Only To Us…

August 29, 2018 ~ pilgrimhomestead ~ Leave a comment

While making dinner tonight I reminisced about our first milk cow and dreamt about getting another one.

Her name was Goldie. She was a beautiful Jersey-Guernsey Mix. A great starter cow. More like an oversized puppy than a cow. She was spoiled, and demanded our attention, which often included just a hard scratch on the head and she was happy.

Goldie was four years old and bred, when we got her. She had always been hand milked and like I said, very tame.

I remembered our first time milking Goldie. We had milked goats before and assumed it would be practically the same.

Udders, Teats, Grab, and Squeeze…. No Problem!

So we brought her home late one evening after she had already been milked. We settled her in for the night and the transition seemed to go well.

That night I could hardly sleep. It was so exciting!

We had waited so long and finally had gotten our very own milk cow!

The next morning, I got my bucket, my cleaning solution and rags. All the kiddos were up and followed me outside for our very first milking.

We were really farmers now!

I sat on a stool, cleaned her up, and grabbed a teat.

Gave it a firm squeeze…AND…Nothing!

I tried again, just like I had done on our goats.

I squeezed, moving my hands around switching positions from one way to another. Some squirts would come out and as soon as I thought I was on a roll, Nothing!

Minutes turned into hours and I started to cry.

My husband helped.

My kids helped.

After 3 hours of begging this cow to give us some milk, we stopped!

We were defeated.

We tried and failed miserably!

We took our hard earned half-gallon of milk into the house and savored every drop.

My hands were tired! I had used muscles I didn’t know I had. At that point I was afraid that I hadn’t milked her out enough and she was going to dry up.

I thought ONLY US!

This stuff only happens to us.

We bought a perfectly good milk cow, get her home and she dries up.

Really?

By that evening, all of my excitement had turned to dread and I wasn’t sure if I could handle this again.

We did fine!

And Goldie did just great!

It took us (as a family effort) a full hour to milk her out completely but we got the hang of things quick. She really let it go!

She had given us well over a gallon and a half.

I guess she was just stressed. Or maybe she sensed that I didn’t have a clue…either way we were blessed to have her with our family for a year.

She gave us many, many gallons of wonderful, healthful milk that we miss so much.

Doughnuts

August 23, 2018 ~ pilgrimhomestead ~ 1 Comment

So, my daughter’s been reading a book called Doughnut Day, where a mother and daughter take the day to make doughnuts together. Needless to say, upon finishing the story, she had a craving for some ‘momma time’ in the kitchen.

Here’s our recipe:

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups of flour

¼ cup of sugar

3 tbsp of softened butter

1 tsp salt

½ cup of kefir or milk

1 egg

1 pk yeast

½ cup of mixed flour and water (1/3 cup of flour and 1 cup of water)

Olive oil for frying

Glaze:

3 cups of Powdered sugar

½ cup of water

4 tsp vanilla

First, make the mixture of flour and water to act as a dough enhancer by heating 1 cup of water, then adding in 1/3 cup of flour until thick. Set aside to cool.
Mix all ingredients together and knead for 15 minutes. I used my kitchen aide mixer with a dough hook attachment.
Set aside and let rise 45 minutes.
Punch down and let rise another 45 minutes.
Next, place the dough on a floured surface and roll out to 1/2” thick. (tip: don’t over handle the dough at this stage or it’ll get tough)
Cut into doughnuts.
Final rise! 1 hour.
Heat oil. I used a deep fryer, but a deep skillet would also work.
While the oil is heating, make the glaze. Just whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, and water.
Fry the donuts in the oil about 30-45 seconds on each side, until golden brown.
Scoop out onto a towel and allow to dry.
Once slightly cooled, dip in glaze and set aside.
For powered sugar doughnuts, you could also place doughnuts in a large Ziploc baggie filled with 1-2 cups of powered sugar, shake well.

We made half our batch glazed and the other half powdered sugar.

Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Bagels

August 18, 2018 ~ pilgrimhomestead ~ Leave a comment

My kids love Bagels! Unfortunately, they take a few extra steps to make and time is never on my side.

So I enlisted the help of a few extra hands and we had ‘cooking class’.

