More to follow...

We've been working on the barn a lot lately. We have all the remaining siding (that we had) put up. We've been working on the shingles and making good progress.

Oriented

Tonight we had not one, but two, orientations. Each of our three youngest are transitioning to new schools this year. Gage is a Freshman, Drake is in 6th and his first year in the middle school, and Cora is going into a secondary elementary school. Sometimes it's hard to believe that those tiny little babies that I gave birth to 14, nearly 11 and nearly 9 years ago are already turning into these amazing, young people. They aren't babies anymore (although they will always be my babies)...they aren't toddlers (although there are days I miss this pacifier sucking, fuzzy blanket snuggling little ones)...they are intelligent, handsome/beautiful, interesting, hilarious, talented creatures and I absolutely adore each of them.
Tonight was Drake and Gage's orientations I'm so excited for them. Each starting this scary new chapter in their lives. They'll be successful...I know they will.

More Progress!

Another day...more progress!

What a difference a day makes :-)

Starting this morning...

First upper level piece of siding going up!

A beautiful Passion Flower, these just randomly grow on the property, thanks to the previous owners!

Mark, obviously focusing on safety LOL.

That's better!

Mark stole the camera and forced a picture of me!

...and here's where we ended for the day. Not too shabby - considering that Mark and I were on our own today.

And with that - I'm so tired. Time for "quiet time" with Mark and off to bed. Back to work tomorrow!

Today at the Homestead

As promised, we went back to work on the barn today. We are worried that with this sudden transition to cooler weather, that fall...then winter will be heading our way and we won't have our animals prepared. Today, Mark's brother, Jon, came and spent the entire day helping us working on getting the 2x4s that the siding will attach to. We also framed out the upper level doors and put rails on either side.

Tomorrow - we'll be back at it. I feel accomplished.

Me and Mark's brother, Jon, working on the barn.

Itty, Frankie, Ollie, and Jester playing "King of the Hill" with our bench.

Steve and Jester - hanging out in the pasture.



Mark and Jon - giving me a heart attack! Be careful Mark!



Safety first Mark!



Mark and Jon.

Steve's so dreamy LOL

Drake and his Uncle Jon - close up!

Drake and his Uncle Jon on the upper level of the barn.

Mark and Jon, working on the barn

Bringing sexy back!

It was brought to my attention that, when I work on the farm, I don't always bring the sexy back ;-) It's true...many times I'm out there in the night prior's PJs and wait for it...my super awesome rubber boots that are pink/purple with GOLD roosters (Thanks TSC!). I find that there is no reason to "dress for success" when I'm out there raking up poo! However, I will now present you with a handful of photos where I'm looking all cleaned up and purty ...Enjoy!

Picking out a treat from Hershey's Chocolate World, Hershey, PA.

Milking Mabel, out in the driveway...before we had the stand in the barn :-)

Me with Cora and Drake

Good morning time!

In January, before I chopped my hair :-)

About a month ago, after I chopped about 10 inches off my hair.

So see...I'm not always all dolled up, but when I do, I clean up pretty good :-)

Hay Delivery and Farm Tour

Hey - who is that handsome man? That's my Mark!

Our makeshift hay bale ramp

Same tool - from a different angle

Drake, his friend Eion, Cora and me - waiting to help pull the hay up.

I have to admit - Mark is pretty freaking smart. This process makes lifting bales of hay to the second level SO MUCH EASIER

Five bales up - four to go! One more will go on the main level to feed the animals from.

Push Mark, PUSH!

Pull kids! PULL!!!

The young men, after some muscle building exercises!

Me and kids, minus Gage...hey! Where IS Gage?? Probably playing video games.

Ollie! I see you!

Cora and Eion...Love Cora's outfit LOL

Eion helping the animals reach the yummy pine.

You can reach it Mabel!

Blossom and Josie wondering why I'm out there with the camera.

Drake and Eion - playing with the animals.

Stretch Flora! You can reach!

Eion and Drake - hanging with the animals.

Jeremiah -the bullfrog that apparently lives in our barn!

Hi Frankie!

Is it wrong that when I look at Frankie, all I can think about it what a beautiful sweater she is going to make??

Josie and Blossom in the pen.

Steve and Jester in the pen.

Itty and Frankie in the pen.



Mabel and Flora in the pen.

Whew - what a busy morning. I took a MUCH needed PTO day today and Monday. Today was to help Mark with morning chores - we had a lot of rain last night and the pens were a MESS. We needed to get the animals out to pasture and rake the pens, add hay and minerals for everyone and then cover the floors in pine shavings. We let Steve and Itty out to pasture and it seems that everyone was playing nicely together (with the exception of Mabel - who was as bossy and pushy as ever - it really bothers me when she just butts into the side of Itty...I'm worried that she is going to reinjure her). After this post, I'm going to grab a quick shower and then we are taking the kids to Jungle Jims International Market. Gage wants his party tomorrow to have an international theme - so I'm hoping that Jungle Jims will have a different snacks for everyone to try out. I took Monday off, since we are hoping to get back to working on siding and roof shingles on the barn and get that finished before the cooler fall (and eventually winter) weather comes in. It works just fine, now that the weather is still warm. But soon, school will be starting and we'll be busy with all that comes with that. Plus we need to have the final inspections on the barn and make sure that we are all set with the county.
I will end this post with a video of the barn/pasture area....Enjoy!