It's Been Awhile, musing from US

Its been awhile indeed. The snow has melted and green is sprouting. We are in the wet season I would say. We are still getting light dusting of snow here but I've been reassured SPRING is here. The wildlife has been out in abundance from turkeys, birds, meese, deer, elk, yotes and wolves. The river has been loaded with fisherman and visitors have been camping on the shores. The ground is able to be worked. The onions and garlic are in the moist rich dark soil. The seeds and seedling are in their hot bed waiting to be planted in the soil to produce an abundance of deliciousness for our tummies. The chickens and chicks are active carrying on in their daily antics. Whispering about the latested gossip....a worm the Old Hen wouldnt share. Great Grandpa and Grandma sent the kids raspberry starts to watch over. To be able to pick fresh berries is memorable. We added boysenberries, blackberries, marionberries and blueberries to our berry patch. The little's painted their garden sign and in big black paint dubbed it the Garden of Eatin. Spring is here and we have been cleaning. Outside cleaning is also here. We've been burning trash and swinging in the hammock. Our studies have been focused on the 3 R's and gardening. Since the groceries here are out of this world and gas cost an arm and a leg. We have decided that its time to hunker down and grow our own...FOOD. Our dreams consist of a tractor and a D8 Cat, a chainsaw (to build our log house),a wood splitter so we can stash away our heat for the winter, a horse trailer, a couple grazing beef in the field, and a pig to root and use for a garbage disposal. Which makes me wonder are we weird? What does others dreams about? On our agenda in the near near future we are planning a trip to the ocean. Daddy has school in Oregon and the kids and I want to leasurely enjoy the trip. To libraries, the ocean to Cable TV well any TV at this point. We get No signal or cable. We miss our Myth Busters and HGTV. We are supper excited to go an adventure. I will post pictures when we get back. Our hearts go out the the miner (Pete) & o passed away in a mining cave in. It was in our community that this happened. For some reason it has effected us to the core. Though we dont know them we send our prayers. We miss everyone and wished gas wasnt so high so we could visit.

Garden area



In those trees hidden is our house




Momma and Princess M



The past month

It's been a month since I have blogged. Alott has happened since my last visit here.
We just recently got some Lavendar Orpington's...YES YES YES! We are super excited. So here is the breeds we have here : Blue Laced Red Wyandottes, Black Copper Maran's, Lavendar Orpington's, Silkies (for incubator's) , and Rhode Island Reds. We got a LG incubator and we also built an incubator. So now I have 2 once for incubating and one for hatching so I can stagger hatches. In the incubators we have RIR, Silkies and Coronation Susses X's (I think). lol I will post pics when I can get there.
We have been visited by wolves, which is frieghtening at first and they are GIANT!
We still have snow here, but in the valley its as if its spring. So praying for more rain to melt this snow. We have built2 brooders. We are in the planning stages of a chicken barn. I am thinking open style. We are planning a trip to the ocean in May. This will be the 1st time the kids have gone. We have been seeing tons of animals and such. Bald eagles fishing on the river. I ran out to the barn this morning at about 5 am to hear ducks (wild) on the water in our strawberry area. So the littles and I are heading down there to watch them.

Chicks~Chicks~Chicks~Chicks~

So we were fortunate enough to aquire 8 healthy French Black Copper Maran Chicks! We are super excited to see these majestic birds grow! These are a rare heritage chicken that are identified by there deep chocolate eggs some almost black!

We have been deciding on a egg incubator so if you have one laying around we would love to buy it.lol Our next project will be hatching out Lavendar Orpingtons, which sale for at least 10.00 a chick, they are very very rare.

We also are getting 2 silky chicks hopefully they are hens, as they are the most friendlies and broody birds ever.

Homeschool Thoughts..........

Homeschool thoughts......Well I am sure I am not the only mum that has been affected by the economy. Its shows in our homeschool. So being not a giver upper I am decided to compile my own lessons from what I have. Which has been a welcome relief. I have tons of items books in general. Its was about time to let go of the curriculum in a box strings. And stand up and a mother and teacher and nourish my childrens education with what I had. When looking at homeschooling there are all different relms of philosophy. I can attest that I have done them ALL, from unschooling to classical. They all worked at the season of our life, and I am grateful for that. There are 2 particular ones that I hold on to when planning our homeschool that is Charlotte Mason and Classical with a touch of literature rich and eclectic. I have a wonderful little desk calendar that has quotes and things from Ms. Mason. I adsolutely love it when I go to it. So here are a few of her quotes, that have been a staff for me.

