Memorial Day

What normal people do on Memorial Day weekend- decorate cemeteries, go to the lake, go boating, go camping, perhaps relax a little?

What we do - yard work, pool cleaning/patching, housework, planting stuff, laundry, a little fishing, a couple of cookouts, a quick trip to the farmer’s market, cleaning animal cages, reorganizing critter set ups, ball practice, weeding, a few fires, and I lost track of what else.  It was a productive weekend!   You know that feeling when you have had a really productive weekend?   Me too!  I call it exhaustion!  

The baby chickens are no longer babies!   They got moved into their permanent, bigger, room to explore the outdoor pen.  I don’t know if I’ve done a good job telling about this mess we have.  A few weeks back, I went hunting for some chickens.  I just wanted a few to replace the hens we have, that will likely quit laying this year.  I was striking out - but then one day Jim was at Tractor supply and he brought me home some babies.  At the same time, I had struck a deal with my maintenance man to hatch some eggs for me.  It was great timing.  The bad news was that on the day I was bringing home the hatched chickens, something broke into the cage and ate all of the chickens Jim bought for me.  I’m pretty sure I know what got them- I’m pretty sure it was a raccoon.  Long story short, I had 7 little chickens from the maintenance man and I locked them in a rabbit cage because the raccoons don’t seem to be able to get in there.  A few days after the tragedy, a friend was selling some 3 week old chickens she had hatched and I bought them.  All of them are cross bred, some of the ugliest chickens I’ve ever seen. But all I want is eggs, so I said who cares?  Evelyn and I shoved the dog kennel full of ugly chickens onto the bus, got them set up and Evie asked if she could have one for her very own. I told her sure!  You can pick out whichever one you want!   She ran right to the one chicken with a broken leg.  Not just broken, but deformed- probably from a weird hatch.  She named her chicken “Cupcake broken leg.”   Every time she is here, we have to check in on the chicken.  Since it was a light colored one in a pen full of brown chickens, it was easy to spot.  I cannot believe this crazy chick has survived!   Of course!   Anyway Cupcake Broken Leg is alive, and loves her new digs!  

Several weeks ago, I ordered all the kids (and Jim) new swim suits.  Everyone’s had shown up except for Evelyn’s.  Since she helped me pick them out, it was disturbing her that it wasn’t here yet!   It finally arrived on Saturday, but after she had already left.  She was excited when they came for Sunday dinner that her suit was finally here!   Of course, we also got new goggles.  She had to find an adult to take her out to swim right away!  She may have been the only one who was super thrilled with my choices!   They all have been wearing the new suits, but she’s the only one who jumped up and down and told me it was beautiful!   ;)

Madison and Andrew got new furniture this weekend.  Evie was overwhelmingly excited to sleep on the new sofa!   She told me probably 15 times she was having a couch sleepover with her daddy!   

Mallory enjoys growing flowers.  She planted a cut flower bed.  She brought me a fresh cut bouquet!   It is really pretty!   I enjoy her hobby as well, although I definitely don’t have her green thumb.  Or patience, or desire to learn!  

We spent part of today moving rabbits around in anticipation of them having babies this week.  The broken (black and white spotty) bunny was pulling fur this evening!  I didn’t take any pictures but if they live, I definitely will!   I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this time works better than last time.  

Jim worked his buns off this weekend.  He trimmed, burned, worked on the pond, trimmed some more, mowed, sprayed poison ivy, and did I mention trimmed?   When he asked if he could go fishing with Andrew, there was no way I would have said no!   When they were getting ready to leave, this one decided she must go as well.  Knowing she wouldn’t last as long as they would, Madison and I ran to pick her up.  When we got there she told me “Grammy!  I caught a fish!   AND I need a snack!”   Poor kid - starving half to death like that!   Grammy got her all fixed up!  I’m not sure how many fish Jim or Andrew caught, I gave up waiting up for them and went to bed!   They are the longest fishing people I know.  

I guess this is one of those weekends where you go back to work so you can rest!  It was lovely, but for once, I’m not sad to see it end- I’m pooped!  

A little start o’summa

We are excited to have a 3 day weekend.  Jim has been busy playing with fire (burning stumps) and doing a bunch of trimming.   The rest Of us have been trying to help him, but have also been messing with the critters.   The goats are officially weaned.  They do not approve.  Mr. Mackey is especially whiney about it.  He is doing so good!   It makes me happy every time I see him running around and playing with his friends!  

Madison and Andrew are redoing their living room.  Evie came over here to hang out with us and swim.  She was soooo excited about her new unicorn floaty.  Unfortunately, Preston has been helping Mallory at her house and had taken the air compressor to town.  Harper took care of her!   

After a couple weeks of science experiments, I managed to get the water back to the color I like.  Although it is clear, it is definitely not warm!   It didn’t stop us though!   You just have to lower yourself in slowly!   I did successfully find the hole, patched the leak, and now we have no more water dripping out!  That is a relief. My absolute happy place.  Floating, cold drinks, sunshine, and summer fun.  

While some of us are relaxing, others are working.  Colin sent me these cool pictures of him at work.  His coworker took them.  It is Colin in the bucket.  I thought they were really cool photos.  And maybe proof that fear of heights/falling isn’t genetic.  

