Odds and Ends

1.  Louis says ‘Bella’ and ‘doggie.’  It’s sooo very cute!  He loves to see Bella, but only from a distance.  It’s like the idea of a dog is just wonderful to him, but the reality is a little overwhelming.  OK!  That was last week, this week, he loves to run behind her and grab her tail.  She is a great dog and doesn’t even bark or snip at him.

2.  Bella chewed up the fancy dog bed.  Angelina keeps stuffing it back together.

3.  I cannot keep the house clean.  By rights, there should be NO dust with all the moisture we’ve had lately.  However, I dust one day and in the next the dust layer is right back on the coffee table.  I want to not mind, really, but I cannot.

4.  About half of Zeke and Graham’s clothes were packed up in a tub because someone was tired of washing the clean clothes that somehow ended up on the floor and hiding in various areas of their room.  ‘It wasn’t me.  I didn’t do it.’  I’m sure you’ve all heard this before.  The last 2 weeks have been much more doable for their mother.

5. I watched ‘Inception’ by myself, then attempted to watch it the next night with Eric.  I just couldn’t stay awake!  Anyway, scenes come into my mind, when there is a still moment.

6.  The Minot flooding has been on my mind, too.  I grew up 45 miles NW of Minot; it’s where we shopped, where I danced, where we went to the movies, where our family participated in 4-H Achievement Days and the ND State Fair.  It’s truly heart-wrenching.  My parents’ farm and home are not affected by the Souris/Mouse River.

7.  Thankfully, my brother’s home in Bismarck is still OK.  He cannot drive into his neighborhood, but he’s doing OK.

8.  I was lamenting to my mom over the weekend, that I never have time to write deep, meaningful posts (as if there are even thoughts like that in my head!).  This blog has, instead, become a journal of our life here on the farm.  Our faith is interwoven in our daily life.  I will say that it is more challenging in our present location to think liturgically.  So, I’m thankful for other bloggers who post about the special feast days and celebrations.

9.  We received a new priest last week.  Dash and Eric liked the homily … I was in the cry room with a very busy toddler.  Keeping one ear open, watching the toddler and being ready to run doesn’t help me hear or understand the homily.

10.  We set up the pool (it’s been in storage since the summer of 2007 … miraculously, there were  no mice created holes).  The middle three have been enjoying it and finally convinced Louis to try it out.  He goes in with his life jacket … but he loves it!

Happy 4th of July!

 

Our family watched fireworks last night.  It was a great end to a fantastic day of celebrating. 

Zeke hauling the stash of fireworks to the ‘designated’ area.

 

The patio (well, at least as far as we were planning to go in the stages) was completed in time for us to enjoy.  My dad, FIL, BIL – Todd, Dash and cousin Ben enjoy a visit before the show.

 

Cousin Jake at left and Angelina on the right – ready to see a light show!

Zeke and Graham were pretty excited about the pile of fireworks.

Ready for the fireworks – the skyline is beautiful.  We did have the farm sprayed for mosquitos, so the evenings were just gorgeous.  Though, the bugs did start to come out last night when the wind died down.

The obligatory fountain ….

Tante Lori

Today, the REAL 4th of July, we are just hanging out.  The kids are in the pool, lighting fireworks, playing on the computer … whatever they want.  Eric and Louis are taking a tour of the fields with Grandpa Green Acres and I’m sitting with my feet up while getting caught up on relaxing (and posts!!).

Tonight, we’ll have Grandma & Grandpa Green Acres, Tante Lori, and Tante Kirsten over for supper.  We have a few leftovers to eat!

Have a very Happy 4th of July!

2011 Achievement Days–DAY 2

 

LaMoure county 4-H Achievement Days was held on June 28-29.  This is a small county; the kids completed a large number of projects; all the kids did very well.

Today’s events included the small animal judging, tractor driving, large animal judging and project pick-up.

Dash and Angelina competing in the 'Hen over 1 year’ category (above) and below they are showing their ‘3 pullets’.  Angelina showed the Buff Orpington and Dash showed the Barred Rocks.

Angelina and Zeke in the Senior Buck lot of rabbits.  We later learned that Zeke’s rabbit, Oreo, is really a Doe!!  Well, I had checked earlier and really thought it was a doe, too, but the kids were insistent.  Nothing like a great vet to confirm your suspicions.  Rabbits are hard to sex when they are young, so I’m sure the breeder thought he/she had it right, but only time will tell.  Good thing the name Oreo fits either buck or doe.

Dash was the only entry in the Senior Doe class.

Junior Rabbit Showmanship, above.  Dash was the only Senior Showman in his class, below.

Eating pizza with grandpa is the best.  Just don’t even look at the dirty suburban in the background…

Cleaning those dirty sheep is a real treat!

Angelina in her outfit.

 

Zeke competing in the tractor driving contest.

Dash, true to his nickname, speeding through the course!

 

My sister, Julianne, and her son Weston were able to come and visit during Achievement Days.  She helped by leading a workshop for the Fashion Revue yesterday.

Weston running around the barn – we all gave up on shoes and let the kids wear rubber boots.  WAY less messy!

My dad, holding down the sheep stand, and visiting with another 4-H parent.

Dash, on the far right, visiting with a friend.

Unfortunately, one end of the show barn was swamped with water (if you can call the sludgey stuff water!).  Of course, the boys couldn’t resist playing in it … I pray they’ll stay healthy.  Graham is on the left and a 4-H friend is on the right.

Angelina with her hogs (above) and Louis playing in the water (below).

Angelina’s ewe lamb class.

Zeke, left, and Dash, right, in their market wether class.  Dash placed first in the class.

Sheep showmanship, above.  Dash was Grand, Angelina was Reserve.  Below, they are showing their hogs.  Not sure if it was the barrows or gilts.  Angelina placed first in both classes … the judge joked that he ‘must like cute girls today’, but her hogs were bigger than Dash’s.

Round Robin Showmanship:  Since Dash received Grand in both Sheep and Pig showmanship, Angelina moved up to the Round Robin in the sheep.  She did well with the heifer!  Dash was the Overall Showman and Angelina was the Reserve Overall Showman.

 

Angelina’s results above, Dash’s ribbons below.

Dash’s electricity display above and his Premium ribbon winning Mini-Chocolate Chip Scones (yes, the recipe is at King Arthur…. yes, there is no frosting because it’s a RULE!)

Zeke showed three static exhibits this year as a Cloverbud.  He also showed his rabbit, Oreo (whom we learned was a doe and NOT a buck … I had a hunch and the vet confirmed it for us), and a market wether.  He also received a blue ribbon in the rabbit and sheep showmanship classes. 

Our rhubarb isn’t that great, but at least we had some left!  The stalks are supposed to be uniform in length and diameter.  Diameter was easier to match than length!

Angelina’s herb garden is on the left, Dash’s on the right.

And that is the end of 4-H for this year.  There will be no ND State Fair competitions this year.  The fairgrounds were affected by the flooding in Minot.  The Fair Board decided to hold the Commercial exhibits in the State Fair Building (normally where the 4-H, FFA and Open class exhibits would be housed); the concerts will also go on as planned because the crews were able to save the grandstand, too.  The livestock and small animal barns were flooded.  So, while our kids are disappointed, we are looking at it as a FREE week for family … time to fill as we desire.  We haven’t decided what we’ll do with our week, yet, but you can be sure you’ll be filled in later!