Nearly 20 years ago, we set out to create a self-reliant homestead. Now we produce our own food and our own power, and can tackle whatever craziness this wild world throws at us. If you’re ready take back control from Big Pharma and Big Food and feel confident facing Everyday Emergencies, join us.
Common Sense Home Good News Letter 11/17/24
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"Mushrooms dappled the edge of the tree line, rising in circles like miniature villages of fairy houses. The fairly ring mushrooms were aptly named, as it was easy to imagine the wee folk dancing around the earth-toned whorls that emerged after the rains. The mild fall and gentle rains coaxed so many mushrooms to spawn that we harvested enough for several meals without making a significant impact in the display." Our mild November weather continues here in northeast Wisconsin, but I'm not complaining. It's much easier to deal with some mud than freezing your tail off shoveling a mountain of snow. We have rain mixed with snow in the forecast for the next several days. The duck patrol is loving it, spending their days running between the ponds, orchards, gardens, and field. The chickens are having a blast, too, working over the brassica patch in the garden. Captain Featherpants, our rooster, has gotten HUGE. Thankfully he's a good fellow, watching over all the ladies and calling them over when he finds good snacks. August has been dealing with a new Federal pain in the backside called the Corporate Transparency Act, which requires small businesses to register with the Feds (above and beyond all your other paperwork). If you have a small business you need to register with FinCEN by January 1, 2025 or face fines of up to $10,000. I'm mentioning this here so our readers who are also small business owners a heads up, but you need to do your own research and registration. This is the site for the program - https://fincen.gov/boi It looks like the gentlemen of the house nearly have supper ready, so I'm going to wrap up for now. All our best to you and yours,' Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan) P.S. This week's rule of Ikigai is (From the book, "Ikigai: the Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life") is a good reminder as we head towards Thanksgiving:
Give thanks. To your ancestors, to nature, which provides you with the air you breathe and the food you eat, to your friends and family, to everything that brightens your days and makes you feel lucky to be alive. Spend a moment every day giving thanks, and you'll watch your stockpile of happiness grow. This week's featured articles...This can be a stressful time as we juggle various obligations to wrap up the year. I've updated the Home Remedies for Headaches article to help those aching noggins. It's a great time of year to stock up on fresh cranberries. They keep well in the fridge, or you can freeze or can them for longer storage. We have recipes for:
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Laurie Neverman @ Common Sense Home
Nearly 20 years ago, we set out to create a self-reliant homestead. Now we produce our own food and our own power, and can tackle whatever craziness this wild world throws at us. If you’re ready take back control from Big Pharma and Big Food and feel confident facing Everyday Emergencies, join us.
"...and still more rain came pouring down. But in spite of the gloomy skies, the yard was filled with the dawnsong, barely audible over the storm. They tackled the chores together, so they were quickly done. Inside, a warm fire beckoned from the wood stove, and the delicious aroma of bacon wafted out from the kitchen. They might not be billionaires, but they were rich in the things that mattered." Good news and bad news... Bad news - The ground is still half-frozen (because we were dealing...
"The gentle rays of the morning sun bathed her face as she stepped out to tackle morning chores, causing her to pause for a moment, breath deeply, and soak it all in." We've been riding the temperature roller coaster again this week, bouncing between a snippet of sun and a torrent of rain and wind (and sometimes snow). Today is another wild one, with a mix of snow and sleet. We still got in our morning walk, but it was not a day to linger and enjoy, that's for sure. Each morning I try to get...
"The male red-winged blackbirds spread out strategically in the tree tops around our land. As we paused to watch them on our morning walk, they appeared to rotate locations, like sentinels changing out their guard positions." It's not quite officially spring yet, but the volume of bird calls around our land is definitely increasing as the daylight hours lengthen. The red-winged blackbird males arrived recently, ahead of the females, and a group of them laid claim to the land around our home....