welcome

December!!!
I'm so exited to say that most of our Christmas shopping for the kiddos is DONE!!!! Yyyyaaahhhoooooo! I'm so glad. In case you didn't get that. haha Oh I can't wait for the UPS or FEDEX guy to bring the presents!! Love that!! I usually bound out the door to greet them! Crazy farm girl!

We've got a cold snap going on this week, and let me tell you for those of you who don't milk critters in freezing temps, by hand...you don't know what your missing!! ha! You know your hands are cold (even with milking gloves) on when you put your hands on your cow and she sucks in a breath and looks at you with those large doe like brown eyes. I apologized to her. I felt bad. Or when the milk freezes to the pail as you milk her out. Or you bury your face into her warm body so you can be warm and not having your lungs burn from the cold. I actually like the smell of the cows. I know I'm weird, but I'm ok with that!
I've got some other farm stuff going on, but I'll save for another post. Tease!  Still can't do pics. I might have to move :(
Have a great day all! I gotta go lug water for the critters. Everything is frozen!

yup, this is my life

Good grief, it's been a while since I posted anything. I'm still around. Still busy. It seems like my days are just running together, and I can't keep ahead on anything. Home school is in full swing and I'm having a hard time getting everything done now. Just a new routine to get into. OK, so I've never in my life gotten "everything" done, and I know I never will. It feels like things just keep piling up, like laundry and the dust bunnies on the floor that I swear I sweep or have the kiddos sweep everyday. I'm up early and to bed late trying to "finish" something I started but never finished. Between school and well my life I'm just busy.  Most days it's good, but boy once in a while it's not! So don't think my life is all sunshine and roses, it's not and I don't mean to give that impression.  On my living room floor right now I have squash, melons, dust bunnies, crayons, jars, boxes, boxes of full and empty jars, onions, paper my kiddos were drawing on and forgot to pick up, boots shoes, dirty socks...I could go on, but I think you can "see" enough! My husband is in the process of making me another cupboard for my canned goods, so once that is made and home I'll show you! I can't wait to get it. Then my boxes and jars and boxes of jars will have a nice new home! But his cabinet making got interrupted by haying!
My gardens are just about done before I put them to bed for the winter!. I have some carrots to finish. Then squash and pumpkins, but I don't can or freeze them. I just put them in my house and eat them up! Wish I had a root cellar for them. Maybe someday...
Today my husband is haying. We finally have some nice weather all in a row to get some second crop done. Seems like this week a lot of farmers are putting down hay. No pics of it again this time either. The batteries are dead in the camera, he's haying with the "poppin johnny".  Maybe next year I'll have things together enough to get a pic of him haying with it! It's kinda cool!
So have a great day all! I have to go find my living room floor!

noises in counrty life

Last night my husband and I got the kiddos to bed early. They were very tired and cranky, and just needed to go to bed. They were out in about 15 minutes of being put to bed. Ya they were tired. Then we went out and weeded one of the gardens. Just the two of us. Oh it was such a nice evening, there was enough of a cool breeze to keep the skeetos away, and it wasn't hot or humid. Just perfect. We worked away at the weeds and chatted some. We didn't speak for a while, just being together was nice. As I was weeding I listened to the noises around me. The breeze blowing through the tall hay, the horses happily munching their hay and the chop of their teeth. The fan in the window gave a quiet hum as it whirled around. Sheep nearby eating the weeds we threw out to them, and the sound of them eating. Kinda noisy, like they were just loving the weeds. Maggie was out in her pasture and every once in a while Dandie would call to her, and move around in her stanchion, and clang and bang around as she laid down. (The reason she is in is because they got out the other night around 11pm, and we need to fix her pasture). Pigs were quiet, and sleeping in the barn. The chickens were going to bed and getting into their perches, I could hear them clucking, and their almost growl when they were disturbed by another hen moving in.The occasional squawk when someone higher up demanded that one move so she could have that spot. I could hear my husband softly move about the garden pulling up the weeds, and glanced over at him in the dusk. We spoke, then quiet again. The frogs and crickets were out chirping and singing their evening songs. Birds settling in for the night, quietly chirping and singing as they did so, the soft flutter of their wings as they moved about. I looked around and saw the lightening bugs coming out, lighting up the darkening hay fields around us. Abby nickered at me when I made a noise, and T.O shook her head rattling her halter. The sun was almost all the way down, but there was still a slight glow of light on the big fluffy now gray, pink, and blue clouds. Someone in the not too far distance was setting off fireworks. I sighed and felt the ragged edges and stress melt away as I breathed out.

