Sugar Bend Farm

Got My Hair "Did", Cleaning House for a Visitor

Well ladies, I feel more "human" today than I have in a month.  LMSO  I am feeling wonderful after surviving weeks with bronchitus, the sun is shining and melting our leftover snow away, and I finally got in to get my hair colored and cut.  IT NEEDED IT!!!  I looked like a drowned rat when I walked in.  My hairstylist, Angie looked at my roots and said, oh my, has it been that long?? LMSO   But it looks wonderful now and even though she barely trimmed it, my head feels 3 pounds lighter.  She is wonderful.

Yesterday I worked mainly on the laundry (hubs was running our of clean underwear. LOL  Bless his heart he is so sweet and understanding about it though), and wore myself out and had to rest the rest of the evening.  Matthew did dishes last night and got us caught up on those (thank you dearest) while I rested.  I even went to bed at my normal 10 pm because I could barely keep my eyes open.  Matthew refused to come to bed until things were done and spent a while longer working on the kitchen.  THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS MAN!!!

Today my tummy is feeling a little unsettled again......if I do too much I get so naseous and dry heave alot, so I am trying to take it easy.  I would like to get the floors vacuumed before I have to pick up Kaitlin, our "neice" at school.  She will have to ignore the rest of the mess (which isn't much honestly).  But it does look promising that I should have the house caught back up by this weekend.  YEAH!!  I hate playing catch up though, don't you??? Oh how I hate it.

Tonight's supper is pancakes.  Kaitlin specifically asked for peanut butter pancakes with chocolate chips because Matthew has made them before when she was here and she loves them.  Makes dinner time easy on me since Matthew will be cooking!!  YEAH!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. 

They made it!

After all the months of waiting they finally arrived--they were born Sunday the 28th around 2 p.m.--We are a bit dissappointed that they are both bucks, seems to be our luck around here and mama isn't quite as attentive as we like to see, but all in all she is a good mom--kids are doing well and are already running, jumping ,playing and loving the nice temps we are having here--Now to make the goat milk soap--woooohooo!!

It sounds kinda strange, but we are not sure if both bucks belong to the same dad--we had 2 males here--one was a nubian/ nigerian cross, he was black with a bit of tan--some may remember him from last year-- the little buck in the 1st pic is no doubt his--then we also had a black and white mini nubian here--when I first got into the barn I saw the white one and knew right away it belonged to the mini nubian that was black and white--but then I saw the other one and there is no doubt he belongs to the black one we had, he even had his daddy's ear deformity--so I did some checking with our vet and local breeder and it is possible, rare but possible that mama did get bred by both bucks and had kids by them both--I guess time will tell--each buck had different body build and so do the kids--we shall wait and see--Not that it matters but I have never had such completely different kids from one doe ,they even have different ear form--And I suppose they could be from just the one buck just very different kids-- :o)--the mama in the pic looks all white and black but she actually has some light brown on her and on the other side has quite of bit of brown--it has proven to be a very interesting kidding to say to the least!

March Menu....

Monday Menu Planner

Hello all.  It's Monday again!!  Time for my menu planner.  I went to the store to pick up a few things yesterday and sat down last night to make our menu planner.  This week Monday is not Meatless.  We are moving it to Tuesday evening.  Our neice Kaitlin is coming over after school to spend the evening with us.  She has requested Matthew's famous peanut butter pancakes with chocolate chips.  LOL  Of course Matthew was thrilled for a special request.

Monday:  Taco's

Tuesday:  Peanut butter pancakes (with chocolate chips)

Wednesday:  Chicken Stir Fry

Thursday:  Pork Chops, Roasted Vegetables, Steamed Broccoli

Friday:  Hamburger Steaks with gravy and onions, mashed potatoes, green beans

Saturday:  Ham and Beans, Cornbread

Sunday: Leftovers

It's MONDAY!

This weekend was boring and uneventful.  Which is always a good thing.  LMSO  We didn't get much time with Matthew since he worked Saturday and then ended up working from 1-6 on Sunday as well.  :(  So hopefully he will have a slow week and we can spend time with him. 

I was secretly glad to see Monday roll around and preschool to start up again.  LOL  Noah didn't want to go to school this morning though.  He is convinced that I play with his toys and watch his shows while he is gone (which you know of course, I do! LOL)  So funny.  So he walked onto the bus with a heavy heart today whining a little.  But as he was buckled into his seat, and I  blew a kiss at him, he blew one back.  So sweet!  He will be home around 12 and will check to see if the cars he put in daddy's chair are still there I am sure.

I sat down last night (after my little shopping trip) to write out our menu for the week.  Instead of meatless Monday this week, we are having it on Tuesday.  My neice Kaitlin is coming over Tuesday for a visit and her request for supper??? Peanut butter pancakes with chocolate chips.  LMSO  It's one of Matthew's specialties, so I asked him if he could do supper Tuesday and of course he was thrilled to know she specially requested them.

