It's been forever! But I thought I'd post some new pics, in case anyone's interested.  Since no one seems to make it up here to visit, I'll show you the latest on the farm....

It's that time of year again!

The boys (15 and 13) are growing so big and sweet (for the most part!) They've both outgrown their dad's shoe size, and little E is almost as tall as his dad- he's 5'11".  Rabbit's getting there at 5'8" School is going well... E is in 9th and Rabbit's in 8th, both still involved with Classical Conversations. Actually, Rabbit took a year off to try a different curriculum at home this year, which means I didn't teach this year either, but we are both going back next fall.

E is SUPPOSED to be studying his DMV material, but hasn't. He has no real interest in getting on the real roads, but Jack, of course, is chomping at the bit! Although both have been driving all vehicles up here at the farm

for years, and Rabbit's better at backing a 20' trailer than I am!

LuLu (aka Lucy) is still doing great.  She scared us once when she disappeared for a week- highly unlike her.  But just when we'd given up all hope, she reappeared- a little thinner, but fine. Apparently she was spooked by a bear we had up here, hunkered down till the bear smell was gone...and then came on home!





On to the farm animals....

 

We still have some of our original ladies- the Buff Orpingtons. They're 7 years old now. We also have 2 Rhode Island Reds (originally had 6 and these were Rabbit's- but a hawk or something got the other 4 right off the bat). The 3 Black Australorps were originally part of a group of 20 other Australorps, but we lost the others due to a weasel while we were gone on vacation a few years ago! SO these are the lone survivors of that group. And then we have Roady (aka Road Runner, cuz she's unbelievably fast), the little black and white. She's so funny... she's a bit of a runt, and gets picked on and chased off by the bigger girls, but she definitely holds her own- she's been "holding" for about 4 years now! So we have a total of about 12 girls now.

Our outside looks bit dumpy right now...STILL no siding on a 4 year addition! And we have trees that need to be planted, farm equipment, chickens, and misc. furniture in our yard because projects never seem to get finished, and there are always MORE projects waiting! It's a bit overwhelming, and I am trying to cope with all the chaos- but I have my days (serenity now, serenity now...) Any one who tells you that moving to the country is the simple life is either delusional, or lying! We've never worked harder (mostly Big Eric). I , too, was delusional- I read far too many Amish fiction novels before we moved. But we still love most of it- it's hard, frustrating and stressful at times (we have the rockiest, most un-fertile piece of uneven land in WV, I think! And with no water- we have to haul it in), but are constantly reminded of how good we have it- it's very quiet and peaceful, and a great place to raise the boys!

Eric's "swales" he has dug into the pasture for planting

trees for an orchard- it also makes "lanes" for the cows for rotational grazing.

Eric cuts trees and pulls logs out of our woods to cut up for firewood to sell, or for our own stash.  He loves cutting and splitting wood- he built his own splitter. Men and their wood-splitting/chopping!





The 4 of us just finished building a pole barn for 5 of our 8 cows/steers for the winter. The 3 cows are all due to calve around February, so we needed shelter for the calves. Little E's 2 steers are in with them as well.  The other 3 bigger steers (Lola's 1, and the twins from our late milking cow, Molly) are in the garden close by for the winter:

 

Eric found old bathtubs to repurpose for water troughs- catching rain from the roof.

And these are little E's steers that he bought himself and is raising. They are doing great!  Brownie and Blondie... Blondie's a jersey, Brownie's an angus.  They were born at the end of April.

And lastly, the 3 steers- Lola's calf and Molly's twins in the garden area for the winter:

 

The twins used to be light brown, but they've turned so dark, like their black angus cousin.

I don't have recent pics of the 3 cows- Lola, Ginger (Lola's calf), and Lindsay (Molly's calf). They are currently in a large pasture and will be moved in with E's little steers in about a week. So all the cows will pretty much be back together for the winter.

I don't have a recent pic of the 3 Big Black hogs either- but they are HUGE.  They go to be slaughtered in January. Yay, pork! (and bacon and pork loin and ham roast and....)

Well, that about sums it all up. we're doing great. Trying to get ready for the holidays, and winter weather. Charlie and Jill sold the farm (we are very sad), so we will be getting a new neighbor. Wonderful lady named Kate, who owns a huge ranch in Texas, and has horses. So she will be bringing her horses up here to add to the menagerie of animals on the hill!

