Dog shows, lamb training, horse conditioning and back to school

Busy days continue here at the zoo. Kathryn and Emma competed in the State 4-H Dog Show Saturday. They are now full-fledged 4-Her's and actually get placed in their classes now. It was the first time Kathryn had ever done showmanship and they placed 5th in their class. They also did agility and obedience, but didn't place in either class. We got lots of good hints and know what they need to work on between now and fair week.

Kathryn has been working with her lamb, Lydia, too. Considering the first time she ever put a halter on the lamb, it fell over on it's side and laid there like it was dying, things have definitely improved. She can now lead Lydia the traditional way of having a hand under her chin and one at the back of her head. The other three lambs we got to replace the lambs that were killed have tamed down a lot and Kathryn can actually pet one of them. She is the animal charmer.

I have been working our filly, Annie, in preparation for the Michigan Morgan Futurity. I hauled her up to Mason yesterday so that Horse Trainer Mike can take over and finish her halter work. The show is this weekend. Storm will be showing as well. She has grown up and filled out a lot over the course of the summer. I really could see the difference since she has been gone all year.

Finally, the girls and I are heading to town to get school shoes. Yes, like it or not, they head back to school on Thursday. Thomas wasn't in the mood to "shop", so he went to work with his dad. I will still need to run him to the local Shoe Show store and get some dress shoes. Parent-Teacher orientation will be tomorrow night and then back to our routine on Thursday. Summer where did you go?? And just in time for the "dog days".

Where have I been???

Enjoying summer. We had the chance to travel up to Mackinaw City a week ago and what a great time we had. We toured Fort Michlamackinaw, the Mackinaw City Lighthouse and the Old Mill. Great chance for the kids to expand on the Michigan History unit they all have studied at school. Nothing better than experiencing things first hand.

We had the opportunity to attend the wedding of hubby's niece Elissa as well. What an amazing wedding. She married a man she met while attended Spring Arbor University. They are headed to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he is from, to be missionaries in one of the many slums in that city. Gui, her new husband, has a tremendous burden for the unsaved in his city and Elissa is equally burdened for them. They are a great couple and though we will miss them, recognize that their decision is pretty special.

On the critter side of our world, the market chickens should arrive by mail today or tomorrow. That is the last project to get started on. Fair is about six weeks away!

And School is only a week and a half away!!!!! The kids start on the 20th.....and so goes summer.

The garden has begun to produce. I put up 18 quarts of green beans last week. The pickles are slowly providing enough to make a batch of 14 day sweet pickles. The sweet corn is growing, and there are TONS of green tomatoes out there. Waiting to get some peaches to can sometime this week. I love canning, so I am anxious for the chance to put shiny jars of fruits and veggies on the shelves in the basement.

On the run.....

it has been a crazy two weeks. We were busy getting ready for and then participating in Dairy Days at MSU. Suzanna placed well in showmanship, judging and management. She also had a reserve all Michigan junior owned heifer in one of her classes. Thomas learned the hard lesson of stubborn heifers. His was very uncooperative in the show ring and despite the frustration, he kept a smile on his face and says he will do it again. Kathryn placed in one of her showmanship classes as well.

I must say going from one in the project to three was a bit of an adjustment, but thankfully they worked well together. Thomas and Kathryn have spent three years watching Suzanna do it and I am sure that helped them a lot.

It was fun to have some of Trainer Mike's horse clients stop by and see how different it is to show cattle. They all wanted calves at home, not to show, just to pet.

Monday Kathryn and I were able to head to the Lenawee county fair with another family from our 4-H club and study the finer points of sheep showmanship. It was a wise choice to go and hopefully it will pay off in a couple months when the girls are showing at our fair. Today, Thomas and I took a trip over to Lenawee to get information about showing dairy starter steers. I think that will help him a lot and mom and dad too.

Now we are doing the mad pack to get away for a few days. We are headed way up north to a family wedding and then a few days around the Mackinaw bridge area for fun and relaxation. Supposedly the campground has WIFI, so I will try to post again while we are away.

Reacting.....

How do you react to news? Especially news that affects you? Perhaps political news? I am one who pays attention to what is going on in the world of politics. I grew up in a family that was very aware, I worked for a gentleman during my high school and college years who had spent time in Washington and knew a lot of the "movers and shakers" in politics during the 1980s. You couldn't help but be aware with Mr. Lipsett around. I was told once to get my head out of the MSU cow barn and report to work immediately at the new Conservative newspaper which had sprung up on campus. That was his style. He also said you needed to write letters to let people know your opinion of issues.

So jump forward a few years (lets not count how many!). I have really begun to follow Mr. Lipsett's advice. I am a letter writer.....well, maybe more of an emailer....but I am letting my opinion be known. My latest was to our US Congressman. There is a committee meeting on the Dairy industry today. He happens to serve on the agriculture committee and I sent him a letter to let him know my concerns relating to the dairy business. Yes, granted our family isn't making our living on dairy, but we are indirectly involved since the kids are raising replacement heifers. And they have been affected by the downturn of the milk price. So I made sure that our Congressman knew that.

Back when the stimulus was being voted on, both my senators and the congressman heard from me then too. Do I think I am going to change the world? Doubtful.....BUT I am involved! Even if it is one in many, my voice has been heard. Oh and a couple weeks ago, the voices of most farmers in our county were heard by our state Representative and he made his decision on a vote for the future of Agriculture in Michigan due to the overwhelming opinions he heard that day. React.....you may change something!

