Yesterday was one of those days when I wanted to hug the delivery person!
I finally took delivery of a few items that I’ve been salivating over for quite a while now. Lanterns from Lehman’s are something that I’ve been researching for the last couple of years, but just couldn’t make a decision. These 5 star galvanized lanterns were my choice and I can’t wait to find time to “play with them” this week. Choosing what fuel to use will be the next decision, I’ll post soon on that.
While I was on the Lehman’s website ( a dangerous place for me to be!) I saw this book and just had to have it. I’ve barely cracked the cover but again, I’ll post more on it when I can.
Finally, I’ve spied this stirrup hoe for a couple of years now but didn’t want to pay $46 for a tool. Now that I own it, can I tell you that it ROCKS? It works my clay soil like a dream, why did I wait so long?
That’s the sum of my “after-the-wedding-nervous-breakdown” shopping…I feel much better now.
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What’s been YOUR latest purchase to further your homestead skills?
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About kmorris
This year we’re on a very tight budget. We knew it going in, as my wife got a promotion but no raise, and the promotion meant she lost her county car and went back to paying for gas. So we’re not buying anything. LOL But I did pick up this amazing food slicer, the kind that has interchangeable heads and suction mounts to the counter, for free! I took a day off and went to the mountains to camp with my friends, at one friend’s father’s house. He was tossing out a big load of stuff, and in it was a meat slicer. Like, actual, countertop motorized meat slicer. But in the box was the regular food slicer! So, score!! Took a lot of cleaning, but it’s very functional. I grated a half-pound of cheese for mac and cheese in about two minutes, and 6 potatoes this morning into hash browns in about the same.
Congratulations on your lanterns! I’m drooling just looking at them. And can’t wait to hear about your fuel thoughts.
Danny,
That’s awesome! Isn’t it great when you find something free that you wind up treasuring?
Hey, we’ve had plenty of “spending freeze” years in this family, believe me.
Fuel thoughts soon!
All of those are great purchases!
This summer I bought a canner, a large stockpot, canning jars and lids (of course) and a used small chest freezer. Having fun doing some freezer cooking lately.
Been thinking lately: If something happened and my children (grown) needed food, I sure would like to be able to have a large stock pile to share with them. So, am going to start working on that.
Debbie J.,
That’s a great idea! As a matter of fact, when my married daughter and sil come into town, I make them shop in my pantry and toiletry closet. I can get better buys than they have time to look for and I always shop with them in mind.
Ah, Lehmans is deadly territory!
Even our 3 year old likes to sit down with the catalog when it comes. 
We have 2 stirrup hoes, and they ARE amazing! We cut one down to fit a short handle, and now our 5 year old can help us with the weeding.
It takes so much less effort than a regular hoe!
The lanterns are lovely, too. We have a few, although none are that pretty! I’ll be looking for your review/thoughts on the book, too.
Meg,
LOL! Why is Lehman’s so addicting??
Thanks for commenting! You made me smile.
Just found your blog through Homestead Revival. I didn’t have a proper look, but I seem to like it… Perhaps because of some similarity in circumstances: we have seven kids (aged from 17 to 6 years). There are definitely big differences also: We live in Holland. Here we don’t have a word for ‘homesteading’, but my thoughts about lifestyle are the same!
My last purchase for my ‘hobby’ (well, you have to give it a name), is an apple harvester -no big machine but a simple device, a ring with ‘teeth’ and a bag below, mounted on a long handle; hopefully this year I don’t need a ladder to catch my apples. My other little investment was a lemonade jar (app. 3 gallon) with a tap. I want to make my own vinegar in it.
Heidi,
Well, a big US welcome to you! Thanks for commenting!
Hi, Kelly! I’m really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the book, as well as the lanterns. We were without power, and therefore both water and heat, for 11 days last winter due to an ice storm. We stayed in the house, cooked and heated with our wood stove, and got pretty darn creative about hauling water. Although I was ready for modern conveniences by the time the electric company got to us I think we faired better than a lot of our friends. I just kept thinking about my great grandparents farm – which my Momma always told me didn’t have electric or indoor plumbing until she was in high school.
Lisa,
It’s funny how a good, long power outage can motivate you to action, we had the same thing last winter. However, we weren’t as prepared with the stove as you. Just moving out to the country a year ago hasn’t allowed us to “get it all together”.
You’re right, electricity wasn’t even available to rural areas until the 30′s, and they survived just fine. THAT’s the era I want to become intimately acquainted with.
Thanks for commenting.
The latest purchase here was a second pressure canner to keep up! Being able to run 2 instead of just one has helped a ton!
You are correct-that hoe is the best. I LOVE mine too. Thank you for the tip on the lanterns! I’m heading over there to check those out. We’ve struggled with lighting for the past 2 winters-duh-why didn’t I think of those?
Also, I remember getting the tech book from the library and running out of time with renewals before getting through all of it. Tons and tons of good info.
Have a great weekend!
Lisa,
I borrowed my neighbor’s pressure cooker to keep up as well! Maybe next year I’ll buy another. I just hate having to store seasonal things all year long.
You’re right, that book is THICK! I’m glad I bought that one, tons of info and lots of pages to highlight and markup!