messes

Last week we started back up with home school after a short break for Christmas. I took the kiddos shopping with me and they had doctor appointments as well. I was setting up another appointment and was asked what time would work, after school, and I said whenever, I home school and can come any time. The lady looked at me and I braced myself for the comment I was sure was coming, I just love all the looks and comments I get at times, but she smiled and genuinely said "Wow, that's wonderful. I am such a strong believer in home school. I'll bet they are getting a great education. I think that's wonderful you are able to do that. I'll bet you get a lot of slack for that too." I tried to keep my mouth from hitting the floor at the comment. I stumbled through a thank you. I couldn't believe it. She made my day! I have gotten some looks from people while out shopping during "school" hours and been asked if it was a day off, I smile and say "nope, we home school" and go on my way. I've been asked how do it do it as they see I have 3-4 kiddos with me, depending on how much shopping I have to do. I've been called the lady with all the kids before too. I think it's funny. Or the very typical wow you have your hands full, or how many DO you have? I don't consider 4 kiddos to be a lot, or that I have a large family. Granted sometimes if you were to come to my house and hear the noise level or see the tornado of kiddos stuff that has gone through my house, tripped on or were to sit on one of the toys you might wonder how many kiddos lived here! I usually always have some sort of mess to clean up, and my counter top is never fully cleaned off, and nothing is usually where it belongs for more then about 10 seconds, but I have come to the realization that it's ok. My kiddos have wonderful imaginations, love to be outside, and don't get to watch T.V all day, or everyday for that matter, and if they do get to watch TV it's Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons or Danial Boone type movies. They help out tons with the chores, love to lug fire wood, and stack it in the fall with daddy. They help me clean up the house and put things away when they are asked.  I trip over a toy or two every time I walk through the living room, or get my foot snagged on a dress up dress. But before I go to bed at night I pick up the things left scattered about the house and put them in the kiddos rooms and look at them sleeping peacefully, tired from a full day of life in the country, and smile. Life is good.  I know there will be a day when they will be grown and leave my house and have one of their own and I will miss tripping on something every time I walk through the living room. I once read on a blog to think of house work as a good meal. You work really hard to make that meal, and look at it for about 5 minutes before it's all gone. The people you love enjoyed the meal you made for them, and it makes me feel good. It's kinda like that with house work, you work really hard to get the rooms cleaned, only to have someone come behind you and mess it up. They enjoyed your work and the clean room, even though it was only clean for about 5 minutes. I'm glad they enjoyed the clean room.Know what I mean?
Anyways life has been very busy for me, that's why I haven't been blogging. House work, school, ya know! haha!
Have a great night all!

boys, boys, boys...

Where have I been you wonder? Or not. Well grab a cup of coffee or what ever you like to drink and a muffin, or donut and I'll tell you about my past few days. They have been busy.
It a started about six years ago..man this is gonna be a long post... naw just kidding!!
It was about 4am on Thursday actually. Our boy woke us up crying and couldn't move his arm or something, my memory is kinda fuzzy and I wasn't awake. I mean it was 4am! We stumble down to his room and he said something was hurting his arm. So Matthew proceeds to take his shirt off, Little Matt's that is, and he sees a deer tick is in shoulder, just below his collar bone! Oh great! It's head was in there, it was a bite! So bleary eyed me, Matthew and Little Matt stumble to our room to get the tick out. The rest of the kiddos were sleeping peacefully and we didn't want to wake them up. We get the tick out and send him back to bed. In the morning we call the doctor and we get an appointment for that afternoon. OK, let me back up a minute here, the night before we were up until 12am. Matthew had a meeting he had to go to. One of my sisters came over for a visit and we made some yummy, delish food together, and burned some bacon. oops. Then my SIL came over with her kiddos. Our husbands went to the same meeting, and they were gone until 11:30. My sister left around 9:30 after much laughing and shopping online for, well, clothes. So none of us had gone to bed until 12am-ish. Just so you know we are all very tired to begin with. Well at the doctors office they got more of the tick head out and put him on an antibiotic for 10 days. Then in 6 weeks he goes back for a Lyme Disease test. We are praying the antibiotic works and he is free and clean! Then Thursday night was a late night again, don't remember what we did. Then Friday morning was a disaster too. Nothing was going as planned for any of us. Matthew was going hunting in the morning with one of his brothers. He had just left.  Keep in mind we are all still running on low sleep and energy, due to late nights and early mornings. I was in the bathroom putting my makeup on, when Little Matt lets out this holler and a distressed "MOMMY!!!" Running for my son I see him holding his mouth. I asked what happened and he shows me his tooth. Now it's his front tooth, his adult front tooth, and nice sized chunk of it was in his hand! OH MY WORD! I get him calmed down and look in his mouth, no blood. That's good. How did he knock out his tooth you are all wondering? Well he has a long toy rifle, that he plays "Danial Boone" with. We are huge Dan Boone fans around here, especially my boy. Somehow he had the top near his face, and somehow managed to knock his head into the top just at the right angle and whack, there goes the tooth. He doesn't remember how he did it really, but that is close enough to how it went down.  I took his tooth and got the phone and called Matthew. He came right home. I called the dentist. It's Friday and they are closed. Great. I call the doctors office, and the person who answered the phone says take him to the ER. So we all pile up in the car and head to the ER. The girls and I sit in the waiting room, and the receptionist gave them a color book and crayons. I thought that was nice of her. The T.V. was on and it was CSI Miami. Not a good show for young kiddos. So the color books were great for them to do and not watch the show. They were very good waiting and didn't complain, but did ask how much longer they were going to be gone. A woman comes in and asked me if they were all mine, and I proudly said yes! After an hour or so we can leave. There is nothing they can do for him. Wondering why they sent us there, the ER doctor called our doctor and he said he didn't send us there, so I'm thinking that whoever I talked to might be getting a talking to from the doctor, sending us there. Oops. So my boy had a nice chunk of his front tooth missing all weekend. We put his tooth in the fridge to keep it to show the dentist. The weekend was a bit of a blur. I went to my grandmothers on Saturday for a her 79th birthday, with the kiddos. After the party my parents took the kiddos to TSC (Tractor Supply) to do some window shopping for Christmas. My Dad loves to take the kiddos there. It's such a hoot to watch them all. They always pick out the all terrain go cart thing, that they want. Which I tell them they are not getting that for Christmas! Matthew worked, went hunting and put in some fire wood for his parents. Then that evening we had our monthly supper with all of Matthew's family. He's got 4 other brothers, and all are married with kiddos too. My in laws have 18 grand kids. (one of which is in Heaven). So there are lots of people to feed and kiddos playing! (For those of you who just started following my blog)!!  Sunday was church. Thankfully we got some much needed rest on that day! Monday rolled around and we got an appointment with the dentist in the morning. So another day running. The girls went to my MIL while Matthew and I took Little Matt to the dentist. We took his tooth too, and they were able to glue it back on right then!! That was kinda cool. They were just going to put a filling to cover it, but when I said we had his tooth they decided to use that instead, seeings how it was in one piece. Now he just can't bite into an apple or carrot, because his tooth is only so strong and could still come off. If that happened they would put a filling on it. Someday down the road they can put a crown on it and it will be just like all his other grown up teeth. Come to find out we know a few of people that have a cap on their front tooth, and you'd never know. I'm so relieved that it's fixed and is doing fine.
Oh we are not done yet. My poor boy has had a time of it. Seems like things happen in threes. Then the other night we were at my BIL and SIL for supper. Mary and I were inside freezing chickens, (they had some late broilers that they had raised), the boys were outside stacking fire wood, the kiddos were inside playing Lego's. Matthew came in and asked for a drink, and my boy went to get him one, and then tripped over the cord and fell on the corner of their hearth pad by the stove and went down hard. The water spilled, but the glass didn't break and my boy was in tears. I thought oh no it's his tooth again as he hit the floor with a thump! Matthew grabbed him and got him on the couch and asked what hurt. His arm. It was swollen and he wouldn't move it. Oh here we go! I thought as I got him a drink. He was pale and tired, and sore. So we waited a while to see what we were going to do. Little Matt sat around outside with the men. We finished freezing the chickens then went home. We kinda figured we might be going to the hospital the next morning if it wasn't better. Matthew thought it might be broken, so did I. Well the next morning we got up and Little Matt was using his arm, bending his elbow and moving his fingers. All good! So we are very happy to say it is not broken. Just sore and tender. Phew.
Then last night it was so nice out, a balmy 55ish degrees. I have wanted to have another fire pit with s'mores, and I have everything just waiting. It's been really nice the past few days and warm! Oh my it's been nice out. A sweater and jeans!! Yup it's a nice fall. So we invited my BIL and SIL over with their kiddos and we had s'mores by the fire pit! I love s'more's! So good by the fire with friends and it's warm out! It was nice to visit and not have anyone get hurt or have my boy get hurt!
My poor boy is doing much better and is on the mend from all his troubles of late. He's been such a trooper though all this too.
Now I'm ready to not spend so much time at the doctors!
Ah kiddos, just when you think all is well and your so thankful for healthy ones, something is bound to happen. Although I am thankful for healthy kiddos, because they really are. Don't really go to the doctors often, if you don't count the past week! ;-)
Have a great day all!!