It's Summer and we're runnin' out of ice......

For those who don't recognize that line. It comes from the musical Oklahoma. It was the first thing that popped into my head this morning as I heard yet another report of the Michael Jackson memorial. I am a little tired of the whole saga.

I grew up in the 80s. He was a big deal then, and I have to admit enjoying some of the music he did. But then I got older and he got weirder (is that a word?). The insane focus that has been on him for the past week and a half is really over the top in my book. He was just a person!

How sad it is that people have come absolutely unglued at his passing. He is worshipped as a god. How wrong and how sad that there is this much sorrow for a man who could do nothing for these people. How different would the world be if they sought God the same way this human was sought and worshipped? Just a little food for thought.

Yikes.....time is flying!

And in two weeks, we will be headed for Dairy Days at MSU. I can't believe how summer is getting away from us.

The kids have been leading their heifers, but it would seem we have a stubborn bunch. Suzanna's younger heifer was better until she hurt her foot and we had to mess with her each day. Kathryn's heifer lead real well until she was dehorned and decided humans are something to be avoided at all costs. Thomas's heifer is the best of the three, until she decides to plant her front feet and stop walking. Could get interesting!

Kathryn's lamb, Lydia, is tame. She sees Kathryn and starts baaing at her. She loves to be scratched. She sleeps in the rabbit shack and one of the rabbits has figured out how to open his cage and gets out and hops around following Lydia. It is funny to watch.

Summer weather is here for the week, lots of sun and warm temperatures. Hope the garden gets going. It has been a rough spring for growing stuff.

It sure was hot!

There, I got that covered. Suzanna and I spent three days a MSU and the weather was just plain GROSS. We arrived Wednesday afternoon and it was at least 90 degrees out with 100 percent humidity. Of course, I had to park the car about a half mile from the dorm.

Suzanna took a dairy judging seminar and her classroom was air conditioned, so she got a little relief there. I took one about making ice cream. It was so hot the ice cream wouldn't freeze. The class host said it took double the ice from the previous year.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the evening entertainment. To begin with, the Wharton Center was air conditioned, and we were able to sit in cool comfort and listen to a group called "Fiddlers Unstrung". They were outstanding! It is a group of 17 high school students from Saline, MI and boy could they play.

Thursday was spent in seminars. We managed to visit the museum and tour a little bit of campus. I could show Suzanna my dorms from when I lived on campus. Thursday evening was the State Awards Assembly. We went to cheer on the four nominees from Hillsdale County. I am happy to report that we had the State Dairy winner. Congrats to Matt!

A check-in with daddy on the way back to the dorm provided the exciting news that Penny had calved sometime that afternoon and it was a heifer. Suzanna had already picked out a name, so the heifer will be known as Paige.

Friday was one more opportinity to attend our seminars. Suzanna's second session was on Historic Michigan barns. She now rides in the car, identifying was style of barn we are driving by and its condition. I took a class on Sheep Showmanship in an effort to help Kathryn out. I learned a lot and hopefully will remember it long enough to teach her a thing or two.

Needless to say, with a new heifer at home, Suzanna was ready to get home. We had to stop at the barn first on the way up the drive and meet the new heifer. What a cutie! We took Penny to her new home at a local dairy farm in the afternoon.

Kathryn impatiently waited until 6:30 when we finally went over a picked up Lydia, her new lamb. Believe me, the whole family spent a nervous night, praying that all was safe in the "beefed up" security of the sheep pen. Kathryn went out a couple times in the night, as did daddy and momma and Thomas. All was well at each check and we have been able to relax a little. Kathryn has spent time in the pen and the lamb is beginning to get used to her and the treats she has too.

Just a quite weekend at the zoo. This week we push on. With the nicer temperatures, the heifers are getting worked. Dairy Days is just a few short weeks away.

Dorm room......22 years ago

That would be the last time I slept in a dorm room. I am about to change that though. Suzanna and I are on our way to Michigan State for 4-H Exploration Days. She and I are roomies for the next three days. She is excited about this new experience. She has the chance to take to "classes" and spend time with fellow 4-Her's from around the state. I am the chaperon!

I will report on our adventures when we get back.

Property values.....

An acre of land around our area sells for more than $3,000. A farmer can get $60 or more cash rent on an acre of land. But I know an acre of land that is special and worth nothing to the "world" because it isn't earning any money.

Suzanna began playing softball in the Christian Softball Fellowship league when she turned 5. It was organized by a family about 10 years before she started playing so that kids could have a place to play ball that was just for fun. Great fellowship, recreation and with other believers. Thomas and Kathryn were thrilled when they reached 5 and could join up. Last year, the family that had originally organized it handed the reins over to myself and a friend. Our kids were devastated at the thought that there would be no ball, so we are continuing a tradition that has been going on for at least 20 years.

The games are played on a field in the country. The man who owned it passed away this past week. A friend went to the visitation yesterday, and was told by a family member that he believed that acre of land was the most valuable of any he owned. Wow! He recognized that the families that spent 6 Monday nights each year there were more important than the all money that spot of land could have earned him in the last 20 years. Amazing, huh?

So how do we value what we have? Do we consider the moments we take with our kids to be a burden? Taking us away from some important task? Or can we slow down and realize that sometimes the most valuable things in our lives earn us no money, no fame and no reward? Mr. P had it figured out and today he is in Heaven with his Lord.

