This year, it's breakfast foods.

Several years back I got really frustrated with my kids because they all guessed every one of their presents under the tree. It took all of the fun out of it for me. I love the giving and anticipation of gifts. I was whining  having a spirited discussion about the problem with my niece, Shirley. She asked me why I didn't just not put their names on the gifts. "Okay, well I have five kids," I said sarcastically, "how in the world am I going to know which gift goes to who if I don't put their names on them?" Duh, Shirls. This is where my lack of imagination shows and hers shines. She suggested that I think of a theme and use those names. It was brilliant. I think that first year I used colors, the next year was mens names like, George, Fred, Pete, ect. One year was kinds of trees, another it was types of beans, another it was random numbers. This year it is breakfast foods. I think I was hungry for breakfast when I started wrapping the first of the gifts. We have Toast, Bacon, Eggs, Hashbrowns and Pancakes. When we have guests over that don't know about our tradition they always notice that we have weird names on the gifts and look at me like I am loopy. I suppose they could be right about that. Our tradition has become a lot of fun for me. Every year I listen to the kids guess who they think they are. They always try and apply logic to it, which cracks me up because it is totally random. For example, the color year; "Well I think I am blue because mom knows how much I love the color blue." The mens name year; "I think I am Pete because I used to have a canary named Petrie and they both start with the letter P." I get a ton of joy out of listening to these conversations. We also added to this tradition by having everyone write down their guesses and on Christmas Eve I reveal the person who is closest to having them all correct and they get to open the first gift. What are your unique family traditions?

Galloping Goats Farm: Help, I think I am having a mid-life crisis!

Galloping Goats Farm: Help, I think I am having a mid-life crisis!

Help, I think I am having a mid-life crisis!

For the past 6 or 8 months I have been feeling like I am on the verge of big change. I have been watching for it around every corner and I warned my husband that I felt it is coming. I found it! I had an epiphany; I am tired of raising goats! I know it's shocking. I have been raising goats for ten years. I have enjoyed almost every bit of it, even the bit that involves people calling me "the goat lady". Okay, that's not true; that part secretly bugs me. I still picture "the goat lady" as an unkempt, frumpy woman wearing dirty sweats, rubber boots and matching knitted beany in public. Why now? I have no idea. My soap business is pulling a profit for the first time since I began six years ago. It's harder to make a profit in soap when you are buying feed and everything else that goats need. Hmmmn, is the challenge gone? I don't think that's it, but it could be. That is sort of my nature; to always need to challenge myself. I turned 44 last week (maybe that's it) and I put my herd up for sale. I told a few people ahead of that but I am sure it is surprising to many folks. Don't panic, I will still be making soap. I have some fun new ideas in the works that I will tell you about as they become more of a reality. I will also still be making some goat milk soap. I am no dummy; I gave my two favorite goats and a bunch of equipment to my niece, who is also my friend....my really, really good friend (who may be reading this). So folks, be watching for big changes here at Galloping Goats Farm. There will be a name change for starters. I'm not ready to reveal it quite yet but I think you will like it.