It's been awhile...

I gave up this blog a long time ago. I thought I had nothing of interest to tell the world, but its always been there in the back of my mind. I find myself asking if I should come back? But for what? I don't really have anything BIG to discuss, and yet there are all of these little things that I feel should be documented. And the truth is I do have BIG things to document, my baby and my life, my career change and our farming business that started so humbly. But these BIG changes happened in small increments, so where is the starting point for me to diary these happenings?

I've gone back to read my few posts from before marriage, before baby, almost a different version of myself. I love reading those, a glimpse into what I was thinking at that time and the truth is, I enjoy writing and I am proud of what I have put down on paper, so to speak. And yet here we are more than 2 years later and the void seems to vast to bridge. Despite that, I am going back to documenting our little lives. If not for anyone but myself. A digital diary, if you will.

At best, it will be a space where I can journal and keep notes from mommyhood and the amazing growth our family has experienced in the first year of being a true family with my Isaac.

I hope to update weekly, with my musings, plans, updates on my amazing boy and his growth.

So there will be more. Published or unpublished, there will be more.

Just Add Chickens

We have added chickens to our little (but growing) farm!

I am definitely embracing this farm life more and more, I was actually looking forward to bringing home these little fluffs. We had discussed getting 6 - 8, thinking as first time chicken raisers we didn't want to be overwhelmed...but somehow we came home with 10! 10 little chicks in a box, a small box.

So far, they are pretty shy. I have told Farmer that I think we should handle them on regular basis to try to domesticate them. Well as domesticated as chickens can be. 

They are adjusting well to their new home. Which seems pretty large, but I know that they will have to be in this home for many weeks, hopefully they don't grow too quickly. Ha!

They are so cute and fluffy! It's been so much fun to watch them run around and learn to perch. They are a bit unsteady but learning fast. I hope I like them as well when they are just big birds.

We are working their names. It's tough to come up with 10 chicken-appropriate names. I have decided on 

Tilly, Dixie, Lizzy, Anabelle, and Pancake. I am able to tell the ones that are named apart...for now. I hope they maintain a bit of their color differentiation so that remains the case. But as their feathers come in they are becoming more and more alike, so wish me luck. 

So Cute!!!

4th of July, part 1

And it was good!

We had about 13 people to our house on Saturday for our annual 4th of July party and everyone seemed to have a really good time, including me! Lots of great barbeque food, plenty of new desserts to try, fireworks and bon fires, oh my!

So that my 4th of July parties don't turn stale, I have decided to introduce new things each year. This year my inspiration came from a Blog and Pinterest dessert I found.

Here is what it's supposed to look like:


This is from 17andbaking.com, a foodie blog that is quickly becoming my fave.

This is how my version looks:

Not as neat and tidy, but just as tasty! Considering it was about 150 degrees in my kitchen, I was happy that it stayed together as well as it did.
Note to self: when you try to make cakes in a heat wave, clear space in the refrigerator or freezer and chill all elements before assembling.

It was a pretty big hit at the party and everyone loved the cream cheese frosting. (I was skeptical at first about using it, I am glad I stayed true to the recipe.) And now Farmer has lots of plans for other cakes that can be enhanced with this frosting.

Here are a few highlights from the day.

My niece was very excited to meet Tippy and Ace for the first time.

 

My other niece enjoyed the cake immensely while sitting on my lap.

She enjoyed it so much she refused to relinquish her fork for some time.

And what's the 4th without a bit of art.

And we will do it again on Wednesday, July 4th on a much smaller scale, just a few co-workers over for an afternoon.

Did I mention this may be my favorite Holiday? Just don't tell Christmas.

Drum roll please,

We have finally named the cows!

Tippy Tumbleweed and Ace Fender Bender!  Tippy is slightly larger now but we hope Ace catches up. They had a breathing problem for several days. Tippy in particular really seemed to be under the weather.

Yesterday was brutally hot (97 degrees!) and we were very worried that it might make their condition worse. We gave them a healthy dose of antibiotic two days before and I am hoping that it's starting to kick in. They did seem to be better last night but we have more hot weather on the way.

Hang in there guys!

This weekend we will have our 2nd annual 4th of July barbeque! (3rd annual for the Brunks and me) I am really excited. I hope that we are able to keep this tradition going for a long time. I so enjoy the summer and I feel it's our best opportunity to really enjoy the space we have.

We will barbeque for dinner, hopefully play a few games (ladder ball). Next year I hope to have bean bag toss as well. I really like that game. And then fireworks and a bon fire for smores. This is probalby my favorite part of the barbeque. Everyone is sitting and relaxing.

My goal is to take a number of pictures. I love to have pictures of these but never seem to take the time to grab the camera and start shooting. I hope to change that this year.

I have decided to up the ante this year and make a great 4th of July inspired cake. Here's what it is supposed to look like:


Cool, huh? With a little luck we may dine on something that resembles this artwork. And cake with homemade cream cheese frosting will put everyone in a patriotic mood right?!

