Happy Mother's Day to one and all... though for me, it isn't just "one day"... it's every day and I am so blessed ....
For the past few years, we have been getting together with the Flagg Family and various other friends (and in-laws) attending an amazing Mother's day brunch. Since this has gone on so well, we decided that year to year, it's the thing to do. With our group being so large, we get our own little room.. and this year with a three year old and infant, it made it so easy to enjoy each one's company...Abbie was very happy to see Tee-tee.....
It's an endless buffet and I really can't think of one thing that they don't have. You can go "breakfast" "Lunch" or "dessert".. which I happily admit.. I didn start with dessert!!!!
Abbie was ever watchful of Reagan.. no matter who had him. She was sure to give careful instructions as to how to take care of "her" baby......
Presents were exchanged..... Kass had taken Abbie shopping and told her to pick out whatever she thought Mom would like.... Abbie picked out some bright pink flip flops.. and green nail polish.......(Sadie loved them)...
My special gift from Reagan is this great coffee cup that has his little hand print and foot print on it.... since I'll be working all next week...this will more than come in handy....
I remember saying to Kass last year when we were leaving.. "welll next Mother's Day, it will be your turn"... and sure enough... it is....
Complete sweetness........
Course, you always know, we must do family photo opts... I think we must take more pictures than almost anyone I know!!!!
Here are all my kiddos......
Now, as a rule... I only put the "good" pictures on the blog.... but just to show... we have to take several to get that perfect one.......
Really girls????
At last!!! and here's hoping that your Mother's Day was as wonderful......
Weeks ago, I asked to have today off from the post.... because we wanted to go and check out the NH Wool and Fiber Festival. All week long, they have been talking about a rainy, very wet weekend... but nothing was going to stop us for going. I pulled out the barn boots, scoped out the rain jackets.. and we are going. Sadie and Abbie want to tag along, so for me.. the day would be perfect no matter what. Just as we walked in the gates, we came along this talk about llama and alpaca.....
The skys were grey, but we new englanders... we don't stop for such little matters.. and all the "goodies" were there waiting for me!!! (too many goodies I might add!!!)
This is a new location for the festival.. and I haven't seen it here. I actually liked it better because much of it was inside. I am sure the vendors were pretty happy about that too.Demos of all kinds were going on all day, people are so friendly and love to talk and share their art with you. I've yet to master my spinning wheel... but it's still on my list.
Oh and the food.... lots of that "great fair food".... I was pretty good in that department...
Abbie had a good time, she was really interested in many things. Course she got a little antsy when Sadie and I began our "yarn decisions".. so she and Papa went and found other things to do... deciding on "which" yarn, is not a fast process!!!!
Now, here's a treasure and great idea. It's a yarn box... pop your ball of yarn inside and knit away. This looks dog proof, cat proof, and "hair" proof... and I am going to get Ed to make a few for me. I would have loved to buy one, but, a hubby with a wood working shop will do nicely.....
And of course, the animals!!! Ed and I love this breed of sheep... (they have them in Williamsburg) and I have decided if and when we move into the "sheep department" this is what we'll be looking for. We had a nice chat with these folks, and found that the Longwools make pretty good pets. Really, that's all "our sheep" would be... big pets (like everyone else on this farm)... so, I like the idea that they are easy going and easy keepers...
And the fact that they are pretty cute.. doesn't hurt either!!!!
The alpaca were (are) very popular... they still crack me up... these little guys were so friendly. They were really interested in Abbie, and I miss a couple of cute photos of them together....
Shearing demo......
And sheep dog demos.. which I was really enjoying and then noticed that sky in the back ground. Up until now, the day had been "not bad".. but "that" wasn't looking good......
Just enough time to grab a big bag of kettle corn for the ride home.......
And down it came, moments after we jumped in the car. I could have stayed longer, but my pocket book was glad we left when we did!!! It was great fun, and sort of renews my interest in "fiber" and the sort..... and this business of "Saturday's off".. well, i could certainly get used to that idea too!!!!
As cute as this is... that's the last thing you want around your bees!!!! bear!!!! and it is something we have to consider around here... I've never seen one, but others have and we know for a fact they are in the area. It's recommended that you run an electric fence around the "bee yard" (as it is properly called).. but we're hoping we have picked a spot where bear would be a little shy about checking out... course, bear aren't shy of anything..so we'll see...
Picking a spot for the bees isn't as easy as it would seem, there are all sorts of suggestions from the bee folks, and then you kind of just have to see what works for you. With all the land we have here, you'd think that I could find just the right spot and I did... but as luck would have it... there is something in the way......
It's a pile of old pine that we knocked down years ago,.... well, guess that's what a tractor is for. Ed fired it up and moved the pile for me.... and we'll have nice bon fire this weekend and finally get rid of this "junk" wood to boot......
Got a nice cement base for the hive. Something you may not think about is how heavy a working hive can be..... depending on the size box that you use.. honey "supers" alone can weigh from 40-100 pounds when they are full.... so, you need something sturdy for the hive to sit on.....
All the parts and pieces are painted and ready to go.....
The house is built!!!! I have to work at the post office next week.. but we'll take an evening and finish doing the yard work. Then the hive will be set in place and the bees arrive next Saturday!!!!!!!
Sadie,Jesse and Abbie are in the process of getting settled into their new place. So, while the big people pack and move, Abbie and I grab as much time together. I fear I make it sound like they are moving out of the country instead of just 30 minutes away, but being selfish, I will admit ... I'll miss being able to say "Abbie let's head to the barn" and have her racing ahead yelling ..."Baby, run!!!".....
She's going to miss it too... collecting the eggs in the morning has been "her job".. and she loves going into the coop and counting how many eggs have been left for her. I love how she always pokes her head out the little door and says "thank you girls!!!".....