     Here is an end to the easy philosophy of "It doesn't matter". "Oh, he'll grow out of it."
.....Every day, every hour, the parents are either passively or actively forming those habits in their children upon which, more than upon antyhing else, future character and conduct depend. CM

Wow! how many times have I said that? 

   If a child talks twaddle, it is because his elders are in the habit of talking twaddle to him; leave him to himself and his remarks are wise and sensible............ CM

This is completely TRUE!

  The Way of the Will should be taught to Children-
         Are you being cross? Change your thoughts. Are you tired of trying? Change your thought.... he can compel himself to think of what he chooses, and will not allow himself in thought that breed mischief. CM


I hope this has helped someone, as much as it has helped me.

May you Trails.............................

May your trails be crooked,

winding, lonesome, dangerous,

leading to the most amazing view.

               -Edward Abbey

I love that saying. Since the weather seems to not realize that winter should be ending soon. Instead it seems Mother Nature is in the middle of winter. I have decided to wrap up with a good cup of Cowboy coffee, a quilt, my kids, and good old pile of Farming, Gardening books and magazines. Here the weather is severe as of right now. We sent Daddy off to work. He came home excited that today he was going snow skiing with a co-worker and possible the owner of his work. I pray he gets too. But we have had TONS of snow drop on us. And its now very very cold. We should reach minuses tonight. Mr.J has been taking our suburban to work. We live on the river and well its down right freightening to drive that road without a heavy duty 4x4. I sure hope that summers here are amazing or we will be sorely disappointed.

Exciting, we have an E~Double G

We adopted a hen and a rooster(chickens) about a month ago. We provided them light and no egg. Lots of breeding from the rooster, still no egg. Than today the kids went into the coop and what do you know they saved their fate of being dinner and we got our 1st egg. The kids were so happy cause that morning while dad was getting ready for work we decided that they were going to be our dinner. We still havent gotten chicks yet but we will in about a week. Its been a little chaotic to say the least. Winter hasnt left our realm. As I type this its snowing and windy. When will it end???!!!!! I need to run and roll in the dirt. The kids need to sunshine on their skin. Mr. J need the light to light his days. We all need to see green!!!!! We have been seeing the wild wake from their winter slumber. We have spotted moose on the river drinking at 1 in the afternoon. We have seen deer and I think Mr.J said elk.woohoot its coming but in small strides this year :(... I have been homesick the last month. It's not the normal homesick most think of. I am not homesick for a house or a town/place but I think just certain people. Here you hybernate during the winter since daylight is scarce and sleeping seems only logical. Mr.J seems to think we will be up to late during the summer, I sure hope so cause all this winter rest could drive a person mad!

Flooding, Oh Me Oh My

Lesson: WEATHER HERE IS UNPREDICTABLE!!!!
We have had snow measured in ft. But at times it rain,sleet,snow and ice and ice rain. Its a whole nother learning experience for me.
The R's awoke to flooding. Our creek or criek as others seem to call it! Well, it decided to become a river and expand flooding our barns and outhouses. Its a rushing noise is beautiful to hear. Sunday Mr. J took us out to see the strawberry fields our flat area and everything was under water. Through urging from Mr.J I walked down to road to the river. It was pretty close to the road. Mr. J decided it was best he come get us so that if the roads are closed we are not apart. I was very thankful. It was alott worse than what I seen from my area. Horses were being lead out of the way.People in boats were adventuring out on not a river anymore but a brown rushing lake. Furniture and debri was washing down the river. I have an errie picture of a stop sign almost engulfed under water. House's on lower areas were flooded. People could not get out. Our house is up, thank you Jesus. Our well spit out merky brown water into our pipes. We were advised to boil water. lol. Mr. J said they shut down the road from Mile mark 6(our house)to 16. The other end of the river as we were coming out the road was already shut down and water was up to the doors there. Well, we made it home that night. The water crested. I am praying no more rain. And it look's like we are getting more snow. Oh joy!
I have been told from others that its been a crazy azy weather and season. I am praying that all is fine and safe. That we learn to take these adventures in stride!