Happy Birthday to me!!

Ok, its not my birthday! I feel like it is though. My husband surprised me Saturday with news that I was getting a new camera. Sunday we went shopping, and I got a Nikon D40!! Now I can show off great pictures like.................

These fall feathers I found hanging on a tree...

The turkey vulture that comes every day and wants to eat my chickens and little dogs...

How fast this little bullet can run when a wolf is chasing her......:)

How happy Penne is that I got a new camera........

How busy the pigs have been......

How big the turkeys are.......



The view off my front porch yesterday morning......


and my cowboy.......

Thank you for looking at my photos. I only took 500 yesterday :) Because of my Internet service (dial up) I was wondering if someone out there could let me know if these pictures are clear. I have to resize them for the web, and the picture on my computer looks distorted and grainy when I'm done.

Thanks! :)

Moose on The Loose

Good Morning! Yesterday while doing school at the dining room table, a moose made an appearance. I started this post Monday, but my pictures were further away than I wanted so I didn't post them. I REALLY, REALLY want a new camera. Until then this is the best I could do! :) This moose dared to come out the first day of Moose Season! Brave isn't he?

My kids CQLA (Character Quality Language Arts) arrived Monday also, and we have been getting acquainted with it. We have completed a month of it so far, (they offer a month free on trainingfortriumph.com) and I love it. I am not a good writer and I struggle in that area. This program is step by step. They don't give the kids a biography to write and then instruct them to have it done in two weeks. They take them step by step working on one paragraph at a time, giving them helpful ideas. It is a really comprehensive program. I love it.

I also finished my book Love and Respect by Dr. Emmerson Eggerichs. It was an amazing book! Now I'm on to a book called Respectable Sins, Confronting The Sins We Tolerate, By Jerry Bridges. It's a very convicting book. I have learned so much and I am only on Ch 4. It has also challenged me in many areas.

Well, tonight company is coming for dinner, so I'm headed to the kitchen. :)

Cooking

This was yummy! Pear Crisp. I have had apple crisp, but not pear. My family loved it, and I took the rest to my mom's to finish up with coffee this morning. She poured cream over it and oh.... my .... gosh! It was sooo good.

We are off to do firewood tonight at my moms house, and I'm taking Beef Stew, Big Daddy Biscuits, and Old Fashioned Whoopie Pies.

I wanted to make some of Kelli's Gingerbread cupcakes, but I ran out of time yesterday. They look so good, and my husband is crazy about gingerbread. We have company coming Friday night so I think that is what we will have for dessert. (If we can wait that long ;)

The Bear Hunt (It's a long frightning story)

Ok, I didn't want to go, and felt really sorry for my hunting boy. It was the last day of bear hunting, Scott was out of town, and he had no one to go with him. So, being the loving, do anything for my kids mom, I went! I've been several times before with both of the boys and, saw a bear, video taped their hunt , and helped gut a bear, yuck! I did it all with them. I kinda had fun with them, and kinda enjoyed the experience yet, it didn't cure me of my fear of bears. Bears and snakes, are the only things that make me want to faint. (I will take a bear over a snake though :) Anyway, back to my hunting story.........

My mom told me a story about my great grandfather hunting bear and coyote. He would cook meat and burn it, take it to the bait pile, and wait. It brought them in every time.


You see where I'm going with this? Yes, I burnt bacon, put it in a plastic bag, stuffed it into my pocket, and off we went. Dave, (a friend of a friend, and our next door neighbor) picked us up at 4:30pm, we drove, I can't tell you where, because if my life depended on it I couldn't find my way back home from the location. On the way he told us the bait had been hit the night before, but they only took the BACON grease! I got excited!

On the way in we saw a rust colored coyote. The guys that hunt in there have seen it more than once. It shot across the dirt road, Dave stopped and Dean jumped out with his gun. It ran in the woods and stopped and looked at Dean walking toward him, then bolted. Dean hopped back in the truck and we were on our way again. I sat in the back thinking about that bacon grease, and the bacon in my pocket.

"Ok", I thought......"We will go in and put all the bacon on the bait, climb in the tree, and in 20 min. have a bear".

I forgot to tell Dean to put all the bacon on the bait, and he only put 2 pieces on. He climbed into the stand....

I said, "Dean, why didn't you put all the bacon on the pile?"

