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Writer's picture: TinaTina

The herd polishing off the last of the autumn olive in the field


There is a lot to love about this life. I'm not speaking about my life specifically, but our collective experience, which we are gifted with for a short time. If you look for it, you will find joy, goodness, and light in every situation, interaction, and connection. Most of the time, I feel uncommonly blessed. As with everyone, I, too, go through seasons of doubt, frustration, and feeling misguided. However, as a whole, life is good, the blessings are abundant, and I feel happy, content, and at peace.


I recount these blessings every morning as I walk my canine best friend. How can one not feel blessed, happy, and at peace when gifted with the opportunity to live where I do? The small things put a smile on my face, brighten my day, and make me wonder about the universe's workings. When one thinks about the complexities of nature and how perfectly balanced our world is, one cannot help but feel awed. I note the small changes each day brings as time and seasons progress. The fragrant autumn olive has stopped blooming, and the fresh, green, damp scent of wild ferns, blackberries, and grape blossoms has replaced the lovely scent of the autumn olive. The once bare woodland floor is now lush, dense, and green with May apples, ferns, and lilies of the valley.


Our fields are bright green and thick, and green grass will turn to hay to be harvested to feed our small herd throughout the winter. Corn has been recently planted amongst the waning wheat, and peeks of green stalks are beginning to make their appearance. The wildlife are fat and healthy as they graze in our fields, hunt in the woodlands, and forage the treelines. The streams are running strong, and the water is plentiful for all. Our feathered friends who come to stay for the summer are thriving along with their little ones, who are no longer so little. The bullfrogs sing, the blue heron finds food and refuge at our ponds, and snakes, turtles, and lizards thrive and balance the ecosystem. All creatures have their place in the workings of nature.


My co-workers are not judgmental or narrow-minded but four-legged, loving, trustworthy creatures who add so much joy to my days. Walking with the herd to the pastures' outreaches brings me a sense of calmness and peace. There are few politics within the herd. Issues are handled swiftly and bluntly; there is no pretense, sneak attacks, or backbiting. One does not have to worry about what is being said behind their back when dealing with goats. If you annoy them, they bite you or headbutt you. It is evident when one is out of line and quickly reminded of one's place. Sometimes, I feel more attuned to my goats and how they handle issues than my fellow humans. My goats are by far the best group I have had the pleasure to work with.


Creating useful, high-quality, helpful products satisfies all facets of my personality. I get to be creative, do research, and pour my all into something that brings a smile to others. I am satisfied to know that something I create with care and love makes a difference to someone or improves their quality of life. It's just a little bar of soap, but when I receive messages, thank you cards, or have conversations with others who find relief or happiness from using my soap, it makes what I do feel worthwhile. It's the connection that is created that brings a smile to my face.


Knowing that my family gets to work together, stay together, and create something meaningful together is immensely satisfying. I love that we all work together to build something that sustains our family, hopefully creates a family legacy, and touches the lives of future generations. I am not a short-term thinker. When I look to the future, I am hopeful that what we are doing now will impact the lives of my daughter's future children, their children, and so on. I think I understand why my dad worked as hard as he did to build his business. He wanted to ensure that his present and future family would benefit from his hard work and sacrifice. It's a noble cause to try to build something for future generations. I can only pray to be as good of a person and a business person as my dad.


I gently encourage you to take a long, hard look at your life, your world, and your circle of people. Some days, it feels as though one has to look harder than others, but the blessings, joy, peace, and goodness are there. One does not have to look too long or too hard to find the light and wonder this life grants us. Embrace it. Nurture it and hold it tightly. You, too, are part of that beauty.


On this sultry summer-like day, stay safe, be smart, look for the wonder and beauty in the world, recognize it for what it is, and keep washing your hands.


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In keeping with this month's rather loose theme of appreciating simplicity, it is fitting that our weekly special is our most simplistic product line of unscented soaps and moisturizer. We rarely place our entire line of products on special. However, save 25% this week on Goats and Oats, Simply Goat's Milk, Simply Silk, Simply Yo-Goat, Unscented Moisturizer, and our Unscented Foaming Hand Soap.


Our unscented line of products was created for those who seek simple, natural, unfussy products. We keep our ingredients clean, natural, and uncomplicated. Each batch of soap begins with almost five pounds of our fresh, raw goat's milk. We then add olive oil for moisturizing properties, canola oil for lather, castor oil for sudsing and moisture retention, coconut oil for cleansing, and lard for solidity. Our soap's ingredients can be found in any old-fashioned, well-stocked pantry.


Although these products are unscented, I had to add a bit of luxury to the line. Of course, in my little mind, everyone loves luxury (except The Bibbed Wonder). How does one add luxury to simple, unscented products? One creates clean, all-natural additions like fresh goat's milk yogurt, cruelty-free Tussah silk fibers, and natural freshly ground oatmeal. These soaps have a luxurious lather, are extra moisturizing, and gentle.


Our unscented line of products works well for those who suffer from skin issues, have sensitive skin or sensitivities to scent, suffer from allergies, or simply enjoy good, clean, unscented products. Unscented products do not attract biting pests if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Also, for those who love to wear perfume, unscented products do not compete with the scent of your perfume. Whatever your preference for unscented products, you can enjoy luxury skincare without harsh chemicals or irritants.


