Composting

There's something refreshing about being outdoors and around nature. And have you ever wondered why we throw away so much trash. Well, remember our burn pile??? We no longer have that huge thing and now we have a little barrel that we burn stuff in regularly. With recycling all our glass and metal from the groceries we use, and burning what can be burned, at least we're not adding to the landfills. We don't even have a trash pick-up service. I didn't set it up after we moved. I have wanted to get to this point for a long, long time and think we may finally be getting there...but let me tell you up front...it is work. Mostly, it's just remembering what to do with what. After that...it's easy and after you do it a week or so it becomes much easier!! With all that said, we made a compost bin on Monday. There are many kinds of bins to assemble, but I chose one of the simplest to make. Actually, I didn't make it, the kids did. I just helped place the posts & wire. Check it out.

Garrett is setting the first post. It's kinda scary to be the one holding it while the other pounds with a mallet.

Austin is pounding a stake into the soft soil...it's rained alot and that made it easier to get the post in.She wasn't about to let those boys have all the fun!

If you want to make your own, here's what you'll need:

*12-14' heavy gauge poultry wire *5 five-foot stakes (wood or metal) *zip ties or wire ties-to keep wire steady Here's what you do:

**Roll out and cut about 12-13' of the wire. Press back a few inches on each end to provide a strong, clean edge. Set a circle in place with the wire and secure ends with ties. Space stakes evenly around the inside of the wire and pound each one firmly into the ground, keeping them tense against the wire. Use the ties to secure wire to posts.

The boys straightening the wire against the posts Micaylah is attaching the ties to the posts and wire.

That's it. You now have a compost bin and you can begin placing all your kitchen scraps into it. Here's some additional materials that you can use: *grass clippings *pine needles *wood ashes *sawdust *sod *newspapers *leaves *hay *hedge trimmings *peat moss *paper-not colored *feathers *manure *food you would eat, such as leftovers and things you throw out when you clean out your fridge. Things to remember about composting:

• stir it up about once every 5-7 days
• shred up items for faster decomposition
• proper moisture is key

More info coming!

That takes care of that! You know what I found out? Since you guys are so incredibly smart you probably already know this, but you don't have to have a lot of room to compost. You only need about a 4'X4' space in your yard. And you can put it in a corner.

Is It A Farm Yet???

Now, I cane't rightly a-say what might'n make a good farm 'n figur it might be some difficult to put it into jus one term. Let me study on it a spell....mmmmm. I reckon itta be tha land 'nd itta be them thair critters thata run all about it. Itta likely be that tha airs so fur-resh smell'n itta make ya wonta gittup early 'n set out at tha back and just breath i-tall in. 'N Idda spect that itsa all them trees a-blowin and a-swayin in tha wind a-makin' tha birds twitter-payted so that they flutter about nearly knockin' themseves loopy as they bump into one another. Sometimes we look out and kee-in see a rumbl'n storm com'n across the heels and after, it makes evurthin so purty, clean and almost new agin. As Imma sittin here, I can look out yonder and see the heels cover'd n tha greenest grass you evur did see...horses a-grazin on one side and cows a-brawlin on tha other. Its jus real peaceful-like. We got our share of work to git done around here tho. That barn needs some tendin' to and with tha fence line cleaned up we arra gittin' ready to plant some vegetables to so as ta hopefully reap a harvest in the months to come. I figur we'ra gona have to make this land work for us. Imma gona sell me some eggs to the locals and maybe grow some plants and sell them too. Since we got tha horses, we reckon wer a-gona start a saddle club soon. Got us 'bout 10-11 kids to start off with.

I reckon what makes a good farm is see'n the kids run 'n romp all around and not have to worry. Its a sense of accomplish'n even the tiniest and sometimes mundane (back to myself again :). Its watch'n a little flower or seed that you planted, grow. Its the hope you had as a child and feeling your dreams again as they brush your shoulder or blow in the breezes, speaking to your heart.....................we're still here.....waiting.......on you to dream....again. Feeling the hope welling up and emerging into what you imagined many times before....there it is. When you think about it, having a farm, an apartment, a condo, a house in the city, a little house on a cute corner, a trailor in a park...or any place where you are..... is just the place you're at for that time and are doing what you're doing for that moment...it's not what makes anything any better or worse. It's not what makes you any better or worse either. It's just another place to dream and imagine and build and work. And for us it's just a house on some land....and for right now...it's where we live and it's home.

BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED!!! GOD WILL GROW YOU!!!!

Swing Time!

It was about time to get those swings up, so last week we got it done! Yippee!!! The kids are having a super time. Most of all we did it together. I guess you have figured out that 'TOGETHER' is what we do! Usually, if you see one of us, you'll find the others close by!

Here is Grant hitchin' up the first swing to the limb. Some swing time. Was this ever a favorite way to have fun swinging when you were a kid? Swinging on his tummy and laughing the whole way!

Who is always building something?? He thoroughly enjoys hammering and making stuff!

Enjoying this warm weather together

It is always nice to get together with friends. Especially when the weather warms up and all the kids can get outside. I love to make homemade pancakes and waffles from freshly ground wheat. I know that may sound weird, but they really taste so much better than the other flour. So, Christy and I got together and made some breakfast for us all! Now between us we have 13 children. Not all of them were here this particular day...that is really ok. But we did have a great time and enjoyed a nice breakfast together. Now you know homeschoolers...we do accomplish our studies...here we all are in the kitchen. Time for some fun! Ashley and Christy hard at work! Hee-hee! Love you guys!

A little syrup - homemade!! MMmmmmm...good!

Everyone in the kitchen around my little farm table that Bridget gave me...it just fits me! Thanks Bridget...wish you were here too! And Tammy, and Christy B, and Tammy A, and my Mom, and Von, and Michelle, Andrea, Marsha....

Jesse and Garrett preparing their plates.

Emily, Micaylah, Katelin, Ashley, Christy, Austin, Jesse & Garrett. Me(taking pic).We all sat down and had a nice breakfast of freshly milled, homemade pancakes, waffles, and sausages. Complete with homemade syrup. There was a few pancakes left so we sent them home to Bob and Micheal. (Christy's husband and son). Hope they liked them!

Camille and Ashley are catching up on conversation.

Here's a new 'do' for ya! Turned out pretty Camille :)

Another day on the dirt mound...Jesse and Austin

Jacob is driving this half track, front end loader...big guy!

Emily is holding Dusti, Micaylah and Katelin are keeping Laci still. What sweet friends

We ended the afternoon with some soccer ball and running.

Christy and I got to sit on the patio watching them run and play and talk a while. It was a very nice day...I am looking forward to doing it again soon. Now she is not my neighbor any longer...she is my friend. God has a way of bringing special people into our lives.

If you give a kid some land...

If you give a kid some land he'll probably want to go outside to see it.But of course, he won't be happy just standing there looking at it. He'll want to run and play on it... And after he runs and plays on it, he will want to climb the trees on it,\When he has climbed the trees on it(and not fallen out), he will want to build something on it!Or rake leaves to jump into.

When he's done with that, he'll want to dig in the dirt that is on it.

After he digs awhile, he'll want to play in that dirt. And he'll go looking for the biggest dirt mound he can find.

And he'll run and play and jump and slide all up and down that dirt mound, until he absolutely has dirt from head to toe.

Then he'll wonder why his stomach is growling so loud. So he'll want you to build him a camp fire. After you build the camp fire, he'll probably want some marshmallows to roast. The marshmallow probably won't fill him up enough and he'll still be hungry. So, he'll ask you to get him some hot dogs too.

After you roast the hot dogs he'll probably be ready to go back out onto the land....the end