\vā-ˈkā-shən, və-\

The phonetic pronunciation of vacation. I'm still trying to figure out what it means...I'll have to get back to you on that.

The fam and I are in currently enjoying the Show Me State ( I don't get that yet either...), Missouri, for y'all who aren't from the South. We're enjoying a few days in Branson before moving onto visiting my mom's family out in Kansas.

So far a few highlights have been driving all night through New York state. We kinda fit right in with the big dogs in our box of a van...all that was missing was the CB radio.



One of the pools at our resort is pretty cool; complete with waterfall:


Another highlight occurred last night when we went out to see Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede. We ate with our fingers. We cheered for the North (the entire show is a competition between the North and the South). And saw crazy stuff like this:

The guy is riding (standing and straddling two horses) through a ring of fire. If that is not considered talent, I'm not sure what is.

I'm excited about going to see these guys tomorrow:

Fun stuff. Pretty cute too.

Stay tuned as we continue our 3,000+ mile journey. It aught to be good for at least a few laughs along the way!

Baby cows, sick lambs, and field trips!

Life has been pretty busy lately. Graduation from NHTI (If you're interested, my mother wrote a blog post about my entire graduation ordeal and you can read it here). Working full time. Big sister. Oldest daughter. Blogger. Yes, sadly that is where blogger remained...at the bottom of the list, BUT I'd like to make it up to you and give you a little update about things on the farm. Spring is certainly my favorite season, hands down. There is lots going on!

For example:

I bought my first piece of livestock for the farm. The deal was mine from beginning to end. Pretty sweet. Wanna know what I bought? ...A miniature horse! Her name is Sadie and she's 4 years old! Such a cutie and great with all the kids that we have around during the spring and summer months; can't wait for her to meet our summer camp kids!


Let's see...what else... I had a lamb that didn't want to make it this past month, so there were days and nights of milking mom to feed the baby. I am proud to announce that little Clarence has come out the other side a stronger man, case in point:


This past week I got to do something really fun! My friend and co-worker Hannah is graduating high school this month and she needed to do a class presentation on something that was really important to her, so she asked me if I could bring up some baby farm animals for her to use in her presentation, so what did I do? Well, I produced, of course! The baby goats loved all of the extra attention:


I'm attempting to bottle feed three calves this summer. We've purchased a Jersey (for hands-on programming purposes). I call him Starsky. He's gunna be a steer...he just doesn't know it yet.

Geesh...only a mamma could love that face.

I'm also raising a Holstein bull calf...soon to be steer. I call him Hutch. Starsky and Hutch...get it? I'm quite original aren't I?



And then, last, but certainly not least, I am raising a Red Angus, which is pretty cool, especially because we don't see too many Red Angus in this part of the country. I call him Big Red. Genius, I know.



So, that's what happening out here on the ranch. We're expecting two more baby calves any time now, so y'all will need to stay tuned for that! Thanks for bearing with me during this busy season, be prepared to check back more frequently, as I'll be writing a lot out summer happenings on the farm and of the goings-on with the fam.

Later gator.

Only Real Men Wear Pink

Lambs!

The first lambs of the season have arrived!!!

The first two to hit the ground were twins, one boy and one girl. First day of life:

If you don't think that's cute, I don't know what planet you are from.

If you're in the area, come see them! I can guarantee that you'll want to steal one or both to bring home with you.

Just think it, don't actually try it.

We have very tight security out here in the boonies.

Just warnin' ya.

How's This For Impressive?

All in age order...except for Gabby (farthest to the left). She's older than Micah, but really wasn't sure about the whole picture taking thing.

I love these kids. Every single one of 'em... even if they are punks some of the time.

The Laundry Post

When I do laundry, I really do laundry. It is never only just one load, more like 3 or 4. I am also a fairly lazy person (surprise!) when it comes to laundry. I never check my pockets (a trait inherited from my mother) and I never manage to get around to folding the clean stuff, 'cause really, what's the point?

A smattering of the clean stuff (P.S. I do fold my jeans because they get all wrinkly and I don't want to be THAT girl walking around in wrinkly jeans):



Now, doing laundry is always an adventure, because like I said, I don't ever check my pockets so the bottom of the washing machine and the lint trap in the dryer generally yield some pretty interesting goodies. Today I found:

A piece of the electric wire fencing that we use around the farm in Tamworth. Note to self: those little tiny metal barbs that supposedly conduct the electricity stick to EVERYTHING.

Hey! Check it out, I'm $3 richer!

Thumb drive. Apparently soggy memory drives can still be read by your computer, who would have thunk it?

A spile from tapping Maple trees. Made in Canada no less. Isn't this great fun? I bet you always wanted to know what was in my pockets...

A few weeks back, I lost my jackknife. I must have borrowed by boss' one day and forgotten to, uh, give it back, 'cause this one is his. Funny, he was just telling me the other day how he managed to lose his jackknife just like I did. Oops.

Now for the icing on the cake:

Wait, wrong picture, that is Cora's fake fossil. I was wondering what was clunking around in the dryer...

TA-DA!

MY jackknife. I think I might have some explaining to do. I might also want to consider starting to check my pockets a little more frequently, but really, where would the fun be then???

Some Catchin' Up To Do

There really is no excuse for tardy blog posts, but gosh darn it, I am going to try my best!

I've been doing this:

Really, I talk to chickens ALL the time. Found it be quite therapeutic. You should try it some time.

And loving up on this:



And this:



And this:

Okay, so you get the point.

Then of course there is this:

Silly institution keeps me busier than Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. No joke.

Now that you have had a whirlwind update of my life in the last month (work, family, and school, which is really just more of the same). Keep an eye out for some new posts. Some fun updates are on their way!