Today we headed out to my sister, Karen's, home about 30 minutes from here.  The roads weren't too bad, better then last night's roads.  We are tough Minnesotans and can handle it.

Karen served turkey with all the fixings' and it was all good.  I did remember to bring the cheesecake along with pecan pie and some cherv cheese and homemade jams.  I'm gonna get my family to like goat milk!  LOL

I filled Karen's freezer with some of our farm raised meats and she gave us some of the vension she had in her freezer.  She's going to make lamb for her family.. something they've never tried but always wanted too.

We stayed late.  I believe that was the only mistake we made tonight because on our way home, we got the car stuck on some curves about 15 minutes from home.  The snow had drifted across the road and just filled it in.. very deep and our car got hung up in the drifts. 

We tried hard to free the car without any luck.  Then a car stopped and tried to help but we were still stuck.  The woman said she lived just 5 minutes away anmd would go get her hubby only to realize that she was now stuck as well.  So a quick phone call brought her hubby with a truck and chains in about 15 minutes.

He pulled us out and that's when we noticed that he would be there for a bit as there must have been at least another 6 cars stuck behind us!  Where are the snowplows when ya need them?

Anyway, we are home safe and sound thanks to some very nice people.  GoodNight!
Carol

We had a wonderful quiet Christmas at home.  Since my sister postponed Christmas dinner until Sunday due to the weather, it was just us here today.  Rich tried to blow the snow out of the yard and driveway but the snow was so heavy with moisture that he really just pushed it around.  It almost smells like spring out there.

We opened presents after chores were completed.  Then feasted on ham, scalloped potatoes, sweet corn, cranberry relish, cookie salad and pecan pie.  Yum yum!

Madison received Farm-opoly from Santa so we played a game of that this evening.  Half way through the game, Ellie needed to go outside and we found a chicken sitting on the doorstep.  I'm assuming Candle brought her up from the barn.  I've caught her carrying chickens around before.  I'm wondering if it was a peace offering of some sort or just a Christmas gift for me  LOL.

Anyway, the poor thing was soaking wet so I wrapped her in a towel and put her on my lap.  She settled in quite nicely.  Soon after, my losing streak changed in the game..  suddening things seemed to go my way and I won.  I think it was because of my feathered friend napping in my lep.  All that good karma.. saving her from the wet outside, hehehe.

After the game, Austin was nice enough done his winter wear and take Lucky back to the barn for the night.  What a sweet boy I have.

Well, it's late and I need to get to bed.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  Merry Christmas and goodnight!
Carol

It's Christmas eve.. the stockings are hung.  The kiddos are tucked in bed with their favorite quilts.  Presents are wrapped and under the tree.  I think we are ready for Christmas day!

I was busy in the kitchen doing a few things to ready us for dinner tomorrow.  my sister called and postponed Christmas dinner until Sunday.  I'm happy I planned ahead and thawed a ham for us.

This weather is really causing some problems.  We have close to a foot of new snow outside and they say more is still coming.  The snow is heavy and wet... should make some good snowballs or snowman.

Well, I better get to bed.  GoodNight!
Carol

Rich and I finally made our way over to Kristine's to pick up the hutch she was giving away.  It was a bit of a trick to get it into the house but it's here.  We put it in the back room for now.  It was really the only place it would fit.

The storm is here and it is snowing hard.  The tempature is warm.. in the 20's with little or no wind which makes for a very pretty winter scene.  The kids just left for town to do some last minute Christmas shopping.  I pray that they are careful and return safe and sound.

I better get Chas tucked in for the night.  GoodNight!
Carol

Today was Chas' neurology appointment in St. Paul, MN.   Since Rich is still busy with our fencing project, Kristine agreed to go with me on this trip.  It gets to be long day as we have to travel over 2 hours one way so it is nice to have company along the way.

Chas did great on the trip.  She has a few med changes over the next week and hopefully not too many seizures.

We stopped in a Sam's Club on the way home.  It's been a while since I was in a Sam's Club.  Chas seemed to enjoy looking at all the shelves loaded with stuff.  We didn't get a whole lot of stuff.  Kristine said she was making her "big" trip next week so I should get my "list" together and she will pick up what I need.

That's about it.  I'm tired tonight but don't feel like I did anything to be so tired!  That driving all day is exhausting.  GoodNight!
Carol

Just a quick update... we have been busy here at Craig and Amber's.  Horse back riding, making more pies and playing games.  The cattle back at home are staying in the fence for Austin so that is good news.

We leave tomorrow morning.  We are planning on stopping to visit with blogger friend, Marilyn, on our way home.  I'm so very excited to met her and her hubby.

Well, I'm off to play a game of Mexican Train... my MIL and FIL are teaching all of us how to play.

Later!
Carol

I hope everyone was able to enjoy that holiday with friends and family. 

We arrived safely in Arkansas at 11:30 pm last night.  My SIL Amber and hubby, Craig have a beautiful home in the middle of no where, lol.

This was Amber's first year to host Thanksgiving and she did a great job.  We had smoked turkey (Craig's job) with all the fixings and homemade pies!  Everything was delicious and hot.  Oh, we ate very well.

Madison and her cousins (Erick and Seth) busied themselves with games and checking out the horses and goats.  Their pygmies are expecting babies in december so Madison was right in there doing her "prenatal checks" lol.

Craig has promised to take Madison horse back riding tomorrow.  It just got too late to do it today.  She is so excited.

Unfortunately, Austin called tonight to tell Rich that the cattle had gotten out.  So at 10:30 pm Rich called the neighbors to come help Austin out.  We really have the best neighbors... they helped Austin out.  We haven't heard anything since 11 pm so I'm assuming the cattle are safe on the correct side of the fence.  Thanks Dewane and Austin!

