Christine and I both have the flu. The visiting baby was up at 3:30 Monday morning and 2:30 Tuesday morn. She went back to sleep around 3:30 AM. I woke up at 4:45 in a pool of sweat. I decided it would be better to go to work than stay home with the day care kids.
The visiting kids seem to be getting better. Last night they didn’t give me any trouble. Christine had class last night and the kids had a visit with their mom. They came back in a good mood. Christine has to teach a class tonight. I will have them from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM. They go to bed at 800 PM.
I am soo tried. This flu is kicking my butt.
Not much going on at the farm. No baby goats yet. Randy fenced in a new pasture. Apollo is still there. The chickens are still laying 1-3 eggs a day. I’m waiting on this auction to get over with. I’ll be glad when I get that secret room. I still don’t know if Claudia is going to live out there.
New Addition to the Farm
Mom & foal
Farm Life of Yesteryear
Christine's Grandpa Schnedler's Plow
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Just Another Day
After work I went in search of a six-sided 7/8 inch comb wrench. I couldn’t find a six-sided. All I could find were twelve-sided combo wrenches. $12 for a single wrench, what are these manufactures on …crack? We already have a 12-sided wrench so I went home. I met Christine, Kathy, and Randy at the end of the lane. They were waiting for the kids to get off the school bus.
I went on to the house to change clothes before the gaggle of kids come storming down the lane. I fixed the training wheels on one of the bikes that one of the big kids (I know which one) got on and messed up. The older kids, 2 of them are out of control.
After the child care kids left we took the bikes out and went for a stroll with our visiting kids. One of the kids bought back 2 eggs from the hen house. The other one went with Kathy over to Delores in search of a clipboard for school Thursday. I kept the baby in the stroller. She was playing with a toy and content.
After dinner we went out to do chores. We went to the chickens first. A couple of the hens were a little leery of going in the coop. I noticed a stick in there. The 2 older kids had disappeared for a while after getting off the bus. I wonder if they were terrorizing the chickens and threw a stick at one and it landed in the coop. Looks like a new rule has just been made. “No one over by the chickens without me”. If you are found over there you get one waning. The next time you’re found there you are outta here.
We went over to feed the goats and Randy and Sharon (Apollo’s owner) were standing looking at HD (Christine’s horse). Apparently HD had something stuck in her throat and was drooling profusely. It is about 6:30 PM so we decide to call the vet. Mike (the vet) comes out around 8:00 PM. By this time what ever was in the horse’s throat was gone. Mike said it probably went into her stomach and she’ll have to pass it. That’s going to be an expensive poop. After hours service call = $$. Thanks HD.
I put HD and the other horses out in the pasture. By the time I got home it was 8:45 PM. I still hadn’t eaten dinner yet. This is the 2nd night in a row I didn’t get to eat until after the kids went to bed. Some thing about this routine has to change.
Still no goat kids. I do have to trim the goats’ hooves. The mares got into the feed the other day. The chickens look like they may be molting. There are feathers covering the coop floor. It’s just another day at the farm.
I went on to the house to change clothes before the gaggle of kids come storming down the lane. I fixed the training wheels on one of the bikes that one of the big kids (I know which one) got on and messed up. The older kids, 2 of them are out of control.
After the child care kids left we took the bikes out and went for a stroll with our visiting kids. One of the kids bought back 2 eggs from the hen house. The other one went with Kathy over to Delores in search of a clipboard for school Thursday. I kept the baby in the stroller. She was playing with a toy and content.
After dinner we went out to do chores. We went to the chickens first. A couple of the hens were a little leery of going in the coop. I noticed a stick in there. The 2 older kids had disappeared for a while after getting off the bus. I wonder if they were terrorizing the chickens and threw a stick at one and it landed in the coop. Looks like a new rule has just been made. “No one over by the chickens without me”. If you are found over there you get one waning. The next time you’re found there you are outta here.
We went over to feed the goats and Randy and Sharon (Apollo’s owner) were standing looking at HD (Christine’s horse). Apparently HD had something stuck in her throat and was drooling profusely. It is about 6:30 PM so we decide to call the vet. Mike (the vet) comes out around 8:00 PM. By this time what ever was in the horse’s throat was gone. Mike said it probably went into her stomach and she’ll have to pass it. That’s going to be an expensive poop. After hours service call = $$. Thanks HD.
I put HD and the other horses out in the pasture. By the time I got home it was 8:45 PM. I still hadn’t eaten dinner yet. This is the 2nd night in a row I didn’t get to eat until after the kids went to bed. Some thing about this routine has to change.
