Visitors: Al and Jackie
Friday | July 31, 2009

More visitors: from GA

We have known Al and Jackie for many years; it has been over 12 years since we last saw them. We were so excited they were in town and enjoyed our time with them.

Farm tour

The boys showed Mr. Al their knives and "treasures"

Friends in Christ

Mom
July 2009

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Visitors: Uncle Bill and Aunt Gail
Wednesday | July 29, 2009

Uncle Bill and Aunt Gail are here from SC!!

Visiting and enjoying...

Yummy homemade chocolate ice cream!

Our 2nd cousins enjoyed doing chores at our farm--including milking goats for the first time

Bill and Gail visited us four years ago: this was taken then, with the boys washing the moter home [notice how small they were!]

The crew

Farewell! They are headed for more cross-country sight-seeing. Thank you for stopping by, "Taco Bell" and "Booboo"!

The Jersey That Almost Was...
Friday | July 24, 2009

Milk Pails and Butter Mold

...our newest addition to Bryant Family Farm. Our family has wanted a Jersey dairy cow for a couple of years to add to our line of products. Fresh homemade butter, whipped cream, cream, and cheese. We have actually owned two Jersey cows, and the stories behind these cows are sad indeed. We had given up looking for one altogether.

THEN, we found one last week! She was perfect for us and met all the criteria we wanted in a dairy cow. We ordered her specially mixed nutritious feed, bought new milk totes, a pail and a butter mold as we anticipated the arrival of our new cow!

THEN, the seller backed out two days before we were to take possession of her. We were so disappointed and wondered what happened this time. We also wondered what we were going to do with 500 lbs of specially mixed dairy cow feed already in the barrels. This entire transaction happened over a three day period.

After many cow, butter and cream jokes, we finally are content once again with not having a dairy cow. Never mind the customer that just happened to call wanting cow milk, nor the brand new butter mold sitting now as a decoration on our piano, reminding us that we do not have butter. We took solace in knowing that the Lord has our best in mind and that He is in control of all things, even cows. We are thankful He takes care of us, even when we are a bit puzzled by the circumstances.

Field Day at the Baumans
Wednesday | July 22, 2009

Various lectures

We visited Cedar Valley Farm again last week, the farm that recently butchered our broilers, for their first annual Entrepreneurial Field Day. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed networking with other farmers. It was an encouragement to talk with other families raising clean, nutritious meats and various other products.

Time for a farm tour!

Our boys are an integral part of our business and were able to participate and learn from other businesses. They know all aspects of our business, as well as the procedures involved in raising each type of animal. We could not raise what we do without our children's help! It is great to see them walking beside us as we continue to learn and grow our family business. We ordered personalized business hats: "Bryant Family Farm"

Farm boy

Sarah and Joseph, the little boy she babysits, wearing matching BFF hats

This week when Joseph visited, he enjoyed pulling our wagon around. Woops, a little too heavy for him, but he's tough and hops back up

Blueberry Pickers
Tuesday | July 14, 2009

We pick blueberries annually at a local berry patch. This year we picked over 20 pounds; we freeze these and use throughout the year.

Busy pickers...

Sarah picking

All done!

These blueberry muffins are delicious, hot out of the oven!

Our Favorite Blueberry Muffin Recipe

2 1/2 cups milk or water
1/2 cup butter (melted)
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

4 cups whole wheat flour
2 tbsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Combine wet ingredients in a bowl. In seperate bowl combine dry ingredients. Add both together; fold in blueberries. Pour batter into greased muffin pans and back at 375 for 20 minutes.

~taken from Two Sisters Cookbook

Samuel's Layers
Saturday | July 11, 2009

Samuel, our entrepreneurial chicken farmer, raised layers to sell. He gathered his first two eggs this week! He has now sold all of his layers and made quite a bit of money from his project.