Oh, and his family wants the games to continue, right there in that yard. So those Monday night games will go on.

Finding God in the darkness

It was a very dark weekend at the zoo.

Kathryn has been impatiently waiting for us to get everything ready for her sheep project. She had expressed an interest in raising sheep, but not the "kind they eat". So after a conversation with a fellow fair board member, we decided on Shetland sheep. They are a small, easy to raise wool breed and would be a great introduction to the world of shepherding.

We took possession of three freshly weaned lambs on Friday night. By Saturday morning it was all over already. Two neighborhood dogs got in with them in the night and all three died as a result. In addition, they also seriously harmed the kids market bunnies and the momma bunny too. Darkness was at the zoo.

As my hubby and I dealt with the vet, sheriff's department and comforting our children, I truly felt God in the midst of it all. In the heat of the moment with adrenalin pumping, it wasn't so easy, but as I began to reflect on the morning, it was obvious.

First, those dogs were still in the sheep pasture as Kathryn discovered that the lambs were hurt. She NEVER went inside....what the dogs might have done to her?? who knows, but she was protected. When I contacted 911, I was told that it could be awhile, since there were only two deputies patrolling the county and the State police were on duty at the racetrack. Yet, the sheriff's deputy pulled into our driveway within 15 minutes of my call. A call to the vet emergency line yielded a callback with about 5 minutes. He had just finished a call and would come to us next. He was there within minutes and was so kind to Kathryn as he explained to her the sad news that the third lamb would not live.

The biggest lesson I learned was how deep Kathryn's faith is at 10 years old. We sat together in the pasture for awhile after it was all over, the tears were flowing from both of us. And she asked the question that I had been asking, "why did God let this happen?" Obviously I didn't know the answer, but told her that despite the sadness we were feeling, God was still there, giving us comfort. I let her know that God allows things to happen, KNOWING that we grow closer to Him, and trust Him even more. She looked up and said "kinda like Job, that book is full of troubles, but he still trusted God." Wow, what more could I say?? She was already learning and growing, even through the tears she was shedding.

Shortly after we were married, our Pastor encouraged each family in the church to choose a verse and claim it for the year. That year, Mike and I chose Hebrews 13:5, which says "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He had said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." How many times have I gone back to that verse in years since choosing it. And yet again on Saturday and the days since, I have remembered it again and again.

End of an era....

Yesterday was not one of the best at Knolltop Morgans. Our "senior" broodmare Breezy has had a tough spring in terms of getting on cycle and getting bred. We have taken her down to the stallion twice, the second time she stayed for two cycles, in an effort to get one more foal. She is 23, which is old, but not ancient. It is not unusual to have a foal at that age, but for Breezy, it is the end.

The magic 18 day mark was yesterday, and the vet was out to check her. Unlike the check on trainer Mike's mare last week, there was no fist pump.....just a lot of silence, as he looked and looked and looked with no success. I was in tears with his announcement and he left the barn with very few words. He wanted her to be pregnant almost as much as I did, but it was not to be.

I knew the day was coming, and I am grateful for the beautiful foals we have gotten from her, but it is still sad to think there will be no more "Breezy Babies".

A simple 18 day pregnacy check

That's what I thought I was having the vet out for. Trainer Mike's mare has been here for the last two months. He sent her to me to utilize my vet to get her bred. At 18 days, an ultrasound can be done to check for a pregnancy. I scheduled to have him out, and his plan was to get here sometime this afternoon. That plan got pushed back a couple times and he finally arrived at about 9pm. In the end, it was a good thing he was that late. His simple ultrasound stop changed before he ever got to our place.

First, hubby called me on the 2-way radio to say I needed to give Penny's eye a check when I was outside. A quick check revealed potential pinkeye. Then Suzanna's newest heifer, Rhianna, was limping across the pasture. Observation there was that she had cut the back of her foot right at the hoof line. Two more things for Dr. C to look at when he got here.

We started with Libby and as I held her for the check, Dr. C did a fist pump into the air. An 18 day pregnancy on the right horn of her uterus. He predicts a filly. We will know in 11 months.

Next up, Fancy. This is the heifer who doesn't want to be caught. After several attempts to trap her in a corner and get a rope around her neck, we finally used Sami as bait to get Penny across the driveway and into the barn where we got her caught. Confirmation was made that it was pinkeye and it was treated.

On to Rhianna, who dinged her foot in a bad spot. He said it would be hard to get to heal up nicely, because of its location. It was going to keep getting dirt in it and might not look very nice when it came time to show her. So we rinsed it out really good and between daddy, the vet and Suzanna, got it wrapped with some vetwrap to keep the dirt out of it. She will get penicillin for four more days and we will be changing her bandage for a few days until the cut heals up.

Mission accomplished all around. As the vet backed his truck out of the yard, one brake was sticking and as he pulled forward and backed up a second time, his brake pad fell out from under his truck and it was leaking fluid. He got some brake fluid from my husband and headed down the road, planning his route with the fewest stops possible. And that is how a simple 18 day pregnancy check went.

God answers prayers......

I believe that statement. I have seen his answers to my prayers through my life. Big ones and little ones. Our earnest requests are heard and answered. Not always as we expect, nor as we think he should, and especially not as quick as we would like. But they are answered.

