March 2024

March 2024
Over the years, we've always compared our family life to a wagon train heading west. Just as everyone had to do his part to get to Oregon years ago, so everyone in our family must do his/her part to make our journey through life successful. If somebody climbs in the wagon and lets the others do the work, we just don't make any progress. We all have to pull our weight and work together. Along the trail we find lots of pebbles that make for a smooth ride and some bigger rocks that jar us a little; we hit the occasional pothole that can slow us down. But if we purpose to search diligently, there are countless gold nuggets and precious gemstones along the way as well. This journal is an attempt to preserve some of those precious moments for our children, and our children's children, as together we travel this trail called life.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11


Saturday, June 30, 2012

6-30-12 Blueberries & Butchering

by Tori

Things have been a little hectic around here lately. Thursday was relatively calm, but extremely HOT. Jesse and Jacob got the entire sub-floor on so now no one can fall in. Mom is really glad for that. Thursday around 4:00 we discovered that the meat chickens had ran out of water and 7 were dead. We butchered 5 on the spot because they wouldn’t have lived. Friday was very busy with mowing and trimming our yard (which is half-dead due to heat and drought), lots of kitchen work making food for the weekend, and cleaning. Friday was also Mom’s birthday so she and Dad went out for supper and to do errands. While they were gone Jesse took 5 kids to get blueberries and Levi, Jake, and I stayed home and did a few things. After Jesse got home we washed and laid out the blueberries to dry. About then Dad and Mom got back and we sang for awhile. This morning Kate and I got up and started bagging blueberries first thing. That only took a half hour and then we went out to help with the chickens. We did the 40 biggest chickens, leaving the rest to grow awhile.

The floor.

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Staying cool Thursday.

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Guys in the kitchen…

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Self-photo.

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Banjo Ben.

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The chicken operation.

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Everyone gets to help.

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Love Sarah’s expression.

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We were glad Dale and Meg wanted to learn how to butcher.

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Dad made Josh’s day when he let him put a chicken in his favorite truck (which was thoroughly cleaned just for this exercise). This truck actually has a name. It is ‘Toughest Mighty,’ which actually came from a Tonka computer game.

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Gutting.

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Ready to cut into pieces.

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Josh and Maria helped too.

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“We love Smoothie-pops.”

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Sarah got to hold Hanna, which made her happy.

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Levi worked from 5 – 9 but was back in time to help cut.

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Carcasses ready to bag.

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Jewel’s turn for Hanna.

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Bagging.

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Finished!!!

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And the blueberries.

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That’s all; thanks for reading!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

6-28-12 Wednesday Progress

By Kate

The last couple of days we have done a  lot of work on the house. We have also been trying spray all of our fruit trees and the garden so the beetles don’t get it!

Our pretty horses.

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The Japanese beetles are eating our apple trees to bits.Sad smile

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They are eating our raspberries to smithereens too.

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We sprayed the peaches enough so the beetles stayed off.

[and washed them very well before eating them!]

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The little kids really like it when A. Joyce reads to them.

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Cat faceDo you think we have enough cats?!! It looks like we waste a lot of dog food. Josh thought it would be fun to dump out the dog food. The cats are slowly eating the food on the floor but they like it better in the pan!Cat face

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We love a library day!

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Jesse and Jacob have been working on the house for the last couple of days. They have gotten a lot done.

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Often an audience!

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Floor joists done, and Dad gives Jesse instructions on the next step.

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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

6-26-12 Progress

Jesse was home all day yesterday and got a TON done. First he got gluten, then he got pea gravel, then he got U. Jerry’s skidsteer and started working on the house.

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Lots of progress in the garden too…

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Many cantaloupe blossoms.

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Grandpa’s tiny zucchini.

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Grandpa’s pumpkins.

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Ummmmm… huge plants, but very little broccoli! Not sure what went wrong there!

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Celery is looking like - - well, it’s looking like celery!

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Nice looking onions.

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Potatoes look great too.

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After supper, planning for tomorrow’s work.

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Kids saw this great horned owl while Dad & I walked. He was huge!!

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