This week's life on our farm...

Well, apparently one week old baby chicks can't get a wee lil' bit wet...AT ALL. Even with a heat lamp directly above them. This was yet another note to self moment. I should know this by now...but I'm always on a learning curve. This is also a horrible way to start one of my childrens' day out-bad! 

 

 SO round two of chicks I went to three different stores to find yesterday.  Bought fifteen chicks and was given two extras by the sweet lady who helped me at the farm and feed store after I told her what happened.  So now seventeen chicks later, as of an hour ago-they're all still alive.  But I am hoping for no fried chicks because the heat lamp feels really warm to me. But they seem to like it...so far. I guess if they go off to the big chicken coop in the sky...they'll be warm this time and not frozen stiff.

We got bum lambs last week from a friend.  My oldest son wants to try to have one ready for 4-H Fair.  We're pushing it, but we'll see.  In the past some of our bum lambs have turned out to be 180 pounds.  Granted that's too heavy, but if we can get to 120-130 pounds (should be more, but we'll call it good if we get there)-perfect.  However with bum lambs, there's always one.   One that needs the exta babying, feeding and a little more love because 'something' is wrong with them.  One hour they're fine, the next-ah, not so good.  Which I gladly give and try to show to my children. Unfortunately one of my son's named our 'punky' one, Lucky.  I posted on Facebook earlier this week my top two reasons not to name an animal Lucky.  Those were: 1.  There's never anything 'Lucky' about an animal named Lucky, and 2.  Refer to #1.  But he's been drinking his bottle, and I've been giving him a supplement along with plenty of medicine, actually probably enought to fuel a team of horses.  So, 'Lucky' the lamb is still vertical and on all four legs, and even sporting a stylish sweater I made for him-above.  By the way, it was super easy to make.

 

It's a joy to watch ours kids hold the pop bottles filled with milk-replacer and feed these little friends. And soon enough our ewes will have some of their own lambs, so we'll have a barnyard nursery of new critters.  Maybe I'll even try for some more little chicks if these manage to live long enough to flitter and fluff their feathers around here.  You may have noticed, I'm not a 'great' chicken steward.

And on the home front, while doing laundry today I had another apparent 'Rockstar' mom moment when I caught the washer on fire. Yep...lots of smoke, and I do truly mean ALOT of smoke...it was that 'one' last sweatshirt I threw in. NO one tell my husband yet, he hasn't noticed the smog in here and the burnt rubber smell.  But then again, he didn't notice the seventeen new chicks chirping in his office either.  He's got a cold so the smell is understandable, but I'm not sure how to explain the 'invisible chicks'.  Oh well! 

 

Stay tuned...the day is yet young, and there's always something happening when you live on a small farm.

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The "T" of our Day

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:7

The steam rolls off my tea. Condesation of the divine treat bubbles agains the soft green ceramic. (Okay the image is red ceramic, but imagine it's green.)

How does the Lord warm you? Does He fill you full of rolling warmth through out your body. Or is it luke warm, constantly having to be reheated?

It's lush scent fills my senses as the bag floats on top of the murkey liquid. I trust the ingredients combined in the little bag are blended together to make this rich blend. How do I trust that the Lord combined the 'just right' ingredients for me?

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;^[b]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

Psalm 139:13-14

Wonderfully made, this bit of heaven in my cup, just as I was-said the Lord.

When I trust his wonder and glory is that not the relationship he wants every moment, even if it's seen in a cup of tea. My tea bag floats and is held against the side of the cup with a string, just in case it decides to slide loose for one reason or the other. Sometimes the bag hits the bottom and I stir its essense about it's holding. It eventually comes up for air and floats once more.

God's stirring. He knows we'll come up for air and see his holy breath wafting from the cup which runs over. He places strings of faith all around us for security, but it is trust that even without the string it is He who lifts us up and we float-not hitting the bottom, not stuck in one spot, but floating and filling up with the richness of Him.

God Bless your day!

Jelly Roll

Little Debbie snacks made these amazing little sweet treats called Jelly Rolls.  My mom would buy them for us every once in a while for afternoon snacks.  I loved them.  Last year I was introduced to another jelly roll, and that's the quilt pattern.  Now I am the first to admit, I am a tragic sewer.  I've been known to hot glue, super glue or duct tape sewing projects all for the sake of getting it done, but I've started to enjoy it more and more since I was introduced to the jelly roll quilts. 

Now in layman's terms, simply it's pre-cut rolls of coordinating fabric you sew in a train, fold back up, connect, sew down the edges, and do this over and over again until you have the square-ish shape you're looking for.  Recently I found out how you can cut and corner, and flip these pre-sewn strips into more of a design, but it's baby steps for me.  I'm still on the sew the straight-line part,  however it's fun and a great way for me to feel as if I accomplished something.  It's taken me about an hour and a half to complete the top.  I haven't figured out how to do the back or the binding, so stay tuned for how that evolves.  Hopefully I won't have to bust out the hot glue or liquid stitch, but the project is still in it's young stages.

