It's been a long month, and the month still has a few days in it.  I have had hardly any business at the shop.  A month without sales is not good.  I am so frustrated.  I am doing all I can but to no avail.

Sorry to those who come here to check up on me, I haven't had the time to post regularly.  The days are pretty full with getting the mornings taking care of the house, the afternoon at the shop, schooling the girls and caring for James.  At night, I am caring for the animals, playing with the kids, working on meal plans, food lists. 

I bought onions today to dehydrate.  The local produce stand had a good buy on the, along with cantelopes.  My eldest son has a bumper crop of tomatoes that he is giving to me, he has all he wants.  I will dehydrate those also.  I really wish I could have planted a garden this year, but it was not to be...those pesky goats need to get under control.  The fence issue was resolved, now if they will only stay behind it...I think it should be higher, but my fence guy worked hard, and I hate to add my two cents in...

Still decluttering, and re-arranging living spaces trying to find the right fit, and flow for a such a small living space.  My last hold out is around the wood stove.  I stack too much on it when it is not in use ;-)
In the winter it will need to be put to use.

The cabin has been insulated.  Praise God!  I have all the batteries recharged and all the lanterns ready for use.  I've inventoried my food stores and am filling in holes.  Also determining what just isn't worth storing as we don't eat it all.

We've taken up archery, I may have mentioned it earlier.  Hannah is getting pretty good at hitting the target.  Hoping it is a useful skill.  Looking up possible competition stuff.  I wonder if 4H has archery??Hmmm..have to check that out.

Babies are all over the place here, goats, puppies, kittens, and coyote pups. No sign of any parents, just hear the pups and see them every now and then.  Pretty cool!

I am so thankful to live out here.  It's nothing new, though still wonderful, to hear the Redtailed hawk call out as I hang up laundry.  We have flocks of dove, bob white, quail, a variety of birds (red wing blackbird, scissor tail, cardinals, etc.), turkey, badger, snakes, scorpions.  Lots of wildlife for the kids to study.  It is a pretty cool way to live. 

We are doing great, kids are growing like weeds.  James is walking, talking and generally has a mind of his own.  Very strong willed boy!

Hope everyone has a good evening!

It is starting to heat up.  A high of 95 for most days, 99 on Friday.  Yuck!  Today we are expecting thunderstorms, which means I need to go take the laundry off the line before leaving for the shoppe.

Most everyone (but me) is sick with sinus issues.  James has a sinus infection.  Need to figure out what to do for him.  I have been taking the Echinacea, but he is going to need something stronger if it keeps up.  I normally just like most illnesses to run their course, as I don't like giving antibiotics, except when REALLY necessary. I just do not like to see my little one suffer with the headaches.  I have been giving him Motrin, a little Bendadryl to help him sleep at night, and irrigating his sinuses.  I think I am going to have to break out the Goldenseal Antibiotic Tincture.

The Health and Wellness meeting last night was very good.  I really enjoyed the speaker.  Plus, there was a lot of useful information to start implementing.

Everything around the farm seems to be okay.  Goats are doing good so far.  Plan to worm them in the fall, but really need to order the herbal wormer before I forget.

Hannah is getting ready to start swim lessons, and is excited. 

The church fellowship was here this past weekend, and it went great.  Lots of people, good food and fellowship.  Sometimes I wish our congregation was larger, but I really like that it isn't.  Sometimes I wish everyone was a little more conservative than they are, but this is the place God wants me at this time.  I am trying to work out what is going on with certain issues, and if and or what, God is trying to tell me, or if I am the one placing emphasis on these areas.  Makes for a lot of prayer, study and reflection.

We also had James baby dedication this past Sunday.  I know it isn't biblical a necessity, but I have done it with the other kid's and didn't want to leave him out, plus I do much better if I have actually promised God I will do something ;-) So promising to raise him in the church and to know God, I feel more obligated, though it strictly isn't so.  Just me.  I am like Hannah in the book of 1 Samuel in that "I have prayed for this child".