The kids keep asking if I have updated the blog lately, so guess I had better get to it. Last week we enjoyed having Bruce, Nathan and Alijah here working on a little project.

It got done quickly, so they, Todd and the kids spent some time cutting down a tree and splitting it up for firewood. We've been basking the fruit of their labor this week - it has made some great fires in the fireplace.

They wore each other out!

Monday around noon the older girls and I went out to "batten down the hatches" against the storm the weatherman had been promising. We got the firewood stacked on the porch and covered, filled the water tanks for the cows and sheep, and other odds and ends of things we knew we wouldn't want to do during the storm. By the time we were finished, we were covered in the slush coming down from the sky. It rained and sleeted and snowed and blew for a couple of days. When the sun came out again, everything was covered in ice. It was a gorgeous, sparkling, winter wonderland. We were lucky and only lost power for a couple of hours. Others in the area were without electricity for a few days. Today the kids went out to sled down the hill - their sleds really flew fast on the ice. From the pictures we've seen of the blizzards in other areas this past week, we were really fortunate!

He kept smiling through it all!

Random pictures from January 2011

It's so fun to have big sisters!

Best Buddies - I should note that Lincoln read his 1st sentence this week! He is officially "in school" now.

Laura's little helper

This week flew by. Todd's 41st birthday was on Tuesday. Abby made some cheesecake tarts and we had a roast with mashed potatoes and gravy for his birthday supper. We were busy with school all week, and then Friday evening Quinn and Kendra T and their family came over for the weekend. What a fun time!! There wasn't a dull moment the whole weekend, and there was a lot of disappointment when they had to go home tonight.

There was just enough snow on the hill for the kids to go sledding on Saturday.

Making pizza for lunch.

Putting on a play

Watching intently!

The younger kids' turn to entertain us.

Snippets of the week

Lincoln & Heidi being silly

Garrett

Lincoln

Garrett singing "Was it for me" for his sister (He turned 2 in November)

Heidi & Lincoln putting on a show

Fellowship, Food and Fun

Our meeting and the Effingham meeting met together for union meeting at our house today. We had a wonderful time of fellowship. It is always so helpful to share in what others have read and meditated on during the week. It seemed like, because of it being the beginning of a new year, there was a spirit of fresh purpose in the meeting. Lincoln wanted to sing the hymn "Was it for me, for me alone, the Saviour left his glorious throne..." It was an excellent hymn to begin the first meeting of the year.

After meeting, everyone stayed for a potluck and visit. Marty, Mary and Sara stayed for a while after everyone else left and played Farkle with us.

Laura made pizza for supper and now Todd and the kids are playing Settlers of Catan while I am getting lesson plans together for this week. I'm taking a break to write a little bit on here and get Garrett settled down for the night.

Here is the scene I found just now as I was walking down the hallway.

Garrett's Good Night Song: Mommy loves you, Mommy loves you. Daddy too, Daddy too. You're our little baby. You're our little baby. We love you, We love you.

Happy 2011!!!

My Resolution for the new year: Write on my blog

So, I'm getting it taken care of on the first day.

It's not hard to imagine that this will be a wonderful year with a sunny blue sky, cold enough outside to enjoy a warm fire inside, kids all healthy and happy (as I look out the window and see three of them, barefoot without coats, bringing in wood - sigh).

We saw 2010 out and 2011 in with a lively houseful. Don and Talisha, Jacob, Joel and Jadon, Bruce, Jeff, Nathan & Alijah came over for supper and a game filled evening. (Skipbo, Chess, Chinese Checkers, Bible Charades, Bible Pictionary, oh and did I mention Rook?) Everyone, from Bruce to Garrett managed to stay awake the whole time. Garrett was buzzing around helping himself to everyone's sodie (as it is called in this area) - "bpop" (as it is called by Garrett), M&Ms and whatever other sugar he could find. I managed to forget to get out the camera, but maybe Talisha will use her amazing clairvoyant skills and e-mail a few pictures from the evening. The kids all went out and banged pots and pans shouted and screamed the new year in - just the way a new year should be welcomed.

This morning started out with the kids snacking on the sugar laden leftovers from last night's snacks before breakfast. Todd headed out for Brownstown after breakfast. The kids and I are having a quiet day playing, reading and getting a little school done. We have union meeting and potluck at our house tomorrow, so we're looking forward to another day filled with friends, fellowship and good times.

