The Little Egg Farm

Sneak Peek!

2011-10-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

Oh today is a Red Bull day. I dislike the taste of the stuff but I really dislike the taste of coffee more if you can believe that. I spent three days working on items for the upcoming craft show and if you can believe it I have lots more to do.

Just a little sneak peek of what is available.

Well these won't make it in the show because by then Halloween will be over. But they are on my Etsy. The farmer loves these....mostly because he is a Halloween baby.

More birds, eggs and nests....I love these old postcard images.

Something new I tried. A set of Santa puzzle blocks. There are 6 different images.

I love this. I want to keep it, in fact I made a bunch because I know I will keep one of them.

Of course how could we let Thanksgiving go by. I really have some great images that I am still working on. Those will come later!

And of course how could I not include a chicken block?

Blocks

2011-10-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

I have been away for so long I know. Now I am finding it so hard to squeeze time to work on my crafts for our Bazaar Sisters Holiday Sale. Not enough time in the days.

I have been working of some blocks recently and here are two of the finished sets.

I love Alice in Wonderland.

Vintage labels are some of my favorite things right now. Of course I have a few other things in the works and will put them up soon. The farmer is cracking the whip lately.....it seems all we do is work around our house. Dang it.

If you are local and would like to come see what we are doing feel free to come and bring a friend or two.

I Am In Love With Canvas Prints

2011-09-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I was contacted by Brandon from EasyCanvasPrints.com who made me a deal I could not refuse. I was asked to review a canvas print using one of my own photos and needless to say I jumped at the chance. I have always wanted to purchase one of these so it became my mission to find the perfect photo.

My daughter, Jill was trying out a new camera (which by the way I now am the proud owner of one just like she was using) and she snapped the photo that I decided to use of her little munchkins. Are my grandsons not the cutest? Oh sorry....just had to brag a bit. I upgraded to a larger size of 16x20 and I have to say the canvas turned out so much better than I imagined!

Easy Canvas Prints are really high quality and I was surprised at how affordable this was. It would be such a great gift idea for a wedding, birthday, Christmas or any number of things. I plan on going back again and again.

See how this picture wraps around the edges? I absolutely love that. But if you prefer not to have a wrap that can be done as well. Did I say I LOVE this? It was so easy to create using their step by step instructions.

You can also pick other colors for the sides. Easy Canvas Prints also offers enhancements of your photo including black and white, sepia, retouching and photo collages. I can honestly say I highly recommend Easy Canvas Prints.

Thanks so much Brandon! It was so much fun working on this with you.

Eggy Pop and Friends

2011-04-21T06:03:00.000-07:00

We celebrated my oldest granddaughter's 11th birthday this month. When I asked her what dessert she would like for her family party she told me that she wanted chocolate but that she wanted to make the cake herself. It made me laugh because who usually wants to bake their own cake? So I found a recipe here for a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup cake that seemed pretty easy. Since it is basically a cake mix doctored up it was a good place for an 11-year-old to begin.

She did a great job. The frosting was milk chocolate, cream and peanut butter. There were chunks of peanut butter cups in the cake as well as on top. You better LOVE peanut butter because there is lots of of it in this cake.

Emma is saving money to buy a Nintendo DSI so we got her a couple of books on her list and tucked in money which of course she was thrilled to get.

I think her sister, Lucy was surprised at all that cash....BUT.......

SOMEONE else was elated.

I have been working on Easter gifts for the grandchildren and finished these little guys last night.

I love Sew4Home and Eggy Pop as well as a cute bunny and cat patterns and tutorials are there for free.

Eggy Pop is going to my two little grandsons who look a lot like these guys. I kid, I kid. I have the cutest grand kids ever! We are off to Coos Bay this weekend to celebrate little Ayden's 3rd birthday and deliver an Easter gift as well.

Participating in:

Get Your Craft On

Fireflies and Jellybeans

A New Hen In The Hen House

2011-04-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

She is quite the producer.

Perhaps it is this hair do. Pretty wild looking isn't she?

But she is really one of my favorite chickens....quiet, easy to clean up after and holds all straight pins in my sewing room.

But best of all look at all the eggs she lays. Quite prolific.

She is heading over to my Etsy shop. Bok!

I am participating in:
Plant A Punkin Seed Party
Get Your Craft On With Today's Creative Blog
Made By You Monday
Feature Yourself Friday @ Fingerprints on the Fridge

I Hate Me Some Deer

2011-04-05T06:54:00.000-07:00

Yes. You may turn me in to PETA now. I don't care....well maybe a little. But those darn deer are eating my plants as fast as they can grow. Usually I spray everything down with a product called Liquid Fence but because of all the rain around this area it just washes it off. In the past the deer would begin eating things a little later in the season, more towards summer. In the spring there is always so much vegetation so why do they think they need to come right up to the house and eat these?

These day lilies will come out of it and produce lots of green leaves but no flowers now.

But sorry to say these hostas will not come out of it.

Yes I know we could get a dog but it would be home alone all day long without a potty break so that is out. I wonder if they make guard chickens.....hmmmm!

New Bird Chirping

2011-03-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

I have been asked by a local shop to make some bird blocks for her. The first bird to sing to me is below and it is also in my Etsy shop as well.

I am loving these quirky vintage images that I purchased.

Makes my heart so happy to know spring is coming.

I am participating in:

The Value of Prayer

2011-03-27T05:10:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with prayer. Just the word pray or prayer gives me a comfort feeling deep in my heart. I was raised Catholic but have long been an independent believer that for me, it is not necessary to belong to any one religious organization. I do believe however, that each and every church serves a purpose for those that attend and need the comfort and familiarity of a church family. I do believe in God and I do believe in prayer, for not to believe in a higher power at work in the creation of our surroundings would leave me empty and without hope. I look at everything surrounding us from the simple sight and sound of an innocent child’s laughter to the intricate beauty of the tiny buttercup growing wild in the forest and I am in awe at how perfect it all is.

My husband was raised LDS and as a non-practicing member we were often visited by the young missionaries. I agreed to let a particular pair of young men give me the lessons not because I intended to become a member but because I was interested in learning more about my husband’s faith and upbringing. I took a liking to these young men and admired how devoted and earnest they were in their faith. One mild argument I had with one of them was the fact that they told me that the church was the one true church and could not explain or convince me that this was so. He took particular care in researching answers to the questions I had about this but could never really satisfy me with the answers. By the end of our sessions and when he was to be transferred to another location he came one evening to say goodbye. He was emotional and told me that one thing he learned from praying about all of this was that perhaps I was right about the notion of each and every church serving a purpose for those attending. So to them their church could and should be the one true church. Ahh but I don’t believe in a one true church. This is the concept he did not grasp. Yes I argued that each church served a purpose as does every faith for those who feel the need but I actually believe that we all should come together as a whole and use the best of every faith to love and do good. For to criticize and degrade other faiths is really counterproductive to the best of things in this world.

One common thread of believers in a higher power is prayer. To pray is to be hopeful. It can keep the shadows from overcoming us in our darkest of times. It can soothe our hearts and souls as long as we can truly quiet our minds and be open and honest with our feelings. To be depressed is to let go and lose hope. I have been there many times and have forgotten in my selfishness to pray. When I remember to ask for help the light really does come back to the day.

There is one thing I take away from my childhood upbringing and that is the rosary. I have a beautiful rosary I purchased from the Trappist Monastery. Each bead is the likeness of a silver rose. The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation, and to thank and praise God for them. There are twenty mysteries reflected upon in the Rosary, and these are divided into the five joyful mysteries, the five luminous mysteries, the five sorrowful mysteries, and the five glorious mysteries. I won’t go into each of these for it would take hours but suffice it to say that the feel of those beads in my fingers as I say these prayers are the soothing comfort I seek in some of my darkest moments. To pray the rosary makes me think about each and every word and feel the lightness enter.

I know there are many non-believers or agnostics and I hope that I have not offended you. I only wish to make a statement of the grace and comfort of prayer in my life. I hope and pray the same for you.

I Hear Birds Calling

2011-03-18T06:08:00.000-07:00

This must mean spring is calling. That and the daffodils are blooming around here and many trees are budding out.

I had an evening rain-free last night so decided to blow the debris from our recent windstorm off the driveway and decks while I had a little extra daylight. I hurried home from work, moved the cars out of our driveway, changed clothes and got the leaf blower ready to go. I thought I was so smart and could get through all that I planned to do. Someone should hit me over the head when I think I'm smart. I prove myself wrong every time.

I began to blow off the front deck and I notice that the blower is getting kind of sluggish and slowing down. Not ten minutes into the job it sputters, smokes and just stops. Tweet, blink, tweet! I don't know how, but I BURNT up the leaf blower. Right in the middle of this job. ARGHH! So I spent the next two hours sweeping decks and around our pool with a broom until it became too dark to see.

Because I am taking care of little people from tonight through next Wednesday the job will just have to wait to be finished. That and of course I will be buying a new leaf blower. That thing is a life saver for me. Sorry farmer but I must spend money and I WILL be purchasing a GOOD one. Heh!

So this one of the blocks I have been working on for a gift shop here in my area. The owner loves birds. I will add more photos of the others on another post later.

Don't you just love this picture of the babies in the nest. Makes me smile.

Happy birthday to my sweet daughter, Kelli (today she turns 26) and a happy spring everyone!

Feeling A Bit Leary

2011-03-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

We have a bit of a mess here. Sunday afternoon the wind decided to do a number on a few things, mostly trees in our area. Our power went out around noon and we slogged through a downpour picking up the largest branches from our driveway but then retreated to the shelter of our dark house for the evening.

We lost one skylight and some of the roof from an old gazebo that we mean to tear down this summer so no worries there.

The branches flew like crazy from the tops of the firs around here. Quite amazing to watch. Usually large wind storms are during the night or while we are at work so we miss the action. We actually watched in kind of slow motion this large fir topple over on to the next tree. I know the farmer is just eager to get out there and saw this up. No. Really. He loves using the chain saw. I once saw him start the saw just to get it going for the season and he walked around the perimeter of our place just sawing anything he saw sticking up. I had to just laugh. There is something about a loud stinky saw that most guys love.

So we were without power until around 8:30 Monday morning. Have you ever noticed how a house seems to grown when everything powers up again after silence? Funny thing is that our television came on and began playing Thomas the Train which my little grandsons were watching when the power went out. Kind of startled me to hear the sounds after the silence, not even water, for out in our neck of the woods no electricity means no pump.

I do believe that with all of the strange and scary things going on in our world that something is in the air. After work on Friday as I was driving to pick up the farmer a young man crashed into my car after apparently deciding he would go straight in a right turn only lane. Thankfully no one was injured and his sparkly new 2011 Jetta is now not so sparkly. Lucky for me I was driving our old car instead of our newer car and the damage is mostly the bumper and side fender. But the point is I almost feel like I should put up some kind of steel guard to protect us from all of the shrapnel being dealt.

Vintage Loves

2011-03-07T22:48:00.000-08:00

I really love the childhood books I grew up with. I have been working on vintage looking blocks for my Etsy shop and thought I would give you a sneak peek at what has been happening at The Little Egg Farm lately.

I am totally in love with Beatrix Potter characters. The Tale of Tom Kitten and The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher are favorites that I hope to read to my grandchildren. I also love Peter Rabbit and am working on those blocks as well.

Another favorite are all of the vintage story time photos I have been using to finish these blocks. These have always caught my eye in old books and I just had to make a set.

What have you been creating lately?

I'm participating in:

Market Yourself Monday: Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Fingerprints on the Fridge

Loving.....

2011-02-23T05:45:00.000-08:00

.... the book of poems by Hafiz called The Gift.

Even after all this time

The sun never says to the earth,

"You owe me."

Look what happens

with a love like that.

It lights the whole sky.

~Hafiz

My Mama Said There Would Be Days Like This.......

2011-02-18T05:13:00.000-08:00

.......or something like that.

