Life on the little farm has been busy, busy, busy.  At my husband's insistence, we are now officially registered with  U.S.D.A. and have a farm number.  I'm not so keen on this, but supposedly we can get matching funds for fencing, etc.  It feels a little Big Brotherish to me, but maybe that's just my disdain for all things governmental rearing its head. 

The boys have an egg business now that we have more laying hens.  At $3/dozen, we are making almost enough to keep them fed.  The goats are another story.  They are ravenous, voracious, food-devouring machines.  I am not exaggerating.  They just won't stop eating.  One of them is obviously pregnant.  She is huge.  I think I am reliving my pregnancies with her.  She's just getting bigger and bulkier by the hour, and she lays around munching hay, with baby chickens sitting on her back. 

We aren't officially taking the summer off from school, but we have taken several weeks off for various camps and a visit from the Texas grandparents.  Joseph loved Chess Camp last week, and Gabe enjoyed a week of Drama Camp.  In just 3 days, they memorized and presented "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever."  He was out of his head hysterical the night before, but he remembered all his lines and really proved to himself that acting is definitely an area where he has talent. 

Future Bobby Fischers?

Gabriel w/Ms. Rosinna, his acting coach

Gabe as Leroy in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"

We are spending lots of time in the garden this year.  I typically spend hours and hours in the beginning, then just let it get out of control when it gets really hot.  But since I started everything from seed  and spend months watering and caring for the plants before they even touched the ground, I'm a little attached to them, so I have carefully staked and tied and hoed and strawed and mulched and am eagerly anticipating the fruits of my labors. 

Bee Balm

Calla Lillies

Gabe wanted me to be sure I included pics of him enjoying his favorite pasttime- skateboarding.  These were taken at the Knoxville Skate Park last week.