We miss you all...please come visit us sometime, and send us pics of your family- we would LOVE to see and hear all about the kids and you!

We love you all, and Merry Christmas- God is SO good!

We miss you, Molly!

 Well, it's a sad time up here on the farm.  A couple of days ago, we lost our sweet-natured dairy cow, our Jersey, Molly.  We don't know what happened except that she was dead when we came out one morning.  The only thing we can figure is that it must have been too much for her to be nursing 2 calves. She was not meant to have twins, apparently, and I guess it's a fluke that she did.  But she is such a great mom, that she gave everything she had.  The boys are doing fine, but the cows were a little freaked out for a couple days... after all, 4 of the 6 cows up here are hers.

We will miss her and her sweet, gentle little spirit... we are not planning on getting another dairy cow at this point, but maybe down the road.  Bye, sweet girl. You were a great family cow.

Besides that, we've been fine up here on the "hill."  The chickens are starting to lay again, and everywhere this time- behind the hay ring, on Eric's tool chest in the wood shed, on the floor of the other shed. It's an adventure searching for them and figuring out if they're still any good!  We are down to 17 chickens now.  Poor Rabbit lost all of his chicks he bought last spring- mostly predators.  And the Buff's we have left are still from the 1st batch we got 6 years ago!

The boys and I came to a big decision in that we are not going to do Classical Conversations next fall for our homeschooling.  We are going to try My Father's World, and work on it together- all 3 of us, which will be great.  They're excited to try something new, although I wouldn't be surprised if E wants to go back to CC either for the spring semester, or the following fall.  He really likes it- the curriculum and seeing his friends on Fridays.  But they will still see friends lots- whether at church, field trips or get-togethers.

Eric's contractor business is really keeping him hopping, thank the good Lord.  We've been very blessed with business!

That's all for now- love to you all, and hopefully we'll see you soon! Blessings!

Post Christmas - Pre New Year

Well, another year of celebrating the birth of our amazing Savior is over.  We've had a very quiet Christmas time up here on the "hill."  It was lovely, although we missed our loved ones near and far. The boys enjoyed their gifts- although not many, they know the real reason of the season, so we don't do a mess of gifts. We'd rather celebrate with family and friends, Jesus, and togetherness. Our love and prayers for a blessed New Year to our friends and family!

We've had a couple of additions to the "family" up here, taking place before Christmas, and all are well and healthy, thanks be to God. The twins worried us at first, since they are pretty rare, especially for a Jersey cow, but they are not only surviving, but thriving!  Molly is such a good momma.  Bad news... the calves are getting all our milk!

Meet Calvin and Hobbes...

Then, a week later, Molly's daughter, Lola, had her calf - introducing.... Blackie!

 

And now it's a nursery... wild and woolly!

We've had a little snowfall this week, much to the boys' delight.

And, much to their dad's dismay... the saturated ground makes for very slippery conditions for hauling water up hill...

Oops... hard lesson learned.

Truck is totaled, BUT, the blessing is we are getting a 2011 Suburban. Yay! This has turned out to be a HUGE blessing in many ways, not just in getting a car whose year actually starts with the number 2 ...  God's plans and purposes are amazing!

            We are all healthy and well, and pray the same for you....much love to you and yours!!

Good morning!  It has been so long since I wrote on here, and I got reprimanded on my recent visit to Richmond.  SO, here I am!

As most of you know, it's been a bit crazy, tragic, and sad around these parts for the past week.  West Virginia got hit by the worst flooding in 100 years, and it has devastated areas around us.  We, on "the hill" are fine.  No problems, but we have many friends who were/are affected, and it is sobering and sad to experience this with them.  On the other hand, I have never, personally, seen so much outpouring of love, help and support in all my life.  It reminds me of pics and videos we used to see about the aftermath of Katrina- but to experience it and see it first hand is something else, let me just tell you.

floodwater line at the bottom of our drive

3 of the four roads into Lewisburg have been shut down due to parts of the road missing and swept away.  It is a nightmare getting around Lewisburg!  Things are slowly getting better, though. 3 of the 4 are now open - yay!  But it's pouring here again today, with flash flood warnings.

road on the way to our church

Our family has had the privilege and honor of being Christ's helpers by mucking out flood mud, tearing up carpeting and flooring, removing destroyed furnishings, salvaging what's left, helping to organize donations and supplies at police/fire stations, doing laundry for friends, offering prayer and support where needed.  It is overwhelming, the needs of the people in this and surrounding areas.  To be able to help just a little is humbling, and educational- it forces you to realize and prioritize what's truly important.  We are not to store up treasures here on earth, but to value what is good, noble, true, right, praiseworthy. We are to look heavenward for what's important.

