We Became Chicken Farmers!

Recently, John decided that he wanted to raise chickens - for meat, of course - so we got 25 day-old chicks about 3 weeks ago. One has died but the rest seem to be thriving. He is keeping them in the barn for the time being .For now, they have their own section of the barn, complete with heat lamp and food and water.

The next two pictures were taken last week, when they were 2 weeks old. They are getting more feathers and soon will be able to be put outside into John's brand new chicken tractor. He hasn't quite finished building it but hopes to have it done this weekend. Once they go into the chicken tractor, (I promise I'll post pictures for those of you who don't know what a chicken tractor looks like! Promise!) they have about another 4-5 weeks until they are then turned into food!

Then John and our neighbor will do what they have to do and use the neighbor's Whiz-Bang Chicken Plucker and we will have chickens in the freezer - about 8 pounds each and all organic! My John plans to sell some of them - we can get $15.00 per chicken! Really! Pure, healthy, non-additive chicken!

We got 4 day-old turkeys earlier this week...I don't have pictures yet but will post them as soon as I can.

In closing, I just want to wish everyone a safe holiday weekend. And to those who have served and are still serving in our military, at home and overseas, I wish to say a heartfelt, THANK YOU!

God Bless you all.

Thanks for stopping by.

TOP 10- er- 13 Favorite Musicals

You know, sometimes I see someone else's posting and it stirs something in me. I'm going to steal an idea that I see each week and post it today. Sundays are supposed to be days of reflection, days where no work should be done (tell that to a farmer!) and they are perfect for movie watching. So here are my top 10 - no make that 13 since I can't cut any of these - favorite musicals...in no particular order except #1.

1. Wicked - cause who doesn't love that?
2. Mamma Mia - who knew Meryl Streep could sing?
3. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - cause I love me some Howard Keel!
4. The Producers - saw it on Broadway and I was hooked.
5. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - a ripped Donny Osmond.
6. The Sound of Music - those high notes!
7. The Music Man - both versions!
8. The Wizard of Oz - Poppies.....
9. Singin' in the Rain - wish I could dance like Gene Kelly.
10. Fiddler on the Roof - tradition!!!
11. Mary Poppins - where's the flying button on my umbrella?
12. Grease - the songs just move me!
13. Oliver - Please, sir, I want some more.

I will channel surf and see that one of these is on the TV and switch channels right then and there. Doesn't matter where it is in the movie, I know the stories by heart and don't need to catch up.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great rest of the weekend.

Hewston Matthew Knotwell

Our son and daughter-in-law presented us with a fourth grandchild this morning. He was 8 days early and took his merry time to be born. Jill said she was in Home Depot yesterday afternoon when her water broke. She paid for her purchases and took them home and called John and he met her at the hospital. About 12 hours later, Hewston made his womb departure!

Hewston Matthew Knotwell: born May 20, 2010 at 4:31 a.m. MDT. Weighing in at 8 pounds, 11 ounces, 19.5 inches in length with a head circumference of 38 cm. A very much anticipated child to this household. Mommy and baby are doing very well and expect to go home tomorrow late afternoon if the pediatrician ok's it.

A little Pepper for my Ruby, Please.

Some of you may remember my telling about our Ruby and Garnet (her first-born that we gave to our neighbors as a thank you for letting us keep our cows at their property for 4 years till we got our own fencing up) going off to 'camp' last summer. One neighbor calls it Sex Camp cause 'that's why they go, you know'. Well, camp was a huge success for our Ruby.....she presented us with a little bull calf last Friday evening. Big sister Dolly isn't sure what to do with that little guy yet. Mostly she nudges him and tries to get him to play...Ruby runs her off each time. Little guy is only about 50 pounds and no match for his big sister, Dolly, who weighs over 500 pounds.


We asked our Emily to name this newest addition to the herd...at the time we didn't know if it was a boy or a girl so she chose a nonsexist name. Folks, I give you Pepper!


