I Went Down, Fast

We are working on something very unsexy.

I just have two things. Shoot.

I don't see it. Maybe this has the two things? Yeah, that guy sent me a couple of pictures. No use driving there. Just one minute.

That's one of them for sure.

There's a stove. Okay. Reviewing. I think it's just two parts. That's it. Hot dog. Okay, put it back on here. Yeah, does that look like that? Yep. That is that. This is that. 1 hour 45 minutes each way. We got to keep this project moving. We're all waiting on the cabinet guy now. I'm willing to drive and take this to him. If I don't, it's just gonna delay our process of getting out of the 700 square foot and into our glorious dream home. Hey, get down, bro. I'm leaving the kids to run the farm. I hate we're missing this cool of the day work time. The garden bed is weeded. We need to— there, it's shaped. We need to compost it and then cover it. We got a bag potatoes. Just make sure this lid doesn't blow off primarily. Leaving right on time. We got the piece off to him successfully. No wait. We're on our way back. We are back. Let's see if we can't get this potato project on. We gotta bag some potatoes but also put some compost on these beds. What is going on, girl? Nice, you getting ready for our party?

Mm-hmm.

John, how was the farm? Good, good. No problems? Yeah, did you get the potatoes stacked?

Yep.

Yeah, all right. We're filtering milk. We're gonna need to cream separate. We got no more room for any more milk. I want to be putting compost on the beds, but I noticed— well, I remembered I needed to start the meat for tonight, and then I saw we had no room for today's milk. So while we're in kitchen mode, decided to make lunch. Lily helped me. We've got a Dave's Kids Oh boy, hope y'all can eat that much. Mom and I eating Japanese, third day, third time in a row. Mom and the littles just got back from chiropractor. Not littles, 'cause Gideon went with them, or Jonah. We on the mend, Beck? Yeah. You gonna get ready for this party or what? You gonna be better for this party?

I do feel better, but I still don't feel great.

Does that make sense? You were sick this time last year, the beginning of it at the Fourth of July, we had to cancel our party.

No, it was gonna be so fun. That was a different thing though, that was, Angry, had hand, foot, and mouth.

All right, well, you get better.

Yeah, this is the plan.

This is the plan.

This is the plan.

Rest.

Oh, get better.

We just ate lunch. I'll be honest, I thought I was gonna be out in the garden, but there was so much to do in here. You guys ever do that? Be in denial of all the basics you got to do before you get to the thing you want to do? Yeah, now we gotta clean up.

We got a lot of dishes ahead of us.

The boys, I hope, are not doing this project because they're saying the compost isn't quite ready yet and they need to check it out. But I wouldn't put them past them because they like to get it done and get their play on. So get in, let's hustle and get these dishes done. Finally getting out here. You'll notice I'm holding my arm up a little bit. That stab from 3 days ago. Yeah, it's hurting more than ever. Is that normal? 3 days later, it itches like crazy too. Is that normal? Is that normal? Look, I just want to go inside, uh, sit down, be in the air conditioning, hold my arm up. But this week we've got to harvest, guys. We still got to get these cabbages up. There's carrots over there. Things need to be transplanted out of the greenhouse. Mother Nature's got to be covered. And we run into complications. They're saying this is chunky. Wow, see that chunk? All right, let's take this back to the pile and let's stir that pile. So Josiah, you come get the track loader, and Jonah, you meet us down there with the Mini X. Okay, it'd be nice if we could just stick a shovel in that. It'd be supple like it always has been in the past, but it's been super dry lately, and I'm thinking that's chunked together almost like clay. My best idea is to put it back on that compost pile and then stir that until it all gets broken down. See all these plants? They got to get out or they're gonna get too big for their britches. I see too our little broccoli and cabbage has got to get some bug net on it before these bugs find it.

See, this is what happens if we don't get it out on time.

Starts yellowing. We're good there. This one's yellowing. I think that's a flower. I'm not too worried. This stuff's good. This stuff is on the verge. We've got to hurry up. We gotta finish that garden bed project, get it covered so that we can move on to this.

I don't know if it's breaking it down.

All the big chunks have fallen down to the side. I wish I could say I predicted that. And all the fine stuff is at the top. All right, so now we can harvest from up top, and that's what we'll use over on our garden. Can you harvest as high up as you can?

Okay.

Yeah, looks supple. This is the test.

It's supple. Halfway done.

It looks pretty good. It's not bad as I thought it would be, honestly. Only 2 more loads. Boys were very grumpy until John arrived, so we're glad you're here, John. I'm kind of thinking maybe I can relax a little bit this afternoon. Elevate my arm and show you guys this. 100 pounds, 200 pounds, 300 pounds, 400 pounds and a quarter. Wow, that is 400 pounds potatoes in our root cellar. Would you look at that fresh composted garden? That's a good feeling. Do it! Now we're going to wet it down real good. We'll leave it open to show off for our friends tomorrow, homesteading friends. Pigs will love it. What is this? I'm Penny's pony. All right, is this an obstacle course?

Yeah.

Okay, let's see it. Bender, you got it made. Y'all gonna pick it down— pick it up when you're done, right? Probably not. At least she's telling the truth. My arm is swollen, red, and really hurting, so I'm gonna put it in the Epsom salt bath. I've been resting for an hour. My arm's hurting, but look who's back. You get well and I go down.

I told you that chiropractor—

What you up to?

I am making teas for tomorrow.

Teas?

I made a hibiscus tea, and then now I have a black tea, and I might—

Which is sweet tea.

I might make a tulsi tea.

Okay.

From our—

And you're feeling real good because look, are you really making gluten-free buns from scratch?

Gluten-free buns. We're gonna make sloppy joes tomorrow.

Let's not be jealous.

Why do you say that with embarrassment?

I'll make them for you tomorrow.

Own the Sloppy Joes, girl.

I'm not embarrassed. I think it's funny.

That's a farm fresh stud muffin Sloppy Joe, girl. It is.

It's like—

it's always like, is it a meat that goes—

and then you put it in a bun, kind of like spaghetti sauce. Yeah, it kind of looks like spaghetti sauce, but it's definitely not.