Canning, Baking and Everything else.
It again has been awhile to write on here but as any person who has a farm, even a small one, this time is year is very busy. The only one who seems to be calm about things here on Cranberry Acre is Mr. Bayne.
I have been busy with getting ready for craft shows and the Farmer's Market. Business has been good and that means I'm busy in the sewing room and the garage. 4th of July is a blur for me, seems like it was here and gone in a matter of min.
I decided that I needed to get away for a bit and we went to the Smokey Mountains to visit friends. It was a much needed break from everything here at the farm. Finding balance between being a mom, a farmer, a wife, a friend and a business owner has been hard for me. I realized that I needed a break just as much as the kids and we left to go see a friend who was home for a week or so.
If you have never been to the Smokey's you need to try. The visitor center at the park is a must see and we even found......
A chicken!!!!
We took time to play in the river at the park in Cherokee. What a fun place, the water was so chilly but after a day of 90 degree weather it was nice.
Coming back to Cranberry Acre was both a nice thing but also a hassle of getting things ready for market in one day. I had to try and remember that you can only do so much, but still wanting to be Super Woman. It had also been pretty hot and humid here so the Mystery Squash from last year decided to grow again and boy has it grown.
It is all in the chicken coop and has become a refuge from the sun for them.
Well sad news is we will not be getting grape jelly this year. Everything looked good until this beetle came to the vine and ruined the crop. Was so promising but what are you going to do? We may get a jar or two but not as much as I had hoped.
Everything else is doing good. My rose that we transplanted is doing great and has been blooming since the beginning of the month. Apparently she likes here new flower box.
Sunflowers are in full bloom in the garden and are so beautiful.
Been so hot that the girls are going to the Spring to drink and wade in it. I guess I would do the same thing if I was a chicken or even a goat, but God forbid if a goat got in the water.
Ms. Griffin showing her brother where he stands in the herd. Didn't want to tell her she was pushing her luck, but she was.
My 3 crazy goats.
Mr. Dingo was so upset with me. He ran to the pantry window to watch me as I took pictures. Such a silly dog. Wish he could come with me but the goats are not fond with his puppy attitude.
These birds eat like Queens! Scrap time for the girls in the pasture is a great gathering. Everyone gets a long and no one fights. That's not to say that when the scraps are gone they don't start fighting about stuff again, but for at least 15 min, no one is boss and everyone gets a long.
Ms. Sparkles loving her photo opt.
Ms. Fudge is still limping around but seems to be doing a lot better with it. She is still able to follow me around the pasture when I go out to take pictures. Such a sweet little bird with such a grumpy face.
Ms. Kiwi has decided she may try being a guinea fowl. For the past few weeks she has been out with them forging for food.
As I said it's been busy here. I have been canning green beans and baking quick breads. Been sewing and also making bird feeders, work never seems to be done. In the end it is all worth the hassle. Now that I have my new camera and it is working properly, I do hope to be on here at least once a week with new recipes and canning tips. Maybe even some sewing tips. We will see how it all pans out in the next week or two.