"I thought you said not to put it all on!"

"Give me the bag!" I balled it up and threw it out toward the pile. I floated down right below us!!! O well, I thought. Then as I sat there I thought about that bacon in the baggie. Did I really want a bear that close?

"Dean, maybe we should go get that and put it on the pile"

"No, it will be fine mom"

"OK Dean, we'll leave it"

We waited..........SNAP, SNAP to my left side...........SNAP,SNAP behind me.

I thought, "Ok we're getting a bear tonight". I was happy for Dean. Then I heard more snapping in front of me.

Then I thought "Ok, Kerri your hearing every bird, squirrel, and rabbit in the forest". I listened some more to be really sure what I was hearing. Yep, something was coming in. I was a little confused because the snapping was in three different areas in a short amount of time. As I pondered this over, we heard a "WOOF" , which is the sound a bear makes. It happened again and Dean and I just looked at each other. Then I knew we were getting a bear tonight. Right? Wrong!! Immediately after the second "WOOF" a pack of coyotes broke into a screaming fit!!! I started to cry while shaking uncontrollably, Dean immediately got his gun ready. Then he proceeded to calm me down.

"Coyotes can't climb trees mom." he whispered.

We quickly realized they had been circling around us all evening. That is what we were hearing. Just when I thought things couldn't get worse a pack off to our left answered them. So there we were 4 bullets, two people up in a tree stand with 2 packs of coyotes, one circling the other possibly on their way to greet the others.

You know what I was thinking?

"This is the LAST time I go hunting. It's over. Never ever again. I don't care if it's the last chance on earth to get a bear! I'm never ever going hunting again! EVER!!"

After the crying stopped, I just shook. Dean was watching and listening. I didn't know how we were going to get out of that tree! I wanted to call someone. (I did have my phone on me)

"Would I get cell service?" I thought.

They started circling again, and then they would stop, and shake just like a dog does after their bath. You could hear that vibrating sound. One came to the bacon in the bag, but there was a ground covering of small trees, and all Dean could see was the back end and the tail. He couldn't get a shot without the dog noticing him. We waited till legal shooting time was up. It got really cold and really dark. I figured they knew we were in there and were waiting patiently for us to get down so they could have a good meal. (pretty dramatic huh?) Then we started talking out loud hoping this would scare them away, and soon Dave's headlights were coming down the road. I made Dean keep his gun loaded till we were out of the woods!

I practically killed myself getting back to the truck. I was falling over stumps and blow downs, and rocks. I jumped in the truck, and was finally safe.

Never again!

(My daddy always said, "Never say never")

Sick Puppy

Our puppy is sick. She had her shots yesterday and is not doing well today. She has a fever,and I can't pick her up or hold her without her yelping, yet she comes to me wanting me to make her better. I hate that dogs can't talk, and even more I can't tell her she is going to be ok. I did call the vet, and they assured me she would be ok in a day or two. Till then.......baby asprin, boiled chicken, and rice.

Hunting

What I won't do for my kid's! My husband went out of town and guess what? It's the last day of bear hunting. Dean really wants to go. So, I guess I'm the only one to take him.
Pray first for my safety, and second for success!!


I can't believe I'm doing this!

Blog Cooking

I have an addiction! I am addicted to Blog cooking. I can't help myself and my family is perpetuating the addiction! Of course it doesn't help when cooking is your hobby! :) I go to one of my favorite blogs, print out a recipe, and I'm off!! The stove is going, the house fills with unbelievable smells, and everyone's mouth is watering. Last night I made something that I have never made before. Cheeseburger Buns. To top off this little story we had company coming. I don't usually make things I haven't tried before when company is coming. I threw caution to the wind and went for it. I thought my children would go crazy after eating these!! "They taste like a McDonald's cheeseburger!" They kept saying this over and over. When I went to do this post and attach the link, that is what it said in the address bar. ( I guess I'm not very observant) :) I never noticed it before. My kids are saying things like "Why don't you hop on Kelli's blog and cook us something?" or "Is this from Mrs H's blog?" They don't seem to understand they are making visiting these blogs work for me :) Not really, I do enjoy visiting blogs and I also enjoy cooking. (It is my no.1 hobby) I am very grateful (along with my hubby and kids) for the recipes they have shared on their blogs. So I just want to say thank you ladies. You have made my family very happy.

