It been 3 years since I first opened a Word Press account and I kept wanting to move the blog over, but never had the energy to learn WordPress, I was comfortable with Blogger.. But we are looking to expand our online options, so I am taking a crash course of trial and error.. If you notice we have a domain name as well… You can find us at BlessedLittleHomestead.com or BlessedLittleHomestead.org. I would love any and all input and advice as I try to settle in to our new home.. so now to the journal
On The Homestead
I am discouraged with the homestead. I feel that we aren’t progressing in any way. Funds have been extremely limited and it seems the more we try to become self sufficient the more dependent we are becoming upon others. Two steps forwards, three steps back, you know. The good news is Black Betty had what those in the birthing community would call “rainbow babies”. She gave birth to twins on July 7th. A little boy and a little girl. Black Betty enjoys being a mother.. More so than Fiona. Not that Fiona isn’t a good mom, Black Betty seems to be more patient. It could very well be that Black Betty is older..
The goats are quite adorable..
The chicken experiment is not going well.. We have purchased two set of two week old babies, both being massacred within a day or two by two of our dogs. We have tied them up, and double secured the coop, but the dogs still got loose and got in.. It is my feeling to get rid of the dogs but my family opposes that decision.. So for now we just have one rooster who is missing his tail feathers and two dogs who live tied up..
And the garden.. Its a dwarf garden.. all the plants are super tiny.. We are getting some food, so its better than none.. We just really hit roadblocks when trying to prep the soil.. 
Our Adventures Took the dogs to work
some photos from my drive to and from work
Additional photos
Jennifer G
I am really sorry about the chickens and all the other stuff you are dealing with. We often go through the same financial issues. 3 steps ahead and 5 back. It is frustrating and makes me sick. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. I love the new blog. I like the look and feel of it.
jan
nice look for the new blog…dogs and chickens that can be a problem…I’ve run into this myself. I assume it was not the Pyrenees. I agree that you won’t be able to stop them which means that you won’t be able to free range your chickens or any other fowl which means you will loose some great benefits–like tick/weed control and eggs/meat from a range diet. I wish I had a better solution but I do think you will have to choose and frankly I think you will wish you had found a new home for the dogs. It is possible they will get worse– They will get better and better at break loose/breaking in maybe going after things like the baby goats. You can’t blame the dogs for being dogs–some have the “hunting” gene and some have the herding gene…As a hobby farmer the city girl in me had to learn some hard fact of farm life–It’s not a story book.
Susan Holub
Your making progress…. Just not as fast as you want to, I know. As for the dogs and the chickens, once they get the taste for blood, you will never stop them. What a shame. If you are to have chickens, they will have to have a secure coop. Don’t get rid of the dogs…. they are protection for the children. Great Job with the journal. Keep your head up…. it will work out how it’s supposed to! 🙂
Jessy at Our Side of the Mountain
Just think of where the homestead has come from, all the changes. Just a few years ago there was NO homestead. It’ll get there! Cute goats! But ugh on the dogs. Unfortunately if your dogs are like that they will continue to kill the chickens. We barely let ours out to free range anymore because a dog from the next road tried to run off with one in the fall. Now that he knows, he could very well be back.