Life in a Little Red Farmhouse

Lazy Afternoon

2012-02-28T13:32:00.000-06:00

It appears you can get 5 fat pigs in a small house.

Open Barn

2012-02-25T15:45:00.001-06:00

This morning we hosted our first Open Barn for friends and family to see the lambs. It was so much fun!

No matter what age a person is, holding a cuddly lamb brings a smile.

Hands and hearts were full today.

We had some horseback time too.

We are so blessed to have our farm and farm animals.

And what a JOY to share it with others!

We will have to make this an annual event.

Old Shipping Crate

2012-02-24T07:02:00.000-06:00

As I was putting toys away after my niece and nephew were here yesterday, I realized that I had not shared this with you.

We purchased this old shipping crate before we were married. We loved antiques and thought it would make a good coffee table. It had been refinished and was shiny and new, in an old way.

Who knows what it carried before it came to us. The first years we had it, it held a blanket for curling up on the sofa and board games to play with friends.

Then the kids came along and it held toys & puzzles for them to drag out onto the living room floor.

Years later, when choosing upolstered furniture, an Ethan Allen designer came to our home. Although I still loved the old crate, I halfway apologized for it as it sat in the living room. She told me to "Never get rid of it. It was perfect!" I've never doubted what I like in furniture since.

Years of abuse from the boys and this old thing is still going strong. It's taken on a weathered appearance which I think makes it even better.

Now it holds toys for kiddos that come to visit the farmhouse.

Cute & Cuddly

2012-02-22T10:10:00.000-06:00

The lambs are enjoying the beautiful weather we are having.

And we are enjoying cute & cuddly lambs!

Daylily

They are such fun to hold...

Jared & Daffodil

and to watch.

Pistache & Petunia
You can definitely tell he is lilac in the sun.
(Lilac is a special grayish color. Jacob people really like lilac.)

Zinnia (shy but so sweet)

Daffodil is a "look at me girl".

The mommas are watchful too.

They keep their babies close and don't let the others near them.

Last night we got 10 glorious hours of sleep. Ok, my sweet husband got dressed and checked on them once in the night (thanks, honey!). After many sleepless nights, it was so nice.

Bunny still looks like she could lamb anytime. Then we will have a break for a few weeks until the three first timers give birth. (we think!)

Night Watch

2012-02-20T09:25:00.000-06:00

It appears all of our sheep like to lamb at night

and last night was a looong night!

When Wayne checked on Bella (the one we thought would lamb first) at midnight, she had a broken water sack. We watched her until 2:30 am. She had been having strong, close contractions for quite a while. Then she just laid down and stopped. We had already checked to see if the lamb was in the correct position with "two toes and a nose". So we called our breeder in Colorado and she encouraged us to pull the lamb out. She stayed on speaker phone and talked us through it. Isn't technology great?! And wasn't that great of her to do at 3:00 am?

I have to tell you, as novice shepherds, this was quite scary. When the head finally emerged, the tongue was hanging out and we thought he was dead. But as soon as the big limp boy with huge horn buds hit the ground, he was off and running!

So let's give a warm welcome to:

Pistache

named after a tree found in Oklahoma

that exhibits beautiful color and strong wood but requires great care when young

& his little sister that quietly slipped into the world behind him.

Petunia

They are very dark and are almost identical in markings.

Pistache is on the left with the dot on his head.
Petunia's leg marking are same as his only smaller.

They are not identical in personality though.

While sweet Petunia was hanging around and under momma, her twin brother was checking on Wayne's progress hanging another water bucket, trying to get into another pen to see the others, and wanting out the barn door.

Old Bella's going to have her hands full!

After a long night watch, we are so thankful that Bella and babies are doing well!

Pistache: 7 lbs 6 oz

Petunia: 6 lbs 11 oz

Sire: Sherack Dually

Dam: Sherack Bella

Another Ewe Lamb

2012-02-19T10:47:00.001-06:00

Very early this morning, while we were catching some ZZZZs,

Izzy had a little girl lamb.

Zinnia

She was big ~ 7 lbs. 10 oz.

Sire: Sherack Dually

Dam: Sherack Izzy

More to come later, both lambs and photos. Back out to the barn for now.

A Proper Introduction

2012-02-18T17:14:00.000-06:00

Daffodil

The first flower to spring forth.

She definitely has some ~spring~ in her step!

She's a pretty little thing and she seems to know it.

Daylily

She's a little more timid but so cuddly & cute!

She has her momma's all white legs and will carry part of her sire's name since he retired this year.

Daffodil 7 lbs. 8 oz.

Daylily 7 lbs. 5 oz.

dam: Schafewold Tiny

sire: Lillywold Job

We have 6 more ewes to lamb. I'll try not to post too many lamb pictures but no promises!

Lambs!!! (the birthing)

2012-02-18T04:38:00.000-06:00

Last night we experienced the first births

on the Rockin' S-Squared Farm.

We've been anxiously waiting for Bella and Izzy to lamb and all the while Tiny was ready to go! She's such a sweet ewe ~ we're glad she was the first.

It was miraculous to watch. God's design is in all of life!

I've been encouraged lately to show the good and bad of farm life on my blog. There was nothing bad about this but it's not, um, pretty. Actually it is just messy pretty! So if you don't want to see the real deal, you might want to just admire the sweet girl above and go no further.

Tiny got cozy in a corner in the afternoon. By dinner time it was obvious she was contracting. There was lots of pawing at the ground, laying down, getting up, and making funny faces.

We kept checking on her until finally a water sack appeared like a big bubble.

After what seemed forever, we could finally see two little feet. A quick pic & text to our breeder in Colorado who was so helpful! She talked us through the whole thing.

(I just realized I should probably disinfect my phone!)

And there's the head resting right on top of the feet like it's supposed to.

Another few big pushes and we have a sweet ewe lamb!

Tiny goes straight to work cleaning her up.

What a good momma.

In 10 minutes she was up ~~walking~~ stumbling around

and taking in the world with her big bright eyes.

While mom & lamb were getting to know each other, another set of hooves appeared along with a nose.

A quick swipe to the nose and it shook it's head and started breathing.

Notice lamb one is nursing while lamb two is coming out.

That's a busy momma!

A few more pushes and lamb two is born.

It's a girl too!

Two lovely ewe lambs.

We feel blessed indeed!

Tuff

2012-02-16T11:55:00.000-06:00

Our new little guy is settling right in on the farm.

He's such a cutie!

Give me that!

He loves following us around and visiting the other animals.

The goats are his favorite.

They are great fun to play with (and eat with)!

Don't mind if I do have some too.

He is telling everyone who is going to be the boss ~ HIM,

hence the name Tuff.

It's a tough tiring job being boss!

Wayne is calling him Tuff Guy.

I'm calling him Tuff Love!

Going for a Second Spin

2012-02-14T10:53:00.000-06:00

Jared and I went for our second spinning lesson.

This time he worked on a spinning wheel instead of a spindle. The one he tried was the Schacht Sidekick which was just his size. Our teacher, Donna, said she has never seen a kid his age handle fiber as well as he does. He's going to be better than me!

The one I worked on was the Ashford Traveller. I really liked the height because it was more comfortable to sit at. Next time I am going to try the Schacht Ladybug. I think it might be the perfect one for me having the motion of the Schacht Joy that I first used and the height of the Ashford Traveller. We'll see.

This time we brought some of Smiley's washed black fleece. It came a lot easier for both of us but we still have much to learn. I can't tell you how rewarding it was to see it take shape as yarn and know if came from our sheep.

Later this week there is a spinning guild meeting and the Ladybug will be coming in for me to give a whirl. Until then, I am carding more wool with my new carders and making rolags.

Rolags are made by brushing the fleece with hand carders. This aligns the fibers, removes fibers that are too short and sometimes removes remaining vegetable matter.

Then you roll them up and spin them together on the wheel.

I love how the shades of gray mix together.

These will be spun into gray yarn from our own Jacob Sheep.

And speaking of sheep ~

No lambs yet.

