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!