Merry Christmas!

From all of us at From the Country Farm we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Joyous and Healthy New Year! Thanks so much to all of you for your love and support again this year.

Snow!

I don't think the sheep are thrilled with all the snow, can't really blame them though, neither am I...

gratitude challenge - day 26

Tonight I'm thankful for chiropractic care. Quite frankly I don't know what I'd do without it!

gratitude challenge -day 25

This may seem an odd thing to be thankful for but after just polishing off the worlds best garlic fries with a garlic ailoi that I made, I am thankful for garlic. It's a love affair that I have with garlic and I'd be lost without it...

Good news!

We now have an online store where you can pick up some of our goat milk soap or yarn from our herd! We just got the yarn listed last night! Go check it out!

http://fromthecountryfarm.com/shop/

Thanks for supporting small farms!

gratitude challenge - day 24

Tonight I'm thankful for the blessings of new friendships and the and the fellowship of like-minded folks. I'm thankful for my husbands computer savvy mind and the time he puts onto our website. ♥

gratitude challenge - day 23

Happy Plaid Friday! We delivered our products to North Parish Tree Farm mid day (let me say this place is everything you could imagine a Christmas Tree farm being. If you get a fresh tree please check these fine folks out!) sporting our plaid shirts and came back to work in the shop. Thank you to those of you who sent in orders today and supported not only my business but other local businesses. I am SO thankful for that. I am also thankful for my hard working kiddos! They are a huge part of the reason I do any of this. <3 kids="kids" love="love" p="p" these="these">

gratitude challenge - day 22

I am thankful for freedom, salvation and manna!

gratitude challenge day 21

http://pinterest.com/pin/24769866672177903/

I'm thankful I have barn full of good listeners...

gratitude challenge -day 20 (a day late, again)

I'm thankful that 5 years ago when my sister and I got together and decided to try making soap that, 1. we didn't blow up the kitchen 2. we didn't burn ourselves 3. that we had a good time and 4. that I have kept making it and it's blossomed into what I've got now. That first time we made two scents and at last count I now have over 50!

And you can get them here:
http://fromthecountryfarm.com/ 

gratitude challenge - day 19

Tonight I am thankful for the New Gloucester Farmers' Market At Connemara Farm. I have made wonderful friends, had some of the best food and met some fabulous people. Oh and sold some soap and I'm also thankful for that!

gratitude challenge- day 18

Tonight I am thankful for the people who understand that "life happens" and roll with it. Oftentimes I think that the world needs more people who get that, understand that, live that and less that don't, less drama. So thank you understanding folks, I appreciate that!

gratitude challenge - day 17 (but a day late...)

I posted this in facebook last night from my phone but the computer was out in the shop and I was too tired to go get it, that and I was about as frozen as an icecube! I'd returned home from a bonfire and potluck at a friends house and the electric mattress pad was more comforting that a piece of my grandmothers garlic bread and a bowl of spaghetti so there I stayed. But I did post that lat night I was  thankful for the fellowship of good friends and new ones made around campfires! Thanks Cathy a fun evening! Our turn will be summer 2013!

gratitude challenge - day 16

Tonight I am thankful for quiet moments in the pasture with my girls.

good quote

This is exactly why I farm!

Why do farmers farm, given their economic adversities on top of the many frustrations and difficulties normal to farming? And always the answer is: "Love. They must do it for love." Farmers farm for the love of farming. They love to watch and nurture the growth of plants. They love to live in the presence of animals. T

hey love to work outdoors. They love the weather, maybe even when it is making them miserable. They love to live where they work and to work where they live. If the scale of their farming is small enough, they like to work in the company of their children and with the help of their children. They love the measure of independence that farm life can still provide. I have an idea that a lot of farmers have gone to a lot of trouble merely to be self-employed to live at least a part of their lives without a boss.” ― Wendell Berry

gratitude challenge - day 15

Tonight I'm thankful for gobsmackingly stunning sunsets and the ability to drink them in. Tonight's was especially breathtaking.

