Getting the hang of it

Well,our chicks are 19 days old today. We started off with two houses worth of chicks in one house (double brooding). Thursday a catch crew came and moved half of each house to the house next door. We had birds in houses 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10 and now we have birds in all ten houses. It was a lot of work getting the odd number houses ready to receive birds and the even number houses ready for the catch crew to have room to work. Patrick and I worked from 4 am to about 7 pm two days in a row, but now that part is over. The really great news is that double brooding was an experiment. All the other, experienced growers absolutely hated it and so our boss has decided it wasn't worth all the work. This means our next flock should be a lot easier.

At any rate, we have been able to get done with our main chores by lunch, which gets me back in the house with the kids where I want to be. It has also allowed Patrick the time to finally finish painting the girls' room. Today we stared bringing in all their things and as I type they are nestled snug in their very own bed quietly reading books. I will post pictures of their room in the near future.

We have also robbed our camper of its couch and two recliners for our living room. It's all coming together. Patrick needs to make some bookshelves for our massive library, then we can get the rest of our boxes unpacked. We just talked tonight about doing something rustic (i.e. cheap and easy). We sure wish we still had access to Glen and Bill's mill.

The weather has been cold, but not bad. We have had a few mornings that the temperature was in the 20's (once it was 18). The wind is the killer. If the wind isn't blowing we have found we can tolerate it so far. The temperature in the chicken houses is about 80 degrees. We bundle up in layers and our Blizzard Pruf (that's how they spell it) jackets and then shed them just before we enter the chicken house. Depending on what we need to do, sometimes we end up getting so hot we sweat and then the cold air outside feels good for a minute and then we bundle up again. It's really like having a cold Oklahoma winter with a touch of Florida, smelly of course ; )

Well, I just wanted to post an update. It has been a while since our last one and I wanted you all to know we are doing well. We love and miss you all.

Tired

I have returned our teeny, tiny family picture in its proper place. So my last post won't make any sense to someone who hasn't been following the saga. Oh well.

This post will be extremely short.

We are tired! We helped with the sell of the last flock and have been getting things ready for our first flock which arrived today. This morning, we were met outside by our neighbors (the couple who have been working the two farms). They helped us unload the chicks and get our computers set to monitor the houses. What a blessing! They have been a tremendous help to us and we are grateful. If all goes according to plan, this flock will be sold just after Christmas and then we will have a week off.

The Lord has blessed us with the purchase of a used (extremely used) and inexpensive (in comparison) four wheeler. It has also been a tremendous blessing in getting us around and has saved us a lot of walking.

It is 9:30 pm and everyone is in bed and I should be heading that way myself. I just wanted to touch base since it had been a week since my last post and also get the picture of the old car labeled as "Our Family" changed back to normal ; )

See What I Mean!!!

When putting a picture at the top of the blog, if I don't shrink to fit, I get what you see. I actually chose the element from the bottom of the page and the picture was complete, but GARGANTUAN!!! I moved it up to the top and this is what I got. Someone PLEASE help me!! Kitty, Sarah, Callie... someone?

Unpacking and Reminiscing

As we have been unpacking the boxes that have been packed away this past year, I have thought about all the dear, wonderful people that helped pack the boxes and the trailer. I remember how Isoan took charge and in no time at all had my everyday dishes packed away, safe and sound. I remember RG toting our solid wood filing cabinet (with full drawers) through the house, down the back steps and into the trailer. I remember Emma Jane unpacking a few things ; ) I remember Eddie coming back that last morning, after being there late the night before, and arranging the final items in the trailer.

Oh, there were so many... the Bowens and their assembly line system, the Hamms and Corlews emptying my dining room and living room and hauling off unsold items from the yard sale to the care center, the Discher girls spending the morning with Sadie packing while I took Daniel to Shriners, and Mr. Razey fixing my back doorknob when it locked up.

As I write this I am a bit afraid of what I have started... what if I forget to mention someone. Please forgive me. Leah Hagen coming over to play with Emilie during the yard sale and the newspapers I got from the Hagens and the Frodges. And most recently, the Stricklens storing the infamous long, long trailer on their property for four months and the Dischers keeping our clock and plants for a year.

I have thought about all of you as we have unwrapped each item. How grateful I am for each of you. So far, one glass bowl was broken (I packed it, oops!) and a few wooden items have been nicked, but not one candle melted! We did discover that the bikes and some of the furniture shrunk! Well, okay, the kids grew ; ) Emilie has thoroughly enjoyed riding her tricycle (which she is almost too big for) and playing with toys she hasn't had access too.

Well, this post is boring and uneventful, but I just wanted to let you all know that you have been in my thoughts. We are so appreciative of our wonderful friends who have not only helped us in physical ways, but have also been praying for us. Thank you isn't a strong enough phrase to express my gratitude.

Now that that is off my chest I can go to bed. Good night!

Aarrrggh!!!!!

