Silkworms

This year I tracked down a source for silkworms so my kids could experience raising them.  DH and I had them when we were kids, and it was always interesting to watch them grow and then see the cycle of their lives.  If you have an abundance of mulberry trees, you should try some yourself :)  The cocoons from these little guys is where silk comes from.. yes, really.

Munching on mulberry leaves

Spinning his silk cocoon

Everything's growing

 The flowers are growing beautifully....

The corn is growing, thirsty work keeping them weeded....

 Bandit is growing, as are the weeds....

The collection of farm junk is growing... (but this WILL be a nice little trailer someday!)

 and... the piglets are growing!

I love this life.

Blackberry jam

A friend was nice enough to invite us over for a morning of blackberry picking.  We picked.. and picked... and picked.

And made 7 lovely jars of blackberry jam :)