tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65733044438964991212024-03-17T22:03:41.956-05:00Plum Creek CreationsPlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-5364179837251410762009-12-14T19:15:00.000-06:002009-12-14T19:16:50.121-06:00Sick of Winter- Some Pics From Summer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_B8m1PVEI5pN-cKtYR_CC-bqDaj4hiaS1ejbCK_xUCWT8wBPMaMwIiqWDZ428w6KzGfuhqmwVNgViwwI6uosHHZMtHDpGfFiYiIO73tTuTbSObJxGOr1GYp4QztFkXE37bZOaeSvUVs/s1600-h/113.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371771312291018146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_B8m1PVEI5pN-cKtYR_CC-bqDaj4hiaS1ejbCK_xUCWT8wBPMaMwIiqWDZ428w6KzGfuhqmwVNgViwwI6uosHHZMtHDpGfFiYiIO73tTuTbSObJxGOr1GYp4QztFkXE37bZOaeSvUVs/s400/113.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">I am already sick of looking at snow, so I dug out a few photos I had taken last summer. I am wishing it was spring and winter has barely started! Ugh!</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXP9F3YepHRigssTd_onPACkwyKuT_sGwMrAb_kbcB_j8a0ih8Gj59Yg04iKJA85eXpateBWBEmtaKvyIkPaz7SsupH378-9-wWPiPgDPPrmdnKF0apXUEjbxIOsB3uRgiBHvCsF8mNxU/s1600-h/101.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371770709551335266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXP9F3YepHRigssTd_onPACkwyKuT_sGwMrAb_kbcB_j8a0ih8Gj59Yg04iKJA85eXpateBWBEmtaKvyIkPaz7SsupH378-9-wWPiPgDPPrmdnKF0apXUEjbxIOsB3uRgiBHvCsF8mNxU/s400/101.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003300;">I was very lucky one day when we were all out in the Jeep for a drive and happened to see this doe and her two fawns, and even luckier they stayed still while we turned around and then let me get a few shots!<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfDohr5NIjX4L-A4Mkg1m85L15eqwdyYbkxRwJ8B_2glM2opVLWwFIF1WhB3L-YCT4zGmfD6a9E6yBr7KisjmSgDL7KjTIfxaAhXYkVeGVKLQO-fOmE5bOrUuYJ8xN3odKUM5djTigRM/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371770056119775154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfDohr5NIjX4L-A4Mkg1m85L15eqwdyYbkxRwJ8B_2glM2opVLWwFIF1WhB3L-YCT4zGmfD6a9E6yBr7KisjmSgDL7KjTIfxaAhXYkVeGVKLQO-fOmE5bOrUuYJ8xN3odKUM5djTigRM/s400/006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-558343544284485062009-10-21T09:03:00.002-05:002009-10-21T09:59:17.134-05:00Hen Sweater<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2793/4031453309_c9033b0066.jpg" /><span style="color:#000066;">I have quite a flock of free-range chickens on my farm- probably around 75 or so. My main breeds are Delaware, Rhode Island Whites, Cochins, and Buff Brahmas. I also have some Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds. One of the problems with having roosters, (other than when the crow right outside the bedroom window) is that the hens they have chosen as their favorites, become bald along their backs. Some even end up with sores and with the upcoming winter, I have been concerned about them getting cold. So after a little research, I found the Little Hen Rescue's site, with patterns for hen sweaters out of fleece and knitting: <a href="http://littlehenrescue.co.uk/jumpers.aspx">http://littlehenrescue.co.uk/jumpers.aspx</a>. Personally I prefer crochet, since I can complete projects quickly and I needed to make several sweaters. So I came up with a crochet pattern myself and have already made 4 hen sweaters. The hens get used to wearing clothing surprisingly quickly, and I hope this saves their backs and maybe they can regrow their feathers. I am posting my pattern if anyone has the same problem, just wants to put a sweater on their hen, or wants to make some to donate to the Little Hen Rescue. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 375px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2784/4032219140_44fce6903b.jpg" /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Hen Sweater<br /><br />Yarn: worsted weight<br />Hook: H/8 or size needed for gauge<br />Gauge: 14 sts = 4 1/8”. 12 rows = 4”.<br /><br /><br />Ch 29 loosely, leaving an 18 inch tail.<br />1) Sc in second chain from hook and in each chain across. Ch 1, turn. (28 sc)<br />2-4) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />5) Dec sc in first two sc, sc across to last 2 sc, dec sc. Ch 1, turn. (26 sc)<br />6-8) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />9) Dec sc in first two sc, sc across to last 2 sc, dec sc. Ch 1, turn. (24 sc)<br />10-12) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />13) Dec sc in first two sc, sc across to last 2 sc, dec sc. Ch 1, turn. (22 sc)<br />14-16) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />17) Dec sc in first two sc, sc across to last 2 sc, dec sc. Ch 1, turn. (20 sc)<br />18-20) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />21) Dec sc in first two sc, sc across to last 2 sc, dec sc. Ch 1, turn. (18 sc)<br />22-24) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />25) Dec sc in first two sc, sc across to last 2 sc, dec sc. Ch 1, turn. (16 sc)<br />26-28) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />29) Dec sc in first two sc, sc across to last 2 sc, dec sc. Ch 1, turn. (14 sc)<br />30-32) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />33) Dec sc in first two sc, sc across to last 2 sc, dec sc. Ch 1, turn. (12 sc)<br />34-35) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />36) Sc in each sc across. Ch 4, turn. Ch 4 counts as first treble crochet.<br />37) Tr in second and third sc. Sl st around post of last tr made. Sl st in next 7 sc. Ch 4, tr in last 2 sc. Ch 4, turn.<br />38) Tr in second and third tr. Ch 6. Tr in last three tr. Ch 1, turn.<br />39) Sc in each tr and chain across. Ch 1, turn. (12 sc)<br />40-41) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />42) Sc twice in first sc. Sc across to last stitch. Sc twice in last sc. Ch 1, turn. (14 sc)<br />43-45) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />46) Sc twice in first sc. Sc across to last stitch. Sc twice in last sc. Ch 1, turn. (16 sc)<br />47-49) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />50) Sc twice in first sc. Sc across to last stitch. Sc twice in last sc. Ch 1, turn. (18 sc)<br />51-53) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />54) Sc twice in first sc. Sc across to last stitch. Sc twice in last sc. Ch 1, turn. (20 sc)<br />55-57) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />58) Sc twice in first sc. Sc across to last stitch. Sc twice in last sc. Ch 1, turn. (22 sc)<br />59-61) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />62) Sc twice in first sc. Sc across to last stitch. Sc twice in last sc. Ch 1, turn. (24 sc)<br />63-65) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />66) Sc twice in first sc. Sc across to last stitch. Sc twice in last sc. Ch 1, turn. (26 sc)<br />67-69) Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.<br />70) Sc twice in first sc. Sc across to last stitch. Sc twice in last sc. Ch 1, turn. (28 sc)<br />71-74) Sc in each sc across. Cut yarn, leaving 18 inch tail.<br /><br />Finishing: Fold in half, matching sides. Using yarn tails, stitch up the sides at the bottom about 3 inches, leaving the rest of the sides open for the wings. Weave in ends. </span></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-64718271405793739102009-06-07T11:10:00.013-05:002009-06-07T11:30:06.680-05:00Birds! Birds! Birds!<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjjcKwzsUaYu0ghPjBEKx8qW1Zc6Xg1NTbWMtiblJ87geoSDZWt6-SYM82fp8proQJ59tRd_VdxlYxC5Aj_dONRAFqYoNsT2HFs7wxiem7Grim2hed76UbuCJEeLly22yW-IWx1j1mPI/s1600-h/007+(1).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344619235773828354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjjcKwzsUaYu0ghPjBEKx8qW1Zc6Xg1NTbWMtiblJ87geoSDZWt6-SYM82fp8proQJ59tRd_VdxlYxC5Aj_dONRAFqYoNsT2HFs7wxiem7Grim2hed76UbuCJEeLly22yW-IWx1j1mPI/s400/007+(1).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I've taken a few pictures of birds on my recent hiking trips. Most common seem to be the red-winged blackbirds. They were really abundant in the prairies of Whitewater Canyon- that's where I snapped both of these shots.</div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344620062672615682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZ6HxVWPr6CNg9BkXC2H5Okn5cctYnU4f9f-ZQni2QNoDL4OpY8R5-PB8opVDA4M7xZsrjibZIsw28vl8vYNQcIOvPtwi0fyQpdaAw6yeJocVBrG7NH2OXT_QdhywWxIMpcnO88QY-Hg/s400/008+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><p>Of course the robins are always plentiful as well. Though they don't seem to sit still long enough to get a good shot of them. This one sitting in a tree one day in Plum Creek Park cooperated with me:</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344621662862375426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTgQsDrTO2p24lvyx3XhCxBEQYrBFgbh2Glelog3E90uWg0QmQoVveygIRHdKHLM44OVHOOrEFlgxoT4D2ThppimLhMHr9BnRJ5nwYYx8LE8sodBBZdxIqiOkv-YwDzbR7rhqsW1lC2g/s400/robin+(2).jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>This hawk was flying around as I was leaving Indian Bluffs. I was still very much in picture-taking mode, even though I had taken around 60 pictures while hiking. I just had to pull over and snap a shot of this one!</p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344622248037918306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gqYe1Xg4DuRyIJ2PaadJL55UjrpvQFrneq6_o6NKWOlovC2MVFG7RuVnPQ5nMGzGmr0RfOpwsitr2B15kod8nIonvK8kIJxfE14lSNB42sLcvi1MRGlw8mVhPhOdq73EXsULKfqEq9E/s400/048+(3).jpg" border="0" /><br />This pair of birds was running around the prairie area of Whitewater Canyon. I don't know what they are, so if anyone out there knows, please tell me. They were pretty quick- I had a hard time keeping up to them and trying to take their pictures!</p></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344622916561960850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLB7uDWC4hnVyDxugIhkF0sn6qhGPkfMaw6wWFwpP0_AYclRxIBHQLIsmprEeXeDiYYOaYXJG9WRHhoPLZE-K491NsKhSh1YjaV6zE6r0-PK4nbGo-gLjbXWzo2rixho5tnVlfTPYQHtc/s400/011.jpg" border="0" /><br />This last one is a cardinal I caught checking out my front yard. I just happened to glance out the window and caught a flash of red. I was so happy that he stayed while I got my camera. Cardinals are one of my favorites!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344623394315654130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9fRnHpCrne5bsLBYJB9CBAqMgn0xREhLbL9xb_JRlME3NTmiMMu1eLxOHZBF_n7O_kMfgm2EGKB0oMJpoKph11Z2u91QpFFoR2uB6raOkLY9kZTcM2giRv9uYe_3hVH31tzZHN3xcsM/s400/006.jpg" border="0" />PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-68360941202162044722009-06-01T15:51:00.009-05:002009-06-01T16:13:31.567-05:00Wildflowers and Wilderness<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYWCPQFT4aig-ubtzVtEWj2g8JrySDldjd1nbh1T7BkNhrmpITR9h6GnZ72aFHN9oiUdk_m6cAbvKWVcJDnkGFZyEO0FjRv8Uu4CkKdtg-yhszL3mZg4I7VBoj1wKpONRWTZ0qXaL1k0/s1600-h/035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342465861682699586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYWCPQFT4aig-ubtzVtEWj2g8JrySDldjd1nbh1T7BkNhrmpITR9h6GnZ72aFHN9oiUdk_m6cAbvKWVcJDnkGFZyEO0FjRv8Uu4CkKdtg-yhszL3mZg4I7VBoj1wKpONRWTZ0qXaL1k0/s400/035.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;"><br /></span><div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;">I've been doing a lot of hiking lately, and have remembered to bring my camera with me. I have mostly been focused on taking pictures of wildflowers, but I've also gotten some good shots of birds, fungi, and trees. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342465528828001778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc6xPzeThwEX8Ch3yfEnSpIuIgsj75sKOSeM4faPoyyw0KtvfyKWSYWdiNKufLR2cQwgxVc0U7FG0onBwGWeiHJvmq7Ba7QzOkNCzKOZMbkv1xDXRATYK_zJQlWYzBTFHrMCrJx4bLRw/s400/042.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="color:#993399;"></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;">One unfortunate side affect of all the hiking, is all the ticks I have brought home. I have had a total of nine wood ticks on me already this year. I got six of them on one hiking trip to Pictured Rocks alone! I really need to put a scarf around my dreads on these trips in the future! Here's one of the little buggers that I found in my hair while on the trail:<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;"></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342466629469181122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlkQ_asRaCW4Vw9LVXUEKDE-MBu4Bpw62l7geJD8DMUEAwSFFhriZ4YQjga3n01iAldWNKRQEO_v_EhiivktB-IOqoYQ4KZdqT-nh-R8y8mozKTfOUXC8hE8Irtk8yxpllBLpUSa4K9I/s400/037.jpg" border="0" /> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;">I have taken a boatload of pictures- I've got tons more for future posts. Plus, I entered a photo contest by the Jones County Conservation Board. I sent in four photos for that and the boys had to help me pick because I was having trouble whittling them down.