Update

For those of you who didn't know, a week ago today I boarded a plane headed for Houston. :D Where I spent 4 1/2 days with family & friends. :D God greatly blessed me on this trip home. I got to snuggle with all my toddler & baby siblings, spent time with mom while shopping for animal feed and human food. :D Bible study with Christin & some friends, did one market & visited three other markets, I was also able to go to Central Market & church with my family. God has greatly blessed me & the trip home showed me even more how blessed I am.

New York City on the way to the airport.

About to land in Chicago. Have I ever mentioned how I hate layovers? Chicago is in the top two cities that I want to visit and I didn't get to see any of it, due to being on the wrong side of the plane both when landing & taking off!

There's no place like Houston!! :D

City Center Market Thursday night with Sara holding Dixie.




Urban Harvest Saturday morning

Highland Village Saturday afternoon

On our way into Central Market





Discovery Green Market Sunday afternoon



My siblings waiting for me to board the plane (which I ended up not doing that day).

My Family!

Update....

I'm still alive!

I've been at Reliant Center more this week then my own house, (I even spent the night Tuesday night with a goat friend!!) Last night when I saw Noah I realized that it was the first time I had seen him since Tuesday afternoon, since when I came home Wednesday night all the youngers were asleep and were still happily snoring away when I left yesterday morning. Boy did I miss them!!

Much to my surprise I learned how to make Espressos, Mochas,Cappuccinos, and other coffee drinks and I have not broken the Espresso maker and people are coming back for more!! It's tons of fun making them, it's almost enough to make me wish I could do this all the time every day! lol

And I get to go to Austin tomorrow with mom!! It's been months since I was able to go (As in back to September since I was able to go) and I can't wait to see this market at it's best, I can't wait! After that it's thrift store shopping and maybe swinging by the Capitol! Promises to be tons of fun!

Now, I am off to help get ready for market and then leave for Reliant center. I hope everyone has a great weekend and that glorious weather!!

Ever Feel....

Have you ever felt like you had a ton of work to do and there was no time to do it?  Or have you ever felt like you had a million and one things to do, but could only remember one or two of those things? 

Well that's the way I feel today!  So far I've been to the Vet, called about a sign for one orf our Farmer's Market, Called the Rodeo to get some money refunded since they charged me a late fee that they shouldn't have.  E-mailed someone interested in buying soap for her store, helped a friend hitch up the trailer (they are taking an animal to the Vet as well).  All this since 9:45 when I had to leave Christin to milk by herself and leave. 

Now I am about to leave to take our neighbor to her therapy appointment (she was in a car wreck Christmas night and broke her arm) and Grace to her Dentist appointment.  And I have to be back in time to milk tonight, whew!!  What a day!!

Y'all have a nice day, enjoy any snow you might get tomorrow and Wednesday, while I freeze as I run around town today and at market tomorrow.  :D 

Milk Production Again!

I believe that is was last week when I was talking about the goats and how I love it when their production goes up, well I'm going to say it again...

I LOVE it when the goat's production goes up!!

In an hour I am headed out to Rice for the Houston Farmers Market.  :D  Where I have the pleasure of bringing not only milk, but Chocolate Milk (with a pound of ground up chocolate bar per gallon of milk), Capra-Cino (Our coffee flavored milk drink), Plain Yogurt (Goes great with strawberries) , Vanilla Bean Yogurt (It taste like melted ice cream), AND Kefir. 

This is the first time in months that we will be bringing our complete line of liquid products!!  So, those in the Houston area stop by the Houston Farmers Market at Rice today.  :D

A Few Things

I am greatly blessed!!

• I'm alive!
• I have a family that loves me. :D
• It's below 70 degrees here! (64 to be exact!)
• Both the washer and dryer are working!! (Before earlier this week either one or the other was broken for the past four weeks. :-S )
• It looks like I will be able to have a laid back Friday night watching the Red Sox and Angels.
  

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WARNING:

When helping a young child pick out how the decorations for their cake, try to lead them away from black. lol

A few years ago for Christmas Christin and I got a cake decorating kit and our parents paid for two classes, and then drove us to our classes every Saturday morning, missing out on sleeping in Saturday mornings. Now, that we both have an idea on how to do decorate cakes and the tools to do the job, I always get stuck with the job. lol

last night I had to make a cake with a race track, since Noah wanted a Mator and Lighting McQueen cake. Thankfully I came out of the task without black hair (I've been known to accidentally 'color' my hair with food and candle dye), but my brothers have not been as lucky. lol Noah, Judah, and Seth have been sporting black mouths all day. :D It's kind of cute but a good reminder of why I don't like using black frosting.

