Farming. And not just turkeys.

Here on the farm we don't just raise turkeys. I realize it is hard with all of the turkeys running around and feathers flying to see but we don't.




If you look carefully, you will see two turkeys nested down for the night. One is easier to see than the other. Being a pro at this turkey raising business I know the signs to look for and under that rather colorful quilt with his head nestled on a pillow is a turkey if ever you saw one. Trust me. I know my turkey business.





It is a bit hard to see to the untrained eye but try to look past the turkeys and you will see tucked in among the boots a canine who thinks she is human.



And you know, even being the seasoned farmer that I am, every once in awhile I'll look in her eyes and forget that she is Levi's four legged companion and think she is human too.......but only for a second...........

A turkey is born.

Now that Christmas is over, we here at the turkey farm are settling in for the winter.





It'll be awhile before the spring thaw and new beginnings so we might as well hunker down and get all comfy and cozy.





Hold on a second. Did I just hear a little chirp? But that can't be! Baby turkey's aren't supposed to be born until the spring. What is going on around here?
Doth my eyes deceive me? I do believe I see a little beak through that crack.



I do not believe my eyes. A wing! This is absolutely incredible! Folks, you are witnessing something miraculous.





Every motherly instinct in my being begs to help this little creature escape. I have been sitting out here in the cold for hours watching this little baby turkey struggle trying to break free. The physical exertion is incredible and exhausting. I want to help but I know that I will only hinder so I watch patiently, breathlessly, willing this wee one to survive. To fight!





The wait is excruciating but worth it. This little poultry is a strong one. It will be quite some time before we can really tell but I think it is a "he", and I am going to give him a big strong name for beating all odds and bursting forth in the middle of the winter.





But first, I am going to tuck him under my wing and take him inside where it is warm so I can dry off his little feathers and give him something warm to eat. Aaaah, there is nothing like witnessing the coming forth of new life on the farm.

Plumbing.....it's supposed to be simple.

The one thing I wanted for Christmas was a new kitchen faucet. My old one had seen better days and when it requires more tools to turn on and shut off the fixture....it is time to get a new one. I had seen this one at Lowe's and fell in love with it. Santa must have felt I needed a new one too and I have been good so this appeared under the Christmas tree. At least that is my story and I'm sticking to it.





Ask my dad to fix anything and he'll do it gladly for you except plumbing. He hates plumbing for the simple reason......it is NEVER simple. BUT, this project was going to be simple. A simple faucet replacement.





So why then, if replacing a faucet is so simple, is my sink on the kitchen floor,



a look of exasperation on my SM's face, and a gaping hole where my sink USED to be? (Please ignore all of the dirty dishes piled up on the counters. I've been without a sink for a few days now....cuz fixing a faucet is simple.)




The sink is now back on the counter....but tools still litter the floor because the plumbing underneath still has to be redone.





I knew my dad would get a kick out of our recent plumbing adventures. When I called and told him he said, "Brian should have listened to me. He needs to go out to the street where the water lines start and work backwards from there."

We'll be glad when this "simple" project is finished... so will the natives. They've had to wash the dishes out in the ditch out the back. I KID....almost.....

Twas the night before Christmas.......

Mary, blessed among women.



Joseph husband of Mary.



Joseph and Mary went up from Galilee, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. While there, Mary brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.




And in the same country there were shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their sheep by day.....



and sword fighting by night......until their mother took their staff's away....



The shepherds came with haste and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.




In the east there were happen' wise men dudes.......



When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy!





When they saw the young child they fell down and worshipped him and gave him gifts. Cologne, pokemon cards, and coins from foreign lands that their dad had brought back from his travels.




"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Get UP! Oh no........I sound like that stupid commercial on the radio where the guy is dreaming, "bears, bears....." and his wife is saying, "get up" and then he says, "I'm up" and she says, "no, I mean Up".......some insurance company or something. I can't stand that commercial and now it has tainted my mind because at the moment........my mind is all the company I have!

Would you believe, it is Christmas morning and I am sitting down by the tree all alone, tapping my foot, looking at the native's closed bedroom doors, waiting.....waiting.....waiting......

Not a peep! Not a sound! No giggling and shshing as they wait for the command that they can all come down the stairs so I can catch their first glimpse of the tree on camera.

I'm mean. I make the natives wait until they are all awake, the fire has to be started, the tree lit up with lights, Christmas music playing in the back ground....

I only do it to torture them because THEY ARE TORTURING ME! It is almost 9:00 in the morning and they are all STILL ASLEEP! They do this every year to me!

I have the weirdest kids...........



Fifteen years ago today this native was born. The most wonderful Christmas present I have ever received. Isn't he adorable in this photo? This is when he turned twelve.



Amazing how much they grow in just three years isn't it? He's as tall as his dad and working side by side.

Happy 15th birthday baby! I love you everyday to heaven and back.

Now show me that you love me and WAKE UP! I wanna look in my stocking and see what Santa brought me! Laws what one must go through to curb the excitement on Christmas morning. It is more than this parent can handle some times.........

Merry Christmas from Levi!

I never was one to keep quiet. I know I said I was going on a blogcation until after Christmas but when you watch this video you'll see why I had to post it now and not after. It is just too precious to keep to myself.



My Sexy Man was in the kitchen baking away making home made pizza and our babies asked if they could help put on the toppings. My SM told them that they could if they sang, "Must Be Santa". Levi, our six year old with AHC (mentally about 3)started to and his big sis helped him along.

Where'd she go?

The kids are home from school for Christmas break so I decided to take a break along with them. I'm going on a blogcation. Have a very Merry Christmas and after the break I'll fill you in on all that we did.