gratitude challenge day - 14

Tonight I am thankful for my husband, the years we've spent together, the trials we've faced and the memories we share. I love you Ron. ♥

gratitude challenge day 13

Tonight I am thankful for the wonderful mechanic I have who is worth his weight in gold and then some and who has had both our vehicles in his shop this week. ::Sigh:: He's fair, trustworthy and dependable and does excellent work. I'm also thankful tonight to have just 3 minutes ago reconnected with an old and dear friend!

gratitude challenge day - 12

Tonight I am thankful for wind blowing through the pine trees and starry night skies.

gratitude challenge - day 11

It's here! It's HERE!!!!! Finally, our online shopping is open! Check it out at:

http://fromthecountryfarm.com/shop/

It will have new products added when they are ready but for now you can get our soap shipped directly to you or a loved one!

This is what I'm thankful for tonight because a HUGE pressure has been lifted from my shoulders and I am thankful. I am also thankful for the wonderful news a friend shared with me today and I could not be more happy for her.

gratitude challenge - day 10

I am eternally thankful for dreams that have come true.

gratitude challange day 9

I am pleased to announce that our soap and gift sets will be carried at North Parish Christmas Tree Farm in Turner starting the day after Thanksgiving! This makes the third store we are in and for this I am thankful!

gratitude challenge - day 8

I am thankful for everything about this photo!

gratitude challenge day 7

Tonight I am thankful for my heated mattress pad and blanket, after an honest days work I look forward to crawling into bed and being warm so I can fall asleep quickly and be well rested for the next day. May sound silly, but I am thankful for these simple things.

gratitude challenge day 6

Tonight I am thankful for the ability to have an impact with the choices we make. I am thankful that I can vote with my dollars to support a local farmer or a big corporation. I am thankful that I am part of a movement that supports the local people I know, the local economy and has a direct impact on those places I shop. I am thankful that I am part of a community that supports farmers markets and that I am part of a farmers market with a leader who is fearless, determined, motivated, kindhearted, motivated to see this market not only survive but THRIVE!!! Thank you Anne M. for your tireless dedication to the community and your vendors. We couldn't do this without YOU!

gratitude challenge day 5

Today I'm thankful for YOU! I'm thankful for each and every customer because without you I couldn't do what I love to do. I love tending the animals here on the farm, making amazing things with what they produce, educating those willing to learn and giving a hands on experience to those who visit the animals. Thank YOU!

gratitude challenge day 4

Today I am thankful for family. Those that live immediately within the walls of this home, and those who are related by blood and those who are not but are family just the same. Thankful the lessons learned and passed on from generation to generation, for the wonderful things we learn together and the strength and love that surrounds us in hard times. So thankful for family.

gratitude challenge day 3

Today I'm thankful for my goats, for the joy and delight they bring me each and every single day. For the creamy milk they produce and the silky soft fiber they grow. I'm also especially thankful that my girls just love Dealer! ;-) Especially Strawberry!

gratitude challenge day 2

Today I am thankful for wool, from my herd and already in the form of sweaters and wood heat. I don't know how I'd make it through a Maine winter without either one! What are you thankful for today?

gratitude challenge

Today I am thankful for my farm, each day I wake up and can face the day starting here on the farm is a day I count a blessing. Thank you God for this farm.

Ever thought about moving to the country? or a farm? or....

homesteading or things of that nature? Ever thought, "Someday I'll do that, but...." Well, until someday happens for you here's something to tide you over.

It's our "A Year on the Farm" goat milk soap gift set! It's a project I've been working on for a while and was finally able tonight to get it finished for your viewing pleasure. It's a collection of scents that correlate to things that are happening in the farm during that month. The soap dish in the center is designed exclusively and hand crafted for our soap by a local potter, using Maine Marine clay! It holds the bar of oatmeal soap, because a good breakfast for a hard days work is oatmeal! :-) The handcrafted box is made with pine grown in Maine and harvested from my childhood home, which I happen to think is a pretty special place! There are a limited number of these available, so get yours today! We'll be starting to ship these soon!