Today, my life.

Wake up, open refrigerator. Fresh asparagus frozen and ruined. Fridge gets kick because it seems to be following in the steps of our last "new" fridge. Said fridge had an ice maker causing problems. This refrigerator, ice maker not dispensing cubes, just makes noise and now freezer has moved in to the fridge side to help ruin things. The last thing it helped on was my eggs, yes frozen solid. It only freezes things in one tiny area and of course that is where I put the eggs and now the asparagus. Kick!

Fast forward to end of day. In a hurry to pick up granddaughters after work because farmer and I are going to see Elton John in concert.

Get to day care/preschool to pick up Lucy and she could not be found. Three teachers and myself looking in all rooms and on playground. Calling for Lucy. Finally found her under small bridge hiding....teacher calls her out and she crawls out covered in dirt with leaves in her hair. She told me she was hiding from Darth Vader (dress up day at preschool) who was chasing her and she fell asleep under the bridge. Shoes on wrong feet, shirt on backwards, skirt wrong side out and backwards. I asked her why she was dressed like that and she said she forgot to dress up crazy today so she decided to be backwards and changed things around at school. Grandma says, "come little orphan child". Off to pick up Emma then farmer. Off to meet Kelli who is watching girls until we come home from concert...thank you Kelli!

Fight traffic and pedestrians while trying to find parking at the new Matthew Knight Arena. While standing in throng of fans waiting to get in the building drunk lady standing in front of me with crazy hat, large lit up red glasses flips bright pink boa over her shoulder while trying to light her cigarette hitting me in the face. OK once I can handle but she kept flipping it over her shoulder probably trying to avoid catching it on fire from her cigarette all the while smacking me in the head. OK, trade places with farmer before I take that boa and choke her. Get inside and seated and look there! Said lady sitting in row below us. A quick evil thought that these seats were really steep popped in my head but I forced it out because thankfully she was about four people away from us.

BUT Elton John was great. He played for three solid hours with no breaks. Wow! His piano playing is absolutely amazing. We had a great time and even got to sit with an old friend from our home town of Baker that I had not seen in many years. The only bad thing? Poor farmer with flat tone now singing Elton John songs all the way to work and back. Fun times!!

SO What's The Matter......

2011-01-25T10:02:00.000-08:00

with a little team spirit?

After dropping the farmer off at his place of employment I was almost to my office when a bicyclist ran a stop sign and darted before my eyes. BLINK BLINK!!! No not that he darted in front of my car or ran the stop sign but he was wearing a white t-shirt with a pink bra over it, tennis shoes with no socks and I spied some saggy pink cheeks flapping in the wind behind him. He was shouting something as he rode up and down the street but I was still trying to ~~grasp~~ take in the "cheek" situation. I lowered my window a bit as I waited for someone to cross the street to hear what he was shouting. It was simply "Go Ducks", our University team. Oh and it was a tad nippy this morning.

Talk about team spirit!! There must have been a full moon last night. What's happening in your neck of the woods?

Sorry All You Dog Lovers.....

2011-01-22T06:11:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help myself. I know, I know. Christmas is over but I got all caught up watching Stephen Torrence who does ASL videos of songs and I found this one.

"Turns out that Chardonnays the perfect wine with Cocker Spaniel"....ha ha ha! Oh my dog loving mama would kill me for loving this. Leaves tears in my eyes!

A Belated Happy New Year!

2011-01-19T06:33:00.000-08:00

I can now breathe. The holidays are over, the decorations put away, Kelli is moved in to her new apartment and working two jobs, Jill, Wade and the boys are home now, Wade chasing the bad guys and Jill chasing her boys (sometimes known as the bad guys as well) and taking care of her day care business, Brian is now back in Buffalo teaching and working on his dissertation. The farmer and I? Back to work and work and work. I am taking care of Lucy and Emma every Thursday while their dad finishes up his Masters degree. It makes me remember so clearly the rushed mornings when the kids were growing up of making sure breakfast is eaten, backpacks are packed, lunches are made, teeth brushed, hair combed and dragging the farmer out of bed at a reasonable time so we can all go our way to school and work. Busy and fun times but I know there is a reason you should be young to handle all this.

So I was dumping some photos off of my camera and found these that Jill had taken. Lucy and Ayden sharing a quiet moment in a toy bucket. Funny because she is five and he is two and he is almost as big as she is. He adores Emma and Lucy and they are both so good with the boys.

BUT this is just a captured quiet moment. While Jill's family was visiting, Uncle Brian was teasing, the noise level was ear splitting at times. I often wonder how my mother and father handled the noise in our home with seven kids, dogs, cats and friends. Oh yes! Now I remember. They left. I kid!

Don't let these two fool you. They were having a party of their very own on new years eve. Where was I. I missed all the fun.

Happy New Year. Wishing you and yours a New Year filled with peace and happiness.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T19:32:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a warm and wonderful Christmas with loved ones. Blessings for the New Year ahead.

Wonder of the Season

2010-12-20T06:30:00.000-08:00

This makes me happy.

A Moooving Tale

2010-12-17T00:12:00.000-08:00

Watch out for the strange occurrences in our household. There seems to be little normalcy most of the time. Of course what is the definition of normalcy? Perhaps we are really normal!

Jump back to October. The farmer celebrates his birthday on Halloween and that is where the cows really come home to roost. Above is Kellicow with her goofy pose, all for her fathers benefit.

On guard dad!

When I was a child I would hang around the barn while my father milked the cow. He used to tell me to look at the star at the end of the cows teet. Simpleton little Vonda took the bait and of course was shot in the eye with a squirt of warm milk all the while my father hooting with laughter. I do believe this happened more than once. See what I mean? Simpleton.

Back off cow bag!

I actually warned the farmer that he should watch out. Cows of this nature do strange things.

In all seriousness, the farmer had somewhat of a blue birthday this year. Kelli was good natured enough to cheer him up with her silliness and it seemed to do the trick.

This comes a month and a half late but I wanted to remind the farmer how much I love him and that I appreciate how he loves me, our children and our grandchildren. I know as humans we don't say how we feel often enough but I feel so blessed to have his love, loyalty and sweet patient nature in my life. We have been through many things together and he has always been unwavering in his love and support. I can only hope that he feels the same from me while he grieves for his father and brothers.

Happy belated birthday my love.....for I do love you more than you know.

Do You Dress Up Your Pet?

2010-12-14T01:22:00.000-08:00

Poor little kitty. This is Gilbert or some might say Gilbert ~~Claws~~ Claus. Just look at that face. He looks like he could scratch out my daughters eyes. He is Kelli's cat and she has this thing about dressing him up which he tolerates for about 2 seconds.

Poor Gilbert.

2010-12-09T07:28:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. I have been gone for a very long time. But I have been productive so does that count? My son-in-law sent my two daughters and I to the Oregon coast for a weekend of relaxing. It was a gift for my daughter, Jill but we all were able to enjoy her gift and kick back and just have fun together. It was the first time we did that alone, just the three of us. Very fun!

This my friends, is what I woke up to each morning from my bedroom window. Nothing like opening your eyes to see the waves crashing on the rocks. Oh and the sound!!! I slept with my window open all night to hear the sounds of the ocean and the seagulls.

This was taken on the day we left....I have a half hearted smile because this was after the girls wiped the snot off my face from crying. I had to be pulled away kicking and screaming. I kid, I kid. I really blew my nose.

A couple of goof balls. I think they had just woke from a sugar induced coma.

So this was the sugar stash. We made candy cane peppermint hot cocoa and chocolate rice crispy treats as well as the usual junk. Of course we bought one healthy thing.....um a pint of milk which we never used. But we did have a crab salad. Does that count?

One thing we did was craft some of these blocks. Didn't they turn out cute? I sell them at our craft shows so if any of you wish to have some this year, please feel free to send me a note. They are ornaments for the tree measuring 2x2". I have also personalized some with photos that turn out really cute as well.

On The Rocks

2010-10-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

On the Rocks is the University of Oregon's premiere all male a cappella ensemble. These guys are terrific and perform every Friday during the school year. Love them!! This is fun to watch.

If you prefer here is a live performance...I think I actually like this one the best. Oh and they are singing a Lady Gaga song if you want to google it.

Where I Am Right Now

2010-09-15T05:15:00.000-07:00

There are some who have asked where I am lately. I admit that I have not the heart to write just now. Our family has suffered a terrible tragedy and I simply can't find a way to make the words jump from my swirling mind to the page.

Two of my husbands brothers were killed in a fishing accident the first of August in Canada. What was to be a fun fishing trip turned into a horrible nightmare for the family who is very close. These two were more than my brothers-in-law but I considered them to be my brothers. We are all heartbroken but trying to put one foot in front of the other each day. There are many complications that I won't go into now in regard to this event but I will just say that we have many more long weeks ahead trying to unravel some issues. We will be celebrating their lives this coming Saturday.

The Elusive Goldfinch

2010-07-13T05:28:00.000-07:00

Today is my daughter Jill's 28th birthday. Happy birthday love!

I have always loved the little yellow goldfinches that seem to flock in our lower field. I would always put out bird seed but never could entice these particular birds to come up closer to the house. I would get every other bird in the world (your know those pesky crows and blue jays who hog the food) but these little guys just seemed elusive. That is until I discovered that they love thistle seed.

For fathers day the farmer wanted some new bird feeders and of course just could not wait until the day. So look what he came home with. I could see right away that this little adventure would be worth watching. If you know the farmer he becomes very determined that things will work his way and not natures.

Yes. This little cheap plastic feeder which used to have little perches. It was really odd because I told him that all the thistle was gone in one day and the little perches were on the ground. We did see a few goldfinches but not that many in one day. So the farmer decided to glue the perches in so they would stay as the seed went down (rolling of eyes and crickets chirping). If you look closely they are no longer sticking out of the feeder. Something chewed them off. I laughed and told the farmer to just throw that cheap thing away because obviously the birds had grown teeth overnight. He agreed and off we went to buy a couple more.

The farmer chose this feeder. It was the most expensive one in the garden center and seemed very sturdy. I liked it but really wanted to get a more decorative one as well. So I chose an entirely different one and we decided to experiment. As you can see from the photo above the farmers bird feeder was mysteriously open the next morning and all seed gone. Those birds with teeth were back. The farmer used the best tool he owns for fixing this problem. He duct taped it closed and filled it up again. I tried to tell him that perhaps it was another creature and teeth can usually chew right through duct tape as well He gave me that look as I laughed, you know the stink eye look.

Upon looking closer you can see that the toothed birds chewed right through the duct tape, stripped the cedar wood along the door by chewing away at it and all food was yet again missing. He was ready to sit on the deck and watch for the culprit. More duct tape, more seed, ~~sling shots~~. Another day.

The next morning I looked out the window to see the feeder swinging back and forth. Upon a closer look there was a cute little gray ~~squirrel~~ bird. I just knew that there was a bird with teeth!!! I had to take photos to prove to the farmer that I am not as crazy as he thinks I am as I laugh hysterically at him as he tries to foil the wildlife around here.

Yeah, this guy was quite the acrobat.

Who needs wings anyway?

Of course "my" chosen bird feeder is doing just fine. And look at those goldfinches. At least they don't have bushy tails.

Father

2010-06-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there. My heart is holding the memories of my father close tonight.

DADDY'S HANDS
I remember daddy's hands folded silently in prayer
And reachin' out to hold me, when I had a nightmare
You could read quite a story in the callous' and lines
Years of work and worry had left their mark behind I remember daddy's hands how they held my mama tight
And patted my back for something done right
There are things that I'd forgotten that I loved about the man
But I'll always remember the love in daddy's hands Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin'
Daddy's hands were hard as steel when I'd done wrong
Daddy's hands weren't always gentle but I've come to understand
There was always love in daddy's hands. I remember daddy's hands workin' 'til they bled
Sacrificed unselfishly just to keep us all fed
If I could do things over, I'd live my life again
And never take for granted the love in daddy's hands
By Holly Dunn

Happy Spring

2010-06-04T06:58:00.000-07:00

Top of the mornin' to ya! I've always wanted to say that of course using my Irish lilt that I don't have. But it is in my head I tell you. It just doesn't transfer to my mouth.

