labor day weekend... day 2 con't

sooo... while the "menfolk" were hard at work in the house, the "gals" thought it would be far more fun to play with horses. When my little niece was up last time, and had her ride in Mocha's cart, she informed me that she had really come to "ride on Silver". I told her that she would just have to come back again and we would pull Silver out for a ride. Today, she wasn't on the farm more than a few moments when she "announced" that she would like to ride Silver. Nothing doing, we pulled him out.

To be totally honest, I thought the moment that she really got close to him and remembered just how big he is (compared to her) she would totally change her mind.... ya, right. She wanted to lead him out of the barn... (don't you love her outfit... she picked it out herself!!!)

Now, we don't want Naomi to get the "wrong the idea" about horse back riding... so, we did "everything right"... first thing before riding... grooming!!!! Naomi offered to brush the legs and the belly.....as far as she could reach. Then we tacked up...









And on she hopped. No fear what so ever, .. even posed and waved to her Mom taking the picture!!!!

When I asked her "where she wanted to ride".. she said "to the house, so I can show my Daddy".. and so we did... (it's hard to see, but John is standing just the other side of Silver) and Naomi is explaining her ride to him....

Big hugs to say thank you to Silver for his ride!!! As we were returning to the barn, she told me that she wanted to ride Duke next!!! I told her, she needed to grow a little more before she tried to ride Duke, and then convinced her that Mocha might be more her size... she said she "guessed so"....

and so, Mocha came out next. I think Naomi found grooming her a bit easier... at least she could reach all of Mocha's "parts"

Then she tacked up....

and hopped on for ride number two, again down to the house to show her Daddy just how well she can ride!!!

Good horses always get treats, so Naomi took Mocha out for a bite or two of grass.....

and, after that... time for chores. Can't leave a good horse in a messy stall....

"barn work is hard work!!!"

but after such a fun afternoon... it's well worth it

Naomi is still pretty certain that Duke will be her next mount.. I am amazed at how comfortable she is with the horses, actually with all the animals. I didn't get the photos, but she held the silkie chicks, walked right up to Mr. G...and just had a grand time on the farm. It was such a joy to have her here... I can just imagine what it will be like when baby Abbie arrives.....

labor day weekend.. day one

With the idea of a three day weekend, and "offers of help", Ed decided to get the sheet rock project started. So, last night we ran to buy the sheet rock and other things to begin. It was pretty late by the time we got to the store and got it loaded... yesterday was busy, first with Ken and Ed working all day on the siding, and then we had to wait for the farrier to come and do the horses, so we didn't even get on the road until well into the evening... my poor hubby, he was absolutely exhausted when we ate supper at Applebee's.... around 10:00 pm!!!! It was after midnight by the time we crawled into bed... but there was no late morning sleep around here this morning...



Because Kas and Nate arrived bright and early to begin the project.

One last picture of "see thru walls" in the upstairs!!! While Ed and Nate make a game plan.

First piece goes in place!!! Now, we do have sheet rock on the outer walls, because that was part of the "panels" that the house is made out of. What we are doing now is putting up the "inside" walls....

Kas and I made four trips to the dump while the guys were sheet rocking. There were piles of boxes left from the siding, lots of siding bits and pieces to be picked up, and just general "stuff" that needed to go away. After that, we came back to camp to make supper for a couple of hungry guys... and Ed was happy to say that the whole master bedroom, bath and closet were done today.

Tomorrow this "pile" may be "living" some place else!!!!

catching up

This is what our house looks like most evenings... and it's not just dog that collapse at the end of the day... we do as well!!! Our life here is so different in many ways (good ways) but one being is that we are outside most of the day, between just "being" on the farm, and house building and the like, we head out the door in the morning, and don't come back in until dark. It's great fun, but by the time the evening rolls around, we are all pretty tired. (and if you want to sit on the couch, you need to claim your spot early... btw.. the little red and white cocker is a visitor!!!)


Well, my garden wasn't much of a success this year. With the spring being so wet, we "lost" a number of plants, we did get a few peas, and some beans, a few tomatoes... but that's about it.. except for the sunflowers!! I did get a great "crop" of them, and they are truly beautiful. As you pull up the drive, there is a nice "sunny" row of them there to greet you. I will certainly put in a few more rows of them next year.





I am going to save a few and get the seeds from them for next year's crop, but the rest I have been cutting and sharing with friends.

Thursday evening, we were invited over to Kelli and Rick's for a cookout. It turns out that we knew some of the same friends, and they wanted to have us there all together. Kelli is a wonderful cook and she had all sorts of "goodies" for us, plus an amazing dinner. The evening went by way too fast and we had such a grand time.

