Excited to announce the arrival.....

 Of Samantha's new kittens!  They arrived earlier this week. 

 Mother is doing quite well.  She keeps an eye on the activity, but seems quite happy to go out and about for some fresh air.

 Our little animal lover is quite happy to have babies around again.
Four kittens.  We're hoping this year isn't as hard on them as last year was!

Ready (or not)

 I believe I mentioned in my last post that I tend to be impatient.  I really wanted chickens last year.  Since we moved here last March, in the middle of cold, rainy weather, and had tons of things to do just to get settled along with the chicken house needing repair and all the prep work it involved it simply was not reasonable to jump into the chicken venture.
All year long it's been our my goal to be ready for chickens this spring.
HAHAHA--Read, *my goal to have my husband have everything done*.

Well...spring is here, the chickens are in,
and are we is he ready?

No, not quite!
Another bout of winter early spring nasty cold and rainy snow related weather postponed the needed hours to finish up getting the chicken house ready.

Oh well...who needs a chicken house for baby chicks anyway?
Turning back the pages on my memory book I remember my mom raising chickens all the years I was growing up before I turned a teenager and we moved to K-town.
We lived in a very small tiny town during those years, and we did not have a chicken house.
One of the places we lived was in the back of a grocery store/combo-feed store.  In part of the back area there were empty rooms that doubled quite well as a place to put chickens.
(What?  You don't put your chickens in the house with you?)

Another place we lived had an old adbanded house next to ours.  The house and fenced in yard worked as a perfect place for mom to keep/raise her chickens.
(What??  You don't do that either?)

Well, we are talking 40 years ago, and did I mention the town was TINY--you almost could consider it a non-town!  

WAIT A MINUTE--40 YEARS AGO??? Where did the time go?

So today I was on my way home from accross the state, and my husband calls.  It went kind of like this:
Him: "I bought the chickens today, you will need to stop in town and pick them up on your way thru."
Me:  "Uh, why didn't you take them home, you have the pickup"?
Him: "It's chilly, and they need to stay warm, just put them in the backseat."

Ohh, Kay.  Yes I guess I did want to raise chickens, I suppose that means I have to do more than tell the kids to gather the eggs, or fry them up after they're butchered, right?

So.  Husband forgot he had to work this afternoon, spent all morning in town, rushed home with the supplies, instead of being able to put the chickens in the chicken house we had to fix a place in the basement for them.   Do this, do that, like this, like that....he hollers as he runs out the door, leaving the poor chicks to our un-educated mercy.

These two have stated that they are the official "chicken keepers".  I hope they know what they're doing, because I sure don't!

 Now before you get all worried that we really don't know what we're doing, let me state that this is a very short stop-gate measure, and we had to go bring in my other large tub to additionally accommodate them.

I just checked on them.  food, check.  Water, check.  Heat, check.  Bedding, check.  Not too crowded, check.

I'll probably have to check on these two girls tonight--they'll probably want to go downstairs to sleep so they can keep them company.

Thanks in advance for all the prayers for my sanity & patience in this fowl adventure.


P.S.  Maybe you could pray for the chicks survival too, since we're such novices?  (at least until butchering time)

For today

This morning I thought about this little journal format that I have on one of my private blogs and so I went and looked it up.  I had done the last one a little more than  a year ago right before we moved.  Just a few weeks more than a year we've lived in the country.  I have to say I've loved every minute of it & have never missed our house in town regardless of the more than ample space it gave.

A year ago I was asking you all for suggestions to change my blog name.  Making Country Memories is certainly what we've done this last year.  We haven't gotten very far with "farm" life other than a progression (and "disappearance") of a total of 9 cats, 3 dogs and a pet coon.  At the present time we only have 2 cats (with a new set of kittens on the way) 2 dogs and an occasional sighting of a possum, badger, wild turkeys, deer  and the sound of an occasional coyote howling. 

We're working on plans to hopefully expand the animal population around here, I'll keep you updated on that adventure as we figure it out.

For today...... 

I am

• Energized--when I do housecleaning jobs for others it makes me want to come home and clean, organize and or re-decorate my own.
•  
• Enthused--After we finished our cleaning job my sis & I went to visit a green-house.  I came home with Lavender and Chives to add to my herb garden.  I really know nothing about this little venture I've started, but I'm excited to learn!

• Inspired--Cleaning house last night and having new plants that I couldn't leave outside led to re-decorating, cleaning out the closets, putting some winter things away & making a corner for my herbs & daffodils I bought.
•  
• Excited--Pleased, awe-struck, and at times a bit overwhelmed to think that in 2011 we are gaining 4 new grand babies.  I think it is time to make me a chart to keep track of them all.  Names, birthdays, and possibly with my memory maybe who they belong to would be a good idea too! :D
•  
• Thankful--That I have a sister to work and play with.  That we share so much in common.  Cleaning jobs are much lighter work when you co-work. Exploring the greenhouses, sharing ideas, getting & giving opinions makes planning much more fun.  A random stop at the antique store to scout out some treasures, be green-envy (in a nice way) over the treasure the other-one found first and then deciding that really we've spent all morning anyway, we might as well go enjoy lunch out too.

