9.8.23 Rain, Repairs, and Bread

August had some unseasonable rain. We received vast amounts of rain that is hugely unusual. The kids had a good time playing in the rain. The rain lasted for a long time, hours of downpouring summer rain, thus the kids could catch the water. 

Thus so many containers were set out to see how much rain could be gathered. This stems from a youtube video instructing us to make homemade fertilizers using fresh rainwater. When we watched the video I explained to the kids we would have to use well water as we don't get that much rain. This year we got that much rain several times. 

Inside and dry the kids enjoying some down time. 

This was a hilarious moment watching John try to move Mark up the stairs to do some dishes. When Mark doesn't want to be moved he is a rock. A very heavy rock. John is a strong man but this was a real struggle. And yes that is a real smile on Mark, he is being awnry. Oh my guys. 

A job. A big hard job. Maybe this is a shut off valve. Unknown origins bit it failed. Greg, Mark, and Reed replaced it. 

The new shiny silver part with the black small hose coming off is the repair. Add lots of mosquitoes and other assorted discouragements and this is why my kids have confidence. They have done hard things and their dad shows them there is always a solution you just have to keep working and trying until you find the answer. 

I was out at that spot pushing the start buttons and spotted these deer. I was not happy. It was a beautiful evening though. That's one thing about farm life the beauty and calm. There's lots and lots of challenges, sweat, labor, and worry but it is pretty when all those things are conquered. 

My cute helper watching and surviving the hot days. 

Mark wanted to learn to make the good bread like Grandma. So we watched a youtube video a couple times and got this far. I'm still surprised my whole wheat mother makes this often. But it is undeniably delicious and pretty easy to create successful loaves. 

Everyone who had watched the video was excited to taste. 

Addie had brought home the dutch oven to bake the bread. After a lot of scrubbing and a long cook-reseasoning process to sterilize the pan we baked the bread. It was delicious! 

I love that my kids love books. Andrea is hard on them but is often found turning pages. 

We had a pool outing for a friends party. 

Summer was full of learning and working on interests in addition to daily responsibilities and just being together. Life is good and we are blessed. 
 

9.9.23 Going on

With all the adverse weather the tree closest to our house literally began to fall apart. We were spared damage two times. Therefore we realized we should heed Providence and tear down more of the tree. John was the lucky climber while these tueis watched and waited. 

Poor John he is much larger than when he did this as a kid. I don't think he's going to want to climb trees much ever again after this experience. 

De Walt Sawsall and lots of direction. Mark anchored the ropes to add pulling assistance. I did not watch and was very thankful when it was all over. 

The rain flooded part of a neighboring town. That is main street and a parking lot under about a foot of water. Again this is very very rare. 

At home a not so rare but never welcome sight. Green baby and mess everywhere. A rubber spatula and dust pan was first cleaning. Then paper towels and finally water and mop. 

Another rain day to be out playing in the water.

Lia likes bags. She had stuffed this one full of left at home school supplies, clothes, and books. She was enjoying a break just snacking. 

We received so much moisture it was misty and damp for a few mornings. The grass is still excessively dewy. This year to not have to worry about water was so nice. We should even have carry over in our reservoirs. 

Lia loves to take pictures. This is one of many I found when preparing to do blogging updates. 

And the latest oops or controversy. The students report of our town having racism, and being inbred. Oh the shame. This is the yearbook. As you can see it was few people that held those feelings. The superintendent sent ho0me a letter recalling the offensive books. All students were required to turn in the book for new copies. 

 The local paper did a big article how this was violating the students rights of free speech. Mark got in trouble in their advisory period designed to discuss feelings. He said kids were just being dumb and didn't mean it. The teacher stood up to her full 5'4" and informed him "You don't know, you are just exercising your white male privilege's." Oh the irony. The inclusivity safe zone becomes the space to categorize and single out people based on what? Their race and identity. Are there no thinking people? Anyway he informed me I could not bleed for him, he didn't care and it was just stupid. I still think it's ironic at least and infringement at best. Yay back in school time for controversy and contention. Also time for stretching and teaching both at school and at home. 