<br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342467002908159826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFpvu88lOvdIzca8m6zWiRGFE70IV2VSyag4rt_P1wQk3Ru-JbtwT53CKuV2_EIh51TR6Luak3s6PTPBIa_wd_vLUJFkD5FiJnRDdftAxGy5BOv6H7xWMY9Qb4vo3ng5c1N2iuUNQHCw/s400/015.jpg" border="0" /></span></p></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;">My husband had to work every day for the last week, so I didn't get out hiking. I can't wait for the boys to get a little older so that they can hike farther. Tate can go a decent ways, but walks really slowly on the way back. Sully's little legs won't take him really far, and a lot of parks don't have trails that will accommodate the stroller.</span></div><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342467872672379554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXln3a96OIzX15h43hHdgPNBXkPlr2GBgfbhzRNIMsIE0URmMZnUh5He3JgSPVcJOE2J4In3Sx-DvMLAPEDdzP5mhDzaXGYfd922JoD_dKQvXb2urOs9pW3n020je8e0Lv2GDluzp-LI/s400/029.jpg" border="0" /></span></p></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;">I'm going to keep a running list of all the parks I hike at this year. So far: Indian Bluffs, Pictured Rocks, Indian Hills, Plum Creek Park, Bailey's Ford, Milo Forest, and Pin Oak. Not a bad list for May! </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#993399;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342468752466004754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Dd7D_XTPTwA7KjC7v8tRgDbgOsCO-XPeFPm_m787grK_XfkH1JL5VRNXx4_UloX9fjmlFumDbBatdsCLlrgllvNOQccSJaHUv0ZLSUy0-478HEzthZLf4jyogVZ5du3exLou0Lzf8j8/s400/056.jpg" border="0" /></span></p>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-87308945104965806002009-05-06T09:51:00.007-05:002009-05-06T14:43:13.796-05:00Baby Chicks!<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG8L4zQK5MvdS8xnFOFfNneGBZUAYkYV-9rE6lyst0EPi_c5JnmhSFyuMcuRJiaCBtYZSi0bIL9zXLMjsW-D-oYZNgFrdLX2xgHHtEtjTD_YnSDvdnBAOcSevInD3gnMmRBCM9Wza0Fs/s1600-h/chick1.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc9933;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332724475489989618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG8L4zQK5MvdS8xnFOFfNneGBZUAYkYV-9rE6lyst0EPi_c5JnmhSFyuMcuRJiaCBtYZSi0bIL9zXLMjsW-D-oYZNgFrdLX2xgHHtEtjTD_YnSDvdnBAOcSevInD3gnMmRBCM9Wza0Fs/s400/chick1.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc9933;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc9933;">We have some new babies at the farm again! This time it's baby chicks, fresh from the incubator. I now have 15 fuzzy little chicks in my camper, whose sole purpose is brooding chicks and ducklings, and occasionally housing baby goats and mamas. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc9933;"></span> </div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc9933;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332725493386072562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpIAjIVSM-66_qLvlE2NZca2yQ9q5tF46ZKrwJz5ZvBDMC_TO2-aDVydtISee7Wqj27KnrVhPPH3pBc5tCm6BxTHkwHapdmIFIb7uktQXsMqz8E_HAfymndUmiK7kvTgX1LDKzT1wkg8/s400/chick2.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc9933;">The kids and I really enjoyed watching the chicks hatch; Sullivan in particular loves baby animals, so this was right up his alley. He was rather impatient though, he wanted me to just open the eggs! He also loves to talk to the chicks in their own language. He's very proficient at animal-speak. :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc9933;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc9933;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332726041814145522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EINKSRPw71UZA6RDBJzDDCPypJsM1uF73F3-9XytOZhAmMji868fXel3nABl3K8AznDRIo9pPXqwlQ1DknU4ftewzCIpBOTp_AdIocZqRy0qygV434-xtIlLj3Ax3MADRH8hIeLav_8/s400/chick3.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc9933;">I have already refilled the incubator for another hatch in about 3 weeks. I also plan to order some ducklings later this month. I only have 2 ducks left and I think they would like some company. With all the flooding we have been getting (again) around here lately, I think they are the happiest animals on the farm!</span></p><p><span style="color:#cc9933;"></span> </p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzdp7bYu6shpNoirY47FJfDjhoXZCGXujSFhUQAuIiWi_AiCvQg6Hrd-0FD1YSpbMt-JVOE12sBPWhnvnyV' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-18413739324668579262009-04-19T19:38:00.004-05:002009-04-19T19:57:22.256-05:00Happy Birthday To Me!<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;">It's my birthday! 31- though Tate keeps saying I'm 21- I like his better! Here's my two greatest accomplishments in the first 31:</span></strong><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"></span></strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326567286985735890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxp26BMwHPMtTVulMhCTAP9jdB-L4CMJaWVkzcUTzObDGYmA32xM50ooFUbLBNHV26yhG5sRiGsOH-zlxbgzPc4e_Rh6jUN50eoffyc9CIdZW9iP18HmtvWkqd1pI4YZEfrVDFaGvJVHY/s400/008+(2).jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326567698551832242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriMoCldAw8RZRLJn2r2Cw8-qPxctxn5XwcKoK-GO_2nHW2qAgIsK4snTP58rm6hcdvLPDiEs7lWhvaNfWMLPljhFQ7pG2WCDL5Qb037gmqR0OUN3F3VENYbvNmlHvFLMUatl_q1tuVg0/s400/004+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-75245699160958731302009-03-18T09:00:00.007-05:002009-03-18T09:20:59.838-05:00It's That Time of Year Again!<div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6MvIev2P5o4taHQlycoaOO120YrD_IoXyoceH4s5VWne5qH6ZY3By_wKTggHlu_BBOWENEWjpg_AMVqK_0e5xHX79sKsBsVMAOTEq1JXjgi87api60XclB80TUCuf25KYYeMbsf6RqA/s1600-h/001+(2).jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314527494246583746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6MvIev2P5o4taHQlycoaOO120YrD_IoXyoceH4s5VWne5qH6ZY3By_wKTggHlu_BBOWENEWjpg_AMVqK_0e5xHX79sKsBsVMAOTEq1JXjgi87api60XclB80TUCuf25KYYeMbsf6RqA/s400/001+(2).jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;">I haven't posted for awhile! I hadn't realized it had been this long! The winter has been long and pretty boring, but the weather is getting nicer, and babies are being born! The trees are getting buds and my rhubarb is starting to peek out. Joe and I have been busy stockpiling wood for next winter and getting things done outside since the weather is cooperating.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314528148630370370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PGKHxh3U3BDx8gwHPfdDaz-ygHn4EWA1hZWGd8CH1daZyZxv7htQJDzJRavnfFHt5mQbff5wX43kWN7HUfrKFnM8kcae6fxIa3tnY9B3uio2hIR3dSlhyfyquUDtE_JkemJ8_sTqTPA/s400/007.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;">It's hard to believe, but we've already had some minor flooding this year. The creek has been out it's banks four times already. It was really strange to have the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">flood waters</span> freeze when it was really cold. Hopefully that's the worst of it, all the snow has melted, so hopefully last year's events won't repeat themselves.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314529103147967122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCKzwNYI8M1L9vJjwDSSEuWJ_y8wRNdjDJ66cOJs2nX7mLBPcNVDwgQKeulN9SH5Nvj-nl1CMhGvNytYNGpSVnpv_hRQHsAWCNS51RnCb8gJ1lChzYqwBnEcTR0scjw93aAY7pWxd7vM/s400/017.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;">I walked out to the barn to collect eggs Saturday morning and discovered Hester had had two kids. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">doeling</span> is mostly white with a little black and the buckling is mostly black with a little white. They are such little sweethearts and love laying the sunshine and playing outside. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">doeling</span> likes to nibble my chin, but the buckling calls for mama the whole time I hold him.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314529862498651826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjib1hnCMKilPFwr3-bdDjRTJAxSocLou9CibgOSBMcP4aZB-wxNi-VW_iTgeEGxdVj0rs0fCbmeOrYd6aa0obZ45jJ1uZ0AM-9aJTtQB2hIvFQcvaPGyexzwBeqe9IKp3yPVDmKzfuHW0/s400/023.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;">Last night I heard a baby goat crying and thought one of Hester's babies got stuck somewhere or couldn't find their way back to the barn, but when I got there, I found that Helga had also had two babies! I haven't checked the sex yet, but one is mostly silver and the other mostly white. Very cute! </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314530684723875890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUtL6h0y7pylthb7xYrkHrPGZiuAewtfVfeBTc2NHYCwB5Ex_wTtkjnxpQLbVSQwG9KkTGy08MfciTvqNkT67rFrZ9GcuBKRXPs2YXM5BQFjZWtEJ_tllECtkMVSyYyo92QZg2TnJnYM/s400/026.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;">I just checked on them this morning when I collected eggs and everyone is doing great! It's so nice to have baby goats again! I lost a few goats over the winter, so the new life in the barn renews the spirits!</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"></span> </div></div></div></div></div></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314530924158718530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3i0JMR75M4fQjKO1H5WwsO6JMP-cws14vVDisb6LDBv240uJ5F4mJK60wWhuD0OhBKI4NajcoYx78S0zdFdAw_60Z2AmOilrp6D-OjOgCLvXFiht__mcWPYAyY9B678XNDIVH9j670w/s400/009.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;">The boys are happy to be able to play outside again, too! Laying around on the couch watching <strong>Annie</strong> and playing with their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Legos</span> and trains is getting old. Well, maybe not the watching <strong>Annie</strong> part, they can't seem to get enough of that movie!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#006600;">I've finished tons of crochet projects over the winter to post, so check back later!</span></p>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-74674235895187542842008-12-10T23:58:00.009-06:002008-12-11T00:15:32.882-06:00White Christmas<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoUIEbb9ZWSbR2ooqz6b6Eg149L56uiuy9C4Huow5Q_f8StyqRtnxbpu82Md8PZtO7U30by20GB8bJQ5WjWbU2RPEm0M3D-2kKyowuHl0r1z-qMrhV6pTsl2MPLkoMp0ThS2m0xJy2rk/s1600-h/012.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278408278038574594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoUIEbb9ZWSbR2ooqz6b6Eg149L56uiuy9C4Huow5Q_f8StyqRtnxbpu82Md8PZtO7U30by20GB8bJQ5WjWbU2RPEm0M3D-2kKyowuHl0r1z-qMrhV6pTsl2MPLkoMp0ThS2m0xJy2rk/s400/012.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;">The boys were amazed to wake up to the Christmas tree this morning. By this afternoon, they had all ready knocked it over! Tate can't wait for Santa Claus to bring him more toys. He has been impatiently waiting for Santa since the first snowfall.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278408882526126658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDR5wgIijvABr-j4_AZZ1W8nQscUbI8qE5FeAbo4_S6T1Cx9Wc5OEcJhJyV-mrWVMNhV1tCh27ae6_4IiMybBNpRKAhkaZtbYd9q0TVa5vhUOxfUzAajtcHNj2GnkWyrrUTIc032j10dM/s400/011.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;">The dogs have been enjoying playing in the snow- here they are along with their rooster friend. The dogs sleep in the garage at night since it's heated, and the rooster must have gone in and slept in the dog house at night. I didn't notice him when I put the dogs in, but they all got along, so I left him. He even went up to the bowl and ate dog food with them. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278409956078759458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZmEbJEvkvoMxLmUSl1bpB3G5qqiVDCcPv6xTtwrqG7nmIsbpx2GgsaFitnLHzZCOKTFNI244vR4sYeFeZe2-xtorJyn6GzsqbX-lL77lGG8o0xK2fBMAX840dVcdRejLB1C-pPbYuBM/s400/006.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;">I have been crocheting like a wild woman, trying to get all my projects done by Christmas. I have always been a procrastinator, I work much better with a deadline looming. I have finished a few things- I only have a quilt, a bed scarf, an amigurumi monkey, and a hat to finish. Here are some of the things I have finished:</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278410480759616738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUigcHgjO9pperVTTIYK5jQB9uVcp36ZaN4y_3G1uiuHmTOzJUidwwfhK0ui_htnye3o0xagffVZG9eb1koN2Zv50_ZTvlNvDuPcgzIOO-R1V1nE8zRH8GzRa3oZU_XGlGeVcoh6Peeno/s400/013+(2).jpg" border="0" /> Lilac bed scarf for my mom.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278410585249749682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3n-OlRlYFHgT4wKe6G5ZS6weYPxg5KfTGVWYumbIdXZFSEX5JKOcHX0HvJOH_Y8QATZT4y9rM1IjkTqCAb8PTfq3h_cm1qn7TynaOxYCM_i2bLc1ftVirS3Y-AcgVPo8Oov6vQZeDPH4/s400/016.jpg" border="0" />American Flag afghan for my dad.