Garage sale and craziness

The 4-H does one major fundraiser a year and perhaps a few smaller ones.  Mostly though, the garage sale funds all of the kid’s needs.  Harper’s CWF group sold concessions.  Evelyn had her first official fundraising event as a 4-Her. 

Wrenley also worked - she worked at finding garage sale bargains she needed.  She was pretty proud of her new bus and paw patrol dog.  

I have been a leader for the local 4-H for years.  Knowing that Saige is our last kid, and she is only a few years away from aging out, I started hunting for a new co-leader. Someone who can take over when I retire. And I found an amazing woman. She loves 4-H, has a myriad of children and is the most organized, calm and thoughtful person.  I am very blessed to get to work with her.  She was in charge of the garage sale this year.  It was organized, set up and taken down with some sort of military like precision and there was zero drama.  And the kids made quite a lot of money.  Claudia for the win. 

And Harper sold out of her breakfast burritos.  The CWF girls made some spending money for their trip.  We left there exhausted but happy it was successful.  

I came home and filled all my pots with the plants I got at the plant sale!  Still have tomatoes and peppers to put in the ground but it was so muddy from the recent storms we didn’t work in the garden much. 

Sunday was supposed to bring Saige’s first ball practice.  So we had Sunday lunch instead of dinner.  The girls wanted to walk their goats. And they had fun playing let’s dance and eating burrito bowls. GG stopped by to look at goats and baby chickens.  We heard from Colin and Spencer who sent me some cute photos of my little buddy, who is officially 4 months old now! 

Everyone left and we were gathering up ball equipment when the storms hit.  I had planted some potted plants downstairs and went down to set them on the ground so they didn’t blow off and break and then I was planting some seeds. It was sort of heavily sprinkling.  I came in the basement door to find Mallory wearing her “storm panic look.”   She was like what are you doing?  We are in a tornado warning!   Jim had decided to take a nap, so I ran up to tell him to come downstairs and as I came up the stairs I could see the funnel cloud out the kitchen window.  Not a sight you really want to see.  So we all sat downstairs for a while.  Saige’s practice was cancelled.  We didn’t have a tornado touch down thankfully but we did get a whole lot of rain and some hail.  

We had another storm this morning. No tornados that I’ve heard of but we sure did get a lot of rain and some hail.  The school is on a 2 hour delay. Something I have never seen this district do before.  Carbondale was out of power so I think that’s why.  I was glad it gave the storms a chance to pass before I had to go drive the bus.  Jim left at 5 to go to southeastern Kansas. I am hoping he made it ok and didn’t have to drive in this mess the entire trip.   Spring in Kansas is always an adventure.  

 

workin' for the weekend

My friend and I have been trying to walk in the evenings.  At the beginning of the week, I told her we didn't have much going on this week and I could easily walk with her.  Turns out, that was a lie.  An unintentional one, but still.  It has been a crap fest around here!  And I could use some baby snuggle time.  Unfortunately, that won't be happening this weekend!  But look at all of his little facial expressions!  So dang cute!  

Except for the sad face....I don't like that one - it makes me want to jump in the car and rescue him!

And the wrestling singlet and barbell is a complete crack up!

The upcoming weekend is garage sale weekend.  Which means it is mandatory for it to rain to make sure everything is nice an muddy.  It also means that we will spend all night tonight either setting up for the 4-H sale, or making breakfast burritos for Harper's CWF group to sell during the sale.  Traditions can't be broken....at least for another 5 years when I will have no more 4-Hers to be responsible for!  And I know mom, don't wish away time, but I am earnestly looking forward to never working the garage sale weekend ever, ever again!  :)  

There was an abundance of bad weather on Thursday evening....enough to warrant Mallory coming to hang out for a tornado watch party.  Some of the ones watching didn't do a very good job though!

Twice in the last few days I have thought that the chickens had escaped, only to realize what I was seeing was a couple of big crows!  Crazy how big they are!  

Mallory's class hatched some chickens!  She was pretty pleased that they hatched!  And it is good timing, because if students don't take them home, they will be coming to my house to join up with these little fellows!  Our meat birds were delivered this week!  The hatchery generally sends an email saying when they ship.  Not this time!  Jim got an early morning  phone call from the post office!  It is always hard to believe that these cute little fluffy babies will be ready for the freezer in 8 weeks!  I try not to think about their date with fate when they are this tiny and sweet.  In a couple of weeks when they are sticky, smelly, and awkwardly laying around eating like fools, I will look forward to their freezer camping.

Side note.  The 4-H garage sale usually ends up with someone having to run around to pick up donations that people cannot fit in their cars, or that they need help lifting.  One such donor this year has been cleaning out her mother's house in Baldwin, and has donated a lot of really good stuff to the kids.  Someone had to pick that stuff up.  Someone who owns a truck, and is good at playing tetris.  Thank you Jim, for making the trips over, for being the ratchet strapper, and for picking up the mattress off the highway before anyone got hurt!  :)  I appreciate you - and so do the 4-H kids!  

