where have I been??

Where have I been? I really had such great intentions of posting more often and everytime I thought about posting I would have some sort of huge block.

I'm now working for a school and so have the summer off for the first time in 3 years! I now realize what I have missed these last couple of summers. I love just hanging out with my kids and hopefully they appreciate having a mother at home with them this year. I'm definitely more relaxed and feel more like doing things around the farm and with my family.

We now have 10 chickens - I think one is a rooster though - 3 ducks, 2 goats, 1 pot belly pig and 4 cats and 4 baby kittens. Oh, and 2 dogs. EIEIOOO.

We are getting ready for our trek to Montana and I'm feeling some stress about it. We are taking the dogs for one thing and I think that my mom will freak out about that. She and I don't always get along anyway and so I'm a little nervous about spending the week there. I know that parents age, and I know that mine have, but I don't think that I'm ready to face the reality of this and what it means for my dad and all the ailments that affect him in different ways. I really relate well with him and could cry right now just writing about him. Maybe I'll just leave that subject as is.

We said good-bye to Gma Paul last month and that has brought up a lot of feelings about family. I am really going to miss her. I spent more time with her when she lived in Portland than when she was in Hood River. She was an incredible inspiration to me and how I should treat others.

Here are some pretty pics from around the farm.

It's fall here at the farm. My flowers are so happy to have a reprieve from the heat and to have it rain so they can have a drink. I am having a nesting kind of day--sitting around and taking it easy for a change. I can only be turbo for so long. I am finishing my first real quilt today! I have had the fabric for years and it feels so good to see a finished project. It's a lot of flannel that I bought on sale at various quilt stores. I was going to originally make rag quilts for the kids, but it's been long enough now that it's not what I want. I'll have to take a picture and post it later.

Life is life and we are all doing o.k. here. School is well under way and the kids are doing great. We've had friends over a few times and that is just so fun. Halloween is on deck and I have one costume done. I will have to work on the other one this weekend. I love making costumes for these guys. I think I'd better tackle laundry before it overtakes us all....

Counting down...

I find it rather ironic that I am posting at the very end of summer. It is a cold and rainy day. We are all feeling a bit bored and not wanting to do anything that requires energy. The oldest C has a cold and Little C is just happy hanging out and doing crafts. We are getting ready for a garage sale with our neighbor, so he is also cleaning out his room and preparing to sell all that he hasn't played with in a while. I managed to clean out the craft closet and I feel sooo much lighter now.

The picture at the top is me with my mom and sister. I had the great experience of hosting my family for 5 days for our family reunion. It was at the end of June and sooo much fun. I just couldn't ask for a better family (if I did it probably wouldn't happen anyway).

School starts in about 7 days and we are all ready for it. The boys really need to keep busy and I'm craving some time alone in the house and having the house stay clean on a regular basis. I'm also so sad about school starting just because it is fun to be with these guys. They will never be these ages again and sometimes it feels like time is slipping like sand through my fingers. They just grow up so fast. I sure love, love, love them!!

I don't wanna go...

Usually this time of year I am so excited for summer break. Not so much this year and I'm really not sure why. Don't get me wrong-I love spending time with my kids. It's the whole coming up with activities that don't ruin the budget that can really get me down. It helps to make a list that I can turn to for fun, so I must make my list soon.

My kindergarten boy is ready for summer too. He decided yesterday that he really didn't want to go to school. He hid from the bus when it came!! What a little stinker! At least he was honest and told me what happened. I just so happened to not have any wheels for the day, so once again my neighbor came to the rescue. I just have to laugh...

So this was the best vacation EVER!! We had a great time, were sun-kissed and exhausted when we came home. Life really blasted me upon coming home. I have been mowing and weeding, laundering and grocery shopping. Whew! It's just so much fun to watch the kids faces as they take in new experiences!

So here a a couple of pics of the ducks taking a bath in the kitchen sink. They really loved it this time. I think now that David has watched the boys and how happy and excited they are that he has somewhat forgiven me for buying more animals after we agreed to wait till next spring to have ducks. Things are just ducky now!!

We went to an egg hunt at a farm not far from here and we got soaked through!! Happy Easter in Oregon!

Ducky Days

Things are just ducky around here lately. Here is Brownie and Spotty the newest residents in our laundry room. They are so darn cute. We let them go swimming in the kitchen sink this afternoon and they really liked it. The boys laughed so hard! I figure we might as well try out every farm animal that is small that I can haul in my car! It's just too much fun so far!!