I hope you all have a wonderful year full of blessing and good things.

(Whew, got that resolution under my belt now)

Critter update

Sheep and Lambs:

Ruby had a twins (girl (Onyx) and boy(Jett)) March 31

Daphne twin boys April 6

Gabby - boy (Andrew) April 9

Harriett - twins (girl and boy) April 11

Fern - ? - April 12

Abigail - girl (Addy) - April 13

Cheerio - twins (girl (Charm) and boy (Lucky) - April 22

Cupcake - girl - April 22

Sapphire - boy - ?

Frosting - ? - ?

They were all fathered by Sweet William

Cattle

Peyton - Female Miniature Jersey

Heather - Female Miniature Jersey - Not Polled - Had a heifer calf which we sold)

Lilac - Female Jersey -

Buttercup - Female Jersey - Born December 15, 2009 to Lilac

Rosie - Female Hereford - DIED

Blossom - Female Hereford - Born to Rosie in July or August of 2007

Stormy - Female Hereford/Black Angus Cross - Born to Blossom on May 13, 2009

Independence - Female Hereford - Born to Rosie in July or August of 2008

Ferdinand - Male Hereford cross - Born to Independence April 26, 2010 (had to have vet pull him - we'll have to get that story on the blog one of these days!)

Rodeo - Female Dexter/Red Polled Cross - Born April 2008

Strut - Male Miniature Belted Galloway - Not Polled but dehorned - About 4 Years Old

Oreo - Female Miniature Belted Galloway - Polled -About 2 Years Old - SOLD

Spikey - Male Dexter - With Horns - Born about July 2008

Horned Mama- Female Dexter - Not Polled - About 14 Years Old

Cocoa - Female- born to Horned Mama Early December 2009

Jemimah - Female Dexter/Miniature Belted Cross - Polled - About 3 Years Old - SOLD

Ribeye - Male Dexter/Miniature Belted/? Cross - Born to Jemimah about May 13, 2009

April - Female Miniature Belted Galloway - SOLD

Cornish Cross Chicks - bought April 16, 2010 - scheduled for processing June 2

Rabbits - Bought in mid April - 4 California White

We still have Blueberry the donkey, a guinea, Autumn the dog and about 5 cats - oh and I forgot to mention the box turtle and toad... :)

We've been so busy that mom hasn't had time to post, so I (Laura) decided to do it this time.

Last Saturday we had a funeral for Great-Grandpa, who died April 20, 2010. Then we got to have union meeting at our house for all the family on Sunday. We had a potluck afterwards and we kids chased lambs and milked the cow into paper cups.

We have had several additions to our farm, 14 new lambs, a calf, chicks, 4 rabbits, a turtle, and a toad. We are also expecting kittens one of these days!

Bye for now!

Laura

January - Brrrrrrr

We have had a colder than average January this year. There is no doubt about the fact that it is winter. It has made me appreciate the people who pioneered and settled this country. Going out to milk the cow in the way below freezing temperatures brings a picture to mind of a settler going out with his lantern in the wee hours of the morning and again in the early evening - with his breath fogging the air - icicles forming on his beard. As we fill up the water tank from the hose and make sure the submersible heater is plugged in, I think of families going out to chop ice off of the creek, possibly warming enough snow on their wood burning stove or going to the well to carry water in wooden buckets to their thirsty livestock (and cows drink a lot of water!). Life is so much more convenient now. We walk back into our warm, bright house and think of those people chopping enough firewood with an ax to carry them through a cold, dark winter. We owe a lot to those brave, hearty people who left what was familiar and comfortable to them and traveled across mile after difficult mile to a life of hardship and a terrific amount of work. Somehow, though, I think they must have had a pretty good life in spite of or perhaps because of it.

We are waiting on Rosey to calve. Every day we think that it surely must be the day... But, she keeps holding out on us. :) She is a gentle, old cow - this will be her last calf. She is very lame and at times can hardly walk across the pasture without her back legs giving out on her. We closed her up in the grain bin last night and today since it is so cold and windy out - we'd rather the calf was born in out of the wind, at least.