The kids helping out...

Experiences like the flooding helps you to take stock and realize that it is all about your relationship with Christ, who is your Savior and is the ONLY way to God and heaven - and your family.

One of my friends we are helping- Rachel and her husband and daughter live on one of the worst hit streets in White Sulphur.  The house across from hers was torn off its foundations and swept away, with 3 people inside who were later found dead.  The neighbor down the street's house burned to the ground while being flooded, and his nephew's house next door blew up, and then floated away, blowing his wife into a tree. She later died in the hospital, succumbing to her burns.  8 of the 11 homes on the street behind her are gone...gone.  People's possessions are in piles in front of what's left of their homes, waiting to be picked up and thrown out.

Rachel and her husband have remodeled their bungalow in painstaking detail.  It is precious.  Every detail had been seen to.  And they lost so much of it.  She and Kevin had sent their daughter to family in Kentucky so that they could focus on the cleanup, salvaging, and moving.  When we first got there on Saturday and saw the devastation of her home and neighborhood, I made the comment of how hard this must be... how she and Kevin had put their heart and soul into that house. And she emphatically said, "No, my heart and soul is in Kentucky."

Rachel's house

 They are overwhelmed and saddened by all they've lost, but know what's important.

And the outpouring of love and support makes me cry (and most of you know, I don't cry that much!)  To see people going door-to-door, offering hot meals, fresh water, cleaning supplies, the gospel and prayer- whatever these people need to help them get started on the aftermath- is unbelievable.  God is good!

Help is going to be necessary for a long time.  It will be months before those whose businesses and homes survived get things straight.  And permanent homes found for those who lost everything.  And it will never be the same for those who lost loved ones.  My heart breaks for so many.

Please, please please.... keep praying. Even when things have died down, and other news stories bigger than this come out.  Even when the sun shines and things seem bright and beautiful where you are - please remember to say a prayer for those still struggling.

On a lighter note- it was joyful to celebrate E's 14th birthday!  I can hardly believe his journey.  It is such a privilege and blessing to watch him grow into such a nice person.  He loves Christ, his family, his friends, and life.  He is enjoying learning and is so curious- and is so sensitive to injustices. He is a sensitive, sweet young person, and I am so blessed to be able to say I am his mom. Thank you, God, for my boy.

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Summer's Delights....

Mmmm... s'mores

E and the boys during he last cool night we had in June!

It's been a great beginning to summer, although incredibly hot lately.  I think... no, I KNOW, if we could afford it, Eric and I would travel to and live up north, whether it would be Canada, or New England, or even out west somewhere, for 6 months and stay here in the winter... homeschooling the boys and seeing new sights together... ahhh, sounds delightful!

Morning coffee with one of my ladies...

Rabbit's newest girlies... Rhode Island Reds

But, we can't, so here we are.  The garden is in and germinating, window fans are in, school's back in session (albeit a slower, more relaxed schedule), the annual father/son weekend with our church is happening as we speak (I am sequestered over here alone.  Darn! Some quiet time to myself!!), and the pond has been open for several weeks for friends and family.

Newest additions... 3 Big Blacks (although, not living up to their name quite yet!)

I just finished my Director training/practicum for Challenge (CC) in Waynesboro for a few days, where the boys and I were blessed to be able to stay at my mom's place in Nellys Ford with her and Big Pop.  I had a very tiring, but inspiring 3 days meeting with others and learning more about taking the time to wonder at God's creation.  I know I don't always take the time to appreciate creation and all its complexities, and I live on a farm! I get distracted, running from one errand to another, while homeschooling and taking care of the house and family.  All of the great thinkers... scientists, philosophers, artists, mathematicians, etc., discovered and contributed because they took the TIME to wonder.  As we begin our summer lesson plans, I am going to make more of an effort to really get out there and take time, with the boys, to wonder and DELIGHT in God's glorious creation... its simplicities, complexities, symmetries, asymmetries, beauty, harmony and challenges.  And I challenge you to do the same.... when was the last time you rested in and wondered about the graciousness, love and delight God has for us as he allows us to be a witness to and enjoy his creation?

hungry little piggies...

