Who woulda thought

I was home for 3 whole days. Three. whole. days. I didn’t leave the house except to feed animals.   Heck, I didn’t even really get dressed.  I’ve been slumming around in my pajamas, and although I have showered, I am not sure I have fixed my hair or even looked in a mirror.  It has been glorious.  Except for the weather that is.  

I left work on Friday knowing this was a possibility.  I brought home a couple of things to do so that I could stay home today.  I did them. I fielded calls from here and actually took care of a couple of problem issues.  When it was time to take Quincy to retrieve her car from the mechanic, and go buy feed, I pawned it off on Jim.  I had a list of things I was going to get done and by today, I realized I had accomplished none of them.  So while Jim was in town. I started in on the top trim for the wainscoting in the bathroom.  Determined to finish that project so I could say I did at least something on my list.  That bathroom is now 100% done.  I posted some “before” photos below.  It looks so much better!  Brighter.  Happier. Lighter.  Cleaner.  I like it.  Is it professional grade?   Uhhh negative.  But for my first time doing some of these things, it is a solid B. 

B’s get degrees.  Or something like that. 

Talked a little to Colin and Spencer today - love getting little updates about my buddy!  

Please ma’am can you give me some more of those leftover pancakes?   Funny old boy.  Lives to eat and eats to live.  

The before shots.  I’m so glad it no longer looks like this.  

Shout out to these 2 girls. They have helped me keep critters alive, put up with me cooking a bunch of cold weather foods that they may or may not have been excited about, been helpful with letting dogs in and out since they can’t stand the cold for very long at a time, and helped me with some other stuff this weekend.  I enjoyed spending time with them and Quincy. And Jim too of course.  

Tomorrow, back to the grind. Maybe I’ll finish the rest of my list next weekend!  

 

Photos and thoughts

 

Easton turned a month old Saturday. Colin and Spencer spent the day doing some one month old photos.  He’s getting so big. I just love this little boy.  Sad that I wasn’t snuggling him as planned, but glad that they share pictures and stories of what he’s up to.  I know with them living in Wichita, it will be harder to see him as much as we would like, but I am thankful today for technology allowing us to be updated easily. I think FaceTime will be a very beneficial app in our near future.  

Church was cancelled, meaning we had 2 full days with no place to go.  Seems almost unheard of around here.  School was already been cancelled for Monday due to wind chills and possible bad roads.  I’m thankful for them taking these precautions.  Sometimes I wonder how much thought is actually given to the bussing when they consider these things.  Driving a bus puts a lot of responsibility on the driver’s shoulders.  Yet we get no voice in whether or not we should be out there. I understand it, I truly do, but until you drive where I drive, experience the roads that I experience, and have to do that while also making sure kids are safe, and having zero authority on how those kids are dressed, or if they have coats (or even pants) on - it gets to be fairly stressful.  I’m glad I do not have to worry about that tomorrow. 

Reason 100473 I hate the cold.  Frozen animal water. Messes in the house from the defrosting.  Chores taking longer due to having to change out water and bed things down. All of it unnecessary if the weather would just stay nice.  But I still would choose this over another life.  I love my little “farm,” my collection of critters, the chores, reason to go outside, the work, the responsibility, the knowledge that we have taught our kids how to work, and where their food comes from (unless you are Saige - since she lives on carbs), and the idea that we are at least partially capable of producing our own food. Plus goats and chickens are better neighbors than people.  

Is anything cuter than baby overalls?  

I used peanut butter and bacon grease to make some bird seed cakes. The birds were very impressed with my culinary skills.  I enjoy watching them, and it makes me happy to see so many different kids of birds coming up to get a snack. 

Today I am being mindful and thankful for time.  During the week, and even sometimes on weekends, our days are regimented and scheduled out and time is something we manage more than enjoy.  I never cook breakfast during the week.  Ever.  Sounds awful but I already get up early and leave the house around 6:00 am - and I am by nature not a very good morning person - getting up even earlier to cook is just not in the cards.  I do keep a variety of oatmeal, granola, cereal, and other breakfast foods around.  There is almost always fruit in the refrigerator. I tend to make a lot of breakfast burritos and egg cups and freeze them so if you want a hot breakfast, a microwaved one is easy enough.  Nobody goes hungry, unless you want to.  But I do love breakfast foods. And sometimes, just because we have the time, I cook up a big old fashioned breakfast.  Today was one such day.  We slept in a little, took care of animals, and I cooked.  By the time we ate, it was more like a brunch, but I enjoyed eating and visiting with the girls a little bit.  It’s nice to have some time to just hang out, have a meal, talk a little bit and remember that these days will go by too fast. 

