Timber.

 We had our ladies lunch last week at church.  I had the SIMPLE task of adding a little something to the tables.  I went to town, bought a bunch of crap ( in my mind it was going to be beautiful).  Put it on the tables.  Stepped back and thought to myself - YUK!

 

I then removed the failed vision from the tables.  Called Mike and asked if he had time to meet me at home with his chainsaw.  I think he said "sure!"...maybe not.

 

He cut down a tree {it needed to go anyway - two birds} and then cut twenty "disks" from the trunk.  We gathered all the Mason jars we could find.  Added a candle and ribbon to the small ones and flowers to the larger.

 

SO MUCH BETTER....and FREE!

 

 

The dining hall in our church doesn't have much ambience.  We do what we can.

 

For the flowers we used fern leaves, hosta leaves, coneflowers, daisies, purple salvia, sprigs of thyme, and some snow-on-the-mountain...all from our yard.  There was room for more greens in each jar but I was getting stingy with my flowers.  Last year was so dry that I didn't have many...this year I'm appreciating them as they should be appreciated.

...cards out of scrapbook paper with friendship/sister/girly quotes and a copy of

some old pictures we had.

 

We also used 3 yard lengths of 12inch wide burlap for table runners.  Add a funky green napkin, tableware, and the program and it looked complete...as opposed to the first mess-up.

 {I cannot show anyone my first attempt - it was much too sad - you'll have to trust me.} 

 

The kids said that they weren't surprised when I changed everything last minute. Hmmm.

 

Becky

Helmet Head

This is just a test to see how often Nana looks at our blog...this is just a test.

 

 

OR, maybe I was looking for a reason to share this ultimately precious photo.

 

Becky

Waiting

Can you sit like this?

 

Remember when you could?

 

Becky

Sewing with #3

While the oldest two were away at 4-H camp this summer, #3 and I had a

"just me and you" sewing day.

First up ... a skirt.

 

Look, Mom!  I used pins! 

Mom said to me, on more than one occasion, that she didn't know how any of my sewing projects ever turned out because I NEVER use pins.  With kids...you HAVE to use pins...UGH!

 

The hem IS even.  She's just sticking her booty out for comic relief.

Then on to the pennant banner for the girls' bedroom.

 

She cut out the triangles.

 

 

I PINNED them onto the bias tape... right side down.

 

#3 stitched them together with a zig-zag stitch.

 

 

I finished the other one because attention deficit set in and she had TV to watch before the other two got home.

This is a super simple project even if you don't sew...use fabric glue or heat-n-bond.

 

Later-

B

Leech Lake

I know...who wants to go to a lake named "Leech" Lake?  We did.  It is beautiful.  It has the clearest water of any lake I've ever been in.  It's in northern Minnesota...and yes it has GINORMOUS leeches.  These suckers are huge.  To the landlubber they look like eels!  BUT...they don't attach to people!  Thank goodness because this mom can do a whole lotta things but taking leeches off of her kids is not one of them.

We stayed at "The Bayside Resort".  Mike's cousins have a lake cabin a few feet away from the cabin that we rented.  They were our very most hospitable hosts for the weekend!  They catered to our every need.  It was fabulous and TOTALLY relaxing.  I'm going back.  Beautiful country and friendly people.  If you're looking for a quiet vacation spot, then this may be the place for you. 

 

A few photos...ok a lot! 

 

 

 The kids went tubing...

We sat on the deck...

They fished for crawfish...and caught MANY....

look how they can hang on!

 

 A few of us kayaked...my arms still hurt.

We...um...well...I guess I don't really know what #4 is doing here...but he's sure having fun!

 

One of us modeled...continuously!

 

#2 sat on the dock in the bay.  Get it?

 

We fished...

#3 had a blast with an enormous beach ball...

#4 would have slept in his life jacket...

 

#1 enjoyed the boating....

 

It was a bit chilly and rainy for a few days.  However, after this HOT and DRY summer it felt marvelous.

