My Lap is Big Enough

My lap is big enough to hold my oldest granddaughter, Ashtyn Claire, and my youngest son, Caedmon, while grandsons Chase and Eli and my other son Jackson snuggle close by to listen as I read them a book.  You can see the little boys each take turns counting the pirates as I turn the pages.

 Another day the little boys enjoyed homemade lemonade popsicles on the swing.  Poor little Ashtyn Claire wanted one, too!

Chase is at that age where he likes to be a clown.  He'll soon be five years old.  Every time they come the first thing they ask me is if we can "play school"!!  They are coming tomorrow to spend a couple of days with us while their mommy, daddy and little sisters go to the homeschool conference.  And yes, we will be "playing school"!

The Dress Up Day

We are so blessed that our married daughter and family live near enough to come visit frequently.  This past Saturday Lauren and the grands came for the day.  They had a great time playing in the dress up box and one of the older kids had a fun time with the camera.

Grandson Eli is a combination frontiersman/cowboy.

Grandson Chase is a sad looking cowboy here!

Penquin Caedmon

Caedmon has recently watched March of the Penguins...at least once a week for the last few weeks.  Penquins are really "cool" right now!

Apparently Eli thinks the powder horn is a musical instrument.

A cheesy grin from Chase

Cowboys must wear Polo shirts and be very strong!

I think this is Jackson's eye!

How many of you were blessed to have Captain America, two handsome cowboys and a penguin in your home this weekend?  Thankful for a house full of little boys!!

The Building of a Chicken Coop

We always have a least one project going on.  Last year at about this time Jeff and the boys gutted and rebuilt the boys' bathroom.  You can see that project here.  The current project is building a chicken coop for our laying hens who should start laying eggs in the next month or two.  A few weeks ago the guys built the base of the new coop. It was a little tricky as the ground is not level.  There is lots of practical learning going on and the boys are gaining many great skills as they work.

Saturday they began constructing the walls after a trip to Lowe's.

Here Aaron and Jordan work together on the frame.  One wall is already up.

It takes all of them to get the job done.  Jackson loves to be out working with his daddy!!

Chamblee and Sons Handy Man Service

Jeff and Jackson stand behind the wall.  I think it's looking good!

Now there are two walls completed.  The door will face the house and a couple of windows will be added for ventilation.  You can see the gambrel roof frame on the floor.

And, yes, we have a huge unfinished barn/workshop/storage building behind the new chicken coop.  Hopefully, it will be completed one day.

Jackson is proud of the work that has been done.

You can find the plans that Jeff is using right here:  http://mystorageshed.blogspot.com/  He will make adaptions to include nesting boxes, ventilation and a chicken exit.  ; )

homesteadrevival.blogspot.com

http://healthyhomesteading.com/2011/08/raising-homesteaders-blog-hop-1/

Tub Toys

My little boys have taken the usual bathtub toys up a notch.   This is a list of recent toys found in and around my garden tub:

-various Fisher Price Little People
-various farm animals
-FP Little People bus
-Legos...yes, Legos!
-Tonka bulldozer
-a boat that is actually intended as a tub toy
-and last, but certainly not least.....a bean bag!!

What unusual items do you find in your tub?

Things Are Hopping!

As usual we had a very busy weekend and this week proves to be just as busy or more so.  I had taken several pictures from out in the garden this morning only to find out when they were uploaded to my blog that the settings were off!  UGH!!  So only a couple of pictures to share here.

Jackson and Jordan weeded some of the in-ground beds this morning.  Mr. Horn Worm has appeared and is seeking to devour our tomato plants.  Jeff and Jordan have resorted to sevin dust, but is there a more organic remedy that will actually work?  I would hate to lose my tomatoes!

We have lots of cucumbers coming in--this is a first for us.  Can I make pickles with regular cukes or do you have to have pickling cucumbers?

This is a partial glimpse of my weekend.  19 quarts of pinto beans are now ready for a quick meal, 19 half-pints of strawberry jam and a dozen pints of blueberries ready for cobblers.  I also froze 7 quarts of blueberries and have a quart of strawberry puree to make fruit leather later.  I have about 28 pounds of peaches to start on today and our blueberries are ready to pick this week as well.  It a blessed and busy time!

