HOME Sweet Homestead

 One day I might try to do a "Day in the Life" post because I wish I could share how what was once just a dream has become a reality that is so rich and full. But, for now I hope I can share enough glimpses that you might see some of what goes on around the homestead. 

Once the garlic cured, I cleaned it up and it turned out beautifully and it tastes delicious.

  

I was a little disappointed in the potato harvest, because I thought I had planted so many. 

I was consoled a little when I heard it was a bad year for potatoes. 

 

I have been canning like crazy around here!!

I canned all my tomatoes

 

 and even bought two boxes at the farmers' market because my tomatoes got blight. 

I have canned tomato halves, salsa, pickles, and chicken broth all within the last week.

  

We have started raising rabbits thanks to a friend generously giving us a buck and a doe. 

We already had one doe (who was supposedly pregnant when we bought her, 

but she actually wasn't). Now, although I'm still in the learning process with this, I think at least one is bred. We'll see in a few more days. 

The boys wanted to read a section from The Complete Adventures of Peter Rabbit to our newly named Flopsy and Benjamin when they first arrived.

 

Last Monday, we started back to school (more on that soon). 

We only took the month of July off, but the boys were begging to get back to it.

 

Bryan and I celebrated our 12th anniversary Sunday

 

and that evening Bryan sheared our first sheep.

 

 He did an amazing job! 

We still have two to shear,

 so hopefully that will happen soon.

 

Speaking of sheep, at the end of July, eight more sheep and another Great Pyrenees came to our homestead. They will be with our six sheep and our dog until their owners are able to find a new home in Louisville. 

We use managed intensive rotational grazing, 

so every few days we move 14 sheep and two dogs around our pastures. 

I'm sure it's a sight to see, but seems to be getting a bit easier each time. 

 

 Then earlier this week, the boys and I went to pick up a load of feed at the feed mill

 

because 31 baby chicks arrived at the post office for us today. 

This round of meat birds will be processed in October.

 

 My mom asked me the other day, on the phone, if I ever rest, 

and I know it's hard to believe, but I really do. 

Sometimes. :)

HOME Sweet Homestead

I can't believe it has been a week since our two newest lambs were born, but it has.

 We walked out to the field to move the sheep and there they were. We knew Ruby, their mother, was close to having them, but we thought it would be the next morning. They were born (we are guessing) a little before 7 pm. She had one black ewe (girl) lamb and one white ram (male) lamb. We have named them Opal and Gilbert. Since our flock is entirely black, we were excited to see our first white lamb. We are expecting more lambs any day from one more ewe.

 Our garden is still not entirely planted yet. Last year, I planted the entire space in a day. This year it has taken me weeks. But it is big. We are harvesting spinach, garlic scapes, and lots of radishes these days. The strawberries get picked before they turn completely red by the boys and I ate our first Sun Sugar tomato last night.

 

 It's good to have bees again, and both hives are doing well. 

I really love our new location for them this year. I can see the hives from our front porch.

  

The kittens...well, they are just so cute and playful right now.

The wildflowers in our fields are beautiful right now. The pastures are about to be bush hogged so they will come to an end shortly, but I'll enjoy them while I can.

 

 I am itching to paint our dining room these days and my new piece of furniture given to us by a sweet friend is making me want to even more. Both the walls and it are getting a fresh coat of paint one day. Until then, you get this sneak peek.

Also, if you like to see what's happening, 

I post a lot more to Instagram, so check that out for more pics.

HOME Sweet Homestead

Boy, oh boy, do we have a lot going on at our sweet, little homestead! 

It is definitely Spring around here! 

We've been busy planting and still have more to do, but we've also been harvesting, too.

 Flowers are popping up all around in some unexpected places.

 

Our Muscovy duck is sitting on 16 eggs! We will have ducklings very soon.

 

In the last month, Bryan built our laying hens a new eggmobile. Our chickens could already move around in the pastures, but not very easily in the very heavy coop that we had from the city. Now we can move the chickens so much easier and it can hold so many more chickens.

 We used metal that we found in the barn to cover the sides and a trailer for the base. 

We still have a few finishing touches to do, but it is now in use.

 Our first batch of 25 Rainbow Rangers came last week. These meat chickens will only live for about 11 weeks and then they will be processed and added to our freezer. We are hoping to raise another batch of 25 this summer. We are raising our own protein!

 We pick up our bees (2 hives) this coming Saturday. So we've been painting bee boxes!

 Mabel has been moved in with the sheep in electric fencing, and they get moved to a new section of grass every other day. She is a year old and slowly, but surely, she is growing into adulthood (thank goodness). She is now a Livestock Guardian Dog!

  

And....

today our first lamb was born!!! 

Her mother, Harley, gave birth to her shortly after 5 a.m. 

She is healthy and strong and her name is Victory.

Sheep!!!

Meet Harley, Ruby, and Margot, our very own sheep!

Monday evening we bought three Cotswold ewes (female sheep). They also happen to be bred (pregnant). So in about a month we should get the opportunity to experience lambing for the first time. I am both giddy with excitement and terrified!