I didn't want all of February to go by without any post, but just realized this is pretty much my last chance! We have been super busy this month getting ready for SPRING! (Note the new garden layout in celebration, I LOVE the early spring).
We have finally installed the gas line, got it approved through county and Southwest Gas, and have HEAT! Just in time for the 90 degree tempuratures this week, of course! I know we will have another cold snap before the end of winter, so I will be ready this time.
We have been pruning, and trimming, and pruning, and we still have half the trees to go. Our yard is in such sad shape from being gone last year, it will take three years to catch up with the watering and trimming. We have been planting seeds in our little greenhouses for our garden. My flowers are all sprouted, and some tomatoes. The peppers aren't there yet. We have been busy clearing an area for a garden and almost have that ready. We burned down the old chicken coops and that will be our garden area. The soil is so good, most likely since there was 20 years of chicken manure there.
We have been busy coming up with NEW chicken coop plans, and collecting eggs. We now get about 4 a day for eating, and we have 2 a day we are getting ready to incubate. I also found out our call ducks have a hidden nest in the back, and two eggs! I am not touching that, I'm going to let nature do that one, apparently call ducks are the hardest to hatch out.
We have a new puppy, Sunnie Rose. Actually, her real name is Sunlight Falling on Rose Petals*. She's was a flower before this host*. It is obvious because she has reflective baby blue eyes*.
I had a rough month with a back spasm (seriously that term is way too weak for how bad that felt), I hated being immobile when I had all the garden, animals, kids, and yard to attend to. But I just that to watch out how I lift things while trying to be Superwoman.
Mark camps out again next week. We will see what other trouble we can get into!
*If you have not read Stephenie Meyer's "The Host" this will not make sense. Go read it, I loved it, I think I liked it more than the Twilight saga.
A fun and slightly zany look at the life we call "normal"
February 27, 2009
January 31, 2009
25 Things About Me
I did this for Facebook, but I know some of my readers don't have access to that.
So it is supposed to be 25 Random Things, Facts, or Goals about you. Here they are!
1. I am caught between the ultimate procrastinator and the overachiever. When I procrastinate, I do it to the exact last second. If I choose not to procrastinate, I over work and obsess about it till it is perfect. There is no happy medium.
2. I was considered strange when I was a Junior High Tweeny. I never had a crush on a movie star, boy band, or other unattainable celebrity. I was against any notion of a boyfriend and even gave a few people hard times for going steady even if they weren't "dating" before they were sixteen.
3. I think I was considered strange for more reasons than that, but I don't know the actual reasons why. I thought I was pretty likable, yet I never really fit in. I finally decided that is because of the next reason.
4. I can relate to anyone, pretty much anywhere. I never had a certain clique in high school because I wanted to do it all, and be involved with everything. I hung out with the cowboys/girls in Safford, the business geeks at FBLA, the 4-H group, the band and music geeks, the athletes during track and I loved to be a loner and read for hours at a time. Talk about a walking contradiction.
5. I used to get very upset and ticked off if someone couldn't remember my name. I made it a priority to retain names and faces (business sense kicking in) and was thoroughly ticked off if someone couldn't remember my name later the same day they met me. It's not like there are hundreds of LEXA's running around! (I have let this go, realizing that because it is unusual it is easy to mix it up with more common names).
6. I learned to speed read in 5th grade and would zoom through 2 or 3 books a day through junior high and high school. I am not so happy I have this skill now because I can't stop, and books that have high contextual information such as Lord of the Rings or Twilight I miss a lot of details.
7. I can read at a high vocabulary level, but I almost never can pronounce them right because I haven't heard the words out loud. I have embarrassed myself trying to say them out loud with words such as superfluous, faux pas, and other "high-falutin" language found in Stephenie Meyer books.
8. I make friends easier most times with men than women. Most likely because I was raised with four brothers, each being very unique and having a different personality than the other. Thankfully my husband understands this part of me and knows when I chat on the phone or online with one of my guy friends it is just that. FRIENDS.
9. My husband and I are about as close as someone could be to the term "Soul Mates" My great-grandfather baptized his great-grandfather and talked him into moving to Arizona from Alabama. Our mother's families were neighbors and great friends for three generations. We both went to the same dances, activities, parties, etc. for years (from the time I was 12). We all knew the same people, and I was his Uncle's student in school. We now remember smiling at each other at the Conoco in Duncan and Jerry's at Safford, but never met until the time was perfect in both our lives. Yes, It was meant to be :)
10. I have always had this fear of some tragic ending to either my life or someone I am close to. Perhaps it is a little bit of Anne Shirley coming through, but I just knew I was going to die a strange and crazy death in my teens. Now that I am older, I feel the same way that something crazy is going to take me, my husband or other family. It is irrational, but I still can't shake the feeling.
11. People laugh at me when I say my favorite food is Cucumbers.
12. I love to garden, plant trees, design landscapes, and work in the dirt. I loved our new home in Sahuarita because it was an open slate, nothing there but the canvas ready to plant all sorts of trees and flowers with. I had a dream the other night I went back and they let everything die, and I cried.