We are waiting ~~patiently~~ impatiently.

Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup

2012-02-13T08:50:00.000-06:00

It's cold and flu season.

And nothings better for a sniffle than homemade chicken noodle soup.

I make mine the easy way ~ with a rotisserie chicken from the store.

I know what you are thinking... "But Kim, you grow your own meat." Yes, we do but not meat chickens (yet). And the cooked ones are so easy! Don't be dissapointed with me. They make great soup!

Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup
1 Rotisserie Chicken from store (I buy mine at Sam's because they're bigger. You know, 3 boys!)
a handful each of:
chopped onion
diced celery including some leaves
sliced carrots
9 chicken boullion cubes or 3 T boullion granules
1 t. pepper
1 large package of extra wide noodles

Fill a large pot 3/4 full of water (about 16 cups). Add rotisserie chicken whole. Put all those drippings in too. Add vegetables and seasoning to pot (everything except the noodles). Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Turn off heat. Remove chicken to cool. Careful, sometimes the chicken falls apart! When it's cool enough to handle, debone chicken, cut into small pieces and add back to pot. Bring soup to a boil and cook noodles according to package directions. Add extra seasoning s&p if needed. Serve with saltines.
**Use this recipe to make Chicken and Rice too. Just add 4 cups rice instead of noodles.**

Grab your spoon ~ Soup's on!

In the Kitchen

2012-02-11T12:33:00.000-06:00

This week I got an email about our kitchen with a request for more photos. Looking back at the blog, I realized I have only given you glimpses into our living spaces. Not only that, I had not even taken photos of it all. Instead of just emailing Lisa, I decided to invite you all in.

So, step into the space where I spend most of my time. I hope you find it cozy.

For our long bank of counters we choose maple butcher block from Lumber Liquidators and finished it ourselves with a food safe product called "salad bowl finish". This way I can roll out pie crust or make biscuits directly on the counter. I have a strict no knife rule though.

The cabinets have shaker style doors with glass inserts and drawers are plain flat boards. All are finished in Benjamin Moore Acadia White. Nickel finished knobs and pulls are from the Home Depot.

My little corner of the counter is where I blog to you. I love this space because it's so close. The little organizer from Target keeps keys, pencils, and bills at hand. The drawers you see in this area are used more as desk drawers even though they look like kitchen storage.

I absolutely love our stainless steel apron front sink. The combination of undermount sink and butcher block counter keeps me vigilant in wiping water off so it doesn't warp the wood. The light is from Pottery Barn.

Under the beadboard backed cabinets, we hung storage items from Ikea. The old bicycle basket holds white flour sack towels.

The french rolling pin was a gift from my son, Jonah. He turned it on his lathe. It's amazing!

The magnet strip holds knives and small items like mini cookie cutters.

Our island holds a microwave and basket of cookbooks. Behind the tall cabinet door, I store cookie sheet pans and serving trays. The countertop on the island is granite.

Over by the fridge is a pine cabinet with a painted black wood top. This cabinet is built in but made to look like a stand alone piece of furniture. Stainless Ikea shelves are above it.

All together this is what it looks like.

Thanks for visiting Kim's kitchen.

Happy Heart Day

2012-02-10T12:46:00.000-06:00

to my hubby.

He was really surprised!

How could you not love that face?

I think he will fit right in on the farm.

Now he just has to think of a name for the little guy.

Horsing Around

2012-02-06T08:26:00.000-06:00

"Who put this pile of hay in our pasture?"

"This isn't hay, it's dirt!"

"Dig! The hay has to be in there somewhere."

"Seriously, boys, there is green grass over here."

Washing Fleece

2012-02-04T14:58:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was my first fleece washing day.
I started with Smiley's fleece.

Her fleece was easy to separate into white and black with a little left as a gray mixture.

It's soft and crimpy. I think that's good but I don't really know.

I've never done this before and I haven't wanted to ruin it, so I have been putting it off. But next week I am going for my second spinning lesson and she told me to bring some washed fleece along so I could spin yarn from my own sheep. So, you see, it had to be done!

The instructions from The Joy of Handspinning seem easy enough. I guess the trick is to not ~~aggravate~~ agitate the fleece at all. If you do, you will have felt!

First you have to have HOT water. Add enough Dawn detergent to make the water seem slippery.

Place wool in mesh laundry bags.

Submerge in hot soapy water and let it soak for 30 minutes.

Drain (nasty, greasy) water and re-fill sink with same temperature water. Try not to handle the fleece too much (how much is too much, though?) And don't run water over fleece! Dunk fleece to rinse.

Rinse. Drain. Refill. Repeat. I don't know, Is that enough rinsing? (I did three.)

Add a couple tablespoons of vinegar to last rinse.

Lay out to dry on towels. Don't ring it... squeeze it... mess with it. (This is really hard for me!)

I don't know. Seems a lot cleaner. Still some vegetable matter (grass & hay) in there but I assume it will come out in carding.

It should be fun to spin some of our own wool.

Smiley's wool makes me smile!

Sheep Shed

2012-01-31T14:41:00.000-06:00

Our little white barn has had several jobs over the last year.

First it was the goat house.

Then is was the hawk hut.

Now, it's the sheep shed.

With lambs on the way, we needed a place for birthing pens,

or jugs as they call them.

Wayne made ours out of aluminum. He's so talented! See how the rails are closer at the bottom? Genius, I tell you. It's handy that we have a family manufacturing business with aluminum to spare.

To the jugs, we added a layer of pine shavings on the floor with straw on top of that so it will be nice and soft for the little lambs.

There are feed bins and water buckets up high so the little ones won't reach them (we hope)

and a fire proof heat lamp mounted low enough to keep them warm.

There's a new frost free faucet right outside for water.

And a shelf with lambing supplies close to the jugs.

Everything is ready.

Now we just need some babies!

Jar Soap Dispenser

2012-01-28T08:23:00.000-06:00

I first saw these cute soap dispensers at Pottery Barn and wanted some. Then I ran across a tutorial on how to make your own on Julia's adorable blog, Blissfully Content. She has the cutest ideas!

I searched for zinc lids online and then decided maybe I should use what I had. Truth is, I'm impatient! So I used new jars and white plastic freezer jar lids.

I really like how they turned out.

And then my sis~in~law brought me another soap pump!

{Thanks, Scharlee!} And so I made one out of a really big old Atlas jar for my kitchen sink.

I love jars!

Visit Julia for instructions on how to make one for your farmhouse.

Simply Cornbread

2012-01-26T11:56:00.001-06:00

I don't know what it is about being back home but it makes me want to bake. Maybe I just need the aroma of fresh baked bread. Maybe I need homemade after eating out for a week. At least, I have help from my little guy {baking} and from all the guys {eating}!

recipe for one rise bread here

In just a few days, I have baked four loaves of bread ~ two white & two wheat, homemade pancakes ~twice, and fresh crispy cornbread. Oh, and some chocolate chip cookies were in there too.

Back to the cornbread.

Simple. Southern. Speedy. Scrump-dilly-ish!

I use a recipe from my well worn Southern Living Cookbook. It's for corn sticks but it doesn't matter. It can go in a pan and cook a little longer. This can also be made Gluten Free easily by substituting a GF flour mix or you can just use all cornmeal. It works either way!

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups cornmeal

3/4 cups flour

1 T. + 1 t. baking powder

3/4 t. salt

1/4 cup sugar (less if you want)

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups buttermilk (or 1 cup milk)

1/4 cups vegetable oil

Start with an old cast iron skillet.

The older the better.

Heat oven to 425 F.

Pour oil in bottom of pan and heat in oven

while you are mixing the batter.

Whisk dry ingredients together in large bowl.

Add eggs and milk.

Stir quickly just until incorporated but no more.

I mean it, stop stirring. It will be ok if there are lumps.

Pour in hot skillet.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until pulled away from the edges of the pan and browned on top.

Crispy on the edges and fluffy in the middle,

slathered with butter and honey.

That's simply delicious cornbread

especially if it's with a big bowl of beans!