a good day includes ice cream...

...just ask my family! They'll tell you!!
I had a great day on Sunday. After church we came home and had lunch and one of my sisters and her son came over for a visit. We just sat on the couch and talked and giggled, while the kiddos played outside and enjoyed the sunshine. We also enjoyed some yummy treats that she brought and some iced coffee!! I had and still do have a million things to do, but I like to just rest and relax on Sunday, whenever possible. Living on a farm in the summer, or any other time of year, you don't always get that day off. Much as it would be nice. Animals and chores still need to be done two times a day. Anyways...
We decided that since it was the last day that an ice cream shop was going to be open we'd surprise the kiddos and take them down to have ice cream for supper that night. It's down on a lake and it was so nice to sit and eat and watch the kiddos run around the edge of the water. Even if the wind was really blowing and I ate some of my hair with my fries because it was blowing around so much it got in my mouth. I know it was my hair. It was a huge hit, the ice cream not the hair in my mouth!!. I had french fries and my sister had onion rings, but we shared them. I thought it was a bit too windy and cold to eat ice cream, but Matthew and the kiddos didn't. Then we went for a walk in the woods. My sister is not a farmer or much for wanting to walk in the woods, especially in her flip flops. She is the one sister that is a town/city gal. She loves to come to the farm and see the animals and us and is willing to help, but she doesn't want to live on a farm, it's not for everyone. I still love to tease her about being a city girl!! haha sorry sis, but it's true!!  She's a good sport, and had fun getting mud on her feet and squished between her toes!! She said she'd have to bring multiple pairs of shoes when she comes from now on! The boys were running way ahead of us on the trail and Little Matt knew his way around and was able to go through the woods and come back to us. I was so proud of him. Me? I would get lost a hurry. All the trees look the same to me, and the paths do too. Guess maybe if I went down there more I could tell my way around. Yeah that's it!!  The woods we went to are ours. We have a wood lot and get our fire wood there! It's great having a wood lot!
We made it back safe and sound and my sister only had a little bit of mud on her feet and flip flops! We all had a nice walk, and it wasn't nearly as windy in the woods as down on the lake. The kiddos were thrilled they got to have ice cream for supper at the ice cream shop, and a walk in the woods!
Here are some pictures of our fun! Enjoy! I know we did!!

Ice cream always tastes better on the water!

my girl caught a frog. she was very pleased too!

