Farm Family Adventures

BAD GUY!

2011-01-02T17:13:00.000-08:00

" I a Wobber"

Christmas Moments!

2011-01-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

I am not going to leave much to say, these pictures can speak for themselves.
Lilly

Blessing as St. Lucia, for our celebration, candles were put out early since they were not behaving this year. (Candles, the kids were fine)

animals by Sam

2010-09-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

Ivy and her son, I love how he got the crossed heads! cute

Leo, our black and white percheron

Gabe, the Ram

I have not been taking enough photos lately, I cannot find the camera very often! I have a few budding photographers around here. (And a Ram who needs to go on a diet, obviously.)

F.H. photos

2010-09-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

I love Fair Haven, I will put more of these on later.

Honey bees!

2010-05-08T15:22:00.000-07:00

Here we are, starting with Samuels honey bees. We were outside all day and didn't even get lunch until 3:30! When the bees got here I was so scared, I had to take the box from the UPS driver and I could see all the bees inside and they were buzzing and I have always been afraid of bees! This is Samuels thing, right? WHY was he handing them to me? Anyway, i took the bees and held them up to the sun and they were so beautiful! With the light shining thru them, their abdomens were glowing as if they were made of honey, instead of the honey makers. And, I fell in love with them, I helped as much as I could with setting up, but you can see from the photos, I didn't have to be far away, the bees were so gentle. Joe kept bees for 12 years and he said he has never seen such gentle honey bees. Susie, you are totally right about the Italian bees! We only ended up with them because they were the only ones we could still find for sale, maybe that was Gods plan all along. Samuel really needed this right now, and I can see his smile, even under the bee veil!

These eggs

2010-04-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, on a little farm, on a big hill, where a family takes care of sheep, these eggs were found.

They were found by a dog, who sniffed them out, and that was the only way they could be found, because as you can tell, in the next photo, there is no way to see them, even if you are standing right next to them.

These magically sniffed out Killdeer eggs were visited by all in the land, and carefully observed day after day, until the Killdeer momma became trusting of the children and no longer flies away to scold from a tree, but just hops a short way away in the grass and soaks up with pride the admiring comments of the family that cares for the sheep, on the big hill, on the little farm, where the eggs were found.

NOT the end

Happy Springtime!

2010-04-11T19:34:00.000-07:00

We are having so much fun! Happy Springtime.

CAtch Up Aunt Donna

2010-04-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

She is already pondering the bursting of the balloons, by the look on her face.

In doolittle creek.

Easter egg hunt, not gonna let go of that bag!

Love having ponies in the yard, magical day.

Doesn't it look like they are dancing together?

Shakespeare and Sunlight

2010-03-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

I was going to post the next little person, with the whats happening now

for Aunt Donna, but after I got the whole post done, the ATMOSPHERE ATE IT!!!!!

I am mad, it is late and so I leave that for another day!

Right now

2010-02-28T19:49:00.000-08:00

Okay. So right now he is up to, basketball, carving wooden spoons, new camo tents came in the mail-very exciting, paid for himself. His first year to go to snow camp, only one small sprained pinkie. Sleeps on camo sheets, under a camo duvet, sometimes he sleeps in the barn, especially when there are new lambs. Iceskating is very, very big, and he dotes on his littlest sis, who is getting spoileder by the millisecond. Is that a real measurement?

Romeo, oh Romeo

2010-02-16T15:24:00.000-08:00

My biggest, bestest Valentines ever...

Chloe happenings

2010-02-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

I am sorry, but I never get tired of the baby-in-sunglasses photos! I am going to do a set of two of the childrens recent photos whenever I post. Sound good, Aunt Donna? I am starting with the youngest, but NOT going in order. so, email or call with your guess of who is next...

new puppy

2010-02-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

I am trying to decide what to share, while I am trying to get all my computer stuff done at night, on Dean's computer, since mine is down. Then it hits me, as Dean AND the new puppy each wake each other simultaniously, snoring, the new puppy! Isn't he cute? Romeo, for Valentines day.

