Its been hard on us all!

 

Pumpkin Carving

 Usually there's a nice warm day before Halloween where we can carve pumpkins outside, but this Sunday when we all got together It was COLD - all day cold- like low 30s, so we carved pumpkins in the garage this year!

Dawson picking his pumpkins nose instead of his own!

Mitch got his pumpkin all carved up first and enjoyed some homemade chili and cornbread!

Our new curious kitten checking out the pumpkins

~

10 years and I still miss her every day

 It seems like I've been w/o her for  ages yet the years have gone in the blink of an eye, 10 years w/o my momma. I think of her daily, miss her daily and get my heart broken often when I see mommies and their daughters or Grandmas out enjoying their grandchildren or her friends/cousins out enjoying their golden years. My heart aches for my children and the void they have in their life w/o her. 

She was so smart, well spoken, social, organized, loved her children more than life, a friend that friends loved to have, students adored her, she always made her parents so proud, the list goes on... what an amazing person. She worked so hard for us, my first horse was paid for w piano lessons to the  previous owner's children. 

I miss that I can't just call her up on the phone and ask her anything no matter how import or trivial. I love that my children call or text (these days) about everything and anything that they need or just the random thoughts they have, I remember doing that and miss it so much!

So much of me is from this wonderful lady. I hope that I'm doing her proud.

Momma chicken and her baby turkey

 We have one hen that tends to go broody. So this time we decided to put her to work hatching and raising some chicks. We got variety of fertilized eggs from our good friend, a mix of bantam, cochin and turkey eggs. We were a little worried that they all might hatch, our friend was very generous!

Typically it takes about a month for eggs to hatch - we placed all the eggs under her on June 9.

To our surprise one of the eggs hatched on June13 - which was both good and bad. We didn't get a whole new flock at one time but we only ended up getting one chick to hatch and survive. I believe she got too distracted with the one chick and didn't do a great job sitting on the the rest of the eggs the last week when chick was more mobile and running around.

July 19, She's raising a turkey!

July 29 - Her lil turkey is growing fast and gaining on her

Sept 11 - that's one big baby turkey she has!

Mondays w Mo

With the nice weather coming to an end we decided to get in one more river trip. We loaded kayaks and headed to Sunriver to kayak in the Deschutes River. 

We hopped in the kayaks and headed down river, a nice clam slow current - just floating on downriver thinking we were all that.

I quickly learned Huck in the front was not the best idea, an extra 30lbs in the front was a bit much.

Yep, nice and easy float so far

Huck road much better in the back

about 35 minutes of going down river we decided we better head back. Funny how that calm little current can be somewhat of a challenge paddling against it! OMG - 30+ minutes of hard paddling up river, w a dog in the back and me sitting on my life jacket, may not have been one of the best thought out plans. obviously we made it, exhausted arms and shoulders and we just about died laughing at the situation once we got on shore and out of the kayaks.... love my adventures w Mo!

We Made It! 

Next time head upstream first then float back 

or figure out a second vehicle at a pick up spot down river!

A much deserved and appreciated lunch and beer at the Wallow!