Who Rules the Roost?

Now for those of you totally uninterested in chickens, please feel free to not read this post. If you are the least bit shocked at "natural life" then don't read on. If you are extremely PC, please do yourself a favor and don't finish reading.



Now all of you that are still reading, I warned you. This post is not for the faint of heart... We have a lesbian in our midst! Now stop gasping....It's our big chicken, Chubba Wubba. Ever since our Rooster, Lindon, bit the big one, she has taken over. And boy did she ever! This is the animal kingdom at it's best. For about 2 weeks, the "girls" were out of there minds. Not having a male around, they didn't really know what to do. We lost 2 chickens to a predator during that time. They just wandered too far on the property and didn't stay close. That was the Rooster's job, to protect his ladies. He did a good job too. He was a looker, that guy. We all felt sad when he passed and didn't really realize the significance of his presence. So the biggest girl took over. She is now the head honcho and all must fall in line under her tutelage. If you have ever heard the phrase, pecking order, it really is true. She asserted her Masculine traits and mounted every single one of her sisters. I was mortified! My husband and I couldn't stop laughing!!! Really it was funny. But secretly, no matter how feminist you are, I consider myself pretty up there, (not card carrying) you understand that no matter what kind of relationship you are in, their is one who plays the masculine role and one that plays the feminine role. Chickens are no different. We have 5 laying hens now and we are raising 6 chicks that are now 8 weeks old. Low and behold, the 6 chicks that we have are really 5 girls and 1 boy! So move over Chubba Wubba, Pecker ( my 5 year old named him that!!!!!) is going to take over any day and things can go back to normal in the Coop...so funny, so sick, but oh so true!
This is what he will look like in a few months.

Update: We had to put the 6 little ones back in their little coop, because low and behold, the rooster is getting hen pecked. His head is bleeding...and I just proved my point. Give it a few weeks, and they will be getting along swimmingly.

I know coveting is wrong....

but this kitchen, laundry, catering kitchen, greenhouse, garden, etc...made me weep it is so beautiful. In my ever so humble opinion, it's price tag is a steal too. Too bad I don't have an extra 1.3 million sitting around burning a hole in my mattress. If I had to design a kitchen for myself or a laundry room or a catering kitchen....this would be EXACTLY what I would do. Don't the cabinets look familiar? I think they are the exact ones I had in Utah....gives me things to dream about at night....I think I might have an obsession with food preparation?! Click on the link below to drool with me.

The ULTIMATE Homemakers Home

The Refuge

Do you ever wish you had a hideaway in your house? When I was a little girl, my room was my oasis in chaos. If I ever had any money, I spent it decorating my room. Seriously, I worked to support my habit of new comforters and art. When I didn't have money, I would plaster the walls with Elle or Vogue magazine pages. It always was my own piece of paradise. But that all changed when I went to college. For the first time in my life, I had to share a room. (I was the only girl) During the next decade and a half, I have had to share my space with someone else for 13 1/2 of those 15 years.


Now I have my own space again. It's all mine. My husband tried to use it yesterday for his work, but he really looks silly sitting at that desk. It's not an office either. We have one of those stacked with papers, books, and various electronics. This is my very own space. Not only does it have a little lounge area, but a desk and a sitting area. It's a sun room off of my master bedroom that is covered by windows and skylights. I sew, read, pay bills, ponder, nap, listen to music, pray, and take mommy breaks here. This house is definitely not my dream home, but this space is just what I need to recharge, recoup, and replenish so I don't break into a thousand pieces at the end of everyday. I can be myself here. I don't answer the phone or get on the computer in there either. So welcome to my refuge. If you can't get a hold of me, I'm probably reading a good book, taking a nap, or just generally pondering what God wants from me next.

Slavery

1 can of compressed air + 1 green lighter + 1 bored boy = Slave Labor for a day!

Testosterone is flowing out of my 10 year old at record pace right now. He has tons of pent up aggression. Sawing down dead tree limbs, rounds of wrestling with little brothers, heated matches on the Wii bowling or Tennis, and some serious back talking. He has played his last crying card with me though. My soft, serious, boy is changing into a tween and it all happened in a month. Most of the time he is still his sweet hugger self, but lately, I feel like taking a stick to his behind. Ahh, the joy of parenting. He could have burned the barn down. Instead of beating the crap out of him for putting his brother and sister in harms way, not to mention him, he is my slave today. I've had the stairs vacuumed, the dishwasher emptied, the main floor picked up, his room spotless, and it's only 12:30. Granted I'm sure every 10 year old boy has a fascination with fire, but he can "play" with fire on the 4th with adult supervision. This is how kids get their hands blown off and burn down the house! What is the pull towards fire? Is it some kind of natural cave man instinct? 413,000 images for flamethrowers on Google, and plans for homemade ones...men! He is drawn to candles, fires, lighters, fireworks, etc. My little pyro is paying the price for his really bad choice today. I'm such an unfair mother....good thing he is going to be starting Football next month.

