Friday, April 8, 2011

My "Field of Dreams"

Well it finally happened.  We signed the contract on Monday and I am now officially a Land Owner! I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful it feels to finally have done it.  It has been a long time coming and a dream has finally been fulfilled.  
      I just realized it has been almost a week since I wrote anything here.  I guess it's a good thing I'm not trying to make a living doing this!!  I would probably have been fired by now...  Then again, if it was work, I'm not sure I'd still do it.  So I would to say thanks  to all of you who come here and read my ramblings.  I know you don't have to, but I'd like you to know that I appreciate it.
    Now, on to all the things that have to  be done.  It's always something right?  The best part is though,  from here on out we can strive for more and more self-reliance and do it on our own terms!
  The first thing we are working on is getting the electricity hooked up.  The new breaker box came in and we've got it ready for them to hook up.  Once that is done and we have power we will hook up the well pump and all the stuff that goes with that.  Mars assures me there will be water soon.
   When we get all that in place we will be able to move the RV out there and commence to "living on the land"!  We could actually be out there by next weekend if all goes well.  I'm really excited.  Can you tell???  I've been floating on air all week!
      It has been almost a year since we came here to stay with my friend Mushroom and her husband.  They have been so good to us.  I have learned tons and tons of things while I've been here. I feel as though I have a new family because that is how they have made me feel.  I'm sure going to miss them both!  The good news though is that even though we are moving about 60 miles from here,  it's still not to far to come and visit often! 
   We may still have a shot at a spring garden this year.  I know we are going to try anyway!  Our last frost date is April 15th. It seems a bit late to me but hey it is Oklahoma.... There are still lots of things that we can plant for the season.  I don't remember if I mentioned it but I took a soil sample to the County Extension Agency and they did a soil test for us.  It looks like we have some decent soil to start with.  It needs a bit of nitrogen and such so we will be planting a large crop of blackeyed peas and some other nitrogen boosting veggies.  Why the blackeyed peas?  Because we LOVE them!!!   LoL
We have a whole bunch of tomato plants that we started from seed.  About 60 of them as a matter of fact. I want to get them in the ground this coming week if at all possible.  We are going to have tomato's coming out of our ears if they all take off (and it looks like they will)  That's ok though.  I want to can some whole tomato's, diced and quartered.  If the hot peppers do well I'd like to make some "Rotel" type tomato's too.  I would like to try my hand at making some tomato sauces.  I'm looking for some good recipes if anyone has any they would like to share.  Just drop them in the comment box or email me.  I'd love to hear from you!
     I've never made ketchup before.  Neither of us are really crazy about it.  But for some reason lately I've been using it more than before.  I might as well try my hand at putting up a batch! I'm pretty sure we are going to have plenty of tomato's for it.  :o)
 Another thing I haven't tried but am going to do this summer is to put up some Italian sauce. A basic sauce to start things off with garlic and onions and Italian seasonings.  Something I can pull out of the cabinet to whip up some spaghetti or lasagne or something like that. 
     I'm also going to be drying tomato's.  What I will do is to dry them in pieces.  That way I can use them in soups and stews and such.  If I want to make some tomato paste all I will have to do is to grind them into powder and then add water until I get the consistency I want. 
      We are hoping to find someone locally to come out and plow up the garden area.  Then we can pull out all the grass and such and Mars will till it up.  Getting the soil right in a garden is really important.  I think I've found a place to get free chicken and cow manure that has been "aged" a bit. That will get us started.   Once we get our chickens and the rabbits we will be able to use our own.  We really need to get all this done pretty quickly though or we will end up having to wait for a fall garden.
Since I have started just giving things over and not stressing over the things that don't go my way, it seems life has become so much easier. 
~~~~    Hey ... I'm Just Sayin' ...   ~~~~

24 comments:

  1. Enjoy a little rest as I don't think you will have time for it after next week. Very happy for you.

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  2. Congratulations, you guys ...it's been a long road, hasn't it? As Fran suggested, you better rest up while you can. Once you HAVE the chickens and the rabbits and the garden is thriving, you will be working from dawn to dusk to keep up with it all!

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  3. You should be floating on air, this is such an exciting time. I am so happy for you and can't wait to read all about your adventures.

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  4. I am SO excited for you ! What a dream come true! You are going to have the time of your life. Can't wait to take this journey with you from California.

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  5. Your excitement is contagious! I am so happy for you.

    I will see if I can find grandma's recipe for sauce. It is amazing and cans well - so delish - and you can use it on so many things.

