Getting my sew on...

I have been such a bad blogger lately.  I have been so busy at work following up on a syphilis outbreak 100 miles from home (one way), trying to enjoy the last bits of summer, have some time with my little family, and seem to run out of steam by 7 PM.  I ended up not going on the 30 mile endurance race with Iney.  With my work schedule, I hadn't had the opportunity to ride in over a month.  I was afraid of stressing her out too much and possibly injuring her.  That is my biggest regret of the summer.  Oh, well.  In the evenings I have been sewing after everyone is asleep.  It helps me to relax and get my mind off work, and all the things I have let fall by the wayside lately.  It's like therapy for me.  I get into a zone, ironing seams, sewing hems and figuring out pattern pieces.  I enjoy it so much.  I found this super cute fall fabric that I thought would highlight both Pyper and Raegan's coloring.  My friend Brandy loaned me the best pattern.  I love the modest length of the skirt, and the top has elastic for the neckline and armholes.  Super comfy for an active Pyper. On chilly days, I can pair it with a long sleeve t-shirt.  I just bought a cute pattern for Itty yesterday and cut the pattern and same material last night.  I can't wait to see how it will turn out.  Here's Pyper's dress. 

 Pyper really likes the gathered skirt because she likes to twirl like a princess.  Or so she says.  :)

And this is a random picture of Itty as she napped on Friday.  I love her chubby arms and cheeks.  And how she plays with my hair as she dozes off...

11 months old...

I must admit, I have to get better about taking pictures of JUST Raegan.  Anymore, it seems as though we only get pictures right before church and it's so hurried.  Life seems so hurried.  I can't wait for the time when I just sit back, relax and watch my children.  One day...anyways, without further ado, Raegan is now 11 months old.  Hard to believe, huh? 

She's now sitting and scooting, still refusing to crawl, but instead wanting you to hold onto her hands and walk her around the house.  She could do this for hours. 

I've lately been on a sewing kick, and making dresses for the girls. 

Raegan is now waving "bye, bye", going to sleep independently, following directions (put your foot up here!), walking while holding your fingers, and sleeping through the night.  She's simply amazing.  But aren't all children???

 She has 6 teeth now, and ready to eat anything she can get in her mouth. 

The girls getting ready to head to Mudfork for Homecoming this Sunday.  It was a great time, and the girls looked darling in their matching dresses made of vintage material.  I'm so blessed to have these little girls in my life.  God is so good!



A 2 Year Old's View

I have been beyond busy at work lately.  I've been driving 200 miles to and from work everyday not to mention the field visits.  I'm working a VERY interesting group of syphilis cases, but must admit, I'm getting weary.  I come home exhausted, and wake up exhausted.  My mom is down this week helping out, and I don't know what we'd do without her.  Pyper loves the camera and took pictures of all of us.  Then she wanted me to take pictures of her. 

Give me the camera, Pyper...

She told me to say "CHEESE!"

Thought I'd give her the "I'm smelling my armpit" pose...

Big Blue Eyes...

.'

"Smile, Itty!"

Daddy's so handsome...

Pyper dancing in her fairy tutu...

I love you.

Butcher Time...

CAUTION!  THE PICTURES ON THIS POST ARE GRAPHIC.  SCROLL DOWN AT YOUR OWN RISK...OR PLEASURE. :)

We had 4 roosters from our straight run pick this Spring.  I kept one, Crockpot, my friend Sheri took one, Hawk, and we butchered 2, Puff Daddy and Patrick.  Here's how we did it.

Sheri and I caught the boys, hung them upside down (they go into a trance when suspended upside down), and tied their feet to the clothes line.  Naki was very curious of this endeavor.

I've read stories of chickens running around without heads, so, I decided to cut through their arteries in their necks and let them bleed out.  They quietly and quickly died, with no drama like a headless chicken running around. 

We explained to the children that we have raised these chickens with love and respect and that they will nourish our bodies.  The boys were intrigued by the whole process, but Pyper could have cared less. 

Yes, that's an Aimee face.  Pyper soon came up and pronounced, "I eat them for dinner!"  Yes, Pyper, you will!  She wasn't phased at all by this. 

I do need to invest in better knives, though...

I put a wheel burrow with grass clippings underneath them to absorb the blood.

I set up a make shift fire pit and put my canning pot on top of the fire.  The water should be between 140-150 degrees for ideal plucking.  Sheri dunks Puff Daddy...

Sloshes him around a bit to get the water under the feathers.  Then she did the wing feather test--when one is plucked without resistance, then the bird is ready for plucking.  I had prepared myself for the terrible stench that everyone said there is.  It wasn't terrible at all.  It just smelled like wet chicken. 

