Good Morning from the 5 Acres

Ode to Ginger

This morning I found my favorite hen, Ginger, with life-ending injuries.  We named her after the chicken pictured above because she was always finding a way out of the chicken run. But not this time!

Picture taken last month, while Ginger's head was still firmly attached.

She was the funniest chicken.  She was the one that tried to come inside after we had let them free range.  She had no fear of us (or the dog).

Ginger, taking IJ's apple core

I assumed she was attacked by a raccoon.  And I was right.  The Pathetic Doberman was on the trail within a second of finding Ginger's remains.

Chasing the now-cold trail

When IJ and I went to go check the mail, we found some compelling evidence:

Cat prints to the far left, dog print at the top heading to the right, and raccoon right of center.  Big raccoon!

IJ points out the raccoon prints

 The kids are convinced that Ginger is up in heaven, hanging out with the angels and wondering why Kenny didn't save her.  Grandad is mourning the loss of a good piece of meat.  We are going to have a little wake tonight at dinner time in honor of Ginger.  We are going to have ginger chicken and rice for dinner.  Now that's a memory!

Teaching E

The video captures one of those precious moments exclusive to a large, homeschooling family.  In any other "normal" family, an 8 year old boy wouldn't let his little sister hang out across his lap while teaching the other to read. 

E is now all signed up to have her educational expenses reimbursed, starting after her 5th birthday.  Because she is an "old" student and quite sharp (like her sister A), we decided starting her "Kindergarten" year early was a good idea.  I spent part of the weekend doing what us homeschoolers like to do most: drooling over homeschool curriculum.  One would think that by now I would know exactly what I want, but I don't. 

Teaching E will be a new adventure.  She is naturally intelligent and has picked up enough from her brothers that I've heard her arguing with S over the definition of a noun.  She has memorized many of the addition facts, thanks to S quizzing her in the backseat of the van as we drive to and from activities.  And she is writing simple words, just because she wants to.  I've done a few Saxon K lessons with her and had to skip halfway through the book!  Oh, yes.  She will be fun!

9 Years and Counting...

Cute and Cozy in matching Costco jackets.

Yesterday marked the 9th anniversary of the day M and I said, "I do." (Awww...)  These past 9 years have been the best years of my life!  I am crazy about this guy!

Fairy Ring of Fungus

We went on a lovely morning hike around our property...our property! It seems like a crazy dream, going from renting a house in the development on the reservation to owning (ahem...having a mortgage on) our own property.  We found a perfect fairy ring in M's old fort site!

This tree was just a wee thing when Grandad transplanted it from outside what is now my bedroom window to down by the pond.

Instead of dropping the kids off with a babysitter and going out to an over-priced restaurant where M could slip me an expensive piece of jewelry... we worked, took the kids to swimming and soccer, and led a Cub Scout meeting.  We did what we do best!

And speaking of heartthrobs...

...I am madly loving this sweet baby.  He is scooting all over the floor and now he is trying to pull himself up the stairs!  I am so not ready for him to grow out of this baby age.  It's going by way too fast.  Today he started "singing" with a high-pitched voice.  And just when I decide he is old enough to fuss himself to sleep I can't stand to put him down.  I just want to hold him forever.  Which is why none of my kids slept on their own until they were two years old or so...

Grandad's New Car

Yesterday we traded in Grandad's old stick-shift station wagon for a new senior-friendly Honda CR-V.  The Pathetic Doberman is so upset she started chewing up stuffed animals again.  And Grandad forgot all about his new car by this morning and thought I had company!  "Yesterday was a blur to me," he said when he remembered he had a new car (and the monthly payment to go with it).

M spent months researching which vehicle would meet the most needs in our diverse household.  I wouldn't comment until I could sit in the driver's seat and look at how many people can fit in the backseat.

I have really long hair; it reaches my waist.  I can now tuck it into the back of my pants (which would probably be as embarrassing as walking out of the bathroom with TP stuck to my shoe).  One reason I have such long hair is because I don't really have the time to set up a baby sitter and set up an appointment to have a professional cut it.  The other is because M likes to tell me how pretty he thinks my hair is and I like the compliments.  What does this have to do with the new car?  Well, when I sat in the driver's seat of the CR-V and the headrest hit me right where my bun is located and my head was forced into an uncomfortable angle... and I said I didn't like the car because of the head rest... M snapped, "Cut your hair!"  I guess I'll be heading out to the beauty parlor now... and all my bee-yoo-tiful hair will be gone!  Mwa-ha-ha-ha!

Mr. Cute

This video is just for you Nana :)

Halloween 2010 Part 2

Guess who won the Halloween Costume Contest?

Perseus, that's who!  IJ was pleased to see that creative thinking and hard work pays off (at least in this case-selling popcorn for Cub Scouts is a different story).

This little angel was called a "cute little devil" by the newspaper photographer.  He's an older gentleman (who also serves as our charter organization for scouts) and has a short memory.  He took F's picture several times throughout the evening in different settings and kept asking me what her name and age was and if he had permission to put her photo in the paper. We'll see if she makes the Out and About section!

Eight years ago I made this costume:

And got to use it one more time this year:

Awww! I love my babies!