Minestrone of news

Hey lovely people!

I am sorry if I am not writing often, let say that I am running like crazy these days.

First news on the list. Camille got her babies. 4 males. Super cute. Last Sunday as Martin was going to give food she was there taking care of them.

The picture isn't too good but I took it with my cellphone ...

She got 2 grays, 1 yellow and one black all of them are tabbies and got thumbs which brings us to the easy conclusion that the father is Tom.

She is a super good momma, and it's nice to see how caring she and some of the other cats (Auguste and Patou for ones) are too. 

It will probably the last litter to be born on Domaine Coquelicots as all the cats have been sterilized on World Spay day. I will try to find some funds to make Camille and her 4 boys too asap.

As for the renovation of the second floor, we had to raise back the house from 3 inches in order to put back the beams that were there 140 years ago into place. Well the beams aren't set there but they will be next Saturday.

I was offered a job at the village that I've turned down. I am pretty glad about it. That would have brought me back to the time I was not independent. It seems strange but even if I am pretty convinced on this self-sufficent/homesteading wannabe life, I have to put myself back on tracks many times a week. Being the outcast making it hard to focus on the real deal. I am pretty proud of myself though, normally I would have taken that job even if I wasn't sure of the fact I'd like it and even if the salary was a pity one. I was raised to never refuse work even if that would be "the end of me". So I am starting to learn, I am quite proud of myself.

We planned our garden for the season. So far, around 30 people will be fed by us, which makes it encouraging.

All of this makes a ton of work, but I love it.

My Auguste came back after his surgery, he has an eye less now ... he looks like Frankenstein. Never ran away from the barn when it's -30 Celsius outside and you have troubles with your eyes already...

Soleil and Paul are in the house right now. Muscade isn't really happy about it. But ... it's life. I am glad I can offer more heat and comfort to two more cats now.

Paul ordering pizza ...

The chicks are now older. We transferred them in a big cage in the barn. They are around 5 weeks old now.
We are selling a bunch. All our hens are reserved. It's going fast.

And some other pictures of the gang ...

Eole

Proud papa Tom

Miss Mousse

One of our guinea fowls

Chausson

Myrshouk

Azul, still wearing the scar of the Coyote attack on her nose (we knew she was probably with Baptiste that day as she had that wound since)

Biscuit, who we recently discovered was a female ... lol

Potato, potato

Hey Poppies! (for those who don't know Coquelicots is French for Poppies)

It's Friday, it's snowing (blah) and I am trying to be in a good mood! haha

I am thinking about my upcoming garden ... sigh ... and I just found this on Facebook. I thought I would share.

I think it's a very bright idea especially when one doesn't have much room in his garden. I will definitely try that ... If I can find a gro-sack ... Probably another thing we don't have in Quebec ... Do you guys think anything will work or it will not work well because of humidity?

I also found this? Does any of you tried it ?

http://tipnut.com/grow-potatoes/

Victory!

I told you about this couple a few weeks back.

They win!!!!!
They can keep their garden and the town decided to let other people doing it under supervision (which is normal)

This victory isn't just theirs, it's for all of us.

It's the beginning of a return to true things.

It's the acknowledgement that things have to changed and to evolve!

I am super happy about that.

A Shame!

I am ashamed right now! So ashamed.
One of the main reason why we left our hometown is because we won't feel at ease and accepted in our life project. We used to have a 3000 square feet garden in town and everybody would check us like freaks. We also wanted to have animals, so we moved.

I am not very following news in general, when I decided to move here, I turned out the switch, I wanted to think about other things.

Some days ago though, probably knowing that I would feel totally connected to the topic, someone talked to me about these people: http://www.lepotagerurbain.com/

Those are people from the town I used to live in, living a fight that I would probably have to fight if I would have stayed there.

In a nutshell and for those who can't speak French. Those two people have planted a garden in their frontyard. They asked the permission to the city through a telephone conversation and, as it happens a lot in the "marvelous city of Drummondville". They have been told something that would after that be different. (happened to me plenty of time). So they have been told that it was ok for them to plant a garden (or something else than turf) in their front yard even in the part that "belongs" to the city. After some times, of course, the city wanted them to "correct the situation" and to put grass instead of the luxurious food they are growing.

Ridiculous?

Ohhhh yeah it is.

I mean come on, this is vegetable we are talking about, not weeds, not pot, Veggies!

And I've seen it through my own eyes, those people are taking good care of the place and it's simply beautiful.

Not only do they want to get rid of the veggies, but they also fining them 300$ a day for that "crime".

So today I am ashamed of the place I am coming from. Ashamed to see they are treating good people who want to follow the new food revolution!

Some people are complaining, of course, to them a small front porch with begonias and hostas is the way to go ... but ... when this happens and price will start to skyrock, I would love to see them try to eat an hosta!

