3.30.2011

Moooooooo!


**Playing some blog catch up tonight!  I was going to
throw it all into one post, but it was such a mixed bag
that I decided they should go in their own posts.**




So we're kinda known in my family as being the "pet-less" ones...no cats, no dogs, no fish...nothin'!  Partly due to my cat allergy, and partly due to our love of not being tied down.  When we go away, we just lock up and head out...no arrangements to be made, no "surprises" when we get home on the living room floor..you get the drift. 

Well, we decided to get our toes wet in the animal department. 

And then we decided instead of just getting our toes wet, we should just go ahead and jump right in head first and take no prisoners on the way down. 

So we kinda bought some cows. 

A bunch of cows. 

That's right...we have cows. 

Do I sound bitter? 

Scared? 

Cuz I'm totally not. 

Really. 

Read it and weep (I still do when I think about it).



Aren't they cute?  This is Big and Mac.  :-)


The cows are an investment and are ours until next spring when they move on to "fulfill their true calling"...ahem.  They're housed and cared for at a farm, and no, I will not be waking up at 5 a.m. every (or ANY) morning to do chores...trust me, I checked.  And have a signed document saying so.  And have locked my bedroom door and purchased ear plugs in the event that anyone should try and make me.  Can't be too safe in this business of cows.




We went out to visit them on Sunday because we honestly still can not believe that we have cows.  (We still can't believe we have kids either, but that seems to be working out okay.  Most of the time.)  Ran into this cute country church and I fell in love with this picture...hope you enjoy it too!  
 



Window Markers


Last week I picked up a package of window markers
after hearing from a friend (last year!) how fun they are. 


The windows have been fully decorated ever since. 


The kids are LOVING them...(ALL the kids).  ;-)

Guess Who's Back In Town????





Dear Spring, 

Welcome back. 

Please don't ever ever ever leave us again.

Love, Me

Sheep Sheering...Again!


Just a few pics from our SECOND sheep sheering experience of the week...this time with our homeschool group.  It was a whole different experience because they sheered only ONE sheep to demonstrate for us and then spent time explaining about the wool and showed us how it is spun on a wheel! 


 



 









 


Such a beautiful craft! 

 

St. Patrick's Day



Irish eyes were smilin' on St. Patrick's Day at our house! 


Surprise Lucky Charms for breakfast!




Crafts, music and Irish-themed schoolwork for the day!



Green cupcakes (and yes, they were really that green)! 

 

The girls even found a letter from a leprechaun who said he decided to hide his treasure in the basement this year instead of at the end of a rainbow.

 

The girls went right to work searching for it and were BEYOND
excited to find it hiding in all the nooks and crannies! 


3.16.2011

First Seeds are In!


Luca and I planted our first seeds of the season tonight!  By this time of year,
it's not so much about what the seeds will eventually produce, and more about
getting our fingers in the dirt, smelling the freshness of the soil, and the
excitement of seeing those little green sprouts pushing their way to
the surface.  The process never ceases to amaze me! 




















Felt like we got to touch Spring with the planting activities and 55 degree weather we got today (warmest we've seen since last Fall!).  Does good things for the soul!   



3.12.2011

A Day at the Spa....Well, Not Exactly



We spent the morning at the home of some family friends, getting their "girls"
(60 or so sheep) ready for lambing season with haircuts and pedicures all around! 

They expect lambs to start appearing next week! 






Ready to get pretty!




The kids were thoroughly entertained.




The sheep...not so thrilled about the idea.  ;-)




My dad and Jan (the owner) "giving pedi's"... :-) 




One of the MANY reasons I love my dad...amidst the chaos of it all, he offers
reassurance to some spooked mamas-to-be.  He swears he was telling her
she had "hay breath," but I know his true "sheep whisperer" personna.   




My sister...always goofing off!




Lookin' good!




GIANT bags of wool were filled basket by basket and stomped
down by the littles so we could fit as much as possible into each one. 




Each sheep offered an overflowing laundry basket full of wool!




Each bag holds about 200 pounds of wool! 




Of course, it was super not fun to get inside of it and stomp it down!  ;-) 




My cautious Bren was a little nervous.




But she looked cute doing it, as usual!




The tiniest farmer of the day.









Kristin & Garret




Luca was completely enthralled with the whole process.  She's so fun to
be with at activities like this because she gets so into things and never
minds the elements.  She's always up for a challenge or new
adventure.  She LOVED the sheep farm. 




Love this kid.  A lot. 




Garret visits the chickens.


Believe it or not, we'll have ANOTHER opportunity to see some sheep sheering
on Friday with the homeschool group.  When we count sheep to get to
sleep this week, I think they'll ALL be sheered!  :-)

Hoping your weekend is a sheer delight! 

3.09.2011

Ethiopian Adoptions At Risk!


The country is looking to reduce
international adoptions by a rumored 90%!

Click HERE to sign a petition in support of Ethiopian adoptions!


Click HERE to read Tom Davis' awesome insight in the matter!


3.02.2011

Homeschool Field Trip (for the moms!)


Who says kids get to have all the fun??? 

Friday night our homeschool group went on a field trip...minus the kids!  :-) 

We went to Paint It! Pottery Shop in the Dells and had SO much fun! 

Here's my finished project that I picked up today. 



























If you haven't experienced Paint It! and have
the opportunity....DO IT!  It's fun, FuN, fUn!!!!! 


I may even let the kids come next time. 

 
Or not. 


;-)