Tag Archives: summer

All our favorite posts about summer in Northeast Texas including gardening, photos & more posted on TexasHomesteader.com

Use What Ya got – MYO Tractor Canopy Cover

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by Texas Homesteader

We have two tractors, a 55 hp Mahindra for the big jobs and an older and smaller 32 hp Ford 1910 tractor for mowing, disking, etc. RancherMan usually hops on the newer big-boy tractor with the higher horsepower and front-end loader to do the rough stuff. And I happily allow him those tasks.

My preference is Ole Blue. She’s a 1983-built tractor that purrs like a kitten & is as reliable as the day is long.

Recently our Mahindra dealt us an unpleasant blow by having a deteriorating gas tank, rendering it USELESS. So much for the reliability of a fancy-schmancy tractor that’s only 5 yrs –OLD!

(Mahindra’s certainly seen the last of us as future customers)

So RancherMan went to work playing tractor mechanic for the Mahindra. But it was the ever-faithful Ole Blue Ford tractor that pulled the load on the Homestead.

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MYO Quick & Easy Healthier FUDGESICLES!

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by Texas Homesteader

A few weeks ago I started playing with recipes for making my own healthier fudgesicles. I used RancherMan as a very willing guinea pig for several batches until I perfected it.

Taste-Testing Homemade Fudgesicles? RancherMan’s got a tough job, huh? Poor guy!

I wanted to make my own fudgesicles for several reasons: They’re healthier, filled with probiotics, produce less landfill trash, are much less expensive. Plus, c’mon let’s be honest – it’s EASY!

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Veggie Garden Update: June

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by Tammy Taylor

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WHEW, the temps & humidity have really spiked here in NE Texas. My veggie garden is still trucking along just fine but for some reason it’s been hampered in providing me with very many edible veggies. Oh yeah sure I’ve picked a few jalapenos and a shriveled banana pepper for our pizza one night, but it’s June & I should be up to my eyebrows in fresh produce. Still I’m pretty excited about some of the happenings in the garden, c’mon through the garden gate and check it out!

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Solar Cooking: Homemade Marinara Sauce

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by Texas Homesteader ~
*contains affiliate link

Is there much better than homemade fresh tomato marinara sauce?? It offers that taste that you just can’t get from the store shelves. But it’s true that you have to simmer it a bit to thicken it up and intensify all those delightful flavors.

It’s hot & humid here in NE Texas and simmering a pan on the stove for that length of time just didn’t appeal to me at all. Luckily I didn’t have to, the solar oven did a fantastic job and all the cooking heat was left outside where it belongs!

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Easiest Way To Make BBQ Pork Sandwiches In A Solar Oven: A Delicious Eco-Friendly Meal

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by Texas Homesteader ~

While traditional BBQ sandwiches often use pulled pork or beef brisket, I also like to make them using ground meat. They’re so much easier to eat that way. Here’s how I make them using just the power of the sun: My solar oven.

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Garden Update: July

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By Texas Homesteader

Well it’s July in Texas and it’s hot, hot, HOT. I don’t have too much room to complain I guess, we’ve had some rare breaks from the typical hot and dry summer with a few odd cool fronts that have come through as well as sporadic showers that we’re blessed with every week to 10 days. Rare indeed. The pastures are greener than any other year in memory during this time of year – LOVE IT! My garden has benefited from the temperate weather as well. I’m able to harvest fresh veggies every day for our meal.