Early this morning was no exception. We have a couple house cats. Well, technically, we have three. Cassie, the calico, moved to the basement the day Emma joined the family and has rarely come up since. She hates me and usually hides when I head down the stairs. She lets the kids love on her as long as the dog doesn't come along. Anyway, back to my story. Our two upstairs cats are Butterscotch and HopSing. They like to take strolls in the yard when it is nice out. Monday afternoon, they both headed out. Butterscotch came back home, but HopSing did not. For the next 4 days we wondered, worried and prayed about HopSing. Much to our relief, at 5:30 this morning, I was woke up by a frantic cat yowling at the door. HopSing came flying through the door and meowed happily at me. My tears came instantly, and the first thought that went through my mind was to thank God for bringing this little cat back safely to our home.

I have no doubt she would have quite a story to tell if she could. There isn't a scratch on her, but she does seem a bit lighter. God answers prayers!!!!!!

His and hers....

I headed back down to Amish country to bring Breezy home. She has been on a three-week date with a stallion. For awhile it looked like we would have to retire the old gal. She was not remotely interested in the stallion. Thankfully, her mood improved, and she has been bred. We will know in a couple weeks if it was successful or not.

I enjoyed spending time deep in the Amish community. I asked a few questions about the way they live and discovered one thing that really made me chuckle. The stallion owners four children were wandering through the barnyard among the horses. The older girls were messing around with one horse in particular. I asked about the horse and he told me that was his wife driving horse. I quickly asked what he drove. He proudly pointed out a tall, lanky horse who he said was pretty fast. I quipped, his and hers, huh?? He laughed and agreed that his wife wanted quite and he liked something with a little more speed.

The years roll along

Yesterday marked 25 years since I graduated from high school. It doesn't seem possible. I am NOT old enough to have been out of high school that long. My high school years were a bit out of the ordinary anyway. I attended a small, Christian school from sixth grade thru my sophomore year. Then it was closed and my parents and I were left with the dilemma of where I should go to finish up my last two years. I ended up going to the local public school. It was an adjustment, but I now can look back and see the reasons God put me there.

One big reason was the choice I had made for my college education. I attended Michigan State, and to have gone there after spending my entire educational years at a Christian school would have been an even harder transition. Spending two years at a public school did prepare me for how different the world out there really was.

But the biggest reason was that I met the man who is now my husband because I was there. Although he had graduated the year before I started there, we had a mutual friend at the school. A guy named Dennis and I became friends when he discovered I was a good speller, and constantly asked me how to spell words when we were in English class. He and Mike were good friends and Dennis let Mike know that I was a girl he should get to know. That leads us to another "anniversary" of sorts. Coming up next month, it will be 25 years since our first date.

A whirlwind in May

It sure feels like we have been on one. The kids have their last day of school tomorrow. Wow, where has a school year gone??? We went to their Awards Night last night, and got the calendar and re-enrollment forms for next year....nothing like thinking ahead, huh? I don't want to even consider how fast the summer will zip by.

Spring brings the attempt to get mares in foal. Breezy, our foundation broodmare had a year off. So, the big question was whether or not she would get in foal one more time. So far, we don't have the answer. The first attempt hasn't gone like it should have and we are still unsure what is ahead. She is back at the Amish farm in Indiana for now. We will know more next week. I took her back down there Friday night and coming home from dropping her off, my truck was attacked by May Flies. So bad in fact, that I couldn't keep the windshield clean for about 10 miles. The coating of bugs on the truck and trailer was about a half inch thick. I had been "bug bogging" instead of mud bogging. At one point I saw a driver stopped on the side of the road cleaning his windshield with bottled water and a towel. It was GROSS!!!

I also have trainer Mike's mare here until she is bred. Her first go 'round wasn't successful and I ended up at Metro Airport on Monday afternoon going from warehouse to the McNamara terminal, trying to figure out where the shipment from Kentucky had been left. I went around the terminal twice to see where I needed to be. In the back of my mind, I sure hoped that security didn't decide I was a threat! She has been bred again, and we will see what happens in 18 days.

We have spent several Saturdays reworking shelters and pastures for the additional critters we are adding since Thomas and Kathryn are both full-fledged 4-Hers this year. We have adapted what was once a pump house into a new bunny barn. It is very nice. We moved the chicken coop. We now have a second calf hutch, although all three calves seem to sleep all snugged up in the same one. We have also built fence and gates. There is rain in the forecast this weekend, so I think inside stuff will get done, like equipment repair. Hay season will be here in a couple weeks, so it is time to get ready for that. Of course, recognize that when I say "we" it really is hubby. I just follow instructions.

Somehow, the whirlwind doesn't seem quite so extreme written out, but believe me, when my head hits the pillow at night, it doesn't take long to fall asleep.

The bovines outnumber the equines......

I had a need. Two March heifers. My phone call to a breeder was no help. They wanted a lot more money than I had budgeted for the project. I called another breeder, who never called me back. Trying not to panic, I really wanted to get this whole process wrapped up. See, the earlier we get the calves, the easier the project goes. The kids and calves sort of grow up together and breaking them to lead goes much better. So where do I get two calves from........Call Gene.

I met Gene back in 2007 at a cattle sale and have utilized his fitting skills at several shows. He is a wealth of knowledge and loves to share it with anyone who will listen. Being a greenhorn to the present day dairy world, I am one of those listeners.

