A few more snapshots of life.

Sunday I had three beautiful young ladies in skirts!   They really looked like young ladies.  

 Today it was decided to make hamburgers.   I have a feeling hamburgers from scratch will also be a new experience.   She didn't get it when T told her we would have to make hamburger buns.  She said we could just use bread.   T then explained either way it had to be made.

First they ground the wheat.  Then we discussed what yeast is and why we use it.  She helped measure the ingredients for bread then helped pat the bread down to make buns.

Buns are rising now and soon will be baking.  Wonder if she has ever had fresh hot whole wheat bread.  They did make one loaf of bread along with the buns. 

Prayer request, she has bouts of homesickness.  She is still so much in limbo.  It is hard on me so I can't imagin how hard it is on her.   Specific request is peace beyond human understanding.  As we all walk by faith and trust Him to meet those needs we have in this adoption journey I just ask prayers for clarity and peace and an extra measure of guarding of hearts.   

Recipies- Good and Yummy

Wanted to share two recipes. The first is healthy and good.  The other is just yummy!

Brussels Sprouts!  I found a recipe that over all was a huge hit.  Some that sorta like Brussels sprouts liked, those that liked them loved this recipe.  We washed them then put them in a baking dish.  Added olive oil and sea salt.  Then baked them stirring often. Cook them with no top on the baking dish.  I think it could also be done in a stir fry way on top of the stove.  Cook until done.  It did take a while, but was so worth it. 

Then the totally bad for you but so totally yummy one was Oreo Cheese Cake

Preheat oven to 275
Crush a bag of oreos for a crust in a 9x13 baking dish or larger.  Ours was slightly larger.  
Mix 2 lbs cream cheese until smooth.  Gradually add 1 cup sugar until combined.  Add 1 tea spoon vanilla.  Drizzle 4 eggs a bit at a time into cream cheese mixture.  Add 1 cup sour cream an pinch of salt.  Crumble 1/2 bag of oreos into cream cheese mixture.  Pour over oreos in pan.  Top with remaining crushed oreos. Bake until done.  Refrigerate until cold. 

This is SOOO good! 

Sharing our weekend

We picked our guest up Friday.  She was very excited about helping make her cake.  I have lots of smiling pic., but I am not sharing face views.... yet :)   So you have to have some of the less good pictures.

 One of the special things we planned this weekend was a birthday cake.  She isn't 17 yet, but we weren't sure if she would get to be here ON her birthday.   She has gotten to do lots more first.  Above she is crushing graham crackers for a cake.   Then below licking the filling from her cheese cake.  She had never licked a bowl!  I so wish I could share the picture of her with the huge smile on her face and a spatula she is licking.

She got to spread cherries on her cheese cake!  Then lick the spatula before it went in the sink.

 Birthday time!   She was excited.  Gifts before cake!  

 Another first!  A blanket tent!   T 12 ask if she and guest could make a blanket tent to listen to Hank.  Guest had no idea what she was doing.   T was a fast teacher.   Then they settled in with LOTS of giggles to listen to Hank the Cowdog, another first!

I wish I could capture the giggles and smiles on here.   All the girls seem to be meshing well.  Pecking order is still up for grabs.  I really see her meshing into middle girl roll.  She is older but younger in many ways than MN.  T will still be youngest girl.

Continued prayers for hearts!  I so see God's hand in her smile.  We have a meeting on Wed. with our new agency.  Prayers as we meet with them for training. Yes we have done this for years, and yes I always have to take thoughts captive and trust God.  I have saw some amazing God moves in this walk.  I know that He is guiding it.  I just battle the flesh.

Prayer Request on our Adoption Journey...

Ebb and flow of life around here is fun and amazing and so highly blessed.   Who has time to blog!  I am way to busy living life. 

