Rockstar Summer

The Chattanooga River Bend Festival was all last week, and my Rockstar and her Rock Skool helped close the night out with a super performance!

It has been a super busy year of performances for Indiana, and she was starting to become weary of the lessons and gigs. In fact she discussed taking a summer break once River Bend was behind her.

Turns out the concert renewed her enthusiasm, and she is hoping to learn a few new songs on her own.

The crowd was rather large at the show and ALL of the kids did a fantastic job! Her instructor is up to over 50 students now...there were 13 when Indiana started. Amazing. This was a big deal to perform on this stage at this festival and we are looking forward to what the future holds for the Rock Skool.

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Today it will be yet another hot, humid day. I think it is supposed to be 94 degrees and we have not had rain in a week. This means my ponds are starting to look a tiny bit low. Because my back yard grass growth is so impressive, and we don't like mowing, I plan to move ALL of the cows to the yard. This will also ease my mind that they have enough water, since I have plenty of water troughs in back.

We have been working on a hormone shot protocol to get the last three cows ready for artificial breeding. Wednesday they will get another shot, another on Friday and then they will be inseminated on Saturday. If it takes, and I think it will, then I will have 6 cows bred. Three babies will be Angus cross and three will be Guernsey cross. Do I have enough grass to feed all of these cows? I will cross that bridge when I get to it. There are some possible ways to obtain more land with grass and I will see how that plays out for us.

Meanwhile, I am still cranking out wheels of farmstead cheese. I have 3 that are consistently great, but I am trying to find a couple more to add. Blue cheese still alludes me. I had no idea it would be such a difficult cheese to craft, but I have yet to make a decent one.

I hope it's a beautiful day where you are!

Happy Summery Monday Ya'll!

Monday Molly

What a busy weekend we had around here!

My Rock Star, Indiana, had a concert Saturday at a local small town festival.

This one was a bit different in that several kids played new to them songs. Everyone did great but what stood out to me most was how much fun everyone had.

Of course a good chunk of my time this weekend was spent getting Belle used to being milked again.
The first week after calving is always the most stressful for me.

Not only must you make sure the calf is nursing and getting enough milk, but there is always the concern of mama getting mastitis when she freshens.

Belle has been clear of any mastitis but she has one quarter that seems dried up. It gave just a small amount of liquid and the quarter never did get full. I know this quarter was working previously when she calved so I am not sure what to think. It was negative of mastitis so I decided it would be best to make sure it dries up completely.
I am the queen of 3 quartered cows it seems.

Milking is going well with Belle once I can get her locked into a stanchion. I am hoping today gets even easier.

I also got in a shipment of more meat chicks and also some baby turkey. I plan to raise them all on pasture and process them this fall. I have not pre-sold any turkey yet because I have not raised them before. I have heard stories about how difficult they can be so I am waiting to make sure they all survive.
Yesterday I did notice they like to pile up on top of each other, leaving the bottom babies to get smashed. Only one has died so far.

My Monday consists of a long list of chores, including the cleaning of this messy house. More coffee might be in order.

Happy Monday Ya'll!

The Big Gig

The Rock Star life has been brought down some and I am back into farm mode.
Indiana and her Rock Skool group landed a gig at the Chattanooga River Bend Festival. It is a BIG deal!
Every year Chattanooga blocks off the streets along the river front and tons of people flock to the festival to listen to music and to eat food.  This year's lineup included Boston, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Gary Allen, and Widespread Panic. Of course there was also Rock Skool.

The past weeks have been filled with rehearsals, lessons and all of the prep that goes into a big show. Indiana likes to dress as punk rock as possible so she insisted on red hair. Last performance she had blue hair...this time it is red.

Aside from the incredible heat  and humidity we experienced Saturday, the performance was fantastic! I think the guy who booked them for the show was a little nervous but he was very happy once the showed started. These are kids from ages 7-17 and they are fantastic.

So, now that the concert, the BIG gig, is over we can go back to a  more normal summer schedule.

My tomato plants are getting huge and I have not staked them yet. I think it rained every single day last week, which causes my cow lot to be mucky but it also makes everything green and greener here.

We also have a new bunny.

A good friend found this bunny hopping in the neighborhood street. She asked the neighbors and everyone denied being the owner, so she brought the little fuzz ball here. The bunny has a name : Dewey Thumper Clover. Many children wanted to name the bunny, so she has a long name. She is very sweet and is living a life outside in a drop pen on grass. She's moved everyday and spends a fair amount of time in the house, playing and being held.

Finally, I discovered a new tree in the yard (along the wood line) that I had not noticed before.

