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.