The run off from the spring behind our barn. It's just beautiful back in the woods this time of year.

We've been trying to decide how best to use our farm. We're planning to buy more goats, and some sheep...and are looking into organic farming.

We're going to a meeting locally to find out more information. My husband is thinking tomatoes...and maybe peppers or cucumbers. Not sure that we will get into it this year, but we want to research it, and maybe work on some prep stuff as we clean up the farm.

The information in the paper said that there are only 28 local organic farmers, and this particular store needs more people...this is a need for our area.

If anyone has any information that they would be kind enough to share with me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Just how would you feel if you came home from a day out grocery shopping with your sweet husband to find that your new *city folk movin' to the country* neighbors had stopped by your house to take pictures of your children with *THE turkey*?  

I'm still not really sure how *I* feel about it.

Oh well, the boys thought it was hilarious. They are always up for a little *attention*, so no biggie. They continue to ask me "what's the big deal..it's just a turkey?"

I guess we take our simple lifestyle for granted sometimes.

OH well...here's a pic of *THE turkey* with my son...older J.

My dad tells the story of *how it used to be*....

Farmer Jones rooster crows every morning at 6o'clock, but he wants to get up at 5o'clock. So, Farmer Jones hears that Farmer Brown has a 5o'clock rooster. Farmer Jones wants to get up at 5o'clock, so he buys the 5o'clock rooster from Farmer Brown. No need for alarm clocks, you just get you a rooster that crows at whatever time you want to start your day.

I like to start my day at 5o'clock, but my roosters don't start crowing until 5:30...anybody got a 5o'clock rooster they want to trade for a 5:30 one?

Just kidding...I just find the story amusing the way my dad tells it.

We actually have 3 roosters. Yeah, I know before you tell me, I don't really *need* 3 roosters. I don't really need any of these chickens...cept the hens do give us eggs. Well, right now one hen gives us one egg a day...but I digress.

The first rooster we bought is named Brucey. My oldest son bought him with his own money, and he's very proud of him. Odd name for a rooster I guess, but there's actually a little funny behind it. We usually buy season passes to Dollywood every year, and we always ride the carousel. Well, my oldest son is a goof...he always rides that stinkin rooster on the carousel. He decided he would name it Brucey, and every once in a while he would do this sill dance and sing "Brucey Brucey Brucey"..so NATURALLY when he bought this rooster he named it Brucey.

The two other roosters are from one of our hens. These are some crazy birds, let me tell YOU! So one of those is named Roosty...and the other doesn't have a name. We just call him "the other rooster."

Brucey used to be in charge, but these wacky new roosters have taken over and Brucey is now an outcast. Thankfully, at least for him, the only living chick of one of our hens has become his pal. They hang together all the time...

The chick, who my *not so funny all the time* son named Chicky (oh so creative), thinks she is a cat...or a parrot or something. When you walk next to her she raises her head and stands there waiting to be picked up. OH, and if she is up on something when you walk by she flies and lands on your shoulder. Crazy! Maybe not so much if she were hand fed or something, but we let her mother raise her...

Now you tell me HOW I could eat these animals?? I tell you, I am not NAMING the next bunch...they are going on my table and in my belly.

I've got absolutely no IDEA what that song means, but that is what I'm listening to right now. Nope, I'm not watching Andy Griffith reruns of the Darlin's...I'm listening to my sweet husband playing his banjo and singing, while my 14yo plays his guitar and the 11yo plays the mandolin. Their having a grand old time...

The 8yo is playing his Gameboy.... He's practiced his fiddle already today, so he's *done*.

And I'm playing the computer...no hidden musical talents here. It's been hard at times being married to a man whose whole family is musically inclined when the only thing I can pick is my nose (yep a disgusting family joke).

When we were first married every family get-together was a *hoedown* of sorts. It's not so much any more, because the family's have drifted apart just a bit...but we travel with our instruments nonetheless, and we will have a hoedown of our own.

Well, at least now they've switched to *Have You Nothing to Say for Jesus?*...much better than *Salty Dog*.

We are a family of five, Daddy L, Mama K, and our three sons. A is 14, Older J is 11, and Young J is 8. We live on 22 acres...with a few critters.

This *family farm* has been in my family for almost 100 years. Since my Papaw's passing in 1995 the farm has sat unused, that's been almost 11 years. Through God's provision we were able to buy the farm...debt free.

It became ours in November, and we have been working on it since. It's going to take a lot to see it to it's potential, but it's our dream and we know that God will give us the strength to see it through.

I started the blog to chronicle our work on the farm, and our plans for it for the future. I probably should have already started blogging in it because we have made plans, and we have started working already.

Daddy L's goal is to eventually have a sheep farm. Not sure how that is going to play out exactly, as we are still in the research phase. My boys have money from Christmas that they are saving and hoping to purchase some sheep possibly in the fall, but more than likely in the spring of 2007.

Right now we are mostly working on cleaning things up. They men are taking down fences and clearing the land. Rough going in the winter.

We have way too many cedars, and we are making decisions about what to do with them...sell them, burn them, build with them. We need to do some repairs on the barn. Daddy L is going to buy rough lumber and work on that this spring.

We currently have about a dozen chickens, two male turkeys, a pygmy goat, and several dogs (one being a Great Pyr)...oh, and a sweet kitty cat. We are hoping to add to our animals this spring as well. We would like to buy a calf to raise to butcher in the fall. Don't want pigs...not fond of pork really.

All of our current animals are pets...even the turkeys and chickens. We need to remedy that situation, as it's not beneficial to our farm at all really. We'd like to get some chickens to butcher...we've never done that, didn't have the heart to do that to these first ones we bought. Daddy L wants to eat Goliath (the oldest male turkey)...but I think we would all be crying in our plates. Well, Daddy L wouldn't...

We also want to get a few goats. I would like to have a *billy* to go with my *nanny* Nancy. We could sell the babies...maybe. We'd also like to get a nanny we could milk...and have goats and sheep.

Oh, and my dream...I really want a llama. Not sure why, I just find them extremely fascinating. I was told that a gelded llama was like a *guard dog*...and that would be beneficial.