Ponderings.....

This family is seriously thinking and praying about starting a crazy new adventure come Fall. Here's a clue.....

Behold:

Happenings of Late

Oh my - the weather is glorious these days. We have practically been living outside. I love those kinds of days. Nothing major in the happenings going on as of late. Our chickies and Mr. Turk are growing like crazy - we're talking like every morning when we come out to say "hello," they are looking different! Crazy! Still very precious and sweet. I clean them out twice a day, so they're not stinky yet. But, they are getting too big for their box. Many attempts at escape have been made with our kitty, Risso, looking on licking her lips in anticipation. That would not be good.....

We had a ginormous yardsale yesterday. Boxes upon boxes of stuff gotten rid of - sold, given away, or taken to the dump. We came home with only six wee little boxes for a sale in the fall perhaps. We made a bunch of cash, the kids made some as well, and we even came home with a bed to boot for our guest room/nursery. Good times good times.

Daddy took the two big boys on an overnight tenting/fishing trip with a friend and his little boy this week. They has a blast, and Kaden even caught a huge trout all by himself. Ransom and I also enjoyed a blessed quiet couple of days with some uninterrupted Mommy time, as well. Very cozy and nice. And while they were away, a friend came over and we rearranged a room together - per our usual! Very fun.

My Marmie is coming over this afternoon to spend a few days with us. Looking forward to some nice walks, tea on the porch, quality time spent with her and the boys, and maybe even a free babysitter so Kevy and I can go on a date. Can't beat that with a stick!

This Saturday is my eldest's 6th birthday! Oh my word - how the time has flown. I can hardly wrap my brain around it. And Jesse's 3rd birthday is four days later. Nuts. We're going to go on a camping trip again to celebrate. But this year, instead of everyone getting them gifts, we are all chipping in together and are going with one big present - a super fun swingset for the backyard. Shhh. Don't tell.......

Enjoy the rest of your week-end friends!

Our New Additions....

Okay. Here are just a couple of pictures of our newest littles. This is their new pad that they'll have for a few weeks. Our turkey has to be separated because he eats different feed, and the chickens can carry a type of "disease" (for lack of a better word) that doesn't affect them but can be fatal for Mr. Turk.

Until they get super stinky, they'll hang out with us in the corner of the our kitchen. I want them to get used to our voices and the kids' handling them, because I want them to be super people friendly once they move outside.

This is Mr. Turk. He's the friendliest of all of them, and I must say that I am quite in love with him. He loves people and will cry to be held. As soon as he is picked up, he'll tuck himself right into our hands or arms and fall immediately asleep. I don't know how anyone could not love that.

I did a little research on keeping this particular brand of turkey for pets...ahem....but all that I've read says that he'll get to be so big that he could potentially have heart and leg problems - carrying around all of that excess weight. This breed is not intended to be for pets. So, we'll give him a rockin' life and then he won't know what hit him come Turkey Day.

That's the plan anyway....hmn.



And these are our baby chicks. The three black ones with white spots on their heads are Barred Rock. They'll be really big and hearty. They're gentle birds and get along well with other breeds. And the chipmunky striped ones are Americaunas, and they'll lay greenish blue eggs for us. Kinda' fun.

I love my new babies.......

Our Babies Have Arrived!

We have 7 absolutely adorable little bundles of fluff residing in our kitchen right now. Three baby Barred Rock chicks, three baby Americaunas (that will lay green eggs, by the way), and one little Baby Turkey that Blue Seal just gave to us because he was the only one left and they were anxious to get rid of him; and we were suckers for a little ball of fluff......that I know full well will soon become a stinky, ginorous gobbler.

Ah well, I couldn't help myself.

So for now, the plan will be for Mr. Turk to be our main course come Thanksgiving....but in my heart of hearts, I will be shocked if this plan actually comes to fruition with all of the tenderhearts that reside in this house. But maybe it will - if he gets really gross and poopy...or if he's mean to the girls.

We shall see.....

