Barnheart

I read books one sentence at a time. Having three little girls means that I hear "Mama watch me!!" every 30 seconds...which makes reading a full  page, much less a full book almost impossible. So tonight after supper, Matt took the girls for a bit and I poured myself a glass of wine and opened Jenna Woginrich's delicious book, "Barnheart: The Incurable Longing for a Farm of One's Own".

The one sentence that really stuck out to me tonight was this one:

"My God...this is all mine! For at least a year, this is all mine..." I grinned like an idiot.

I can relate to her giddiness. For at least a year...this farm is all ours. And I am DEFINITELY grinning like an idiot every time I think of it!

Her description of the first time she arrived at her little Vermont homestead had me riveted. Reading about the feelings she had the first time she laid eyes on her farm...I could SO relate. I just love her writing style so much and I enjoy reading throughher blog, Cold Antler Farm, as well. I have already finished Made From Scratch, which was delightful.

Sometimes, if I love a book enough, in addition to checking it out from the library, I will buy it for my Kindle too. Why? Because my GUARANTEED reading times are between 11pm-3am. In bed. While nursing. The Kindle app on my iPhone gets a lot of use during those hours. Barnheart is soon to be downloaded. I'm sure of it. :)

As I was clicking around Jenna's blog and clicked over to Rosie's. Which led me to this awesome site...

Conversations With Farm Women, a Celebration of Beauty and Abundance...you better believe my heart started beating faster. Pitter patter...farm stories will do that to me. So will spotting an amazing barn from the highway. Or seeing a goat bouncing around. I've got it bad folks.

A case of Barnheart.

Snow & GROW!

We woke up this morning to a soft blanket of snow. And then it just kept snowing. And snowing. And snowing. It's still coming down. The moisture is much needed here...so we are rejoicing! Matt took the day off, and we've been enjoying a slow snowy spring day.

Last week at the library, I got a little over zealous in the documentary aisle. There was no way I could watch all the DVD's that I checked out before they came due...but as today unfolded, I had high hopes for choosing ONE to watch.

The documentary I chose is called "GROW!". I've been watching it in small snippets throughout the day...and I am a bit SMITTEN. I'm only about 1/2 way through it, but I just knew I had to pass this one along to you.

The description reads: "GROW!" profiles a new crop of idealistic young farmers who have turned to the fields for a more fulfilling life, driven also by a strong desire to change how our food is grown. There is an emerging movement of young people, both women an men, who are leaving the cities to take up an agrarian life. Not happy with their current lives and what they see as a broken food system, they  aim to fix some of the current shortcomings by growing and distributing food locally and in a more sustainable manner.

Filmed on 12 different farms during an entire growing season, GROW! provides an engaging and inspiring look at this next generation of farmers through the eyes, hearts, and minds of 20 passionate, idealistic and fiercely independent young people In the film, they speak of both the joys and the challenges involved in tending the land, and what it takes to be successful as a farmer.

You can find them on their blog here and on Facebook here. Spread the word about this awesome film! Have you seen it?

I'm still on my mad hunt for knowledge and information. We're loving Alaska: The Last Frontier and I'm all caught up with The Fabulous Beekman Boys.This one looks interesting as well.

What are your favorite documentaries or shows about farming/self-sufficiency?

Everyone Loves Baby Goats

Baby farm animals are CUTE. But in my opinion, baby GOATS are the CUTEST. :) When Michelle said we could come up and see her 2 day old kids, I  couldn't get there fast enough! I was so excited. Especially knowing that we are probably going to be having some goat babies of our own in the next year. It made it that much sweeter!

This one was my favorite...the coloring is so yummy!

The kids hanging out.

Proud nursing mama.

Kid kisses.

Snuggles.

Mama Truffles

Michelle encourages and congratulates Mama Truffles on a job well done! For more "coverage" of the birth...check out my friend Amy's blog over at Crunchy Domestic Goddess. Her new official title is "The Goat Doula". :)

Here is a little compilation video of all the clips I took while we were there! Be warned...if you don't already have goat envy, you will after this video. :)

the big goats

Of course, we had to stop over and see the other goaties and Oreo the Llama as well.

Gimme Love

Goats LOVE attention! And we love giving it :)

Tiny Chick

Before we left, Michelle showed us the chicks that had just hatched that morning...there is always something new happening on the farm!

**The other family photographed here is my awesome unschooling friend Lisha and her girls. They are moving from Colorado to northern Idaho tomorrow! If any of you are in Idaho or know like-minded mamas in that area...let me know!!