Last night I was putting the finishing touches on beef stew for dinner when hubby beeped me on the Nextel to say that Suzanna needed to head back out and find her heifer. Mind you, it was dark...very dark and foggy out. I figured I had better head out and lend a hand. I stuffed my feet in my boots, threw on a coat and headed out. Hubby and Thomas were filling the hay feeder in the heifers pen, and I couldn't see much. I hollered out to inquire where Rhoda was and the answer worried me. "I have no idea, last I saw she was heading around the house toward the field behind it." GREAT!! I decided the adventure would need a flashlight and went back in the house to grab one. As I came back out, I could hear Suzanna talking on the other end of the house. As I headed that direction, I could see that she was carrying on a conversation with the escaped heifer. I grabbed a couple strands of bale string (could we exist without that stuff?), made a makeshift halter and headed her back to her pasture.
Hubby told me later he watched the whole thing and when Suzanna came out of the house, Rhoda spotted her and ran to meet her. These 4-H heifers sure get spoiled. Of course, she would have ran the opposite way if it had been me. Anyway, we will miss her a lot when she is sold at the end of March. We are hoping she has a heifer for Suzanna to keep, but Rhoda will be heading to a dairy farm to fulfill her purpose in life. I have no desire to start a milking herd. As neighbor Melissa says, "if you milk one, you might as well milk a hundred."
This morning I received my first "Bad Mom of the Year" nomination. I decided last night that the kids school jackets really needed washed. So I grabbed the two I saw, threw them in the washer, started the machine and told Thomas to stick his in the washer and close the lid. Never gave those coats another thought until 7am this morning when Suzanna asked where her coat was. OH NO!!!! was my reply, I never put them in the dryer. But wait, it gets worse.....Thomas only heard half the instructions, which is normal and never shut the lid. So here were their three coats still under water. Thomas felt terrible, and I quickly had to reassure him that this was all on my shoulders. I never thought about the coats after having the brilliant idea that they should be washed.
Now what????? Suzanna said she couldn't possibly wear her barn coat because it stunk like cow after chasing down a very wet Rhoda last night, PLUS it was coated with bunny fur from the ride home from Michigan State last week. Thomas said his barn coat was just plain filthy, but he figured he could wear his spring jacket. Did I mention it was 4 degrees out this morning and the wind chill dropped the temp to at least -20. No, a spring jacket wasn't gonna cut it on a day like today. Kathryn, in the meantime, headed to her bedroom closet and came out with last years school coat which still fit. Suzanna began grumbling and mumbling. She ended up wearing a coat of mine which surprisingly didn't look too bad. It covered her bottom, which with weather like this wasn't all bad. Thomas managed to wear a coat from his daddy that didn't hang off too bad. Served its purpose and no one froze on the way too school.
So much for Mom of the Year. And I had such plans for the prize!!!!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Knolltop Rabbitry is open for business
Well, almost......We added two new critters to the family this weekend. A pair of Holland Lop rabbits. All three kids enjoy the 4-H rabbit project. It is one of the first projects Suzanna ever got involved in. We got her a couple Holland Lops when she was 6. One died this past summer, and we tried, without success to replace it.
Saturday, Suzanna and I along with some friends from our 4-H club headed to MSU to check out the State 4-H Rabbit show. There were oodles of bunnies and many were for sale. We picked out a pair to purchase. Of course, I hadn't planned on buying anything, so we had no carrier to get the critters home. No problem, Suzanna and Issac thought it was fun to have them ride home on their laps. Continuing on the "not planning on buying anything system", we didn't have enough cages to add two new rabbits to the program, so they lived in a couple plastic storage bins in the garage until I could get cages from TSC yesterday. They are still in the garage, but in their new cages for a few more days. Daddy has big plans on a barn cleaning day this Saturday and then we can reorganize our space to add the newbies.
In the meantime, these rabbits are getting lots of handling. That will make showmanship a breeze. At one point when you show a rabbit, you have to flip it on its back to check it. I figure when you leave rabbits laying on their backs, while you sit on the couch watching TV, they probably aren't going to mind the official showmanship flip when it happens.