No I really don't have a fedish with mushrooms. I just thought they were pretty!

my sister. kiddos moving branches out of the path!

this little critter wanted a free ride on my leg. i flung him off and left him in the woods!

a beautiful sunset. this picture doesn't do it justice to how beautiful and brightly colored it was.

 Have a great day all!!

fire pit

My sister called me up one day and asked me what I thought about her getting my other sister a fire pit for Christmas. I thought that it sounded like a great idea! They often have a "campfire" in their tree stump that they have been burning. I said I didn't even know they had those. I know sheltered life in the country. We chatted about it for a while then chatted about other things. Probably about Christmas and how I wasn't even close to being ready for it! I never gave it another thought. Then when we had Christmas with my parents I got the fire pit and fire sticks to cook things on! I was surprised and excited to use it! But I would have to wait, and that seemed like a very long time.
 And then the other night we finally got the fire pit out!! Oh and my sister has a knack for finding these marshmallows on steroids too. I have never seen them so big! I still have no idea where she gets them. Well the kiddos had some left over so I dug them out and roasted marshmallows in the fire pit while My Man read a book to us all. Then we just sat around out camp fire and chatted about our days. We watched and listened to the farm critters. What one of my sisters calls "farm TV." I love that expression. As it got darker we could see the lightening bugs coming out, and the kiddos started chasing them around the yard. Some managed to catch them, and I tried to get a picture but it didn't come out, but a very small light on the camera. It was a nice evening to sit and relax by the fire and chat as a family, and listen to the kiddos giggle as they tried to catch lightening bugs. We didn't get them to bed until almost 10 pm. For my farm kiddos that's late, but we were having fun, and nights like those are just too fun to end!

this is the book

giant marshmallows, fire and sicks! we are set now!

the cheeks! 

how long do I cook this?

mmmm. it's almost as big as she is!!

that's fun in the country!

takin it easy with my man!

Thank you to my sister for all the camp fires we are going to have and memories we are able to make! Come on over for a marshmallow roast soon!!

what a life!!!

What a beautiful weekend I had!! The weather was perfect! Sunny with a bit of a breeze and oh so warm and wonderful on my face!! Just seems to lift all the winter hum drum off and bring me back to life! I love it this time of year. The trees are in full bloom, the grass is thick and lush. The sunsets are amazing! If I was a horse or cow what a great shmorgous board to eat after hay all winter long! Seeing the horses (and the cow at times), just open up and run across the pasture and kick up their heels throwing their heads around and almost here them squeal with delight as they let go and run! Then happily drop and roll around, then look around to see if anyone was watching them! Oh what a great life I live! The smells and sounds of the birds happily flying about gathering food to feed their babies, the hens clucking in the yard, the hum of neighboring lawn mowers, BBQs! The hay fields dancing as the wind comes around to cool us from the heat of the sun. The lightening bugs lighting up the fields at night. The smell of the camp fire, marshmellows and giggling of the kiddos enjoying night life in the country! I am so thankful I married a country boy and he brought me here to live!

 Got so much stuff done around the house and the farm yard! Granted I still have a ton more to do and haying season is here, finally! So that means long days getting that done. But when you have critters to feed all winter long, and hay is $4 a bale here, at least it was last year, I'm so very thankful for our haying equipment and fields that we can hay. I even like the long days in the field, and dropping in bed at night exhausted, and happy with all that was accomplished!

All four of my kiddos are gone. One is spending some time overnight at one of my sisters with her son. He was way excited about that. The girls are over at one of my brother in laws with their cousins. My man and I had a date all alone too! I enjoy those times when the house is quiet and the kiddos are gone and we can have a whole conversation with no interruptions! Doesn't happen very often, so I enjoy the times we do! I also look forward to having us all back together under one roof and listen to them chatter about all that they did and then snore that night about 5 minutes after they get into bed!

So until next time! God bless!

wild winds...

Phew, this has been such a long week. Really. We have been doing everything, but farming. We still have our chores and all that everyday twice a day. Matthew has been super busy over at the mill, and I've been super busy with chores and cleaning my house. Any of you home schooling moms know how much of home school takes over your life, and how your house work goes by the way side, and if that isn't your case then kudos to you! My house gets the basic treatment while I'm home schooling. Then once school is over I can get all that deep cleaning done, and all the soot washed off everything from the wood stove, that I love! Like my sister teasingly, sorta, tells me, it's 90 in my house in the winter and the summer!!! Yes I have AC, but I have no shade trees, and so I don't really use it. I like the hot weather! And I hate being cold in the winter, but I think it's more like 80 in my house, haha. I just love the wood stove. Actually this year all the kiddos helped do some spring cleaning with me twice. They washed walls, pictures, floors, you get the picture.
The weather has been wild with the wind, rain and the thunder storms! Now it's cold. Need layers on and pray my clothes don't blow to the next town when I hang them on the line!!
So what have I been up to this week? Well Monday seems like a month ago to me, but we went to the parade and proudly watched our boy march with the cub/boy scouts, then we had a BBQ at the house with family. Tuesday I sold some maple syrup! Oh yeah and I was putting away the kiddos winter clothes and getting out summer clothes. That is a project and a half moving buckets of clothes around, cleaning out 4 dressers and rearranging clothes. I didn't put all their sweaters away and long sleeve shirts, and I'm glad, it's cold and they still need them.Wednesday the kiddos had dentist appointments in the AM. I'm pleased to say no cavities!! Yay!! Then had some shopping and farm errands to run all over town. We had some crazy thunder rain showers too in the morning and then in the evening. We even had tornado warnings! What?! Yup in Maine, but I'm very thankful that we didn't get one here. So very thankful. I did get some pictures of the lightening though, it was just amazing to watch it. The thunder heads were huge! We got home Wed night and ran around to get everything done before the storm, but we only got a little bit of rain. Thursday I got a ton of stuff done around the house in and out. I was happy with what I got done. Last night we went to one of my brother in laws for their sons 1st birthday party! Then I helped Matthew over at the mill finish up some bee hive stuff for an order before we came home at 9ish. The week isn't over yet. DaLaney went to her grandmothers for the day to sew and cook. Then she has a "date" with Daddy tonight, and they are going fishing with her cousin and his brother. As for me and the kiddos, I don't really have a plan for the day, because I'm sure that it will change like the wind as my days usually do. But I'll get something done.