Isn't that the cutest darned little face you have seen in a very long time? He is still a bit spindly on his legs, but he's a trooper and spends a lot of time near where his Mama is, whether it's near the hay ring, or out in the pasture, taking in the sun.

We also had some baby chicks arrive yesterday....pictures and story soon

Thanks for stopping by.

UTAH - Part Quartre

On Thursday of my visit, Jill, Emily, Charlotte and I went to the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City for a Girls-Only High Tea. What a wonderful experience for all of us. We had tea (well, I had tea, they had hot chocolate), lovely finger sandwiches, scones with devonshire cream and lemon curd, and some incredible desserts. Emily and I tried smoked salmon and caviar for the first time. We both agreed that it wasn't to our taste. Charlotte tried everything, too.


For dessert, we got to choose from an incredible dessert cart...Emily chose the cheescake and strawberries with whipped cream. So did Jill and I! Charlotte had a decadent chocolate rasperry cake with strawberries and cream.





Where were John and William, you might be asking. Well, John was told he could go with us but he was not to talk to us cause it was GIRLS ONLY! He brought his camera and when he was done doing his paparazzi-thing, he and William (who had been sitting in a delicate chair over near the harpist, eating his snacks) went out to the gardens to take some more pictures. Once we were done with our tea party, we all went out so John could take some more amazing pictures of the kids. Hope to get some of them from him and will share when I do.

I came home on Tuesday last week and have slowly gotten back into the groove.

Oh, and Ruby had her calf on Friday nite. I'll share pictures soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

UTAH - Part Trois

Charlotte is practicing for her dance recital. The teacher lets folks wander around the perimeter of the class for picture. Charlotte is so used to being in front of a camera, she doesn't ever pay any attention to it any more.


Jill is a crafter. She and I made cute table runners - one each - while I was there. Here is the hub of the process. This is neat, compared to the mess we made later.

Charlotte and William are such good playmates. They really do get along great. And they love to have their pictures taken!


We went to lunch one day with John...there wasn't a lot of room at one table for everyone so the boys went across the aisle to have a boys-only table. Here they are conspiring against the girls!

There was riding bikes in front,

And jumping on the tramp in the back.


Next time I'll show you pictures from our Girls-Only tea at the Grand America in Salt Lake City.

Thanks for stopping by.

Utah - Part Deux

William is 3. He has a wonderful imagination. With 2 older sisters, he also has an endless supply of shoes, purses, and tiaras. A guy needs to unload with his guy-friends sometime. So here is William talking to Gooka, or is it Glokan? He talks to them all the time! Needless-to-say, these imaginary friends make it easier to live with girls, I would think.


Poor Jill....she's at the end of this pregnancy and her feet are swelling so much in the afternoons that she spent most early evenings with her feet up. Thankfully, this new baby is scheduled for induction on the 24th of May so she can hopefully get back to her normal routine and figure. Hang in there, daughter...soon, SOON!



Young John (my 32 year old baby! - sorry, honey, you'll always be the baby!) wears the most amazing ties....I love to see him each morning with a new tie.

UTAH in the Spring

I got to spend 10 days in Utah with Young John and his lovely family. He and Jill made me so welcome...it does a mother (and mother-in-law)'s heart good to be treated so well!

We sent to Jamba Juice for a pick-me-up one day!


Jill made crepes for dinner one day. And who doesnt' like banana and strawberry dessert crepes?


Emily came upstairs wearing these adorable glasses. I asked her when she got them - she whispered, "they're fake...I don't wear glasses!". But she looks so darned cute in glasses!


More pictures coming later.
Thanks for stopping by.

Sock Madness IV Update

I have so much to update everyone about that I will probably do this in a couple of updates instead of one. So here's the first one.

SMIV is still going on and I finished the socks for Round 3 while on vacation in Utah. My darling Daughter-in-Law acted as my foot model this time....I give you finished socks for Round 3 - GAMs. I used a lovely yarn that was hand-dyed by my friend Jo in Ireland. It's Forget-Me-Not, merino/tencel blend. I love knitting with her yarns....so soft and drapey.