Here’s the Recipe:

Ingredients:

4 – 4 ½ cups of flour

1 pk yeast

1 ½ cups of warm water

3 tbsp of sugar

1 tbsp of honey

1 tsp salt

Mix together flour, yeast, sugar, and salt.
Add warm water.
Knead for 5 minutes.
Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
Cut evenly into 12 rolls.
Roll into a ball, put your finger through the middle to form a 2 inch hole. Shape and place on a baking sheet.
Let rise for 20 minutes.
Next, broil in the oven for 2 minutes on each side.
Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil, adding in 1 tbsp of honey.
Once broiled, place bagels in the pot to boil (I did 3 at a time). 4 minutes on each side, turning only once.
Do the same with the remaining.
Once removed from boiling water, let them drain on a towel.
Next, you’re gonna Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
These Bagels slice well, taste great with butter, and even better with cream cheese! Enjoy!

Cinnamon Bread

August 4, 2018 ~ pilgrimhomestead ~ Leave a comment

Cinnamon Bread

I love to wake my kids up in the mornings with the smell of something yummy coming from the kitchen. Its way more effective than me telling them it’s time to start the day. They hurry to their feet and rush to the kitchen to find out, what’s for breakfast?

This morning it was Cinnamon Bread! A Quick and Easy recipe that’s delicious!

Ingredients:

Dry:

2 ½ cups of flour

1 cup sugar

1 ½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

Wet:

3 eggs

½ cup olive oil

1 cup of sour cream

¼ cup of milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Swirl:

4 tbsp butter, melted

2 tbsp cinnamon

¾ cup of sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Oil two loaf pans.

3. In the first bowl, combine the dry ingredients.

4. In a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients.

5. Make a whole in the middle of the dry ingredients and start adding in the wet.

6. Combine ingredients for the Cinnamon Swirl, set aside.

7. Pour half the batter into the loaf pans.

8. Spoon out a couple spoonfuls of cinnamon swirl on top of batter.

9. Add the other half of the batter.

10. Spoon out the rest of the cinnamon swirl on top.

11. Next take a butter knife and run through the batter to swirl the cinnamon swirl into the batter.

12. Bake for 35-40 minutes.

13. Serve warm and enjoy!

Flat Bread

July 21, 2018 ~ pilgrimhomestead ~ Leave a comment

4 cups of flour

1 packet of yeast

¼ cup of sugar

2 tsp salt

3 tbsp butter

1 ½ cup warm water

1.In a small bowl mix together yeast, 1 tsp sugar, warm water and let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.

2.Meanwhile in the bowl of the stand mixer add dry ingredients, starting with 3 cups of flour.

3.Next add the butter.

4.Then add yeast mixture.

5.Mix until well combined adding a little flour at a time until dough pulls away from the sides.

6.Knead on low for 5 minutes.

7.Slightly oil. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.

8.Punch down dough and form into balls, then roll flat.

9.Let rise for another 20 minutes.

10.Preheat oiled skillet. Fry each flatbread until browned on both sides. 1 – 2 minutes per side.

11.Store in covered dish to keep warm while frying the others.

Serve warm with butter. Enjoy!

Popovers

July 21, 2018 ~ pilgrimhomestead ~ Leave a comment

Popovers are a wonderful alternative to biscuits for breakfast, they also can replace rolls for dinner.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons of chilled butter

4 eggs

1 ¼ cups milk

2 tablespoons of melted butter

1 ¼ cups flour

¼ tsp salt

*Recipes makes 12 popovers

Preheat oven to 375. Butter 2 Popover pans, 6 cups each.
Divide evenly the chilled butter into the bottom of each cup and put the pan in the oven until the butter melts.
Beat the eggs until foamy using an electric mixer. Next beat in the milk and melted butter. With mixer on low add the flour and salt. Beat until smooth, approx. 3 minutes.
Fill the prepared popover pan cups ¾ of the way with batter. Bake 30-40 minutes, until puffed up and browned.

Timothy’s Birth Story

July 20, 2018 ~ pilgrimhomestead ~ Leave a comment

Timothy

Up until now all of my children had been born two years apart. I’ve had five beautiful children. Three were born in a hospital, then we had the last two at home, unassisted.

I’m the worst at keeping track of my cycles. Which in my defense, I’m not regular. For the past twelve years I have either been pregnant or breastfeeding.

So needless to say, it’s hard to keep up with, or maybe I’m just lazy. Either way I don’t track it.

So here I am in the middle of August feeling a bit different knowing I had a cycle in June, sometime around my daughter’s birthday and was pretty sure I hadn’t had one since then.

So I took the test.

Yep, we were pregnant and here we go again!

I was happy, my family was happy and that’s all that mattered.

I estimated my due date to be March 26^th. I have never had a baby to come early or on time, so that date didn’t mean much to me.

