10.9.11
This week was good and crazy like most. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have a peaceful non-eventful week, but maybe it's just how I handle life and the ups and downs. I will say upfront that one reason for so many family big projects is I sincerely feel it my responsibility to teach my children to work, serve, and have knowledge and belief in God. That said a lot of our family time is spent in that pursuit of working together, helping others, and learning about and worshipping God.
Anna is taking an art class as that is one of her interests/talents. This is her first painting. Not sure if it is oils or not it is on canvas and is not water color. I was impressed at the depth and that it was definitely recognizable. She really loves the class and I am thankful for her interaction with such a positive helpful woman.
We are in the harvest time. One of the many things we harvest and one of the staples of our diets are potatoes. We were blessed to be given a pick-up load of potatoes. We sorted them and put them away. It is such a nice feeling to have those nice big potatoes just waiting to be mashed, fried, baked, boiled or whatnot. One more fall chore done.
We also had two bull calves that needed to be updated to steers. So the very brave and maybe desperate for help Uncle MAtt and Jay rounded up the smaller kids and they lacerated the calves. Let me tell you I was impressed! The kids learned the art of herding cows, holding their spot in an attempt to be a barrier for the cows to go past. (THese are pretty nice cows as they are afraid of even Mark...well some.) Anyway once they calves were cornered in wooden pens uncle Matt roped them and then got them dallied to a post which the kids helped anchor the rope and Harold sat on the calf,
held it's leg and covered it's eye to help it calm down (they don't like being tied up and laid down) and ta-dah the job was done. Uncle Matt was very patient and good with teaching the kids and as that is the key step to enjoying your own beef it is a very necessary skill here on the farm. The kids were rewarded with rootbeer from grandma and steak for dinner from mom- just as a reinforcement of what they were doing. I tell them we would just eat vegetables if we had to buy all our meat at the grocery store.
We also picked about 6 bushels of apples this weekends at our neighbors. Unfortunately I forgot my camera. Kids were all over the trees picking and shaking apples down. It was fun as it was a cool day although sunny. When the baskets were full uncle MAtt told Addie and Mark to get them moved. While they could lift the baskets that weighed more than them there was no way of moving them. He assisted in lifting one side and the chain of Matt in the middle and Addie on one side and Mark on the other moving baskets was really cute. We are enjoying lots of fresh apple pie as a result.
Harold also started KArate this week in hopes that this will further motivate him to become engaged in his responsibilities at school He has long yearned to be part of an athletic team and we are hopeful that the discipline and skill required in KArate will help in in other fronts too.
We had a Jane AUstin moment this week. I have always thought how boring their lives must have been... the description of the whole family sitting around the fireplace after dinner sewing and listening to a story being read a loud just sounded blah. But FRiday we sat around reading one of my favorite childhood books. Danny the Champion of the World, by Roald Dahl. WE read for over an hour. And honestly as I reflected on it later we would never have interacted that much watching a movie, nor would I have held my kids as close or even sat by them while watching a movie. So it isn't so gaggy as I thought and we are looking forward to another installment. Believe me I was all set to rewire the TV that night I was tired and ready for something easy but needing to do some reading with my son we sat down there instead. AS usual I learned a good lesson about rewiring my own mind and what I think I can and can't do. I can give my kids more time without killing myself off.
So between all the togetherness and the activity we are busy being a family and trying to keep our chins up. One sad note our four-wheeler is not in operation and mechanic Greg is much at his wits end at this point. Not a good sign as it is a staple of our life and activity here. We hope for a better report next week. Hope all is well. A
Anna is taking an art class as that is one of her interests/talents. This is her first painting. Not sure if it is oils or not it is on canvas and is not water color. I was impressed at the depth and that it was definitely recognizable. She really loves the class and I am thankful for her interaction with such a positive helpful woman.
We are in the harvest time. One of the many things we harvest and one of the staples of our diets are potatoes. We were blessed to be given a pick-up load of potatoes. We sorted them and put them away. It is such a nice feeling to have those nice big potatoes just waiting to be mashed, fried, baked, boiled or whatnot. One more fall chore done.
We also had two bull calves that needed to be updated to steers. So the very brave and maybe desperate for help Uncle MAtt and Jay rounded up the smaller kids and they lacerated the calves. Let me tell you I was impressed! The kids learned the art of herding cows, holding their spot in an attempt to be a barrier for the cows to go past. (THese are pretty nice cows as they are afraid of even Mark...well some.) Anyway once they calves were cornered in wooden pens uncle Matt roped them and then got them dallied to a post which the kids helped anchor the rope and Harold sat on the calf,
held it's leg and covered it's eye to help it calm down (they don't like being tied up and laid down) and ta-dah the job was done. Uncle Matt was very patient and good with teaching the kids and as that is the key step to enjoying your own beef it is a very necessary skill here on the farm. The kids were rewarded with rootbeer from grandma and steak for dinner from mom- just as a reinforcement of what they were doing. I tell them we would just eat vegetables if we had to buy all our meat at the grocery store.
We also picked about 6 bushels of apples this weekends at our neighbors. Unfortunately I forgot my camera. Kids were all over the trees picking and shaking apples down. It was fun as it was a cool day although sunny. When the baskets were full uncle MAtt told Addie and Mark to get them moved. While they could lift the baskets that weighed more than them there was no way of moving them. He assisted in lifting one side and the chain of Matt in the middle and Addie on one side and Mark on the other moving baskets was really cute. We are enjoying lots of fresh apple pie as a result.
Harold also started KArate this week in hopes that this will further motivate him to become engaged in his responsibilities at school He has long yearned to be part of an athletic team and we are hopeful that the discipline and skill required in KArate will help in in other fronts too.
We had a Jane AUstin moment this week. I have always thought how boring their lives must have been... the description of the whole family sitting around the fireplace after dinner sewing and listening to a story being read a loud just sounded blah. But FRiday we sat around reading one of my favorite childhood books. Danny the Champion of the World, by Roald Dahl. WE read for over an hour. And honestly as I reflected on it later we would never have interacted that much watching a movie, nor would I have held my kids as close or even sat by them while watching a movie. So it isn't so gaggy as I thought and we are looking forward to another installment. Believe me I was all set to rewire the TV that night I was tired and ready for something easy but needing to do some reading with my son we sat down there instead. AS usual I learned a good lesson about rewiring my own mind and what I think I can and can't do. I can give my kids more time without killing myself off.
So between all the togetherness and the activity we are busy being a family and trying to keep our chins up. One sad note our four-wheeler is not in operation and mechanic Greg is much at his wits end at this point. Not a good sign as it is a staple of our life and activity here. We hope for a better report next week. Hope all is well. A
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