Seattle visit

Cousins Lee and Andrew came to visit us this past weekend.  It was wonderful to see them and we’re so grateful they made the long trek from ND.  As an added bonus, Andrew brought his new fiancée.   Yay Heather and Andrew!  They came to SU for an official campus tour.  I showed them the beautiful Chihuly sculpture in the Pigott building.

Brown-eyed cousins!

We took advantage of the sunshine and walked around through the quad to the library.

Next, we drove up to Volunteer Park for a view of the space needle.

and we saw some fishies…

Then, we headed home for a tasty mexican dinner with mom and dad.  More about our weekend adventures to come…

 

p.s. this is my first attempt at posting a blog using Windows Live Writer.  So far, so good

Produce

I was excited to receive my first Full Circle Farms organic produce order delivered to my doorstep today!  A fresh custom-chosen assortment of fruits and veggies = delicious! 

All packed in this lovely box...

The content list...mostly WA & CA grown...

YUM!!!

I can't wait to start cooking, which is on the agenda for tomorrow evening.  Karlie and Jordan gave me a fabulous collard greens "recipe".  Steam collard greens then saute in garlic and olive oil.  Add roasted red pepper flakes and drizzle with lemon.  Seriously de-lish.  And for those of you who can eat cheese, I bet it would be good with some parmesan.

It takes a village...

...to raise chickens!  :)  Many many thanks go out to those who contributed to the successful chicken coup rebuild.  Dave, Levi, Becca, Ed, Tyler, Jorge, Mark, Lee, Bruce, Glenn...I feel like I'm missing someone...dad, mom, myself...everyone who helped or wished us well from the sidelines...THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Before pictures:

As you can tell, this coop was in some serious need of a remodel:

After pictures:
The new barn addition (chicken coop left, parking spot for Johnny on the right):

Finishing touches of the fencing are being added, but don't you miss the orange plastic fencing?  NOT!

Here are some "in-progress" photos:

Demolition time:

I'm a farmer, yes I am.

My dear sister amidst the mess...

Uncle Dave and Levi...framing...

Ed and Levi

Taking a break from loading...

Among Dave's many talents: dancing on the rooftop.  Here he is after an attempt at chasing down a run-away chicken.

 The inside of the new coop.  I wish I had inside pics of the old coop.  Let me just say it was sloppy, messy, and uneven ground.  What an improvement!!!!

Here is the inside of the additional space for Johnny.

Operation Chicken Relocation Begins...I think Tyler has a new career opportunity...

Adjusting to their new space...

That's all for now.  Hope you enjoy these pics of the masterful creation.

Happy Birthday Strawberry!

Strawberry girl is 18 years old today!  Wow, how time flies.  Here are a few pictures of the early years when we had her.  She is a proud momma of three babies, and our very first horse as a family.

Love her!

Jagermeister

For those of you who didn't already know, Jagermeister means "Master Hunter" in German.  And, as you probably do know, my nephew Jager is a German Shorthaired Pointer.  He did a lot of hunting this weekend, enjoying the freedom to run around the front pasture.  Most of the time, we only saw his tail and rear-end sticking up out of the grass but occassionally he would raise his head up and "point".

Too bad I didn't take any pictures of the post-pasture Jagermeister, caked in mud.  He almost looked like these cute girls!

 

I love her!

Barlee Sweets has a new job: construction supervisor.  The sun is shining, the chicken coop remodel has begun, and Barlee is honing her skills as supervisor.  She guards the gate...

Watches over the dump pile...

Makes herself at home on the old couch which was on its way to the dump...

And makes sure she gets some good belly rubs!

Isn't she the cutest?!