Four Children, Two Goats and a Minivan

How naive was I to think that moving to the woods to raise a few animals and vegetables would be a calm, quiet, and peaceful life? It seems to be anything but. It is filled with busyness leaving hardly any time to just be. It is a different sort of hectic from life in the city, but hectic it is none the less.

Last weekend we made a trip to the town we grew up in to celebrate Tim's and his brother's birthday. Here are some pictures.







Then we made a quick trip to Aunt Hazel's and Terry's to pick up the new tool they purchased for the property. I think Terry was tired of dragging deer up the hollows.



We got home Sunday just in time to feed the animals. That is when we noticed that one goat was missing. Desert was in the far corner of the pasture with her new kid, another boy. We've moved them in the shed, and there they will stay for awhile. Donkeys or not I'm not taking any chances.



So what does all this have to do with the title of this post? Well, seems nothing goes simply by the book here. By Monday morning Desert still had not passed all the afterbirth. Awhile on the internet showed she need medicine only the vet could get. Awhile on the phone to find there are no vets close that see goats. A little longer on the phone to find we would have to bring the goat to the vet, or pay a huge amount to have a vet come here, because the vet who sees goats does not know us. (Note to those thinking of getting animals: establish a relationship with a vet before you need their help.) An hour later we are headed down the road in our old minivan; two goats in the back and four children in the front.



Parked in the Wayne Wal-Mart shopping plaza, where the vet is located, the vet and his assistants examine the goat, in the back of my minivan with my four children peering over the back seat watching the show. A little cleaning, two shots, fifteen minutes and seventy-five dollars later we are back on the road. Mama and baby seemed to be doing fine, and she seems to be passing the stuff that needs to go.

So calm, peaceful, quiet? Um. . . not in these woods, but I'd never trade this hectic country life for our former city life. It may not be exactly as I envisioned, but it is good.

Happy Birthday to Tim!

Today is my wonderful husband's birthday! Go and wish him a happy birthday!

Martha's Got a Blog!

I love telling you about new blogs, but especially when they are from someone in the family! Martha started a blog, Spellbinding the World One Day at a Time. Go check it out!

What is Worse?

The toddler pooping in her pants?



Or the toddler pooping on the sidewalk?


Oh the stories I have to tell when these kids start dating!

Easing Into Bedtime

When the days start getting longer bedtime can be quite the battle around here. After spending the entire day with the kids, come about 8:00, I am done. I just want some peace and quiet. Tim and I want some time alone. The kids, on the other hand, see it is still daylight and have no desire to go to bed. See the battle?

The solution? Ease into bedtime. It is one that we have used before, and somehow lost the routine along the way. We are picking it up again. We start the routine about 8:00. Everyone gets ready for bed. It is usually about 8:30 till everyone is done, and then they go to bed, but not to sleep. They go to bed for some quiet time. Mostly they lay in bed and read. Those who need the sleep the most (read Nolan) often fall asleep during this time. Then at 9:00 it is dark. We go in, tuck them in and turn off the lights.

It works like a charm. I think that half hour of quiet time helps them to wind down after a busy day of work and play. I know it helps me! Then they are ready to go to sleep by bedtime.

Works for Me Wednesday

So Much to Say!

It has been quite the week. Much more busy than I like, but sometimes it just falls that way. There has been a lot going on. Where do I start?

The best news is that Martha is planning a visit! She and a friend are coming in May. I am so excited, and a bit anxious. I really don't have words for it. It is a happy thing though! She has expressed that she feels the same way.

Kellen, the kid who hates art, had a drawing selected for a student art show at the Highlands Museum in Ashland. The picture was made during a workshop we did there. The theme was "When I Grow Up." He wrote a bit about what he wants to be; a chemical engineer was the profession stated at the time, and drew a picture of himself with a college diploma. We won't be able to attend the opening ceremony, but the show runs from April 19- May 10. When we do go I will get a picture to post here.

And we now have guard animals. We have two donkeys, and a friend may be buying a llama to keep here too. Think that will keep the dogs away? Really, you should have only one donkey with the herd. That way they become part of the herd and protect it. (For more on using donkeys as guard animals: Protecting Livestock with Guard Donkeys) With two they go off with each other and do their own thing. These are doing that somewhat, and we are being pretty cautious with the goats and sheep still.

We do plan to separate the donkeys and put one up with the cows, but we have a pretty aggressive horse up there that needs to go first. The donkeys are young, about ten months. Sophie shows no mercy.


