Sister missionary, yarn, swimming and more...July on our farm.

Friday night in the country...not much to do, so it's time to update the blog! We've had a relaxing month, and the most exciting thing to happen in our home in July is our oldest daughter deciding to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is when a college aged youth, age 18-26 (approx) gives up 18 months to 24 months of their life at their own expense, to proselytize for the church. They commit to no tv, internet fun, cable, movies, music, parties, and even dating, to spend 24/7 a week in study, preaching and doing service. It's quite a remarkable commitment and we are so proud of her! Our sheep made fun props for her mission photos, as she prepares to feed "His" sheep!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mr Bingley, one of our California Red rams.

 

 

 

Ysildir, my friendly Icelandic ram. He loves being scratched behind those horns, no wonder!

 

 

 

 

                           

 

                                                                  
We spent a little time renovating this month. We put in a pine tongue in groove wood floor into the kitchen to better match the house. It's a little squeaky, but we love the warm natural color of the pine.

 

 

Virginia in July is like living in a sauna. It is so humid, but the beauty of the place makes it worth it. Amazingly with our 18 inch thick walls, we manage to stay cool even in near record temps. Our youngest boys keep cool by playing in the creek!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One very important thing we do away from the farm during July, is attend Christians United For Israel's Night to Honor Israel, in Washington DC. As Latter Day Saints, we feel drawn to Zion and her people living in Israel, and hope to show our support for them as we look towards and warn against the days when all nations will turn against Israel. Here is my daughter and hubby.

 

 

We were honored to hear one of our personal  heroes, Glenn Beck, speak on behalf of Israel.

 

 

 



He spoke a lot about the days we are living in, and how we as a nation have turned from God and broken our covenants with Him, and warned of the consequences of it. I include him in our farm blog here because he is one of the main reasons we decided we needed to move to the country and start a farm, to be around God fearing people, and to have the land and space to live providently in difficult times.

 

                                          

 

My daughters bedroom window...It warms my heart to see her displaying the Israeli flag there with the American flag. :-)

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch." Isaiah 62:1 

 

 

 



With the hot weather, I have been hard at work inside processing wool. Here is the last of my icelandic wool ready to be washed and spun. Amazingly, this is only half of the fleece off of my ram!

 

 

 

 

Movie marathons with my girls this month, including all the Jane Austin movies we could find...gave me time to spin almost 10 skiens of yarn. I'm hoping to get all my wool spun before summer is over so that I can sell it for holiday craft projects.

 

 

 

 I just love my front porch. How many women in 205 years have sat out here and felt gratitude for their beautiful home, I wonder? A skien of my yarn out drying in the warm air.

 

 

 

 

I couldn't resist testing out the Icelandic yarn by making these scarves. Kindof funny when it's almost 100 degrees outside, but if Whitney gets called on her mission to someplace cold, we'll be prepared!

 

 

I don't bake much in the summer, but chocolate chip cookies are a must. This is THE best recipe ever. They turn out perfect every time!

 

2 sticks of butter

1TBSP vanilla

1/2 tsp bkg soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 eggs

Add all above ingredients and cream together

1 1/2 c white flour

1 1/2 c wheat flour

1 1/2 bags chocolate chips

Combine with sugar+ butter+egg mixture

 

Drop by the TBSP onto lightly greased cookie sheet and cook 12-15 minutes @ 325

makes 3-4 dozen

 

 



 

 



The first real produce coming out of the garden is cucumbers this year. With these heirloom Boston Cucumbers I made bread and butter pickles. Oh, sooo delicious!  So much sugar though, so I did a healthier version with artificial sugar and used zucchini slices. I don't think too many zucchini will be a problem for me this year, now!

 

 

 

 

Beautiful lilies blooming out my kitchen window

 

 



 

 

 I have several of these flowering trees around the yard. They are so lovely and prolific in their blooming, but I have no idea what they are. Something native to Virginia I think, because I've seen them growing all around the countryside.

 

 

 

We've had some cool rainy days that cruely add to the humidity, but they do keep everything so nice and green...and the ducks love the chance for a mud bath!



  

 

 

Home sweet home. <3

 



 

For more information on our farm, please visit http://samsbillthepony.wix.com/getting-liberty#