Happy Birthday Nugget... I can not believe a whole year has gone by...and oh so quickly.  Anna Grace is one year old today.  It is so much fun being a Nana... although I admit... I don't have as much time to blog these days...

      We took her to eat at the Mexican restraunt last night... it's our family's treat most weeks... She's already learned to enjoy chips and cheese dip... along with a healthy portion of beans and rice.  She's even begun to try a little enchilada too... oh and she loves guacamoli (I'm not sure how to spell that...lol).... I borrowed a sombrero for her to wear since they didn't have a child size one... She just does not like any hats on her head... but we finally got...well kindof a picture... I am hoping we can get one each year for her.

    Today on her "real" birthday... she's having a very special Korean birthday party.  She has a little Korean komono dress to wear and her other Harmony is cooking all kinds of tastey dishes.  She's gonna come play with Nana (me) while the rest of her family are getting ready for the party this evening.   She's one little multicultural little girl...

     As for the farm... there's lots of work to do... but I just keep wanting to play baby doll with my girl!  The Moo's been bad once again... Richie had to redo the fencing trying to keep him in until we can get the butcher here... I will so enjoy that hamburger! 

    We are waiting for a few baby goats to arrive... we've really downsized the herd... feed prices are just too much!

    The horses have been munching on their hay... and waiting for spring... I know... horses...me too...

    The turkeys are constantly checking to see if the cats left any cat food... that was bad luck for the peacock... the coyote got him a month or so ago... so hopefully in the spring we can get another one...

or two...

     The pigs are busy rooting up the big garden... hopefully they will help get the weed problem under control out there...

     Happy New year everyone... 2012 is here!

    The thunder was just roaring....but no raindrops yet....

      I went to fill all the water buckets as I'm trying to get into an evening routine, rather than a mid-morning watering trip... Since... well... I don't think I can skip out on kindergarten and come home and water mid-morning...lol...

    Gran had called to ask if the horses were out... so I checked on them first... but, all four horses were there in the fence wishing they could get out and go graze a bit...gotta work on some fences this weekend.  We have two nice girls we need to give to some eager young riders... anyone need a horse?  Give us a call if you do and I'm sure we can work something out with you ... we are just down sizing a bit...

    I let the two young "guinealings" out... I lost two older chicks in the pen... I think the mama hen is attacking the young ones with out mamas there... so I figured I'd give them a chance to wander and fend for themselves in the big wide world of the farm.  They ran over to some green leaves on some weeds and started feasting... chirping..."Yipee! Yipee!"  I put my last little turkey poult up with the baby turkeys to see if it might survive there...  and some young chickens ...well, they went out for a romp with the "guinguins"...  Hopefully they will find shelter if the storm comes...otherwise they should be okay...

    I'm just rambling today... but I was trying to get a post in... Summer vacation is going by much too fast...

    ...hum...did I go jump in the pool and forget?...nope...Its' just hot and humid. 

     I was out working on my new puppet stage for school...cutting a few pieces of pipe and connecting them... and then a little spray paint to pretty it up...

     Hot, hot, hot.... summer is here in full force... I don't think there is a dry stitch left on me... maybe the pool does sound like a good idea???

     Ate a 'mater "samich"... today for lunch...um, um, good... salt and pepper and a dab of mayo... nothing better...

     Summer has come and has been most enjoyable...playing with Anna Grace every chance I can get.  The days are ticking away until school begins again and my time is more regulated.  I've been a lazy blogger...not writing since January...shame on me!

    The garden is mostly weeds... the figs are ripe and falling off the bushes... I've eaten my fill most every day lately.  The critters are all doing well.  I'm a bit discouraged with the constantly rising feed costs, but I do enjoy the animals.  There are many repairs as always that need to be done to fences and pens...all in the day and life of a small family farm...more to do than time to do it.

    Anna Grace is 6 months old now... she can sit up on her own, and is rolling all over the place.  I feel she will figure out crawling soon and will have us all chasing her. Her mommy and daddy have found a house nearby and will close soon... I can't wait to have them a little closer.  She loves books...and Nana thinks she has to get her every cute one she sees of course.