that's half the thunderhead. I wanted the sunset.

I was excited to get such an awesome picture of the lightening streak coming out of the sky. 

look real close and you can see the lightening streak behind the telephone pole.

Enjoy your day! I need to get some more work done, the kiddos want a snack, and I need an iced coffee! Breakfast seems like it was so long ago!

blueberries...

in Maine in May? Sure why not?! Actually they were frozen from last year. We bought a bunch of them frozen and cleaned from a local man that owns lots of blueberry fields. I won't tell you how many pounds we bought, but it was a lot. Heck of a deal too!!  I just love blueberries. Pancakes, muffins, pie...
Anyways I make all the jelly /jam we eat, and am almost out. So I dug out lots of blueberries and made some jelly. Emma LOVES blueberry jelly, it's her favorite. They kept coming to the kitchen and smelling the aroma of the blueberries cooking down. Yes I made jelly, I strained them. I couldn't help but take a few pictures and now I want to share them!
Not much has been going on farm wise, too much rain, again. Now we need to dry out, again.

Cooking down the blueberries

adding sugar/pectin

isn't that perr-ty? a nice mixture of jars too! I made a double batch.

this is what I use for making jelly/jam. Then I can use however much sugar I want to. I used 3 C sugar and 8 C blueberries. 

 I like to use this pectin, because I can use as much or as little sugar I want, or honey. I like to taste the berries in my jelly/jam and not all sugar! Besides I think it's healthier! I've never used honey in my jelly/jam...
So until next time!

yard work rambling...

I like yard work. I certainly like it better then house work and cleaning the toilet! There is always more things to do then time allows.
My lawn was in need of mowing and I got it done, and the rain hasn't started yet! Matthew was gone this morning so I got busy. The kiddos cleaned up their plither of toys all over the yard while I mowed. I only hit a few rocks that got thrown onto the lawn by the plow man plowing the neighbors driveway with that last snow storm we got on April Fool's day. Oops. Hope I didn't damage the blade...
 Last year we fenced in the what we call the "back lawn" for the cow, but well that didn't work out so we put the horses on it. Cuts down on the hay in the summer for them, and that cuts down a lot of mowing on my part, the horses do it! Takes me about an hour to mow the lawn. After I got the lawn mowed Matthew came home, I had just literally stopped the mower when he pulled into the driveway. We had lunch and he was off to plow the neighbors garden, so I cleaned the horses stalls, then raked up the rocks on the front lawn and cleaned it up. The kiddos raked the rocks on the side lawn. They did a really good job at it too!
We were able to put the cow out on fresh grass the other day. It's finally ready and dry enough! She's really happy about that, now the butter will be a darker yellow! Changed real pale yellow once she wasn't on grass anymore.
I'm done rambling. I was just pleased to get so much work done this morning before it rained. Oh I also made a cake to take to my in laws for supper tonight for our monthly meal together!
 I also have a picture to share with you!

"I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing here, but it just feels right!"

says the little Partridge Rock hen. She was just sitting there happy as you please this morning. So we had to take her picture! She's got a ways to go before she'll lay her first egg, but it looks like she'll do just fine!
Have a great weekend!

country beauty...

Alright, so I'm a huge sucker for not only homemade doughnuts, and cinnamon rolls, but also sunsets! When Matthew and I were first married he worked at a dairy farm, milking nights, as well as his sawmill/woodworking shop, at that time we didn't have all our farm critters! I had a part time job. But anyways he would be at the barn, and I would sit outside or take a nice long walk down our quiet, country road, forcing myself not to jump every time I heard a peeper or cricket. I grew up in a small town, but in town, and listened to 18 wheelers and jake brakes slowing as they flew down the hill to a stop, not the crickets and wind blowing through the hay fields. I would torture my husband as I would keep the radio on for some "noise" at night. I wasn't used to the peaceful, quietness of  country living. I now cherish the quiet, and peacefulness of the country. I have the pleasure of open areas and the view is spectacular! So I have over the many years sat and watched and taken many pictures of what I call my sunsets! I never tire of seeing them either. The sky lights up as if on fire as the sun settles down below the mountains and another long day comes to an end. OK so I'm not always sitting and enjoying them, sometimes we are out and about doing farm work or garden stuff... !
That said I have a couple pictures of my sunset the other night, and wanted to share them with ya'll! These were taken about 10 minutes apart. Just to show the difference 10 minutes can make!

