Putting it All Out There

OK I'm putting it all out there.

So for the last four years we have been in medical hell. That was an understatement. My husband has had four surgeries in four years. I have had three kids all three c-sections and we have recovered Ethan from Autism. In other words we have a LOT of medical bills. At the height of everything we were looking at 40,000 in medical debt. Nope you didn't read that wrong 40,000.

So when all this started we vowed to always pay the mortgage and everything else would have to wait. We will pay the house bills, but take the house bills and reduce them all we can. And we would take the medical and pay what we could when we could and that will just have to be that.

We got a loan from family for 20,000 of it I said a loan we still owe on but later. We then figured I have to go back to work. Not what I wanted to do pregnant with my third, but it has to be done. I put out applications all over town. And not one phone call. After having Cole I was back out there putting in more applications all over town. I would sit at night and email my resume and NOTHING. I probably applied to over 100 jobs, full or part time doing this or doing that. I didn't care as we needed money. So two months after Cole was born it was decided I would make my own job and just do something I had wanted to do anyway. Real Estate.

I googled how to get my license. I found a Real Estate office that would take me on. So I was set. And with my baby being four months I went to work on my oldest sons birthday.

Dang Real Estate is hard, no one will tell you that. You see it as being easy and believe you me it is not.

But I worked my tail and I did have a good first year. My second year was not so great, but I did change companies as I saw one going down. Although my third year was good. Can't complain. I do need to double my sales for me through to keep me going.

But as I work and juggle and try and make time for it all. We are saving and paying off the medical debt. We took all of last year and every cent we had went towards something. Even through we did all that work we only killed 13,000 in medical debt and our debt load grow by 3,000. Not bad for one year through. So when I sat down in Jan. to do taxes we still had about 10,000 to go in medical debt. Not bad, one bit I will tell ya. Very Do-able.

At the same time I have been having our credit report pulled every few months and I tackle that. I write letters asking for the paid off debt to be taken off. I take about 5-6 lines and call the companies and get them paid. In about six months we have up-ed our credit score nearly 100 points. Now with me "being" in the field I know medical debt should not have an impact on your credit report. I know that is what lenders say. But that is Bull Donkey Doo Doo. Medical debt does impact your credit score. It brings it down so fast and it won't let it breath. We are making a dent but still it's not enough and it's not fast enough for me.

So we are 12 points away (sad right) from re-fi-ing our mortgage to pull out what we need to pay down the rest of the debt. We will then work non stop on our credit report paying off the rest of it. Asking them to remove themselves and cleaning things up. We will only stop when it is a perfect credit report.

Once this goes through we will have one debt our house. After we re-fi hubby and I will sit down and figure out how to pay our house off in 5 years or less. Our goal is to be totally debt free. That would free us up to start saving for retirement.

Last year we went to a cash only system, if we didn't have cash we didn't buy it. We don't have credit cards, but we were writing checks that the bank would cover and the amount of bank fees we had to pay were just plain silly. So cash only. coupons, I google for coupons and print them right before going shopping. But still it's hard. Hubby makes so little a week and sales are not the greatest right now. I am juggling a ton of clients. But they all have time and reasons for not buying right this second. Hoping for a good spring.

But this years goal is to bring up our score enough to re-fi our house and pull out enough to pay off all medical debt. We should know March on this.

Sit down and make out a game plan for the year on how to pay down the house. We want to be house free soon.

Make no more medical debt. (we have crappy insurance)

Be OK with life. I just want to pay the house, pay the house bills and be able to feed my kids.

And before anybody asks. We have been to the state many times asking for help with our medical debt. According to them we have great medical insurance. They won't help in any other ways either. Although if I quit they are more then happy to help. It's like they do all they can to keep you down? Never a hand up?

Updated Goat House

We had Sun today, nearly forgot what that was? So we went out and worked a bit on the goat house. We got one side up, this is the side we got up. We are piecing together wood. So far we have spent a whopping 16 bucks on this house. We have another 2 bucks to go.

This is one side of the house. Poor thing.

This is a front view we got all the walls put up. This will be the front of the house.

This is a side view. We have two doors and one window. I know it looks like we have 6 windows. And a sky light/window. We will get the rest of the siding up as we have time. We so lack on time.

But as we are out working the goats were helping. Eating hammers and nail bags and everything. I know they can't wait. When this house is done we will tear down 1-2 of the current pens. As they have seen better days.