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We start a new market tomorrow. We had a break for a month from three markets; in that time I went to Austin twice with dad and filled in for mom at Urban Harvest twice so that mom could go to Austin. Now it's back to three markets again. :D

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Much as I am glad that we have technology there are times I want to kick some of it to the next planet! Like when for some reason I can't log into my e-mail, or when my MP3 player goes dead, due to lack of charging (can't they make these things run forever?), or when the printer either decides not to print or to go into "cool down mode" after printing three pages!! All of which have happened today! Grrr.......

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Please pray for mom as she continues to fill "green". Her morning sickness has been much worse this time, so much so that she is sending me out to run her errands and flavor the cheese (which she likes to do and had a hard time letting got). Much as we love that there will be a new Carlson next year it is very hard having mom sick (and it's not hard just for me). Thank you!

Saturdays

If you've followed my blog for a while you will know that Saturday's are our second busiest days of the week. They are also the days when we get up at the crack of dawn or before. :)

Every Saturday since mid November of last year I have been getting up somewhere between 4 and 5, sometimes early, but never later. :D And I was always leaving the property somewhere between 5:30 and 7, depending on the market that I was going to. To be honest I haven't spent an entire Saturday on our property since last December. :D

A few weeks ago we stopped going to one market, leaving us going to only two until the second week of October. I thought it would be really nice just one of those Saturdays to sleep in, not go to a market, sleep till noon, watch This Week in Baseball, relax, and just take the day off. Until I thought of three things

1) I would still have to get up at 4 to pack the ice chests, as that is my job.
2) I would feel guilty for taking the day off while mom and dad were busy at a market and Chris was busy babysitting. :)
3) I really enjoy going to markets--talking with our customers and other vendors, selling out product and buying other vendor's product, going to the library after wards, etc.

Now, here I sit with tomorrow being our last day of only two markets and my last "free Saturday" and what do I do?? I offer to take the big market in Houston all by myself with one sister and a Grandfather, sending mom and dad to Austin so that they can have a break. (Not sure how much of a break it will be with market, but at least they won't have kids around and can have coffee after wards. :D )

Oh, well sleeping in was a nice thought anyways.

Now, that I have had my pity party I'm off to flavor cheese. :)

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

Just a few Thoughts

• Turkeys are the stupidest animals on the face of the earth!! I just had a turkey sit outside the window for five minutes, pecking at the window trying to get the fly that is on INSIDE of the window, while it had a dozen flying all around him.

• Chickens have got to be the second stupidest animal on the face of the earth!! Yesterday while I was at the computer I heard something hit the window, I check on what it is before I start yelling at a toddler for throwing something at the window and realize that was a chicken trying to get away from another chicken!

• It's slightly depressing when I am happily sewing away and realize that I need my glasses to thread my needle!

• Here is an 'interview' I did for another blogger; I have greatly enjoyed reading her blog the past few months. :D

• The Astros won the rubber game last night, 4-1; Wandy went 8 innings giving up only 4 hits, ending the Marlins streak of ten hits in each of the last 15 games (A record that had stood since 1937!). Now if the Astros can keep winning and all the teams ahead of them would kindly start losing. lol

• It's Friday!! That wonderful day of the week that has us all running around like chickens with our heads cut off. You know, the day when we have to get everything ready for markets, hopefully by noon, but 4 at the latest (if all goes well).....Make sure the market buckets and bags are packed, pack all three cars for market, ice chest ready to go, ice all frozen, clothes laid out, product all labeled, etc. On top of that, to make this an even busier day, we are trying to get ready for school next week and preparing to get back to our school schedule.

Appearances

Last Saturday was lots of fun. :D With our car troubles it would have been difficult to gt all our product for three markets into the two cars that we had. We had some friends who heard of our troubles and offered to drive me to our big market in Houston, while mom and dad went to Austin for market in the morning and a cheese thing in the evening.

It was lots of fun seeing all the other vendors and our old customers at this market as it has been a while since I was there, due to being at another market. It was also fun having our friends helping me for the day (even with their over the top praise of our product. :D ) Then I was treated with lunch out and had a wonderful Panini. Yum-o! (That made two meals with out an a bunch of toddlers running around to watch in one week, what is this world coming to?!?)

One thing that I noticed that day was what people have in mind of us Carlsons. But the more I think about it the more I wonder is it what they have in mind for my family or for me? Let me explain.....

