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

[HomesteaderWife]

Wow, I can't tell you all how excited I am! We just got an email from Norwood sawmills today (the company we purchased our own sawmill from) and we won 3rd place in their 2015 photo/video contest under a category for videos of sawmills in action. My husband was running the mill one day, and I took a video of him working which I decided to submit in their contest. Our 3rd place win gives us $100 credit towards a purchase from them (which will cover a good deal of the cost of buying our next box of 5 blades). We are more than happy to have this, and it's so great to be able to save that much when we go to buy blades again. Thank you Lord for such a blessing!

 

[Southern by choice]

Very cool! Smart thinking Homesteader Wife!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

I'm also pretty excited too about calling a local deer processors today. The woman took my information and said they normally throw their hides away, but she would get them to save a few for us in the freezer. I've never tried tanning a full deer hide before so this will be new for me. I've tanned squirrel, and now rabbit, but I want to learn more about tanning with deer. I'll need a lot more alum and salt... oh my.

 

[Latestarter]

Use your brains instead of alum and salt... If the deer processor is saving hides for you, ask them to save the head for you as well so you can use the brains.
http://www.native-art-in-canada.com/braintanning.html

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@Latestarter - I thought about that after haha! I am going to ask them about it when we go to pick up the hides, as I have been wanting to try brain tanning but it slipped my mind. I'm not good with talking on the phone, I get tongue-tied and forget what I am trying to discuss! Thank you for reminding me about this.

 

[norseofcourse]

Congrats on the contest win! And good luck with the deer skins. Have you read about the kerosene/baking soda method?

 

[Ferguson K]

Congratulations!!! That's awesome!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Thank you everyone! It was so nice to hear from the company today about the contest, and it was great to talk to the deer processors too. @norseofcourse - I have not heard of that method. I've heard of quite a few including eggs and oak bark, but not that one!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

The winning video of my husband milling up lumber, then him and our preacher nailing up the boards to construct an antique corn crib!

 

[HomesteaderWife]

I am excited to update today and say that I am about to get a new bunny over the Christmas holidays. I have been telling my best friend that I would gladly trade her a female rabbit for a few eggs and some squirrel meat. I messaged her today and mentioned it again, and she replied, "If you could stop ruining surprise Christmas gifts that would be great"

She sent a few photos of the new bunny, and this is a HUGE solid black Lionhead mix and she is 9 months old. She will be a wonderful addition to our farm as we continue to try and raise rabbits for meat and fur (we have had two females who weren't having any babies, so fingers crossed that this one will be a successful momma). I'm so thankful my friend is working out this trade with us!

Also, I will post tomorrow once I get my next article up on Mother Earth News. It's going to be titled- "5 Easy Squirrel Calls"

Thank you so much everyone for reading this journal. Have a blessed day, and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!