13. I get overly ambitious. Really overly ambitious. This one got me in trouble. We bought the home in Saint David, and not only had to take over a dying orchard, I decided we needed a remodel too. Now neither one is doing great, and I have learned my lesson to stop shoving a whole elephant in my mouth at once.
14. My husband's career has changed my outlook. I used to be very naive and trusting to anyone, now I am a little more cautious with where I go, what information I share, and who I trust.
15. Music is still my therapy, but I let my skill level go for to many years, and I hate feeling like I can't sing as well as I used to, or play my violin or piano like I could. I have been working on changing that and singing along and out loud as often as I could the past year and it has encouraged my kids to start singing. I am still not going to be singing in public for a very long time, but it helps me out.
16. I long to travel the world, and wanted to live outside the country and help people in third world countries. This one is not really going to happen (see 14) but I realize we have a lot of the same problems here in America and would be happy to travel and live outside of the Southwest at some point in my life.
17. I live vicariously through my friends.
18. I am known as a meddler. I feel I can fix anyone and everyone's problems if they would follow my advice. Most of my friends understand I only do this because I love them and try to help. Others think it is my arrogance.
19. I loved and still love to visit with senior citizens. I would visit all the grandma's around Duncan, help them out with work they had to do, and listen to their stories. My best friend for many years was Ruth Bagnall (75 to my 10) who lived across the street in Duncan, who never married but loved animals. We shared a birthday and a name.
20. I love to read encyclopedias, especially old ones where the facts are wrong now because of new discoveries.
21. I only like a chick flick if the story is well built, and there is a little bit of action to it.
22. One of the things that caught my attention about my husband was that he had watched "The Music Man" and loved old movies and musicals without having to be a music or theater geek. A cowboy who loved old musicals. Yea, you can be jealous girls.
23. I still think of myself as Country and a Cowgirl, though I don't wear boots or ride horses. I think it's the pioneer state of mind.
24. It sort of shocks me when I find women who can't pick up items over 25 pounds. It also shocks me when I find people who don't know how to sew on buttons. I guess I am a snob like that, but I don't mean to be rude.
25. I am an eternal optimistic. I get discouraged easy, but even in the "depths of despair" I feel like there is still hope for sometimes a hopeless situation.
So it is supposed to be 25 Random Things, Facts, or Goals about you. Here they are!
1. I am caught between the ultimate procrastinator and the overachiever. When I procrastinate, I do it to the exact last second. If I choose not to procrastinate, I over work and obsess about it till it is perfect. There is no happy medium.
2. I was considered strange when I was a Junior High Tweeny. I never had a crush on a movie star, boy band, or other unattainable celebrity. I was against any notion of a boyfriend and even gave a few people hard times for going steady even if they weren't "dating" before they were sixteen.
3. I think I was considered strange for more reasons than that, but I don't know the actual reasons why. I thought I was pretty likable, yet I never really fit in. I finally decided that is because of the next reason.
4. I can relate to anyone, pretty much anywhere. I never had a certain clique in high school because I wanted to do it all, and be involved with everything. I hung out with the cowboys/girls in Safford, the business geeks at FBLA, the 4-H group, the band and music geeks, the athletes during track and I loved to be a loner and read for hours at a time. Talk about a walking contradiction.
5. I used to get very upset and ticked off if someone couldn't remember my name. I made it a priority to retain names and faces (business sense kicking in) and was thoroughly ticked off if someone couldn't remember my name later the same day they met me. It's not like there are hundreds of LEXA's running around! (I have let this go, realizing that because it is unusual it is easy to mix it up with more common names).
6. I learned to speed read in 5th grade and would zoom through 2 or 3 books a day through junior high and high school. I am not so happy I have this skill now because I can't stop, and books that have high contextual information such as Lord of the Rings or Twilight I miss a lot of details.
7. I can read at a high vocabulary level, but I almost never can pronounce them right because I haven't heard the words out loud. I have embarrassed myself trying to say them out loud with words such as superfluous, faux pas, and other "high-falutin" language found in Stephenie Meyer books.
8. I make friends easier most times with men than women. Most likely because I was raised with four brothers, each being very unique and having a different personality than the other. Thankfully my husband understands this part of me and knows when I chat on the phone or online with one of my guy friends it is just that. FRIENDS.
9. My husband and I are about as close as someone could be to the term "Soul Mates" My great-grandfather baptized his great-grandfather and talked him into moving to Arizona from Alabama. Our mother's families were neighbors and great friends for three generations. We both went to the same dances, activities, parties, etc. for years (from the time I was 12). We all knew the same people, and I was his Uncle's student in school. We now remember smiling at each other at the Conoco in Duncan and Jerry's at Safford, but never met until the time was perfect in both our lives. Yes, It was meant to be :)
10. I have always had this fear of some tragic ending to either my life or someone I am close to. Perhaps it is a little bit of Anne Shirley coming through, but I just knew I was going to die a strange and crazy death in my teens. Now that I am older, I feel the same way that something crazy is going to take me, my husband or other family. It is irrational, but I still can't shake the feeling.
