MESSY MONDAYS.

This is what Jesse does all of his writing on - a very busted iPad. This is also why farmers can't have nice things! It has been like this since Thanksgiving.

PORK.

Our entire house smells like bacon. We spent two days rendering lard - ending up with almost 2 gallons. There is a gigantic ham hanging underneath the stairs, and we've got four huge slabs of bacon curing in a couple of makeshift salt boxes (bee hive supers) by the back door where it stays cool. We have been eating sausage, chops, shoulder, or some other such pork product almost every day for the past two months. It is hard work and emotionally difficult, but this kind of abundance is why we raise pigs. They helped us to better our land, and now they are nourishing our family. Thank you, pigs.- Hannah.(For more of our thoughts on eating animals, check out this post.)

GOODNIGHT, CHARLIE.

Partially out of skepticism, and partially out of denial, we wanted to wait a little while to write this post. Because our beloved Charlie cat, mother of Scooter and the best mouser this side of the Mississippi, is gone.Right before the big cold snap, but right after those ten inches of snow, we let Charlie out to do her business and she never returned. The next morning, in the bitter cold, I followed her tracks through the snow to the end of our road, but got too cold to follow them further. Then again that night, she didn't come back.We have theories on what happened––predators maybe, maybe she went on vacation––but the truth remains that Charlie is gone. She was a great cat. She was sweet towards Further and a truly proficient predator. In terms of work animals––mousing being important work around here––she was absolutely tops. We loved her and we will miss her. She was a hard worker and a member of the family. So here's to you, Charlie. We love you. We miss you. We hope you show back up with a litter of kitties, but if not, know neither we nor our farm will ever be the same without you.- Jesse.

BABY'S FIRST TRICK.

So long as Further turns out to be respectful and polite—to us and to others—Hannah and I will consider our parenting a success. So it would only seem natural that the very first thing we would teach him is to stick his tongue out at us.We read that babies his age––somehow two months, already––will mimic your face. If you open your mouth, they'll copy, or if you stick out your tongue, they'll follow suit. And after our midwife told us that getting him to stick out his tongue will help strengthen his tongue muscles and in turn improve his nursing abilities, we decided to give it a shot.The first few times we tried, Further seemed incredulous. In fact, we've been sticking our tongues out at him for a couple weeks now, and all we've been getting is a look of skepticism or indifference. Then the other day it just clicked, and he has spent the last few days sticking his tongue out at us, followed by hysterical laughter. It's one of the most joyous experiences I've ever been a part of. And that's how it starts, right? First it's the tongue and next thing we know we'll be teaching him his numbers, and how to get over a broken heart. I wonder if I'll treasure every milestone like I treasure this one, like I treasured his first smile of recognition. Knowing me, I probably will. I will look forward to every new milestone, and every thing he learns, even when we have to one day teach him not to stick his tongue out at people––because, you know, it's rude.- Jesse.