Check out more gardening posts at smockityfrocks.com

Wise and Witty Sayings of My Two Little Men

My two little guys can come up with some doozies!!  I have noticed that every time I wear a skirt Caedmon says, "Mom, you're beauful!"  Beautiful in two year old language and then immediately asks me to dance!! Hmmm, what is about about men and women in skirts?

I walked into the kitchen the other day to find Caedmon digging in the sugar bucket.  Yes, bucket!!  I buy in bulk for my big family, remember?  Anyway, he saw me and with his sugar-coated face and hands said, "Look, Mommy!!  It's nummy!!"

It's a plane!

And then on Sunday as we were traveling to church I was talking with Jeff about how my hands were stained from the onions I had been chopping onions all weekend for the dehydrator.  Little ears in the back seat were listening in and a little later Jackson gave me some advice.  "Mom," he said, " I think you need to let Kaelan do more cooking in the kitchen.  You are getting too old for all that chopping and cooking!"  Bless his heart!  He'll be looking out for his old momma for sure one day!

Learning to chop firewood.

Now that's a face that will melt your heart for sure!

I am so very thankful for these future men that God gave me in my 40's!  What a blessing we would have missed out on if we followed the wisdom of the world.  God's ways are always better....even if on some days I feel like Sarah!






Linked up at Titus 2sday!

A Look at the Garden and More

Don't forget about the Victoria Botkin Curriculum Advice giveaway here.

Lots happening around Chambleeville this week.  I am determined to get back to a school routine as the last three weeks have seen so many interruptions.   We'll see how that goes as Lauren and her three little ones are here for most of the week.  Her asthma is not doing well right now.  The house they moved into has some mold problems which are causing havoc with her asthma.  She will be here as much as possible until they are able to move somewhere else.  In addition to losing a house to a tornado and having trouble with her asthma, Lauren also has a pseudo-tumor in her brain that we are pretty sure was caused by steroid use....which unfortunately has been necessary through the years for her asthma.  We knew that there were/are side effects to using the steroids, but when you are faced with a choice between breathing today and possible problems later, you choose to breathe today!  The pseudo-tumor can be treated with medication, but that means she needs to wean the baby....which during the upside-down time which is their life is difficult to handle.  She may wind up opting for a spinal tap to remove some spinal fluid which is one option for the condition.  

Aaron and Kaelan also have a piano recital tomorrow evening. So they will continue to polish up their pieces today and tomorrow.  I think they are quite ready and I will be glad for them to move on to some other pieces!!  The Irish Washer Woman runs through my head all. day. long!  ; )  However, I am so very thankful for the progress they have made and am thankful that they enjoy playing the piano and the violin.

Here's a look at a few of the garden areas around here.

Raised beds with tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, lettuce, peas, leeks and okra.

Orka and tomatoes

Cucumbers

Cucumbers and onions

Two kinds of lettuce

Tomatoes

Green peas have blossoms

This mixed squash bed WILL be weeded today, boys!

Some newly planted tomatoes and basil

Our older blueberry bushes are full of berries and are almost bent over with the weight.

Lots more berries like these will be great for the freezer, canner or dehydrator.

We've planted green peas, lettuce, a variety of tomatoes and peppers, a variety of squashes, cucumbers, leeks, okra, parsley, cilantro, chives and have added many new herbs.  In addition to our sage, thyme, spearmint, peppermint, oregano and lemon balm we've added apple mint, lemon mint, chocolate mint, rosemary, lavander, stevia, more chives and..... I can't even remember!!  Jordan has some more tilling to do as we have about 30 pepper plants to be planted, more basil and some more squash as well.

We've also been busy dehydrating a 50 pound bag of sweet onions that I purchased for $10.  It's been really easy to do, except for the tears!  Thankfully, once they start warming up in the dehydrator the teary effect is gone.

Now to get all these little people rounded up for some table time activities.  Do you think I'll make it?  I'm beginning to wonder, myself!!  If you don't hear from me tomorrow, send help....please!

This strawberry bed has been producing, but we have to keep the birds out of it!

Linking up with the HOMESTEAD BARN HOP

Linking up with Smockityhere