I have heard stories of animals sensing weather changes and such things. I have even heard of them sensing earthquakes. Well, the earthquake that happened in Illinois this morning was felt in Michigan according to the experts.....and Emma.
Around 5:40 this morning, she whimpered and wiggled around in her sleep. I was half awake and patted her on the back and woke her up from what I thought was a bad dream. She licked my hand and settled back down. Then while I was getting ready for my day, hubby asked me what time Emma had gotten restless. I told him and he said that was the same time as the earthquake was reported to have happened!!!! How neat is that??
Friday, April 18, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A new Thomas-ism
Haven't shared one of these in awhile, but this one was just too good to pass up.
We added a new kitten to our family a couple months ago when we had the attack of the mice. She went to be "fixed" last Tuesday. Hop-Sing is back and feeling really good. She has a small incision with two little blue stitches. Well, at least it used to be two stitches. She pulled one out on her own Saturday. No harm, according to the vet's office. The remaining stitch needs to come out in a few more days.
This morning I was checking her belly to see if she had left her remaining stitch alone and mentioned to Thomas that I thought I could remove it myself. It is pretty loose and a good pair of embroidery scissors should do the trick. The look he gave me was priceless. Then he asked me "are you sure that is WISE?" (Yes, he used the word WISE!!!) Then continued, "I really think that should be done by a PROFESSIONAL!!!" It was too funny and I walked away laughing, as always.
We added a new kitten to our family a couple months ago when we had the attack of the mice. She went to be "fixed" last Tuesday. Hop-Sing is back and feeling really good. She has a small incision with two little blue stitches. Well, at least it used to be two stitches. She pulled one out on her own Saturday. No harm, according to the vet's office. The remaining stitch needs to come out in a few more days.
This morning I was checking her belly to see if she had left her remaining stitch alone and mentioned to Thomas that I thought I could remove it myself. It is pretty loose and a good pair of embroidery scissors should do the trick. The look he gave me was priceless. Then he asked me "are you sure that is WISE?" (Yes, he used the word WISE!!!) Then continued, "I really think that should be done by a PROFESSIONAL!!!" It was too funny and I walked away laughing, as always.
A New Start
Last night was the first meeting of our new 4-H club. The Cornerstone Club is a much smaller club than what we were in last year. We only have 13 members in the club, as compared to the 43 we had last year.
It was a strange feeling to be a parent at the meeting. That hasn't happened since 2002, when Suzanna first started in 4-H. Since then, I have been the administrative leader of the club and have to attempt to be the organized one at the meetings. Not so anymore, it is Jenny's to handle. And she did a great job last night.
Tonight I have a Fund Raising Committee meeting for the Fair Board. In between, I will jam laundry and office work. On to the day.
It was a strange feeling to be a parent at the meeting. That hasn't happened since 2002, when Suzanna first started in 4-H. Since then, I have been the administrative leader of the club and have to attempt to be the organized one at the meetings. Not so anymore, it is Jenny's to handle. And she did a great job last night.
Tonight I have a Fund Raising Committee meeting for the Fair Board. In between, I will jam laundry and office work. On to the day.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Will I ever be warm again?????
That was the question looming in my mind yesterday afternoon. I went to the Holstein sale that Rhoda was to sell in yesterday. When I headed out with my neighbors, Bobby and Melissa, it was a pleasant morning with a hint of spring in the air. I had on a sweatshirt and threw my Carhart coat into the backseat, but thought I wouldn't be needing it and in fact wondered if the sweatshirt would be too warm. Shows you what I know. By the time we drove an hour south, it had begun clouding up, and shortly after we went in the barn to check out the cattle, it began to rain and the wind was blowing hard enough to blow anything not tied down into the next county. Boy was I grateful for that Carhart coat....and Bobby and Melissa....lets just say they were colder than me.