Silent Treatment

2012-01-24T15:04:00.000-06:00

After being gone more than a week, I woke on Sunday morning longing to see the animals. Even though I normally don't go out at first light with my hubby, I donned my coveralls and coat and joined him in the cold.

Lewis & Clark always talk to me as I step out the door onto the breezeway. Always. But I heard nothing. I could see they were fine so I headed to the chicken coop to let them out before rooster woke the neighbors.

Still no chatter from the goat pen. Obviously, I was being given the silent treatment.

Lewis

"Hello, boys!" I said, leaning over the gate.

And then they replied,

"Who are you?"

"Where is the cute teenage girl that has been

bringing us animal crackers?"

I think they have forgiven me now.

At least they are talking to me again.

But it took a lot of animal crackers!

Back from the Mountains

2012-01-22T21:34:00.001-06:00

Bubba & Betty with Wayne & Kim

This past week, our family took a well needed vacation from the farm. It's the first one that we have gone on since building our farmhouse and farm almost three years ago.

(Yes, I was posting farm happenings while gone. I couldn't go a whole week without it. Isn't it great that you can pre-post?)

Our winter destination was Crested Butte, Colorado.

It's simply gorgeous! We've been there a couple of times before and it was calling us back.

The day we arrived it snowed a foot. It made for wonderful skiing!

The boys loved it! Wayne loved that they were all old enough to carry their own gear. I loved it that we got to have some couple time to ski together.

One of the things we love about Crested Butte is the colorful old buildings. A lot of them were built in the early 1900s. This is a coffee house covered with colorful license plates. Cute!

This artist was painting the town with amazing detail

~ with gloves on!

One afternoon we traded our skis for sleds and went snowmobiling.

I was the old lady that everyone was waiting for. It was great fun ~ pure exhilaration mixed with pure terror.

On the way there we stopped at the Royal Gorge Bridge.

It's the world's highest suspension bridge.

It's over 1,000 feet down to the Arkansas River.

picture I took from the gondola

You can walk or drive over it.

Jared wasn't too thrilled with the height or the fact that it shook in the wind.

Jake, Jonah & I took the gondola across. It's the red spot in the photo below. I have to say that was one of the most adventurous things I have done. I don't know what I was thinking!

One of the highlights was our date night. Who would have thought we could get a meal like this in an old house in an alleyway in a sleepy ski village. Our meal at Soupcon (pronounced soop so(n)) was simply the BEST food we have ever eaten!

It was too pretty to eat and too delicious not to eat every bite!

photo credit: Soupcon

It was a great escape to the mountains.

It's nice to be back home on the farm though.

First-timers

2012-01-20T04:49:00.000-06:00

Our three first timers are looking a little more filled out now from their lambs.

Chili's belly can be see from straight on now.

Smiley is looking a fatter too.

And Poppy, well, she is just down right cute in her maternity wear!

It will be exciting (& a little scary) to see how these girls do.

One month to go for these ewes.

It's nice to see

2012-01-18T05:44:00.000-06:00

ducks on the pond

& geese in the pasture.

Oklahoma Landscape

2012-01-16T12:58:00.000-06:00

It seems bare in the winter but there is always beauty if you look for it.

Knitting lesson

2012-01-14T06:33:00.001-06:00

The thought of spinning yarn from our own fleeces from our own sheep has caused me to take on one more new thing ~ knitting.

I've wanted to learn to knit for years! I've just never forced myself to do it although I have been doing every other form of needlework for at least 25 years. Ok, longer than that really. My great grandmother put a sewing needle in my hand at a very young age. I think that experience will make knitting a little easier to pick up. I hope!

Sammie's Farm Chore

2012-01-11T10:17:00.001-06:00

Sammie has a very important farm chore.

She helps feed the cattle.

Actually, she throws a big fit if the boys go without her.

While he pours in the feed,

the cattle come running

until they see me that is.

Then they pose for some pictures before dinner.

Sammie waits patiently on the other side of the fence.

Now for her part of the chore.

I told you it was a very important chore.

Green Atlas Jars

2012-01-08T20:20:00.000-06:00

My youngest went to a friend's old family farm this weekend. They did some poking around in an abandoned shed. What they found were a pair of antique green Altas canning jars with lids. They were covered with years of dirt ~ like 40 years worth. Jared knew I would love them and his friend's family was happy to pass them on to me. Yea! I'm not a big collector and I don't have alot of old things but a few authentic farmhouse touches in this little red farmhouse add charm, I think. I believe these jars will fit right in. In my book, those boys struck ~~gold~~ green! Now I just have to figure out what to put in them. Until then they will just sparkle in the window sill.

Young Roosters

2012-01-06T20:44:00.000-06:00

It appears that a few of my new chickens may be roosters. I'm not all together thrilled about this. They tend to be a little aggressive and sometimes down right frightening! Mr. Darcy, you know, became too proud of his hens and too prejudice against me and had to go to another farm to face an unknown fate.

Colonel Brandon has been very nice though and will continue to stay as long as he remains gentlemanly. He is however recently overcome by wander lust and is flying to coop to wander the far edges of the farm. I keep telling him he has 37 ladies and there is no need to tread so far. This can easily be fixed with a feather trimming but I have to catch him first.

Colonel Brandon

I have been looking at a few of the little chickens (15 weeks old) and wondering about them. It appears that the "silver" Americana is a rooster. He's looking very manly in his strut. His comb and wattles are also very bright. See how he looks different from the Americana hens in the background? Jared swore he heard him crow this morning. I'll be listening carefully for a few days.

And then there is this guy. He's one of the Speckled Sussex's. He is a little bigger, brighter combed, and more colorful than the others. He seems a little goofy too.

Mr. Collins, maybe?

Hmmm... I'm going to have to think of some more Austen names, I guess.

Including one for this gorgeous girl. Any suggestions?

Spinning

2012-01-04T13:57:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was my first spinning lesson. Boy, was it fun! Donna at the Weaver at Indian Meridian gave us a little tour of her delightful shop and studio and then we got straight to work. First she gave me a skirting lesson. This was very helpful since I was completely confused about what was good and what was not in the area of raw fleeces. Hands on instruction is just so much better than online videos!

Jared went along since Dad and big brothers were busy. He was really glad he did. He got a lesson in spinning with a spindle. This was very unexpected but completely wonderful!

You could tell Donna was a retired teacher and loved children. She was so patient and encouraging.

Jared ended up doing pretty good! Better than me actually. She said he handled the fiber naturally.

I think I may have a spinning partner now.

Once he was good and going, we got to work on the wheel. We used an Ashford Joy double treadle. First she demonstrated and made it look super easy.

I thought to myself, "This is going to be a breeze." Not! It is really much harder to do than it looks. Keeping both feet and both hands busy doing different things is quite a trick.

By the end, I was doing pretty good.

It was encouraging for her to show me her first attempt from years ago.

One of you said I had "fallen down a rabbit hole". You were right. But I'm thinking I'm gonna like this hole I have found myself in. I am very excited about having my hands in the whole process from sheep to yarn!

And now I 've got to get back to skirting those fleeces. I'm finding watching Pride and Prejudice while working the fleece helps keeps me going. I've watched one already today and am going to start another version of P&P this afternoon and I'm still on the first fleece. It may be a long Jane Austen week!

My next lesson will be to card and spin my own fiber from our own sheep!

Our First Shearing Day

2011-12-31T08:29:00.003-06:00

was yesterday. It was exciting, interesting, and fun. Mostly though it was a learning experience.

As you can imagine, we had friends and family here to watch.

Our shearer, Frank Schwartz, set up his equipment in the goat shed (hawk hut, right now) and we brought them in one at a time. Tiny was first. She set a good example for the others to follow.

It's funny how they give up and just lay there after putting up a fight to come in.

Frank shaved off the fleeces in one piece.

There is an art to this, I'm thinking. He told us that he went to
shearing school in New Zealand and used to, when he did this
full time, shear close to 20,000 sheep a year.

The wool seemed to grow as it came off of the sheep! We couldn't believe how much of it there was.

