Rhubarb and Sam, Episode 7

The long lost podcast! This week in Rhubarb and Sam, we apologize for our absence and then get busy reflecting on our various spring projects... lots of permaculture projects including new food forests and our first swale, nature trails and a campsite. Then there is a frog and a cat. Don't miss it!!

Please note that you can subscribe to the podcast in several ways:

At the iTunes store via this link.
If you are using an RSS reader or podcast app use this link.

Thanks and enjoy!

Rhubarb and Sam, Episode 6

The long lost podcast! This week in Rhubarb and Sam, we reflect on the transformation that Kaleesha has been through over the past two years. From her long hair and modest dress and primary role of obedient wife and mother, all based on her previous fundamentalism, to her short hair cut and changing dress habits to her new role as an author.  Interesting.

Please note that you can subscribe to the podcast in several ways:

At the iTunes store via this link.
If you are using an RSS reader or podcast app use this link.

Thanks and enjoy!

Autumn at Make-It-Do Farm

You thought you could escape without hearing me blather on about autumn, didn’t you? Ha! 

Our place beginning to be covered in leaves.

We hosted our first annual Fall Festival. I suspect this will replace the former annual Box Turtle Race I used to host in the spring. It was always difficult to pull off a big gathering when there was so much garden work to be done, but it was worth it. Now, however, we just don’t have as many other children in our lives to make such a shindig worthwhile. And we’re totally into the autumn scene, with the cool weather, campfires, cozy sweaters, hot drinks, steaming bowls of chili and plates piled high with carbs…   Anyway, we kicked it off this year and I think we’re off to a good start.

Justin helping BeBop check out the fireplace.

We bought a couple cord of decent firewood and had it stacked right quick with everyone pitching in. Our friend Russ was good enough to stop by and sweep our chimney, and my dad came over to help us refigure our stove, which we had piped out through the old fireplace. 

Dad cut out the old damper, we cleaned the heck out of everything (at least 30 lbs. of creosote and ash) with Dad's shop vac, thanked the Flying Spaghetti Monster that we’d never had a chimney fire, and Dad worked some magic on the opening, covering it with cement board and rigging up some new stovepipe. The draw on that baby is remarkably improved. I tell you what, if there’s a zombie apocalypse, I want my dad by my side. The man has more practical knowledge and skill in his little pinky than I’ll ever have (though I like to think it rubbed off on me just a wee bit), more than anyone I know. (My brother is a close second.) He usually has the right tool for the job and nearly every other time we work together I’m introduced to a tool I didn’t know existed. Anyway, he’s our go-to guy, and we definitely needed help with this project.

Kids enjoying the fire on the first frosty morning.

Den and I bought new replacement parts as necessary for the stove. I sanded it, washed it, and gave it a new coat of paint (high heat Rustoleum, from the automotive dept—worked great). We enjoyed our first fire a few nights ago. The new catalytic combustor allowed for a clean burn. I couldn’t even see a wisp of smoke coming out of the chimney once it activated and it kept all the heat in the house where it belongs. Most excellent. I’m so tickled Denny is willing to do what it takes to do things the right way. 

Blue & Justin scouting fish

We rearranged our 55 gal fish tank (in above photo) and some of the kids volunteered to spend a couple sunny afternoons wading in the creek, catching some more fish to populate it. 

 Several red bellied daces, spotted topminnows, stone rollers, orange throat darters, a tiny long-ear sunfish, and one banded sculpin. We looked them all up in the Missouri fish book and called it school.

I also did this:

It’s my first rock balancing, but I plan to make it a habit. Our friend Russ turned us on to it. Surprisingly enjoyable, especially while at the creek.

Loving some rainy fall days...

…and bright sunny fall days. 

The above was taken during one of my and Denny’s daily, 2-mile walks. Well, almost daily. Pretty, eh? We pretty much live in paradise. To the right is another photo from the same walk. Denny is rockin' his solar-viewing glasses, checking out the huge spot on the sun. I had mine on for a bit, too. Wonder what drivers-by thought when they saw us in our geeky glasses, walking and staring at the sun? Hehe.