Birds

2010-01-07T11:59:00.000-08:00

We were watching out the window today and saw a bird that seemed really sick at the feeder. I told everyone that we would need to report it on our bird watching chart to Cornell Orinthology lab. We are taking part in the Feeder Watch Program. So then a few minutes later, the same bird came back. Our pilates instructor who was here for our lesson said, "I want to see what a sick bird looks like, what is different?" So she looked out the wondow and at the exact moment our barn cat, Cookie, jumped up out of nowhere and snatched the sick bird in one motion off the feeder, and landed on the ground with him halfway eaten! We are still wondering how we report this to Cornell. A bird WAS sick, but isn't anymore...

St.Lucia Day

2010-01-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

We have been behind in our posts lately, but I guess I will try to catch you up on things. Here we have our St. Lucia for this year (December 2009), She is beautiful,

but not very happy about the candles. We have always been very careful, putting a wet cloth on the girls head, and all. But if she looks less than relaxes it is because she is!!! She brought a wonderful breakfast to us and candles and hot tea. It was so lovely.

Cookie Baking day

2009-12-22T14:45:00.000-08:00

We baked until our feet fell off, but all of our great grandmas would be proud, because we made all the traditional Christmas cookies for our family feast! Blessing snapped this one and I love the light. See my cute apron? I got it in Tennessee when I went to see Jeremiah and Donna.

The baby is tugging at my apron string. She always wants to dance when we are in the kitchen. I don't know where she gets the idea??????

the two cutest babies in NY

2009-12-21T11:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas Family photo

2009-12-21T10:56:00.000-08:00

Here we are in all our Olan Mills Christmas card glory! If you didn't get one in person, sorry about that, but you would just throw it away in a few days anyway so this is less expensive!

More ballet fun

2009-12-21T10:49:00.000-08:00

These are for all the aunts and everyone who couldn't make it! SO cute.

The ballet class

2009-12-21T10:46:00.000-08:00

I wanted to show you a photo of the ballet class that our eldest has been teaching this last semester. We are so proud of her!!

(You might also recognize the little blonde in the front.) He, He, He!!

Summer Dreamin

2009-12-16T16:49:00.000-08:00

I played with this photo on the computer, and it was reminding me that there is a thing called summer.
It's easy to forget what it looks like this time of year, but impossible to forget why we miss it.

No more invisible sidewalk!

2009-12-07T09:02:00.000-08:00

This is the new sidewalk post, as you can see everyone helped with it, although not everyone is in every picture, the one at the end is worth waiting for. Come over for a visit, the handprints turned out great. (Daddy was NOT as happy about the cat prints). Sorry Daddy.

Jack O Lantern

2009-12-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

This is a little late, but I had to share the wonderful creativity of my daughter. She lost both front teeth, shortly before trick or treat, and her idea for a homemade costume was to be a jack O lantern.

Talulla

2009-11-23T13:41:00.000-08:00

Our new dog, she is white and brown, and she used to be lost, but now she's found. She is also the only dog around. Welcome Talulla, the "rescue jack". She is still learning to trust and she jumps more than she sits, but she is starting to like us and she definitely mmmmmmm likes our FOOD!!!!

PS This is SO funny, the baby added that mmmm, when I stepped away from the computer for a minute! ha

Shots of the Fam with the new Cam

2009-11-12T12:54:00.001-08:00

I am a poet today. I am also the Aunt of a new neice today!

Congrats on Lillian May to the new daddy and momma, Miah and Donna.

Tea and Cookies??

2009-10-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

Tea and cookies, Aunt Donna??

Hog Island Ram

2009-10-29T13:57:00.001-07:00

We visited our friends at the Fingerlakes Fiber mill, here is their beautiful Hog Island Ram.

New project gypsy cart

2009-10-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

four little gypseys jumping on the cart, we thought it would never happen, but here it is started and it looks GOOD.

Unloading the new bee box

2009-10-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

Samuel has been wishing to keep bees for many years. (He is 10), anyway his wish is coming true, our neighbor is mentoring him in his new ambitions. We are researching how to keep them organically, and I think it will Not be as impossible as some say. Soon our son will be "self sufficiant," (and by the way, bee keeping equipment and books are his Christmas list...)