Look how black that black is!

We separated the fleeces in bags and labeled them by the sheep's name. A few of them, he said were really nice and would be good for spinning. I'm glad because I have my first lesson on Tuesday and am taking some for her to see.

Tiny was walking out the door and turned to ask,
"Do I have to go out there? They are going to make fun of me."

As they each came out, they surrounded and sniffed the one just sheared as if to say, "Who are you?" or "What happened to your coat?" It was funny!

The girls look a lot different now! You can really see their pregnant bellies. It's hard to believe that we will have lambs in one month. Just another step in our adventure!

Today we are going to skirt the fleeces and then have a crab & shrimp boil for New Year's. Should be a fun way to spend our 23rd anniversary.

Ziggy wishes you a Happy New Year and a blessed 2012!

Pink Skies

2011-12-30T08:30:00.000-06:00

A warm front moved in yesterday and brought with it magnificent colors. The sunset was just stunning!

And then this morning there was a glorious sunrise as an encore.

The sheep said they had never seen such a pink sky.

The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God. Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their message reaches out to all the world.

Psalm 19:1-3 , The Living Bible

Lost Wilbur

2011-12-29T11:42:00.000-06:00

I like happy posts, fun posts, inspiring posts.

But life on a farm is not always happy, fun, or inspiring.

Somedays, life on a farm is hard.

Yesterday was one of those days.

During the afternoon feeding, we discovered one of Jonah's pigs was injured. He was laying down unable to get up. Off to the vet we took him. But apparently once a pig is "down" it won't ever get back up.

It was the little one that we callled Wilbur. Although he was from the same litter as the others, he has always been smaller. I suspect that he ended up on the bottom of the pig pile or they were playing too rough. There was just no way to save him.

Wilbur was a feeder hog not a pet. But the investment of time and money in animals, even those that will end up as meat, makes this a considerable loss for Jonah.

Plus, we all liked the little guy.

Spinning

2011-12-28T11:28:00.000-06:00

My head is spinning with sheep stuff! Our first shearing day is on Saturday. We are excited and anxious because once again this is new ground for us. Remember, two years ago we had two dogs and now we have 80 animals on the farm! It's all a learning process and right now we are learning about sheep.

Ziggy's just a gorgeous girl.

We are really enjoying our Jacob Sheep. They are just pretty! I wonder how they will look after shearing with their big fat pregnant bellies. It should be fun to find out.

Tiny is not so tiny now. In fact, she is as big as a barn!

And then there is the question of what to do with the fleeces. There's so much to learn in that area!

image from wikipedia

Skirting

Roving

Carding

Picking

All this terminology I don't know.

But there is one thing that has always intrigued me ~

Spinning!

The closer we get to shearing the more I want to figure it all out and do it myself rather than sell the fleeces or send it off to be made into yarn. I know it won't all be good. Actually, I look at them with all the hay (vegetable matter ~ yes, I have that new term down) in their coat and wonder how any of it will be good. I am assured it will be though.

And so, I am making an appointment to try spinning and I'm dreaming about wheels. I love this little number right here. Ok, I know I shouldn't pick a wheel according to looks but wouldn't this be cute tucked away under my staircase with a comfy chair? It even has a little ladybug on the wheel somewhere that will fly around and around. Never mind the fact that it is RED!

image from schachtspindle.com

Anyway, my mind is spinning and hopefully my hands will be too soon. It's inevitable really since I have been crocheting for 20+ years and now have fiber sheep. Right?

If you are a spinner, please feel free to comment or email. I would love to know what you use and how you prepare your fleeces! And if you don't spin, well, tell me that I'm not crazy for trying something else new!

And since we are talking sheep, just take a look at this cute little thing that Shannon at Kenleigh Acres custom made for me to give Wayne at Christmas. Isn't she cute?

She looks just like Ziggy, spots and all!

Thanks, Shannon!

Wishing you a blessed Christmas!

2011-12-24T17:37:00.000-06:00

The boots are by the stove.

The wreaths are hung.

The presents are wrapped.

The tree is trimmed.

The house is in lights.

All in celebration of the Savior's birth!

from: the Little Red Farmhouse

Easy Christmas Cookies

2011-12-23T12:52:00.001-06:00

Let's face it, preparing for Christmas isn't always easy.

And as we approach Christmas Eve, there is one thing we need ~

Cookies!

We're gonna make these easy though

by using a mix. {Shhh! don't tell}

Actually, I use these all the time.

I know, you expected more; afterall I make pancakes and biscuits and bread from scratch.

But let's not make this into a big deal.

Betty's got it all figured out.

Not what I'm using today but these are our favorite!
Yes, Mountain Mama, this is why we have so much butter in our fridge!

All you need is a couple of bags of her sugar cookie mixes,

two sticks of butter, and two eggs.

The rest you probably have in your pantry.

So let's bake!

First, I have to tell you~

there are two tools that I use to make my cookies look perfect~

a cookie scoop and parchment paper. Girl, if you aren't using parchment paper to bake with, well, you are just working too hard!

Ok, now let's bake.

Mix up both bags of cookie mix being sure to used softened butter and eggs straight from the coop if you've got them.

Divide in half. Melt 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips in a bowl and add to half of dough with one Tablespoon of flour.

Roll in plastic wrap and chill for one hour.

Let's make the pinwheel cookies first.

Roll out half of the chocolate dough on plastic wrap into a small rectangle.

Next do half of the sugar cookie dough.

Flip one on top of the other.

Now, roll up using the plastic wrap to press gently as you go.

Once you have a log of dough,

it goes back to the fridge to chill again.

Next up, snickerdoodles!

Mix up 1/2 cup sugar with one teaspoon cinnamon added.

Scoop up dough into balls and roll in cinn/sugar.

Bake. Sprinkle with more cinn/sugar as soon as you pop them out of the oven.

Now for chocolate!

This chocolate-sugar cookie combo tastes like Nestle's quik to me.

And if you ask me, that's not a bad thing.

Scoop, bake.

Sprinkle 1/2 with crushed candy canes

the other 1/2 with powdered sugar.

{Note to self: add the candy cane after baking. It melts.
This is not the first time I have made this mistake.}

Easy, right?

3 down, 1 to go!

Slice the pinwheels.

I use a pastry cutter.

Reshape into circles as you lay them out on the parchment paper.

Bake.

Ok, that's it! Didn't I tell you that was easy? Santa will think you slaved away forever.

And I bet he won't leave even a crumb. ;)

The pecan grove

2011-12-20T13:36:00.001-06:00

on a neighbor's ranch is one of my new favorite places.

If Jake is going there to hunt with his hawk, I try to tag along.

It's a place that seems to say,

"Slow down. What's your hurry?"

Can you find her in the tree tops?

It's a place to stroll,

hear the crunch of leaves under your feet,

& enjoy the wonder of God's creation.

And the photo ops ~

well, you can't beat them.

It's peaceful

and quiet

and perfectly lovely

even in winter.

Seven crows til Christmas

2011-12-18T16:09:00.001-06:00

Seven more crows til Christmas, everyone!

What? Only seven?

Oh my ~ It really snuck up on me.

But, some of my packages haven't arrived!

Christmas, yummy, Christmas.

I wonder if we will get extra hay? Or maybe some alfalfa!

I'd be happy with that cute blonde chick.

I would like a new ball to add to my collection.

Guys, guys, we live on this sweet farm.
What else do we need ?

Cookies! We need cookies!

You never know...

2011-12-15T14:01:00.001-06:00

what's going on in the mudroom!

You can't blame me really ~

It's cold and muddy outside

and it had to be done.

The mares

2011-12-13T15:40:00.000-06:00

know how to spend a cold drizzly day.

A Little Christmas in the Kitchen

2011-12-10T18:17:00.001-06:00

Usually I decorate the house for Christmas in one whirlwind weekend. But I haven't really been in the mood to do that

so I am doing a little at a time.

And I'm keeping it real simple.

Today I added a little Christmas in the kitchen.