After watching a robin build her nest not just once but again after it fell off the downspout of our gutters and a pair of barn swallows building their nest in my birdhouse, I felt a little craft itch coming on. I am always on the lookout for an affordable but cute craft that I can also share with my grandchildren. The farmer and I have been eyeing this big rolling basket in front of the Joanne's Fabrics full of these cute wooden birdhouses for.....get ready.....for just $1.00 each. So I bought a few thinking there must be something I can come up with.

And so I did. This is just the first of many ideas that are swirling around so get your crafting hat on baby.

See these cute unfinished $1.00 birdhouses? There are several shapes. You will need at least one or this project won't work.

Then pull out some of my favorite things...white acrylic paint, Mod Podge and the great Kahuna, E-6000. I can't decide which I love the most....glue or glue. Ha ha!

You will need scrapbook paper or any cute paper like tissue, decorative napkins, etc. I chose to use two different papers (not the pictured paper...just an example). There are a number of mediums to use. I thought it would be cute using old piano sheet music but use your imagination.

I also chose some Reindeer Moss but you really don't need to buy this. Around Oregon there is so much moss on our trees begging to be used, I will never buy this again. Free is good. You can also use bark, wood, etc. for the roof and such. All kinds of things. I only used a touch of this moss in the little hole. Also I took a cute sunflower button I had in my button jar and cut the shank off and glued to the roof. I didn't think to take a picture of that. Now as I write this I also forgot to show the ink I used to age the paper and the nail file I sanded the edges of the paper with. Oh never mind but I did use them.

I think the most tricky part of this was to make a pattern for the scrapbook paper so that it would fit on the birdhouse with as few as seams as possible. You can also tear the paper into little bits and decoupage them on which is what my little granddaughters did because it was easier than being exact for them.

Use paper and press it along the edges of the birdhouse making creases for the roof. I also measured the bottom portion in length and width so that was easy. After making the paper pattern I traced it on to card stock so that I would have a more sturdy template for future work. Trace your patterns on the back of the scrapbook paper and then cut out. You will need to make a dot where the little perch is and punch a hole there for the perch to come through. I didn't worry about the opening at this point because after I Modge Podged the paper on I carefully trimmed the opening. But you can do it in advance if you prefer.

I chose to paint my birdhouse white but you can leave it natural or paint it any color you desire. Or even paint just the edges that will not be covered with anything. After the paint has dried go ahead and get your hands messy with that Modge Podge. I actually like to slather a heavy coating on the back of the paper as well as on the birdhouse. Then after laying down the paper I dip my fingers in more Modge Podge and work any wrinkles or bubbles out. After drying I carefully trimmed out the little round opening with an Exacto knife and any excess paper around the edge of the roof. I then took a nail file (you could use sand paper as well) and sanded down the rough edges around the roof and the opening. I chose to ink the edges to give it a little more aged look but do whatever floats your boat. I then slathered on one more coat of Modge Podge and let dry. I glued my little sunflower button on the roof and then glued the birdhouse on to a crystal candlestick holder with that trusty E-6000 glue. I love that stuff. You know you can find a ton of these candlestick holders at Goodwill for cheap. I think this one cost me .29. Then I hot glued a little moss in the opening of the hole and tied a ribbon around the bottom of the house and there your have it.

What To Do With A Hook and a Mother-In-Law

2010-05-11T05:23:00.000-07:00

Now don't get any bright ideas that I am going to use a hook in some evil way to torture my mother-in-law. She is a very nice lady and I would NEVER!

Remember this little hook and eye a few posts ago? You know the hooker post. Yeah I bet that got your attention. Admit it.

Well I stole copied this idea from How Does She. I loved that it was just what my mother-in-law ordered. Now I love my MIL but she has been ORDERING me to give her updated photos of the great grandchildren for months, maybe even years. So for mothers day I decided to be a little crafty copycat and fixed her up one of these. Now I better get moving and make myself one.

A Day In My World!

2010-05-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

Me

You there Kells?

10:30amKelli

yes

10:30amMe

Well are you going to be coming in to town any time today?

10:31amKelli

yes, i have my appointment at 1:45

10:31amMe

Oh yeah. I should have got you some money. If you would do me a favor and come in a little early I will do that. But I have another reason.

I stepped in goose crap and didn't know it so it got on my pants and does it stink. I tried to wash it off but I can still smell it.

Stop laughing!

10:32amKelli

hahaha

thats hilarious

hahaha

10:32amMe

So stop! I mean it

10:33amKelli

but i can't!

10:33amMe

So....if you could open my bottom drawer on the left there should be a clean pair of pants on top or right under a shirt. Can you bring them?

10:34amKelli

Ok, yeah I can do that. Do you care what time?

10:34amMe

No but it might be good before your appt. So you can get a check from mel of coursel

Woops! I mean me not mel.

Maybe mel can give me a check.

Or clean up the goose crap on campus.

10:35amKelli

hahaha, yeah i can come before my appointment. are you leaving for lunch? I can come around 1 if that works.

10:35amMe

No I will stay here so if my door is closed just come on in.

Oh and thank you!

10:36amKelli

Ok sounds good! No problem! But I am still laughing

10:36amMe

Ha Ha! Well maybe everyone will stay out of my office.

Kelli

Hopefully haha! Just look around confusingly if people walk in and ask "what is that horrible smell?"

Stupid Goose

Strange Little Creature

2010-05-04T04:23:00.000-07:00

Look very closely at this statue of Joseph and Mary on my deck. Do you notice anything unusual? That is besides the fact that it is still out after Christmas....hey it is solar and now is the only time the lantern can light up much. You know those Oregon gray days!

Zoom right in and look a little closer.

This little baby lizard looks like he belongs perched on top of poor Joseph. My granddaughters caught him and had a little too much fun posing him.

Oh and while we are speaking of granddaughters, Lucy who is almost five really made us laugh out loud last night. See these cup hooks? I have been using them to make a gift for my mother in law (I'll show you later).

Lucy was being silly and held two of them up to her stomach and said "See Grandma, I am a hooker. Now you can hang your coats on me". I don't think the farmer and I have laughed so much in a long time. Poor little girl was rather confused at why we found her innocent remark so funny. I did kind of try to correct her. Sort of. Maybe. Blink!

The Dang Old Gray Hair

2010-04-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

Today I spotted two old ladies walking together. The first thought that popped in my head was "hey that could be me and my sisters in a few years". Then I slapped myself and looked again.

One old gal had beautiful white hair to go along with her wrinkles. The other was a stark contrast....bright orange red. I would guess both of these ladies to be in their late 70's or 80's but that doesn't really matter. The point is that the orange red hair really made this lady look rather harsh and ridiculous much older.

I have only colored my hair twice for the fun of it and both times the color was so close to my natural color you could hardly tell I had blown $80.00. I guess you could say I am not very adventurous. You think? Well I have finally given birth to a few white hairs. Not really all that noticeable but I was wondering. When is it the right time to stop trying to make our hair look young when our body and skin continue aging? I personally love pure white hair and if I could skip the transition from natural to gray to white I would jump at the chance.

What do you all think of the coloring process? How old and do you ever plan on going completely white. Do you color? I think I won't spend much time or money on the process (don't hold me to this...) but I am curious.

Oh and by the way, the lady with the red orange hair? Ummmm yeah, that will be my sister Barb when we are very old and have to push each others walkers down the sidewalk. Heh!

Beautiful

2010-04-09T16:57:00.000-07:00

If only it were this easy to protect those we love. Beautiful.

Belated Easter Greetings

2010-04-05T07:04:00.000-07:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter holiday and were able to relax and enjoy your loved ones. We had a small Easter dinner this year with just the farmer and I along with our two granddaughters and our daughter Kelli. It was very relaxing and for once I wasn't entirely exhausted from cooking and such for big crowds. Kind of nice for a change.

I think Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny are my favorite decoration this year. I always did want to be Mrs. Easter Bunny but my ears weren't quite long enough. I do think I have a brother that could have fit the part of Mr. Bunny though. But shhhh! Don't tell him his ears are long.

I finished up the little egg girls for Emma and Lucy just in time for Easter. They
~~crack me up~~ make me smile.

Oh yes they did love them. Happy day!

A Little Crafty Week

2010-03-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

I have been absent for a bit from my blog. Busy crafting and taking care of my granddaughters plus various other things that life throws up at you.

Since my lovely younger sister is hosting her "Friday Plant A Punkin Seed Blog Party" I thought I would show a couple of cute things I worked on this week.

Kristi (that crafty sister) is the master of making these adorable blocks. She sells them in her Etsy shop so be sure to visit and look at the soooo cute things she makes. Well I, being the copy cat I am decided to make my own little version of this particular set because my daughter Jill happened to mention that she loved it. The description fits her little boys perfectly. Of course my version is nowhere near the perfection of my sister but I don't sell them so Jill will just have to like the sloppy version I made her (sorry Kristi.......I don't mean to butcher your version).

Now you all know Easter is coming soon and I posted a couple of stitched things I have been working on here. I decided I just have to show you the Easter gifts that I finished up last night for my grandsons. We are headed to visit them at the coast today bringing my granddaughters along for a few days. We will have a little early Easter celebration since we will all be together for a change. We will also be celebrating my other daughter, Kelli's birthday. She just turned 25 last week and what better thing to do but have seafood for a birthday....I ask you.....what better thing can you think of?

These little egg guys crack me up. Years ago I made the girl version for Jill and my niece Amber. Jill lost hers long ago and I ran across the pattern and just could not resist this for her boys. So stay tuned I still have two more of the girl version to make before next weekend. I don't know why I do this to myself.

My Future

2010-03-08T06:25:00.000-08:00

Ummm yeah. SO my future!

February Fun

2010-03-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

There are three huge logs at the bottom our our yard that are so big the farmer could not cut through them with his standard size saw. We haven't found someone that has a saw large enough so for now the grandchildren are in deep like. These logs are almost the first place they love to run to and climb upon.

My daughter Jill and her family were visiting in February and of course the boys needed to scale the logs (with a little help from mommy).

"Look at us gramma!" Byron has a look on his face that I have come to recognize. Just a little orneriness beaming through. Little Ayden has the most expressive face. Probably this is why he can steal your heart in a flash even when he is in the midst of a two-year-old tantrum.

One word. Mischievous!

Ready to jump mama.

Oh yeah! You can see the wheels turning....

I said the "almost" the first place the kids like to go are those logs. But the very first are the chickens. Byron looks like he is gleefully going to pick up that hen.

But no, just a little chicken petting.

I've Become A Bag Lady

2010-02-24T05:51:00.000-08:00

Well not in the traditional sense of pushing my grocery cart around with all my worldly belongings. However, now that I think of it with the economy perhaps that could be a distinct possibility. Never mind. I don't want to think about that.

It all began with my younger sister and her birthday. I sewed this bag for her and then came the trail of other bags for other people. The pattern is by Heather Bailey and this is really called a birdie sling. Don't ask me why people because I don't carry birdies in any bag and I don't think Kristi does either. So this only took me two weeks to do in between the crafting for our sisters bizarre. If I had worked on it steady perhaps it would have only taken a day or two. You know, read instructions, cut, pin, sew, rip out, reposition and sew again, etc.

Here is the bag I made for my daughter, Jill. She picked her fabric as did Kelli. This took me about six hours because even though I had already made one for my sister it had been a couple of months and I had to read the instructions again as I went along. These bags are huge. She told me she needed one to put my youngest grandson in and to please make a padlock on top. Heh! Kidding.