I would like to update our picture at the top of the page, but as you see, it is really small. If I don't check to box "shrink to fit" the pictures is really huge. On top of that, it only shows part of the picture (front of old truck) and you don't see us at all.

Somebody HELP ME!!!

Moving In!!!

Just look at that view! Across the road are rolling hills with cattle grazing on them.

There were some long tables in the garage when we arrived. They belong to the local fire department. We made due with one of them and the chairs from the camper until our dining table arrived.
Sadie and Emile are sleeping in Daniel's room until their ceiling can be repaired. It's quite a bit bigger than his last room ; )
This is the "master bedroom" and the "master" air mattress
Sadie and her daddy journeyed down to Florida to get our gooseneck aka the long, long trailer.
Most of the shop stuff is out, now to the beds!

Sadie and Patrick left here Monday afternoon to head down to Florida. They arrived in Arcadia Tuesday night. It was a short, but pleasant visit with my parents. Wednesday they traveled to Alturas where the long, long trailer has been stored since June. The Discher family supplied them with a delicious meal and wonderful conversation. Dessert was served at the Frodges' where they also got to visit with the Stricklen family. They spent the night at the Frodges' before heading out Thursday morning. Two long days on the road and they arrived home Friday afternoon before 6:00 pm.

Now to the unpacking!! It is like Christmas around here; putting away things we haven't seen in a year. So far, nothing is broken or too badly damaged. Last night, Daniel, Patrick & I slept in our own beds and we had dinner at our own dining room table.

Life is good and God is AWESOME! We are so happy with all that God has blessed us with, but when you think about it, it all pales in comparison to the Salvation He has given us and what He has for us in Heaven.

Aunt Wanda

Now that you have read about our journey from Arizona to Oklahoma, you can meet Wanda, affectionately called Aunt Wanda. She is the dear, sweet Christian lady that the Lord brought into our lives. She came out to Arizona to paint Travis' car. The following pictures are of her and Sadie working together sanding and priming.

Peek-a-boo

YIKES!!!
It's a dirty job, but someone had to do it
Sweet, filthy friends


Sadie, Emilie, Daniel & Aunt Wanda leaving Amarillo by morning

What They Do for Fun in Oklahoma!

In Oklahoma, they hunt for fun and food.

What we found most interesting is what they hunt...

Emilie, Daniel & Sadie ready for the hunt Gary aiming at the prey
Dustin Hart (Roger's oldest) taking aim
Can you see what they are aiming for? It's up there.
Emilie isn't too fond of the loud sound of the shot guns

Daniel covering his ears while Mr. Hart take his shot
Mr.Hart helping Daniel shoot
Patrick has his sights set
Did I get one?
Why, yes, he did. He got that pesky walnut out of the tree.
Walnut hunting. Who'd have thunk it?

Once we start working the chicken houses, we won't be able to participate in the chicken holding and petting pastime. Better get all that out of our system now.


One funny looking bird
Thanksgiving is almost here!

Join us next time when the fun & excitement includes

seeing whose coin can remain spinning the longest!

Oklahoma, home of good wholesome fun!

Oklahoma Pictures

We had a wonderful time while staying with Gary & Wanda. They have a beautiful piece of property. The following pictures were all taken at their place.Aunt Wanda taking the kids out on the pond to check the trout line for loggerhead turtles
Aunt Wanda, Emilie, Tonya (Wanda's niece), Sadie & Daniel
Hi Mom!
Patrick having a talk with Kronk
Emily Cat and Tiger, one of her babies

blurry, but beautiful

Just look at that grass!!

Daniel went to the cattle auction with his dad and Mr. Hart (Roger, Wanda's brother)

Here is Daniel with two of ours ; )

Our Animals

This one is named Pistol because she is an ornery one
This is Daisy or was it Suzie or maybe we settled on Sally???
This is Sir Loin
This is Arnold

The following are Gary & Wanda's Shera (sp?) the Longhorn

she actually is Roger's cow

L J (Little Jack) Gary & Wanda's baby

Pearl

Kronk

The Pig Family

The male is named Bacon, but I can't remember the mama's name

Turning Our New House into Our Home

This is our driveway.
This is our commute to work ; )
These are our ten chicken houses
Here is our first house warming gift. I carried the metal turkey decoration all the way to Delaware last year and never set it up. Gary and Wanda came over for dinner our first night in the house and brought the pumpkin. I was so excited to use it with the turkey my mom gave me a couple of years ago.

The pumpkin and the gift of free hay led to this ; )

Can you tell we are excite to be settled?
Sitting on the front porch


The infamous jelly melon

My dear, sweet husband found my "kitchen coop" boarder from our old house at Lowe's and put it up in our new kitchen.
A true labor of love to make me feel at home ; )
Sadie helping her daddy

I know everyone is going to think I'm carrying the chicken theme a little too far when they see my kitchen, but I had the theme before we had the job. After all, these chickens don't need tending to or smell ; )