Goodbye 2013!

This has been an unusual year for this family.  It has had it ups and downs.  We moved into our new home, and a granddaughter was born. We had seven family members that died this past year.  Four uncles, one aunt, one cousin, and my mother the week before Christmas.

My mom came from a  family of twelve, six brothers and four sisters.  There is only one sister still living to represent the family.

This is a photo taken in 2008 at the last family reunion. Dick, the last surviving brother, died in January.  Ruth, in turquoise top, died in November.  Woody, my mom in denim , died in December.  Billye, in pink top, is the only surviving member of the family.

Hopefully 2014 will be a better year as we have two young family members that are ready to take on their roles in the family..our precious grandson and granddaughter.

A farm boy's perception of things in life

A friend of mine shared this with me via e-mail so I just had to share.

                                               

Only a Farm Kid... When you're from the country, your perception is a little different.......   A   Missouri farmer in his pickup, drove to a neighbor's, and knocked at the door. A boy, about 9, opened the door "Is your Dad home?" "No sir, he isn't; he went to town." "Well, is your Mother here?" "No sir, she went to town with Dad." "How about your brother, Howard? Is he here?" "No sir, He went with Mom and Dad." The rancher stood there for a few minutes, shifting from one foot to the other, and mumbling to himself. "Is there anything I can do for you? I know where all the tools are, if you want to borrow one, or I can give dad a message." "Well," said the rancher uncomfortably, "I really wanted to talk to your Dad. It's about your brother Howard getting my daughter, Suzie, pregnant."'  The boy thought for a moment. "You would have to talk to Dad about that. I know he charges $500 for the bull and $50 for the hog, but I don't know how much he charges for Howard."                                                                           Yes sir. It is all about how you are raised and look at things in life.

Planting Daffodil Bulbs

Since we moved into our new house, my wife has bought three big bags of flower bulbs.  She had asked me to dig holes for the bulbs a couple of weeks ago but the ground was hard as concrete.  

This week she asked me again about getting the bulbs in the ground but the ground is still like concrete.  Then it dawned on me how to get them into the ground.  We have the bulb planter that digs the holes to the correct depth but getting it in the ground is a problem.

So I had a better idea.

The posthole digger that I had bought at auction last spring would dig the holes.  I used the pilot hole auger and it was perfect.  We planted thirty-five bulbs in less than an hour.  Success is sooo sweet.

2013 Potato Dig

The end of September arrived and it was time to dig potatoes that were planted in mid-April.  The youth from the church came to gather and bag the potatoes for the local Daily Bread soup kitchen.

The morning of September 28, the youth arrived, and after having donuts and milk prior to working we headed to the garden.

It would be a shot in the dark this year as to how many bushels that would be collected.  Once the potatoes were planted, with all the rain it was difficult to get in the garden to weed and hill the spuds.  We were placing our faith in the good Lord to yield a bountiful harvest.  

We found a good crop even without the tilling that should be required.  This is one rather large potato discovered.  

Lugging the tote to the wagon for bagging.

After about ninety minutes the potatoes were bagged.  This year eleven bushels were taken and given to the food bank.  After their hard work the youth celebrated with pizza.  

Now to rest and start the process all over again in April.

Almost move in ready

We have scheduled moving day for September 13.  Yes that is Friday the 13th but that seems to be our good number as both our daughters were born on the 13th.  It is just the little last minute finishing details that drive you nuts.  Touch up painting, install the range, spread gravel on driveway, etc.

Grass seed and straw spread on lawn

Long porch with railing installed

Garage view  on west side of house

Den with bamboo floors.  

Front Door entrance

Black and White kitchen

I had wanted to be the contractor and sub this project out but in the end I am much happier that we had a contractor do the job.

The Chicken Bus

Just a mile or so from where we are living, a portable chicken cooker started showing up in the parking lot of a local strip mall in April.   The bus is called the CHICKEN Bus, because the man cooks chicken halves and sells them to anyone stopping by.

The story gets better.   This man was hurt on the job four years ago and couldn't work.  He said six months without a pay check and five kids to feed so he had to come up with something.  He came up with the idea of buying an old school bus and retrofitting it to cook chickens.

He took the old bus, cut the back section out and installed a cooker.  The front part is still enclosed and contains the refrigeration for the food.  His ten year old son helps him and together the two sell one thousand pounds of chicken each week from the bus.  For $8 you get a half of pit cooked chicken, coleslaw, and a slab of sour dough bread.  I can tell you this, it is goooood!!

Moving Day Getting Closer

The contractor has projected the end of August that the house should be complete.  Now comes the task of repacking things back into boxes and finding a moving company to move everything.

 The kitchen cabinets bases were just installed.  It looks sterile as the walls and cabinets are white.  The dark counter tops are to be installed and then it should not be so sterile looking.

 This is the view from of the house that is visible from the road.

 This is the other side of the house which is actually the front of the house.  There are a few items to be completed outside but things are moving fast. 

This is the view from the porch.  This is what we will see each morning, minus the hay bales.