I REALLY needed that!

NOTE-Blogger likes to underline and color my text. I gave up repeatedly fixing it so it's kinda random.


What a glorious day! Warm. Sunny. Exactly what I needed. I spent the entire afternoon in the garden pulling weeds and generally tidying up. The kids ran around and played and got dirty just like kids lucky enough to live in the country ought to. My favorite was either when they were climbing on the hay ring like it was jungle gym crowing like roosters at the top of their lungs, or when Emily was walking around carrying and talking to the big snail I found.

All in all it was just a lovely day. Even the "weeds" were somehow inspirational:)Elijah looks like he has burst out in song!

Farm kitty basks


One final thing- here are some "after" pictures of the pond. I'll try to remember to take one from the same spot as the "before" and "during" pics.

Don't mess with my little girl

We live in the country. We shoot things. Things like- old refrigerators in the woods. You know, next to the abandoned trailer. I feel the need to point out that the trailer and refrigerator are not on our property, just very near it.

So anyway, this was the first time Charlotte ever shot a 22 rifle, in fact, it was the first day we ever had one. (my husband wants it known that he does have experience with this type of gun-he grew up shooting old appliances) Watch these short videos and you'll see why I am impressed with her skill. (oh...yeah...that IS snow, just not what was promised by our weathermen...I was bitterly disappointed...I don't want to talk about it)

Keeping Up Appearances

It's not so much that I have anything to say, It's just that I don't want to lapse into old non-blogging habits. So here are some pics my daughter took in the backyard to play around with our new camera.


We are still trying to figure out all the settings, so these could be better, but I've never had a camera you could zoom on the moon before.

Christmas

The one thing that occurred during the last six months or so that I really must mention is that the grandbabies are living with us full time for now. So, things are a little different but we will make the most of the situation, of course. Just goes to show--when men make plans, God laughs.

Can you believe I got this silk kimono for a dollar at a thrift store?!?

My Mom and I and Charlotte (but mostly Mom) built this awesome dollhouse for Emily. (Look for more on that project at a later date, probably here and on Mom's blog).
Elijah got this really cool castle with some knights and dragons. (thank you Craigslist) All in all it was a nice, somewhat medieval Christmas. Whoo hoo! Big New Years Eve at our little homestead. Cool it ya'll before somebody calls the cops!

It's been HOW LONG????

A not quite up-to-date update

As of May 24:
The spinach was bolting(going to flower/seed)



















The peas were climbing beyond expectations
















and beyond the fencing

we had a nice little harvest

















I put in some tomato plants and something dug right next to one the first night. (They are fine, and I never did figure out what it was. I probably prefer, on some level, not knowing.)



Last ,but by no means least, I built this uber awesome trellis/obelisk for green beans to grow on. Mimosa must be eradicated, but that doesn't mean it can't be useful!

Gray Rat Snake

First, let me say that I truly love living in the country. That said, I do NOT love everything about it. For example...

My daughter opened the back door and said in a surprised tone of voice " oh...hello", then she turned to me and said "gimme the camera gimme the camera gimme the camera". I figured the cat was doing something particularly cute, but no....


She is standing in the doorway here. That is the doormat. Yes, there by the SNAKE.
I'm sure he's very helpful, but, ICK. This is closer than I'm really comfortable with.












She then proceeded to STEP OVER it for more pictures.



You can really see how long it is if you click this pic.

~shudder~