Pics will be coming forthwith. They're hanging out in our kitchen for the first week or so - until they start to stink up the place. Which won't be too long from now. But, I actually really want them to be handled a lot while they're young so that they become really kid friendly.

I don't think I could ever become a true farmer. We gave three babies to a friend yesterday, per a previous agreement. When she put them in with her ten layers, and the layers immediately began ganging up on them, I almost scooped them back up and brought them home. I know that there really is a true pecking order with chickens, but did it ever hurt my heart! I'm going to try to teach my girls some manners.

And the poor little turkey so wants to be with the others, but he has to have different feed. So, we put up a screen separater so that he can at least see them. And it's so sweet - they all lay against the screen together, so that he still is touching them. (And also, because the heat lamp is directly above them, right there. But, I still love that they are able to snuggle together).

Oh, I love it.

There were also baby goats at Blue Seal selling for the low low price of $100.00. Had they been $40 or less, I would have brought one of those home too and told Kev that's what I want for my birthday.

Best to start small, though, methinks. I'm still trying to fanagle a couple of ducks out of him, too. Anybody got cute chicken name ideas? So far we have a: Blacky - (Kaden's choice), a Spotty (Jesse's choice), and a Chloe (Mine). We need three more!

Why I Savor

"Empty Nest"
by My Mother - Lynda Quint

My house is growing emptier
As children leave the "nest"
The days are getting quieter
The nights seem long, to rest.

I lie awake in bed at night,
and wonder how they are --
Not long ago, they slept here too -
But now they're scattered far.

No "late night chats" - "no goodnight kiss"
Just quiet empty rooms
Bear witness to the changes here,
And add to "Mother's gloom."

How fast the years have hurried by
Since childhood days of play -
How is it that they've grown and gone
And brought me to this day?

Sometimes I'd like to turn the clock
Of time back just a bit -
To see their little faces smile
And hear their childish wit!

But I cannot - and life goes on
Though one day I shall see
Their image, in their children's eyes
Looking back at me.


The days may be long, but the years are fleeting............

The Difference Between Us

Well, since this post is about Kev and I, I shouldn't pretend there is only one difference between us....we're night and day in many ways....but today was about a biggy.

Of the two of us, I am much more the task oriented person. When people look at the two of us without really knowing us - because I am more publicly outgoing and crazy (he is just as much so behind closed doors, but few people get the rare glimpse) - I am often thought of as the more, oh shall we say, "spontaneous" and "fun" one.

So not true.

If it were not for Kev, I would be in perpetual "go" mode. I would be constantly working on some project or other, and my constant companian of an excuse would be, "It's only a season." To which Kev always replies: "There will ALWAYS be a season. We need to be intentional NOW."

If I had been the one in the grad program out at PBU - no lie - our marriage would have suffered. I'm a nerd. I want straight A's. And I will not take a break until all of my work is accomplished. It is VERY hard for me to sit still and just "be" when there are things to be done. There was many an afternoon that Kev came home early from doing homework - leaving some of it undone and willing to take a lower grade - so that he could take us to the park or out to icecream for a few hours before heading back to an evening class. He worked two jobs - leading worship and being a barista at Starbucks - and most semesters he took more than an average course load.

But we never once felt neglected. He always put us first. And they were three pretty amazing years. I'm sorry to say that I wonder if that would have been the case had I been in his shoes.

Today was kind of like that.

Aaron was here helping with the chicken coop. Huge progress was being made. And everything within me wanted to say - let's can our plans for Bar Harbor today and just stay home and get this thing done! Aaron is willing to stay longer, we have all of the supplies and his expertise, LET'S JUST DO IT!

But Kev said no.

And I'm so glad he did. There is something so very different and special about taking your whole family and just kicking it for the day. Getting away from life, the house's chores, phone calls and emails, and just "BEING." With each other. With no distractions. A family day FORCES us to relax with our kids and truly enjoy each other.

I highly recommend it.

It's good. So good. And necessary for us. It's a big part of the glue of this family. So thankful for this huge difference between us.