So I put a call into Gene and told him what I needed. Then impatiently waited for him to make some contacts. Happily, last Tuesday he called to say he had found a heifer. Problem.....I needed two! He didn't hear that part of the request and only lined up one calf. No worries, the Purdue University Dairy Club was having a calf sale over the weekend. He figured he could find one there. No such luck....they all went over budget. So Gene brought Kathryn's heifer Monday morning. Kali took up residence in the calf pen and settled right in. Late in the afternoon, my cell phone rang. Good news! Gene was at a farm and had found a heifer for Thomas. So, after making a second trip to my farm, he dropped off Daffodil. (naming isn't necessarily our strong suit, remember Big Eyed Timothy??)

The kids are spending each evening leading their new calves. (the novelty hasn't worn off yet, just wait 'til mid-June, I will be begging them to get out and lead them) Kali is a very cooperative girl and leads nicely for Kathryn. Daffodil, on the other hand hasn't figured it out yet and only goes forward if someone is behind her poking and prodding her along. It will get better, and hopefully Thomas won't get totally discouraged before she gets it together.

Officially, there are now 8 bovines and 5 equines on the property. Hubby is grinning, since he prefers Holsteins to horses. Now if we can convince Thomas that he can't ride his bike down to the barn with two pails of milk replacer hanging off the handle bars, we will be just fine.

Oh and if you happen to know of any Shetland sheep on the market, let me know. That is the only project that we are lacking. Kathryn is looking forward to taking sheep to the fair.....but not for eating, just for breeding and the wool.

We just don't see it the same way

Hubby and Thomas have been keeping an eye on a project across the road. There has been an old John Deere combine sitting in the fence row for a number of years. About a month ago, there was some activity around it. Someone was working on it. A couple weeks ago, the mystery workers had pulled it from the fence row to the roadside. More curiosity from the guys in my house. What was up?????

Tonight when we got home from prayer meeting, there was activity around the combine. Thomas was all set to go see what they were doing, but daddy wasn't. We went on up the driveway, but a few minutes later, I saw trucks with their hazard lights blinking headed down the road. Hubby headed off to investigate and came back home with the scoop.

He was sad to say that the combine was headed to Homer to be prepped for a life of combine derbies!! He was really down in the dumps about the thought of a piece of farm machinery ending up wreaked and ruined. Never mind it was "froze up" and wouldn't be able to harvest a crop in its current condition. I, of course, kicked into "Fair Queen" mode and preceded to ask him if he had told the guys that our fair has a Combine Derby and what night it was, etc. He just rolled his eyes at me. He and Thomas were still commiserating the demise of the combine at bedtime.

Double digits already

How can it be? Thomas and Kathryn are 10 today. I am still trying to figure out where those 10 years went. Fast....that is for sure.

They were off to school this morning with cupcakes for their class. We have prayer meeting tonight, so they are taking along more cupcakes for their Kids Club friends. We will have tacos for supper and cake when we get home. Birthday celebrations with grandparents will have to wait until later in the week.

I am so thankful for both these children. Kathryn had a rocky start, to say she scared us would be an understatement. But the prayers offered from all of us were answered and within just a few short days, we were all under the same roof and learning how to parent a 2 year old and a set of twins.

Kathryn's quiet ways are a pleasure for all around her. Her love of animals is a joy to see. She is a charmer. Thomas' thoughts are deep and his enthusiasm is catching. He is a whirlwind of energy and never short on questions. Both kids love God and that is the greatest attribute either could have.

On this special day.....Happy Birthday to both Thomas and Kathryn!!!!!!!

Some things never change

As a kid, mom always hid chocolate covered eggs for my brother, dad and I to hunt on Easter morning. These were the flat ones that were always wrapped in foil and were flavored. It never failed, I was always the last to finish, since my dad and brother got their share first. One year I looked and looked and looked, but never found my last egg. Part of the problem was that mom could never remember where she hid all the eggs, and the frenzy that ensued when we all started searching made it pretty hard to keep track of what egg came from what hiding spot. That last egg was never found.....until several years later.

When putting up the Christmas tree about 4 years later, I got the bright idea that the tree would look better without the four pictures that usually hung on the wall behind the tree. When we took one of the pictures down, what should be stuck to the wall behind the picture?? The missing egg, of course. Mom had put it on the top of the picture frame and it had slipped behind and no one ever saw it. My dad was very generous, and told me I could have it, since it was mine. Thanks dad!!

Fast forward to 2009. My mom likes to hide Cadbury eggs for the kids. She hid them on Saturday, thinking that she would be ready whenever we had a chance to get there. We went over this afternoon after school and the kids started searching. Each had to find four. Thomas got his first, then Kathryn, but Suzanna wasn't so lucky. It was a flashback to when I was her age. She looked and looked and looked......and never found it. In mom's defense, she had a medical procedure done yesterday which required sedation. It has left her with lapses in memory, and she could not remember where she hid the last egg. The kids suggested that she make a map next year so she doesn't forget. Suzanna ended up with one of Grandpa's. He called a few minutes ago to hassle her for taking one of his eggs. She told him he was welcome to the missing one, when and if he found it.

Some kind of birthday!!!

Today is my birthday, and it certainly hasn't gone as planned.

Yesterday, my sister-in-law and I made plans to go workout after I dropped the kids off, then we would take my mom to Jackson for a trip to Kohl's and out for lunch.

