Win, Win, Win

Because I displayed my fails of the week, I should also share my wins.

CeCe & I got to go on several horse rides last week.  EVERY time we come to the farm she asks, "Can we PLEASE ride a horse today?"  Sometimes the answer is no because I have so much to do in the short amount of time I'm there. Lately the answer has been favorable.  She gets to pick the horse, I get to pick the saddle.  We make a good pair.  

Win Round Two:

I got my replacement part for my strainer so I could juice tomatoes to cook down tomatoe sauce for soup, pizza sauce and maybe ketchup(??)

We can put A LOT of tomatoes through in a pretty short period of time.  I like this method because the kids can take part.    Any of you are welcome to come use it in my kitchen.  Bring your own containers to haul away the juice:)

Because I can't just plant red tomatoes, the juice is a very interesting color.  This batch looks kind of "burnt orange" when reduced to a sauce.

Obviously I do such large quantities, it works better for me to juice & store one day, and spend the next few days cooking pots of it all day to reduce it.  There's no way I could do all of it in one day. 

Win Round Three:

I've decided to try to save my seeds this year.  I have always wanted to try it but never got it done.  I haven't followed all the rules so I won't be shocked if it doesn't work.  Disappointed, but not shocked. 

After drying them in the pods for three weeks, we popped them out and will let them dry again for a few weeks before storing them for next year.  They will keep for 3-4 years, but I didn't collect enough for that.

So far the three kinds of pod peas, sugar snap peas, snow peas and arugula are the only seeds saved.  I plan to plant some of each for the fall to see if they work.

Win Round Four:

The third cutting of hey went off without a peoblem.  Nearly 400 bales were tied, loaded and stored for sale and for our animals.  Need hay?  Spread the word!!

Joel's favorite tractor.  This is what will ultimately pull our hay rack ride trailer.

I LOVE to see boys doing physics labor.  That's most of the reason we bought this place!!

The big boys haul bales and the next youngest one drives the truck.  This time Chunk (Eli) was the chosen one.  Not only does he drive, he does it well....with a popsicle!!  Pretty sure that's legal.

We don't expect or require winning a majority of the time.  Our theme on the farm is "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back".  

We take wins when we can get them:)