I finished up Kelli's bag last weekend. It only took me a total of four hours to do this. I really didn't need the instructions this time. Kelli informed me that she can not have too large of a bag. She is one of "those" people that love to go to movies. You know what I mean. And if you don't then you haven't seen the cost of the concessions. I had to line hers in plastic. Kidding. Really.

Oh yes I have made other bags for little girls in my family like these.

Some trick or treat bags for some little boys in my family. I wanted them to fill these up so they could share with their daddy.

Well I had to make something for the farm kitchen. I was kind of feeling left out.

Don't you dare dry your hands on my hen.

Then there is the farmer trying to figure out how these bags work. Sorry Jill. Your bag happened to be the example.

He has corrupted a grandchild.

Sorry again Jill.

Things That Tickle Your Gag Reflex

2010-02-18T05:39:00.000-08:00

Now that I have your attention I really must warn you. If you have a weak stomach or a gagging, vomiting issue step away from the computer. I for one have a slightly HUGE gagging issue. There are just some things I can't take. Because of this it will take me days to complete this....

I did a search for a cartoon-like picture of someone gagging. Oh my gosh! DO NOT DO THAT!!! I found myself trying to control that gag reflex for hours because I couldn't get those horrid nasty photos out of my head. And I only looked at two. Now that should show you how bad I can be. I am also a visual thinker so pictures of things people are describing pop in there and there are certain people who love to watch me gag. Brother Jay and my son Brian, are you hearing me?

We had a little issue a couple of weeks ago while my daughter and her family were visiting. One evening we were sitting in the living room when I kept getting a whiff of some heinous odor. But it was fleeting so I found myself trying to ignore it while giving the stink eye to several family members. However, I did check the baby grandsons diaper a couple of times expecting to see a huge explosion but he was clean. Poor baby gets the blame every time.

The next evening I walk in the living room where everyone once again had gathered and noticed a peculiar issue. There sat everyone giving each other darting glances, watering eyes shifting back and forth suspiciously, faces red. They seemed to have that accusing look. You know what I mean. My daughters told me that something by the love seat really smelled bad. My first instinct was to glare at the farmer in blame but I walked over there and sure enough there was that same odor that I had thought the night before was some bean eating family member. The first thing that came to mind when I realized that not everyone could be having that bad of a gas problem was perhaps the baby grandson had spilled milk in the carpet or something and it was smelling sour. We looked and searched and couldn't find anything obvious. That is until I walked behind the love seat. Oh my the smell was that of a decaying body. It was coming up through the heat vent.

We have a mouse problem each winter and I have chosen to poison the little creatures because I can't stand to trap them. Creeps me out. I am re-thinking this because this is the second time we have had that lovely smell waft through our house when something died. So you can imagine the gagging that was going on in our place.

I am happy to report that our problem has been taken care of and there is no more odor. There are many things that make me wretch but baby spit up never bothers me....just snot, dead animal smells and that sort of thing.......ohhhh gotta go. Gag in process!

Lucyisms

2010-01-30T23:05:00.000-08:00

Never a dull moment in our house when the little people are around. Lucy spent the night with us tonight and these are just a few of the funny things we experienced.

While watching a Lady and the Tramp video we came to the scene where the grandmother is watching the baby. She thought the dogs were going to hurt the baby because the grandmothers Siamese cats had tried to get up where they smelled the milk and the dogs of course chased the cats and tore up the room. So the ~~grouchy old bat~~ grandmother kicked the dogs outside. Of course I hear "why" for the millionth time as most of you know only a four-year-old can ask. I explained that she thought the dogs were going to hurt the baby because she didn't know what had happened with the cats. Then Lucy says in a matter of fact voice while looking at me..."yeah, because old people don't know anything, right Grandma?"

Blink, blink! I just didn't know what to say as I tried to smother my laughter. She was so serious and didn't say it in a mean voice but rather a voice that sounded very sorry. Well!! What am I? Chopped liver?

On to Grandad. In a game of hide and seek which she forces him to play for hours it came her turn to hide. She tells him to count and decides to hide in the pantry. In the middle of his counting she hollers "Grandad I need you to shut the pantry door". So he shuts the door and continues to count. After walking around pretending to look for her, sitting down to watch a little television, he finally opens the pantry door and "surprise" finds her. She asked him if he had looked in the bathtub. He told her no and she told him to go look for her in there. He said "but I already found you" and she said "but you didn't look there so go look". So off he went to look for her in the bathtub. This is the only way she could be found. I love how he still went to look in the tub....what a softy.

The last thing....after reading her a bedtime story I gave her a kiss good night and she told me that "this makes my heart happy". Blink!

2010-01-28T05:41:00.000-08:00

My mother-in-law has been plagued by a scratching noise in her fireplace lately. The farmer and his brothers mucked around looking up the fireplace flu with flashlights, searching high and low for a bird, bat or something. After finding nothing and accusing their mom of hearing things the farmer came home and his brothers left as well. Not ten minutes after arriving home the phone rang. My mother in law told the farmer that yes the noise was still there and now some little beady eyes were looking through the glass at her. So off we go back to town.

The farmer began his search yet again. Finally he sees a little brown furry ball hiding under the bottom plate of the fireplace box which of course is bolted down. There is only about an inch between the plate and the bottom of the box and he managed to stay under there as far back as possible.

He tried everything to try to scare the little stubborn creature out to no avail. Apparently he fell down the chimney and the flu was open and the rest is history. So what to do! We didn't have a live trap and it was too late to buy one that evening. So the next best thing.

A ~~noose~~ rope. The farmer dropped a rope down the chimney and secured it on top and bottom and we closed up the fireplace with the hope that he would climb out on his own.

Little sneaky devil. Apparently the rope worked because he is no longer in the fireplace much to my mother in law's relief and mine. Mine? Well because the farmer threatened to light a fire and roast some squirrel......Gah!

Now back at the farm........

See this cute little girl....the black one? Awww! How could it happen?

How could she grow up to this so quickly? Seems like just a few days ago that she was that tiny fluff ball doing nothing but eating and pooping.

Now look what she and her sisters are leaving us? The girls are laying again! Spring must not be far away.

Looking Back A Bit

2010-01-21T05:57:00.000-08:00

This was some of our Christmas in pictures. We had a little bit of everything.

That is except snow. This was Baltimore before Brian flew home. Can you believe that snow?

The excitement before opening our gifts.

The mess.

Tired little boy taking time out with Santa.

Another Santa and his elf lighting our way.

A lot of running and playing. Noise level was a bit high at times. Look at her hair. Hilarious!

A few little meltdowns....he loved his cousin's boots.

And another bit of a guitar hero meltdown.

I wonder why we had some meltdowns!

The farmer meets tough boy.

We had a lovely french girl visit for a week. She was very sweet and fit right in to our holiday madness. Thank you Judith for being such a great sport....especially when Brian gave you static about being a guitar hero.

And last.....our new gift. We have waited a long eight years to put a nice piece of furniture in this room. Ahhhh!

I hope you all enjoyed your loved ones as much as we did.

Shameless Plug!!

2010-01-14T07:02:00.000-08:00

I have something very sweet to show you. My little sister is at it again. With Valentines day approaching she has been busy as a little bee making things that I just can't seem to resist.

I want this. Makes my little heart flutter.

Oh this one just makes me happy when I see it. I love laughter and this is so perfect.

I could not resist this one and just purchased it from her.

This one was a birthday gift to me from her. How right she is.....I am blessed.

She makes many other things and loves to repurpose things. Her craft blog, Punkin Seed Productions is now up and she has opened an Etsy shop. Pop on over and have a look at what she is up to and tell her that her ~~big~~ older sister sent you. I need some brownie points for more stuff she makes.

Good Morning!

2010-01-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

I am back and working on a couple of things to show you all out there in blog land. But in the mean time I just wanted to pop in and say "good morning". The past several months have been very busy and I am just now feeling like perhaps I am still alive. Just a little preview of a few things coming up.........

Why, Why, Why?

2009-12-04T05:27:00.000-08:00

Before I forget I must say this. Why? Why what? Let me clarify.

Why do I think of some mishap while working away and tell myself to be extra careful so "X" (you fill in the blank) won't happen and then it promptly happens? On Thanksgiving day, the one day that I usually mess up on something, I kept my record. You know that record of something underdone, overdone, raw (as in turkey in turned off oven)....well you know. I decided to make the ever famous strawberry jello with bananas and whip cream, the one all of our mothers made each year. Not because I love it but because it just needed to be made. After all, we can't have a plate come to the sink without the ever beautiful red melted slime can we?

Things were going swimmingly and I carefully picked up the jello and was about ready to put it in the refrigerator when a LARGE memory wafted in of my mother making this same jello. What I remember was not her making the jello but later opening the refrigerator door and seeing it covered in red set jello.....walls, bottom ceiling racks, everything. It was now a congealed mess. You see, after she put the jello in the refrigerator she was cleaning, preparing for company and she decided to pull the refrigerator out to clean under it. Why? My mother is not known for cleaning under anything. So why now? Well you guessed it, the jello was not set and of course as she tugged and pulled it sloshed all over inside, jiggling and giggling waiting for my unsuspecting mother to open the door and remember that yes, she had made jello.

As I am remembering this a large picture of spilled jello in my refrigerator pops in my wee little head and I am telling myself to be extremely careful or I will become my mother from years ago. I begin to slide the glass container in slowly, gently, carefully. Then boom, it catches on the glass shelf and in slow motion the red liquid sloshes toward the back, then slowly toward the front, undulating to the back, building momentum finally sloshing all over in the front part of the refrigerator, the floor and my bare feet. I stood there stunned and sticky then finally the reaction kicked in and an expletive blurted from my lips for my little grandson to practice saying. Yes he copies everything right now, EVERYTHING. Lucky for me, my daughter, Jill was there to jump in and grab a towel to begin the clean up, of course laughing as I do at my mother. I am sure she appreciates the new word her little boy now knows. At least it didn't have a chance to set up.....would have been a much harder mess to clean up.

Do you have these premonitions and then find it happening in the next instant? I can't tell you how many times I have fallen up the stairs (you heard me, up the stairs) after I just saw myself do it in my head. My toe just seems to grow ten inches and trip me up and I fall forward. Of course in the stairwell at work everything echoes and people come running but I usually just smile and say "what noise?" They know. Yes they know.

A Dose Of Warmth

2009-12-01T05:38:00.000-08:00

My Thanksgiving holiday was filled with not only the love of my family but:

little friendly visitors..............

crinkly nose mischief..........

peek-a-boo with gramma........

adorable little boys............

such sweet innocence..........

warm, peppermint cocoa.........

made by my daughter's friend, Shauna for us to enjoy.

I am so thankful. I hope your Thanksgiving was warm and wonderful.

Where I've Been Lately

2009-11-17T05:09:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed I have been on here less and less lately. Not because I want to stay away but I have been very busy working my fingers to the bone. Literally. I mean my left hand is sore, my back aches, my eyes are becoming foggy, I'm up early and to bed late. Why?

My sisters and I along with some friends and daughter/son-in-law have been crafting away night and day and in between if there is an in between. We are hosting our very first holiday bazaar. Below is a sampling of some of the things that will be there. So come one and all. Bring a friend if you are around on this day.

Oh when this is over, I will be back more often. I promise.

The Bizarre Sisters Holiday Sale

December 12, 2009 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Please join us at:

4545 Briars Street
Eugene, OR

Directions:
-Beltline West to River Road/Santa Clara
-Right on River Road - Right on Spring Creek Dr.
-Left on Spring Meadow Ave.
-Right on Calumet Ave. - Right on Briars

Trick, Trick, Ummm Trick or Treat!

2009-11-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

The farmers birthday is on Halloween. Normally we have a lasagna dinner at his mom's house with a cake or pie of his choice. But this year I took him out of town for a much needed get away for his birthday. We really did have a nice time, great dinner a movie and much shopping. So we thought about buying a cake for his birthday at this great bakery suggested by my daughter and son-in-law. But after finding the bakery we found it was closed. So I told him "no problem honey. I will go home and make you a Boston cream pie".

