Who's My Mommy?

What a day on the homestead. We had to move some hens first thing this morning as they were tormenting some of the chicks. Got them all rearranged and found one of the tiny baby bunnies had his foot hung in the wire bottom of the cage. He is a tiny thing compared to his siblings so it took almost 20 minutes getting his foot out. Went back out after breakfast to find that Bonnie the goose was jealous of Crackers the duck and was fighting her for her eggs. Bonnie's eggs didn't hatch so we cleaned her nest and hoped she would still have time to hatch some this year. Bonnie decided it would be easier to fight Crackers and take hers. We ended up giving some of Crackers eggs to Bonnie and got Crackers settled back down in her nest. Hopefully both of them will hatch ducklings around May 24. Cleaned the rabbit pens and raked up the poo before heading in to check on Tessa the turkey. Remember her eggs didn't hatch so we gave her chicken eggs. She hatched one chick a few days ago and I was going to take the rest of the eggs out today only to find another chick pecking and peeping to get out of its shell. Will leave the eggs a few more days to see how many chicks she hatches. You never know what kind of baby a animal will have around Hidden Haven. We are a mixed up but happy herd here. While working in the front yard I decided to check the birdhouse. A bird started checking it out a few minutes after we hung it a few weeks ago. The photo shows what I found. There is one baby bird hatched next to the momma bird and there are 3 teeny tiny eggs I hope will hatch soon. The top lifts up on the birdhouse so I was able to get a picture without disturbing momma bird. Getting ready for the huge yardsale this weekend. Can't wait as I have the livingroom piled full of boxes packed with goodies waiting to be sold. It will be so good to get rid of clutter and also make a little money. There is so much stuff that needs to go so a simple life can be had again.

Megan is doing really well. She is back at work and enjoying watch Q playing baseball or taking him to practice. Sheri's husband still has a long way to go and is having problems remembering things. I leave you with what she had to post about him. Please keep him in your prayers and Sheri too. She is exhausted and under alot of stress.

Sheri's Post:


is Ward better physically? a little bit- he can sit up by himself, but not stand on his own yet, and even though they haven't removed his feeding tube, they are allowing him anything he wants to drink CAUTIOUSLY with supervision. he chose and enjoyed several sips of ginger ale- the first thing he's had to drink in three weeks.

is Ward better mentally? yes and no. when I got there today he smiled and called me Angel Pumpkin and his little Boxfish (ya- we're a creepy old mushy mushy couple), but continued to be easily frustrated and agitated.

here's what I figured out. If he wants to do something he's not allowed to do, like get dressed and leave the hospital (which he insists on doing every five minutes or so), saying "no dear- you can't do that yet" even if followed by a rational calm explanation gets scowling and cursing. saying "yes dear- we'll do that as soon as..."and the exact same rational calm explanation will elicit a sigh of acceptance...for about five minutes when it starts over again.

we watched Land of the Lost, with Will Ferrell, and he laughed at all the right parts, was happy to see Alec when I retrieved him from work at Doggy Daycare (altho he doesn't remember Doggy Daycare at all and the whole "Alec is working at Doggy Daycare" thing sorta went over his head) and seemed content to stay with tonight's sitter, Myrna, altho he said "See you in a little bit" in response to our "See you tomorrow".

baby steps.

Another Prayer Answered

Thanks to all the prayers about Baby E and Brother J they are back! The dad who in the past had abused J had taken them to live with him several hours away. Baby E came back because she was too much for him to take care of. Melody had her since she was 3 weeks old so Baby E felt like she had come home. Last week Brother J returned for same reason. Now they are with Melody during the week and with their mom who lives minutes away from Melody on weekends. They are back where they are getting good care and lots of love. You can click to enlarge for Melody's 7 wonderful blessings. Since Brother J calls me grandma I think I had better say I have 11 grands instead of 9!

