Sweet Potato

Have you ever seen a sweet potato that weighs five pounds and two ounces? I harvested this monster today!

Train Ride Fun!

waiting for the train.

On Labor Day we rode the Missionary Ridge local steam train.

train turning around at the roundhouse.

here it comes!

Laura watching the train turn around.

Elizabeth loved the train!

Train on the turntable.

A trestle bridge we passed.

The girls with Mommy.

It was raining and Elizabeth loved reaching out to feel the rain.

Here comes the steam engine!

Two trains.

Freight train passing.

Elizabeth waiting at the train station.

More Sewing Projects

I made this little skirt for Laura this week. She did not want to look at the camera, but she did like the skirt! I was given a lot of fabric this spring, and I made this skirt with some of that free fabric.

This hand stitched quilt block was among the fabric I was given . I added a ruffle and turned it into a cute pillow to put on our guest bed.

I love the vintage fabrics.

Cuteness

What is in the box?

BABY DUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love them!

I want to hold one.

me too, Daddy!

Bliss.

Soap Workshop

Recently we have had trouble fitting everything in our soap room. We make soap, cure the bars, wrap soap, pack and ship orders, store supplies and equipment all in one space.
So we rearranged everything and now everything fits and it feels like a brand new space.
Here are a few after photos, I did not take any before photos!
Here are shelves where we keep miscellaneous supplies, labels and bags, and some shipping supplies.
The lower cabinets hold essential oils.

Some Anise and Herbes de Provence soaps on the curing shelf.

This shelf holds equipment, and some of the ingredients for soap.

Soaps on the curing rack.

This worktable is currently stacked with our farmers market totes packed and ready to go.

More soaps.

Soap!

Soap molds, and soaps.

This cart is holding some lotions and laundry soap.

 That is a look at our soap room!

Happy Anniversary.

Three years today since Bill and I were married.
We are so thankful God brought us together, and has blessed us with two precious daughters.

Around the farm

It has been busy here. Here is a little snapshot of what we have been doing and what is growing on the farm.
Blooming: Roses, hollyhocks, zinnas, Gerber daisies, echinacea, sweet william, geraniums, butterfly bushes, gladiolas, four o'clocks, petunias, cosmos, calendula, foxglove, rose of sharon, probably more.
Harvesting: corn, peppers, tomatoes, watermelon, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, blueberries apples, herbs, pears.
Sewing: I am working on skirts for me, an apron for Laura, a baby gift for a friend, and a quilt.
Animals: Our ducks have started to lay, so we now have duck eggs! The goats have lost some production due to heat, but are still doing well.
Family: Laura turned two June 30th, and Elizabeth just turned 9 months. Elizabeth now says several words and waves bye-bye.

Here is Laura eating her birthday cake. She had angel food cake with whipped cream and strawberries. She loves the colorful wooden sorting beads she got!

Projects: Lots of projects planned for this week, and hopefully most will get done! We need to start harvesting apples, and canning them. A big bowl of our pears is waiting to be baked into pear tart. We are currently digging our potatoes, and as soon as we empty the beds we will plant fall crops. We have a couple goats to tattoo for Linear Appraisal next month. We are hoping to go buy peaches to can, and maybe pick more blueberries.

Soap: This should be a good production week for soap, scheduled batches are Cool Cucumber, Lavender, Raspberry Vanilla, and Tea Tree.

Menu: I don't plan a formal menu, as I cook from the garden and what is in season so much. Tonight we are having chive pasta topped with goat cheese, fresh chives, and shrimp, a big salad, and whole wheat potato bread. This week I also plan to do a Mediterranean meal with falafel, tzatziki, and Greek salad, and we'll work on eating potatoes, squash, and tomatoes from the garden.

So that is a look at our plans for this week, Lord willing.
And here is a photo of some garden bounty.

Becky