Saying good bye

I had a hard time leaving the babies. I took a picture of them together to show how small Ginger is.

Theyy weren't sure they liked each other at first, but now they are friends. Ginger has calmed Millie down and Millie lets Ginger hang out.

This heifer cried all night long. Brenda says she is in heat. She was frisky as I dumped hay to her and her friends and then she got out of the pen. She was irritating, I was glad to say good bye to her.

I  was dumping out a bucket of water and saw her in front of the barn by the huge fan. Rizo was there and he helped me get her over to the gate. She didn't want to go back in until I went in. She followed me and I stepped out quick and tried to shut the gate. She was very quick and had her head part way out. I had to shove her back in and close the gate. She immediately went to the loose part of the fence and tried to get out again. I put my foot there to hold the fence to the post and tried to think of what I was going to do. Of course the answer was bailing twine. On a farm bailing twine is plentiful and useful.

At first I tied the gate closed too. I had to cut the twine and retie it. 

She is sticking her head out trying to get close. Poor cow. Brenda said she thinks her name is Taffy.

I also took a picture of all the eggs. They are beautiful. I wish I could have them in CA.

All the hay in the barn.

Brenda said they should be good for the winter. I would come up and throw down a few bails for the cows.

I didn't get a picture of the horses. Shame on me. I felt bad leaving my little babies. I felt bad about leaving my sister with all that work. Tim will be home on Wednesday. 

All in all, it was a wonderful trip. So good to see Brenda and Karly, and Tim for a minute before he had to leave.

Wisconsin

I packed fabric in my suitcase. Brenda located a sewing machine and had her own fabric. Inbetween milking and gathering eggs, we measured, cut and sewed.

We got three quilt tops completed.

A close up to see the pattern and the fabric. 

This is the biggest quilt we did.

I brought a lot of different colors. I wasn't sure what we were going to do. We ended up with this one.

A close up of the fabric.

The wind was blowing and Brenda had to hold the quilt down so we could get a picture. I think my favorite color combination is pink/red and green.

I am taking the first quilt back to sandwich and quilt. We'll figure out the other two later.

We were happy to get a little quilting in between chores.

Wisconsin trip

I have been spending time with Brenda this past week. I have been getting up and feeding the baby cows, feeding chickens, gathering eggs, and throwing hay down from the hay mow. 

Brenda milks twice a day. Tim is at his yearly 2 - week AT. Karly is here too and we have had fun reconnecting.

Karly took me to the St. Paul temple the day after I got here. It is a very cute little temple. You have to call and make an appointment. It is the same for the Newport Beach Temple in CA, but I haven't made it there yet.

A  picture of the temple and Karly. It was taken earlier in the Spring. My phone was dying and I didn't snap a picture that day.

I took some pictures of the farm.

This is Ginger. She was born the day I arrived. I have been her momma for these past ten days.

This is Millie. She is about two weeks old. I have been her momma too.

Ginger standing up. I was worried because she was so little. She was born two and half weeks early.

LIttle kitties love fresh milk daily.

The ladies that give us yummy eggs every day.

The chicken coop. The shed on the other side of the coop has all the feed and various other things.

The  cows waiting to be let in for the pre-milking grain.

Lining up to enter the barn.

The young heifers following the more mature milkers.

Sweet faces.

Stinky butts. Ya gotta love the gutter and the barn cleaner. Just scrap the poop with a square shovel and then when the time is ready you flip the switch and the chain pulls blades around the gutter and moves the poop to the manure spreader.

The poop goes up the elevator and empties into the wagon.

The wind machine that keeps the ladies cool during the hot day. It was over 80 with 80 % humidity.

Karly with her crazy socks.

Enjoying the wind. Dixie is always by her master.

Karly showed me a huge mushroom that looks like a cow pattie. We think it got its rusty color from the iron band around the trunk.

New Calling

This ward is right on the ball. We have already been extended callings. We got to stew a bit, Craig was teasing me about all sorts of things. But really I am excited to get back into the swing. We got called as Ward Missionaries. I'll miss the first night, I'm traveling to see my sister, but Craig will attend and give the update.

What I wanted to record was a bit of the setting apart.

I was happy to have the pep-talk -- it seems Heavenly Father always gives me a bit of a pep-talk when he can. And I always appreciate it. It's a little tender to hear the He is pleased with what I am doing. 

The thing that caught me off guard and caught my attention was when the bishop told me that we were in Southern California by "Divine Intervention."  Basically He confirmed that He has picked us up and put us where we are -- again.

I love knowing that this is where He wants us to be. That means it will be just fine in high school and middle school for my boys. I'm sure it will be hard, but they will be okay

Peace to my soul.

Teacher trip update

Craig and I got two photos on Friday.

We were super impressed that Josh was on a board. We both felt better seeing him up and having fun.

That looks pretty fun.

He came home exhausted, but happy. He bonded with the boys and the leaders. This trip turned out to be what I had hoped it would. He is starting to find his people.

We are super grateful to the leaders for their thoughtfulness in sending pictures as an update.

Alarm update

Apparently fire alarms are a common thing in large apartment complexes. Especially early morning ones. Craig was told at work that someone forgets to turn off the stove and by early morning the sensors pick it up.

We out walking in the complex and struck up a conversation with a couple. They said it happens at least 4 times a year in this complex. Wow! The noise is horrific and obnoxious, just what you would want in an alarm. 

I'm glad we are  moving to a house in a month. No more shared risk with hundreds of other tennents.

Teacher trip

This morning I sent Josh away for two days. I drove him to the Church and left him in the care of people I really don't know. They are going to play on the river about 4 hours from here.

I have many hopes for this trip. The main hope is that Josh will find new people. I hope he will connect with somebody here and begin new friendships. I hope the leaders will nurture the potential relationship and that they are wonderful men. I hope this next two days is nothing but fun and laughter for my boy.

Faith is letting your boy go play with strangers for two days.