Still no goat kids. I do have to trim the goats’ hooves. The mares got into the feed the other day. The chickens look like they may be molting. There are feathers covering the coop floor. It’s just another day at the farm.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Morphing of the Farm
{Recap}
Out here my wife is running a child care activities center. We have children coming and going. Things get a little heated between children. We also have Christine’s grandparents, Christine’s parents, and Christine and I living out here.
Christine’s G-parents are in the process of having an auction to sell off their stuff and RV full time. Christine’s parents retired 2 years ago and pretty much work full time keeping the farm up. They say they work harder now than they did when they had jobs.
Christine and I are like to ships in the night. Some times our schedules allow us to actually talk to one another instead of text messaging and emailing. We need to make time for ourselves.
Juggling child care children, foster care children, animals, farm maintenance, and work schedules are hectic. Things are bound to get crazy.
Out here my wife is running a child care activities center. We have children coming and going. Things get a little heated between children. We also have Christine’s grandparents, Christine’s parents, and Christine and I living out here.
Christine’s G-parents are in the process of having an auction to sell off their stuff and RV full time. Christine’s parents retired 2 years ago and pretty much work full time keeping the farm up. They say they work harder now than they did when they had jobs.
Christine and I are like to ships in the night. Some times our schedules allow us to actually talk to one another instead of text messaging and emailing. We need to make time for ourselves.
Juggling child care children, foster care children, animals, farm maintenance, and work schedules are hectic. Things are bound to get crazy.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The Bartering Begins
We talked with Christine’s G & G Wednesday about renting the trailer. Money-Gruber Delores is already trying to screw us over. I’ll had to say, she is consistent in the fact that she will screw over anyone, family or stranger. We said we would charge her “X” amount for the trailer lot. The same amount she charged us back in the early 90’s. You think she would be happy about this, you know inflation and all.
Anyway, She says she called a trailer park in Danville and got a price for a trailer lot. She probably asked for the cheapest price knowing her. The price is half of what she charged us. Milford said the price we are asking is a fair price. Delores just wants more of the almighty dollar in her pocket at the expense of family. Side note: I’ll be glad when she is off the property. I can’t hardly stand looking at her.
Well it looks as though Claudia and Rich are going to rent the trailer. We have to draw up a contract. I can see now I’m going to have to tell Delores it’s my way or the highway. She didn’t have a problem calling around Burlington to get a “fair” price for Christine and I to pay to her for lot rent. I foresee me telling Delores to forget the agreement and move the trailer off MY property. Did I mention I’ll be glad when she goes south?
I just called a mobile home park. The rent for a lot is $155. I little more than we are asking so let Delores start her whining now.
Anyway, She says she called a trailer park in Danville and got a price for a trailer lot. She probably asked for the cheapest price knowing her. The price is half of what she charged us. Milford said the price we are asking is a fair price. Delores just wants more of the almighty dollar in her pocket at the expense of family. Side note: I’ll be glad when she is off the property. I can’t hardly stand looking at her.
Well it looks as though Claudia and Rich are going to rent the trailer. We have to draw up a contract. I can see now I’m going to have to tell Delores it’s my way or the highway. She didn’t have a problem calling around Burlington to get a “fair” price for Christine and I to pay to her for lot rent. I foresee me telling Delores to forget the agreement and move the trailer off MY property. Did I mention I’ll be glad when she goes south?
I just called a mobile home park. The rent for a lot is $155. I little more than we are asking so let Delores start her whining now.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Getting Ready
It’s a time of change.
I am working on my car so I can change vehicles. I changed the spark plug wires and checked the front brakes. The brakes looked fine. I wonder why it sounds like the brakes are gone. Maybe it is the rotors. I’ll add them to my list of things to do. The van is about to loose the toque converter. After work I thought I was going to get stranded. The torque converter started slipping.
On the car I have to change the downline oxygen sensors on the exhaust on the car and it should be ready to roll. I still need to replace the front and read rotors, but that can be done a little later.
I am going to change the location of my goats soon. I am going to bring them over to the barn for the winter; there is water, heat, and shelter there for the kids.
The auction is 3 weeks away. It will be here soon. I can’t wait. I’ll be glad when all that stuff is gone. I am curious as to how much money the auction will bring.
I am still trying to get Apollo out of here. He is too unruly to stay here. I believe Sharon wants to keep him here. That is not an option. He has until the middle of Oct to be removed. If not, I will remove him.
I am working on my car so I can change vehicles. I changed the spark plug wires and checked the front brakes. The brakes looked fine. I wonder why it sounds like the brakes are gone. Maybe it is the rotors. I’ll add them to my list of things to do. The van is about to loose the toque converter. After work I thought I was going to get stranded. The torque converter started slipping.
