Courtney's Life: May 2014

Sorry its been so long since the last post. Its been busy around here!

We did a bigger garden this year! I can not wait to have watermelon and cantaloupe from the garden. I even planted GIANT pumpkins for Adyson this year! I can not wait to see the look on her face when those pumpkins get to be 20-30 pounds (they are suppoed to get 200 pounds but I am just hoping for 20-30 pounds)! We also planted the Mammoth Sunflower seeds they grow 8 foot tall, and the flower is about 12 inches across. I can not wait to have sunflower seeds!

Rella checking out the garden!

With us being so busy with gardening, setting up the "Big Girl Chicken Coop" and painting the coop we have been living off of my freezer meal/left overs! To get the freezer meals almost every time I cook I double the recipe. I LOVE having left overs. I shove them in a plastic bag (in individual servings) and toss in the freezer. So on days when I lose track of time there is something HOMEMADE in the freezer. Just pop it in the microwave and you have dinner. It works with almost all meals. This is also great when everyone wants something different!

Summer is a relaxing time for me! I LOVE summer time. I do not keep such a tight schedule during summer months. I am also more into salads for lunch and dunner during summer. I live in Tennessee, its too hot and humid to cook anything in the evening. No one wants to turn on the oven if they don't have to.

We found a baby bunny in the garage!

The "Big Girl Chicken Coop" as Adyson calls it. We think it has a 1960-1970's feel to it. Don't you?

WE HAVE 2 NEW ADDITIONS TO THE APPLEBY FARM!!!!!!

So we decided that it was time to get kittens. We need them to be barn kitties! So Adyson and Brittany helped pick out the names.... Drum roll please.... Anna & Elsa... Yes from FROZEN.

Brittany and Anna

Adyson with Elsa

Its also that time to make some more Half Homemade Beauty Products. I use the body scrub and facial wipes almost everyday.

BODY SCRUB

1 cup Olive Oil
1 cup Sugar
2 tablespoons used coffee grounds
2-3 drops Essential Oil/Perfume oil -(When using Essential oils or Perfume oils a little goes a LONG way.) I only use these so the my scrub smells pretty! This is optional.
16 oz bottle

Pour/Mix all together in a reusable bottle 16 oz bottle. Shake the bottle very well to mix everything together. I LOVE this recipe. I use it every time I get in the shower, especially in the winter. I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a soap perfume (which means its safe for skin, do not buy a candle perfume!!) to add to my oil, I bought LoveSpell it smells wonderful. I want to try Orange Blossom Essential Oil next!

CAUTION- shower may be slippery after using this, make sure you spray a little cleaner/vinegar afterwards!!!!

FACIAL WIPES/MAKE UP REMOVER WIPES

1 roll BOUNTY paper towels (cut in half)
2 cups DISTILLED water
2-3 drops tea tree oil
2 teaspoon coconut oil *
2 teaspoon of facial soap (do not use the "scrubbing/exfoliating" washes, the "scrubbies" will sit on top of your wipes)

Put your paper towels CUT SIDE down into your container. Mix all your liquids together by stirring. Do not shake them as this will activate the bubbles and you will have a sudsy mess! Microwave 30-45 seconds. *Make sure you melt the coconut oil, so it seeps into the paper towels. Pour over the paper towels starting on the inside cardboard and work your way out. Let it sit 5-10 minutes, then flip and sit for 5-10 minutes. Pull the cardboard out of the middle, and this should start the roll. If it does not then pull out out of the middle. Do not pull out of the sides, it will not work well!

So as you can see I've been busy the month of May.

What have you accomplished?

When my husband and I started our little farm we decided it was best for the kids to learn the truth about life and death. After all living on a farm there is going to be new life and there is going to be death. We decided to teach our children that everyone and everything goes to Heaven. We teach our children that EVERY life is precious and worthy. We also decided that we would not "sugar coat" things that happen on the farm. It is very important to us that our kids learn that life is NOT "sugar coated". This has made our children more aware of what goes on to keep a life alive. It takes work and care to tend to all the animals on our farm. All the animals require food, shelter and water. When the animals get sick we try every effort possible to make them better. Sometimes despite all efforts there is still loss. I am proud that my children understand the efforts it takes to run a mini (2 cows, 8 goats, 2 dogs) farm like ours. I am proud that my children understand where food comes from and the work it takes to get it to the table. I am proud that my children understand once something is gone, its gone.

Over the last week we have had 2 losses and a few gains.

Twilight about 1 week old.....

As most of you know Twilight (Adysons little goat) got severely dehydrated for whatever reason. We brought her inside and gave her bottles and electrolytes and she seems fine in the middle of the night.

When I checked on her at 4:30 she seemed to have taken a turn for the worst. She passed away about 30 minutes later. Everyone asked how Adyson took the news. She was upset at first and when I explained she went to Heaven to be with Roxanne & Hazel(Papa Jacks dogs ) and our Max in Heaven she seemed fine. She asked if she could help bury her in the animal cemetery I said sure.

Adyson laid a flower for all the flowers she ate. Adyson also laid an onion for all the onion I fed her.