By the way, their names are Missy and Browser. Don't ask, Suzanna named them. I figure it beats "Big-eyed Timothy" which is the name bestowed on a barn cat by Kathryn. Naming isn't their strong suit. For that reason I name the horses.
Saturday, Suzanna and I along with some friends from our 4-H club headed to MSU to check out the State 4-H Rabbit show. There were oodles of bunnies and many were for sale. We picked out a pair to purchase. Of course, I hadn't planned on buying anything, so we had no carrier to get the critters home. No problem, Suzanna and Issac thought it was fun to have them ride home on their laps. Continuing on the "not planning on buying anything system", we didn't have enough cages to add two new rabbits to the program, so they lived in a couple plastic storage bins in the garage until I could get cages from TSC yesterday. They are still in the garage, but in their new cages for a few more days. Daddy has big plans on a barn cleaning day this Saturday and then we can reorganize our space to add the newbies.
In the meantime, these rabbits are getting lots of handling. That will make showmanship a breeze. At one point when you show a rabbit, you have to flip it on its back to check it. I figure when you leave rabbits laying on their backs, while you sit on the couch watching TV, they probably aren't going to mind the official showmanship flip when it happens.
By the way, their names are Missy and Browser. Don't ask, Suzanna named them. I figure it beats "Big-eyed Timothy" which is the name bestowed on a barn cat by Kathryn. Naming isn't their strong suit. For that reason I name the horses.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Boy do I want my hubby back.....
Hubby hurt his back on Saturday. It was a marathon hay moving day with the neighbor boys and sometime during it, he stepped backwards into a hole in the mow and wrenched his back. Of course, it didn't feel that bad when it happened, but by Sunday morning he was hurting.
This is bad on a number of levels. First, it is no fun to see him hurting. He isn't the best sick person anyway....and being miserable doesn't help.
The other aspect to this is all the jobs he does around the place that fell on other shoulders. Such as mine. The kids and I have kept everything fed and watered, but it has been heavy work.
Here is how chores went last night for instance: I headed out to the barn with the Steiner tractor bucket filled with trash....and had to hoist it all into the dumpster, a job Mike normally does. Then it was into the barn, and more hay needed to be dropped down from the mow. Of course the ladder wasn't in the right spot, so I had to move it. Not a pretty scene...lets just leave it at that. The hay bales didn't go where they were suppose to when I dropped them and one smashed the heat lamp we use to heat the water hydrant. It didn't break the bulb, but it doesn't light anymore. Then I had to haul bales out to the horses. Hubby is really proud of "all the feed he gets in a bale of hay". But all that feed equals HEAVY bales. Another job he normally does. Then it was load three more bales into the bucket of the Steiner and feed the heifers. It isn't easy to get bales into the feeder. Must have been a really funny scene there too! Cheap entertainment for the neighborhood. By now, my muscles were griping. Have I mentioned that I have a bad back??? I had surgery on it six years ago and it likes to let me know how it feels on a regular basis.
Last stop for me was the outside wood furnace. That wonderful saver of money is hubby's project. One part of the deal when we decided to get it was that I didn't have to deal with it. Well, so much for that agreement!! I opened it up just like hubby said to do it and stood there watching the flames flare up and out of the thing. I slammed the door shut and considered my options. There weren't any...other than getting wood in it so that my family didn't freeze in the night. I heard the fan shut off on the inside of the furnace and remembered hubby saying something about the flames calm down when the fan isn't running. I opened the doors again and this time was able to shove wood into the thing without being roasted to a crisp.
As soon as I got in the house, I said a huge thank you to my hubby for all the stuff he does in my life that I don't have to deal with. I have always joked that when we got married, our contract stated that I was in charged of indoors and Mike was in charge of outdoors. Last night reminded me why I wanted it that way.
Hubby is feeling better today and did put some wood in the furnace for me this morning. Hopefully he will be back in full force soon.
This is bad on a number of levels. First, it is no fun to see him hurting. He isn't the best sick person anyway....and being miserable doesn't help.
The other aspect to this is all the jobs he does around the place that fell on other shoulders. Such as mine. The kids and I have kept everything fed and watered, but it has been heavy work.
