Memorial Day

The stream pasture

I need to take my camera with me so that I can get a photo of all our calves--I call it the nursery. This is a beautiful time of the year on the farm. Today, however, it is hot--nearly 90 degrees. That is not normal for May in Wisconsin! I'm having a lazy holiday. All I've done is a few loads of laundry, clean out the frig, and take a nap! The children want to play board games tonight. I'll vote for Clue! 

I’m Alive. I’m Doing Better…

Today is chicken butchering day, and although I’m going to be handicapped by my sore hand and back, I’ll do as much as I am able. Some friends are coming over to help.

My back is slowly healing. I picked up a 5-gallon bucket filled with corn and twisted to give it a fling into the feeding trough. Bad idea. The pain reminded me of back labor—but the worst (I hope) is over. Right now I’m trying to get my digestive system running normally again after being on Tylenol, ibuprofen, two kinds of anti-spasmodics, Hydrocodone, an antibiotic, plus whatever was in the shot they gave me Wednesday night. Yuck.

JM’s hand is doing well. It itches under the cast, but he has had little pain.

The kids had a teen bonfire party for their homeschool friends last night. They cleaned the house, bought the fixings for s’mores, built the wood pile, put up the volleyball net…everything by themselves while I was in bed this week. They had so much fun last night!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayers, notes, and kindnesses. I’m sure it is the answer to those prayers that allowed me to get through this ordeal. Blessings to all of you.

Jean

Prayer Needed

My mom hurt her back trying to fill in for my brother for chores. She is in a lot of pain and could use a lot of prayer. This is the third day and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

Jean in Wisc’s daughter from Farm Girl

The Saga Continues

We match!

I failed to get the whole splinter out--and it flaired up terribly this weekend. The doctor worked on it a while today and wrapped it up, so now JM and I have look-alike hands (more or less). I also pulled some muscles in my back when I was doing JM's chores. OUCH.

Chicken butchering is scheduled for Saturday. Any one want to come help?

:-) Jean

Sunday

Springtime at Fairview
























Read my lips, "Carrot. Now." 

The donkey is braying, cats are mewing, birds are twittering, and calves are mooing. The beauty of creation is around us. Enjoy your Sunday, wherever you are--hopefully it will be a day of rest.

It's Chore Time, But I Thought You'd Like to Hear the News...

After surgery

We are home. JM has been instructed to keep his hand held up for the next 3 days to keep swelling down, and he is to take his pain meds on schedule--thumbs, we are told, are notorious for painful throbbing. The surgery went well, and the hospital staff was so kind and good.

I am especially thankful for all of you. Your notes to me have been very precious. The children are watching the new Narnia DVD a friend has lent us, and my hubby called to say he is on the road heading home for the weekend. Perhaps the weather will hold long enough for him to get the corn and soybeans planted.

He is Faithful.

Blessings,
Jean 

Surgery Tomorrow

My mom came today for dinner. Bethany had made a turkey, mashed potato, asparagus, rhubarb pie extravaganza, so we called her over for a belated Mother's Day meal. John Mark went out to pick lilacs for Grandma, but chose to use a sharp knife that slipped and gashed the back of his thumb--and severed a tendon. So surgery is scheduled for 11:00 tomorrow morning.

I guess Jacob and I will need to pick up his farm chores. How am I to survive without my strong young man?

Sniff.

Jean

May 16, 06

The lilacs are in full bloom. Their fragrance is overwhelming!






















The dandelions, however, are in full bloom also!