Abby and Eli Come For A Visit

Abby ahd Eli came to spend Friday and Saturday with us this past weekend. We had so much fun! First, while Grandpa took our amish friends flying, we got to run around the meadow picking berries. Then we came in and watched Sponge Bob and made paperdolls. And ate a little candy.

Abby trying on my "old lady can't see small things" glasses. She actually looks good in them.

Next we had a campfire weenie roast!

This is how Taffy looks whenever Eli is around.

My attempt at the American Gothic, only no one was cooperating.

Saturday we took the kids to an Amish auction to support our new friends the Yoders. Now that was fun. Homemade ice cream, berry pie, funnel cakes (that's just what the kids ate there!) and lots of animals to pet. Abby got a hold of a small kitten and carried it around most of the day. There were ponies, goats, chickens, rabbits, horses, cows...... Plus the fellowship of the Yoders and their family (alot!!!!) and friends. A perfect day. And of course there are no pictures for obvious reasons. Next we went to the County fair even though it wasn't completely up and running. Pouring rain cut our day short but not until we ate a little fair food and saw some more animals. Back home to pack up their stuff and off to meet their mom. This is how we returned them...exhausted!

Georgia

We flew the plane down to Georgia to see Cindy's family and relax a little. Here is Ryan, Chloe, Phoebe and Ron watching a little TV the first evening we were there. Waiting to go to the zoo!!!

The first thing they see when we walk in are the pink flamingos!!!

Here the girls are feeding the parakeets.

Even grandpa gave it a try.

Don't remember what they are looking at, but it must have been good.

The girls pose on EVERY statue that we come across!!

Here they are being monkeys!!

Phoebe

Chloe (I'm showing off that I can tell them apart!)

The baby panda. Ma Ma. This tiger got hot and took a short dip to cool off.

Here they are the next day getting pushed on their new swing set that Ryan made.

We had a great time and really miss spending time with their family. Those girls are so much fun and so very entertaining!

Almost Done!!!

Well we are almost done with the chicken house and it is really great. Not only is it very well built but it has a solar powered chicken door! Opens at dawn and closes at dusk. Now if we could just get the chickens to go in on time.

Here is Ron finishing the gate into the chicken yard. Roosting nests were the next order of business. These didn't take too long to put together and I even can use the top as a shelf for extra stuff. Two of the girls trying out the rock step.

Ron welded iron rods into prison bars that are buried about 6 inches into the ground. Nothing should be able to get them now!

Happy Fourth of July

Friday we had the Elders and Jenn and Chuck's family over for a BBQ. I thought I better take a picture of the table before everyone started moving things!!!

This is Elders Byrd and Lopez. We were so glad they could join us!

Abby and Eli were the first ones to the table.

It was IMPOSSIBLE to get anyone to cooperate for a group picture. I finally gave up and just took one.

After dinner we went to the firework show downtown at the park. They had a petting zoo set up along with booths that sold ice cream and cotton candy. Yum Yum.

This was the softest bunny in the world!!!!

Fireworks started at 10 pm and were great. Got home at 11:30 and fell into bed!! Too much fun for one day. Happy Fourth of July to all of you!!

A Humid Day in June

I thought I would update you all on life here at our place. It is very muggy today, and thunderstorms are expected tomorrow. I took a few pictures from up at the barnyard to post. Here is a good shot of one of our girls in the chicken house.

They aren't afraid of the flash at all.

I think they hope I have a few more worms for them. These are Barred Rock hens.

Here is some of the corn we planted. The green house in the middle of the garden. Behind it are tomatoes and squashes. Some of the corn is from our amish friends the Yoders. They say it is the best sweet corn and I can't wait to try it. You can also just make out the grapes.

A closer shot of the beets, radish and a bit of asparagus at the side. We also planted watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, garlic, collards, strawberries, peppers, blueberries, raspberries, herbs, leeks, onions....did I forget anything?

I mowed a new path through the woods on Saturday. It is fun to go back in there and really feel secluded.

Here is a shot of the skunk hole, yep, the same one that has a thing for metal cat dishes. Tonight I am watching to see if I spy any fireflies. That always marks the real start of summer for us.

My Late Night Visitor

( I know these pictures are blurry but I didn't have time to get the proper lighting.) Four nights ago I was awoken by a ruckus on the back deck at 2 am. I got up, turned on the lights, and saw what looked like a strange cat. No, not a cat, a skunk!!! Shoo-shoo, go away. But it wouldn't go away. Instead it pushed the cat dish around. This got the cat curious. Taffy got about one foot away from the skunk when it turned around and lifted it's tail. Taffy came running to the back door...let me in, let me in. So I did and we spent the next 20 minutes watching the skunk from behind a glass door. That silly thing pushed the cat dish all the way across the deck and off the edge. It hung around for a while and finally wandered off. I Brought the cat dish back and went to bed. 2nd night, same time, same noise, same skunk and and same cat dish pushing. Again cat comes to door for safety and again we later retrieve her cat dish. This time it has some chew marks on it. 3rd night, you have got to be kidding!! There is no food in that dish, leave it alone!!!! Again retrieve cat dish and try to get some sleep, tomorrow is church and I am teaching! Last night, before going to bed I brought the camera upstairs and left it by the back door. Made sure there was no food in the dish and went to bed. Every two hours that skunk showed up and pushed the dish off the deck. I took pictures and brought the dish back. Finally I must have been so tired I fell back asleep. This morning the dish was gone, though I did find the rubber gasket from around it's edge. Further looking turned up the dish under the deck. So I am sure you are asking why I don't just bring in the dish at night and get some sleep. Didn't think of that until yesterday, (OK, Ron suggested it on the phone) and I wanted to get a picture of that cute fluffy skunk before I spoiled all her fun.

The silver shiny thing is the dish.

Ice Cream Festival

Every year Utica has an Ice Cream Festival. It is so much fun! Tractor rides, crafts, food (deep fried everything including cheesecake) and tons of ice cream are just some of the activies enjoyed. It is very down home Ohio style so what's not to love? First thing we did this year was head to the horse rides. Eli picked the biggest horse available. He did need help getting on it, but after that he was a real cowboy.

Abby getting a ride on her pick of horses. This girl loves to ride.

Eli with his new rapid fire rubber band gun...what was I thinking. Notice Abby keeping a safe distance from her brother.

Here are Abby and Eli participating in the border collie demonstration. They are in the middle group and are being circled by the ducks as the ducks were being herded by the dog. This is a favorite show for us every year. Imagine, dogs that do exactly what they are told...