EKjourney Backup

This is the last weekend before the big move....oh my, we are getting our rears kicked a bit!  These late nights are grueling and there have been so many other things!  Our van broke down on Friday.  I put the key in the ignition and turned it on but it would turn over.  I pulled the key out and the car stayed "part way on".  Phil had to disconnect the battery so the radio and ignition lights and such wouldn't drain it down.  So, we are down to one car...with a broken tail light that Phil got pulled over for on Wednesday and that the children managed to break the handle off of so one door can only be opened from the inside.   Brighton started complaining of a toothache at the early part of the week.  I took him into the dentist immediately for an appointment (Tuesday).  He got x-rays and the dentist wanted to wait and see what happened.  He complained off and on and by Saturday, he was in a lot of pain.  He woke up Sunday was his li...

We have been so busy.  Often working until after 9:00.  Trying to squeeze in "normal" life and getting the house ready for us to move into (that should be interesting LOL...we are in no way ready to move in...we may be sleeping in the tent trailer with our dressers in the car port).  We know the end result is going to be amazing but the process is definitely tiring and we are going in many different directions.  I am glad that my parents really helped to make Easter a special day for the children. The crew driving to Portland to pick up Alec, Saturday evening.  I stayed at the farm to paint.   Paint bucket...very fitting.  Let's do this!!! This is our beautiful livingroom.  Oh my, it is the most lovely spot.  I am so looking forward to getting the front yard all cleaned up and gardened.  The view is amazing and because it is 1 1/2 stories up, it will look down on hopefully a beautiful garden.  By Sunday afternoon, I had 2 coats of s...

I love peacocks!  I love their beautiful colors.  I love the males long tail especially when he displays his feathers.  I even love their loud call.  Our neighbors (somewhere to the Northwest) have peacocks and we can hear them hollering from time to time.  I knew that I would love peacocks on the farm so I begin researching how to get some.  They are quite expensive, especially coming from a hatchery or a breeder.  I had been keeping my eyes out on Craig's list and the various livestock/farm groups that I am a part of on facebook.  We found some reasonably priced ones up near Astoria but with how busy we are, I knew I would have to drive up there myself with the children in order to pick them up.  I was planning on doing this in conjunction with a Portland speech therapy trip.  Then, I found someone selling some about 25 minutes away.  Off we went to make an afternoon of it! The peacocks were NOT happy about being boxed up.  T...

Oh, how I love Spring Storms.  The storms roll in from the West and back against the foothills of the Cascade to the East.  Our main view faces East so we see the dark clouds and far off rain but the sun is often shining from the West as it is setting.  It makes for the most striking contrast....and rainbows.  The swallows with their sharp angular wings flit about in the early evening and their underbellies catch the last of the low sunrays and flash silvery white against the dark clouds....like fish in a deep pool.  So very magical! Looking East South East North East North North Northeast North

We managed 4 days of school this week!  We got everyone up, math done in the morning, and Barton tutoring done.  We only had one Portland tutoring this week so that was nice.  After school, we packed up meals and food prep and were out at the property.  Last night, we didn't get home until 10:00.  I am hoping to get Barton done today but the children got to bed so late last night, I think I will let them sleep in.   We are "leasing" part of our pasture out and will have 2-3 small Dexter steers.  They won't take much effort, just keep their water trough filled and their owner will do everything else.  In exchange, we can get meat, or help getting our front pasture fenced, or a heifer.  It all happened to be rather random.  I saw someone post a need on social media and offered a lease. It turns out the steer owner, Sandra, works in the school district with Phil and is good friends with a dear teacher friend of mine, Marjorie, from my early...

Yesterday.... out of bed a little after 7:00.   Children up and math and Barton tutoring first thing,   Phil to work,   Chores and breakfast,   Pack up meals and things needed to make and serve them (lunch and dinner),   Drive an hour up to Portland,   Read for 15-20 minutes in the car to the children before the appointment (Bible and history),  Barton in the car during the tutoring appointment,  hour drive back and to the farm,  unload and make a late lunch,  Phil arrives and loads up trailer and children and they head off to pick up a used mower (we put my Dad on the project and he found a great one),  I paint for 4 1/2 hours and make dinner,  Phil and the children test out the new mower, dinner at 7:30,  my parents stop by to check out the new mower,  pack up and children in the car, home a little after 9:00,  laundry and dishwasher and animal chores,  children in bed,  Phil home around 10:30.  ...

We had expected baby lambs the last week of March/beginning of April.  I was disappointed that the bigger sheep does not look pregnant.  Her daughter did but still hadn't had a baby.  I had pretty much given up hope of babies on the farm this Spring.  When Phil arrived at the farm on Saturday, he texted me the following two photos: I couldn't wait to get out to the farm and see the new baby.  The children named her Bathshebaa.  It is Biblical (and these are Jacob sheep), she is a girl (hence the she), and baa (because she is a sheep LOL). I love how the alpacas, all checked out the new little girl. Phil, the sheep whisperer...the mama had the baby out in two rain showers and I was worried she might have gotten chilled.  I have been a little anxious about making sure the new little one is safe (coyotes and eagles) and healthy (nursing well).  She is doing great so far.   I did not go out to the property on Thursday or Friday this past week. ...