Side note to the side note - these loads were not for the faint of heart - and on one load we lost a mattress.  But we quickly remembered that we forgot to pull the ratchet straps and say "that's not going anywhere!"  Once we did that, everything was fine.  :)

Now -  proceed to the weekend.  No, it won't be restful, and it probably won't even be fun, but at least it will get one of the major things off of my to do list!  

 

wild and crazy weekend

Friday was an early release day from school due to impending severe weather.  I have seen them let out early for snowing or blizzards, but never for a risk of tornados.  They released at 1.  Secretly, I hate the thought of being in the middle of nowhere (where I often drive) with a bus load of other people's children in a tornado, so I was completely on board with this decision.  I was home, parked and windows up, and had chores finished when it hit.  We did not have tornados, but some neighboring communities did, and I am thankful we were not on the bus in that wind and hail!  

Later on Friday evening, Preston and Sunny and their friend came to stay over, and they said they never really hit any bad weather at all (which we are glad).

Saturday, Jim was helping with a crappie fishing tournament.  He had recruited Preston and Sunny to help, and they brought a friend to help as well.  Cameron also came down to help.  I am thankful that they were willing.  

Since they were all helping at the tournament, I took Saige and Harper shopping.  We needed to get Saige an 8th grade graduation dress and shoes.  I was excited that she found a dress she liked at the first store we went to, and it was on sale for $14!  SCORE!  Unfortunately, we did not score as well on the shoes, but I am happy that we found stuff she liked and we are now graduation ready!  Sort of.  

While in town, the girls wanted to check out the new Ollie's store.  We were not impressed.  It is like a giant, overpriced garage sale.  Not a place I foresee going back into ever.  The clutter set my OCD on fire!    As we were leaving, my car wouldn't start.  Luckily, Madison and Andrew were in town getting ball equipment for Evelyn.  They stopped by and gave me a jump start.  As we were waiting for them, Preston called to see where the heck we were at, and what we were having for lunch!  A decision was made to meet them at TJ's.  Harper and Saige were not real happy....they are my drive through or carry out girls.   I enjoyed having a little time to sit and visit with them all!

And although I enjoyed my time with the kids, I had a really long list for this weekend.  Sunday had to be a productive day!  Jim helped me a bunch, but we did not get done.  Jim mowed while I planted potatoes and onions (yes I know they are late - we are on the Hope garden plan - roll with it please).  I also planted the blueberries that I was able to find on Saturday.  I am trying them again, after some research and learning what went wrong last year, I am cautiously optimistic that they will be producing blueberries in no time!  We got all the raised beds weeded and the trees watered before Sunday dinner.  I did not expand the baby chick pen, and I will need to do that before the broilers arrive later this week!  I also had a few other things on my list, but they will just have to be done later this week.  

The girls had to show me their dance moves.  I said if anyone ever doubted their biology, they should show them their dancing.....there is no doubt they are Madison's kids!  :)  

Even the cat was shocked at their skill!

 

The girls did some goat walking.  Wrenley is really excited about her goat Whiltey, but he cannot go to the fair, as they only have a breeding class for open class.  We have a little goat for her to show, but she didn't want to walk that one!  :)   Stitch still doesn't walk well, but she is getting friendlier!  

Cameron was in a flag football tournament with his corporate team.  He said they won their first game, but then lost out of the tournament.  He was pretty excited about it.  I am glad he is having fun!

Had a few updates from Colin and Spencer.  It would seem that lil Dale is working pretty hard remodeling the master bedroom.  I miss my little buddy!  Upcoming road trip soon!

This is the kind of weekend where you are ok with going back to work, because you know you can sit down while you are there!  

It was a good one though!   

Officially spring

It always feels officially like spring when the barns are filled with babies.  Yes I know the cows have had their calves on the ground for a while now, and we have been feeding bottle kids for a while as well.  Is anything cuter than baby chickens though?  Ok so I say that about everything....I have a problem. 

A problem I do not wish to get help for!

These are my pullets.  The ones who will become my laying hens in a few months.  I am thrilled with the variety box I purchased.  So much fun to try to guess what breeds you have.  Variety is awesome!

Shout out to Jim - I have had a meeting filled week, and when these arrived, I was in a bus safety meeting.  He picked them up, got them under the heater, and dipped all their little beaks in water for me.  He might not admit it, but he loves the chickens almost as much as I do.  I appreciate his help!

Broilers should be here next week.  I got their date with fate all scheduled.  I love putting meat in the freezer.  But for now I will just absorb the adorableness. 

I cannot wait to show the grandkids!

Cameron is attempting to meet more people.  He put a post out that he was willing to play anyone one on one in basketball.  It has led to some other activities, and I believe he is actually having a lot of fun meeting people and playing some hoops.  Interesting way to put himself out there. 

I am ready to cry UNCLE on this week.  It has been an emotional one, and a crazy busy one.  I need a weekend - and soon!