They are a little skittish yet, but the jenny will let me pet her fairly readily. The jack is a bit more shy. I am hoping to be able to work with them enough to be able to lead, and maybe to let the kids ride.

We haven't named them yet. We are waiting for Miles and Ashley to help decide. The names put out so far:

Mario and Peach
Luigi and Daisy
Link and Zelda

Do you see a pattern here?

Luke and Leia was also suggested.

When I suggested just Jack and Jenny, Kellen, with a sheepish grins suggested, "Jack-you-know-what, and Jenny-you know-what, JA for short." Always pushing the limits that kid is. That suggested was vetoed.

Any opinions or ideas?

HIllbilly Swimming Pool

Don't worry the electric fence is off!

Wordless Wednesday

More Loss

We lost three goats yesterday; Twist and the twins. They were run down by three stray dogs. This makes me change by thoughts about Patty's death. We need to reevaluate some things. Those dogs will be shot. We are thinking of getting a donkey. Any other ideas?

Life and Death; all in the same day

When you can raise animals there will be lots of ups and downs. You will see the miracle of life, and taste the sadness of death. Some days it will happen all in the same day.

This morning Papaw found Patty, well, the remains of Patty. She wasn't far from home. She was down in a hollow; apparently the only one the four of us who looked for her did not look in. She had been there too long to tell what had happened. She was old, so maybe she just died of old age. That is what I'd like to think anyway.

This afternoon I noticed Twist was not with the rest of the herd. Since she is one of the two goats that we've been expecting kids from, I figured today was finally the day. I was not disappointed. Mamaw and Papaw spied them from the driveway. Them as in all three of them! Twins!


If you've never seen a baby goat, they are just about the cutest things ever. I didn't get the best pictures today, but you know there will be more to come. The spotted one is just too adorable. They are both boys which is sad because we won't be keeping them. We'll have to decide whether to sell or butcher them. They are meat goats, but I didn't know they'd be so cute!


Just another day on the farm.

Another Busy Weekend

This weekend Ashley and Miles came for a visit. Their mom and a friend of hers also came, and their aunt who actually is about the same age as the kids. It was a full weekend.

We celebrated Miles' birthday which was a few weeks ago. Kellen videoed the birthday song. Be warned it isn't for those who can't tolerate off key singing.

There was also dirt sorting, walks in the woods and playing in the creek. We had some tired kids by the time the weekend was done. Tired in a good way.

In addition to all that activity we also have a new addition to the farm. Meet Stanley.


You've met Flame and Charcoal previously. They are now big enough to breed, and well. . . Stanley was needed. He is a big boy; significantly bigger than the sows. We had been letting the animals run together, but the shelter was pretty full. For the protection of the lambs, we put the pigs in a separate area, and made the goats and sheep a temporary shelter. We also should have new goats sometime this spring. I'd rather not have brand new babies with the boar. He seems gentle enough, but he is huge! (Remember I said any day about a month ago? Well those poor does just keep getting bigger. I've given up on guessing, and am now saying sometime this spring we will have kids.) The sows and goats and sheep were all so confused the first night. They are used to running together, and just stood at the gate separating the pastures looking at each other. Eventually, after Stanley is accustomed to his new home, we will probably let them run together during the day and separate them at night.


Stanley and the girls are getting acquainted. He is funny to watch. He came from a farm where the pigs are only in buildings. He had never been outside. The first thing he did was find a big mud hole and plop in it. He was much more interested in the mud than the ladies. He has been rooting all around the pasture, and playing in mud.

My aunt and uncle came today to visit for a few days, and we have another full week ahead. I've done a little planting in the garden, and hope to get some more done soon. As always there are more projects than time around here.

Happy Easter from the Appletons

Happy Easter to all! We had a fairly laid back day. On the original plan, we should have been in Florida today, but since that trip isn't happening we just went to church and had lunch with Mamaw and Papaw. The girls did get all dolled up, including rag rolled hair.

Vivian was so cute last night. Lydia got out the stuff I use to roll her hair, and Viv sat down on my lap like, "Here I am. Do my hair. " I fully did not expect her to sit there long enough to let me roll it, let alone leave the rags in over night, but she did very well with it.



The boys were pretty handsome too today. Kellen started off with a dress shirt and a tie, but when he discovered that he had to button the shirt all the way up and tuck it in, well it was just too much for him. He still looked pretty handsome, even though he likes to look like a goof for the camera! Finally caught him with a decent smile for this picture.