• Impatient--Wanting to have everything I want WHEN I want it, & HOW I want it NOW.  I really want to do better at enjoying the process.

Outside my window.....We are having our first thunderstorm of the season.   gray skies and it went from light rain falling with the occasional thunder to a full blown rainstorm with sharp lightening later this afternoon when I was on my way home from town.  I'm seeing green grass, tiny green leaves, trees that have burst into bloom & flowers poking their heads up from the earth.  Ahhh, spring!

I am thinking..... About some of my kids coming home next weekend, looking forward to loving on baby Raya who somehow is already 6 weeks old and looking forward to taking a new grandkids photo.

From the learning room........  Researching raising chickens, gardening ideas, container plants and herb/kitchen gardens.  

I'm also learning about "Norwex".  In a few words, the definition of what Norwex is:  From the highest quality microfiber cloths & mops , hygienic kitchen products , personal care products – facial cloths , the most innovative toothbrush on the market , crystal deodorant , and environmentally friendly detergents & toilet cleaner, plus SO much more. It's relatively new, at least in this area, and I along with many others have never heard of it before.  For some of us who are not only interested in using environmentally friendly, but SAFE and NON-toxic products to clean our homes with. It sounds and from the little I've already seen, like  wonderful products.
 
I am thankful for......My life.  My husband, my kids, finally having a chance to live in the country, and I'm thankful for good health to be able to keep up with it all. I'm ever constantly thankful for healthy children, (and so far grandchildren!) especially when I see and hear of those who have so many different health issues.  I may not be so very interested in all the health issues themselves, but I am interested in the why's & wherefore's, and possible causes of the issues and what can be done to avoid them in the first place.

From the Kitchen.... Our first picking of Asparagus--EVER!!  I'm so excited.  I've planted it several other times & never could get it to grow.  I also picked Lettuce leaves for our first fresh salad of the season!  It's chilly in the house this afternoon, and I'm thinking that cinnamon rolls baking would be a wonderful way to warm & cheer up the house & kids.

I am wearing

Warm fuzzys. With this rainy day it's chilly in here and I'm not wanting to kick up the heat anymore than totally necessary these days.  I'd prefer not to have to call the propane guy again!

I am reading..... Besides our Bible study chapters (Genesis currently)--All the country magazines I can find around here--flowers, chickens, farms, gardens! I'm trying to resist getting another book to start reading at the present, I can't seem to put it down until it's finished!

I am hoping.....The weather will clear up for my trip to Sidney tomorrow, and for working outside next week. I am hoping that I can get everything done I need to do before next weekend so it can be a happy, enjoyable, stress free time.  It certainly will be noisy, messy & way too short!

I am creating....Reviving my house with spring decor & my plants indoors.  Wanting to do some more scrapbooking before I'm totally swamped with outdoor work.  I got started on my Finland/Sweden album, now if I just can focus on getting it done...

I am hearing....Raindrops on the windows & roof, The wind, One child on the piano, one on the computer.

Around the house.....It's all clean from having Bible study here last night--Yay, I always love Thursdays like this!

Some of my favorite things......New things.  Spring, new looks, New baby news, New to me old antique/vintage or just plain old things. Sisters & Friends.

For the rest of the week....Taking my two "M&M" kids to meet a friend so they can spend the weekend with their kids. If the weather is cold, rainy maybe I can scrapbook this weekend.  If not, then more yard/garden work.  It's almost Friday, and beings that next weekend will be a full and busy one, I'm hoping for a calm, quiet and relaxing one this week!

 pictures I'm sharing............

 Herbs & daffodils-- The old wagon from my dad out of the barn, grab some planters, baskets, buckets & plop them in front of the porch windows.  It's too chilly yet to get them in the ground outside.
Hmmm, I like this pretty well.  Can I leave them inside year round?  That would be a handy & cheery kitchen garden!

My asparagus!  I just planted it last year (plants, not from roots)  It's grown about 4" every day. 

Shopping at the antique store today I was reminded that I had my big round tin somewhere around here.  I didn't pull it out last year, so when I got home I went scouting.  Ah! I pulled it out of the back of the shed, now it's ready to be filled with something.

 Every farm needs an egg basket, don't you think?  I don't have my chickens yet, but it worked for putting my fresh cut asparagus in.

 A bit of tweaking in my porch herb garden--Lavender & Chives from today's trip to the greenhouse, A few "spring" decorations from the basement storage,  I added my collection of farm/mud/rain boots, and my new large containers for outdoor planting are stacked, ready for using. Oh yes, and a cute "new"/old box I sat my lettuce & spinach in.

I heart spring

 I am so happy for the sun, for warmer temperatures, for blue sky, for birds happily singing.
I can't wait to dig in the dirt, pull my outside decorations out of the shed & start our garden.