I handle my own prenatal care. I monitor my diet, my weight, baby’s heartrate, and our overall wellbeing.

I take my prenatal vitamins, maintain daily physical activity, along with regular Chiropractic visits.

Although I had done this before I reeducated myself on natural childbirth and how to handle different situations that could arise.

In January we decided to have an ultrasound to get the measurements of the baby along with the sex.

It’s a boy!

Another BOY!! We were happy. Four boys.

March came and went. We waited.

I kept reminding myself that no one had ever stayed pregnant forever, so I just continued to pray for a fast, and healthy delivery; healthy momma and healthy baby.

Finally, April 11^th, 9pm. I had a contraction. Just one, but it was real. I knew time was close. I went to bed to rest while I still could.

April 12^th, 6am. Another contraction. I was still in bed but quickly got up. Went to the bathroom. There was blood, just a small amount but it was a start.

9am. Another one. It was a bit stronger than the others. It was at that moment when we finalized his name. Timothy Adam Davis “God Honoring Man”. 1 Timothy Chapter 2.

11:15am. Another contraction, then they all came;

12:05pm

1:25pm

2:30pm

3:05pm

3:10pm

3:15pm

3:25pm

I was on the birthing ball between contractions and would stand during them.

I went to the bathroom to get more comfortable and wanted to get there while there was still time.

Once there my husband prepared our things. My music, birth ball, birth stool, essentials oils, towels, plastics, absorbent pads, and cord clamp.

I seemed to be more vocal and more relaxed with this birth. I was confident already having had two unassisted births, I knew getting scared was the worst thing I could do and would cause me more pain.

So I swayed and danced. I squatted, I reclined on the toilet, I was on all fours.

I do believe the pain was more intense than I had experienced with the first two, but I moaned and prayed through it.

At some time after 4pm I felt it was time to push, so I did. I pushed more this time compared to the others. But I felt it was needed.

6:40pm Timothy Adam was born. He was healthy and beautiful. I was healthy, tired, but healthy!

My husband and I waited a few moments before calling in the children. We just looked at him and praised God! We thanked the Lord for watching over us, for leading and guiding us!

My sweet baby nursed, while I delivered the placenta which took another two hours. We cut and clamped the cord an hour later. My husband took Timothy to clean and clothe.

Thinking back on this birth, I still praise God for His hand being on us.

My recovery, again was amazing! The birth was perfect!

Homemade Fly Spray

June 10, 2018 ~ pilgrimhomestead ~ Leave a comment

Homesteading in the summer is great!

The animals have full forage, chickens and guineas are feasting on the abundance of bugs…… and the flies are feasting on our goats and US!

Here at The Pilgrim Homestead we strive to do everything as natural as possible, so when the flies started taking over our lives we began searching to find the perfect fly spray.

At first nothing seemed to work. We felt completely helpless. We tried several recipes, altering the ingredients until we finally found the perfect combination.

The Recipe:

4 cups of Raw apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp dish soap

2 tbsp olive oil

10 drops of Citronella essential oil

10 drops of Basil essential oil

20 drops of Peppermint essential oil

20 drops of Rosemary essential oil

Combine in a plastic spray bottle, shake well, then spray animals. I usually spray in the morning then respray if needed in the evening.

There you have it, a homemade fly spray that is safe for everyone.

Peace at last!

7 Signs Your Goat is Getting Ready to Kid

May 14, 2018 ~ pilgrimhomestead ~ Leave a comment

We’re well into spring and for us on the homestead that means new kids.

Goat kids!

Last year our goats kidded at the end of March but this year it’s been the first week of May with one momma yet to deliver.

So, I thought I would share some of the signs we look for to let us know their time is getting close.

Full udder. Which means the new momma is making milk to nourish her babies. However, some mommas won’t fill up until twenty-four hours before kidding.
Softening. The ligaments above her tailbone will soften and feel squishy.
Dropping. Which means the babies have dropped and are getting into delivery position. Momma goat will look like her sides are sunken in.
Puffy. Her vulva will become puffy and relaxed.
Restlessness. Momma goat just seems unable to get comfortable.
Pawing. Some mommas will paw at the ground like their digging a hole.
Discharge. This can occur days or even weeks before the time of delivery.

There you have it, a few signs to look for as you’re awaiting the arrival of your new kids. Just remember every goat is different, what happens with one may not be the same with another. Just be patient.

By the way, be sure to keep a Homesteading Journal to document your experiences during your journey.

Happy Homesteading!