Rock Candy Mtn Farmstead

08/23/2026

These beauties came from Salinas and were really just planted for fun so the girls could use them for their birthday party… but apparently they’re super sweet too. 👀

08/23/2026

The Black Midnight pumpkins are growing beautifully! 🖤🎃

I really only planted these for fun so the girls could use them for their birthday party, but apparently they’re also supposed to be super sweet!

Looks like they may be doing double duty this year, birthday decorations first, then I might have to convince Jake Garrison to turn one into a pumpkin pie. 😂🥧

08/23/2026

Tried to punch out some holes in the kitchen sink today…

When the countertop guy AND Google tell you they just “punch out,” don’t believe them. 🤣

They do, in fact, punch out… just maybe not in the nice, clean, controlled way I had envisioned. 😂

Another lesson learned during the kitchen remodel!

08/23/2026

We (and by we, I mean JT and Ryan 🤣) made HUGE steps toward a finished kitchen this week! 🙌🏼

It still feels like “we” have a ton left to do, but we are so close to having a fully finished and usable kitchen!

These two guys have somehow managed to take all the random visions in my head and actually make them happen. ❤️ And I think the black countertops might even be growing on Ryan, our contractor (and friend) who has patiently gone along with all of my ideas. 😂

Also, ladies… Ryan is single. Applications can be submitted directly to me. I’ll be handling the initial screening process. 🤣🤣

Seriously though, I couldn’t be happier with how this kitchen is coming together. It’s finally starting to look like the kitchen I pictured from the beginning. ❤️🏡

08/22/2026

I planted TWO Martin House Gourd plants (aka Bottle Gourds) this year on my 12-foot hoop.

Two. Plants. 😂

Apparently, they took that as a personal challenge.

They have completely taken over the entire hoop, escaped into the pasture, climbed into the tomatoes, and somehow even made their way over to the blueberries. At this point, I’m pretty sure they own this section of the garden. 🤦‍♀️😂

But look at these gourds!! 😍 I’m excited to see how many we end up with once everything dies back this fall.

I sure hope my 4-H kids enjoy making birdhouses out of these, because we are going to have PLENTY to work with! 😂

Lesson learned: next year, the Martin House Gourds get their OWN hoop… far, far away from everything else. 🌱😂

08/22/2026

LOOK WHO’S PREGNANT!! 😍🐮

Ms. Apricot! ❤️

This girl has given us a run for our money this year, but we finally got that positive pregnancy test!

Now we wait about 8 more months to find out if Apricot is somehow going to beat the odds yet again and give us ANOTHER heifer. 😂 At this point, I’m not betting against her!

This pregnancy is a little extra exciting because it means my first official solo AI was a success! 🙌 I definitely owe that beginner’s luck to the great training I got from Stephanie Brant!

I trusted my gut on this one as well. I’ve always suspected Apricot ovulates later than what’s considered “normal,” so I strayed from protocol a little and AI’d her quite a bit later than the standard timing suggests. Apparently, Apricot and I finally got on the same page. 😂

There’s still plenty for me to learn, but I’m calling this one a win! 🥹

08/16/2026

Got my new pulsator in, Ms. Laney & my hands are thankful to be on the machine. Here a friendly reminder to do equipment checks BEFORE you need it 🫶🏻

08/13/2026

Who says diamonds are a girl’s best friend? 💎🐮 This girl prefers cows!

We have a couple of new additions to the farm, Top Shelf Presto Laney, from Cherrywood Farm Milking Shorthorns, and her beautiful little heifer calf! 🤎

Ms. Laney and her girl made the trip down from Wisconsin, and we’re pretty excited to have them here. Laney has both milk and show lines backing up her pedigree, making her a great addition to what we’re working toward.

We decided to add a couple more A2/A2 Milking Shorthorns to the herd as we continue working on udder presentation, milk production, and overall structure, while keeping our long-term goal in sight: building the kind of true dual-purpose Shorthorn herd we want, cattle that can put milk in the bucket and beef in the freezer. 🥛🥩

Now for the important part… this little girl needs a name!

Current front-runners:

🐮 Lorraine
🐮 Louise (Lou for short)
🐮 Lottie
🐮 Loretta
🐮 Lettie

Laney & ______?

What gets your vote?!

08/13/2026

08/11/2026

Backsplash is up, grout is in… the next update will be the best part of the design!