 

Except for some occasional try-to-take-a-nap TV watching, there were no electronics included in this vacation package.  I love that!

 

Becky

Tent

The 4-H countdown is on!  #2 made this little number for her child development project.  We found the project at Lowe's Creative Ideas.  Keep in mind that SHE did NOT do ALL of the work BY HERSELF.  She and I (with some help from Dad) put this thing together.  It's fun when I get a chance to work on a project with one kiddo individually.

The covering is a painter's drop cloth.

IMPORTANT:  wash the drop cloth BEFORE cutting it to the correct width.  We thought we had this baby licked.  We washed the fabric.  We placed it back on the frame.  #2 was ready with the staple gun and we realized that instead of being four inches too wide it was now TWO inches too short. This shtuff  (< not a typo) SHRINKS!

Instead of falling in a heap on the grass like a frustrated 3 year old (me not #2) we decided to add the jute webbing to the ends.  Problem solved and it adds a nice contrast.

This sucker is big!  #2 and I both fit inside comfortably.  This is going to be her reading hideaway.  When it comes home from Achievement Days it will be donned with Christmas lights and large fluffy floor pillows. 

We kept the color neutral so it could be passed on to #4...

and it's easier than hemming a large piece of fabric on all 4 sides.

Tess enjoyed the shade from the 100 degree temps.

Here's to creating with your kids. 

 It's amazing what they tell you when you have time like this together.  Sometimes they are waiting for just the right moment to ask you that thing that's been on their mind.  What better place for these conversations than in the garage/workshop/craftroom/...

Becky

Working Cattle

It's been a while since I've been inspired to share anything on this forum.  Then many wonderful and surprisingly entertaining thoughts/ideas popped into my head.  The first of these was a photo journal of our family "working" a pen of cattle.  Ya don't just see that everyday...or do you? 

It was then that I chose to check in on my Bestie in Nebraska to see what she had been talking about...you guessed, didn't you?  Working THEIR calves!  Ugh.  I thought I had an original idea.  Not sa much.

I will give J. credit for being first but I have to share our side of the coin since I edited all of those stinkin' pictures.

Here we go-

 Prop open the gate to desired pen of cattle in a mechanical engineering kinda way...

...with a stick.

Hide behind the tractor until they start to come out of the pen.

Wait for the cattle to come out of their pen.

The arrow points to where the photographer (me) was... then they needed my professional help to chase the rest of 'em out.

Now it's time to get these boys moving in the same direction towards the alley and working chutes {up between those two silos, in other words}.  I often times find myself talking to them like Babe talked to the ewes, "Now, if you fine gentleman would kindly walk up the alley in an orderly fashion, I would be forever grateful."  This dialogue is happening in my head.  My fellow cowboys would look at me with disgust if I actually said it out loud.  That's ok.  The cattle KNOW ME.

They are in the alley ready for their tiny little shot to keep them healthy, make them strong, and most importantly, TASTE GOOD. 

 That was cold.

Keep in mind, they haven't been fed yet and it's almost 9:00am. 

Most of them are as pissed off as #1088 here. 

 "They move better if they are hungry."  Tell him that when you're down in the alley with all 1100# of him.  Oh no. Wait.  It's ME that's down in the alley with him.

Oh look...the princesses have arrived...apparently, there was a uniform today.

AND we mustn't forget the basketball.

Pregame talk with Dad.

Thoughts here:

a. No, he didn't go to the "Final Four".  We shop at Goodwill.

b. The kid with the stick has no idea what his dad is saying at this point.

c. The ladies are thinking about doughnuts and how much longer 'til we can go make sumthin' outta duct tape.

Getting the job done.

Fast forward 90 minutes.  Done.  Cattle are back in their pen eating their breakfast. 

Another Saturday morning.

The next three photos are what you get when you hand the 6 year old the camera when you are busy and say, "Put this in the pick-up for me."

Happy trails-

Becky

Smell that?

Here we are at #1's Saturday morning basketball game.  All is going splendidly until...