11. People laugh at me when I say my favorite food is Cucumbers.
12. I love to garden, plant trees, design landscapes, and work in the dirt. I loved our new home in Sahuarita because it was an open slate, nothing there but the canvas ready to plant all sorts of trees and flowers with. I had a dream the other night I went back and they let everything die, and I cried.
13. I get overly ambitious. Really overly ambitious. This one got me in trouble. We bought the home in Saint David, and not only had to take over a dying orchard, I decided we needed a remodel too. Now neither one is doing great, and I have learned my lesson to stop shoving a whole elephant in my mouth at once.
14. My husband's career has changed my outlook. I used to be very naive and trusting to anyone, now I am a little more cautious with where I go, what information I share, and who I trust.
15. Music is still my therapy, but I let my skill level go for to many years, and I hate feeling like I can't sing as well as I used to, or play my violin or piano like I could. I have been working on changing that and singing along and out loud as often as I could the past year and it has encouraged my kids to start singing. I am still not going to be singing in public for a very long time, but it helps me out.
16. I long to travel the world, and wanted to live outside the country and help people in third world countries. This one is not really going to happen (see 14) but I realize we have a lot of the same problems here in America and would be happy to travel and live outside of the Southwest at some point in my life.
17. I live vicariously through my friends.
18. I am known as a meddler. I feel I can fix anyone and everyone's problems if they would follow my advice. Most of my friends understand I only do this because I love them and try to help. Others think it is my arrogance.
19. I loved and still love to visit with senior citizens. I would visit all the grandma's around Duncan, help them out with work they had to do, and listen to their stories. My best friend for many years was Ruth Bagnall (75 to my 10) who lived across the street in Duncan, who never married but loved animals. We shared a birthday and a name.
20. I love to read encyclopedias, especially old ones where the facts are wrong now because of new discoveries.
21. I only like a chick flick if the story is well built, and there is a little bit of action to it.
22. One of the things that caught my attention about my husband was that he had watched "The Music Man" and loved old movies and musicals without having to be a music or theater geek. A cowboy who loved old musicals. Yea, you can be jealous girls.
23. I still think of myself as Country and a Cowgirl, though I don't wear boots or ride horses. I think it's the pioneer state of mind.
24. It sort of shocks me when I find women who can't pick up items over 25 pounds. It also shocks me when I find people who don't know how to sew on buttons. I guess I am a snob like that, but I don't mean to be rude.
25. I am an eternal optimistic. I get discouraged easy, but even in the "depths of despair" I feel like there is still hope for sometimes a hopeless situation.
January 21, 2009
Soooo...
I go through spurts, where I can think of a hundred things to write, and then I go for a few weeks that I can't think of anything.
So here is all the happenings that are so boring they don't deserve their own posts, but posting them will keep me positive and motivated:
The gas line is installed. Mark dug the trench by hand, and it is installed and held pressure. Wow, I might have heat before spring...
The front room lights work, switches and all. I might take a picture of this one. The chandelier was a .99 ebay auction we picked up in phoenix 3 years ago. It was wrought iron, with an arm broken and had sat out on a porch for a couple of years, after playing with it for a half a day my dad got it all together in working order, and we got it installed. It is really beautiful. The two light switches was a different matter altogether. That took 6 hours, as some crazy help we had (one transient or another) totally screwed up the wiring. The ceiling fans are beautiful. Need to find the blades for the other one though :P
The nook has tape and texture and an oak cubby/shelf in place. If only my kids would get used to actually hanging their stuff up there I might have better luck. Oh well, good habits take time I guess.
I have been working on getting kids help at school, and Taylor into preschool. Tomorrow we have more school meetings. Those take up more time than I realize.
Kids are signed up for 4-H. I am setting up to be a leader, but you now need to do fingerprints/background checks/etc. Wow, who knew?
I finally finished "The Host" and actually found I like it a tad bit more than the Twilight series. I hope Stephenie Meyer continues the series.
I finished my first college class, with a perfect score. Now I'm getting in the swing of things, being a student again, I think I can finish these classes a little faster and cut down the amount of time it takes to get that blasted degree.
Mark leaves for a week to camp out with work. I might have a ton to post then....
So here is all the happenings that are so boring they don't deserve their own posts, but posting them will keep me positive and motivated:
The gas line is installed. Mark dug the trench by hand, and it is installed and held pressure. Wow, I might have heat before spring...
The front room lights work, switches and all. I might take a picture of this one. The chandelier was a .99 ebay auction we picked up in phoenix 3 years ago. It was wrought iron, with an arm broken and had sat out on a porch for a couple of years, after playing with it for a half a day my dad got it all together in working order, and we got it installed. It is really beautiful. The two light switches was a different matter altogether. That took 6 hours, as some crazy help we had (one transient or another) totally screwed up the wiring. The ceiling fans are beautiful. Need to find the blades for the other one though :P
The nook has tape and texture and an oak cubby/shelf in place. If only my kids would get used to actually hanging their stuff up there I might have better luck. Oh well, good habits take time I guess.
I have been working on getting kids help at school, and Taylor into preschool. Tomorrow we have more school meetings. Those take up more time than I realize.