And then we have to count how many... and then how many are brown and how many are white and which "girl left them"... yup, this is going to be very hard on her ol' grandma!!!!! But, you all can be sure, that I am going to steal her as much as possible... and then when Reagan is old enough, he's going to be up here too!!!!!!
Guinea hens on patrol... and Annabelle knows to stay out of their way... They are the noisiest things, but I'll tell you.. with everyone saying how bad the tics are this year,... we haven't had one. I have four new birds too... needing a home I grabbed them up quick. They make the rounds every day and have path and a time frame that they follow pretty closely...
This year's turkeys have also arrived.... we got just 10 .. we found raising 15 last year seemed like to much so we cut it back. They are so cute and it's hard to think of them heading to the freezer in a few months, good thing they don't stay this cute....
For now, they live in the tack room... we have to keep them nice and warm until their feathers come in. In a month or so, I'll move them into Turkey Manor ......
And it's planting season. We still have to be careful what goes in right now, as we can still have a frost... but the hardy things like peas can get in. I'm hoping I'll have more time for a good garden this year.... and with the bees coming, we need to have things for them to do as well.....
Speaking of bees, got the last pieces of the hive painted this week... I expect a call about them anytime now....
The peas are in... and I'm going to plant summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots and pumpkins... so... we'll see how it all goes. But either way, it's shaping up to be a busy summer and after our very grey winter... I'm going to enjoy every bit of green and sun possible.....
Here he is, our little prince.... two months old already. I can't believe how much he has changed in just the short 8 weeks that he has been with us. He's turning into a "real" baby now, and Kas and Nate are doing this "parent thing" like they have always been at it.
We all adore him, and I fear that everytime he sees this crazy family of his, he wonders... "who's going to hold me now and how many pictures do I have to "smile" for"......
Sadie and Reagan.......
His Mommy and Daddy call him "snugs".. because he is so good at that, snuggling in ...
Smiling, talking and just beginning to roll over... that's our sweet little Reagan.... happy two months!!!!!!
May 1st... I somehow feel that "we made it"... winter is certainly behind us now, and we have already had some pretty fine weather. I just had to share this photo, not much left of this "comb-honey" which happens to be my favorite way to eat honey... right out of the comb... and I can't wait to have some of our own. If the weather stays good, we may have the bees by end of this month.
Once we have the slightest bit of warmth and sunshine, it amazes me at how quickly we get outside and "things" begin to happen. The hens are laying again, I almost forgot how wonderful fresh eggs are, and Abbie is always on the hunt each morning for them. Her other new favorite chore is brushing Mocha out...
Mocha will just stand (and eat) while Abbie plays around her. And when the brush is full, we take the hair outside and drop it on the ground for the birds to line their nests with. Abbie loves to yell... "here ya go guys, nice and soft for your nests!!"......
Our sweet little Reagan!!! Kas and I met up last week and had a lunch together. We were hoping to do a walk, but the rainy weather made a change of plans. I really don't care "what the plans are" as long as I get to see this sweet boy a few times a week.....
He's getting big - quick... days like this don't last more than the blink of an eye.
Abbie and Tee-tee share dessert... a brownie sundae.....
Spring projects happen all around, and it's nice that we all pitch in and help out with the biggest projects (hoping our deck will soon be on the list!!!) This was dog fence repair time at Kass and Nate's. The dog fence that Ed and I put up 30 (thirty!!!) years ago finally gave in. Kass and Nate muddle threw the winter, but their dogs caught on that the fence was holding, and began to get out... can't have that!!! so new fence it is!!!!!
While the boys worked on the fence, Abbie, Kass, Reagan and I went on a flower shopping trip at the local nursery. We still have to be careful about what goes outside right now, there is always the chance of cold weather re-appearing, but there are some hardy plants that can handle the cold.
Pansies seem the perfect pick, and I personally like them. I love their color and their little faces.. so Abbie picked out a number of them to be planted here around the farm.
While Tee-tee got Reagan in the car, Abbie loaded in the flowers!!!!
My Mom and Dad got a new grill for the season, so on Sunday, we went there for a cookout and to break in the new grill. Reagan isn't so sure of all this bright sunshine, but it won't be too long before he is racing around with the others!!!! Is he his Daddy's boy or what....
Sadie brought Abbie's little four wheeler to the cookout, goodness didn't she and Naomi have a grand time with that. They rode all over the place and the battery even had to be re-charged!!!!
But there is always time to pull out the marble game as well...it will forever be one of the favorites!!!!
Lunchtime, and with everyone bringing a little something, there are so many good things to choose from!!!!
Kelsey and Kass catch up on the news. Kelsey being a college student and Kass a new mom... they don't have the chance to see each other that often. Proof that events such as this keep our family strong!!!!!
Jesse has been wanting Kelsey to try the motorcycle with him.....
Today, she was brave and went for a ride. They had a good time and Kelsey said she was happy that she tried it......on a Harley no less!!!!
New service dog in training - Hope - had a good time hanging out with the girls.....and a day of sunshine, happy laughter and good food went by way too fast. Looks like we're in for a busy summer.... projects, cookouts, camp... wedding!!!! I fear we'll be looking at fall all too soon.
There is one more note to add... one that is extremely bittersweet for me. Sadie, Jesse and Abbie have found their own place to live, and this month they are moving off the farm to their own little place. As much as I am thrilled that they will be starting their lives as a family... my heart breaks at the thought of not having them here 24/7... especially Abbie!!! who has been here with us since she came home for the hospital, and as anyone can see, is my little buddy..... we will be true empty nesters, and I'm not so sure I like that idea.
but, life is all about change, moving onto the next chapter and seeing what that has to offer... one thing I already know. this "baby" will be on the road, traveling from one grand to another... but that's ok with me!!!!