Here is how chores went last night for instance: I headed out to the barn with the Steiner tractor bucket filled with trash....and had to hoist it all into the dumpster, a job Mike normally does. Then it was into the barn, and more hay needed to be dropped down from the mow. Of course the ladder wasn't in the right spot, so I had to move it. Not a pretty scene...lets just leave it at that. The hay bales didn't go where they were suppose to when I dropped them and one smashed the heat lamp we use to heat the water hydrant. It didn't break the bulb, but it doesn't light anymore. Then I had to haul bales out to the horses. Hubby is really proud of "all the feed he gets in a bale of hay". But all that feed equals HEAVY bales. Another job he normally does. Then it was load three more bales into the bucket of the Steiner and feed the heifers. It isn't easy to get bales into the feeder. Must have been a really funny scene there too! Cheap entertainment for the neighborhood. By now, my muscles were griping. Have I mentioned that I have a bad back??? I had surgery on it six years ago and it likes to let me know how it feels on a regular basis.
Last stop for me was the outside wood furnace. That wonderful saver of money is hubby's project. One part of the deal when we decided to get it was that I didn't have to deal with it. Well, so much for that agreement!! I opened it up just like hubby said to do it and stood there watching the flames flare up and out of the thing. I slammed the door shut and considered my options. There weren't any...other than getting wood in it so that my family didn't freeze in the night. I heard the fan shut off on the inside of the furnace and remembered hubby saying something about the flames calm down when the fan isn't running. I opened the doors again and this time was able to shove wood into the thing without being roasted to a crisp.
As soon as I got in the house, I said a huge thank you to my hubby for all the stuff he does in my life that I don't have to deal with. I have always joked that when we got married, our contract stated that I was in charged of indoors and Mike was in charge of outdoors. Last night reminded me why I wanted it that way.
Hubby is feeling better today and did put some wood in the furnace for me this morning. Hopefully he will be back in full force soon.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Oh, so many changes......
Life is full of change....not the stuff in your pockets, but the change that makes you feel sad or glad, depending on how you look at it.
For one thing, the weather has changed...and that is a sad thing. It is 10 degrees out as I write this. That is TOO COLD in my book and it is getting colder as the weekend progresses. The wind is blowing and that makes it even worse. Nothing like that feeling you get when your eyelids don't want to work.
This week I signed over my 4-H club to another leader. It was time, as a few things had to "give" in order to be a fair board member. I thought being on the fair board was probably enough responsibility at fair time without adding to it what it takes to keep 43 people organized enough to be a part of the fair. But even though I am excited about my new venture, it was still a little sad to see the end of another. The neighbor up the road and I organized the club 5 years ago and saw it grow from a group of about 20 kids to the 43 we had last year. I guess we were doing something right, because others did want to join us. There are some that are staying with the club, but my kids are joining up with a new club, organized by a mom in our church. All our kids friends are in it, so they wanted to be a part of it.
I got to see our mare, Storm, at the trainers yesterday. Talk about change! She is walking, jogging and loping beautifully. Trainer Mike is pretty excited about her. She will stay at Lee's for at least the rest of the month if not through February, then move back to Mike's barn for continuing education.
The final change is for Suzanna. She started violin with a half-sized instrument nearly six years ago. She moved up to a three-quarter sized about two years ago. On lesson night, her instructor told us that it is time to move her up to a full-sized violin. That means what we are getting her "forever violin". She and I are making a trip to Marshall Music to get one. Just another of the many, many milestones that will pass in the lives of my kids. Just makes me thing of the day we went to get her first violin. She had begged to take lessons for nearly a year before we started her. She was so excited that day and the grin was from ear to ear. I am sure she will be wearing another big grin today!
For one thing, the weather has changed...and that is a sad thing. It is 10 degrees out as I write this. That is TOO COLD in my book and it is getting colder as the weekend progresses. The wind is blowing and that makes it even worse. Nothing like that feeling you get when your eyelids don't want to work.
This week I signed over my 4-H club to another leader. It was time, as a few things had to "give" in order to be a fair board member. I thought being on the fair board was probably enough responsibility at fair time without adding to it what it takes to keep 43 people organized enough to be a part of the fair. But even though I am excited about my new venture, it was still a little sad to see the end of another. The neighbor up the road and I organized the club 5 years ago and saw it grow from a group of about 20 kids to the 43 we had last year. I guess we were doing something right, because others did want to join us. There are some that are staying with the club, but my kids are joining up with a new club, organized by a mom in our church. All our kids friends are in it, so they wanted to be a part of it.
