Good morning from Silver Moon Homestead!
     Here on the homestead an artic blast is blowing in, with temperatures blasting down into the teens for overnight lows, and highs only in the 20's.  My first real winter in 15 years.  I am busy this morning, making sure enough wood is brought in or on the porch for easy access.  I have a pot of beef stew in the crockpot, and plan on baking later today.
If you have animals ( I am adding those in the spring) make sure you have added a heater to the water troughs, adding straw to the floor of the chicken coop, and make sure the animals have access to warm shelter, out of the wind.
   Over Christmas, I traveled, and made sure to visit family and friends both coming and going.  After all of the visiting, however, I was very glad to get home to the quiet of my cabin.  There is a new member here on the homestead.  A cat has adopted me.  She is a rescue, coming out of a home that was severely overpopulated and consequently this cat was given up because she hissed, and offered to bite.  There apparently werre several small children in the home, and this cat is very shy.  She hid for the first week, but has developed into a very loving kitty that loves to play, yet will come when called, and is willing to cuddle in the evenings.  Though when I go to bed, she definitely does not! LOL.  I slightly changed her original name, BooBoo to just Boo...since she still races to hide when someone visits, or knocks on the door.
    This has been an interesting first half of the year on my homestead.  I look forward to getting through winter, into spring and my first spring garden. Remember last summer, I was too late to plant much.  I am working on finding regional heirloom varieties to grow.  I hope you will continue to visit this blog, and even give input where you can.  My prayer is for a wonderful blessed new year for you and your families!  See you next year!

Christmas decorating is in full swing here on my homestead this weekend.  I have mini lights and a wreath on the door and porch, and a table top size tree on the dresser!  I have decided I really need to get a storage shed either here or in town since I have extra supplies just stacked in corners, and it makes rearranging furniture for things like tiling the floor hard to maneuver.  This place is coming together, and with every project completed looks less like a construction zone and more like a house!
Can't wait for Christmas break!  Only 5 more days!  I think this is where the decorating bug bit me!

Hope all my followers have warm fire, great goodies, and warm homes on this season of Joy!  MerryChristmas from Silver Moon Homestead!

Last year when this was all still a dream, I saw a fellow blogger who listed a bunch of skills to learn if you didn't already know how to accomplish them.  I knew several on her list but there were plenty that I did not know how to do. Installing a wood stove is a skill I have added to my skill set in recent days.
I knew electric heat would not be able to be my sole means of heat even in my tiny cabin.  All the locals have warned me that in most storms, especially in the winter the electric can go out and be out for 3-4 days at a time.  They advised me to get. A generator, but I don't want to be faced with going to work and leaving a generator going, or coming home to a cold cabin at night.  Earlier this summer, I posted about finding an older wood heat stove.  Two weeks ago, I decided it was time to install it.  I made sure I had a tall friend to help and give advice if I needed clarificationn.
First thing was to decide where I wanted the stove to go.  I ended up putting it in a back corner where a fan could help direct the warm air to the rest of the cabin.  Once that decision was made, I went and purchased the necessary supplies to finish the job.  It took four two foot lengths of stove pipe, then a wall thimble, a chimney cap, and a couple of ninety degree angles.  I found two that were able to rotate, which made attaching them to the connecting stove pipe sections much easier.  After a dry run of making sure it all fit, I measured six foot up the wall and traced around the bell of the wall thimble. This is a double insulated piece that protects  pipe from wall and vice versa as it passes through to the outside.  After tracing the bell, I got a tall friend to use his sawzall to cut the opening through the wall to the outside.  I had purposely not insulated or sheet rocked this section yet to make it less to cut through.  Once the opening was established, I found it easy to slide the thimble through, then run out side and attach the other collar to secure to to the wall.  Finally it was a matter of lining up and connecting sections, to the ninetys, rotating them and then passing pipe through to the outside.  Once outside, remember that you need to stabilize the pipe so it stays about 3 ft from the side wall, has a way for the pipe to dissipate the heat, and make your stack 3 foot taller than the nearest roof peak.  For me that meant taking a engineered piece that the pipe rests against, with openngsnin the side to let the heat bleed off quickly, and keep the house from getting a hot wall on the outside.  Lastly, the whole contraption is secured with cables,and plumbing strapping to secure the pipes from swaying in the Oklahoma wind.  I have had a couple fires built on cool nights now, and it draws well. My house doesn't need the electric heaters running non stop, and I love the smell of soup cooking on the wood stove!  Having a reliable source of heat allows me to enjoy the snowy evenings, and any storm that blows through this winter.

