Lorihadams-- hi guys...been busy!

[lorihadams]

Wednesday

Well, today is definitely nasty out! I got up and everything outside is covered in ice...beautiful, really. The cardinals and bluejays are out in full force and the kids have enjoyed watching them through the windows.

I decided not to let the chickens out of their run today so they are a mixture of happy and sad. When I opened the door to fill their feeder and thaw out their waterer they all ran out and then pecked around for about 5 minutes and then stood there looking at me like little flamingoes! All the grass is frozen and their feet were cold! I threw some scratch grains into the run and they all came running! When I closed the door to the run they all looked up at me like, Oh well, too cold out there anyway!

I talked to Chad yesterday and he is leaning towards west va I think. He called his boss and she told him that he just had to apply like everyone else. She wouldn't even put in a good word for him. She has never liked him, I think it's cause he tells her like it is instead of telling her what she wants to hear. He said he was going to go over her head and call the head of construction today and see if there was anything he could do for him. It's frustrating. We are still looking at stuff here but we just can't afford it. We would have to pay 40000-60000 more for the same size house we have now on less land. It's ridiculous. He is so frustrated right now...I hate it for him. He hates his job now...he's stuck in an office all day and he would much rather be outside. We'll see what happens.

On a lighter note, got 3 loads of laundry done today and now I am trying to pack to go to my granny's house this weekend. She finally sold the property. $15 million, split between her and her 4 siblings, paid out over 4 years at 6.5% interest. She got her first check at the end of last week so now she is house/land hunting too. She has a doublewide now and wouldn't mind moving it if she could find a nice piece of land. Papa wants to build a 4 or 5 car garage/workshop for his tractors if they do that. He has 4 antique John Deere tractors--an M, an MT, a B, and an A, I think. He had a Farmall too but he sold it. He pulls with the M and the MT. He even built an extra seat to bolt on the MT for Granny to ride on in parades! It belonged to her father. Ran over one of my cousins with it, as a matter of fact.

Friday night we have the pajama party at church so I am packing plenty of pjs so the kids can pick which ones they want. It's going to be fun...games and crafts and stuff. I just hope the weather doesn't act up and cancel it for us. I don't mind driving in snow but ice is a whole other matter, especially with the kids in the car. Hopefully it will warm up a bit and we'll be good to go!

 

[keljonma]

I bet your granny is glad to have finally sold the property!

I think chickens make for pretty funny flamingos!

Have fun at the pj party! Our teens are getting ready for a rock-a-thon shut in to raise money for orphans relief and rescue. They always have a good time.

 

[lorihadams]

They did a lock in last year for the little kids and they said NO WAY this year!

Well, Chad's friend in construction talked to his boss today and he contacted the head of construction for their division or something, and he is reviewing Chad's credentials. Looks like we may be moving! I told my mom today and I think she was in shock. She's always a little on the pessimistic side so I won't be surprised if she tells me not to go.

Today the weather was still cold, in the lower 40s, but dry so at least the chickens got to roam around today. I even got 4 eggs today! It was a little windy so they stayed huddled up under the front or back porch most of the day but it was good for them to get out.

Maddie is throwing a fit right now cause her brother has shut his bedroom door and she can't get in. I can deal with crying but the incessant screaming is a bit much. I feel a time out coming on...

 

[lorihadams]

monday

Got home from granny's house today and I have to go back Friday. The kids started a project in children's church and didn't finish it so I promised them that we would go back. We are doing a lesson on creation and we gave them each a plastic bin and let them put the light, the dark, the dirt, the water and the trees in and next we'll put in animals and I don't know what else the teacher has planned to add but I had to drag Tyler out kicking and screaming. Poor thing, he wanted to take that box home so bad.

Just went to let the dog out and it has started snowing...we'll see what tomorrow brings! Last I heard the snow was supposed to miss us but you know how weathermen can be sometimes!

We have found a piece of property that granny and papa are hoping to buy. 23 acres with a pond! Lots of frogs for Tyler and Maddie to catch!!! The lady that owns it is in CT so we'll see if they can get in touch with her this week.

Chad is staying busy with the side business. Got lots of banded birds this weekend...all the clients were very happy! He has hunts booked for 4 more days this week. Bad news is that we haven't gotten much business in Ok and Arkansas so I think they are going to pull out of those states and see if we can get something going in Maryland...closer for everyone anyway, and the guy in Arkansas wants to buy all the equipment that we sent him so there's a big chunk of the credit card bill gone!!!