Happy Birthday Kuma

Yesterday was Kuma's birthday. She wasn't too happy with me in the photos as I made the mistake of putting her leash on her for a walk and then taking pictures. She wanted to go on her walk!
We went on a walk and then she got a bath and another walk in the sun to dry off. After that Kuma got a big can of dog food all to herself along with a rawhide pigs ear. I think she enjoyed the walk most of all and need to get back in the habit of walking her everyday. Debbi, Kuma sends her love and kisses.

Set out tomato plants and more eggplants and cucumbers yesterday. Also did some cleaning and rearranging. Have lots of boxes of stuff in the livingroom I need to price for the yardsale we are having with Gerda. Sold some baby chicks but still have lots running around. Have found a new home for Bud the Iguana and he will be going there Monday. I just don't seem to find the time to pet and talk to him as much as I use to and want him to get the attention he needs and deserves. Rusty and Troubles make sure they get their attention. They climb all over me in bed and poke and nudge until I pet or scratch their bellies. They follow me every step I make around the farm.

Megan is disappointed she won't be going home Monday. They had to change her medication and she needs to stay a few days longer to make sure its going to work. She ask us to continue praying for her. Here is the updated post Sheri wrote about her husband:



today- more of the same.

they back off of his sedation just a wee bit, then have to give blood pressure meds and nitroglycerin till he settles down. repeat.

he'll be quiet, then his legs/arms twitch and he breathes heavily and chews on his tube (they've got a stopper for that) and scrunches up his face in a frown. When he does that I stop reading, stand up, stroke his forehead and tell him he's OK, that they are just waking him up really slowly to be sure the graft is safe- always aware that he won't even remember going BACK into surgery and once he can think straight his first thought will be WHAT THE HELL???? and he'll fight like a Big Dog.

So I tell him to try to be calm, to try to concentrate on my hand in his, and the words of the book, which are all wonderfully descriptive and do an excellent job of pulling the reader/listener into the quiet, peaceful wilderness of the Dark Divide of southwestern Washington State.

Twice this afternoon, once when I first arrived and stroked his forehead and told him I was there, and once when I told him I had to leave to get Alec, his face frowned up and a single tear squeezed out of his closed eye.

Absolutely. Completely. Broke my entire heart.

Please continue to keep her and her family in your prayers.

Farm Babies Update

Poor Tessa, our Bourbon Red was so upset when we removed her eggs. None of them were any good and were VERY stinky. Cleaned out her nesting area really well and she just walked around the pen looking sad. The next morning she was sitting in her nesting area. Later in the day she was still sitting. Last night she was still there. This morning she was still there so I gave in . I got some fresh straw so she could make a good nest and I gave her 4 hen eggs to sit on. She took them just fine and seems to be happily sitting on her nest. I know I should have just let her mourn and get on with life but I felt so sorry for her not hatching any babies and that she was still sitting hoping . As for the geese, Bonnie and Clyde there are no babies yet or at least I haven't seen any and I am not about to go check under her! Tessa is gentle but Bonnie would take my fingers off while Clyde took the rest of me! Sold more baby bunnies in the past few days and still have more that will soon be ready for new homes. The baby chicks are doing great and running around scratching everywhere.We got rain last night! Finally all the pollen is washed off everything and the gardens have taken off! The strawberries are blooming. We got radishes yesterday and they were so sweet! Soon the lettuce and spinach will be ready to pick. Got my rosemary set out this morning. All the other herbs are doing so well. I need to cut some of my parsley as its growing everywhere. The peppermint and spearmint has came back in full force and needs to be thinned out before it takes over everything. Thyme, and basil are getting so big. All the herbs are looking so good this year and can't wait to dehydrate some for winter. Speaking of cold weather we are having what I call a Dogwood winter. It turned cold after the rain last night and I actually wore a jacket today. Suppose to start warming back up tomorrow. After the several days in the 90's this cold spell was a shock but sure made for some good sleeping weather.
My daughter Melody is going to have to give up Baby E and her brother J. The mother is moving back to her husband's home in a different town. Please keep the babies in your prayers as their dad was a bad dad to them before the mom left. She went to a shelter for awhile and Melody helped her find a job and a place to live. She also had Baby E from the time she was 3 and a half weeks old. Its going to be hard to let them go but even harder knowing what they are going back to and that they will be too far away to make sure they are okay.
Hope everyone has a very blessed weekend. You will find me in the gardens or keeping the bird feeders filled. I have around 15 feeders and the birds don't seem to think its enough!

