For Friends & Family

Since my introduction to Facebook, I have sorely neglected this blog.  However, there are friends and family members not on FB that do like to read here now and then to keep up with us, so this post is for them.  My apologies if you've read all this elsewhere already!

Samuel is now working on Minuet 3 in Suzuki book 1.  Just 2 more songs until he's ready to start reviewing and polishing pieces for a Book One Recital!  A new herd-share customer who has grown children that are involved with music (one who plays the cello, and another who is currently playing violin and bagpipes for Barrage) was here yesterday and watched Samuel's practice.  She was really complimentary of his playing and particularly liked his bow arm.  (She was also impressed with Shiphrah's piano, and asked if we had really musically inclined family members in our background--Moo Mau!)  Samuel does seem to be making really good progress, probably because we are finally in a better practicing routine!  He is finally getting his fingers stretched far enough on this new, larger violin.  If we could just get his left wrist right...  but he's getting there!  :)  It is getting to be enjoyable to listen to him play.  :)


Solomon is still learning the parts of the violin and most of the time now will call the fingerboard by its proper name rather than the "blackboard".  :)  He's quite the comedian, as I've mentioned umpteen bazillion times before, I'm certain.  He knows when he's funny and will give a cute little smile or a wink!  Such a little stinker!  Back to the violin...  He is learning how to hold the bow, the violin, and to play the Mississippi Hot Dog pattern.  We need to start on Ice Cream Cone, but most of the time, I'm so ready to quit before then.  The Twinkles really are more difficult for the parent!  I'm trying to stop before I let my frustration get the better of me and make Solomon exasperated as a result!  Sometimes, slower is better!

The boys are really enjoying their martial arts lessons.  They recently got tapes on their belts which means they are now allowed to practice their kicking at home.  Exactly how I'm supposed to wash the belt, I'm not certain.  David says it doesn't need to be washed.  :)  They look so cute in their little uniforms!  We had to take the original uniforms the got back and get larger ones, because they don't make them in husky sizes!  I hemmed the pants of the new uniforms because they were then too long.

Shiphrah is working on Chant Arabe in piano, still in the one-handed version.  Once we get through all the songs, she will go back through and add the second hand.  She really enjoys it, and has a dedication and diligence that is new and exciting!  She's also started picking out the Agnus Dei that we sing in church on the piano--says it's one of her favorites.  :)  Her drawing lately is becoming really detailed as well.  David and I are constantly looking at her drawings and saying, "Did you see this?  Look how she did this!  This is really good!"  This is a fun stage.  I'm sure that when they're reading more that will be even more fun, but I'm enjoying where we are!  Shiphrah is thoroughly enjoying ballet.  We recently bought some gel and hairnets so her hair could be more perfect for class.  More perfect.  :)  Shiloh and I enjoy our hour in the waiting room.  :)

Shiloh is just cute as ever.  :)  She's very vocal, even though the only intelligible words she says are Mama, Dad, and No.  :)  She likes to pretend that everything she says makes sense!  She give great hugs, likes petting goats, carrying purses, and drawing with crayons on paper like the "big kids".  :)  She loves shoes and hats as well.  This week, she has slept through the night with out wanting bottles, which has been really nice!  She likes playing with her siblings and it's really fun to watch them altogether.  :)  Her eyes seem to be staying mostly blue.  Her hair is thickening up and getting curly (was there any doubt?!)  She likes getting her fingernails and toenails trimmed--baby mani/pedi!  :)  She sometimes likes to give kisses (really puckery kinds on the lips!) and sometimes gives you her forehead to kiss when she doesn't want to pucker up! She is getting some molars right now, but seems to be handling it well. 

David's Fall Break is next week.  I need to call and have fines delivered so we can spend next week shoveling them into the barn!  Fun fun fun!  I'm not certain we'll be capable of moving after shoveling 20 tons of rock and sand... that's a lot of work!  We bred 3 goats last week, and if they took, there will be kids in February!  I hope to be able to breed 3 more the end of this week.  The last 2 will wait a couple months, as they're young and small yet.

Lately, my mom and I have been making our feed runs together on Saturday mornings.  Two weeks ago, we went to the mill together.  One week ago, we did grocery shopping together.  This past weekend, we went to the mill together in the morning, and to pick up hay in the evening.  The kiddos all stay home with David, and I'm enjoying the time with my mom.  We're not solving the world's problems or anything, but togetherness is good.  :)

Milk amounts from the goats vary this time of year.  When the does go into heat, they drop in production.  This causes us to save the milk for share holders and Shiloh only.  Then, when production goes back up, we are out of the habit of drinking it and it accumulates.  Last night, I took 4 gallons of milk and made cheddar.  At 6 pm tonight, I can take it out of my press and let it air dry on a wood cutting board, flipping it frequently for about 4 or 5 days.  Then, I'll put a rind on it and put it in the fridge to age until Christmas.  I have wax to make that sort of rind, but so far, I've not tried that.  The first time I made cheddar, I let it get moldy and then just cut off the mold.  The last time, I oiled it with pomace oil (a type of olive, I think) and then coated it in garlic and salt.  That round will be ready to eat about Thanksgiving, and I look forward to seeing how that works.  Maybe I will wax this one. Anyhow, I made Ricotta out of the Cheddar's whey last night, and after giving some of the leftover whey from that to the dogs, I still have 2 gallons of it left.  That will most likely go to bread and to feed chickens.

Other than shoveling fines into the barn over Fall break, David hopes to bushhog the land one last time, and then put the auger back on the tractor.  We want to fence out an area for the garden and build a pig shed on the North side of the garden area.  The garden will be divided in two so that we can give pigs access to one half (to till and fertilize) at a time.  Eventually, we'd like to fence out another pasture for them on the north side of that, but will do it little by little as we can afford.  Having a truck to transport materials makes it ever so much easier to do that!  We don't feel obliged to order lots of building materials at once to make the most of our delivery charges!

Speaking of the truck, we had the windshield replaced and the power steering fixed.  Next, we'll address the door hinges and latch and the brakes.  Air conditioning and body damage are last on our list, and not sure we'll ever deem worth fixing.

I think that about covers it.... OH!  You've probably noticed, but see that fancy logo at the top of this blog?  We had a graphic artist friend design us a logo and this is what we came up with!  We're very excited about it and look forward to making a farm sign, business cards, and the like.  :)  I've revamped our farm website and this blog (obviously) as a result also.  Messing with that stuff is fun and addicting.  :)

Well, a little one needs a diaper change and some big ones want pictures of their favorite superheroes printed to color... and laundry, school, and barn chores await!  Time to get on with my day!  Hope y'all have a great one!  :)