My first clue that plans might need to be changed was when I let the dog out last night at 11pm. There was at least 2 inches of snow on the ground and more on the way. The next clue that this was no ordinary day came with the ringing of the telephone at 12:45. Hubby was needed on a service call to the village sewer pumps. The power was out and the generator wasn't running. When he returned a couple hours later, he told me there was no way we were going to get to school at our usual time, since there was at least 4 or 5 inches of snow on the ground. A quick listen to the local radio station at 6 am confirmed that every school in the county was closed. BUT.....our kids go to school one county over and there were NO closings over there. We decided to have them stay home for a couple hours to see what the roads were like once hubby got out on them.

The kids got around and we were ready to head out the door by 9am. Just then the phone rang with a distress call from daddy. He needed us to bring a log chain and pull him out of his sister's front yard. He had gone over to drive up and down her driveway to cut a path so she could get out and go to work. It didn't go so well and he ended up stuck. Thankfully, with good instructions, I managed to get him unstuck. But by then it was getting late and the school day would be half over by the time we got there. So I made a quick phone call to the school and the kids were officially on a three-day weekend. I still managed to meet my sister-in-law and mom for lunch, but we stayed much closer to home.

So it looks like I got two things for my birthday so far. 6.8 inches of snow and Michigan State playing in the NCAA finals tonight. GO STATE!!!!!

Where do I start

This has been a typical crazy week. We survived the Great Lakes Holstein Show. Suzanna placed 3rd in a class of 10 in showmanship, which was great. Especially since she ended up showing Penny. Penny has a reputation. She has been the obstinate heifer on the farm. She is the one that hubby tried to catch last summer and she ran him from one end of the pasture to the other. To say she has been difficult would be an understatement. But, pregnancy must agree with her, since she is much more cooperative now. She sedately walked everywhere she was led for the weekend and I told Suzanna she was the one for showmanship.

On the other hand, Sami, who has always been easy to work with was a BRAT! She thought she was boss every time I had to lead her to the wash rack. She was even worse in the show ring. Suzanna stuck with her, despite needing some assistance from the neighbor up the road. (thanks JW!!!!) She acted so horrible, I began to wonder if she was bred or not. So, since the vet needed to be out for other stuff on Tuesday, I had him recheck her. Thankfully, the ultrasound showed a calf. I guess being pregnant isn't such a happy time for her.

We settled back in to our school routine. We are starting the countdown. As of today, we have 6 short weeks of school left! The twins are beginning to anticipate their birthdays, which will be in a couple weeks. I am thinking about a garden, once spring truly arrives. I was pleased last night to take a stroll through the yard and discover my currant bushes survived the winter. I also had to stop and admire my pussy willow bush. The bush started from branches I cut and rooted from my great-grandma's bush. i remember each spring, my mom would stop by great grandma's a pick a bunch of branches to decorate each spring. My bush has to be at least 18 years old, and was moved from our first home to our current place back 15 years ago this spring. The bush at great grandma's was pulled out a number of years ago, but mine survives!!

Today, I finish up prep work for a Ladies Fellowship mom and I are hostessing tomorrow. I have made six quiche, and am putting together Citrus Sherbet Tortes yet today. Tomorrow I will mix up a Spinach and Strawberry salad with Poppy Seed dressing and bake up a couple batches of mini muffins. Remember, I fancy myself a Martha Stewart wannabe, minus the time done in jail.

Back to school.....

We have been on Spring Break for the last week and a half. The kids actually had some nice weather days, which usually doesn't happen this time of year. We stayed home, which is a vacation to us. Not having to be on the road each morning at the crack of dawn was nice. We still managed to go somewhere each day. The kids hadn't had JC Penney-type pictures done for about three years, so we got pictures taken. We got some cleaning jobs done, went to the dentist, and Thomas got his pesky ear tube removed. Don't worry, they had a lot of down time too.

We head to MSU this weekend for the Michigan Holstein Jackpot Show. The weather will be better than last year, when it snowed about 4 inches, so we are taking the camper up. It is easier to stay in it, rather than the Red Roof up the road. We can eat our meals there, and the two kiddos that aren't showing cattle don't have to get up before the sun to head to the Pavilion and wash heifers. I am flying solo tomorrow night, and will managed to clip all three heifers by myself. That way, nobody has to miss school on Friday. The rest of the family will join me after school Friday afternoon.

I had better get packing......

Latest arrivals at the zoo

Meet the newest residents up here on the hill. These are my future egg layers. We picked them up on Sunday afternoon at the main post office. It was about a half-hour drive, and hubby decided it was wise to pick them up last. I had to agree. The longer they were in the car, the louder their peeping grew.

It reminded me of a ride I took many, many years ago. We lived in West Virginia for about three years when I was a kid. My brother and I had spent part of the summer with both sets of grandparents in Michigan, but it was time to head for home. My mom's folks took us home. Besides my grandparents, my great grandma and my brother, we had a few more riders for the trip. Grandma Phil was bringing a batch of young chicks to my mom.

The family was cruisin' down the highway, and I would suspect all the windows were down in the car. Wouldn't you know, we had a flat tire. Did I mention that grandpa had gone to the Saturday sale in Hillsdale to get my brother and I $5 bikes???? Well, the only way to get them to West Virginia was to take them completely apart and stuff them in the trunk. Which was no big deal until the spare tire was needed. I can still see my grandpa pulling piece after piece of bike out of that truck to get to that tire.