This is birthday month!   Two down four more to go!   We are jumping the gun on our guest birthday since we don’t know for sure if she will be here next weekend or not.  We have her now so we will take advantage of it.   She requested cherry cheese cake.  Case worker shared she was disappointed at not having a “party” last year.  We are doing our normal birthday.  Family!   That might be considered a party.   I’m not sure who can make it and who will miss it.   We will enjoy the cake and the fellowship either way.   I will let her help make her cake.   They are super simple!  

I do have a very specific prayer request for our guest.   I can’t imagine being moved into a new home, new world, new rules, new….. fill in the blank!   Please pray that her heart be protected.  That this goes extremely smooth.  Pray for the foster family also as this has to be hard on their end also. 

Other life happenings I have two in braces.  They are doing very well with care of them.   I’m not sure I blogged about it as they had teeth pulled and braces the week before Thanksgiving.  

Our school year will end the last of Feb.  I do pray for some direction on some of their school.  I love SOS.  For most of them I think it is great.  I have one or two though that I’m not sure are college bound.  I wonder what direction is best to get the most education in the time left before they are grown. 

I guess I have several specific and general prayer requests.  I pray our guest mesh.  She seems to be doing well at it.  I pray that she have a teachable spirit and the ability to bond.   I pray for hearts, especially hers to be protected.  I pray for wisdom for all of us as we grow individually and as a family, that we quickly become family in the ways that are important.  No last minute glitches in moving her here, from her side or our side of this adoption journey.  

I also ask that prayers be said to protect all of us from hurtful people that don't understand the call to adopt, especially older children.   That the negative just not be spoken.   That people speak blessings both in our hearing and away, but especially in the hearing of our children.   We do know that adopting a 17 yo isn't every one's calling.   Seventeen year old's deserve a forever family just as much as newborns!  

Fun filled Saturday Dec. 1

We have had a wonderful weekend.  I took a few pictures of the quiet day at home. 

 

I got to watch littles while mom went bike riding with assorted bigger kids, those that had chores done, wanted to and could ride a bike.

 1 year old and I sat on the porch. She was totally happy just setting.  Then big dog came along.  Did I mention he LOVES her.   He sat down beside her.  

 Then he laid down beside her.  It was so sweet listening to her coo to this massive ball of fur that was begging to be touched. 

 She lost interest before the dog did.  She wondered off leaving a sad puppy.   We came inside to see 16 yo teaching 3 yo how to make survival bracelets.

 On to find a new animal to pet.  This is my big tom cat.  I find it funny he kept being where she was. He wouldn't leave either, and didn't scratch. 

 While everyone else played, 13 yo played in his own way.  He loves to build.  His dad told him he could work in the bathroom.  He paneled the whole bathroom insulating it first today.   This wasn't just straight cuts, but under stairs!  He did come and tell me he cut one piece backwards for the angel of the stairs.  He was content but exhausted tonight.  He would come get his brother to help hold a few pieces with him.  

 More survival bracelet making.  Yes, that is our guest.  She did awesome.  We had a good weekend. 

 

Guest trying her hands at making a bracelet. 

Board games, I personally think of them as four letter words, but others seem to like them.

 Even littles like them, even when they just set in laps and watch.  

 We had a friend out today.  Grand daughter and her dd played well together. 

 Cookies?  Yes!   Chocolate chip from ear to ear!   They were good 15 yo made them.

 Because she ask me to take hers also!  She got a picture taken. 

 Jumping on the trampoline! 

Bike repair shop!  Friends sons brought bikes out to ride, but first they needed some TLC.  We drug 13 yo away from building project to work on bikes.  He is handy to have around!

Crackers

I want to save this recipe here and share it.  This is the link to the original recipe: Crackers  It has some great tips and ideas.  It just doesn't make much.

