Hey everyone, sorry for my prolonged absence. I have been swamped recently
and it has left my shoulder way too sore to type. (Too sore to do much of
anything to be honest). So just a few updates today...
The first really isn't an update, it's NEWS. Big News. Big news I've been sitting on for more than a week, bet'cha thought I couldn't do it, Drum roll.......
Our oldest son, Matt and his longtime girlfriend Sheena are moving to Bear River! YEA! They would like to buy the property up the road from us but it is a private sale and the owner lives out west. It is taking forever to even get in there and view. So they got tired of living on edge and have found a rental in Bear River. They want to start getting to know the community, building relationships and developing opportunities now.
This is great news for us, we miss the kids. Matt is our garden guy. He has been in charge of family gardens since he was about 13. Also they are just fun to have around.
Welcome to the neighbourhood guys!
and it has left my shoulder way too sore to type. (Too sore to do much of
anything to be honest). So just a few updates today...
The first really isn't an update, it's NEWS. Big News. Big news I've been sitting on for more than a week, bet'cha thought I couldn't do it, Drum roll.......
Our oldest son, Matt and his longtime girlfriend Sheena are moving to Bear River! YEA! They would like to buy the property up the road from us but it is a private sale and the owner lives out west. It is taking forever to even get in there and view. So they got tired of living on edge and have found a rental in Bear River. They want to start getting to know the community, building relationships and developing opportunities now.
This is great news for us, we miss the kids. Matt is our garden guy. He has been in charge of family gardens since he was about 13. Also they are just fun to have around.
Welcome to the neighbourhood guys!
Last weekend I posted on facebook that Miss Avril was due on Sunday. Turns out Reiley read the calendar wrong. She is actually due next Tuesday.
Now Avril is a large goat, her normal weight is just shy of 200 lbs, right now she is HUGE. I feel for her. I was up in the pasture last night seeing if the goats had cleaned up the latest crop of knotweed we brought them and poor Avril came over to get her head scratched and she just stood beside me .... moaning. I could see the babies kicking her sides. She had triplets last year and I wouldn't be surprised if she did it again this time.
We'll know in a few days!
Now Avril is a large goat, her normal weight is just shy of 200 lbs, right now she is HUGE. I feel for her. I was up in the pasture last night seeing if the goats had cleaned up the latest crop of knotweed we brought them and poor Avril came over to get her head scratched and she just stood beside me .... moaning. I could see the babies kicking her sides. She had triplets last year and I wouldn't be surprised if she did it again this time.
We'll know in a few days!
The garden continues to be on hold. If it ever warms up enough I have the plants ready, but with frost forecast again tonight they will have to continue spending days outside and nights inside. I am ready to put in the first raised bed for the herb garden. Maybe some pics of that and information for you in the next few days. It can't stay cold forever.. can it?
We have been busy making soap. There are many lovely bars of soap curing in the house awaiting their debut. I have taken some pictures of the process so tomorrow there will be a post about making goat's milk soap. For today I will leave you with a great recipe for laundry soap that you can make at home... no weird chemicals needed.
Laundry Soap
Ingredients:
1 bar of a good laundry bar soap. I believe Sunlight still makes one, you might be able to get one in the grocery store or Bulk Barn used to carry it
Baking Soda or Washing Soda
Borax
Hot Water
Essential oil of your choice (optional)
Directions:
Grate the bar of soap, for every 1 cup of soap add 1 cup of soda and 1 cup of borax. Mix well. Add boiling water to the mixture and stir. (I use a clean paint stick) continue to add water until all of the soap mixture is wet and there is approximately a half an inch of water above the soap mixture. (You may need to let it settle a little). Add the essential oils if you wish then set the mixture aside to cool overnight.
You should have a detergent that is almost a gel by the next morning. I use between 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup depending how dirty the clothes are.
If you have a mechanic in the house orange essential oil is superb for cleaning grease.
Before I go for today, I'll leave you with a little soap teaser for tomorrow....
Have a great day everyone!
We have been busy making soap. There are many lovely bars of soap curing in the house awaiting their debut. I have taken some pictures of the process so tomorrow there will be a post about making goat's milk soap. For today I will leave you with a great recipe for laundry soap that you can make at home... no weird chemicals needed.
Laundry Soap
Ingredients:
1 bar of a good laundry bar soap. I believe Sunlight still makes one, you might be able to get one in the grocery store or Bulk Barn used to carry it
Baking Soda or Washing Soda
Borax
Hot Water
Essential oil of your choice (optional)
Directions:
Grate the bar of soap, for every 1 cup of soap add 1 cup of soda and 1 cup of borax. Mix well. Add boiling water to the mixture and stir. (I use a clean paint stick) continue to add water until all of the soap mixture is wet and there is approximately a half an inch of water above the soap mixture. (You may need to let it settle a little). Add the essential oils if you wish then set the mixture aside to cool overnight.
You should have a detergent that is almost a gel by the next morning. I use between 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup depending how dirty the clothes are.
If you have a mechanic in the house orange essential oil is superb for cleaning grease.
Before I go for today, I'll leave you with a little soap teaser for tomorrow....
Have a great day everyone!
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