Growing and growing

We are back in the full swing of work. Chads foot has still been swelling a lot, but he is on the mend and glad to be back to work. Payton is done with her schoolwork about a month early (thank goodness) and life is grand. Payton has a couple church camps this June, but then she is off to the farm for the summer to help out. I’m pretty sure she just wants to snuggle with goats and papa wants her to work.

We now have 2 sets of twin baby goats. The second set was born on Mother’s Day, a girl named Sunshine, and a boy named Willy. Of course they are cute as can be. At first the momma goat Allie would not let the other babies play with her babies but now I think she is totally over being a protective momma and just wants a break (haha). Gingers babies are getting big quickly, they bounce around like crazy and are even starting to get their horns.

Mom and Dad have been working on their garden at the farm. Dad said his rows look like graves and I cannot believe my mom is in a jacket while we are melting here in Texas with 100 plus temperatures. I hope their garden does well. In addition to the garden, we purchased 4 apple trees and it’s the beginning to our fruit orchard. I cannot wait to add more tress but, we will try to add more in the fall or next spring.

Another one of Hunters barn cats had 3 kittens. We might need to get some cats fixed or he will be the crazy cat man and be working to feed cats. I am glad he enjoys them and makes sure they are well taken care of. I do wish they were more friendly but at least they keep the mice population down in the barn.

We have been working on our garden here in Texas as well, trying to learn as much as we can before we prior to moving to the farm. I wish it was now instead of years down the road. I have learned how to harvest, clean, and dehydrate Italian oregano, basil, purple basil, and thyme. Our tomato plants are looking amazing, strawberries have had their ups and downs with having a zinc deficiency and it got too hot for our lettuce which turned bitter.

We are trying to grow onions and potatoes for the first time, hopefully we will have a decent crop from them. It’s is hard to grow something that you cannot see growing underground. We may have planted more zucchini and squash than we will know what to do with, so hopefully our friends like fresh veggies. I am so excited to see what we will harvest from our green beans and cucumbers, I want to try out canning them.

I can see why people love to garden. It is rewarding, challenging, and peaceful being in the garden. But I must say I do not like weeding and we plan to have raised planters on the farm. The bending over to pull weeds kills my back!!!

For Mother’s Day Chad and the girls surprised me with a new flowerbed and planted flowers in it. It was perfect! Chad also got me a composting bin so we can learn how to compost. Wish me luck!