GoodNight!
Carol

Tonight was the 4H banquet for our county.  They served pizza.  yum!  It was very good.  Lots of awards given out.  Madison got her envelope of discs, one for each project area she participated in for the year except for her livestock demostration.. which I was surprised by considering they had to give it twice before receiving their premium, once for the judges before the fair and then again at the fair.  I think her total was 16. We had to buy a new plaque for her to put them on.

I'm tired so off to bed I go.  GoodNight!
Carol

We just got home from the Minnesota State Fair.  We had a great time.  The big thing at our state fair is anything "on a stick."  I'm proud to say, none of us had anything on a stick, LOL.  We did enjoy a few fair foods like tiny tim donuts, cotton candy and caramel apples.

We spent some time in the barns checking out the 4H animals.  Madison can't wait until next year when she can take her 4H projects to the State fair.

Well, I'm tired and really nee to get to bed. GoodNight!
Carol

Today was a really long day.  We were in the rabbit/poultry barn from 9 am to 8:30 pm.  Madison did very well.  She took all blues with her animals and also Reserve champion for Jr rabbit showmanship.  She also took a purple (champ) on her exploring animals project, a reserve champ on her potatoes and live pet exhibit.  I think her blue ribbon count is at 27.

More pictures from the barn at found here:  Rabbit and Poultry Judging

I'm too tired to add any pictures here, sorry.

Carol

Today was the big day... entry and judging day for 4H projects.  Here are a couple of pictures from Madison's project judging:

Her exploring animals project "How to milk a goat."

Her potatoes project.

Her quilting and needlepoint projects.

She had many more projects but that's just too many pictures for here so here's the link to the Fair 2009 album if you want to see all of it.

I'm tired, so I will say goodnight.  Tomorrow is judging of her critters.
Carol

I can't believe it's been a couple weeks since I last blogged.  We've had a very busy 2 weeks.  Our oldest, Chas, had an hour long seizure on July 23,  landing her in the hospital for a week.  I just brought her home last evening.  She's stillnot completely back to herself but is improving each day.

Of course, we've been busy trying to get ready for the county fair.  Entry day is Tuesday and judging for Madison is Wednesday.  So she is trying to get her projects done.  Chas being in the hospital really threw a monkey wrench into her project time.  So she is just trying to finish everything she started and not start anything new.  She won't have as many entries as last year but she still has a box full of stuff.

We had the tv station out here yesterday to interview madison and I about 4H.  That was fun.  The piece aired last night on the news.  I haven't watched it yet so I hope I don't sound like an idiot, lol.

Anyway, I'll have pictures to share once I have the time to edit them and upload.  Have a great weekend everyone!
Carol

The hayloft clubhouse held 5 kids last night who slept well except for Erick who got a bit sick and spend the early morning hours on my couch.  Poor guy... but he seemed better later on.

The family headed to to lake this afternoon.  We have a very nice lake a few minutes from us with a county park.  Sounds like everyone had a good time.  Rich, Craig and I stayed home.

We had a locally grown meal for supper tonight.  Our farm fresh chicken on the grill, cilantro potatoes from my gardens and sweet corn from a neighbor.  Well, I also sautee'd up the remaining summer squash that Amber brought from Arkansas so maybe it wasn't totally local, lol.  Rich also served a bottle of his SunnySide Apple wine.  The apples came from an orchad not far from her.

We are still waiting on Lucy to kid.  She has a very full warm utter so I figured sometime in the next 24 hours we should have some new kids on the ground.  I have some very excited nephews who are hoping it happens before they all leave tomorrow morning.

Well, I'm tired and ready to hit the hay.  GoodNight!
Carol

Today we celebrated Madison's 11th birthday.  Her birthday was actually in April but we were unable to celebrate it then so we decided to celebrate when Rich's sisters were here.

Madison was happy to have her cousin Amber and friend Anya over to even out the boy/girl ratio.  Here's the girls:

Madison getting ready to blow out the candles BEFORE the wind does, lol:

Madison and girls cleaning off the candles:

We had a fire going in the fire pit and Austin, Tiffany, Eric and Amber were enjoying it:

It sure turned out to be a nice evening for the party.  We shot off the remaining fireworks after dark and then the kids, Erick, Seth, Madison, Amber and Ayna all headed to bed in the clubhouse.  I'm going to talk with Kristine some more since she's still here and helping me with some troubles we are experiencing with Chas.  I just love a "good" friend.

GoodNight!
Carol

After a quick trip to town, Amber and I toured the old farm house Rich and I looked at a few months ago.  I think she liked it as much as me.  We both enjoy old things and going to auctions.  The house has such character.

Amber also wants to learn how to process chickens so I think we are going to try that tomorrow.  Erick is bugging me to also process rabbit so maybe we'll do a few of those.  We definately need the cage space for Madison's 4H rabbits.

Work is continuing on the hay loft.  Craig and Rich seem to make a pretty good team.  Craig keeps Rich motivated to keep on going.  They have decided to finish the entire floor. 

The men also discussed starting on our fencing project.   I guess our soil is very different then the soil in Arkansas.  Craig digs all his fence pole holes by hand as there is so much rock.  He may spend up to 6 hours putting in one post.  And he has the upper body to prove that! LOL

The guys also installed our new gas water heater.  We went from a 15 gallon heater to a 40 gallon.  Oh what a joy not to worry about running out of hot water.  Thanks guys!!!

Time for bed!  GoodNight!
Carol