Welcome to Homestead Sunday, where we share what we have learned, what we do on a regular basis, and what projects we are building, rebuilding or working on. Who are we? We are a three generation family living on six acres in South Eastern Texas.
And while we have only been in Texas a short time, we have had the homestead mentality and lifestyle for quite a few years. Starting out with our time living in Montana. And, although we are not experts in any way, I hope that what we share with you with this series is helpful, as well as inspirational for you and your own homestead journey. Or even with your own home and yard in the suburbs. Because to homestead is an much an action as it is a lifestyle.
Like the heading says, Don't Forget to Have Some Fun!
Living on a Homestead should not be all work. To be quite honest with you, if you make it all work, you might as well sell out, move to a large city and take a job somewhere. It won't matter where, just somewhere, because anywhere will do. That way you can be working all the time, and receiving little appreciate in exchange for the time you give each day to the job. I know because I did that in the Corporate world for over 30+ years of my 47 years, until I could retire.
You see, it is much easier to just work all the time!
Right!? Because there is always more to do than the time to do it. Does that vaguely familiar?... Part of being a homesteader is that you get to set the schedule. Yes, there will be days when what needs to be done, cannot wait. Like finding a broken water pipe and knowing that the water bill will continue to soar, until the break is fixed. Or a bad weather front is moving in and the animals must be tended to. Oh and the generator needs gas, just in case! And, and, and...see, working all the time really is easy.
Fortunately those occurrences don't happen everyday!
I encourage you to take a little time to get away. Even if it is only to the next town over and you walk around the zoo. Or head to a destination about two hours drive time from your homestead. For us that is the beach. Pack a lunch, spend the day, it doesn't have to cost a lot. Also when you do have to make a trip into town for supplies add something fun and different to the list. Maybe an ice cream cone, or a stop at the library. The point is, keep some fun (and joy!) in your day! We are never too old to play!
What did we do here recently to have some fun?
We made a Pickle Jar Self-Contained Fish Bowl, and like most of our projects it was put it together with (mostly) what we have on hand, around here. Except the rocks, a fish and the fish food! Buying rocks is a new activity for me, but since we live on layers of sand and clay, there were none to gather. Unlike where we lived in Montana. And fair warning, like many of my projects I started with a thought, which didn't pan out, and found a solution anyway. Don't worry I do a fairly good job of documenting what did not work, and how I managed to get it right!
Come and take a look at this fun project.
I placed them in a large glass measure, so I could see if anything floated to the surface. And it did! I poured off the water three times, then added dish soap and washed them. A good rinsing and draining. With more water over the top and finally let them sit in the drainer until needed.
That large pickle jar!
that one and many more like it, had been used for dry food storage in both Montana and Wyoming. My husband painted the lids black so they would look nice on the pantry shelf. But here in Texas the humidity is too high to store food in them.
I made sure it was clean, and decided how I might want the finished Fish Bowl to look. I wanted something wrapped around the threads at the top of the jar. And originally I thought a mini bungee would work perfectly to hold the root ball of the Peace Lilly...however, I was wrong!
Cut the material in one continuous piece by leaving the ends together as shown, and not cut through, to the end. From there I simply began twisting the material into a cord and started wrapping it around the threads. I left enough on each end to be able to tie a knot.
Be sure the root ball of the Peace Lilly contains no dirt.
Originally this Peace Lilly was on our deck, but the heat was too much for it. That is when I got the idea to use it in a Pickle Jar Self-Contained Fish Bowl. I took it out of the dirt, carefully shook off most of the dirt, and pinched off the leaves that had been damaged by the heat and the sun. then stuck it in some water. I will say, it takes a bit of soaking to get all the dirt out of the roots. That may be the task that determines the timeline of this project.
After soaking for a couple of days, when I removed it from the water and shook it gently more dirt fell out of the upper root area. That worked so well, I shook and gently tapped the roots on the side of the sink and within a few shakes, the roots were completely clean.
So I grabbed the mini bungee and carefully wrapped it around the root ball and inserted the plant into the jar. Where it immediately sank! And honestly when I looked at what I had done, compared to how I expected it to work, a lightbulb did come on! That Lily needed to sit on something, not be lassoed like a horse!
I knew wire was the answer, but I wanted vinyl coated wire.
And I remembered we had some scraps of the vinyl clothesline wire left over from putting up clotheslines! I asked my husband to cut me two pieces that were long enough to act as a chair for the roots to rest on. While hanging low enough in the Fish Bowl that the green stems were above the water line, and the roots below.
On the left is the wire pieces at crossed angles, and on the right is the Peace Lilly worked into the jar and sitting on the wire frame.
Finished it will sit on our little dining table, where we can show it to the grandson, and he can help when it is time to feed the fish. But right now, it is just a jar with a plant. The fish and fish food, will wait until we go shopping on Saturday for groceries and a walk around the zoo. And right before coming home, we will stop at the pet store.
Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!
You may also enjoy: 
How to Make a Cold Storage Pot, for Homestead Sunday #11
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#scratchmadefoodforyourfamily
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