This is a mulberry tree. The berries turn a deep purple, will stain your clothes, and makes a fabulous jam or cobbler. I was quite excited to discover it, however I might need to climb the tree for most of the berries. I will also have to try and keep the birds away from the sweet fruits, but I am happy nonetheless.

This week I will be inspecting bee hives, crafting cheeses, moving calves to a new paddock, and planning for Willow's birthday this weekend. I suppose staking tomato plants should be on this list too. The next batch of chicken is about ready for processing, I have two new beehives to pick up in Knoxville, and the pigs are about ready for processing too.  Family outdoor movie nights begin this weekend ,and I really think we will spend a couple of days relaxing by the pool. What's summer without a few lazy days?

Happy Monday Ya'll!

Kid Day

Today was rock concert day for my rock star. Chattanooga held a Kidz Expo event and Indiana's rock skool performed 2 sets.

We decided to take the youngest kids with us for a fun family outing.

The Chattanooga Fire Dept. had an old red engine the kids could see and climb inside. There were also many, many vendors giving away balloons, pens, and Frisbees to the children.

This booth was offering "pet rocks" the kids could paint and decorate. It was a nice kid friendly event.

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga had a train set up for pictures, along with their mascot. The boys were not too sure about the mascot.

Although Fletcher was too scared for a photo op, Zeb was quick to run up to SpongeBob for a hug and photo!

Fletcher did brave the big blow up slide, even though he looks like he is clinging for dear life!

           ****Rock Skool teacher, Mark Ferguson, gets the students ready.****

After the young kids had their fun, we went to the stage where Indiana and her fellow rock stars were prepping for their show.

Indiana and the rest of the students did a fantastic job today! I am so proud of how much they have improved.

They have another performance next weekend and then a big gig is scheduled at the annual Riverbend Festival!

So this is what I have been up to lately. Well, I also got new bees and goslings this week. I also have a graduation party and photos to plan for Journee. Next weekend we will be shearing the sheep too.

Spring is always busy but you know what? It's also warm!!!! WARM!!!! Good-bye winter:-)

Happy Sunday Ya'll!

She's a Rock Star

Well, she's not really a rock star, but she did perform in her first rock concert this past weekend.

It can sometimes be a challenge when you have 7 kids and they all seem to have amazingly different interests.
Indiana loves guitars.
She got an acoustic guitar a few years ago for Christmas and began taking lessons from a local instructor. It was great for the first year, but then it got boring for her.


I contribute much of the boredom to playing boring songs over and over and over again. There was no variety and certainly no goal to strive for in her playing.

                                                          **Indiana at guitar lessons**

Last Christmas she got an electric guitar. She really loved it and wanted to learn but her instructor was reluctant.
Last spring we decided to quit and look for something with a better fit and that would allow her to expand her desire to play.

6 weeks ago we found Rock Skool Chattanooga and its instructor/owner Mark Ferguson.

                                        **Indiana and Mark Ferguson after the concert**

6 weeks ago Indiana met the instructor at an Open House. She was apprehensive and unsure of herself. She left that day excited and just a few days ago she was playing her electric guitar to the well known song "Wild Thing." The Troggs Song.
Mark is a fabulous instructor and he also teaches the drums, bass and keyboards! He knows how to get kids excited and motivated!

They had a concert at the Teen Center inside the Chattanooga Library. Yes, a LOUD concert in the library! It drew crowds from every floor of the building and by the end people were dancing and clapping.

                                  **Indiana's performance. She is on the right. **

The group of about 15 students played well known rock songs by Black Sabbath, Kiss, Pink Floyd, The Beatles and even Metallica. Oh how I loved those bands when I was a teen.

Now, I now there are some in the mostly conservative home school community who would frown on such music being played by a young girl. I know some folks who only let there kids listen to and play classical music or worship music.....of which are also very beautiful.

My child, my Indiana likes rock. I liked rock and still do. In fact one of my favorite Pandora channels is Van Halen.
I think my child has found a niche for herself and that makes me happy. She certainly found a large chunk of self confidence the last 6 weeks. She has a goal now...to learn new songs for upcoming concerts. She is playing with other kids and learning all that goes into performing together as a band.

                                           **The group of Rock Stars after the concert!**

Yep, she's a rock star.

**If you are local and want more information on Rock Skool go check out his website! He has openings for more students.
You can also find him on Facebook.

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I have been nominated by Circle of Moms to be in the Top 25 Moms of Large Families.
It is an honor to be included with so many fabulous mothers and bloggers.
Will you please send a vote my way? Just look for My Barefoot Farm.
Thanks!