Going to the library tomorrow to return books so i will see what other gardening stuff i can find. I have gotten 4 seed catalogues and I am drooling! I want everything and chad and the kids are putting in their requests! My mom even wants some stuff...she couldn't believe the catalogue that I got from Baker's Heirlooms...you could frame some of those pictures! I'm so excited to get my hands dirty, I can't stand it!!!

 

[punkin]

I got the same catalog from Baker's Creek. It's coffee table worthy, isn't it? Makes the seeds look so much more interesting.

Ooooh, a frog pond for your kids? I'd be right down there with them. I love stuff like that

 

[lorihadams]

Well...got up this morning and we only got about 1 1/2 inches of heavy wet snow. Took the kids out to play and all they wanted to do was eat the snow.

I attempted to make a snowman but they just ate it...

Just got a call from Chad and he said that it looks good for him to go to Beckley, WV but it still is not definite yet. I'll just be glad when we know for sure...I hate being in limbo.

We're just hoping that we can get enough land that we can get some more animals and have a good sized garden...maybe down the line get some bees or goats or sheep, who knows, maybe even a cow!

 

[lorihadams]

Well, today has been pretty dull...let the ladies out this morning and I think I have a hen that is going broody on me. Seems like every time I go to get eggs Butterscotch, one of my EEs, is laying on them. Too cold right now to hatch any mutts so I am collecting the eggs. She doesn't seem to be too annoyed yet.

Doing laundry but too wet and cold to hang out. I only have 3 loads to do so it shouldn't be too bad. Supposed to get colder tonight too. The snow missed us and went to the south so we dodged that bullet.

Talked to my real estate agent and she thinks we should list our house (3 br, 2ba, 1100sq, on 3 acres-half wooded) for $155,000. I'm pretty happy with that. We paid $104,000 and we still owe $99,000. We are waiting to see what happens with chad's work. We've found a few places that we like in WV online but we still don't know where we'll be for sure yet so we are still looking. Found 90 acres with 2 older homes on it for 259k in Princeton. I would go crazy with 90 acres!!! It would be awesome!

I don't know what that will mean for my garden plans...may have to wait until next year. I got square foot gardening from the library yesterday and I also got the book Little Sugar Addicts. I am trying to cut out a lot of the sugar in our diets and find substitutes like honey. I am curious to try stevia but I haven't gone there yet. I want to start researching beekeeping soon. I think that would be interesting to do.

 

[2dream]

Lori - haven't dropped in on you in a while so had to do some reading. Loved the pics of the kids in the snow. Look like they were having fun. Poor snowman, never stood a chance. LOL

Sounds like you have a lot going on. I hate being in limbo. Maybe you will find out soon. 90 acres sounds good to me. Heck 10 acres sounds good to me. LOL

 

[FarmerChick]

WOW lori you sure got alot on your plate.....things are going to happen and moving day will come for you soon I am sure.

Sounds like Chad sure wants to get to the new job. I know what the boredom in work can do to you!

WV sounds like the place to be for you!


wow on the snow. We got a dusting, nothing really. You got more definitely. Nicole would love to be there playing with your kids!!!!

 

[lorihadams]

Well, now we are concentrating on the Princeton area, just outside of Beckley. Chad made some phone calls this morning and talked to some folks out there and I am going to see about contacting a real estate agent. He feels a little better about the move, there is a really good christian school in Princeton so we feel pretty good about that. We are doing this for our kids. We just feel like we are at a dead end here. It seems like every time we try to get ahead someone closes a door on us. It just feels like it isn't meant to be, you know?

The good news is that when something opens up Chad will have to go to pole climbing school and fiber school and that will give us 6 to 9 weeks to get things in order. The bad news is that we don't know exactly when a position will open up so we are in limbo....waiting waiting waiting as usual. Hurry up and wait!

Pulled out some deer tenderloin for dinner. Waiting for it to thaw so I can put it in the marinade I mixed up. Hope it comes out okay...we'll see later!

Cold here today, only in the 20s. Had to thaw out all the waterers this morning and it's already starting to ice up again. My poor BFF Angie went to take her husband to the hospital for some minor surgery and while she was out of school (she teaches 7th grade math) one of the kids stole her teacher's copy of their textbook with all the answers in it. What is wrong with kids today???