bye bye brown bunny

We had some sad news on the farm yesterday... "AJ" (ie Apple Jacks aka Brown Bunny) passed away. I think the extreme heat we have had over the past couple of days was more than he could handle. We were very careful that "everyone" had plenty of water, and shelter... because this kind of weather certainly takes it toll on creatures... on everyone!!!







I don't really know how old "brown bunny" was... we got him from Kassy's preschool because he wasn't turning out to be a good pet to the kids there. Kass thinks he was a couple of years old when we got him, and I think we had him six years... so guessing, I would say he was at least 8, and maybe even a bit older than that. He was a nice little bunny, didn't mind being held (as long as you held him correctly) and very friendly, always hopping over to the door to visit and get his treats. He loved his hutch that Ed made for him, and was always re arranging it, which I found interesting.

Any ways, I'm going to miss the little guy, and I hope he had a happy life with us. "Bye, Bye.. brown Bunny, happy Hopping in Heaven."

catchin' up

I don't know how many blogs there will be in the up coming week. Not only are we working on the house, but we are both "working". Ed has gone back to work for Coz a few days a week, and I am covering the post office while my boss is on vacation. House wise, these "work opportunities" couldn't have come at a "worse" time... but they are opportunities and we are happy to have them...so, we'll muddle thru as best as we can, and just get done what we can. We're at that stage where one job depends on another.... example.. the floor man came to measure for the flooring, but the up stair bath needs to be painted first, the hall way needs it's last coat of "mud" - then painted...the tiling has to be finished downstairs.. but we need the cabinets to come in... etc. etc. etc. We need to take a look in each room and make a "this needs to be done first" list!!!!

Sadie thought she would try her hand at gardening this year. I love gardens, but I never seem to have much luck with things that are "green". I try... but.. I seem to do much better with four legged creatures than things with roots.

I like the lay out of this little garden by the "barn" (really garage) and it offers a nice guide to the walk leading up to the door. Hopefully Sadie's little plants will like it there as well. Someday this will be a brick walk way, but that can certainly go on the "to do later" list!!!! We put Ed's tractor spinner in the corner.. not only is it cute, but I am hoping that it might keep the chickens out!!!!

The weather has been so nice, we are spending more time outside as well. While Sadie was working in the garden and I was working in the house, we kept the door open. Not wanting doggies to escape... we "used Abbie" to keep them in. Her little pack and play fitted perfectly across the doorway.....

I think the dogs found it rather funny to see Abbie in the "crate" instead of them... and she had a great time "talking" with them as they peeked outside and then checked her out.

Windows.... I love my big windows.. they offer so much light, but right now.... so much work.

However, there are three that are totally done!!! It's amazing what trim and paint will do to give this nice finished look. Let's see, three down... 19 more to go!!!! Oh hum...............

Tile floor number two.... the mudroom. Cear it all out, and start with the cement board...

Thenl ay the pattern out.... and begin.

I still "like" doing it... once you get the pattern right .. it is like quilting (I said that before) and other than being on your knees... it goes pretty quick. Oh I'll feel this tomorrow!!!!!

We didn't have a much time as we would have liked yesterday.. some company dropped by in the afternoon... (we were very happy to have them, but lost about an hour).. we got it about half done. It was a good stopping point for supper, and last minute we called Rick and Kelli and asked what they were up to. We decided that a Chinese food dinner would hit the spot... so they brought it up and we called it quits when they arrived.

Now.. just going to finish the blog here, and head back down .. and finish up the floor..... well, it will at least check another thing off the list!!!!

dock day

Today (Sunday actually) was "dock day"... now Abbie doesn't have a clue what it's all about, but dressed in a pink sunhat, and watching all the activity... she was game!!! It was a "warmish" day.. the sun was out and the wind was "mild".. so we convinced Nate and Tom that it wouldn't be "that bad a job".....








One of the hardest things about the job is getting the docks off the shore. We "live" on the high side of the lake, which means, no beach... and no nice easy slope into the water. I don't know if it's harder in the fall dragging the docks up the shore, or in the spring, stepping down over the rocks to get back to the water. Either way, we were so HAPPY that these two young, strong guys were willing to help!!! (THANKS BOYS!!!!)