I decided that I had had enough of a certain piece of clothing, I was NOT going to wear it again that week (I had already worn it three times that week).

<---That item was this skirt. It is my out of the house, errand running, market going, friend visiting--basically anything other than church skirt and I sometimes get sick of it. It's one of my favorite skirts, but I have had it for over a year now and wear it all the time and sometimes it just plain gets old and I want a change.







So, I wore these pants instead. --->
(yes, I know bad pictures, but at least you know what I am talking about.)

Now I don't know what it is, but I have come to realize in the past few months that people have an idea in their mind what you are to look like and when you wear something different (in my case jeans) it comes as a slight shock to them.

I have noticed that those outside of our family are surprised when they see me in anything other than a skirt.

When I leave the house in jeans I get comments from other vendors, customers and friends such as..."Are you sure you are a Carlson? You are not matching them." Or "What did you do with the real Katie?!" And "Where did you get the jeans, I didn't think you knew what they were!".

I take all the comments just like I take all the other comments I get with being in a large, homeschooling, farm living, non-dating, non-collage going, family. Only I answered these with a laugh as well as the answer because it shows one of the ways that I have changed in the past decade. (Yes, even before we moved out to the country).

I have been thinking about this and about how people notice my clothing and how I need to keep that in mind before I leave the house. I don't know why but it comes as a slight surprise to me. I guess it's because when you see us in a group you see no less than a half dozen skirts and in this day and age, no matter when or where that will catch your attention. So, I take a lot of the comments that our family gets as a group that would happen to anyone and everyone in the same situation. The first thing people notice is a large group of kids and then a lot skirts, of course they would notice and then comment, but out side of that group no one will notice or comment, right?

But, these past few months has proven me wrong and added one more thing to my list of what to keep in mind when I am about to leave the house....No matter the amount of people I am bringing with me, people will notice me because I am from a large, homeschooling, farm living, non-dating, non-collage going, family and there is just something about me/us that tells everyone that and they notice it, so whether I like it or not I am a witness for a whole long list of things and I need to keep that in mind even before I ever leave the house, and the way I dress is just one way I am and can witness to people.

Oh, the pressure!!

Cars

I have posted twice about driving. Once I talked about not really wanting to drive, but having to get my license for the dairy. The other post was on the car troubles that I had my first time out of the house without a parent (just what I need, right?!).

Well, now I am going to talk about driving a stick shift and our car troubles we are currently having.

First about driving a standard (or stick shift).....Well, I have known for ages that the car that I was going to learn to drive on was a stick shift and truth be told I was happy about that and it looked way to fun to pass up! (Plus, being able to drive something that some of my family members couldn't drive added some pleasure, but that was/is pride so that's another post.) But when the time came I was not taught to drive a stick shift, I went back and forth between the big 15 passenger van and our little 4 seater geo!

The main reason being, that the geo was what dad drove to work and since I was 'working' in close to the same area as he was, we drove together (or else I didn't work) and the 15 passenger is what our family drove to church. Also, dad didn't want to risk spilling coffee or breakfast on himself while I tried to learn how to drive with a clutch in the Houston morning traffic. lol

And another reason I never really drove a stick shift was I could never really grasp how it was done. I would stall out six times in as many feet, give you whip lash once I got us going and never got higher then 2nd gear! We couldn't figure it out, but necessity made it necessary that I learn to drive one as that is what I had to take to markets.

One day while I was talking with mom about it and she was telling me how she learned to drive a stick shift, all off a sudden we understood why I couldn't drive one...Dad was in the car with me! Now I love my dad dearly and if it weren't for him a TON would be missing from my life, but again, that is another post. Most times I can get over the pressure of having him watch me do something; I did it for keeping score at a ballgame, shooting a gun, pasteurizing milk, typing posts, making soap, etc. But driving a stick shift was a whole 'nother matter.

So, mom suggested I try it without him in the car, I had a license why didn't I run to the local tea house a couple days and maybe once to the library and see how things went from there. Well in those runs I stalled the car out a grand total of twice! And on my first trip to the market without parents I stalled it out four times in 70 miles! Now, I am sure that there were a few people who laughed at me while I jerked into first, but at least I got there and back home safely.

After that first week I had it down pat and like I thought I would, I LOVED it!! I drive my little geo everywhere I can and love it, I drive it every Saturday to markets, sometimes to church, to run errands, etc. All the time!

Now, for our car troubles....

If you have been in Sunday school with me the past few weeks it's been almost comical the way my prayer request have been...Week #1 "We have three markets all at least 50 miles from our house and one of cars is acting up and we need it to keep driving safely for us."