It's easy when you have a white & red kitchen to start with.

I do love eating on Christmas plates during this time of year.

Whether it's take out pizza or turkey with all the trimmings,

Christmas dishes just make every meal seem more special.

Candles, apples, and berries found a place on the island.

The dining room table has a new linen tablecloth with cross-stiched snowflakes (from Target).

And the flatware bucket got a new look with a few coats of chalkboard paint.

Right now it's displaying the four Christmas food groups:

Candy

Candy Canes

Candy Corns

& Syrup

(anyone know what movie that's from?)

Lasso Christmas Wreath

2011-12-06T11:51:00.000-06:00

What do you do with an old lasso at Christmas time?

Make it into a wreath, of course!

All you need is a lasso,

a few sprigs of greenery with berries and pinecones,

a big red bow,

and some raffia throw in for good measure,

And there you have it!

A fitting Christmas wreath for a barn door,

don't you think?

Saturday Evening Post

2011-12-03T18:07:00.000-06:00

A glimpse into the lives of the people who live in the Little Red Farmhouse. Sort of like eves dropping. It will be a quote or conversation. It may be funny. It may be sweet. Maybe a little sad. But it will always be true. We'll see if it resonates with you.

Mom: "But you don't know if you like brussel sprouts."

Boy: "Umm. They're GREEN!"

Which dining chairs?

2011-11-29T10:01:00.000-06:00

Help us pick ~ please! Two out of three of our antique chairs have fallen apart in the last month. We want to purchase three chairs for one side of the table and put the black arm chairs on the ends (with new fabric seats). We have several that we like. Each of us has our own favorites, of course.

First, here is our table ~

Pine, farmhouse style, tapered legs, very simple, dark wood knots that add lots of character.

Second, a distressed pine wood bench that our kids have been sitting at since they could climb up there. It's a permanent piece in our house for sentimental reasons.

Lastly, black Napoleon style chairs that my hubby really doesn't like but they are staying for budget reasons and because we want to have a mismatched look.

I believe we have narrowed it down to three choices. So cast your votes and help us decide.

Choice #1

Crate & Barrel Delta

1950's aluminum bargain at $99 each

coordinate with barstools in kitchen that we love

Choice #2

Pottery Barn Isabella

cute and colorful

one each of red, green, and brown

$139 each

Choice #3

Pottery Barn Stella

in mahogany stain

classic, simple, but most expensive at $199 each

Keep in mind that our house has some contemporary accents like keyless light fixtures and interior barn doors but we also have traditional furniture.

Take a stroll through the house if you want.

The living, dining, and kitchen are all completly open to each other, so keep that in mind too.

And when you know which you would pick, comment below or vote in the poll in the sidebar.

Thanks, blog friends!

Two years

2011-11-26T14:36:00.001-06:00

ago we moved into our little red farmhouse.

Construction was not completed so we lived in the rec room (all five of us!) for almost a month. We had a microwave, refrigerator, and one sink and toilet. It was rough but also exciting because we were beginning our new country life.

Many of you may not know this but neither my husband nor I had any farm experience. We were city people. But we wanted something different ~ a simple house with room for our boys to run outside. We dreamed of horses, chickens, and sheep but we never set out to build a hobby farm.
Somewhere along the way, it just happened.

Two years ago, we moved here with 2 golden retrievers.

Now we have 80 animals!

5 horses

10 cattle

6 pigs

2 goats

45 chickens

8 Jacob Sheep (expecting lambs)

3 golden retrievers

& 1 red tailed hawk

In January, my hubby said he wanted 50 animals
on the farm by this Christmas.

I'd say we met that goal!

Life has definitely changed.

We have all traded our tennis shoes for work boots.

We research farm things instead of watching tv.

I drive a truck (something I never thought I would do).

We still go to work and have school at home.

But the other hours,

we spend with the animals

and tend the garden

and repair fences

and ride horses

and... and... and....

A quiet life? No.

A simple one? Sometimes.

A rewarding one? Definitely.

Would we go back to the life we lived two years ago? Never.

Sheep shipment

2011-11-21T16:06:00.002-06:00

The long awaited day has arrived!

Our new Jacob Sheep were delivered to the farm today.

Months ago, we picked a starter flock of eight ewes from

Moose Mountain Ranch in Colorado.

Then, seven of them were bred to rams. The other one was too young but she was just too cute to pass up.

Next, they had ultrasounds to make sure they would all lamb.

Several are going to have twins!

And finally, they made the long road trip to their new home.

Jared is particularly excited about the sheep. I think he might have a future showing this breed.

Wayne is thrilled too since he was researching Jacob Sheep before we even built our farmhouse.

They are so sweet and gentle. Tiny (above) was was being timid, hiding behind the hay rack when I was trying to take her picture.

Smiley, however, was happy to pose.

Bella took treats from our hands.

Ziggy, the youngster of the bunch, wanted seconds.

Just like a teenager!

Aren't they pretty?

I think shepherding is going to be a lot of fun for our family.

Welcome to Rockin' S~Squared Farm, ladies!

BLISSful sleep on a latex mattress

2011-11-18T15:00:00.000-06:00

Everyone has heard of innersprings and memory foam mattresses. But have you heard about latex foam mattresses? We hadn't until we decided it was time to look for something new to sleep on.

To be quite honest, we weren't getting near enough sleep

and it sure wasn't comfortable sleep.

Our old mattress was 17 years old!

Yes, I know, that about 10 years past it's prime.

More importantly though, my husband needed to be more comfortable.

You see, he has a back injury from a car accident nine years ago. It interferes with his daily life and his nightly sleep. In fact, since the accident, he had not slept more than 6 hours a night. Everyday, he woke up in pain. There was no need to have an alarm clock. His back would wake him up.

But that has changed!

If you have been following for a while, you know that I am not a big endorser of products on my blog. It's just something I don't do. But three weeks ago, we bought a new mattress and it has made such an impact on our life, I wanted to share it with you.

Our new latex foam mattress is made from Talalay all natural rubber.

It doesn't have harsh springs to push on pressure points like innersprings.

It doesn't "sleep hot" or have the "quick sand" feel that memory foam has.

It has just enough give to cradle around your body but just enough push to support it.

The one we chose has a 10 inch thick mattress of solid latex foam with a 4 inch mattress topper. What's great about the topper is we can take it with us when we travel. It can also be replaced if needed since the top layer of a mattress is always the first thing to wear out. The zippered cover can also be removed for washing.

On top of the super comfy 14 inches of mattress, we've added an additonal feather bed mattress cover.

Talk about fluffy!

Softness with support ~

Our latex foam mattress has added a full TWO hours of sleep for my sweet husband.

And the best part of all ~ he's doesn't wake up in pain.

That is BLISSful sleep!

A special thank you to the friendly Hegert family at Mattress Sleepcenters for helping us find the perfect mattress for pain free sleep!

Lewis & Clark

2011-11-15T09:11:00.000-06:00

These guys are completely settled in on the farm.

Just a few things I love about them:

I love that they are always overjoyed to see me.

I love that they run for cover at the slightest rain drop (like me).

I love the matching white patches on their heads.

I love Lewis' one white leg.

I love their fat bellies!

We let them out daily to roam the yard and explore.

I love jingle of the bells on their bandana "cat" collars as they bound around.

And I love that they will follow you to the end of the earth if you have animal crackers in your pocket.

Scout

2011-11-12T08:51:00.001-06:00

He has been with our family for a long time.

He was a stray brought home from cub scout camp.

He knew how to sit, lay down, and loved petting.

He instantly became part of the family.

He never wet on the floor (except when we put up the Christmas tree that first year and he though we were bringing the outdoors in so he would have to go out! haha)

He didn't bark.

He never jumped on people.

He became instant friend to our three young boys.

When we moved to the farm, he became protector of all the animals.

He checks on them everyday morning and night.

He loves the chickens.

He's been a faithful companion to all of us.
But he's old and gray.

He's not eating.

He has cancer.

We are terribly sad about the thought of losing him.

