Teach a Child...

It was a good day today with my youngest granddaughter visiting. We went out early to the pond to fish.  We didn't catch anything, but she learned about evasive pond plants, why we don't like turtles in the pond, and if fish actually sleep. When we walked back to the house, it was learn how to hang clothes on the clothesline time. :>)  She loved it.  Ahhh, she does have part of me in that litte energetic body! Elizabeth is 4 and quick to tell you she is nearly 5 and going to Kindergarten this year. It was exciting to look at the baby pumpkins with her.  She says she's going to carve one at Halloween. I sure hope this MiMi holds up  her end of the bargain by actually growing a pumpkin big enough for her to carve.

Is not that the sweetest face?!  I have her wear my garden hat so she doesn't get a sun burn. I can't believe I have such light skinned grandchildren. :>) I love it!  I've always been so dark, as a little girl I dreamed of having fair skin.  This is better than having it myself I think. As it turns out, I must have been dreaming of a little girl with fair skin alright, but God gave me 3 little girls for my dream.  Doesn't He always know best?!!

Lizzi is a MiMi's little helper.  It not only helps me, but she's learning to count by collecting the clothes pins for me. I just know she's going to be a little homesteader yet. :>) While she was over here last Friday hunting Easter eggs, she reminded me of how I had promised her a 'prize' for helping me. I explained to her I had not saved enough money to buy her the table and chairs she wanted and she  promptly tells me "MiMi, I can pick out something with a 1 on it".  She and I love Dollar Stores! 

I had to make haste on pulling basil away from the eggplants and peppers this morning. I wish I had someone to give the little plants to. It seems such a waste to just feed them to the chickens.  I love to give away plants and my friend Bobbie Sue is quick to tell me she doesn't thank me for them because  her mother told her they would die if she did. I wonder sometimes where the old wives tales we pass on to our children come from, but aren't they fun?  We need to write the ones we know down so as not to lose them.  Yes, that's what I'm going to start doing. My Mom knew some doozies!  Some of them may not be polite to mention in mixed company.

Early in the morning, I look out to see this from my kitchen window. I can't think of a more beautiful sight... well I can be this is a close second for sure.  If pumpkins grow on the vines, then that's just icing on the cake so to speak.

I can't do a posting of just one grandchild and not include the others!  These were taken last Friday when the girls came for a visit.  I tell you true, these little girls are the best.  They are!! They love nature, they love their family, but best of all, they love God.  Abigail Reilee is 7yrs old, Sarah Bralin is 6 yrs old, and Elizabeth Geada as I've already told you is 4 yrs old, I mean nearly 5 yrs old. :>) If you've never seen 3 little girls chasing baby goats, then you haven't lived my friend. It was a hoot.  I've never heard so much screaming and that was coming from the baby goats. LOL  But as you can see in the photos, the goats enjoyed it too after they got used to the 'swap goat' process that was going on.

Abigail is holding Shiloh (4th gen. Mini Nubian- doe) and Elizabeth is holding Ezion (1st gen Mini Nubian- buck).  The red faces aren't a camera color error, they had run until their faces were glowing.

Sarah is holding Tobie (4th gen. Mini Nubian- buck). Tobie was either too scared to move or he was enjoying the loving so much he didn't want Sarah to put him down. Either way, I think he's going to turn into a lap baby.

There was a marvelous sunset over the  pond today.  A wonderful end to a great day here on the farm. The older I get the less I want to leave here.  I'm really stingy with my time when it comes to taking away from being on the homestead. I can truly say I am at peace here. Reminds me of the song, "I am blessed, I am blessed, every day that I live I am blessed. When I wake up in the morning, until I lay my head to rest. I am blessed. I am blessed".  Enough said.

Just Before the Storm...

We had an eventful night last night with a sudden storm, high winds, and a scary moment or two when the weatherman said take shelter in a hallway.  This rarely happens here in our neck of the woods, but it was short lived and over w/in 30 minutes and we were back to our rat killin' as my Granny use to say.  I had gone out earlier and picked a 'mess' of collard greens, our first of the growing season.  Everyone says they like them better after a frost falls on them, but my husband and I love them a bit chewy so now is the time for us to get our fill of collards. 

No, you are not seeing double! I was playing around with Paint Shop Pro, got a double text image on there and couldn't get it off. LOL  So, other than that, aren't those collard good looking?!  I love to gather garden faire using my old antique baskets and sometimes when the weather is right for it, I wear the 1800's clothing to gather it in.  Yea, I know, I'm a mixed up puppy. I love anything to do with the 1800's, but please don't take my air conditioning away from me or my electric range.  Maybe I should state that I love to "play" at doing things from the 1800's. That's a truer statement.  On the menu tonight is homegrown collards, cream peas, squash and boughten sausage. (homegrown meat is still in the future except chickens)  Gives me that warm fuzzy feeling to be eating so well tonight from our own land and know that it's organic.

Today I had to go out and tape up one of Nell's (4th generation Mini Nubian) teats because both her babies were nursing off one side.  They'll discover the other teat tonight when they get hungry and then that foolishness will be over hopefully.  Isn't that life tho? Nothing is as easy as it looks on paper. There's always a Plan B to be maneuvered to, a fork in the road less traveled, and then when you think you've got it whipped into shape, the bottom drops out.  Ain't life grand?!  It's definitely not boring around here for sure.  Nell's twins are named Tobie (buck) and Shiloh (doe).

This photo was taken right after they were born. The little buckskin colored one is the doe. Nell was the first doe I ever had that never layed down to kid.  She never even uttered (uddered? lol) a sound with both kids. She's a real trooper.  Her kids are considered 4th generation Mini Nubians.  I'm so proud of them!  I don't know if I will keep the buck or not. Most likely will talk myself into it. :>) Sire is Ronnie Jo4Sho, we call him Joey. 

I'm due to eat supper now (dinner to you city folks) so I'll catch you later.  Remember to get down and get dirty... grow something! Anything!

1800 Blessings~ Wanda

Happy Easter!

Just having a quiet day today. We had the granddaughters over for egg hiding on Friday, so nothing big is going on today.  Tomorrow we'll be back to working on the cottage and getting a birdhouse order ready for delivery.  I'll post photos when we finish them.  Using found materials and salvaged architectural items to enhance their decor.


We did get the kitchen bar in (can you say hernia?! LOL) so with baby steps we are making progress.  I'll be milking soon so as usual I'm having to go to plan B to get things up and running.  But... oh that milk is going to be sooo good!  Can't wait to make cheese and goat milk's soap. Three does have kidded with 4 bucks and 1 doe born. It's rather diappointing to have so many bucks again, but at least I can sell them and that will help with the feed bill.  It is just the sweetest thing to have baby goats to cuddle. Can't stay mad or depressed when holding a baby goat. They are the best anti-depressants I know of. :>)


I have hoards of baby pumpkins. The blooms are awesome!  We are already harvesting veggies from the raised beds (cedar tree slices for borders, lasagna style layering, with rabbit and goat berries mixed in for feeding the plants. When the new cinder block beds are in, we should be able to grow a fair amount of our own food.  Progress is slow, but oh so sweet!


Remember to get down and get dirty... grow something!! TTFN