Almost have a bedroom...

David and I are putting a final coat on the Bedroom Cabin today. The main cabin is an elongated hexagon and is about 500 square feet. We all sleep in one room, have for 19 months. There are 5 twin bunkbed spaces and a small loft.

The loft is 4 feet, at the highest point. Joseph and Jacob sleep up there, although lately, Jacob crashes on the couch because his hammock got too uncomfortable and he says his twin mattress takes up too much space.

Miri sleeps on a tiny couch behind the washer and drier, although this week she has set up a massage table to sleep in the main part of the cabin with the rest of us. Then folds it back up each morning. She never, ever, ever, complains. Just dreams about her own 10 x 12 bedroom cabin, with a loft for her bed and painted in purple, green and white inside, white wainscoating half way up and yellow siding.

The rest of us sleep in the bunkbeds, with Gary and I sharing one. This Thursday, we have been married 2 years and this spring we started on a 12x24 foot cabin, for our bedroom. We have had to move slowly, as funds allow, and it is very close to being done. My goal is for is to be finished, painted by this afternoon, and move in tonight.

There will be so much extra room and yes, our next goal, is Miriam's bedroom cabin.

We have had so much uncertainty the last three years, that we decided to try to pay off the land before building, but hope, in the next two years, to build a barn/home/reception center. We need a building that will help in several ways, be very efficient, and further the financial goals of the ranch.

I will post photos soon.

Two farm babies help out!

Xander is 11 months and Freddie is 3 months. I love my grandsons and they love me. They call me Ouma, at least Xander does. Ouma is Afrikaans for Grandmother. Sometimes they come out to the farm and "help". I think these are great days. I want them to have the opportunity for a simple, old fashioned childhood and so we work hard on this farm.

I want them to experience miracles, like playing with a kitten and letting him lick your finger or watching clouds puff around in a beautiful, blue sky.

I want them to enjoy Simple pleasures.

Isn't she Lovely!

Meet the newest member on our farm. This is our Jersey cow, Sugar! She is beautiful and five years old. Sugar is loving life. In her previous home, she was a Nurser. She raised calves, 6 - 8 at a time, this year her own twins and six more, and her udder showed it. It was incredibly scarred and her nipples were covered in scabbed fissures. We have continued to milk her but everytime we do, she gets my special mix of TeatmentTM on her nipples. Tonight they look so healthy and pink.

I have been very busy getting ready for the winter. My right hand man, Carlos, took a better job, closer to his home, so my cabin looks a little messy while I finish up lots of outdoor stuff.

The garden was harvested and then we let the pigs in to finish it up. Every one is fine, fit and happy till butcher day. We have lots of lamb, pork and poultry to process.

In the meantime, I hope this beautiful Indian summer lasts a bit longer.