Good morning! It's a super wet rainy day today, but inside I woke up at a glorious 7:37 a.m. to a wonderful sight! I know, you're saying, "But Sharon...the plate is empty!" This is the "after" picture. The before picture was a plate full of chocolate chip pancakes loaded with butter and maple syrup, scrambled eggs with melted cheese on top, and sausage patties...Y to the U to the M! Those flowers are absolutely gorgeous! It was so sweet of the troops to go out in the pouring rain to cut them from the I have no idea what kind of bush it is, but it has the most beautiful flowers when it blooms bush. Afterwards I was handed my book and knitting needles so I could lounge around in bed while they took care of outside chores. I chose the book since somewhere between the living room and bedroom a needle got lost, but it's the thought that counts. After I did a bit of reading and headed downstairs I found the next picture in the kitchen...well, you know what I mean, not the picture but the actual flowers and cards on the table. All of the flowers are from the peony bushes that just started to bloom in our yard and that ever elusive I have no idea what kind of bush it is, but it has the most beautiful flowers when it blooms bush. The kitchen now smells wonderful - a mixture of chocolate chip pancakes and flowers. I was given the news that I am being taken to the movies to celebrate Mother's Day. I was also told that I definitely want to see Marvel's The Avengers movie. I also know this is a ploy for them to see it, so I felt some harassment was in order. I reminded them it's Mother's Day and I want to see a chick-flick so we'll see The Lucky One, which made them cringe in horror. Then I told them if that didn't work we can see The Three Stooges. Of course, I had to throw in a couple of nyuk-nyuk-nyuk's, whoop-whoo-whoop-whoops, and a, "Oh, a wise guy, eh?". They weren't impressed. Truth be told, I do want to see The Avengers, but I'll keep that as our little secret until we get to the theatre and buy the tickets. To all new mothers (my sister, Erin), uber experienced mothers (my mother, Arlene), and mothers in between (my sister, Karyn)...I wish you a wonderful day! To all the other mothers out there that have touched my life and to mothers I've never met, I wish you the same. Enjoy this special day, which is a glorious celebration of, well, us! From the famous quotes of Curly Howard today is a "Poifect" day! Smiling & Waving, Sharon
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This is Tony VanMeter, or as the kids say, "The sausage guy." Go ahead, wave back at Tony. You know you want to. His market booth is across from ours. Tony has been with the Chillicothe Farmers Market for a long time. Just how long I have no idea, but it's been longer than my four years. At least six I'd say since I remember buying sausage from him before we moved here. Tony sells the most awsome pork! In fact, it's yummy to the max!! We especially like his sausage patties, which I made sure to buy this morning since tomorrow is Mother's Day and I'll be served breakfast in bed. (No, that's not a hint to my troops. History has been pretty consistent with how my Mother's Day will begin.) Every piece of pork we've brought home from Tony has been absolute heaven! I don't know if he babies those hogs, sings to them, or what...but whatever he's doing has been producing some very tasty meals in our home for years. While I was at the market I made sure to visit Two Roasting Joes for my cup of coffee. I also picked up a yummy strawberry cake with strawberry icing from Megan Farmer and some asparagus from Hirsh Fruit Farm (yeah, it's not all fruit). I figure if I put all of these yummy meal parts in the refrigerator I'm helping the rest of the family make a decision as to what they should make me tomorrow. Sausage to go with the waffles...asparagus to go with that steak in the fridge...a piece of cake for dessert...my mouth is already watering just thinking of the possibilities! Next time you're visiting the Chillicothe Farmer's Market (and that would be Saturday mornings from 8:00 - 12:00) make sure you visit Tony and pick up some pork. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you for it! Smiling & Waving, Sharon I just KNEW Josie was going to have her babies today...for two reasons. 1. She was hanging out off by herself yesterday and this morning. 