Joyfilled

Unsolicited update : We got 75lbs of tomatoes from the Farmer's Market, and put them through the machine. I LOVE it!! It was so easy, compared to what we did before. I'll see if I can post pictures. I'm very excited, and thankful!!

So....the plot thickens. My hubby is going to ask my FIL (his dad) for a milking cow for Christmas. Now mind you, that's a VERY generous gift, so we're not being completely serious....but maybe help with one, or even getting ready for one (milking station, milk machine, etc). He's going to say that it's to annoy my Dad....

Yes!! The plan was to also get an electric milker, but yes, know how to do it by hand, too. In my naive self, I'd like to think we can do it by hand all the time, but I don't think it'd be realistic. What about camels??

Thank you, Little Sister!! I appreciate the encouragement. I love everything fresh raw milk has to offer, including everything we can make with it. We got pretty good at making yogurt, butter (and buttermilk), and fresh cheese. I'd love to try my hand at hard cheeses, too. So....lots of good reasons to get one! Thank you again!

@Midnightmom Well, that was interesting...I started watching with the kids, and saw piglets... "awwww, they're tiny!" "wow, they look like rats!" "they're SO cute" "piggys!!! (that was the 2 year old)". Yeah, well.....those were rabbits, not piglets.

Thank you, Midnightmom!! I'll for sure check it out! I need all the encouragement I can get!!

Hubby's been gone for work this week. Aside from really missing him (almost 11 years married and still in love!), I realized that his chores aren't easy....I'm tired!! A milking cow would be hard in addition to everything else.... ....but we still want one.... still, we pray and think.... 🙏🏻

I've never actually watched the channel before, so I don't know what the guy's reputation is. I would have to say that our decision to get or not get the jab is ours, and ours alone, and is based on our research. I do have to say....whether you get it or not, I'll still be your friend (okay, online buddy) . I think that the worse part of all of this is how it's driving a wedge between all of us, including the Church, for those that are Christian. I think the government is overreaching in what they are requiring, and that anything that we put into our body should never be mandated. Vaccine or no, vaccine passports are just wrong. Completely. Seems wrong to need to threaten people or reward them for something that is still yet to be seen how it plays out.

My sister lives in Mexico. She knows a bunch of people sick, or even dying there from (or with? ) Covid. Some vaccinated some not. Me? Middle of KS, and I don't know of anyone except someone that knows someone that knows someone.....and it's a light case. I agree about the mask symbol, though. Bigger city around here is seeing more of them. They look at me like I'm not to be touched. *sigh* Such a sad world we live in.

So far, KS is nice.

Good eye, Buttercup! I still can't figure out how to do those siggy's....never could, even years ago! I'll have to put up pictures when we get it up and going. We are targeting having it up and completely useful by sometime in October. Somehow that seems like it'll be a weird month. Our 8 year old daughter already asked if she could be the first one to cook on it.

Thank you, Little Sister!! I really appreciate that. I didn't think I needed to hear that, but I do! It's a lot of hard work, but oh so rewarding. I love it!! I'm so thankful that this is what I get to do during this period of my life, and I'm hoping it lasts for the remainder of it!

Thank you so much, Mother!! This was so very encouraging. I do believe you're right. My sister would like me to be free to travel, like she is. We get along great (grant it, we live in different countries, haha!), and I think would have a lot of fun together. I have young kids, though, and we are doing our best to homestead (hubby works from home). She (and my Dad) find that it's easier (and often cheaper) to buy things at the store. Me showing my Dad pictures of empty shelves doesn't convince him....he says it'll be there tomorrow. I don't like arguing, so drop the subject. The thing is, he is VERY helpful! He comes over and helps us with a ton of stuff, from mowing to helping with the animals if we happen to be gone (not very often at all). For some reason, both he and my sister are hung up on the cow. *sigh* Honestly, if my Dad said yeah, you should go for it, we'd probably have one already. But I'm trying to set that aside and pray and think only of what's best for our family (and others!). We got good at making butter (and it's buttermilk), yogurt, fresh cheese. Loved it!! I am really wanting to learn to make more with it. I understand that it's a lot of work, I get that. I'm not afraid of work, I believe it's good for us! So....yes. Thank you!! BTW, your signature is has motivated me over the years (even though I was gone for a long time)....thank you for that! Now I have a wood cookstove in our driveway, waiting to come in and get set up! I feel like it's a long term dream come true of mine. I'm SO excited!!

I really think I had responded to this....have no idea where it went! Thank you for all of this, Euphrasyne! So much great information! I had never heard about the learning of knitting first, but it makes sense. Crotchet has always eluded me! Maybe that's why. I'll give it a try again. Thank you!!

Thank you so much, MidnightMom!! I'll watch it after the kids go to bed. I appreciate your support!

For tomorrow: Laundry Take food downstairs Keep kitchen clean Sweep kitchen Get ready for Mom to come Have a wonderful Friday everyone!!

Your John 14:27 verse was refreshing to see just now, thank you!!

I knew I had come to the right place!! Thank you ladies....I appreciate your input a lot! I am out and waiting for the kids right now, but will pour over the videos later tonight. Thank you again!!

I'm reading this in my car while my two year old sleeps....air conditioning full blast. My other kids are at the museum with Grandma.... .....and my heart breaks for you Mama's. I don't know what you are going through, and I definitely don't know what your children are going through, but I can "see" the pain in all of it, and even from afar, and a stranger, my heart hurts for you. I have no words, but do pray, so I will pray for you all. I will weep with you as well. Big hugs!!

How is your hubby, Zzelle? And work stuff?

Or not. Had a long chat with my sister today she lives in a different country. I mentioned that we've been thinking about getting a milking cow (for years now!), and she was very discouraging. She mentioned all the cons of having one: milking every day, no matter the weather or date, cleaning up poop, etc.... I feel so discouraged.

Has anyone tried the ones from webrestaurant? They say Ball on them. I'm thinking I should move more towards Tattler lids at this point....

Of course, the videos are now not accessible. I wonder what the psychological damage the wearing of masks will do. My two year old doesn't know that people didn't used to wear masks. He thinks it's normal. Whatever position people take on wearing them or not, the psychological aspect has to weigh in there somewhere, wouldn't you think?

I do believe that our country, as we once knew it, is gone.

I just saw this thread....this may help keep me accountable! One can hope, eh? I'll try! I'll have to post ahead of time, as I don't always have time to get online here in the morning. Some general idea for tomorrow: Breakfast for the kids. Go to one of the towns nearby to listen to a presentation on WW2, thrift shop, farmer's market?, and in there somewhere keep kitchen clean, laundry, meals....