Softball

The girls are playing softball this year, which means we head to the diamond three nights a week.  With ceramics class, teaching, mowing, gardening, and chores that leads absolutely no time for blogging, cleaning, or riding.  Last week, class ending, school is finally finished (for girls and me), and we have a couple nights off from ballgames... and yes, a little time to shovel out the house, blog, and catch up with life.  Here are some pictures of the Little Leaguers!

 

Brett is an Angel... he he, giggles! She is learning the game this first year, and knows catching is not her favorite position.  She has also "perfected" taking strikes and loves folding laundry.

 Bri is on the Crush team.  She loves catching and stealing bases.  Catching keeps her "in the game" and away from picking dandelions.  Her team might receive the chants and cheers award.

 With only a few games left, we hope to finish the seasons with a few more hits, and will continue to practice hitting off their superstar mom pitcher! (not, pitching is not my strength)

Wanted

Lough Ranch is in need of egg cartons.  The ladies are laying and we need cartons.  Right now the eggs are in an ice cream bucket in the fridge.  I will pick them up or let me know how to get them.  Thanks!

Hello Blog!

Hello Blog, I have missed you!  Over the last few weeks, we have been very busy.  Miss Brett turned 11 and we celebrated Hawkeye style with cousin Clara.  All enjoyed grilling at the cabin, cake and ice cream, new clothes, and I-Tunes cards.  Thanks to all!

We have also planted peas, potatoes, onions, radishes, and lettuce in the garden.  Can't wait until we get our first produce... it's so exciting!

We also made maple syrup from sap we collected from maple trees.  When I have too many snow days, I dream up new adventures, and this was an adventure alright!  We "tapped" the maple trees about a mouth ago.  After gathering sap, we stored the sap in the fridge.  We gathered 10 gallons of sap.  Then we boiled the sap because it is 90% water... boiled on an open fire...  boiled on the stove... and boiled for 3 days... and boiled until we reached 219.5 degrees, and finally we made syrup!  We ended up with about 2 quarts of maple syrup. What an adventure!

Pottery

WA LA!  Here is my pottery.  We finished up our classes on Saturday with glazing, Betty fired them Saturday night, and I picked them up Sunday afternoon.  Absolutely wonderful class, thanks Village of Van Buren Folk School and Betty, our teacher!  Check out Iron and Lace if you are ever in Bentonport.

Pottery Class

I currently attended a pottery class in Bentenport.  I learned how to "wedge clay,throw a pot, trim a pot, and foot a pot."  The class is on Friday night and Saturday morning... uggg!  But it is super fun, and I can't wait to go Friday night.  Betty, our instructor, is amazing.  Enjoy my pictures.

Guess which pots are mine?  Does anyone have an old pottery wheel, some clay, and a kiln laying around?

Sledding

 We spent the weekend sledding... eight kids, four broken sleds, no blood or broken bones, three different hills, many wipe outs, a few cows and their poo... GREAT FUN! 

 BL pulled Canon back up the hill.  He walked down the hill and sled back up.

 Tipsy chased every sled down the hill and only got rolled once.

Goose and Maverick enjoyed some beverages.

Cinnamon and Sugar

Here are the cutest baby goats in Union Township.  They jump on their mamma's back, chase the puppy out of the barn, and pounce around like the are own the ranch.  They are keeper... both females!

Welcome Cinnamon and Sugar!