Bugs Eye View

2009-10-05T14:09:00.000-07:00

Check out this awesome caterpillar, he looked very dangerous, but turned out to be some sort of frittary?? Or something like that, anyway he sounds like a harmless bug now. ( I was the only one not afraid of him)

Homespun

2009-10-05T14:04:00.001-07:00

*We are excited to be getting ready for our handwork nights at our farm.

We gather together with friends and eat and make wonderful things, in the chilly fall evenings when you cannot work in your garden, or mow, or swim, and it gets very cozy here.

Humble Hill farm

2009-08-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

A little sample of the farm fresh veggies that come from around here, this is a combination of our CSA amount from our friends at Humble Hill, an organic farm in Spencer, NY, and a few things from another local farm stand, and last but not least the small offerings from our own soil.

sliding

2009-08-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

The playground is maybe her favorite place!

5 conservation breeds at the Tioga County Fair

2009-07-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

From left to right,
Jacob, Iclandic, Leichester Longwool, Shetland, Hog Island

I am really sorry that you can't see the sheep better, but that is how it is at a sheep show. I
had to post this anyway, since it is a huge accomplishment that there are 5 conservation breed, or rare breed sheep at the local fair, in the ring at the same time. (Clap Clap Clap!!!!) And what is more, they are being raised by our next generation. 4 of the 5 breeds are being kept on our farm, and 2 of those are being raised here.

The children had much more fun than the sheep, especially the hog Island, who really detests shows, and acts as depressed as a sheep can when we take her. Now that she has fulfilled her obligation, she can retire to the back pasture and we can find a new H.I. Ewe to take her place,
hopefully a more social one!

Vacation photos

2009-07-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

Aunt Donna's baby is kicking Chloes hand, but she will not sit still long enough to tell.

Donna and I after the pedicures that Jeremiah treated us to. My first ever!!!!

Chloe and Uncle Jeremiah kiss bye bye, the last night we were there.

I am back!

2009-07-05T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hello I am back to my blog, I had a vacation and then some. Now, being all refreshed and all that, expect to see lots of awesome photos! I am taking photos like crazy, but with my old yucky camera, so the outdoor ones are the ones that will stick. This is Rebeckahs peony, the first time it bloomed, it was beautiful.

Happy Baby Toes

2009-07-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some really happy babies nursing, Mollie and Chloe, toe to toe.

Our Luna

2009-07-05T11:57:00.000-07:00

Blessing with a Luna moth, that we found out by the B&B cottage.

I will be away from my blog

2009-06-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

I will be away from my blog for a while and I will be flying just like the little creature here! Have fun without me!

Boy with Crayfish LOL!!! YUMMY

2009-06-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

Aunt Donna, are you looking? Did you see Chloe eating dirt? Poppy skirt? You better leave a comment!

Food Art

2009-06-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

This crazy blog

2009-06-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

I can't post much, my window keeps freezing up, but it does let me post photos. So, that is what I am going to keep doing until I figure it out! HELP Jeremiah!

Our 16th Anniversary

2009-06-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

My window is broken, I can't write!

2009-06-08T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hello, from Chloe's new baby buggy

Spring recital 2009

2009-06-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

Spring recital 2009

2009-06-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

Spring recital 2009

2009-06-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

For some reason I can't type after I load photos today, so I will just say, here are the dancers, they had the best, most exceptional dances ever, and I was so happy and proud of them.

Spring recital 2009

2009-06-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

Poppies

2009-05-27T18:52:00.000-07:00

If you are tired of seeing poppies then you probably looked at the other blog first. Like her poppy skirt?

In the garden

2009-05-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

We put in some herbs tonight, inbetween rain and moving sheep fence.

The baby is a natural, she grabbed a spade, dug a hole and put the potted basil in the hole, without any prompting. I am amazed at her, she is only 13 months old!! Samuel took these photos and I think they are from a great angle!

sheepshearing and rosebushes

2009-05-07T11:25:00.000-07:00

Sharing images of happiness and love and mushy things today. We planted the baby's rose bush, now that we think it is safely warm enought to. It was a great opportunity for her to eat some nice, clean dirt. She enjoyed it.

Also we had our shearing . It is the 6th or 7th year of sheep and I just realized I have no photos of any of our shearing days. Maybe it always feel just after the cameras were stolen?

