The Cole Homestead

Still working on my farm check list

I have a farm check list.  Everyday I look at this list and see what needs to be accomplished first, second and so on.  I work very hard everyday to accomplish the item on this list as well as my house list, school list, and so on.  When one project is accomplished I proudly cross that item off.  Then add a few more.  My lists never seem to get shorter. 

I have gotten the guineas outside.  Right now they are living in the chicken coop.  They seem to be pretty happy so far and now have so much more room to move around.  The chickens may have lost their house but now they have the whole yard.  (about 3 acres)  They seem to enjoy afternoons on the front porch and under one of the tractors.  They are doing a great job at keeping the weeds and bugs down.  I am hoping that the fellas will be ready for the butcher block here soon.

The goats are doing great also.  We have noticed that our Billy has gotten pretty "friendly" with two of our ladies.  We are hoping that they get ": in the family way" here soon then we can be goat parents around November.   We had a party Sat for our daughters 5th birthday and the goats were the main attraction.  Most of the children spent their time at the creek with the goats.  It was great to see so many children, ranging in age from 3 to 14 running and playing in the pasture.  Most of these kids are city dwellers and only chance to run free is at recess and at the park.  they seemed to have so much fun!  So did the goats!

The garden is doing great also.   Believe it or not we could use some rain.  Most folks in Central Illinois would most likely disagree but we are up on the high lands.  My mother in law lives down by the Illinois River and while the flooding there is not as bad as '93 it is still pretty high.  Her whole area is just one giant dried up lake.  It is all sand and the water is only a few feet down.  The up side is that the watermelon ans muskmelon are doing great.

I have also been making soap.  The shampoo bars are working great and I have been experimenting with other oils.  I have made a pure olive oil bar and regular old fashioned lye soap.  Both of these have turned out great. 

I am still working on dresses and hope to be done here soon.  Then I can start on wipes, pads, and diapers. 

We made our Pork N Beans cake yesterday and it was a big hit!  Tastes like the best spice cake.  So light and fluffy but also so moist!  And no you do not taste any beans.  Just really great cake!