HomesteaderWife - Tales from Wolf Branch [05/10/2023 - The New Fella!]

[HomesteaderWife]

Well, Fall is here, and a lot has happened yet again. The cabin and our wonderful porch is all completed, and we saved up enough to get the larger wood stove that was much needed. We are clearing around the house for an addition that will eventually be living space, and the old part will become the kitchen/library/relaxing space. We are also going to build a work shed in time, where we can get the four-wheeler fixed up and store it there. We can do our skinning and tanning without the "help" of the yellowjackets here too.

Speaking of skinning- I am still really happy that one of the local processors (well, not local, it's a 30 minute drive to the nearest one) allows us to pick up deer hides and legs and heads for free. Now this may sound gross, but my little crafty head sees beauty in all of this. Hides can be tanned fur on or off to make leather. Legs can be used to make bone knives, the fur around it makes good walking stick handles, the hooves are removed for decorations/necklaces/and such, the tendons can be harvested for sinew, and the pups get a nice chew. The head can be cleaned for a nice skull display. We recently picked up 4 hides, 10 legs, and a head to start the season off. Please keep in mind CWD is not reported in our state, but I still take precaution when handling the deer.

We had a little scare with one of our last four ducks, who randomly had swollen legs and could not stand or walk. He got babied for about four days, and with some good rest he recovered! The chickens are helping me with my little compost pen where we grew a ton of gourds this year. Hoping to plant some carrots here next year?

P.S. Pumpkins are pretty darn expensive- we carved gourds this year for Halloween!

The last thing I guess to update about is that we have a big craft sale coming up December 16th. I have so much stuff in the works to really try to make some money for Winter bills and needs. I'm really praying it is successful- we could really use it. Hmm, I guess that's about it for this update. Thank you to anyone who may read this.

 

[Baymule]

I have another idea for those deer legs. I have seen them made into gun racks. The legs are bent up and dried to hold a rifle and mounted on a nice piece of wood. Screws go in the leg from the back side of the wood.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@Baymule - I did look into that, because my husband absolutely loves his grandfather's gun rack that is made like that. People that make them usually taxidermy strip it down to the toes to clean them. It may have to be a Christmas craft for him if we get a deer here soon

 

[HomesteaderWife]

I am going to keep my update brief, as we have been more quiet about this. We had a fire on New Years Day, and lost our cabin and most of our things. However, we did not want to ask for help and wanted to rebuild ourselves in order to find strength and hope in the dark times. People have asked about "go fund me" and we have declined, as again we really just wanted prayers as we worked forward. We've been blessed by family coming forward and insisting on helping, along with two churches our family attends sending help as well. We have clothes, food, tools to rebuild, and money for bills. We are safe and strong. In short, we are in the process of rebuilding an actual log cabin, and we have had time to heal and carry on. It's heartbreaking- so many family treasures and handmade gifts my husband and I made each other were there. But we are rebuilding in the same place, and the lesson we learned is- "You can't rebuild while sitting there being sad. A new home cannot build itself." It was an accident which we believe was cause by wind- it happened so fast. We weren't in there, thus why I said we were safe, because it was so bad we couldn't have done anything. So I've been absent for awhile amongst this all and my time will be scarce as we move on, but please just keep us in your prayers. We are not in need, in fact we are "rich in spirit" so we are doing okay and blessed. Thank you everyone and I wish you all well.

 

[Mike CHS]

You almost don't want to "like" a post like yours but I love the spirit behind your post. You and yours are in our prayers.

 

[Pastor Dave]

x2
How devastating. Prayers for your needs, strength, and many blessings as you move forward and rebuild.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Thank you @Mike CHS and @Pastor Dave for your prayers!

 

[Baymule]

I am so sorry. Fire takes everything. I admire your spirit and attitude, but what a price to pay. I know you will rebuild, better than what you had to start with. I hope you check in from time to time. I loved reading your story as you built your home and I miss you being on here. Prayers.

 

[Latestarter]

Sorry to hear. best wishes moving forward.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

It's been a long time since I have posted here, as there isn't much to say. We are still rebuilding, and only have one chicken along with our four dogs. However, because this particular site is about herds...man I just really wanted to share something.

As a youngster, I was always around horses at my grandmother's farm. I remember in either the late 90s or early 2000s when Monty Roberts, the horse trainer, came through Alabama doing demos. I was so upset I hadn't gotten to see him, but my aunt did, and she brought me back a book called "The Man Who Listens to Horses". His principles of non-violence later became a staple of my work in animal shelters, and the way he studied the body language of horses was also useful for teaching me to observe the body language of other animals in order to bond with them. It was through this that I worked with 100% feral cats and found homes for 5 of them after begging the shelter director to let me give it a shot. It was through studying their body language that I was able to handle dogs at a vet clinic that other kennel workers were scared to associate with. Needless to say, Monty's work had a big impact on what I did.

Monty's in his 80s now- I still get his Ask Monty emails. Maybe some of you are familiar with who he is- maybe not. I am no longer around horses, but I enjoy the videos and questions/answers. I realized that I haven't been writing alot for Mother Earth News in the online blog area, and it hit me. I had a unique opportunity to share Monty with the readers- no one had even mentioned him on their site yet. I put on my big girl britches nervously, knowing this would be the only chance I had, and got the courage to send an email asking for an interview. And though it wasn't directly speaking to Monty, I was able to ask some questions through his daughter. Either way...I'm really grateful and excited!

An Interview with Monty Roberts
https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/an-interview-with-monty-roberts-zbcz1809