The grass is quite green from all the snow that's melted. The trees are budding out, Iris are poking their heads thru, crocuses are blooming & today I saw stems of asparagus poking their tips thru the ground too!

It's been a year since we moved to the country.  It's hard to believe!  I've loved every moment of it and am looking forward to another wonderful year.   So much to do.. So many things we want to do that we've never had the opportunity to do.  Country living, I'm in love with you!

Along with spring breezes blowing, I was ready for a new look (at least for a while) on my blog.
Thanks to my good friend Wrena--she did her magic again for me.  I'm looking for just the right photo for the blog header, and in the meantime this one of our family (Sept 2010) will do.

When you're having your morning, afternoon or anytime coffee--Think of me. 
*Cheers*  Here's to a beautiful, enjoyable spring!
 

Boys and bikes

 Trey got to come spend a couple days with us this week while the kids are on spring break.
Morgen rides BMX and Trey has been quite the avid admirer of  his Uncle "Mo".  He's been A little dare-devil on his own bike ever since he learned to ride it, and last summer he was so thrilled to get to go watch Morgen at one of his races.
He's wanted to get to go ride on the track sometime himself, so today it worked out to take the boys to ride while the girls were having piano lessons.
It was windy--threatening rain, (which thankfully didn't materialize for Trey's sake!)
During the time they were at the track we got a big chuckle out of him asking Morgen "When are the rest of them coming"?  Morgen had to explain that this wasn't a race day, they were just there to practice & no one else would be coming.  I think he was a bit disappointed. 

We'd taken quite a few pictures, but it was getting close to time to go before we realized that we needed to do a video of him, so he's all for that (Got to show mom, you know!)
He'd been going non-stop for about 45 minutes, even wiping out 3 or 4 times, and now he's peddling as fast  as his little legs on the even littler bike would go .  He's about 3/4 thru his ride, reaches the top of the hill, stops, rubs his eyes & says "Whew, I'm really tired".  Meshayla, trying to film says "Keep going, you're just about finished."  But he WAS finished, he rode off the track over to the fence.  DONE!

Unfortunately the video won't transfer to the computer :(
It was so cute, but the slide show will have to do.

Next on the list.....replace the WINTER SNOW picture up there at the top of my blog!!

Sweet Babies!

 

Isn't she just the sweetest thing?  Oh, you think I'm a bit biased?  Well, around here everyone seems to agree with me!

This was taken on Tuesday morning (3 days old) Barrett and Raya both had woke Dalayna up pretty early and neither was too interested in letting her get anymore sleep, so when I got up Dalayna left baby downstairs with me while she went back to get a nap.  Of course then Raya slept for a couple hours!

Do you recognize the name of this book?  I'm pretty sure they don't print it anymore, although when my older kids were little I did find a copy (which unfortunately they wore out)This particular one belonged to my mom when she was a little girl.  We kids loved to spend time looking at them--very carefully and under supervision I might add, as the book(s) are a cloth like paper combo, and they were very worn and taped together back then.  Jessi inherited this book from her Gramma 'Cilla and we have enjoyed reading it.  Quite a few times now!

And speaking of gifts--Miss Jessi got this fun floor puzzle from her Auntie Nish.  The first several times she worked on it required a little bit of help, but soon she was putting it together all on her own.  It's provided quite a bit of entertainment.  At least the pieces are pretty hard to loose track of!

I'd hate to give the impression that Relyssa is sitting up here doing nothing...hehe!  Once in a while she does manage to make herself useful...... :D

Barrett hasn't paid a whole lot of attention to his baby sister for the most part, so it was pretty cute to see him sitting here watching.

Wednesday morning I caught this photo of Jessi holding Raya.  Jessi is a wonderful big helper, and loves to hold her baby sister!

I was trying to get a picture of Barrett this morning--he was so cute running around in his jammies, but for the most part he was moving too quickly and everything turned out blurry.  I took this snap across the room, and although I  didn't think it was that good a picture, there is really something timeless about it.  3 little kids in their morning jammies- a couch, the milk--

I don't know about you, but it just makes me want to pick them up and squeeze them!

I'll leave it on this note for this morning--we kind of take our time getting around in the mornings here, but it's "that time" now, breakfast is over & time for  Grammie  to find some clothes for kiddo's, comb some hair & make the bed.

My helper

On Monday we did some baking while Mama and Auntie Lyss took baby into town for her check up and to pick up some groceries

O

 First we made bread.  Jessi helped mix it up.

Then we made Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon rolls.  We also made a big mess of the kitchen!  It was worth it tho!

 Jessi was quite insistent that Raya needed a birthday cake.  She decided the cinnamon rolls would work fine, but they also needed a candle!

 Here you go Raya!

 And Jessi got to blow out the candle after we sang Happy Birthday.  Now Jessi's happy, and the Cinnamon rolls were delicious.  (Raya slept thru the whole thing)  :)