wood today and realized i was way way overthinking it! at least for my first attempt!

Basically what I've got is 6 little plastic tubs and a coffee can now i drilled a series of holes into the bottom of 5 tubs and then matching holes into the lids. The 6th tub acts as a catchment tank at the bottom. So what happens is I stack the tubs up like in the photo (eventually each layer will be filled with sprouting seeds) and 2-3 times a day I will dump water on the top tub and it will flow from tub to tub in a zig zag with the excess staying in the bottom catchment tank to be recycled or dumped onto my other houseplants. The coffee can is used to soak the batch of seeds for the first day, then I will dump them into the first tub and start more seeds soaking. the next day, repeat again so i will have 2 tubs of sprouts growing and 1 can soaking. Continue this for 6 days and the top tub will be 5-6 day old sprouts ready for the chickens! i keep the process up and each day i will have sprouts for my chickens!



I will take more photos as it progresses! Originally i had this plan to build a rack in my basement that the trays would slide in and out of and it would be cool, but then i had 2 thoughts:
1) what if this doesnt work or my chickens dont like it and i am out that much effort
2) my basement is a cool 52-ish degrees or so and that is a bit chilly for growing sprouts!

If this goes well i will look into improving the system. Currently I am into this experiment for about 6 x $0.89 for the tubs.

 

[Loc20chick]

SO i have my prototype fodder system set up finally! I had all these fancy ideas in my head and I was starting to measure wood today and realized i was way way overthinking it! at least for my first attempt!

Basically what I've got is 6 little plastic tubs and a coffee can now i drilled a series of holes into the bottom of 5 tubs and then matching holes into the lids. The 6th tub acts as a catchment tank at the bottom. So what happens is I stack the tubs up like in the photo (eventually each layer will be filled with sprouting seeds) and 2-3 times a day I will dump water on the top tub and it will flow from tub to tub in a zig zag with the excess staying in the bottom catchment tank to be recycled or dumped onto my other houseplants. The coffee can is used to soak the batch of seeds for the first day, then I will dump them into the first tub and start more seeds soaking. the next day, repeat again so i will have 2 tubs of sprouts growing and 1 can soaking. Continue this for 6 days and the top tub will be 5-6 day old sprouts ready for the chickens! i keep the process up and each day i will have sprouts for my chickens!



I will take more photos as it progresses! Originally i had this plan to build a rack in my basement that the trays would slide in and out of and it would be cool, but then i had 2 thoughts:
1) what if this doesnt work or my chickens dont like it and i am out that much effort
2) my basement is a cool 52-ish degrees or so and that is a bit chilly for growing sprouts!

If this goes well i will look into improving the system. Currently I am into this experiment for about 6 x $0.89 for the tubs.

Will be following your progress, so far I only have seeds, im yet to get any tubs or a strainer