Burger VonQuarterPoundersteakington

or Heffer Locklear... or Kareem Abdul Kabob... Or Cud Rock... or The Great Barrier Beef.
Just a few of the ideas we came up with for the new cows.

Here they are coming off the trailer.

Checking out their new pen

Having their first meal at their new home. They were very hungry.

Then we invited the cat to come meet the new cows.

Gatita spots them and is not so sure she wants to go any closer.

Then she decides that since we are there, it's ok to move in closer.
Besides, they aren't looking anyway.

So Gatita decides to be the first to try out their bedding,
a far cry from her cozy bed in a climate controlled house.

"Gatita's Last Stand"?!?!

If you look closely you can see Gatita with a very unhappy look, she is seriously considering not letting the cows go into the barn. This from the cat that won't be in the same room as a dog.

So there's the first night. Hopefully we are as enthralled in a year from now. Hopefully, we don't loose a cat to a tete a tete with the cows.

It's not a real farm until...

... we have livestock.

And now we do! We now are the proud new parents of two calves. We will raise them up and then when they are big and healthy, we will eat them up. I approach this with a lot of enthusiasm and just a little bit of hesitation. I have visions of this changing quickly to lots of hesitation and very little enthusiasm.

When the Farmer and I first discussed raising cattle, I expressed my severe disinclination for the smell. He explained if we have 2 acres of pasture and only a couple of cows, it probably won't smell much if, at all. So I agreed. Reluctantly at first but then got to thinking of the benefits. 1. It would be like a real farm 2. It's a learning experience. 3. Maybe I would like it. (This is highly doubtful) 4. Maybe I won't hate it. 5. Meat. I love meat and meat raised by us should be profoundly tasty meat. 6. It will be cheaper, without clipping coupons.

Today, our new cows weigh about 175 lbs each. We hope the will grow to a whopping 1,200 lbs in about 18 months. (Can you even imagine the caloric intake for that?!).

So we took lots of pictures because the way I figure it, one day, when they are big and smelly I will want to remember that at one point I thought they were cute and in total support of this endeavor.

Last night I told Farmer that we would have to think of cute names for them. He promptly replied "We are not naming them! They are not pets." Now, I get that they are not pets. But I am still naming them but what to name them is the real question.

My first thought: Salisbury and Stroganoff. Pros: it's funny, because that's what they will be. Cons: It's a bit obvious and maybe a bit cruel to the cows to consistently remind them they are just food.

My second thought: Something literary. Like Hemingway and Mark Twain. I love books. So why not name them after a great author. Pros: it's funny because they will never read, or write great books. Cons: I will have to explain it to everyone.

My third thought: Something clever. Like Ferris Mooler. Pros: It's funny and witty. Two of my favorite things. Cons: I am not clever enough to come up with these things. The best I could do was Moo Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird.

My fourth thought:  A long title like Captain Moolington the Third. Pros: It's funny and fun to say. Cons: Coming up with something truly original.

So far here are the names we've considered: Salisbury, Stroganoff, Hemingway, Mark Twain, Moo Radley, Ferris Mooler, Captain Moolington III, Sargent Cudinski. Stay tuned. Hopefully we can make up our minds tonight.

What's in a name?

In less than 3 months I will walk down the aisle and forever change the course of my life.

I have no qualms about getting married to this man. I don't believe in soul mates, I believe all marriages have ups and downs, pitfalls and blessings. But I do know we have what it will take to make it through all of the roller coasters ahead of us.

We are already living together, desperately trying to merge two into one. Two houses, two couches, two sets of ideals, two dining tables, two bank accounts, two lives, two, two, two. Now into one.

I left my house in the city and moved to a world yet unknown to me, a farm in the country. It's more the same than different, but different enough to notice...everyday.
Don't get me wrong, 5 acres and no neighbors can have it's appeal. But there's a lot to get used to. The smells, for one. The commute for another.

And yet, there is so much to enjoy. We have a barn, a garden, a pumpkin patch, a raspberry patch, two apple trees (that we are hoping produce actual edible apples one day.) And... a bon fire pit. I love to have bon fires at home, to me it's the best part of camping ( and the best part of home...my own bed. I have a love/hate relationship with camping so this a great compromise for me.

We are also trying to merge our families. To get used to each others' family eccentricities. Neither family is perfect but we are both familiar with our own and dealing with new can be challenging.

But on that day, filled with emotion, flowers, expensive apparel, family, friends and best wishes, I have the added weight of changing my identity. My last name will change. Somehow this piece seems to give me more pause than any other part of the wedding and marriage.

I have worked hard for 31 years to create the person I am. Despite my many flaws I am happy with who I am, and who I plan to become.
I have no doubt that I will change my name. I want to have a united household. If there are to be children I want to have the same last name as my kids. But still I am nagged by this. I feel like I am headed into the unknown. I don't know this name, will I feel like myself when I am signing things, getting mail, checking email, being called Mrs... 

So what will I lose when that surname changes? What might I gain? I guess we will find out on September 14.