Poor Mable

Mable is a very shaggy Scottish terrier. She needs to be groomed much more often than I do. She was beginning to look like a wooly mammoth; all we needed was to find some tusks for her. She also likes to roll in the dirt, or the manure piles, so often she is quite smelly! Sunday after Phil said it was time to quit working for the day I decided she had to get a haircut. I was dirty anyway so what harm was a bit of dog hair going to do to me. I lugged her up on the picnic table and brought out the dog sheers. Her fur is so thick it looked like I was sheering a sheep. I try to keep her Scotty face, but the rest gets shaved to the skin. Phil came over to help hold her down for me (she doesn’t like getting her legs and tummy trimmed). I had to go in to get scissors and while I was gone Phil took over the rest of the cut. Our poor Mable has no more beard or eyebrows. I am sure she is much cooler and feels better …… but she looks like a huge rat! Molly smelled and smelled her just to make she it was still her friend. Even the cats didn’t know who she was. Mable would not even look at me for the longest time. I think she is getting used to the new style now.

A few weeks ago when Olivia was visiting decided she wanted to be a dog. I thought I would share these pictures of her living in Molly’s house.

Spring is finally here.  We are working in the gardens.  The manure is being put down, the compost chopped up and ready for the seeds to be planted.  I have only planted a few things, but it is time to get onion and potatoes in the ground.  Phil is very excited to have fresh vegies on the horizon again. 

Phil will be leaving for California tomorrow morning.  His father passed away last week and his funeral is Thursday.  It will be a very long day for him traveling.  I am glad he will be able to see his brother, and have the opportunity to say good by to his father. 

April Showers ..........

Caelum told me "April showers bring May flowers.  What do May flowers bring .......... Pilgrims silly" 
The Midwest can't decide if Spring is here .......... or winter still wants to hang on.  One day the temps are in the 70's and the next cold and windy.  Today was dreary, cold and raining but the temps were in the 50's.  With the wind it felt more like the 30's.  I want to work in the garden but it is to wet.  Yesterday I was able to plant some lettuce, spinich, and onions in one of the raised beds.  I can't wait to plant some peas ... it's just to wet! 
We are planning for some animals.  We have a pig pen, and have found the fence panels, just have to wait for the guy to have surgery so we can get them.  I haven't found the pig yet ... but can't until we have a place ready for him or her to come home to.  Phil is checking out chicken coops.  I would like to raise enough chickens to put in the freezer for the winter and keep a few for laying.  I wonder if I am going to be brave enough to do the killing??  I know I can butcher chickens, I have done that, but I am still not sure I can swing the ax. 
Phil mowed the grass for the first time yesterday.  I came home from work to see him out on his mower.  That seems to be his favorite place.  I have never really learned to use the mower ... because I am only allowed to use the push mower.  He won't let me drive his tractor either!  He thinks I am accident prone ... and will tip a tractor over on myself.  I think he gets that from some things that have happened in my past .... like a burning bag melting on my hand .... well sometimes accidents do happen to me.  but Not THAT much!!!!  LOL
I will keep you up to date with the spring planting, and spring updates!

And so it begins..........

Spring had finally come to the midwest.  With warm weather ends the lazy days of winter (WHAT... LAZY??)    OK, the free evenings to watch TV or do whatever.  With the start of daylight savings time begins the long days here at Pooh Acres.  Last weekend we started working outside and I remembered all of the soar muscles of summer.
This weekend I took off work on Friday to go pick up the new packages of bees.  Unfortunantly both of my hives froze to death this winter.  Caelum was off school, so he and I drove to Auburn NE early Friday morning to pick them up.  It would have been a fun drive, but he was so wrapped up in his video game he didn't even know where we were.  We were 40 minutes into the trip when he looked up and asked where we were going ............ he apparently thought we were going to Pooh Acres.  The way home was a little more fun, he actually put the game away for a few minutes!! 
Caelum expected to spend all 3 days with us, he said he didn't have to be home until Sunday night.  I explained that we have some things that need to be done this weekend... so we expected him to help us.  We installed the bees into their new homes, raked and shoveled from the burn pit area, picked up trash we pulled out of the old "junk" area left by the old owners, cleaned, shoveled, raked, picked up, and generally worked the boy until he (and us!!) was exhausted.  We were all filthy and ready for bed by the end of Friday.   I think he was ready to go home.  His mom came to get him Saturday morning, and he didn't look back!  She pulled into the driveway, he gave me a quick hug and kiss and said goodby!! She told him she was expecting him to help her clean the house ...he groaned!   He is such a good boy!
After Caelum left Phil and I headed to Weeping Water.  We found someone selling small "huts" they had used to raise calves in.  I thought they would work great for a pig.  We brought the pig hut home and unloaded it behind the garage ... now we just need the hog panels and a little pig.  I just want to raise one or two ... if we raise two, we will sell one and eat the other.  We are also going to get chickens.  I'd like to get about 25 - 30 and butcher all but a few when they are grown.  I would like to keep a few for eggs.  Phil wants to have ducks for eggs.  I am not opposed to that either!  Pooh Acres is turning into a real farm now. 
The gardens are ready to chop the winter mulch and work some manure into them.  Phil made me a starter shelf for tomatoe and peppers etc starters.  I have some seeds up .... I hope they turn out good enough to plant in the garden.  I have never been able to start my plants indoors ... they always get leggy.   Spring is on the way.  I am excited to get it started.
Yesterday on the way home from Weeping Water we stopped at a "neighbors" house just down the road.  (My husband is not capable of driving from point A to point B without meandering down as many country roads as he can find.)  I had noticed a big pile of horse manure in their field so he stopped to see if we could get some.  This neighbor was so nice, he said some back today and he would even load it for us.  We got about 2,000 pounds of fresh manure.  When we got home Phil was trying to figure out an easy way to unload it.  He hooked a tow strap (before the manure was loaded) around a piece of plywood under the bed of the truck.  He chained the tow strap to the International Harvester and pulled the entire thing out of the truck.  I only had to rake out the small amount that fell over the sides of the wood.  It was the easiest load of manure ever!!!   
It is late Sunday evening.  I am tired and ready to get some sleep before I go back to work tomorrow.  I wonder what the new week will bring?   Happy Spring!