Once the tire was changed, we were back on the road. By now, the chicks were getting hungry....and noisy. Every mile they got louder until my grandpa finally told grandma to find something to feed them, because they were really getting on his nerves. She dug around in the picnic basket and discovered fig newtons. Well, those chicks just loved those newtons, and they did get quiet for a while. But then the newtons hit them and they got the "runs". Grandpa had a name for such things....he called them "Phyllis' follies". He would give her a pretty hard time about the stuff she involved him in, but he was a good sport about them most of the time.

Funny the things that you never forget. I can still see that whole day in my mind, as if it had just happened.

Not on my corner......

That is what I am struggling with right now.

The state of Michigan has to have a balanced budget each year. Unlike the federal government, we can't print money when we don't have enough, so "somethin' has gotta give". The budget was released last month and it looks like the Department of Agriculture is on the chopping block to give a lot. To the tune of about 20% in cuts.

This gets personal, when you dig further into what programs the cuts will hit. 4-H and county fairs, two of my favorite things. But there are a lot more things that come under the banner of the Department of Ag. Food inspectors are in that department, the state veterinarians are in there, along with a ton of others. But I am not clueless, I know there is a lot of stuff in that department that could be done away with. Heck, 21 years ago this summer, I went to work for the Department of Agriculture. I was a summer intern, and made close to $10 an hour. Mind you, minimum wage was about $3.45 back then. There was waste then and I am sure it has only gotten worse.

I went on a drought tour across the state that summer, and spent two days taking pictures of the Director standing in the middle of fields of hay and corn, soybeans, sugar beets and navy beans, agreeing that it was dry. Can you say photo op and feel good moments??? You Bet!! The Director of Agriculture standing there wasn't gonna make it rain. And taking an entourage of a state car and an 18 passenger van cost money. The director and five staff members then flew by private plane late on the second day to visit the Traverse City area to observe the drought damaged orchards.

Yes there is waste, and somethings can be cut. But nobody wants to cut their "baby". That special project that means everything to them! So who decides??? If they ask me, I am going to tell them not on my corner. And everyone else will have the same defense for their baby. I don't have any good answers, but I do know that 4-H has done a lot for many generations of my family and a lot of other families. There has to be a compromise somewhere, and hopefully it will be reached soon.

Prediction for spring......

Many animals predict the return of spring. There's good ole' Puxatony Phil, the buzzards coming back to Hinckley, Ohio and the swallows that return to Capistrano. Around here, we rely on Breezy on the hill.

Our senior broodmare Breezy, who will be 22 this spring, is not one caught in the cold during winter. She typically puts a good, thick winter coat on, way before the rest of the animals on the farm. But, when spring starts knocking, she is the first one to start shedding it off. And this evening, when I went to visit her, I couldn't help but notice, she is just starting to shed. Oh, I know there is more winter out there, but I suspect it won't be long before it finally looses its grip on us and we will be enjoying balmy spring days. At least, I HOPE we get there soon!

Listening when you are asleep

Yesterday morning, the weather people were all buzzing over the potential winter storm headed our way. When the alarm went off at 6am, I was listening with half an ear to the experts prediction of 4-6 inches of snow by Saturday night. I got up and began to get ready for another day at the zoo.

When I came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, hubby informed me that Mike Flynn on the radio said 6-15 inches of snow. WHAT???? I had just heard 4-6 inches a few minutes before. I told myself it must have been a revised forecast and went on into the kitchen. As hubby headed to the basement to check the wood burner, he told me he was really confused, because the TV forecast was for 4-6 inches also. Sheepishly, he said, "I think I heard Mike Flynn give the time 6:15, rather than the number of inches we were gonna get". That's what happens when you aren't awake when listening.

Oh, and the great storm we were going to get. They backed it off to 2-4 inches. I miss the good old days when the forecasters couldn't look at 20 computer versions of what the weather is going to do. It was a lot less "hyped" back then. I guess everything is news nowadays.

A Reprieve

If you want to call it that.

Thomas was scheduled for surgery on his ear tomorrow. It is off for now. He managed to be croupy yesterday and added pneumonia to the mix today. Neither our pediatrician nor the anesthesia department were impressed with all of that, so it has been put off for 2 to 4 weeks. I am thinking 5 weeks, since that is spring break week and he wouldn't need to miss any school.

Thankfully, his ear has settled down, and for the moment is pain-free. We are praying it stays that way and his body can recover properly from the pneumonia before he needs surgery.

Thanks for all your prayers and keep on for a little longer.

The Theater Room

My hubby has wired some pretty fancy houses in the past 25 years. One feature in several that he has done is a special theater room. They are typically found in the basement, and can be quite elaborate. They might include surround sound, a big screen TV, a sloped floor and special theater seats. One guy even had a snack bar complete with a movie popcorn machine.

At our house, we have a huge basement, and for the most part, it is a catch-all and play area for the kids. We have joked that someday when we have extra money, we would have our very own theater room. Not likely to happen a) because with three kids, who has extra money and b) if we had extra money there are about 25 things higher on the list of what we would spend it on.

But, just recently, the kids installed a theater room. It isn't very big, doesn't have surround sound, but it is rather cozy. They have taken an old dining room table and card table, covered them with a big sheet. They added pillows, sleeping bags and blankets and have an old 9-inch TV/VCR combo in there to watch movies on.

Don't you just love creativity????

Where have I been....

Not sure, just on the move and don't seem to have enough time to sit down and write about life. Believe me, there is plenty of material around here. That NEVER changes.