Week #2 "Well, we still have our three markets, but two cars that drive properly and the third one still drives but not any faster than 45 MPH, we would appreciate prayer that "princess" (that nick name for this one van) would act properly. Thanks!"

Week #3 "Well, we are down to two cars, for good. But one of those two has to go into the shop because it won't start, we are praying that it is an easy fix, prayer that it would be an easy fix and that we can get a larger car so we won't have to borrow a friend’s car for markets would be greatly appreciated!"

Well, this week it's going to be even better! The car that we thought might be an easy fix, was beyond easy, I could have fixed it with some coke (but don't tell my machine that I said! lol) So, we were up to two cars, our big blue 15 passenger and my little 5 seater geo.

On the way to market Tuesday afternoon our 15 passenger van blew a spark plug, something my dad never knew you could do. Thanks to some friends from church we were able to get to market, and thanks to some friends from the market, who were able to take some of our stuff home for us we were able to make market and back home with all that we needed, as well as visit with our friends from church. :D

Now, God has blessed us wonderfully and we have been able to get a station wagon (my dream car!) for one of our markets, but we will have to skip one market this week due to lack of car space and hopefully we will be able to get our old truck that used to belong to our uncle fixed for next weekend.

Now how does this all relate? Driving a stick shift and our car troubles? Well, the two working cars that we have, plus the truck that we are hopefully going to get fixed are ALL standards! I guess it's a good thing that I was forced to learn how to drive a standard!

Saturday's

It used to be that Saturdays were our most laid back days of the entire week. Those of us who did not have to milk could sleep until 9 (Truth be told those who did milk sometimes slept that late as well.) and then we lazed about and had a late breakfast....A breakfast meal at lunch time and then around 2:30 those of us who cared would gather around the TV for This Week in Baseball and then the Fox game of the week.

Now it's our busiest day of the week. Starting at 4 when I and who ever is helping me, to load all the product into our 15 ice chests to be divided as best as possible amongst the three markets.

Dad and who ever he is taking with him pulls out at 5:30 for their two hour drive to Austin. While mom and who ever she is taking leaves at 6, in "princess" (the finicky green van) for the Bayou City Farmers Market. And I leave sometime between 6:00-6:30 with whom ever I am taking with me in the little white Geo for Onion Creek Farmers Market in The Heights.

The two markets in the Houston area start at 8 and run until 10 where we do our best to "Educate Houston one cup at a time" about goat's milk and cheese. The market in Austin runs from 9-1.

When everyone gets home depends on who it is and what they have to do after their market. Since mom is a few blocks from Central Market, she always stops there for lunch or to buy supplies for our product. Since that is where we get our vanilla bean paste, chocolate powder, and other spices for our products. So, mom tends to get home between 2-3.

I can not honestly say when I will get home, because tomorrow will be my second at this market and I hoping to get home without driving the scenic route through Memorial Park. (Much, as I like the park I don't care to drive through it just for the fun of it. :D ) But, I do believe that unless I drive over and help mom break down at her market or meet mom at Central Market, I should get home between 1 and 2.

Now the earliest that dad gets home is around 5 o'clock and that is without stopping at any of our favorite sites in Austen or our favorite thrift store. He has even shown up as late as 7 one time. :D

After everyone is home and unpacked (which happens as we get home) we do evening chores and then laze around until it's time to go to bed. In that time someone will lay out the younger 6 children's clothing for church and dad or I will have turned on a baseball game. (Either on the computer or on the TV). And Food Network will be turned on for a few minutes at least.

It's an enjoyable day and one I wouldn't miss out, I love to see the other vendors, meet our customers, and sell OUR product. It's just another way to show that God has changed our lives. Esp. considering that five years ago, we were still in the city. (Not for long, but we were still there. :D ) And I just could not fathom us owning livestock and living in the country, even though, I knew we were moving out in the next week. :D I love to look back on the changes God has made in our lives and even though this one is only about 7 months new for us, it's still amazing and I am loving almost every minute of it. (Those early mornings are a whole 'nother matter. I am still trying to decided if I like them or not. lol) And truth be told, I don't think I would change my the way I am living for any other one right now!! :)

Oh, I Forgot!

So, this past Saturday on my way to Gorgan's Mill Farmer's market I have Linnea in the front next to me asleep, Noah right behind me non-stop talking and all my product and stuff for my both in my little geo. (Which, I might say I have gotten quite good at driving!)