Cupcakes!

So I made cupcakes. Just a few 6 batches, 12 cupcakes per batch, that is a few cupcakes. Well I got a bit carried away. I found a new book Friday and got all excited I could make recipes out of it and not have to sub anything! Now when you are many things free that is exciting.

http://www.cybelepascal.com/ check her out. She has a new cookbook out. And it's amazing. The first photo is chocolate chip cupcakes and chocolate chip frosting. The second photo is vanilla cupcakes, the frosting is amazing. And Indian Tree Natural Colors.

So apparently after one taste of the vanilla cupcakes I was told I was the BEST mom in the world. And the kids at Tuckers party will LOVE them.

So these were birthday cupcakes and not one complaint. No kids got wind they were eating allergy free cupcakes. I had one kid take a few to eat on the way home. Someone asked about the sugar and I did mention it was organic, that could be why the mom let the child take a few home.

Although I will tell ya the chocolate cupcakes did not make it. I think my oven is really acting up and raised the temp towards the end and that is why they have the burnt taste. Although my kids ate them up.

Enjoy her book, I know I will.

The New Goat House!

So we have decided to build a new goat house. You can't call it a pen as it's BIG. Since it looks like our dream house has been sold, we have basically decided we are happy staying here and maybe expanding our house. More on that down the road. We are still in debate mode.

But since we are here the goats need a new pen, but this thing is BIG. It's 8x10 to stay within code so we don't have to get permits. You can see the second photo we cleared the area on Tuesday, We found all the wood from around our property and cut it down to size, very surprised we have nearly all the wood we needed. We need maybe 2-3 more pieces and that is it? Shocking.

See we collect wood, all summer long I respond to any wood posting on freecycle and craigslist and my poor hubby runs up and gets it. Well this is why we do this. To get to this point in the goat house it has not costs us a cent. We think we can finish this for less then 20 bucks. So we are trying to head out daily to do something towards this house. Yesterday we cleared the area, and found and cut all the wood in the freezing cold might I add?

Today we built the sub floor until it started to rain so bad we had to come in. Tomorrow we are looking to put in supports in the sub floor. And hubby wants to outline the roof. If we can we will start the floor, but we may wait until we can do the floor and back wall in one day as we have a jumper in the group and we are afraid he will be more then happy to climb on the wall and right over to the neighbors they are fully fenced but still. I don't want to go and chase a goat. Stay posted. I will try and update as we go. Ms. Sierra was so helping us today, I'm surprised she's not in the shot?

OH when we get done building this house, we are tearing down two of the older pens and then making room for another goat house that should be built this summer, ready for next fall and winter. Too much to do out there and never enough time!

Yes, Really Goat Coats

So here is Sierra and Bridget modeling the new coats I slaved over all night long to make them.

Well yesterday was a day. That night it was sooooo cold we are talking 6 degrees cold. The dogs were inside and we let the dogs out in the morning. Our Hannah likes to sneak into the goats pen and play with the goats. Usually we catch this and yell at her to come and leave the goats alone and normally she does for the rest of the day. Well I didn't catch this and neither did hubby.

I went to drop of a few kids and went to the office. After picking up kid 2 I had a feeling I needed to head home so half way home I get a call from hubby. Hannah had snuck out with the goats and got the girls. It seems it was too cold for the girls to play and sat as sitting targets.

I got home a few minutes later and hubby carried them into the wash room (Goat Hospital) and we cleaned up the ears, but they were so cold. I wrapped them in towels and blankets and we let them nap.

I left to pick up kid 1 and I came back and they were feeling good. They were awake sitting on top of the blankets, eating away.

So they stayed in the wash room all night as it was to be a whopping 12 degrees last night. Way too cold for my girls.

I had this idea it was time for a goat coat. Something I had been waiting to do but my other goats have nice big winter furs that they are outside doing just fine. So I measured and cut and sewed out of old towels and batting.

Got them done this morning before putting the girls back outside for the day. Sierra is doing great and getting into trouble. Bridget has been on her feet and eating hey, but not fully herself yet. Hopefully as it warms up here in a day or two she will be bouncing around like her sissy?

They are in their own pen right now as they get back on their feet. Probably tomorrow put them out with the rest of the goats.

And Ms. Hannah is on a dog runner right now. She will have no more access to the goats what so ever!

Next up Rain Coats. And yes I'm serious.

How Cool Are These?

