Cheese Making Demo, Etc.

Oh, my!!! I haven't blogged in quite a while. My daughter and I are spending the night in a motel because she has an Orientation Day tomorrow at the school she will be attending this Fall. It has wireless internet and I'm having fun with the faster access, so I thought I'd catch up on my blogs.

Several weeks ago some 4-Hers from my County came to my house to watch and help me make mozzarella cheese with my goat milk. First I heated the milk up and explained the process to the kids and their parents. While the milk was coagulating, we went to the barn to see the goats. The kids enjoyed the babies goats and our new litter of kittens. Then we went back to the house, washed hands and stretched the mozzarella. And of course, they got to sample the cheese, plus the pineapple cheesecake and some feta that I had made for them. Everyone who tasted the cheese stuff liked it.

I'm in the same boat this year as last with my garden. It's either been raining or I haven't been home or had something else that had to be done and I'm behind in getting my garden planted. I do have peas, carrots, and lettuce up. And I did get a few tomato plants put in the ground, but I'm no where near finished yet. It's time to plant everything now! Guess I'll have a busy week next week. It's supposed to be warmer as well.

And I still have lots of soap to make to fill an order, plus soaps for all my markets. Three are open now and next month my fourth market will be open. Can you say B-U-S-Y?

I did finish the red, lacy, cotton sweater for my younger daughter. I'm currently working on a beautiful lacy, cabled baby afghan for my nephew and his wife. They are expecting their first baby later this summer. After I finish it, I have some hats and scarves to make my younger daughter. She wants several to choose from, not just one for the whole winter season. I am also going to make some wool mittens for a friend whose hands stay cold, unless it's above a certain temperature, because of the meds he's taking.

Until next time!

Farmers' Market 2010

Today was the opening day of one of 4 farmers' markets where I am a vendor and the one where I am the Market Manager. The morning started out cool, but quickly warmed up. A few vendors had arrived earlier than I did. We hurried to set up and the rush of customers started. Hubby and Daughter decided they'd better direct traffic and show the market customers where to park. The Market purchased 2 parking signs and I believe that helped. Parking did go better today than last year, but still had a couple folks try to drive out the wrong way. And a couple folks didn't like being asked to move their vehicles and drove off in a huff. Oh, well, we don't need customers like that. I've decided to write/print some type of a newsletter explaining the customer parking situation. I'll have copies made and then my son and other kids at the market can pass them out to the customers.

Now to study my Sunday School lesson...it's my turn to teach tomorrow. Then off to work in the garden.

Spring is Here at Patchwork Acres

Haven't posted in quite a while...again! Too much going on. We're getting lots of delicious goat milk and I have been making lots of mozzarella and ricotta cheeses, only because they are the quickest to make. I did make cottage cheese last week and it's almost gone. I also made some mild feta cheese because a couple of folks at church asked me to. I'm hoping that once the farmers markets start (next Saturday is the first one!!!) that I will pick up a few more milk and/or cheese customers. Will make more mozzarella, ricotta, and some strong feta this week.

Spring is finally here!!!!!! And it's been rather windy lately, but at least it's warm now. I've been working in my garden in between making soap, slicing soap, wrapping soap and my regular chores....laundry, cooking, baking, trying to clean house. I had to replant my peas because the first ones didn't come up. Probably because I planted old seed; so I bought new and hopefully they will be sprouting up this week. The spinach mustard and the radishes are up, as well as lettuce and Chinese cabbage. Still have lots of gardening work to keep me and my family busy all summer. If you garden, you know it's an ongoing job.

A funny thing happened last week. I've always heard that calico cats are only female and sterile. But the vets office told me that calicos can have babies. Well, our calico cat had her first and last litter of 5 kittens on April Fool's Day! I say last because after her babies are old enough, Cali will be going to the vets to be fixed and the kittens will get new homes.

The red lacy cotton cardigan I knitted for my daughter is finally finished except for weaving in the ends and sewing on 2 buttons. I'll have to take a picture and post later.

A couple of weeks ago, I set up with one my farmers' markets at a Home and Garden Show. We met lots of folks and sold a lot of soap. I'm looking forward to the farmers' markets starting again.