Tomorrow I am super excited to be finally getting my hair done.  After being cooped up in the house for so long with all the sickness going around, I am so thankful for my health and being able to get back into my schedule of things....and my hair definately needs a pick me up!!  LMSO  Wednesday I am going over to see my great neice, Paisley.  I haven't seen her since sortly after Christmas because we have been sick, and I miss cuddling with her.   LOL  She is adorable and her momma said she is finding her voice.  She will scream and then take a breath and giggle.  LOL

Praying you all had a wonderful weekend!!!!

Kids Conversations, funny things and a special suprise...

Good Morning fellow bloggie friends.. How are you all doing this morning.. I am feeling much better, but headed to the dr for a follow up in a bit.. Oh and I have a sickie home today.. He kept telling me at bedtime last night that his tummy and head hurt and I was thinking and saying to him sure sure ok.. Well it is bedtime and I just want tell my mother here that HE DID PRODUCE... I was on the phone with her and he was whining and she and I told him to produce.. Well bless his heart he did so we spent alot of time awake through the night.. Yep it is Monday the sun is shining and I am tired as heck because I did not sleep well, ok maybe hardly at all is a better statement... So I am sure today will be a long day.....

So Saturday we were taking Josie to stay all night with her cousin and we had to stop at my parents house to get a bale of hay and while I was in talking to my dad and brother Josie went and played with Jordin's coon dog Hank.. We get in the truck head to my sisters and Josie says well Hoss (my sisters dog ) will attack because I smell like Hank.. So we get out at sisters and her middle daughter Annie is standing in the garage door and hoss runs out and Josie is like well hoss is going to like me because I smell like hank and Annie who is going to be 8 says well I smell like hay because I been at Jandie's (my other sisters kid) house allday.. We walk on in the house and Emily says Happy Birthday Aunt Marcia.. How old are you 20?? I am telling you I love that kid.. Then a stray kid walked around the corner and I said wow Kayla do you live here too and Annie looks at me and says um no but her parents have Katelyn and she has cancer.. I said yes I know and Kayla says well i think my mom might be at work.. Brother in Law Ben hollers em did you show Aunt marcia all your stuff from today? She is telling me about her Tae Kwon Do stuff and laughing about being able to beat the boys.. So I am like well I am outta here and you have these little thin girls saying ok bye we gotta go do our Wii fit.. Yeah ok whatever.. Lol It is just so funny to listen to them chatter and to see how quick they change their topic...

So then Gradey took me out for supper for my birthday and it was nice..

This morning when I took Bree and Jill to meet Jordin I was on my home back home to the sicko and I caught a glimpse of a rainbow up in the clouds.. It was so amazing and I just had to stop and thank God for that wonderful blessing.. It was like a sign that today was going to be good and full of blessings.. I know that His mercies are new each morning and I am so thankful for His Love and Forgiveness

Yesterday we went to the in laws for a surpise party for MIL her birthday is on the 24th.. We had a good time and a nice visist.. So all in all this weekend was pretty good the only exception is i had a migraine Saturday night.. Happy Birthday to me.. LOL

Have a great day

God Bless

Follow Your Dreams!

Dreams and aspirations............and hope!  For without those two things, where would we be?

Sometimes my life is so busy my head spins.  I do like to have at least one day a week here at home to get caught up on things and sometimes just to hang out and do nothing.  I know I do better and get more accomplished when I am busy and have more to do.  Sounds odd, but then I've always done my best work under pressure.

There have been a lot of changes here on the farm over the last two years or so.  We've been forced to make some changes with the economy as it is.  We are hoping our new Farm Stay idea will begin to take wings and fly this summer, but not banking on it.  We can't bank on the unknown.  For now Chris has taken a night-time job to help fill in the gaps.  If it's made us realize one thing, it's don't take life for granted.  Do you sometimes feel like one of those lab rats running and running and never getting anywhere?  Is there something you've been longing to do and just have never done it?  Now is the time.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
Henry David Thoreau

Come on in & tour our new home!

I guess my pictures are only posting for me because some have commented that they can't see the pictures of my home tour.

So....here is a link to where I have uploaded the pictures.

Enjoy!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=723762500212%3A189786858  

Seriously thinking about Cloth Diapering it....people think I am crazy. Any Advice??

I was doing a little figuring after reading on a website how much difference there is in costs in cloth diapers and disposables.  I knew you could save alot of money with cloth diapers, but wasn't sure I could save "THAT" much.  Sometimes I think they beef up the money amounts to make it sound good, etc.  LOL    And with Noah, we decided against cloth diapers because I had so many other things on my plate.  My dad died when Noah was 6 months old....mom died when he was 11 months old.  And before that...ALOT of doctor, hospital and chemo, so I was running with a newborn.  It was easier for me and for my sanity to do disposables....at least for the 1st year.

