I've finally returned

It's been almost two years since I've posted so much has happened and our world is upside down now the covid-19.  We are in our fifth week of quarantine and it certainly has changed and challenged our lives.

Update on the last two years:


Homeschooling:

• I have been working full-time for the last year.  I work retail and mostly evenings which allows me the flexibility of still homeschooling.  
• Hallie graduated last year and Courtnee graduates next year.  Trey graduated from a welding/machine repair program in December and is working full-time
• Kailyn and Tylar are completing 7th and 5th grade this year
• We still participate in a wonderful co-op, that sadly stopped in March because of the virus.

Homestead:

• We added cows and goats to our homestead.  We've had several calves and kids born this last year.  
• This year, we're adding more chicks (egg layers).  The last two years, we raised meat birds but decided not to do that this year.
• We are increasing our garden this year by adding corn and potatoes.  I am excited to add both of these.  We are also adding 70 strawberry plants and 4 raspberry plants.  We added two pear trees last year and we're adding another one this year along with 2 plum trees and two peach trees.  
• I finished an introductory course on herbalism this year.  I am adding 6 different herbs to our gardens; echinachea, st. John's wort, mullein, calendula, chamomile, and yarrow.  I've found a nice mulberry bush on our fence line so I'm excited to pick those this year.  I've also foraged elderberry and nettle on our property.  And I can't wait for the dandelions to come in so I can make some dandelion jelly.  I only made one batch last year and it delicious; tastes like honey.

Quilting projects:
So many projects so little time. I'm working on hand quilting the quilt for Courtnee that I started several years ago.

Have a wonderful day everyone!