AS I am leaving the Magnolia area, driving straight into the sun, something I think everyone hates doing, but something I am still learning to deal with. And to my right I see two dogs running on the side of the road, I check behind me to see how close the person behind me is driving, since I had just noticed they we either about to pass me or ride my tail.

As I look back at the dogs, I decided to put on my breaks knowing that they could come running out and I don't want the guy behind me to hit me! (That is my worst fear and the biggest thing that kept me from driving sooner). Right as I am about to hit the brakes a deer runs about a car and half length in front of me! I really hit the clutch and break then! It was running so fast I didn't have a problem and I didn't even wake up Linnea!

Boy did that scare me! I had pictures in my mind as it is running in front of me of a deer on my hood, my car totaled (small car and medium deer do not go well together!) and I was thinking how I would explain to dad and mom that I got to market late that day! lol

I will tell you I can laugh about it now, but I was a wee bit scared when it happened and was a little jumpy the rest of the drive there.

I think that was my fun and learning experience for the day!

Markets

All right then so, I haven't had the time to do what I wanted this week to talk about our markets, due to the fact that I am trying to keep up with all our products and get ready for our goat show this coming weekend. So, I am just going to copy and paste a couple articles that talk about us and hopefully in the sometime near future I will be able to do what I had planned to do.

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Meet the Swede Farm Dairy goats and taste their delicious varieties of goat's milk

Baby goats from Swede Farm Dairy at Bayou City Farmers Market

This past Saturday at Bayou City Farmers Market, Swede Farm Dairy brought a pair of twin kids from their goat farm. It's "kidding" season at Swede Farm Dairy owned by Tim and LeeAnne Carlson. The Carlsons, along with their eleven children, raise goats and produce delicious goat's milk, yogurt and kefir that is brought to the Saturday morning Bayou City Farmers Market and the Tuesday evening Houston Farmers Market at Rice University. Check out their blog to keep tabs on the new babies being born, and for all the adventures at Swede Farm Dairy. Their website explains how they care for their goats, and how the milk is minimally processed. Their passion and love for what they do is clear when you read about their commitment to their dairy and their family.

In addition to their addictive blog, the Swede Farm Dairy website is a fantastic resource to learn more about the benefits of goat's milk. Goat's milk is often used as an alternative for people who cannot tolerate cow's milk. In addition to several varieties of milk, Swede Farm Dairy also offers yogurt and kefir. Their website also has a link to their hand-made goat's milk products including soaps, candles, lip balms and products for mothers and babies.

This past weekend I picked up a quart of the chocolate goat's milk, and a quart of the vanilla bean yogurt fresh from Swede Farm Dairy. After the initial tasting, the chocolate milk didn't last long. It was a huge hit with my family, especially with my husband who has trouble digesting cow's milk. The goat's milk "chocolate milk" has the flavor of rich dark chocolate without being overly sweet. My family has already requested more when I visit the Bayou City Farmers Market this weekend.

The vanilla bean yogurt was saved for a special dessert Saturday night. We sliced up some fresh market strawberries and poured the yogurt over them. The vanilla bean yogurt lives up to its name, very creamy and full of tiny black specks of vanilla beans. The yogurt lasted a little longer than the chocolate milk, only because I rationed it for the berries. We tried it over blackberries with mango chunks, which made a great dessert, but would also make a great breakfast topped with granola. Vanilla bean yogurt will also be on my list as I visit the Carlson family, and their baby goats this Saturday at the Bayou City Farmers Market.

I've Decided......

That this week I am going to talk about the Farmers Markets we go to each week. When, what, where, how, etc. All of it! By the end of the week y'all will know a LOT of what goes on in the dairy!! :D

This post was just to let y'all know that, but I will say that I an a friend (that I met a market no less!) made it safely to and from the market last Saturday. It was my first time going to a market all by myself, the first time I had ever driven the stick shift without a parent in the car, AND the first time I had ever driven the standard father then five miles from our house!!

Yes, I did stall (more then once), yes I was slightly late, and yes we did have fun! I am also learning that I LOVE to drive it! If only I don't get whip lash while trying to perfect starting! lol

Goodness!!

Back in November I thought getting ready for one market was enough stress and work for one day. I mean getting up no latter then 5 every Saturday to pack how ever many ice chest we would need with mil and product to be out the door by 6 is a lot of work, right?

Well, back in early April I learned I was wrong! :D Getting ready for one market it's near as stressful as getting ready for TWO markets in one day. That is where you pack no less then six ice chest with ice and product and the last car to pull out of the drive way can pull out no latter then 6:30! Double work, double product and same amount of time. lol

Well, now I am learning that yet again I was wrong! Right now the only thing more stressful then the past two months will be tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the day when I will have to get up at sometime, that has yet to be decided to pack at least 9 ice chest to be ready for the first car to pull out at 5! Why?