Our big goat Spike broke his leg while trying to jump the fence the other night-the punk!! Well, we decided to splint it with some aluminium and duct tape--a vet's fee would be $250 or so to come on out. We called to see how long he should be splinted and it's 8-10 weeks!! Oh dear.

Well, Happy Easter! Ours will be soggy and cold so we will hopefully relax and enjoy.

Trillium Thrill

Trilliums are another great reason to love where we live. We have counted over 20 blooms on our property. I love spring!!

First I have to say thanks to my superb best friend, David, for putting up with me and my horrible, sleep deprived, pms and depressed self. I love you so much and appreciate all your support during stressful times.

I've decided to needlepoint and took my first class last week. I can tell that I will love doing this new craft. I purchased a canvas that is a sampler with a rooster in the middle of it. It's black and ivory and I think it will look spectacular in our house when complete. It's going to take a loooong time, but I'm up for the challenge.

Speaking of challenge, we are beginning spring break and boys are home and needing things to do. I hope the weather will be nice enough to hike and play at the river. I was hoping to go to the beach, but the house was snatched away before I had a chance to ask.

This is more of a journal entry today than a funny/cute post. Well, I don't think anyone but my hubby reads this so it's better that way...

And Then......

The pigs are here, and I'm trying to post a picture of them. I am blog challenged so hopefully I will figure this out by the end of the day. We are having fun watching the pigs. Our little farm has definitely become a responsibility--not in a bad way either. The pigs are a real crack up, all their snorting is hilarious. I think I could live the life of a pig, sleeping and eating and playing in the dirt...not bad

So depression can really suck. I really would love to feel normal again. I'm pretty sure that it isn't normal to wake up and hope that this might be the day I'm lucky enough to get hit by a truck on my way to somewhere. Thankfully my family puts up with me and loves me anyway....

I have a confession to make...

I think I am bored with knitting...There I said it and it's out in the open!! This is so sad because knitting is such an escape for me, and because I am a knitting instructor at a craft store. I have been exploring some of the other crafts that I enjoy, sewing and needlework, and just feel like maybe I need to spend some time working on those. I won't put my knitting away forever though. I have to finish the vest and hat for my hubby and I have numerous socks that I want to complete. I didn't even mention the small stash of yarn that would haunt my conscience if I decided to never knit again. I have yarn for two sweaters, some small felted projects and a bunch of miscellaneous yarns that I picked up at the Knit Picks sale last spring. I think it is just time for change. Now that the weather is changing I will need to spend more and more time outside working, which is something I love to do. I keep asking myself if I'm copping out on something that I've worked hard to master. It seems to me that I need to broaden my horizons right now and follow my interests to see where they will take me. I have met some truly amazing people through this whole knitting adventure, people who have truly enriched my life and made me want to be a better person. I really think that is what life is all about: taking from your life experiences and using all those moments to become a better person...I'll see you at the fabric and needle shops next!!

Kids and what they say

So our school is having a food/clothing drive for Katrina victims. Our youngest decided that he wanted to make/knit hats for these unfortunate people. I whipped out my Knifty Knitter and he was on his way. Of course, older brother decided that he wanted to join in the effort so I whipped out my other size of KK and he was on his way too. They are making great progress and I'm so proud of them. I teach knitting so I'm glad that my children have an interest in this too. So one day after school, the boys are watching a tv program and working on their hats. The youngest leans toward the oldest and says in the cutest voice.."We look like girls!" The oldest was not impressed and threatened to quit until I assured him that boys can knit too. (all the while casting the evil eye at their father to say otherwise). This is my favorite story of my kids right now. I love that they want to help and do their best. The little guy took a bag full of canned goods, toys and hats of his own doing. The bag was so heavy I carried it down to the bus for him and helped get on the bus.

One other funny kid story...We moved out here about 15 months ago from the city. As we cleaned up the house and yard to sell that house we made a trip to the dump. The kids had never been there before (maybe that's why we had such a large load?) As we were unloading our junk, the boys were overcome by the smell of the place-not too pleasant. The youngest once again with great wit and charm said "It smells like chicken!" I love this!! When in doubt just blame the chicken...

Maiden Voyage

Here is my first entry into blog land. I would so love for it to be something wonderful and genius, but no such luck. I need to get dinner on the table so we can go look at vaccuums tonight. Wow, that really sucks!! More later, Cami