Memorial Day Week End

It was a perfect weekend to celebrate family and friends, young and old and everything in between.

Here is to remembering the gift of service and freedom.

In between parades and planting the garden there was time to gather together for a BBQ on the farm.

But first a word from our sponsors!! Hey, look at these friendly pigs. They are now weighing about 250 pounds. They have a definite routine throughout the day and enjoy the company of the other farm animals.

Here the pigs feed and there are usually a hen or two ready to help clean up after the pigs eat.

Back to the BBQ! We used the fire pit with madrone wood for seasoned smoke flavor.

Jolene and Peter had plenty of supervision while the grilled up bison-elk burgers! YUM!!

Ryan helped set the tables and made sure the food was properly placed!

After a prayer of thanks, 13 grateful hearts sat down to share a meal prepared by many hands.

The first BBQ of the season was wonderful!

The kids filled to their hearts' content and then it was time for play.

Some fun in the sun and sprinklers.

Some needed more encouragement than others!!

Then the victory run through the sprinklers all together.

Strawberry Blueberry Shortcake covered in whipped cream made a patriotic dessert!

Of course there was plenty to go around.

Red-White-Blue!

Darrell and Jane, thank you for a career of service with the US Marine Corps!

Happy in the water!

Anna on the tire swing. There is always time for a ride.

And a gathering on the front porch as the sun was getting low in the sky.

It was a day to remember so many blessings.

Happy Memorial Day, 2014

Market Research

Here we are nearing the end of January and the most important events happening right now are stall cleaning, egg hunting, and market research! Current research is taking place in the kitchen with a variety of popcorn samplers Tim ordered from Indiana!

The particular batch we popped was the "Blue' which is noted for its sweeter taste. Well, it was pretty sweet just to have the freshly popped popcorn! Our Amish friends in Indiana painstakingly pack all of the popcorn by variety, color, and size. We will be saving the 'Rainbow' variety after sampling all of the flavors individually.

Popping the corn on the stovetop is so quick and easy. We add a little melted butter, a shake or two of salt, and a scant sprinkling of sugar and there is a fresh pot of kettle corn, ready to warm the January evenings!

Barn Blues

In the barn is a secret hiding place for baby chicks that are getting bigger and ready to join the other hens in nearly a month. There are seven remaining chicks, but two have been tagged for Charlie and Jeri. That will leave five new additions to the flock on the farm, and then there will be 20 hens laying golden (brown and blue) eggs! Anna and her brothers are working on the names for the other five. We can't wait to hear which names will be chosen~

Blue and Purple

Oh, the warm sun shine has been shining on our shoulders and we are certainly enjoying all of the blossoms that are also reaching for the sun. At this time of year, anywhere on the farm smells sweet. The flowering trees have gently scented the air and as we walk out to get the mail, the lilac greets us with her sweet smelling flowers. This pretty bush has been shaped into a tree with years of pruning by Tim and the old fashioned flower reminds us of slower times and white lace. Find some flowers and be sure to take the time to smell them!