Kids are signed up for 4-H. I am setting up to be a leader, but you now need to do fingerprints/background checks/etc. Wow, who knew?
I finally finished "The Host" and actually found I like it a tad bit more than the Twilight series. I hope Stephenie Meyer continues the series.
I finished my first college class, with a perfect score. Now I'm getting in the swing of things, being a student again, I think I can finish these classes a little faster and cut down the amount of time it takes to get that blasted degree.
Mark leaves for a week to camp out with work. I might have a ton to post then....
January 6, 2009
What do you call a business with no real direction?
I would call that a hobby myself. :) But actually I am looking for someone to help us finally think up some names for our businesses. The business is whatever I happen to be doing at the time. We really need a farm name I decided, but have no idea where to start on that one. I also wanted some name for when I make jewelry, or sell makeup, or doing odd jobs that I have been doing of late (websites, data entry, etc.) The reason being that I am tired of using my full name, because lets face it, Google Lexa Montierth, and EVERY SINGLE LISTING is me.
So here's my list of possibilities, most of which won't work. I take after my dad sometimes naming things (Anyone remember Nacho Mama's?) so if some of these sound corny, forgive me.
L-N-M Op. (For Lexa 'n Mark Operations :P)
Huny's Hive (Yea, people won't get why I spelled it that way)
I'm stearing clear of Montierth Farms. No one can pronounce it right.
Come on folks, seriously I have been thinking these things over for a year now. Help a girl out?
So here's my list of possibilities, most of which won't work. I take after my dad sometimes naming things (Anyone remember Nacho Mama's?) so if some of these sound corny, forgive me.
L-N-M Op. (For Lexa 'n Mark Operations :P)
Huny's Hive (Yea, people won't get why I spelled it that way)
I'm stearing clear of Montierth Farms. No one can pronounce it right.
Come on folks, seriously I have been thinking these things over for a year now. Help a girl out?
The Goals~Lexa
Lindsey gave the list, I'm just filling it out :) Thanks for tagging all of us Lindsey.
1. What skill do you most want to learn this year?
Well, I already learned how to cut up a whole chicken, that was something I wanted to learn. I think the skill I most desire though is to develop good study habits. Not only for me, but for my children too!
2. What is one skill you already have that you’d like to improve this year?
I think I want to improve my jewelry making. I really enjoyed doing that last year, and haven't even touched my beads since I moved back to Arizona.
3. Name three books you most definitely want to read in 2009.
The second novel following Hunger Games, whatever the name will be, The Book of Mormon, and The Last Lecture.
4. In what specific area do you most want to encourage your spouse? What are some ways you can do this?
My hubby has issues with perfectionism when it comes to home projects. He is so worried about doing it right, we usually don't start. I think him understanding that even if it's not perfect, its a learning project, perhaps he can let go a little. I can help by never being critical of his work, and heaping on extra gratitude when he finishes.
5. Think of one of your major life goals. What will you do this year to make you one step closer to reaching that goal?
One major life goal is to be completely out of debt. That won't happen this year, but I am going to work at paying off those last few pesky credit cards, and paying more on the cars.
6. Name your kids’ biggest strengths. What are some ways you can specifically nourish those strengths?
Katrina's is drawing and art. Carlie's is singing and dancing. Mace's is sports and getting energy out. Tay's is still developing. I think I am going to help each kid take a few hours each week to improve their talents.
7. Name your kids’ most prominent weakness. What are some ways you can encourage their ability to overcome it?'
All of them are so distracted and disorganized, I am worrying for their own safety even. We're already working with professionals to get things under control.
8. What is one of your strengths? Think of some specific ways you can exercise it this year.
Wow...I don't know. Maybe this can be my goal, to figure out a strength I have.
9. What is one of your weaknesses? Brainstorm some ideas on how you can overcome this deficiency.
What isn't my weakness? LOL
10. Think of an important relationship aside from your spouse and children. How will you nurture that relationship this year?
I am working on connecting with my brothers and parents better. I dont' think we are as close as we could or should be.
11. Name a few ways your physical health could be improved.
Getting back into an exercise routine, and eating more veggies and fruits. I let my kids get away with bland, tasteless foods for too long, we are getting them some new veggie or fruit to try once a week.
12. Name a few ways your family’s financial health could be improved.
See Number 5
13. In what way do you want to draw closer to God?
Getting in a daily habit of scripture study and prayer.
14. What is one area of home management that frustrates you? Think of some specific ways you could improve your attitude about it.
My home is huge, but I still don't have a place for everything and everything in its place. I get overwhelmed with the projects I have to do and give up too easily. I think my attitude towards it would go a long way into getting it done.
15. Have you ever created a family mission statement with your spouse? If so, why not do one for this year?
No, I guess so :P
16. Name one specific thing you could do with your spouse this year that will deepen your intimacy.
Getting to spend time without kids. It seems we always have the kids, and as a family we're strong, but as a couple we don't have the time to reconnect with each other.
17. What is something that is continually undone in your life? What will you do to fully complete it this year?
I seem to always have chaos. ALWAYS. I think if things are going smooth, we're just suppose to be bracing for the next thing. I wonder if I bring it on myself. Accomplishing my other goals might help this one.
