Puppies and Farm Update~

So, we had previously decided on a boy and a girl pup. Here's why. The way I see it, someone around here would LOVE to have a local dude to breed their dudette with and also I would love for someone local to have a dude that I can breed my dudette with. Like a barter, possibly. (I love bartering!) At any rate, we want a female so we can sell any future pups (If we're able to part with them!) and a male so we can let people pay to breed their dog with ours. Make sense? Good.

Now, I have PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!

Out of 9 pups born, only 2 were boys. One had badger markings and the other was white. After questioning The Dude and the gang, we decided on the badger, and here he is!

The 7 females are both badger and all white and since we got a badger male we decided to get a female with white coloring. A good way to tell them apart later, depending on how much of the badger-coloring fades as he grows. I don't have a picture of the specific female we're getting but here is a group shot of the puppies with their mama. <3

So, now we just get to sit back and wait on them for about 5 more weeks or more. Wait. WHAT? Sit back and wait? Hardly! We have a double dog house to build, collars to find and purchase, along with leashes, fencing to put up, food and treats to buy...grooming equipment, studying to do, etc....

This is going to be so fun! And the best part? They will come home around Christmas-time. Couldn't get more perfect than that, could it?


In other news: We did our first REAL thing to the farm on Saturday. The Dude and I stopped and purchased 3 fruit trees and then went and planted them on the homestead. We want more (2 of each or more) but a little at a time and all that rot! I wish I had taken my phone out there with me because it would have been REALLY neat to have pictures of that but I didn't have any pockets to put it in so I left it in my truck. Booo. :o( It was chilly out that day too so we didn't spend a lot of time just walking around like we normally do. Muffin and Punkin' were with us and both had on short-sleeved shirts so they got cold quick! (so did Mama!) At one point Muffin had my skirt on like a poncho. (I had leggings on underneath LOL!) Another reason I should have brought my phone so I could take pictures. Ah well... live and learn. Next time I will make sure to wear something with pockets!

The goal of our homestead, as with most, is to grow as much STUFF as we can on our own to provide FOR our own. So the fruit trees are just the first step. There are LOTS of fruit trees, bushes, vines, gardens, etc planned, but it's kind of hard to plant things when you aren't positive where your house is going to be OR where all the trucks hauling stuff to BUILD that house are going to be driving and where all the people are going to be tromping around, but I think these trees are safe. :o) Hopefully.

The Dude and I (well, mostly The Dude) have been working on the chicken coop. We're starting small because well, it's our first go at building one and though we might increase the number of hens where we are- for right now we will just get a few to start.

Here are a couple of pictures of the progress.

I love to watch him work. <3

Looking good, huh? We like it! It's actually progressed further than this picture but all those pictures have kids in them. As in, they are IN the coop. They apparently think they're getting a playhouse. Maybe I should let those 2 be the egg-gatherers! Ha!

I might post some recipes soon because this weather is perfect for yummy soups and breads. It's been nice chili weather and we've had it twice in the last 2 weeks!

Why are we doing this?

A lot of people probably look at us funny when they hear we've bought a few acres and are going to start a small farm. Okay, maybe they just WANT to look at us funny. At any rate- it's quite a change, I must admit, and really... Why ARE we doing this? It might be a good idea to chronicle how I feel today, before it all really begins to get hairy, and then I can re-read it when I have one of those days where people ask others... remind me WHY I'M DOING THIS!!!! I expect there will be quite a few of those days ahead of us. :o) So let's first start out with WHAT we want, then I can break each of those down and explain the "why" part of it. At least from MY standpoint. The Dude might have something else to say about it on his own bloggy.

1. A farm. As general as that is, we just want one. I mean, we live in the country and why not? It would be a lot of work-yes, but also a lot of FUN! Especially for the kids, don't you think? Another reason is that we want to be as self-sufficient as possible. This means being able to produce enough food to feed our family, winter time included, however, we won't be getting any meat from our farm unless we decide to do that in the future. I can't tell you how warm and fuzzy I feel inside just knowing that one day I will be able to walk our farm and pick an apple off the tree and just eat it, knowing that there were no pesticides used and that WE grew it! Another BIG reason for the farm is that when we are old enough to retire we can already have a farm and know how to run it and what it takes to maintain it, barring any changes like a decision to start keeping cows or like/such-as (I love saying that!) One thing I know my parents enjoy about their own farm is the ability to share what they've grown with their family and friends. I look forward to a lot of that too. :o)

2. Goats. Well, they are just way too cute not to want about 10 of them. I mean, go look for yourself!



And you HAVE to watch the whole video!
These are dairy goats, yet smaller ones and adorable! I want to be able to provide milk for my family that comes from a source that I know without a shadow of a doubt what they were fed and treated with medically. Why wouldn't I? And besides, it would be FUN!

3. Chickens. Same reason as the goats. I want to be able to provide enough eggs for my family PLUS enough to sell to others because a LOT of people prefer farm-fresh eggs. And again... fun. Also, if you looked into the video I posted "here while back" about Back to Eden then you will remember how Paul gave all green (meaning grass too) and veggie scraps to his chickens who in turn make great compost/top soil for his gardens.

I already have people wanting eggs AND chickens from me and I haven't even build a coop yet!

4. Tractor. Oh wait... I will let someone else post about that but... why would I have a farm without a tractor??? That's like having a farm without a barn to me. Why, it's bad form, old boy!

5. A Great Pyrenees PUPPY!
And yes, I do want a dog that big and I believe they are the best ones for the job they do.

I want my children to grow up outside like we *zee Dude and I* did. I want them to know responsibility by helping to take care of the animals. I want them to have respect for the animals yet love them as one would a pet. I want my children to really appreciate that warm and fuzzy feeling they will get knowing that they helped to plant, water, maintain, harvest, clean and cook (or not, says the nappy-headed person who is working to convert to a mostly-raw diet) all, or most, of the food they are putting in their mouths.

My dream is to wake up before the sun, start making a good breakfast of fresh eggs, sprouted grain breads and fresh fruits, or even biscuits, pancakes or muffins from stuff I MADE while the kids are out milking and gathering those eggs. Then after they go off to school I can do other jobs that need to be done or make time to get my craft on. I look forward to baking more bread and hopefully one day prep food for the dehydrator and tend to other things that are in the works, like kefir and sprouting... etc. All these things I want to do. I have so many IDEAS!!!!!!!

And slowly the dream becomes reality.