Rainy Monday Doesn't Get Me Down

Just kept me busy in the kitchen. I am very blessed to have a friend that has "connections" with a produce stand. She blessed me with well over a bushel of apples, tomatoes, green beans, strawberries and lots of other veggies and fruits. I made 12 pints of apple butter, canned 12 quarts of tomatoes. Made 2 loaves of strawberry bread and have my beans all ready to be canned in the morning. I just love seeing the pantry fill up with the only cost being the canning lids. I am going to be canning applesauce after I get the beans going in the morning. The animals are loving all the veggie and fruit scraps they have been getting the past few days. I still have to think of something to do with all the oranges and tangerines.

We had a heavy rain last night and several rain showers throughout the day. Made the garden stand up and look nice. The radishes, carrots, lettuce, spinach, and peas are growing fast. The broccoli, brussel sprouts, and peppers are standing so pretty and tall. Tomorrow I hope to set out more of my herb seedlings and egg plants. Its suppose to get up to 85 by Friday. Spring is flying into summer around here.

While I was stringing and breaking beans I enjoyed looking at the beautiful flower arrangement Kuma's mom sent me for my birthday. She is stationed in Germany so Kuma is staying here at the homestead until her return. The flowers are all a lovely lavender in a beautiful white basket. They still look as fresh as the day they were delivered and smell wonderful. Thank you Debbi!

Kuma and Rusty both got baths the other day but are already in need of another one. Kuma likes to roll in the dirt and Rusty likes crawling under things. When Charlotte had her piglets we brought the runt inside to warm it up. Rusty thought the piglet was his baby. He sat by it, licked it and when the piglet finally stood up Rusty nudged it with his nose to get it to walk. When the piglet would stop Rusty would nudge it again. We took the piglet back to its mom once it got stronger and Rusty wasn't happy. Every morning and evening when we feed he goes to the pen and stands there till one of us open the gate so he can go inside the pen. He then walks by Charlotte and goes directly to the piglets and looks till he finds Piglet. He watches for a few minutes and then turns and walks out of the pen. We had a hen hatch out chicks and one had a hurt leg. I brought it inside to see if there was anything I could do. Rusty had to check the chick out and lick it. When I took the chick back to the hen Rusty wasn't happy. He now goes and stands outside the pen where momma hen and chicks are and just watches his chick. If momma happens to be sitting on the chicks and he can't see his chick he barks. I have to make him go away from the pen until momma hen gets off the chicks so he can see and not bark. I think Rusty would make a good foster "mom" even though he is a neutered male. Whenever someone is leaving with chickens or bunnies they have purchased from us Rusty follows them to their car and actually walks on his hind legs trying to reach the animal leaving. Its like he thinks they are his and they belong here and doesn't want them to leave. Since we have sold over 100 chickens the past week Rusty has been doing alot of walking on his hind legs.

I have been getting up and going right to feeding the animals and so have switched my bible and devotional reading to right before I go to bed. It seems to work lots better as I have good things in my mind while falling asleep instead of the bad things I see on the late news. I tell my grands that I talk to God so much throughout the day that he wonders if I ever shut up. When I wake up the first thing I do is thank the Lord for a new day and ask him to bless me and mine. As I go about my morning chores I pray for family, friends, worries, blessings, etc. and the chores seem to get done in no time. I am a very blessed grandma and I hope you have lots of blessings to give thanks for tonight!

