John F Dean

master steward

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news 8,727 Posts 396 Threads

since Sep 04, 2017

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Biography

In the early 1980s I quit a secure job in administration, bought 10 acres, and began homesteading. At some point we decided to relocate to an area with more job opportunities and in a warmer climate. We presently live on 11 acres. We have Nigerian Dwarf Goats, KuneKune Pigs, bees, and an assortment of chickens. Our driveway is the boundary between zones 6a and 6b. Annual rainfall for us is at 46 inches. We have been together 50+ years.

We don’t consider ourselves to be an expert on anything. For some, homesteading produces serious income. For us, it is fun. We are thoroughly enjoying ourselves in the adventure we created for ourselves.

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southern Illinois, USA

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Recent posts by John F Dean

Weird things cats have done

I just responded to a post from Carla that triggered a memory. Maybe 35+ years ago we were given a Persian kitten. While my wife was away on a trip I indulged in some Buffalo Wings 🌶️and a few beers in front of the TV. At some point the kitten joined me. Without thinking, I offered her some chicken. I have never seen such horrible facial expressions. When she recovered she dashed up my chest and carefully examined my mouth to be certain I was eating the stuff. As she watched me, she took a much smaller taste, spit it out, and examined my mouth again. After that, she gave up on me.

17 hours ago

meaningless drivel

MM still has the touch

Carla, here is “the rest of the story”. My MM weighed 18 pounds at the beginning of the year. The vet, who was concerned about diabetes, said she could have 1.25 cups of dry food each day. That didn’t work. We cut to 1 cup ….nope. We cut to .75 cup …nope. We cut to 1/2 cup …good! She is down to 12 pounds as of July 1. I strongly suspect that the slow weight loss was due to her superior hunting skills. So, as much as I would love to give her a can of sardines, she will have to settle for a chin scratch (chin scratches are lower in calories).

17 hours ago

dogs and cats

MM still has the touch

I am very proud of my Master Mouser today. Late last night she sat down in front of me, and I realized she had a mouse in her mouth. No, she had two! She is around 9 years old and still going strong.

21 hours ago

dogs and cats

jokes

I woke up from my nap with my wife screaming at the TV…”Don’t go in there!! Your life will be over! Get out of the church!!” I expected to see Jamie Lee Curtis. My wife was watching our wedding video.

3 days ago

meaningless drivel

Lactose Intolerance

As a broad comment, I have found that hospitals seem to have an All or Nothing mindset. In terms of the present topic, degrees of lactose intolerance does not seem to be understood here in the USA in the hospitals I have encountered. Either all milk in all forms is removed or it stays.

5 days ago

medicinal herbs

Total Isolation

Stay safe. I’ve known too many who died or were seriously injured being foolish during challenging weather.

6 days ago

meaningless drivel

The Machine of Death

Interesting. I wouldn’t be caught dead on a pink bike. All the ghosts would laugh.

6 days ago

meaningless drivel

The Machine of Death

I lived in northern Minnesota for 4 years. There are few things as pleasurable as stepping out on the front porch, coffee in hand, drawing a deep breath of the morning mist, and inhaling two lungs full of mosquitoes. Then there is the process of dropping to one’s knees…and eventually on all fours….and wrenching out the contents of one’s lungs.

1 week ago

meaningless drivel

What do you do in the Winter?

Hi Eric,

As I was preparing to clean out a stall, I got to wondering if I could grown mushrooms in it. It sits below a skylight … so it does get limited light.

1 week ago

great white north

The Machine of Death

Huh! I am already growing Wine Caps near the garden. What kind of fungus should I grow in the bike? Maybe Eric will have an idea.

1 week ago

meaningless drivel