Enjoy, and thanks for stopping our plot of land we call home!

mother daughter bonding

It's been snowing all day. No this is not an April fool's joke either, I would not joke about such things. I don't really get into the whole pranking people on Aprils Fool's day. Never really got it. But anyways. I had to begrudgingly dig out the kiddos winter stuff again. Yes begrudgingly. I did not want to look at that stuff all over my house again. I wanted to cry when I saw it, the ski pants and the snow. But surprisingly the kiddos had fun in the snow, after all their complaining about it weeks ago, they were out throwing snowballs at each other and sliding down the snow banks! Imagine! They never sees to amaze me!!
Yesterday late afternoon (before the snow) I found myself home with just the girls. The boys had gone out rabbit hunting again on the last day. We were sitting on the couch chilling and then I decided we would have a home spa day. Never having done the whole spa thing myself, I took a swing at it! I dug out the nail polish and the clippers and all that wonderful stuff and we proceeded to have manipedi's at home! My girls are right into that sort of thing. Their best colors are pink and purple, no big surprise there right. So they picked out the colors they wanted. Then got creative about which hand, foot would be what color. They only picked two colors they liked best though! I like to paint my toes when I wear flip flops, and I even like my toe ring. The girls would like a toe ring, to be like Mommy! I might have to get them one for the summer! Wow would they like that! So while we painted toes and fingers the girls had hot coco and I had some tea, Tazo Chai at that! Yum. In the midst of making the hot coco it got spilled all over the table all over one of Little Matt's school books and all though the hot coco container. Now Little Matt's spelling book smells like chocolate, could be worse...LOL  So we proceeded to make some more after we cleaned up the chocolaty mess. We laughed and talked and giggled while we painted fingers and toes. I'll be the first to admit that I am not the best at painting those wiggly, chubby fingers and toes, but we had fun just hanging out and taking it easy together and enjoying a little pampering! Once all the toes and fingers were dry and the hot coco was gone they went outside and played in the dirt! At least they had boots on their feet! My girls can be real girlie then turn right around and get dirty while playing and not even think twice about it! I love that. They truly are farm/country girls! I didn't get a picture of them playing outside, because Matthew had the camera while they were hunting. But I did get a picture of all my wonderful girls toes and fingers! I did not take a picture of mine, and your welcome! haha

my girls fingers and toes, aren't they cute??!!! Can you guess who is who?

By the way, the boys did see some rabbits while hunting, and one of the kids that was hunting got one! Little Matt had a good time and is looking forward to going out again. But I'll have to blog about that later, after I get more information about it from Little Matt!

For supper last night I made a pot roast, and it was delish! I did get a picture while it was cooking, but didn't get one before it was devoured. All of it was gone! I cooked carrots with it, and had mashed potato, with gravy my family likes gravy, Rachel and I do not, and had blueberry pie for dessert. The pot roast and potato are gone. And only a little bit of pie is left! I guess hunting and a spa treatment makes everyone hungry!  But here is a picture of the roast. Made the whole house smell good with the seasonings!

Roast, carrots, onion, rosemary, thyme. It's Pioneer Woman's Pot Roast if you want the recipe, it's really good!! We give it two thumbs up times six!!!

my morning...

"Wwaaaaa... Mommy!!!"
My sleepy eyes popped open. "What?"
"I have a chicken pox in my mouth... wwaaaaa..."
"Come see Mommy"
Child cries down the hall way to come see me. Climbs up on the bed and I hug them. Daddy grabs a flashlight to investigate the mouth. No Chicken pox. Relief. Child calmly gets down and heads for the bathroom. Close my eyes...
"Mommy..." sobs... a different child thumping down the hall...
"What?" My eyes pop back open, a little more awake then a minute ago.
"My eyes hurt."
Mommy and Daddy look at the eyes, chicken pox very close to their eyes.
"Get some toilet paper..." Daddy
"Um, how about a wash cloth..." Mommy
"A wash cloth with some cool water and gently wipe your eyes. Careful not to rub."
"OK." Child heads to the bathroom to wash eyes...
Mommy and Daddy relax. Thump... more sobs... third child enters the room...
"I just itch all over, and my face is so uncomfortable. " some small sobs exit the mouth of the child...
Mommy, "I know and they are getting better, and I'll get up and put some baking soda on them to help." Hugs. Child leaves the room to the bathroom. One comes back and climbs on the bed to snuggle with Mommy, and flops on my head and arm  and rubs my hand and whispers "I love you Mommy." "I love you too" I whisper back, and smile.
Husband "three down one to go..."
Mommy laughs, and looks at the clock, almost afraid... 6:50 am...
 The other two come back in the room and climb on the bed. No one feeling awake or wanting to rush out of bed...
Then the last child appears peeking around the door. Mommy holds out her arms and child leaps into them, and hugs me tight. "I just love you Mommy."  "I love you too." Child runs to the other side of the bed and hugs Daddy, then heads for the bathroom...
All the children leave to get dressed and we get up...

What did you expect room service and a jacuzzi???