Homemade “Wheat Thins”-Style Crackers

Recipe type: Breads

Author: Katie Kimball

Adapted from King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking Cookbook

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ c. whole wheat flour (can use spelt flour, traditional whole wheat or white whole wheat)
• 1 ½ Tbs. sugar (or honey)
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. paprika
• 4 Tbs. butter
• ¼ c. water
• ¼ tsp. vanilla
• salt for topping

Instructions

1. Mix ‘em: Combine the whole wheat flour, sugar, salt and paprika in a medium bowl. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut the butter thoroughly into the dry mixture until it looks like large crumbs, no bigger than a pea. Some people use a food processor to cut in the fat, but I prefer to save dishes and keep it all in one bowl. Combine the water and vanilla in a measuring cup, plus honey if using, and add to the flour mixture. Mix well until combined and dough forms, but only as long as necessary for the most tender crackers.
2. Prep ‘em: Use parchment paper, a lightly greased cookie sheet, or an ungreased baking stone. For crackers, I would HIGHLY recommend using a baking stone (I love my Pampered Chef Rectangular Stone), or at least parchment paper or a Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat. I roll the dough right out on the stone or mat, after flouring it lightly, and bake them. Yep, right on the stone. That way I don’t have to worry about rumpled crackers as I move the fragile dough. People say, “Those are homeMADE?” because most of my crackers have perfect shape and are sooooo delectably thin.
3. Roll ‘em: Only use one fourth of the dough at a time. Cover all your surfaces with flour and roll the dough as evenly as you can. You might flip the dough to make it easier to roll, but I don’t always have to. Keep rolling until the dough is as thin as humanly possible without tearing. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife and cut the dough into squares or triangles, about 1 1/2 inches each. Fork pokes make them look extra authentic. If you want all beautifully square crackers, you can trim the edges square. I skip the trimming and just deal with weird shaped crackers. Those go to the toddler right away! (Note: be sure you don’t cut your silicone mat!)
4. Bake ‘em: Make sure your oven is preheated to 400 F. If you have used a mat or parchment paper, just slide it onto a cookie sheet. If you don’t have either, you’ll have to move each cracker individually. Sprinkle the squares lightly with real salt, if Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough.
5. Bake the crackers, one sheet at a time, until crisp and browned, 5 to 10 minutes. (If you want to do two trays at once, you can put one on top and one and bottom and switch them halfway through the baking time.) If some of the thinner crackers on the edges brown too quickly, remove them and return the remaining crackers to the oven to finish baking. These crackers bake quickly, so watch them closely – even 30 seconds can turn them from golden brown to toast!

Heart of Motherhood

A retreat for women of all ages who need to be encouraged, inspired and uplifted.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 “…we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. (The Message Bible)

"the nutritional info, babies everywhere, listening to the testimonies of the ladies, the call to serve God and our families in a deeper way"
"I find it re-energizes me as a mom. It helps me see my role as mom and wife in a better light."
"Such good family based living and learning with the bible! The best experience ever. Meeting and socializing with other women is outstanding."

The heart of motherhood enrichment retreat is a retreat for women that need to be encouraged, inspired and uplifted by the word of God. We will look to God to give us a clearer, burden free path of raising and discipling our families. God desires for us to have peace, joy, and even rest on our motherhood journey! Join us this year as we welcome a group of Godly women as our speakers:
Julie Zesch, Kristi McClellen, Bonnie Robertson, and Dara Halydier.

Friday, February 1, 2013 - Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013
Heart of Texas Bible Camp
Brownwood, TX
Cost: $120.00
(Includes: lodging, meals, and packets)
Registration deadline is January 20th
Earlybird registration $110.00 - due December 31st.

As a part of our ministry we believe in feeding your body with God given healthful foods. Our meals will be served with whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, preservative free, home-baked, nutritious and delicious!!!

Join us on Facebook at Heart of Motherhood retreat for more info

Register by sending your name, address, phone number, and email address via email (scholarships available) If you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund you can when you register. If 10 ladies contribute $10.00 you will bless someone with a full scholarship to retreat.
If you would like to pay on line, let us know and we will send you an invoice where you can use your pay pal account, credit card, or debit card.


