It's HOT

This homestead is in southern Missouri and we've had high temperatures and low rainfall all summer. It's been like last July, since May, here in the Ozarks. I've been blessed with a productive garden though and I will share some of my successes in the next few weeks. I'm going to talk today, though, about handling homesteading enthusiasm and/or the temporary lack thereof. For those of us who are seriously working at living off the land, no rain can be a bit disconcerting. In normal rainfall, summer is the easiest. Chores are minimal. The animals graze, the calves enjoy the pond for refreshment, and the milking is efficient. Meals contain more fresh produce, so there's less cooking. Speaking of fresh produce brings me to the topic of the garden. Pick the veggies in the cool of the morning or evening and in the heat of the day, stay in the a/c canning and freezing the produce. I'm not one of those homesteaders that is making work out of simplifying and although I'm heading off the grid, I still enjoy the convenience of electricity. I like to think I have the best of both worlds with modern conveniences like a refrigerator, stove that isn't wood, and indoor plumbing, while enjoying organic produce, free range eggs, and raw goat's milk. Without regular rainfall, though, what is often the laid back time of homesteading, can turn into more work than spring and fall. Keeping the garden alive becomes a concern. Then there's the animals and the pasture to see to. Not to worry, though . . . because worry doesn't change a thing!
I took on an apprentice the beginning of July, which although it's had fun moments, it's also had it's moments! Let's just say this July was the best of times and the worst of times. Turns out my apprentice got here and realized she really doesn't want to be a homesteader, she'd rather learn just enough to be the envy of the suburbs.
I am going to share the most valuable information I have for homesteading. Everyday I'm thankful and give thanks for the good land G-d brought me into, and this blog post has to be temporarily interrupted because it's raining . . . Now, I'm back.
Regardless of what great work of literature you're working on, regardless of how many tomatoes are on the counter, regardless of how many people will be sitting down to dinner, and regardless of how close to chore time it is . . . never pass up a chance to dance in the rain!