Barnhouse Farm Tour !

From our house to your house...blessings to you and yours. Today's post is about a little of what's been going on at the barnhouse this past weekend and this spring. We had a glorious long weekend with my husband home for an extra day, and we also celebrated the resurrection of our Savior! The weather couldn't have been more beautiful, and we really enjoyed making special memories together. Aren't weekends a great time for making memories? That special meal, extra time for reading books while sipping tea, morning coffee or tea and devotions on the front porch, productive projects that leave you with a good feeling at the end of the day when you look back and see the fruit of your labor....and shared experiences. I'm so thankful for the opportunities to make home the most special place on earth; a cozy nest where we all can be nurtured, accepted and loved...in spite of our blemishes:)
We had planned on having a family picture snapped this weekend, but it didn't happen:( One of our daughters did snap this picture just before we left for church Sunday morning. It's a picture of me and my sweetheart/hubby of thirty years.
The poor little muskrat in the picture above had a run-in with our dog, Tank. Tank won. The little ones will want to place him in their little animal cemetery. Funny thing happened while I was posting these pictures. I didn't intend to post this one...I was trying to retrieve the one of me and hubby, but I pulled the number from the wrong picture file. Imagine my surprise when the picture downloaded...I'm expecting a picture of the happy couple and instead I see the above little fella! I decided to leave it anyway.
The farrier came this weekend to trim the Percheron horses' hooves. They are very gentle and good dependable workers. This weekend was a good time for plowing. The earth was damp in some areas, but we got a good bit done. We have five garden areas this year, and the boys used the horses for plowing where the corn and beans will be planted.

One son found a store last week that sells Lodge cast iron cookware at a very good price, and we love cooking with cast iron. The pieces didn't pass inspection because of a little nick or some sort of imperfection, but they look GREAT to us. No holes or anything. He brought home all that you see on the table, the books you see there, and several others. One of the books he gave to me because I love eighteenth century history and such. I can't wait until I have little snippets of time for reading.
Weekends around here definitely include special treats. These were made recently by Bethany. I think she got the recipe from a MaryJanesFarm magazine?? They were yummy and beautiful. Emily made a delicious whole wheat Mandarin Orange cake for our Sunday dinner. It disappeared before I could get a picture:(
Our new bull calf was born this spring. He's growing very nicely, and we enjoy watching his playful antics in the pasture.
A gift from my little ones. They bring frequent *offerings* each day...at least until the flowers are all gone. Speaking of flowers being all gone... I've had thirteen two year olds in my lifetime and they've all enjoyed bringing me flowers. I'd always ooh and ah and make a happy fuss over their gifts, so they'd bring me more...and more... and.....pretty soon I had NO flowers left. They weren't picking just the wildflowers but the ones I had bought and planted as well. I purchased several bouquets of silk flowers and made a special garden for whomever the two year old happened to be. They'd *pick* their flowers and bring them to me almost every hour. When they were napping I'd go out and *re-plant* their flowers to be picked again the next day!

Two daughters doing the dishes together and sharing a laugh. Children are SUCH a blessing!
Johnathon and Hannah Joy are painting the new window boxes. These are the ones made from the free pallets of wood we get from the mattress company. Our old ones were rotting, so they made new ones for all the windows! We have a cat who thinks one of the boxes is her home, and we've also had a hen lay eggs in the one on the right. I really enjoyed watching her through my kitchen window.
The strawberries are looking really good. I know we'll need a lot more boxes for our family, but we wanted to practice before planting to many! We'll have to mix up some of our raw milk and strawberries very soon and make homemade ice cream:)

Sorry for the fuzzy picture. We have new chicks and some others coming along in the incubator. They should be hatching in a few more days.
The cows and bull are very happy to have the new spring grass. Certainly helps with their milk production:)
Saturdays are big baking days around here. The bread above ended up strangely shaped, but that sometimes happens around here when the humidity is bad.
More bread rising.

Melanie has a seat with a view:)
Love the springtime beauty. God THE Artist!

Our chocolate peppermint tea is looking very nice. We'll be sipping some very soon.
Painting of the window boxes is done.
Parsley...we love making parsley pesto to be served with vegetable sticks, pasta, or pita chips. We mix 1 cup olive oil, 1 or 2 garlic cloves, 3 bunches of parsley, and 2 cups parmesan cheese together and blend until smooth. Very addictive.
Sage has flowered.
Lemon Balm.

The kiwi bushes are loaded this year!


We have some raised beds just outside the kitchen door for easy access. Most of our gardening is done using traditional rows and away from the house. We're trying to learn a little bit more each year, and we're so thankful to live in a community and among friends who are so encouraging and willing to share their knowledge.
More free wood just waiting to be taken apart and re-purposed!!
Jacob completing the last of the window boxes.
Jordan working at the bee hives.


Finished up some plowing on the hill. Emily is taking some tasty vegetable scraps to *The Chicken Concern*!
A good days work is done.

Blessings,

Sherry

This post is linked to Barn Hop #10. Hosted by Amy at Homestead Revival, Jill at The Prairie Homestead, Kendra at New Life on a Homestead, and Megan at A Blossoming Homestead.