Update on root cellar in basement

Ok it's been a little bit since the first starter photos of the root cellar we decided to build in the basement, but again, with both of us working we find it hard to remember to snap photos during the whole process especially when we both are hands on trying to get stuff done while we are both here at the same time to do the projects

 try not to "notice" the mess down here LOL it's still under construction and reorganizing

the door, it was free from hubbys work, they get pallets of laminate in and in order for the 2 pallets to be held together they glue on these doors, yes really they do and when they get to the bottom of the laminate, those doors get thrown away, so we got a freebie treasure and built this area with that in mind

 as soon as he put up the drywall, I got out the paint, I wanted it done because its right beside my laundry area and I hated walking through that mess to do laundry, and that laundry basket in middle of floor, that is there because just upstairs right above it, there is a linen closet outside the bathroom, I had the dear husband cut a hole in the bottom of the cabinet so I could use it as a laundry shoot HA HA and it works perfectly!

Hey~why carry the dirty clothes down if you don't have to, I mean, you have to drag them back upstairs this was just saving a trip carrying them down there

 don't mind the mess, the paint cans will soon be gone, that photo will be heading out the door, the stuff piled over there usually is stored under the steps that come down into basement, but right now I have all my boxes of canning jar supplies stacked over there until we get shelving in the new room

 do you see the inside of that door, those lines all scruffy looking, that is where it was glued to the pallets, granted I wouldn't want it for my main floor door, but its ideal for here, can't beat free!

 stepping in the doorway you can see no shelves built yet, just some spuds that are patiently waiting for me to get them out into the garden along with onion sets, and we left the shower in that corner, just in case, you just never know when you may want water in this room!

 our picking crates, and the cat, this is a new area she thinks she needs to investigate when the door is opened

just another view inside

 the silver thing in the window is insulated panel, it will keep it cool and dark in here

 told you, see all those boxes of jars that need cleaned and put away (plus some stuff we didn't put into the shed for winter that needs to go back outside), as soon as we get this stuff all put away I can get to cleaning the old floor and finish painting it - those metal shelving units were here when we moved in, they aren't the best and I keep debating on what to actually do with them

ready to can, I am, I am so ready to fill those jars instead of looking at them :)

Root cellar in basement instead of outside

We had planned on a root cellar outside on the back bank, but I got to thinking . . . who wants to trek outside through the snow to get to the goods right? So we researched and decided we would just build it into the back corner of our basement, makes sense to me, why go out if we don't have to!

 I was at work when he started and had just the framework up so missed getting those shots

but ere he is putting in the insulation

 insulation panels for the ceiling

taking photo from inside the room, yes he's proud of his work

 installing the light and electrical outlets

 got some paint and painted it dark in there instead of the white drylok that we had already painted on

need to finish wiring and then put up the ceiling insulation

 after he was done I went in and added another coat of paint

just waiting for it to dry, he doesn't think it needs painted, but I do, I will leave the floor alone though

will update as we progress with this project :)

Beef Butchering & Processing ~ Farm to Freezer

Going to talk a little about beef butchering and processing today, we live next to farmer John who raises beef and chickens, it's a total blast, we moved here over 4 years ago and couldn't have asked for better neighbors! So we buy our beef from the neighbor, butcher and process ourselves, we have big gatherings when we do this, it goes faster and is so much fun during the process, doesn't seem like work at all!

So meet the neighbor John, ornery ole critter!!

I won't get too gory & yucky on here, but it IS butchering and it is graphic so close your eyes if you don't like this kind of stuff.

yep, its dirty work, but it is so nice knowing what goes into your freezer, who raised it, and what went into the meat we will server our family!

You do see it's the guys out there right? us gals are inside waiting patiently for our part, after they do the cutting, we do the wrapping :) and not to mention it's warmer inside too!

Let the fun begin, now to get the cuts everyone wants

How thick you want your steaks?

Let's trim them up boys!

Ok, so I meant the beef, not the other members of the family!!

Nice trim job :)

and of course we eat some too, cast iron skillets loaded with chunks of beef cooked over the wood stove, snack while we work!

All that is left is grinding the burger and getting it all wrapped, that was fun, a group of good people filling the freezer and having fun while doing it, wish you were here . . .

Yard work after the drainage ditch & sewer lines redone

You all know how much of a mess we had during the drainage ditch around the house work was being done, huge mounds/mountains of dirt, well that all got put back together, now to wait over the winter for it to settle then in the spring we can fill in and level off and get some grass seeded

oh yes, quite the messy yard right?

what's even worse, is the guineas we have think roosting on the front deck railing is a good idea, I do not!

they leave me little presents I don't wish to receive!!

 yup fall is here,everything is messy now

the water lilies are starting to die off as are the other plants in the pond

you know how you get one project done then immediately there is something else that needs done? well this time around it was the sewer lines, we had to dig from the basement all the way through the pasture field to get the old clay tile out and redo it with new good stuff, I worked and didn't get photos of the process, but you can see the finished area

at least another thing checked off our list!

so . . . the neighbor was going to haul his old farm truck to the scrap yard, wondered if we needed a pickemup truck - heh heh heh so we got it from him, now you know why this is called the "redneck" place, all my co workers got to calling this truck "Laurrie's redneck truck"

 don't you just love the duct tape?

 hey for scrap price, I don't think hardly anyone could get a truck for $500 these days!

well it may not be pretty but it runs!!!! and this old hillbilly is happy to have a truck to haul tons of plants around (and rocks, and dirt and well you get the picture it hauls anything!

Hog Butchering Day - pork sausage recipe

It's that time of year again, hog butchering day, it's always a wonderful time with family and friends processing the hogs! 

Jim and Robert skinning the hog

got smart, this time they hung it above the cart so the guts don't end up all over the ground

yes, it's messy

 time to get the hams & bacons cut off & get smoked

then the guys will cut off the chops, roasts and other pieces parts to get ready for us to wrap

 get the scraps into the grinder for the pork sausage 

we mix sage and pepper into our pork sausage mixture, always do a few taste tester patties so you know if you like the mixture before you package for freezer

 got to have a sharp knife for this job

 got the foodsaver out, getting bags marked and dated

now to get the pork sausage bagged for freezer

finishing up the pieces parts to get the rest of the sausage made

 time to make some link sausages

there we go!! 

are you sure you know what you are doing? HA HA

yup, looks like we got it! ready for baggin & taggin

BREAKFAST PORK SAUSAGE RECIPE

15-20 lbs ground up pork, including fat

1/2 cup pepper

1/4 cup sage

red pepper flakes, optional

mix all together really good to incorporate the spices

freeze in 1 lb packages, shape into patties or turn into sausage links

you can even make your own sausage from a pork roast you purchase if you don't have your own hogs to raise/butcher, just get a nice sized roast with lots of fat still on it, ask the butcher even for a fattier one

grind it up and mix in your pepper & sage to taste, same process and you season to your liking