    Can't wait to read more. :D Honestly. Hugs!

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  6. Fran- I hadn't thought about that...Thanks for the reminder.

    HossBoss- Thanks! You are so right, it has been quite a journey to make it here.

    Mel- I think I'm leaving footprints on the ceiling :o)

    Kris- It certainly is an exciting time. I'm glad you are coming along for the ride.

    SkippyMom- This kind of contagious is GOOD!! I can't wait to try your grama's recipe. A good sauce is priceless

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  7. This such exciting news, I can imagine how overwhelmed with plans and ideas for the new place you must be. The day you sit back and look out over your as the sun goes down knowing that is where you will lay your head that night will be a fine day. Wishing you only good things!!

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  8. Wonderful news! ~ Cin ~

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  9. Looking forward to following your new adventure as it unfolds!

    Best of luck in it all!

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  10. Congrats on the new place,I don't want to be pessimistic but Murphy will be around every corner so don't get discouraged.Good luck on the new homestead!!

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  11. Laura- I am looking forward to that day soon!

    Cin- Thank you and thanks for stopping by

    HermitJim- I'll be sure to keep ya posted. Right now I'm having a hard time not bubbling over with details.

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  12. yeehaw! what a wonderful thing. I have a big grin on my face, cause I remember when we got our land. Looking forward to hearing how it goes.

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  13. Congratulations and now the fun begins.

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  14. I am so sorry about your bad luck. Now you will have to spend hours in the garden and work like a dog on getting stuff done around the new place. I think it would have been much easier to stay with the Mush and spend time baking bread and talking to me in chat. O well I guess we all have our cross to bear. I wish I could be there to help you guys but it's just a little far to go. We all have our dreams and I hope that this is just the beginning of yours!! FK

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  15. HP- It truly is wonderful! Thanks

    Dizzy-Dick Thanks and boy oh boy am I looking forward to it!

    Fk- Buddy you just crack me up! I wish you could come help with some of the "fun" stuff! :0) Thanks for the well wishes!

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  16. Hey pretty exciting stuff to finally get to have your own Field of Dreams!! I know that standing for the first time just looking at the land and knowing it was nothing but a field of dreams was one of the most exciting places I had ever stood. Now to look at it and every time I pull in the driveway, I am so thankful for the wonderful opportunity to get to live here. I am so happy for you and I can't wait to see all that you are going to do. :)
    Many, many blessings and good wishes for you.

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  17. Tomato juice.
    Forty years later, I still remember my Grannie's home made tomato juice she used to can up.

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  18. not sure how many acres you have there,but it might be worth while,if you can't find a neighbor,to rent a small tractor. Get in the HUGE garden while you can,then as it grows,look into a farm stand permit to sell the leftovers.Restuarants that are organic,farmers market,so on.That would easily cover a day or 2 rental for a decent tractor.
    Dean in az

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  19. Great news!!!! There's nothing like having your own place. But, in the words of my dear old dad.......
    "You'll never get done, you just quit."

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  20. You're living my dream :)

    Try some legume innoculant for the black-eyed peas. If you're not familiar, it's a powder and you coat the peas with it before you plant them. It allows them to draw nitrogen out of the air, which makes them gow faster and increases their yield. Find it at local nurseries. If you're near OKC, I found it at Horn seed co.

    You should plant some basil, too, if you're going to can some sauces. Nothing's as good as home grown basil and tomatoes! Also, it grows better planted next to tomatoes. You could border your tomato patch with basil plants. Then border that with nasturtium and marigolds to keep the bugs away.

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  21. Woo-Hoo!! Congrats, Scifi!! So happy for you!!

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  22. :: happy Snoopy dance :: YAY! I'm so happy for you!

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  23. FarmGirl These are indeed interesting times!

    Busted Thanks to you I think I might just put up some tomato juice now! Glad ya stopped by!

    Great Ideas Dean! It seems that we are thinking on the same page...

    Shanon, I'm pretty sure your dear ol' dad had it right! :o)

    Kris, Seems like you and I are on the same path!
    I stopped by your place and am now a new follower!

    Gen, Girl it has taken a while to get here but Woo Hoo Thank You for stopping in!

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  24. I know this will sound weird at first, but my family has a great recipe for tomato... jam! It is GREAT, and tastes a little bit like peach preserves. My wife and I haven't canned any in over 10 years, but we loved to grow it, make it, and eat it in our life Before Children (BC). If you're interested, or even just astonished at the very idea, I'll dig out the recipe and email it to you.

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