After lunch Papaw and Tim kept working on the fence. It is coming along. I think Tim has a post brewing about that project. The rest of us walked up to see how wet the garden spot is; still very wet! It supposed to rain all week too. Makes it kind of hard to get my peas in!

We are taking spring break this week. We'll be catching up on some things and going to do a few fun things too. Ashley and Miles will not be here. They have lost all but one of their days of spring break due to snow make up days. We also are having issues with their mom letting them come again. It is all very frustrating, and we miss them a lot. It is really hard on Kellen and Lydia.

Hoping you had a good Easter too!

Nolan's Naps

Nolan is almost four. I've blogged here many a time about his, shall we say, determination. The kid is down right stubborn, sweet and adorable, but what a hard head. The latest dilemma is a nap.

The older two did not take naps at this age, but Nolan really needs one. If he hasn't taken a nap you can count on the battles starting about 4:30 in the afternoon. When he is tired, he gets ornery, and starts picking on his siblings. He'll insist on having his leg touch Kellen while he is reading. He'll rearrange the doll house Lydia just spent hours making just so. The toys in Vivian's hands will suddenly disappear with Nolan running to the other side of the house; anything to get their attention and a reaction.

Sometimes I can trick him into taking a nap by putting him on his bed with his special blanket and a book. I tell him he needs some quiet time, and that he can't come out until the timer goes off. About half the time that works smoothly and he falls asleep without a fuss. The other half of the time, well, it is a battle. Once he is convinced he has to stay in his room, he almost always does fall asleep, after the battle.

If we are running errands, Nolan almost always will fall asleep in the car on the way home. For a long time I would try to carry him in, and put him in his bed. He would wake up, and that was the end of the nap. There was no getting him back to sleep. Half a nap is sometimes worse than no nap at all.

A few weeks ago I decided just to leave him in the car. I unbuckled him and left the door just slightly open so he could get out easily when he woke up. He slept there for two hours. I've been doing it ever since. If it is a little chilly out, I take him a blanket, and let him sleep.

I'm not sure how he sleeps like that in his car seat, but he does; without a battle. That is a solution that works for me.

Works for Me Wednesday

Body Art ala Vivian

Do you think she will want tattoos when she is older?

Wordless Wednesday

This is Martha

I know some of you have seen photos of Martha, but for the rest of you. This is Martha!

Just too Cute!

Carrying the Weight of the World!

With Her Brothers

Almost Spring!

It is almost spring, really isn't it? Here is some proof we found on an afternoon walk.

Daffodils

Frog Eggs

A Full Clothes Line

Lambs

Chicks

A Goat Who I Can't Believe Hasn't Had Her Kid Yet!
Poor thing.

Powerful Google

I got an email yesterday from M.R. (Martha) Not an email from her through the adoptive agency, but an email directly from her. She Googled some of the information she had about me. Found this blog, and my email. Crazy isn't it.

I'm glad she did. In fact, I had tried Google to look for her before, but did not have enough information to work with. She informed me that she had been told the process to open the adoption file could take eight months! Not exactly a surprise, but it just seems crazy when we both want the information to be available.

I'm not sure exactly, if anything this changes, except for the fact that it makes communication faster.

Google is a wonderful thing!

Spoke too Soon

The other day Heather posted about how they were getting snow up her way, and I left her a comment to the effect that I would stop my whining about our weather. Yes, it was rainy. Yes, it was gloomy, but at least it wasn't snow!

Yesterday, I woke up to snow. It snowed all day. This morning the snow is still there. Now, I'm whining! I am so done with snow!


I know all of you in NE Ohio, who got a foot and a half, or more are thinking I am a big baby about our couple inches of snow. Well, maybe, but I moved South for a reason, and one of those reasons was so I wouldn't have snow in March! Thankfully they are calling for highs in the 40's after today, and the snow won't be here long.

Happy Birthday Vivian (belated)

It isn't possible! My baby is two!

Vivian's birthday was yesterday. We had a simple celebration to celebrate her special day. I always swore that I would not baby the youngest, but I find that I am despite my best intentions. I just can't help it. She is the baby. Surely she is not ready for things like potty training, dressing herself, and talking in small sentences! Yet, she defies me and does all that and more.