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#000000;"></span></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#000000;"></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278410986894988082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvv22KPoTpSVnV16YmZdv7jX8erS8hswY8fdKn0Ro3UXQ5DYPN5p82h2yG8-N7LYAFP-DLa0dliUbM74w-rQqpNgVJh32GbiMwT46Krp32mJblj0FY6Hhzu48LiGN3sp3kPEs5JrWybY/s400/002+(3).jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278411154052556290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg030okpF_gx_zLoQ-qSTOD-PeEiseczjCu5IZkshpgoSmt8FRUHjBeKbXFQzYUYeH-qAGqgDunRoWvo8ia61OWLb_cCsfrKW1HM6hZtWwj9ikJxi3Mheb8kzJX8mPO8YwiDCwnjD-6FEc/s400/004.jpg" border="0" />Camouflage hat and mittens for Tate and Sullivan.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278411431385723186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8onPg2mAyXEGm7wsLfNwQVdFY19LwWQy1vByckvXPXPPYSj_UKW9OX7kXoECSRkg7sIt7BrrozJmCCb_uZPw4PH5s3YhKoJXcUBW_uiC4wkM2MWU3VyP7DeDvsTzKwFAPlm8NUlFPlc/s400/023.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#6600cc;">Amigurumi monkey for my niece, Samantha, the monkey nut.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ff0000;">Here's hoping I get everything finished in time for Christmas! I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season. Merry Christmas!</span></p>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-69612348477198302852008-11-23T20:32:00.005-06:002008-11-23T20:48:21.647-06:00Hamster Heaven<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhgx4q6T-Kt6-3GTgCNmQZ2n-quc6vas93V72BWstF78JsH6jKv17-e07rf5SpnW3rJ1iS62CbFjqtSc6ksUkgOa13EmXosMAUWeGzm7JiT1MKM8XTf3pEIB-pB4n5E_m0OYRmi1ptC8/s1600-h/buttercup.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272047239388474002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhgx4q6T-Kt6-3GTgCNmQZ2n-quc6vas93V72BWstF78JsH6jKv17-e07rf5SpnW3rJ1iS62CbFjqtSc6ksUkgOa13EmXosMAUWeGzm7JiT1MKM8XTf3pEIB-pB4n5E_m0OYRmi1ptC8/s400/buttercup.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">Here are some new additions to our family! We are now the proud pet-parents of three hamsters. Above is Juju, a long-haired Syrian. She was my first hamster, and I picked her because she was running on the exercise wheel like crazy while all the other hamsters slept. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272047945170725170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALqTXhyphenhyphen0G2gGELzYtrv0S5UQjttI_o3LmLPJoe0qEoSKWpktPC5xO5XWEya3Otp604P16G3PEM_RBclE3vG4XuGHvkfLZwJteYiNpfSWp6jHIz09PKwwUU_2bes1PLc363vFjFVrE9E0/s400/007.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">She's really funny and has the food bowl empty within an hour of me filling it. She carries it all up to her sleeping room and sticks it in a pile in the corner. Another corner is for peeing and another corner is for sleeping, with her bedding piled in it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#330033;"></span> </p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272049568648015250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lp-pH1fmyXRstHomxBsPql7P47Uteyt4SGXF4-7jBSJcawJUPDEfx09aEHIz1LZaDrTONbVzjRLVm16NPHkdik92Dtm0J5-FS1qIyXwBxZG8eT78Pf26xXT6ZAnC4M7UKBLBAigqpT8/s400/vega.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;">Then I rescued Vega (above) and Nova (below) from the humane society. They are female dwarf hamsters. Vega is 4 months old and Nova, who is her daughter, is 3 weeks old. Nova escaped from the exercise ball the other night and I about had a heart attack, but she was found hiding in Tate's room. The kids love watching the hamsters!</span></p><p> </p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330033;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272050168015170610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 284px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEU6LuufD-UGryJde0IdG_ln7Y1Azl7HLRl2xhq4di9_tV6VwctZ1yXlPe7fcZ3vmjUQipFrTx1l7mJCATDJ3ceITsh9_Y8L0Az0N0dEkC7VRSnGNxyevF-nenfkAlFHFb8vaFINgEiNw/s400/nova.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><p></p></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-6448370203653194982008-10-31T21:07:00.001-05:002008-10-31T21:18:33.386-05:00Happy Halloween!<div align="center"> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ff6600;">Happy Halloween!</span></div><div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000000;">From Tate, the construction worker:</span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263507013077244498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVUTA0625SKXPVefvFEUcmEGi_U7sjaAtIyD0FvPNcKT_KA5WndDGsRYs_xfSbhrZT1a6dZmDiJ3Rr0fpL4Itz4597ZBFb0XFtznyVOfaP9G7dS6K5po51Mf50GL3btZ_XeyvM5GSTQQ/s400/029.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ff6600;">And Sullivan, the train engineer:</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ff6600;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263507200182948722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdmZFi2Ig959Jvd6O9Ss9CL9fa-2dPquR65rEX90G76slUfsC4RiXhgFGOLQ_ShWqQEtfAIp8F8wa3upj8Co8aZhqOb67WDgzhD1WGmgIO_SxqUDOsAa6W5rmSwph_yqqVrOVMKfXAJI/s400/018.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000000;">And my niece, Samantha, batgirl:</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263507317156987234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrg79QI_0Jgx84NGqgMKtcHMnLFPs7cJcmjKono6Jzk3arhbz5R9jB7EBqLsJt-0QE0MYtGVvFsXYyNshM4MIjlgyj9kB8NGe4ABTGCYF35NdfYV5v9lF7ERdfsvJNMpJAZOuIMUjEVrA/s400/026.jpg" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263507494245177938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_1-PecbhfpnyPCJn91cIGMtmzicVEKMRxVSX8jg0J-g39SEjQhY9Lydekq-eBP0cxs29_bxJwodlpLyJ4HEzu9svCVX04Tv_IIYXLTxvT81jL3HD5uNFKD_0FViAIa6Bsj9VS9-MQDc/s400/020.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263507420968526146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOihB6S0DqZHOeRZto5bSEIJOpowqGfgVdpDYipAzEpJ1w8B312MWSlfAS1v9GFNGiA4oW3LcIGE2WBZ7nw2nFhRL-cwz3OUpVJMMaVkSfZ_Dz9NqEkmSwdhv0CiGuLNZQ7MhcwMAS8c/s400/024.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-82588673831345285532008-10-22T23:04:00.011-05:002008-10-22T23:26:34.765-05:00Let Sleeping Babies Lie<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUitShlqCoU6V6O3tcnPBa63j4_iSApyRY4y7cKmZu5VBfwoF6mVEO8Aui7Sk-n52wyF9ooWRsQC_RhlRLnlbao7ImEP7UXwgOrYtzlzOlfZkHUg_IxTwcTyZZLP5fNV0-ethyf9Znao/s1600-h/sullycarseat.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260195516155020594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUitShlqCoU6V6O3tcnPBa63j4_iSApyRY4y7cKmZu5VBfwoF6mVEO8Aui7Sk-n52wyF9ooWRsQC_RhlRLnlbao7ImEP7UXwgOrYtzlzOlfZkHUg_IxTwcTyZZLP5fNV0-ethyf9Znao/s400/sullycarseat.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"> I decided to do a blog post on my boys sleeping after checking out fellow blogger, Jenn's, adorable sleeping baby pictures at </span><a href="http://ihatewhine.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;">http://ihatewhine.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;">. The above one is Sullivan, and yes he really was sleeping like that! </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"><br /> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260196265438954290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAL1-fcqis3d1SNoHuuF4cCLNr6SByR_qoguPu9jHL4yXV_kccr0JKl8FPeRmLIYNRd5KZaDudKndGPvn2wVkydfhl6eu0_VW_vp6QoH5ikwYAWpVlxDiI-o5S7ZstaUI_xJ08ADwWJzg/s400/Sully8.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;">Have you ever heard the saying, "never wake a sleeping baby?" Well, if you are a parent, you know exactly how true that is. Not to mention how cute they are sleeping. I could stand and watch my kids sleep for half the night.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="color:#330099;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260197050720226562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHzosOEw2Hz6744rJJVYumIeZ7mEwTCXSWZU7htGlVBSlKR9amFhyphenhyphenQ_P-K0lp7wRfCl_jTf4cJAIhUDvobQcDRXub-rx77oIQ4u3ds8N44iT2QmfRNj3ZavFCnqwvBAZitoAazGlxDuU/s400/sullysleeping1.jpg" border="0" /><br />Sully can not sleep without his blankie, as a matter of fact, he has four of them the same material so that they can get washed regularly. Though at the moment he has 3 of them in bed with him, which he was very insistent on. He also has two stuffed kitties he couldn't sleep without. Here is the picture of him I took just minutes ago:</span><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260197159951383298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjxGDHdvpYRQpbkQFLnXdEPamAcwlIrYY1wQuaGFIhjDBAUzHaqGrcZ_MY2vnOX4zNt_G9pZOtxcDhhDSifAPhS-QEtEjcSM4_0fRUEje-H10eOOtYz2dzBYwQ570CrOdSjf9Qj0t9ok/s400/001.jpg" border="0" /><br />He's really growing like a weed, as you can see he no longer fits in the crib sideways without being crunched up, which apparently he likes. </span><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260198029442007314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1etoKq450vmynC1avTQ52sIM8EtXgBaDq4oIFezyTluQGp0-KHFHv4ezjoE1AW1y_ZKJ7Jl5lBogfDXiSlPxK9hnP4urLVCEGB1cPDZperHAKTD2XH36nyPexopEqMs1voi5Phmc-5A/s400/tatebarbie.jpg" border="0" /> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;">Someday Tate is going to bring home a girlfriend to introduce to me, and I am going to embarrass the bejeebers out of him with pictures of him as a child, especially the above one of him sleeping in the car with a Barbie head. ;)</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260198599022886466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAyESAZxYbNBPavJO_gw0zwTMZYbofh1YBkJQjMiL0m4JpuBtcYKoWd48KMGJjWT9PnCOn12DdNxaPB3x1cWO9wHzc-CMgoGB3klydfWp1k6toXZRRhjqsvkvPebGUnHuPdnTtwRhJ2U/s400/tatesleeping+(2).jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;">Tate likes to sleep with furry stuffed animals, though he is starting to get away from that a little. He has been getting by with just one, instead of 3 or more he usually has. His three favorites are Josie, a black & white Shih Tzu just like our real one by the same name; House, a stuffed Yorkie he named himself; and Kolby, a gold & white Shih Tzu just like our real Kolby.</span><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260199257084138370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfu9TdFZkSPIAdxS1fAfsFYPAuEgyT2CkA_uo8dXuGHNXXxJC21nFPot1lgNzCau4pCBP_P8ancwPYT9sd1LTpfapor135SRYrTyRVxoLWDPeKu5tfsFIflZ8nAJCxYoAdj8zt_KtPp8/s400/tatecouch2.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;">Sometimes, our real dogs have stood in for the stuffed ones. Most of them don't have a problem with Tate playing with their fur or using them as a pillow. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#330099;"></span><br /><br /> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260199635184305330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 304px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-_AvoUhUxqk8Brac91iEWld7OL5_JAlbMBOMw8LfI0afag-a5s2T9ZBc9KC_71Du9X-ln-iT2qjBkU6duhnuFsdb-POSvj7pHINBfOdgRQ_zYkLtpp0ZFSPBPaXn1H2OV9qfiIUIML58/s400/002.jpg" border="0" /> </span> <div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;">Both boys suck their thumbs, but Tate is a lot more attached to his. Once the thumb is in the mouth, nothing will do but sleep, no matter where he may be.</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260199936339529266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxHKd_IGkSPPsM5vBTFT4xj20lRtb_cQURF0EXbx4fQxtErHdJQ8Za-F-DCyV3_LSAC5Ovuj2ZtIUPsfkiLG-qtNEuGW6ygXAg3pgXdm91wEan_V3ZdZ5m5GxvgxBFcpJPesXUF8cTZc/s400/fgh.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#330099;">Here he is tonight, with his beloved Kasey Kahne pillow I made him. Out like a light!</span>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-56218904169650135472008-10-18T23:55:00.007-05:002008-10-19T00:15:50.380-05:00Fall Splendor in Clayton County<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWbRTC2nKv2ZGOpDd4OUjjzuGQgsQqyWgLnfACetWzskWcvMU9XcCw1I7KNbkFrkOeyOmP66iKzLF1vmL4bMTCbi-IoW-V4eUW281kl2wwCXnBDYOp_dHHAw7JOX6BzMUNIsTIBCOVOo/s1600-h/040.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258724607635929362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWbRTC2nKv2ZGOpDd4OUjjzuGQgsQqyWgLnfACetWzskWcvMU9XcCw1I7KNbkFrkOeyOmP66iKzLF1vmL4bMTCbi-IoW-V4eUW281kl2wwCXnBDYOp_dHHAw7JOX6BzMUNIsTIBCOVOo/s400/040.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;">Fall is definitely here! We took a little roadtrip through Clayton County last week to check out the leaves. Every view was picturesque- this is just a small sampling of my pictures from that day.