18. In what ways will you be involved with your local community?
I am thinking about this one still, because I don't want to over do myself, but I think I want to get involved in the PTO and School. If not that, I will at least be a 4-H leader and participant.
19. What is one thing you’d like to accomplish by your birthday this year?
I want to have my children learn how to swim.
20. Think of three words you’d like to describe your 2009.
Miracle of Miracles
1. What skill do you most want to learn this year?
Well, I already learned how to cut up a whole chicken, that was something I wanted to learn. I think the skill I most desire though is to develop good study habits. Not only for me, but for my children too!
2. What is one skill you already have that you’d like to improve this year?
I think I want to improve my jewelry making. I really enjoyed doing that last year, and haven't even touched my beads since I moved back to Arizona.
3. Name three books you most definitely want to read in 2009.
The second novel following Hunger Games, whatever the name will be, The Book of Mormon, and The Last Lecture.
4. In what specific area do you most want to encourage your spouse? What are some ways you can do this?
My hubby has issues with perfectionism when it comes to home projects. He is so worried about doing it right, we usually don't start. I think him understanding that even if it's not perfect, its a learning project, perhaps he can let go a little. I can help by never being critical of his work, and heaping on extra gratitude when he finishes.
5. Think of one of your major life goals. What will you do this year to make you one step closer to reaching that goal?
One major life goal is to be completely out of debt. That won't happen this year, but I am going to work at paying off those last few pesky credit cards, and paying more on the cars.
6. Name your kids’ biggest strengths. What are some ways you can specifically nourish those strengths?
Katrina's is drawing and art. Carlie's is singing and dancing. Mace's is sports and getting energy out. Tay's is still developing. I think I am going to help each kid take a few hours each week to improve their talents.
7. Name your kids’ most prominent weakness. What are some ways you can encourage their ability to overcome it?'
All of them are so distracted and disorganized, I am worrying for their own safety even. We're already working with professionals to get things under control.
8. What is one of your strengths? Think of some specific ways you can exercise it this year.
Wow...I don't know. Maybe this can be my goal, to figure out a strength I have.
9. What is one of your weaknesses? Brainstorm some ideas on how you can overcome this deficiency.
What isn't my weakness? LOL
10. Think of an important relationship aside from your spouse and children. How will you nurture that relationship this year?
I am working on connecting with my brothers and parents better. I dont' think we are as close as we could or should be.
11. Name a few ways your physical health could be improved.
Getting back into an exercise routine, and eating more veggies and fruits. I let my kids get away with bland, tasteless foods for too long, we are getting them some new veggie or fruit to try once a week.
12. Name a few ways your family’s financial health could be improved.
See Number 5
13. In what way do you want to draw closer to God?
Getting in a daily habit of scripture study and prayer.
14. What is one area of home management that frustrates you? Think of some specific ways you could improve your attitude about it.
My home is huge, but I still don't have a place for everything and everything in its place. I get overwhelmed with the projects I have to do and give up too easily. I think my attitude towards it would go a long way into getting it done.
15. Have you ever created a family mission statement with your spouse? If so, why not do one for this year?
No, I guess so :P
16. Name one specific thing you could do with your spouse this year that will deepen your intimacy.
Getting to spend time without kids. It seems we always have the kids, and as a family we're strong, but as a couple we don't have the time to reconnect with each other.
17. What is something that is continually undone in your life? What will you do to fully complete it this year?
I seem to always have chaos. ALWAYS. I think if things are going smooth, we're just suppose to be bracing for the next thing. I wonder if I bring it on myself. Accomplishing my other goals might help this one.
18. In what ways will you be involved with your local community?
I am thinking about this one still, because I don't want to over do myself, but I think I want to get involved in the PTO and School. If not that, I will at least be a 4-H leader and participant.
19. What is one thing you’d like to accomplish by your birthday this year?
I want to have my children learn how to swim.
20. Think of three words you’d like to describe your 2009.
Miracle of Miracles
I know you are all dying to know...
The butchering went well. Considering Mark's Uncle John did it all :P Actually we started our journey for home-raised chicken in November with 10 starter broilers. We knew when we started we weren't going to save money, just have a better quality product when we were done.
For those interested in the math, we paid 3 dollars a piece for them. These little piggies ate 2 bags of feed at 15 dollars a piece. So 60 dollars for these chickens right? Well, apparently we waited a little too long, and 2 died here at the house the past week, and 2 "chickened out" and died in the box on the way up to be butchered. So we had 6 chickens. We gave one chicken to John for butchering it, so we ended up with 5 chickens at about 4 pounds dressed a piece. So 20 pounds of chicken with bones, minus the backs and necks I gave Ky for broth! So about 3 dollars a pound for natural, nearly kosher chicken.
You can thank me later for not posting all the pictures of hatchets swinging, and kids poking the heads. Yes, the chickens did run around like chickens with their heads cut off though. Should of got a video of that :P Apparently there used to be a headless chicken that lived for months or years that they would take to the county fairs, and feed with an dropper through the neck. John told us this after one didn't stop running/twitching for 20 minutes. I don't think PETA would approve though.
