My Weekend

This weekend was a little different from most of my other weekends.

I got up at the normal Saturday morning time, (which is way too early to even talk about) and headed out to pack for our markets. This week I had to hurry because I was leaving at 5:30 instead of the normal 6:30 leaving time--I was going to Austin with dad and had to have all the product packed before I left.

Once it was all packed and ready to go dad and I left for our 2 & 1/2 hour drive to Austin. While I thought I would get some sleep on the drive up I was wrong, I was kept awake because I had to watch where we were going in case I had to go up there without a parent. (I honestly can't see that happening anywhere in the near future!!) Even though I've driven to Austin once and been going there at least once a year for about ten years now it was a different route, plus dad wanted to make doubly sure there was no way I could get lost. lol

Once we got there I was introduced to all our regular costumers and the other vendors. As I am the last Carlson for them to meet, they already knew about me, I just didn't know about them. (It's always daunting to be the last person in our family for everyone to meet!) lol I did have one person ask if there were any more of us, lol I had the pleasure of telling her that there were no more for her to meet until May. lol

As it turns out because of the rain (and I heard from one man who goes every week that last Saturday was the first time in a year and half that it had rained on a Saturday in Austin) and not only did it rain on and off the whole time, it was either sprinkling or pouring the whole time. For me it was 'fast', because of the markets that I am used to going to tend to be very slow markets, but for dad and the other vendors at this market it was super sloooooow.

Once we got home, mom had Emma, Sara, and Linnea unload the car so that dad and I could watch the rest of the Cougars game. It was the first time that they had beat a team ranked over 25 since 1988, and I am told that I was at that game. (My parents went to UH and both helped with the cougar that UH had. Supposedly I went to more football games in my first ten years then baseball games. lol)

Then on Sunday Christin and I went to Sunday school. There were a couple of reasons it was just the two of us. 1) We had some friends from East Texas coming over and my younger sisters had to stay home to make sure the house got cleaned and they didn't miss one minute of our friends visit. 2) Someone had to go into town to drop off the three cheese orders that we had (or was it four? I can't remember) and lastly--3) I really didn't want to miss this Sunday School lesson. I have enjoyed the book and due to the last time we did the class I knew that it was going to be a good class. :D

Once I gave the cheese orders to those that had ordered it, Chris and I left. We got home by noon to be met by an overwhelming amount of kids. But then what did I expect when I was coming home to a house with 16 children!?!

The two moms and the oldest girls went to the croc outlet store, as they wanted to and I tagged along. :D Me and my shoes, I had to go get another pair!! No, in truth I could live without shoes and I sometimes feel that they came along with the fall I much rather run around with no shoes what so ever. But then that is a whole different subject.

I try to find comfortable shoes that last me a good long while (meaning longer than two months) and crocs are the only ones to live up to those standards. :D My friends very kindly bought me a pair of shoes. When I got home they were pegged as cute. Cute--Oh, wait that’s a whole 'nother post.

When we got home the two moms and oldest girls went through candle and soap scents. I thought the oldest how to make candles last year and we have been combining orders ever since. I have been wanting to expand my soap and candle scents and I had order a sample pack and we spent at least an hour deciding which scents we did and didn't like. (You have to be careful with the scent as your house will smell like it for days after you soap or make candles.)

Then we spent two hours going through books. Every time we visit we spend a good long while picking which books we want to borrow (or bring books in we are the family visiting) as both families love to learn and do a lot of reading both in school and out of school.

In the end it was a long, enjoyable, but very full weekend. Off to get evening chores started. :D

Pictures from Saturday

A normal view of our booth at market. "Educating Houston one cup at a time".








Sara, Lightning, and her ribbons.

















C

A Saturday on Swede Farm

Saturdays are very busy days for our family and have been every week for the past four or five months.

Ever Saturday morning we get up around five. We being Dad, Mom, Seth, and any other child that is going to market with them, (who that is changes from market trip to market trip), and myself. While mom is inside getting the kids ready to go, dad and I are packing product.