Goodbye Grandma Kitty

2009-04-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

As you know if you look on these pages, there are

many photos of children holding animals. This will be the last one with our special cat Kashka. She was 16, and was known as grandma kitty for the last few years, as she was deaf, the name change didn't bother her any. She had a few batches of kittens when she was younger, but her family was definitely her love, and she stuck by us thru moving 4times, puppies, and tail pulling babies. Always with a gentle spirit. I miss her, and if my posts are a little boring, it might be because I am really missing her presence and all the memories and years that represents.

Rest in Peace, Grandma Kitty, April 27th, 2009

First Birthday Queen

2009-04-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

Who says healthy has to be unappetizing? This is a Betty Crocker recipe that I simply used organic ingredients for. How easy is that? Strawberry shortcake, and One more Tradition. We always let the babies "pick out" their first peice of b-day cake. I can't post the 35 photos of face stuffing that come after this first taste!!!

Big Birthday Waah Tradition

You would laugh if I told you this is exactly what her big sister Blessing did on her first b-day. Take the crown off and cry about it. As you can see there are about 5 people trying to make her wear it, don't worry, we let her once we snapped this.

addicted to cute lambs

2009-04-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

(I think we all are.) I walk with the baby once a day to check them, I can't go in the pen anymore because they are trying to nibble her toes.

lambs, again, sorry I can't help it!

2009-04-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

I can't help posting our cute lamb photos, one of these days I will see I put them on more than once, ha.

Isaiahs Baptism

2009-04-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

Isaiah asked Jesus to be the King of his whole life and to forgive him for the bad things he has done. Then he picked up his head and said "I want to be baptised on Easter." Well, he did, here he is being passed up to his daddy after he was dipped. If you know Isaiah, you know that this was a major day for him, he has Sensory Perception Disorder, and anytime he gets wet, it disturbs him a lot!! This day, not only was it his own choice but he didn't scream (as he usually does,) and he didn't even cry! So, we would have to say, Jesus really made him a brand new man.

Easter lovely

2009-04-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

This is Micah wearing the easter dress I made for her, Abi and Chloe have a matching one. Their bonnets are all different, though. We ate dinner at Joys house and the light is always beautiful for photos there, even on a dark day.

Sweetness on the farm

2009-04-09T10:53:00.000-07:00

I have had many thoughts about mud lately. I know, most of my neighbors probably have too, but when the mud actually is pouring out of the hillside, when we are trying to get up to the lambing pen...

Then today my mind was blessed with the thought that my life is not just mud, my life is actually FULL of sweetness.

Here are some of the sweetest things in my life,

The smile my husband has that is only for me

My little baby safe and warm, asleep in her crib

The sunshine

The little bottle baby lamb we are feeding

My son dressed up like a knight, riding bareback up the hill on our haflinger pony.

Our good friends that we are going to share their Sedar meal with tonight

Fresh laundry on my line, swinging in the breeze

The thought of a gypsy cart, planning it, building it

Chocolate!

Sewing Easter dresses,

bonnets and bunnies

The unbelievable thing is that this is just a partial list of the wonderful things I experienced today in my sweet, muddy life!

Come with us on a nice walk!

2009-03-14T13:59:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody, this is a post that is to be continued, the

fam went on a walk. One of those early spring walks, when

you are desperate to get out in the air, but the earth is still

dingy and grey. The birds are singing because the sky is

blue and the only place you want to look is...UP.

That is, unless you are still a child. So, here we go, a walk from

my view, and their view. First Installment

Baby Sunshine

2009-03-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

I think the pool where we spent most of our time was just about the prettiest place in Orlando. If you know me, you probably know that Orlando is not my choice for a vacation, but since it was a trip with Family, we did look forward to the chance for some awesome grandma and papa memories.

I took one look at the pool and my eyes filled with tears, I had a dream about this pool, almost a year ago, and to see it in life made me realize we were supposed to be there...for some reason. I don't always understand why things like that happen, but I guess it's just reassurance that God is really bigger than we are and sees time differently, and it helps to know that I don't have to see the big picture, or understand it to be able to trust.

The whole Fam at Homosassa Springs

2009-03-03T12:56:00.001-08:00

There are some really friendly Manatees at this park. The boat ride was great, with the possibility of snakes and alligators making everyone extra excited. The birds were beautiful and I snapped a few that I am proud of, so look for more pics next.