Mark and I did do the cutting up though with the whole birds. I had never cut up a whole chicken before in my life, I am ashamed to say. And seriously, as long as you are careful with the deadly sharp knife, there is nothing to it.
January 1, 2009
December 30, 2008
Rabbits and Chickens and Ducks, Oh MY!
Our Call Ducks (Bantam Ducks) Charlie has the curly tail, Cindy has a straight tail.
The Red Frizzle Cochin Rooster Shaggy
The mutant strange chicken, Henny Penny, with the crooked beak. It actually cracked and half of the top fell off this week.
The Red Frizzle Cochin Pullet (A young Hen) Daphnie 
Prince Edward, the Dutch Rooster. Isn't he gorgeous!
Some of our Colombian Rock Banatams
Some of the Broilers.
Our newest additions, two silkie roosters, and a Golden Polish Rooster. Two separate families in Tucson had these on craigslist because they thought they bought hens, and can't have roosters in town! Noise Pollution!
New Hampshire Reds Topaz and Amber
Woody, the Rabbit (Mason's)
Puddin' -Katrina's Rabbit
Mason and Woody
Caroline and her rabbit Jessie
Taylor and Mason trying to not freak out with Woody.
December 29, 2008
December 23, 2008
Christmas Cookies!
We cut out gingerbread bears, their ears grew together though, so we got gingerbread folks. This year instead of frosting, I dyed some Marzipan and we had fun with the Play-Doh Frosting. So much fun!
Can you tell who made this one?
He's so happy with his creation. I was impressed, he put the eyes in the right spot!
Monster Cookies!
She directed me, and I think I did more of the decorating on this one.
I think the saying is usually "Less is More" but all the Marzipan went to make this one fashionable.
Can you tell who made this one?
He's so happy with his creation. I was impressed, he put the eyes in the right spot!
Monster Cookies!
She directed me, and I think I did more of the decorating on this one.
I think the saying is usually "Less is More" but all the Marzipan went to make this one fashionable.
December 11, 2008
Experiencing Farm Life without leaving the computer
So knowing that I'm going to have to help butcher the broilers, I started searching for information. I found a few blogs, and the most interesting one was another Blogger named Hanna and her blog, Cultivating Home. Very detailed pictures on how to butcher, and gut :)
Cultivating Home: How to Butcher a chicken ( the easy way)
Don't say I didn't warn you!
Anyhow, I was looking at it, told the kids I was looking how to butcher the chickens so DON'T LOOK (Ha ha, Reverse Psychology at its best!)
So of course they wanted to know what this picture was of, and this picture. After they got their biology lesson, Caroline declared she was not going to eat Chicken McNuggets or any chicken again. I asked what she was going to eat instead. Hamburger, of course! So, being the horrible mom I am, I couldn't help but show her how they butcher a cow (Again, Kids DON'T Watch)
I'll just link, I won't put all 7 Beef Butchering Videos here!
So then Caroline decides she isn't going to eat hamburger anymore either. Katrina joins in and says at least there's still Bacon and Sausage.....Yea you know what happens next. The same guy who butchers the beef, butchers a pig also. You guys if your stomach can handle it, Hog Butchering 3 is so funny, their little 7 year old is filming, and starts making all sorts of commentary and naming parts. Listen carefully starting around 3:30
So needless to say, then Caroline started asking all sorts of questions:
Caroline:Um...where do the beans from like, Bean burros come from?
Lexa: Don't worry, its just plants, no blood is spilled for your bean burros.
Caroline: And um... Spaghetti? Is it from plants?
Lexa: Yes, dear, Spaghetti is from plants also. Except the Meatballs.
Caroline: Oh.. I don't want Meatballs in my spaghetti anymore.
Katrina then has the bright idea, "HEY, let's be vegetarians!" Caroline is all for that idea. We never have to kill sweet little cute animals again. Seeing that it is smarter they figure this out on their own, I said, "Sure, you can be a vegetarian. But, your body needs the right balance of proteins still for your body to grow properly. So you will need to eat beans, even the red kidney ones, and rice, and bean sprouts. Tofu is a good source of protein too. You know that squishy stuff at the Chinese Restaurant I tried to get you to eat?"
They think about this for a minute, and know that for the protection of these little animals, they are going to eat all the beans and rice they have to. So about 15 minutes later, Katrina and Caroline decide they are hungry. We go downstairs to make PB&J Sandwiches, and I pull another mean mom trick.
Lexa: Oh, would you look what we have here! Dino-shaped chicken nuggets!
Katrina: Mom! We're vegetarians now. We're not eating that.
Caroline: Yea, mom, we're never eating chicken again.
Lexa: Oh, Ok, Boys you want some nuggets?
Boys:Yea!
The smell of the cooking nuggets starts coming around....
Katrina: Well, Mom maybe it will be ok to eat the nuggets. They aren't OUR chickens.
Caroline: I don't want to eat chicken!
Katrina (caving in): No, I don't think I'll be a vegetarian.
