When Spring is here...

It seems like words that come out of our mouths so often.  When spring comes we will do this.  When spring comes we will do that.  The list is going to be never ending.  The picture above was from last spring and boy to look at it makes you long for the day.  Today we look at the same landscape and see a few feet of snow.  Can be depressing to say the least.  We have to keep looking back at our pictures from last year to keep our hopes of a green lawn in our future.  We know it will come but right now it seems like it has been forever ago.  Winter is pretty, don't get me wrong, but at this point I say it has been long enough and bring on the spring.  We are ready.  We have a roof to fix.  A house to side.  Some paddocks to build.  Hopefully a barn to build.  And so much more.  All of course if we can afford it.  We will have to do it slow and Russell has to be able to do the work himself.  So some of the list may not even be possible but it all needs to be done. So while we wait lets all just think spring, think spring, think spring.

Love our Goat Barn

Now that we have a homestead we look at everything close before we call it trash.  When someone states something is junk we want to find another purpose for it.  With winter coming we would be in need of a barn for our goats.  We could not afford a barn made out of wood at this time.  We had to become creative.  When looking on craigslist we noticed people were always selling cheap tag along campers.  It gave us an idea to find someone wanting to give away or sell one cheap.  We started looking and sending offers on campers.  Our goal was to only spend $100.  We didn't care what the inside looked like we were going to gut it.  Finally we found one that the person was willing to sell us for $100.  It was in bad shape.  But we seen potential.
We bought it, brought it home and went to work.

 First we stripped everything out of the inside.  Then primed the outside of it white.

We painted the outside a fun color.  Then added some fun shutters.  We made a couple of stalls inside.  There is a great place in the center for milking.  The best part of making the barn out of a camper is if we ever wanted to change the location of our paddock we can move the barn.  Its on wheels.  We just love it.  The goats just love it also.

Flower Pot Ice Cream Treats, Yummy and Fun!

Melanie had her birthday in January.  She is a gymnast and we had a birthday party for her at her gymnastic school.  One of the fun party treats that Melanie and her brother had a great time making was this great Flower Pot Ice Cream Treat.  They were a big hit.

We started by picking up a clay pot for each party guest.  You can get whatever size you want but the small ones are fine.  

Then Melanie cut a lot of pictures out old gardening magazines.  Most of them were flowers.  She was expecting a few boys so she cut out some animals for the boys clay pots.  Then she took some modge podge glue and had a great time placing them on the outside of the clay pots.

They came out so cute.  

Next we baked a cake.  Just a regular box cake mix. We used a sheet pan 10x13.  Then let it cool completely.  We cut out wax paper into circles the size of the bottom of the pots and placed it in the pot.  We took some strips of wax paper and lined the inside sides of the pot.  You don't have to do this but we didn't want the food to have a funny taste.  

Now you take a circle the size of the bottom of the clay pot.  We used a drinking glass.  This is to cut out a piece of cake to place in the bottom of the clay pot.  Do this for every clay pot you have.  

Next you will take some of your favorite ice cream and fill the clay pot almost to the top. Place a cut straw the size of your pot in the center.  This is where you will place your flower. 

 You will need to leave room for your dirt.  Your dirt is a bag of Oreo cookies ground in a food processor.  But before you place the dirt on the ice cream we placed a few gummy worms in each pot on the ice cream for a sweet surprise.  Place the dirt over the gummy worms and you are done until the party.  Place your treat in the freezer.  When its time for the party take your flower pot and place your flower in the center straw and surprise your guest with a great Ice cream Flower Pot!