On the car I have to change the downline oxygen sensors on the exhaust on the car and it should be ready to roll. I still need to replace the front and read rotors, but that can be done a little later.
I am going to change the location of my goats soon. I am going to bring them over to the barn for the winter; there is water, heat, and shelter there for the kids.
The auction is 3 weeks away. It will be here soon. I can’t wait. I’ll be glad when all that stuff is gone. I am curious as to how much money the auction will bring.
I am still trying to get Apollo out of here. He is too unruly to stay here. I believe Sharon wants to keep him here. That is not an option. He has until the middle of Oct to be removed. If not, I will remove him.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Auction Prep
I see hay racks showing up at the farm. The day is getting near. I can’t wait. In my best Gollum voice...{Soon my precious it will all be mine.}
The other day I took the cast iron bell from in front of the screened-in porch to put up by our house. The very next day Christine’s grandpa came walking around by the house. I went outside and he told me he was looking for the bell. He walked right by it. He had to see it. I told him we moved it up to the house. He informed me that they were putting it on the auction. I took it down within the hour in the rain. I took it to the barn and put it by their pile of junk on the floor.
Christine asked where the bell went. I told her what her G-pa had said and she decided that was the last straw. She doesn’t even want to be around for the auction. The only reason I’m going to be here is to make sure Money-grubber G-ma doesn’t sell off any of my stuff.
I can’t wait until Delores asks me if I am going to bid on anything at the auction. I have been rehearsing my response, “No I don’t think so. There is something about bidding on family heirlooms that make them loose their sentimental value. Let some other family have it.” Money-grubber is hoping to play on the emotions of the family to put up big money for family mementoes. The thing about that is most of the family doesn’t have excess money to spend nor do many of them care to buy the stuff. Delores is a miserable woman who enjoys making others miserable and causing grief among her family. {After thought…I wonder if you can rent pall-bearers. She’ll need to.}
In less than a month I am hoping the grand parents are gone for the winter. I’m going to put fences and structures up while they’re gone. When they come back in the spring they will know I’m ready for Delores to be gone. COME ON October 10th.
The other day I took the cast iron bell from in front of the screened-in porch to put up by our house. The very next day Christine’s grandpa came walking around by the house. I went outside and he told me he was looking for the bell. He walked right by it. He had to see it. I told him we moved it up to the house. He informed me that they were putting it on the auction. I took it down within the hour in the rain. I took it to the barn and put it by their pile of junk on the floor.
Christine asked where the bell went. I told her what her G-pa had said and she decided that was the last straw. She doesn’t even want to be around for the auction. The only reason I’m going to be here is to make sure Money-grubber G-ma doesn’t sell off any of my stuff.
I can’t wait until Delores asks me if I am going to bid on anything at the auction. I have been rehearsing my response, “No I don’t think so. There is something about bidding on family heirlooms that make them loose their sentimental value. Let some other family have it.” Money-grubber is hoping to play on the emotions of the family to put up big money for family mementoes. The thing about that is most of the family doesn’t have excess money to spend nor do many of them care to buy the stuff. Delores is a miserable woman who enjoys making others miserable and causing grief among her family. {After thought…I wonder if you can rent pall-bearers. She’ll need to.}
In less than a month I am hoping the grand parents are gone for the winter. I’m going to put fences and structures up while they’re gone. When they come back in the spring they will know I’m ready for Delores to be gone. COME ON October 10th.
Crazy Weekend
What a crazy weekend. It rained all day Saturday. Our pond ran on shore by about 6 feet. Christine had a touch of the flu and we had four…yes 4 foster boys ages 12, 11, 8, and 5. When the rain slacked up, the boys and I would go out and go fishing. When the rain came down harder we would keep fishing. The temp was warm so it wasn’t bad. We didn’t catch any thing. We lost a bunch of lures and bobbers.
The boys were good for the most part. They played air hockey and computer games. We definitely have to get inside games for older children.
Sunday was better. We went to the River Front and skipped stones in the river. The boys ran along the river. We went to Snake Alley. The most crooked road in the world according to the Guinness Book.
We went back home and went fishing and rode in the paddle boat. Over all it was a good weekend.
The boys were good for the most part. They played air hockey and computer games. We definitely have to get inside games for older children.
Sunday was better. We went to the River Front and skipped stones in the river. The boys ran along the river. We went to Snake Alley. The most crooked road in the world according to the Guinness Book.
We went back home and went fishing and rode in the paddle boat. Over all it was a good weekend.
Performance
We performed at the local Farmer’s Market Thursday.
