Sportsmen Trip

Last weekend my "boys", Hubby and son, went on a Sportsmen's retreat with our church.  We are blessed to belong to such a wonderful church.  We truly have a church "family".

The boy farmer came home so pleased that he shot his first gun.  Apparently he is a good shot, as is his daddy.

They had a fun time of 4 wheeler riding, shooting at targets, clay birds, camp fires, mountain pies, devotions.

While they were gone, we had girl time including a slumber party with Super Granny.  We love spending time with her.

Goat Riding

Boy, do I ever love those goats!  They bring such fun to the barnyard.  I love when I go outside, Flip always talks to me.  He is my gentle giant.

Last evening I spent some time in the barnyard.  By the time I came in, my skirt was very wet with goat slobber.  They love to nibble on pants, skirts, shorts.  They never chew a hole in it.  They just slime you!

4 weeks old

The babies are 4 weeks old.  They are fast when they run and they can fly.  We have been invaded by the 17 year cicadas.  They are a locust which lives underground and feeds off the sap from the tree roots.  They emerge from the ground every 17 years and live about 5 weeks.  Long enough to mate and lay eggs.  They emit a loud whirring sound.  When we go outside it sounds like a weird alien, science fiction movie.  It is so loud.

The chickens love to eat the cicadas and the 2 youngest farmers are happy to catch them and feed them to the chickies.  Good healthy protein!

The Babies are Growing

These sweet little chickies are growing so fast.  Gladys is such a good Mommy.  She has a different cluck for them to eat, one for danger, etc.  What a joy they are!

New Babies!!!!

Gladys hatched out 3 new babies yesterday!  She is still sitting on 4 more.  They all seem to be healthy and strong.  They will grow up to be green egg layers.

Gladys was so patient with us excited humans.  She is a good Momma.
For youngest daughter, this was the ultimate homeschooling experience.  We just studied embryology.

Crazy May Weather

We had been having a lovely spring until a few days ago.  We had thunder and hail storms, now very cold temps.  The weatherman says it will frost tonight.  The children, hubby, and I scurried to cover the strawberries and peppers.  I am praying that my blueberry bushes, fruit trees, and lilacs will make it.  Little M. cut bouquets of lilacs so we could at least enjoy some of my favorite flowers in case the rest freeze tonight.

It was a busy day.  I woke early with Hubby and sent him off to work with bacon and eggs, and a lunch of tuna salad and clam chowder.  I figured since I already had the pan dirty, I might as well make more bacon for the kiddos.

It was very windy so I hung 4 loads of laundry outside.  I made a batch of brown bag burritos for the freezer and cooked the chicken for tomorrow's dinner of chicken, broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole.  Oldest daughter made homemade burrito wraps and cinnamon rolls.  Super Granny blessed us with a lot of asparagus.  We blanched and froze enough for 3 meals.  It seemed like a mountain of dishes to wash.

I finished up a skirt for Little M.  It was sewn out of fabric that I used to make myself a dress this past weekend.  I love that she wanted to match me.  All to soon I know those days will be gone.

I feasted on a delicious healthy carrot cake made by oldest daughter.  For dinner we had grass fed chipped steak, sauteed onions, asparagus, and zucchini fritters.

I hope I have more of these productive days.

Sunny

I love all of my animals.  But I have loved Sunny the longest.  We have had her for 14 1/2 years.  She was our "pound puppy".  I fell in love with her as soon as I saw her.  The vet guessed her age to be around a year old when we adopted her.  So she is at least 15 1/2 years young.

She is the most patient, kind-hearted dog you could ever meet.  The world would be a better place if more people were like my Sunny.

She even tolerated a dress-up playdate with our youngest.  Oh Sunny, you are beautiful!