And since today is Easter Sunday, I hope everyone had a blessed day in celebrating, remembering how our Lord Jesus died for our sins and the best news: He ROSE from the dead! The tomb is empty! Jesus paid the price for our sins and some day we'll be in Heaven with Him! Jesus is Risen! Alleluia, he is risen indeed!

Until next time!

Armani the Goat

Would have posted sooner, but Patchwork Acres was having some internet problems, which turned out to be our phone line that plugs into the wireless Airport. Hubby took care of it, and we're back!

We welcomed a new member to the Patchwork Acres family this week...Armani the Goat! He's a beautiful little Nubian buck from registered stock that we got from our goat friend, Julie. (Hi, Julie!) Julie also took the picture that I've included in today's blog. Look at those long ears! Just what we like on the Nubians. Poor little guy cried so much the first day here that his voice was only a squeak for the next couple of days. Armani has adjusted well to his new home and now he just "talks" a lot, something else Nubians are known for. He drinks his milk as fast as our goat babies, who are 3-4 weeks older than him. And he loves attention just as much as the rest of our goats. Right now, the "big girls" don't pay much attention to Armani, but they will come this Fall/Winter because Armani will be old enough to do his part to increase the goat herd here at Patchwork Acres. :) We're hoping for spotted babies since Armani's sire is spotted.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Hubby took the family out to lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. While we were there, a young man proposed to his girlfriend. She said, "Yes." :)

It's been a while since I last posted. Busy making cheeses and soaps. Last time I wrote that I was going to make a strong feta with the lipase powder. It turned out wonderful!!! Really good on salad! It's now my favorite cheese that I make. The mozzarella and ricotta are great, too, and can be used in so many foods or just eaten by themselves. The lasagna I made with these cheeses turned out delish! Next, I want to try a cheesecake recipe and use the ricotta rather than the store-bought cream cheese.

The weather is still cold and dreary and it snowed again last week. The kids were out of school for a couple of days. It was snowing earlier today, but has stopped for now. Weatherman said we could receive an inch or two by tomorrow. But this is MO and you know what "they" say. "If you don't like the weather, just stick around 'cause it'll change again." I am so ready for Spring!!!! Saw a humongous flock of geese flying north on our drive home from church and town. I've been seeing geese heading north since the middle of January, which I thought was a bit early for them. So maybe Spring will be here before we know it.

I have still been knitting away on my daughter's red, cotton, lacy sweater. One and a half sleeves to go, sew up the seams and it will be finished! And I've already got my next couple of projects decided on. Just have to order yarn.

I have a busy week coming up. I will be substitute teaching 3 days and making soaps and cheeses the days I'm home. The Master Gardeners Seminar is a month away and the Home and Garden Show is a little over a month away. I want to make sure to have plenty of soaps for folks to choose from. Then before I know it, it will be time for the Farmers Markets to open. I encourage everyone to support their local farmers markets. And remember this bumper sticker, "No Farmers, no food!"

Cheese, Yogurt, and Kefir

Yesterday I was heating milk, cooling it, and then trying to put the container in the yogurt incubator when, I don't know what I did, but I dropped the container and spilled milk everywhere!!! AAhhh! I didn't have any more dried yogurt starter to start over, so I called hubby and asked him to pick up a box at the local health food store on his way home from work. He surprised me and also brought home a box of kefir starter. I've read about kefir and thought about making it, just never got around to buying the starter. It's supposed to be even more beneficial than yogurt and is made similar to yogurt. Heat the milk to 180 degrees F., but cool to 72-75 degrees F (a lower temperature than yogurt), let sit on the counter in a glass jar with a lid for 24 hours, then put in refrigerator for 8 hours. Then shake the jar, pour a glass, and drink. I'm curious to see what it tastes like.

Last night the kids had their monthly 4-H meeting. We went to a woman's house to hear about recycling in our county. This woman is the driving force behind this project and is working very hard to educate people and encourage recycling. Her dream is to have a recycling center in our community, which will benefit everyone. Less trash going into landfills and more jobs for folks to run the recycling center. I look forward to her dream coming true and I have no doubt it will.

And after I finish blogging, I will make more mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. I made ricotta for the first time this past Tuesday. It's even easier to make than the mozzarella and has a nice taste. I'm going to make lasagna later this week, using both the ricotta and mozz. Last night I mentioned to our County's 4-H Youth Education Coordinator that if any of the 4-H Clubs wanted to learn how to make cheese, to let me know. We have plenty of milk right now and I'd be happy to have them over. Both she and our guest speaker said they'd love to come make cheese. Told them all they had to do was give me a call and we'd pick a time. And with that, I'm off to make cheese!