</span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258725200313026562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqlLrZwoC21ikH0p2dGsKyzEaiaOB1DqT7ViFHaVg9kFndEBKNA0ls0Vtudk9UBMfkS5tJT_fvxD6vTgak2_ktY3kibEjLisnPmmPK44oCkd9SL91ZmGGsx956BNc3CJ322sLHDcstR4/s400/015.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;">Tate and Sullivan had fun looking at trees, rivers, and trains. I was of course on the lookout for fossil-collecting sites. I knew of some road cuts near Millville which I scoped out on the way by. I also found several washed-out places that might be good collecting.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc6600;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#000000;"></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258725925863630930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91BKZ4uUDUrlUji6X9WzZ3CzH1YX-GWdrKp8c06lLWf_zZRbXnwu5PnMsQZjdjDEaIfBEsWmn_sRC9j_QxXXnoLHMP8jbUEW65EqKktfb3xmvUozk4bdsMSPyNo2axVHBgpED3f2U3bg/s400/026.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;">The past couple nights have gotten pretty chilly, so the leaves have been falling like crazy. It's a good thing we took this trip last week! I haven't been able to spend as much time outside with it getting colder, because of the kids, but I have managed to hike and fossil-collect while keeping the kids occupied when cutting firewood.</span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258726997077729730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3Bpxm7D3AfSCRyyS6ZnSD6c0uIDV9X9T0XfAQDF4ohGm7y-aSdsu3BTKnGbofWys2BIB8HIKt5eEJJ5dWoq55gtCNrnAka7syG_Tor9FX7Nf0V9JWCVJilYdRgmRCmIol6RBFXZSQgs/s400/035.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;">We are getting quite a supply of wood built up for the winter. I am starting to get tired of loading firewood, but it's good exercise! We had the cement poured for the wood burner and the chunk of sidewalk Joe had to break up to trench for the pipe. We had a fun time trying to keep the kids, dogs, cats, and chickens out of the cement!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"></span><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258726343649936226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy70ZC5TzTV3tbWAwWoGoTwIfkcvlUNO1Zlq5BMTFZFOc3kIAqHmLVd5m2CUkmv_ssQHxqm2GpZrAGxe-hHrolmv9C0lXtFwbRJpJPtnCL1u1nkqGJ_-k661YK7whHh9Vf62nH2TMRsCY/s400/031.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;">The sidewalk now has little cat and dog paw prints across it, but it's really cute, so I left it. The kids put their footprints on the slab for the wood stove, which made Sullivan cry, of course. :)</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258727822719668050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcuXQCEj1Nuo68geYMkihxWhHUSWWNTWhrZaenKKKgy7Mim548CNv-1LY5ASxC20B9Onu2FMpIrIKHrtgBtN69cc7UMAmvsTz8BJoY9Gp1U9cDrEe7bhBISGriFOzNdWO9m9SLloOybc8/s400/019.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;">I hope you enjoyed my autumn pictures of Clayton County, Iowa!</span></p>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-54822565374361184562008-09-16T23:32:00.008-05:002008-09-17T00:13:15.568-05:00Clinging to Summer<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4WTX_x7gDxnEFNWjIrAhAc43Z1DE_lp8Tm_37Dcevcj6nGR4yxfKNTa1poM4bnoUa9yyOpIzdT6obvHfxPHZl7vqQrovyJupIgM9ID2GsCWbDzcD7UayN0ebm_bZ1iUKk2AgwMVXimg/s1600-h/005.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246843937005938946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4WTX_x7gDxnEFNWjIrAhAc43Z1DE_lp8Tm_37Dcevcj6nGR4yxfKNTa1poM4bnoUa9yyOpIzdT6obvHfxPHZl7vqQrovyJupIgM9ID2GsCWbDzcD7UayN0ebm_bZ1iUKk2AgwMVXimg/s400/005.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">I do not want summer to end! I have been spending as much time outside as I possibly can to enjoy the weather and scenery before it's cold and snowy. Yikes! I don't even want to think about snow yet! The picture above I took at Backbone State Park in Delaware County, Iowa. I have been obsessed lately with rocks and fossils and living in northeastern Iowa gives me a great opportunity to study the Hopkinton Formation- Backbone in particular being a great place to observe the karst terrain, such as caves and springs. You can learn more about Backbone State Park and the Hopkinton Formation here: </span><a href="http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/Browse/backbone/backbone.htm"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/Browse/backbone/backbone.htm</span></a></div><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246848110893818802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqN3hA6FTFdW-npfIaTVEz18DdWYvQSjv9SQDhiERN_4DoX0aneB8j-JSIijnrwsQ4LUMeD8Q8XGzjTV8SkPnC9Tbz0Kn3Ob1cNtp0NjVv1RwGCebgmBth2SzLn7kR9A9mpMkJwJ5WcA/s400/George+Cutler.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Another project I have been working on outdoors, is cataloging and photographing headstones at rural cemeteries in the area. I have started with Plum Creek Cemetery, just down the road a couple miles. Once I was finished, I got really interested in the people buried there and have done a ton of research on the people who were pioneers to this area in the mid to late 1800s. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246849017677169026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhHRgXCaoigg_OsUqpd9-7gSJNDNlIwak5uF-8aU76WtMx2b8LRDNw88lEBj6ZwhNprKr_dhI1uDsNfZjrZkP1Em0DoLm5_qsiwvxu4Yq2xtJ0gxHWj6jKcdllUyA2ZSVVoVscJ9L26M/s400/William+Lupton.jpg" border="0" /><br />A lot of the stones are almost unreadable and some have been broken and repaired. I wanted to get pictures before they are completely unreadable and for people researching their genealogy who don't live in the area. I plan to start a blog or site with my pictures and the information on the people I have gathered, but that sounds more like a winter project. :)</span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246850798436830978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EeKKapUejEn2juZEssVR0pxMzs8F4pPzFHDaN6Uws0ZVE8U2IpCtqxY6PrmWsufoyOyGYS3TroVDHQg8qpWarVJCLgLV0irQR7SRorW0OOtBrYJf-XiLlOx19Buq0wJVtS7IEW6PIjw/s400/010.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><p></p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">After having an udder full of milk for four weeks, Nellie finally gave birth last week. To a whopping four kids, no less. Here she is with 3 of her kids, the fourth was very weak and cold, so I had taken her into the house. She couldn't stand, could barely hold her head up, and couldn't suck, so I fed her with my finger and a syringe and warmed her up with my rice bag. A few hours later, she was walking and sucking strongly, so I took her back to the barn and Nellie welcomed her back. I sat with her awhile and helped her figure out nursing, and now she's absolutely fine!</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246851870972505570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngXoVn7J4Tg2IH-ganbGYkPGpAatmCvCtnRZV0Khw2PtOl-gTbfcZvm7IjLDYAPHBQPRCXDJKcgmvCBF7ywW32-7iAiQnz-ODwygwhYr0Yx5o52TXwXiGcLFY3fVV04HMBv9YIdxuyBQ/s400/008.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">This picture was taken shortly after I brought her in, so she doesn't look very good. I need to get out and take more pictures, because they are running and jumping and going crazy out there! There are two doelings and two bucklings and they are in a variety of sizes! One of the boys is huge- easily twice the size of the smallest- and he was trying to eat oat straw on the day he was born!</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246852534771803474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrfchHBg8GJMm4m4jczOGnNtjlxk2roIiFdrpg6s0w5GPjOVGk47J-2ubcdk0FlwPtFXf-K1Hu9R-kD-uhS6PaGc61E5w6hVtC66MQdXIW_0n0adtV5_GkDShRctLaRRb5qdt7qkBj38/s400/tate+005.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Here's Tate and Annie perched on a trailer load of the oat straw. Tate loves sitting up there and watching the goats and chickens in the front hog lot. He made me sit up there with him the other day and tell him all the names of the goats. Several times, actually! Annie climbs on top the pile every time she walks by it, rather than walking around, she goes over.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Not to leave Sullivan out, here his is with his newfound storage method for food he has no interest in eating. Which isn't very often. The pea fit nicely, but tonight he was trying to stick in pieces of his pork chop, which didn't work so well!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246853435385054034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcExX6Z7dwD5qX4O0mq6lBRSQk3U5IQLunR9WlEjYVqguzkhiJWIJAN8zfIlqLjctK1kQDKi43K_cw00V-1O3ec0vc7NIGACqA7k21q_HNnbGCfr4J9pZPWdFXDPXrO8X9hsWFv4iqIJ0/s400/007.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-40221868696768042422008-08-25T17:06:00.008-05:002008-08-25T17:25:38.971-05:00Boys, Cookie, and Yarn<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4vLfhCqhMFWu50iAGVzQwPlo8Y2Tub88zhXxJgklQlAT3l0F168zoevEAAbmyJJ0Br6wZFX_6h3Y3ss-h72B7G8-BD189WEimD4PRwGMeqJBwWHrWWnMTMlnWvQEw7SFrE4ebbafCWI/s1600-h/010+-+Copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238580784823585858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4vLfhCqhMFWu50iAGVzQwPlo8Y2Tub88zhXxJgklQlAT3l0F168zoevEAAbmyJJ0Br6wZFX_6h3Y3ss-h72B7G8-BD189WEimD4PRwGMeqJBwWHrWWnMTMlnWvQEw7SFrE4ebbafCWI/s400/010+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">It's been a busy summer so far. Joe and I floated the Maquoketa River from Hopkinton to Monticello- last month we did Delhi to Hopkinton. Someday we hope to be able to say we floated the entire Maquoketa. I'm fried to a crisp and am trying to do my best to stay out of the sun today because the sun beating down on my shoulders and face doesn't feel very pleasant. The boys kept Grandma and Grandpa Picray busy for the day while we floated. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238581618235469058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xWczUavqZmdDv9elczLasddmCLVkRFAZxix5C0uxvAw1IJxsEMEmapspmoMlg04ahyphenhyphenvr3ACg726CCBrpiW5vu9gO07-QNOQbkBHkkIVP77ONHZTDMUx8JY7JoPY5ly0J-2ZumogNJZE/s400/003+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">Tate has been loving to color lately. Unfortunately, most of this coloring has been on himself or Sullivan, if he can get him to stay still long enough. Sullivan has become a talking machine, even saying two and three words sentences. His favorite word is still "No!" He just loves to disagree with anything.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238582667020018994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTPA0zN5WXifo45z0sJgFQt5o3eQR72DeaZbx-vmv65Gy23rw2WVW2XKBNDnG25QckHxT-GqtmREOwMD2v6R_Xk5-FpimyfNCgqfHq8zhyphenhyphent7yFoTR_GnJGalEIsQQQmRr9qTYsOYSlTY/s400/007+-+Copy.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">The boys got a new puppy. Annie has been depressed without Corky, so we got this new puppy, who Tate named Cookie. She is very good with the kids, and they adore her. Joe was working on building her a fenced-in area, but hit himself in the head with a T-post that broke and had to stop. He had a nice gash on his forehead, which scared Tate a bit. Cookie has been living in the house with us until her pen is finished, and she really likes all the dogs. The other dogs don't really care about her, except Zoie, who loves to play with her.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238583298310194050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QbzrtZoz36mEUCVxYDZa1dccg_6Zpy1XjisTpCfNT1FiIX9C7RQuuesLXMFXWiso7porSSekZO4aW_1fA96VTlYhJBed3vr-UgcGH-1z4SLHik7l_iDJpC9O3F31dJ6lz8EBhPpFDX8/s400/009+(2).jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">I have been working on yarn-dyeing and jewelry for my etsy shop. I also listed most of my vintage clothing collection, because with two kids now, I really don't have the space. Also because of having two kids, I don't fit into most of it anymore anyway. :)</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">I used Wilton's food coloring for the skein of yarn above. My inspiration was jewel tones, and it turned out exactly as I imagined it. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238584503834268898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUINQ9lYufXbU8P6KwvBv8Wu7wW7lr6oL0Ha4cu4GFQpTvnD55xwBOsbs89KSsucQruB9RIxngYwztOrqW0fQPaRNZ8a17GffjzuRY7qu8GXHacdU4_HSjFHNDxXF3h5ue4FrXSG-bHSk/s400/002+(2).jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">These yarns are available at my etsy shop at </span><a href="http://www.plumcreekcreations.etsy.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">www.plumcreekcreations.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">- check it out!