Howdy Stranger!

I'd say it's been awhile! We have been here in the beautiful state of Tennessee for over 3 years now and are loving every minute of it. Where to start to catch up? I'm not sure, but here are some pictures to share on what we have been up to.

Last April, we started beekeeping. I found an amazing mentor (who is in her 70's) who has taught me so much. I met her through our local beekeeping group. Beekeeping is complex and thus, we saved this skill after we had gotten our farm set up and on a regular routine. Lincoln and I are in charge of the bees and check them weekly. These are our first two hives, but they have since doubled in size and we have added 2 more hives, for a total of 4, to our bee meadow. We harvested 9 gallons of honey this year. What a blessing!

Falling in love with sunflowers. We planted an entire patch this year and are littering the house with them. Aren't they cheerful? I love blessing friends with them. 

The gardens are abundant this time of year and I love seeing all the little creatures that take up dwellings in them. We have a little frog who lives in this birdhouse. We call him Mr. Jeremy Fisher. ;) 

There's nothing like a warm raspberry picked fresh from the cane.

"Hello!" from the turkeys.

Our barn pad was finished the summer after we moved here. We were able to use some of the money from selling our old Florida farm to build this tin barn. It's such a blessing! This is where we milk our miniature Jersey cows and sheep, as well as have shelter for the animals in winter.

This barn was built 2 years ago when we aquired a few horses. Robbie and the kids built it over Christmas break. We now have "Dax" and "Cowboy" as riding horses. Cowboy is an older horse that we came in contact with from our ferrier. He said there was an older lady who wasn't able to care for him anylonger and would we like him? Long story short, Cowboy now abides here with us and we bought him for one dollar! I told the kids we should've named him "Buck". :) 

Here are the stables inside. 

Thanksgiving in the woods is where we are at on my favorite holiday of the year! It's also a children's book. We love having a bonfire and loading all the food up into the mule, taking it out to our Thanksgiving table. The table is made up of the old Antebellum doors to our house and some hay bales. So fun! 

One of our pigs

Can't believe this sweet boy is FOUR already!

Titus being Titus. :) Our math wiz of the family. 

Isaac as a shepherd from last year's Christmas Nativity in the park. We brought our sheep and calves and had so much fun. 

Back to school 2020...Avy- grd. 9, Linc-grd. 8, Norah-grd. 6, Isaac-grd. 4, Titus-grd. 2 and Silas-preschool

Norah and her buddy "Dax". These two have lots of fun riding the fields out front.

Tender Tennessee Christmas

Easter 2021

Silas - 4

Gettin' hay up...June 2021

It's a hot, but fulfilling day! Where's the lemonade Mom?

My roses have gotten taller this year. They have the most amazing smell.

Lettuces and cabbages in spring

Happy Father's Day Daddy! 

"Weeeee!" - Silas

Canning peaches

I guess this is picture overload, but when time allows, I may try to update a bit on here. Almost forgot how to blog. :) Hope you all are enjoying these dog days of summer, soaking in the sunflowers, getting ready for apple picking and back to school. We are trying to soak in the last bits of the season, getting in the corn, tomatoes, green beans and more from the garden. Canning is in full swing. Hoping to get in a camping trip and some more swimming and kayaking before fall arrives. 

Blessings to all!

Kelli