Remembering Joy

I just wanted to take a few moments to remember a friend that I've never met face-to-face. Her name was Joy and she left this veil of tears on January 3, 2010. She was an elderly lady, whose younger brother and his wife have been friends with my mother since they were in school. She saw my email address in emails her brother sent to the both of us and sent me a message one day several years ago. We began corresponding back and forth. She forwarded lots of interesting emails to me, too. She was a weaver and spinner and had owned Angora rabbits when she was younger. That's how we got to visiting...because I had Angora rabbits years ago and I still spin, and do some weaving, and I love to knit. She was always interested in hearing about my doing spinning demonstrations, attending craft shows, and making cheeses and soaps. She told me just a couple of months ago how much she enjoyed reading my blog to catch up on all my "doings." Even though Joy and I never met each other in person, I'm glad our paths crossed and I know I'll met her face-to-face one day.

There's More!

It's so very, very cold here in Southeast MO! I don't like it and am so ready for late Springtime to arrive.

Hubby goes to barn yesterday morning and then calls the house. "Hey, Honey, you need to bring molasses water to the barn for Fawn." "Why, did she already have her babies?" "Yep, but she's only got a single." No wonder she didn't get as huge as the other does and made us think she wouldn't deliver for a while yet. So I fix a pan of warm molasses water for Fawn, put on my insulated overalls, hat, scarf, hooded barn coat (my daughter's), and gloves and head for the barn. The new baby is up and moving, nice and dry and Fawn almost inhales her sweet water. After we finish all the chores and eat breakfast, I call the doctor to make an appointment for our son later in the morning. He's been sick most of the week and now has a really bad cough and was still having fever off and on. Our younger daughter stayed home to feed the baby goats at lunchtime and take warm water to all the animals.

A few hours later, we are back home. I take hot water out to the animals and get bottles ready for the babies' next feeding. When I get to the barn, I can't find the oldest baby goat and the brand new baby is laying down and shivering. Bring the newest baby goat to the house and tell hubby I can't find the oldest one. So he gets dressed for the cold and goes out to the barn. He found the little goat outside, not too far from the barn, cold and shivering; so he brings him back to the house. We lay them both on towels with hot water bottles to get them warm. Both of the little goats' ear tips were frozen. Now today, the youngest goat's ears are fine, but we're not sure about the other one's. He may lose the ear tips. After another night of having baby goats in the house, they are back at the barn. Hubby shut all the new babies in one stable, so the other goats don't bother them and they can't escape under the sliding barn door.

I made a batch of mozzarella cheese last night. Yum, yum! I have yogurt incubating this morning. Next time I order milk filters, I'm also going to order some lipase powder and try my hand at making a strong feta cheese. I've made lots of the mild, but want to try a new recipe. Now it's lunchtime, but afterwards I'm going to make some more mozzarella. Too late to do cottage cheese now. Should have started it first thing this morning, as it has to sit for several hours.

First Snow Day of 2010

Today is my kids' first snow day of the year and they are glad. We have a little over 2 inches of snow here today and the weatherman says it's going to turn bitterly cold by this afternoon and will be through the weekend.

Ended up bringing another goat kid to the house to get dry and warm. He wasn't eating much, but now he is. He went back to the barn yesterday afternoon. Keep the oldest one in the house overnight, but this morning I asked hubby to take him back as well. He's not eating as much as I'd like, but he is doing fine and I'm tired of cleaning up goat pee and poop. His mama had "adopted" the other does' baby that remained at the barn. How funny for the baby goat to have 2 mamas fussing over him. Hubby rubbed the kid on his mama so he'd smell like her, but if she doesn't take care of him it's okay. We always bottle feed all the baby goats anyway.

I have sourdough rising to make a loaf of sourdough bread and sourdough pretzels. Promised hubby I'd make pretzels over the Christmas break and haven't done that yet.

Because of caring for the new baby goats, I only made 2 batches of soap this week. So much for that New Year's Resolution! I made Castile soap on Monday and coffee soap yesterday. This afternoon I will wrap the Oatmeal & Honey, after I bake the bread and pretzels.