Tenative schedule:
Fri. Arrival from 5 - 6
Supper, followed by our first session and a pajama tea party to wrap up the evening.
Sat. Yummy meals, 4 fabulous sessions including our nutrition talk, open panel discussion, free time, and prayer.
Sun. Wrap up session, testimonies and sharing, grand finale, healthy lunch, pack up and head home to our families.
Unable to attend all weekend, consider coming for the day on Saturday. The cost for one day will be $60.00

We will have a selection of helpful books and nutritional supplements available for purchase!

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving is done!  What a wonderful blessing and fun fun fun day!!!!   We had about 50 people throughout the day.   I think the number of littles is what surprised me the most.  We counted over a dozen 2-6, and then we had 4 in the 0-1 category.   Older kids we had I think 11.  That isn’t counting adults!   20 or so adults if I counted right.  I count and then think of someone else so this is an about count.  

We had lots of food and lots of leftovers.   I do know I like turkey, dressing and gravy better the day after.   In fact that is usually the first day to have dressing and gravy.   J  I had some this morning for breakfast with turkey cut up in it. 

Here or some of the pictures of life yesterday.  I was to busy to get many pictures.  I think my DIL got more. 

Teen boys and food just go together.

 

My nephew was in his element, teaching tether ball to a passel of littles. 

 Then they went on to climb mountains!  

 While new mommies and babies got some much needed rest. 

I missed the really good picture of T and two littles.  One of the littles walked away before I could grab the camera. 

 This might be my favorite picture, New Friends!   Grand son and a new friend learning about dirt and building and other boy things.

More getting ready!

Tortiala roll ups being made  This is a boys job, so we have been told.  Over the years it started out that MJ was allowed to do this as it was easy.  Then he took pride in it and went from "helping" to taking it over.   The year we got the other 2 boys he was very proud at being able to teach them.

 

 

Now it is a boy thing!  They do it all! 

 

 

 

 Here is one of MN's pretty pies!  Didn't she do good for the first time making a lattice crust?  

 DIL does a great job on hers!   Just think how good they will taste, and hey they are made with whole wheat flour so they are healthy right?

Here is a picture of my turkey fryer doing a turkey.  See how beautiful and brown it becomes?  

 This is the first one in the frig.  Might have been sampled on just a little bit.  Trust me it is good!

 Oh and for those that didn't do their school right and decided to see if mom really meant they could do school instead of Thanksgiving preparations and maybe even Thanksgiving........ 

I really am a mom of my word!   He wasn't willing to take a few of the others word for it, as they also sat out about once.  
I even put grands to work!  This is grand daughter putting up dishes she has washed.

It's beganing to look a lot like Thanksgiving!

It also smells a lot like Thanksgiving!  

 

D13 is busy anointing the turkey with olive oil!   I have this awesome amazing oil-less turkey fryer that makes them moist and yummy like fried with just the oil we rub on it.   He is in charge of cooking turkeys today.   He started about 7 getting the fryer out and first turkey on to cook.  He has watched the timer and is very responsible with checking.   He is doing a great job of it.   He has one done and the second one frying.   The next two are injected with seasoning to add a different flavor.   I can't wait to see how they taste.  

 I love it this picture of 3 yo learning to roll out pie dough.  The apron just sets it off.  Baby foot in the picture is little sister on mommies back!

 Baby sister, with those big blue eyes!

 MN learning to make pretty pies!  DIL does this type and they are so pretty so MN did it also today. 

 T pulling pies out of the oven.   Maybe a pecan pie there will a chess pie on the top of the stove.  

 Her rolled out pie crust!   She did good!  

Pie count: 10 done, 7 in the oven and 3 still waiting in line to be cooked!

DIL has a lot more pictures on her camera.  Maybe she will blog and I can link. 

Thinking Thanksgiving with Recipes

The smell is in the air!   Trash (Checks Mix) is in the oven. 