Gooey Butter Bars

2011-11-08T08:44:00.000-06:00

When a recipe has "gooey" & "butter" in the name, I'm all in!

This one didn't disappoint.

1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 stick softened butter
3 eggs
8 oz cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar

Mix together cake mix, softened butter, and one egg until ingredients are moistened. Press dough in greased 9x13 pan. Beat the other 2 eggs, softened cream cheese, and powdered sugar until smooth. Pour over crust. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar when cooled. Cut into gooey bars.

I'm thinking next time, I'll make a pumpkin version by using a spice cake mix and adding pumpkin to the cream cheese.

Or... lemon

Or... chocolate!

Really, the possiblilities are endless with this easy recipe!

Another Earthquake

2011-11-06T07:24:00.000-06:00

and this one was the big one. The biggest ever in Oklahoma ~ 5.6!

I've never felt an earthquake until the last 24 hours and to have several within the span of a day has unnerved me just a bit.

Last night, we woke again to shaking but it was much stronger than the night before. I thought the house was going to break. It lasted a lot longer too. Enough time for us to all run outside.

Then it stopped.

Like I said yesterday, send us a tornado, we know what to do.

Earthquakes, not so much.

Shake, rattle...

2011-11-05T13:44:00.000-05:00

and roll out of bed! Last night around 2 am, Hubby and I sat straight up. Something shook the house. The lamp on my side of the bed was rocking around and rattling. It stopped but we were wide awake.

"What was that?"

A big gust of wind? No.

A big plane shaking the house? I don't hear one.

Did something hit the house?

"Don't turn on the light. Someone might be on the roof."

We couldn't figure it out and finally went back to sleep.

I awoke another time, hearing a rhythmic rocking sound. Hmm...

It stopped again. Back to sleep.

This morning we discovered that it was an earthquake!

In Oklahoma!

4.7!

I know we have a fault that runs through the state but I had never experienced one before. It was a little startling.

I would rather deal with tornados. At least with those, we know they are coming!

Expecting lambs

2011-11-03T11:54:00.000-05:00

It looks like we are going to have lots of these cuties in early spring!

Our yearling, Ziggy, as a lamb
We can't wait to meet her.

Our new Jacob Sheep have been in Colorado the past two months (at their previous home) being bred before they come to the Red Farmhouse. We've been anxiously awaiting the ultrasound date to tell us if they were all expecting. It looks like they are, although one looks too early to know for sure so she is still with the ram.

The favored herd sire from Moose Mountain is retiring this year but he was matched with our lady, Tiny.

Lilywold Job

Tiny

We are really excited to know he still had it. They make such beautiful lambs together so we are thrilled about that pair.

Now we just have to wait a couple more weeks

til they arrive on the farm.

A new way to wash an egg

2011-11-02T16:16:00.001-05:00

Funny that I talked about washing eggs just yesterday.

You won't believe what I did today.

I was removing clothes from the dryer when I saw egg shells!

Yes, I washed an egg in the washing machine!

No, not on purpose.

I left it in my sweatshirt pocket!

How embarrassing.

How stupid!

How funny!

I can't believe I did that.

I tell you the truth. What's left of it is thoroughly washed!

And I'm always telling my boys to check their pockets.

I do believe that is the worse thing that I have ever washed

~ well, except my cell phone.

Eggs ~ to wash or not to wash

2011-11-01T16:36:00.000-05:00

I recently discovered that there is actually a controversy over whether farm fresh eggs should be washed or not when bringing them in from the coop.

Seriously? I've had laying hens for a year and a half.

How did I not know this?

The non washers say that there is a coating that covers the egg when it is laid that protects it and keeps out germs. They stay fresher longer. Instead they keep their nesting boxes super clean.

Hum...

We all know, however, there is other stuff that comes out of that end of the hen and sooner or later (and usually at least one a day at our house) there is a soiled egg. Should that go in the refrigerator like it is in the name of less germs or freshness?

Hum...

Our eggs don't last long around here. They are consumed, given away, or sold the week they are laid. Sometimes they are eaten before they ever make it to the fridge!

I don't know about you but I think that's pretty fresh.

So which would you rather have?

Sealed and super fresh or fresh and super clean?

I think you can figure out which way I like mine.

Sunrise Chores

2011-10-29T08:43:00.002-05:00

Farm animals wake up a little earlier than I want to.

They are up with the sun letting us know it's time

for us to get up too.

The chickens are let out first mainly because the rooster's crow increases in volume if you don't.

The pigs prefer to sleep in ~ all except this little one who wants to know why I disturbed him without bringing him breakfast.

And of course the goats are ready to recieve their handful of grain and handfulls of petting.

Oh look, there is a great blue heron on the pond this morning.

One of the boys goes to feed their cattle.

Lugging 50 lbs of grain, they hop the fence.

The calves are always waiting for them.

A quick peek at the horses to make sure they are all ok and we're almost done.

Looks like D has a friend this morning.

Let's stop to smell a rose, shall we?

As cold as it is, they won't be around much longer.

And what do I wear to do these sunrise chores?

Yes, of course, satin pjs, warm fuzzy white robe,

& work boots!

I mean, what else would you wear at sunrise on a farm?

Big Ole Buckles

2011-10-27T14:32:00.001-05:00

Nothing better to a young cowboy than a shiny brass belt buckle that he earned.

Last night was our youth rodeo's awards banquet.

Jonah won Reserve Champion for Chute Dogging.

WooHoo! Way to wrestle those calves.

And Jared made Finalist.

Plus Jared was surprised to recieve a special award of sportsmanship! This one was in honor of a girl that lost her life in a rodeo accident years ago. She always had a good attitude even if she lost and always cheered on her competitors. This year the award was given to our little guy.

Those are big ole buckles!

Good job, guys.

This boy and this dog

2011-10-25T14:17:00.001-05:00

You never know what they are going to do.

J3 likes to find long stems of grass and put them in his mouth.

So, of course, Sammie has to too.

I know it's a dark picture & I'm sorry but it's just too cute!

Hawk in hand

2011-10-24T09:05:00.001-05:00

Jake is coming along training his new hawk, Valora.

I just love to see her fly to the fist.
They have been practicing this a lot

increasing the distance each time.

Look closely. She's flying close to the ground.

Raise the hand. Blow the whistle.

Fly!

Perfect landing!

It's amazing how fast a falconer can connect to a wild bird.

Flower garden revival

2011-10-22T18:20:00.000-05:00

The cooler temperatures have put my cottage garden

back into full bloom.

These white periwinkles are voluntary

and actually growing in the gravel path.

The gaillardia is always a favorite and has provided constant color

even through the drought.

The knockout roses are full of blooms.

I almost ripped out this varigated lantana because it didn't bloom all summer. It's making up for it now.

A few mums to fill in dead spots and some pots of pansies with pumpkins and it looks like fall around the farmhouse.

I love fall!

Blog friends become real friends

2011-10-21T09:42:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a memorable day.

It was the first time we had blog friends come to visit the Red Farmhouse. Mountain Mama along with her Mountain Crew just moved back to Oklahoma and were in town.

We had a wonderful time getting to know them personally even though we felt we knew each other already through our blogs.

Mini mountian man, age 4, hopped out of the car and said,

"Where is your house?"

"It's right there", my husband replied pointing to the red farmhouse.

"It looks like a barn!" he said back.

Too cute! Too true!

The kids rode Bobbi in the round pen

even did a little trick riding.

Later they turned the round pen into a gladiator pit complete with a giant to battle.

We gathered the eggs and fed the goats.

We grilled out and shared a meal.

What a sweet family! And what a beautiful day we were blessed with to get to know each other better.

We hope they enjoyed it as much as we did.

Who-Who! Who's on the roof?

2011-10-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Barn owl

but not just one,

a pair.

photo credit: hawkinghomestead

Serenading each other in the moonlight.

One on the peak of the roof.

and one on the stove pipe.

How romantic.

If you're not trying to sleep, that is.