Florida Trip

2009-03-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

Here is a little mermaid! We had a great time in Florida but are happy to be back, watch for more trip photos!

The Whole Fam at Fridays

2009-02-11T09:19:00.000-08:00

We rushed out the door to see baby Mollie at the hospital and when we had our fill of looking at the beautiful baby, it was 7:30, and when we got into the truck to go home we heard several, we are "hungries". So we trucked over to Fridays and splurged to celebrate the new baby!!!

Henry the new rooster

2009-02-11T09:14:00.001-08:00

Take a peek at the new handsom man in the house. The chicken house that is! Henry is a sweet guy, our ladies really like him

Happy Birthday Beautiful!

2009-02-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to Beautiful Blessing, number 15, we LOVE you.

Chloe's hair cut

2009-02-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

Her first hair cut and her first foray into cupboard emptying. FUN FUN FUN> Wish you were here! (to help pick up, tee hee!)

Best baby mollie photo

2009-02-11T09:01:00.000-08:00

I submit this to be the best baby Mollie photo taken yet, It has been our pleasure to see her twice already, and we hope she is coming over tomorrow for a visit. We just can't get enough of her cute little face.

chores by horse-tractor

2009-02-11T08:55:00.000-08:00

Well, they are not actually doing chores in the photo, but I thought I would put another snow picture on before its all gone. Especially for the southern family. This is a familiar sight, hauling hay, water, and sisters and brothers. Blessing and Caleb the horse. They have been begging for a 4-wheeler, but I look out my window, today and think, naah.

Too much fun this way.

Watch out world

2009-02-11T08:49:00.000-08:00

She is 9 months old, and going on Ten years old, when she wants to play, watch out, she might get you! Yesterday she was eating in bed with me and I was getting sleepy, not wanting to get up for the day yet, and she wiggled her little hand under my chin and said, " ticky, ticky, ticky,", when I refused to get up she pinched me in the nose! Hard! She is feisty-sweet.
In this picture she tackled her sister!!!

New spinning wheel

2009-02-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

Here it is, my Valentines day present, it's early and it's from Ebay. Dean treated me, and my wheel was Blessing's birthday present.

I have not posted in so long, I will try to catch you up. Aunt Donna needs to see some new pictures so here we go!

two happy girls!

2009-01-21T16:31:00.000-08:00

tired Sam the snow shoveling man

2009-01-21T16:30:00.000-08:00

Beckah and Boots

2009-01-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

January day

2009-01-21T16:24:00.000-08:00

I am not writing much tonight, since I am typing one handed tonight. I will put more photos on.

January Resolutions

2009-01-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

This is the new year after all! My resolution is simple and huge.
I am writing a book this year. I am comitted to having it written by June and published by Christmas. I have no idea if this is even a legit goal, but if I don't ever tell myself it can't be done then maybe I can do it. Only thing is, don't tell anyone, because everyone always likes my ideas so much they take them. That can't happen if I don't tell you what the book is about, right?
Only, if you know me, then you probably already know what it is about...
P.S.
The book is already more than half written, YES!!

Beautiful ballerina backs

2009-01-02T17:16:00.001-08:00

I will not put 100 pictures of the recital on here, even though I am tempted, because there are not many things prettier to me than tiny dancers. I guess there are enough pics out there, so here is just one, my favorite this year, it is a little different.

The best Grumpy baby

2009-01-02T17:14:00.000-08:00

How's this for ONE cute GRUMPY baby too early in the morning on Christmas.

Warm and cozy

2009-01-02T17:08:00.000-08:00

We ask each of the children to tell us one present that they really want, the rest we get to pick. When I asked Lena she said she wanted a warm

and cozy dress to wear for the rest of the Winter. Here she is with a dress to match her eyes.

King and Queen of Christmas Breakfast

2009-01-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

Wishful, wonderful, we had a beautiful breakfast around the Christmas tree. After everyone popped their crackers open Momma and Daddy reigned over the present chaos. We gave each child three presents to represent the gifts of the Magi to the Christ child. If that sounds stingy, think of coordinating 3X8!!!!! Plus something special for Daddy. At least 24 presents.

