The waterfall story

Next to the house is a waterfall. We started it up (months ago) for several hours, then it stopped working. This past weekend Rick and Debbie came up to visit for Easter. We all worked in the yard all afternoon. It was sunny and 65 degrees outside. Debbie and I were trying to figure out what went wrong with the pump. I disassembled it. Cleaned it. Checked out the electricity source. Everything I could think of. And could not figure out why it was not working. Again and again we plugged it in to see if the thing we tried had cured the problem. But the motor would not start.

Debbie came in and put her hands on the pump. She began praying for it. We plugged it in after that, and it started working straight away. We spent the rest of the day cleaning the pond and the river out. I am so glad for my in laws. They are a blessing to us. And it has been great witnessing Debbie's prayer life. She prays and believes. What a sign of faith! Now I know it was a silly pump, but it would have been expensive to replace. Thank you Jesus for Debbie (Mom/Grandma)!

Chicken coop

I am so excited to post about the coop. Ryan and I designed this coop ourselves. We had ideas from friends, and two books: Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens and Chicken Coops.


We are so thankful for friends and family. We have had help with so many projects. Thank you Greg, Tim, Rick (Dad/Grandpa) and Dick for lending a hand and some tools! We really appreciate your willingness and hard work.
Luke helped out too. He was in charge of pulling nails.

Notice chickens helping too!
This is the coop on the end. The run is the fenced area. Since this picture was taken, we've stapled a fine mesh wire to the bottom of the coop floor (seen above). We are going to put in removable floors for easy cleaning. We also planned the coop floor 1 1/2 feet off the ground. This is ergonomically easier to clean no stooping). I'll post more progress as it happens.

How much is encouragement? 10 cents a branch...

There is so much work to be done around here lately. The recent wind storm didn't help. So at 10 cents a branch, the children were asked to take a branch and haul it to the burn pile. That is about a 2 acre walk.

We also paid Luke 10 cents for every branch he encouraged Daphne to haul. At first, Luke wanted to haul all the branches so he could make the most money. So he was running up and down past her to get the most branches. Daphne tripped several times on the blacktop. She was crying. She was cold, and wet. Luke was grumpy when I asked him to help encourage his sister, and to slow down. So at the end, 10 cents made for a good lesson for both children.

Luke slowed down and walked along side of Daphne. Telling her she was a big girl, and a good worker. T hen they were happy, laughing and Luke was such an encouragement to his sister! The mood lasted all day. Then they both counted money and chatted about how it is better to work as a family, then to just play. Wahoo!

There have been many projects since. Now I do not have to pay Luke, he is just encouraging her on his own. He does need to be reminded, from time to time. But it just warms me all over to see them working together.

Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

^{Ecclesiastes 4:9-10}
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

Wild Horses

Our neighbor boards horses. She recently lost her husband, and wanted to open up more of her land to board even more horses. The other day, she and her daughter came up the trail with these two horses. They could hardly control them. Neither of them wanted the bridle on. They let us know "These are wild horses".

I don't know if they are really wild or just untrained. But they act wild. This was on of the first times they came up to us at the fence. Usually they run away, growl, or try to challenge the dog.

However, they are always neighing. It is a wonderful sound. I can't help but smile when I hear it.

Egg coloring

Happy Easter

We had Easter dinner at our home this year. I was excited to have most of our family over. We put together 3 tables to make one giant table. And had just enough chairs (thanks to Papa and Nana). I could not get everyone in a single photo. I think there seems to be a funny, and a serious side of the table.

The chicken garden

I started seeds in our house a while back. When they were less tender, I moved them to the green house to live with the chickens. I read about how carbon monoxide from chickens helps plants to grow better.

I placed wire over the hens to protect the plants.

Several days later I found 3 hens had learned to climb through the wire. They ate all the new plants. They also ate down a rose bush in the larger pot in the back. This was sad because it is a start of the wild rose bush from my great, great grandparent's property in West Virginia. I think I was most upset about that. I am hoping it comes back to life.

Do you have these in your kitchen?

My friend posted her recipe for "Banana pancakes". I tried it. It is super tasty. Eggs, bananas ans vanilla are the only ingredients.
In a bowl mix 3 eggs to every 1 banana. Add 1/2 tsp vanilla (optional). A blender would work well.
Stir the mixture before scooping onto hot griddle. It tends to separate.
Enjoy! The above picture is with a plain yogurt/honey mixture. They taste like banana bread, and have the texture of a firm crepe. They are very sweet. Taste them before you even think of adding syrup.

Warning: Do not tell your children they are pancakes.

Our kiddo's were disappointed. They expected pancakes with syrup. Different was not "Good".

"But I didn't want it to happen"

"But I didn't want it to happen" Luke says to me.

I'd sent him out with a garbage bag earlier in the day. A while later we stumble upon this mess.
A good teaching moment for sure. Especially about doing things proper the first time. I felt really bad for Luke. He does not like sticky, dirty things. But it was good for him to clean up all the garbage.

He now reports back to me after taking out the garbage. "Mama, I put the bag ALL the way in the garbage and shut the shed door"

A good idea

We used a rubbermaid tote and cut holes in the top for ventilation. Within 2 weeks we knew it was not going to work any longer. Chickens stink. Even if you change the litter and wash the inside.

So off to the garage. Until the garage stench became so strong it wafted into the house. We had to get them out. I was thinking about the green house. It would stay warm, had electricity, and would be safe from predators. I couldn't figure out how to make it work.

Thanks to Elisha, an idea was born. I had to come up with materials. Since it is temporary, I used what I could find. It works well. But holding up the "Coop" is cardboard, duck tape, a washing machine drip pan, and wire taken from around a tree. It's like a homeless shelter for chickens.

Chickens

They are finally here. I have planned for chickens for several years now. We have 11 Barred Plymouth Rock and one Red sex link. We had to return one of the original chicks. All the feed store had left was Red sex link. So that is how we acquired "Goldy".

Goldy is Luke's chick. Luke just adores her. He carries her all over the yard.

Our family decided to let Chloe and Lilly name some chicks too. When I asked Chloe, she told me she wanted her chick to be named "Chicky". A good solid chicken name. I probably would have chosen the same when I was her age.

Then there was Lilly. She said she wanted to name her chick "Princess Leia" because "Luke likes Star Wars". I thought she said "Princess Lay-er". I asked if she had said "Lay-er". She started cracking up! I love when children are mature enough to understand that something is funny.

She was stern and serious with me the other day on the phone. She wanted to make sure it was "Leia" and not "Lay-er". She then told me she would name another "Lucky Charms".

Snow is no joke here

We've lived in Oregon most of our lives. We thought we knew about snow. Well...we didn't really. This is from 2 days of snow. 18 inches of wet, heavy snow. Our new driveway is more than 10 acres long. It took Ryan 2 days of scooping with the tractor to get us out! But I don't think he minded too much.