May- Month of Chaos

While I do love springtime and all that it brings... greenery, flowers, new life. I do hate the chaos that it brings. I saw a meme the other day that said "May is just December in a tank top. Events, chaos, and emotional instability." I couldn't agree more. Its been rough. May in western Michigan has been a literal roller coaster for weather. We reached upper 80s a couple days last week, and this week we've been struggling to make it to 50. With the heat and humidity of last week brought nasty storms, tornados, and straight line winds. I am not one for big storms to begin with, but last week I had to keep it all together as I scooped my 7yr old out of bed upstairs and carried her down to the basement. Matt had the 2yr old and we hunkered down while the tornado sirens went off again and again. We even brought our old lady Anatolian down to the basement. She doesn't like wind of any sort. The cats hid somewhere on the main floor. We just camped out for a solid hour. Kids had their pillows and we had an old twin mattress for them to cozy up on and watch some Mickey Mouse while we waited it out. We did have a tornado touch down about 10mins from our house, straight east of where we are. I drove through the area today on my way back from the feed mill and the tree damage was pretty extensive, barns with roofs ripped off or barns that collapsed. Was a sight for sure.

No thanks on that, I'll pass.

All through this up and down weather we've started calving last Wednesday. Thursday night the storm rolled through. Friday we had at least 1 more calf. Now they are coming fairly steady, 1 or so a day. Always a great time around the farm with new littles. Sheep are done lambing, all but 1 is weaned. A few goat kids are bopping around. The flock of sheep is patiently waiting to be taken to new pasture. Oh and there's a new fluffy puppy to love on too.

May is tough. Not only because of all the new babies, green grass to manage, and general rebirth of the vegetation but all the events of our own crazy off the farm. Felicity is a kid that loves to try all the things. She may be a small 7yr old but she's pretty feisty and smart as a whip. Along with her normal piano lessons after school once a week, we added in softball, basketball camp, First Holy Communion, Tulip Time Parade (if you didn't know, Holland, MI is big into Dutch heritage and Tulips), and just plain ol' trying to finish up 2nd grade for the year. Then there's James that is always on the go, getting into something. Riding his bike, driving his Gator, or playing with his tools... constant state of movement until he crashes. He turns the big "3" on Saturday. Whew. Matt is working full tilt all the time and counting down the days until his new PA starts in the office to hopefully lessen his load, fingers crossed. We squeezed in a pig roast for Felicity's school once again this year and somehow pulled that off. The meat business is having a hard time keeping up with demand, especially beef! With shipping, mostly out of state, I wonder how markets will go this summer.

Speaking of markets, I will be doing 2 markets again this summer, but starting them 2 weeks late. I will be returning to Hudsonville for my 7th season! WOW, I can't believe its been that long. Its been good to me, that's why I keep coming back. Hopefully it works out for me again this year. I will also be returning to Saugatuck. That is such an interesting market! A wide variety of people from all over the country roll through there on a Friday afternoon and unlike last year, I can tell people that YES I do ship! Probably 80% of my business there was to out of state visitors, so lets hope I can keep those relationship in the off season with shipping. Speaking of, here's a quick map of where I've shipped so far. Hope to fill in more states!

States shipped to so far!

Now, 2 weeks late on the market starts really does have me a little worried. But it will be what it will be. We are actually going on VACATION. I know, sounds crazy. For those who know me, you'll be thinking one of two things: 1- good, you need it! 2- she's going to be bored stiff! Well, probably. We are heading on a family vacation out west, pulling Felicity out of school and taking off in an RV. It should be interesting, but I am sure we will enjoy it. We are in need of a little R&R; it's just not my thing typically. It'll take me a couple of days to even relax. So while we are gone, obviously there will be no order fulfillment. :)

AND just to add a little gasoline to the fire of our summer, we are also contemplating moving. Not far, but out of town. We need to get out of town. Moving the business is a little scary to me, but we will cross that bridge if/when we get there.

Pray for us. My stress level and my sanity. Vacation starts in t-minus 10 days and there's so much to do!

~Until Next Time