I was most thankful for the way they all helped each other put their gifts together and made sure each of them opened their presents from each other. Yes, there was crazy ripping, but no one showed a selfish ounce, even when there were no "I-pods", and that to me was the best present of all.

Christmas Past

2009-01-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

My next few posts will be of our Christmas, last week. It already feels like it was forever ago. We had such a great holiday with our children and the rest of the extended family. It truly gets better every year.

Small Art Prints

2008-11-24T15:25:00.000-08:00

We accomplished number 66, on Keri Smiths 100 ideas. It might not take us 100 days, since I think like her and we've already done a bunch before we knew it!!!
We made a whole mess of prints with potatoes. They turned out nice, despite Micah taking charge of the color mixing. You might see them for Christmas. Who knows? Pictures soon.

Wish Tree

2008-11-22T12:41:00.000-08:00

These are the wishes from the wish tree, that hung in the snow and the rain. They sprung up one night when the leaves were all gone, by a sidewalk where ribbons were placed by random. The wishes are beautiful, sad and poetic, ridiculous, funny and irresponsible.
They are life in our town

I wish I could have a baby without having problems, I'd be a good mom. Candor had more pot, (I think it says that, very bad spelling on that one.) (not kidding)
I wish my baby sister can be healthy

Wish I could fly
I wish that everyone is healthy, happy, safe and loved
To be a hunter
I wish my older brother was alive again
I wish I had a 4 wheeler

To Not be prego---kenny sucks.
Go to Heaven and C family
Peace in family
I wish is??? (not sure on this one, maybe there is Too Much pot in Candor)
I wish for my sister to love me.

I wish to be happy and have HIM
To have my doggy back, RIP, Thor
I wish to have a phone
To make world peace all around the world.
I wish I had a mini 4wheeler

To be a mom when I grow up
I wish my life was better
Candy
To see Jen get diploma in '09
To be loved and to learn what love is.

To be a beautiful dancer
That there were no potty words
and, last but not least, an invisible wish from someone who wants to be an Egyptologist when they grow up--I think they are well on their way since invisible wishes are very incriptic. (Is that a word?)

We are now the temporary caretakers of these Candor wishes, we will let you know the next step, but for now they are in a jar, sealed until Springtime. I will post a photo soon, it is downloading right now.

It's a Wonderful life

2008-11-17T13:40:00.000-08:00

Trick or Treat!! From right to left we have Prince Caspian, cow, cowgirl, Big Daddy/cowboy with cheeta ,The Ice Queen, (also from the Narnia books), little cowgirl, third cowgirl and baby kittie. Momma had no costume, but had zuzu's petals in her pocket.

sheepgirl on the horsey???

2008-11-17T13:34:00.000-08:00

We start our farmgirls out young around here! This is Popsicle, Rebeckah's Islandic lamb. He is a sweetie and when we were shearing him we could not help letting the baby have some fun. She was reaching and he made the perfect horsey.

Potty training!!

2008-11-14T07:44:00.000-08:00

My baby is all of 6 months old in this picture, can you believe she is that big??

She loves to sit on the potty, and today she did her first number two. She was so happy with herself, and whenever we mentioned it she would look back at the potty and make a little laugh.

HE, HE!!! Baby potty training!!!

Lantern Walk

2008-11-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

While I don't have any pictures of our walk, (since it was too dark!) I wanted to share this close up that Joy took of one of the lanterns that we made for the walk.
We spent a whole day baking bread, decorating lanterns with old jewelery, cutting flowers out of old magazines from our "chop box", and it was a beautiful, relaxing, quiet day.
To end it with a trip to my friend's farm made it just perfect. The sky was just about dark when we arrived, pulling in to the sight of a tiny fire next to their pond. A row of lanterns soon completed the scene, and the long row of children singing and swinging their candle lanterns had me wishing for my own lantern walk at our home!
We wove in and out among the fruit trees with our lanterns, and ended the short peaceful visit with all of us hushing to respect the coyotes we could hear howling on the next hill.
I spoke to Janese, so expect next years family dress-up party to start with a horse cart ride at our home, followed by a lantern walk, then off to Janeses' for the food, games and candy!!!

old lady apples

2008-10-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

Remember old lady apples? Carve a face into the apple and let it shrivel up. This is Blessings, before the shriveling.