Autumn Fancies

The Maple is a dainty maid,

The Pet of all the wood,

Who lights the dusky forest glade

With scarlet cloak and hood.

The elm a lovely lady is,

In shimmering robes of gold,

That catch the sunlight when she moves,

And glisten, fold on fold

The sumac is a gypsy queen,

Who flaunts in crimson dressed,

And wild along the roadside runs,

Red blossoms in her breast.

And towring high above the wood,

All in his purple cloak,

A monarch in his splendor is

The proud and princely oak.

Anonymous

Thank you, Acelia for the lovely pictures!

Black Bear Beware!

Black Bear (Ursus Americanus), U.S.A. www.allposters.com

My firstborn son is out in the woods this afternoon, sitting in a tree stand waiting patiently for this beast to come by. Thankfully he is accompanied by his father. There is strength in numbers, but somehow I feel they are outnumbered! These bears are so powerful and quick! So while the are out together, sharing "man" time, I will be sitting by my fireplace praying for their safety. In the past I did what any loving, devoted, CRAZY mother would do...I went with him. This time, no way, no how, no, no, no!! What changed my mind this time you ask? Last night I heard the screaming and howling going on outside. I stepped out onto the deck and listened. It was still and quiet except for the howling and barking of the coyotes. They were at Dean's bait calling to one another... dinner had been found. Now, a bear is scary enough, but when you throw a pack of coyotes in.................no thank you Dean!

Good luck Dean, I hope you get a big one!

Sunset.............Sunrise

I thought I would post the sunset and sunrise pictures I took the night before last and yesterday morning. I snapped this off my front porch. This is the time of year the sun starts to set so we can see it over our mountains. It's beautiful. Of course, my camera I ruined, I think when I took pictures of our maple syrup making experience. I am hoping I get a new one for Christmas. :)

This is the wee hours of the morning. I am currently trying to get up and about by 5:30am. Don't ask how that is going! On this morning I was up. Just pretend the blue streak going across this picture doesn't exist.

Just trying to get a better picture!

Ok, here is the picture I've been waiting for . I have wanted to post a picture of the moose in my backyard. I stepped onto the porch snapped the photo and it turned out black!!! Grrrr!! So with a little help from my photo editing program....here it is. (I'ts not the greatest picture, but it's the only one I have) If you look really close you can see the black blob just stepping onto the green food plot. I went out on the porch and there he was, a huge bull moose. His antlers were so bright compared to the rest of his body, because he has been polishing them. He was there again this morning at 3:00am calling to a female moose. Moose hunting starts here next week, (I think) . I was fortunate enough to get a moose permit last year and Dean was able to shoot his first moose.

Moose is gone, and here comes the sun. It's going to be a beautiful day.


The weather here has been a little chilly. In the 50's and 60's. The mornings are very chilly high 30's and low 40's!! I started a fire in the fireplace this morning. Brrrrr!!

More about the animals

Paper and Lance have been adjusting very nicely to their new home. I've been spoiling them though!! I can't help it, they are just too cute and have unbelievable personalities. Paper is very jealous and doesn't want me paying attention to Lance or Ginger. She is getting better at sharing though. I love these goats, they are like dogs (only they live in the barn) . I am deathly allergic to horses so this is as close to a horse as I can own. Not the same I know but I wouldn't trade them for the world. Paper hopefully will have a baby in June! I haven't bred her yet but we are planning for January.

Ginger is getting big! Acelia has enjoyed her so much. What a great friend! They go for walks exploring and running around. Acelia has learned so much about goats. We did have one scary encounter though, I threw in old bean plants and Ginger made a pig of herself on them. Well the next morning Acelia and I spent walking, and walking, and walking some more with Ginger. Her sides were big and tight, and walking is the only thing that helps. Now she is fine, and I learned "everything in moderation."

These are Tim's pheasants. He will be training Penne with them shortly. Actually we had a little incident with them too. Tim let them out in a flight pen, where they can fly around without flying away. Well they wormed there way out underneath the edge of the pen and we very quickly went from 31 to 3 pheasants. Our awesome bird dog found and is still finding them for Tim. He nets them and puts them back in the barn for safe keeping. He is slowly getting his pheasants back, and Penne is getting trained in the process.