Well, we are adding another market to our list of markets. :D We have been trying to add this market to our list for about a month now, but to no avail. Now, we are able to do it. Dad will be going to Austin with Christin, Mom will be going to Houston with Emma and Seth, and I will be going to the Woodlands with a friend. :D

Dad will be leaving at 5, Mom will be leaving at 6, and I will be leaving at 6:45. In following weeks mom and dad will switch out markets and children going with them, where as I will be switching out siblings going with me, until this market takes it's break at the end of June.

Now, that I have updated the world on what has been going on this week to keep me from posting on here, I am off to make sure everything that I have to do for tomorrow is completed, so that I can get into bed early, because it promises to be a slightly stressful day for me! (Not only am I going to be getting ready for three markets, but I will be driving the standard for the a distance for the first time!)

Pray for us!!

More on Driving

All right, it's been a week since I got my license. :D I've driven the one mile down the road to our friend, who we bought our fist goats from, I have driven to the Seger's to get some hay, I have driven to three markets, and church, I do believe that is all. :D

At church last Sunday I got a lot of "Well it's about time!", or "Great! Just let me know when you are going to be on the road!” As if you can miss our big blue van! lol (I even have gotten it here on this blog!)

Last night was at first fun, and then turned a little stressful as I headed to market. Chris and I headed out right on time with everything we needed for the market...Ice chests, change box, market box (two in fact) sign, water, and MP3 player! lol

as we get close to Collage Station, I start watching for my exit, I wanted to make sure that I didn't get lost. And what do I end up doing? What else is there for me to do? I take the wrong exit! (At least, that is what I thought at the time.) I circle around, get back on 6 and take the exit that I thought my dad had told me to take. Only to find out when I call mom (and don't ask me why I call her! lol) that the first exit I had taken was in fact the one I wanted and I had already driven by the market TWICE!!

So, we get there with ten minutes to set up. We set up, buy some peaches, and wait. We hand out samples, sell milk, buy more peaches, pack up and leave. :D All in all, there were no problems and it was enjoyable.

We then head to Sweet Eugene’s for coffee (the best in College Station), only to find out that we can't find a parking spot. It wasn't until I called dad and was talking over what I was to do, do I realize why, I happen to be trying to go into the best coffee spot in a collage town during finales, that was a great idea, NOT!

Being the coffeeholic that I am I was desperate for a cup of coffee and I was NOT going to go to Starbucks!! So, I park the car what seems like a block away, go in, get my coffee and Christin's tea and then head to Taco Bell for dinner. As I pull out of Taco Bell mom calls asking me to stop and get some diapers at Wal-mart.

Right before I pull into Wal-Mart, the car did something funny. I can only explain it, as a hiccup. It felt almost like the car hiccupped, it was really weird! At first nothing happened and then it felt as if it wasn't working right and I notice then that I am going 35 and the speedometer has me at O MPH! Oh great!!

So, I go in get the diapers. Go out and start the car. The speedometer is still not working and I can’t put my finger on it, but it just does not seem like the car is working right. I send in an SOS call to mom. After about ten minutes of mom going back and forth between dad (who is a Little league game) and myself, they decide that she is going to drive the blue van out and we will either switch cars or she can call the tow truck.

So, there I am stuck in a Wal-mart parking lot for the next 45 minutes and for the first time in weeks I had left my book bag at home. I saw it as I was walking out the door and thought "I'm not going to need that, I am either going to be selling milk or driving, I might as well leave it here". Sure wish I had brought it with me. I ended up going into Wal-Mart and buying a book that costs more then $5 for the first time an at least a year!

So, Chris and I sit and wait, Chris sleeping and I reading. When mom gets there she drives the green van for a couple of miles. At first it acted up and we thought that we might have to call the tow truck. Then it decided to start working correctly.

We got home around 10 o'clock, where I then crashed, thinking that cars are way too much trouble! But, also looking on the bright side, at least I didn't run out of gas, get a flat tire or end up in a crash. (About ten minutes after I got to market, dad had called telling me to be careful while driving, because he had just driven by an SUV un it's roof and he didn't want that happening to me.)

Now, to see if they will let me out on my own again.

Sand, Baseball, and Markets

Sand:
Well, we just got another load of dirt. And of course the kids are ALL over it. :D Noah and Judah wanted to know why he was back again, but when they saw all that lovely sand, they didn't ask again. :D Right now I sit here listening to Noah, Judah, and Liberty laughing as they play all over it.