Meet the Cast - Dealer

This is Dealer! Jesta Farm The Dealer! He joined our herd today! We're expecting great things from him based on what he's done already...

He and Strawberry have already been introduced..... she likes him! ;-)

A must see for anybody who eats...

http://geneticroulettemovie.com/

how happy is this little goat?!

soooooo busy

Just checking in to let y'all know I'm still here, just really busy with other things and life and the farm and schooling and oh yea, a wee bit of me time... Should be back soon with lots to catch you up on!

good quote

“I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well."

unknown

Family day at Popham Beach!

big ole' blue!

Much work to do...

At a small, local, rural fair today (hence the lack of posts) and after witnessing child after child look at the black and white piglets and exclaim to their parents, "Look Mommy/ Daddy, look! Cows!!!"

My heart was sad and I feel I have much work to do, much.

YUM!!!

See that caramel-like sauce? only better! Yes, I made that! I made it yesterday with fresh creamy goat milk, it's called Cajeta, or Dulce de Leche and WOW I see a bit more of this in my future and on some French toast.....

Now that I've made your mouth water, have a great day y'all!

mmmmm marinated chevre

Made this this evening using our fresh chevre, garlic, garlic scapes and thyme all grown here on the farm, tossed in some peppercorns and oh yes ma'am! DELISH! It's hanging out in the fridge til I can harvest some fresh lettuce from our garden for tomorrows dinner....

Who says you can't have it all?! ;-)

good quote

"...People are aware that they cannot continue in the same old way but are immobilized because they cannot imagine an alternative...
We need a vision that recognizes that we are at one of the great turning points in human history when the survival of our planet and the restoration of our humanity require a great sea of change in our ecological, economic, political and spiritual values."

Grace Lee Boggs

Thank God for milking goats!

Have you ever had one of those moments where you've hit your groove, where everything felt right and things that had happened or were happening had led up to that exact moment? A moment where everything you have worked for and all that you are has come down to that exact moment and you experience the full thrill of the moment and the joy, comfort and satisfaction of it and could not think of any other place you'd rather be?

I had one of those moments this morning.

Thank God for milking goats!

humbled...

I am so humbled by my children. They are amazing and I just can't tell you how much I love them and how much they mean to me, without them I am nothing because I have nothing.

Our garden area was a disaster - for several reason, more on that in another post and it is because of who Faith and Andrew are that we have a garden this year, why it's doing so well and why I am so humbled tonight. As their mom I get to witness them shine and I often have my heart pop with pride because of the thoughtfulness, kindheartedness or caring things they do often for other people. But is was one of those shining moments that connected itself  to tonight in the garden that I'll not forget. Complete selflessness is what I witnessed tonight and and I had no right to ask for their help and they both willingly gave up a perfect summer evening to spend it in the garden helping me weed and tend the plants. Not a complaint was uttered, not a sigh nothing but complete willingness to work.

There are few things in life better than a perfect summer evening where the air is cool and dry with a gentle summer breeze, bare knees buried in the warm earth, the birds singing in the treetops, the vocalizations of a mother goat to her baby, the clucking of chickens, dirt under your fingernails, affectionate conversation between my children and I united, solid, steady and strong.

So many people travel the world looking for the peace they might just be able to find in their own backyard.

on my needles...

You may remember these little beauties I made from last year, maybe not. Due to the very uncomfortable heat and humidity for the past several days I've spent a lot of time inside avoiding it, it's miserable! In doing so I figured I'd better be doing something so I decided to get a jump on winter knitting to avoid months of chiropractic care and a neck and shoulder packed in ice for weeks! I posted these on our facebook page yesterday and said I'm making these again today only with fiber from my boys and got lots of compliments but I got a great idea to make these little beauties even better....

how? you ask....

let me show you...

