Fair Time.

Savannah Jane takes sewing classes. Her sewing teacher entered her final project (the pillowcase dress above her head) in the El Dorado County Fair. She won 1st Place! We are so proud.

While we were admiring the other handcrafted projects near her dress, we met up with The Little Girls Girl Scout leader Kari. She also won 1st Place and Judges Choice, in the Professional Quilter's division. Hard to tell from this photo but this quilt is phenomenal, so intricate and detailed. She started it in 2007!

We met up with Potter's, Wren was tending to her goats. One of her babies always chews on Wren's hair.

After Goo saw how fun that was, he wanted to give it a go. Sadly goats are too big for him to deal with.

After visiting all the animals and seeing our neighbor's 4-H projects (4 pigs), we watched the senior division steer showmanship (I have no idea the technical term for this but basically it is teenagers showing their 4-H project or FFA project: steers). It was awesome. I could sit and watch that competition for hours. Here below: Krista, Wren, Ivy, Savannah and Goo.

Tomorrow Wren shows her goats and Tim will come see Savannah's project. But what I'm looking forward to most? Mutton Busting!

 

Chicken Post.

It seems my tolerance limit for rooster crowing is 1 week. Yesterday I called a local chicken supplier and asked if he would try to re-home our rooster El Señor. Luckily El Señor is a gentleman and because of his beauty, sweet nature and handling he should be a good candidate for reselling.

It felt fairly awful to give him up and because at the time he wasn't making that alarming sound, I called Tim just before I left the house to convince me to go through with it. The Littles were sad, giving up a pet is hard.

Since I was down a hen, The Littles picked out a 12 week old Americana to join our flock of "Babies". Meet Clara. She has yet to be welcomed into the flocks good graces, she is after all 6 weeks younger than the rest. And she is terribly frightened. There is definitely a big difference in chicken manners and friendliness when children hand raise chicks, I hope she will become more comfortable with us as time goes on.

Life In The Kiddie Pool.

Yesterday I promised The Littles a swim but couldn't conjure up the energy to drive to the lake. By late afternoon we were all regretting my failing miserably. I took them down to the garden to pick for dinner and we filled up the pool our sweet neighbors lent us as a water supply for the bees.

They started off slow, fresh water from the hose here is so cold. Then after I took away all dead floating bugs, Littles refreshed themselves splashily.

Izzie dug out from under the upper fence in order to join us. This Pug doesn't like to swim but we enjoyed her audible "Ahhhhh" when I placed her in the cool water. Now the kiddie pool is a hit and I don't get any grief from tending the garden while they are occupied.

Exploring Home.

On the recommendation of my friend Tara, Tim and I took The Littles on a hike Sunday to a reservoir in our small town. I have lived here for 30 years and I did not know that this dammed up creek even existed. The trail begins a short 4-5 mile drive from our front door, then a picturesque 20 minute easy walk amongst blooming wildflowers and swarming ladybugs takes you to the water's edge. 

Before we left the house, Littles and Bigs were cranky and testy. But after a dip in the water's refreshment, we were all level-headed and happy.

I can't wait to explore more.

Bee Check.

The Potter's had us over for BBQ and so Krista and I did a bee check. But first very curious sheep and goats had to be put in the barn.

Then I lit the burlap and pine needles for the smoker and we got busy.

In the Left box, 6 frames were built out, heavy with honey. Right box, just 4 are built out. We are doing an experiment with our boxes. Left box has all natural beeswax inserts in each frame. Right box frames are plastic but coated with beeswax. Left box the bees seem to be building from top to bottom, Right box from left to right.

We were thinking this frame had mold or perhaps this is what brood looks like. But after Krista inquired about this greyish-ness to her wise beekeeping aunt, we believe it to be blackberry pollen of all things.

Colonies seem well and the oozing gold inside looks delicious. When the last frames are busy with bees, we will add a super and the hives will each be 2 high.

 

(thanks for taking pics Tara!)

Art Memorial Concert.

Hutters,

Last night was really special. Great music, a student art show, a room filled with loved ones and caring hearts all created a night to remember. My Mom was an artist and she had big dreams to inspire children to pursue a life of creativity. When she died, donations in her memory came to the school (El Dorado Adventist School) I grew up in/taught at. We call it the "Patty Sattler Memorial Art Fund". The community was so generous, we the family knew we could do big things with the funds. Last night's special event was a long time in the making. We knew we wanted a concert, a display of the students' artwork and a way to grow the memorial fund. My friend Lupe (the art instructor at El Dorado Adventist School) approached me with the idea of having a Christian Vocal Group give a performance and the students have an art show, judged and awarded by us family members. She kept me apprised of the details and pulled it all together. Faith First is the vocal group who performed, their harmony and message was inspirational. We asked for a love offering/donation and the audience gave $5,718! Every cent goes directly back to the art programs at the school. I am humbled by the outpouring of love and support and overjoyed to see such dear friends all in one place. Admittedly I was very preoccupied with the program and set up and so I didn't take any photos of the students' artwork. Their talent and hard work was inspiring. If you were there with me last night, thank you.



And my Mom's grandlittles sang a tribute song in her honor. "Blackbird" by the Beatles, one of her favorites. Thank you Sydney, you played your guitar beautifully.  

Pets With Pre-Existing Conditions.

The other day Ivy caught a blue belly lizard at Olive's house. It was super fat and so we figured it had just eaten a big meal or was pregnant. At home an hour later it started laying eggs. I checked the internet to find out what to do with this lizard. Did you know they can lay up to 17 eggs? Uh, no thanks.

See the egg? When she started getting nuts again in the bowl we were keeping her in I rushed down to the garden and released her in the cabbage patch.

Sunday morning long after I had opened up the coops, there was a crazy sound coming from the backyard. This lovely...

is a ROOSTER...disastrous. Taylor was my favorite pullet-almost-hen. I'm still a little in denial but now that we know he is most definitely a rooster, several things about him totally make sense. I made a few half-hearted inquiries about a new home for him, spoke to my closest neighbor about potentially rehoming him (which she thinks is ridiculous, says she doesn't mind us keeping him) and then last night he somehow broke off a good third of his beak! Blood and tissues everywhere, poor guy. He is a mess. He didn't crow today, either I figured out a way to delay the racket or he is hurt pretty good. I think we will see how it goes, I'd like to keep him. I'm calling him El Señor! Tim is going to loose it...