We have so many plans and dreams this year. Things that will make our life so much easier, and solve so many little, nagging problems. Last year I struggled to figure out solutions. This year I know what I want, but we haven’t been able to make it happen yet – which I find almost…
Homeschooling and Conflicts of Interest
You know how children seem to be attracted to whatever their parents don’t really like? I thought it couldn’t possibly happen to me – I’m fairly laid-back about most things. But Mirin has managed to hit on an interest that does indeed make me cringe – guns. I’ve never liked guns. Even when I was…
Yarn Along: Second Cuff, Second Time
I think I finally got the pattern I’m working on right the second knit-up. Rose has already claimed the first, large-and-floppy cuff for a legwarmer, so I’ll have to knit a second one of those for her, as well as a second, better-fitting one for myself. Confusing! But I do think I’ll have a free…
First Attempt At Bacon
Inspired by the River Cottage Curing and Smoking Handbook, Ethan cured some bacon last week. It’s good, but not quite what we expected – it’s a little heavy on the juniper berries and bay leaf. Not bad at all, but I guess we’re used to Southern-style bacon. We’re going to try it again with…
News From Explorer and Milking Matilda Again
It’s been a week since Explorer left, and we got some news that he’s been some trouble. Apparently when he got off the trailer he did a lot of snorting and bucking around (the trailer really pissed him off), but he calmed down after a little while. And instead of getting down to business and…
Handmade Mayonnaise
As soon as Christmas was over, the chickens decided it was spring and started laying. We don’t usually get that many eggs so early in the year. They were such beautiful shades of pink and brown I had to get a picture. My little lettuce plants are finally just big enough to start getting salads. …
Explorer Off
Sampson and Nutty, the two biggest bulls now, spar to see who’s the biggest Some big changes have happened recently – we lost Night Hawk, we got a new buck (he’s even stinkier than before – the girls are still not going for it), and our big bull Explorer went off to a new farm…
Yarn Along: Wrist Warmers with Colorwork
Rug space in front of the window is in really high demand It’s been awhile since I’ve picked up any knitting. I think it took that long for my brain to recover from the anaesthesia. For a few weeks now I’ve been glancing at my yarn stash, wondering when I would feel up for it…
Biggest Billy Goat Gruff
On Thursday we went to see the buck. He’s big, beautiful, and very friendly. The family who raised him is having to move, and they are very sad to say goodbye to him. He’s also extremely smelly – just how a buck should be. When we got him to the farm, we first…
Not a Quiet Day
Friday was NOT a quiet day, after all. It turned out to be a constant-fun type of day. I’m not even sure what I was thinking writing that. I hardly got to knit very much, and it stopped raining. We had friends we hadn’t seen for awhile come over in the morning, and overlap with…
Quiet Day
It’s raining this morning, so we will probably have a quiet day today. Some out-of-town friends are going to be visiting this afternoon. Yesterday we went to look at a new buck. He was beautiful, and I think we will buy him. He’s already grown-up and knows what to do, which is kind of what…
Toadstools And Fairy Rings 