She has become quite the little helper. She tries to put her own laundry away, and wants to help with just about anything the big kids do, or anyone else is doing for that matter. The latest example was when we were at the state capital a few weeks ago. The homeschool band played, and there were chairs set up around the area. When the performances were done the workers came and started stacking the chairs on their carts. While we were gathering our stuff Vivian started pushing all the chairs toward the workers.

I went back and read the post from her first birthday. She sure has changed a lot in this last year! Somethings though have stayed the same, like sucking on that knuckle. Below are pictures from the year, starting with her first birthday and ending with one taken yesterday!

On a Beautiful Springlike Day

Yesterday the clouds and the gloom finally broke, and we had a warm, sunny day. It felt like spring! How did we enjoy this wonderful day in the 100 Acre Wood? Did we go for a walk? Did we have a picnic? Maybe we just sat in the sun? No, we shoveled manure!

Our rabbit hutches are on a slope, like everything else here. The two main hutches face each other, and the chickens have done quite the job of scratching much of the droppings into the aisle between the hutches. They are so helpful that way. In addition to the droppings, the rain water runs down the hill, until it gets to the space between the hutches. There it collects creating a wonderful muck that only a pig could love. My oldest daughter, Lydia, however was not so thrilled when her boot got stuck in it the other day, and her foot ended up in the muck.

We took advantage of the weather to shovel that out, and any that remained under the hutches. We also put some boards up at the legs of the hutches to keep the chickens from scratching it all out next time. All told about five wheelbarrow loads of wonderful muck, well, wonderful for the garden that is. Oh, and one load out of the chicken house too. The obliging chickens were happy to scratch around in that muck, again, thus spreading it out nicely in the garden spot. What better way to spend a sunny springlike day?

Today was even warmer, and you'll be happy to know that we enjoyed the weather in some ways that were a little less stinky. We hung laundry on the line. ( I really do enjoy that.) The kids played outside quite a bit. (I enjoy that more!) They even had lunch on the deck.

Speaking of kids, well, of the goat variety, we have two goats who we have thought, for about a week, would have their kids any day. Everyday we are amazed that they have gotten even bigger, and more swollen in the genital area, and still no kids. Twist today just looked miserable. She is huge, we think with twins. She is waddling; slowly. Poor thing. How much longer could it be? Hopefully not much more!

The next few days are to be cooler, and rainy. I am glad we enjoyed our springlike days while we had them!

A little update

It has been quite some time since I've said anything here about M.R. It isn't that there hasn't been anything to say; there has been a lot of back and forth. It takes me awhile sometimes to process what has and is happening, and how I feel about it. In this situation, for the last few months, it seems that as soon as I have processed one bit of news, there is something new that makes need to reprocess it all again. Now, though, there has been less back and forth and more continual motion in the same direction.

We are on the road to meeting each other. M.R. has started the process with the state to open up the adoption records. I'm really not sure what all is involved, but have been told it can be a long process. In the meantime we are emailing, through the adoption agency.

It is so amazing, and slightly bizarre, to get emails from her. Tim has asked several times how I feel about all of this, and the real answer is I don't know. I can't explain it. It is good, certainly, but almost surreal. I feel so connected to her, yet I do not even know her at all. How do you feel when something that you have wondered about and wished for for almost 19 years is happening? I don't have words for it.

I'm not sure how much I will post about this anymore. I like to have a place to record all the events, and writing about it does help sort out the thoughts and feelings, but I also want to respect her privacy. So with that I'll end here.

From an Alien Chicken?

Wordless Wednesday

Back on the Potty and Other Adventures

Vivian yesterday decided it was time to get back on the potty again. Not only did she want to go on the potty again, she wanted to do it all by herself. As in mom was not even allowed in the the bathroom. She wasn't perfect, but did manage to stay dry until after dinner. It is a good restart.

Owning animals is quite the drama. It is like having your own backyard soap opera. The latest is a goat, Patty, gone missing. We have searched, and have seen no signs of her. They have access to basically all of our woods. We are guessing she may have wandered off to kid. The weather has not been very favorable for that scenario. We really don't know what to think or do.

The lambs are so much fun to watch. They run and jump and play. The male, who was much bigger at birth, is growing like crazy. He is significantly bigger than the female. She still seems healthy and very active, but I'm concerned that she isn't getting enough to eat. I'll be happy when they are able to be outside more and she can forage more. They are just starting to nibble at hay, grain and grass. I am also thinking of setting up a creep feeder of some sorts, but have to figure a way to keep the male from hogging it all.