2. Youn'gun had a fieldtrip and I was going to meet him for it. It must be written in stone somewhere around here if there is an end-of-the-year school fieldtrip/function, and lambs are due, the birthing process will win hands down. This has happened more than once. Consistency seems to be my middle name when it comes to fieldtrips and lambs. My apologize so the school and one of our children yet again. So anyway, back to the story. This morning Josie was lounging off by herself, looking a bit uncomfortable - as if a hugely pregnant ewe could look any more uncomfortable. I went about morning chores (which really aren't chores to me unless it's cleaning up poop) and would glance over her way to see what she was up to. Every once in a while she'd get up, move a bit, and lay back down. In doing this she was inching closer and closer to the barn stall where she's had her lambs in the past. When she got into the stall I'd peek over the gate while geese screamed at me (another story) to see how she was doing. I like to think she didn't know I was doing that, but between the geese and my inability to be "stealth-y" I'm sure she knew. Late this morning Josie couldn't keep them in any longer. It was time. Those babies were coming out fieldtrip or not! I have to say Josie is the absolute best sheep-mom! She's had triplets and she's had twins, all of them having been birthed well and wonderfully taken care of. Josie had the moorit, that means brown, I think it's a ewe lamb first. Easy peasie, of course I was peeking in and not the one delivering. Then after working at cleaning her up and a bit of one-on-one time she delivered the second I think it's also a ewe lamb. That little cutie patootie is moorit and white. Josie continued to clean up and care for her babies, taking care with both to make sure they nursed and stuck around her like they should. After that I went in and put up a divider so the new family can have some time together without the other busy bodies getting too close and checking out the new babies. Josie let me take a few pictures without stomping her foot (she indulges me sometimes) and they are all resting comfortably. So, there you have it. Extra...extra..read all about it! Josie, the most wonderfully fantastic 8 year old Icelandic ewe on the planet (yes, I'm bias) had herself a pair of I think they're both ewe lambs. I'll check in on them later to make sure they're both ewes. I didn't want to overstay my welcome. Smiling & Waving, Sharon So many times on our little farm something happens and I think of how fortunate we are to be here. Nothing major. Little things. It could be watching Rain and Tucker run around the pond. Maybe watching the lambs leap around and stand on Dandy's back as she's laying down. Today I was fortunate to be able to spend some time with Josie. She's my old girl - the last of the original ewes we started with here. She's also humongously pregnant. Between that and the injuries she sustained when a stranger's dogs attacked several months ago I worry about her...a lot. This morning I went in the garden to see how things are growing. I took advantage of our littie bounty by tearing off some lettuce leaves and eating them. Then I looked out in the field. There was Josie...watching me intently. I ripped out a hanful of lettuce leaves and walked into the pasture. I think I saw a bit of drool drop off her chin. I held a red leaf out and she stomped her foot at me. She's a skeptical girl, not to mention one that knows what she wants. I switched it for a green leaf. She inched a bit forward. Then I went down on my knees, one hand full of lettuce, the other holding that green leaf out for her. She walked right up and ate that leaf. I gave her another...and another... "Joseph, Mary, and the lamb," she said, "Just give me the rest!" So I did. We had one of those moments I'll never forget. She stood there for a while longer after she ate, letting me talk to her and pet her. I wrapped my arms around her neck, put my cheek on hers, and cried happy tears. Afterwards we both went our separate ways, Josie going to do whatever big pregnant ewes feel like doing and me to reminisce about our happy moment together. Smiling & Waving, Sharon I don't know about you, but dinnertime conversations can really be interesting! Hon usually isn't home for dinner, so it's me and the kids. Because I'm the mature person at the table, I try to keep our conversations to certain topics like world peace, government, and chocolate. Try as I might, it seems like every conversation ends up with a discussion on who threw up in the cafeteria, what someone called another person on the bus, and farting. Seems like with boys farting is and always will be a hot topic.