The Christmas season has arrived!  This will be my first Christmas on my homestead, and I am like a little kid this year.  Even though I will be elsewhere on Christmas Day, I have begun decorating for the season.
Modern progress has found its way to my place with the addition of Dish Network TV and Internet.  Last week the dish guy put in a temporary mount for the tv dish in a torrential downpour.  I felt bad for him getting soaked to the skin, but that is part of his job.  This weekend another technician came and not only set the dish on a permanent pole mount, but got my dish Internet hooked up as well.  Look out world, I can now beam in from home!
Another friend who is also building her "shouse "as she calls them and I have decided to collaborate on a book outlining our respective voyages as single women homesteaders.  Her farm has three buildings that will eventually interconnect, while mine just has one single dwelling for the moment.  She has a building to hide her construction in progress, while mine is with me.  I think our respective readers will enjoy the differences and similarities of our voyages.  Hopefully we can inspire you to begin yours as well!

I will post pics from home once all the lights and decor is in place.
Hope you all have a blessed week, and as for me, it is Merry Christmas!

Winter arrived last week with a bang!   An arctic  chill came and hung on. For nearly 11 days, with nights in the teens and twenty's, and daytime highs in only the 30's.  This weather is more typical of January, not to early November.  I had anticipated this by insulating the well houses, and any pipe exposed to the weather up to two feet below ground. Animals should have electric warmers under their water dishes by now as well.
One of the events during this was the arrival of about an inch of snow.  The roads were deemed bad enough in my area of Oklahoma that many districts, including the one I teach in, declared a Snow Day.  I was the unexpected receipient of a three day weekend.  While going out to leisurely run errands, it occurred to me that winter driving had begun.  When winter driving, you must remember to keep an emergency kit in the car at all times.
My emergency kit includes an emergency candle (I make mine but you can buy them from sporting stores, camping stores, and from prepper stores like Emergency Essentials ).  I also carry a bright hunter orange cloth ( tied to the top of your car antenna or put in the rear window to make yourself visible to rescuers), candy bars, power bars, and hard candy, two thick blankets, a pair of dry socks, and a gallon of water.  If you should break down, you shouldn't freeze or suffer too much waiting for the tow vehicle.  I also keep hard copies of books to read.
Winter driving involves knowing your roads, and your limits.  I absolutely refuse to drive on ice if at all possible.  Here are the safe driving winter tips I was taught early on as an Aif Force wife and mother stationed in North Dakota.  Drive slower than you think you need to.  If you begin to skid, take your foot off the gas, and steer into the skid. In winter driving don't mash hard on the brakes, Ever!  If you find yourself riding on black ice, and begin to skid, taking your foot off the gas pedal will allow the cars weight to assist you in slowing down.  Remember having a four wheel drive vehicle is nice, but even four wheel drive vehicles will end in the ditch if you are not driving with caution.  This past storm I saw several four wheel drive pick ups that had slid into ditches and medians of the interstate, while my little two wheel drive buick cruised right by.
Stay safe, and warm this winter.  Trust your gut, if it doesn't feel right to be driving, stay home.