</span></span></div></div></div></div></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-67398561029261052732008-08-08T23:21:00.012-05:002008-08-08T23:58:32.302-05:00Plum Creek Creations<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgVGWSLQzJj5J-2DgwKUhC2sp0ito15X7MksoW4GC0pyQKHJAase9vjkm3k_RadAWN6kF5PZfqIRqsusG7bMAsB-Gx05vKCg4Qld5AeRsJM5oSDLsP9m48DJC4bI3RweaBgdwrqopoEQ/s1600-h/etsyshop.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232373145481745106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 631px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="148" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgVGWSLQzJj5J-2DgwKUhC2sp0ito15X7MksoW4GC0pyQKHJAase9vjkm3k_RadAWN6kF5PZfqIRqsusG7bMAsB-Gx05vKCg4Qld5AeRsJM5oSDLsP9m48DJC4bI3RweaBgdwrqopoEQ/s400/etsyshop.JPG" width="472" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663366;">I have recently opened an etsy shop called Plum Creek Creations which you can visit at <a href="http://www.plumcreekcreations.etsy.com/">http://www.plumcreekcreations.etsy.com/</a>. I have been busy creating jewelry for the shop lately and have been having a blast doing it! My beads and wire and findings have actually pretty much taken over the living room!</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232374840649680418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVU7tAVN6RDmXxQNrB5CvCnBF5HWWu096a6WRjDJ9sabRubIRtt13ZF2o3il3trFA98XlkFB1UtXqALwy9TxaZSoFHsFso89VCUzOmoZSh5WcpwTGJpzst9bRumrfTjFIajEeKhxnnh9g/s400/rainbow.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">R</span><span style="color:#ff0000;">a</span><span style="color:#ff6600;">i</span><span style="color:#ffcc33;">n</span><span style="color:#33ff33;">b</span><span style="color:#009900;">o</span><span style="color:#339999;">w </span><span style="color:#000099;">R</span><span style="color:#33ccff;">e</span><span style="color:#993399;">v</span><span style="color:#cc0000;">e</span><span style="color:#ff0000;">r</span><span style="color:#ff9900;">i</span><span style="color:#ffcc33;">e </span><span style="color:#cc33cc;">available in my etsy shop for $19</span><br /></span></div></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#990000;">I'm not sure where my ideas are coming from, sometimes I just see a bead I like and design around it. Sometimes I pick a color or two and go from there. Tate loves looking at all the beads and seeing the finished jewelry. I may have a budding designer on my hands, as long as he didn't inherit his dad's colorblindness!</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#990000;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232375373558098258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XPz7Ow5yyOAPg7bn0jHn_-6Zw5p_R4XRi45sUb23x6GoEHaaMu8d98UZHBdwZ1yno7q9z6aaAFwxI6F9TmYWjNX05ApyWz5jwCCUVY_ULG94h36c89IPtVBNMQaUNjGevPD0SKCHdQ8/s400/redblack.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#660000;">Imperial Elegance <span style="color:#000000;">available in my etsy shop for $19</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#009900;">All this jewelry-making has put all other works-in-progress to a standstill. I haven't crocheted in quite awhile, but I really need to get back to it, as I have several ideas for Christmas gifts. It's kind of difficult to believe how quickly the holiday season has been sneaking up, with the high temperatures we have been having.</span></p><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#009900;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232376648416203698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31DlwpuE1Zq4H3pyfed-Jl_bI9aVZ65hoEHw_8256qH1-0Mx5Wu4fZTeXlfgXmdNjuKMt-a6RZ16xaf8xUq6foi1Iz7nugV_h7POE2cKFSKAieU31XPljOI1Ump54xStbMoVabqtEe7I/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><span style="color:#336666;">Earth Goddess </span><span style="color:#009900;">available in my etsy shop for $19</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#3333ff;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#3333ff;">Things have been so busy around here lately. Cleaning up from the floods and doing a lot of refencing is most of it. Three baby goats have been born in the last few weeks, and a couple does are due any time now. Helga had a boy, named Nitro, and Hester had a boy, Wrangler, and a girl, Cherokee. I have to get out and take some pictures!</span></p><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#3333ff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#3333ff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232377063405294930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Cc0bFkapJhzaIh8GGhUd1nHC2hT4bZsmxw5DZ__vjwC8walvb2piU9Qo5zZfNOPIykqYSz1W16jOtXPhqGCWIZLHmFIDzgaFlM1NvetdXHXACwavGpeEME56p1a3LnHrzGV4TGcuvio/s400/spring.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#33ccff;">Springtime </span><span style="color:#ffcccc;">Fantasy </span><span style="color:#009900;">available in my etsy shop for $19</span></strong></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#6600cc;"><a href="http://www.plumcreekcreations.etsy.com/">www.plumcreekcreations.etsy.com</a></span></p>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-18035217725716162532008-06-21T19:26:00.008-05:002008-06-21T19:57:26.216-05:00Idyllic Iowa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIGfV58cVzB1I-RFJ-e4WXhvZ45vLngXqvcPsimrj7X1r5EFuB0F9OyAp6tumn7gxafTim0ErwCrDwi_yj_gAHtXNhy99qMPSWz-7SHfWph6FT_KRAHdK0rXK75Iyo2DcIdtCU7G2xjU/s1600-h/011+(1).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214496562721679394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIGfV58cVzB1I-RFJ-e4WXhvZ45vLngXqvcPsimrj7X1r5EFuB0F9OyAp6tumn7gxafTim0ErwCrDwi_yj_gAHtXNhy99qMPSWz-7SHfWph6FT_KRAHdK0rXK75Iyo2DcIdtCU7G2xjU/s400/011+(1).jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/2599287688_cb913ef2bd_m.jpg"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">Joe, the kids, and I took a drive today in the Jeep and I couldn't resist taking some pictures of these cows. They looked so content to ramble around the hillside. Tate loved the brown calf and keeps asking where it went. Tate was the reason we stopped in the first place, as he was worming his way out of his seatbelt and we had to stop the vehicle to get him to put it back on.</span> <div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214497739288708210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjK1ZMT5QMyfVDq4A8zRB7oXZxP-HMys7jWAkjmYgHhWP3HIrUqs4CE7f0DDEx1vII_NtaUoS4ASa__LyVHGWG7KRY36aogoD7u83enb_sDDo-8sw5PfRY1HtABuScaiOaZGSy52ybhsc/s400/016.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">Joe thought Tate was talking about the cream-colored cow, because he was asking "Es bloun cow go, Mama?" and Joe interpreted it as "blonde cow." Tate loves riding in the Jeep, even more so today because Joe took the windows out so we could all see better.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214498410659476354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsnHez8elVmyug6BWYxik9tQqjjxxxy2pzzLbpKXMQA9hmrvZ_A_KSpGJdR1qbNL9BoRwITuFh54qg2GaJvs1GHnikdB_wXgjq1W0ui7Ft_HDhhm3NeCGwlHg2dSc2bK0_dkrPSi8iek/s400/038.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">There have been some beautiful sunsets lately and I have been quick enough with my camera to capture some of them. It's nice to have had mainly clear skies for about the past week. Things are finally starting to dry out!</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214499234778366546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInGcPL7-AWxxzahXeLr1nHa7Mth5TM-zh-sYybPHXqHEgzeMvheCBhulZpFQEgKHOuZdfa2OPsRLtU4unNS10wR0k1NZ7bUWtedZtNrQp5pbdPBfdA4jZkYCZ89hkCbZS6EgnYNPcS8k/s400/020.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">With the warm weather finally here, I have been working on shaving the Shih Tzus fur. Chester looks so handsome with his fresh haircut-he probably feels a lot better, being a black dog. So far I have Chester and Kolby finished, and Bailey almost done. So that just leaves Josie, Daisy, Violet, and Zoie.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214499638291461362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6_5bzvo7bw4ZmuoM85sl9RmIokIsCQWbStY5jgAFdE_TUR0WyCp2MB1y5N3r4W9_GZW57ExHMao-okzr-YtT32oSNDhK_cTcDbM6xpddow6iZhZkyNuHPQvGdrbc2BaX4Fj94-5XUoQ/s400/032.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">I finally figured out where Big Stripe's litter of kittens under the trailer is. I found a hole in the plastic that holds the insulation, so I took my camera and stuck it in the hole and took a picture. Sure enough, I saw a kitten, so I stuck Big Stripe up there to get all the kittens to come out and took some more pictures. As far as I could tell, there are 3. She has started moving them to the barn today; I saw 2 of them down there and actually caught and pet one of them, who tried and tried to bite and scratch me, but eventually he calmed down a bit.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214500138409464066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_12RyjXHJeKL4Sg0ovpzJ2m43wI6nKSTtzxE4D5_16YFR4yf7QxpQw36lJGGRVMFSkVyJEW6EdyQCoLGOrMvzcYw2gsi_INxkp65K_Z3UoufSJcMZS23AnsdVFyglkU1PjKVLxLCa0vQ/s400/011+(2).jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">I have also really gotten into dyeing my own yarn with Kool-Aid. I bought a bunch of undyed wool for socks, and also some worsted weight, and I have been doing some experimenting. It is really easy to do and nearly impossible to screw up. The pink with bits of green is to make something for myself, though I don't know what, yet. The blue, orange, and green is to knit some socks for the boys. Now if I could just stop dyeing more yarn and actually knit or crochet with the stuff I have done :)</span></p><p><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2538202318_e247690be6_m.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2538202318_e247690be6_m.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/2568653393_f1ee839223_m.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/2568653393_f1ee839223_m.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2538202318_e247690be6_m.jpg"></a></p></div></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-64642806352801108332008-06-09T19:02:00.004-05:002008-06-09T19:37:47.344-05:00Enough Rain Already!<div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/042.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/042.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;">We've had three floods in the last couple weeks, the one last night being the worst of all of them. The water came up very quickly around 11 last night, luckily Joe went out back to feed the puppies and saw the water at the bottom step already. We've never had water this high in our five years here. The current washed some of the puppies under the deck where they were struggling to keep their heads above water. </span><br /><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/002-2.jpg" border="0" /></span></p></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;">These pictures are from the floods on Memorial Day and the Friday after. The floods from last night were gone by morning, so all I got was after pictures. After saving the puppies, we had to move the older dogs to the garage because their pen was also underwater. Then I looked in the hog lot at the front of the barn and saw about a foot of water. I ran to the barn with a flashlight and we moved all the baby goats to the camper. The older goats we left because they were standing on a ledge and were only knee-deep in water. The horses were in the back of the barn and were also knee-deep in water.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/004-1.jpg" border="0" /></span></p></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/007-3.jpg" border="0" />The two horses in the back were too scared to come into the barn because they couldn't tell where the big step was, so I had to wade out in hip-deep water in the pasture to get them. I ended up tieing them in the barn so they wouldn't go back out there. One of the goats went out and almost drowned when the current caught him where it was really deep, but he managed to swim out of it without my help. I put all the chickens on the wall in the barn- they were soaked to the skin.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/016.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/022-1.jpg" border="0" />This morning when we woke up, the floodwaters had receded. We were fine and all our animals were safe, but we lost a lot of stuff. All our firewood for next winter is gone, though we found a small portion of it down the road about a half mile, along with one of my big cages, which is in the ditch. About a mile away in the ditch we found one of my raised beds for the garden. Our big farmgate from the backyard is nowhere and our big plastic barrel is really far away in a field. (We think it is- it's too far away to tell for sure.) </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/025-1.