Window seat, treasure chest, bookshelf, table and...napping cove?

I love my new "everything box"! My dad is awesome, I drew him some plans and he made this for us! Since we went with the open floor plan to best utilize the beams Michael got from work I have no where downstairs to really "hide" the mess when people come over. We always have families over that have kids and I wanted a spot for them to be able to sit and eat near us (this is in our dining room). I am a sucker for window seats (I plan to sew a cushion for this beast of a box). And this is a south facing window so I thought it'd be great to put my seed start trays on for the next few weeks. It turned out great! I LOVE it!

Peek-A-Boo! "Mess storage"!

I hadn't perdicted that it would double as a play room, or...get this.... a "napping cove"! Yes, Elle, our little sleep fighter, LOVES to take naps in here! She has taken 3 so far. The poor sugar can't even lay flat, but she doesn't care, she has successfully slept over an hour in here! Who knew!?

In the world of "But Because Why"

In the world of "But Because Why" Elle is Queen....

Mama: "Elle, put your shoes on, so we can go outside."
Elle: "But because why?"

Mama: "Elle, people are coming over, put clothes on."
Elle: "But because why?"

Mama: "Elle, don't carry the cat by his tail."
Elle: "But because why?"

Mama: "Elle, don't step on brother."
Elle: "But because why?"

Mama: "These new chicks are going to be different than your chicks. Your chicks are for laying eggs, these ones we are going to raise and eat for meat."
Elle: "Oh, and then we'll get new ones?"

=)

Happy Easter!

Elle was the egg hunting QUEEN! She loved hiding and finding eggs! It was great, we never mentioned they are "suppose to" have candy in them, and she never asked! =)

Are you sick of seeing him yet?

We're not! Here's the heron again! We now see him almost daily somewhere on the property.

FREEDOM!

One of our tenants moved out and left us with her rabbit, Maddy.... we took her up to the pasture behind our house and let her run free... only for a bit.... before returning her to her cage....we were hoping to entise the brown wild rabbit to come out of it's hole to meet her, but alas, he was no where to be found...

(What a goofy grin!) You can hardely tell in the photo, but note my daughters outfit... her shirt is on backward and inside out, she is wearing shorts that are too smal over pants that are too small and snow boots! Well, at least she can dress herself!!!..... or can she?....

Where is Papa?

Ladies and gentelmen, this was not a staged photo.... this really is what you get when you try and lay down in this household....

THERE's PAPA! =) (maybe a little too cheesey?... oh well....)

Going to the chapel...

Michael's cousin Jessie got married Easter weekend! What a beautiful wedding, up north at an old dairy farm. The old milking barn was incredibly re-done, gorgeous views, wonderfully decorated and touching service performed by her father. The kids had so much fun on the dance floor. The joy of children...perfectly fitting for an entry about marriage...

Congrats to Jessie and Christian, may you have the joy of children in your lives together. You are so loved.

Kiddie Pool in March!?

Elle "helped" Michael change his brake pads on his truck. While he worked on the truck, she sat in his tire fixing "her boat". She was COVERED in grime and grease from the tire and the bolts. It was a pretty warm day (65 degrees) and we have warm water on our outdoor spikets, so I got out the pool and let her go for it! She had so much fun! I tried to capture the steam coming off the water, but it didn't show in any pictures.

WE CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!!!

The Princess and the Farmer

I came out from putting laundry away and here they are... Elle says "Look mama, (pointing to Christian) he's the princess, and (pointing to herself) I am the farmer!"

Poor guy.... I am sure this one will make it into some meet and greet with a future girl friend! At least it was a BLUE tu-tu and not the pink one! =)

The Heron's Back!

don't mind the fence post! I took these from up in the kid's room. He was in our front creek. Elle watched him for about 20 minutes before he finally took off. How fun!