Buttercup is growing really well. She still isn't completely tame. We tie her up every time we milk her mama so she will get used to us. When we hold her lead rope, she stands still by us and even nuzzles us a bit, but as soon as we let her free, she scoots away as quickly as she can :)

So... Life keeps us busy. School is back underway after a winter break - now we are all looking forward to the middle of May when we are out for the summer. We're planting our garden in our heads already (don't know if we will actually get one in the ground, though :) ) and the kids are looking forward to getting to spend more time outside and - with the animals.

An update on our current critters

Cattle:

Peyton - Female Miniature Jersey

Heather - Female Miniature Jersey - Not Polled

Lilac - Female Jersey -

Buttercup - Female Jersey - Born December 15, 2009 to Lilac

Rosie - Female Hereford -

Blossom - Female Hereford - Born to Rosie in July or August of 2007

Stormy - Female Hereford/Black Angus Cross - Born to Blossom on May 13, 2009

Independence - Female Hereford - Born to Rosie in July or August of 2008

Rodeo - Female Dexter/Red Polled Cross - Born April 2008

Jenny (Do not have anymore) - Female Miniature Hereford - About 2 Years Old (Died August 2009 - during delivery of a breech calf)

Strut - Male Miniature Belted Galloway - Not Polled but dehorned - About 4 Years Old

Oreo - Female Miniature Belted Galloway - Polled -About 2 Years Old

Spikey - Male Dexter - With Horns - Born about July 2008

Horned Mama- Female Dexter - Not Polled - About 14 Years Old

Cocoa - Female (we think) - born to Horned Mama Early December 2009

Jemimah - Female Dexter/Miniature Belted Cross - Polled - About 3 Years Old

Ribeye - Male Dexter/Miniature Belted/? Cross - Born to Jemimah about May 13, 2009

Fred (don't have anymore) - Dexter Red Polled Cross - Not Polled, but dehorned - About 1 Year Old (butchered)

April - Female Miniature Belted Galloway -

Shetland Sheep

Ruby - Female - Born 4/24/2005

Jasper (don't have anymore) - Male - Born 4/23/2009 to Ruby (sold)

Saphire - Female - Born 4/23/2009 to Ruby

Harriett - Female

- Male - Born 4/25/2009 to Harriett- died 6/7/2009 after getting stuck in some netting

Cheerio -Female - Born 4/25/2009 to Harriett

Cupcake - Female - Born 3/27/2007

Sprinkles - (don't have anymore) Male - Born 4/26/2009 to Cupcake (sold)

Frosting - Female - Born 4/26/2009 to Cupcake

Abigail - Female - Born 4/5/08 to Ruby

Gabby - Female - Born 4/25/29 to Abigail

Fern - Female - Born 8/1/08 to Cupcake

Daphne - Female born 4/9/08

Sweet William (don't have anymore)- Male - Born 4/25/09 to Daphne (sold)

Donkey - Female - Blueberry Gray (Named by Lincoln and Heidi) - Craig brought her over January 16, 2010 - Born 1999

Finally Pictures from the August and September 2009 post!

I am finally putting pictures on here from August 2009 when my nephew and niece were visiting us.

"Critter Pictures"

Abigail went out today and took some pictures of Buttercup and Lilac - the heifer Jersey calf that was born a couple of weeks ago and her mom. Buttercup is really growing. We have been milking Lilac about once a day and enjoying her milk, but we are leaving most of it for Buttercup since it has been so cold out. She needs all the energy she can get right now.

More Birthday!

Yesterday was Todd's real birthday. Laura made him his traditional cheesecake birthday cake for supper. We had bbq little hot dogs and leftovers from Sunday's potluck last night. Because it has been so cold out that the water out in the pasture for the cattle was frozen solid, Todd spent most of yesterday evening trying to get it thawed out. We ended up having his "birthday meal" tonight - crock pot beef cubes with mushrooms, mashed potatoes, corn and salad. So he was able to stretch his birthday out for a few days.

Tired little boy!

For some reason, this picture is turned sideways, but anyway you can get the idea. This is how Lincoln fell asleep at quiet time today - after declaring that he wasn't tired.

Surprise!!!