We got a very positive response. The local newspaper did an article on us for the Lifestyle section http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/Belly-Dancers-091408
We had a drumming session close to the end of the performance. Some market goers started dancing with us. It was great.
A good friend of ours is moving to NY for health reasons. We are going to miss him. We are hoping to go visit him in the near future. We are looking at taking the train out there. That would be a blast.
We got a very positive response. The local newspaper did an article on us for the Lifestyle section http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/Belly-Dancers-091408
We had a drumming session close to the end of the performance. Some market goers started dancing with us. It was great.
A good friend of ours is moving to NY for health reasons. We are going to miss him. We are hoping to go visit him in the near future. We are looking at taking the train out there. That would be a blast.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Money Grubber
Just as I figured. The money-grubber is at work. Delores is figuring out a way for her to capitalize on family. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Claudia (Christine’s aunt, Delores daughter, Kathy’s sister) and her husband Rich were talking about renting Delores and Milford’s trailer. Claudia talked to Milford and Delores about it and the very next day Delores calls Kathy (under the guise of wishing Kathy and Randy happy anniversary) to discuss the renting of her trailer. She wanted to know if Christine and I said Claudia and Rich could rent the trailer.
Kathy told Delores that Claudia would have to pay lot rent of $125, the same price Delores charged Christine and I when we moved out there. Delores was like, I didn’t think about that. NO SHIT. She doesn’t think about the possibility of having to pay for anything. It’s all Take with her.
It is just as I promised. This winter is going to be busy and could get heated. Perhaps even a couple of family hurt feelings. Delores is already counting the money. She says she doesn’t want to have an auction, she doesn’t want to move, BUT she is willing to rent her trailer for a year until she decides to move back. HER lying ass, she sees another way to soak family out of money for her own greed. This lady is truly a case study.
I do not like where this is leading. I was hoping to get rid of the trailer on the hill. If Claudia doesn’t rent it, no one else is. Not her daughter or any cousins, or anyone else. This isn’t a family spring board. I seem to remember getting burnt before helping members of Christine’s family; you think they would have learned from the last time.
Here is my prediction. Claudia and Rich won’t move out to the farm. Delores extends her money-grubbing hand to other family members and suggests they move out to the farm in order to get money from them. Under the guise that she is helping them out in their hour of need.
I say no one is moving out here. I become the bad guy because I don’t want people living out here, except for my in-laws. They are the only ones that have given a damn about the place.
Delores will mope and whine about being forced to move or do without because she can’t afford (Fill in the blank). She’ll blame everyone else for her woes, all the while causing strife throughout the family. I will move her shit from the secret room in the barn to the garage hooked to the trailer. I will take over the secret room. Why? Because the barn is supposed to be mine.
It looks like a storm is brewing. Let it come.
Kathy told Delores that Claudia would have to pay lot rent of $125, the same price Delores charged Christine and I when we moved out there. Delores was like, I didn’t think about that. NO SHIT. She doesn’t think about the possibility of having to pay for anything. It’s all Take with her.
It is just as I promised. This winter is going to be busy and could get heated. Perhaps even a couple of family hurt feelings. Delores is already counting the money. She says she doesn’t want to have an auction, she doesn’t want to move, BUT she is willing to rent her trailer for a year until she decides to move back. HER lying ass, she sees another way to soak family out of money for her own greed. This lady is truly a case study.
I do not like where this is leading. I was hoping to get rid of the trailer on the hill. If Claudia doesn’t rent it, no one else is. Not her daughter or any cousins, or anyone else. This isn’t a family spring board. I seem to remember getting burnt before helping members of Christine’s family; you think they would have learned from the last time.
Here is my prediction. Claudia and Rich won’t move out to the farm. Delores extends her money-grubbing hand to other family members and suggests they move out to the farm in order to get money from them. Under the guise that she is helping them out in their hour of need.
I say no one is moving out here. I become the bad guy because I don’t want people living out here, except for my in-laws. They are the only ones that have given a damn about the place.
Delores will mope and whine about being forced to move or do without because she can’t afford (Fill in the blank). She’ll blame everyone else for her woes, all the while causing strife throughout the family. I will move her shit from the secret room in the barn to the garage hooked to the trailer. I will take over the secret room. Why? Because the barn is supposed to be mine.
It looks like a storm is brewing. Let it come.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Things Starting to Move
Well the auction pendulum has swung to the “I didn’t want to have an auction” side. Delores is blaming Milford for wanting the auction. I’m sure she is fishing for pity. She was the one seeing $$ in her eyes. Now she doesn’t want to move. They are fixing the floor in the trailer the flooded. Insurance is paying for some of the repairs. It looks like they will be there for a while. That’s okay. I am moving forward with my plans for the barn area. I’m turning it into a communal area. I would like to put a gathering area where the trailer is. This winter will be busy.
My in-laws pulled out Sunday. They are taking a couple week vacation. Wish I could of went with them. They are planning to be back for the auction.
It looks like now the mower and tractor are back on the auction block. Delores wanted to put the furniture from the trailer in the barn. That would of meant that my tractor go outside. I don’t think so Willis. She can put HER furniture in HER garage. I will let her put a hayrack with her stuff on it in the barn the night before the auction if it looks like rain. Other than that she can figure it out herself. She wouldn’t help us out if there wasn’t anything in it for her. I’ll be glad when Oct 10th gets here. That’s auction day.
After the auction is over I am putting a lock on the barn. It is mainly to keep her from putting more of her shit in there.
Mat came and picked up Roscoe the dog. Roscoe was visiting the neighbors unannounced. I figured he better go before someone whacked him. Mat also took the cats. I guess the boys still wanted them. I wasn’t aware of that. It was my understanding that the cats weren’t going over to where Mat is. I guess they did.
We went to the last animal swap of the season. We came home without any animals. That is awesome. Now that we are gearing up for winter, we need to get Apollo out of here. I can’t afford him out there anymore. It looks like I’ll have to put a date on the removal. I don’t know how aggressively Sharon is looking for another place for him.
It rained most of the day. It will be a little longer until I can finish mowing the yard.
My in-laws pulled out Sunday. They are taking a couple week vacation. Wish I could of went with them. They are planning to be back for the auction.
It looks like now the mower and tractor are back on the auction block. Delores wanted to put the furniture from the trailer in the barn. That would of meant that my tractor go outside. I don’t think so Willis. She can put HER furniture in HER garage. I will let her put a hayrack with her stuff on it in the barn the night before the auction if it looks like rain. Other than that she can figure it out herself. She wouldn’t help us out if there wasn’t anything in it for her. I’ll be glad when Oct 10th gets here. That’s auction day.
After the auction is over I am putting a lock on the barn. It is mainly to keep her from putting more of her shit in there.
Mat came and picked up Roscoe the dog. Roscoe was visiting the neighbors unannounced. I figured he better go before someone whacked him. Mat also took the cats. I guess the boys still wanted them. I wasn’t aware of that. It was my understanding that the cats weren’t going over to where Mat is. I guess they did.
We went to the last animal swap of the season. We came home without any animals. That is awesome. Now that we are gearing up for winter, we need to get Apollo out of here. I can’t afford him out there anymore. It looks like I’ll have to put a date on the removal. I don’t know how aggressively Sharon is looking for another place for him.
It rained most of the day. It will be a little longer until I can finish mowing the yard.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
What a Weekend!
Gustav heading for my relatives in Biloxi, MS. They weren’t hit too badly. A limb fell on my youngest daughter’s car. Messed it up a bit, broke the tail light and dented he roof a little.
We had three children stay with us for the weekend. They are 17 months, 3 & 4 year old. Pretty good children really. We hung around the farm all weekend. They enjoyed helping me with the chores. They liked the cats and horses the best. The goats pushed them around trying to get to the food. The chickens didn’t hold their interest at all, until the rooster crowed. After that we were back to see the horses. They liked sitting on the horse while it ate.
Still no kids from my goats. Peaches is still limping but getting better. I am looking at getting rid of the cats (I got the go-ahead) and turning the lean-two into the winter goat shelter. I all ready have buyers for my kids and they aren’t even here yet. I will work on the pen today. I have to get some photos posted.
Randy and Kathy bought some saddles and blankets from the Kalona horse sale. Looks like we may be able to start riding those horses now. We put up a temporary grazing area this weekend for the horses. I have the jigger bites to prove it.
We had three children stay with us for the weekend. They are 17 months, 3 & 4 year old. Pretty good children really. We hung around the farm all weekend. They enjoyed helping me with the chores. They liked the cats and horses the best. The goats pushed them around trying to get to the food. The chickens didn’t hold their interest at all, until the rooster crowed. After that we were back to see the horses. They liked sitting on the horse while it ate.
Still no kids from my goats. Peaches is still limping but getting better. I am looking at getting rid of the cats (I got the go-ahead) and turning the lean-two into the winter goat shelter. I all ready have buyers for my kids and they aren’t even here yet. I will work on the pen today. I have to get some photos posted.
Randy and Kathy bought some saddles and blankets from the Kalona horse sale. Looks like we may be able to start riding those horses now. We put up a temporary grazing area this weekend for the horses. I have the jigger bites to prove it.
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