Walking in the Mud...

...has some consolations. We are enjoying the process of becoming country girls, and getting the new accessories!

We're Moving

As most of you know, we are moving "to a big home, in the country". The house we are moving out of is the place were everybody has lived the longest. The longest Mom or I had lived anywhere before was 22 months. Dad had lived in one place a little longer, but all of our lives were fairly mobile until September 1998, when we moved in here. It has been strange to see the moving boxes again, and actually be a help filling them (last time we moved, Mom, not impressed with an eight and ten year old's packing skills, sent us outside). So here are a few farewell photos of the house that has sheltered us for eleven years.

One of the quirks of this house was the electrical system. I don't think we yet have all of the switches and lights matched up.


Goodbye! May the next owners be as blessed as we were.

Happy 20th Anniversary, Dad and Mom!

Pictures of the celebration are coming soon!

Chicken Butchering

Jordan has begun to raise and sell meat chickens, and over the summer he was able to get three batches from chick to freezer. He has learned a lot (like the cat's food bowl has to be full or a chick will completely disappear), and gained experience in what he hopes is his life work. He was also able to have some friends over for three butchering days, making the job much faster.

One wouldn't assume that chicken butchering would be fun, but with the right group of guys, it is! From watching Chicken Run the night before to cleaning up after all the dirty work is done, these guys make it a great time, even when it takes a fifteen minutes standing over the sink per bird. The Amazing Chicken Plucker that David made and brought this past time made it even better, since the plucking went down from thirty minutes a bird to thirty seconds.

After the last bird is plunked in the freezer, though, the enjoyment takes on a whole new level. Being a family of mostly girls, watching guys interact (and celebrate finishing early with the Chicken Dance) is quite entertaining. We are very glad that Jordan has such good friends, knowing that the chicken business wouldn't be seem so appealing if he only had us to help him.

County Fair

This past Thursday we spent a fun day at the fair with some friends. We all had a great time seeing fluorescent rocks, examining the crafts for the names of people we knew, and wandering through the animal pavilion. Our little ones were very interested in seeing goats and chickens, since Jordan and I talk about ours on our friend's property quite a bit. Chris especially was excited to see the chicks hatching. He can't wait till we get to move into our house in the country, so he can get some of his own.

A Walk in the Fall