Like the night two weeks ago when we heard a louder than normal MOOOOO at the front door. Hubby and I were finishing up some bookkeeping, and sent Thomas and Suzanna to investigate. They opened the front door and "didn't see anything". We went about our normal Saturday night routine and everybody headed to bed at 10pm. Thomas came back out of his room almost as quick as he got in there to inform us he could see cattle where they shouldn't be. So, everyone bundled up against the cold to get three heifers, who from the looks of the tracks around the house and barns, had been out for a while. Thank goodness for tame 4-H heifers, as it was a quick job once Suzanna got her arms around the neck of Sami. On went the halter and back to the pasture she went, with Penny and Bella following. The kids spent a few minutes laying on their backs in the snow, looking up at the stars. It was a clear, cold night and the stars were just amazing. Not something you get to see unless you are outside in the middle of the night.

Or how about the mouse that wouldn't be flushed?? Wednesday night Suzanna called me to her room to say that Butterscotch had caught a mouse and it was still alive. By the time I got there, the cat had moved to the bathroom. I got a handful of tissues and took his toy away. My first thought was dump it in the toilet and flush it. Boy, can they fight the vortex of water!!! The thing finally went down and I walked away. Imagine my surprise when Suzanna said the mouse was floating dead in there when she went to the bathroom in the morning. Amazing!!!

Keep Thomas in mind for the next week. He has to have surgery to remove an ear tube that hasn't come out on its own. His body now thinks that there is a foreign body in it and is causing him a lot of pain. He is anxious at the thought of surgery, since this will be the fourth time he has had to have something done with his ears. But his bigger concern is the fact that he won't be able to eat after midnight Monday. He is sure he will be starving.

So there you go, just a snap shot of a couple weeks at the zoo. It is always exciting!

And now a message from Al Gore....

But I don't think he has much to say over the weather we are currently experiencing. Pretty hard to put in a good word for global warming when it is -8 at 9:30 in the morning.

The school principal called last night to say that school was on a two hour delay, and he thought it likely that they would call the whole thing off. Sure enough, the phone rang this morning at about 7am and there would be no school. That makes a 4-day weekend for the kids, since Monday was already a scheduled day off. I am kinda glad to see it. Kathryn still isn't feeling great, and Suzanna has been fighting something all week. She hates to miss school, so had been pushing herself to keep going. She still doesn't feel 100% today and was relieved to have the day off. I got an appointment with Dr. H to get her checked out. I think a long weekend with some down time will be good for her.

Can I brag about her for a second????? Indulge me okay!!! She had a violin lesson yesterday. She is gearing up for a Fine Arts competition through the school (like Solo and Ensemble). Anyway, she has to play a memorized piece, no more than 5 minutes in length. Her instructor looked through her music books, but didn't find anything he was happy with. He turned to her and asked for a favorite hymn. The first one that came to mind was "Brethren We Have Met To Worship". He said okay, starting on an "open D" (whatever that is) play the song. SHE DID IT!! With almost no wrong notes!!!!! Wow, was her momma impressed. Lessons are paying off.

Things kids say....

Thomas had a bit of a stomach bug on Monday, and ended up spending the day on the couch. Neighbor Melissa gave me a call to check in and Thomas answered the phone. She asked him what kept him home and his reply was a true Thomasism. He explained that he was having "stomach issues". Must be just telling her he had been sick might have been too much information. She got a huge chuckle out of that.

Today, Kathryn was the sicko, running a fever and complaining about a sore throat. I suspected we were dealing with strep, and got her in to see the doctor this morning. Dr. H began asking her questions about what brought her to see him. She explained that her throat really hurt. He then asked her how long it had been bothering her. Her reply, "I believe it started Tuesday afternoon." It was adorable. You could see the smile in Dr. H's eyes as he examined her throat and confirmed that she had a very icky looking throat. A strep test confirmed it and she is now on antibiotics for a week and is out of school until Friday.

Mike and I only have ourselves to blame for the vocabulary our children use. We never talked much "baby talk" around here, and I think we are seeing the results of our conversations.

If the kids had to get sick, I am glad it hit now rather than last week. I was in Grand Rapids for the annual Fair Convention, and I would have found it rather impossible to be in two places at once. I had a great time, was busy each day and picked up some really great ideas for future use. The only bummer was the snow storm that hit back home made it impossible for my hubby to join me Saturday afternoon. Despite the fact that I was in the snow belt part of the state, home sweet home was slammed with over 8 inches of snow. Hubby was in combat mode all weekend, fighting the ever increasing piles of snow that were accumulating. He spent most of Saturday morning moving snow so he could get into the hay barn and then more time to move snow to get it put away in the barn at home. The bottom line was there was no hope for him traveling up to see me. Oh well, there is always next year!

The parties are over....

it's time to get back at life.

After a great two week break, we were back on schedule this morning. We have had plenty of parties, including Christmas three times with various branches of the family. Add to that a baby shower, pre-Christmas supper at the Pastor's house and a post-Christmas party with Trainer Mike and all the clients, we have had more than our share of good times and great food.

With all that partying, comes the need to get back on track with exercise, which I have done. In addition, I have had to remember how to cook complete meals for my family, rather than bits and fits like so much of the two weeks seemed to be.

As we head into the new year, I am looking forward to what may lie ahead. Satan would love to have all of us feel in the depths of despair over what may come, but I know that the Lord is in control, and all that is to come is from him. I just pray I can remember that promise when the road heads a direction I find uncomfortable or opposite of what I think is best.