Cirque du soleil

Oh My, what a wonderful night we had! This was our “date night”. Phil got tickets to Cirque du soleil for my birthday. I have heard so much about how wonderful the show is, but I really had no idea what to expect. Phil got us wonderful seats. We were way down in front ……… first row. The only thing between us and the actors were the people sitting on folding chairs on the floor. It was an amazing show The actors were brilliant. The music beyond belief. The show ………. AMAZING. There was a man on the trapeze who was brilliant. Tumblers lacing between one another while moving at amazing speeds. People balancing and jumping high into the air them coming down on small pieces of something the width of a 2X4 balanced on the shoulders of two men. A man making his body do amazing things while balancing himself on a small peg of wood on his hands. The most amazing thing was 2 young women very slim and small in stature who intertwined their bodies in ways I would never have thought possible. The were able to bend over backwards …. And then some. I had no idea that a human body could move that way. I found myself several time sitting with my mouth open in amazement because I could not believe what I was seeing. It was a wonderful evening. Thank you Phil for giving me such a wonderful present. I know I will never come up with something even close to this for your birthday.

More birthday ..........

Yesterday was my birthday “celebration” with Delana and the kids. I made lunch (Sunday fried chicken, Phil’s favorite) and Delana brought the cake. I must say I got the most wonderful presents I have ever received in my life. Ruby made me a card in the shape of a heart and gave me a one-dollar bill. She also gave me a stuffed sheep to sleep with. Olivia was very original with her gift. She gave me a penny in her card. She filled a box with toys for me. A kazoo in the shape of lips, a doll, a small ball. These were wonderful gifts! The girls used their imaginations and worked to give me something from their hearts. I love love love those gifts.


Delana also thought about her gift. She found a beautiful necklace in the shape of a queen bee. Even the box it came in is beautiful; it was made with mulberry tree paper.

Last night I was able to talk to Emilia, Shelby and Josef in Washington.

I had a wonderful birthday weekend …… from start to finish it was great! Thank you my dear family.

My birthday

Yesterday was my birthday.  I have come to the age where I don't really like my birthday anymore.  I wish they would just go away.  No matter what I think .... my family has different ideas.  Yesterday was wonderful.  Phil greated me with a card (homemade to my delight).  Inside were tickets to Cirque de Soleil ... holy cow I didn't think I would EVER see this show.  I was AMAZED at how much money he spent on these tickets ..... and that he would actually see a show like this with me. 
Then we left for the days planned activity.  He was going to go to an 8 hour class on beekeeping with me.  He is not as in to beekeeping as I am ... so this was a real gift to me.  It was a wonderful day.  We had a great drive down to the class and saw 5 bald eagles in a tree.  On the way back I saw one more.   I learned so much .... and was thankful he was with me.  What a wonderul gift he gave me ........... the tickets are great ... but better than that was the day he gave with NO COMPLAINTS ..... I appreciate that more than anthing else he could have given.  Matt even called me early in the morning with birthday wishes.  No wonder I was smiling all day. It was a wonderful birthday. 

This is a photo of my 10th birthday.   WOW ..  44 years ago. 

March came in like a lamb

It is March already.  The month came in like a lamb, lots of sunshine and warming temperatures.  I wonder if it will go out like a lion!  We have had so much bad weather this year, I wish it would just clear up for a while.  Our driveway is so muddy that I sink when I walk.  The herb garden by the garage is so soft Molly sunk into the mud about 4 inches.  We still have a huge amount of melting to do ... so I don't think it is going to get better for a while.
Yesterday was Moms birthday.  I wasn't sad, but I did think of her quite a bit.  We all miss her so much.  If I could have her back for one day ...... I would have so many questions. 
We did get some happy news today.  Matt and Mike will be here for the weekend.  They are flying in on Thursday and back on Sunday.  They have never been to the midwest, so this will be interesting!  I wish they could stay longer but this is a start. 
This weekend the temperatures are supposed to be almost into the 50's.  I may actually be able to get a look inside my bee hives.  I have no idea if the bees lived through this harsh winter.  Next weekend for my birthday Phil and I are taking a bee keeping class.  I am so excited.  I have gotten by only by the seat of my pants the last 2 summers.  This year I am taking 3 different classes.  Hopefully I will figure out everything I have been doing wrong.  I do want this to work over the long haul!  We both hope we can figure out how to make a living from our soil.  I sure wish we had another 8 or 10 acres, and a tractor that does the work we need it to. 
To Kill and Mockingbird is on television.  I think I will endulge in 2 hours of movie.
Happy March