New team member

Gali (named Gallantly Streaming by her breeder, Tish, because she was born on July 4th, but slightly renamed by the boys to have a Bionicle meaning) has joined us as of August 22nd. She is a little over 7 weeks old, and ideally, we would have picked her up on August 29th, but it wouldn't have worked out.

She is an English Shepherd who is to guard the boys and the livestock. She is a smart little thing, who, even at the young age of 7weeks, could hold it in the car and tell us when she needs to go to potty.

But, I am sleep deprived! As with kids, I enjoy the older stage so much more and can't wait until she's older and more mature...even though puppies are darned cute.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Leaving again??!!

Seems like we just got home, worked furiously on the garden and preserving veggies, and now we're leaving again. When will life slow down enough for me to enjoy being home more?

After spending tons of time harvesting, weeding, planting and preserving these past few days, dh remarked that this farming lifestyle is pretty much a full-time job, but then we also have our other full-time jobs to do (dh's career for our income and insurance, and my homeschooling and homemaking and trying to squeeze in writing and art for the occasional buck). Hard work, little sleep, but keeps us slim.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Going to get a dog

We mulled it over for ages since our friend, Jami, first mentioned the idea to us over a year ago. She sent us to the American Working Farmcollies Association webpage to check things out, and if all goes, then we should be picking up a puppy in NY on the way home from visiting dh's dad.

We're, naturally, nervous and excited.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Water and chicken

Here's a scary fact for those who like to water that ubiquitous, useless, non-crop plant called grass:

A single lawn sprinkler, spraying 5 gaIlons of water per minute, uses more water in an hour than 10 toilet flushes, plus two five-minute showers, plus 2 dishwasher loads, plus 1 full washer load of clothes. 300 gallons for the sprinkler, and for all the rest combined--200 gallons. (from http://www.maquoketaia.com)

And speaking of water, thought I'd post a photo of CH who almost drowned in the geese's water tub.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

A terrific farmers market

Bloomington has one of the best Farmers Markets that we've ever seen. It draws in many folks who farm all over the southern Indiana area. While the one at Trout Lake, Vancouver, is pretty darned good, ours has a larger number of vendors and various musical, social, and cultural activities.

We're pretty well set on eggs, and all sorts of veggies, as well as beef and lamb, but we went there this morning to buy some pork from Fiedler Family Farms, who are lovely folks, and honey from Hunter's Honey Farm, also great people. Given a choice between 2 vendors who sell the same items, I'd go with ones who are smiling, friendly, and helpful...which is how we came to always frequent Hunter's Honey Farm over others who also sell honey at our Farmers Market.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Veggies keep growing

The green beans and tomatoes need picking about every third day. We picked and processed on Saturday and got yet another 10+ pounds of green beans today. Not complaining, but it's a full time job in the summer. Picking in a heat index of about 106 degrees F is also pretty miserable. When people buy cheap veggies at the store, they should remember all the poor (usually migrant) workers who are getting below minimum wage for a lousy job that few people want.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)