    I can't believe Lindi is going to be a Jr. in High School this year... time just flies by too fast!  She's volunteering at PAWS this summer... helping take care of the animals there and baby sitting some for her younger cousins.  I know they enjoy her company. 

    Clay came and spent part of the summer with us... and we loaded up scrap metal... well... he loaded up scrap metal... So we got a little cleaning up done... it's always nice to have him home for a bit.  We are looking forward to his next visit soon.

    So school is right around the corner... Kindergarten will be fun... Time for more ABC's and 123's.... and I heard one of the children say at church this morning, "I can't wait to go back to school so I can go to recess! " Yes... there's nothing like recess!

    It was a good day today (despite not getting to see my Nugget!).  The children were all glad to see one another at school.  It was a nice day and I really enjoyed having a couple of days to organize and plan to get ready for today...even though we lost some time due to the snow (ice) days.   January is off and rolling.  Planning time does make things run so much more smoothly.  

   It is still cold...brrrrrrrrrr.... heater going... feet are still chilly though...brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

   I am a summer time girl!  I'm dreaming of sun and grass to cut, and walks around the farm with Anna Grace.   I can't wait for her to meet all the critters who don't get eaten by the coyotes this winter... (I know I should be a bit more optimistic...I'm just pouting because they ate a peacock!).

   Question of the day... can I hold out til Friday to go and see Nugget... or will I have to go tomorrow?....hum?... I know she misses her Nana!

    Little Anna Grace had a nice little ice storm to welcome her home from the hospital.  So she packed her bag and came to Nana's of course!  We have rocked and played with her toys... mean old coyote came and got a peacock in the icy weather... but Paw Paw Richie has kept the fireplace warm for us...and Nana made lots of soup... and Paw Paw made really delicious corn bread to go with the soup...

      We are tired of the cold days... but not tired of holding and rocking our little bundle of joy! Oh will it we hard to head back to work over the next few days....indeed!

       Guess I'm gonna have to give Anna Grace her own page now too...hehe...

        Being Nana is so much fun!

....Baby Nugget is here!  She arrived this afternoon!  Anna Grace Richardson... 7lbs14 oz and 20 3/4 inches long... and sweeter than pumpkin pie!

    We are so blessed!  Can't wait to spoil her rotten!

     Hello 2011, you are here.  We are still waiting for our little nugget to arrive. I've been busy making a couple of things for her arrival... Ducky dress is smocked, but still needs to be hemmed...and her little quilt is pieced, although I think she may be twelve or so before I finish all the stitching...

      Nugget's arrival will be soon, and then school is about to begin again. Hopefully these will occupy our time as we wait for these cold days to dissipate and turn in to spring. 

      The coyote is back... I spied him behind the shed the other day around 12ish, finally throwing a stick at him and shouting for him to leave.  This morning he was back up at the chicken yards, the guinea patrol was up on top shouting at the top of their lungs... Coyote's back... head for the trees, coyote's back... I grabbed the broom by the back door and went out to chase him off.  Chicken was definitely on his mind as he continued to pursue the tasty treats as I approached within a good 15 feet or so.  Then I started shouting... and swinging the broom.  He took off in a flash, giving me a fur-lone look...as if to say... "Do you know what the Missus is gonna say when I don't return home with some tasty breakfast?"...When he started to run, it was fluid and fast.  His grey and white ruffled fur, hiding him into the wood scape quickly.  I wish I had  a few more days to coyote hunt. I'm just gonna have to get brave and do a little actual hunting... the kind with out a broom, but a bit more fierce weapon!

        Hello 2011... glad you are here... tell Nugget to come on ... we are awaiting her arrival!

    It's been a week of baking cookies... We want to make sure there are plenty for Santa...although they keep disappearing at an alarming rate.  First we made gingerbread cookies...and well the casualties had to be eaten... they were loosing arms, legs, and heads... But there are still a few left.

    Today we made butter/sugar cookies.  They too were being eaten as fast as they came out of the oven, topped off with cool refreshing milk... (What do you mean I have a milk mustache!...and What of that cookie crumb trail...???)  I do hope Santa finds a few on Christmas eve...

    Maybe we'll make some divinity tomorrow... I'm sure Santa likes that too...

       Merry Christmas everyone!