Busy, busy, busy

Well, we found some mushrooms also. Deb and Riley found 29 while I was at Lowes and then Riley and I found 4 more after I got hme. No more than 50 yards from our front door. SWEET!

Riley also picked some Sweet Williams for her momma. This is Debs favorite wildflower. She has fond memories of picking these flowers in the same timber with her grandma.
Around here the work never seems to stop and we wouldn't have it any other way. Here, Deb is working on our.........

goat barn! The chickens are doing great and we have decided to add some baby goats to Slater Creek Farm.

Finally, we had a visit from this monster. We are not sure of the type, but we have alot of this kind of snake.

This one was 3-4 feet long. Maybe John can identify it for me. All I know is they don't like being picked up.

It's time........

.....to move the chickens. They are getting big and the box isn't going to hold them much longer.

We took one out to the coop to see how she would do. She gave her beak of approval. So tomorrow may be the day that they make the big move. Their nesting boxes are in the background. That is a hanging feeder in the middle.

Tomorrow is 4 weeks since we bought them. They are growing quick.

Happy Birthday Emma!

Woohoo Party! Emma turns the big 14 today. I am so proud of you girl. I am so happy that you are doing well in school and healthwise, things are going pretty good to. I am also happy that you are such an outgoing and kind girl.

You care so much for others and I think you would be just like my sister Jill whose birthday you share. I love that you share April 5th.

I also love your goofy side though I am glad you lost that weight. Ooh that butt. I also am thrilled you have my Bozarth melon. I am sure you are not so thrilled about that but I am glad you laugh about it.

Also Deb and I are so happy that you are involved so much at The Crossing.

We love you so much and miss you.

I'm scared

The thought that an American president can convince a major employer to fire their CEO is not right. Our country has no business being in business. These bailouts are wrong, wrong, wrong. Am I the only one that thinks this way. It is not up to the United States government to make everything okay. Companies need to fail sometimes. That is how we learn. I bought 78,000 shares of a Three Stooges theme park. Who knew that it wouldn't go well. I thought everyone liked the Stooges. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Oh well, my bad. The government should not bail me out. I screwed up. Please stop trying to help me by taxing me and my family into oblivion.

Please dump your next shipload of tea into the harbor.

Taxation without representation is tyranny. (Patrick Henry)

Growing Chicks...

Well, things are busy at Slater Creek Farm and Egg Emporium. We cannot believe how fast they are growing. They have tripled in size and some of them already are growing their comb on the tops of their heads. The dark ones on the left will be Rhode Island reds and will be a very dark red when full grown. They will lay large brown eggs. We have 5 of them. The two in the Middle are Buff Orpingtons and they will be a beautiful tan when they are grown. They also will lay large brown eggs. We have 4 of them. The one on the far right is a White Leghorn. They lay large white eggs and we have 3 of them. The books tell us that with 12 laying hens, that we should have 8 fresh eggs a day. I think we better find some new omelet recipes. I still have to build a pen for them that is attached to the coop that we built last week. We are having a blast with them.

Whats all the hub bub?

A flurry of activity has hit Slater Creek Farm! The tools are out and being used. What is going on?


Measure twice......

Cut once.

The barn is being added to for......

BABY CHICKS!!!!!!

Riley is so excited and we are too. In 5-6 months we will have farm-fresh eggs. We will not be having all you can eat chicken. The chicks will be Laying hens not Fryers. We bought 5 Rhode Island Reds, 4 Buff Orphingtons, and 3 Hybrid Leghorns.

" No children were harmed in the production of this blog."

Typical Week at our House

Brandon and Riley sharing some tunes.














Riley built a leprechaun trap for school. We had
fun helping her.















Riley absorbed in Spongebob while Lou takes a nap.












Everybody snorkles while they take a bath don't they? Actually, Riley is practicing holding her breath under water. She is very excited to go swimming this year.

















The old man buzzin the young pup. Reminds me of Rita Clarke. Though I didn't insist on giving him a bath afterwards.

Yoderiffic

Hard to believe that this picture was taken almost 12 years ago. We had such fun that trip. Can't believe how some of us have changed. Sarah is sitting on Grandma Hazels lap. Grandpa Gussie is behind John. Tom and Millie sitting far left. Good times, good times. Good night everybody, bless you all.

Riley doesn't like when Mommy is gone...

Deb went to an early doctors appointment with her parents today and I had to comb Riley's hair. You would think after 4 girls that I would be well trained in the art of combing long hair. Well, I'm not. Just reminds me of how much I depend on Deb for. Sorry Riley, mom will be here tomorrow. Daddy will make it up to you later, I promise.

Mom's Fight...God is in Control...

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Throughout the last week, we have been really concerned about Bonnie's health and scared of the daunting task ahead of us all. Everytime we get down, we take comfort in the fact that we have a great GOD.

We have a God who spoke the world into Creation. We have a God who parted the sea so that Moses and the Israelites could escape from the Egyptians. A God who knocked down the walls of Jericho with the sounds of trumpets. This same powerful God is more so a loving God. He wants us to rely on Him. Our God brings us comfort in so many ways. This hope that we have in Him is cemented in our belief in Jesus Christ.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 " Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

When we cry, Jesus is our comfort . When we despair, Jesus wraps His arms around us. When Satan wants us to think of all the bad things that could happen, we are reminded of the biblical definition of hope. "A confident expectation". We find our hope in John 3:16. " For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life".

A Tale of Two Dancers

Emma had a couple of dances this year. Halloween saw her go as Sandy from Grease. Not sure about the glasses, but the outfit is a hoot. She is so outgoing. What a fun girl. The second is Emma and her friend Courtney. They are going to a Valentines Day Dance.

Well, Brandon (and his girlfriend) is going to his first dance, as a couple. They cannot wear jeans or tennis shoes. His girlfriend is meeting him there. He is so nervous. I didn't tell him about my first experience at a dance like this. I almost got beat up. Good Luck B!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNA!

Happy Birthday Jen!
We love you so much, and are so proud of you. You are doing so well in school and are making good decisions. Except for the boyfriend who likes the Cubs. I kid, I kid.

I will never forget the first time I held you 22 years ago. Can't wait to see you.

Love,

Dad

Missed Post

I put a new post on the blog yesterday...Monday. And it showed up under Friday 13th... most of you missed it. Scroll down and check out Jeff at work!

Rileys first slumber party

We had promised Riley she could have some friends over for her birthday. Paige is on the left and Madison is on the right. They are in her kindergarten class. Paige has a twin sister but she is in the other class.

TV time. I rented Madagascar 2 for them. Grandma Judy also bought Riley Space Buddies.

Wild? Did you say Wild? I know it is not because I am older. I just think God is making 6 year olds a little wilder.

Just have to BRAG on my husband...

This picture was in the Carthage and Keokuk papers last week. Jeff (even though he gets discouraged sometimes) is truly in the right occupation. He is such a compassionate, caring person with the people who NEED him the most. He makes it possible for so many people to have a somewhat normal life by being able to just get out of the house comfortably. We take our health so much for granted. I pray that none of our family ever needs his services; but if we do... he would take great care of us just as he does his patients now! I am proud of you Honey!