We plucked the birds on an enamel-topped table, the kids all helping out.

Micah, Sheri's son, was so enthusiastic and curious about the whole process.  Watching him was worth the entire thing!  He had a lot of fund with the chicken heads. 

Micah takes Puff Daddy to get sprayed off with water...

We butchered them, following a great tutorial from: http://www.butcherachicken.blogspot.com/

I WAS going to keep the feet for broth, but decided that since the dogs were so well behaved during the process, they should get a treat. 

Naki and Hannibal didn't leave any trace of chicken feet behind.  There was NOTHING wasted.  We packaged the chickens, saved the necks for stuffing, gave the feet to the dogs and the innards to the wild animals.  It was VERY fulfilling knowing I could do this.  We were a bit slow, but that's to be expected, as these were our first birds we had ever butchered.  I suspect in the future, it will be a simple, fast process...about 20 minutes/bird.  Now, I know I can do the meat chicken thing!!!  Not too shabby for 2 suburban-ite moms, huh???

And the 2nd One Hatches!

Yesterday was the 21st day for egg #2.  I checked Ida Mae several times yesterday, and NADA.  This morning, I woke up, took care of the kids and headed out to check on #2.  I felt under Ida Mae, and the egg wasn't solid.  It felt like it had broken!  I lifted her up...and this is what I saw!

And hour later...I found this...

Ida Mae was trying to help her/him along...

And an hour after that...I found this precious little chick trying to emerge into the world. 

 And hour after that, I gently lifted her out from Ida Mae.

Here she/he is!  Steven, the nanny's son, named this chick Berry.  I love it.  She's/he's now all fluffy like Fannie.  All it took is staying under momma, and drying off.  I love living on a farm!

Peep, Peep!

I went out last night to check on Ida Mae and I found this egg shell in her nesting box.  I immediately knew what that meant!

 Ida Mae had hatched out her first chick! 

 Meet Fannie! (if it's a boy, we'll have to come up with another name!)

 Ida Mae was so sweet to let me pick her up, check out Fannie, and give her kisses.  I've read where mother hens are aggressive and mean, but not Ida Mae.  She's so sweet.  I love this chicken!

 Pyper and I fed them meal worms.  Pyper thought is was so funny that Fannie would disappear under Ida Mae's breast.  She then introduced herself, saying, "I'm Pyper Ann Dickson (she can't say the "en" in Dickenson).  She's so dear. 

 Determining that Fannie needed to eat and drink as well, and the nesting box was a bit too far off the ground for her to hop up and down to feed, I set up Naki's crate in the coop and settled the new family in there.  Ida Mae immediately took care of Fannie and the other unhatched egg, gently positioning herself on top of them to keep them warm. 

Ida Mae and the baby were thirsty and immediately got a cool drink.  It's so neat to see Fannie roam around to hear Ida Mae make a throaty sound to caution her back to her.  Fannie doesn't stray too far from her momma. 

The other egg should hatch today.  Fannie was laid on July 5th, and exactly 21 days later, she was here.  The other egg was laid on July 6th, so we'll see!  This is so exciting!  The fun part will be to later figure out who the momma and daddy are.  Ida Mae and Mable are the only hens that lay.  We have 2 eggs.  I don't know who lays what eggs, as they are both similar colors and shapes.  We have 4 roosters.  So Fannie and the unknown other will be either a Buff Orpington/Easter Egger cross or a Rhode Island Red/Easter Egger cross.  Fun times ahead!

Skinny Minny

We brought Abby home from training this past weekend.  In 6 weeks, she dropped a lot of weight, became ribby and seemed "down."  Mark, the trainer, called me multiple times, telling me what a nice filly she was, but that he felt she just wasn't "right."  She had lost weight, seemed sluggish, and TOO mellow for a 2 year old.  He thought perhaps it was just too much for her too soon.  She went from being with her buddies, Iney and Anna, to a strange horse pal.  From lush, green pastures to a dirt lot fed hay.  He supplemented with grain, but she still lost weight.  He didn't over-ride her, only about half an hour a day, 6 days a week, but apparently, that was too much for HER.  I suggested we bring her home, let her chill out and resume training in cooler weather if  needed.  I love this sweet girl.  I don't want to do anything to jeopardize her sweet ways.  I just appreciate a trainer that pays attention to the horse and its well being, and not so much on his pocket.  How refreshing.

 I'm happy to report, she is happy and has started gaining weight!

Iney getting some sniffs in to make sure Abby's the same as when she left.  Check!