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/038.jpg" border="0" />Our roads are all but washed away and the gravel from them fills the ditches. Bridges have huge holes in them and a lot of roads in our county, including ours, are closed, ours has been closed since Memorial Day. We have more rain in the forecast this week, which is about the last thing we need right now. No one has had a chance to clean up and make repairs much from one flood when the next comes along. I think eastern Iowa deserves a break!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/021-1.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/035-1.jpg" border="0" />PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-1123168947851989482008-05-23T21:02:00.006-05:002008-05-23T21:44:51.487-05:00More Babies!<div><div><div><div><a href="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/007-2.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/007-2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003333;">Glory finally gave birth on Monday, surprisingly enough, to a singleton. Glory was huge and I thought she would have twins or triplets. She had a little doeling, who is pretty good-sized. She seems almost as big as Avenger's babies, who are a month older! She is very pretty and I've never had one this color before, so she's definitely a keeper! I've decided to call her Durango.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#003333;"></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#003333;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203760850501169410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiZEijK7-mrnkpymWoeXiXJHan9F7BMu2zZh0KlbkTsUU0GrVuuHC2QJds_oQbzI1BnpttcTqQhIlEba-7KuDEvxSD9VcNtWMdz5lwXNmZ0vY7gJKyWHm6aRw17_v5z5xGuFRR_BXnd8/s400/008.JPG" border="0" /></span></div></div></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003333;">I let Joe name Avenger's two doelings: Rubicon (Ruby, for short) and Sahara. So now we have a couple Jeeps to add to the Dodges! They are growing like weeds, but can still slip out the cattle panels to munch on greener pastures.</span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203762143286325522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1wlYwZVukVDT49DM2_qvdlmVVEitQV745nIXh2qwS74REK1_pUMqcfehp8Kx0XAQTx-YzH-QAgQrRtOrGhgWw4C3EGwm7D3TD_1KVIjvBms5VkqC7ceC5ZrOptMega4JNdsJZ6Bx5jw/s400/005.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="color:#003333;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">They are very comical to watch when they're jumping off things and butting heads. They also like to sleep in tires like Durango does. Gives them a little buffer from the horses and other goats. At least until it gets dark and the chickens roost on them like they are in a football huddle.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203762937855275298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizujK0_3-mlqx7-aq6jLYzySl7IqHPgYNrhoyOzWdgKmv36SQF1sQC8939rauOW0L8nE1jTC_1iQcr1n9WLEB-ZqGMdNAzcs_EWMaC1w46k6HA0mSZCNDh7m7ucceRL8Pw8MTRY5SiAoQ/s400/004.JPG" border="0" /></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003333;">I moved Hermione's kittens to the barn after she killed one of the chicks. She left them there for a week or two, but the other day moved them under the front steps. I took them back to the barn, but she brought them back again, so there they stay. She puts them inside a hole in the landing before you go in our front door at night because there is insulation for the trailer inside to keep them warm. </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/002-1.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#003333;">Their names are Sugar, Spice, and Henry. Henry is the one that was almost dead when I found her. She must remember that I was the one who saved her, because she's the only one that purrs for me so far. Henry is silver tabby and white. Sugar and Spice are dilute calicos. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#003333;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#003333;"></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203768791895699762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuS4l2cacxmFDzY4CYhznSxAbnY5QYIF5-cHSa31bDZasuZKYpJIULHNDEloSgpWvH9_pWRpq8T1WpbGBxXTbPgnSP5HNfPgnpFnUOlSCpo22umv7ZS0V5IYpP3Rl91Xx9Fg5IguO43c/s400/001.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p><span style="color:#003333;"></span></p>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-30074563385533284022008-05-13T23:49:00.006-05:002008-05-14T00:18:01.369-05:00Mother's Day Presents<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0EOgB43BNVIAEpVfChOVbEk2_1LUMrif5pE7iTHdVROyTcWP8rCHyN-Lejg92J8DHoT6WkGCzm-tEjLSNJc7k5WCuRU6q-yqKomzXWwW-SmEPFiLVYrFlMU8hnvz8MnDucQQ-MafzLg/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200093920503096226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0EOgB43BNVIAEpVfChOVbEk2_1LUMrif5pE7iTHdVROyTcWP8rCHyN-Lejg92J8DHoT6WkGCzm-tEjLSNJc7k5WCuRU6q-yqKomzXWwW-SmEPFiLVYrFlMU8hnvz8MnDucQQ-MafzLg/s400/017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;">Here are my two new additions I got for Mother's Day! The brown and white pinto is a gelding named Elvis and the brown with blonde mane and tail I named Diamond. Elvis is so tiny- his back only comes to mid-thigh on me, and I'm pretty short. They are both sweeties.</span></div></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200094989949952946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEjmBHoCly253KEQlMEahT8k3orQJGogUexXtujJQzNHvmJFciumq2B5m9qOWa9nZDtQ4J3mQHrOkrXW-LyVbP44lCDp6QideEJMxct9YqbdZxgSZjPPtPyoj6Sio1htFLWQ36rg_HAU/s400/021.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#663300;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">They both lead very nicely and come right over to me whenever they see me. I have them separated from the other horses for a few days while they get used to each other. All the horses meet at the shared fence and "chat." Stetson is wound up about the newbies- I need him to calm down a bit before I mix everyone together. Stetson thought he could sneak in with me while I was feeding them, but I was onto him. He wanted to see the new horses more than he wanted his grain, which is very unusual for the horse I affectionately call "Big Butt."</span> </span><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200096119526351810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZmA8ve_X8pUzd3zRPqTOEuA-9rZ38ZvvE26C0VJe5S3AODMaDoCrmmXnE6K-CvxOWPwUKUBQHsjFr4Gg2V_RWnfUBt0iZE6g0GzPPW9LvXWRmEIImomBBmZGEaluV0SKBJc2XU7OSnM/s400/020.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#663300;">Diamond looks a lot like Cinders- I'll really have to look twice. As a matter of fact, when I brought the new horses in, Cinders immediately ran to Diamond- maybe they are long-lost sisters or something. Diamond one has one eye, but it doesn't seem to affect her at all. Some of the goats were scared of the new horses, including Lester, who is my resident bully. Both horses are very kid-friendly, as they came from a home with 7 children, so my 2 shouldn't faze them a bit!</span><br /><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663300;"></span></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200096841080857554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3K6Df0JFgmHDOJbGJkX7uiDr4hNGRcDPUKr_Q8bxQj3f-G48BNDkvuzJvk_ozd2RM9AUM4DN0kSKI_RjW8x3WWeU-7072wtrmq9WfZBJNEW2kO7N8AuXKdvUjTAOiqNTt45-GQxdko70/s400/018.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#663300;"></span></div></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-78776678015624969332008-05-05T16:33:00.009-05:002008-05-05T17:06:43.855-05:00Barnyard Buddies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb24cHcMeiRSQ0IVve1wf8tVOnnEADwFJ7qOhOeSljiv-PVqztwUaJaP6UsFveX9YMw9mcEVst8KcvJmWBcD6DCH1L6EAOCzM9aN71tJhewGjIHr98jOI5qK43yd86oc2e69lrSK-hRQ/s1600-h/calico1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197017643951510226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcb24cHcMeiRSQ0IVve1wf8tVOnnEADwFJ7qOhOeSljiv-PVqztwUaJaP6UsFveX9YMw9mcEVst8KcvJmWBcD6DCH1L6EAOCzM9aN71tJhewGjIHr98jOI5qK43yd86oc2e69lrSK-hRQ/s400/calico1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When I took a stroll outside to take some pictures of my animals for this post, everyone was laying around in the sunshine. They are as glad as I am to see the weather finally warm up. All the chickens and some of the goats came over to me to see what I was doing. They try to beg treats off me all the time. The other day it was some thawed strawberries that had been in the freezer too long, and the days it was raining, I had been giving the chickens worms I found.</span></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197011854335595122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRPlgqQDy3k1ShbAkeeaCOnL1r4GqUZCtmgWW5GVo-REMD4sy3kzutb03pDTn0WvMHpRx85gWBMQuXeferfn2bl94khOQV5u4Ph-YKCVZ7eBvTdlyQM8GdmkabEVppbXPYf9ByHqD9eI/s400/brahma.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc0000;">I mowed some grass today and threw it in the pasture for the goats and horses, so they were happy. The lawn sweeper picked up a lot of the corn stalks that washed into the yard with the flood, so they got some of that, too. The baby goats are in a dog kennel in the front yard that's on wheels, so when they eat all the grass, I move them along. They are busy cleaning up weeds and grass in my garden for me while also fertilizing. It's a win-win situation!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;"></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197012764868661890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SXiwgGAvnlt93BX-QB15-erLfnA32q3haSMeS1nojCJhI8XzpjTJGfnAJu9wfBG4gHhVD91rLapRVoSDhGWWybBh973jjHGf51RkSRKPQfJxa_lRLHR1DYOLzYtyko4sDwh6GsSezNw/s400/whisper&stetson.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;">A bunch of the goats keep escaping the barn through some fencing they tore down, so they have been keeping weeds and grass down in the back near the barn. They don't go very far and always come back on the run when they see me coming. They don't want to miss out on grain! I store my livestock feed in a Rubbermaid garbage can, but they started figuring out how to get the lid off and were helping themselves, so I had to also bungee-strap the lid down.</span> <div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;"></span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197014031884014226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsntYIErkbnHZyjHOYWBAfP_YiX5q4f0YT4XCxAqsyBc9U4Tl2BnroWUXA-0Yq3o2VaBcMciFgHLRGv1CUlFMbnvQvNQeMIjUYShZjDLUtWaQusL9XVoxhR20_wkklSWeepySggmfJEI/s400/noah&ram.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;">The other day I found some kittens in the barn. The mother had forgotten she had them and left them laying all over the place out in the open. Two didn't make it, two were very hungry, and the other one was near death. He was cold and couldn't move much. I took them and the mama cat and locked them up in the camper and she started feeding them. The one that was cold couldn't nurse- he was too weak, so I took him in the house and warmed him and gave him some baby formula. That livened him up enough that I could take him back to his mama. She took him back and has been taking care of them ever since.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;"></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197015208705053346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt-YipvGi92lVO2KVjiib6EhQ3rBz7mH69SvnlN8fE855xSxsVqRrw0ofMFUsEQweTrBsGUrBAsgEb0UYISWH1O5x-8bge9ME2CcvO6tiSv03Q42L74s_cK3Ht7GiIiCacsUB8Nh_d54/s400/kits1.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;">They are now starting to open their eyes. They are very cute and I'm glad that so far they are doing well. I love calico kittens the best! The calico cat in the picture at the top of this post isn't the mama, she's just one of my favorites. The mama to these guys is a tortoiseshell and the dad, Sheila, is striped and white. </span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;"></span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197016218022367922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxuiy1B8lWeRKoCi-EtyZFjzAakdTeBfFviIA3g2JFyLnkFBOzGI3kzXLb6Q9ESTRcQTxltrpS7RuNJGIDRWNCRhxrfmpRUL64uc2R6y1RC8S7j13J-pZxnA71g-KDAy648YPOywl08E/s400/chickys.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;">For the time being, I am keeping the mama cat and her kittens in the same camper as my baby chicks. I have been feeding the mama very well so she won't mess with the chicks. I don't think she will- she moved her kittens as far from them as she could. So this is working for now. I guess I've got more baby animals than I know what to do with!