I found Rhoda and took this picture of her. She was giving buyers a good look at her beautiful, post-baby body. Wow she lost that baby weight fast. Soon after, we headed to the tent to watch them sell cattle....and sell cattle....and wonder when Rhoda would come through the ring. You get a catalog at these sales, but the order they are listed in there isn't the order they will sell. So you keep track of the sale prices and go back and forth through the catalog, keeping up with the auctioneer.
In the meantime, there was this nice little March calf in the sale. I had noticed her when I perused the on-line catalog a week
or so ago. Since Rhoda had a bull calf, Suzanna sorta needed a March calf. The calf came into the sale ring with her momma. They sold her mother first and then the calf was up for bid. I asked Melissa if she thought I should jump in. She said sure, so I gave the bid taker a nod. That started the adrenalin rush. I kept bidding and when the gavel fell, she was ours. She hadn't been named yet, and we probably won't see her registration paper for a month, so Suzanna went ahead and named her Bella. Here she is, safely tucked into her new home, sporting a calf blanket to keep her snug and warm...she was better prepared than some others I know.
Melissa and I were so cold that when they started selling a batch of Jersey's, we headed back into the barn to see if it was any warmer in there. It was better than the tent, but we were far from toasty. We checked out Rhoda again. Notice here how she is all by herself. That is an indication of how far down the sale order she was.
I found Rhoda and took this picture of her. She was giving buyers a good look at her beautiful, post-baby body. Wow she lost that baby weight fast. Soon after, we headed to the tent to watch them sell cattle....and sell cattle....and wonder when Rhoda would come through the ring. You get a catalog at these sales, but the order they are listed in there isn't the order they will sell. So you keep track of the sale prices and go back and forth through the catalog, keeping up with the auctioneer.
In the meantime, there was this nice little March calf in the sale. I had noticed her when I perused the on-line catalog a week
or so ago. Since Rhoda had a bull calf, Suzanna sorta needed a March calf. The calf came into the sale ring with her momma. They sold her mother first and then the calf was up for bid. I asked Melissa if she thought I should jump in. She said sure, so I gave the bid taker a nod. That started the adrenalin rush. I kept bidding and when the gavel fell, she was ours. She hadn't been named yet, and we probably won't see her registration paper for a month, so Suzanna went ahead and named her Bella. Here she is, safely tucked into her new home, sporting a calf blanket to keep her snug and warm...she was better prepared than some others I know.Melissa and I were so cold that when they started selling a batch of Jersey's, we headed back into the barn to see if it was any warmer in there. It was better than the tent, but we were far from toasty. We checked out Rhoda again. Notice here how she is all by herself. That is an indication of how far down the sale order she was.
We went back to the tent, and I paid my bill for Bella. I then noticed that Rhoda was standing in the "next up" position. She entered the sale ring, bidding started and was over before I knew it. The gavel fell, and Suzanna's first show heifer belonged to someone else. I didn't cry. The tears would have frozen on my cheeks anyway. Still I felt a little sad that it was over.
Once she had sold, the race was on to get to the car, and turn the heater up full blast. I think we began to unthaw, but I know I wasn't warmed all the way through until I snuggled under the covers when I went to bed.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Kathryn
Recently, someone mentioned that Kathryn doesn't make the blog very often. That isn't surprising, as Kathryn is a child quite content to fly "below the radar". She is happy to be with others, and gets drawn into their projects, but isn't one to step far enough out of line to get herself in trouble.
I did have to chuckle at her this weekend though. She is an animal lover. Every barn cat has a name, every chicken has a purpose, every bug has its job, every bird is beautiful....you get the point. She is sort of our resident animal rights activist. She was about three when she saw a potbelly semi filled with pigs. We have a Bob Evans plant nearby and they were headed for sausage. Kathryn looked out her window and said "oh look, the piggies are going for a ride." Thomas piped up immediately and said "no they aren't, they are heading to the butcher shop." The look on her face was instant sadness. She replied, "that makes me sad". She loves her critters.