Me:  sniff, sniff...hmmm.  Someone smells a little ranchy. {I said that in my head in my best church lady voice.}

Me: {surveying the area to pass judgment on the one who apparently doesn't know how to wash clothes after feeding/bedding/checking cattle}

Me:  {realizing that the only ones in sniffing distance are town folk}

Me:  {panic a little when realizing that the only people sitting in the bleachers that could smell THAT bad would be members of MY 7!}

Me:  {not paying any attention to the game now knowing that everyone else is passing judgment on my stinkin' kids and my mothering abilities.  But that's ok because now I have a plan - when we get home EVERYTHING is going in the washing machine - on hot - with extra rinse - baking soda - and extra fabric softener.  If Febreeze can't kill it, nothing can.}

That's what we did. Washed everything and the kids went through all the hats and gloves to get rid of the misfits that needed to be culled. Why do we have 12 extra left handed gloves? It was a snowy day and it provided some unforeseen fun.

No, she doesn't have premature lack of hormone induced facial hair.  It's chocolate milk.

I even played along.  Not very becoming but hey it was a snow day.  Don't expect pretty.

Who knew sorting hats and gloves could be so fun?

This one didn't help.

Unfortunately,"ranchy" is what we smell like nine times out of ten. 

 But for a day...we smelled April Fresh!

Becky

Peace

How are those resolutions coming along?  I strongly dislike the word "resolution".  I believe that we are who we are and we really can't change too much, and we really don't need to (with the exception of hardened-criminals).  The problems come about when we decide we're not happy with who we are.  Quite philosophical, huh?

Think about it.  We EAT when we're upset, sad, angry, bored, etc and we gain weight.  And then we're fat and ugly (we think) and we eat some more.  We SPEND MONEY because something, we feel, is missing in our lives and we end up broke.  When, in fact, if we all chill out a bit and take an outsiders view...we're not that bad.

Here's what I pray for...peace of mind. 

Here's what I pray for for my children...their happiness and peace of mind and for me to quit nagging them to be the person I think/thought they should/would be.

I digress...getting back to the peace of mind thing.  I truly believe that every prayer ever said can be reduced to having a peaceful self.

My "resolution" this year has been to help God out with my earthen peace.  I'm doing what I can to identify the things that make me nuts, inpatient, upset, angry, etc...and find a way to eliminate those things or at least deal with them in a grown-up and intelligent way.  That's opposed to going bat-shit crazy when one of the kids leaves a sock on the floor in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Am I preaching to the choir or what here?!  That's okay you don't have to testify.

Here are my triggers (well, the ones I've identified anyway) in no particular order...

LAUNDRY

Problem: it's never done.  DUH!

Solution: by washing, folding, and putting away 3 loads everyday I can stay on top of the piles.  This way I don't spend an entire Saturday doing laundry only to have the hampers full again by Sunday evening.

KIDS AND CHORES

Problem: endless complaining, crying, and whining about what needs to be done.  It's really not endless, it's just really annoying.  Then I fall into my lecture about third world children and how lucky the are to live with me.  Then my face hurts from talking. Then I'm grouchy.

Solution: LISTS!  When the kids get home from school there is a list waiting.  The list has everything each child has to get done before TV/computer/wii/ds time.  Shockingly, this works very well.  I have done this in the past but kinda slacked off.  Need to be more diligent with this task.  When the kids get "the list"  they know what's expected.  No surprises.  Mom doesn't nag. STUFF.GETS.DONE! 

MEAL PLANNING

Problem: coming up with what to feed my family is the biggest stresser in my life. (Pretty good life I've got.)  If I don't have a plan by the time everyone walks in the door from chores, it's chaos and I'm a freaked out wreck.

Solution: Monthly menu!  I did one today for the next SIX weeks.  I feel so in control!  I'll share it later.

COMPETITION

Problem: OBVIOUS!  Those who aren't competitive...you need to sponsor some sort of "in-service" and invite me!  It's not as bad as it used to be...but it can be improved upon.