An old box

I found this old box down by the barn that the previous owners left, probably an old feed box... anyway, I filled it will dirt and have planted carrots, radishes and spinich in it. The dirt mound in front now has a bunch of strawberry plants in it, with daliah's off to the side.. (gee.... sounds like it'll make a MUCH better picture in a couple months!) I really wanted to keep up on my gardening reports for a few friends that are following this blog to see when I plant what (although, I really don't know what I am doing, they seem to believe otherwise! =) ). Yesturday I finally was able to finish completely blocking off the garden area so the chickens can't get in... they really do a number on seeds, seedlings and well... all the yummy plants! So I planted peas to grow up the contraption I made (see "branches and twine" post).  I have started seed starts inside of brocolli, cauliflower, basil, 4 different types of tomatoes, mini bell peppers, halipenios (sp?), cantelope (we'll see if that ever takes..), cabbage, lavender and thyme. So far all but the cantelope and peppers have sprouted. Elle really enjoys helping me spray them with the squirt bottle a couple times a day and she often tells them "good night" before going to bed.

Scratch and Peck

The chickens LOVE their new food! I have seriously NEVER seen them go after it like this before! The website is linked under "sites I love"... excellent, local, organic, GMO and soy free food. I am SO HAPPY I found this contact. The food actually looks like... well, FOOD! (The commercial pellets look like...well, pellets!) We have 13 full grown chickens roaming our yard/pasture, (The 27 chicks will soon be joining them if this warm spring continues!) it is so relaxing to see them out there, they look so pretty this time of year, plumped up from the additional scratch in the winter to keep them warm, and no molting going on... ahhhhh, the farm life...

Blue Heron

Not the greatest photo... I couldn't get my camera adjusted quick enough... Elle was by my side squealing with delight to see the Heron so close, she quickly scared it away...Not to mention, my camera battery died...It really is a magnificant bird. It is incredible to see it take flight. I'm not certain if it's this same bird, but we frequently have a heron in our back pond area and the small pond in the creek as well. HUGE bird!

"Do you want an UNDERDOG!?"

Christian LOVED being pushed in the swing by his big sister! It is so fun to see them play together, I can't wait until he can RUN! =)

Clothes Line

I LOVE my new clothes line! Nothing beats the smell of line dried laundry, especially sheets! Because our washer is on the 2nd floor I wanted to have a clothes line up here too, so I had this idea to string it from our master bedroom porch to a tree on a pully system. I found everything I needed at Home Depot for about $15 (I got a plastic line so I can just clean it rather than having to pull a cotton one down each winter to put back up in the spring). My dad and I hung it today and I just had to do a load of laundry to test it out! (Not to mention, it is a BEAUTIFUL sunny March day!)

Play-Doh People

Here's Chloe's Play-Doh person!

Here's Ezra's!

And here's Elle's! She had so much fun with her cousins!

I made Elle pants!

I was sewing curtains for our bedroom today and Elle was playing and I had some pink fabric in the pile and decided to see if I could wing some pants for here. She wanted the frills on the bottom. I made them too short (they came to the middle of her butt!) so I added the top white peice so they'd pull all the way up. She LOVED them... They didn't last long though! They were too small, she couldn't even walk up the stairs they were so tight! But she insisted on wearing them and within the hour they were ripped! Hahaha...oh well.... not too bad for my first shot! =) It was fun to see how much she liked them though... I will try again with some measuring and take more than 10 minutes and maybe they'll last longer than 2 hours!

Latest "Nanarotsey" pictures!

Sledding at Cabin near Stevens Pass...

Do you see the big dipper!?

Aren't these AMAZING?! My mom is SUCH an incredible photographer! What a beautiful night.