...they are being lined with roving that will eventually felt into the mitten and make them softer and ever warmer. It's like sticking your hands into our llama without the work of having to care for him or shear him. These were even more popular, I've got three orders to fill already!

what fun to be a kid!

big dog daddy!

Caution! Viewing the following photo may cause a sudden need for a larger vehicle, yard, the need to purchase significantly larger bags of dog food, the need to have a much larger couch and an overall feeling of awww. I make no apologies for this, owning a Great Dane has been one of the greatest joys of my life. View at your own risk...

This is Bridger's most recent litter!

Photo credit: Johnna H.

this life of mine

Feeling incredibly blessed and thankful tonight so I thought I'd share the lyrics of a favorite song of mine.
Written by Rivers Rutherford and Dierks Bently

"Life is seen more clearly through our tears
cause we all find some faith when we face our fears
when my life's going like I want God becomes an afterthought
and I start trying to build my heaven here

A better believer would look to the skies
shout hallelujah with tears in his eyes
open his heart and start giving it all away
when I take a hard look at myself
and count my blessings I can't help
but wonder if there's been some sort of mistake
this life on mine should belong to a better believer

All we really need in life is love
and in my time I've had more than enough
but some days I'm not satisfied
it happens to me every time
I look around instead of looking up

A better believer would look to the skies
shout hallelujah with tears in his eyes
open his heart and start giving it all away
when I take a hard look at myself
and count my blessings I can't help
but wonder if there's been some sort of mistake
this life on mine should belong to a better believer

with all I've got to be thankful for
I should be doing so much more I know

A better believer would look to the skies
shout hallelujah with tears in his eyes
open his heart and start giving it all away
when I take a hard look at myself
and count my blessings I can't help
but wonder if there's been some sort of mistake
yeah this life on mine should belong to a better believer
Oh this life of mine should belong
to a better believer

finally and thankfully!

 Our first load of hay is in, finally! thankfully! As is usually the case my nephew was on hand to help out and this time so was my sister!! We figured out why families used to be so large, because it took that many people to get all the work done for survival! Here are a few pic from the day!

Yea! it's here! Who's going to make it to the top first?!

Dang! that's a lot of hay!

At first the work seems daunting! It's a labor of love and certainly like money on the bank!

No idea what he said, but he must have thought it funny, look at that sheepish grin!

Two hard working country girls! I love this picture!

Tossing in another bale! Photo credit: Jen L.

Two of the hardest working kids I know!

Working hard!

Bucking hay!

Bridger thought he'd be a big helper so he jumped up onto the wagon, turns out eh, not so much! My sister however was a big help! Thank you Jen!

YEA! We did it! We got it all in!!

Am I a big helper now Mom?

Cap'n Eli's ice cold root beer (which F.Y.I. is made in Maine and just so happens to be the worlds best root beer!) for a hard job done well!

I have a picture of the three of them in the hay loft from every year we've done this. I cannot believe how big they are getting!

R.I.P. Galloway

It is with a very somber and broken heart I write tonight, Galloway passed away quickly and very suddenly tonight. He was out enjoying the beautiful sunny day with the rest of the herd and as night fell he went in the barn as usual to let me know it was time for grain and bleated like usual. A short while later I asked my son to go close the gate and it was him that found him alive, but so very near death. I did what I could think to do my husband tried mouth to mouth but to no avail. He slipped quietly away with all of in tears around him. We have no idea what happened and ask that you please allow us to grieve without offering suggestions or coulda, shoulda, wouldas. This is a tremendous shock and great loss to our family and I appreciate your understanding in this matter. We are simply devastated. Thank you.

nope no sspoiled babies here...

My sister often tells me that we have spoiled animals here, I have no idea what she's talking about... :-)

good quote

"When people in a democracy are not educated in the art of living - to strengthen their conscience, compassion and ability to question and think critically - they can be easily manipulated by fear and propaganda. A democracy is only as wise at it's citizens, and a democracy of ignorant citizens can be as dangerous as a dictatorship." Paul K. Chappell

beautiful Celeste...