We celebrated our second-ever Halloween by donning costumes and attending our small town’s gathering Halloween shindig. Local business owners and other groups line the courthouse square and hand out candy. Farra dressed everyone (except me & Den. We went naked).

Blue & Little raking leaves

Yesterday the weather warmed a bit, up in the mid 60’s. The sun was shining and the yard was covered in crispy leaves, mostly oak. After errands in the morning and a lunch of popcorn, Den, myself, and some of the kids headed out to do yard work. We raked, mowed, and mulched some new garden beds. We buried the less hardy herbs under mountains of mulched leaves, raked pine needles up around the acid-loving blueberry bushes, planted a couple rows of garlic with a hearty helping of composted goat manure, herded the chickens and ducks out of the garden and shut the gates—sorry guys, garden party is over. Can’t have them scratching up the garlic.

Denny headed to the barn to put the gas can away. Mower battery went dead, so we will have to finish on the next nice day. But it’s sure lookin’ pretty out there.

The afternoon passed so sweetly, if a bit dustily. Working the land with your loved ones in the warm sunshine… is there anything so soul-nourishing? Maybe preparing dinner. Peeling and cutting potatoes and leeks in the kitchen with your family, dancing to Santana’s Oye Como Va, making a delicious soup while the sky darkens outside the windows.

I could fill pages with descriptions of our days. The joys, the challenges, the sweet moments, the laughter. Life is good.

Potatoes!

I’m quite far behind on this blog, but no matter; I shall dive right in anyway and get caught up as I’m able.

We maybe should have dug up our potatoes a couple weeks ago, maybe even a month ago.  (Am I running behind on everything?)  Well, after an incredibly mild summer, which was more like a New England summer than a Missouri summer, we hit a patch of oppressive heat and humidity that drove us indoors for a couple weeks.  Denny and I only got out when we needed to and tried to keep that to morning hours.  The younger kids played in the hose most afternoons.  The creek had nearly dried up.

Now we’re back to something more reasonable.  The sun was shining this morning, the katydids were carrying on like nobody’s business, the bees were busy about the last of summer’s flowers.  Time to head to the garden.

Only the three youngest grew potatoes this year.  Just a small patch each in their small garden plots.  Seth and Blue helped them harvest.  We’d planted what was left of the seed in a bigger patch by our tomatoes.  Royal and Little stayed out to help harvest those while the others went off to play.

Rewarded with cold cups of apple cider for their efforts.
(Toasting friends Sponge & Noggin, who, the kids suspect,
would love to have joined us today.)

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to scrub some of these and toss them in the slow cooker with the beef roast, carrots and onions. Ta ta for now!

Rhubarb and Sam, Episode 5

This week in Rhubarb and Sam, discussing community, connecting and not connecting. In particular, feeling connected to our new friends in England even as we feel disconnected locally. Being atheists in a conservative Christian community can often be a strange experience with few community connections. We work to cultivate and nurture the few that we have.


Please note that you can subscribe to the podcast in several ways:

At the iTunes store via this link.
If you are using an RSS reader or podcast app use this link.

Thanks and enjoy!

Rhubarb and Sam, Episode 4

This week in Rhubarb and Sam, astronomy! We set-up at the Tucker Creek observatory for some time at the telescope only to have a clear night turn into a not-so-clear night due to high humidity. The stars were still pretty bright in our dark skies so we settled in on the moon couch (our disc shaped outdoor couch) to record an episode. From Cygnus to Sagittarius, Saturn to Mars, take a tour of our night sky with us. There's nothing quite like pondering our place in our galaxy and our galaxy's place in the Universe. Have a listen!



Links of interest:
Our Milky Way Galaxy
Our Solar System
Globular Clusters

Please note that you can subscribe to the podcast in several ways:

At the iTunes store via this link.
If you are using an RSS reader or podcast app use this link.

Thanks and enjoy!

Rhubarb and Sam, Episode 3

This week in Rhubarb and Sam a middle of the night discussion of identity, life on earth, feeling small and feeling large. Have a listen!

Please note that you can subscribe to the podcast in several ways:

At the iTunes store via this link.
If you are using an RSS reader or podcast app use this link.

Thanks and enjoy!