Manic Monday

So it's becoming one of those non-stop days.  I'm actually writing this, while I cram leftover quiche into my mouth.  Not the best of eating habits, but hey that's what a mommy has to do...

Anyway, why manic?  Well, it's my first day back to work.  Now I work from home, but keeping up with two girls, keeping the house clean, and working in time for work is difficult.  So why am I blogging?  Because I want to, don't judge me. ;)

Next up is cleaning the lunch dishes, laundry, changing sheets, and then getting to work.  I'm hoping to work in an exercise hour too, but we'll see...

If I get all of it done and supper too, I'm going to be this:

But feel like this:

Wish me luck!!

Farmer Kate

So we moved in December of 2011 to our new house, which if you have been reading this blog (and why wouldn't you) you know is in East TN.  We're about 20 minutes or less from NC and VA if that gives you an idea of how east we are.  ;)  But that's not important, the point I want to make is we moved to a house that has 4 acres of land.  I've got a fairly large backyard, huge back side yard, and then a pasture field.  All our neighbors are about the same way, so I'm surrounded by pasture/farmland.  Anyway, everyone who comes to the house wants to know what we are going to do with the land. Now there are several things I want to do, but I also need some ideas and I thought, why not ask you all? So here goes...

I want a nice swing set for Elizabeth in the backyard.  We have a nice level section that I can see from the kitchen window, which would be perfect.  The rest of my land is fairly level, but not as nice as this section.  We have a friend who is getting rid of their nice swing set, so we're trying to get it.  I haven't seen it yet, but it's a nice wooden one.  We'll see.

I want to put in a garden. My Paw-paw is a great gardener and always sends us potatoes, summer squash, strawberries, etc. from his garden in NC.  It's always super delicious, and I think I'd like to try it.  I know it's a lot of work, but I know it would be worth it.  One, we love fresh fruits and veggies.  Two, I plan to make Evie's baby food like I did Elizabeth's and the homegrown veggies were always her favorites. :)  (and Jen, if you are reading this I will have an email out to you about baby food asap, same with the cloth diapering) Three, I'd like to shake off my reputation as the angel of death for plants.  Yes, I even killed our wedding fern.

I want a clothes line. One, because I always love that my mom's sheets smell so good (she has been line drying all my childhood and beyond).  Two, because I know it saves money/energy.  Three, because the sun bleaches out stains on the cloth diapers naturally.  My hubby didn't believe this one, until he saw it himself.

From there I get stuck.  Several people have suggested animals...but I'm not sure about the work.  Plus the only animals I'm used to caring for is cats, dogs, and rats.  (for those of you who don't know, I was a graduate student and then postdoc in neuroscience and worked with rats for about 10 years (from undergrad to postgrad)) Cows, chickens, and other farm animals are not in my expertise.  Though I'm sure I could talk to our neighbors- in our little "neighborhood" there is a pony, llama, donkey, and chickens.

So here's where you all can help.  What would you do with a huge pasture field? 

Not sure the cowboy hat is me??? ;)