But first, it's time to heat up goat milk for the goat babies and take warm water to the rest of the animals and gather eggs. We aren't getting many eggs right now and hopefully they haven't frozen.

Baby Goats!!!!

Lots of excitement at Patchwork Acres today! First of all, it's my eldest daughter's 23rd birthday. Next, one of the mama goats had twin babies to show my husband when he went to the barn for morning milking chores, in the COLD! The high for today was the low 20's. Anyway, by the time I went to the barn 2 hours later to do my morning chores, one baby had died. The other didn't seem to be doing very well and wasn't up and walking around yet. So I brought him up to the house and put him in the laundry room with a baby gate across the doorway to keep our Scotty dog from bothering him. I laid him on a towel and dried him off more, then covered him with another towel. I sat with him thinking about what I could do to try warm him up and a light bulb went off......hot water bottles! So I filled a 2 liter soda bottle and two 20 oz. bottles with hot water and laid them next to him under the towel. I also was trying to get him to suck on a bottle of his mama's colostrum. In the meantime, after lunch I had to go out and take hot water out to the rabbits and goats and replace the chickens' water bottles, which were all frozen. I heard a baby goat cry and I thought, oh, more babies! Another mama goat had twins babies, dry and moving around! Yeah!!! By late this afternoon, the first baby goat was wobbly, but finally on his feet!!! He's peed a few times and pooped, which is a mess I have to clean up, but good news that everything is working properly. And after supper, he finally drank 4 oz. of colostrum. I am hopeful that he will go back to the barn tomorrow. Before hubby and I go to bed tonight, we will feed all three babies another bottle and they should be good until the morning, where it's 4 times a day bottle feeding for the first week. After that it's 3 times a day until weaning time. We have three more does to kid, but I think it will be a while yet before they arrive.

Happy New Year!

It's been almost a month since I last posted! And that's the last time I've made soap. That will change come tomorrow morning. My New Year's resolution is to make a lot of soaps now so I'll be ready for the spring shows and the farmers' market season starting. Then when it's time to work in my garden, I'll have more time to devote to tilling, planting, and caring for it. Last Spring, it rained so much that the garden was too wet or it was raining so that I couldn't work in it. Or I got a call to substitute teach on the "nice" days and I hated to turn them down. So, I was late in putting in half of my garden and the other half didn't get planted because I was busy making soaps and attending all of the markets. But don't think I'm complaining. I had a very good year with my soaps. I gained more customers and regulars came back to for more of my goat milk soaps and I'm looking forward to more of the same this year.

Back on the gardening topic, I usually start receiving seed and garden catalogs around Christmastime. This year I actually received one the week of Thanksgiving! Received a couple of new ones this year; however, I'll probably only order from my 2 favorite catalogs and buy the rest of my seeds/plants at the local feed store and from some of my market vendors.

Backtracking a bit....My family and I had a good Christmas. My sister and her family, who live in GA, came home to visit. My other sister lives in the area, but I didn't get to see her over the holidays. We visited over the telephone. Watched my kids and their Sunday School perform their Christmas program, which was very nice for a small group. Spent Christmas Day with my in-laws for the first time in many years. In the past we celebrated Christmas at their house on a different day because we've always had to pick up my oldest daughter from her father and it was too late in the day to drive for 3 hours, eat Christmas Dinner and leave right away so we could get home to do the evening chores: feeding animals and milking the goats. Last year my father-in-law said he wanted Christmas on Christmas Day this year, so that's what we did.

I did finally finish my Christmas sewing projects. I had bought Christmas fabric to sew aprons for my mom and sisters' gifts. I have enough leftover to make an apron for my oldest daughter, when I get around to it. She'll have to use it for next Christmas.

The temps here are COLD!!!! Have to go out several times a day to thaw the chickens', rabbits', and goats' waters. Hubby will not be riding his motorcycle to work this week! Weatherman says there's a chance of snow in middle of the week. I'm tired of winter!!! I'll have to remember this cold when I'm sick and tired of the heat and humidity in August.

Well, the kids go back to school tomorrow and hubby goes back to work. And I'll go back to making goat milk soaps, with Lavender, Castile and Coffee soaps at the top of my to-make list.