So Saturday afternoon, she was sputtering mad. There was a dead robin in the barn. The barn cats had caught it and by the time she discovered it, all that was left were the wings. Must be cats don't go for buffalo wings. Anyway, she was not happy, and soon got after Timothy, who she figured was responsible for the dastardly deed, since he was laying beside the evidence. When he spotted her, he wandered on over to say hello. She wouldn't have anything to do with him and said "get away from me you murderer!!!!" I couldn't help but laugh at her. She was so mad at that cat. She doesn't understand the finer points of survival of the fittest.
I did have to chuckle at her this weekend though. She is an animal lover. Every barn cat has a name, every chicken has a purpose, every bug has its job, every bird is beautiful....you get the point. She is sort of our resident animal rights activist. She was about three when she saw a potbelly semi filled with pigs. We have a Bob Evans plant nearby and they were headed for sausage. Kathryn looked out her window and said "oh look, the piggies are going for a ride." Thomas piped up immediately and said "no they aren't, they are heading to the butcher shop." The look on her face was instant sadness. She replied, "that makes me sad". She loves her critters.
So Saturday afternoon, she was sputtering mad. There was a dead robin in the barn. The barn cats had caught it and by the time she discovered it, all that was left were the wings. Must be cats don't go for buffalo wings. Anyway, she was not happy, and soon got after Timothy, who she figured was responsible for the dastardly deed, since he was laying beside the evidence. When he spotted her, he wandered on over to say hello. She wouldn't have anything to do with him and said "get away from me you murderer!!!!" I couldn't help but laugh at her. She was so mad at that cat. She doesn't understand the finer points of survival of the fittest.
I'm not even suppose to here!!!!
That was what I kept telling my hubby on Saturday. As I mentioned in the last blog, hubby and Thomas were off to cut wood. The girls and I were going to hang out around home. You know what they say about making plans.....Saturday was no exception. Thomas was going to drive the 1520 tractor to the woods, which are about 5 miles from home. Hubby wanted someone to follow him, to see to it he made it safely. The girls and I were recruted for that task. I thought "no big deal, follow him and then come home." HA!!! The tractor acted up and I ended up running home to get tools, gas treatment, jumper cables and stuff for lunch (it looked like this could take a while and there is nothing worse than hungry kids, right!!).
I arrived back with the requested stuff and hubby quickly treated the gas and decided that the tractor wasn't going to work, so we needed to go back home and get the trailer to haul it home. I should mention that most of the travel was on dirt roads full of potholes. The roads around here are AWFUL! So bouncing through the potholes once was bad enough. Yippie, I get to bounce through those potholes again!! Hubby hitched up the big trailer and hooked the smaller trailer behind my truck to use to haul the boxes we put wood in around. Off we went again, down the roads full of potholes. By now, I have told my hubby at least three times that "I wasn't even suppose to be there". The girls abandoned the project on the second trip back home.
Back at the tractor, it started up and was running perfectly. So hubby decided we had better load while it was running. Did I mention I wasn't even suppose to be there???? Suddenly, I am helping load wood and supervising everybody else. Finally, it was decided that we had loaded all there was to load. Josh (an employee who helps with wood), Thomas and I in one truck with a basket of wood on the back off we went down the bumpy, pothole-filled road one more time. This time, if you hit the bumps too hard, wood fell off the load and you had to stop and pick those pieces back up. What fun.
Finally, we arrived safely home. Thankfully, my in-laws invited us over for pizza and birthday cake to celebrate my birthday. I didn't have to cook after spending all day where I wasnt' suppose to be.
I arrived back with the requested stuff and hubby quickly treated the gas and decided that the tractor wasn't going to work, so we needed to go back home and get the trailer to haul it home. I should mention that most of the travel was on dirt roads full of potholes. The roads around here are AWFUL! So bouncing through the potholes once was bad enough. Yippie, I get to bounce through those potholes again!! Hubby hitched up the big trailer and hooked the smaller trailer behind my truck to use to haul the boxes we put wood in around. Off we went again, down the roads full of potholes. By now, I have told my hubby at least three times that "I wasn't even suppose to be there". The girls abandoned the project on the second trip back home.
