Tuesday 29 September 2015

JUST BREATHE OUT.

I just realized that I haven't been including cakes in the blog.

I've actually made some cakes and I never managed to take a photo!  Me bad.

Anyways....here are some cakes.


But let me tell you something else.

Lydia cracks me up.


I put on a dress that I hadn't worn in a couple of years and she says...

OH MY GOSH MOM.  THAT DRESS STILL FITS YOU?  I LOVE THAT DRESS.

My size doesn't change every year like hers does.  She has no idea how old some of my clothes are!


 
The other night we were driving in our road and there is a field of canola....well it was canola....it was combined a weeks ago.  But it stinks to high heaven....I have no idea why...but it's bad....really, really bad.  Anyways, it was a warm evening and Terry had the window down....and the smell was unreal.



I casually mentioned that this was THE worst smell that I had ever smelt of ALL the things that I had ever smelt in my life.

And Lydia shouts from the backseat "JUST BREATHE OUT!"

I tried and it just didn't work.  But it was very good advice.



And I have heard other people from this house use the saying "JUST BREATHE OUT!" since that night.  There were 4 of them jammed in the backseat together....and something must have happened back there.....




Brenda

Monday 28 September 2015

Energy Bites

The kids have been back to school for four weeks already.....and things are going well.

Lydia announced one night last week that she is actually doing grade two work now. 

Terry told her that if she was able to finish grade one in three weeks....she should be done college by the end of the school year.

But she told us that she wasn't going to college....she would rather just stay home with me.

Anyways, I find that the kids won't eat breakfast before we head off to the bus in the morning.  It drives me crazy....sending them off with empty tummies.  But they say that it's just too early to eat.

I found a solution to this.  I've been making these 'energy bites' and I can't make enough of them!  The kids just love them and I love that they don't have any sugar.


This is what it is:

2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup honey
2 tsp. vanilla extract

I just measure the rolled oats....the rest of the stuff I just guess at the measurements....because it really doesn't matter.  Just put it all in a bowl and mix it up and then spoon it out as little cookies.  Put them in the freezer.

The recipe is a good base....you can add whatever you want to it....flax seeds, raisins, dried cranberries, coconut, peanuts.  Whatever floats your boat.


The first few batches I made I used natural peanut butter and it worked great...but I ran out so now I'm just using the regular peanut butter.

Brenda

Monday 21 September 2015

Sophie's New Place

Remember the pole house?

Sophie has been dreaming of pole houses and treehouses and forts for quite some time.

And the last two weeks she has been asking and begging and pleading with Terry to build her one.

Something.  Anything.

Saturday was the day.  I was away at the Plowing Match with the older three and Terry was left at home with Sophie and Lydia.  He told them that it would be their day.

The pole house/treehouse/fort day.

And he made it happen.



They are thrilled to have their own space.




They've been decorating.








The view is not bad either.


See you at supper girls.


Brenda

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Saturday at the Fair

It poured rain on Saturday.

But the show went on.


The boys each have a steer for their 4-H project this year. 


They have been working with them all summer....washing, training and FEEDING them.


Jack's went into the steer show at this fair and Grady's will be at auction in about a month at another fair.



This was the steer show....



And then the 4-H Interclub Beef Competition was in the afternoon.


The evening sale was held in the barn this year because of the rain.


This is where all the top steers, lambs and pigs are auctioned off to the highest bidder.  These kids have worked hard all summer raising these animals and tonight is their night to shine.

These three gifted auctioneers make the whole thing into a great show....


I love this photo of Jack looking up at them...




We bought this pig!  Mmmmm....bacon!


The McHale's at Bromley Farm Supply in Douglas bought Jack's steer.


The large barn was filled to the back despite the cold and the rain.  I love our supportive, caring community.

Brenda






Tuesday 15 September 2015

4-H Pig Show

9 kids.


9 pigs.


One judge.


All in a small pen.


I couldn't keep track of it all.

And the shirts....Mmmm....Bacon.....LOVE those shirts!


They all look the same to me. 


But only 6 make the cut.


It was intense.

Brenda

Monday 14 September 2015

Ewe are Beautiful

We were busy at the Renfrew Fair the last few days.

4-H Sheep Show was first up.

The kids came up with another brilliant tie up display this year.  Remember Sheep Dynasty?

Well...this year it was all pageants, tiaras and bling.


EWE ARE BEAUTIFUL.

That was the theme.


Johanna worked really hard at it.  She sewed all the pink sashes and ironed on all the kids' names and the breed and names of their lambs.


Then she made these awards for each of the lambs....things like 'Miss Congeniality', 'Best Walk', 'Best Interview', 'Most Photogenic', 'Talent Award', 'Miss Evening Gown'......



She also made this.....


A sheep in a sparkly bikini!  How fun is that?  We actually left it at the fair for the entire weekend so everyone could enjoy it.

Even my Mom wanted in on the action!


Oh ya....and there was a sheep show.  The kids showed their sheep.  That's really what the day was about.


Jack was awarded top Junior Showman in the 4-H Interclub Show.




Brenda