Photo Stories..yet again

So I am still waiting on my camera to be fixed, but have managed to capture some moments with a little digital camera in the mean time. The pictures say it all.  Just another day on the farm and by the way a hard days work....all those kids band aids you see, no boo boos just a fashion accessory around here!

Goodbye May

Well just as the month comes to a close each day has been packed with kid activities, farm work, doctor appointments and lots of other things, I have to say I am looking forward to June. A few weeks back my new doctor suggested to do the BRAC gene testing (for ovarian and breast cancer) seeing the family history of cancer and with my moms history.  So I decided to do the testing since it was encouraged so strongly and it came back positive for BRAC 2.  I was pretty sure I was going to have it (just seeing the obvious) but once I really new for sure it defiantly was a hard few weeks.  So my doctor immediately sent me in for early screening tests blood work etc. So my days have been filled with doctor appointments and testing to get a "game plan" for my future.  I guess this is also part of the mom years and turning 30 in a few months. I also learned with all my blood work I am pre diabetic....a reason for me feeling so awful and tired lately.  So downside of that.... no more mountain dew, powdered doughnuts for breakfast.  Oh and I had to admit to Joe over our breakfast fight that cereal might NOT be OK for dinner!! Guess he won that fight!  So new healthy eating habits around the farm.  Good thing we planted our garden for some fresh options!  The girls have been really using their trough swimming pool daily.  A great option for summer seems to really tire them out and make afternoon naps a breeze.  Hadley starts her first session of swim next week. A bit nervous seeing that she is only 2 1/2.  Hopefully she will be brave and hop in the water if not we will try next year.On the farm we are still lambing.  We had a set of twins today and a single lamb yesterday. We are now milking 360 ewes.  Due to lambing in August some ewes have been pulled out of the parlor for their dry time, and to have the mommy nutrition.  We are also milking 8 cows.  Yes who would have thought I would say that?  NOT ME!  I have to say they have grown on me (in the fields)  I get a bit anxious when they come into the milking parlor and make a bit of a mess :)  That will come with time.  We are still working on our feed regimen for the sheep and adding a few more selections for them. Excited to see the results. Our fields around the barns are now growing after being planted for this year, can't wait for the sheep to get back out on the fresh grass.  My daily to do lists are still plenty full each time I go out to the barn/farm.  Lots of projects to start.  Now that I am feeling better the lists can start and the nagging can begin. Joe I am sure is looking forward to it I am sure!  Looking forward to summer....lots more to come!

Weekend Fun!!

Well with a long holiday weekend in store means for lots of projects, family, stories and of course sheep. I got a chance to catch up with my best friend Kristin and we headed up to the Healdsburg farmers market.  The girls really seemed to enjoy all the fresh fruit and it was so much fun to get out and enjoy some sunshine.  We also made a quick snack stop at my all time favorite little store Oakville Grocery.  A must stop @ store.  That was our option seeing that Snowbunny was closed.  We were up bright and early. (speaking of bright and early) our holiday weekend started out great with Joe bringing the girls and I breakfast in bed... doughnuts and clover chocolate milk.... my two favorites. (such a good hubby...this weekend was one that made me realize how lucky I am to have such a great guy)  this week anyway.  We also had a family BBQ  at the beach house full of cuzzy time and family fun!  So fun to see all the kids play together and really have a GREAT time. We also got some projects done.  Joe decided to plant a garden with the girls.  They built, planted and completed the garden.  We only had a few marital spats over the location....but I figure pick my battles....there is no greenhouse right?.  So it could be worse.  I got a chance to have a few times to ride Darcy out  on the farm property.  She has been amazing so great that I took her back home already for more arena work for awhile before she comes back here again.  I guess Hadley also caught the riding bug and rode Kingsley for quite awhile working on balancing and halting.  So fun to see her really like something...so much that she even helped with picking the hooves after!  On the farm, well it was a weekend filled cleanup and sheep sorting pregnant/non pregnant...milkers/non milkers.  Quite the process.  Thank goodness for Joes ear tag hand scanner.  (of course he has the easy way to check ear tag numbers)  After watching him sort sheep all morning so easily...I had no guilt and made him take an immediate trip to the home improvement store and purchase me a leaf blower.  Yes no more sweeping the sidewalks.  Still no guilt after the first use and boy is it much easier.  We would have had that last year if Joe was the one sweeping!  I might have a new obsession with that thing so much it might replace my spray painting addiction :) So with a weekend filled with family, laughs...some fits and marital spats.  Lots more to come!!