Ta Da! Chicken Tractor

Our chickens are now free range...kind of. Chad built a movable coup/chicken run that we drag around the yard giving the chickens fresh bugs and grass and dirt to play in. It took a while to coax them into their summer home but the fresh blackberries and Chad's innate panther like moves did the trick:)

Chad had started this little project a while ago, and then he hurt his back. The chickens were put on hold until he healed. Now that his back is almost as good as new, out to the garage Gav and he went with great determination to finish this project.

Now I must brag a bit about my husband. A couple of months ago I said to him, "I'd like a chicken tractor. Can you please build me one?" He responded, "What is a chicken tractor?" I showed him some pictures and away he went. The tractor is made completely from things that we already had, even some old hinges. My handy husband created locks and doors and the design. I must say that he's pretty amazing!


The ladies love their new abode and I enjoy watching them dig and peck for food.

I think we'll paint it green and yellow and have our very own John Deere tractor:) Vrooom!

Oh the things you will see

We are a fan of Dr. Seuss here in our house and as I watched two butterflies gracefully dance about my butterfly bush yesterday, Dr. Seuss was bouncing about in my head. And oh the things that I saw! We've been blessed this year by dozens of monarch butterflies hanging around our house this summer. As Gav and I pulled into the driveway I noticed that there was one particularly large monarch on the bush just lounging about. I grabbed my camera and crept close. He didn't seem to notice me and just ate away as I snapped breathtaking shots.

Oh My!

Thank you Lord for all the beauty you have put here on Earth for us to enjoy!

Seeing Double

Nope, you are not seeing double. I have a family friend who is expecting twin baby girls and I whipped something up for the baby shower celebrating these two new little lives.

I knew that the new mama is not a fan of pink so I went with blue tones...but you just got to have some ruffle:) I purchased the onsies and then embellished them with some simple ruffles. I appliqued a free handed flower and then added a button.


Now the girls are ready for their photo shoot...as soon as they are born:)

Let's go to the Fair!

LET'S GO


TO THE


FAIR!!

Yesterday was the kickoff for the Yamhill County Fair and we decided to go and join the fun. First off was the rides of course. I let the kids choose one ride each, oh the difficulty! I can't tell you how many times we walked down the ride alley, sounds blaring and lights flashing, thinking, and weighing options. Finally, Kyla choose the swings and Gav the airplanes. Kyla ended up getting to ride with Gavin due to the kindness of a worker. I often get surprised as a kindness is given.


We checked out the farm animals and Gavin was quite entertained by a fancy headed chicken.


An entire elephant ear was consumed. Oh the sugary goodness:)


Then off to the arena to watch an English riding horse competition.


Gav's favorite horse was the, and I quote, "polka dotted behind one." Yep, that's my boy!


Enjoying a rest in the shade...it was pretty warm.


We tried to figure out the sheep judging...not much luck:)


The sugar rush has faded, the thrill of the ride is only a memory, and the smell of animals no longer lingers. Ah, what a great day at the fair!

Fun, Fun, Fun!

Kristel is home from Canada visiting and showing off her beautiful new little one, Maddy Lucille. We were able to squeeze in a visit, and wow, that's a lot of kids we have now:) Kyla fell head over heals in love with Maddy and Gav was thrilled that Jackson loves Lightening McQueen as much as he does:)

We lounged about outside and the kiddos splashed in the pool. There was some naked/half naked swinging and lots of baby snuggling.

After Chad got home, he revved up the Wii and let the boys play Mater National (from the boys' favorite movie) and all was right with the world:)

What a lucky girl am I to have such a dear (and photogenic) friend!

Sneak Peak

We are still here! I know that most of my friends think that I have become a hermit or that I've fallen off the face of the earth, but that is not true. We've been working on the house. That's right, it's the dreaded remodeling word.

I recently decided that I was tired of the wallpaper that was chosen thirty years ago, same for the Formica and our rusted out old bathroom sink. The bathroom mirror made my eye twitch and the dark paneling crushed my soul. Well, "NO MORE!" I shouted to myself and to that dark, dreary paneling about three weeks ago. And since then, I've been covered in primer and paint splatters, inhaled a bit of sawdust, and shopped around for the best deal all over Yamhill County.

Now let me introduce you to my favorite tool, the tool that started it all. This is my friend the putty knife. Now I know that he looks pretty unassuming and a bit run down but I can probably take apart this whole house with this wonder:)

I've even pulled Kyla over to the dark side of remodeling:)

Here are peaks of what was...

And what is coming...

We are finally closing in on the finishing touches! Just a bit more grueling evenings and I think we made be done. Well, almost done:) Then I have to decorate...and get matching towels...and some curtains...and a coat tree. Hmmm, maybe it will be a couple more weeks yet:)

Chad has officially taken away my precious putty knife, I think he might just be afraid of what I'll tear apart next:)