Best Weekend Ever !!!

Michael, Angela and Thade came out for the weekend.

There were a couple of croquet games played.

This is Michael's one handed shot.  And you wonder why Ang is undefeated...

It was a super  sunny weekend, and it was the best weekend ever!

Here is everyone hanging out.  Even Harry joined us.

And so did little Thade.

We brought Lady out and she received a good brushing.

Michael is trying out my saddle.

Somebody got a hold of my camera and took some photos.  Their punishment- I am posting them on my blog.  Good photo Angela!

I can see your arms and my camera Michael, in the reflection in your sunglasses.  You think you are so smart!

Pete and Molly were pretty excited to see the kids and Thade.  Thanks Farm Man, Angela and Michael for such a great Mother's Day!!

After we plowed the garden, Farm Man took the spring harrow to it.

It broke up all the lumps that my plow made, then I went over it with my rototiller a couple of times.

I emptied out my green house and got my garden planted!  Here is some of the corn.

And here are some cucumbers.  I also planted crooked neck squash, zucchini, pumpkins, beans, and sunflowers.  Tomatoes and peppers are next!

It's All About The Hired Help !

Farm Man finished the garden today!  The gate is up, and the animals are on the other side.

Lady wasn't too happy about not being able to come into the garden.

Farm Man had some help from Curtiss.

If Farm Man went lower, so did Curtiss.

If Farm Man came up a bit, so did Curtiss.  He was right there the whole time Farm Man was working on the fence and gate.

Thank you Curtiss for all of your help!

Sunshine On My Shoulders Makes Me Happy...

First of all, let me be clear on this.  I am NOT a huge fan of Lemon Meringue Pie.  Up until last month, I could tell you how many slices I have had through out my life and could count on one hand.  But man, this recipe is awesome!  I can't even tell you how many lemon meringue pies I have made in the last month.  (Well, I could but I'm not going to!)  This pie is absolutely to die for!  Nice and refreshing, and made with fresh lemons, and fresh eggs.  And it has to be made in a pretty pie plate like the one Jaime got me.  Never have I used a pie plate like I have used this one!

Are you my mommy?  Aren't the babies getting big?

They are kind of at the awkward stage of having fuzzy's and having feathers.  They don't act like I am going to kill them when they see me anymore.  They are friendly, and will hop on my hand if I have treats for them.  

Farm Man and I worked on stretching some fencing for the garden tonight.  All we need now is to put up the gate.  Then while he was finishing up the hammering, I tested the plow.  BEST. THING. EVER.  I love my plow!!!  Mind you, I didn't have a whole lot of time to test it, and I only did part of the garden, but man, the plow is my new favorite toy!

And guess who got to spend the day at the spa?

Both pups got bathed, nails trimmed, and lots of stink pretty.  Look at those little faces.  

And Yet Another Near Death Experience !

Ethel Louise has been on the hunt.

Do you see her in the tree?  She has been watching the swallows.

The rhododendron outside the kitchen window is blooming.  Love the color!

Pile of peeps.  Even though it was a nice day, they pretty much hung out here for the day.  You will see why in the next photo...

Yep, this stupid thing has been hanging around most of the day.

And here are the guard horses.  Working hard to keep those hawks away.  

I brought out some nasturtiums that I planted in the greenhouse.  They needed some sunshine! 

Alright.  Now the story of my near death experience.  Some of you know that my greenhouse is filled to the brim with corn and other plants.  I didn't have enough shelving for all of my corn, so they have been on the greenhouse floor.  I walked in the greenhouse, grabbed my watering can, and proceeded to water the corn.  I then noticed that some of the corn was moving!  Ewww!  There was a huge snake!  Lying on top of my corn, soaking up the heat!  Farm Man was out mowing, and I didn't want to leave because I didn't want the snake to sneak off.  But, in the end, I had to go get Farm Man to come and help me.  We had to rearrange some things, but Farm Man managed to get the snake outside...

Look how big that puppy is!  I hate to think what he has been living on!  In my greenhouse!

Whoohooo!  Farm Man, aka Snake Charmer, relocated this nasty thing.  It had to have been over 1 1/2 feet long.  This is the second snake we have found in the past two weeks.  Ewww!  And if you don't believe that this was a near death experience, just ask Ly.  He knows what I am talking about!

Family !

Farm Man and I took a trip to Portland this morning to see my Grandma who is back in the hospital after breaking her hip.  While she was eating her lunch and having some PT, the rest of us went out to lunch.  After lunch, my sister, brother-in-law and Farm Man went back to the hospital, while Farmer Luethe and his wife swung by Grandma's other room to pick up something that she was missing badly...

Yep - she had to get some powder, rouge, and her lipstick on!  We had a very nice visit with everyone.  Grandma was even able to stand up for 3 minutes!

We got home in time to feed all the animals, and to collect eggs out of the coop.  Two out of the six eggs are different.  Know which ones?  The two on the right are different - my guinea's started laying again!  We have eggs for breakfast!!

Peeps, Pets and Plants !

The baby peeps are growing!  And making a mess!

But they haven't lost their cuteness!

Ethel and Harry were battling it out.  They played like this for a good 15 minutes.

Harry as been on a diet, oh, for about 2 years now.  And he is still as wide as he is long.  But at least he is moving around and getting some exercise!

Farmer Luethe and his wife came up for a visit.  They brought a wisteria to plant in Karen's memory.  We planted it next to the arbor.  Thanks Auntie and Uncle!

Early Morning Photos !

We have had rain for the past couple of days, and this morning we have sun!  I have never seen such a bright pink hydrangea.  We found this one at, of all places, Costco. 

This picture just proves that we have sun!

My nasturtiums are coming up in the greenhouse.  I love nasturtiums and I planted a whole bunch this year.

Here are some sunflowers and beans that are growing like crazy.

My squash and more sunflowers.  (I love sunflowers too by the way.)

This is only a small collection of corn that I have planted.

My rhubarb, one of many plants, is getting huge.

According to the blue berry bushes, I am going to have lots of blue berries!

And my fuchsia's are doing well.  I even have some blooms!  I haven't hung them outside yet...still kind of chilly.