The First Unofficial Day of Summer

>

It's the last day of school for these kids until Sept 8th. Brighten has the dreaded puffy eyes from allergies.

Madeline's last day of Elementary School. She coordinated outfits with her friend while she was "chatting" with her online last night. When did she grow up? Next year, I'm teaching her how to curl her own hair. (She is starting to proofread my posts, the little stinker!)

These Foxgloves are like a weed in my yard. They are gorgeous. If you've ever driven up to Mt. Hood in the Summer, you'll see these along the road.

My Peonies in full bloom. They have to be one of my very favorite flowers. I really love their fullness. They remind me of what roses used to look like before they hybridized them all. I love roses, but only heirloom ones. They bloom full and thick and you just don't get that in hybrids.


I have 2 clematis vines growing in the front...they are so fickle. If you can grow one then count yourself as a good gardener. Keep the base cool and shaded and you'll get these gorgeous, huge flowers.


I made my kids empty out the RV after school. I plan on putting them to work on a project everyday just so they will look forward to school and give me a break from listening to the WII. The California Lilac in the middle is covered by bees everyday right now. It's so cool to see them at "work" and yes, we have a red barn. We are getting rid of the RV this month so our yard wont look so white trash anymore...


Look what I found today! Underneath dirt and bushes, I found these stairs leading up to the road. Yes, even in the country, you should have some steps from the road. It's got to be bad Feung Shui or Karma or something that you let your stairs get covered. I unearthed them for a few hours this afternoon. Made me feel good to accomplish something today...just look at that pile of branches and bushes I pulled out!

Being Done

A women's work is never done. Isn't that how the saying goes? Laundry gets completed. Dishes get washed. The house gets cleaned. But honestly, it's never really done. The basket fills with dirty clothes just minutes after the last load is folded and tucked away in the drawers. The sink at my house is never empty. Although some homes I go to have a clean sink. This phenomena is a pure unadulterated miracle in my ever so humble opinion. With 3 meals and 2 snacks, 2 kids at home all day drinking, there is always something in the sink. I am not a "fly lady" and I think a polished sink is pure crap! Maybe when my kids are all in school, the kitchen will stay clean...yeah, not going to happen either. And I will let you in on a little secret as to why later...

Today is laundry day. Washing, drying, sorting, pretreating, making a new batch of laundry soap rounded out the days activities.
(this is the first step in creating the homemade laundry soap)

But again. It's not done. There is 5 pieces of clothing sitting in the basket in my Done Laundry room. During the whole process of laundry today (that's right, the whole day), I decorated and painted a project while waiting for the next load to dry.
(not a fan of fake green stuff, but it's a laundry room with no window)

If I don't fold it the moment it comes out of the dryer, it will sit there for days in a heap on the floor. My clothes never leave the laundry room however. I don't fold in front of the TV. They don't go on my bed. Why? It's not because I am some laundry Goddess. It's because I am lazy. Why add an extra step of transporting all those clothes into another room? So they got folded and placed in baskets. (My system is a basket for every kid and they put them away on there own.) And now I have a clean and decorated Laundry room for me, myself, and I. It's my room. So why not hang a pretty picture right? As I listen to the intoxicating hum of the dryer, I drift off into la la land. What do I want to be when I grow up?...Where am I going to go to school?...How am I going to pay for my kids missions and college educations?....and then the buzzer breaks my thought. Another load to fold and I start on my next project.

My home has a very unique floor plan. When you enter, it looks like any other 2 story with stairs off to the side and an entry leading to a living room or family room. But we have an extra door beside the closet that holds My Hallway.
It is the mudroom, laundry room, and pantry all tucked into it's own little hall of fame. (my babies minus Evan...his hangs there waiting for that first preschool pic)

It's completely capable of being closed off (to hide the clutter when people pop in unexpectedly). So in my quest for Done, I completed this hallway today in addition to the Laundry room and I must say it felt good. Painting the hooked shelf, (green underneath and I even drilled the holes myself and installed it with toggle type screws)

hanging the cork board, sweeping, lining all the laundry baskets up for the kids to take when they returned from school, this is Nirvana!

So here's to being Done. Laundry room and Mud room conquered. Now for the revealed secret, I just sent away for info to go to school....culinary school that is...and more specifically, Pastry Chef and Baker....big step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned....

