July 20, 2012

Well we’re getting settled in here with our new hosts. It’s a family with four kids, although one is away in Germany at the moment. The youngest, Evi, is 9 and quickly became Evan’s best friend when she plopped Evan up on her pony and led her around the property.  They have a 3 ponies, a few horses, several goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and about 20 sheep, so there’s plenty for us to learn about here. I’ve already been getting some practice with milking the goats…I’m terribly slow compared to our host, Mona, but I am getting quicker each time. Hopefully by the time we leave, I will be a pro at it. Evan even helped with the milking this morning as well.

Evi and I milking "Flop" and "Spotless"

Today, I picked a ton of black currants to make jam while Carter went with Mona to shear some sheep on someone else’s farm. Then we did a bit of weeding in the vegetable plot, and I helped with the jam making. We both helped with dinner a bit…I collected some veggies from the garden for dinner and Carter helped slice them. It’s really nice to be able to actually see the food you are eating coming straight from the ground to your table. Tonight we had turkey burgers made from one of their own turkeys!

It looks like we can learn a lot here, and I think it’s going to be a great experience for all of us. We also have a great set up in that we have our own little house.  They lived in it while they were building the house they are in now. It’s got 2 bedrooms and bunk beds, so the kids actually have their own room and their own beds.

 The front door of "our house".

 Living/dining room

 Our bedroom.

 Kids room

 Living/dining/kitchen

Sunroom looking out the front door.