Oh boy!! He anxiously anticipated this lovely cake. Why do they call it a pie anyway? I think they did this to mess with me.

I love Boston cream pie. I made it years ago....once. I swear I remembered it being beautiful and so good. You know, like this photo. Isn't it perfect? Oh how I wish this were my cake.

So the home made cake had a wee little bit of a problem. When I tried to slice it in half it kind of shattered into a million crumbly pieces. I just stood there laughing with tears streaming down my face. Oh my I am still cracking up looking at this beautiful masterpiece.

I kind of shoved it all in a pile and with enough custard dumped on it you could barely tell. Then drizzle the chocolate sauce and wa la! Kind of purdy don't ya think?

Well maybe until you turn it around to the other side. Ha ha ha! I think my daughter needs to be perhaps making all of my cakes in the future. So maybe I could win a contest for this.

The farmer was such a good sport. He had to come see why I was hysterically laughing. When I held out the lovely mess he just stood there...blink, blink, whir, whistle!!

Still the farmer ate a big old sloppy piece and just smiled. Note the large ~~shovel~~ cutting utensil and the large glass of ice water to choke it down with. Where were you Paula Deen when I needed you?

Happy birthday to my farmer.

Today, Another Year Older

2009-10-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

But not much has really changed from when he was little. Well maybe the hair has changed a bit.

You could say that perhaps his legs have grown a bit too.

Maybe his stamina has weakened from when he used to ride his own years ago.

But really, no. Not much has changed. Still has the back pack, still has the adventurous nature, still has the teasing ornery personality that never fails to make me laugh.

No he is really still my little boy. Always will be.

Happy birthday Brian. Thanks for making our lives brighter. We love you.

New Pests In The Garden

2009-10-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

We have had quite a few creatures in our garden in the past digging and stealing vegetables and fruits. Now the farmer is trying unsuccessfully, I might add, to deal with a couple of new pests.

"We will help you rid the garden of any unwanted or wanted carrots, Grandad".

Yes, this is the result of Grandma ~~demanding~~ asking for a pose. The devil comes out for sure.

"OK Grandma, how about now?"

Never a dull moment with these two. Note the carrots and a small eggplant in Lucy's pocket. She isn't quite as innocent as she looks.

Some Skys I've Witnessed Lately

2009-10-07T05:44:00.000-07:00

I admit I gaze at the sky much too often. I don't think the farmer really understands or finds the same fascination as I do. He tolerates it when I tell him to look at the beauty, shaking his head up and down like a bobble doll and placating me with "yes dears". I suppose that is what he sees and hears from me when he is all revved up about football games. Actually to clarify that, I don't even think I bobble my head and say "yes dear". Phhhhssssh! I am a baaad wife.

Ha!

So pretty.

Back A Few Months

2009-09-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

We have had a very busy spring and summer with caring for my husband's father until he passed away and moving two daughters to new locations in Oregon because of jobs and lots of graduation parties for family members. So I am going to be posting a few things from our ventures here now.

Over Memorial weekend we moved our daughter Jill and her husband to Coos Bay. I love the Oregon coast and so I am kind of happy that Trooper K was located here if he had to go somewhere else and take my grand babies away. Actually it gives me an excuse to go visit the coast more often so I can look forward to getting out of town once in a while. Sorry chickens! You won't be able to come with me.

Near Reedsport we stopped at the Dean Creek Elk Preserve to take some photos of these guys. This preserve is 1,040 acres and quite often you will see Canadian geese, osprey, blue heron, bald eagle, black-tail deer, nutrias, beaver, musk-rats and the occasional black bear.

The males have always been laying down in the grass when I have been through this area. I think they believe they are invisible if they relax in the tall grass. Now their antlers would be much taller. Elk shed their antlers late winter/early spring and then begin to grow them again late spring into the summer. They use them in the fall to gain breeding rights (or fight off the other males) in the fall.

Yes the closer I got the more still they became. They thought they were statues.

This guy just seemed to be oblivious to all the activity of the human species.

Here are the females who graciously continued to feed and allow us to take photos. Very pretty aren't they?

There were several very pregnant females and even in their delicate condition they didn't seem to mind having their photos taken.

Close up of this pretty one.

Oh and the birds were driving all of them crazy. They kept landing on the backs of the females and on the antlers of the males. If you look close there is a bird on the rump of the elk on the right and the elk on the left is chasing that bird off. The males just lay there and shook their heads occasionally to shoo off the birds.

Here is the farmer lounging on the ground in Jill's new back yard. Upon first seeing this I thought he was using the same ploy as the bull elk...."perhaps if I sit still long enough, I won't have to help unpack".

Oh... nope! I was wrong. He was just entertaining little Ayden while we unpacked. I think I want his job next time.

A Fairy Tale

2009-09-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

As a child I loved fairy tales. I still do. I often read them to my grandchildren but get all caught up back in my childhood fantasies of wishing I was that princess, rabbit, horse or ogre....yes ogre. I don't think the farmer has that same fantasy. I received this in an email today and am still laughing. Here is what I think the farmer's version of a ~~fantasy tale~~ fairy tale is.

World Shortest Fairy Tale

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl 'Will you marry me?' The girl said, 'NO!' And the guy lived happily ever after and rode motorcycles and went fishing and hunting and played golf a lot and drank beer and scotch and had money in the bank and left the toilet seat up and farted whenever he wanted.

The End

Workin, Workin, Workin

2009-09-23T05:28:00.000-07:00

The past three weekends the farmer has been stacking our wood. I really felt kind of (just a bit) sorry for him because he has been doing this alone while I was busy with other things. Oh and he and his aching back let me know about it. Don't think he didn't.

Well I decided I would grab my trusty gloves and help him out since he was toiling away so hard. Some people just have a gift for stacking wood perfectly. The farmer is one of those people. Not that I can't stack a piece or two. I have been known to do that.

See what I mean? The farmer is rather anal about the square ends of his stack. Real pretty. Yeah. Pretty.

But to be this anal and pretty at the same time takes patience, something I just am a bit shy of. I just don't feel the need to make it all this pretty.

So here is my stacking ability. I wondered why the farmer told me to just never mind. It's not so bad.

Is it?

I guess that is why he told me to just go mind my chickens.

Blink! Blink!

Who's King of the Rogue River?

2009-09-15T18:51:00.000-07:00

I am the grand Blue Heron of the Rogue River. Please do not disturb these waters with your annoying jet boat trip. Yes Captain John did try to bother me with his spinning of the boat but all he succeeded in doing was giving the birthday girl and boy a good drenching. Tut, tut. Go away.

Huh? What's that commotion? Blue Heron......pshaw! I am the Osprey of the Rogue River.

Huh? What's that?

Stop looking at my nest. Invading my very private privacy. My bedroom, boudoir, bed chamber, bunk room. Well you get the picture, don't you? Leave!

Which way should I go? Which way should I go?

I the great Osprey do here by declare that if I stand still enough none of those people will notice me.

Yes we the bald eagles are the real kings of the Rogue River. We don't even need to grace the sky with our flight. We only need to sit here and stare you down until you leave.

A Tale Of Two Little Friends

2009-09-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening our friends Charo, Blake and Estella came to visit and have dinner with us. One advantage of working at the University is that I have become friends with many people from other countries. Charo is from Spain and we love her so much. She is a favorite among all the children and adults alike and never fails to keep us laughing. Blake is from Canada and his wife, Estella is from Columbia. They have the most beautiful little three year old girl, Lucia and now are the proud parents of yet another beautiful little girl, Alicia who is only four weeks old

My granddaughter, Lucy and their little Lucia (Spanish version of Lucy) see each other about once a year so don't really even remember each other. But after the first few minutes of being a bit shy they warmed right up to each other.

Of course Charo helping them make silly faces using my computers camera made them forget they were shy at all.

Giggles erupted and the sound of their little laughter was music to our ears.

By the end of the evening our two little Lucy's were great friends.

Don't you wish you could be this free and happy?

These I Shall Miss

2009-09-13T05:03:00.000-07:00

Sunflowers large and small are one of my favorite flowers of all time. I love the fact that they turn their little faces to follow the sun.

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows follow behind you.

~ Maori Proverb

Moment In Time

2009-09-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes there are moments that stand out in time and if you are lucky enough you can reach out and capture them to save forever. For me it is usually a photo that I snapped without realizing what it was going to be. Of course it is usually a poor quality as well.

This is one of those moments. My sister and her husband were playing around with my computer taking silly photos. I love this and wish it were better quality. No matter! I love it anyway.

Watch Out When There Is A Birthday In The House

2009-09-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

My oldest grandson's fourth birthday was last Monday. Our birthdays are about a week apart so we went to celebrate with him at the Oregon coast where he now lives. I will try to post about our boat adventure later but here is the birthday boy.

Have you ever seen a happier, more excited birthday boy? He absolutely could not wait for this cake his mommy made. He is obsessed with the movie Toy Story and wanted this Buzz Lightyear cake.

Of course when given the choice of the piece of cake he wanted he chose an eye....that is after devouring the chocolate eyebrows. Everyone needs to eat an eyebrow don't they?

One of the many things he received as a gift was the this talking Woody doll. What's up with the fork you say? Well look at the following.

I Was An Evil Little Jealous Child

2009-08-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

Sounds kind of like Steve Martin in The Jerk when he says "I was a poor little black child". Well if you were to compare me I was a poor little white child.

This is a childhood friends cinder block bath house which is no longer in use. My friend and her family lived in Washington state and would spend the entire summer on their property above my parents house in a tiny camper which you could hardly turn around in. Because there were no bathroom facilities in this tiny camper they built a very rustic cinder block building with a shower, toilet, utility sink and three long shelves for storage. There were also clothes line strung across the room for hanging wet clothing. What I remember about this is how in awe I was that they had such a large bathroom. I really was envious about this. It seemed so huge to me.

We did have indoor plumbing (we weren't quite that poor) but our tiny bathroom had to serve nine people, five of them girls. It was barely big enough to turn from the sink to the tub without tripping over the toilet. No loitering with reading material happened in this place. There was always a line of people waiting to get in there, sometimes two at once while getting ready for school. We learned to ignore sounds and smells if you get my drift (literal drift, ha ha).

I spent a week at my friends property recently and when I took a photo of this bath house I couldn't believe how small it was. In my child's mind it was so huge and the reality of it is that it is very small. As I peeked inside the memories of things came flooding back....the smell of the propane gas that heated the water, I could see the empty plastic ice cream buckets which were filled with toiletries for my friend and her sister. I was so jealous. They not only had a "big" bathroom just for the summers but they each had their own shampoo, toothpaste, lotion, deodorant and all of the essential things we take for granted. I came from a family where all of these things if we had what they had were a shared commodity. Well except my brothers didn't really want to share in perfume, Kotex or the like I guess. Lucky!!

Thankfully I have grown out of the jealousy phase of my childhood. Being a middle child I was always searching for what was "better" than the things I had. I do admit that sometimes it bubbles up a bit but usually I can squash it with the thoughts of all I have to be thankful for. I talked about this with my friend and we both laughed and then remembered how we used to chew on pitch pretending it was gum and our parents wondered why pine needles were stuck to our teeth and my braces.

Oh the memories!

Strength

2009-08-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire,

which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which

kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.

~Washington Irving

Do You Remember?

2009-07-27T05:04:00.000-07:00

As a child I remember my mother setting aside a tiny plot of dirt at the end of our little single wide mobile home for my siblings and I to grow some potatoes. She and our neighbor lady shared a huge garden plot and worked daily in it during the summer. This is when we lived in Durkee and our mobile homes were but just a board walk apart.

The farmer planted some potatoes early this spring as an experiment. We usually plant at the regular time in late spring but he wanted to see if they would grow if he planted very early, like when there was still frost occasionally.