Buying a truck for a single woman can be stressful.  It does not need to be, however, if you do your research before going to the dealer.  Since the accident last month and the rain turning my road into a quagmire, it has become painfully obvious I needed to look into buying a truck for the homestead.  I did some research on styles, (I favor Dodges), what accessories I wanted on it, plus it had to be a 4 Wheel Drive because winter is fast approaching, and while the BUICK often acts like a large pickup by hauling construction supplies,etc, I can't drive the BUICK through the pasture to pick up the wood cut for the wood stove.
I went to a dealership about an hour away after looking at several dealerships and their inventory online.  I knew the year range, make types, and accessories that should be available on each one.  I also had researched price on Edmonds.com, true car.com, and Kelley blue book online.  I also knew what payment range I needed to stay in, and what down payment I could afford since I do not intend to get rid of my BUICK.
The secret ladies, is to know your information before you step on the lot. Realize your are there to buy a vehicle to serve you rue needs, ie:mechanically sound, lots of tread on the tire.....beauty of the vehicle comes secondary, though salesmen will still try to get you looking at that angle simply because you are female.
I did purchase a truck, a 2009 Dodge Ram pickup, 4wd, with a tow package.  My truck is only a half ton, so I can only haul about 10,000 lbs safely.  I made sure that it was mechanically sound, and took it for a test drive before sitting down to talk numbers.
When you get to negotiations, be firm on your price.  They will not meet your price at first...or second, or third.  Keep In mind, it is your finances, and don't allow them to tell you your offer is cutting their profit too short.  They don't sell for free, but they have plenty of room available.  If possible, have your financing already pre-authorized through your bank, and don't be pushed into using their finance package.  Be prepared to walk away from the salesmanship desk until he meets your price.  If he can't, go somewhere else to buy. Don't fall in love with the beauty of the truck until they meet your price and pass you the keys.

One of the most important things for a homesteader is reliable transportation.  Especially, Lady Homesteaders.  I had a very wise uncle who cautioned me as a single woman, to always always, ALWAYS, have a spare car in running order.  This proved necessary recently when a neighbors dog ran into my car and bounced my car in the ditch.  3 1/2 weeks later, tonight I bring my car home.
The other caution, ladies, is always drive the car with a member from the repair shop before you agree to take it home.  It does happen that, as in my case, something gets overlooked...and forgotten.  If you forget to check and take that test drive, anything forgotten is now for you to fix.  I made the shop advisor go with me Monday, only to find out no one had checked the front right tire assembly.  Two mechanics had worked on other parts of the repair and each thought the other had looked at it.  So one more night in the shop and  it came home fixed with no more expense to me than the original $5000 repair estimate.  Know what noses your car does and doesn't make, know how it handles, and make sure the test drive before you take that car home is at a variety of road speeds, including highway speeds.  Your car carries a very important cargo-YOU! You want to be sure after repairs are made that you have a safe and drivable vehicle.
Also, know your insurance....what does it cover!  I have rental coverage for when the vehicle is in the shop after a wreck.  This can be handy if you only have the one car, and need to be able to get into a daily job off the homestead.  Ladies, be informed, and insist they explain until you understand.
From wrecked to drivable ....very important!

in this last week, it has become very noticeable that fall is here, and winter is coming close behind.  First the trees by the pond have FINALLY begun to change colors.  The Persimmons have begun to get close to ripe ( just waiting on that first cold snap with frost).  I have one more long wall to Sheetrock before I am done preparing for winter.  Canned goods line my shelves, I have propane, wood is cut and stacked, and things are near ready for the cold.
Weekends now are cool enough to cook and bake indoors.

One of my favorite recipes is Pumpkin Pudding in the Crockpot.
Here is the recipe I use:

Ingredients:

15 oz. can solid pack pumpkin

12 oz. can evaporated milk

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 eggs, beaten

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

2 Tbsp. sugar

Preparation:

In a large bowl place pumpkin and beat with spoon to soften. Gradually add 1/4 cup of the evaporated milk, stirring until well blended with the pumpkin. Then add remaining evaporated milk and the rest of the ingredients and beat until blended.

Transfer to a 3-quart crockpot coated with nonstick cooking spray. Cover crockpot and cook on LOW for 5-7 hours, until pudding is set when lightly touched with finger.

Serves 8

Note: The time for cooking this pudding will vary with the size of your crockpot. If the crockpot is filled less than half full, cook on low for 3-4 hours. If it's filled between one-half and two-thirds, cook on low for 5-7 hours. The temperature of the pudding should be 170 to 175 degrees F. Let cool for at least one hour before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

It comes out like pumpkin pie without a crust.  So good on a wintry raw evening.  

Nights are beginning to be cooler!  Fall has definitely arrived.  I have been busy getting things done and finished for winter.  Got to get the stove installed and rest of wood cut.