Colin and Spencer said they spent 45 seconds to take snow photos of Easton in his first snowstorm. That kid is going to be an outdoor boy I bet.  

Thanks to my neighbor boy, we can no longer say we are snowed in.  Although I might pretend I am if the bus boss calls.  Thank you Brandon.  

Last week I purchased a couple of Flemish giants. I wanted to switch to a meat breed, but one that is gentle and that the girls could show.  The more I look at these the more I am convinced that they aren’t Flemish giants.  They are cute though.  I might try breeding them just to see what we get.  I think they might be mutts.  They were very cheap (one was free).  

One thing I love about the goats - they don’t seem too affected by the weather.  They just eat and want attention no matter what is going on.  They are happy if they have a dry spot to lay and feed in their pen.  We should all be so content. 

Winter weekend

I’m never sad to see a weekend, but my weekend plans had to change a bit, and I am sad about that. What I had planned - trip to Wichita to snuggle a grandson. What happened - big snowstorm/dangerous wind and frigid wind chills.  And a decision to stay home, holed up, and work on some stuff here. 

I did get a couple of photos from Colin and Spencer.  Not quite as good as snuggles, but it’ll have to do for now.  

Jim and I picked up Maude from the vet.   Doc Sanders said she was the best dog he’s ever seen.  Ok... he didn’t exactly say that, but we knew what he meant.  Maude was so happy to see us it was almost sad.  She is moving pretty slow, and is still a little dopey on pain medication, but she is home, sleeping in her kennel and recovering here with us.  I really missed the dork.  I feel like she is one of those once in a lifetime dogs that you just can't help but love.  

Did I mention that this little guy is a month old?  He misses me, I am sure of it.  I certainly miss him!  Stupid weather!

I did get to hang out with the granddaughters yesterday for a bit.  They haven't been feeling well, and Madison has not been feeling well either.  Andrew too her to Express care for side pain, and I stayed with the sick-o's for a while.  Luckily, they were not throwing up while I was there!  I believe that Wren is mostly better.  Evelyn was still sick, but she mostly just laid in the chair watching TV while I was there.  I did run to use the bathroom, and when I came back, Wren was missing.  I went to the toy room.  No kid.  Ran upstairs.  No kid in any of the places.  Flashed to Madison always saying how she goes out the dog door.  Ran into the back yard.  NO kid.  Started to really freak out.  Asked Evie where she was at.  No clue.  Evie goes back upstairs, no Grammy....she isn't up there.  Grammy started to freak a little bit.  Then Evelyn checked the laundry room, where she found Wrenley sitting in the bathtub with her blanket.....sucking her thumb.  Geez kid you scared the bejesus out of your grammy.  My heart is not as young as it used to be.....no more of that!  :)  

I was also watching her - she had a small washing machine.  She ran over and got some of her underwear out of the drawer.  She sprayed them with this fake squirt bottle she had and then was washing them in her washer.  She entertained herself with a toy washing machine and a fake bottle of spray and wash for like 30 minutes.  She is definitely her mother's child!  

And if Wrenley is her mother's child.... who's child is this?  haha!

Jim and I did think proactively, and when we were in town this week, we bought the trim to put on the top of the wainscoting in the bathroom.  I am also working on refinishing a dresser for Jim, and still have work to do on the table and chairs I started before Thanksgiving.  Projects for a day when getting outside is not really possible.  The girls and I go the animals situated and fed.  The heated buckets and floating water heaters that Jim strung up for us are working currently, and that definitely made life a bit easier!  

A weekend of snow should be expected in January, but I was a bit spoiled by the warmer weather we have been having.  I do not really like the cold, and I definitely don't like cancelled plans with sweet little boys.  But we will make the best of it!