Trash (Party Mix)

Cheerios
Rice Checks
Wheat Checks
Corn Check
Pretzel
Frito's
Nuts
¼ lb. butter
1 c. bacon drippings
5T.Tabasco sauce
2T. savory salt
1T garlic or powder
5T. Worcester sauce
cook at 250* for 2 ½ hours stir about every 15 or 20 min.

Kids chat back and forth about what they liked best last year.   Everyone has a different favorite.  Some of them have favorites that change depending on the moment.   Today we make trash, or at least the first batch.   I usually do two batches, some how this batch over filled the roasters so I will have some extra to play with.   With two kids on a nut free diet because of braces I may do one without nuts.

D13 votes Grandmothers dip, MN always votes grandmothers dip.  It brings fond memories of my mom.  We usually had dip which is somewhat the rotel/Velveeta dip with changes.  We would have dip for breakfast Thanksgiving morning on bread, toasted in the toaster oven. 

Dip
1 lb ground beef
1 lb sausage
1 onion
1 bx 2# Velveeta cheese
1 can Rotel
Fry meat add finely chopped onion, cheese and rotel. Heat until cheese is melted and mixed well.

My mom use to make this the day before Thanksgiving. Then we would snack on this for breakfast. It is good with chips or spread on bread and toasted. Kids beg for it several times a year.

Here is how I have changed it over the years.

First I double everything. I use 2 lbs of hamburger and 2 of sausage. I like the hot breakfast sausage for it. Then I got lazy and buy a can of nacho cheese instead of the Velveeta. I never buy rotel. That stuff is expensive! I can toss tomatoes, onions and peppers in the vita mix and have the same thing at a fraction of the cost. Besides I can control the hot. We use it as a dip, and pour it on chips for nachos. For Thanksgiving I keep it warm in a crock pot.

Tortilla roll ups are a favorite of many of us.  Those came from my SIL Kay.  She would make them each year, not in the quantity we do, but enough for everyone to enjoy.   This is a food that I was told today the boys do.  :)  Usually, ok every year for the past few it has been a boys job.  First it was MJ with help then with we got the two D's it became their job.  Now it has become their job, while girls do pies. 

Tortilla Roll ups
2 8 oz pks cream cheese
3 Tbs pimento chopped
3 Tbs sour cream
1- 4oz can chopped chilies
1c. diced green pepper or 1or 2 hot peppers
4 T Bacon bits
4 green onions
salt and onion salt
6 big flour tortillas

Pies!  Pies! and even a few more Pies.  Probably my favorite is Chess.  Again from my mom and I am pretty sure from my grandmother.   This is one of those simple old fashion recipes that is good, but not hard to make.  If my niece doesn't come then I will get extra, she and I grew up fighting over who got them most chess pie.

Chess Pie
1 ½ cup sugar
½ cup sweet milk cream
6 egg yolks
3 tablespoons butter
Vanilla
Bake in unbaked pie crust

After Chess is Pecan.  Again, Grandmothers.  I can remember being little and getting to 'measure' that cup of pecans to put in the unbaked shell before she poured the goodies on it.   When I got married my dh didn't like pecans but loved the filling.  Like a good MIL she adjusted the recipe and always made one pecan less one.  So you can take the same recipe and do it without pecans and it is still good.   Something I didn't know was corn syrup doesn't have the high fructose in it.   Or so it says on the bottle.

Pecan Pie
4 eggs
2/3 c. syrup (light Karo)
1c. pecans
Makes one pie.

For those that like coconut pie or just coconut in general I do make a coconut pie.   I am not a fan if you haven't figured it out.  Everyone says it is good. 

Grandmothers Coconut Pie
4 eggs, beaten
½ c. self rising flour
(1/2 self-rising flour equals:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus
¾ teaspoons baking powder, plus
1/8 teaspoons salt.)
1 ½ c. sugar
½ stick butter, melted
2 c. milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
6-7 oz coconut
mix all in order given. Pour in 9 inch pie pan bake at 325 degrees for about 45 minutes or until done in center.

