This Big Piggy Stayed Home...

Yesterday, we slaughtered our first pig on the farm.

We've sent a few pigs to the butcher before, but this time we decided to try it ourselves.  And it was worth it!

Butchering Day

I have always liked the idea of a self-sufficient lifestyle.  (Sufficient as regards food; we will always be dependent upon God!)  Saturday, we made another step towards supplying our own food.

LilyAnn and Justice helped me butcher a sheep.

He was an extra mouth to feed, kind of mean, and very healthy, so we decided it was time for him to go to the freezer.  And rather than paying someone else to butcher him, and having to cart him over there, we decided to just do it ourselves.

This photo was taken several months ago.

(WARNING:  Images include a (dead) sheep being processed, and children helping with the work.  With that said, I will add that I have intentionally omitted any very shocking photos.  And, for the record, the sheep died instantly and painlessly.)

Construction, Cooking, and Competition

Beginning operations...

January In Review

January has already come and gone.  It's amazing how fast time seems to be going now, compared to when I was 5 years old and Christmas was a whole year away!

This month has been a whirlwind of fellowship, business, school (for my younger siblings), and encouragement.  There have been a few changes along the way too:

To the landscape:

Out with the old...