Kellen and Lydia are so excited for tomorrow. They are driving to Florida with Mamaw and Papaw to pick up a van purchased on eBay. Kellen got out the Atlas yesterday to map the way. I'm sure Papaw will appreciate the navigation skills of a nine year old. It will be a quick trip, but the van is in the same town my parents used to live so they are going to stay a few days with friends before heading back. Forecasts there are calling for 80's! I'm so jealous, but will be content to enjoy the relative quiet with half the kids gone for a few days.

Life is never boring around here, and it never waits for me to catch up. The children and animals just keep growing and doing their thing regardless of whether I am ready for the changes!

Still Here

Wow has it really been a week since I posted?

We have been battling the same bug that half America seems to have. Lydia is the only one who hasn't been sick. The rest of us have been battling some sort of fever, cough, sinus, or fatigue for the last week. It is getting old, but I think we are all on the mend.

One side unexpected side effect of all of this is Vivian has regressed in the potty training department. Between her being sick, and then I was sick, she was in a diaper almost all of the week. As you may recall she started all this potty training business. I was planning to wait for warmer weather. She really was doing well. I hadn't been brave enough to take her out in underwear yet, but she was wearing it all the time at home with almost no accidents. It may not been the timing I had planned for, but washing a lot less loads of diapers sure worked for me.

Now she isn't doing so well. Lots of accident. Lots of me getting frustrated. I did have her go bare bottomed yesterday for awhile, and that worked really well. She went in the potty every time, but it is chilly, and I hate for her to freeze her bottom, so I guess we will just keep trying with pants on. I know she will get it back, and we can always use diapers a little longer if we have too. What's a few more months after six straight years of diapers?

The lambs are doing great, and are so fun to watch. I'd forgotten how playful they are. I can't wait until the weather is a little nicer and we can let them out to romp a bit more.

In other animal news, I think we may have another hen sitting on her eggs. If so that means we will have more chicks in about a month!

Well this was just a quick catch up, now to get back to the laundry and school!

More on the Lambs

We are just a little excited about these lambs! They seem to be doing well, but after reading stats about 20% of new lambs dying in the first few days, I am trying to be cautiously optimistic. The little ewe is significantly smaller than her brother, but she is eating and active. It is kind of funny when I am checking on these lambs I'm looking for the signs you look for with a new breast feeding baby. Are they swallowing? Do they pee and poop? Their poop is even yellow like a baby's! Do their bellies feel full? Are they alert and active? Who knew being a mom would prepare you for caring for animals! A few more pictures from yesterday:







So far we have only had them in the shelter separated from the other animals. This afternoon if the weather cooperates we are going to take them out in the yard a bit. Should be fun!

TWINS!

This morning I went out a found that Maggie had twins!


We have been putting her in a separate pen over night for the last few weeks. I knew she was getting closer because her milk sack was just huge, but last night she showed no signs of being in labor. Imagine my surprise to find these cute things this morning!



She was a little nervous this morning, so I didn't go in with them, but from a distance I think we have a new ram and a ewe. Both seem to be doing well. They are nursing, and are up and about. I plan to keep a close eye on them today. I will try to get some better pictures and keep you updated!



New lambs sure are a great way to beat the blahs!

Blah

Blame it on the week of rainy weather, blame it on the time of the month, blame it on my husband who is leaving me until Saturday so he can stay in a fancy hotel and eat fancy food for three days. Yes, technically he is working, but still. Maybe it is the financial set backs that keep coming despite our best efforts. Maybe it is my long to do list. Perhaps it is just an adjustment day after seemingly endless days of busyness and running. It could be any one of those things, or it could be because they have all fallen together, but today I just feel blah. I don't feel like doing anything I really need to do, and am finding myself going from one half completed task to another.

I know that none of those things listed above are really that important. I know I could make an equal or bigger list of all the good things. I know that the blah is purely flesh and emotion. I know that we are to live by the spirit. There we find life, joy, peace, and the blah's are nowhere to be found. Why is it so hard to die to the flesh, and live by the spirit?

You make my day

Crystal at Backyard Academy gave me this award. Thanks! Crystal always keeps me laughing, and makes my day too! Now to spread the warm fuzzies, I nominate the following for the You Make My Day Award.

Adventures in the 32 -Aker Woods

Mommy Mommy Land

A Blustery Day

Woody's Rocky Ridge

Two Frog Home

Pass it on!