So  free a long week of bring home sheet rock, on Friday I found a job site that was throwing some of the same size away.  They had 8 four by four sections of half inch sheet rock.  I paid the man $1 for each, and with that was able to finish out one whole wall from start to finish.  Without finding those short sections, I would have only a partial wall done.  As I get more money, I will go get more board. Will really start watching all the job sites around where I work, maybe I can get some more good deals!
I also snagged a second hand computer desk, which fits perfectly against a half wall in my cabin...paid $10!  I have decided to get a storage shed, and will remove part of the floor so that it will be part well house, part storage!  Two things completed....one cash outlay!
Between the desk, cabinets, and the Sheetrock, which will soon be covered by wall paneling, this place is beginning to look like an actual home inside.  It's a good thing because I am growing weary of living in the middle of construction.

It has been a rough week.  I am trying to bring in supplies enough to finish the inside of the cabin for winter.  4 sheets of sheet rock is all I can haul at a time, and that is with the hatch open and tied down.
Come the weekend, friends and ai will put up Sheetrock. Walls need finishing, then I will finish stovepipe section through the roof, and be ready for winter.  Thinking of leaving the floor plywood through the winter.  Was gonna throw rugs down, but can't stand rugs, and have no vacuum. Yes I could buy one, but then when rugs get put out to garden, or to another use, I would have something I no longer need.

I was recently told that I am an inspiration to women, and that I am empowering women.  I would hope that is true, but that was not my intention when I started out.  What I wanted to do was carve out a place for me to retire before I got "too old".  Along the way, I have learned how to electrify houses, plumbing inside (yes, I wimped and called a plumber for the well hookup), and how to build a strong cabin that can stand up to the winds of the night.

This is my fifth cabin since 2005.  the first cabin was 8x10 and swayed in a strong wind.  I learned about bracing structures after that one.  The next one taught me how to add rooms, and to experiment with different roof pitches was the third cabin.  The fourth one was where I gained mastery of drywall, mud and tape skills.  This fifth cabin, yes I bought rebuilt, but it gave me the necessary time to learn electricity, and plumbing before school began again.  Each cabin got successfully bigger....until this one!

This is the one that I will keep. As an Air Force brat growing up all over the world, I despaired of ever finding somewhere that I could call home.  When I walked on this piece of land, I knew I had found it in Oklahoma.  My heart will always be in Texas, but my body and soul are firmly planted in Oklahoma.  I will continue to build and sell just will never sell this place.

If my voyage inspires and empowers other women, then I am glad.  I am just a simple old woman who likes to learn new skills, and hates for a guy to tell me to leave these things to the menfolk. ;-)

So pull up a chair to the fire, read catalogs, read how to use tools, watch youtube videos, because most of the skills I use and have taught myself are hard work, but believe in yourself- with effort, you too can do all this, and carve out a place for yourself!  My thanks to the guys and gals in Lowes who listen to my questions then help me find just what I need, to Classic Country Land for having this great piece of land for me to buy, and to Derksen for my tiny cabin.  Thanks to Spoon plumbing of Prague, Oklahoma for getting the water from well to above ground, and fixing the issue left by a previous tenant.

I will continue to post as my homestead continues to evolve and grow.  He plan is to get chickens next Spring, but gotta build a chicken coop first.....fencing....then Irish Dexter Cattle.....the garden will grow, the produce will be dehydrated, frozen, and canned.  Lots more to come.  keep reading with me, and let me know what you are learning as you discover and follow your own dream.

Priorities will have to change.....gotta get wood stove  pipe up and connected....gotta cut some wood from all the dead trees around the property.  The electric fireplace will work for the net couple days.


Now that water is in, was going to work on fence next, but this cold snap reminds me that even though we are in Fall, winter is not far behind!

Finally....four months after arriving full time on the Silver Moon, my. Well is back in action. I have water !  I need to install drains before sink or tub can be set up, but I still have water to the door with a Bury Hydrant!
After treating with bleach and letting the system flush it has wonderful tasting water!  It tested clean, and now I have visions of Washing Machine dancing in my head!
Thanks to Johhny of Spoon Plumbing in Prague for setting me up! He and his wife were quick, reasonable and patient with my every question!  If you need a plumber...Johnny is the one locals go to...so will I!

