Face Full of Sunshine

*article written in early spring, much to catch up on!

Spring has arrived on Iron Side Ranch! One of my favorite times of the year! In all honesty, the beginning of every season becomes my favorite. Love living in a state that has four distinct seasons… But I digress. The flowers are popping out and yesterday I was driving down our driveway and noticed one side was covered in wild flowers and various weeds. I immediately started thinking of how I could get our goats over to eat everything and enjoy the springtime delicacies. (Which made me want to laugh, who sees flowers and weeds and thinks goat food?) But I absolutely love wildflowers and hope to be able to plant a lot of wildflowers near our bees later this year or early next spring. Their purpose may be to give food and shelter to insects and bees but they sure are beautiful, bright and colorful! Can you imagine a life without flowers? I once heard flowers described as expensive weeds and was aghast. I personally think they are God’s way of clothing our world in beauty, almost like little smiles from God just to say hi.


The kids don’t know it yet, but I have full intentions of taking them with me to clip a bunch of them to give to the goats - not all, but several hand-fulls. We will stop and smell them knowing my kids and they’ll think they are fragrant although these particular wildflowers don’t have a smell to me. But we will smell the fresh dirt and stop to talk and enjoy the sunshine together. Later in the heat of the summer, we’ll do everything we can to avoid to avoid the direct sunlight but for now, I feel like a chameleon. Cannot get enough of sun. Yes, I religiously put on sunscreen everyday on my face and should wear more hats but alas. Come spring, I’m craving for some attention from the sun. As a blond hair, blue eyed fair skin gal, I must admit that I’m at times jealous at how easily Joshua and Hannah tan. They can play for hours in the sun with sunscreen and not get burned and come away with sun kissed hair and a golden tan.


The dogs and baby goats have the right idea - they take lazy naps in the sun. I love to go over to them after they’ve been sunning for a bit and rub my hands through their fur. They’re pleasantly warm and smell a bit dusty. They might even give a little lick or tail wag but are generally happy to lay there and enjoy a little loving. Milk Dud and Snickers still have softer fur compared to their momma and it’s relaxing to pet them and whisper sweet nothings to them. Funny how our farm animals know when to stop eating and working and enjoy the moment. 


As of the writing of this blog, we are 4.5 weeks pregnant and we are thrilled! What a blessing to have another little Barr coming in December. Normally, life is very busy and it’s hard to find moments to myself but being pregnant and having morning sickness already, I’ve had to slow down. Yes, I knew I was pregnant at 3 weeks because of morning sickness but I will never complain about how I’m feeling because this baby is a gift! I’ll write later about how wonderful Mackay has been at helping me and how Joshua and Hannah are already trying more to help out but this pregnancy is forcing me to relax a bit, even if it’s for 10 or 15 min’s to sit with the dogs or goats and get some sunshine. Sometimes I imagine the frogs croaking and cicadas singing in the distance are really singing to my unborn baby telling of things to come and the joys found in nature that only comes from listening. 


Spring has indeed come to Iron Side Ranch. New life is forming all around, the ground and trees are vibrant in greens with flowers dancing in the breeze. The bees are busy, the goats are growing, chickens are crowing, dogs are barking and kids are running barefoot once again in the grass. And… once again… peace has settled over us as we welcome the new day’s challenges.

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