Abby's Bread

Abby's Bread

3 Tablespoons yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
dissolve together, then add:
9 Tablespoons of sugar
3 tablespoons of salt
6 tablespoons of oil
2 2/3 cups warm water
2 eggs
whisk all together and then add
10 cups of flour.
Knead together and then let rise till doubled. (about an hour) Punch down and raise again.  Then divide into 4 loaves and place in greased bread pans to rise. 
Preheat oven to 350 while loaves rise.  When they are doubled in size bake for 35 minutes.  Remove from bread pans and brush the tops with butter!  Enjoy

I think spring is finally here!

The kids have been spending lots of time out doing ground work with the horses!  Even little Elli has been out!  She thinks she is a big girl now!

After she is finished with the ground work she enjoys a nice ride! 

I love spring!  It is neat to see all of the new babies!  This is one of our ducks that is sitting on her nest!  We should have some babies in another week!

With spring here means that all of the older kids are picking out their calves for the fair!  Miranda has her veal all picked out!

as you can see she wants to make sure no one else feeds it!  I think Western is going to be one spoiled calf!!

I just hope she does okay when it is time to have to sell it at the fair.....  last year there were many tears shed over having to sell her calf.

Elli loves being outside with all of the animals!

We spent some more time outside today doing a little more yard work!  It is sure nice having older children who enjoy helping out!  It might just be she knows that if she doesn't help out she may have to go and milk the cows so someone else can come out and help!



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the rest of the day was spent in the kitchen baking pies, cake, bread, and dinner rolls for dinner tomorrow!

Pedicures anyone?

Today was pedicures, well kind of!!  We had 30 of the cows hoofs trimmed today.  No, they don't get polish, but their "nails" do need cut!  Each of them get pedicures about twice a year.  I could go for a pedicure about now!  Other then keeping cows around for the hoof trimmer we talked with the guys we custom hire to plant our corn.  It is getting to be that time of the year, even if the weather doesn't seem like it!  Looks like things are all squared away and ready as soon as the weather warms up a little and the fields dry out. 
While the guys kept busy around the farm, I took some of the girls to town to do a little grocery shopping.  I also had  to pick up a new drying rack.  Our dryer isn't working, it isn't getting hot.  Looks like it is the heating element.  So, while we wait to get it fixed or go and get a new one I have clothes hanging by the wood stove drying.  I guess I can be glad they we have to wood stove going to help in the drying process!

Horses for little girls!

We have 7 "real" horses around the farm, and lots of "play" horses!  I thought you would like to see some photos of Elli who is 2 playing on her horse!

Elli Riding her Neigh!

oh no, it bucked her off

I think she might need the doctor!

Yes, we hear this everyday......  The only problem is when she is inside playing like this, she then thinks it is fun to go out and ride the BIG horses and try and fall off!  Not so good!  What a fun age!

Cows don't know weekends....

The weekend rolls around and it would be really nice if the cows knew that it was the weekend and would just wait to be milked till at least 10!  But, that isn't the case.....  the alarm goes off at 4:30am.  The cows need to be milked and feed and the baby calves all need feed.  After all the chores were finished Dennis took the older 2 children with him to head out to an auction.  It wasn't the best day to spend outside, but who am I to say!  I don't really care to stand out in the rain!  The day was very profitable for them though!  They ended up purchasing a few things that they needed around the farm, and a few things that they didn't need!  They finished up in time to get back home to do the evening chores.  Everyone in the family has their own chores to do except for Elli who is only 2!  The 2 older girls went out to milk, while Ben feed the older calves, Miranda milked and feed the goats, and Cassi feed all of the baby calves.  Miranda ended up going down to the parlor to help the big girls milk, while Cassi did up the chicken and duck chores.  Everyone finished up so we could all enjoy dinner together as a family.  Sundays we try and spend a few hours relaxing after church and before we head back out to do the afternoon chores!  So, I am off to enjoy my coffee!!

Wow what a busy week!

This past week I didn't know if I was coming or going.....  We finished up Maple Syrup on Monday ending up with a grand total of 91 gallons!  Tuesday was spent  just working on chores around the farm so we could take off on Wednesday!  Wednesday we went up to see my Grandpa and a couple Aunts!  We had a great visit!  It is hard to believe that he is going to be 94 in September and is still doing great!  Thursday found me on the road again.  I had a Dairy Communitactors Meeting in Lansing with Michigan Milk.  While I was away the guys worked on cleaning up the bunk silo's.  That then brings me to today!  Today the guys kept busy doing more spring cleaning around the farm!  Tonight the girls feed calves, and milked the goats while the guys did the evening milking.  Hopefully this next week I will be home little more!  Happy Spring

Maple Syrup

This has been our 15th year of doing maple syrup!  I can't believe that we have been in the business that long!  Today when we were out gathering and pulling buckets I took a few pictures!  Thought you might like to see some of what goes into making syrup!

 dumping the sap into a tank to take back to the sugar shack!

this is what a tree looks like when it is tapped! 

Look there is sap in here mom!

everyone helps out!

I will try and take some pictures of the main lines and evapator later!

opps

Well as you can see I kind of forgot to blog!  Life has been really busy around here as usuall!  We spent this past weekend at the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Ohio!  What a great time!  The speakers were awesome!  Now if I can remember all that I heard to apply it to our lives we will be doing good!  The kids favorite highlights of the weekend were The Duggars and Tim Hawkins!



Abby with Jessa Duggar

 Eliza with Jessa Duggar

 waiting in line to go into the last session with the Duggars

Outside our hotel!