It amazing what a good 2 inch rainfall will do to the pond, and associated water levels!  last week I was worried about the pond evaporating too quickly, then yesterday it was a cold rainy day and today at the pond it was looking a bit better!

On another note, I have decided with fall pending so quickly to bite the financial bullet and get the plumbing done to the house professionally.  I keep running out of days to get it done, with teaching school, and weekends just aren't

Quite long enough!  That also will free me up to finish the ceiling and caulk any gaps I find while putting in the stove pipe. 

Have a great week everyone!  

Today is a cold rainy day.  nope not complaining, but realized fall is about to catch me unprepared!  Today the local well service company came out and gave me an estimate to finish hooking well to house-$1795!  On the bright side, I would have water!  As much fun as I have been having swimming in the pond to get clean, it was way too chilly this morning to stay in very long!

In other news, the neighbors pig got loose, and into my yard, and the last remnants of my garden!  It is amazing how quickly they can plow through plants!  He/She loved the remaining tomatoes on the last plant, and challenged me when I tried to get a few for me.

Lastly, I have figured how to get the ceiling done...so hopefully by beginning of October, all wall paneling will be done, ceiling finished, and stove pipe in place!  :-)
Then Fall can come blowing in!

The next farm over showed me a great way to get livestock....Hang around Dollar General!  Now we all know they do not sell chickens...at least not on the foot, but my neighbors' wife works at a local area Dollar General as an Assistant Manager.  The other day, people kept coming on and telling her there was a chicken on the bench outside.   So my neighbor went out, and sure enough there was a chicken outside.  She made calls all afternoon, and no one claimed the chicken. She gave it water, and stopped on the way home at the feed store.  Yes, that chicken has recovered from an afternoon at the Dollar General, and is happily living at the next farm up the road.  I guess I have to get mine the old fashioned way!  just had to share!  Ya'll have a great week! Be open to opportunities, and always check out the local stores!

While for the most part, I enjoy being a single woman, there are times when I wish I could pull a man out of the closet to do something I don't want to have to do.  Late night visitation from a pack of coyotes is one of those times.  Yes our coyotes here travel and hunt in a pack.  I have been told this does not happen, but have seen 7-10 running through the yard, and upper pasture together.  Three nights ago, they were in the front yard going through and really upset Torrie! It took her two hours to quit pacing and growling at the front door.  I did manage to shoot one, and in the morning had to deal with the carcass before letting Torrie out in the yard.

The rest of the week has been fairly uneventfu. Getting to know my students, getting back into the routine, learning new agendas at a new school.  I get to mowing early Saturday mornings, and managed to get laundry out early this morning.  I also somehow left my cellphone on the my teacher desk at school.  I will get it on Monday morning because as a newbie on campus, I have not received my outside door key yet, so could not get in.

Homesteading is hard work, especially if you have to work full. Time off the homestead to make finances work. The nice thing, though, is standing on the front porch in the morning with a steaming cup of coffee looking over all my property and smiling.  That alone makes up for having to leave Torrie all day.  It is definitely where I need to be doing what. I need to be doing!  Thank you Lord for blessing me with all this abundance and a good dog!

What a week this has been!
  1.The house is very nearly finished. With insulating( I lack five panels) and stays much cooler with the little a/c I bought for the dog.  She is kept inside during the day while I am gone since I have not got the fence for the yard as of yet.
2. The neighbor's chickens were attacked- originally by coyotes, or so we thought, but secondary attacks have led to a neighbors dog.  He has been allowed to roam the countryside at will, and this is the result.  Another reason to hurry and fence in my land.  The sad thing is the neighbor who owns the dog does not feel his dog should be disciplined, shot at, or anything, because they have lived here longer than anyone else and his dog ( a big kurvas) has always been allowed to roam. Makes me think twice about building a chicken coop without the yard being fenced.
3. Insulation of the house is nearly finished, including the push on a 100 plus degree day that left me itchy and hot!  I lack one bundle ( 5 panels).
4. Finally, school has begun!  I am always eager to go back to school and get to know my new students.