Baseball:
For the past six years or so dad and I have been buying MLB.tv. With MLB.tv we get all Major League Games, except for those played in Texas. Which is fine with us, since we get those games on TV we mainly got it to be able to watch the Boston Red Sox. And any other game when we feel like it (Cubs, Cards, Rays, etc.). Normal I pay for at least half of it. (sometimes more, depending on how much money I get) though out the baseball season, I guess I need to sell some soaps. lol

Well, last night dad accidental upgraded. And honestly we have both watched it since then and we both agree we like the upgrade! lol And dad has said if I pay for the upgrade he will pay for the rest and we can keep it! I am so excited! Right now I am watching 4 games. As an add comes on I switch to the next game, so I don't have to listen to adds. This is to cool!

Market:
Mom, Grace, Seth and birthday girl Emma are on their way to the Brazos Valley farmer's market for our first time as vendors, making this a grand total of FOUR this week alone! It used to take three weeks for that. :D

That's it for an update right now. :D

Oh, boy!

These up coming four days promise to be fun! :D Between now and Saturday our days are PACKED!!

Today, tomorrow, and Friday we have to make two batches of yogurt, one batch of chocolate milk, possibly a new drink, and pasteurize plain old white milk at least once if not twice!

As well as go to yet another new market tonight in Collage station, called Brazos Valley Farmers market.

Friday and Saturday I have a conference. I am going to be a vendor with Swede Farm Naturals product. :D I need to make a few things for this and pack everything so I won't be worry about this late tomorrow night or way to early Friday morning. :D

Saturday we have two markets, Bayou city and Grogan's Mill.

Not to mention we still have a farm, animals, and children to take care of! lol That just never ends. :D

Oh! And did I mention that today is Emma's 11th birthday! :D HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!! (I will do another post just for her latter, after I have made a few candles for the conference. :D )

So, please pray that we don't go crazy, get sick, or overwhelmed and that we all have fun during Emma's birthday, markets, conference and anything else that we have to do the rest of this week. Thank you!!

This Week...

Let's see, it seems to have been a busy week, but when I sit down and think about what we did it wasn't that much. :D

Sunday--We had lunch at church and then went to a farmer's market down town. Once we got home, even chores were worked on, then dad and I sat down to watch the Braves and Phillies.

Monday--Started with me making vanilla bean yogurt as soon as they were done milking. And then cleaning up the dairy and making a batch of soap for my conference next week. That evening I spent an hour doing my best not blow a gasket over the fact that I couldn't watch the Astros. And we had a farm visit from someone who had some questions about how to take care of her goat.

Tuesday--Started out with pasteurizing milk for that night's market, as soon as I was done pasteurizing, bottling, and labeling. I loaded up all the product, got ready to go and helped a little with getting the younger children ready to go. We--Mom, Sara, Emma, Liberty, Noah, Judah, and Seth--all headed out with a goat and three bunnies for the market. Where we were REALLY busy.

On our way home we stopped at Central Market and HEB for some stuff for our yogurt and Seth's family birthday party that night and Emma's and Seth's non-family birthday party this Saturday.

Once we got home, dad and I unloaded product while they finished the finally touches on the birthday cake. Then we had some birthday cake and ice cream and then crashed.

Wednesday--Started with pasteurizing 18 gallons of milk, only to be reminded that I needed to save some milk for a costumer who has been our costumer and picking up milk from us for at least a year. I can NOT believe I forgot that!! For, some reason I was think it was Thursday (I was even planing what I would do with the milk as if it were Thursday). About half way through bottling a Friend called to see if she could take me and a sister out for lunch. Being very busy I had to say no, but they ended up going out with Chris and Grace. :D

While they were gone, I bottled and cleaned the processing room and then headed out to the trailer to make some soap. With the dairy I have fallen behind in my supplies for Swede Farm Naturals but with my conference coming up next week I am in fast mode making sure i have all my products ready to go.

