Welcome Back Rachel!

No more baby goats have been born yet, no matter how often we check.

HOWEVER, this afternoon brought back our dear friend, Rachel Banks. She drove back from St. Louis to hang out with us on the farm for awhile. The girls helped me fix up her little house. It might be a little nicer to sleep out there now that it is not 15 degrees outside. Nora filled up a drawer in the desk with her own personal artwork. She thought that sometimes Rachel might want to look at it. I think she probably will.

Today was a glorious spring day. Still way to wet for garden, but not for the clothesline. We tried our hand at making homemade laundry soap the other day, thanks to my friend, Belynda's blog, www.homeschoolblogger.com/JoyfulMomma. We have been friends since way back in Texas when there were only 4 of us in our little family and I was way outnumbered by boys. The soap called for Fels Naptha, washing soda and Borax. In my typical fashion we didn't exactly follow the recipe, and sort of added way more of everything (I figured that more dirt means more soap). We didn't add all the water to dilute it in the big bucket. I don't think ours turned out the way the recipe would have. It didn't gel. I have to really shake it up to get it to homogenize.

BUT, it really cleans the clothes! And it is really cheap. And it feels good to make stuff instead of buy stuff.

In a few days I will be way too busy with the farm to wash clothes. We will be planting and milking and castrating (baby goats, that is). Shearing and dealing with wool. Baking. Making ready for farmer's market season to begin.

Today I was pretty glad to hang out clean clothes on the line and visit with Rachel. It was fun introducing her to all the new faces on the farm. A lot can happen in a few months. Less cattle, more beef in the freezer. More sheep and baby goats. Less big baby goats. Baby chicks arrive tomorrow. Last fall's chicks are in the freezer.

Rachel is a joy to our family. It gives me such pleasure having these different friends in our life, who want to share our life, the good, the bad and the muddy. Glad you are back, Rachel! I guess those goat girls were waiting for you to get here. Now you get to add to your resume: goat midwifery. Cool.