When we started going to market we had one MAYBE two ice chest for all our product. Since we have had all those goats kid back in February, we now have a ton more milk. So we are bringing one ice chest PER product. One for the Kefir, one for the plain yogurt, one for the vanilla yogurt, one for 1/2 gallon jugs of milk, one for 1/4 gallon jugs and one for the chocolate milk.

Once we have product in the ice chest we work together to load it into the van with all the other stuff we need for market as well as leaving space for all those who are going to safely sit in a seat. You would think we could do it in a 15 passenger van, but sometimes it is a tight fit!

Well, yesterday was a little different in more then one way. First, this was our first Saturday to have the girls back from Germany, so we had a few more options on who should go stay, who should go and of those who stayed what work they were to do, etc. Second Sara was showing three of her rabbits (rather one was hers, the other two were dad's). Sara had to be signed in and in place by 10. We are supposed to be at market from 8-12, set up and ready to sell that is. So we had a little juggling to do.

So, what did we do? We need someone to go with and stay with Sara, some one to stay at market and someone to stay at home to watch the children and get chores done. So, we decide to send Grace with Sara, me with dad and mom to drive Sara there and then come back to help us at market, and Chris to stay home with the youngers and get shores done. (Plus I think she was trying to get me out of the house for the day).

Sounds like a great plan right? Adults in all three places, everything should go fine right? Well, first we got a late start, because my alarm clock has not been working lately. :-S So, instead of going off at 4:30, it decided not to go off at all. (there, went my shower!) So, I head out to load up product, the most every and at the fastest rate as well!

I come in get ready to go, with the call going out "Leaving in 5 minutes!". I quickly get dressed, grab my purse and bible study bag and head out the door. Only to find that the cage they have for the rabbits is three times the size I thought it would be. I suggest one idea, and it didn't work. So at dad's suggestion he and Grace take out the back row while I go and hunt for a travel mug, which I never found. I had to wait until we got to market to get some coffee at Katz. (Well, dad didn't suggest I look for the mug).

So, we get to Market, loaded down with 6 ice chest, market gear, two rabbit cages, and five people to help setup, one toddler and a ton of energy. :D We get set up, mom, Sara, Grace, and I (change in plans) head over to the Reliant hall to help get Sara's rabbits singed in and set up. After she is all done, mom and I head back leaving Sara to watch her rabbits and get them set up for showing and leaving Grace with her to help her stay calm, make sure Sara eats and to have fun, this is after all the livestock show, the one thing Grace asks for each year for her birthday. lol

After we get back to market I make my rounds, I get some coffee at Katz, a cheese sample from Lisa, Say hi to the Hattermanns, Bring my knife to be sharpened, talk with Julia--the Market Manager--about kid's day next week (and tease her about being a Brewers fan in Houston). After I have said hi to everyone, I head back to our booth to help with the milk. By this time it's 9:30-10:00 which is when it really starts to get busy, not just for us but for all of market and there is no real time to chit-chat.

At this time mom, dad, and I are all helping costumers. Giving out samples. answer questions on goats milk and goats, and filling out orders. Hectic? Yes!! But a TON of fun! I love doing it. Oh and we are also watching Seth who is trying to pull up on anything he can and pull out anything he can.

After market shuts down, we slowly start to close down, I don't think we have ever taken this long to close down. I do think the fact that all three of us were very tired and had nothing really to motivate us to get home didn't help any. (Hey, Chris was watching the kids, she can handle them!) Plus it was hot, you can tell that we are starting to get to the Houston Summers! lol

I napped on the way home, about an hour's worth of nap was great! When we got home we had someone here who was helping us to put up goat shelters. :D So, dad went out to help them with that, while mom started planning dinner, the youngers ran around and played until evening chore time and I worked on my garden.

After about an hour or two of that work Chris, Linnea, and Emma headed out to milk, while I cleaned up my stuff from the garden work, our friends left, with mom and dad soon followed them down the road to get the girls from the livestock show.

After chores were down we eat and I settled the little kids down, while I thought the older kids were doing their after meal jobs and a little house cleaning. They weren't they were talking about Narnia and listening to it on tape. Grrrrrr!!! The rest of the family got home and we all pretty much crashed after that.

Well, there you have it--a close to normal Saturday on Swede Farm.