Two Productive days

We haven't relaxed that much this weekend. On Friday, since I was having my phone appointment with my Seattle's specialist at 6 pm we went to the restaurant. So that was a quiet friday.


Then on Saturday, my parents came for dinner, we had the usual semi-joke semi-negative observation on about everything in the house. But we are getting used to this. Husband moved the dishwasher in the house so we might have one before the construction of the kitchen that is due ... in a while :-(


He also installed a clothline. It wasn't of course the one on that link, but I found that image the other day and I started to laugh so much! I put some clothes on it yesterday and I was sooooooooooooooooooo happy.


He also cleaned up part of the land and the soon to be cut "forest".


I took the time to check that forest on Saturday. Let say that there was nothing really interesting that we could keep besides 3 Acer saccharinum, 3 acer rubrum, 1 Populus Deltoides and a bunch (maybe 6-8) acer negundo. The rest was either dead or too close to the trees that had survived naturally. So with the help of the neighbours (and especially because their mother wants to see on the side of the "forest") that forest will be cut down soon.


We did an interesting discovery though. At the end of the forest, we have raspberries bushes on around 20-30 feet. Which will be interesting to work on and make produce.


I draw a bunch of plans for the future land management. Right now, my biggest question is : Should we have a cow or not. I don't want to have a tons, I just want one, maybe two (her baby) for milk. I am not super fond of goat milk for cheese and I would really love to do my own cheese one day.


If any of you know a lil on cow requirements, especially the feeding needs and pasture please let me know.


On Sunday, Husband and I (but mainly husband as I am not super good in this) started to construct what would be Cayenne's future crash place. Right now she is sharing the cabin that has the hens but we want to fill this with hens so we could sell more eggs to more people (eggs being like our main way to bring people to know us.)


I also started to rearrange part of the living room that is in the former sewing boutique. In the 50's that house was the boutique of the village seamstress. So the place is already arrange (wall wise) so it is separated from the rest of the house. As it has been known that I was a tutor/teacher when I was living in the city and that I was the owner of a business a bit like Kumon, let say that I rapidly got 6 students. So I rearranged that place so I can receive them without their parents having an heart attack while seeing the rest of the house.


So, I am off now, I will put some clothes to put on my clothline.

To whom who think I don't ...

I think I will say it once, maybe twice, probably all my life.

The hardest part of what we are doing is the fact that people think we are one or all of the following:

- Crazy

- Stupid

- Uncounscious

It's like they think we never think.

Crazy:

Since my last writing, a lot of things have been done. We cleaned most of the land of the garbage that was left there by the former owner, we planted trees, we built a chicken coop, we started a garden ... We got animals.

That's where the "bitching machine" went crazy.

To most people, the fact that we are working on the land while our house is upside down is like an act of terrorism ... or something worst. I just don't get why people care so much about how our house (focus on the "our") looks like a dump. Is it hurting someone? To my knowledge they don't live here and Martin and I are both adults, no kids being involved. It's like, they couldn't live in that mess so it's impossible that we can live in that one without being a bit nuts. It's impossible that we left a clean, brand new house for this. It's impossible that we found happiness here but not there. It's impossible to them that I find more pleasure petting my 10 barn cats or walking in my 4 acres then planting begonias in a single row around my tiny porch in town. I must then be crazy.

I am buying stuff from garage sell, I recycle things when I could buy new, I have enough money for that. I must then be crazy.

Stupid:

I bought a house that has to be repaired completely. I've spent money to buy land ... LAND! 100K for a shack and trees? Oh god, I am stupid. I plan on doing it myself, out of recycled good? Omg! I am soooooo stupid! What? Composting toilets instead of real ones? Hahahahahaha ! Geez I am sooooooooo stupid. Bringing cats to my farm! They will reproduce, you'll soon have too much? What? They reproduced? I've always thought they lived 3 months and then turned into plush toys! Good Lord have mercy! I am super stupid!

Uncounsious:

Taking care of so many barn cats. Cats that were meant to be euthanized! Giving them another chance to live? Good lord what an careless person I am. All cats must be in a house or in heaven, that's a given! What? they don't all live with me in my house? The 10 of them! What a bad person I am.

And those rabbits I have outside? What will happen in winter? What you don't eat them? Why the hell do I have rabbit then? For fun!?! Animals aren't meant to be fun, they are meant to be in the house or eaten!

Well, I won't go on with all the judgemental comments I collected so far.

All I will tell you though, is that the house is still upside down, we are planning on going on with it during late fall. 

Yes, we have now 12 hens, 3 roosters, 4 rabbits, 10 barn cats (and that a variable number - some come and go ---- what come and go? What a loosy person you are ... not organizing a massive search for each and every single cat not soundly sleeping in the barn after midnight) and a wonderful dog (what a dog with cats ! --- she loves them for Pete's sake!!!) and I am super happy. I am selling eggs and some veggies and I love my life.

And to those who think I am not thinking ... Here's what I am thinking : Go to hell ! 