Wednesday is also the day we got our new herd sire from South Fork. This is our fourth goat from her and we have LOVED them all, very sweet tempered goats, lovely and all around great. :D

Alamo, is a very cute little guy and looks kind of like his half brother that we got three years ago. :D I love that coloring on goats. :) (He's the ear less one. lol )

Thursday--I had to make some chocolate milk, once that was done I headed out to the trailer yet again to make another batch of soap. While I was soaping some friends came for some goat help. They are new to goats and we are helping to learn all there is to goats, just like other people did for us four years ago. :D

That night we had pizza while watching "It's A Wonderful Life". W movie we watch ever Christmas season, but with the Dairy and new markets and family visiting we did not get around to it, so they decided to 'break the rules' and watch it now. :D

Today (Friday)--I got to sleep in late. :D I was not out of bed before 9! :D That felt nice, plus the extra cuddle time with Judah. I had to pasteurize again, this time for the chiefs that buy from us. While it was pasteurizing I bottle some raw for a costumer who was coming out today. :D With that done I am now sitting here typing this while Noah and Judah are supposed to be napping.

That's how it has been here this past week. Plus the added stress of getting ready for a new market tomorrow, making sure we have enough product, ice chest, frozen water bottles. everything is labeled, etc. Very busy time. :D Plus I am slightly stressed since this only my second conference, I am also trying to make sure I have everything, that everything is made, labeled, and packaged correctly.

Along with those things is the fact that we have a birthday party tomorrow afternoon for Emma and Seth and Easter Sunday. :D

So, there you have it yet another overview of a week at Swede Farm. :D

A Not So Normal Friday

All righty then, the first half of this post was done on Friday (during my 'lunch break') the other half has been 'stewing' in my mind since then and this is the first chance I have had to continue it. :D

Fridays are normally very busy days, this Friday was more so. I knew yesterday (Thursday 4/2) that I was going to at least have to make one batch of yogurt and pasteurize some milk. Well, for more then one reason I had to do more then that today (Friday).

The day started out with dad and me getting up way to early and thankfully we were able to, because both or our alarms didn't go off, I just happened to wake up at the right time. After dad and I got the yogurt started he left for work, leaving me to yogurt sit. While I yogurt sat for about an hour, I was making sure the temp would stay where it needed to for it to become yogurt, I had cleaned up the processing room, and did my bible study, after about an hour I headed inside.

Inside I cuddled with Noah and Seth, played with the toddlers, got hit in the face with my purse, worked on labels for tomorrow's market, printed up a flyer for tomorrow's market, ordered supplies for Swede Farm Naturals, (I have a conference coming up soon), played, read some blogs, got breakfast, and tried to direct the kids to do the correct thing at the right time (namely school). And that was all done before ten am!!

I then spent the next hour and half wasting my time on the computer, with a little bit of directing the kids on what to do school wise and trying to get the flyer finished for mom and dad.

After that we had lunch prep, lunch, and naps. I then directed everyone to do certain jobs so I knew that all would be well in the house while I was out in the Dairy. I had Christin watch two toddlers, Sara watch another, Libby on her bed, I directed Linnea, Emma, and Timothy to do a couple jobs each so that the house would be picked up when mom got home, Grace and I then headed out to the dairy to bottle yogurt and then cleaned processing the room.

As soon as I had the yogurt bottled and everything cleaned up, I immediately started pasteurizing and making chocolate milk. While that was pasteurizing I worked on getting both rooms in the dairy cleaned, since we had a farm visit at 7 that evening.

As soon as I could leave the dairy, knowing it was cleaned and the milk was cooling, I headed into the house to grab some 'gear' to take to the trailer for some soap making.

By the time I had grabbed some supplies, mp3 player, and coffee, Emma came in to tell me that milk was ready to be bottled! I couldn't believe it, I must of take FAR longer then I thought I had. But I went out to check anyways. It was not ready to be bottled right then, but there wasn't enough time to make soap before it needed to be bottled, so I did some bible study instead.

As soon as I had the chocolate milk bottled and everything cleaned up from that processing. The girls where by then done with the evening milking and our visitors had arrived. But, my job was far from being done.

I immediately started pasteurizing that day's milk for market on Saturday (4/4). The same old normal thing I do every Saturday. Though I would love to do it in the morning more often, nothing new and out of the ordinary.

As it was pasteurizing I was putting any labels on bottles that weren't labeled, making sure that the ice chests (all 7 of them) were clean for the next day, and we had our milk bottles that were full of water were frozen, and anything else I needed to do to get ready for market the following day.

After the milk was bottled, the room cleaned, and everything prepped for a quick load up the next morning I headed into the house to hit the sack and coddle with Noah happened to have fallen asleep on my bed.

At market the next day I was able to tell our costumers that their yogurt, chocolate milk, and half their milk was fresh! As in from the day before fresh! Friday was a VERY LONG day, but I got to sleep in the next two mornings (not by much, but I did get a little extra sleep). And I wouldn't trade this 'job' in for any other job!!