HELLO FRIENDS

Where do I begin. It has been a very busy summer so far. As with most of you, gardening is very important. Brian planted a large garden down by the creek. 100ft rows of heirloom seed. Green beans 8 rows, sweet corn 4 rows, winter squash, onions, tomatoes, watermelon & cantaloupe and more. My sister helped me pick and freeze the beans and now it is tomato time.





Brian built me raised beds for my greens close to the house. I love it. My herbs are doing well up here too.





Hay season came in late June & even into July this year. We usually have over 1000 bales, but we are getting only around 600 bales due to the rain and the equipment break downs didn't help either. Now it looks like we will have another late cutting which will help get us through the winter as we have increased are cow herd.





Our two new cows both had male calves, and we still have 2 other cows June & May due this Sept. After these new calves come we'll have double the milk. HELP! I'll make cheese, yogurt, ice cream, butter, & more cheese. Everyone needs to drink more milk. PLEASE! I'll make more soap, THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO!






Brian cam in one morning, I laughed so hard, to tell me his episode with a feisty little hen. This hen had just hatched 5 chicks and, unknown to Brian, She had that afternoon settled in with her chicks in the milking barn. When Brian entered the milk parlor this little hen attacked him. She jumped up and grabbed onto his pants and didn't let go. He put his totes down and knocked her off his pants. She pumped at him again & again. He kicked her over the fence and she still came back. He grabbed his whip and whipped at her she finally gathered up her chicks and left. Brian left the barn to go get the cows as they hadn't come in yet and the little hen chased him down the cow lane and continued to jump at him. If only I had this on camera. It would have been popular on YouTube.

Life on the farm is not always hard work but hard work with much joy.


I found something I think most young mother with children will enjoy. It's called "Wild Food or Eat Free" It teaches adults & children how to identify plants in the wild that are real food. I'm certainly excited to get the information as times are looking poorly for the dollar and we'll all need alternative options. You can get more info at: www.ofthefield.com


Carolyn





P.S.


If you need soap let me know. My newest soap is Adelaide Flower Garden. The essential oil combination is one that kills germs and helps fight bacteria and promotes healing. We use it for insect bites & poison Ivy. Oh ya, I've also found a combination of essential oils that actually kills poison Ivy before your eyes if you spray it on soon or at least by a day or two.

SAY CHEESE!

What a wonderful day to make new friends and cheese. Yes, cheese. I had my 2nd cheese making class and would like to share. 10 adults and 5 children. What a house full, but it was enjoyable.

A day in April

Yesterday was a day for rest. Brain has been working on a house product for my sister, so I have the house to myself. My daughter Julie came and visited. We took pictures.
Baby chicks we just bought. We will have eggs in the Fall. Yey.
This is May our black Holstein. She is pregnant with her 2 calf. Her first calf died at childbirth.


Our new cow Guernsey a Guernsey cow of course. She is due to have her calf this May or June.

June our Holstein and her almost 1 year old calf, Tricia a Holstein Jersey mix. June is due to have another calf this Sept.

And here is Jethro our donkey. He is a great guard for the heard. Cows and Goats alike. He is our hero. He even keeps our dog Albert and at bay

FARMERS MARKET

Farmers Market was fun! Did not sell as much as I thought, because the foot traffic was small. I was told the people will come with the warmer weather. I did meet some wonderful people buying and selling. Great place to get great products. Maybe I will see some of you there.
Carolyn

NEW COW IS SICK

One of our new Jersey cows is sick. After she gave birth to her calf, we noticed a cut on one side of her udder and it looked infected. The vet examined her and stated that the cut had been there awhile and had never completely healed. The only option to getting her well was to shoot Iodine into the 1/4 udder and kill the chamber. We did this and now are doctoring the wound with Iodine diluted spray and only milking the remaining 3/4. We are not able to drink her milk until the iodine treatment is over. Today she did not have a fever and her milk production is increasing.

We also purchased a Guernsey cow that is due to have a calf in June. She is beautiful. I will have to post some pictures of her later.

Went to Leavenworth today to deliver soap to two stores and to buy chickens. We bought 82 Sexlink Chicks. They are just getting their feathers. We are in great need for eggs, so in a short while we should have plenty.

Tomorrow is the big day. FARMERS MARKET IN TOPEKA. Getting up early and will be there all morning. Come by and see me.
Carolyn

GETTING GARDEN READY (MARCH 30TH 2009)

Getting my garden ready has become a chore today. I had to transplant all my starts before they died. Broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, & more tomatoes.

Then we went to close on our house. YEY! After, Brian and I went out for a late lunch and did some shopping.

Now I do need to cut my soap. The five batches I did the other day are still in there boxes. I need to cut them and get them drying on the drying racks. Maybe tomorrow.

RESTING (MARCH 28TH 2009)

I don't usually rest, but I decided I needed to. Between resting I did laundry, washed all our new milk jars, and helped with the daily milking. Well I rested some.

Enjoy a farm picture. Spring is coming soon.

SOAP! SOAP! AND MORE SOAP! (MARCH 26TH 2009)

Today was soap making day. I am exhausted. After hauling all ingredients up from the basement and patiently getting all temperatures right, I made five batches in all. Prairie Sage, Sweet Almond, Utterly Creamy Face (Vanilla), Second Hand Rose, and Everything Nice. That is about 150 + bars. My house smells so good.

Washed all my bedding and then my hands started to hurt. I wonder why.

Met a new friend today. She was really nice and will be coming to the farm all the way from Leavenworth to get Milk. It is always nice to meet new people.

The bank called today, and finally we will be closing on our new mortgage this Monday. It is so nice living in our new home. I can't believe we really did it.

LONG TRIP TO LENEXA (MARCH 25TH 2009)

Good Morning.
I feed the calf "Moon Light" early this morning while I was still in my P.J.'s. He drank almost a gallon of fresh milk. I will have to remember to save back more.
The grass is turning green and there are blossoms on our peach and apricot trees. Spring is coming.

I planned on making soap today and wrapping Sweet Almond and Prairie Sage Soap but we decided to go to Lenexa, KS to purchase 70 cases of 1 gallon jars for our milk. We are always in need of jars. The jars were in a large industrial cave and they were stored deep inside. What an adventure.

On the drive back I read my new book on making cheese. Great book. Lots to learn.

We got home safe and now are ready for the evening milking. Tomorrow I will attempt again to make soap.

Carolyn

AFTER ARE FIRST SPRING RAIN (March 24th 2009)

We had a beautiful rain last night and the creek is full and flowing. You can hear the sound of the brook from our back door. Brian went out to milk the cows and goats this morning as I brought a baby calf battle to our new Jersey calf. His name is Moon Light and was born 3-14-09.

My daughter, Julie, and grand-daughter, Adelaide, came over hand helped wrap Second Hand Rose, Everything Nice, and Lady Lavender Soaps. I later ordered more ingredients then relaxed with family.

After Julie and Adelaide left, I made lotion and lip & hand salve to sell later at Topeka Farmers Market. Will be selling many things, and it will take some time to get everything together.

Tomorrow I will need to make soap, for my inventory is getting low.
Carolyn