Trees up ... trees down

The last two weekends were crazy.

We planted trees, fruit ones mainly. We also chopped down some. The two birches that were in front of the house were a bit dangerous. So cutting down and replanting ... We have around 15 fruit trees now but those won't be producing any this year as we have to take off the flowers to give them a chance.

We also get a chicken coop. It was in another village and it's nice 'cause it's a recycled one.

We have to take care of it and as soon as it will be ready we will bring chicken in it. Well, more hens than chicken, for the eggs.

And that's the latest ! :)

The Secret Garden

We are planning the garden right now. Well, in fact we are planning more the "fruit garden" than anything else. 


We found a place that delivers trees, fruit trees that are rustic in Quebec and that were to a fair price. Hubby is going to order them next Monday and we plan to receive and plant them by the end of April! That will come fast.


We will also plan tons of oaks and maples in a part of the land around 1,5 acres in the middle we will place "a secret garden".


As for the kitchen and the ants, we think we had "visitors" from a nest that is far from us. It's not rare in Quebec. What a relief!


Yesterday we went to Trois-Rivières to buy an antique table that will be our kitchen Island .. for 100$ that's a steal!


Today we went to Granby area and found wallpaper for the kitchen for 1$ a roll ... a steal too.


That's about it for the news.


A bit of Loreena McKennitt to dream about my future garden!

The Question on Everyone's lip

Why are you doing this?


- For the feeling of accomplishment : Most people don't get it but there is such a feeling of self-achievement in the DIY stuff. Each little step we go through is a bundle of joy for the next day.

- For the scenery: When I go out at day, I see the old houses surroundings mine and then when I face the Southeast side of my house, I see tons of trees and flowers that go on and on for around 4 acres. By night I look at the sky and see tons of stars.

-For the environment: My social one for one thing, I've spoken more to my neighbours here in 2 months than in 5 years at my former urban place. Also, husband is closer to his job. We will have a smaller carbon footprint.

- To be self-sufficient : That's the key point. We are giving ourselves around 5 years to be 80% self-sufficient in terms of food and many other things.

That worths every little sacrifice.

News Pack - September 24th 2011

No More Bloody Water!

We have our water softener installed! This is marvelous, no more baths that smell like blood! I mean Vampires' stuff is on the rise, but I am not very the one who likes to follow threads!

Who Wants to Laugh at us Now?

Let say we are the talk of the town now. Most of the people we've known (and some we don't!) came here to make us feel like fool for doing this. Among the best quotes I've had so far

"Well ... A young couple has to start somewhere!" (insert comtempt attitude here)

*rolleyes* Hey you Walmart Snob, we have two houses right now, can you tell the same? I think not!

"All this work so you can have more land that you'll become fed up to mow"

Of course, dumb ass, I bought land to mow the grass. We will see in a few years though, when you'll be eating chemical and GMO food coming straight from China for 3$ a can who is going to be laughing.

I respect your choice, why don't you respect mine?

Remember this scene from the Money Pit?

 

Well change the main door for a patio door and the same happened to us today. We had to change the whole patio door for garden doors (which is better IMO) 'cause all was rotten near the door. Good point though, we discovered that the original wooden floors in the dining room is still there and very very nice and the water infiltration problem is mainly corrected!

I leave you guys with that little flashback from 2000 with Live - Run to the Water

News Pack - September 19th 2011

Bloody Water!

Our water is full of iron. This is well water of course and it's very disgusting. The water smells like blood! We gather some info and we figured out that treating it would cost us 2k. Recently though, we were lucky and part of the thing needed to treat was given to us (I found that on Kijiji), so we saved 1K. Which is good.
I will have to start doing a little thing counting the money we saved so far doing that kind of move with the choice we took of recycling as much as we can.

It's getting colder ...

And we need to heat the house that is not so well heaten. I also found 2 electric radiators on kijiji that has been given to us, Husband is going to put them in the crawlspace that will help a lot. I also bought myself a space heater that I put in the "living space" well, you know the only place in the house where we will live for as long as the renovation not over. It works well for now. I mean we hit a bottomlow of 3 Celsius... But I am sure it won't work at -30!

Harvesting garden but no time!

We harvested part of our garden that we had here at the former house. Well well well ... not so good to be honest. I was not ok with harvesting but my parents really wanted to. (Next year it won't be like that believe me!) so our potatoes done ok (they were due though), carrots were too small (I would have let them more time) and onion totally rotten in the garden (Thanks Irene!) So ... 50% happy let say.

The roof, the roof, the roof is one fire!

Well not literally, but poor Husband had to go there to put some pitch on it. But good point, we are now sure water won't come through it into the house!

Gasoline is in my head!

We just figured out that we will save near 1500$ per year just in gasoline 'cause we are closer of husband work ! Wooooohoooo !

And as I go ... some little reminescence of the good old day with Moist