...soaking up some summer sun.

Just moments after birth...

Meet the Cast - From the Country Farm Celeste

From the Country Farm is pleased to introduce  From the Country Farm Celeste, born on June 29, 2012. She and Momma Venus are both doing great!

It's big enough for Bridger!

Our other truck was......... wellllllllllllllll used and just about dead so it was time for a different one. This is what we got. It was less than what I'd anticipated spending and had less than 100K miles on it, the other one had over 232K!! AND it's big enough for Bridger! lol

kidding should be happening SOON and I need your help!

My doe Venus is due to kid this week and I'd like to have some help in the kid naming department. We're expecting twins so I need two names for girls which I'm hoping for and two names for boys which we are not keeping :'( or hoping for, but it is part of the territory. Since the momma's name is Venus and Dad is Galaxy I'd like to stick with the celestial theme we've got going. I'm anxious to see what y'all come up with, the folks on our facebook page have come up with some awesome ones!

AND once again we're having a give away when we hit 500 likes! Go to our page and get the details today!

we're ok!

We were involved in a car accident this afternoon. A lady ran a red light and hit the car the kids and I were in on our way to visit grandparents and drop off orders. We didn't make it there but nobody was hurt. And like a wise woman once said, if money can fix it, it's not a problem! Very very very thankful for God's unfailing protection of us.

May there never be...

... a summer without fireflies.

1st cheddar out of the press!

longer post later, just couldn't wait to get this post up!

Congrats to all who guessed a.....

......cheese press! This beauty is on loan from a friend and I could not be more thrilled at being able to give a go to making a hard or pressed cheese! I've got two gallons of milk heating slowly on the stove and the camera nearby for pictures. Farmhouse cheddar is the project of the day! It's got to cure for 8 weeks before we can try it, then the aged cheddar will be curing for 6 months.... I should have started years ago! lol That's a LONG time for a terribly impatient person to have to wait for the fruits of labor...

any guesses?

Any guesses to what this "little" beauty is?? I'm very excited to have this here and to give it a go!

alpaca cool down

Faith was outside washing a water bucket this afternoon and these three boys came running up to her for their hose down! Nope, no spoiled animals here! ;-)

created by Ron...

my boy

I love this photo.

slow, but well

   

Faith and I were up and out the door headed straight to our first ever farmers market while Andrew and Ron headed north for some fishing. She and I got everything set up and we waited for the customers to arrive. Being that it was a first for us as well as a new market at this location I wasn't expecting oodles of people. We made some sales, met some cool people and were invited to vend in two other locations! WOW! I've not committed to it, because my truck is soooooo not reliable, I desperately need a new old one.... soon!

a farmers market - finally!

Since the weather was so horrible last week the place that is hosting the farmers market canceled last weeks market; which wasn't entirely awful, because I had already made the Fiber Frolic commitment and wasn't planning to be there, but my mom said she'd run that market for me. Isn't she amazing?! So that gave me an extra week to get ready for this event. I'm excited about it and cannot wait to see how things go tomorrow. If you're in the area stop in and say hi!

Meet the Cast - Barnam and Bale-e

 

Barnam, get it, Barn-am?

                                                                     Bale-e, get that, Bale-e?

And because my life sometimes feels like a three ring circus! hahaha! Not always, just some days.

These two have blended in with the rest of the herd so beautifully, I cannot believe it. When Spice arrived they pounded the snot out of her for weeks! But these two are actually leading the rest of them to the the best places on the farm to forage and are staying in the woods for a portion of the grazing time, it's amazing! They've been roughed up a bit, as expected, but absolutely nothing like what Spice went through. I just couldn't be more pleased with how they've blended in! I just love their little faces and those beards just kill me!

Or maybe I adore them because they look so happy.

I'm not exactly sure, but I am happy they are here.