Monday's This and That

Welcome to Newsie Monday! 

Two 'winter' tornados hit North Platte, Nebraska last night destroying homes, knocking trains off the tracks and injuring at least two people.

Please, Please pray for all the people affected by the storms!

I'm sure people are walking around numb this morning and the real damage will not be seen until it gets light out today.



Tomorrow is the first official day of spring.  It seems that we've had a little taste of early summer in the last couple of weeks.  I hope we are not going to get hit by late frosts.  I planted like a crazy woman this weekend.  Got all my potatoes in, some green onions, lettuce, Kale, Chard, Mesclin Mix, Turnips and more.  This morning I'm going to run out and plant the Beets I didn't get in yet....it's suppose to rain off and on all week.  Perfect timing!

I was thinking quilting on Saturday when I was planting and I planted one of my 4x8 foot beds in Quilt fashion!  I can't wait until it comes up so I can show you what I did......I can't wait until I see what I did.  LOL

My Harvest Moon Over the Mountain quilt blocks have been started.  I was inspired by our last Prayers & Quilts meeting so I picked up the material.  Of course, what I wanted wasn't in 'the stash'.  I've got to work on my Mystery Quilt for my Nebraska City guild this week also so it will be a quilting party all week long.  I'll post pictures on the Facebook page as we go along so if you haven't liked Grandma Farmer on facebook, you better do it today or you'll miss out.

We are getting a new buckling tomorrow.  Making the trip to Topeka to pick him up.  His mother is an OUTSTANDING milker and we are very thankful to Goddard Farms for sharing him with us.

His name will be Goddard Farms Jared  and will be the proud pappa of most of our 2013 kids.  He is one of the brown kids pictured.

We have Boer Meat Goat kids due to be on the ground in May and ready for processing in March 2013.  Order early as we already have two reserved.

We will have Fresh, Raw Goat Milk available June through December.  Supplies might be limited so get your spot soon!  Milk will be $3.50 a half gallon.


Visit FOOTSTEPS BEHIND ME soon and see if I'm researching any of your (our) family sir names!

I've been building this blog and expect to begin blogging on it by the end of the week.  It's been difficult to get all the pages complete so I can share with you what directions we are going with these first 5 generations to be compliled in a book with the above name and published (hopefully) in 2015.

The picture posted here is of Aquilla Hall, a popular Stella, Nebraska figure in the 1800's.  Aquilla love young people and worked with and for them.  He was also popular among the adults and served in public office in Nemaha County.

Aquilla, is a handsome dude with crystal blue eyes.  He is Mike's 4th Great Maternal Grandfather.

WINNER!!!!

We are excited to announce that Erin S.  is the winner of our last give-away!  She gets a free $15 gadget from PLEASANT HILL GRAIN.  Congrat's Erin!  Special thanks for Pleasant Hill Grain of Aurora, Nebraska for participating in our kick-off give-away!  No give away's this week but watch for special announcements and a new give-away next week!

As usual watch this week for some new and marvelous Gluten-Free Recipes from

Grandma's Kitchen!

Ramblings on Gardens and Flower Beds

Today I'm going sit down with some lovely Orchid Oolong tea and ramble a bit about life with Grandma Farmer in her gardens an flower beds.

I don't know if you noticed but I've been off my game for a while.  Last year I had two knees replaced and it wiped out my immune system.  The last 4-5 weeks I've been sick with one thing or the other and ended up totally dehydrated.  I'm finally feeling better.  I've also decided to start a totally seperate BLOG for my geneology studies and I'm consumed with getting it up and going.  Lot's of organizing of the site to get up (top pages) before I can start the blogging on that site.  www.FootstepsBehindMe.blogspot.com


The ground was to cold the other day to plant anything.  The weather is exceptional and I really want to garden!!!  We've been working on the beds.  A couple of years ago I set out an awesome raised bed system for my garden.  We purchased a large roll of greenhouse fabric and rolled it out, pinned it down and then set the beds out on it.  We did open the areas below the beds and then filled the beds with organic soil, compost, and manure.  The beds have settled a bit so I'm adding more manure and dirt to some of them.

I am going to take my trusty soil thermometer out today and see just what temperature the soil is.  I have potatoes ready for planting and some onion sets plus I still want to plant my greens!!!!  Surely it will be time soon with the warm temps.  In the meantime, I'm sowing seeds indoors in my flats.  Brocolli, cabbage, tomatoes, peppers and flowers........tons and tons of flowers...flowers for cutting and bringing indoors.  Some of the extra goodies will be sold off the farm and through www.nebraskafood.org again this year.

My goal is to finish filling in the flower beds in the front of the property.  Across the front road we set a fence.  On the outside of the fence we've planted lilac bushes.  On the inside we've set Iris and Peonies with a large group of Rhubarb in the center.  As fill I will be planting annuals and perenials.

I moved the Roses to behind the house last fall.  Between them I've planted all my garlic and moved all my chives.  I will also be adding some Perinal plants to these beds......mostly herbs and the like since it's by the back door and closer to my kitchen.  This bed will be backed with a white picket fence this year.

The Poppy/Daisy bed was established around our light pole and some Mock Orange Bushes last fall and I'm excited to see it bloom this year.  As I child I remember the poppy bed my Aunt Lovenia had around her propane tank.  Beautiful!  And, I've always loved daisies!

I'm expanding my Echnicea (purple cone flower) bed to the full length of the fence row in front of the Chicken house this year.  Actually some of the Echnicea will be ready to dig and make medicinals from the roots this year.  My Blackberries are on the back side of this row.  We love eating the berries and making tea from the leaves.

The bed on the north side of the house is being removed and I hope to finish that this year and get the Ferns and Lily of the Valley established.  The people before us put a raised bed up past the siding on the house.....an invitation for termites.  The South House shade bed needs to be finished this year also.

The old fashioned Spirea bushes I planted around the front porch are growing nicely and will be beautiful once they are big and the rails are installed around the front porch of the house.

Lots to do and can't wait to get it all established.  My friend, Yolanda, is picking me up today and we are going to Menards in Lincoln.  I'm hoping to pick up a gate kit for my picket fence.  Can't start the fence until I see how the gate fits in it, right?  LOL

I'll post these same pictures later when everything is pretty!

Nebraska Geneology Options

There are a number of options for learning more about searching out your family history.

Long Lost Relatives has a list of options for you to enjoy.

Also the Nebraska State Genelogical Association is sponsoring a Convention in Grand Island this year.  Don't miss this one.  We attended the Convention in Nebraska City last year and it was great.  For an informative write up on the Conference CLICK HERE

You will see me at several of these events!  Can't wait!