Spring

Spring came early this year.  We have all been enjoying the beautiful warm March weather.  We have been able to get a jump start on the spring yard work this year.  I am really looking forward to having all of the old barn wood off of my front yard.  It is looking better already.  In 2 days we are getting our first batch of chicks.  I went with Araucana's first as the kids love the blue and green eggs.  In less than 2 weeks our first doe is due to kid.  I am expecting at least twins.  She has started her moaning, laying around miserable  phase already.  In April we are adding a hive of bees to the property, which I will NOT be taking care of!    We also have our 2nd pregnant doe kidding in mid April.  In May we will be adding our first LGD pup to the property, as well as turkeys and Dorking chicks.  It is going to be a busy, exciting spring.

Our beautiful back yard friends

Last night I had the windows open with a fan in front of one of the windows.  I heard squeaking and thought "great, the fan isn't working right".  As I walked over to the fan I looked out the window and sitting on the ledge was a beautiful female cardinal.  I see the males every winter in our lilac bush but this year they stuck around. I see the males all the time now.  This is the first time I have seen a female.  They are such beautiful birds.  I went online and listened to the sounds they make and realized that we hear their beautiful songs and calls constantly.  I just love nature in all it's glory.  Now I want to go put out some sunflower seeds for them.

I'm melllting, melltin, melti.......................

Ughhhhh, it is unbearably hot and humid this week, but I must get things done.  Rain, snow, mud and now heat!  I must work in it all.   The garden needs weeding and the veggies harvested, it was getting to be a jungle out there.  The good news is that we have had a ton of peas to eat, and I love fresh peas.  The bad news is that they won't last as more get eaten every day (or night)!  We fenced our garden because rabbits were eating the peas last year, and now they are still getting eaten.  Darn it, they are my favorite thing!  LEAVE THEM ALONE!  The sad thing is I am not even sure what is eating them this year so I don't know what to do about it.  They are being eaten a few inches up from the ground, the stem just chewed through and a few of the higher up leaves, but most of the plant is just left there to wilt and die.  I did catch a glimpse of some animal out there this morning, though not enough to tell what it was or even how big, as it was on the other side of the fence.  Since it was first in the garden I must assume it was small enough to fit through the small spaces of the garden fence.  I wouldn't mind sharing my peas with it if it just left the plant alive.

We have lettuce that is growing well too, but the outer leaves are getting bitter from the heat.  I just can't eat enough lettuce to keep up.  The tomatoes are slowly getting bigger and their are some that are almost ripe now.  I can't wait to start making some fresh spaghetti and salsa and so much more, just as soon as the heat dies down.

Wandering mind

This week my 3rd child turned 4.   I had some one on one time with her, which is a rarity with 4 kids.  We went to the park and to get cold cocoa/coffee.  I also signed her and Selena up for dance next year.  I am not really looking forward to dance recitals.  I have been there done that and was really hoping not to do it again!  Oh well, I guess I will just resign myself to the fact that I have 3 girls.  Don't get me wrong, I love to watch them do anything, I just don't like to sit in one place for that long.  I love to move and to be outside with my kids and my animals.
Being born on a farm it is no surprise to me that I am now a farmer.  I am completely in my element when I am working around the farm.  I am still learning how to balance being a farmer with being a nurse. They are so completely different.  When on the farm I get DIRTY, with obvious dirt, but that dirt won't really hurt me.  When I am at the hospital I get dirty with unseen things that could really hurt me, and worse I could bring it home to my family.  That is scary!  I'm not a germaphobe and even think that exposure to germs strengthens our immune system, but I am scared of the supper bugs that have been created by the overuse of antibiotics!  I prefer my visibly dirty, fairly harmless farmers hands.

Milk

We now have enough milk daily that we no longer need to buy it from a store.  And this from just one goat!  Can't wait until we have even more milkers next year.