I set a plate of nuggets in front of them both. It's too much to resist. Caroline joins in, "Can we have ketchup?"
Just to rub it in a little as their 20 minutes of vegetarianism comes to an end, and they start devouring their Chicken Nuggets with Ketchup, I say, "How could you! You killed that poor TOMATO for your ketchup. You Killed a Tomato! Plants have feelings too!
They didn't even pause....Yum :)
Cultivating Home: How to Butcher a chicken ( the easy way)
Don't say I didn't warn you!
Anyhow, I was looking at it, told the kids I was looking how to butcher the chickens so DON'T LOOK (Ha ha, Reverse Psychology at its best!)
So of course they wanted to know what this picture was of, and this picture. After they got their biology lesson, Caroline declared she was not going to eat Chicken McNuggets or any chicken again. I asked what she was going to eat instead. Hamburger, of course! So, being the horrible mom I am, I couldn't help but show her how they butcher a cow (Again, Kids DON'T Watch)
I'll just link, I won't put all 7 Beef Butchering Videos here!
So then Caroline decides she isn't going to eat hamburger anymore either. Katrina joins in and says at least there's still Bacon and Sausage.....Yea you know what happens next. The same guy who butchers the beef, butchers a pig also. You guys if your stomach can handle it, Hog Butchering 3 is so funny, their little 7 year old is filming, and starts making all sorts of commentary and naming parts. Listen carefully starting around 3:30
So needless to say, then Caroline started asking all sorts of questions:
Caroline:Um...where do the beans from like, Bean burros come from?
Lexa: Don't worry, its just plants, no blood is spilled for your bean burros.
Caroline: And um... Spaghetti? Is it from plants?
Lexa: Yes, dear, Spaghetti is from plants also. Except the Meatballs.
Caroline: Oh.. I don't want Meatballs in my spaghetti anymore.
Katrina then has the bright idea, "HEY, let's be vegetarians!" Caroline is all for that idea. We never have to kill sweet little cute animals again. Seeing that it is smarter they figure this out on their own, I said, "Sure, you can be a vegetarian. But, your body needs the right balance of proteins still for your body to grow properly. So you will need to eat beans, even the red kidney ones, and rice, and bean sprouts. Tofu is a good source of protein too. You know that squishy stuff at the Chinese Restaurant I tried to get you to eat?"
They think about this for a minute, and know that for the protection of these little animals, they are going to eat all the beans and rice they have to. So about 15 minutes later, Katrina and Caroline decide they are hungry. We go downstairs to make PB&J Sandwiches, and I pull another mean mom trick.
Lexa: Oh, would you look what we have here! Dino-shaped chicken nuggets!
Katrina: Mom! We're vegetarians now. We're not eating that.
Caroline: Yea, mom, we're never eating chicken again.
Lexa: Oh, Ok, Boys you want some nuggets?
Boys:Yea!
The smell of the cooking nuggets starts coming around....
Katrina: Well, Mom maybe it will be ok to eat the nuggets. They aren't OUR chickens.
Caroline: I don't want to eat chicken!
Katrina (caving in): No, I don't think I'll be a vegetarian.
I set a plate of nuggets in front of them both. It's too much to resist. Caroline joins in, "Can we have ketchup?"
Just to rub it in a little as their 20 minutes of vegetarianism comes to an end, and they start devouring their Chicken Nuggets with Ketchup, I say, "How could you! You killed that poor TOMATO for your ketchup. You Killed a Tomato! Plants have feelings too!
They didn't even pause....Yum :)
We ate it.
The Egg of course! And it was good, and healthy. Katrina got a demonstration on how a farm fresh egg is sturdier, healthier and tastier :) We'll take pictures comparing a store egg and the farm fresh egg next time. It's a big difference!
December 9, 2008
31 Chickens, 2 Ducks and 1 Egg
We are officially in the Chicken Business. I would post pictures except I can't seem to find my camera upload wire since I'm moved here. But the girls wanted me to tell EVERYONE that we got our first egg today!
It all started when we got home and the couple who had been living in our trailer home next door left their chickens behind. I had always wanted to get some chickens (It was my speciality in 4-H) but hadn't the time to set up pens or anything like I wanted. The couple had our old dog run set up over at their house as a chicken pen and had 3 Red Frizzle Cochins and 4 mutant hybrid scary barred cochins. One even has a deformed beak so it grows completely sideways on the top and straight on the bottom. Scary chicken, but needless to say Mason took one look at it and said That one is MINE! The kids would go out everyday and just sit by their chickens and watch them eat. The poor things were starved, their feathers completely falling out, their combs pale and very small. I thought they were just young still, until they told me they were 5 months old or so, and they just fed them table scraps and moldy bread.
So I took these mangy birds and started feeding them actual chicken food and the Frizzles have really feathered out well and I even found out I had rooster in the bunch after his growth and comb wasn't stunned anymore by lack of nutrition.
