My serama chickens lived their entire life (about 15 months total) indoors at our old house. They lived in large rabbit cages in our family room. They are incredibly spoiled.
Now that we have moved to our farm and are outside the city limits, they live in the barn and free range on our acre + of land.
During the day, most any time I go out the back door, either Roosevelt or Travis (or both) come running across the yard to see me. They hope I will finally let them live indoors again. LOL
Enjoy this video I took yesterday of my fellows.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
All is well and a cow
While it does take adjustment having another child in the house, we are all adjusting well. Each of us has our *moments*, but things are much better with Timothy than we anticipated, and that's a great thing!
It's so hot and dry here in Amarillo. The flower above is Lantana. It's a native Texas plant and loves the hot, dry climate. This is by far the worst summer since we moved here five years ago. During the heat of the day, we are stuck indoors watching TV or playing games. I just read this morning, the La Nina has moved (or dissolved?) and that leaves us open with the possibility of record rains in July and August. I'm sure there's not a person up here that would complain about record rainfall.
The chickens and goats are all doing well. The goats are absolutely wonderful to have as pets! Although it's almost like having two more children, but that live outdoors. Buddy even comes up to the back door and *knocks* with his hooves. It's really funny. Eleanor hatched two more Serama babies last week and I'm so excited. I am working on growing a pretty large Serama flock because we love them oh so much!
We've discovered that Timothy fits right in with our family and his love of milk. We have been discussing buying a milk goat or a milk cow in the past. Now we are REALLY considering it. While a goat is smaller than a cow and easier to handle, I can't make all of the products from goat milk that I can from cow milk. That's our big issue with making a decision. So soon, we may own one of these beauties! We are looking only at Jersey cows for milk and I've found some for sale locally.
I'm pretty excited. It's been a joke in our home for years that "we need to buy a cow" because, to begin with, Katie and I drank LOTS of milk. Then, after Mike and I married and had Felicity, she followed in our tracks and LOVES milk. So we often times have commented that we needed to buy a cow. Now toss Timothy in the mix. It looks as if we just might own a milk cow soon.
We are going in a week and a half to meet and visit with another prospective foster-to-adopt son. So exciting! I will post how it goes afterward. If it goes well, he will come and spend the 4th of July weekend with our family as a trial. I never imagined myself surrounded by male children before. It must be what God had intended for us, though.
Have a great day!
It's so hot and dry here in Amarillo. The flower above is Lantana. It's a native Texas plant and loves the hot, dry climate. This is by far the worst summer since we moved here five years ago. During the heat of the day, we are stuck indoors watching TV or playing games. I just read this morning, the La Nina has moved (or dissolved?) and that leaves us open with the possibility of record rains in July and August. I'm sure there's not a person up here that would complain about record rainfall.
The chickens and goats are all doing well. The goats are absolutely wonderful to have as pets! Although it's almost like having two more children, but that live outdoors. Buddy even comes up to the back door and *knocks* with his hooves. It's really funny. Eleanor hatched two more Serama babies last week and I'm so excited. I am working on growing a pretty large Serama flock because we love them oh so much!
We've discovered that Timothy fits right in with our family and his love of milk. We have been discussing buying a milk goat or a milk cow in the past. Now we are REALLY considering it. While a goat is smaller than a cow and easier to handle, I can't make all of the products from goat milk that I can from cow milk. That's our big issue with making a decision. So soon, we may own one of these beauties! We are looking only at Jersey cows for milk and I've found some for sale locally.
I'm pretty excited. It's been a joke in our home for years that "we need to buy a cow" because, to begin with, Katie and I drank LOTS of milk. Then, after Mike and I married and had Felicity, she followed in our tracks and LOVES milk. So we often times have commented that we needed to buy a cow. Now toss Timothy in the mix. It looks as if we just might own a milk cow soon.
We are going in a week and a half to meet and visit with another prospective foster-to-adopt son. So exciting! I will post how it goes afterward. If it goes well, he will come and spend the 4th of July weekend with our family as a trial. I never imagined myself surrounded by male children before. It must be what God had intended for us, though.
Have a great day!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The first few days
It's been a crazy busy couple of days since Timothy arrived. It was late on Thursday evening when the case workers arrived with him. By the time we got all the paperwork done, got him bathed and in bed, it was nearly 11:00pm. Friday was a nice day. His initial doctor's visit went just fine, although he has a sinus infection. Thankfully nothing serious.
Saturday we spent the day car shopping and buying. We now are the owners of my first "Mommy-mobile". We bought a 2009 Dodge Caravan and are loving all the space! After that was all said and done, we took the kids to the park, then home for dinner that had been cooking in the crock pot all day. After baths, stories and prayers, another late night, bed at 10:00pm. We had one issue/melt-down Saturday, but it wasn't anything that we weren't prepared for and were able to handle.