LOL!!!

sunny weekend

What a beautiful weekend it was here in Maine! The sun was out in full force, melting snow and it was warm outside! The kiddos had a good time out in it too! One of the kiddos spent the night at my in laws with her cousin on Friday and they had a blast. Saturday night we went to a friends house for a wonderful meal of Mexican food and Godiva White Chocolate cheesecake, with raspberries and whipped cream on top! I could have eaten just that for supper! It was super good, or in Maine as I sometimes find myself guilty of saying is that was wicked good! We has a snow storm that started Saturday night and it was huge snow flakes coming down and adding up fast. I was hoping we wouldn't get lots of it, and we only got 6 inches! Half of what they were calling for!! Then is rained. Well actually it down poured! On top of that we got a thunder storm! A huge one! Woke me out of a dead sleep. I don't remember ever having a thunder storm in the winter! The lightening was just as bad, and it was right on top of us! We were on high alert because one of the kiddos is afraid of the thunder, but slept right through it! We did not. That settled a lot of the snow and made a slushy mess of the roads. But the sun was out again today and felt wonderful on my face as we enjoyed it after church. The warmth of the sum makes the kiddos excited for summer. One said the other day I hate winter, it's never going to be summer. Kinda grumpily. I think they sound like me, but it seems like a long winter with all the snow we've gotten. But they came right out of it after we told them that yes summer will be here before you know it and you'll wish you had a snow bank to jump in! Or a mud puddle to cool off in. Yeah water is a magnet for them. I have to wash their clothes right after and hose them off after they swim in one, they stink, but they think it's the most fun! I remember swimming in a mud puddle or two when I was a little girl, so they come by it honestly! And my husband, well he was a mischievous little boy once too!
I know they are calling for more snow this week too! Monday night into Tuesday! Not a lot though, but we'll see!
But right now, I'm thankful for two days with the sun beating down, warmer air, not lugging water from the house to the barn because of the solar heat of the sun, a wonderful family that I cherish, and the promise of spring right around the corner and all that it will bring!! Have a wonderful night all!

stone

Alright, just a quick update on Maggie. We missed her last heat last month, or rather we didn't really miss it, the AI tech never got back to us and well, there goes that. So we have been watching her like a hawk this month, and really wanted to hit the mark. Well she was showing signs of being in heat the past day and a half, different then the last time, not so much of the tail, and flirting, but hanging around the chicken tractor and mooing a lot yesterday and today, and other visual signs I won't write, but were there. YES! we thought, and we put in a call to the AI tech. He came this afternoon, and after checking her out, he said yup to breeding her. That she was ready!  We wanted to re-breed to Denali , but no such luck, not that I believe in luck, he (the AI tech) had sold out of him earlier today. Bummer. What are the chances of that, not that I believe in chances either. So after chatting with him and looking at the bulls all over again we decided to go with a bull named Stone. He's on the tall side, and Maggie is on the short side, so maybe a baby in between. He has a high cheese merit, high fat, and produces "exceptional udders," and for a dairy cow that is what you want, and he settles his cows well. I guess this post would not be for the faint of heart, but then neither is farming! The cheese merit is good, because I want to make cheese, and the fat is good for butter! And come to find out Maggie may have never settled last time, because cows don't usually abort that early in their pregnancy, but rather absorb it. I'm learning so much, and have so much more to learn! The kids had a few questions, and we answered them too. I think it's best to be honest with them, and answer their questions. They are trying to put it together, and they don't want Maggie to get hurt. We assured them she was not hurt. Tonight Rachel asked with a big semi toothless smile if Maggie was going to have a baby, and we told her that we hoped so. She informed us she did too, and wanted a girl! I asked Little Matt what he wanted to name the calf, and he grinned showing off that cute dimple in his left cheek "Dandy," (Dandelion) was his reply. Now we are looking at an October calf. So now we wait... again.


**Just a side note, I'm still trying to remember my other posts and what I labeled them, so if they don't make since, bare with me. I'm not the most computer savvy woman! It's OK, I can handle that!

testing...

The sap evaporator, "saperator" is home and almost all set up for this spring! In with the new, out with the old, it's in the sap house and looks good. Matthew, Little Matt and one of Matthew's brothers came over to help set it up. Needs a few tweaks and a few more things and it will be finished and will be ready for boiling! Can't wait!
The rest of Thanksgiving week was well, horrible to say the least. I found out that something on the sawmill broke as well. Not sure if it's been fixed or not. The insurance company still has not even looked at the van, and we've been using my in-laws cars, and then last Sunday we lost the heater core, again! So it's back at the garage. The garage that has fixed it has been great to deal with too. Hopefully they will continue to be that way! And today Matthew found a hole in the tractor tent! And if it continues it will rip out the top and the tractor will not be covered! Aaaaaahhhhghggg. But the good news is it can be fixed. Called the company and it's only 20$ to get a patch kit, and he'll eat the shipping charge. Maggie should be coming into heat in the next few weeks as well.

The other day we went up into the back field, behind our neighbors house and cut some hay, that would have been second crop had we gotten to it, and piled it on the hay wagon loose and are feeding it to the horses. They like it and have been eating it right up! Little Matt drove the tractor, I pitched it on the wagon, Matthew tromped it down on the wagon, and the girls ran around giggling. DaLaney wanted to drive the tractor, but Daddy said not yet. Maybe next summer. Was fun!

it's only monday?!?!

Oh it's already been one of those weeks, and it's only Monday! 

Yesterday morning Matthew came in from milking rather discouraged. He told us Maggie had aborted. What?! Oh no I thought. I asked if she was ok, and he said yes. Guess it's God's way of taking care of things if the calf wasn't right. I'm thankful Maggie is ok, and today she seemed fine as well. So now we wait until next month and try the AI again.

Then today Matthew had a delivery to make, all went well, then he went up to see a dairy farmer to see about buying a 6 month old heifer calf. Well that was fine and good, but decided not to buy the calf, because the farm was not that nice, and he didn't feel it would be a good move to get the calf. Ok that's fine too. Then on his way home he hit a deer. What?! Yup! He's fine thankfully, and the van is ok. We don't have any lights on it, but it still runs and he came home to us safely. He got to bring the deer home too, so now we will have some deer burg.