There was peanut butter pie for dessert, and that.. along with a good cup of coffee was the end to a perfect day.

out buildings...

One of my "main focuses" this week has been our "out buildings", getting them stained and painted and just looking good. Sadie has been a big help with this project, so things are going really well. I have been thinking of the different farms that I have visited and why I like some better than others. And one of the deciding factors, is that my favorite farms are usually extremely neat. Buildings that are all up to date in their paint and repairs, things kept in order, items that are picked up.. and that is the way that I would like to keep our farm. Now, I must confess that painting is NOT my thing, but, it IS something I can do, so I am working my way thru it. Even if I do just a little each day, in time it will all be done, and it doesn't make the job too over whelming.


The first shed, if you will, is what we call the "electrical shed". All our power comes into the farm underground, and this shed houses all the panels, wires and the like, plus our generator. So, if we do ... no WHEN we do... end up with another ice storm, we will have power for the house. It is my goal to make the little out buildings look some what like the big barn. Which is, the light color of the building itself, white trim and red door. So far I like the look.. though I'm not sure if I will stick with that white trim or not. This little building is close to the house, and I might go more with the house color scheme.. but, we'll see, I'll give it some time and see what I decide a little later. Unlike the house, I can change this color scheme if I choose.


The second shed is actually going to be our turkey house. This little shed already has quite a history with us. Ed and I bought it at least 25 years ago, and it has been the "toy/bike" shed, the "lawn mower/yard shed" and lastly the "wood shed." Kas and Nate weren't interested in keeping it, so when we said it would make a good turkey house, they were happy to have us move it. Our friend, Jack, trucked it up to the farm on his wrecker flat bed truck. I wasn't so sure it would survive the trip, or that it would be worth trying to "save".. but it has proven to be a good idea on both accounts. As you can well see, this poor little shed needs alot of TLC.. it hasn't seen a good coat of stain/paint in many a year, but I am determined to make that right... before the turkeys move in!!!

Just getting the first coat of red on the doors made a big difference today.And like the "electric" shed, I am going with a "mini" barn color scheme. Ed will need to get a new roof on it.. and as it turns out, we have a few panels of the red metal that is on the big barn, which will cover the roof nicely. We will cut a "turkey" door into the side of it, and have the pen go out from there, and I think the birds will be quite comfortable in their new home. Hopefully, they will be in by next weekend... at least that is the game plan.

Ed and Ken are back to "fussy" work with the siding. They spent most of the day working around the garage doors, and I understand it was quite a "pain in the neck" job. They had to be sure that the lines of the siding matched between each door, and that those lined up with the front side of the building. I guess a few times, they undid and re did their work. But, by the end of the day, they had reached the top of the doors and tomorrow, the rest of the work should go much easier.

It will certainly make me appreciate the beauty of work like this. I often just look at the color of a house, and never see the clapboards... but I have a different take on that now that I have watched the process. There is a real "art" to this sort of thing, it's been fun to watch. After this, "all" that's left is the back of the house and some trim work and it's done!!!! This will certainly be a big check mark on the list of things....

Once the house is done, we can begin to pull the dirt back in around the building. Ed would like to get some of landscaping done this fall, maybe even start some grass, that would help with the winter and give the ground sometime to settle before next spring and the "wet". The landscaping will be fun and a project that I can help out with, so I am looking forward to that. We are also getting our "inside" game plan worked out....and that might be a story for the weekend blog!!!!

August is done?????

I can't believe that today is August 31 where has the summer gone... or rather, did summer even get here. Weather wise, we had the "wettest summer" on the books, so really we didn't even get summer like weather until just a couple weeks ago.... NO FAIR!!! Maybe the fall will make it up to us.. actually from now until January is my favorite time of year .

And speaking of "a year"... it was exactly one year ago tonite that our horses spent their very first night in their new home. The barn has turned out to be so wonderful, and having "worked" in it for a whole year, I can truly say, there is nothing that I would change. What felt (at the time) like endless hours of planning, thinking, checking... re-checking on the design of the barn, certainly paid off. Such a blessing....

All our "things' are home again from the fair. Both Sadie and I did quite well this year, and have all the pretty ribbons to show off.... but one thing that was quite surprising.. when Ed went to pick up the picture of "Mr.G".. the lady in charge of them, asked him if the photo was for sale. I guess someone saw it and asked if we might be interested in selling it. Ed wasn't sure what my answer would be, so he left our name with her and said if the people come back and want to talk with us about buying the photo, she could give them our name. As of today, there hasn't been any phone call, but I thought that was pretty neat....


