The Harvest....Continued

During the first day of harvest....six rattlesnakes were killed.

Dangerous....yes.....wasted.... NO!

They were saved by the workers, for a little treat later on that night.


Potatoes freshly pulled from the ground.

The women gather the potatoes and the men load them onto the trailers.





Loading....trailer after trailer. At the time we were in the fields, they had been working for

fourteen hours, and had several hours still ahead.

Waiting for the next section of potatoes to be dug up, so they could gather.

I thought they were beautiful ladies.

And finally, The Farmer, The Boy and Uncle Pinguino,

Enjoying the harvest!

Got Taters.....???

Harvest has begun!

Yesterday I took a little trip with The Farmer, The Boy and Rooster to watch the potatoes being harvested. It was so much fun and it was a new experience for me.

It was a beautiful afternoon, full of excitement for a harvest much anticipated.

This is the first year that The Farmer and his youngest brother, Uncle Penguin, grew potatoes. They learned alot.

This is just a little preview....I took soooo many pictures and am editing them right now. I will post the process of the potato harvest....with pictures....a little later today.

I love that Farmer of mine! (in the red shirt). I am so grateful that he is willing to do the right thing, because it is the "right thing." Even if others around him don't like it. Totally unrelated to the potates....

Not A Bad Thing......Right????

This when I need a little reassurance.....right about now!

THE DARLINGS are back to school,

and

I can't say that I am all that happy about it. You can call me a bad Mom...that's okay with me,

BUT

I just didn't get enough summer. It was to dang short!

and I miss those Darlings when they are gone all day. I am feeling like I want to keep them home all day, where I can see them. If I could I would probably wish for school again, but for now.....

I MISS THEM!

PreShie....she is a Freshman....she can look me directly in the eye, and

her Mother thinks she is beautiful!

She has become very health conscious this year...that is rough on a sack lunch!

Oh....The Rooster...he is in high school now. This is him sitting on the ditch bank putting his shoes on, waiting for the bus to come. He is adjusting well. Not to sure I am, but he is.

The Boy. A Junior, and I am seriously sheding tears as I type that word.

He just has two years until he goes on his mission.

Where did the time go??????

He is working on playing quarterback this year.

And there they go! And I sadly return to my home to prepare for my day.

This is right outside my kitchen window. One of the first sounds I hear each moring is the sound of the hummingbirds beginning to feed.

Today we have a "swarm" of hummingbirds and I LOVE IT!!!

I fill our feeders atleast once a day and they promptly empty it.

They are a complete joy to watch.

Kitty Meow Meow, actually caught one they other day and it nearly broke the heart of

The Rooster. The cat sat for days and days hoping to catch another, but lucky for us

he hasn't been able to.

The Farmer's Mother came by last night. We really like that lady! She is a favorite around here.

Even the dogs know and love her. She came during dinner, and we invited her to join us, she announced that she had just eaten. When we offered her a little chocolate pie.....she quickly found that she was not as full as she had previously thought!

Oh we love her!!!

She brought with her a few of her organic yummy pears, that were grown in her own yard.

I had big plans for those pears.......

but so did The Darlings....and they are nearly gone. What a treat for us!

Life is pretty darn good around her.....but.......

I MISS THOSE DARLINGS OF MINE!!!!

I Love This Place!

It really is one of my favorite cities ever!

CHICAGO

This is the view from our window,

The sheets are beyond wonderful!

(I have a thing for sheets)

This is The Farmer's breakfast....he thought it was pretty great,

me on the other hand

had a lovely plate of fruit.


The streets are lined with the most beautiful flowers.

Each year, when we return to this city

I am reminded again, why I love it so much!

Sad....but.....True!

I am fully aware that we here in Mexico have issues of our own....

BUT,

I thought these cartoons were pretty great!

I think this one (above) is my favorite!

Socks.....Clean or Dirty???

First, can I just say...

I LOVE MEXICO!!!

and here is another reason why....

I have had a stiff neck for going on two weeks now. I know why. I have a terrible mattress! Seriously, The Farmer and I have purchased so many mattresses it is sillly. We cannot find one we love. That is another story completely. Anyway, back to the neck problem. I cannot turn my head comfortably in either direction...so I just move my eyes.

The sweet lady that helps us in our house, noticed that the problem just wasn't going away. She, very seriously approached me and said that she knew exactly what was wrong and how it could be fixed. She said...and I do quote...."the reason your neck hurts is because your husband has a noose around your neck and he is slowly tightening it," and this is where I said....hummmmmm..

..then she said, "If you want to fix your neck, take one of The Farmer's tube socks....put it behind your neck....hold each end with your hands...and move back and forth, massaging your neck....

and the pain will leave." The Farmer thought that sounded great...with the exception that, he recommended that the sock that he had worn for the entire day....with his boots....would be the sock I should use.

NO!

I didn't try it!

(but my neck is feeling a little better today..thank goodness!)

It's All About The Coop!

Photo by Cjane

We are nearing the end of our home "renovtion." It has been a great experience even though we have literally lived in the middle of it while it was happening. We LOVE our contractor and well, it just won't be the same without him around. The Rooster is out of town at the moment, and when I told him we were about done, he said....."please don't let (our beloved contractor) go until I get back!" They really are great men...the whole crew! BUT, IT IS TIME!

We are thrilled with all that has been done, THRILLED!

One of the funnest things, for me, is the new respectable chicken coop! We have had chickens

for several years, it is so great to have fresh eggs each day. It has also been the "job" of The Rooster to care for the chicken herd. He feeds them, waters them and gathers the eggs daily. He has been doing this for a LONG time, and he does a great job.