When he got home we headed out for a date. Just the two of us, to a meeting about farming. Well that wasn't all it was cracked up to be either, we were expecting it to be more then it was, but it wasn't. Oh well. I'm thankful for the date with my husband and the opportunity to spend some time with him alone! We shall see what the rest of the week has in store for us as it plays out. 

I guess this would be the time I call upon the grace He gave me to make it through my life that I am thankful for.

come for a fun ride with me!!

I've been very busy. I'm not really a big planner, but I can plan, and do try, sometimes. Well I did try and life got in the way of my plan, as it often does. It's nothing earth shattering or life altering, my plans, or what happens, but it is maddening at times too. The other day I planned on home school, and it was a success, and in the afternoon I was going to dust. No big deal you say?? Well.... let me tell you what happened to my plan. Just hang on for the ride and see if you can keep up. We needed a dryer, ours was not working again, and not worth putting more money into, so we got a new one. I had some towels in the wash that needed to be dried too. In comes this huge monster of a dryer, that is a blessing because it works and we got a good deal on it. Well it needed the cords changed on it to plug it in, 3 prongs verses 4 prongs. So it sat in my, shall we say small living room by the phone shelf, for a day or so, and Matthew was able to change the cord, after speaking with an electrician. So with this huge dryer is in my living room I now had a new obstacle to dust around. I picked a corner and started the dusting, had to skip things around the dryer because I couldn't move the beast, and I got to a window. I looked at it and it needed some serious cleaning. I went into the kitchen to get a drink and wanted some more iced coffee, but decided that some warm tea would be good to warm me up. I put the water in the microwave and got the tea started. I put the tea bags in it and left it to steep, and started cleaning my window, which led me to the other windows in the house, all needing to be washed. Not an easy task either. I forgot about finishing my dusting at that time, in case you hadn't guessed. I went back in the kitchen to check on my tea and it was luke warm. Yuck. So iced tea it was, I put some ice in it and milk and a touch of sugar. I glanced at the clock, plenty of time, or so I thought. I knew what I had planned on for supper, stuffed shells, something that takes time to do, well I put the water on to boil, and cut up the onion for the hamburg, took care of the children's needs, answered the phone, and then  I glanced at the clock, again, almost time to bring the cow in to eat and the horses in before it was too dark. No problem, or so I thought. I've abandoned my window washing now too. I dumped the shells in the water and went outside to get Maggie in to eat. She decided to come running to the gate and stop. She stood there looking at me as I called her, then she mooed and started to munch on grass. So 10 minutes later she comes in the barn and puts her head to the side of the head lock and eats. No point in fighting with her to move her head. After she eats her grain I bribe her with an apple to get her head in the head lock. I run back in the house hoping the shells are not over cooked, and thankfully they were not too bad. I looked at my tea, a lost cause at this point. Watered down, luke warm again, tea. Yuck.  I drank some and dumped the rest opting for cold water instead. I ran back outside to get the horses in before I started cooking the hamburg, and of course Abby, who always comes to me took off running to the other side of the pasture Time Out right behind her! Sigh. I need the exercise anyways and proceeded to chase them around the huge paddock. (It seemed huge in the almost dark, cold, and tall grass I was running in, praying I wouldn't fall)! After awhile Abby came back to me and we went in the barn, and got them put to bed. Yup I put the animals to bed. Returning to the house, and if your wondering about the kids I had put in a movie for them and told them to stay in the house. They were happy to watch a movie and stay in where it is warm. I got supper made and put in the oven, and went back outside to milk Maggie because Matthew was going to be late getting home.  His week at the mill has been, challenging at best. Everything seemed to go wrong over there, and that was one last thing he needed to come home to do, and I was glad to help. I like to milk. The milking chores done, and all the critters "in bed" for the night we finally sat down together and ate.
So I had a plan, but as you can see it didn't turn out the way I planned, but I got the dusting done today, the monster dryer is where it belongs, and I can play catch up on the laundry.  I still haven't finished the windows, but there is always tomorrow, and with all this going on, I again thought to myself, "man some chocolate chip cookies would be real good right now!"

sunny days

I'm thankful for my sister, who stopped by late this afternoon with some Garelick Farms Egg Nog, and a wonderful fall tablecloth for me. Had a very nice visit, and good conversation. We don't get to see each other often, due to, well, life and her job, but I don love the visits.

It's been real nice here the past few days. The sun has been out and been real warm and is wonderfully refreshing after the rain. Everything is drying out nicely. Even me!! haha!! I've been too busy running around town, and going to the bank, forgetting it was closed due to Veteran's Day, so I had to go back today, along with the other stores, again, trying to get things done to really enjoy the nice weather. Two mornings, and a good portion of the afternoon have been gone in a flash. I went to a baby shower, yesterday too. Oh the cute little boy things, all soft and cuddly!
 My mornings usually start at 7am, and don't end, eerrr, stop until 8-9pm, then I can sit down and relax, until I decide to do something else, like make bread at 8pm, like tonight. It's cooking in the oven right now. Smells wonderful!
 I hope tomorrow we can get some stuff done on the farm, like moving pastures, mowing the lawn, cleaning the barns, laundry, maybe one last time on the line if it's 60 degrees they should dry, I like to push it to see how late in the year I can hang clothes on the line... the list goes on! Guess it won't be a slow day:-)
Enjoy the warmth of the sun all!!