A few weekends ago we visited some friends who have a small farm just a short drive outside of Wichita. The weather wasn't cooperating as it was raining and extremely windy with the tornado sirens going off in the next county over. We weren't even sure if we were going to be able to make it outside to look around.

Finally, the rain stopped and we ventured outside in the Kansas extreme wind. Brr! it was cold outside but, the animals on the farm warmed our hearts.

Bug fell head over heels in love with the bunnies. All 25+ of them. Of course she was more interested in the babies. All I heard the kids talk about the following week was, "if they can have a bunny or two"? All I could imagine was my dogs making dog food out of the cute bunnies. It was a horrible thought.

I  was more interested in the chickens as I want a few myself roaming in our backyard. I think I need a small farm. The homesteading bug has hit me pretty hard the last few years. I think I will have to wait awhile longer as my German Shepard would see them as fast food.

 They let Bug take home a dozen eggs that she pulled out. She woke up the next day worried that I didn't take care of her eggs that she picked! Sounded like she was picking flowers. I made her a few hard boiled eggs and she was very happy. She was too cute.

Then both kids helped milk the goats. Even kitty was excited about the milking. I thought kitty was going to get kicked. Kitty wasn't concerned even though he has been kicked before. He just wanted some fresh goat's milk. Kitty wasn't shy about letting everyone know either.

It was a windy day and the kids tried to fly their new kites which pretty much got torn up in the wind.

It was a fun day at the farm for the whole family.

We have been making soap bars in our house. I used a base that we just needed to melt down and not something we had to make from scratch. The kids are able to help without working with lye and other ingrediants.

 This kit is a honey glycerin based kit. We added some essential oils for the fragrance and I wanted to add coconut oil also.

 As  you can image this was Little Man's favorite part. I think he was trying to be an Ninja while cutting up the base. We had full sound effects going.

Little Man is adding some coconut oil.

 Bug decided she wanted to add some Lavender essential oil.

Now pouring the base into the molds.

 This took some effort on Bug's part and she was sure proud of herself.

We had so much fun doing the other ones that I ordered a goat's milk base. This one is organic oatmeal and lemongrass oil. It smells delightful.

Frankincense and Myrrh-very refreshing.

 The favorite is the Lavender flowers and oil.

 
This has been the one that Bug has sold the most of. This is my favorite one. 

I love the smell of Lavender. I think next time I will layer it more so the flowers are throughout the soap and not just sink to the bottom.

I love my Bosch Universal Plus. It has been so easy to use. I still have a lot to learn. I can't wait to mill my own grain one day. Here are some pictures of what I have made so far.

Challah Bread

Whole Wheat Bread

Not just one loaf! Five!

Little Man rolling out the dough for homemade cinnamon rolls

Bug doing her part

The kids helped me roll them. This is after baking them. For some reason the photo with the icing didn't come out very well.

Whole wheat pizza-yummy!

Bug got her own piece of dough. She is learning how to braid the challah bread and she also made a round doughnut out of the challah dough.

Bug's creation

Little Man's creation. He informed me that they are doughnuts made out of challah dough.

My beloved husband surprised me last week. He bought me a Bosch Universal Mixer with the blender. I have been drooling over it for a couple of years. I have been wanting to make  homemade wheat bread. The thought of hand kneading even with my Kitchen Aid is daunting. The daunting part is the big chunk of time it takes to knead. I have just stuck to making challah bread at this point. I usually will make a batch every month and freeze it. I feel like a kid in the toy store who just got the ulimate toy!

It looks so pretty sitting on my counter. I can't wait to use it this afternoon.

I hope to evenly start grinding my own wheat berries. First, we thought it would be a good idea for me to learn how to make the bread with the the whole wheat flour. Once I have gotten that down we will purchase a grain mill. 

I have made homemade bread in the past with good results. Some have been not so good. I love that fact that the Bosch does all the hard critical work for you. I will keep you updated on my new endeavor making bread.

My first task that I have been assigned to make by six begging eyes is to make the challah bread just as good or better as I have been. Bug informed me that she wants a bigger loaf of challah! I don't think I will have that much of adjustment to do with the Bosch. I guess I will find out this afternoon after school and lunch are finished. Unfortunately, I will not have time to make the challah out-of the oven fresh for Shabbat. Tomorrow is just way to busy to even try.