I had some time off following Anna’s arrival, and we’ve been taking things a bit slower as she becomes more acclimated to us. It’s amazing what you take notice of when you’re not quite so rushed. Here’s a few things that have come clear here on the homestead as of late:

If A Chicken Can Fit, So Can A Goat

It’s Autumn, which means that the doe goats are coming into heat and our resident buck Johnny is in rut. He’s been separated from the girls for now, as we’re trying to space out when their kids are born in the Spring – he’s been with Pepper in October, he’ll be with Black-Eyed Susan in November and, if she’s big enough, Violet in December. The chicken pen is the only place outdoors that we can put them in and keep Johnny separate from the other ladies who are waiting their turn. Low and behold, he can squeeze himself through the little door and get himself into the henhouse to eat the chicken feed! I added an extra board to make the entrance smaller. The chickens protested (and even stayed out in the rain rather than try to slide through such a small opening) but somehow, JOHNNY STILL GOT IN! But let me be clear: he could not get himself out. He had to be rescued. Our goats don’t jump fences, but apparently they do defy all scientific laws of space and matter.

Red Rangers are Good Layers

Speaking of the hens, we got some meat chickens this year, and with being busy we haven’t gotten around to process them. Come to find out, despite the fact that they’re a meat breed, they’ve been amazing layers. One of them appears to be a pretty consistent layer of double-yolk eggs. The eggs she gives us are enormous; we haven’t had any this size since we stopped raising backyard ducks.

We *May* Have This Blog For Selfish Reasons

It’s become worth keeping this blog up if only because we actually write things down! We’ve recently accessed Apple Cider Jelly and Saint Nicholas Soup, and I’ve definitely come back to the Muesli recipe more than once. For all those times where we wonder ‘wait… how did we do that again?’ This blog has come in handy over and over.

Sourdough Explodes

The sourdough culture that I started sometime around February or March laid around too long without being refreshed and I had to start from the beginning. I was on day five and ALMOST ready to start making sourdough bread again when I noticed that the half gallon mason jar I use to store the culture in had spiderweb cracking all through it. I’m flabbergasted how it could have happened, as all it does is sit on the kitchen counter. The only thing that I can conclude is that so much gas built up from the starter that it caused the glass to crack. I’ve never heard of such a thing happening, but it’s the only explanation I can come up with. So, if you’re bored during social distancing and would like to try your hand at sourdough beware: it can explode.

We Have An Amazing Family And Community

Welcoming Anna into our family has reminded us of something that we already knew: we have an incredible family, generous friends and delightful coworkers. Our freezer has been stocked with so many meals that we’ve only had to cook maybe twice this month, and Anna now has more clothes than the rest of the family combined. Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but it sure seems like it! Many have correctly observed that with four older brothers Anna would have little for hand-me-downs. By the time she was three days old she was destined to be the best dressed little girl in the world. We are so grateful to know and be related to so many wonderful people. Every one of you is a blessing.