Our foaming hand soap is gentle and cleansing, especially if you wash your hands frequently. I like to keep a bottle at each of our sinks, along with a jar of our moisturizer. This keeps everyone's hands soft, supple, and in good shape. I use a small spoon to scoop the moisturizer, keeping the bacteria level low. I also like to store a jar of moisturizer in the refrigerator for these hot summer days. With temperatures soaring into the 90s for the next week or so, a chilled moisturizer feels lovely after a cool shower.


I hope you enjoy our simple, unfrilled, well-made, unscented products. I suggest you give each of them a try. I don't think you will be disappointed. Now is a great time to stock up on your go-tos, try something new, or purchase an affordable gift. On this steamy day, stay safe, be smart, enjoy the savings, take the time to do little luxury things for yourself, and keep washing your hands.




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Our latest, most beautiful baby boy, Keats


Welcome to yet another Monday, dear reader. Today will be the first day of the year that temperatures reach 90+ degrees in Southwestern Pennsylvania. In the past, I have written about caring for our farm family during the cold months. Caring for our farm family during sweltering weather can also have its challenges. I prefer the issues we face during hot temperatures over the bitter cold. Keeping everyone safe and comfortable is very important.

 

The most crucial aspects of caring for our farm family are offering relief from the sun and abundant fresh water. The goats in the fields by the barn can find relief from the hot sun in our 1880s bank barn. The bottom of the barn is below the ground level, keeping the temperature inside the barn cooler. We can employ large fans should the temperature become too warm and oppressive. With the barn being freshly cleaned and one side of the barn being animal-free, there is a significantly lower temperature in the cool, dim barn.

 

In anticipation of the upcoming heat wave, The Bibbed Wonder cleaned out the ingenious watering troughs he created and refilled them with fresh water. My bib overall-wearing innovator created extra-large water troughs using large tractor tires, gravel, Quikrete, and PVC pipe. He made a level base for the oversized tractor tire using the gravel. He added an overflow pipe with a drain to the center, poured quick-setting concrete into the bottom of the tire, added water, waited for the concrete to set, and then channeled the water from the drain spouts over the water trough. He utilized fresh rainwater to keep the troughs full, but if they should become low, he filled them using a hose from the spigot in the barn. He cleans and bleaches the water troughs several times a year and adds apple cider vinegar (ACV) to the troughs every so often. The ACV deters algae growth, and the girls seem to enjoy the taste. We’ve also read that ACV is good for their rumens.

 

The entire pasture is shaded around the perimeter with mature oak trees for my sweet grannies across the driveway. The girls have their favorite spots to lie throughout the day. They also have free-range access to a spring-fed stream and the spring-fed pond. I also place a five-gallon bucket of fresh water near the gate where they like to lie so they don’t have to trek to the stream or pond in the middle of the day. While speaking of my sweet geriatric girls, I am pleased to share that Big Red and Lily are doing well on the meloxicam our vet prescribed. I was thrilled to see Red coming running to greet me with her white spotted ears flopping when I called to her. Although she has been vaccinated and dewormed, Red remains thin, and her coat remains rather rough-looking. We have given her vitamin drenches and copper supplements, but she remains thin. Our vet will be out in a few weeks to do a whole herd check and look over our barn and pastures for potential health risks. I will have him give Red a good physical while he is here. She is eating well, moving well, and seems happy. I take all that as a win.

 

As for our feathered farm family members, the chickens run about wherever they please. All my chickens but my frizzled hens are now free-ranging. I give my birds a fresh five-gallon bucket of water each morning and replenish their water bowls throughout the day. We have an excess of ice so that I will add ice cubes to their water during the hottest part of the day. All the chickens have their favorite places to lounge in the cool shade. A group hangs out under the red maple tree, another under the arborvitaes, and another hangs out by the porch. They make themselves comfortable if they have access to shade and fresh water.

 

My frizzle chicks remain in what I now call my nursery coop. The little green coop at the edge of the field has no shade trees surrounding it, and I fear my chicks will overheat during the hottest part of the day. I will move my two docile, beautiful babies into the cooler, dim garage later this morning. My bib overall-wearing curmudgeon is not thrilled with my baby chicks being inside the garage, but he indulges me. I have wanted frizzled chicks for a very long time. I won’t allow anything to happen to them when I am lucky enough to have found them at an animal swap. Actually, Jenna found them and was generous enough to share. I baby these little birds. They make me smile when I see their fuzzy little frills, and they come over to be held. I’ve never seen such docile little chicks.

 

My grumpy geese are pretty much self-sufficient. They will hang out on the water, under the oak trees lining the driveway, or under the arborvitaes in the front yard. This bossy group of grumps likes to take over the chicken water bowls during the day rather than travel down to the ponds. When The Bibbed Wonder mows the pasture surrounding the ponds, these guys will be driven back to the ponds with a long driving staff. Geese are relatively easy to herd when using a long stick to guide them. When I do this, I feel I need to dress like Holly Hobby and have my picture taken. Have you seen the classic painting Goose Girl by Stanly Royle? That’s how I feel when I drive my geese.

 

On this hot, steamy day, stay safe, be smart, drink lots of fluids, limit your time in the sun, be considerate of your animal friends, and keep washing your hands.

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