Bale Much Hay?

We grow a scant 3 acres of oat hay every year at our truck yard property. It's not much but definitely enough to feed my horses. Last week and Mike got to work slicing and dicing except he missed a spot.

Let's just say after he mowed the field it now sports it's own Mowhawk. Come on husband, what happened here??? Your phone ring or something? That hay would equal about 1.5 minutes of eating for the horses!


So for the past week or so the hay has been drying in anticipation of the finale where it is put into bales. THEN the weather started to turn and a big late rain was forecast and how right they were!!! We called in the troupes to help us since Mike was swamped with work! Grandma and Grandpa came to get the job done.


They hauled over the baler and pick up machine and made short work of everything in about 4 hours. But they have baled thousands upon thousands of acres of hay so they could do this in their sleep.

Grandma greets baby Ella after all the work is done. We were bummed because the kids got up from nap and we hustled over to the field to see the baler in action and they were already finished.

The kids wanted to see the baler working and will just have to wait until next year for their chance.

As we drove in to the yard, I surveyed the field and noticed that there was a little brown body squatting in the middle of the yellow stubble. Yep, my old friends the ground squirrels. Now they will clean up all the left over oats that fell to the ground. They are scurrying little vacuum cleaners. Grrrrr...... I am not so fond of the other things they do.


Mike and Grandpa were unloading the last few bales from the pick up machine. Apparently you can't drop off a partial load with the pickup machine or it will hurt it so they were moving a few bales by hand. Yech!


As soon as we parked the boys were out and crawling all over the pick up machine.


Here is the mini stack of hay. These are two strand bales. That means that the hay is tied together with only two strands of baling twine along the long side of the bale. They weigh about 65-70 lbs. I call them "Lady Bales." Normal "Man Bales" are three stranded and weigh about 110 lbs. I don't mind moving the lady bales but always dread man bales. Those are back breakers!


The whole gang is helping out here. Caught you ADAM! Get your fingers out of your nose!!! Kids and boogers are inseparable aren't they?


And WHY do kids have to walk around with their tongue out? And Suzi, working on Trevor, is trying to pull out a hay splinter from the wimpy child. I swear you would think somebody was torturing him with toothpicks under his fingernails from his whaling!


Luke (with cap on) and Wyatt are pushing the bales around using their man muscles.


And finally the whole stack! Yum. And just in time for tarping. It turned out to rain quite a bit of rain. When stored outside, the bottom bales get a little wet from the water on the ground and they are pretty much no good for horses. But the alternative was to loose the whole field if it was left unbaled, unstacked and untarped.


Thank goodness for grandparents who get things done. I think we have a little over 300 bales from these efforts.

Sir Mix-A-Lot is Alive and Well in my House

I am so over my post traumatic vacation disorder that it is hardly worth mentioning. Nothing like industry and a lunatic kid (my son Wyatt) to make me forget any wrongs in the world and focus on the present.

Wyatt has been up to his worst. While in time out today for his ludicrous antics, spastic behavior, and name calling, he starts singing, "I like big butts and I can not lie..." Laughing hysterically at his own vocal prowess, I sighed deeply wondering if there is any hope for this child.

Then to make things more annoyingly worse my baby Ella starts in singing with him in her innocent wee toddler voice, "I wike big butts, I canot wye." Then she giggles in little fits while I resist the urge to pummel her brother.

In my head I am screaming at my husband who has been periodically chanting this once popular hip hop song as he walks around the house aimlessly indoctrinating my children with the verses.

I can't help but feel this song and the particular lyric is directed at me, and not in a good way. And for the record, I wear a size 12 pants and am just shy of 6 feet tall. However, I do not feel I have an abnormally sized buttock. I think I have a normal buttock to height ratio, but I could be wrong. Just being called big butt is disturbing on some level or another.

This is a picture that Wyatt took of my butt while he was on a wild photo shooting spree a few months back. I knew there was a reason I did not delete it. I needed some evidence!

Oh, before I forget. YES, Frogs in Your Formula, chocolate is the root of evil. Frogs and I have had a recent disagreement about "chocolate." And I am convinced that SIL, Suzi at Savy Suzi and her accomplice Cookie Girl are conspiring to put me in a size 14 via chocolate poisoning.

Yeah, I am that serious. Just eliminating my chocolate consumption to 0 as in zero or only one piece daily has resulted in the loss of 4 lbs of weight in a 6 day period. But I digress. I still maintain that I do not have an butt that would make anyone say OMG, she has a big butt and I can not lie...