Here a Chick There a Chick

I am starting to feel like Old McDonald. The hens are starting to come off their nests so we are catching baby chicks while trying to avoid the very mad momma hen. Have one more hen that should hatch her little ones the 25th while the goose and turkey will be hatching the 7th and 9th of April. Still selling chickens almost everyday. All but 2 black bunnies have been sold from the 9 week old litter. We still have older ones and ones that will be ready a few days after Easter and the week after Easter. Spring is really here at the homestead with all the babies being born. Charlotte is doing great with her piggies. Piglet, Binky and Wilbur are getting fat and sassy. Haven't named the rest of them yet. Just waiting on a name that will fit them. We set out some leeks here and at my dear friend Gerda's. I have so enjoyed being back around her. She is a very busy, smart, wonderful cook, 76 year old German lady that is my best friend. We both think we should be related somehow as we can finish each others sentences, do things the same way, and think so much alike. She made the best German potato salad last night for dinner and sent the rest home with me. She told me to put a small spoonful in a pan this morning and let it warm and cook a over easy egg to put on top for breakfast. We did that and it was so good! Thank you Gerda!
I have so many boxes of items to put on Craigslist and ebay and still haven't made a dent in the stuff we have accumulated over the years. Have tons of stuff for yardsales that we hope to get started on this weekend. Melody is mailing my camera to me so I can take pictures of items for sale, that means I can take pictures of the piglets,baby bunnies, and baby chicks to share with you. Troubles is having a ball here at the homestead. He has so much more room to explore here and gets along great with Whiskers. Rusty is wherever I am. If I am feeding the chickens he is walking quietly beside me. The chickens don't pay him any attention. If I am working outside he is laying near me watching. If I am sorting stuff he is sleeping right at my feet and of course he and Troubles are right in bed with me each night. I am lucky here though because its a king size and they can't push me to the edge. Well my lunchbreak is over and I need to get back to my to do list. Hope each of you are enjoying your spring and having a blessed day!

Happy Belated Birthday Kristine

I did call on her birthday but have been so busy I didn't blog about it. My very first grandchild turned 15 on the 18th! She is getting her learners permit so the roads of Tennessee may be a little crazy for a while. I cannot believe she has grown up so fast. I kept asking Maggie to have me a grandbaby and she kept telling me her dogs were my grandpups. When she became pregnant I was so excited! When she called to tell me the doctor said she was going to have a boy and the due date was the end of March I told her I had a dream and she had a baby girl on the 18th of March. Guess grandma's know more than doctors sometime. Anyway, Kristine or Teenie as we love to call her, I hope your birthday was as special as you are to all of us. I love you and am so proud of the young lady you have became. Look forward to our annual summer week with all you grands. Try to be nice to your little sister and also try not to roll your eyes too much at your mom and dad. You know you love us no matter how embarrassing we are. LOL