Momma and baby watching the chickens

2008-10-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

This is next to the new coop, the baby loves the chickens. We sit and she can be happy watching them for a long time. Normally she is more happy moving around and being very busy. I think the chickens are busy enough for her!!!

The New Chickencoop

2008-10-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

The chicken coop that Dean and the children did on our vacation is all done and set in place. You should see how cozy the hens look on their new perches. It's so easy to maintain, that Micah or Isaiah can now do the chicken chores themselves. They feel so big and grown up!!

Fallies

2008-10-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

Meet "Farmer Bob", thats what the children call him. His family has been here since before the church at the end of the road collapsed into the ground. You could say this is his neighborhood, the area cemetery is even on his farm.
He and his wife gave the neighborhood an excellent hayride thru the forest on Saturday, we think we counted 26 people.
Apple cider and doughnuts made everyone friends quickly and we stopped for awhile in the woods to play in the deep leaves.
It was too funny how the children grouped to play, immediately (most) of the boys picked up sticks and started running thru the woods like crazy people, with stick duels and all. (probably inspired by the "tall tales" of an indian burial ground nearby) The girls organized themselves into a family and started building a house out of sticks.
By the end of the hayride it was getting dark and when we came down the last hill, which was the biggest, of course, I realized how well Bob knows this land. The sun was just setting,, perfect and red, and when we left the hill, the shadows of the valley were waving us goodnight and this sleepy family scooted off to some very happy dreams.

Babies love food

2008-10-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

She LOVES food! Her first cereal was an absolute hit, she is eating cereal twice a day now and everyone is having so much fun feeding the baby sister. It won't last long, she is already "helping" the spoon into her mouth, and will soon spoon for herself I think.

masking ourselves

2008-10-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

Guess who is who! fun for those who haven't seen us in a while. We made these as part of our classic curriculum. They look as if they came from some ancient greek play/statue. Of course we changed the original pattern and some of the masks now have beards and funny curly hats! Rebeckah was at school, we missed her, but that's why she's not in the photo.

vacation

2008-09-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

What does this family do on vacation? We build a new chicken coop. This is the floor, I can't wait to download the photos of it all done. wait 'till you see the shutters. Sorry, Mary Jane girls, there is NO wallpaper.

Bootscoot boogey

2008-09-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

Meet Boots, on the blog per Grammers request, this is the best photo that we have of him, but maybe one of the girls will get a better one later! If you can't tell, he is about the size of my foot. (IT is a dog, not just any-kind of dog, it's a complete mutt.)

Written in stone

2008-09-09T09:08:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time in a fun, family homeschool, there was an exciting lesson in writing. Which just happened to also turn into art. (As lessons often did in this family.)

This family also learned some grammar, searching for the nouns, adjectives, the sentence subjects and the verbs. It continued with writing proper sentences, and ended with poetry.

This valuable language quest was begun with simply cutting random words from old hand-me-down magazines and gluing them to smooth river stones.

MORAL OF THIS FAIRYTALE<" mix a little art in all you do, "it will overflow into all the other areas of your life and make them more beautiful.

Does the tooth fairy come for horses?

2008-09-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

The answer to that is, yes! Of course, but only for baby teeth. This picture of Leo having two teeth pulled is so incredible to me. The "Equine Dentist", pulled up in a bright yellow truck, and she and her helper just totally took care of our percheron baby. The doctor was so full of confidence and strength, I just wanted to post a photo of this amazing woman.
Imagine yourself pulling two teeth out of an animal that weighs half a ton!
Anyway, enough of my going on and on... my sonn made sure that the tooth fairy was NOT cheated, he wrote, "Leo's teeth", on an envelope, to make sure the tooth fairy knew they were under his pillow for Leo, not himself.
The tooth fairy was not taken back! She left some change and instructed my son to buy Leo some soft horse treats, because of course, she is too little to carry them!!!
Leo now owns a new hoof pick also, I think the people at the feed store where we got the treats might be laughing at our story though.

surreal

2008-08-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

baby sister

2008-08-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

simple

2008-08-11T19:42:00.000-07:00

sisters

2008-08-11T19:40:00.000-07:00