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc0000;"></span> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197017059835957954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEhlG7pChL6jjADXcutdjQRAkjgwrIywVhyq7Sd5-jzCF5iH4lDDFJ1Ccl5brc6sIP0nF4HJ0NtcDdlBnQLcHcU-xshWjPbFTlRDL40GqgX_aeqbX8M4RsYEeZwxSZqRnszPNqdcW67U/s400/goats&chickens.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ff0000;">To share with other farm girls and to learn about the Farm Girl way of life visit:</span> <a href="http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/">http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/</a><br /><br /><p></p></div></div></div></div></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-91075329048803833722008-05-01T17:02:00.006-05:002008-05-01T17:17:46.092-05:00More babies!<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyPWKYe3U8rOBrUnKZ6k9OyJ5FnyeI7tjwdM1hDQn8NfS5ZfPChT7Rv_xx9AQOoLE6X1LnzDVKFTzBv9AruoCxkQx1555T2cnJdBvpgqf5KFjHfDoqvmUiHloUPS2DwhZendh3SCurBE/s1600-h/005+-+Copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195533951794074130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyPWKYe3U8rOBrUnKZ6k9OyJ5FnyeI7tjwdM1hDQn8NfS5ZfPChT7Rv_xx9AQOoLE6X1LnzDVKFTzBv9AruoCxkQx1555T2cnJdBvpgqf5KFjHfDoqvmUiHloUPS2DwhZendh3SCurBE/s400/005+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc6600;">My thirtieth birthday was April 19th and with the flood I never got around to blogging about my birthday presents from Daisy! She gave birth to 5 adorable puppies in the wee hours of my birthday. What a good girl! They are growing so fast and should be opening their eyes very soon. Chester got the job done once again! He could care less though- once the fun part of the job is over, that's it for him!</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc6600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195534441420345890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis27rEKttOcyIjR5Ugr7eaXtlcJM4S2eJM3uDrySpBUoaL-pVpuCqOVSd7iMmCftbZ9lBRs59ogKer5zzxWZE90A8KfcF2fMjSQp2wcQwktCXNllnJfV3rKZweMf8QqeNeBemitj2NE-A/s400/001+(1).jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div></div><br /><p><span style="color:#cc6600;">They are all very nicely marked and have the cutest little faces! Zelda's puppies are growing quickly too- they have had their eyes open awhile now and are getting around pretty well. They are going to outgrow their home in the bathroom soon! Which is good, because I want my bathroom back! </span></p><p><span style="color:#cc6600;"></span><span style="color:#cc6600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195535055600669234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TdMuHadvrDVCLmvYAGe6Z5KE0paPaaT8f90_HXnPRlodK9ehW6JQ4FsgDq6wTkOfOC-RKtA2uO13KqQuM9JlG2khgSITHO8zpa-LT3-2eW0H2ec44AQIcBxBWE_lattz4NLV5JNlEU0/s400/004+(3).jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc6600;">Last Friday, the same day as the flood, I got my baby chicks in the mail. The mailwoman actually called me from down the road because by the time she got out our way, the road was flooded, so Joe took the Jeep down to pick them up. I had the camper all ready to go for them- I call it Mama's Chicken Shack, though I use it for other baby animals too.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc6600;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#cc6600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195535300413805122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvFjpOg0gWn8sf5_pITQ7A1hDBVF2yKFQYujYCL6R1sFadliRGM4KXoodO53ASbzIosh6inxczto995TsumrcmaPH2tv8gtCftQRKTbLkxdoiUkWiauEdMbebi952Yp5eMg8DhHmu87A/s400/007.jpg" border="0" /></span></p></div></div><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#cc6600;">I received 4 bantam cochins, 2 of which are the red ones in the picture, the other 2 are dark. The other five black ones are Barred Rocks. 5 of the yellow ones are Rhode Island Whites and the other 5 are Delawares. I ordered from Ideal this time, and was very pleased with their service and selection. The chicks are thriving and starting to get their feathers. Tate was so excited when the box came because they were all peeping like mad. I asked him what was in the box and he said "Acksuppies!" which is what he calls birds so he was pretty much right!</span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195536541659353682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2J_UYuM9q0lIQcJ5se-iDJ_iPn82kkDtHVotEOc_IrJedEMVpcD3mCMckmUUeGrgvLokb7oXnH7b8TvdIOoZA_Q9TSe8s6eFv4yN4ugNc-CwBVKwHSigdulzYjrmYcAPVTA-naSj3e0/s400/009+(3).jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-44073164659231913682008-04-29T22:21:00.013-05:002008-04-29T22:55:50.666-05:00Getting Crafty<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzeiFYG2gujyXlS9eAmVEkd-VRAN7hIH0smJwpUKgU4OEqAczw5SA8B325rkADxrH__j2eXHrjNWIXPXZVrx0EmKXCky4TsIfDsR0Sh-WupOV3XbCY0iKDrDelD4VXFCQjjrzIyYLO1w/s1600-h/dishcloth3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194875301379363250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzeiFYG2gujyXlS9eAmVEkd-VRAN7hIH0smJwpUKgU4OEqAczw5SA8B325rkADxrH__j2eXHrjNWIXPXZVrx0EmKXCky4TsIfDsR0Sh-WupOV3XbCY0iKDrDelD4VXFCQjjrzIyYLO1w/s200/dishcloth3.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000066;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xVsgCSTvviRrueuzThy08YeHKVX5Z1yYL0sC0muskGkmoLYExx2g2vBaC-dGWMSamGRSO2iDDBJgabpcFRoGHnRnkHX616G0mhJ5KW110bgls53pszpekbQchduBeYB6APsNAiS-254/s1600-h/dishcloth2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194874347896623506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xVsgCSTvviRrueuzThy08YeHKVX5Z1yYL0sC0muskGkmoLYExx2g2vBaC-dGWMSamGRSO2iDDBJgabpcFRoGHnRnkHX616G0mhJ5KW110bgls53pszpekbQchduBeYB6APsNAiS-254/s200/dishcloth2.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Most of my crafting time lately has been devoted to crocheting. I am still very much a beginner, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. The past few days, I have been practicing crocheting in the round, so I made a set of dishcloths for my kitchen. I chose mostly blues in the yarn to accent my cobalt dishware. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194874622774530466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdgZwUf45aKr6qYkGys-bXU0RFjlrLHsQ7Eel277rQ17Nob8wr9ueHOLyn_8Za4DbUt2zE1nnxKpEkRKH7yz0UzUmjAuP8300bdXe8EadCJptK5LIiy-4oxokO17E8DQgQ7llZAX985Q/s200/dishcloth1.jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPQM4A_jZd1P71IOu9J8ynZYdgyObcCxUXlD8bgrTXV_kf44LFeAU62ixiqyjH4cMOv7y2mW5KGqLNHFPZRFhIbNScLibSK6-hFjGF0J5iyPyj77HkZ_zSzF-RrFs_cK-DMaVEFmF92g/s1600-h/dishcloth4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194875778120733122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPQM4A_jZd1P71IOu9J8ynZYdgyObcCxUXlD8bgrTXV_kf44LFeAU62ixiqyjH4cMOv7y2mW5KGqLNHFPZRFhIbNScLibSK6-hFjGF0J5iyPyj77HkZ_zSzF-RrFs_cK-DMaVEFmF92g/s200/dishcloth4.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">These were very fun and quick to make- my kind of project, since I have the bad habit of getting sick of a project about halfway though and setting it aside to eventually melt into the couch cushions. I will probably end up using them more for table decorations than anything.</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194876461020533202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiWUpzUktvS8ELGtQ4kLCh2hnF_dTSGe83vKY0jePrT86PqOENluRlKmSeppd3Pe-gxbEHGODnrc2iVJ0e0nLmxkCZpim6HuEP98zoSFgmSdumRCTqu6i1ml0B0ThF8DfMCnswV0o9vk/s400/015+(1).jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">I made this crocheted kerchief out of nylon twine, which took a little getting used to. It liked to stick to my hook if I got crocheted to tightly. The finished kerchief is a little heavy, but I still really like it. Near the top are a few stripes of different shades of pink, as I ran out of the original twine and couldn't find any more of that brand. So I made stripes in different pinks hopefully so it looks like it was done on purpose. :)</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194877281359286754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2YzRdJIjQD3cRIRt28BdR5wT1UGBtjb4aeZ36k7qzcFRONko5anSpi-1okdXDurmNIWFWLNwstyILV2_8qxK15jgXsvh_hO3TYfjLehgiRaDZOEiuzcfRcuLo8MUucZgptPBfgZJWII/s400/pinkbelt.jpg" border="0" /><br />I made the Chic & Simple Belt out of Crochet Today for myself, and of course used pink yarn. I got a little carried away on the length- apparently I'm not as fat as I think I am! I haven't decided whether to just leave it long or to fix it. The buckle is actually a clippy thing I found at the local farm store. They were very cheap, but look really cool as a buckle. I picked up several packages of them for a few bucks. Maybe on my next belt I'll get the length right.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194878127467844082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1j2x7Y27Fh8h81e65n_BqUg4bdhUuUyMHhhz2EWv7DGkXrdeo5mZm5FygPWvhLTuc0OcVGzQKaKIezmG4j-F95DDppuz4tnnIEzs0Mm8XwzyNow3Mp7-K9Sme5vKNqT79PZDg-SjUi0/s400/014+(1).jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;">I made myself this bath scrubby from a pattern I found on Ravelry. It looked complicated, but once I got crocheting it, it was surprisingly easy. I will probably make a lot of these for gifts and such. I had almost enough yarn to finish it using one skein, but ran out at the end. I didn't have any more in this colorway, but I had some that had all those colors except the mint green and white, so I used it. Since I only needed a little, it wasn't very noticeable.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6600;"></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194878952101564930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxx9G4n2QplO08A3DX7MtkdBtqQ_S3ldsuQOB7rBTaGMOVVgsgN08w5GdFnrjax1rKNZz6lIABiido4hNLc14QZEVFUJHxGbSBhmRA5TdI3tfsyrrWwg_QfDIXhYRssQvhc-Idp1mVTg/s400/cookie1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="color:#663300;">Another quick project I have been working on is making crocheted fake food for the kids. Tate got a kitchen set for his birthday and him and Sullivan love it. The main problem with the plastic fake food you buy at the store is that kids are inevitably going to put it in their mouth and chomp down. This makes it dented and pretty much doesn't resemble food anymore, so I decided to make something more durable and easy to wash. This was my first cookie (chocolate chip) and I have several others done, just needing little finishing touches. I also am working on an egg. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#333399;">You can check out my crochet projects both completed and work-in-progress by looking me up at <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">http://www.ravelry.com/</a>. My name is plumcreekmama on there as well, and I try to keep it updated with my projects. </span><br /><br />To share with other farm girls and to learn about the Farm Girl way of life visit: <a href="http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/">http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/</a>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-14150015294167273662008-04-27T07:12:00.009-05:002008-04-27T08:35:44.700-05:00In The Garden<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9at-XyW_t-UAGm8DoIhzWyaEW7xl7dyOBZq4AEQ_UX5xyCd0z5eR3efvCLIOTmjjw43dnMVAUwuGDrjdvUDtj_ZxuSgcLrIM09YAdzjVshTTXqgvKvune0glLW5oGWV4xy79o5B1SxwU/s1600-h/032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193898874924355842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9at-XyW_t-UAGm8DoIhzWyaEW7xl7dyOBZq4AEQ_UX5xyCd0z5eR3efvCLIOTmjjw43dnMVAUwuGDrjdvUDtj_ZxuSgcLrIM09YAdzjVshTTXqgvKvune0glLW5oGWV4xy79o5B1SxwU/s400/032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#003300;">I have been anxious all winter waiting for spring to arrive. This was one of the longest winters I can remember. The weather hasn't been very cooperative this spring either. It's been very cold at night and we've had snow a couple times this April, with more snow in the forecast. Add that to all the rain and flooding and it seems as though I'll never get the garden going! Above is a picture of one of my raised beds containing rhubarb, chives, strawberries, and my runaway blackberries. I can't wait to make rhubarb pie!</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193917699766014290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnrMwkdgrpQPacijDf_ZLaOuRVXWXz8KbgMjhGTb9ANeOxu1ItaTLlPvlFT3mkm524nzdwIIxQ6th5KximiASKkrgf0Nvf4Wq4mXkLmF8rOLOyUfp3Dp5MGhCZ77clDO-af9Otq34tlc/s400/031.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#003300;">Above is a little plot where I had dug out a bunch of rock from the foundation of the old farmhouse that stood there. I used the stone to ring some flower garden areas in the front yard. I filled the hole in and planted a sucker from a rosebush my grandma grew at her farm. Around it I planted some peonies, which are just starting to come up and get some leaves. Peonies and roses are my two favorite flowers and I consider them a must for a farm garden.