It is a glorious time of year celebrating our Savior and His birth.

A friend of mine sent me this link. I now send it to you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxpECovmdyY

Merry Christmas and I'll see you in the New Year!

Hugs and Loves,
Shmeee

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Two days ago, the mountains and field behind my house looked like this.





Later in the evening it looked like this!





This morning.......where are the mountains? Those little brown spots in the field are ducks bedded down under eider down comforters waiting out the storm. I do not have a telephoto lens so you're going to have to trust me. I promise. They are ducks! I'll take photo's of all of their poop when the storm passes to prove it.





The poor sheepies. So ccccold. Good thing they are into knitting. Why the other day I saw several of these ladies sitting out there in the field their needles click clacking away and I knew a storm was coming cuz sheep are always prepared. Just watch the sheep. They'll let you know when a storm is coming.

Baby powder! The bums got a hold of it........

When walking past ones kids' bathroom and a strong whiff of baby powder hits your nose just keep on walking.




I know that we as mother's love the smell of baby powder but unless you have some candle that fills your house with the smell of baby powder....you should not be able to smell it out in the hall outside of the bathroom.





If you do happen to be lured in by the smell which happens from time to time. Oh goodness I try to resist! Learn from me! DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR! Cuz no one will fess up even when you can see little tiny foot prints in the powder and you'll just end up having to clean it up.

Making bread...not for the faint of heart.......

Yesterday I had a fabulous day. So fabulous in fact that I decided to make bread. I say "make" bread. Does it count that it is in a machine because all of the ingredients are the same! I just do not stand here for hours kneading and mixing my dough anymore thanks to these lovely folks!

My baby loves to help me make bread too! I realize that hiding under a stool isn't normal protocol for bread making.




It is when you are using one of these babies. Remember......it doesn't whisper.




In fact, as it gets closer like this and the grains are done being ground into flour (which is truly the best way to make bread...freshly ground flour.......) the engine begins to complain really loud.




Which is why when I grind the wheat into flour my baby does this.

Memory......where art thou..........

One of the many things I love about this time of year is all of these. Cards, cards, cards, from family and friends. The one time of year that I actually enjoy having my mail box full of envelopes.

I do appreciate the convenience of e-mail and its cost effectiveness.....no stamps.....but I do miss getting letters and cards in the mail. I'm so glad that most still send cards via snail mail.

The snow is quite blustery outside today. I am snuggled in bed in my warm flannel jammies under my down comforter....Levi's dog Julie is cutting off the circulation in my feet as she is curled up in a ball on top of them.




A perfect time to address Christmas cards! Now, if I could just remember...... I know I've been married for sixteen years........this shouldn't be so difficult........"Ummm, honey? How do we spell our last name?"

And you all think I'm kidding.............I'M NOT.......but I do think it is funny.......spell check?

Is it a train?

This is my baby doing an impression of his daddy. He's pretty good isn't he?




So what do you think? A possible tonsilectomy at some point? Hard to believe that such a little person can pull in the walls like that. There will be no sleeping in church for this one! His cutting down an entire forest is a dead give away.

A room with a view....

Since I have scads of time and am able, I decided to expand my horizons. I bought a book a couple of years ago in an airport book store that try as I might I've not been able to get into. It is this book: "A Room With A View" by E.M Forster.



I picked it up again the other day and decided I'd read it cover to cover no matter what it took. I was GOING to get through this book. It is a classic after all.....




I'm about half way through and it has been one of thee most painful experiences. I had originally thought that award went to "Great Expectations......." I'm still expecting something great.....and I finished the book quite a long time ago but this one even out does "Great Expectations"!




I love most books written during this time period. The late 1800's to early 1900's but for some reason this author is dryer than mud cakes on a hot summer afternoon!



Get on with the story! What story? I think that is the problem. The story really if only it were written, would consist of one chapter. The rest is all fillers. Kind of like cardboard.



I think I'll just be satisfied with my room and the view it poses. Much more fulfilling and satisfying!

What's a yule log?

This past summer a neighbor of mine was seen out walking with her dog and children. It was at about dusk and as I looked out my kitchen window I thought what a delightful scene they created. As they passed I noticed that the mom seemed to be having convulsions or something. She was looking dead straight ahead but her body seemed to be yanking and pulling on the leash that was attached to her dog.



Poor Brutus was doing what comes naturally and my mortified neighbor was having none of it. She yanked and pulled but the only thing that did was leave an even longer train of evidence......on my sidewalk.

Now, anyone that knows me knows that this resulted in me having fits of laughter as my poor neighbor (who I will not mention because she now swears she is NEVER going to walk that dog ever again she is so embarrassed) fell all over herself apologizing.



No harm done! I had the natives cleaning it up in no time as I continued to giggle and laugh and roll on the lawn while my neighbor continued to promise me her life's riches and services.



I have been waiting for the most opportune time to tease her. I'm sorry..it is just too perfect of an opportunity and you know the demon in me......well.....oportunity has come! Last night for FHE my SM and the natives decided to make some of these. Well, not these exact ones. I stole this photo off of some creative person's blog of whom I do not know and I'm sorry if I've offended you. It's just yours turned out a lot cuter than mine.

As we were rolling out the dough....which is a lovely shade of brown....I looked at my SM and the grin that spread across my face......he knew....he knows me..... Oh yaaaa! So, tonight when my neighbor (who I'm not going to mention her name) gets home from her job working at the local elementary school as the librarian....



She's gonna get this all tied up in purdy ribbon. A beautiful sweet smelling garland to hang on her front door...or across her mantle.....or above her bed.....the possibilities are endless!