Homestead Life in Full Bloom:

There have been a lot of ups and downs since my last post. It feels like if you wait five seconds, everything changes again. Our plans seem to be ever evolving.

Lately, the passage Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 has been heavily on my mind, because it feels so fitting for where we are in our journey right now. There truly is a season for everything, and right now we are living through one of those seasons where life feels both uncertain and full all at once.

A Season of Change:

Our indoor projects have been placed on hold for the moment. Part of that is due to Michigan weather—we have to focus on our outdoor projects while we still can. The other reason is a leaking issue we are dealing with upstairs in the back half of our home, which has also caused some water damage. All of that will need to be fixed before winter.

                    

We are still trying to put our heads together and figure out exactly how we are going to tackle it all. Somehow, though, I know it will work out. The Good Lord keeps pulling us through. Just when we feel like we are getting close to the edge again, He reminds us that He is still with us and never left.

New Life on the Homestead:

Meanwhile, outdoors, a lot is happening!

“God gives and God takes away”—that is something you are often reminded of on a homestead. But once again, God has blessed our homestead with so much life. Good things come to those who wait, and all good things come in God’s timing.

We were surprised with a baby goat! We brought home two girl goats, River and Sunny. Little did we know, Sunny was pregnant, and in the middle of a dark and stormy night—with severe thunderstorms rolling through—we were blessed with another little girl goat, whom we named Luna.

I could not believe my eyes the next day when I went out to check on them. Sunny had Luna all cleaned up, and you would have never known she had given birth only a few hours earlier. She is such a good mama. Auntie River also loves having a playmate that matches her energy.

We have also added a buck named Leroy and a wether named Peanut. Our hope is to begin breeding our goats next year.

Our cat, Cali, surprised us too—with four kittens! We named them Oreo, Pumpkin, Smoky, and Sweetie.

Improving Life for the Animals:

Jake has a much better setup for our pigs this year as well. They now have shelter, continuously flowing water, escape-proof fencing, and a feeder that is much more accessible. We have four piglets that we will be harvesting come fall.

Jake has also moved the chicken coop to a better location, though we are still working on improving their area. Next, we will be moving the goats and setting up an area for the ducks as well. Yes, you heard that right—we now have four ducks!

Jake has also been working hard to install electric closer to our livestock and water.

A Garden Full of Promise:

My garden even has its own well now too! It is thriving with all sorts of growth. We are already harvesting greens and some herbs. We have basil growing out our ears—lol. The flowers are getting taller every day, and I keep waiting for them to bloom.

We still plan to get mulch for the garden this year, along with some stepping stones. A better sprinkler system may have to wait until next year, though.

I have also been working on some fun arts and crafts for the garden, repurposing Jake’s and my mother’s garden stone angels, as well as DIY butterfly and pollinator waterers that we placed around the garden. We even have veggies, cantaloupe, and watermelon growing wild out in the old pig pen. Life has truly blossomed this season.

                 

Projects Still in Motion:

Jake has also been working hard to level the land to get ready for planting grass seed, along with keeping up with the pond. The pond is teeming with frog life and minnows. We hope to stock it with fish this year and secure the little wooden dock Jake DIYed last year.

We are also still hoping to pour our back porch and sidewalk before winter prep begins. So stay tuned—we are not slowing down yet!

Working Hard and Enjoying the Journey:

Even though there are still many projects in the works, we do fully intend on enjoying our summer too. From here on out, I am following my husband’s lead, because he knows what absolutely needs to get done before the warmer months are over and how to make it happen. I am so very proud of him.                                                            

                                             

Our HD Lawncare business has really taken off this year as well. We have added new services, and now that we have the dump trailer, even more opportunities have opened up. I have gone out with him a couple of times and got my hands dirty too. Honestly, there is no place else I would rather be.

I cannot express how excited I am to see what the future holds.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace."