Why cry when you can laugh

It is moments like these that make you laugh out loud.  The kids caught a field mouse out under a hay bail.  They claimed him as pet for a few days then sent him free as mother nature intended.  The not so laughing part was when they caught his buddy and he got loose in MY HOUSE…down the vent and into the basement he went.  Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE my kids

 

Passed out on the couch with kitty…..Kid, couldn’t you have washed your feet first?  LOL.  Gotta love em’! 

Although the sequence of events for me in 2011 has been one unfortunate event after another those who sometimes drive me absolutely insane at the same time are my SANITY!  Maine Man helps to keep me grounded as well.  Someday I may share with you all my latest dilemma.  But, for now I will deal and be thankful for all I have and try and figure out what lessons I’m suppose get out of my most recent health issue. 

In light of this year I plan to end it on a good note.  Starting Oct 1st I will complete 300 miles (biking, hiking, swimming etc) in 3 months.  I hope to post my progress here and would challenge any other willing beings to join along.  Should be fun and nice to take time out for ME!

Guess Again

I’ll post a few more pictures after you figure out what he’s been up to next…  SPOILED ROTTEN I am!

 

Update…you are ALL CORRECT.  It is a CIDER PRESS!  We have done 2 test runs.  First time we encountered problems with the grinder and second time around we experienced issues with the press.  After all the bugs will be worked out and we will bring it up to the farm.  For now we’ve been using a burlap bag but I’d love to hear from anyone else that may use something  different.  I have found some nylon bags on line that I am very interested in.

For my local friends & family we will host a couple cider pressing parties for those that want to bring some apples and make some fresh goodness.  WICKED EXCITED!  The last two years I went to my friend's farm to make cider.  I posted about 2009 here and 2010’s adventure here if you are interested in taking a peek back in time.  I am sure before the season’s out I’ll have a few more pictures to post.

Just For Fun…

You have to try and guess what this is.  That will be the theme of the next couple posts ….. guess what the object is or what we may be doing.  COME ON,  IT WILL BE FUN!!!!!  I  PROMISE!   I have taken TONS of pictures of some of our on-going adventures here on the farm this summer but have yet to post many pictures. Be a sport

 

Update….It’s a butter mold.  Another goodie my farmer friend made me this summer.  Makes a 1 lb block.  Next time I make some I will try and take some pictures so you can see exactly how it works!

Pig Roast 2011

A couple weekends ago we had a pig roast at our farm in celebration of Maine Man’s 40th birthday, in addition to 2 of his friends that also turned the big 4-0 this year.  We fed quite a crowd and from the feedback I’ve received I think all had a nice time.

Pictured above is my bff and her s/o.  Blessed to have her in my life! 

One of the birthday boys and his daughter.  He did a great job cooking up the pig and it was right on time!  Thanks French!

Kids had a blast playing volleyball and later in the night they played “man hunt .  They all had a blast!

Left – one of my BF’s from high school.  She was a HUGE help and I would like to take a moment to say THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Right – My neighbor…lucky to have her just a stone throw away.  We have lots of fun together!

Left – Another birthday boy.  Later that night he was rather entertaining by the camp fire with guitar in hand. 

Right – His step-dad…long time friend

To the left is my farmer friend and the right is my Dad & Step-Mom

My parents live up country so this was the first time they met.

So glad because that was on my farmer friend’s bucket list!

 

Left my brother who was also a HUGE help getting this GIG together.  THANKS YOU SOOOO MUCH!

Thanks goes out to the girls as well that helped with set up & clean up, picking wild flowers and decorating!

MM hung this swing up between our two maple trees.  Country Boy bought it a couple years back at a lawn sale.  It is now our FAVORITE spot to sit…when we sit!

One good thing about having a big gathering is that you get projects completed that may have taken you MUCH longer.  In our case the swing, my wood cook stove is painted and in the house, barn doors were painted, the outhouse, the list goes on and on.  Even did some Spring cleaning that I’d been neglecting since last Spring..lol

Left- friend, one of the birthday boy’s wives.  THANK YOU as well for all your help ….much appreciated!

Right – my other neighbor.  Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE my neighbors?  Lucky to be surrounded by  a bunch of good peeps.  Has been a blessing for my children as well.  GRATEFUL!

Cousin’s girl headed for a swim.  Thankfully we were blessed with a sunny day.  The next morning we woke up to rain.

My girl painting up a flower on one of my buddies.  Another friend  I love and cherish!

Someone locked there keys in their car and guess who came to the rescue…the one and only MM.  Everybody needs a MM.  I am just THANKFUL he’s mine! 

Love her dreads!  This weekend the party is at her house.  Looking forward to that….just a stroll through the rock trail and I’m there.  Will post pictures of our little creation in the future.

Me and my cousin…P.S. Thanks for the pot holders love them & use them almost every day!

Dinner for a whole lot of people.  I didn’t keep count but I’d dare guess some where’s up by 100.  Just about serving time I had a brief twinge of chest pain while looking at the crowd. 

Friends since high school.  We have lots of good stories to share but I’ll refrain as this is public and a must behave.

Love Love my parents…Grateful for the time I spend with them. 

MM to the right w/ his brother (left)

Friends…they look like there up to NO GOOD!

My two pals!!!  THANKFUL for our friendship!

Goat Milking brought in quite a crowd.  We usually milk outside but MM  moved Dolly’s stand in the barn.  We think we are normal at times I think we are a side show…lol

What I LOVE most about Biker Stacy’s daughter is that she’ll TRY ANYTHING!

Not in a million years…..

……Did I ever imagine I’d have an outhouse in my back yard.  Let alone one that we’d use on a daily basis.  LOL, my oh my how times change.  Back when I was a teen my Dad bought a place up north and as they renovated from a camp into a home the outhouse was their only means of a bathroom.  I must admit it was one of my least favorite parts of going up there for visits.  Thankfully there was a campground just up the road that we could shower at for $1.00.

Here is how it happened ….  I was chatting with my farmer friend about the upcoming pig roast we were planning.  I casually mentioned that I was planning on renting a port-a-potty.  He inquired about the cost,  I gave a guess of what I thought it may be and he sharply replied “I’ll build you an outhouse.”  My initial thought was “I don’t want an outhouse in my back yard”  but amazingly I kept my mouth shut and did not share my thoughts with him. 

The next time I visited he was sawing wood with his saw mill and within a month or so I had a permanent port-a-potty at the cost of a couple hinges and a lock and lots of labor from my farmer friend.  Maine Man brought it home & he and the girls (Flower Girl & our Fresh Air Child) stained it. (and themselves..lol)

It was a hit at the party and saved my septic system BIG time!  Funny thing is we use it daily.  With the gardens, pool , and animals we all tend to spend a good amount of time outside.  Crazy, who would of thought I’d have a outhouse and LOVE IT? 

 

Summer Time

It is hard to believe summer time will soon be coming to an end.  It seems as though it just started a couple weeks back.  The last few weeks has been insanely busy.  With the everyday need to’s of the farm, having company for two weeks in addition to the pig roast we had yesterday for Maine Man & 2 of his friends 40th.

Phew….Today it is a rainy lazy day and I LOVE it!

One of the activities we had was rock painting.  It was a BIG HIT and we scored some really COOL rocks out of the deal.  We gave them a little spray of clear coat after the rocks had dried and this week we will place them in the path between our home and Biker Stacy’s .  (If you click on the photos it will enlarge them so you can see greater detail)

The Pig Roast was a success….fun had by all. Photos to come!