In spite of life being very challenging and too full of problems we are still blessed. I'm thankful for opportunities to learn and grow and I'm thankful my kids are grounded in old fashioned common sense. Life is still good. 

9.7.23 Back to school

August was very full of heat, break downs, work, and responsibilities. With the heat I had no extra energy or positive words. We also had the looming return of Harold which has been great but was another life change to manage. In spite of all that life rolled on and the kids headed back to school.

The five at Willowcreek. Merle really misses Bruce. Boys are not meant to be alone.  

The three at high school. Yes John is posing to show off his muslces. Someday maybe Mark will smile again. As a little boy he had so much joy and huge smiles as a teen I mostly get that look. 

I went and looked at the garden after they left I found this monster under some leaves. 

The day before we didn't sit and worry we canned and put food up for winter. The girls harvesting beans in the amazing bean patch. 

We also brought sweet corn home. 

My diligent crew did this without my help. All I do is pick and drive, then fill the bags and date them. Missing is Addie's blaring music and all the water involved in corn processing. The kids enjoy this chore quite a bit.  

Afton was the lone shucker for a while. 

My helper curious Georgie. She  loves textures and being big. Truly this is the smallest flour mess any of the kids have made at that age. She is pretty content to be under my feet most of the day. I get tired of tripping over her but enjoy her sweet babblings. 

 When my mom asked in early July if I had started school shopping I was agast thinking it was far too early to tackle such a project, but I started within a day of that conversation and was able to have everything here long before school. I was thankful to have a plan and help from her and my sister. Thus back to school was just another thing and not a major stress. It takes a lot of time and thinking to clothe and school supply everyone. 

I'm thankful for each kiddo and the growth the achieved and worked for this summer. It is strangely peaceful and yet so overwhelming working alone while they are gone. I have been listening to self-improvement books and set a habit to walk each morning at 7:30 am. So far so good. One small change and one investment in my future. I don't have space for that when everyone is here. I also realized as I was feeling the normal tear apart of going back to school. That possibly this was silly to fight it so hard as this is our life 9 months out of the year. So adapt we did and here we are managing the movement of our crew. I'm thankful to have three at home to love and liven up my days. Life is good. 

8.4.23 More summer stuff

We used a local drone applicator to apply the nencesary pesticide to control spider mites in our corn. I was thrilled to watch the precise application and even happier when I wrote the check for payment that was a fraction of the other method. Farming is not hick dumb luck it's science, innovation, work, study, experimentation and lots and lots of science.

Another harvest day. So nice to come home with full arms after pulling weeds. These two are pretty steady in helping me garden. 

Trying some chicken painting. Mine at top, Livy on the right and Millie on the bottom. Livy just gets portions and spacing correctly. I admire how her projects mostly turn out and how she easily sets things correctly in space to look real. 

Surprise root canal on a sore tooth. Waiting for the dentist to come back. Not loving this experience but so so thankful for numbing agents. 

Back home watching Bruce put together his new lego for the fair. Everyone wishing they could play with the pieces too. 

Visits at the birthday party for Marcus. 

You scream I scream for ice cream. 

Millie on her daily zuchinni run. We still love this even after several weeks of abundance. Now we have enough to sneak it into most things we cook. 

A sheep i did. I love my new brushes that allow for fine line drawing. 

Another harvest the latest steaks from a big steer. Reed and Mark do well providing luxurious dinners for us. Round steak with cream of mushroom soup in the crockpot with garlic and onion is the best on potatoes. Easy and comforting.

So we live and dine like kings and sleep like logs. We are blessed with a deceptively simple life. We strive to learn and stay informed not only on advances and new ideas but the crossroads of what we learn through theory and what we find through experience. Life is good.