One potato, two potato. They did indeed grow and actually were ready quite a bit earlier than in the past summers.

Our granddaughters, Emma and Lucy, were on the potato digging crew. Well maybe they were the entire crew.

Part of the many potatoes they dug up.

Lucy was a bit persnickety about all the dirt she encountered but still loved that huge potato.

But Emma? She didn't care about any old dirt. Have you ever seen such pure glee?

Do you remember digging for potatoes?

Call In The Big Guns

2009-07-20T05:46:00.000-07:00

I have spoke of snakes in my house in the past on the blog with my sisters but this is becoming really kind of creepy. I have never been afraid of snakes per say but let's just say that when they are outside I don't mind them. When they decide they want to take over living in what we call our home, maybe not so much.

We were minding our own business having a 4th of July BBQ when what should appear in our skylight sunbathing. This rubber boa which is really harmless and is the same kind of snake that has come in before. Well except the time that the snake came in through our open floor in the bathroom during remodel. That one was scary and fast. It just creeps me out to have one of these IN MY HOUSE. This is the fourth snake since we moved in. OK now what to do.

Oh Yeah! Call in the big guns when you have a trooper in the family. Trooper K saves the day. I knew there was a good reason for sending that boy off to training. I wonder if they included snake catching in his self defense class.

Well I give him all the credit for taking care of this little problem. But please note the shadow of my salad tongs which was the weapon of choice. Ferocious he was.

After dropping the thing in a bucket we had some very curious 4 year olds. They both thought they needed to touch it and the screeching and jumping back when it moved even slightly was hilarious.

Thank you Trooper K. You have now saved the day.

Yikes. This thing needed to go.

Just another shot before he tried to squeeze through the decking.

Oh and just to make my day the following weekend? The farmer promised that he had blocked any existing tiny crack where they could come in. But you guessed it. Another snake in the same exact location and again, Trooper K was here to save the day.

I can't walk under that skylight now without looking up to check for snakes.

A Foolish Little Plant

2009-07-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

I have not been able to face writing for a bit. Usually it is therapeutic for me but for some reason when I stared at this white space my heart would not allow those thoughts and emotions swirling around in my head to jump on to that space.

It began as I watched my father in law fail before my eyes. He suffered from Alzheimer's and as many of you who have experienced this terrible disease know it is heartbreaking. Many of his final days were such reminders of taking care of my daughter that now I find myself full of vivid memories and dark moments. Many of him but most of my daughter.

For the last three years I have dealt with many feelings by making myself stay busy at all times. Busy with the grandchildren, busy with the family, the chickens, cleaning, cooking, gardening, working....well anything really. Since her death I had not been able to listen to much music. It is just now that I am making myself try to play the piano again, listen to music on my little iPod shuffle while exercising and listening to the radio in the car. It brings on emotions that I am trying to stay away from. There are days when I now listen that it feels like just one step away from sinking into dark despair.

But to face some of these feelings I was told is the way to a brighter outcome. I know as I remember Kyla, I do now remember how she looked before she was so ill. I do now remember her huge laugh that was so contagious. I do now remember her love of life and her daughters. I do now remember her love of Martha Stewart, decorating, trying new recipes, gardening, history, her sisters and brother and how fiercely protective she felt about all of her family.

Several years ago the farmer bought me an Angel's Trumpet for the deck. I fell in love with this beautiful plant and needed to have one on my deck each summer. I have not had one for the past two years. There are things that are painful reminders of my daughters last days and this is one of them.

Kyla and I used to sit on the in the swing on the deck on the days she would let me take her outside. I had a huge Angel's Trumpet which would open up after the day had cooled off and close around noon the next day when the heat would threaten to wilt the beautiful flowers. One day Kyla walked over to the plant and began to pull all the closed flowers off and drop them on the deck. My first reaction was to stop her as I watched all of the flowers drop. When I saw her I asked what she was doing she said "I'm just helping you mom".

Of course she meant that she was dead heading the flowers to keep them blooming. So even though this would not have helped this particular plant and that wicked disease had destroyed her ability to think clearly there were still little glimmers of things that she knew were right. In her mind she was helping me to keep those blooms alive.

I finally bought an Angel's Trumpet this summer and painful as that memory may be it is somehow comforting as well. For to look at this beauty I can clearly see her standing there, her hand reaching out and plucking every last bloom knowing that she was thinking of me in that moment. Yes it is a comfort.

A foolish little plant. Yes. A painful reminder. Yes. Necessary for me. Yes.

Wanna Pea?

2009-07-16T05:32:00.000-07:00

Well so did I. This is the first year that our pea crop did pretty well. The farmer has not brought in a single pea and I wondered what was happening to them. I was on the phone with my sister and when I looked out the window there was the farmer kneeling down eating peas out of the pods as fast as they ripened.

This is all that remained when I went to harvest. One pea pod.

Why I oughta..............

A Little Extra Help

2009-06-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

I only wanted three.

Strawberry Smiles

2009-06-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

The farmer planted beautiful strawberry plants two years ago. The first year just as the strawberries began to ripen the deer wiped them out, plants and all. The second year the farmer enclosed the bed which kept them from eating all of them. However, they would push their head under the fencing and nibble around the edges. But we still didn't get any strawberries. He didn't cover them with bird netting and in the matter of a few days all berries were gone.

This year the farmer had success. Those plants were covered so well it is a wonder the sun could get to the berries. But look how beautiful those plants are!

This is what I picked tonight. It is hard to beat a great Oregon strawberry.

So for dinner we fixed a wilted lettuce and bacon salad like my mom used to make using fresh lettuce from our garden and our own fresh eggs. So good. This followed by a bowl of those sweet strawberries.

And just because I want to remember this dogwood outside my office building I had to take a picture. The dogwoods this year have had beautiful full blooms.

Now this made me smile. I could watch this over and over. What a great couple.

Little Weasel

2009-06-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

Lately I have just had no inclination to write and no time to read much. So when I had a spare moment I decided I was going to write about this:

and this:

I was thinking I have nothing. Nothing! Well maybe I can bore everyone with another grandchild post. Not boring to me of course and don't think that title above applies to my precious little people. No not at all.

Little Lucy had her fourth birthday and she requested a horse cake. Chocolate. Let's just say I am not a cake decorator but it would do. She loved it.

What would my life be if not for the strange things that happen? Pretty dull for sure. Saturday morning I was cooking breakfast for Emma, my oldest granddaughter, while the rest of the house was asleep. I glanced out the kitchen window and thought I saw a brown squirrel run by. When I looked again I realized it was a weasel. At 8:00 in the morning running around our swimming pool and such. I always thought they stayed away from people and didn't get too close to homes during the day. I was wrong. Dead wrong.

Not wanting to miss an opportunity for a blog photo I got my camera and went out on my deck to see if I could get a close up of him. But when I went outside leaving our door open but the screen door closed, he had disappeared. Or so I thought. I looked around a bit and decided that I better check on Emma's french toast. When I turned around there running around in our family room/kitchen area was Mr. Weasel. He had entered right behind me through the pet door. This little door used to be sealed up and now I understand why.

All thoughts of photos and writing left my wee little brain as I shrieked at Emma that there was a weasel in the house. I flew in there to close off that end of the house so that he couldn't hide somewhere or better yet, crawl up and snuggle with the farmer who was snoring away. Emma had absolutely no fear and just kept telling me how cute he was and that she would love to catch him and keep him.

After closing off the house I opened the sliding glass doors so he could find his way out. But he seemed in no big hurry, scampering around looking out windows and climbing up the back of our futon stretching his neck up looking around the rooms. Soon he went back to the pet door and made an exit much like he must have come in, ignoring all the open large doors.

I don't know if he was someones pet or what but amidst my shrieking and racing around he did not appear to seem frightened or concerned that we were there. Do people even keep weasels as pets? He also left our chickens alone. At least for now.

This is what the little guy looked like. He is what is known as a long tailed weasel. Even though I never got that photo the little guy is burned in my short little memory.

Oh and just so you know, the farmer scoffed and said "if Emma hadn't witnessed it, I would never have believed it".

Just wait, Mr. Farmer. The next creature in our home will be tossed in bed with you for sure.

Now This Makes Me Feel Like A Grandma

2009-06-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

There are just some things that can bring up memories for me. This is one of them.

When I look at this sifter it makes me think of both of my grandmothers and the wonderful things they made in their kitchens.

Yes having this makes me feel like a grandmother.

Oh! And of course this does too.

What I'm Digging Today

2009-06-02T03:40:00.000-07:00

Back in March the farmer and I celebrated our anniversary and he wanted to buy me a new sewing machine. Well, who am I to refuse such an offer?

I looked and looked, read up on many and finally decided on this little beauty. There are so many great machines out there but I really wanted one that would do the basics plus a little more. I loved all the stitches that the expensive machines can do. In fact basically some of them can be set up to sew and you can walk away and eat your lunch. But I really didn't want to spend that much money. I knew I would never use all the stitches and I just plain like to sew. So having the machine take over just seemed to take the joy of sewing away.

~~Sew~~So, here are the last few projects I have been working on. My favorites are the two little kitty purses I made for two of my nieces. Aren't they adorable? So off I go to make Lucy a purple kitty purse for her birthday. Shhh! Don't tell her.

There Is An Impostor In the Hen House Again

2009-05-29T05:50:00.000-07:00

Heh! I kid. This robin egg was found at the bottom or our pool. How it managed to be there I really couldn't tell you. Perhaps Ms. Robin bottomed out as she flew over or a more likely explanation is that a crow or blue jay stole the egg and lost it's grip while in flight. Who knows!

Lucy was spending the night as usual on Tuesday and she was so tickled to find this egg. She kept saying it was a candy Easter egg. We had a little lesson on how when something or someone touches a birds egg the mama bird will not come back to it. She seemed to accept that, or so I thought. She then asked if she could just take a little lick to see if it was candy. O.K. then!! I had to take that little blue egg away before a few licks happened. But all was good because she was on a mission.

The fun thing about living out in the country is the things little kids can find to do. Lucy told me she was going to find some treasures. Here is some of her loot. Then off for a bath and bed time story.

Sorry no blue egg for breakfast.

Farewell For Now

2009-05-26T05:27:00.000-07:00

Max

October 10, 1931 - May 11, 2009

Max was my father-in-law, my second father, if you will. My heart broke when my father passed away nineteen years ago but never could I have found a more perfect replacement than my husband's father. This man was so much like my dad that sometimes the two blended together in my mind. Some would say that he was a small man which in stature he was. But to measure by a huge heart, he was a giant among men.

He loved nothing better than to take a fishing rod and spend hours with a line in the water. The photo above with my daughter, Kyla, is a perfect example of what he was like as a grandfather. He will be forever remembered for his sweet and gentle nature, his love of family which was not only evident with his own children and grandchildren but also the great love for his sister's and wife's families. His love of life and humor were a joy to experience and he was one of the best examples of what it means to live a life simply and well.

I am going to miss that chuckle, those crinkly smiling eyes, the big kiss he always gave me coming and going, the fishing trips, picnics, family dinners and his gardens.

There is a crack in my heart again but I just know that he is surely fishing with my Kyla once again.

Mothers Day Love

2009-05-11T05:30:00.000-07:00

My daughters planned a mothers day lunch of deli style turkey breast sandwiches on crescent rolls. They also served one of my favorites, fresh strawberries dipped in sour cream and rolled in a little brown sugar. To die for! And my thighs are now showing it.

I am so happy my two daughters, son in law and grandsons gave me a gift certificate to Joanne Fabrics. I love to sew and so I will be there shopping as soon as I can side track the farmer. He feels like following me around in the fabric store about as much as I like following him around a gun and knife show. Why do guys like those anyway? You know, the long old Japanese swords? Gah!

My son sent me a beautiful gardenia plant. I can't wait to see it bloom. Oh and along with that he sent this wonderful mothers day greeting to me as well as to all moms out there. Yes we need to let the world know, Mr. T. We need to let everyone in on it. I love how the back up singers are dressed. Ha Ha!