Also, there's a new quilt shop in Red Lodge, and Wanda, the owner, has been 'sew' helpful in my art of newbie sewer/quilter.  She has easy kits (and advanced), jelly rolls and beautiful fabric, and shares great tips and tricks to the trade.  I've found myself wandering in there just to admire her beautiful talent hanging on the wall, or the charming fabrics she has in ensembles.  Here's her web-site; Quilt Lodge

And...so I don't completely destroy the true description of the jelly roll quilt, here's a web-site I found with the 'proper' definitions about quilting.
Quilt Bug

The image is my first jelly roll quilt top, with my special 'jelly bean' helping me model.  Wishing you 'SEW' much fun if you try creating a jelly roll quilt!

Ring on my finger

My left hand houses the heart of four of the most important rings I could wear.   Three are my wedding bands, and the fourth is an itty-bitty sterling silver pinkie ring.  Etched on top if it is a cross.  My pinkie finger is molded around this ring.  It's lived there since junior high.  It's the only ring I never take off, not even while I was pregnant with my four children.  All of my other fingers puffed to this size of sausages, but not this finger, therefore leaving my ever present symbol of my first priority to my relationship with the good Lord.  This ring's physical value is maybe $10, but it's eternal value is priceless.  I don't have to have it as a talisman for belief, but as a reminding symbol or for another to glance down and see.  Who knows how one symbol can change someones heart and lead them towards their eternal priceless gift of knowing and believing in our Good and Gracious Lord and Saviour. 

As I move inward, my wedding rings symbolize my next, most important, commitment I made before God and my husband.  While these are worth more than $10 they too symbolize my marriage.  I don't have to wear them to know my commitment and to know I'm married, but again it's a reminder of love, integrity, dedication, trust, faithfulness and PaTiEnCe.  I don't take them off to wash dishes, take a shower, while gardening, or for any reason at all.  They stay on my finger, maybe out of stubbornness, laziness or fear of loosing them.  But honestly, because I feel they stay on-no matter what.  That's what it's meant for...no matter what.  We're committed and these rings reiterate this symbol.  Now I can't say that without being real.  There are times I would love to huck them at my husband and hope for some cataclysmic residual thumping on the head by one sparkly band, and he whips into what I want him to do or be.  But that's not my place at all, it's just real and a real feeling of being in any relationship, it's Gods place.  It's fun to ponder on though, and goodness knows I'm sure he has a list a mile long he'd love for me to 'whip' myself into also.

If you choose to place your life in this order-Faith, Family and Friends, you can often be a symbol yourself.  So may I challenge you...what do you want to be a symbol of or for? 

Oh...And I don't have a 'friendship' ring, that to me, goes right along with the heart of the symbol on my pinkie ring.

Why does the turkey cross the road?

If you're driving in Red Lodge you're sure to see two predominant species of wild game just about everywhere...the wild turkey's and deer.  The turkey's have been somewhat a cause for deep discussion in and around town..."what to do, what to do about these turkeys?" Not to make light, I'm sure it's bothersome to some folks in town.  We live out of town, and personally love to see those turkey-lurkey's cruising through town, often stopping traffic-well our kind of traffic since we don't have any stop lights, and hunkered together making their prized turkey calls.  However it was called to my attention the other day about Montana's new road kill permits.  Yes, here you can legally take possession of road kill with permits.  Ha-dinner just got much simpler...especially Thanksgiving dinner, wild turkey anyone?

But as I type this, I have to disclose from my interpretation of what Fish, Wildlife and Parks allows of these permits it doesn't look like turkeys are actually deemed 'true' roadkill.  One article I found said only deer, moose, antelope and elk are 'true' roadkill available for these salvage permits.  Here's the link:  FWP serves up roadkill permits.

So, why did the turkey cross the road? 
To lead the deer across the road, of course.

Roadkill for dinner..going once, going twice....grab your shovel.

Destination B n' B

AVAILABLE:  Exclusive time share offer.  Destination resort.  Forget the bush planes, just need a helicopter or an industrial size motor grader available with a plow to bust through concrete like snow drifts.  A full winter wonderland package included in this quaint little get-a-way just north of Red Lodge.  Cozy wood burning stove, several sledding hills, snowshoeing and cross country available and recommended for entrance into this all inclusive bed and breakfast, and let's not forget the custom ice rink...made with authentic Montana farm flair of thawed then refrozen steer and sheep poop.  Dog sledding courtesy of our personal corgi dream team-known to be faster than any dogs in the Iditarod especially when chasing chickens.  Para sailing behind our 'tricked out' four wheeler makes an ultimate vacation.  In all certainty while partaking in the activity, you can also visit Canada because our East Bench wind is guaranteed to get you there.  We encourage you bring your passport.  Helmets are provided for this experience.  Mouthwatering gourmet meals are an excellent way to continue to bask in luxury-they're all in the freezer (please don't mind some of the freezer burned portions) and they'll just need to be set out overnight to thaw, and adult beverages are encouraged if  you plan on staying a while.  The howling wind and wind chill creates an environment of need for warm Cowboy comfort food and a hot totty at the end of the day.  The views of the Beartooth Mountains, Crazy Mountains and the Pryor's are breath-taking.  All of this great package for an even trade.... ANYWHERE south of the equator with no wind, snow to plow, ice to slip on, wood to haul, freezing sleet or frozen pipes!