Three weeks ago, I taught Sadie how to knit. She started with a hat for herself, and flew thru it. Then she wanted to make some booties for baby Abby.. I have a nice bootie pattern but it involves using four needles. I showed her what to do, and she whipped those out... in fact, not only "whipped" them out, but entered them in the fair and .... took a BLUE!!! Her very first pair!!!!!

Then (on four needles again) she made a hat for baby Abby.. and entered that in fair...

she got a third placement.

I don't know what she's working on at the minute, but I have a feeling there's no stopping her now. She'll have to find "help" with other things, because she will soon pass my expertise!!!

So, it's goodbye to August and onto another month, and hopfully closer to getting into the new house. I also have been really missing Moxie these past few days, she loved the fall weather and always got so "puppy like" with the cooler weather....I fear it will take a very long time before I can smile when I say her name......She would have so loved riding in the woods yesterday..... "love you Moxie girl!!!!"

a day in the woods

Yesterday, after church as we were driving home, a long list of "what can we do this afternoon" began running thru my mind. Goodness knows, there is always something to "fill" our time... finishing up the move of the turkeys, making a trash run, mowing the lawn, painting, etc. etc. etc... but the afternoon was just too pretty to be filled with such tasks!!!

So, I called Deb to see if she and Alice would like to go driving with Mocha and me!!! Mocha has been doing so well with her driving skills, that I feel it's time to get off the farm and try new and exciting places. Deb has acres of woods behind her house with all sorts of trails, and I have been wanting to try them for sometime. She was so excited when I called and couldn't wait for Mocha and I to come. Sadie tagged along as well, I wasn't sure if Mocha was up to pulling two in the cart .. but she wanted come and could (at least) get some photos for us.

Mocha and Alice seemed pleased to see each other once again, they last time they were together was back in June at the driving clinic.

It didn't take long for us to tack up and get ready to head out.

"On your mark.... get set.... go!!!"

The woods were beautiful and surprisingly not very buggy.. which made the ride very pleasant.

I was extremely pleased with Mocha's driving skills. I did find out that she needs work in holding the cart back on down hills. On the farm, we mostly drive on the "flat", so we haven't had the opportunity to work with hill... but that is one of the very reasons why you want to "work" in different places. Now, "we" have to find hills to work with!!!!









Time out for a photo opt!!! (Deb and I have "only" worked two years for this afternoon!!!)

And then almost too soon, we were back "home" once again. Both the horses were amazing on the trail and seemed to enjoy the outing as much as Deb and I did... certainly there will be more drives together this fall... and maybe even a beach day!!!!!

here's the house...

My dear Ed and Ken did an amazing job on the house this week

"Fair" results....

well my fair results, certainly are more that fair... they were wonderful!!!! Perhaps you remember that last fall, I had made a quilt block for the "Fair Quilt"... each year, they come up with a theme and you receive a patch of material. With the theme in mind, and using the "patch" you need to come up with a quilt square. It has to be submitted by a certain date, and then it is sewn into the quilt. Each block is judged, and all that enter a square has their name placed in a drawing for the quilt. I have yet to "win" a quilt, but it's fun to find your block and see what you were "awarded".





This year my block placed fourth!!! I already have my patch for next year's quilt and think that I have a design in mind.

My photo of "Mr. G aka Biker chick" placed first in the animal division.....

and my cross stitch piece (the one with Moxie's name in it) placed first and yes.... it also was awarded "Judge's Choice".. I am very honored by that!!!!

Other fair results... Sadie entered a pair of knitted booties ... the first ones she has ever made, and she got a blue ribbon for them, and then took a third on a little hat that she also made. My friend, Kelli, got a blue ribbon on her photo of a light house and took first in the landscape division, and son-in-law Nate, got a fourth on his landscape photo taken in Iraq.....

so, all kinds of ribbons awarded in the family... now we are all thinking about next year's entries....

a day on the farm.

Yesterday, after visiting the fair, my two sisters, Becky and Rachel, with my two nieces, Kelsey and Naomi... and friends, paid a visit to the farm and then to the lake. I was so excited to have the kids come to the farm, because ever since Mocha has become such a good little driver... I have been "dying" to take the kids for a ride. I had her all hitched and ready to go when everyone arrived, and dear little Mocha made several trips up and down the driveway, taking each one for a ride.