Do you remember Mr. T? I think my son wanted to be Mr. T when he was growing up. The weight of all that jewelry must keep him toned and in shape. Maybe I will tell the farmer that I need lots and lots of jewelry for my weight bearing exercise routine.

My granddaughters made me these sweet gifts. Some of my favorite things are the things that were made by my children and now my grandchildren. Treasures....and if I ever have to move there will be boxes of this kind of stuff to go with me. In fact when I die they will need a piano crate to bury me and my treasures in.

Lucy worked hard painting and planting. I love that she said in her card that she likes to make mac and cheese with me. That is a little guilty routine I have with the grandchildren.

She also baked and decorated a very special cookie for me. She told me that her teacher told her that the person that the gift was for could eat the whole thing by themselves if they wanted to because it is a gift. But if they wanted to share then they could have a bite. Well we shared.

Emma painted me this card with water colors and hand sewed me this little sweet pouch. She informed me there was a surprise in it for me. I remember being this age and trying to hand sew and it never looked this good. Adorable!

And look at the surprise inside. She made this sweet little pin for me which I wore all day.

Am I lucky or what? How was your mothers day?

Mom

2009-05-09T22:25:00.001-07:00

I have this mom, the only mom I will ever have. She taught me perseverance and work ethic. She doesn't seem to hold a grudge against those who have hurt her. She taught me that no matter what your life held as a child that you could do better, not perfect but better. Her antics in life still make me laugh even though she usually doesn't see the humor in them. I will always remember her telling me that there is no such word as can't. If you want to do something, no matter what it was, you can. This is so true on so many levels.

I don't remember her laughter that often as I grew up but she does now. That is what is important. She laughs now.

Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there....the most important job there is.

Morning Guest

2009-05-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

We have been hearing yipping and howling the past few weeks at night. It sounded like a coyote but I had not seen nor heard any in the eight years we have been here. Then twice just as the daylight was disappearing we came upon something racing across the road into the field. It looked much like a fox but because of the lack of light, the fact that it was moving fast and we are just plain getting old and losing our eyesight, we couldn't tell for sure what it was.

Mystery solved. This morning while I was getting ready to plant some flowers this guy raced out of the forest and stopped at the bottom of our field to nose around. He hung around long enough for me to take a few pictures and then he was off to look for something to eat. I grew up with coyotes, or I should say most people thought we were raised with wolves or coyotes. But really coyotes were a common thing at night but we rarely saw them in the day so I was quite surprised to see this one hanging around in the morning sunshine. He looks quite well fed too.

Trickery

2009-05-01T21:27:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought the sun was going to stay a while and the blooms could continue to come out Mother Nature showed me who was boss. I sit here with a sick baby listening to the rain and wind.

This native dogwood is in full bloom surrounded by fir trees. The branches seem to stretch so very far just to drink in the little bit of morning light.

Perhaps the sun will make an appearance tomorrow. I hope you all had a very lovely May Day.

One

2009-04-29T06:07:00.000-07:00

Ayden, my youngest grandson, turned one last week. Saturday there was a birthday party with his cousins and grandparents all there to help eat cake and open gifts.

The aftermath....what would a party be without a little chewed on party hat.

His mommy made this adorable cow cake. She is as talented as my sister at this. See the cow pies on the plate next to him?

Nothing better than messy cake covered hands. He was silly with a sugar high following this. It made him very happy.

How precious is he?

Happy birthday my boy. I love you.

What The Heck?

2009-04-28T05:51:00.000-07:00

See this little guy? I have loved watching him scamper around our place for several years. We only have a few squirrels around here, one brown and two grey. This little guy has been fun to watch. He digs little holes in our bark mulch and buries all kinds of seeds, nuts and who knows what else. Did you know that squirrels pee on the place they have buried something so that they will know where to come back? Well it probably didn't do him much good because of all the rain we get and I have watch birds dive down and retrieve whatever tidbit he buried after he turned his back.

Well I am thinking he is no longer my little friend. I put up with him stealing all the bird food because he really doesn't do any damage other than to our pocket book. But now. NOW!

This is a close up shot of one of our two Japanese Maples. Seems a little bare this time of year.

The farmer and I noticed something strange going on with it. It has a bald top.

This is the twin a few feet away....just a different color. This is how it should be right now. Full and beautiful. We did notice the squirrel in this bush a couple of times but didn't think too much about it until I saw him Saturday. He was going from limb to limb nibbling away eating all the tiny new growth. I have never seen this before, especially since there is plenty of other things available now.

Little evil devil. I swear I can almost see the remains of his munching on his little whiskers. Has anyone else experienced this?

My Dad Would Be So Proud

2009-04-23T05:54:00.000-07:00

My father always wanted a large ranch. My parents had a small farm of 25 acres which of course kept him more than busy but it was not large enough to make a living. He always worked in construction but he managed a huge ranch for someone else in the last few years before he passed away. Sometimes when I think about him I imagine him wherever he may be working the earth and managing all sorts of ranches.

He could do that.

Jeanelle talked about joining Facebook and I have to admit I am there as well. But not for the reason you think. Of course I like to stay connected to my kids and a few friends from my past and present but really I just wanted to experience the management of my own farm.

So I spend my time on Facebook here on Egghead's farm. Becky is one of my neighbors. She has a nice farm that I like to go work on once in a while for extra points. Did you know that you can grow just about anything on your own Facebook farm? Who knew that I could grow sunflowers, wheat and rice right along side my tomatoes, potatoes and coffee. Oh and I have all kinds of trees. Temperature and growing season doesn't seem to be an issue. I grow oranges, apples, lemons and cherries as well as bananas, plums and now I have a palm tree and a few coconut trees.

Another reason I feel so successful is that it only takes one day to grow a crop of potatoes and strawberries. These crops are the fastest producing crops around. I am such a successful farmer that I thought I would quit my job now and farm full time. As long as my eyes and my fingers work I can plant, harvest and sell my crops. I even plow without getting tired. My animals build up as gifts and I have built fences, purchased my barn and am now saving my money for a silo and windmill.

I really think my dad is proud.

Wee Little Ones

2009-04-22T05:55:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was reading about Danni's teeny egg and then Michelle's girls came up with another tiny egg as well as CeeCee's. In the past I have had a few tiny eggs but this year I was thinking that those hens were getting old enough that they would not be laying anything that small. All the eggs have been normal size.

Well I spoke too soon. Lucy and I gathered the eggs after work last night and lo and behold there in the nest was this little tiny egg.

I decided I would see if I could weight it like all the other chicken pros are doing. The only scale I have is a food scale and it is old at that.

I don't know if this is accurate but it comes in at just under an ounce.

This little bird was made for me by my youngest daughter Kelli years ago. It sits on top of my microwave in a tiny nest. That egg fit right in there with it. So is there a yolk in this?

Or perhaps this is the hen who laid the egg.

Strutting Their Stuff

2009-04-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

Yes spring is in the air. I know this not by looking at all the flowers and trees in bloom but by the rude awakening which happens on this Saturday morning as I am trying to sleep past seven. For me seven is sleeping in and I just wanted to stay in bed a little longer. But no.

These guys are just outside my bedroom window and between the gobbling and hissing as they puff out their chests for the ladies and the annoying woodpecker who seems to think he needs to drill a hole in the side of the house, sleeping was not to be. Then there are the birds who see themselves in the reflection of our windows and repeatedly fly up and tap the glass. Those were the alarm clock for my daughter Kelli this morning. You have just gotta love spring.

Yeah, you better high tail it.

Squeezed

2009-04-15T05:04:00.000-07:00

Have you done your taxes? I don't know about you but I'm feeling the squeeze so hard that I really think I am loved. NOT!!!

She's At It Again

2009-04-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

That crafty little wench, otherwise known as my younger sister, Kristi sent me a little surprise the other day. She asked me to email her black and white photos of my family for a project she was working on.

This cute little paper purse is a photo of my family life. It is put together using laminated scrapbook papers and sewn together with ribbon.

Photos and sweet lettering end .......

to end.

My heart from side............

to side.

This is the sweetest thing I have had in a long time. Now I can take a stitching project, books or treats for the grandchildren along with me.

Isn't she the best? Thank you sis.

Being Nine

2009-04-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

I love to think back and remember when I was nine. This was the year my mom and dad had another baby boy and I was at the perfect age to think he was my baby. I loved to help feed him, rock him and teach him animal sounds. Yes I am proficient in animal speak ~~so much that my parents once debated on putting me in a zoo~~.

I loved to spend free time in the summer in tree forts reading books and those worries about clothes, makeup, boys, or what others thought of me seemed non existent. I have to admit that my hair in those days looked pretty wild because I really preferred not to think about grooming. Perhaps I really did belong in a cage.

So my point here is really not about me. This is my oldest granddaughter, Emma. She turns nine today and that is what brings all my nonsense to mind. What a great age she is.

Seeing her with my youngest grandson, Ayden brings back those memories of me with my little brother.

She is so sweet to the little guys. My daughter, Jill caught these photos with my camera on Saturday.

Even when she was outside she just couldn't resist playing with Ayden.

This just melts my heart.

Happy birthday my girl. I love you.

One Out of Four

2009-04-03T05:09:00.000-07:00

My sister and I went to the coast for four days, three of which were windy, rainy and foggy. The day before we came home was a pretty nice day. No matter because we were there to get away from our busy stressful lives for a few days and we spent our time sewing. No television, no phones, no work, no sick people. We actually slept in until 8:00 which is a rarity for both of us.

This was the one and only day we could see the sun set.

I love the coast and I came back feeling refreshed. Onward and upward. Back to the real life.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

The Girls Would Be Horrified

2009-04-01T05:34:00.000-07:00

I ran across these little cartons the other day in the grocery store. I have always known there were egg substitutes but this is new to me. Eggs in a carton. Just like milk or juice.

That hen just looks too happy. None of mine look that happy about pushing out an egg. I guess even hens will do anything for fame.

Of course I wondered if the hens that produced the eggs for this carton only produced the whites. But only for a moment. Now the new generation of children will be even more confused. It is always a shock to learn that the milk came from the cow and the orange juice was from that orange and not the cartons. But now poor lambs, they will be able to just shake up those eggs and pour them out to scramble them. They might never know the joy of cracking that shell.

I wonder if many people will drink them from the carton like Rocky.

Outside Please

2009-03-30T06:42:00.000-07:00

As soon as the child could live without the constant solicitude of his mother, his nanny or his cradle- rocker, he belonged to adult society.

~Phillippe Aries, (20th C. French Historian)

I'm an adult now Gwamma. I can take two to four steps all by myself.

Let me out there!!

Days Ahead

2009-03-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Because yesterday was officially the first day of spring it made me stop and think a bit about what this means. The days are getting longer and besides the obvious blooms and buds I realized that each day only gets better and better from now through fall. There will be a new and different kind of work to do outside which puts you in the fresh air and sunshine. Early morning, a favorite time of day for me, will lengthen in light for some months. Evenings that the farmer loves will stretch longer as well.

I am looking forward to all the blooms and colors, even the worms and slugs.

And so is she.

Look!

2009-03-20T14:34:00.000-07:00

We have been coming home late every night this week. One of the first things we do is look at the mail which is brought in by our daughter earlier in the day. Imagine my surprise when I found a box left on the kitchen counter addressed to me.

I am not one to linger over any box that comes in the mail especially when my name is written on it. I wasted no time tearing into that thing.

Look what I found inside? Isn't this the sweetest thing? I signed up for Deb's ornament exchange in January and Kelly was given my name. This is what she sent to me.

Kelly sent me this Nubble Lighthouse ornament. She is from Maine and one of the things we were to do is to send an ornament that represented something about the state we are from. The Nubble Lighthouse is perfect. I love our Oregon coast and I would love to visit Main and see the Nubble in person. Perhaps some day.