I do pumpkin, but since I don't have a recipe I won't include it.  I do use fresh or frozen pumpkin.  This year it is fresh frozen from the garden.   I toss it in the vita mix, add some cream some sugar, some cinnamon, ok a LOT of cinnamon and some eggs.   Blend until smooth and fill pie shells until I run out out.  Last year I had some left over pecans so I made a pumpkin pecan pie.  I just added pecans to the pumpkin pie filling.  It has been requested this year. 

We do cheat and do apple and cherry out of a can.  Just home made whole wheat crust.   Usually we do 2 of each with an extra here or there as we feel led.   There is no perfect number. 

We do a bowl of fruit salad.  I do cheat and add fruit cocktail.  I use a gallon of the regular and a gallon of the tropical.   We then add a 1/2 gallon of maraschino cherries.  That is the base!  Well not a full half gallon since we cut them in half and a percent gets ate.   To that we add oranges, apples, bananas until the bowl is full.   Think somewhere in the neighborhood of 4-5 gallons of fruit salad mix.  Strange as it sounds usually this is one of the first things we run out of. 

Dressing I am behind on this year.  I do need some extra biscuits made and NOT ate.  We make, we eat and none or very few go in the freezer.   Maybe Sunday morning we can do a double batch and Monday morning and then will have enough to finish off the dressing.   I will crumble that on Tue.  Add my seasonings and let it soak them up.  Lots of sage!   Then Thursday morning I will add the eggs, onions, celery, and broth to make the dressing put it in the oven and PRAY it gets done.  Some years.... well we try.  

Giblet gravy is another favorite that is my moms.  I really don't know if any one else does it like she did and now me.  I make a white gravy.  Then at the last minute I add gibbles, cooked and ready and sliced boiled eggs.   Why do I do this?  Because Grandmother did!  It is good!  Don't knock it until you have tried it.  Some years it gets thick some years.......  It seems to always get ate! 

This year we are doing 4 turkeys.  I bought a new fryer, it is oil less.     You grease your turkey and put it in the basket, cook about as long as you do fried turkeys.   Taste amazing!   It has a drip pan in the bottom, I will use the dripping for gravy and dressing.  I will let you know how it works out.   Then we will do a spiral sliced honey glazed ham for those that do pork. 

We finish off our cooking with a pan of sweet potatoes topped with all the sweet yucky stuff like sugar and marshmallows.  It also has cinnamon and butter.  Then the other pan that is just sweet potatoes and butter.  

Anyone want to come?   Some how I think there will be plenty!  Come join us!  It is fun!   We are so blessed.  Come join us as we celebrate our Thanksgiving!


 

Life is an Adventure...

  Life is never dull here.   Yesterday and today were no exceptions.  

Yesterday I check my ewes to start the day.  I had a set of twins. Then walked a bit more and found 1 lamb with two mamas.  The lamb was laying on it's side.  I wasn't sure it was alive.  It was, but for what ever reason it couldn't stand up.  I'm not sure if it was down to long or what, it would fall over on the side it was down on.  While I tried to figure out who mama was, since both ewes wanted the baby and also to eat my dog it was fun.  Finally I decided that the white ewe was mama and the black ewe was in hard labor.   I called for back up and MN took the lamb and the mama to the house.  

We stood lamb up and got it to nurse.  If you think of a lamb with enter ear issues you have this lamb.  It could nurse but not stand.   Then I discovered the other ewe was having issues. Of course she wasn't easy to catch now.  After much work we got her to the barn and a small pen.  While MN held her I checked, sure enough we had an ear where we should have a nose or feet would have been best.   Much work later we pulled a lamb, but it didn't make it.   Mama still wanted white ewes lamb.  Throughout the day we worked with floppsy mopsy lamb.  She improved throughout the day.  By night she would stand and walk if you stood her up, but if she fell she was down for the count.  Today she is doing much better. 

