The new year has been quite busy for us. We took a trip to the farm to spend some time with our family there for Christmas. My Dad had surgery the first day we were there and was stuck watching us do stuff and got Camera duty. He prefers to be in there helping out and not just watching. Mom was glad to have a break cooking dinner while we were there. I did have her help a little. Oreo got quite a bit of rest and relaxation.
While we were there we did a lot of planning and decision making. At first I wanted to do board and batton on one of the walls in the living room but ended up deciding that I just want to do ship lap on the wall instead. I don’t care if it could go out of style in a few years, I like it and it gives it the homey farmhouse feel that I want. Heck, I have been out of style for a while now too.
We were able to spread some gravel around to help with the mud and the no parking area issue. It was nice to get out and get dirty and enjoy the wonderful weather. Of course Dad was chomping at the bit, to get in there and help and Mom kept yelling at him to not do stuff.
We brought some lights we purchased here in Texas with us. Chad was able to get one hung temporarily for more light in the kitchen. It definitely brighten it up in there but it is a permanent placement and will have to wait awhile, until the island is put in so it can be centered above it. I just love the Antiqued Stained Glass, it is so beautiful!
Since the weather decided to dump a bunch of snow on us we started working on opening up the stairway. I want to be able to decorate it for Christmas, but I also think it looks so much better opened up. It still has a long way to go but it will look great in the end. We made a lot of noise cutting out the sheet rock and the 2x4s. It was neat to learn how to properly use a Sawzall.
I love the snow and I was so glad to get it. We got 7-8 inches and it was so beautiful! Of course I had to get out and take pictures of it. Cheyenne got out there and went sledding down the hill. She was having so much fun until she took a wrong turn and hit a tree. Luckily, she and tree are fine with no injuries at all. It did scare this Momma as I saw her go off the side of the cliff, (ok it was the side of a hill, but you know it felt like a cliff) as I was telling her to put your feet down to stop over and over.
Zep loves the snow, he chased Cheyenne down the hill while she was sledding, he walked with me up to the chicken coop, and he went down to meet the goats. Allie was not excited about meeting him and invading her space and tried head butting him…Let’s just say that Zep was thoroughly confused by this and just wanted to smell her and lick her. So I put him on the other side of the gate. He just wanted to be friends.
On our way to Kentucky a hawk landed beside the road then right before I got to it, it decided to fly up right in front of our SUV and I hit it going around 80 mph in Missouri. When we stopped for gas, I didn’t really see any damage at a glance so I didn’t think much about it (this was on Monday). Well right before we were about to head back home on Friday, Payton noticed there was a bird in the SUV. She called me from the SUV and said, “ummm, Mom there is a bird in the car”. I was like what!? Why are the doors open it’s been snowing you’re gonna get snow all in the car. She said no it’s in the front by the grill and sent me this picture.
I wasn’t really sure what to do, or how to get it out. So I did what any woman would do, I pawned it off on the husband. Chad went down and to check it out and realized it had broke the grill right on the edges and was trapped in between the grill and radiator. So he finished breaking my grill off my car to let it free. He called his friend that is a Falconer to find out what to do for it. I tapped my foot under the bumper and it hopped out onto the bumper.
With his advice to let nature takes its course, we watched to see what it did. I am not sure if it found somewhere to recoup or if it unfortunately was something’s dinner but, nature will run it’s course. We looked for a rehabilitation center. But could not find one. (Thanks for the advice “Cookie”)
In better news Mom’s chickens, finally decided to quit being freeloaders and are now producing a couple eggs a day for her. I think they just did it for the meal worm treat treats, since the day before she told them no more treats if you don’t start laying me some eggs.
We were able to make a great deal with the Amish Lumber Mill right down the road, on 2 pallets full of hard wood (over 200 rough cut real 2×4’s). They are about 6 months natural cured and still have about 6 more months to fully cure. They are going to be used by my Dad to make my beautiful kitchen butcher block counter tops and island tops. We unload the wood and stacked it so it could dry out and finish curing down in the basement. We got my Dad a new toy to play with. So he snuck down stairs with Chad and I to play with his new DeWalt wood planner. We just did one board to see what they will look like and didn’t let him lift anything. I can’t wait it is gonna be so pretty!
While we were there, I attempted to get a load of firewood delivered, so we could stack it for them before we left. Unfortunately due to the weather, they didn’t make it out until after we left along with more gravel. There is still another load of gravel being delivered after the snow melts off. The wood ended up being around 3 to 4 ricks of wood. Hopefully it will last the rest of the winter.
We discussed in the future possibly below the deck and in front of the basement building Barn Doors to inclose the area. We figured it will help keep firewood dry, the side by side out of the weather and a fantastic place to put our Hot Tub!! By the way, we sure missed it back in Texas after all the hard work we did on our “Farmcation”.
We played the Saran Wrap Game, with Dad, Mom, Cheyenne, Hunter, and Payton. We all had a blast! We went to the covered bridge while we enjoyed some ice cream. I should have went back to take pictures of it after it was covered in snow, but the roads were not great and we had to head back home in the opposite direction. It was a great time with the family and we can’t wait to go back again soon!
While I was packing the car to leave I was able to snap a few photos of an Amish buggy going by. It would have had to be really important, if that was me, to get out in the cold like that. I wonder how they keep warm in the buggies. Hope you have a Blessed new year!
Pink Squirrel Farmstead 