November 12, 2014

Farm Happenings

My soap has cured for three weeks and is ready to go. The conclusions-

It is not pretty

It does not lather like commercial soaps

It smells divine

It cleans

I will not attempt my hand at soap again anytime soon. After a week of research and reading up on lye, I had frightened myself to an oblivion. The process wasn't enjoyable, for me at least. So I'm getting my next load of tallow tomorrow, and were going to go with candle making next.

Quick subject break- parenting a 13 year old is extremely daunting. And this is a boy. Daunting.

Back to the farm- the cold weather hit today and Im sure in some places it can be pleasantly mild. But out here, on the hill, with the wind, its anything but pleasant. I thought I had invested in warm enough gloves, I thought I had a warm enough coat, and I found out today, early on, I was way wrong.
I went out to bring the animals out for a few hours to stretch their legs, and then clean out the pens. It was cold.....freezing cold. So on the ASAP checklist, find some used farm worthy warm attire for 5 people.

You learn something every day, and today I learned that the animals really take this cold in stride. The chickens could really care less. They're all over the place in their little flock, getting into whatever cow pies they can find. And the cows just go out and graze like its nothing. If I was a cow and someone brought me out in that weather, I would stand there, still and staring, thinking of how cold it was, and waiting to be brought in.

Big farm plans are in the works....if they even will work. All I can say right now is our goal is to have an extremely small, sustainable working family farm. Working family farm, like all if us, even Doug. A lot of things to need line up first, and tons and tons more research needs to be done. That is all I can say for now, as things solidify, Ill update.

Stay warm!!