Being Done gives you room to start something new.

Brighten is Baptized

My Baby looking so grown up :(





She lost a tooth the day before...
This is my Beautiful Brighten that is not Baby Brighten anymore. Although I think I could still call her Bitty Brighten because she is a tiny little thing. I made the dress out of extra drapery lining I had from drapes I made 2 years ago and the beads were from a project that I never completed...all in all, the dress cost 2.99 for the ribbon. The buttons were even free as they appeared miraclously on the ground outside our barn one day. Totally not joking either...the Lord works in mysterious ways.
She is now a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I imagine great things in her future. She is a strong one...like her mother.

Auction Projects

Long ago, in a land far far away, lived a humble farm girl that wanted to volunteer at her children's school. She had signed up in the fall for not one, but two class auction projects. After the holiday season was over, the calls began. "Remember that you signed up for the Auction Project parent for 5th grade and PM Kindergarten?" the voice on the other end reminded her sweetly. So the farm girl in question began racking her brain to find something that the parents would actually want and something the kids could participate in. She purchased a second hand hutch, a can of primer, and a can of Asparagus paint from Behr. She had everything else on hand. Then the farm girl went to Craft Warehouse and got fabulous metal stars and scrapbook paper. She had taken the first bite and now had to finish...

The kindergarten stars involved developing a template, cutting pieces out for 6 stars and inking all the edges of the paper. When the day came to go to the Kindergarten room, she was confident that the kids could really accomplish this. Decoupage glue with a few foam brushes and the project was well on it's way to being complete. With a little help from another farm girl and a stash of spare ribbon, the project was finished.

The Hutch was a huge undertaking. Not only did the farm girl have to load the hutch into her SUV, but also had to wheel it down the long hallway to the 5th grade classroom on the other side of the building. Teachers and students alike, peered out of the doors to see what was being delivered. Then came the priming. 9 children huddled around two pieces of furniture, straining to make their mark, was quite an undertaking. The farm girl learned that 5 graders definitely need deodorant. Day two, was the base color. Day 3 was the sanding and staining. Day four, was spent feverishly trying to get the fabric and the new knobs with screws that were breaking their ity bitty heads off, installed. Another trip to Home Depot and then back the the dreaded 5th grade classroom, and finally, is was complete.

The night of the auction came. The day before, she had received several calls asking if it was ok to sell the stars separately and if there was anyway the children could sign the inside of the hutch..huh? Anxiety crept in. Were they going to be good enough? She had heard that this school was sort of Elitist. Would anybody buy them? Well that night, as she went to the auction just to add a last minute shelf to the inside of the hutch, she was suddenly bombarded with cheesy quilts with photos of kids, benches with sponge painting on them, mosaic planters....ok time to breathe. Her creations were a hit. The auction chair then approached the farm girl and gave a her a huge smile. "Finally, another mother that has some creative ability! I am so glad you are here!" The farm girl then replied, "I'm moving in a month..."

I came, I crafted, and I left realizing that I had nothing to fear. I am good at what I do even with the help of elementary students by my side.

Dirt Digger Paradise

My baby is 3! It was only yesterday that I felt like my back was going to break as they finally gave me an epidural after 8 hours of hard labor...14 hours later, I had this large cranium boy that was the perfect end to our family. Evan's birthday was a monumental one for us. The Cars underwear, set of matchbox cars, and Goldfish as "Targets" were included in the presents. Here comes Potty Training. Getting him to wear the underwear will be a feat in of itself. He begged to wear his diaper yesterday.

Being on the brink of Poverty...ok really...it's a minor miracle to pull off a memorable birthday without money. This is when I start to thank my Mother for my creative ability. With all of her crazy mental ways, her genes and example gave me the ability to pull miracles out of garbage. So I really wanted to give Evan something he could use this summer. He needed clothes, so I got some great stuff at Target. I was salivating over the wooden sandbox that was only $84, but knew it wasn't going to happen. Then my brain started working....3 dinosaurs and 3 sand tools later, I hatched the plan.

When the kids got home from school, I had a family meeting. We all needed to work together to make Evan's birthday memorable. While he was down for a nap, the rest of the kids and I went to work in the Garden. They weeded. They hoed. They tilled. And then it was done. Patrick found some scrap wood and I painted a sign for Evan's own Dirt Digger Paradise. That's right, we gave Evan his own raised bed in the garden to dig in for his birthday. It was free. It was fun. It was just what every 3 year old dreams of. Best of all, when I spend all that time in the garden this summer, Evan and Anderson will have something to keep them occupied for hours. Don't you just love ingenuity?