Sunday, March 15:  Got up and did the usual chores.  It was such a beautiful day I wanted to do something outside, but we were going to Flint later in the day so I couldn't get too involved. Before we were able to get ourselves out, Oldest and Family showed up with the Girl Scout Cookies we had ordered.  It also gave us a chance to give Dark Haired Beauty her Birthday present.  They didn't stay long, as they were going to a Pinewood Derby and needed to do a couple of things at home before.  After they left, I did a little pruning on some of my butterfly bushes and cut out some dead wood from one of my roses.  Then Husband and I started to do come calculating in the milking parlor.  At about 1:00 PM we quite and got cleaned up for Flint.

Stepson and his wife had invited us for dinner to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  We had Corned Beef and Cabbage and Yum Yum cake.  She had also planned for Snake Bread, a St. Louis speciality, but she had never "made" it before, so it didn't turn out quite right.  We did eat it and it was good, she was just disapointed that it wasn't "right".  We had a good visit and were home in time to do chores and then spent the evening watching TV.

Monday, March 16:  Happy 7th  Birthday, Dark Haired Beauty!  After the normal breakfast and chores we headed out to begin the renovations of my milking parlor.  We spent five hours, but got this part of it done.  We put in cupboards and counter, with everything level, bolted together and solid.  Everything doesn't match, but that doens't matter, the cost was right...very cheap from auctions or just scraps we had laying around.  But functional it is with plenty of space to store things and plenty of work space.  Now all that is left is putting in the stairs to the upper barn and then getting a coat of fresh paint on everything.  I had this mess, all back in order and swept before I started the grill for our first cookout of 2009!  Hamburgers with chips and pickles, simple yet yummy!

After dinner, my first time using my parlor, all was well.  After chores we watched a DVD that Stepson had given us.  "Grand Torino" with Clint Eastwood.  I had heard it was a good movie, I agree. 

Tuesday, March 17:  Happy St. Paddy's Day!  After Breakfast we spent the day doing more in the barn, Husband put another electrical outlet in the parlor and we stripped and disinfected all the stalls.  All of the old bedding was taken out to the garden and we spread it on the asperagras, raspberries and where the strawberry patch will be planted.

Then we came in and I tried to do some computer work, but didn't as the program I was wanting to load was too big so I just checked email and other stuff.

I made burgers on the grill again, but this time we had our own homegrown parsnips!  I have never planted parsnips before and didn't know what to expect.  They were in the ground all winter.  The first two I dug were small so I dug more...these were huge!  We only got five, but three were big enough to each feed two people!  Yummy!

We watched TV and rested in the evening.

Wednesday, March 18:  This morning after Breakfast and chores there was still time for some quick gardening.  We cleaned up the garden next to the house and transplanted a grape vine that was in the wrong spot on the arbor.

Then it was time for Meals and Fiber Gals.  All was well with my clients and we had a good Gathering.

Home and dinner of pasties and homegrown spinach this time.  I am growing the spinach in the greenhouse and this was our first pickings.  Such a nice and fresh salad.

While my Ida goat was on the stand this evening for her dinner I felt her tummy...I felt two kicks!  There is at least one kid waiting to come out, 36 days and really counting now!

I'll have some computer time and then off to bed.

Thursday, March 19:  We spent most of the day in Owosso running some errands and having lunch.  Before we left I spent an hour on the computer getting a program for my Co-op ordering up and running.  I haven't needed the program because I haven't wanted to order from this supplier, but now since there is no other possibilities I will have to order from this one.I am not happy about it, they seem to not want small buying clubs like ours, so they are making it especially difficult and unpleasant.  I may just quit all together if things don't work out better.  Would be strange though, I have belonged to this one for 20 years!

At morning chores, I had two shifts of goats on the stands.  There are three more who are all due on the same day in May who are now on more feed.  By the time this month is out, there will be three shifts of goats and chores will be an hour or more long.

Friday, March 20:  Happy First Day of Spring and the temperature at 8:00AM was 17!  Friends were here at 8:00 AM to load their truck with horse poo, they come every year and take one to two truck loads back to their place and compost it down for their gardens.  It work great for us because they just pick it up from the pile where we throw it during the winter.  We get rid of it and they get what they want for just the cost of labor.  Let me tell you, it sure was cold standing watching them load their truck.

After breakfast, we decided to spend our day down in the pit burning junk wood and sorting the good stuff and moving it where it could do the most good.

I roasted a whole chicken with the last of the parsnips for dinner and then spent the evening watching TV and crocheting.

Saturday, March 21:  The plan for the day was to go to an auction in Morrice.  There was suppose to be farm equipment there that we might be interested in.  So, we got around and did what needed to be done and head out.  Wow, big sale, lots of people!  There were several different haymaking tools, which is what we were there for.  After inspecting them and gleaning information from others in attendance, we decided to pass on all.  Husband said he learned somethings, but decided not to bid on any of these tools.  We left the sale and then just went for a ride and lunch. 

While eating lunch in Lansing I came up with the idea to go to Eaton Rapids to the "Old Mill" yarn shop.  I like to go there every so often, they carry lots of fiber things like looms, spinning wheels, yarn and other items related to fiber crafts.  It is where I bought my first spinning wheel.  It is a good place to get information as well and I had a question about my drumcarder.  My question asked and answered and one small package of merino wool roving bought and then we headed home.

Nothing much else was done at home other that that was needed to be done.  TV was watched and crocheting was done.  Our good Saturday shows were back, the PBS fund raiser was over at last!

Sunday, March 22:  Another quiet day was planned.  There was some work to be done in the greenhouse, filling pots, planting some onion seeds and more arranging.  We started, then got a phone call from Dark Haired Beauty.  She wanted to know if we could make Maple Syrup...after questioning her if found out that Daddy had did some trimming of the tree in their yard and it was running sap like crazy.  They had collected it and wanted to know if we could give sugaring a try.

They came over with about one cup of maple sap, not much, but it would be fun to see what happens.  We strained it and put it to simmer on the stove.

While that was cooking, granddaughter and I got things ready for lunch.  Mommy and Daddy had run into St. Johns to get groceries.  I had boiled a dozen eggs that morning, so we peeled eggs and set about making some into deviled eggs and the rest into potatoe salad.  While the potatoes were cooking I would check on the progress of the sugaring.  All was going well then all of a sudden it went bad!  The syrup went from liquid to solid and then burnt!  We knew we wouldn't get much syrup, but all we had now was a few pieces of crackle we knocked out of the pan.  Anyway, it tasted like maple syurp.  Next time we need more liquid and maybe a bit lower temp and a closer watch.

For lunch we had Chicken and Dumplings, Potatoe salad, Deviled Eggs and for desert Girl Scout Cookies.  Then since there were groceries in the trunk, Oldest Son and Family left.  We had a good visit and enjoyable lunch.  They will try to collect more sap and try again to make Maple suryp.

I went back into the greenhouse and spent the rest of the afternoon finishing up in there.  I got some Oriental Poppys planted in jiffy pots, hoping that they will be able to stand the transplant that way.  I really love Poppies, but have had little luck getting them where I want them.  I planted a full flat of Cole crops as well as a couple of trays of snapdragons.

When most of the work was done, Husband showed up.  He made planting cups out of newspaper and a tool called a "Pot Maker" while I filled those with soil.  They will be used later for more seed starting.

After evening chores, it was cereal, crochet and TV.