E checking them out...

"From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made.  They can clearly see His invisible qualities- His eternal power and divine nature." Romans 1:20.

The boys and me at Monticello...

At Aggie's (my mom's) place in Nellys Ford

Farewell, Sam

(1998-2015)

(aka Sammy, Sammy-poops, Poops, Mister Poopie, Poopus-Magoo).  

We miss you and love you!!  You are the BEST cat ever!

I actually started a post January 2014 and didn't finish it, but here it is:

It has been since May since I last posted... absolutely crazy!  I don't know why.  It could be because Eric and I have never, ever worked so hard and stayed so busy in the last, almost 3 years than in all our years in Richmond.... or it could just be laziness.  Whatever the case, it's been awhile.  So for those who still care, and don't know what's been going on with us, here's a very brief recap of the last 8 1/2 months!

All summer we hang around and just took care of the farm, I guess.  It's been so long,  I don't even remember!  I know we visited Blennerhasset Island, a cool place on the river between Ohio and West Virginia.  You ferry over and visit the house and island, and come on back.  The best part for the kids was staying at the hotel and swimming in the pool!  It was a rather hot summer.... which has led into a pretty hard winter.

The hogs were butchered last spring, the chickens flourished and our two steer grew.

Little E had his 11th birthday, which if you know about his rough start in life, is still miraculous to us.  And, as you can tell, he acquired glasses.  His NICU doctors always said he'd need them by kindergarten, but he waited til he was going into 5th grade!

The boys went to camp in July at Alpine Bible Camp, and HATED it.  They've never been so happy to come home after a week away... they say they NEVER want to go to camp again!  Oh well, chalk it up to experience.  This is their "we're so happy to be going home" face:

That's a little from last year's unpublished/finished post!  So I thought I'd give this blog another shot... I obviously haven't written in a LONG time.  And obviously too much has happened since then to put it all down here... but one of the biggest things to happen to us is the passing of our beloved cat, Sam.  As far as cats go, he was the bomb (yes, I went there... the bomb).  He is sorely missed. Aside from that, we have been plugging away with life up here.  God, with His usual mercy and goodness, has consistently blessed us and our farm.  We've had chickens, pigs and cows, a garden that improves with each passing year, an amazing church family and school family, several wonderful families that we are particularly close to, and each other.  Our health is great, praise God.

Here are some pics from the past year...

At the Sod House Museum in Nebraska

Badlands, SD

Seneca Rocks  in Canaan Valley

Thanksgiving in Bolar with my lovely family...

Big Snow Storm... 23 inches, right after the boys got bikes for Christmas!!

little E (12) and me after Christmas

Rabbit (10) and me the same day...

Truck stuck on driveway after storm... Eric trying to pull it out with tractor

The silver lining being stuck inside?  Getting the bedrooms done...

and finally getting a dining area... (schooling with Dad)

The 1st bedroom mostly complete! (notice Sammy..)

Polar Bear Club 2015 ( late March- 2 weeks after snows melted!)

Rabbit won 1st prize in (elementary school) painting category in Creative Arts for Youth at Carnegie Hall!

Our newest girls (all Rabbit's this time!)... so ridiculously cute!

For those who don't know, we homeschool our kids, as we have for the past 4 years, and they are classically educated (https://www.classicalconversations.com/classical/classical-education). We are part of a Classical Conversations (CC) community (https://www.classicalconversations.com) who meet weekly to learn with other kids. We just wrapped up our CC year, but will continue to school throughout the summer. This is obviously important for both boys, but especially for little E, who will be entering the Challenge portion of CC this fall.  And I will move from being a Foundations tutor to a Challenge A tutor.  Both of us will be pushed next year academically and in our diligence and work ethic.  Let's hope it's a year of maturity for us both!

Rabbit shot his first turkey just yesterday(1st time hunting turkey - he shot a button buck last year).  He was pretty proud. Too bad we can't hold onto it for Thanksgiving!

Rabbit (middle with little E on right and cousin J on left)

 

The cousins!

And that about wraps it up in a nutshell.  We are getting ready to visit Richmond next month to see family, which we are excited about.  And unlike last summer, which involved a 3 1/2 week trip out west, camping every night (except for a week stay in Jackson, WY.), and visiting National Parks, etc., this summer we will be much closer to home.  As usual, we miss family and friends, but are also blessed to have new ones here.