Farm Pedicures

2011-10-17T13:25:00.000-05:00

That means the farrier has been to the farm. Every 6-10 weeks (depending on the season) he visits to make sure the horse's hooves are in good shape.

They are trimmed,

filed and shaped up.

Our farrier has been with us since before we started working with our natural horesmanship trainer. In fact, he's the one who refered us to him. They haven't always stood so nicely for their pedicures. It's rewarding to share with him about how far we have come in our horse journey.

It's also nice for them to be in great shape for riding too.

Now if I can just convince him to trim the goats.

Favorite Farmhouse Feature - Providence Quilt

2011-10-13T11:26:00.000-05:00

With the cooler weather coming on, I've been reminded how happy I am with our bedding choice to curl up under. Every farmhouse needs a quilt. Frankly, I don't think our home could be a called a farmhouse without one. I've been asked many times where our quilt came from and the answer to that is Pottery Barn. Although it is new, it possesses a vintage feel with old fashioned fabric prints and hand quilted stitches. Was it a splurge? Yes. But after nearly two years of daily use, it still looks the way it did when we first put it on our bed.

We paired the Providence Quilt with a set of pure white Matelasse shams and a white linen tailored bedskirt. The combination is not frilly but certainly comfy.

Typical Monday

2011-10-10T17:12:00.000-05:00

Running here, running there.

After lunch I needed to take one of the boys to a homeschool class.

I always try to look nice when I go there.
You know, my one day out that I see my peers.
Grab my cute brown denim jacket on my way out the door...

"What? There's chicken poop on the front of it!"

"Great." I run to closet to get something else that would match my outfit.

My well loved gray sweatshirt is the only other thing that will do.

**Sniff, sniff**

"Oh no! It smells like goats!" I played with the little goat guys yesterday in that.

Run to the bathroom for a little Bath & Body Vanilla perfume.
That's better ~ I think.

Off we go...

Jump in the truck.

Forgetting that I picked up hay this morning at the feed store, I rolled down the windows.
As soon as I hit the gas, the stray hay swept through the truck

and into my hair.

"Good grief! Now I smell like goats & vanilla and have hay in my freshly curled hair!"

This is not a glamorous life I lead.

Angel Biscuits

2011-10-07T05:57:00.004-05:00

Light as air

fluffy as feathers,

these biscuits live up to their name.

With both baking powder and yeast,

these are sure to rise.

And butter ~ oh my, 2 sticks!

Slather some on top too, why don't you? You can never have enough butter.

This recipe is from this month's Country Living magazine.

John Tesh contributed this one and it's a keeper.

His easy cobbler recipe is a keeper too.

Identical with mine. Yes, John and I swap recipes. {yeah, right}

Back to the angel biscuits.

1 pkg. active dry yeast

5 cups flour

1/4 sugar

2 T baking powder

1 1/2 t. salt

2 sticks butter

2 cups buttermilk

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 warm water & set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients.

Using a pastry blender, cut in butter.

Stir in buttermilk and reserved yeast to make a fairly wet dough.

So far, so good.

Sprinkle flour on work surface.

Divide dough in half.

Roll half out to 1/2 inch thickness and about 9x12 size.

Fold dough lengthwise in thirds to create layers in your biscuits.

Cut into six 3 inch squares.

Repeat with other half.

This will make 12 large biscuits.

Or cut smaller (like I will next time) to make more.

Place biscuits, just touching, on nonstick baking sheet.

Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

{If you are like me and just saw the "overnight", don't worry!

Just put them out to rise and bake. They will still be de-lish!}

Bake at 400 until golden brown for 20-25 minutes.

Don't forget to slather with butter.

Heavenly!

Chicks rock!

2011-10-05T20:10:00.001-05:00

It almost seems like spring here with cooler temperatures

and baby animals on the farm.

Since I have been selling eggs, I decided to expand my flock this fall so the new pullets would be laying by spring.

The post office called at 6:40 (Yes, that's AM)

to tell us they had arrived and to please come get them

NOW.

Ordered 27.

Recieved 30.

1 didn't make it :(

and 1 is being nursed along.

There are some really cute Americanas in the bunch

but the stars of the show are the Polish girls.

Meet the band ~

Blondie, Tina, & Stevie

They've got the 80's dos to carry off those names, don't you think?

Jared wanted some cool chickens so these girls are just for him.

He's convinced (and so am I) that these

chicks rock!

Jake's new hawk

2011-10-03T13:17:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend, Jake went with his falconry sponsor and caught his new bird ~

a Red Tailed Hawk.

After all of us logging nearly 21 hours in the car looking for the right bird, we couldn't be happier.

She is a beautiful young girl. You can tell she is a passage (juvenille) because her tail is not red yet but rather striped. And he knows it's a female by it's weight. The girls are heavier.

She is getting used to sitting quietly on his hand and doing very well.

Every once in a while she tries to fly away though.

Just look at those wide wings

and those beautiful intimidating eyes!

He's pretty proud of her.

For Jake, the hard work of training now begins.

For the full story of Jake's falconry apprenticeship see his blog.

Goat goodbye {and hello!}

2011-10-01T08:19:00.001-05:00

I was dreading yesterday a bit. Although the goat girls have been sold for a month, they have been waiting to go to Tennessee and yesterday was goodbye day. Still, I tried not to think about it and had lots to do running the boys here and there. I would miss the goats but would hopefully get a couple of little Nigerian Dwarf wethers for pets in the spring.

Then...

the nice lady came to get them and what did she have with her?

Two little wethers!

They had purchased them to keep their livestock guard puppy company but didn't really want them. So we loaded our four girl goats in the truck and unloaded two little boy goats.

Oh my goodness, they are so cute!

I just couldn't be happier with the way things turned out!

{Thank you, Honey, for saying "Yes".}

Now I just need to name them.

I'm thinking famous dynamics duos.

Simon & Garfunkel

Hall & Oats

hmmm...

what do you think?

Update Sunday, Oct. 2nd:
It's official ~
Their names are
Lewis and Clark!
Afterall, they were on a cross country journey
and stopped along the Oklahoma (not Oregon) trail
& Lewis is a "meri-wether".

The gray one is Lewis.
And the tri-color is Clark.
I think it fits them well.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Favorite Farmhouse Feature - Interior Barn Doors

2011-09-28T09:48:00.000-05:00

Our second farmhouse feature is definitely a favorite!

The barn doors throughout our house command attention and are the subject of much conversation when people visit the Red Farmhouse. We had seen lots of pictures on the internet of barn doors but no practial intructions on how to make them work in our home. Problem solving all the little details to install them was worth it because we love them!

Do you want to see how we did it?

When we built the house, we opted not the frame the doorways for typical doors. Although the opening is the same, ours were sheet rocked instead of trimmed. The baseboards wrap continuously through the doorway openings (see below).

You may also notice that the doors needed something to butt up to so there wouldn't be a gap to peek through. This was achieved by adding a trim board up the wall just like the ones the the rails run on.

The rails are galvanized. These are the same ones that can be purchased a Tractor Supply for barns. Wanting an industrial look, the rugged galvanized metal fit right in and they didn't cost an arm and a leg!

Hanging from the brackets are 7 foot solid core door panels painted white. We choose classic 5 panel doors for a slightly old fashioned look. Being solid core makes the doors have a weighty feel as you slide them open and closed which I feel is a must for a barn door.

To secure the doors from swinging out at the bottom, we added rollers. Hubby had to retrofit these since we have concrete floors. Stops keep the door from opening too far and falling off the rail.

A few of the barn doors are doubles. For these we added a small trim board to one side (left in pic above) so there would be no crack in the middle to peek through.

And the thick leather handles are my favorite part! They are replacement handles for antique luggage and trunks. Custom made for our doors, we got to choose the color and thickness. (I have to tell you though, the man in Pennsylvania thought I was a total hick when I told him I was putting his handles on barn doors in my house!)

On the opposite sides of the doors we needed some way to open them. There wasn't enough room to put handles on both sides so we decided on these finger pulls. Only they aren't really finger pulls. They are the pieces that door knobs attach to. We purchased them from Restoration Hardware to get the finishes that we wanted for each room.