Supposedly the water "wasn't' too bad"... once your legs got numb!!!!












But once the pieces got into the place, it's does come together fast. So much better than the old wooden docks that we used to deal with!!!












There were two that absolutely couldn't wait to get in the lake!!! They would have been more than happy to help out, too bad they don't know how to use the wrenches to put the docks together.... "come on Dad, hurry... we want to swim!!!"











FINALLY!!!!!










And so Dear Abbie... that is dock day, and now the camp really seems like "camp".. and we look forward to many warm summer days spent on the docks with family and friends......

today's the 16th

Today... being the 16th.. means one thing, it's time for the Abbie/Tatter photo. It's seven months already, I don't believe how fast the time has gone, and yet, I can't think of "how" it was when Abbie wasn't here with us. Strange how that is. She is really growing into a little person, "talks" all the time, is beginning to be "mobile" and is such a treasure.

Course, you know that Camille must have her spot in the light as well.

Hey, Tatter, where did you go???

Good idea, I'm out of here too....

No, Mama... no more photos!!!!!

sure signs..

Even the thought of this blog makes me tired!!!! It's been a big week of decision making with regards to the house.. as of now we have (ta dah!!!) Kitchen cabinets - ordered... carpets and flooring - picked out (flooring man is coming this week to measure)... bathrooms - ordered or bought.

We have been buying things from different places. Where we can, we like to shop local and give the "little" guy the business, sadly though, sometimes they just can't compete with the "big guys" and since we do have a budget, I am looking at the bottom line. We ordered the cabinet and sink for the mater bathroom.. along with three toilets from a local company. But they really couldn't come up with a budget price for the cabinets in the other bathrooms.. so, we headed out to see what the "big guys" had. From the look of this photo... you can easily see they did have some good prices.

I had it in my mind that I wanted to do something different in the downstairs bath, it will be more like a "guest" bath being on the main floor and I did want it a little fancy. I told Ed what I would like is to find an old cabinet (like a sewing cabinet) and make that into the sink. I combed a couple of "junk shops" and the Internet but never came up with what I thought I wanted. Well, the "big guys" had some pretty cool cabinets and we got this one.. sink included for 350.00!!!! Then picking thru the piles, we came across this mirror... it listed for 140.00... but it was on clearance for ..... 28.00!!!!! (yes that's right ---- 28.00!!!! talk about a steal) And this is the "finished" look!!!! All we need now is plumbing - which Ed can do as soon as he gets a minute. This room just needs trim... install the toilet and we are done in here!!!!

On my trip to the barn this morning, I found that we had overnight guests!!! These two beautiful geese had found a warm, safe spot in our field. When I pulled up in the truck, they moved into the field a little, but really weren't in any hurry to leave. They walked around for awhile, picking thru the grass for "goodies" I guess, and then headed out to who knows where. "You're welcomed back anytime dear geese... come again"

Beeker has some pretty exciting news!!!!

She has officially joined the group of "egg layer"... this little white egg on the top of the pile is her's. Between the hens, Mrs. guinea hen and now Beeker we are getting five eggs a day. I know that's not alot compared to some who keep hens.. but for us... it's plenty. I have also ordered four more chicks from our grain shop.... can't remember the name of them, but they are the hens that lay the light blue/green colored eggs. They should be arriving sometime next week.

"yes, official chicken now - Miss Beeker"......

Oh and the barn swallows are back!!! I found a couple checking out last year's nest. I don't know if this is the pair from last year, if it's one of their young 'ens.... or if it's someone new. But I do hope they take up residence on the farm. I love their call and greatly appreciate the bugs that they eat.

And speaking of "bugs"... my first shipment of predators arrived int he mail this week. I have to give them a couple of days to warm up and hatch out, but they will be going into the manure pile and get a jump on eating nasty flies!!! They worked beautifully last year, we hardly had a fly in the barn all summer... so, we are definitely looking forward to them doing their job this year.

so all kinds of wonderful signs around the farm... signs of house finishing projects, new life, and things to look forward to..... we are blessed....

end of the week..... already???