We had union meeting at our house today and a potluck afterwards. I had arranged for a surprise 40th birthday party for Todd in the afternoon. The kids did a great job not spilling the beans. Don and Talisha helped organize things and picked up a cake for us, and then we worked on things for it while Todd was at work and with Don in the semi. We had a lot of fun getting ready for it, and couldn't believe that he never caught on. We started off singing hymns for a while, and then sat around and visited while we ate cake and snacks. Thanks everyone who came and helped celebrate with us :)

December 2009

It is hard to believe it is the end of 2009 - or maybe I should say the beginning of 2010. They say time flies when you are having fun - I guess we must be having fun then!! :) We enjoyed having some company this month. A few of the workers were here for a few days working on a project. It was special to have them and we really enjoyed our mealtime conversations.

Gregg and Sarah M and their boys were here for a few days later in the month. They were on their way home from her sister's house in Arizona. It was great to have them here. The kids spent a lot of time building with Legos and Tinkertoys and getting to know their "3rd cousins". The adults spent a lot of time around the fireplace visiting.

Don and Talisha and their boys along with Ryan and Autumn W. joined us for New Years Eve. We had a small surprise birthday party for Todd to try to throw him off so he wouldn't suspect the big one that was planned for Sunday afternoon.

The kids got to celebrate midnight at about 9:00 with some horns, whistles and little pop fireworks - a little banging on pots and pans and general bedlam and noise! We sent them to bed and then sat around to play games - we ended up talking and laughing and laughing some more instead of the games. Don and Talisha's family spent the night. The kids made Dutch Babies for breakfast - then Don and Todd went for a truck drive while Talisha and the kids and I enjoyed the day here.

Our new calf is here

Today was the day Lilac had her calf. She started to act restless late in the morning. She kept trying to go into the blackberry brambles and hide out. We really didn't want to have to help deliver a calf in there! A little after noon I took her out into the yard and walked her around for a little bit to see if she would eat a little grass - she hadn't been acting very interested in the hay. She walked around and ate a little bit and then all of a sudden laid down. We were able to get her up and Todd and Abigail pretty much dragged her back to the grain bin and got her inside and then Todd had to head back to work. Things started happening pretty fast, then so I called the kids out so they could get in on the action. They all stood around the wall of the grain bin while Lilac delivered the calf. It was a pretty cool science lesson!

It was a very cold day, and the calf got pretty cold and listless shortly after being born. I stayed out in the grain bin with them most of the day drying her off, rubbing her to warm her up, trying to get her to stand and eat. When Todd got home from work he brought out a heat lamp and more blankets and we finally got her

warmed up and drinking from a bottle.

Winter Weather

Today is a very cold, windy, snowy day! So, of course, we have a heifer ready to calve. She's been showing signs for a few days now and we're hoping she will wait a few more days until the weather calms down before she has her baby. We are really excited about this baby! The mama is one of our Jerseys - a sweet girl who follows us around like a puppy dog for hugs, petting and especially treats! We are hoping to be able to milk her after she calves. It will be a new experience for both her and us! We don't really have a shed or barn for her to calve in, so we cleaned out the grain bin on Saturday so she can at least have a dry warmish place to be. It is really a pretty good size for her and her body temperature keeps it warm enough so her water doesn't freeze. There is someone who works with Todd who has an aunt who will come and teach us how to get started on the milking business.

Charlotte's Birthday and our Anniversary

Today was our 13th anniversary and Charlotte's 9th birthday. The years together have gone very quickly! The kids pooled some of their money and sent us out to lunch today. I picked up Todd from work and we went to the new Mexican restaurant in Shelbyville. It was a nice little date :) and it was so sweet of the kids.

Thanksgiving

We went to Clint & Dawn's for Thanksgiving this year. We headed up there Wednesday and came back home Sunday. It was really nice spending time with their family. The kids had a lot of fun together - it was a houseful!! Some of them went out hunting early in the mornings - Daniel shot his 3rd deer of the season, which was pretty exciting. They got to track it across the field and had to pull it out of a creek. We had the traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, and then got up early to go black Friday shopping the next morning to get a few bargains. The men and kids spent some time splitting wood for their wood burning stove and we spent one evening over at Clint's parent's house getting some wood split for them too. We didn't take our camera along, so we didn't get any pictures of our time there :(