Sugar Bend Farm

Friday

Didn't sleep well again last night.  Got a lot going on in my mind.  I read for a couple of hours during the night then finally went back to sleep until Noah woke me up a couple of hours later.  So I am tired today.  It is very foggy and damp.  They give rain, possible flash flooding from now until Sunday.  That is great, tomorrow I have to deliver mail in the rain!  Fun! But thank God for the job!  It is only 58 degrees, but the dampness makes it feel much cooler. 
I talked to Lauren a few minutes ago, they are on their way home from the hospital.  Mom had her biopsy yesterday and had to stay overnight for observation.  She is doing well, and they released her about 8:30.  So they are headed home.  I haven't talked to her, and Lauren didn't know all the details, so I will talk to Mom later and find out what she found out and when she will know the outcome. 

A few weeks ago we had two hog slaughtered, and have our freezer full of pork, and some at a friends house because we ran out of room in the freezer.  Also someone gave us some deer meat and some elk meat, and also we got some buffalo meat.  I have to say, we didn't have room for the buffalo roast in the freezer, so I put it into the slow cooker and cooked it all night with some seasonings, and it was the most delicious meat I have ever eaten.  It had such a natural, pure taste.  I told Andrew we need to get more of it.  I cooked the deer steaks the other night, but they were a little tough.  I guess I just didn't know how to cook them right. 

I am gathering the things I need together to make a batch of homemade soap.  I have been reading and looking at various recipes and have decided to just try it.  I have wanted to do it for a long time now.  I have a neighbor that lived up the road from us when we lived in Louisiana, that makes soap often.  She makes lye soap the old fashion way.  Andrew went up there one day and helped her so he could learn how to do it.  I have collected various items that I need but am looking for a used double burner hotplate to use so I can make it out on the back patio area.  We have a large stainless steel counter and sink, like an outdoor kitchen, set up out there and I want to do it outside.  I will then need to get the lye and essential oils and the other ingredients that I need to make it.  Right now I just need to get the hotplate and I need to collect more molds, and I will have all the essential items, other than the ingredients.  I thought I would start out making goat milk soap.  I like the idea of that. 

Andrew bought a calf the other day.  He wants to raise it to kill for meat.  Megan is very upset by the prospect.  She accused him of killing everything we get.  When actually the only thing we have raise to kill were the pigs, but she loves all animals and hates the thought of killing anything.  She refuses to eat the meat from our pigs.  So I don't force her to.  I know how strongly she feels about it, so I fix her some other type of meat when we are eating the pork.  I know some people think that I should make her eat what I fix, but I can't do that.  She will have to come to terms with those aspects of life in her own time, in her own way.  Without it being forced on her. 

Well, Noah needs a nap, Megan needs to get going more on school and I have to plan supper.  Also get clothes and things ready for tomorrow when I go to work.   Gotta go.