Rain also tagged me for the six unimportant things meme. Just list six unimportant things about you, and tag more people to play. Easy enough.

1. I found my first gray hair at about 16.
2. My husband is five years younger than me.
3. In high school I dreamed of seeing the world. I'd still like to travel, but for now this corner of it is fine by me.
4. I'm not a big fan of eggs. Funny since we raise chickens.
5. I haven't worn my wedding ring in over six years. It doesn't fit.
6. I've only ever owned one brand new car.

And I tag....
Choice Central, Frenchy Addict, Chocolate Crayons and More, Kentucky Hollers, Hidden Haven Homestead, and Little Blue School.

We Have Chicks!

Since posting about The Persistence of Poultry, Tim and I candled eggs for the first time, and found that little Henrietta was indeed sitting on eight eggs that were growing chicks. There were also eight that weren't any good. We decided to let her sit on the good ones, and see what happened.

It is a beautiful day here; almost 50! I went out to put a little feed and water near where she was sitting. You can't see her unless you lay on the ground, and normally you don't hear her either. Today, though, I heard a little clucking that sure sounded like a momma hen.

I got down to look at her, and used a stick to push her off the nest a little. All I saw were eggs. A few hours later I was in that area again, and heard the distinct sound of peeps! It was hard to get a good look, but we saw at least three chicks. We could see four eggs too, so either there is another chick or another egg that we couldn't see.

The weather is nice so we are going to let her stay where she is for now, and see if some more hatch. Then we plan to move them all down to a box in the chicken house!

Since these eggs were laid around the time we switched roosters, it will be interesting to see if these are little red chickens or if they are a red/Orpington mix, or maybe there will be some of both. Always something interesting here!

Billy Bob is Growing Up!

He even has a goatee!

Wordless Wednesday

Girl Power?

The other day I was clicking through links and came upon a site for girls. The premise of this site was a good one, "Encouraging Successful Girls." I am all for encouraging my daughters to be successful, but what does that mean?

The site doesn't contain images, ideas, or role models that are all done up, that have a "spoil me I'm a princess" attitude, or that I found annoying in any other way. The role models presented there are four young girls who are very intelligent and dream big. Sounds like a great concept doesn't it?

Well what bothered me about this site wasn't specific to this site alone, but an attitude that I felt as a student myself, and that seems to be almost everywhere. What bothers me is what is missing here. The big dreams involve being a brain surgeon, a computer expert, the leader of the free world, or a rocket scientist. Can't a women reach her full potential by being a mom and a wife? Have I squandered my intelligence and potential because I am a stay at home mom?

The whole world tells our daughters that they must reach their full potential. That if they have any brains they should spend many years (and many dollars) in college, and develop an important career. There is nothing wrong with that path, but I know a lot of women who have taken that path, or at least started down it, and found themselves with a dilemma. When it is time to have children, they find it hard to balance the demands of the path they are on with the demands of being a parent. In the worst cases they find they find that first path really isn't that important them, but feel stuck on it due to financial pressures. It is a hard place to be.

I believe in girl power. I believe that my daughters can be whatever they want to be. I don't believe their success should be measured by the title by their name, or the size of their paycheck. I want them to know if they want to become a brain surgeon, I will support them all the way. If they want to be a wife and a mom, I want them to know that is a big dream, and an important one. I will encourage their success in any path they choose. That is girl power!

The Persistence of Poultry

Our new hens are performing quite nicely. They go to roost where they should. They lay where they should. The other hens were following along quite nicely. Roosting where they should, and laying in the boxes, or so I thought.

Chatterbox hadn't been laying before we got the new hens, and I was convinced Henrietta was laying in the boxes with the other hens. Then she went missing for two days. I really thought she hadn't been eaten, and was concerned for the rest of the flock. Then we caught a glimpse of her at the water.

After some hunting around we found her nest; a rather large one. Wouldn't you know the darn thing was setting right where she was hatched! Like mother like daughter I guess. We're not sure if the eggs are any good. While she was building that nest we had some very cold weather and changed roosters. We've been reading up on candling the eggs, and will be doing that soon to check the eggs. I'll keep you updated.

As I mentioned Chatterbox hadn't been laying. It had been quite some time. A few days ago I was out in the goat shed, and what do I see, but two eggs. The nest was squeezed in between a gate and the wall. I knew they were Chatterbox's because of the size and color. I collected them.