I got to see our mare, Storm, at the trainers yesterday. Talk about change! She is walking, jogging and loping beautifully. Trainer Mike is pretty excited about her. She will stay at Lee's for at least the rest of the month if not through February, then move back to Mike's barn for continuing education.
The final change is for Suzanna. She started violin with a half-sized instrument nearly six years ago. She moved up to a three-quarter sized about two years ago. On lesson night, her instructor told us that it is time to move her up to a full-sized violin. That means what we are getting her "forever violin". She and I are making a trip to Marshall Music to get one. Just another of the many, many milestones that will pass in the lives of my kids. Just makes me thing of the day we went to get her first violin. She had begged to take lessons for nearly a year before we started her. She was so excited that day and the grin was from ear to ear. I am sure she will be wearing another big grin today!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Finally off the Merry-Go-Round.....
Thought that was a fitting title, since I was at the Michigan Fair Convention all weekend. Whew, what a weekend. It sure felt good to put my head on my own pillow last night.
I had a great time, aside from missing my family. Had the opportunity to attend some good sessions, came home with some ideas for the fair. I had the chance to meet a number of fellow board members, both for my own county, plus all over the state.
I had to chuckle at the main speaker for our annual meeting. I saw his name on the program, but thought nothing of it. But then, after they introduced him, his picture came up on the "big-screen" and I knew him. He and I both attending MSU during the same years. He was an ag major, so I saw him in various classes around campus. Plus, he showed dairy cattle, so I saw him at state shows as well. He is one of about 150 people in the world that have been to the highest point on every continent in the World. No small task, as that involved a lot of training and time to be physically fit enough to climb snowy mountains. His pictures from each summit were amazing, but I can't even imagine what it would be like to see those sights in person.
It was nice to head for home yesterday morning. Suzanna was competing in the ArtWorks of Hillsdale Music Scholarship program in the afternoon. It was an opportunity for her to perform in a new venue, other than recitals and church. She received a feedback sheet, which gave her some areas to work on improving. She said when it was over, she would do it again, which I figure is always a good sign that she enjoyed it.
This morning was the first day of Spirit Week at school. It is "Outrageous Day". The assignment was to grab clothes that are as mismatched as possible. Suzanna headed to school wearing a striped shirt, plaid skirt, and funny looking socks. Thomas was wearing a lime green fur hat, glasses with a nose built in and mismatched shoes. Kathryn doesn't feel good and stayed home. She wasn't very upset, since she doesn't like to be mismatched anyway.
Time to take the Christmas tree down. It is still looking beautiful and hasn't lost many needles, amazing what keeping them watered will do for a tree, but I am ready to have the living room back to normal. There is always laundry to do as well.
I had a great time, aside from missing my family. Had the opportunity to attend some good sessions, came home with some ideas for the fair. I had the chance to meet a number of fellow board members, both for my own county, plus all over the state.
I had to chuckle at the main speaker for our annual meeting. I saw his name on the program, but thought nothing of it. But then, after they introduced him, his picture came up on the "big-screen" and I knew him. He and I both attending MSU during the same years. He was an ag major, so I saw him in various classes around campus. Plus, he showed dairy cattle, so I saw him at state shows as well. He is one of about 150 people in the world that have been to the highest point on every continent in the World. No small task, as that involved a lot of training and time to be physically fit enough to climb snowy mountains. His pictures from each summit were amazing, but I can't even imagine what it would be like to see those sights in person.
It was nice to head for home yesterday morning. Suzanna was competing in the ArtWorks of Hillsdale Music Scholarship program in the afternoon. It was an opportunity for her to perform in a new venue, other than recitals and church. She received a feedback sheet, which gave her some areas to work on improving. She said when it was over, she would do it again, which I figure is always a good sign that she enjoyed it.
This morning was the first day of Spirit Week at school. It is "Outrageous Day". The assignment was to grab clothes that are as mismatched as possible. Suzanna headed to school wearing a striped shirt, plaid skirt, and funny looking socks. Thomas was wearing a lime green fur hat, glasses with a nose built in and mismatched shoes. Kathryn doesn't feel good and stayed home. She wasn't very upset, since she doesn't like to be mismatched anyway.