So the week flew by way too fast, as I knew it would. Linda and I had such a good time, we both said that we wished we lived closer together. But, since we (sadly) don't it does make our time together so much "more special". This day started out with a visit with a lady I know from church... Jean... she is a spinner (like Linda is) and has a spinning wheel that needs some fixing. Linda was able to find some names of folks that work on spinning wheels, so we took the information to Jean. We had a nice visit with her, (saw her beautiful spinning wheel) and I think I have found a teacher to teach me how to spin. (there will be more about that in future blogs). Jean told us about a huge patch of "Lady Slippers" that we simply had to go and see... and so, after our visit, we did just that.






She wasn't kidding when she said there was a huge patch!!! They were everywhere and you can see that they are re-seeding themselves and there will be even more next spring. These aren't in full bloom yet, so I hope to get back there in a week or so and see them again.. still, even in "part bloom" they are amazing to see. Lady Slippers are endangered, and it's illegal to pick them or replant them. You're suppose to just leave them alone and enjoy them as they are!!!

While I have been "playing", Ed has been working on the window trim. He has all the trim made for the downstairs windows and is beginning on the up. I have a ton of painting to do now.. especially if I want to "catch up with him"... but actually, as soon as I am done with my part, he can finish the windows!!! I have picked out my trim color (actually Linda picked it out).... so, once I get the wood primed, I can begin on the final steps.

But, back to spinning. Linda brought her beautiful little wheel with her, and gave me a lesson in spinning. I really do enjoy it, and if I can hook up with Jean and get some more lessons, I might even get good at it. One thing I found out this week, is, I can get all the "roving" I want, and not have to keep the animals to get it. So... it I want to be a good spinner, there is no excuse not to.

So, here we go. It takes a "knack", sometimes I did OK and other times.. well..let's say it gave us a good laugh!!!

But, with a little help, I did manage to put together a small skein of yarn....

"designer" yarn so to speak. I still need to "set it".. and perhaps I will make it into something.. or maybe I will just keep it and one day laugh at my first attempt.....

Friday morning, it was time for Linda to pack up and head back to her family (who was anxiously waiting her return)... but, before she got on the road, we had a nice cup of coffee together. One thing around here, we want you to feel welcomed.... and the pets are just here to help out with that...

Linda called later in the day... she arrived home safe and sound.. but rested after her week with us. I can't wait to have her back again, and I am (someday soon) going to "run away from home" and visit with her. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends!!!!!!

buttons and yarn

It was another fun and interesting day with Linda- I am going to be so sad when she heads for home!!! I could get used to days like this!!!

Our morning started out with the Women's Fellowship group from church. It was our monthly meeting, but the guest speaker was a lady who collects antique buttons. She brought a small part of her collection with her, and it was so interesting. She has buttons from all over the world and from all periods of time.





From what she told us, button collecting is quite popular and there are gills and clubs all around the world. Some buttons are worth a lot of money, and some are extremely rare. She told us that if we have "grandma's old button jar or box" don't disregard it... there could be treasure's inside!!!!








The "thing" about collecting buttons is you can pick different categories.... anything from "what the button is made of" to what type of "dress" they button came from (military apparel, work apparel, fancy dress apparel...the list goes on and on). One thing for sure, there seems to be something for everyone when it comes to interesting items or hobbies... anyone who goes thru life "with nothing to do or nothing of interest" well... they're certainly not living life!!!!




After our morning of buttons... it was an afternoon of yarn. There is a cute little yarn/spinning shop not too far away. I have been meaning to get over there all winter, but it wasn't until today that we finally did. The shop is in a little old school house, and it;s as charming as it can be!!!!!









The lambs outside of the shop were a welcoming crowd. And so cute.... too bad they don't stay little like that!!!











Inside the shop is a wonderful collection of spinning wheels... both old and new.












The shop offers spinning classes as well. So there are wheels for students to learn on. (really need to look into classes!!!)











Linda and I had a grand time looking thru the beautiful yarns. (and yes, we each bought a little!!!) They also carry needles, and other knitting supplies, which is good for me to know the next time I am in a pinch and need something for a project.

so, if you are local... check out the Spinner's Warren (they have a website)...




Not too sure what's on the "list" for tomorrow... but I already know, it will be very fun... yup-- that's it... Linda can't go home!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sorry kids & Wayne!!!! :0)