Farm Fresh Milk

Oh the things that make me smile!

Today was a wonderful day.  We went to Valley Forge with the kids which was wonderful, beautiful and educational.  That, however, was not the event that put the huge smile on my face.  After our cold trek through the hills of Valley Forge we ventured into the Pennsylvania countryside to a small amish farm in the middle of rolling green hills.  There was a small herd of jersey cows frolicking in the distance... yes, they were truly frolicking!  The driveway looked worn showing that others, like myself, had come and gone leaving our mark at this otherwise simple home. We had found the home we were seeking and all my research, anticipation and driving was about to be fully rewarded.  I couldn't wait!

Katie brought me to the barn and began taking gallons of milk from the cooler - a large, covered, metal tub full of milk jugs sitting in a bath of cold water.  It didn't take more than a second for me to notice how different this milk was from any I had ever had before.  It was in clear jugs just as you would find it at the grocery store, however, its color was markedly different.  It wasn't white at all but was a rich creamy color.  I have done some reading on the value of milk and was so excited.  The creamy color in the milk is an indication of great nutrients and vitamins and can only be attained by feeding the cows on green grass.  We, Nathan and I, mentioned how excited we were with the color of the milk only to find out from Katie that the creamy color we were seeing was nothing to the milk that comes in the spring.  Well, now I can't wait for spring to come!

We brought the milk home and had to give it a taste test for dinner.  It was amazingly rich and delicious, almost like drinking cream!  I don't think I can ever appreciate white milk again! We had a carton of store-bought milk in the fridge and I couldn't resist the urge to put it side-by-side with the farm fresh milk and see what the difference really was.

In case you are wondering, the milk is not pasteurized nor will it be.  We are excited to drink it full of the naturally occurring good bacteria which helps us to digest it, gives it a much better taste, keeps bad bacteria away and allows it to sour into yogurt rather than the unpalatable sour that occurs to pasteurized milk (that is if there is any left long enough to go sour).  It isn't homogenized either so we will have to shake it each morning to keep the milk fat mixed in.  Did you know that when milk is homogenized the fat molecules are exploded so that they no longer rise to the surface? Our body cannot recognize nor can it use the exploded fat molecules.

We are so excited to have such a wonderful source of such a wonderful, healthful food!

If you happen to have an interest in reading more about milk, I highly recommend the book "The Untold Story of Milk".  It is very educational and fun to read!   

If You Send a Mommy to Get the Mail

For those days when Mommies need a smile.  This is my ode to motherhood and the "fun" it brings!

If You Send a Mommy to Get the Mail...

If you send a mommy to get the mail, the first thing she will do is step out the front door and notice a lovely curtain, or perhaps not so lovely curtain, of cobwebs just waiting to meet the next guest who comes to visit.

This will compel her to hurry back inside in search of a broom with which to sweep them away.

As she is hurrying to the utility closet to find the broom, she walks passes by the washing machine just in time to hear the spin cycle finish and the tub settle to still and quiet. Knowing it is her duty and fully aware that her baby’s favorite blanket is sitting wet in the just spun tub, she stops to empty the contents of the washer into the dryer.

As she is moving the items of clothing, she pulls out a Onesie that was nearly destroyed by a leaky diaper the day before. Knowing it is a gift from her mother and bears those wonderful words “Grandma Love Me” she feel compelled to make sure the mess is gone. Unfortunately she finds the stain is still there and begins to search in the cabinet for the spot treatment.

As she is looking for the spot treatment her hands accidentally brush against a particular bottle of cleaning solution that she hasn’t used in who knows how long. Yes, Windex has a purpose and she knows three months is a bit too long to put it off so she pulls it out and heads to the windows that are overly smudged from three feet down.

As she gets the paper towel in her hand and attempts to capture the drips running onto the carpet, she glances out the window and her eye is met by drooping flowers in the blazing sun just begging for a drink. She collects her strength and heads out in the blazing heat with a precious pot of water for those thirsty flowers.

As she bends down to pluck some of the wilted blooms, her hand brushes against a cobweb so carefully placed there overnight by some industrious spider. The cobweb reminds her of the ones she swept at her front door and suddenly she remembers she was supposed to get the mail.

She heads back to the mail box but our story doesn’t end there. It only keeps going for before she arrives at the mail box she trips over the empty trash cans and who knows what is in store for the rest of her day!