Chicken poo, tears, rain, plumbing problem and baby poo

Welcome to the last 90 minutes of my life... It was too comical not to share! =)
It was a sunny late morning, birds were chirping, ducks quacking in the back pond, Elle was anxious to get outside and push her babies on the swings. I bundled Christian up (even though the sun is shinning, I doubt it is over 50 degrees) and grabbed a large quilt to lay him on. We went down to the swings (about 400' down the driveway) I laid the blanket out with some toys for Christian, closed the gate at the end of the drive to keep kids and dog in and strangers out, let the big chickens out, gave Elle some scratch to feed them, went and found the wheel barrow and shovel, got the chicks clean water and more food and then set to work shoveling out the chicken house. I was up to make ankles in chicken poo hearing Christain cry and fuss...normally he really enjoys being outside, so I had high hopes about being able to complete the task without him being an issue. My hands are no where near being suitable to hold him, even hand him a new toy. Elle is off "dandilion hunting" and so there he lay. After the first two wheel barrow fulls I head up to the house to wash my hands (and arms really) and get his swing, thinking maybe he'll be happier sitting up. I haul the swing down, place him in it and head back to the chicken house (I was trying to clean out the side of the chicken house that we are going to move the layer chicks into before the meat chickens arrive.) He contiues to cry and scream, I am determined to at least finish scooping everything out, I will have to deal with hanging the wire in the rafters later. Just as I am coming out of the chicken house with the last load on my way to the compost pile, it starts to rain! Out of NO WHERE! It had literally been SO sunny two minutes ago. So Elle comes over, I grab Christian in the swing and just carry him up in that. I have to hurry back down tot get the quilt and toys as it is now starting to pour buckets. I get back to the house, wonder if Christian is fussy from a wet diaper. No, nothing... I set him in his crib with no diaper on and his buttons on his onsie open...this ALWAYS makes him happy! he LOVES being naked and chomping on his toes-which are much easier to get to without the bulk of his diaper. (I often let him have "freedom time" in his crib when I am due to wash the sheets. So if he pees, no problem!) He seems happy, Elle comes up and starts jumping on the bed near his crib, which he also enjoys to watch her do. I head downstairs to take advantage of the quick moment of both kids being happy and occupied and wash some dishes. I fill one side of the sink, as there are many larger pots and fry pans that need to be hand washed from dinner last night. I start to wash them and am ready to rinse and let out the drain plug... I feel water on my toes.... yikes! water is everwhere, I look under the sink (we just have a curtain there) and water is pouring out of the drain pipe. I try and tighten it and it does nothing, it is completely separated from the pipe beneath it. I try and plug the sink but there is too much gunk in there to be able to seal it off with the plug... I grab towels, turn off the breaker to the toe kick heater that the water is pouring onto and clean it up. Now, we don't have "real" cupboards, we just used scrap book to make our shelves, so this water that is running everywhere underneath everything and all out onto the floor. Anyway, I get it cleaned up and then head up stairs to check on the kids. Elle has the door closed to the room and I can hear her as I am walking up the stairs saying "Christian pooped! {gag noise, gas noise} Mom, Christian pooped" I open the door to the most rancid smell. There he is laying there on his tummy in the crib COVERED in bright orange poop! (this must have been what he was so fussy about!) It is EVERYWHERE! The sheets are soaked, the wall is splattered, the floor and crib skirt even managed to get some on it. He had toys that Elle gave him in the crib that are covered, I had a carrier hanging off the crib that got splatted... Elle is doing her best not to throw up, yet insists on continueing to point out each and every spot that is blemished.  I run to the bathroom to start a bath, and the clean up begins... I took pictures, but decided to spare you...take my word, it was nasty!=)
There you have it... welcome to my world.  He is now sound asleep on clean sheets, looks so peaceful, the sun is back out and Elle is "gardening" in the driveway. (the plumbing is yet to be fixed) Awwww.... I love being a mom.

