Strawberry day

We recently learned about a strawberry farm outside of Lawrence.   It is called Wohletz farm.  They have strawberries and tomatoes.   

We decided that we should go pick some berries today!  

Despite the lady's slogan of "sample not supper" Quincy probably ate more berries than she put in her box!  It is a pesticide free farm though....so no worries.  

The berries are some of the best ones I have had in a long time.  I was reminiscing with the kids about how my grandma always had a strawberry patch. We would "help" her pick them and make  strawberry jam.  The best memories I have of grandma are always in the kitchen!  

When we got home the kids helped me make jam. 

My very favorite part was eating the foam on toast while grandma put the rest of the jam in jars.   I am in heaven over having a bowl of foam to share with the kids!  It's the little things in life that become the best memories!  

We also have jam to eat and strawberries in the freezer for having strawberry treats later!  It was a great day!  

Critters

I went outside to take a couple photos of Curley because in the past few days, she had miraculously started walking on her leg again.   I am no X-ray tech, but I could clearly see the break in her shoulder.  I am thankful that we did not rush to amputate her leg 

Because as you can see, she is using it again.  I do not know what the future holds for this little goat, but we love her and she is worth trying to help!   She is a menace, but she is our friend!  

Of course, if you try to photograph one goat, the others get jealous so you have to snap their photos too! 

Blitz is the best dog I have owned since we had OJ back when I was a kid.  She listens, is learning to follow commands, kennels herself at night when she is told, and is super sweet with the kids.   She is NOT a good help with the pigs, but we all have our faults, right?   She doesn't hurt them, but she has to be put in when we walk them because she loves barking at them!  We do love her.  I think she is growing up to be a really good girl for our family.  I am super pleased with her! 

The pigs have been a bit of a challenge.  I think we have finally discovered how they were escaping!  I get a kick out of Abraham Stinkin who hangs around with her tongue out!   Colin said he doesn't want to name his pig, so we just call her nameless pink girl!  

We had ducks growing up, but I didn't remember how fast they grew up!  If you look close, you will see a little red chicken in the duck pen.  I have moved her in with the chickens several times, but she always escapes and stands at the duck pen cheeping.   She honestly thinks she is a duck.  She even likes to play in the water!   My favorite is still the Mohawk duck.  I do not know a single thing about ducks, nor do I know what breed these are!   I do know they are messy and loud!  And that Quincy and Preston are completely in love with them! 

I was trying (unsuccessfully) to snap a couple photos of the poor old hens.  The rooster we got rid of pecked their feathers off!   They seem happier since Loudy's departure!  I admit that I do not miss his early morning crowing or his running at me whenever I walk by!  

Afternoon fun.

After having a cat funeral, we decided our fun afternoon activity would be fishing off the bridge below our house.  

After the enormous amount of rain we got this weekend, the creek was rolling and I was sure we would not catch anything. 

Sometimes it is more about spending time together than having a successful trip.  

The smiles, giggling, joking around and talking about life in general are just about the sweetest gifts I have ever received. 

Plus, everyone knows that I like fishing, but if you actually want to catch fish, you take daddy, not mom!  

It's a bad week for cats at our house

On Friday, I realized I hadn't seen Afolf all day.   On Saturday, we had some intense storms.  I was relieved when I pulled laundry out of the dryer and Adolf was on the downstairs couch.   Yesterday, he was still sitting in the same spot.  We noticed before church he didn't seem to be feeling well.   All day long, he kept getting weaker.  I promised the kids I would take him to the vet today.   I won't need to take him, as he passed away last night.  We all really loved that big old baby cat!   He was seriously one of the best cats ever!   He was patient with the kids and with Johnny, he always wanted to cuddle, and he always knew when you were having a bad day and needed some extra purrrring.   We will really miss him.  

The kitten that was born last week also passed away.  Apparently the mother was not doing her job very well.   

Hearts are a little bit tender at our house this week.  

Summer adventures began today

I promised the kids if I came home from work to find their chores done, we would have a fun afternoon activity.   We brainstormed activities and came up with a list.  Today's activity was a dodge ball tournament.  The kids accomplished finishing chores and so we set out to play some dodge ball this afternoon.  After a while, Ray the cat came by.  I noticed that she no longer looked pregnant, and so we went kitten hunting.  It didn't take long to find her one kitten that was in the hay!   The kids were so excited.  

This afternoon we went to a beginning band meeting for Preston. He is sure excited about joining band next year and taking some trumpet lessons this summer.  I was thrilled because I already owned a trumpet left from Colin's band days.  We do have to have a little work done on the trumpet, but overall it will be much, much cheaper than buying a new trumpet! 

We also received Cameron's summer league basketball schedule.  He is really happy with his choice to play summer basketball instead of baseball this year. 

And last but not least we built a potato stack today.  I am hoping it will produce many potatoes and save me a ton of digging in the fall!  The kids enjoy playing  in the dirt, and we have an abundance of manure around here!  

Schools out!

Happy kids, Popsicle stained clothes, ballpark nacho eating, swimming until you collapse, hanging out together, 

Late nights, no bedtimes, catching snakes, chasing lightening bugs, enjoying childhood, sleeping under the stars, 

Feeling the warm sun on your face, feeling the warm dirt between your toes,

And a million other reasons we are all happy that school is done for another year!

Harper's last day of preschool

The school year is drawing to a close.  I am never sad to see summer break arrive, but time really is going by too quickly!  Harper finished her last day of preschool this morning!  She had a fantastic year (I heard from her teacher....because she certainly is tight lipped about what goes on).   She had one of my all time favorite teachers.  Ms. Julie is seriously the kindest, most kid loving, wonderful woman we know!  I am happy to have my kids taught by her and I am equally happy to count her as a friend!  

Now let's get this summer thang going I say!