Life in August

It's been a while since I last posted, kind of.  My last post got was very long with lots of info and pics and it got deleted because of some kind of Internet error.  That was frustrating.  Since then, my mom has had a stroke (last week) but has been blessed to make what appears to be a full recovery.  It was minor and she caught on to what was happening very quickly so she only had to stay in the hospital for four days while they tried out different blood pressure medicines to find a combination that works for her.  This all most likely could have been avoided if it weren't for some troubles she's had with her insurance and her doctor but then, it's always too easy to point fingers and play the blame game.  I just have to remember that God is fully in control.  It reminds me of something my mother told me several years ago, "If God wants to kill you in a tornado, there's no place you can hide to keep it from happening."  Now, strange as it may sound, for some reason that's actually very comforting to me.  I tend to be a worrier and try to control and prepare for every possible crisis and that just isn't always possible and everytime I start to worry, I remind myself of what she said because only God is fully in control and I would want it any other way.  It doesn't keep me from trying to prepare though...it's just in me to keep working without giving up until I'm exhausted.  I really enjoy the process most of the time too, it isn't just fear that motivates me...thankfully.

The chicks are growing like weeds and are no longer little fuzz balls and have a good start on their adult feathers.  They're outgrowing their tote too.

I plan to make caged outdoor area for them inside my garden fence.

I have unused space in there and it would be pretty easy to put some stakes and chicken wire in a section of it for them.

This will most likely become our new chicken coop this fall.  Our friend who loaned us his incubator has this on his land and doesn't use it for anything and wants to get rid of it.  I'd really love to make a cabana or fun little guest quarters out of it, but I don't know that that would be the financially responsible thing to do right now.  I think it's super cute!

The goats are finally pretty much fenced in.  Hubs put up an electric fence around an area in the back that's about an acre or so except it's only currently three sided.  The goats are finally afraid of the fence after running through it a few times but every now and then they manage to wonder off to the side that isn't fenced yet (they don't usually go over there) and then they're free.  They stay pretty close to the house though.  In fact, before they were fenced off, they would spend every night sleeping on the front steps leaning against the front door and just poop the night away.  I'm pretty sick of goat poop.

I made shampoo bars which are all natural but they turned out to leave a strange kind of heavy, waxy like residue in my hair that made it unmanageable.  The baking soda and vinegar didn't work either so I'm back to using my toxic shampoo until I can figure out something else that works.  I might try making a soap from just coconut oil and see if it leaves my hair cleaner.  This one will make a great body bar because it's very gentle and moisturizing...too moisturizing.  I do love homemade soaps.  They're the best.

I have a laundry basket full of green apples waiting to be turned into applesauce and apple butter.  Hopefully I'll be getting to that in just a little while.