Then the other day I walk out of the door, and see her in our storage area up on the top shelf where the rabbits' hay is. I could tell by her clucking that I had interrupted her. Lo and behold she had made another nest between the two bales. With one egg in it. Today she was in the same general area, and threw a fit every time I went outside. I have yet to find today's egg.

Anyone know anything about ducks? Our ducks were given to us, and I really should do a bit a research or some more careful observation. It seems they lay for about a month and then don't lay for about a month. They hadn't been laying, and then I found an egg about a week ago, and then no more. Odd...

Earlier this week I spied the drake and one hen off eating. The other hen was nowhere to be seen. Knowing this means that she is off laying somewhere I kept an eye and an ear out for her. Soon I heard her calling to the other two, and saw her coming out from the general direction of the goat shed.

A later inspection of said shed revealed that both ducks were making nests under the shed. They are making them in a place that I can see, but can not reach. I could see though that several eggs had frozen and cracked, and been pushed away. There were not many eggs in the nest. Should I break up the nests? Maybe I should just shove some straw under there for the nests?

Now I certainly appreciate the persistence of these hens, and their desire for off spring. I am all for a natural growth of poultry here, and there isn't anything much cuter than newly hatched foul, but these hens just aren't on my schedule! New peeps in February? It just doesn't sound like a great idea. My plan was to wait and let them sit in March or so. I suppose if they do hatch out any this winter I will need to bring the peeps in. Maybe that would be a good use for that garden tub we never use? That wasn't exactly my plan though.

A Blessedly Normal Day

After seemingly countless busy days and a weekend filled with company, activity, and unexpected events, this morning's cancellation of activities due to icy roads was a welcome relief. Well, for me anyway. The kids were exactly thrilled, but they got over it.

The weekend began with a house full. My niece and nephew were here with their mom. Jake and his family were here too. It is always fun to have everyone together, but with nine kids around, it does get a little crazy. Saturday we decided to go to Hillbilly Hot Dogs, and to a movie. We left the 100 Acre Woods, 16 people in 3 vans, and headed to the restaurant.

This is a local establishment here that celebrates hillbillies and hot dogs. It is hard to explain unless you've been there, but it is an experience. The website does have quite a few pictures, and I think Delilah will probably post some too. The dining room is an old school bus. It is heated with a gas heater. I didn't think much about it. The kids were playing, and Vivian burnt both of her hands on the heater. She cried the whole meal. Tim talked to the owner, who felt really bad she had gotten burned. He said he was going to build something around the heater. I hope he does.

I didn't really realize how bad the burns were until the next day. Her one hand especially blistered up pretty badly. It is healing nicely, but still a bit sore.

We then all piled back into the vehicles. We had a bit of time to kill before the movie, so Mamaw and Papaw were going to give Amy a little tour of Huntington, and our van , and Jake's planned to walk around a shopping area near the theater. Mamaw and Papaw left a few minutes before we did. We drive maybe two miles down the road, and see Mamaw and Papaw's van off to the side, kind of attached to the front of a little pickup.

Quickly we pull over, as people are piling out of the vehicle. The horn of the truck is going off. Broken pieces of lights are everywhere, and fluids are running out of the vehicles. Tim calls 911, and soon there is a fire truck, squad, and sheriff on the scene. Everyone was okay, shaken, but okay. The man that gets out of the truck is old, very old, and frail.

He was turning left to go to the little store there, and turned right in front of my parents. Dad tried to stop, but there just was no time. The man is well known in the store. They have been asking the family for two years to not let him drive. He has had several strokes, one right in the store, a couple of heart attacks, and earlier in the week had pulled out in front of a semi. The accident was avoided only because there was no traffic coming in the other direction and the semi was able to get around the man.

After an accident, any normal family would probably head home. Our family is not normal. We all waited there for sheriff interviews, checks by EMTs, a tow truck to take my parents' vehicle, and for someone to bring back a different vehicle. Of course, by then we had missed our original movie time, so we picked up with the original plan, did a little shopping, and went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. I know, we aren't quite right.

The rest of the weekend was busy, though thankfully, not quite so eventful. Everyone went home yesterday, and today we were supposed to have co-op, and roller skating. Thanks to the icy roads those events were canceled. The kids did school, and whined, and fought. I did laundry, cooked, cleaned, assisted with school, and broke up fights. Ah. . . a blessedly normal day.

Footprints in the...

dust? Yikes!





Wordless Wednesday