Unlce Johnny

Michael's uncle Jonny passed away and we just got back from his funeral. He had three children all in their early twenties. The youngest, the only daughter, spoke at the funeral. She shared something I thought was so incredible. She spoke about what a wonderful dad he was, how much he loved his children, how proud he was of each of them. She commended how energetic he was and how she would call to talk with him weekly (she is in college away from home) and ask him to play her songs on the guitar over the phone and he always would. What an incredible relationship they had. The thing that really stuck out to me was that she shared that she can not recall a SINGLE negative statement he had said to her as far back as she can remember. This was not just something to fill in her speech.... she really meant it. She had been talking to my father in law (Johnny's brother) about it just prior and he TOO could not recall EVER hearing Johnny saying any "put downs" or negative statements in the 60 plus years he had been his brother!!! They stood there, really thinking hard on it, thinking there must be something... but neither could come up with anything, not even something close! What an incredible memory and knowledge to have of this man! My memories of him are from Thanksgiving get togethers where he was always smiling, laughing and genuinely listening to anything I or anyone else had to share. He was an incredible musician and never failed to bring his guitar and play everyone some tunes. He was bubbly, easy to love and a truly kind man. He is missed.

Branches and Twine

I can't wait for these to be crawling with peas, beans and tomatoes! My dad got these branches (or small trees) from a neighbor and I was so excited to put them to use! I had a ball of twine that I wrapped back and forth up the structure (hard to see in photo)  that the vegi's will climb up. I made two down in the garden, with intent for a third and hope to do one up near the house off the lawn area for the kids to have direct munchies to enjoy! We are working on fully fencing off the garden (Michael dug post holes and set posts in concrete this weekend)  so that we can keep dogs and chickens out. This has been an issue in the past and even this year, I planted the potatoes a couple weeks ago and I think the chickens got most of them... So I don't want to plant anything else until I can keep them out. Plus it'll help keep the kids IN when I am working down there. I can't wait to get planting!

Happy Birthday Michael!

Michael's parents came and watched the kids so he and I could go on a date! How fun! We haven't been out together FOREVER. It was so nice. We went to the Oyster House in down town, then to the Deschutes River park to walk around and enjoy the 62 degree spring weather! Incredible! I loved how everyone was out like it was August! Kids were playing in the fountain with swimsuits on, everyone in shorts, guys with no shirts on, HILARIOUS!!! That's Washington for you... it hit 60 degrees. WOO HOOO! =)

Welcome Spring!

Even thought it's not officially spring it sure feels like it! What incredible weather we have been having. Elle has really enjoyed picking flowers with me. (She is our official "dandilion hunter".) Here are some in old bottles Michael found on the beach when he used to dig clams. I LOVE the view from my kitchen window! The ducks are now starting to frequent our "pond" and we saw a brown, white tailed bunny the other day!

chicken update

Okay... so the chickens I was thinking of doing... it turns out they take 4 months instead of 8-10 weeks... so we are looking to do Cornish Roasters instead. (the feed costs for 4 months would just be way too much, especially for our first time and so many birds) So here's what the Murray Mc Murray catalog says about the Cornish Roasters.
 "We sell them straight run only {meaning they are not sexed-we could get males and/or females} and recommend that you butcher the females as fryers and save the males as roasters. Fryers reach a dressed weight of 3-4 pounds in 8-9 weeks and the roasters will reach dressed weight of 8-9 lbs at 12 weeks, making them a mouth watering sight on Mom's kitchen table. "
Sooo... yikes, that means I have to really know what I am doing when I have help, because it looks like I'll have to do the Roasters (males) a couple weeks later on my own... So I had priced the $20 based on feed for 10 weeks... so let's say $14 for the fryers that will be 3-4 lbs and $25 for the Roasters? Tough part is, I won't know what we have until we have them and they've grown enough to show if they are male or female... so let me know what you'd prefer and if you are okay with either or not. (we can adjust what we will keep based on what is left)
Also...!!!! If you are interested in helping with the butchering let me know! =)

