The Decline and Fall of the Green House

Well.... it was nice while it lasted.

We came home monday night after a big wind storm and this was the sight that greeted us.

Very sad.  In the end, even duct tape couldn't hold together a green house in Idaho!

WE GOT TICKETS!!!!

Golden Delicious and I got tickets to the Michael Buble concert in Boise in August! 

I can't believe it!

The one person we wanted to see most!  

We thought we'd have to go to New York or some thing and now,

He's coming to BOISE!

YEAH!!!!

"Nikita"

After holding out for many years against getting horses, we are finally giving in.

The Spy Twins just bought Nikita from their instructor.

She is a 5 year old Shire/Quarter Horse cross gray mare.

Her body is quarter horse and her head is draft horse!

She is young but willing and sweet and we love her.

As Kathy, their instructor says,

 "she may not have the prettiest head in the barn, but she's probably the nicest."

The Rise of the Green House

The tomato starts were overtaking all flat surfaces in the house so Mr. Bechtel, the boys, and Grandpa came to put up the green house.  They laid down a cement brick foundation, nailed in wood on top of that, and attached the frame.  Then it took deep patience and super human chinese translation abilities to put the frame together and put in the panels.  Thankfully Mr. Bechtel possesses both those qualities!

I can't believe the difference a green house makes.  The tomatoes and peppers were so happy!  (we finally transplanted them into the ground so they can shiver and threaten to freeze).

The plan is to rototill the floor of the green house and plant basil and melons and stuff inside.

The Graduate! aka "Foregoing Pomp and Circumstance"

Hallelujah!!  Braeburn is officially graduated from High School. 

 He was so deeply moved and sorrowful about leaving dear old BHS that he refused to attend the graduation ceremony.  Quoting Braeburn, "Are you serious?  You have to go to like 2 practices to walk.  There will just be a bunch of bawling girls.  What a waste of time.  I could be mowing lawns and earning money."

He did go pick up his diploma, however, and it looks great.  

He also would not do Senior Pictures or Announcements, so Golden Delicious and I are taking surprise photos of him whenever we can.  Here he is dressed for his last Bonnevaires Concert.  

Also, He has new braces, Finally got housing down at BYU and is having a great summer.

Great Job, Braeburn!

Guess Who's in Chanteuse??

Miss Golden Delicious made it into Bonnevaires!  That is amazing for a junior and I was just holding my breath.  Several days after that she came home and said, "mom, what would you say if I was selected to be in Chaunteuse?"  Bonnevaires is the elite choir and Chaunteuse is a girls quartet taken from Bonnevaires.  Sort of "the best of the best of the best, Sir!"

I said, "UHMMM, well, um, I guess it would be ok."  And she replied with,

"Good Because I'm already in!"

Nice Job Darling!  

(cute new braces too!)

New Arrival

"I'm going out to fetch the little calf

that's standing by the mother.

It's so young it totters when she licks it with her tongue.

I shan't be gone long.

You come too."

Robert Frost

Cindy Lou Who, the cow, had her calf early yesterday morning. Mr. Bechtel was out of town with the Spy Twins. (they are still up at Birch Creek on a scout camp out having a fantastic time.) I checked the cow late thursday night and just didn't think anything was going to happen. I should have known better with Mr. Bechtel out of town... But when I woke up and looked out in the field and Cindy wasn't there I got nervous.

Braeburn was just leaving to mow lawns and I asked him to come out with me and check. He was ahead of me walking into the bar. I saw Cindy in the corner of the barn and though, "false alarm" but then Braeburn said, "Here she is, and yep, here's a little calf!"

Cindy had the little guy all dried off and he was curled up napping. He got up and we could see he hadn't eaten yet......Braeburn had gone to mow lawns by now and so it was just me and Golden Delicious (Granny Smith was in and out between the calf and the new baby chicks in the house). I told Golden Delicious we were just going to have to be brave pioneer women. She tied up Cindy, milked out 2 quarts of colostrum, and taught the baby cow to take the bottle. (He is very enthusiastic). We also dipped his cord in iodine. Golden Delicious is an animal marvel.

Of course we were sad he was a boy. We wanted a little heifer, but in a way it made me more relaxed doing this for the first time because it was "only a bull calf....." I kept telling myself that if I got in a bind I could call neighbors for help.

He is ultra adorable though - enormous brown eyes and thick black lashes and he totters after Golden Delicious- she is his second momma - the one who gives him food! Because although he would like to nurse off Cindy, and tries all the time, she won't let him.

Last night's milking was a bit of a rodeo though. I am definitely not doing that again. She will have to wait til the boys get home today before she's milked again. Not cooperative! I think we're going to sell the little guy and Cindy can go back to milking and not worrying about her baby....and holding back her milk....and kicking us....