Hello? Anybody out there?

You know that it's been awhile since you last blogged, when you have to sit a moment and try and remember what your blog password is. :-/ Ooops.

So what hast kept me so busy lately that has made me shamefully neglect you faithful blog readers? I dunno'. ;)

Life is busy! I know, that's a poor excuse seeing as everyone's busy and many people still manage to keep their blog updated, but I'm afraid that's my top excuse.

I'm still trying my best to get my 30'x50' garden covered with as much mulch as possible. I didn't realize just how big my garden was, until I began trying to cover it.... It's undecided yet if I will be gardening next year or not; I would love to, but I don't know if I will have the funds or time. I've toyed with the thought of joining a CSA for the year and bartering services. I'd get fresh veggies, and they would get pasture raised chicken, turkey and/or rabbit. But right now it's still just a thought.

My Jersey heifer is huge! Standing up to my waist and somewhere around 100 lbs. She is adorable and she knows it! She's still on the bottle, and still getting three feedings per day, which keeps me at home (much to my delight!). I'm hoping to keep her on the bottle until she's 6 months old, which will be interesting.... My left side is pretty bruised due to her bunting at the bottle very hard, but hey, bruises eventually go away. And they are worth it; Poppy is the sweetest little thing! A lot of times, I'll just go outside and lean into her soft, fuzzy neck and enjoy some "cow time". ;) She's a good listener.

Goat wise, I still have Ivy and Capri, as well as having a newcomer named Heidi. All three are pregnant, with Heidi due around February 25th, Ivy is due around April 21st, and Capri is due sometime around May 9th. I am SOOOO EXCITED to have little goat kids again!! I can't wait to see their floppy ears that they will trip over, and hear their little 'Maaaas', and watch them race around the pasture with their mamas. :) Sigh....

Spinning has been pretty slow, which is NICE. I kinda' burned out in the summer, trying to finish up a big order and am now trying to get back to spinning for myself (yes I know, I'm so selfish).

I'm also busy doing school. Or does one call it college? Or maybe just further learning? Well, call it what you want it, but I'm doing a home course on herbal family care. The study course has been very in depth, and I am learning a HUGE amount! Many of you know that I had wanted to try for a degree in the veterinary field, but the Lord very firmly closed that door and I am now seeing His purpose for that. I am so happy and blessed to get to stay at home while still continuing my education!! :D

So, life's been all sunshine and roses for me, right? Ummmm, well maybe exclude the sunshine. ;) December has hit, and with it has come the annual puddles, the flooded feed stall in the barn, finding out too late that one of my rain boots has a crack in it (guess how I found THAT out!) and remembering what a Southern winter is like. It's funny, I don't even think about it when I say "Ya'll", "Ain't" or comment on what wet winters one gets in Oregon, but people almost instantly will ask if I used to live in the South. I just reply, "Yep." ;) I guess I do use the word "ya'll" a lot....

Christmas is coming!! I know exactly what I want to do for each family member, and haven't gotten one single thing accomplished. And Christmas is 15 days away.... Yes, I am a procrastinator. ;D

I am really hoping to raise meat chickens next year, as well as getting some turkeys, ducks, and more laying pullets too. But we'll see where the Lord leads. My rabbits are all doing well; I have two does right now and am hoping to start having some babies hopping around the place in a couple months. If all goes according to the plan (read: hare-brained scheme), these will be sold to some local restaurants, but then, when do things ever go "according to the plan"? Keeps life interesting I guess. :)

Hmmmm, what else?

I tried getting our farm 'Certified Naturally Grown' a couple months ago, and still haven't heard if I'll get the certification or be denied, so I'm in the "hurry up and wait" stage. I have a hunch that we won't be certified since our neighbor sprays his fields and we inevitably get some drift from that. :-/

You can find our farm listing at www.localharvest.org !! I am so excited!

Think, think, think.... What else....

Well, I think that must be the jist of things! I can't think of anything else! I'll try to be better about updating more often; I can see by my ClusterMap that I have a lot of visitors here. Thank you all my readers!! :D :D

~Caitlyn