When it came time for me to ask Young'un about homework and what he's doing in school he said they are doing a short report on inventors. They were given a list of inventors and their inventions and had to choose one. He said he chose Howard Raper, who according to Young'un invented the dental x-ray. He was upset because kids were teasing him about the man's last name. Of course, my infinite words of wisdom were to tell him to ignore them and do his best on the report. A person's last name is just that, part of their identity. Then I asked what other inventors were on the list. He said the guy that invented the toilet, but no one chose to do a report on him. Being me, I had no idea who that was, so not thinking further of it I asked. Figures! The man's last name was "Crapper." Of course that brought up a whole slew of jokes and sayings by Eldest and the Kid. Now I must say that's not a word I tend to have in my vocabularly, but in this case it was hard not to come up with a few goodies myself...in my head. I'm the mom after all. Young'un was not impressed and left the table annoyed at our complete lack of respect for an inventor of such a highly used item. I want to take this time to publicly apologize to Young'un for laughing at the toilet inventor jokes his brothers came up with. It was unavoidable. I couldn't help myself. I really didn't mean to laugh until tears came to my eyes. I promise next time I go in the bathroom I will show some self-respect and thank the man that invented such an important item. In fact, next time you use the bathroom, please say a word of thanks to Thomas Crapper for his invention. It may help redeem me even further. Now, back to that inventor you have...Howard Raper did not invent the actual dental x-ray. I looked it up. He invented the bitewings, those obnoxiously large things the dental hygenist is bound and determined to fit into my dainty mouth even though they are too big so an x-ray can be taken. Smiling & Waving, Sharon A little look at the Market from my tent. This morning was the Chillicothe Farmers Market opening day for the season. I look forward to this day for months...7 to be exact. You might not know this about me, but I'm a social person. Oh sure, put me in a room full of people where I don't know a single soul and I'll be shy, but at the farmers market...not a chance. Everything was wonderful! The people...the food...the plants! Did I mention the food? Oh my, there was beef, pork, goat, alpaca...pies, cakes, cookies...coffee, tea...my only saving grace is that I'm usually at the Market sans family so I don't get a chance to walk around and indulge much. Instead I stay in my little spot and ask people what they bought, what they're eating, and remarking on how wonderful their flowers smell. When I do get out I head down to Two Roasting Joes for some decaf (No, not for health issues. Sharon on caffeine is like a rabbit hopped up on too many carrots.). It's fantastic - the coffee, not me on caffeine. For those of you who don't have the opportunity to go to our market or buy their coffee in some of our area stores, you can find them at (shameless plug) http://www.tworoastingjoes.com Trust me, you'll be glad you gave them a go. Tell Tom I said, "Hi, and I'll see you on Saturay." The first day was a wonderful success! I had great neighbors on both sides. There was Elliott, who sells maple syrup from his farm - I've been his market neighbor for years - and Yoder's Greenhouse, who is a new neighbor. What a wonderful new neighbor, too! They had beautful flowers. It was hard to sit there at my little spinning wheel and watch the flowers go to someone else's home. Maybe I'll indulge next week. So there you have it, I went, I sold, I spun, I had a great time, and I am looking forward to next Saturday morning already. Too bad when I got home it was to dog throw up on the floor. < Sigh!> At least I should be happy the offender had the decency to put the deposit on the bathroom floor and not on the rug. Have a wonderful weekend! Smiling & Waving, Sharon You know them...those thorny obnoxious bushes that seem to flourish as soon as the weather warms. Call them what you will, but to me they're pricker bushes. It's all the same - they hurt. Of course, brushing up against one isn't quite as bad as when Hon found himself sitting in a patch of stinging nettle, but I don't think he'll do that again - even if it wasn't on purpose to begin with. I'd say it's about dead even in the pain category with touching the electric fence, although prickers keep me itching afterwards and a zap from the fence makes more of a numb feeling after the pain subsides. We have a lot of pricker bushes coming up. Seems like the Scottish Thistle is really thriving this year. The top picture is a close up of it. If I let it get bigger it will have purple flowers on top. Of course, no animal here wants to eat it and they avoid it like the plague, so I'll have to get out the shovel and dig it up...after putting on the thickets pair of leather gloves I can find. Even when they're eencie weencie they hurt. Another in the pricker-type category we have around here are the locust trees. They have such beautiful sweet smelling flowers this time of year. We have two types, one I am absolutely positive is a Honey Locust. That would be Gleditsia triacanthos for those of you reading this that like those scientific names. It has mondo size thorns that can do some wicked damage. You can see what I'm talking about down below. Notice I said thorns, not prickers. Those Honey Locusts are in a class all to themselves. We have another kind of locust here, too, but I'm not sure what type it is. It has much smaller pricker-type thorns that only grow on the branches and not all over the trunk. When I look at the Honey Locust trees I think of the horror movie possibilities. Now we also have other prickers around here like raspberry and wild growing blackberry bushes, but I'll excuse those for their thorny nature because of the wonderful pies their fruit will make later in the season. That doesn't excuse them from whapping me in the face or catching on my arm as I mow the lawn, but I try to be understanding...and if it continues I'll get out the clippers after we pick the fruit and give them a lecture on behavior as I cut them back. Even prickers need a good talking to every once in a while! Smiling & Waving, Sharon |