Time to take the Christmas tree down. It is still looking beautiful and hasn't lost many needles, amazing what keeping them watered will do for a tree, but I am ready to have the living room back to normal. There is always laundry to do as well.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Rush...Rush....Rush!!!
This morning is hurry up time. Getting everything ready to be on my way to the convention. I am riding with some other board members, so I have to be ready by 11:45. Seems like there is a lot to get done between now and then. Bills to pay, food to cook, and finish packing are all on my list.
Looking forward to this, but the family isn't making this easy. They all keep talking about missing me already....I will miss them too.
Looking forward to this, but the family isn't making this easy. They all keep talking about missing me already....I will miss them too.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Yikes, this weather is weird...
We have had some strange weather this past week. New Years Eve night we had a snowstorm which dumped 12 inches on our area. This was followed by very cold weather and a couple more inches of snow. Never fear, the old saying "if you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes" held true. A warm front headed in on Saturday and the snow began to melt. Yesterday was so foggy, it was scary coming home from church and bad enough we didn't have our evening service. Then the fog cleared by about 7pm and the only snow left is where it was drifted. Oh and the temp is 55 degrees right now. But of course, the change is heading our way again. Back in the high 20s and snow by the end of the week. Gotta love it!!!
I am in the midst of getting organized to be away from the family for a few days. The Michigan Association of Fairs and Festivals has a convention each year. Now that I am a member of the fair board, I will be attending the convention. It is at the Amway Grand in Grand Rapids and runs from Thursday through Saturday night. I am looking forward to this, but have to get things right at home in order to be able to relax and actually enjoy my time away. A major hurdle is getting rides to and from school for the kids. Daddy had thought he would be on a job in the area and would be able to take care of it, but this morning that isn't looking so good. Thankfully, there are grandpas and grandmas who are happy to step in and help us out. I have been menu planning and have that part all figured out too. All the gang will have to do is heat stuff up. The kids are getting more independent and able to manage quite well.
I am in the midst of getting organized to be away from the family for a few days. The Michigan Association of Fairs and Festivals has a convention each year. Now that I am a member of the fair board, I will be attending the convention. It is at the Amway Grand in Grand Rapids and runs from Thursday through Saturday night. I am looking forward to this, but have to get things right at home in order to be able to relax and actually enjoy my time away. A major hurdle is getting rides to and from school for the kids. Daddy had thought he would be on a job in the area and would be able to take care of it, but this morning that isn't looking so good. Thankfully, there are grandpas and grandmas who are happy to step in and help us out. I have been menu planning and have that part all figured out too. All the gang will have to do is heat stuff up. The kids are getting more independent and able to manage quite well.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
We now resume normal programming.......
Whatever normal is in my zoo!!!
And just like that, Christmas break is over and the kids are back to school. Unlike the line from the popular Christmas song, I really could have waited a little longer before they headed back. We have had a nice break and were having fun. Oh well, soon enough it will be spring break and the weather will be better for that anyway.
The kids had a great time yesterday sledding at some church friends place. Suzanna and their daughter are working on a violin/piano duet for an upcoming music competition and needed to practice. Her accompanist is one of 8 kids, so there were plenty of willing "sledders". It was a fun way to end their Christmas break.
Speaking of weather, it was pretty cold here this morning. We saw -1 in a low spot on the way to school. New cheap entertainment....the car has a thermometer that reads the outside temperature. The kids kept track of the variations most of the way in. Another cold night tonight, then it will go the opposite direction. It is suppose to be raining and 50 by Monday. I would just as soon it stay cold. I dread the thought of all 12 inches of snow melting and then adding rain to that.
I am off to haul a horse. As you know from reading my blog, this is not a favorite part of horse ownership for me. At least I am getting on my way early enough to do it all in the daylight.
And just like that, Christmas break is over and the kids are back to school. Unlike the line from the popular Christmas song, I really could have waited a little longer before they headed back. We have had a nice break and were having fun. Oh well, soon enough it will be spring break and the weather will be better for that anyway.