All in all, except for helping clean up the havoc of a raided coop, and helping explain how chickens to to heaven to their kids, it was a great and wonderful week!

New companion and security for the homestead!

The electrician suprised me and came this morning......other than some small snafus.....which were corrected!  The ELECTRIC IS ON!  Now I alert the electric company to come rescuer their meter.  Payday, I am buying an air conditioner!

With the help of new friends, I am ready for the electrician to wire to the pole from the service panel! YIPPEE!!  May have electrical service to the house by Wed!

I intentionally kept my cabin small...(12 x 32 ).... But I live alone, except for the possibility of a dog in the future.  Was scoping out the truck stop in Okemah...20 miles from home) and found this tiny house fueling at the gas pump.  Just under 100 sq ft.   Ah.....but the pond now calls my name.....LOL

Living out in the country has its benefits.....and being a science teacher surely helps at times.  I really enjoy all the various wild critters that are around.  Spiders eat insects so I encourage them where and when possible.  This gorgeous spider made its nest overnight on the front porch.  I had pulled the new mower up on the porch to keep it out of the rain that we got last night, and set the gas can next to it.  The spider got creative between them.

Yesterday was a trip to Lowes.  My Buick thinks it is capable of hauling like a big ol pick up and I am not about to tell it different.  Yesterday's trip included bringing home 10 ft lengths of conduit, plumbing supplies, and wire to go through the conduit and underground to the electric pole. That is Monday's chore, and will be completed by one of the electric companies finest!  Then, THEN I will have fully operational electric inside the cabin! WHEEEEEEE, 

For those of you who have been wondering...yes, electricity is being worked on at the same time.  Drilling holes in my beautiful studs bothered me for a small bit, then comfort won out.  While I have done cabins before, I always farmed out the electric and plumbing.  This time, I decided to do these myself.

I also bought a gas engine lawn mower, and decided to start mowing myself, where up to this point, I had been paying a neighbor's son to mow for me.  On another note, after mowing the grass last evening around the well, I found evidence a pump may already be in the well.   The neighbors up hill tell me that the fellow where I now live and his mom, next property to the northeast, both had wells dug, but the pipe comes out the side of the well-UNDERGROUND.....so before I explore plumbing any more, I will dig and see if I can find a pipe coming off the side of the well. The neighbors believe it is 2-4 foot down.  Apparently they set it this way to gravity feed to their trailers....no need for a pressure tank!  I will keep the submersible pump I bought for the time being as eventually the old pump, being mechanical, will wear out!  Now I am wondering if my depth was figured wrong.  I had lowered a washer on a 200 ft rope until I felt slack, pulled it up and measured where the rope went slack, and how far up it was wet.  I am wondering if the pump made the rope go slack.  The things we learn when exploring!  

Purchased a submersible well pump, PVC pipe, pressure tank, fittings, and wiring for pump...Can you guess what my next project is?   LOL.  Time. To do the plumbing!

I have learned very quickly to keep watching the garden.  After 2 days of good steady earth soaking rain, I walked down to the garden, and found melons growing, more tomatoes coming and pumpkins beginning!

Looking towards winter and heating needs.  Have been looking for a wood stove for the cabin for some time.  Found one in a small "Antique" Store today!  Here is what it looked like coming home in the back of the Buick. it definitely needs some stove blacking and TLC.  It has all the pieces, plus space on the top for two pans.  Once it is home and put together, I will post pictures.  Got the rest of the electrical needs, so can now finish the electric for the house, then on to plumbing!

As promised....all together.  Next is to add electric and insulation with appropriate shielding behind where this will sit, and the rock base as well.  My week is going to be busy!

Been busy with hole saw and drill getting boards ready for pulling wire...finally!  Course it has rained for the past two days....1 1/4 inch in the rain gauge so far.  More rain expected tonight!  Wring and insulation will be finished before midweek next week.  Then on to plumbing....LOL!

Considering the late late start to my garden, and the daily battle with thousands of grasshoppers, the garden is doing well, and beginning to produce!  So excited!