A Busy Weekend

Friday the 2 boys that have been helping us around the farm came to spend the weekend with us. They moved away and we hadn't seen them in a few weeks. Saturday morning I got up early and fed the chickens, ducks, geese and rabbits. William and the boys did the other feeding, milking and chores. They dropped me off at the craft fair at 7am. The fair was a little slower than last fall but I think its because more people shopped the yardsale outside. A couple of my friends said they came by and only saw the yardsale and didn't know I was inside. William came for me early as we had a couple of goats that were sick and he wasn't sure what to do. Came home and gave them some medication and did the evening chores. We built a fire and roasted hotdogs and marshmallows. Ended up with several kids from the neighborhood showing up for supper. Sunday morning I started early getting ready for my friends Gerda and Christine. They were coming for lunch. Gerda is the lady we tilled and planted the garden for and became fast friends. While getting lunch ready for her visit Brent and Erin dropped by with Erin's mom and aunt. Had a lovely visit with them and then had a nice lady with her son and daughter stop by to meet Diva and the other critters. After showing them around and introducing them to everyone at Hidden Haven I went back to finish lunch. Gerda and Christine showed up before I finished. William was in the shower so I showed them around until a customer came. Thank goodness William was able to finish the tour with them while I sold some soaps and other things. Finally got lunch finished and sat down (without my shower) to visit with Gerda. I just love this lady. She reminds me so much of Ms. Fran. After seeing them off we had the family that found Wild Thing come to visit and see how he was doing. They will be coming back in a month to take Wild Thing and release him near their home in the woods. Did evening chores, took the boys home, came home and ate leftovers, had a shower and got a surprise visit from Brent and Erin. They brought two cute little piglets. We are going to raise the pigs for them. After getting them settled in and making plans to see Brent and Erin in a couple of days I came in and crashed. The weekend wiped me out. Today I felt drained but am heading for bed and looking forward to a new day tomorrow. Things are still rough for us but each day is a blessing. Just got to accept God's timing and not be so impatient or untrusting.

Saturday Visitors

Saturday my stepson Ray, his wife Sharon, their sons Josh and Wayne came for a visit. Actually they purchased our camper and came to pick it up. Sharon and I hit some thriftstores and flea market while Ray and the boys put good tires on the camper to move it. They hadn't been down in months so of course they had to do the tour and see all the new animals. Here is Sharon's day with the camera.Such a big size difference in CC and Tina!

Of they all fell in love with Tiny Tina. It was a nice visit and hopefully they won't wait so long to come back. On Sunday I had a blogger visit with her family. Will post that later

Mother

Mildred has a post today showing some of her mother's beautiful collections. I always enjoy the posts she writes about her mom as it brings many memories of my mother to surface. After seeing her mother's quilt I wanted to repost pictures of the quilt mother embroidered I have. She hand embroidered a quilt for each child, grandchild and great grandchild along with quilts for her brothers, sisters, some nieces and nephews. She also made baby quilts for so many friends and family baby showers. She did over 700 quilts! My quilt is of the presidents of the United States. Each square has a hand embroidered head of a president, the year he was born and died. It has what number president he was and even his signature is hand embroidered. Reagan was president when she made the quilt so that is the last president she stitched.
It looks drawn but every detail is hand embroidered. She spent many hours stitching. She had the most beautiful slim hands. I think the stitching kept them young and pretty. She made so many quilts that people would ask her to make special ones for their friends and family. Mother made, butterfly quilts, a quilt with all the states, dolls of all the countries, etc. She never said no. If you could give her pictures to trace from to make her pattern she would stitch it. At her funeral it was only right there be quilts. The last two quilts (one angels and one butterflies) she made were placed by her coffin. She died 4 years ago on January 14th but the memories we each have of mother wraps around and warms us each time we touch or see her quilts. She left a piece of her heart with each of us. Thank you Mildred for your beautiful post and stirring up memories of my own.

The Last of the Family Christmas Weekend Photos

The can of nuts are Raigun's trick can of nuts. She fooled several this weekend and loved it!

The best gift was spending the weekend with my 3 daughters, son in laws and grandchildren. I had a wonderful time and it even snowed! How blessed I am.

Christmas Weekend Happy Birthday Jesus Party

Every year Maggie reads the Happy Birthday Jesus story. The kids then write their birthday wishes for Jesus on slips of paper. They go outside and burn them in the firepit so the smoke can carry the wishes to heaven. They come back inside and sing happy birthday and talk about the blessings Jesus has given us. Our family wants to keep the true meaning of Christmas alive in our celebration.

Caroling Hayride and Christmas Parade

Each year we always go on a caroling hayride. This year we also wanted to go to Parrotsville's Christmas parade. We decided to combine them and do our caroling on the way to and from the parade. We had a ball singing carols and watching the parade. Parrotsville is a tiny beautiful town near my daughter Maggie.