The kids had a great time yesterday sledding at some church friends place. Suzanna and their daughter are working on a violin/piano duet for an upcoming music competition and needed to practice. Her accompanist is one of 8 kids, so there were plenty of willing "sledders". It was a fun way to end their Christmas break.
Speaking of weather, it was pretty cold here this morning. We saw -1 in a low spot on the way to school. New cheap entertainment....the car has a thermometer that reads the outside temperature. The kids kept track of the variations most of the way in. Another cold night tonight, then it will go the opposite direction. It is suppose to be raining and 50 by Monday. I would just as soon it stay cold. I dread the thought of all 12 inches of snow melting and then adding rain to that.
I am off to haul a horse. As you know from reading my blog, this is not a favorite part of horse ownership for me. At least I am getting on my way early enough to do it all in the daylight.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
2008 is here.......
Happy New Year!!!!!
All is quiet in the house this morning. I think my family is officially wiped out. We have spent much of the weekend celebrating the holidays with hubby's siblings and their families. Many hands of euchre were played. This family is serious about their euchre and at one point 3 tables were running at the same time. In addition there was time to play Uno, Phase 10, the Farming Game, Monopoly and Shanghai....all with the TV on the latest football game. They also are pretty serious about keeping up with sports.
Of course, we stuffed ourselves full of great homemade food.....and then came back just a few short hours later to stuff ourselves again. Aunt Becky's homemade rolls are hard to leave alone.
At the time we opened gifts, there were 30 people in Grandma's house. A house that I am sure seemed a lot bigger to her when she was raising 6 children. But as the kids have grown up, had families of their own and now those kids are having kids, it seems pretty tiny around the holidays. There has been talk of moving it to our house, which has more room, but nobody really wants to end the tradition of being in moms house.
The family members had dwindled by New Years Eve, and it was down to a couple of hubby's sisters with their families. We toasted the New Year at midnight with sparkling grape juice. Then the kids realized that it had been snowing.....not a gentle snowfall, but another dumping, this time of perfect packing snow. Grandma scrounged around for gloves and mittens and they were out the door. It was boys against girls and we could hear them laughing and hollering at each other. They had a great time ganging up on each other and seeing who could get close enough to really plaster someone with snow. I am sure they won't soon forget welcoming in the new year that way.
I think we all have certain memories of times when we were kids that stick out when we reminisce. I can see all our kids coming back to celebrate the holidays when they have kids of their own. They will all be remembering the euchre, the wrapping paper battles and the fun time they had at the beginning of 2008 when they had that massive snowball fight.
All is quiet in the house this morning. I think my family is officially wiped out. We have spent much of the weekend celebrating the holidays with hubby's siblings and their families. Many hands of euchre were played. This family is serious about their euchre and at one point 3 tables were running at the same time. In addition there was time to play Uno, Phase 10, the Farming Game, Monopoly and Shanghai....all with the TV on the latest football game. They also are pretty serious about keeping up with sports.
Of course, we stuffed ourselves full of great homemade food.....and then came back just a few short hours later to stuff ourselves again. Aunt Becky's homemade rolls are hard to leave alone.
At the time we opened gifts, there were 30 people in Grandma's house. A house that I am sure seemed a lot bigger to her when she was raising 6 children. But as the kids have grown up, had families of their own and now those kids are having kids, it seems pretty tiny around the holidays. There has been talk of moving it to our house, which has more room, but nobody really wants to end the tradition of being in moms house.
The family members had dwindled by New Years Eve, and it was down to a couple of hubby's sisters with their families. We toasted the New Year at midnight with sparkling grape juice. Then the kids realized that it had been snowing.....not a gentle snowfall, but another dumping, this time of perfect packing snow. Grandma scrounged around for gloves and mittens and they were out the door. It was boys against girls and we could hear them laughing and hollering at each other. They had a great time ganging up on each other and seeing who could get close enough to really plaster someone with snow. I am sure they won't soon forget welcoming in the new year that way.
I think we all have certain memories of times when we were kids that stick out when we reminisce. I can see all our kids coming back to celebrate the holidays when they have kids of their own. They will all be remembering the euchre, the wrapping paper battles and the fun time they had at the beginning of 2008 when they had that massive snowball fight.
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