But now.....as a SAHM who doesn't have all those extra responsibilities, I am seriously thinking about doing cloth diapers and washing them every evening.  I toss a load of wash in about every other day as it is now anyway, so it wouldn't be that much to toss in a days worth of diapers, too. 

As for the cost, I figured up the cost of Huggies diapers, which is what we used with Noah because they fit better and didn't leak like the other brands are about 28 cents a piece.  Doesn't sound like much does it??? Multiply by how many you use in a day, in a month, in a year, etc.  (My calculations were for 10 diapers for a newborn and 6 diapers for an older baby)  My numbers came up to $720.00 for the first year and about $630 for the 2nd year (because they don't soil as many diapers).  That is a total of $1351.80 for the first two years of birth.  OUCH!!   Add another thousand or so if you have a late bloomer (like our Noah) who can and refuses to use the potty and wears Pull-Ups.  That's a thousand dollars we have spent in a year for PULL UPS!!!  CRAZINESS    This isn't including taxes and wipes and other diapering things needed like diaper cream.

So, after some research I found the cloth diapers I want.  They are a diaper that is adjustable and fits a newborn through toddler stage of potty training (why didn't I know about these before???).  They are a little pricey, but definately not on the high end of cloth all in one diapers.  The new price for one diaper is $18.  I figure I will need about 20.   That's $360 for those who can't do the math in their head (like me! LOL)  Often times people buy diaper inserts for these diapers (or make their own, which I might do since I have alot of flannel in the house and it would only cost me the thread and a few minutes for each insert) which cost $9 for 3.  I think I would like to have 6 packages, which comes to another $54.00.  These will be used for cleaning clothes afterwards, so there is no real loss in the purchase price.  Altogether, diapers (which grow with the child) and inserts, cost $414!!!!   Are you with me still???

WOW....I am amazed at the cost difference.  I have read reviews and these particular diapers wear very well and last throughout 2-3 years of peeing pooping and washing with very little wear and tear and no fading.  So, if I didn't have to replace ANY diapers.  I would have spent $414.00 on diapers for the next 2-3 years, as apposed to the $1351.80 for 2 years or 2351.80 for 3 years of diapers/Pull-Ups.    A savings of 937.80 (if used for 2 years) or more!!!!  That's ALOT OF MONEY PEOPLE!!!

And another plus on the cloth diapering???? I can buy these diapers on Ebay probably cheaper than the cost I have quoted you, and perhaps sell them when I am done, on Ebay to recoup most of the money spent!!!!!  If I am able to buy used, and sell them for what I had in them......there would be NO COST in diapering my child for 2-3 years!!!!!    Amazing.  (I have already searched for these on Ebay and there are several up for bid for at least half the cost of retail right now)

Now, hubby is going to have a problem with this.  LOL  He isn't going to like it, and he will try to talk me out of it again.  But perhaps if I tell him I will do all the work (which I would anyway. LOL) and show him the cost difference he would be more interested.  Of course, we will supplement a little with disposable diapers when we are out and about or when we go to church......but we will still be saving alot of money  by primarily using cloth.

Here is my other idea for saving money with babies:  Make your own baby wipes and solution!  I looked up a recipe that uses apriocot oil (which I have a liter of for some reason...can't remember why though) baby shampoo and water. EASY!!!  This liter of apricot oil should last me the whole season of diapering.  And with so much flannel in the house, I could make useable wipes!  With a few minutes of sewing I can have several whipped up.  I figure I will need about 20.  Afterwards we can use these as cleaning rags, or washcloths.  And since I have so much flannel already, this will cost.....the amount of money to buy some new thread and a little time at the machine.

I figure for $400 or less if I can obtain diapers used, I can diaper my child for at least 2 years!!  This amount would include making our own flannel wipes and wipe solution and I will be able to recoup most of this cost by reselling on Ebay afterwards!

So, why do my sister in laws and friends think I am NUTS???  Our parents probably cloth diapered us (ok not me....I am a youngster. LOL), and I know our grandmother's cloth diapered our parents etc.   Why do so many people think it's so icky???  It's just poop!!!  LMSO  I have had my share already and it's just part of being a mom.  I can always  WEAR GLOVES PEOPLE!!!  Besides after working as a nurses aide in a nursing home for several years.....poop doesn't scare me.  LOL

How have some of you been blessed by using cloth diapers??? Any tips or hints I should know now??? Do any of you regret using cloth diapers??? 

Rice Pads are Back in Stock!

 Rice Pads are now back in stock at my country store.  

I use to sell them regularly and they were very popular.  My daughter Emily was the one who made them.  When her life got busy she did not have time for sewing them any more.   

Now, my youngest daughter Sierra and her friend Makayla have picked this project up.  They have been spending many evenings and weekends sewing up rice pads and are doing a great job! 

If you are interested in purchasing a rice pad you can read more information about them and see the current fabric choices here: http://crystalscountrystore.com/ricepads.htm