Homestead Year in Review
Memories of summer days.
With 2012 drawing to a close and the new year about to start, I pause to reflect on the lessons learned, joys discovered, and the difficult times that unfolded in my life this year.
One of the chicks raised in my coop this year.
It was just over 1 year ago that I began my blogging adventures on Little Homestead on the Hill. I’ve always enjoyed writing and photography but I hadn’t pursued those passions in great depth. There was always something more pressing that needed to be done. Starting a blog forced me to make time for my personal interests. I’ve learned so much over the last year and I’ve really enjoyed the experience, which is why I decided to take it to the next level and create The Self Sufficient HomeAcre. I am in the process of setting goals for the new year to improve and expand this blog.
I enjoy photographing my homestead endeavors for my blog.
Among the highlights of my blogging experience this year, I was asked to do an interview on The Backyard Farming Connection this fall and thoroughly enjoyed that experience. I am also working on a chapter for an ebook that will come out this year…but I can’t tell you too much about that yet! I was invited to co-host the wonderful blog hop Wildcrafting Wednesdays! I’m having a great time learning all about hosting. I’ve had posts featured on several blog hops this year. That is always a fun experience. Several bloggers have nominated my blog, Little Homestead on the Hill for awards this year. I’m always honored to be picked for an award. I’ve just had a little trouble keeping up with my responsibility to spread the love around.
I raised turkey poults this year.
Along the lines of homesteading, I’ve had some firsts this year. I raised my first flock of turkeys and butchered them myself. We have 6 of them in the freezer to sustain our family during the coming year. That was a very good experience and I plan to raise turkeys again in the future. At the other end of the spectrum was our first major problem with predators in the chicken coop. A possum killed 27 of our hens and pullets in 2 bloodthirsty raids in September. I am no stranger to death on a homestead. We lost livestock and pets many times when I was growing up. But to find a dozen or more of my favorite hens with their heads removed or throats ripped open was an unnerving experience. Even though we are just outside of town, we still have plenty of wildlife searching for an easy meal.
One of the last photos I took of Oscar, enjoying some attention.
Also on the list of sad events this year is the disappearance of our family cat, Oscar. He has been missing since the 18th of December and I have all but lost hope of ever seeing him again. Coyotes prowl right up to our back yard, especially when the cold weather sets in and prey is harder to find. Oscar was a stray cat that adopted us in 2005. He never had any interest in being an indoor cat. His hunting trips took him right into the heart of coyote territory, and I suspect that was his undoing.
Kit Kat doing her balancing act. She is in danger of becoming an outdoor cat full time.
I rescued another kitty in September this year, Miss Katerina Von Kit Kat, or Kit Kat for short. She is a very loving little kitty, but her days in our house may be numbered if she doesn’t start using the litter box regularly, and if she continues to claw up our furniture. I am a very patient person when it comes to animals, but she is testing that patience. It may be necessary to set up a dog house under our deck with a heated mat and water bowl for her if this is not resolved soon.
Wild asters growing across the road.
On a more positive note, I found a digital camera that I really enjoy using. Tom ordered the Cannon PowerShot SD960 IS Digital Elph as a reconditioned unit for about half the cost of a new one. I have been able to take some fun macro shots with this camera. Overall I am really enjoying it. My only criticism is that it’s not real great for action shots or telephoto use. So I may look into another camera to increase my capabilities this coming year. We’ll have to see what the budget allows.
My garden was a wild tangle this summer, but very productive!
I expanded my garden this spring, taking about a month off from blogging to concentrate on digging my new beds and planting the seedlings I started indoors. I also added more small fruits and a peach and cherry tree. This should round out the orchard that I planted in 2011. We now have 3 apples, 2 plums, 2 pears, 2 pie cherries, and 1 peach tree, along with grapes, blueberries, currants, raspberries, and strawberries. We also have a pretty good bed of rhubarb and horseradish, plus perennial herbs and some flowers. I added asparagus this spring, even though only 2/3rds of our family will eat it.
Our rooster, Del, and his harem.
This year I joined a new co-op called Azure Standard and found a farmer who sells raw milk. I saved up some of my summer bounty by canning and freezing plenty of veggies from the garden. I started making my own yogurt and butter. We purchased an extra freezer and filled it with locally raised grass fed beef. I raised and butchered meat chickens…not a first for me, but always a good feeling to have them in the freezer. We traveled to New York for my parents 50th anniversary and spent time enjoying the company of our family and friends.
Pin oak leaves…what great fall color.
2012 has been a very good year and I have been very blessed to have the support and love of my friends and family. I’m looking forward to a wonderful year in 2013! How about you? Did you have a good year? Are you looking forward to the New Year? Are you setting goals for next year?
Have a safe and happy new year’s eve. See you in 2013!
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