Hey there!

When we first ventured out to our property in Idaho, we had the dream of being able to get our acreage of pasture alive and well again, enough to feed a cow or two. This year we've been able to see that come to fruition to some degree. They now get to spend most of their time out in the pasture just eating away, day and night, which seems to make them pretty happy. Even though we aren't getting milk from Lucy yet, we're glad to know that we're making good use of our land and that she's getting the fresh grass (which is healthier than hay).

I had the opportunity to learn a new skill this last week, which is taking the blood of a cow for a pregnancy test. After a few YouTube videos and some tense moments, I was able to do it and confirm that Lucy is pregnant! This is always good news, because if she wasn't (after having been with a bull for a couple months) it could indicate health problems. In any case, we have confirmed that a calf will make an appearance in January. Milking will start up in earnest again at that point.

Our meat chickens are growing at a great clip, and we already only have about a month left before they become freezer meals. They, too, are out at pasture, as are the egg layers. It's awesome knowing that the food we eat is from animals that are happy and well taken care of and that they are getting the best of the best when it comes to food. It's pretty crazy how different the yolks of the eggs are when the chickens are out eating plants and bugs. Also, home grown meat is much tastier (even our oldest who isn't a huge chicken meat fan can tell the difference and will really only eat our home grown meat).

As with most things in life, it's not perfect. The one tricky thing about the egg layers being out in pasture is that they are a bit naughty and don't lay their eggs where they are supposed to. Rather than set them in the nice boxes we prepared for them, they like to hide them in the middle of the field. So every morning my sons enjoy a great egg hunt (Easter is every day now!). Fortunately, they enjoy doing it and don't mind it. It's a game for them as a part of morning chores.

My Progress This Week

I'm happy to say that I finished the first round of edits for Dwarf Blooded, which was a long time coming. Getting to the end of the story, especially since I'd forgotten quite a bit of what I wrote, was very satisfying and encouraging. At some point you think I'd learn that my first drafts aren't ever as bad as I think they will be. Still, now it's time for a little Pro Writing Aid edit in preparation for line edits with the editor!

Though I spent most of the last couple weeks editing, I did manage to push the draft of book five to about 38,000 words! Given the amount of sleep I get every night (what with waking up with babies and kids) I am happy with whatever writing I get done. Nowadays it's about 1500 words a day, which is lower than it has been, but progress is progress.

If you'd been in my Ream recently, you may have noticed that some of the covers have changed. I decided to spruce up the short story covers that I've already made available to those who join (followers and subscribers). You should check them out now! I'm pretty happy with how the new ones have turned out.

Just a note that in my Ream Community (https://reamstories.com/dankenner), chapters 10 & 11 of Dwarf Blooded are now available. If you join the community (for about a cup of coffee per month), you get to start reading the next story a whole six months before it comes out. What's not to like about that?!

Some books to check out!

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warm regards,

Dan