Anyway my dearest and loving spouse and I have confrontations about what he thinks passes for human language. I am guessing my verbal standards are slightly higher than normal but why should I not expect my husband to rise to the occasion in parenting? Sadly, lets just say Mike has no filter between his brain and mouth and it results in some things getting through that just should not be said in front of kids.

Mike and I have had numerous conversations about his unsuitable topics and specific wordings and how it effects the kids vocabulary. This is pretty much what it is like every single stinking time. And by stinking I really mean F-ing.

I say, "Mike, do you even hear what you are saying right now?" Of course you must imagine me saying this in the annoying wife voice that all men hate.

Mike's response is, "Wha?"

The wife replies, "Um, let's see here.... You are singing Sir Mix-a-lot and chanting about big butts. Does this not occur to you? Your kids can hear you and repeat everything you say!!!!!"

Mike's response is, "Huh?"

My irate finale is, "Dude. Stop. It. Now. I don't need Ms. Cindy (Wyatt's preschool teacher) reporting to me how Wyatt is telling the 4 year old girls how he likes "big butts." SERIOUSLY Quit it."

"Oh they don't listen to me anyway," Mike finally replies with a nonchalant wave of his hand and shrug of his shoulder. Basically, he is dismissing my implication of his guilt in our children's non standard language edification.

"When the principal calls us from Kindergarten, you know, real school, YOU are going to be the one getting off work to deal with the situation. I will not be going to school on behalf of you. YOU can explain it all to the school staff," I retaliate vehemently.

Then Mike replies, "OK. No problem."

He makes me ill some times.

And on a totally random side, Suzi sent me this and I thought I would answer for the world to see.

Three names I go by

1. Julia
2. mom
3. neighhhhh!

Three jobs I have had in my life
1. Biological Consultant
2. ice cream scooper
3. flower delivery woman

Three places I have lived
1. Honolulu, Hawaii
2. Mountain View, CA
3. Davis, CA

THREE TV Shows that I watch
1. American Idol
2. Ugly Betty
3. Ummmm do Blogs count?

Three places I have been
1. Hoover Dam
2. New York City
3. Anzo Borego Desert

Three people that e-mail me regularly
1. Suzi
2. Kirra
3. Aunt Karen

Three of my favorite foods
1. Broccoli
2. Brussel Sprouts
3. Spinach

See I am taking this no chocolate thing really seriously.

Three things I am looking forward to
1. Wine and Cheese pairing party this weekend
2. Going to a horse show this summer
3. Some day having a bigger house

That's all folks. Keeping it light tonight!

I Just Don't Know

I just came back from vacation and should feel great right? Well, a non-specific brand of melancholy or maybe just unease has settled into my body for which I have no rational explanation. While pulling weeds and watering my garden I muddled through my mind, turning over the random thoughts of discontent that floated between my ears.

The squashing of mud through my crocks and happy talk from my toddler did not seem to console me. As Ella ran around barefooted in her underwear chasing the cat saying, "Meow, meow, meow," louder and then quietly, alternating in her effect practicing her vocal skills, I tore out rip-gut brome, curly dock and Italian rye grass. They invade my landscaping no matter what I do. Plucking out the aliens from my beds did not seem to dissipate my malcontent or broodiness.

"I help you, MawMaw?" my bright cherub asked me. She has a joyful countenance which cheers all in her sphere. Moments of brightness and sparks of light come from her little aura. She can't help it. It is effortless for her.

"Of course, Ella Belle," I replied softly. She meandered in and out of my work area along our berm. I let her come and go as she pleased.

Drifting back to me, gravity pulling her, she questioned, "I water da poppies, MawMaw?" The sparkling girl came back after looking at some ladybugs and wanted help in her way.

"O.K. sure," I responded since I could not dampen her eagerness.

Back and forth the ebb and flow of our morning work was tidal. I know she will always come back to me again. My baby girl acts like our moon, a glowing satellite circling round her earth bound Mommy. She nears me and changes the flow of our little ocean, gently moving the course of our work.

Thusly occupied, my mind spinning in a planetary trajectory, I ran though the varied and fractured thoughts that were plaguing me. A day ago, my Gemma horse whacked a tendon somewhere and now needs to be wrapped and rested for MORE time off. Thus my monthly lesson is likely to be canceled next week.