So from these 7 Mark and I decided we would go ahead and start the girls in 4-H. If we are feeding 7 chickens we might as well feed more, so we attended a National Poultry Show in Tucson Thanksgiving weekend. I was surprised how many faces I recognized, and also met quite a few new breeders. We came home with 10 Broilers (Yup, those are Lunch), 9 Columbian Rock Bantams (The owner might have 2 more, he sold his entire stock to me), a Trio of New Hampshire Red Bantams, 2 White Call Ducks (These are the Bantam Ducks), 1 Light Brown Dutch Rooster, 1 Rhode Island Red Bantam Rooster We Are still looking for the Partridge in the Pear Tree. Let me know if you see one.
I don't expect any of you to get as excited as my girls are over the variety and type of chickens we have, but they have become super responsible, feeding and watering them every day. They have even been non-pouty over us saying that the white broilers are Food, Not Friends. Taylor asked what the names were, and we said, "That one is Lunch, That one is Dinner, that one is Barbeque..." He has been calling them all BBQ now "I love Barbeque, My Favorite" and "Barbeque is so much cute!" I won't make my kids join in the butchering process at their ages now...
But about the egg! It's been almost 2 weeks, and knowing it was winter and they are all in metal cages, we didn't expect any eggs for a while, but Katrina came home and found the New Hampshire Hen had laid an egg. Now...Do we eat it or Hatch it?
It all started when we got home and the couple who had been living in our trailer home next door left their chickens behind. I had always wanted to get some chickens (It was my speciality in 4-H) but hadn't the time to set up pens or anything like I wanted. The couple had our old dog run set up over at their house as a chicken pen and had 3 Red Frizzle Cochins and 4 mutant hybrid scary barred cochins. One even has a deformed beak so it grows completely sideways on the top and straight on the bottom. Scary chicken, but needless to say Mason took one look at it and said That one is MINE! The kids would go out everyday and just sit by their chickens and watch them eat. The poor things were starved, their feathers completely falling out, their combs pale and very small. I thought they were just young still, until they told me they were 5 months old or so, and they just fed them table scraps and moldy bread.
So I took these mangy birds and started feeding them actual chicken food and the Frizzles have really feathered out well and I even found out I had rooster in the bunch after his growth and comb wasn't stunned anymore by lack of nutrition.
So from these 7 Mark and I decided we would go ahead and start the girls in 4-H. If we are feeding 7 chickens we might as well feed more, so we attended a National Poultry Show in Tucson Thanksgiving weekend. I was surprised how many faces I recognized, and also met quite a few new breeders. We came home with 10 Broilers (Yup, those are Lunch), 9 Columbian Rock Bantams (The owner might have 2 more, he sold his entire stock to me), a Trio of New Hampshire Red Bantams, 2 White Call Ducks (These are the Bantam Ducks), 1 Light Brown Dutch Rooster, 1 Rhode Island Red Bantam Rooster We Are still looking for the Partridge in the Pear Tree. Let me know if you see one.
I don't expect any of you to get as excited as my girls are over the variety and type of chickens we have, but they have become super responsible, feeding and watering them every day. They have even been non-pouty over us saying that the white broilers are Food, Not Friends. Taylor asked what the names were, and we said, "That one is Lunch, That one is Dinner, that one is Barbeque..." He has been calling them all BBQ now "I love Barbeque, My Favorite" and "Barbeque is so much cute!" I won't make my kids join in the butchering process at their ages now...
But about the egg! It's been almost 2 weeks, and knowing it was winter and they are all in metal cages, we didn't expect any eggs for a while, but Katrina came home and found the New Hampshire Hen had laid an egg. Now...Do we eat it or Hatch it?
November 24, 2008
Happy Anniversary!
So, I am a few days late, but I wanted to goosh about my hubby a little. I know you all THINK you have the best husbands in the world, but I am sorry to inform you all that that title is taken, and I have him, all to myself. :) November 21 we celebrated 11 years as a happily married couple. I can't really believe it has been that long, because I feel just as young and in love as the day we got married. We even gross the kids out, kissing and hugging all the time. (Mom, we SEE what your doing, can you cut it out?)
I must say I am even more impressed after this past week that he didn't run off. I had the most massive worst case of Pink Eye, Strep throat, laryngitis, a horrible head cold, and that was all that I bothered getting diagnosed. I was in bed most the week with fever, chills, and he kept the house running smoothly, making all the meals, cleaning house, and getting kids to and from school, and getting homework done. Yea, I'm the luckiest girl in the world. You can all be jealous now. On top off all that, he is HOTT with two T's. Good Looks, Defender/Protector, and an awesome cook nowdays too (remind me to have you all taste his Chicken Supreme Burritos).
I love you Hubby. Happy Anniversary :)
I must say I am even more impressed after this past week that he didn't run off. I had the most massive worst case of Pink Eye, Strep throat, laryngitis, a horrible head cold, and that was all that I bothered getting diagnosed. I was in bed most the week with fever, chills, and he kept the house running smoothly, making all the meals, cleaning house, and getting kids to and from school, and getting homework done. Yea, I'm the luckiest girl in the world. You can all be jealous now. On top off all that, he is HOTT with two T's. Good Looks, Defender/Protector, and an awesome cook nowdays too (remind me to have you all taste his Chicken Supreme Burritos).
I love you Hubby. Happy Anniversary :)
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