Milepost #44 and The Mother Earth News Fair

Life is made up of tiny little moments. Sometimes these moments are just that, but other times,  moments have the ability to alter the course of one's life.

This is one of those stories.

Last week, I reached another milestone. Actually, we're going to call it milepost #44. For my special "milepost", my Mister arranged for us to go to The Mother Earth News Fair up in Puyallup, Washington. The fair was held at the fairgrounds and had classes, exhibits, and information on any farming/homesteading project imaginable.

Between my Mister and I, there was a lot of note-taking. 

For the 4 children we brought with us, there was a lot of Christmas list making.

This electric sports car tops the boys' lists.

We may have to up their allowances.

The girls fell in love with these draft horses.

"Look at their pretty blond hair!"

"That one has curly hair on his knees!"

I think they missed the part about these horses being draft animals, even with the logs they were pulling behind them.

I liked this little coat rack, but his attitude matched his horns.

I'm betting this lady may have had something to do with his mood. That's his hair (it has been dyed), that she is currently spinning.

Spinning is a skill that I plan to learn...someday.

I visited the WAPF booth, but am not showing the people working it because they were a little cranky.

Hopefully, raw milk won't get the blame for their frowny faces.

We sat in on classes that taught us how to make ricotta cheese and jerky, how to butcher an animal, keep bees and plant an organic garden. We played with a big, beautiful grain mill made by a man in Montana, and bought cheese-making molds for ricotta and butter. My "boys" oohed and awed over hand-made knives with African wood carved handles. We touched hair from alpacas, sheep, and some animals we couldn't identify, and sniffed homemade soaps until they all started smelling the same. But my best moment was still to come.

The speaker on the main stage was none other than...

Joel Salatin from Polyface Farms! "EEEEEEKKKKK!!!!!"

Listening to Joel Salatin speak was pretty incredible...

Warning: Crazy stalker farmgirl on the loose. Approach with caution.

...but meeting him was the highlight of my "milepost" #44.

He said that he liked my "Free Range Chick" T-shirt and I thanked him for being such an inspiration to the rest of us.

Then I got all giggly and may or may not have swooned a little bit.

Thankfully I didn't lose consciousness. That could have been awkward. 

He did sign a copy of his newest book, "The Sheer Ecstasy of being a Lunatic Farmer" for me.

"To Kim~

Thanks for being part of the healing.

Joel Salatin"

I should have signed something for him.

"To Joel~

Thanks for inspiring my Mister to get some pigs.

The Missus"

I'm a simple gal.

Now we just have to agree on the breed.

 Tamworth Hogs

Or...

Red Wattle Hogs

So many decisions, so little time...after all, "milepost" #45 is only 358 days away and it's going to be tough to top this one.

This post is linked to the Barnyard Hop.