We made a few additions to the tiny farm this week. First up we found a cute little shed. With a little TLC and some new paint and trim, it will make a perfect goat barn for Sammy and Dean and maybe a few new friends in the Spring.
It was a gorgeous day when we got the building…just super hot for October. Nonetheless, the two of us got it loaded in about 2 hours. We have had enough practice with these and by now I think we have improved both technique and time.
I think Shepard was impressed with Mommy and Daddy’s work too.
Ol’ Johnny is our other addition to the tiny farm. I don’t know how long he will stay. For a tiny farm, we don’t “necessarily need” 3 tractors. We thought our son Shepard was passionate about tractors. Apparently, that passion is genetic. We purchased Ol’Johnny mainly for the loader that was attached. He is a fixer upper project for the moment. At least that is what we are telling ourselves.
This one gets attached. He may not let Ol’ Johnny go. This is what Scott looks like after bathing the kids……just kidding. Ol’ Johnny got a pressure wash and now he just needs some new paint and decals now.
This is Poppy’s Ol’ Johnny with the new loader from our Ol’ Johnny. Scott asked the kids which color tractor they wanted to ride…red, blue, or green. Shepard chose green.
Ava’s tractor of choice was Ol’ Blue….my personal favorite.
Does anyone else have a collection of these types of photos? One child smiling and the other/s turning their heads away. It’s a classic.
This Week’s Books
We have got a theme going on!
“This Little Piggy’s Book of Manners” is one of my favorites. I like that it demonstrates both what using and not using manners looks like. Also, “One Dog Canoe” was super cute. .
“The Color Monster” was a favorite for both Ava and Shepard. “Stanley’s Train” and “One, Two Buckle my Shoe” were Shep’s most requested. Because they were both such big fans, I may consider purchasing “One, Two, Buckle my Shoe”. It teaches counting from 1 to 20 and both kids seem to enjoy counting along.
Gluten Free & Dairy Free Menu
- Cajun salmon with lemon, basmati rice, and green beans.
- Tuna rice bowl with avocado, jalapeños, and creamy ranch.
- Grilled pork chops, mashed potatoes, and steamed baby carrots.
To my surprise, the kiddos really seemed to like the French style green beans. They usually are bean fans but occasionally have their limitations like red kidney beans sometimes. I have been trying to experiment with an old classic protein..tuna. In the summer I like making salads with tuna, cucumbers, and tomatoes. In this season it is creamy ranch, avocado, and jalapeños. Since we do dairy free mashed potatoes around here, I have experimented using organic chicken broth instead of dairy free milk. It turns out pretty good. I just can’t seem to get the texture I want with almond milk. I have thought about experimenting with whole fat coconut milk, but not sure if that would just make it have a weird coconut flavor?
Top 3 Gluten Free & Dairy Free Products We Love Right Now…
- Casa de Sante organic taco seasoning.
- Tessemae Creamy Ranch.
- Silk vanilla almond milk yogurt.
I found Casa de Sante seasonings on Amazon. My favorite right now is the taco seasoning. What I like about their seasonings are that they are low fodmap. If you have issues with very common spices like garlic or onion, then you are probably familiar with foods that are considered fodmaps. We are always looking for spices and seasonings that are easy on the tummy but also taste good. Tessemae creamy ranch is my jam right now. I love all the possibilities and recipes you can come up with from just one kind of sauce. Vanilla almond milk yogurt is mine and the kiddos personal favorite of the almond milk flavor varieties.
Farm Animals
Sammy…such a cutie. He followed me into our tiny home again the other evening. This time he wanted to take a longer tour. He is also quite the office assistant.
I cannot look at these pictures without cracking up! Poor Dean…his upper lip got stuck for a few seconds. I have never seen anything like it. It was quite hysterical.
The ducks are now 6 weeks old. They no longer peep like little chicks. It is full on quacking now…especially if they are hungry. The Pekins look good too. We were worried about them a few weeks ago and their leg development. After getting more exercise and some extra B vitamins, their walking has improved and their legs also look normal and healthy.
My first born..Abby. I love that everyone thinks she is just a puppy when she is really 9 years old. I need her secret!
Workouts
Yeah, that is what working out has looked like this week. Currently, I am still nursing my back pain for whatever happened to it. I am still thinking it is related to missing the last step in the tiny house. It is crazy to think I haven’t used this much IcyHot since cross country days. Scott is probably worried this is going to become my new scent. However, it is going to be a staple in my purse along with Ibuprofen and probably at least one heat patch. Needless to say I am going to need a bigger purse. Either that or I am just going to continue to carry a diaper bag even when my kids are grown.
On Another Note….
I think I found my perfect costume. It just gets me.
I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful week! God Bless!