</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#003300;"></span><br /><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193908688924627234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItW67GNzx_w2h9knnEHLtwVxIVEIbj6IdEDcy7ImJ4ZRgXXSZMByNJ_3EJAf8-Rcsxz-jeNwbcsLHGJw0w7VYFrzQ-DnnhUvTkweFNCQ_xFx6UssFkz8vNQXGbKEj7mha58rQuqFEtPI/s400/023.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#003300;">In the back I have a raised box with raspberries. The floodwater dislodged it, but I think it will be all right. I need to do a lot of work with the raspberries anyway. They are my favorite fruit and always so expensive in the store, so I want to add many more, with the intention of freezing some. </span><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193910870768013618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWe71XyUY5xbHbCuB0ru2z345G3n1jvAuiL2eFyj8BhW2oDjnM0uvT4Lttw0I1cCqFbwv9QJaZ9OagWpA-6HHXeGosq_QOynrlolu-oECFQYabzfnuvwdwtD5GAzgM8FYZTKSD0hm7nHU/s400/024.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="color:#003300;">In the picture above is one of my raised beds in the herb garden. The water moved it and destroyed the stone circle I built in the middle. I'm pretty much planning on starting all over with the herb garden anyway. Last year the weeds really got away from me. I am going to keep the layout of the raised beds the same, but I am going to redo all the plants. I need to make better plant markers this time, as the old ones are missing or unreadable.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#003300;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193913447748391234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYwTBv2vGOcHuc4cVcj56kR8nCnpho1ZhM-FY_dK5XyhcaLpwwXp5QrEAlUC7eRV39ISVb9VXEfNAsxuAnI4aja19mqs7Of2e0nWeydi8D8saPgKi4oKnAhIww-gSk7qgiO6GRpVQWoA/s400/033.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#003300;">My seedlings are doing well. Hopefully the weather will warm up and they can go out in the cold frame soon. I transplanted my honeylocust seedlings to bigger pots last night. Even though I haven't started outside in the vegetable garden, there is still tons of gardening to keep me busy.</span></div><span style="color:#003300;"></span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000066;">To share with other farm girls and to learn about the Farm Girl way of life visit:</span> <a href="http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/">http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/</a></p><br /><div><span style="color:#003300;"></span></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-25590763233471013932008-04-26T17:55:00.005-05:002008-04-26T18:31:32.085-05:00Flooded Out<a href="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/014.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/014.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#006600;">With all the rain we've had lately, yesterday everything started flooding. The Plum Creek runs across the road from our house on the other side of a cornfield. The field was already full yesterday morning when I got up and was starting to go over the road. We watched it come up all day and went for a little drive in the afternoon to check out the area. Some places nearby the roads were already starting to wash away.</span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/015.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#006600;">After Joe left to go to work at 5:00, the power went out at our house. I called Joe, who was getting gas in Hopkinton and he said the power was out there too. Mom said the power was out in Monticello and Dad said Cascade's was out too. Joe came home because they shut the factory down, and before he got home our power came back on.</span></div><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/018.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#006600;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#006600;">We went back and forth about whether we should try to evacuate or not. We live in a very flat area, but our trailer and barn sit a little higher than everything else. We decided to go for another drive to check out the situation. We took the Jeep since it has 33" tires and sits up nice and high. We tried one direction, but the water was so high at the T intersection we couldn't tell where exactly the road was. You can see by the road signs that the water was really high.</span><br /></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/0092.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div></div><br /><p><span style="color:#006600;">So then we tried leaving the other direction, which had been flooded all day. We got going and it just kept getting deeper and deeper. We opened our doors and it was just below the frame. Joe decided to keep going because he thought that was the deepest. It wasn't. It got too deep and the current was pushing us off the road toward the creek, where the current was moving super fast. I have never been so scared! Luckily we made it through before we were completely off the road.</span></p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd170/joejeep/0101.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div><span style="color:#006600;">Down the road at another T intersection, the road was covered a long ways and the road was starting to wash away, so we only had one direction we could go. We decided we better try to find a way back home before it got any higher. We went all the way around to the other T, but it had gotten a lot worse in the last 15 minutes. We thought maybe we could drive through the field in the back of our house, but it was too muddy, so we were stuck. We ended up staying at my parent's house.</span></div><div><span style="color:#006600;"></span> </div><span style="color:#006600;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193698622074179778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaClXPRQnT0ahOSih0GzCwXfWHkgLzVSrM6hR9LAYAq3kOwxfrPyZeYdOzbhNwrNUFVQYZ4SCYKLJLMOwGW0otnD2xAZOYUtui3SChBEudAJBOogYLrpzv7Lbvh1yFBa5bVhMiOBhzLqI/s400/024+(1).jpg" border="0" />I worried all night about the animals. The kids didn't sleep very well either. Sullivan ended up sleeping in the bed with us, so I kept waking up to check on him. As soon as the kids were finished with breakfast this morning, we packed up and headed for home. My stomach was in knots all the way, hoping that everything was all right and that we could get home. We definitely had good luck. The water was off the roads and we made it!</span></div><span style="color:#006600;"></span></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193699244844437714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPfENE9hBB6TRO_gvEar03e57-l9R-rrsavZejhKdtwkMfhV1xsqoN9vFuqJ9ZghcBH3vs1CZkCG_P3jFF58942DtZRE6OzRo859QktFVydv-A9RdSiFIugez-lhyTwR9szC3EVqNn7U/s400/042.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#006600;">All the animals were fine and nothing seemed damaged. Our woodpile started floating away and is scattered throughout our backyard and the neighboring cornfield. Luckily our fence stopped most of it. Some of the boxes for my raised beds in the garden were dislodged. Joe's campfire scrap wood had floated away, but we found it about 50 feet away, still in a pile! Other than that, things are just wet and dirty and there are corn stalks everywhere. I consider us very blessed and hope all our neighbors had the same luck!</span></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193700176852340962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ykp5MuE2uKgVnrSxPVyymwtTNoMxfGjKZIUfHFKVqaKVDFSwQIxmw3Ho6YJKSEd8Z57IJXk1c3L3pdk32LDVSk5ySkyAi3vI47JF24diQA2t3GUdvKT4I787s_4FLDlLADikX4uxVJk/s400/022.jpg" border="0" /></div></div>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573304443896499121.post-89438036255688748092008-04-18T21:43:00.009-05:002008-04-18T22:08:10.870-05:00Spotlight on Kolby<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEse_pjfQkJhh9EcIrXAlyqzQ46GW8R9qu__EnmnrkqCJNt1MfwzgW8GyvDmdzm8QIr1INhklNuoFYjr_rQ0cA6H89tvPp8TjFlwy7YSL_RUHm6x69r1yH5cj7Hzg6g0sSk5qlSE3w8M/s1600-h/kolby2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190783127028091250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEse_pjfQkJhh9EcIrXAlyqzQ46GW8R9qu__EnmnrkqCJNt1MfwzgW8GyvDmdzm8QIr1INhklNuoFYjr_rQ0cA6H89tvPp8TjFlwy7YSL_RUHm6x69r1yH5cj7Hzg6g0sSk5qlSE3w8M/s400/kolby2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#000099;">Sherwoods Lil Bailey Kolby, called Lil B when he was a puppy, then Kolby, was born March 26, 2003. He is a Shih Tzu, the firstborn in Bailey and Josie second litter. His litter-brother Chase Dakota James "Chase" is my parent's dog, so they still visit each other from time to time. Kolby was originally for sale, but after the family that first wanted him changed their minds, I cried and cried and promised him he could stay with me forever. And I have been glad ever since.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190784024676256130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezbYda_RrmK0ZHzW_jdkkfkf5R8usTx4GDWkSACFtd01pqkh9y6mUnIYhz9BZE8CQ-llTEVamL1eLvFhv5DmKkOi_-f8AvKF57V85lGRAOaC4JOOvYfAPoh0fdJCm2uZ4zRu5s6qjSPU/s400/kolby1.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="color:#000099;">Kolby (whose nickname is Friend) can be quite the troublemaker. He has a knack for getting food off the kitchen table and Sully's highchair. After he cleans Sullivan's highchair tray, he usually takes a nap up there before getting down. Even when we make sure all the chairs are pushed in around the table, he gets on the chair and squeezes his way onto the table. There's just no stopping him! He doesn't take no for an answer.</span><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190784398338410898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6edOhMbxId_rgLEl-PyOrzRqBWvagKDoAbpMInMzqPQzSc9hdqSb9pqfjxu9pQuSU9Q1T87ZxmnyKFdSNIiy7yeIYOhqHRQqL99R1jNg5UDUpSsKTm94sSEPrMMsYPTYKaOJfGFVJXA/s400/Kolby.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="color:#000099;">Besides the highchair, Kolby likes to sleep in other strange places, his favorite being a basket of clean clothes fresh from the dryer. He's kind of a weeny dog- scary things often happen to him. When he was a puppy, he got his dog tag caught in the heat register and went crazy. He also came to the barn with me one time and a wire that was hooked to a tarp got caught in his fur, and he went yelping away, tarp flying after him! It was a good couple years before he would ever set paw in the barn again.</span><br /></p><p><span style="color:#000099;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190784991043897762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqlmDQAXGbX37D6ST4Dh4WrEUiLK8M1XQoVi-HMvKKYzY72jGHzXtfDnlXrbLc4Yb4FoNEktl6gGkNRkAQ8quOWQIIZZi8ZamZW5z1bK07wpNsnnTbshUsjiGmb2ifEItiTAsGNqRveA/s400/Kolby4.jpg" border="0" /></span></p></div></div><br /><span style="color:#000099;">He has always loved water- when the bowl is empty or he's just too lazy to look, he jumps in the bathtub and barks until we come and turn the water on. Just for a few seconds, to get the bottom of the bathtub wet so he can lick it all off. When he was a puppy, we couldn't figure out why his water bowl was always empty. I finally caught him one day digging in it and splashing all the water out. I'm just glad he outgrew that!</span><span style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><span style="color:#000099;"><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190786039015918002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtU9wPVa5EggGDDfQcfvRxSR-2FHFdW0zsXbqRWaWulIdFVCLM6LHcN6PF6ardgsERjH4GL5YfxrFgTFUGxYbyGmUJwED-Rqm9SfvsdvJKKrjY37KhDcSV7plAVICrfMGkz9e8QaVlMY/s400/kolbyboots2.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="color:#000099;">Kolby is such a gentle soul, he loves his belly and face rubbed, but gets really mad if you tickle his paws. He's very ticklish and gets so mad that he hides his back paws under his head and glares at you. One of his favorite activities is picking up the dog toys and putting them away in the toybox. I don't know where he learned this- I didn't teach him. I guess he's just a neat freak at heart! </span></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190786331073694146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrcbtDmtu5Ku9Sp7CDu7114ZjnUbI7tFHQnaHbEu3fsO3JVTXbBB8YGxnFJx9JEVMscwiHcaEec-sXg0rtyinvPlefGOVCPcxjoiR5DHfjy-bJDj2LhzN80219ZS19V0ITxPLcEeHa80/s400/Kolby6.jpg" border="0" /></p>PlumCreekMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15785429736156003725noreply@blogger.com2