This year we tried something different with our carrots. After reading about hugelkultur, a type of gardening with raise beds and logs, we gave it a try but with a twist. We dug a trench, laid down logs and branches then covered it with mixture of rich raised bed soil and compost. We planted carrot seeds in the fall and waited. As it began to get cold and snow fell heavily we covered it all in straw.
Yesterday, in 30* weather and snow still on the ground that had now frozen, we went out to get carrots. We hoped they did not get soft or taste mealy. They were neither but instead firm, crisp and sweet tasting carrots. We are not sure how long we can continue have them but we are hoping throughout the winter we will be digging up carrots.
This is how it looked when we went out.
Of course, the goats had to come take a look.
Beautiful !
Good morning! Motto in our house is , " Animals first". Here is a look at our Sunday Morning.
Time for breakfast.
The kindness of the day - Give the gift of water. Three times in 2015 our well went out and numerous other times. The longest was in Oct/Nov for a month. Hauling water is hard, washing dishes camp style, laundry at family's homes, showers at the gym, family and friends will sure make you humble. Family offered us showers and laundry where water costs and friends offered tanks of water in the land where water is gold for home, crops and animals. We have a lot of giving back to do. So we offer others the same today to other farm folks and we were glad in the gift of friendship in return.
9th day of Christmas - Nine ladies dancing representing the fruits of the Holy Spirit - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.
Here it is the Eve of Epiphany. Growing up it was always a big day of family and friends partying on "little Christmas" ...the day the Wise Men came with gifts to baby Jesus. My mother would always give us a shiny new penny, my dad would make giant German pancakes and later play the spoons for us or the mouth harp, and us kids had been practicing a skit or our musical instruments since Christmas for a quick family performance. Just an all around fun day.
So here we are now with kids in their jammies and fun awaiting us tomorrow. A little crafting, playing a rowdy game of match or two and movies.
Time for evening prayers- we do ask God, out loud to bless our family, friends, land and animals. I have been in the habit of this since my parents taught me as a child. One night I simply rolled over and went to sleep when Dude said, "wait, what about the God blessings....?" It was nice to see it meant as much to him as it did me.