Back at the tractor, it started up and was running perfectly. So hubby decided we had better load while it was running. Did I mention I wasn't even suppose to be there???? Suddenly, I am helping load wood and supervising everybody else. Finally, it was decided that we had loaded all there was to load. Josh (an employee who helps with wood), Thomas and I in one truck with a basket of wood on the back off we went down the bumpy, pothole-filled road one more time. This time, if you hit the bumps too hard, wood fell off the load and you had to stop and pick those pieces back up. What fun.
Finally, we arrived safely home. Thankfully, my in-laws invited us over for pizza and birthday cake to celebrate my birthday. I didn't have to cook after spending all day where I wasnt' suppose to be.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Oh what a beautiful morning.......
Anyone care to join me in a verse?? After the winter that seemed to never end, the sun is shining brightly and it makes you believe that spring may arrive soon.
Hubby and Thomas are off to cut wood this morning. We need heat for a few more weeks I am sure. That means the woodpile needs replenished. He is feeling the pull from about four different directions. The need for wood, the need to get in the office, the need to spread two large manure piles and the fact that he has the cold to end all colds that I had and really should take a break from life and get to feeling 100% again. But wood wins out.....Monday will be an office day, which will also give him some rest and hopefully he can recover from this nasty cold that has hung on and on. The manure piles???? Maybe next weekend.
The girls and I are not going to the woods. We are leaving that to the boys. Suzanna wanted to make cookies for neighbor JW after all his help at the show last weekend. So she is going to bake and then we will drop those off and see Rhoda one more time. The heifer passed her TB test and will head to Indiana Monday for a sale. Neighbor Melissa and I have a road trip planned to get her there. It is a pretty quick trip, but will be fun none the less.
Mom and I had our annual birthday outing yesterday. She and I try to go out for the day to celebrate. I was born two days before her birthday, making me the best birthday present she ever received. Now that I am "grown-up" I am sure she believes it, but from the stories she tells of my colicky early months and on into toddler hood, I know that I pushed her patience to the limit. Anyway, we went to one of our favorite stores in the world, Joann Fabrics. They had a great sale on patterns, and I bought a bunch and found some fabric to make dresses for Suzanna and Kathryn. Might get to cutting out this afternoon. I haven't had much sewing room time lately, and the room is calling me.
Off to get at my day.
Hubby and Thomas are off to cut wood this morning. We need heat for a few more weeks I am sure. That means the woodpile needs replenished. He is feeling the pull from about four different directions. The need for wood, the need to get in the office, the need to spread two large manure piles and the fact that he has the cold to end all colds that I had and really should take a break from life and get to feeling 100% again. But wood wins out.....Monday will be an office day, which will also give him some rest and hopefully he can recover from this nasty cold that has hung on and on. The manure piles???? Maybe next weekend.
The girls and I are not going to the woods. We are leaving that to the boys. Suzanna wanted to make cookies for neighbor JW after all his help at the show last weekend. So she is going to bake and then we will drop those off and see Rhoda one more time. The heifer passed her TB test and will head to Indiana Monday for a sale. Neighbor Melissa and I have a road trip planned to get her there. It is a pretty quick trip, but will be fun none the less.
Mom and I had our annual birthday outing yesterday. She and I try to go out for the day to celebrate. I was born two days before her birthday, making me the best birthday present she ever received. Now that I am "grown-up" I am sure she believes it, but from the stories she tells of my colicky early months and on into toddler hood, I know that I pushed her patience to the limit. Anyway, we went to one of our favorite stores in the world, Joann Fabrics. They had a great sale on patterns, and I bought a bunch and found some fabric to make dresses for Suzanna and Kathryn. Might get to cutting out this afternoon. I haven't had much sewing room time lately, and the room is calling me.
Off to get at my day.
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