Can’t Hide my Pride

Pictured above is Country Boy’s new house, so he calls it.  CB had plans to build a cabin with our farmer friend but unfortunately it never happened.  Myron did give him a nice little cook-stove, it just needs some clean up and a paint job.  CB already talks of waking up in the morning and cooking up eggs.  Thankfully he has a super dad that is helping him build this cabin.

Unbeknownst to me Maine Man was letting them leap off this tall building into the pool.  The day their tricks were revealed I was comforted by the fact that rescue was on a call just beyond our house. (joking but serious)  Anyway,  the picture below looks as though he was just barely going to clear the pool but I swear it was just the angle the shot was taken.

This post was intended to be about homeschooling.  With last year being our first I found that I was excited, unsure of myself, and a a bit overwhelmed. Through many trials and tribulations we made it through the school year willing to do it again.

One late night as I was surfing the WWW and I came across a blog of a homeschool coach about an hour South of here.  I decided this would be a great resource for both the kids and I.  A professional to help us prepare for the following school year, a teacher  to review our end of year portfolios and complete the paperwork that is required by the state of Maine, and a good resource person that is pro-homeschooling.  Anyway I made the leap and we met with her twice.  Our most recent visit with her was on Monday.  The kids presented their portfolios and talked to her about their school year and I went over some final plans for the 2012-2013 school year.  It was a great visit for all!  We will not see her again until next summer unless problems arise between now and then.  Well worth the cost of 2 visits!  Here is the e-mail I came home to last night.  Only edits are the names….

Hi CG,

I went to look at the writing site when I got home and found that I couldn’t remember the name of it. Usually I write things down, but I think I was distracted because there was so much to hear and talk about from Country Boy and Flower Girl. I was unusually inspired by my time with you and your two, hearing about and seeing the photographs from your year of homeschooling. I write and think a lot about what it takes to raise kids with sustained vitality, kids who can manage in the world as it is but be steadily in tune with what they’re best suited to. I saw so much of that in what they showed me and what they said, and in how they are with you and with each other.

So. Please send me the name of the writing site again and I will look today! And if you happen to get a moment, have a look at my blog later today; you’ll likely recognize the inspiration for the post.

Also, I’m hoping you’ll send me your mailing address so I can get a proper thank-you off to FG (and the rest of you) for her generosity with vegetables and carefully-chosen candy! (Tell her I’m still saving it for just the right moment.)

Best, HSC

That my friends absolutely made my day!

In the Kitchen

Check out the latest renovation in this old farmhouse. My farmer friend made it 30 years back gifting it to me a couple years ago. This Spring it made its way to my kitchen THANKS to my big brother. Lying on top of it is a homemade fishing pole Country Boy’s cousin made him for his birthday. Isn’t that a great gift? CB made him an awesome bow from an ash sapling in return for his birthday. Good ole’ fashion gift giving! Love it!

About 1 month ago a friend offered CB & I a smoothie. I almost declined but changed my mind last minute. Glad I did, it was delicious and I’ve been making them regularly ever since.

Here’s the deal…first freeze ALL your fruits. Smaller pieces work better. Initially I made them with:

• Banana
• Couple handfuls of blueberries & strawberries
• Juice, I’ve been using apple cider because it has no added sugar. But vodka is great too for a special treat. I tried that for a first time last night.

Mix until smooth in my food processor.

Now that I’ve made them several times I’ve started to experiment with other fruit such as apples, cherries, and I just put some pineapple chunks in the freezer last night.

Makes for a wicked good, healthy, energy producing drink. I like them best for breakfast!

Rural Life isn’t for the Faint of Heart

At the beginning of the week I woke to find a baby goat out in the cow pasture.  By the time I turned the electric fence off (momma goat) Trixie had made her way over the 4 tier fence to get to her baby.  I noticed she kept bleating and looking around as if there was another.  Within a few minutes I discovered her first born.  She never cleaned him off and he was very big.  What a bummer!  I can’t help but wonder if he would have survived had we been awake for her delivery.   Earlier this summer our Alpine goat, Dolly had 3 kids.  We witnessed 2 of the 3  come out…some day I hope to post the pictures.  That was our first experience with kidding.

A few days later, on Maine Man’s birthday to be exact we had to lay our beloved boxer, Rona down.  Hoping for things to turn around!  It’s pretty sad when the kids say, “why does everything we love have to die?.”  That’s a hard question to answer.

Tractor Procession

A couple weeks back over 20 tractors gathered for a procession to pay our respects to my farmer friend.  We started at his house and made our way to the store a few miles up the road where he was a regular customer for many years.

It truly was one of the most touching events I have ever been involved in!

I had all intentions to let someone else drive our tractor.  The kids and I planned on riding  our 4- wheeler once we made our way down to his house. However, everything changed when I jumped on the tractor to drive it to his house.  Immediately I found myself overwhelmed with emotion!  Just a  moment later I drove past my neighbor’s place where she was watching me out her front door.  She sent me off with a wave, a smile, and she even blew a kiss my way. The tears flooded my eyes. I stopped  the tractor and told Maine Man he had to go back home and fetch another tractor because there was no way I was going to drive anything but.  He went back and grabbed the International……God love him!

With very little coordination efforts the tractors pulled in his yard one after another. It was heartwarming to see his farming friends from near and away gather……

There is no doubt that he was smiling from above!

(Picture credit goes to his niece, DH.  Thanks for sharing!)

{This Moment} Upta Camp

{this moment} – A NEW weekly ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by: Soule Mama

Missing my farmer friend

All good things must come to an end. It was very sad to see him go but I am comforted to know he is now in peace and reunited with his wife.

RIP my friend, we will meet again someday!

(The picture was taken 1 mo. before he passed. We brought him out for his last fishing trip on Father’s Day)