So I went to a bazaar on Saturday and found a magnet. This little 2x2 magnet and looking at it and looking at it, thought I could do that! So with my cricut, (gotta love my cricut) I cut out some shapes and today I ran to Home Depot and for 5 bucks got 36 pieces of tile. Now a lot cheaper then I thought. Last time I saw these they were 10 bucks a sheet. I ran to Fred Meyer and got magnets and tonight in a few seconds I had 24 magnets. How cool are these?

I am donating these to Ethan's school, Ethan's class runs a store to raise money for their up coming field trip.

So after doing these the boys are SO excited and saying we can do these for this person and that person. So every family member and neighbor watch out.

Total cost is .39 cents for each magnet. I have rolls and rolls of vinyl I was given to me so I only had to buy tile and magnets.

So easy and so super cheap! And you know I love cheap!

Christmas Card Photos

Well it was time for me to take the Christmas card photos. I have been dragging my feet on this. It's only the 6th right? So in turn this is really early for me. So no idea which I will choose but here are a few from the photo shoot. Dang I have cute kids!

THE GIRLS ARE HERE!!!

So we went out this morning and picked up two new girls. The girls are soooooo CUTE and love able. They did not want to leave mom, but I think they are doing OK here? Right from the start Buddy was all over them. Well he is male and these girls are cute. He is fixed, but going through that stage of exploring. After both girls kicked him, he stopped trying and they became fast friends and Buddy took them around the yard to show them around. Buddy is the same size as these two which is great to see.

And all the other goats are slowly getting to know each other. The girls know where their pen is and where the hay is and I've all ready feed the cob for today. The sun is out, the first time we have seen sun around here in a long time. I was out mucking today, the lovely chore of having goats. But it was the first time in a long time to get out there and clean up their area. Clean out all the old hay and such. So far every one has been getting along. So here are a few photos I went out and took of my now nine babies.

This one is Sierra (I hope)
This one is Bridget (I hope)

Sierra and Bridget on one of our wood piles. Max and Leo in the back there.

Bridget and Bella getting to know each other. This did end well.

Chip going what the Hell MOM!

The gang, Buddy is the dark one on the left.

This is Buddy up close.

Sierra and Leo getting to know each other. Bridget wanting nothing to do with him.

End of The Season

So this was taken last month, end of the season crops. Hubby cleaned out the garden and this is everything he found that day. We now have more pumpkin in the freezer then we know what to do with. I don't think we grew that child through?

GF Southern Biscuits

So it's 11pm on a Thursday night and I'm in the kitchen baking and I blame Alton Brown. I really do. I got the kids in bed early tonight and with nothing on TV I turn to the food network to find Alton Brown making Biscuits. As he is dumping each ingredient Oh I can change that to this and that to that. Oh I wonder if I can make it work? Not only work I can get out my cast iron biscuit pan I found this summer for like 2 bucks at a garage sale. I have been wanting to use that thing?

So here went nothing. And normally I do not taste my own baking I have never been one for sweets but I do like a good biscuit so I had to try this, so I smothered on the butter and went for it. I am amazed. I will be doing something different next time to see if that may work better, more below on that one.

Southern Biscuits

Recipe from Alton Brown

Made gfcfsf by myself

2 cups Mock Better Butter Flour Mix (Below)

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter (I used earth balance that is cfsf)

2 tablespoons shortening (I used spectrum)

1 cup buttermilk chilled (I used one cup rice milk with added vinegar) (I mixed this first and set aside until I needed it)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Using your fingers, rub in butter and shortening into dry ingredients until mixture looks like crumbs. (The faster the better, you don't want the fats to melt.) Make a well in the center and pour in the chilled buttermilk. Stir just until dough comes together. The dough will be very sticky.

I then grabbed a handful and rolled into a ball and put it into my biscuit pan. I have not tried to roll it out like Alton says to do and to cut out with a 2 inch cutter. I will be trying it and updating this when I can.

Bake until biscuits are light golden on top 15-20 minutes.

I tried these as they came out of the oven and I normally do not eat my own baking. These are ones I will eat again. This will be a fun recipe to play with.

Mock Better Butter Flour Mix

2 Cups Brown Rice Flour

2 Cups White Rice Flour

1 Cup Tapioca Flour

1 Cup Potato Starch

1/4 cup Potato Flour

1/4 cup Guar Gum

1/8 cup Pectin

Mix well.