All kinds of things

We've been busy. Some more.

Field Trip to Smithgall Woods State Park

Elijah and Alex on the right end getting their compass
(orange shirt and black hoodie)

A sweet homeschool mom planned a field trip to Smithgall Woods State Park in Helen. (I learned about it through Facebook - so it does have perks but I may be planning a post here about dumb post there).
We learned that the GPS doesn't get you to the right entrance but nice people cut grass on Thursday mornings and are happy to stop and tell you where to go. And our dear friends the Kaes were also lost, saw us and followed along. So, we were late together (not a new concept to either of us).
The big 4 did three "classes" lead by the park rangers. 1) Stream Ecology (they caught critter in a cold creek and studied them), 2)Orienteering (learning to use a compass), 3) trying to identify animals based on evidence of tracks, bones, fur, etc. (they really liked the rubber scat).
 The four littles and I played with Mrs. Kaes and her littles.

Autumn and Ava using their compasses

playing trucks

sword fighting

Here are a few more of "almost time to go"

Of course they were told to get off the fence after this
(what's the point of having a fence if not to climb!)

After Smithgall we ate at Dairy Queen in Cleveland. That was a BIG treat!

Then after not much debate we found ourselves at Babyland General Hospital. We haven't been there since before Josiah saw the light.

Who had the most fun at Babyland?

We waiting around (potty-ed and PLAYED) until Mother Cabbage
delivered a baby. (This still tickles ME!)
It was a boy!

It's good to give the kids a good understanding of where exactly babies come from.

India

This month in Mission Friends we are learning about India. We've eaten rice and made turbans.
And learned a few foreign words.

I hope to have a missionary come speak to my little group - if I can just remember to call them!

Pigs

We've chased pigs a bit more in the last week or so. The Daddy has had this marvelous plan to add on to the pig pen. This weekend - while he had a few days school free and Papa to help they built a deluxe apartment to separate one out (fatten one up) and fenced in some more yard. 

The problem came when we tried to get them out of the old part and into the new part. 

Essie, the one who was to occupy the deluxe studio apartment was stepping out of their muddy pit and put her nose right on the electric fencing at the bottom of the slat fence. Normally that would have just made her jump, but with her feet in the mud she just froze - sizzle! 

Thankfully I was standing right beside her with my stick and knocked the wire off her. She was pretty stunned and it took a while for her to gather her little bit of wits back together then the dumb pig put her big nose right back on that same spot!

That really knocked her OUT! We waited on her a LONG time. She finally pulled herself back into her happy place in the mud and tried to sleep it off. Shakin'Bacon

This was Sunday afternoon. 

On Monday, she was sitting up and ate a little but not going anywhere. That evening the big fellers (The Daddy and the Papa)  pulled her out of the mud into her new enclosed spot (which helped keep the very excitable Gordy off her). She didn't move much. Her back right leg was injured. She was easily exhausted and way less stubborn than usual. We hoped that a few days rest would bring her around.

Today, Tuesday, she was just pitiful. I could foresee her getting worse instead of better. So, the Papa came back, the Daddy got off work and they eased her suffering. She is now hanging in a cooler at some meat processors.

Rest in Yummy Pieces Esmeralda.

Gordy and BlueButt are very happy in their new digs. They are really enjoying making more muddy places. They are also enjoying eating - Essie was very stingy with the food and since she was bigger then them I guess she planned to keep it that way. She was nice otherwise.

The New Swing Set

Several weeks ago, when the grass got so high it was embarrassing and people began to drive by and wonder, "did that family move out? I wonder who will cut all that hay?" Papa brought over the bush hog - not for the field but for the whole entire yard. 

We had the biggers gather the hay for the pigs and chickens. (We still have a pile).

Papa did a lovely job . . .

BUT - part of the tractor got caught on part of the swing set and it just can't be fixed. 

BUT - Papa had some old telephone poles from who know where and after fixin' the pig pen and jiggity jogging to market with Essie they finished the NEW swing set.

putting it together - Papa on the tractor, Lora, Autumn, Elijah & Alex "helping" Daddy
The short post on the ground came off the top of the vertical beams - what should we make with those?

They hung the swings but the cement around the base of the post isn't completely set yet so well have to wait a little longer to go high. More pictures Soon!

An Heirloom

I have many family heirlooms. Bit of Jewelry, an old nightgown, quilts, baby clothes, big pieces of furniture, pictures. Gene, well, he's got a few pictures and he gets to enjoy my stuff (and he looks like his parents - sheesh!)

Grandma (The Daddy's Mama) went to stay with her mama in AK (except she's in MI right now to welcome our newest niece into the light - perfectly pretty Divinity Gene!) Grandma's mama, Grandma Lore makes YoYo quilts. This week we got a package from her, inside was Gene's lost cap, a spiffy wordy thing to hang up and (drum roll) a YoYo Quilt top with handwritten notes pinned on it. 

To say I was just thrilled would be an understatement. 

I love quilts. I love quilts that people make especially to give to some specific person. 

We are trying to figure out the best way to hang this one. And where? 

I'm thinking above my bed.

When Gene saw it he was pretty excited too! What a sweet gift!

Too more for the road

The kids found this. It was about as long as Jorja's foot.

These did not eat it. (one rooster, five hens = lots of eggs)

More to come!