Growing, Growing, Growing

Around here everything grows constantly.  My kids grow, my animals grow, and my bills grow.  I have added 9 more piglets to the bunch that we already have. Sheep are getting ready to lamb. Chickens are trying desperately to brood.  The to-do list keeps getting longer and longer.   Our knowledge of things that must be done to help our animals thrive has also grown.  Through it all, we have been very blessed.

As spring approaches, though, there are a few things that we would like for you to keep in your prayers for us.  Fencing materials are needed to expand the pastureland for our growing sheep herd, as well as our brood of ever-growing piglets.  Greenhouse building supplies are need for the upcoming growing season.  Our last greenhouse was damaged in the move to our present location, and we were not able to put in a garden last year.  We were blessed with a connection with a local micro brewery that allows us to have their spent grains for free!  The break in the feed bill has helped us to keep our head above water so far.  Thank God for His many blessings! 

Since it doesn't look as though we are going to be flush with money this year anymore than last year, my husband and I decided to set up an account on gofundme.org  for some extra exposure to our small predicament.  Please consider donating to a struggling little farm!  We have set up reward system on the account so you will get something back from your donation!  Your money will go to set up new fencing and shelters for a growing number of animals and for greenhouse building supplies to help start a small farm stand!  We are reaching for sustainability and hope that you will consider be a part of our adventure... If you can't afford to donate, please consider sharing our site with friends and family and God bless you!  We have posted a link to our account at gofundme.  Please click on the highlighted link. Or type it into your browser manually www.gofundme.org/feedmysheeps  Thanks again for reading our blog and God bless you!

Three Little Pigs

Some of the Gang

As usual on our homestead, things are always changing for new and better ways.  We have lost one of our alpacas to the extreme cold that we had last winter. I think it was a little rough on every one!  We still have our llamas and gained a total of 15 sheep!  These hungry little beggars have made a noisy place of my once quiet solitude.  Huggable, squeezable and constantly hungry.  We built another barn to accommodate the little monsters, though they are on pasture right now and only need a run-in at the end of the day. 

Three Little Pigs

My favorite addition, though, has been the addition of three little pigs. (No big bad wolf included!)  We bought them from a much larger pig farmer about 45 minutes drive from my house and my dad was kind enough to use his trailer to pick them up for us.  They came home dirty and skinny and literally the runts of the litter.  We got busy right away procuring a source of waste milk to feed them.  After a good worming and a few days on the cheesy goodness of sour milk, they had started to fatten up!  Throw in a bunch of clean hay and a lot of sunshine and they were almost sparkling!  My daughter gets up every morning before breakfast and goes out to feed them.  She loves to hear them slurping and slopping and grunting in delight when she dumps a bucket of cheese and whey in they're trough.  She's also counting the days till ham and bacon and likes to keep an eye on how her future dinner is being treated. 

Christmas Morning Soap with Chubby Sheep Stamp

My daughter Cam's soap shop is becoming more popular.  My yarn shop is growing in leaps and bounds.  My stepson's learned to play guitar well enough that he can occasionally provide us with an evening of entertainment.  And my husband may have enough wood cut for two years.  He's been a busy man and insists he won't be could this winter.  He's ready to start stacking it indoors in hopes of getting a jump on the winter weather. 

Overall, things are really good down home.  We live and let live and thank God everyday when we rise for the privileges He's given us in this wonderful country!  We are all healthy, happy, and well-adjusted.  To God be the glory for all things!