now let's head around the farm

Picture issue resolved!

homemade marshmallows on memorial day

sick kids resting on memorial day

piglets!!

hanging out with papa

"bright" peaking through the gate

happy pigs

the boys painted the holstein into a jersey on the milkroom door

he's always swinging

homemade spelt cheez-its (from a great cookbook)

in the wee hours

Some of my absence from the blog this winter was because I took a class...

my first class in more than 10 years!  

I'm slowly working on finishing up some pre-requisites before I start apprenticing to become a lactation consultant.  I can only handle 1 class at a time...mostly because all of my studying happens in the wee hours between 9pm and 12am.  (Formerly known as my crafting and blogging hours).

This is what school looks like for me.

around the farm...kitchen

Having some issues with my farm photos for this week--so we'll head to the kitchen!

Milking three cows for our micro-dairy means we eat lots of dairy products here.

The main one (besides all of the raw milk my kids drink) is yogurt (I've mentioned this before).  I make more than 7 quarts a week!  I just snapped this photo of what our yogurt looks like since our cows are back on pasture--check out that cream!

I've also been experimenting with cultured butter.  I started leaving our cream out at room temperature for 8 hours before making butter, but have been leaving it out even longer now.  The taste of the butter when the cows are out on fresh pasture is quite strong and my kids are still getting used to it, but I've been enjoying it on some homemade spelt bread.  

What's going on around your farm, garden or homestead (OR in your kitchen) ??

Leave a link in the comments--I'd love to see!

a little sewing

I'm not skilled at sewing, but I had bought this adorable strawberry fabric a while ago and imagined a summer dress for Fenna.

A friend of mine had a pattern that I liked and I used it for size, but then just improvised with the reversible layer and the pocket on the front.  Because I don't know how to sew buttonholes, I sewed snaps to close it with buttons over the snaps.

It's a bit big for her, but I'll try and snap a photo of her in it the next time she wears it.  

Joining Nicole this week.

around the farm

Lots going on around the farm right now...

happy farmkids with forgotten summer toys

baby girl LOVES dirt

watching the cows

planting potatoes

view from the porch

rides, rides, rides

blueberry blooms

new herb garden (kaylo's project!)

tender seedlings from Golden Russet

our own seedlings--brassicas, flowers, melons

our sad garlic rows wintered poorly... filled in with radishes

What's going on around your farm, garden or homestead?

Leave a link in the comments--I'd love to see!

around the farm

blooms!!

our "grain bin"

greens

onions and leeks

mother's day gift

buds

What is going on around your farm, garden or homestead?
Join in and leave a link in the comments--I'd love to see!

Another milo

      Joining Nicole this week with another milo... An owl cable for a friend's baby due in July, made with some local yarn from a friend.

a little getaway

The kids and I met up with my parents, sister and nephew in Ithaca, NY for a few days.  

It's such a beautiful spot--we hiked at Watkins Glen State Park and Taughannock State Park.

And my sister and I had to make a trip to Moosewood Restaurant (we've been vegetarians for a combined total of more than 20 years). ;)  

It was a great visit with family in a beautiful area.

love

Micah's 4!

a day old

a year old

2

3

birthday boy!

Our bold little boy is 4!  It's amazing for me to look at that baby photo--such a tiny, calm baby filled with such a busy, bold personality!  He is quick and funny, endlessly busy, full of imagination, an eager helper, and often called "the tornado" by his brothers.  Life is never dull with Micah around--we love him so!