Saturday, June 2, 2018

Farming it Up

We've been enjoying the spring weather on the farm. 

This toad relaxed all day on this bed of moss in front of the cabin.
Joyce and Tom came for a visit
 Hiking
 Brooke came along too, and hurt her leg along the way. 
She was a three legged pup after that, limping along.
We took her to the vet when we got home and it she has a sprain.
 We took our first swim of the season in the pond;
The cool water felt great after a busy morning of work!

 Always doing gymnastic moves in the water...
 Smoking the bees before giving them some sugar water...we give
them a little boost in springtime when natural food isn't as easy to find.
 Fixing the tire on the zero turn mower
(Note Dave's signature pose!)
 Just as we were turning onto our road, we spotted this
painted turtle! Kiera hopped out of the truck and kept him for 
the weekend and released him in the stream (not the pond so he 
doesn't eat all our fish!)
Until next time, Mr. Turtle...


 Always weed wacking and mowing...


These beauties will be ready mid-June!
 There was a flash flood warning...look at the water
on our drive home! This happens quite frequently.
If the water is below the guard rails, the truck can make
it through if Dave drives in the middle of the road.  


Monday, April 2, 2018

Blueberry Hill

We spent last weekend pruning the blueberry bushes getting them ready for the June harvest. There was a lot of new growth, but we also cut down some of the old canes that were too far "bent over." Kiera calls the bushes "Blueberry Lane" but we can't get "Blueberry Hill" out of our minds thanks to Fats Domino. While the three of us worked on the bushes, Ryan and a friend worked on "sprucing up" the front entrance to the farm. 



The before pic...A lot of brush/vines, 
some poison oak and old barbed wire fencing
The after...Not perfect, but a lot "cleaner" looking!




Thursday, March 22, 2018

Volleyball


 Kiera is enjoying her second season of club volleyball. She loves her teammates and her coach. She has grown so much since she started last year. Though the tournament days are looooong, it's fun watching her play. She's fierce...she's always diving for balls, makes a play then runs backs to her position quickly and is finally getting her serving down. Go #4!


 She couldn't believe her "tip" over the net 
was successful!











 The girls are in charge (with the help of the coaches) of refereeing
the games they aren't playing. Here's Kiera keeping the score book. 

Monday, March 19, 2018

Kiera's 10th Birthday - Party Two

Next party was at Mimi and Papa's house! We enjoyed a traditional St. Patrick's Day diner, watched March Madness, played Words with Friends, had a coloring contest and celebrated the birthday girl. The hat made another appearance! 







A whole decade old! 

Kiera's 10th Birthday - Party One

 This year, Kiera's birthday fell on a Friday, so we celebrated with Grandpa and Great Grandma on her actual birthday. No birthday would be complete without a cassata cake! Kiera received a hover board. She was excited to have her own...She had played with them at her friend's houses so she knew how to operate it. The weather was in the 50s and no snow or ice was on the ground so she was able to try it outside as well as inside. Our girl smoothly rolled into double digits! 



 Then everyone took a turn trying on the silly
St. Patrick's Day hat. Who wore it best?





 Cake time!
 One is a decade old and the other {almost} a century! 


Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Mentos and Coke

Mimi and Papa got Kiera the "Geyser Tube" for Christmas, which is a contraption that releases Mentos into a two liter of Coke after the string is pulled. It's a trick that's been done many times before but it never gets old! 

 Setting up...

 The aftermath...

 After the explosion, Kiera used the 
single scoop ice cream scoopers to enjoy a
(slightly minty) Coke Slush!