He even names them, his favorite, which went to live with The Farmer's Mother, was named

LINDA, and somehow I think that Linda knew she was his favorite, she was a bit stuck up!

ANYWAY,

back to the coop.

So, my Dad came for a visit a few years ago, and ask what he could do for me during his visit. I quickly said, "build me a chicken house!" I had been envying his for awhile. While my parents lived in Utah they had the most fantastic chickens and the most darling house for them.

And so he set out to build the house. Can I just say

I LOVE IT!!!

It is red with a tin roof and it is the best. I love it more because he built it for me.

So, I had the dang cute chicken house, but the coop just didn't work.

Last week, I had to leave town for a few days,

And when I came back.......I had a

RESPECTABLE CHICKEN COOP!

That contractor that we all love so much....built me an awesome coop!

Nothing fancy....but perfect! I swear that those chickens love it too! They really showed it off the first time I visited their new place.

We have planted a great tree for them, to offer a little more shade. And it is perfection!

I can't wait for The Rooster to come home and check it out.....

*visit cjane for a great story about chickens in Provo

GO HERE

On Being A Vegetarian.....

This was the phone call I got today from PreShie....

PreShie: "Mom...I have decided to make some changes in my life."

MoM: "Really...that is great!...I think??? what are you talking about?"

PreShie: "I have decided to become a vegetarian!"

MoM: "Wow! a vegetarian, that is really nice"

PreShie: "Yep, I am now a vegetarian, EXCEPT, for

Sunday's and Monday's, what do you think?"

MoM: "PreShie, that is really funny!, everyday except Sunday and Monday?"

PreShie: "Why is that funny?"

I can't say that I have heard of a mid-week vegetarian...but

I have alot of this (above) waiting for her return;)

I Love Her!

PreShie is off to girls camp this morning...I miss her!

Aunt Jen was kind enough to include her in her stake's girls camp, and

PreShie hasn't done anything like this before.....she is in for a

great suprise! I know she will have a wonderful week....and

Thanks Aunt Jen for being so sweet!

It's Been Awhile!

It has been ahwile since I have posted, certainly not because there is nothing

to blog about, life has been very full and very busy. Here is a little update.

Our area is suffering terribly right now. The violence has risen to a level we thought

or atleast we prayed, that we would never see. It has changed things for us.

It has changed "life" for us.

For me, it is important that I choose to see the beauty around me rather

than focus on the obvious struggles we face daily. We are full of

faith. Each day is a new day that is filled with hope.

And so we press forward filled with faith!


The Farmer planted a section of sunflowers for me this year. He knows how much

I love flowers in general, but the sunfowers we grew two years ago brought me sooo much joy!

So it was a little gift from him, this small field of sunflowers and

I love them!

PreShie and the cousins were off to EFY in Thatcher this year. It was thier first year

to attend. Yes, that is a trailer (above) filled with thier needs for the week.

The Boy and I took 5 girls and dropped them off for a fun filled

week at EFY. They really hauled alot of STUFF!

PreShie and her dear friend/roomate, Kyla.

The Boy, surrounded with his beautiful cousins!

The Rooster is attending Scout Camp at the moment. This is his second year,

and The Farmer wasn't able to go this year, so it was pretty sad for

us to say goodbye to the little guy for a week. Thank goodness for amazing

leaders who serve our boys! We are planning on him returing with a load

of merit badges!

It's A Good Place To Be....

Mr. Potato Head

Today,

Mr. Potato Head, (aka. The Farmer) and I took a little drive.

Everything was very beautiful today. It was a bit

overcast...not too hot and the clouds were lovely.



I got a little lesson on potatoes today,

Mr. Potato Head was the teacher, and I must admit

it was interesting and I learned alot. The above picture is

the beginnings of many potatoes, imagine that!

Tractors working....

that makes a Farmer happy!



Watering...all kinds of wonderful things going on

at the potato farm.

We passed a nearby wheat field...it was

beautiful...still a little green,

but beautiful!

A lovely afternoon with

MR. POTATO HEAD.....

(aka. The Farmer!)

We Are So Proud....

Kitty Meow Meow.....

is a

FATHER!

We could not be more proud! There are two little kittens,

They live in the wood pile,

and he seems to spend alot of time with them.

Congrats...Meow, Meow!

It Doesn't Take Much To Make Me Happy....

I am not sure that The Farmer would agree...

BUT,

Last evening I spent some time in my garden. It is the best part of the day for me.

Late afternoon.....it is starting to cool off.....the light of that time of day is

perfection. It is a great time of day.

We are on round two with the garden....

It had to be "re-planted' because the dogs thought it was a wonderful

place to dig...and well I can't say that I blame them.

The garden soothes me, it must of made them feel good, becasue they

completely tore it to pieces. Anyway, we re-planted and everything is coming along

beautifully. I came across some lovely squash....some pefect onions....


Oh, and wow....some green tomatoes.

It seriously does not get any better than that ....

for me.


And so I began to plan my breakfast for the next morning...

YUM!!!

Notice how I said....MY .....breakfast!


And so this was the menu...

And

It was AMAZING!

Squash with Onions,

Lightly Fired Green Tomatoes,

Homemade Whole Wheat Bread,

a little cottage cheese.

and

IT MADE ME VERY HAPPY!

It all ended with a few freshly picked

STRAWBERRIES...

I am so very glad that summer it here!