Kelly knitted this adorable little sweater. She raises alpacas and I do think that this is some of the wool she spun and used (so Kelly if I am wrong correct me). She told me that she made this tiny sweater to represent the long winters they have in Maine and all the snow.

Thank you Kelly and thanks to Deb for hosting this exchange. It was a delightful thing to do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HAPPY SPRING TO YOU ALL!

Country Girl Giveaway

2009-03-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

Country Girl, Kate is having yet another giveaway. See this lovely mug? Go to her blog and enter to win this before 6:00 pm tonight.

Doesn't it remind you of a lovely spring morning?

Der's A Leprechaun In Me House

2009-03-17T06:39:00.000-07:00

I woke up and found a note to check my email because a little leprechaun had come to visit. Here is what I found. We officially have leprechaun names now.

There really is a nasty little leprechaun in my house. Somehow he knew that I am barefoot most of the time when home. Fitting name don't you think?

And I just am at a loss for words on this one. I am a person that immediately sees a picture in my mind when I look at words. The picture of the farmer in my head leaping over flowers in a field just isn't a pretty one.

Shhh! Don't tell him that is how I envisioned him.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Go have yourself some corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew and some green beer.

Boys Will Be Boys

2009-03-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

Yep! They never change. Tonight after a day of grocery shopping with my husband and taking our every other day turn of helping my in-laws with health related issues, I realized something. My husband and his three brothers are stuck in a time warp.

A little background first. In this family of four boys Mike is the eldest and the "responsible one", Dave is the laid back one, Gary was always the one who liked to stir up things a bit and Tony the baby who would hit and run. Because Gary was one prone to cause a little trouble their parents usually knew where to turn when a blame was to be placed. Well old habits die hard.

Last weekend the boys were all together and decided to take a little trip to the local Cash and Carry which is a wholesale restaurant supply store. Of course it is a dream for these guys who love places like Costco where bigger is better. It is a place where the only way to get out of there is to walk staggering under the weight of a thirty pound roast or a fifty pound bag of onions.

While walking around mooning over all the "large" items they found themselves in the freezer. Mike and Gary soon became too cold to stay in there and left Dave and Tony. Mike closed the door and held it closed when the other two tried to come out. Because they didn't know right away that the door was not locked, Tony became a little anxious and began to look for any other ways out. Of course Mike let them out and they were fine (except for the frozen fingers left stuck to the door) until they went home to their parents house and told mom.

What I found really hilarious about this is first, that they had to go tell mom. Second, that the first conclusion their mom had was that Gary was the one who locked them in. Even she remains locked in that time warp.

Oh and how old are these goobers? All in their fifties. Gah!

I Have This Sister

2009-03-14T04:09:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that I would put a cow eyeball on my blog? Well my family is kind of shall we say, multi-special.

I was reading something my sister, Kristi wrote about her little girls birthday party on our sisters blog and I just could not shake these images from my mind. My sister is amazing. She does all sorts of things and never seems to run out of energy and creative juices.

She home schools her children and here she has the kids experience the dissection of a cow eyeball. Surprisingly they are really not too squeamish abut these things because she is not.

She then jumps from eyeballs to cross stitch and creates many beautiful things. She sews beautifully as well.

On to painting. Oh yes. She can paint.

She then switches gears back to a bloody mess of dissecting something again. Gah!

Then off to bake her daughters birthday cake. I can't believe this.

Ummmm! I can gather eggs. Oh and I can also answer the phone with feathers stuck all over my hands while in the midst of butchering chickens. I can dig potatoes too.

My I am ~~multi talented~~ special.

A Spring In Her Step

2009-03-13T05:56:00.000-07:00

Well sort of. Lucy gathered eggs the other day and because in the past she has experienced some breakage as that old basket swung in her little hands she decided to be very careful on this spring day.

I do believe it was midnight when she finally reached the top of the driveway but there was not one egg with a crack.

Good job Lucy!

Poop in a Bag and Stealing Purses

2009-03-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

I know, I know! How does poop and stealing purses relate one to the other?

Well I spent the better part of the morning yesterday scooping chicken poop. Into a big plastic leaf bag. In a bucket. Why? Well I had to clean the chicken coop anyway and my sister begs me to save her chicken poop for her garden. I usually just ignore that request because she lives in town and either she has to come out here and pick it up or I have to go in and give it to her. Who wants to tote smelly chicken poop in their car? She wants three or four hens of her own and has been trying to convince her husband to build her a coop so she would have all the poop her little heart desires and eggs as well. Her husband just rolls his eyes.

Cleaning the coop is a nasty job but there is just something so great about watching how the hens love all that fresh hay or straw. They scratch and make these funny cackling noises and have to jump up in their nesting boxes right away. No not to lay me an egg but to scratch around and make a nice indentation to lay down in. Then they hop down and off they go to another spot. Makes me laugh every time.

I had this dream last night that I stole two purses. One was from a co-worker that I haven't seen in over twenty years. I used to work with her in the school district in my home town. Not only have I not seen her in years but I can't imagine stealing her purse. The other purse was from a thirteen year old girl that my youngest daughter mentors. For some reason she was carrying a huge old lady purse like my mother carries. In fact both of these purses were like that. Why would I want to steal these purses? In my dream I didn't take anything out of them. In fact I didn't even open them. I was just going to go get rid of them somewhere. I was contemplating where when I woke up. What???

The only thing I can think of is that somewhere in my consciousness I hate huge old lady purses filled with junk so I must bury them. All of them. Even an innocent 13 year old child's old lady purse. I guess I feel obligated to save her from the huge old lady purse syndrome. I don't know. I must be bitter about my mother carrying around those huge bags with fake jewels on them. Do you remember those?

Or maybe the chicken poop has gone to my head.

Vent, Vent, Vent

2009-03-06T06:17:00.000-08:00

"Your call is important to us. Please stay on the line until your call is irrelevant to anyone."

I am sure you all know the frustration of trying to work with 800 numbers when calling about a myriad of things. It seems like no matter what the situation any more you have to dial the standard "1-800-iam-nuts" number and deal with being sent from person to person. That is if you ever reach a real person.

The farmer and I are lucky enough to both work for employers that provide full family health insurance coverage. This includes prescriptions as well. Because our pharmacy will only bill the primary insurance I save our receipts and bill the secondary myself. I really don't mind doing this because we only average a couple of prescriptions every other month or so. I usually wait until I have a stack and then send them out all at once.

The beginning of the year is when we have to pay our pharmacy deductibles so it usually the biggest out of pocket expense for the year. I sent off our January receipts the first part of February for reimbursement of our co-pay. Yesterday I received a letter with a copy of the receipt and pharmacy explanation of benefits (EOB). The explanation of benefits was circled in red and the letter stated that it was not clear how much was paid by our primary insurance and they needed that explanation of benefits in order to process this.

After looking closely at it I saw that it was no different than any other EOB our pharmacy provided and everything was there including the amount charged and the amount paid out of pocket. After calling the 1800 number for the person writing the letter, being forwarded through many menus and put on hold, I finally reach a nice young man who did not understand a thing I was telling him. I began to question my ability to speak in English. Perhaps I sounded like Woodstock from the cartoon Peanuts. He finally told me he would contact the person who had written the letter and find out the situation.

In the mean time I was told to call the primary insurance and the pharmacy and talk with them. After talking with the primary they said I would have to have the pharmacy print out a EOB but that they had paid a small portion and the rest went towards our deductible. OK, I knew that. I next paid a visit to our pharmacy and after waiting in line for twenty minutes was able to talk with the clerk. She looked over the letter and the copy of the receipts and told me that what I was holding in my hot little hand WAS the EOB and that would be all they could print out for me. Gah!

This morning I call the secondary insurance again but am informed that I can't talk with the woman who wrote the letter because she in on a phone line that can't be recorded. Apparently they need to record every conversation. So I have to rely on the person answering the phone to email her and wait for her response and then call me back and on and on. I am so frustrated with this system it is making me crazy (not that is far to go). At this point I don't really know any more than when this process began.

I can only imagine what elderly people go through. This system is so messed up. Something needs to change.

Thought for Tuesday

2009-03-03T05:11:00.000-08:00

There are two ways to live your life.

One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle.

~Albert Einstein

Dr. Seuss

2009-03-02T06:18:00.000-08:00

Today is Dr. Seuss' 105th birthday. I love reading Dr. Seuss books and I have read plenty of those over the course of raising my children. I am still reading those books to my grandchildren. There is something so fun about the sing song lilt and tongue twister lines.

Did you know that Dr. Seuss not only wrote over 60 children's books but he was both the editor-in-chief of Dartmouth's humor magazine, Jack-O-Lantern and later a political cartoonist for a New York daily newspaper as well? His name was Theodor Seuss Geisel and it was as a college student at Dartmouth that he started signing his work “Seuss.” Once he graduated, he started signing his work as “Dr. Seuss” when submitting it to a humor magazine. You can read more interesting facts about him here.

This book, Fox in Socks, is the current favorite of my grandchildren. The following line is one we always try to say as fast as we can but usually end up laughing right in the middle. Try it. Fast.

"When a fox is in the bottle where the tweetle beetles battle with their paddles in a puddle on a noodle-eating poodle, THIS is what they call......a tweetle beetle noodle poodle bottled paddled muddled duddled fuddled wuddled fox in socks, sir!"

His last book is probably one of my favorites. I think because as an adult I began to look at the meaning of what he was writing. I love the final line in his final book, (Oh, the Places You'll Go!). "You're off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. so....get on your way!"

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss. I miss you.

On Patrol

2009-02-27T06:08:00.000-08:00

I love spring. I love tulips, daffodils, and pussy willows. I patrol around our property searching, searching for any little sign of a flower popping up through the winter dirt or a green bud trying to burst forth.
I find I am even a patrol warden at work. The campus is pretty year round but the spring....oh the spring. I am loving the little crocus right now. But every once in a while the reminder of fall creeps in with some beauty.

Isn't this tall grass beautiful, especially in the late afternoon light? I had to get a photo before they chop them down for the new growth.

Warning! Don't Do This

2009-02-26T06:47:00.000-08:00

We have been trying to stay on our budget faithfully by making a list and following it. But seriously. This is hard. So the other day I was going to stop by the store to pick up two things on my list. I have a very real sweet tooth and have been having withdrawals for days from sugar. Because my lips were chapped I dug around in my purse for my chap stick. It was gone and the only thing I could find was this evil thing.

Yes lip gloss that smells and tastes like chocolate. Not thinking too much about it I slathered it on and went on my way. As I am walking around looking for my two items I kept smelling chocolate. Yes it was that strong. My stomach began to growl, my mouth began to water and I began to get light headed. I was getting weak and I was sure I was going to pass out so I quickly made my way to the self check out line.

Yes I bought a chocolate bar there at the last moment. It was either that or go eat my lip gloss in the car.

Step away from the flavored lip gloss.

A Give Away

2009-02-25T05:31:00.000-08:00

Kate at Chronicles of a Country Girl is having a give away of her amazing textured prints.

This daisy is the one I said I wished to win but really I am telling you it is way too difficult to choose. I am would grovel at her feet for any of them. All you have to do is leave a comment telling her which one is your favorite. So click on that link above and head on over to be the lucky one.

Featured!

2009-02-23T06:36:00.000-08:00

I was left a comment by Schmutzie who hosts a bi-weekly collection of links to superior weblog entries from all genres that have been submitted by others. She told me that I have been featured for Five Star Friday!

Five Star Fridays share links from the best weblog writing our readers have found and want to highlight. There is also Intrepid Tuesdays where readers can showcase their own weblog writing. Anyone can submit entries, so if you know of some great writing or want to submit your own send Schmutzie the link for the next editions.

I kind of got lost surfing around some new blogs dang it! I just keep finding more and more interesting people out there.

Thank you to the person that submitted my blog and go visit Schmutzie's site for some interesting reads.