Preparing

I am preparing for the Farmer’s Market.  We had a meeting tonight, which is why I’m so late getting to post.  I’m really excited about it!  I’ve been making soaps.

Beach Breezes

calendula petals

calendula soap

full moon goat’s milk soap

I’ve completely redone my market web page to accommodate my increasingly varied endeavors.  It now has farm, blog, market, photography, and novel pages.  It’s still a work in progress, but I’m getting there.  At least until I start some new project.

In other news, the chickens are starting to lay a bit more reliably.

I can’t believe how busy things are.  In the midst of everything, I had to put air in my tire.  Luckily, I have this handy dandy homemade air compressor at home for just such occasions.

I knew the slow times of winter would pass and I’d be so busy that it would be hard to find the time to blog.

Linking to Monday’s Mellow Yellow, Ruby Tuesday2, and Tuesday Muse.

Random 5 Friday

1.  There’s water in my Back Forty!  I’m excited about that.  I’m so excited that I’ve walked back there taking pictures the last two days, which has been wonderfully relaxing.  I’m not excited about the muddy barnyard, but the moisture is good!

2.  Writing seems to be the theme of my life right now.  I have finished the first draft of my second novel, a fantasy/romance, and I’ve been writing a lot of poetry.  Who knows, I might even publish a book of  my poems and pictures.  I’m really enjoying all the writing!  It takes me back to some dreams that were put on a shelf for a later date.  I guess that date is now!

3.  My first goat of the year is due one week from today.  Her mom, Millie, was usually late with her kids, and Bambi was late last year, so I’m not sure we’ll have them by next weekend, but  I’m really excited to have kids arriving!  The other six having spring break babies are due later, the next week.

4.  I’m planning on making a new soap this weekend.  It will be “Full Moon” with a heady flowery fragrance and charged with the energy of the full moon.  I’m excited to try it!

5.  I honestly think I am as happy now as I have ever been in my life.  I can’t imagine living life anywhere else; I love my life on the farm and writing.  I think all the wonderful people I’ve met through the Internet is also a big part of this happiness.  I now know there are other crazy goat ladies out there.  Thank you all for being so wonderful!

I’m linking this to Nancy’s Random 5 Friday, Farm Fun Friday, and Weekend Reflections.

Miserable Monday

This is a bit of a departure from my normal posts, but yesterday’s strong south winds really did me in.  If there was one thing I could change about myself, it would be allergies.  They do make life, especially life on the farm, miserable at times.

strong south winds suddenly

carrying promises of spring

riding bareback on grains of pollen

leaving my head feeling

like a pressure cooker

filled with bubbling phlegm

an incessant pulsing rhythm

like a beating drum keeping time

pounds agains my brow

rendered helpless with the pain

lying alone in a dark room

waiting for a favorable shift in wind

***

As I try to recover from the sinus headache, I leave you with just a couple of (indoor) shots for Monday Mellow Yellows and Ruby Tuesday.

 I need to repot some plants and husk, shell, and clean some more popcorn.

I took the soaps I made this weekend out of the molds.  You can see the pink I used is a much better color than the last time (bottom left).  I’m pleased with it.   I did place an order for some scents and colors and oils I was out of, so I’m hoping to do more soaping next weekend.   Sadly, they didn’t have the midnight pomegranate fragrance I like so well.

Hopefully, the change to north winds will help my head.  Unfortunately, the animals don’t care if my head hurts or not.  They still want fed, so I will soon be venturing out to make them happy.

On a final note, I’m sharing these pictures from last weekend before the south winds melted all our snow to show that my repair job on the barn didn’t make it all winter.

Three boards came off the side again.  Luckily, the plywood is still on the inside blocking the weather out.  I do need to try and get them replaced though.

Linking to Mosaic Monday and Barn Charm.