I'm not so sure who was having the most fun... the kids or ME!!!

(and.. the silkies... were another big hit!!! the kids are beginning to talk about "auntie Sue's farm) After our ride, everyone came to the lake, and all the kids jumped in and took a swim. We adults talked about "how we swam any time we could" but now, we're just as happy to sit in the sun and watch the kids swim!!!!!

horse show at the fair.....

Sadie and I went to the fair this morning to see the classes for "mini, pony, mule and draft" both in hand and in cart. We only had planned to be there for a few hours, but actually spent nearly the whole day. It was great fun, and there is one thing for sure.... Miss Mocha will be entered next year.. I know she and I can do this......

This little gal is just THREE years old (the child, not the mini)... her Grandmother proudly told us....

And this is a neighbor of mine... they did real well, placing first in all their classes today....

I was quite taken with this mare.....

And look at this four in hand!!!!!

another Mare that caught my eye...









who knows, if I do my "homework"... maybe even "the team" can go next year... wouldn't that wagon of Dave's look good at a show. More Fair blogs to come.......

new residents on the farm!!!!

One year ago, this very night, Ed and I spent our first night as "new residents of the town". Kas and Nate were safely back in Maine after Nate's four years of service in the Marine Corps... and even though none of us were really settled into our new homes, it felt like everyone was where they were suppose to be. I still can't believe that the year has come and gone!!! I truly hope the rest of my life isn't going to continue to go this fast!!!

Ed and Ken made great progress on the siding today.. actually they made it even higher than this pic, but it was too dark to take a picture tonite and show their total accomplishments. Once you get thru all that fussy work around the windows, corners of the building and such.. the work goes pretty fast. I am happy to report that I am liking the house color as much as the barn, and am relieved about that!!! It's a nice soft color that I think will compliment the house.

So in yesterday's blog, I "talked" a bit about possibly getting some more chickens for the farm. I can't believe that I am turning into a "bird person".. because I have never really liked them. But, we have grown pretty fond of "Mr. G".. and then the two hens that were given to us. I have to admit, that getting a fresh egg almost every day has been pretty cool, and I am really liking the "fresh egg vs. store egg" taste.

Sadie has really gotten fond of "her chickens", and has been saying that maybe two more would be nice as we would get a few eggs a day. Just enough for the family, we're not interested in selling eggs, but it would be fun to give some away and have them for ourselves. So, we began to look at the different kinds of chickens, what their temperaments were like, would they be good "free rangers", egg quality and the like. We sort of picked out the Rhode Island Reds, until yesterday, when at the grain store... we came across a "breed" known as the Barred Plymouth Rock.

I think it was the black and white coloring that really attracted both Sadie and I. They look like a "rare breed" that we see in Colonial Williamsburg, and they suppose to be very docile and easy to get along with. They lay a fairly large brown egg, and are "home bodies".. so, we decided that two of them might be a nice addition to our "little flock".

I was hoping that I might add a couple of guinea keets as well. They had 8 keets last week, but when I got back this week... all the keets had been sold, and none expected in until next spring. Oh well, guess I wasn't suppose to have them, and really, if the three Keets we have do well, plus Mr. G... four guinea hens are really enough.

However something else really caught my eye!!!

Silkies!!!

Is this the strangest bird that you have even seen?? It is a chicken.. of sorts... they lay eggs, but I guess they are so little that it takes a few to make up to a real chicken egg. They don't have real feathers, but more of this "down like" feathering. They can't fly, and basically, aren't much good for anything other than eating bugs and looking cute.





I just HAD to have a couple of them!!!! So, along with our four guinea hens, and four "real" chickens, we now have two silkies!!! just because ....

These are very docile and can easily be handled. They don't make much noise, and they feel like down pillows... When they get bigger, I will let them free range with everyone else, but right now we are just working on meshing "everyone" together.

The Keets will go into the stall when the turkeys are moved and the Silkies will go with them. So for now, I have the two caged side by side and they can get used to each other. The "Rocks" are being caged inside the chicken pen, so the big chickens can get used to seeing them and then in time, they will all go out together.

Miss "big" chicken did come into the tack room to check out the "newbies"..but she actually seemed more interested in their grain. And Mr. G. has checked out the keets and seems pretty interested in them, and I think in time, everyone will get along just fine as long as they have the room to roam and time to get used to being around each other. And so, for now, that's about it for animals on the farm... we are currently housing... four horses, four guinea hens, six chickens, three guinea pigs, one bunny, one barn cat.. and 12 turkeys...

quite the house full......