We had the actual greatest time meeting face-to-face with Elaine this week to look at…swatches! As is usual – she killed it. She pulled together all of the raw materials that will go on the walls, floors, counters and more throughout the house. We got to touch them, shuffle them around and swap in new colors where they fit our style …
We Have Goats!
I can barely explain the excitement that has come to the farm with our truckload of goats. After the incredible adventure to the auction barn over the weekend, we’ve been giddy to see our new animals enjoying their space. After many warnings – we erred on the side of “that fence isn’t going to work.” Our farm friend Brian warned that …
Our Family’s First Farm Auction
With the goat fence built, Aaron and I set our sights on bring goats to the farm. We asked around on local Facebook farm groups. We talked with some farm friend experts. Ultimately, we learned that – to fit our just-getting-started budget – we needed to go to a farm auction. I grew up in a farm family and even worked …
The Egg Game
These cluckers are incredible. The chickens continue to add such epic personality to the farm that I honestly couldn’t imagine what this place would be like without them. I grew up with two chickens – Squirt and Pepsi – that were grown from eggs in an incubator in my 4th grade classroom. They came home with me one day and lived in …
Big News from the Sunflower Fields
On the way into Kansas City earlier this week, we made a quick stop by the Grinter Farms sunflower fields. Grinter Farms is about 15 minutes from our own farm and, each year, they plant a crop of thousands of sunflowers. It’s gorgeous to see in person and is truly an incredible kick-off to Fall in the Heartland. Aaron and …
A First Look at Finishes
Our big renovation plan keeps taking massive strides toward breaking ground. Honestly, I’m so anxious I can’t stand it. However, seeing these views every few weeks is scratching the itch. This week, Elaine sent us our materials draft. For real – look at these beauties. Um, when do we move in?!
Building a Goat Fence
Over the past month, Aaron and my brother Chris have been installing a 4-wire electric fence around 2 acres of our wood line. The goal: we want goats to do all the brush clearing for us. We’re getting goats. The two of them have put some long evenings into engineering not only the fence, but genius ways of making the …
Morning Chores with the Cows
Whatever the weather, the cows need water. Aaron’s innovative water pump in the pond plus barrel on the side-by-side strategy has been working great for transporting water to the cattle pen in the pasture. This morning, Isai and I joined him for the routine. Isai was totally into it. Our little guy is getting bigger by the minute. As we …
Crossley Farms Blackberry Jam
This summer, we’ve had some excellent salads, unreal potatoes, delicious sweet corn and epic tomatoes. While our oversized garden didn’t quite have the same oversized production – we had more than enough to feed our family and friends and are still celebrating the abundance. Over the long Labor Day weekend, I unfroze some blackberries that we pulled from the brambles and …
Kristin’s HOT Salsa Recipe
I’ve been dying to learn a thing or two about canning. I bought a great book of recipes – but there’s only so much of the intimidation factor that can be eliminated by a book. To really understand how this process goes, I needed some help from the fam. Thankfully, my cousin Kristin from Krash Design was totally up for it. …