Then evening came and I again walked through my sheep.  This time I found an other ewe with feet hanging out.  Again I sent for reinforcements.  This time we caught and had a much better result.  We pulled a BIG live lamb.   In a short time mama took her new baby and off they went.  

Today was dentist day!  MN and MJ are both getting braces.  Today they had to have teeth pulled to make room.  MN had to have 4 teeth pulled, and MJ only 2.  With much excitement on kids part, mainly MN's off we went to the dentist.   They pulled all 4 of hers, I was surprised!   She came out looking shell shocked.  She didn't think it would be that hard.  :)   She soon found her sense of humor though.  It wasn't long until she informed me she now knows what her donkey felt like when it got rattlesnake bit!   She sounded just like Hank the Cowdog on the CD about the Double Bumblebee Sting.   :)   I couldn't help laughing, she would have, but her face was numb and she couldn't even smile.  I did get it on my phone so we have it recorded her talking about the rattlesnake that was needles :)  MJ didn't have but 2 out and he wasn't a chatter box all the way home.  They are both doing good.  

Just before I left to do the dentist our Guest case worker called and said that the foster mom messed our Thanksgiving plans up with her.  She invited guest older brother to Thanksgiving, it isn't fair to make guest choose.  Please pray for the foster mom's heart to soften toward her being adopted, where she will work to make this work for her not mess it up and create doubt and confusion.   So sad to say we won't have that special guest (unless God does something about it) for Thanksgiving, but will have her the next weekend.  I am sad but trusting  that this is all part of God's plan.  

Kids get braces on Thursday.  They are excited.  I am glad for them, especially MN as this is something she has wanted for years, but she had to get to a emotionally mature enough spot for it to work.  We have talked about why I made her wait.  She started understanding as her mouth hurt so with just the spacers.  Today she looked so shell shocked when she came out.  I am so thankful we waited.   MJ seems to be handling it well.  I'm not sure if he has less pain or if he deals with pain better.  I would have said before we started this that MN had a high pain tolerance.   I know they will get through this.  Even this evening MN is very excited about Thur. and the braces.  



 

Lost Hat and lambs

DIL went to go home.  Five year old had a melt down.  He had to find his hat!!!  So she told him to find it.  He "couldn't".  Yes, he looked about that long.  She sent him back out to find it. The 15 yo told her where it was, double checked to see if she was right even.   It was here.

 

Some of his "looking".  He did come in once and tell me the dogs got it.  All said in major meltdown whine.  I told him he needed to gather the pieces then, I didn't want them in my yard.   With total seriousness he told me, "The dogs ate ALL of it."   I was sweet, I felt around on the dogs and told him I didn't feel a hat in them.  Keep looking. 

 He looked HARD!  Notice the red grill in this picture, it is the same red grill that is in the top picture beside the hat. 

 I left him looking and took my camera with me to check sheep.   I love lambs!  We have about 50 now.  It is hard to count as they are running and playing and moving around way to much. 

This set is the first set.  They have grown a lot.

Brown and white lambs are new this year.   We do have a new buck.   They are pretty.

 

I like the black and white ones too.  Where they are black they are so black!   Since they are hair sheep their color doesn't fade like with wool sheep.  A black wool sheep baby will become a faded reddish brown.  These stay black.  

 Supper time?  Not really!  This lamb is last years lamb.  Yes she had a large mama.  But not this mama.   Hers was a Jersey, but hey what ever you can grab a snack from!  

I met grandson heading home hat-less as I came back from checking sheep and taking pictures.  I shared my pictures of him "looking".  She told him it was on the porch and sent him back.  I did offer to let him have a blanket if he couldn't find it and had to sleep on the porch.   He didn't seem impressed.   Amazingly he found it!