Well, we are suppose to get the remnants of Ike today. It's really dark, windy, rainy, and very warm. I have some cooking to do and the normal chores that homemaking demands, so it's time for me to get busy.

Have a great day! :)

Piggy Post

I love my piggy's. I love hobby farming. These are our pig's, and this is what they do when you walk down over the lawn to visit them. They want to know what you have brought them. Usually watermelon rinds, some treat from the garden, or some branches with fresh green leaves the kids broke off the trees.

I love interacting with all of our animals. They really do have a personality. It's a very strange and twisted relationship when I think about it. We love them, care for them, interact with them, and then eat them. Then I think of Genesis and the dominion mandate, and I think "it's not so twisted". It may feel strange, but this is what God has given to us in the scripture.

My children have learned so much about pigs, turkeys, chickens, goats, dogs, and pheasants. Training, caring, and even some vet care. We have been blessed to have this opportunity. I hope my children take the skills they have learned on our little "hobby farm" and pass them on to my grandchildren. (Of course my husband claims he will be first in line for teaching them farm skills :)

Summer Projects

Well, we arrived home from North Carolina. What a beautiful state. I thought I would have a nervous breakdown going through Washington and New York !!! I live a sheltered life. My house is located where maybe 10 cars a day go by! Once out of Maine everything seemed very, very busy. I survived though and made it home in one piece. There truly is no place like home. Our children stayed behind with my mom to keep the farm going. That was a first for my husband and I. We enjoyed being able to talk and finish an entire conversation, yet missed the children.

So, I left my camera at home and couldn't take any pictures of the lovely trip. I did get some pictures onto our new computer of our summer projects that we accomplished this year.

The lush green grass is our new food plot. My husband, our brother in law, and the boys planted this so we could enjoy watching the deer, moose, and turkeys. That has not happened and I think I know why.............Coyotes!!

This is our new goat/pheasant barn. This was a big project, and we did it under some pressure. I think the structure was up in 3 days and then they built the stalls and installed the door in another day. They were actually still working on it when our goats arrived that afternoon! We still have to insulate it and get some last minute things done before winter.

This is my garden (50X75) a giant undertaking for someone who knows nothing about gardening. It did really well for having horrible soil. My beans came good and my peas. Everything else was very short. The corn.............a foot high, Tomatoes.............a foot high, Peppers................5 inches high, they are all struggling to produce fruit. Next year is another year to try again. :) I allowed the turkeys in they ate some of the beans that had gotten too big to eat. They had fun and took a good dust bath. Ok so I have already said I don't have a green thumb, but I grew this straw flower from seed that I started in my cellar in March!!!! WOW that is a big accomplishment for me. I am very happy with it! It really is an amazing little flower, it feels just like straw. This is our new pasture. We did this in the spring, and what a huge job. Thankfully there were excavators and bulldozers involved. I don't know how they did it in the old days with just oxen! It must have taken a long time. It is growing very nicely and hopefully if the Lord allows, I will see cows out there next year.I just had to post a picture of Dean and "Big Boy". He is a beautiful turkey. ( I mean "Big Boy") :) Dean has raised these turkey's and lost only three. He has done an amazing job. Turkey's are very hard to raise. I am very proud of him.

So that is what has been going on here all summer long. Now its time to get ready for winter on the farm. A barn to insulate, Apples to turn into applesauce, A garden to till and hopefully nourish the soil, A flower garden to cut back and mulch, Turkey's to process and freeze, and wood to pile for those chilly Maine winter days and nights.

School has been going great! I have read Acelia alot of books lately on the famous artist and some others that are just great picture books, here's a list:

• The Boy Who Loved To Draw ~ Barbara Brenner
• Camille and the Sunflowers ~ Laurence Anholt
• The First Starry Night ~ Joan Shaddox Isom
• Hannah in the Time of the Tulips ~ Deborah Noyes
• Henri Matisse: Drawing With scissors
• Katie Meets the Impressionists ~ James Mayhew
• Abbie Against The Storm ~ Marcia Vaughan (A true story about a young girl on the coast of Maine)
• Cocoa Ice ~ Diana Appelbaum ( A story of two small children that live in two very different climates, one lives in Maine)
• Miss Rumphius ~ Barbara Cooney (A Maine story)

Enjoy!!