Church this morning was perfect! Timothy was a perfect little guy. He did keep asking when we would be done, but he accepted "in a few minutes" and was fine. BUT after church was another story. I've learned very quickly that when Timothy is tired, he is determined to make life a living he**. He gets very irritable, fussy and nearly inconsolable. Mike and Felicity are working today at the new performing arts theater, so I am alone with Gregory and Timothy. Before Mike and Felicity were to leave, we realized quickly that I would have a miserable day at home all day with both boys. Timothy was getting very grumpy and argumentative. We decided I would go into town, too, and do something with the boys. I took them to McDonalds and that helped Timothy's demeanor a bit. I decided we would take a "Sunday drive" and I pretty much thought he would go to sleep. It worked! After an hour in the car, driving to Vega, TX and back to our house, he had taken a nap nearly an hour long and has been fine since.
We are thrilled so far, at how things are going with Timothy. Mike and I both expected far worse than we have seen with him. After reading his files and reports, we expected a child similar to Gregory, with little speech and very picky eater. He speaks very well, eats anything I put in front of him and reads far better than we anticipated. It was almost not worth reading all the reports from all the different people in his past, as it seems they are more personal opinions than facts, which stinks.
Everyone have a wonderful rest of the day!
Saturday we spent the day car shopping and buying. We now are the owners of my first "Mommy-mobile". We bought a 2009 Dodge Caravan and are loving all the space! After that was all said and done, we took the kids to the park, then home for dinner that had been cooking in the crock pot all day. After baths, stories and prayers, another late night, bed at 10:00pm. We had one issue/melt-down Saturday, but it wasn't anything that we weren't prepared for and were able to handle.
Church this morning was perfect! Timothy was a perfect little guy. He did keep asking when we would be done, but he accepted "in a few minutes" and was fine. BUT after church was another story. I've learned very quickly that when Timothy is tired, he is determined to make life a living he**. He gets very irritable, fussy and nearly inconsolable. Mike and Felicity are working today at the new performing arts theater, so I am alone with Gregory and Timothy. Before Mike and Felicity were to leave, we realized quickly that I would have a miserable day at home all day with both boys. Timothy was getting very grumpy and argumentative. We decided I would go into town, too, and do something with the boys. I took them to McDonalds and that helped Timothy's demeanor a bit. I decided we would take a "Sunday drive" and I pretty much thought he would go to sleep. It worked! After an hour in the car, driving to Vega, TX and back to our house, he had taken a nap nearly an hour long and has been fine since.
We are thrilled so far, at how things are going with Timothy. Mike and I both expected far worse than we have seen with him. After reading his files and reports, we expected a child similar to Gregory, with little speech and very picky eater. He speaks very well, eats anything I put in front of him and reads far better than we anticipated. It was almost not worth reading all the reports from all the different people in his past, as it seems they are more personal opinions than facts, which stinks.
Everyone have a wonderful rest of the day!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The big day has finally arrived!
We are all so excited! Today is the day that our first foster son arrives! If all goes well (as hoped for, of course), we will adopt him in six months.
Due to privacy laws, we cannot post photos or mention his real name on the internet until the adoption is complete. Please understand this is for his protection.
For the past several days, I have felt like a mother waiting on the arrival of a baby once again. This time, no pregnancy, no hospital stay, no midnight feedings.
Due to privacy laws, we cannot post photos or mention his real name on the internet until the adoption is complete. Please understand this is for his protection.
For the past several days, I have felt like a mother waiting on the arrival of a baby once again. This time, no pregnancy, no hospital stay, no midnight feedings.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Staples in your kitchen
In my pursuit to get further and further away from processed foods and eating out too much, I am making a list of the staples I feel I need to keep in my kitchen. These are items to do as much *scratch* cooking and baking as I can.
After reading through my list, please feel free to comment with any items you include on your staples list that I haven't listed. Any tips are so welcomed, too!
all-purpose flour
whole wheat flour
granulated sugar
brown sugar
powdered sugar
white vinegar
apple cider vinegar
baking soda
baking powder
yeast
olive oil
lard (and/or shortening)
oats
evaporated milk
powdered milk
pepper corns
salt
corn starch
pasta (we use vermicelli and egg noodles the most)
ketchup
yellow mustard
mayonnaise
salad dressing (miracle whip)
bread crumbs
saltine crackers (yes, they are staples at our house)
So what have I missed?
After reading through my list, please feel free to comment with any items you include on your staples list that I haven't listed. Any tips are so welcomed, too!
all-purpose flour
whole wheat flour
granulated sugar
brown sugar
powdered sugar
white vinegar
apple cider vinegar
baking soda
baking powder
yeast
olive oil
lard (and/or shortening)
oats
evaporated milk
powdered milk
pepper corns
salt
corn starch
pasta (we use vermicelli and egg noodles the most)
ketchup
yellow mustard
mayonnaise
salad dressing (miracle whip)
bread crumbs
saltine crackers (yes, they are staples at our house)
So what have I missed?
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