Solution:  Stepping back.  Relax.  Deep breaths. Teach my kids and myself to be the best that they can be and angels could do no more.  Last summer I tries to talk #1 OUT of taking a certain 4-H project to Achievement Days.  I shared that it wasn't purple ribbon worthy... he says, "Isn't it about making things together and spending time together?"  My heart broke and smiled at the same time.  Clearly, he has a better handle on life than his mother does.

RELAXING

Problem: I DON'T DO IT!

Solution:  Make myself do it.  Currently, I'm addicted to "Angry Birds" (only after the kids go to bed of course).  This includes making time for myself to be creative and not feel guilty when I paint, sew, craft, and the ginormous list of creative things I like to do.

HOUSEKEEPING

Problem:  I don't see the beautiful house that we live in.  I see the dirt!

Solution:  I hired a fabulous woman to come every other week to clean my house.  I LOVE HER!  The night before she comes, we have a "picking up" party.  Everything is put in its place.  I come home to a spotless house.  WOO HOO!  This has also given me time to work on clutter and cleaning things that would normally be overlooked. 

That's enough of my rambling.  Hope I've inspired someone.  Hope someone can identify with this craziness.  Gotta go...load number 3 is dry!

Becky



Bales

Harvest is done and now comes everything that has to be done before winter sets in.  Mike baled cornstalks until 10:30 last night.  Now we have to bring the bales home.

Hauling bales with a pick-up and two rail trailers really isn't a tough job.  However, in some situations it can be treacherous.  These possibilities of danger are amplified when performing job responsibilities with a two-year old in the backseat. 

{She did her own hair.  "No, me do it!"}

Let me preface today’s story by letting everyone know that #5 has been diligently trying to master the art of putting on her own mittens.  Now you’re up to speed for the rest of the story.

This is the first year we’ve farmed this particular piece of ground.  Therefore, the first time I’ve hauled bales from there to the feedlot.  When Mike asked if I could help, I said “sure”! (maybe not that willingly, but it looks good on paper)  Then I drove over there.  I forgot about “the big hill.”  It’s tough enough to pull 12 BIG bales of stalks up the hill, but having them push you DOWN the hill is another story.  I'm totally being a girl here.

Before the journey even begins, I can play in my mind the exact happenings if something went terribly wrong on my way back to the feedlot from the field: a cornstalk bale carnage, if you will.  Bales everywhere, me afraid to call the farmer, rail trailers bent all to hell, two-year old screaming, myself crying, farmer shows up, MORE crying …  Get the picture?

This grade may not look like a big deal to some of you; but to a forty-something flatlander farmwife it’s as intimidating as the giant slalom is to a twenty-something mountain-raised Olympic skier.  Seriously.

Clearly, I’m nice and relaxed when I get to the field.  I did have a little down time before the farmer and his pay loader showed up.  I perused the latest issue of Vintage Victorian (or something like that) to calm my nerves.

We’re loaded.  Good to go.  Time to scoot.

 I tootle along through the first two miles singing “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and approach the crest of THE BIG HILL with caution.  I brake steadily and wind down to a nice kinda Dodge Ram kinda crawl. 

As we begin our descent to the valley below, number 5 says, “Fum in der.”  Let me translate:  “Thumb in there!”  She’s found some mittens and was able to get her thumb in the right spot all by herself.  She’s proud and I wasn’t listening.  She knew I wasn’t listening…

“Fum In Der!”

“Okay, sweetheart.”

“FUM IN DER!”

“I know, I see.” 

(I really didn’t – my eyes were fixed on my course.)

“FUM IN DER!!!!!!!”

…no response from me…still trying to drive and stay married.

Due to my lack of attention, she starts screaming.  I’m almost crying.  I do my best to ignore her.

 I reach the bottom; the sweet, sweet bottom of the hill.

She picks up her pretend “Cars” phone.  Sobbing,, quietly, deep breaths, (you can picture it) she says, “Daddy, come git me.”

I couldn’t have been happier that Daddy didn’t have to “come git us”.

Navy Seals should train with a two-year old in their backpack.

Becky