Non GMO free range chicken! $20

Okay, so after much research I have decided I need to get over it and learn how to butcher chickens! I want to be able to put the healthiest meat on the table for my family. (For those of you who know me well... this may be comical, since I am often found raiding candy and cookie jars like a child!...but that's just my weakness... my heart really wants to eat and provide what is best for myself and my family.) I have FINALLY found a contact for GMO-free and soy free chicken food! Yey! So our layers will be getting that now as well. There is just too much out there on the lack of information on GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) and the possible dangers. (the main modifications I am learning about have to do with scientifically creating seeds to either possess their own pesticide or making them be able to with stand a HUGE dosage of pesticide being applied to the plant...) I am reading more and more about it... but honestly, a lot of it is scientific jargen that is over my head... or just plain too difficult to focus on with two demanding kid-o's in the back ground... but reading over and over again how animals, when given the choice, will not eat the GMO corn, and will even walk through fields of it to get to the non-GMO stuff... that's all I need to know to know something isn't quite right about it all... The effects of what animals eat, get into what they produce as well... meat, eggs, milk, etc... so I want to raise chickens that I know will not only live happy lives, but will not have any of this junk in their meat or eggs.
 We have enlisted my friends husband to help us butcher the first ones... he regularly "dresses" (how funny that plucking feathers off is called "dressing") dear that he hunts and has done turkeys and wild bird game before, so he'll be a pro... or at least the only one there not gagging! I am so grateful to him for being willing to help teach us... and really excited to be able to undertake this adventure that means so much to me with a friend that I shared so much of my childhood adventures with.
So.... Memorial Day weekend looks like it may be the day! So I will need to order the chicks early next week... We have to order a minimum of 25 chicks for body warmth in the shipping... we certainly don't have room for 25 birds in the freezer (especially with all the meat we are about to get from our cows here shortly) so friends and family, you have first dibs if you want to buy one (or two or...) We expect them to be about 7-8 lb birds (about double what you see in the grocery store).  I have researched that for organically raised free range (ours will have a lot of time on pasture) the price around here is about $4.50 a pound... since this is our first time, and you are our friends and family, and we a really just trying to off set our expenses, we will happily raise and butcher one for you for $20 each. I need to know numbers by early next week. Don't hesitate to ask if you have questions. If you are interested let me know! How exciting! =)

Seeds of Deception

The latest book I am reading (just finished Omnivore's Delimea yesturday) is called the Seeds of Deception by Jeffery M Smith. I am not very far into it, but it has a lot of interesting information about genetically modified organisms (GMO's). I am just recently interested in learning about this. I just couldn't believe that nearly ALL the seeds out there are genetically modified to not only make it impossible to collect seeds for use again the next year (which of course keeps you as a customer) but that they also are modified with their own pesticide built in....and that it's as if that isn't even questioned... hummm... seems fishy... I am trying to learn more... So far I have read that animals, birds, bugs etc... get sick and even die when eating the plants/fruits/vegetables grown, and that many animals if given the choice, won't eat the GMO option. Interesting.... if anyone knows any info on it they want to share, feel free to chime in! =)

Stevens Pass

We went to Stevens Pass this weekend with my family (mom, dad, older brother, his wife and child, younger brother and his girlfriend, my husband and 2 kids). BEAUTIFUL weather! Sunny, blue sky, not a breeze in the air... GORGEOUS! We skiied/snowboarded on Saturday, sledded/hiked around Friday evening and Sunday morning. The kids had a lot of fun...other than Christian who was a total wreck! (therefore, so was I at times!) It was so nice though. We stayed in this incredible cabin that belongs to some of my mom's church friends. It is this incredible community of cabins where the roads are impassable in the winter (many people had snow mobiles to get in and out) so we had to haul everything in and out about 3/4 mile each way. My mom and I went for a walk the first night we were there. It was amazing. The stars were incredible out there. There was a little more than a sliver of a moon and it made the snow sparkle like I have never seen before. It honestly made you wonder if your eyes were playing tricks or something. It was absolutely beautiful. I was horrible about taking pictures because my mom was there and she takes INCREDIBLE pictures, so why bother! I will get some from her and post some later.