Things got quite busy on the farm there for a while.  Lots of canning going on - green beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and red pepper-tomato soup base.  Oh, and also some chicken stock, which means that we butchered 2 of our extra roosters.  That was quite an experience, but not as distasteful as I thought it would be.  I'm grateful that the guys are learning where our food comes from, how to treat our animals properly, and that it requires work to eat.  And, in the middle of August, school started again.  It started out well.  Then, we hit some snags, but are looking forward to getting back on track again next week.  One big snag was that my husband had his gallbladder out this week.  He is doing really well now, and he seems to be feeling better, except for the surgery sites.

An update on the goats with mastitis...  The one goat still has icky tasting milk.  However, the good thing is that the chickens really like her milk, and they make good eggs, so I guess it's not hurting them.  They're about done for the year anyway.  Their production has decreased to half, probably because it is breeding season.  In fact, they should go to get bred next weekend and come back within about 2-3 weeks. 

We're getting 26 eggs per day now.  It's hard using them all up or selling them, but I did give 20 dozen to a local Christian-run food pantry.  If I can't get rid of them all, at least they're going somewhere they are really appreciated.  Did I mention that we also have 32 chicks?  11 Barred Rocks (10 girls, 1 boy), 11 Buff Orpingtons (same breakdown as above), and 10 Splash Cochins (straight run & I can't tell sex on them yet).  In the spring, we'll probably be at farmer's markets selling our eggs and goat milk soap.

Garden is winding down for the season.  I have some garlic coming, some leeks in the ground doing well, and some winter brassicas that would be great if the chickens didn't consider them a delicacy.  I think the recent rain will help the peas, so maybe we'll get some more peas this fall.  I am a little disappointed in the garden, but part of it was that it had no protection from marauding animals like little chickies who love tomatoes, green beans, chard, broccoli, cabbage, corn, squash, etc. 

I am really wanting to blog more, so I keep trying to make it back here periodically in order to update, even if it is just a short one.  Life is full, but right now, it is mostly a happy full.  :)  I am starting a Facebook Bible study, so I may post about it here, too...