We had a day with no plans, but ended up being sort of busy helping Madison and Andrew.  We got a lot done around the house as well.  The kids were talking about how it has been a year since we all went to Beaver Lake.  Evie wants to go back!   I wouldn’t mind going back, but I really do enjoy my life here with the endless to do list, projects galore, and my little zoo.   

Ball pics (cause why not?)

So far this summer, I have been pretty impressed with Saige's coach.  As an added bonus, she is having her sister take pictures during the games, and is sharing those on a private page where you are free to download the ones of your kid.  If she only knew that between the fact that she took orders and got all of the uniform stuff (thus saving me a trip to the sporting goods store) and now sharing photos, she has quickly become my hero!  

It is not only the stuff above though, but the fact that she does not have a kid on the team, she just volunteered her time because she loves the game that would makes me like her.  Because she doesn't really know any of the girls, she is letting them experiment with positions, equipment, new ideas and helping them learn and grow.  I think it will be a great experience for Saige, and it will be fun to see how far she can take them this summer!

These are the pictures from the first couple of games.  So much better than the ones I took!  I have no trouble admitting that I am not a photographer!  I love pictures though.  All the pictures.  Even the bad ones.  I live by the idea that the only pictures you will be sorry for are the ones you didn't take.  

Yesterday, Saige was supposed to have a game.  Harper and Saige had their yearly physicals at the doctor.  We knew we would be stretched for time, so we ordered pizza, ran one errand, flew home, did chores, found Saige's uniform, cooked the pizza, got everything loaded in the car, and I was just starting to fix her hair when the game was cancelled.  Some days are like that.  I went from being completely stretched for time to having all evening at home.  I was a little sad, because I had a couple more errands I could have done had I known.  It was absolutely pouring rain in town, but when we got home there had not been a drop.  I am guessing where she was supposed to be last night must have been hit!  

Side note - I knew my kids were growing up - Harper has grown 3 inches and Saige 4 inches since last summer!

Since we ended up with the evening at home, Jim burned some stumps, I patched another hole in the pool, and cleaned in there- I am happy to report we have clear water, and the leak is at least slower than it was!.  We worked together to get some potted plants started, and used our poo pile that is now nice black dirt to fill in a hole that somehow appeared in our yard (dang dogs).  I was happy to be home!  This weekend, we don't have many plans, but I have to move the (no longer) baby chickens into a bigger pen so that we can be ready for the arrival of baby rabbits next week....the rabbits are going to become a colony in the current chicken pen.  I am excited to see how this will work!  I also might be reading too much stuff on the homesteading pages.  Too many ideas/plans to accomplish in one free evening!  :)  We will have to get as much done as possible though, because the month of June is filled to overflowing.  Many good things coming!

 

 

 

National Turtle day

The person we received the turtles from told us that today is National Turtle Day!  I had no idea that was even a thing!   I didn’t know until after we got home from the ballpark.  I wish I’d have known sooner, I would have made a cake or something!   I let them have some of the frog’s bloodworms instead!  They were very happy!  We are slowly learning how to manage their filtration, and cleaning schedule.  We love watching them swim around, and I love throwing them strawberries and watching them chase them around and trying to eat!   They are so much fun to watch!  

Saige had a game tonight at Carbondale - against the same team they played yesterday.  This time, Saige’s team came out on top.  They played so well!   Saige did a great job - she pitched, played center field and was great at bat!   She had a double, and a really nice single.   She also struck out several girls, had a throw out at 1st and a tag out at home.  She also came home in a much better mood tonight!   ,

I finally got into the pool today- to look for the leak.  It took me 15 solid  minute to work myself in!   (I know- geez I’m a cold hating wimp).  I located the leak.  I patched the leak.  I got out to see —- that it is still leaking.   Guess I’m getting back in tomorrow!   Hoping I don’t get hypothermia!   The girls got in today as well, to play.  I do not know how they stand it!  

I watched some videos on how to locate a leak.  Basically they said “suck it up, get your butt in there, and look!   The internet so SO helpful!  

Braggin minute

Saige had her first official game tonight at Osage City.  She thinks she did a terrible job.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  

Side note - when Jim was in college at Baker, he belonged to a fraternity.  His frat brothers called him Animal. That’s why this is a funny pic.  I always tell Jim if you have to explain it, it probably isn’t funny, but this makes me laugh anyway.  Look at his sad face!  

Anyway, back to Saige’s game.  She pitched, having several strike outs, threw a girl out at first, and had an RBI.   She doesn’t look at that - she only sees the score didn’t end in their favor. We had to remind her that sometimes success isn’t found in the scoring.  She is on a team full of girls who are older than she is, but she is definitely holding her own.  

We also stopped by the old “fish park” in Osage.  The older kids used to love going over to feed the fish.  I didn’t see any fish in the Lily ponds tonight, but in a few days, these lilies will be flowering and I hope we are back down there to witness that beauty!  

Pool saga - as you can see, we are still not at the clear water stage.  There are still leaves in the bottom.  Today, the girls begged me to get in - they said they were going to scoop leaves, and look for the leak that we still haven’t found!   They really did what they said, but they also horsed around a lot and then ended up floating around, working on soaking up some vitamin D! Shockingly, the hole still has not been located!    I know, I know, for days I’ve been saying I would get in and find it.  But I am telling you, I have no earthly idea how they stood it!  That water is crazy cold!