And that's it ~ Interior Barn Doors.

They make a big farmhouse statement.

Cowboy up

2011-09-27T11:04:00.000-05:00

Even though Cowboy is only a year and a half old therefore too young to ride, we decided to introduce him to the saddle. He did really well! The only time he moved at all is when the saddle was cinched up and then he only took one side step.

We decided to let Jared hop on his horse and sit for a few minutes. After all, he only weighs 60 lbs. What could be the harm? We knew Cowboy wouldn't care and he didn't.

Our trainer said we wouldn't have to "saddle break" him if we followed the Clinton Anderson method. I guess he was right. It's amazing what natural horsemanship training will do for any horse but especially a young one! We may only buy yearlings from now on. It won't be long before Jared is ready to "Cowboy Up" and ride his own horse. And this was a great start.

Saturday Evening Post

2011-09-24T19:18:00.000-05:00

Our youngest boy was standing in line at Subway today watching 3 little girls ordering sandwiches. He turns to me and says, "Girls are the weirdest creatures on Earth."

In a few years I'm sure they will go from "weird" to "wow".

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

2011-09-23T10:01:00.002-05:00

Lasagna ~ classic family favorite

but with a twist, no, actually a roll!

I saw this recipe on Food Network years ago and we have been enjoying it ever since. It's not a quick fix but it sure is fun. Besides, disguising healthy spinach in a fun little roll is a great way to get guys to eat their veggies.

Let's Roll~

Ingredients:
1 (15 oz) ricotta cheese
1 (10 oz) package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 cup grated parmesan
3 oz thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped (tip ~ Don't ask for this at the Walmart deli. They will look at you like you are crazy!)
1 egg, beaten
1/2 t. salt
12 uncooked lasagna noodles
2 cups marinara sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella

Sauce (you can omit but it sure is good with it):
2 T butter
4 t. flour
1 1/4 cups milk
pinch of salt, pepper & nutmeg

To make sauce: melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for a few minutes. Whisk in milk and increase heat a little. Continue whisking until sauce comes to a simmer and is thick and smooth (about 3 minutes). Add seasoning and pour in the bottom of a 9x13 pan.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, stir together ricotta, spinach, parmesan, prosciutto, egg, salt & pepper.

Boil noodles until just tender but still firm. Drain. Arrange on baking sheet in a single layer so they don't stick together.

Now the fun part! It's time to roll. (Kids love to help with this part!)

One at a time, spread 3 T. of spinach/cheese mixture evenly over one noodle.

Start rolling from one end. Lay lasagna roll seam side down in pan.

Roll another...until all the rolls are done.

Spoon marinara sauce over rolls and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Cover with foil. Bake 20 then remove foil and bake 10-15 minutes longer until cheese browns a little on top.

Done! Pair with a Casear salad and let your family marvel at your masterpieces.

Jacob Sheep

2011-09-21T09:58:00.000-05:00

Building our hobby farm has been fun, work, and a little trial and error. Figuring out what kind of animals we wanted to raise has been too. But one thing that has been on the short list since before we built the farmhouse was Jacob Sheep. We've just been intrigued by them! Wayne especially wants to shepherd a flock.

Bella

What first drew us to this breed was the story behind them. Because we read the Bible daily in our home, we were familiar with the story of Jacob's flock in the book of Genesis. The long and short of it is this: Jacob was working for his Uncle Laban to earn the girl of his dreams, Rachel. He was promised wages of only the speckled and spotted lambs to start his own flock but then all the lambs end up being speckled and spotted. Jacob was blessed for his work even though his Uncle tried to cheat him time and again.

Bunny

Jacob Sheep are a heritage breed but still considered rare. They are gentle horned sheep and typically have 2-5 horns. They are on the small side and are generally thought of as fiber sheep meaning they produce excellent quality wool. However in recent breed taste tests, Jacobs were rated #2 in meat quality. Because we are focusing our farm for meat production for our own family and friends, we feel the Jacob Sheep will be a good fit for us.

The ones we are starting with are registered and all girls ~ eight of them. Seven are being bred, four of which typically have twins. We'll purchase a ram next year once we've gotten established with these.

Smiley

They are coming from Moose Mountain Ranch in Colorado and are being bred right now. They will be pregnancy checked in late October and we will pick them up in early November.

Ziggy

That means lambs, and lots of them, in February or March.

And those are just too cute. We can't wait!

Ziggy as lamb

Memorial Rodeo

2011-09-17T21:18:00.000-05:00

Boys in boots + the smell of horses =

a fun Saturday

at the Amanda Westermier Memorial Youth Rodeo.

Piglets

2011-09-16T13:54:00.000-05:00

have arrived on the farm.

& oh, my goodness, they are sooooo cute!

6 Brothers ~

4 white & 2 red with black spots.

They are cross breeds of Yorks, Duroc, & Hampshire.

I'm so glad we had a truck to haul them home in. Last year we transported them in the back of our SUV. At that moment, having a farm truck moved up on the priority list.

These are Jonah's pigs. I don't know why but the boy loves pigs even when they get big and nasty. He pays for them completely and then sells them when they are grown.

Four of them are already spoken for as pork.

But let's not think about that just yet. They are too sweet!

I mean, just look at those cheeks

and those curled up ears.

Right now we are enjoying them for the

precious piglets that they are.

I love how God makes all baby creatures adorable.

Favorite Farmhouse Feature - Edison Chandelier

2011-09-14T12:11:00.000-05:00

On a regular basis, we recieve emails requesting information on certain features in our farmhouse. This has been quite unexpected. We just picked things that we liked even if it wasn't what was typical. Most of the features were covered in posts when I first started this blog. But since that has been a while, I thought it might be fun to re-visit some over the next few weeks...

The Edison Chandelier

(otherwise known as Edison's Octopus in this house for obvious reasons)

We chose this Pottery Barn light fixture for our family dining area because it had that old fashioned yet industrial look. I think it's a little whimsical too. The bulbs are huge ~ a whopping 5 inches across! When the chandelier is on, it gets noticed!

Actually, it is one of the features that everyone comments on when visiting the Red Farmhouse. Some don't care for it. Most do. We love it! My favorite thing is when it is dark outside and the lights are on, the bulbs cast shadows on the living room wall that look like Christmas ornaments. Very unique!

Hanging it was pretty fun too. It was a two person job as hubby and I stood on the pine dining room table and decided where to attach the clips. We went for symetrical but slightly random, if that makes sense.

Overall,

the fixture fits the farmhouse perfectly.

Good pick, honey!

Making a gate

2011-09-12T13:36:00.000-05:00

Gate making ~ I seem to have gotten that job on the farm. Probably because digging post holes or putting up fencing is not really a "mom job" (at least not for this mom). I don't mind though. Now that I have made a few (5 to be exact), I kind of like the job.

Now, I've never considered myself a "handywoman". Working with tools has just never been my thing. Give me a crochet hook or a sewing machine and I'm a happy girl.

But gate making is a handy skill to have especially on a farm

so I thought I would show you how I did it.

First, I purchased a gate kit at Home Depot. This makes it really easy!

Following the directions, I assembled the frame.

(confession, I put it together wrong twice on the first gate)

Measure 2x4s to fit in the frame. The total width of the gate needs to be 4 inches less than the opening. This allows for the hardware.

And tension wire and hanging clamps.

Easy so far, right?

Now you need to decide how tall you want the gate to be.

Mine are 4 feet. I left one inch gaps in between the boards.

Lay them out first before you start attaching them so you know they are spaced right.

Then screw them on.

(Always wear proper footwear when using tools.)

Next, lay boards horizontally across gate and mark to cut.

Trim to fit with a miter saw.

Now cut diagonal board to fit in between horizontal ones.

This cut is tricky.

Say it with me ~ measure twice, cut once.

Ta Da!

Now to hang it.

Get a big strapping man to screw in those bolts.

Wait a few weeks for the boards to dry out

and paint ~

white, of course!

A perfect farm gate