Then I lamented the extra pounds that vacation gifted me, albeit back to my normal schedule they are leaving like a slowly moving fog. Lifting over the next few days, I think things will be back to normal on the scale of things. But chocolate is evil, that I know.

Later hanging laundry to dry in the wind and sun, I wondered if it was just that I was awakened by howling and screeching every two hours last night. Wyatt has a severe ear infection and is insufferable with his misery. I feel like screaming at the poor child, but maintain neutrality to the best of my ability at his lamentations.

However, being ripped from my sleep just as the weeds were torn from their earthy beds, I suffered root shock from his shrieking, "Mommy! My ear is popping. Can you hear it? It hurts!"

I don't enjoy hanging laundry. Too many pieces, not enough space, too much time. The lingering headache from Wyatt's screams was not helping my distaste for saving money...in this manner. I still refuse to line dry the socks and underwear and they go in the drier.

The bright sunshine and gorgeous weather has little effect, it just leads to the damned hot summer that is forthcoming. I have to shake off the gloom and doom somehow. But not being a person who is easily kept down or even so much as depressed I battled back the glowering in my mind since there is no rest for the weary.

I walked to the house so I could feed the little beasties their lunch before nap time. The steps to my house land on gravel base rock. I hate the rocks. Just one more thing to make me annoyed. They migrate onto my deck and in the house. I don't hate much but I hate that gravel.

Cooking lunch I pondered that maybe it is the economy, both stagnant and oppressive threatening to send us into the poor house. My little cooking angel dragged her chair over to help me with the preparations saying, "Kye schmell dat?" Then taking a big sniff declared, "Yummy! Kye taste dat?" The words "Can I" have somehow morphed into "Kye." She always brightens my day in a way that no amount of sunny weather can.

That voice in my head says, "The basics lady. Just the basics." We can feed our selves and have a place to live. Some folks are much worse off then us. There are a handful of bloggers whom I know have hit very hard times, so by comparison we are just fine for now.

We are not there yet, but if things keep on like they are, we could be in trouble eventually. That being said, Mike and I have discussed at length during our drive to Washington where we could relocate if the worst of worst happens. The emergency back up plan to date is liquidate and move out of state. Mike wants to move to Nashville, Tennessee for some reason that he can not lucidly explain. I do not like hot and humid. I would insist staying on the west coast unless some other overwhelming consideration could sway me to go elsewhere. So that being said, why do you like where you live and would you recommend us moving there?? And how are you feeling all this weight?

Hopefully, this moody spell will pass. It always does sooner or later. The circles go round and round once again...

We're Back!

This is going to be the mother of all photo posts. Just so you are warned. I throw in a few words every now and again just so you know I am still here. The short summary: we hiked and biked, played at parks, ate a lot, visited much, drove many miles and had lots of fun.

One of the frequent visitors to our cottage were the numerous hummingbirds fighting over the feeder outside the kitchen window. They were great. We don't have this species at home so this was a special treat.

Also, I kept hearing a loud shrieking call from what I knew had to be a larger bird and finally figured out that the ospreys were a dime a dozen on Bainbridge Island. In fact they were nesting on a water tower at nearby Battlepoint Park. Then, driving down the free way, I frequently spotted bald eagles cruising around the edge of the waters. It is undeniable that the mighty big and mighty small convene in the Pacific north west.


We took the ferry into Seattle to visit with family. The ferry is like the coldest hair dryer you have ever used. Your hair whips anywhere and everywhere and you are eating hair and doing your best to see around your long tresses....


Basically, if you like the way your hair looks, never get out of your car while aboard the ferry, because you will have a rats nest by the time you are done with the 3o minute ride.


That concept does not apply when you have excited kids, however.


Wyatt liked walking around the deck looking for mischief. He gets a little wild glint in his eye and I thank the safety professionals that there is wire caging material surrounding the deck.

He just can not help himself. He is a wild child.

But one more nice picture with Dad and we put the camera away and enjoyed the wind tossing us around like rag dolls.


We visited with my cousins in Seattle and took a picture of all the cousin's kids. The kids in the picture are from left to right: Ella and Wyatt, Mia and Hanna (my cousin Kiel's kids), and Grant, Alex and Emma (my cousin Greg's kids)


Walking through the woods, second cousins once removed (or something like that), Ella and Mia walked hand in hand.


Down at the beach the kids could not resist going in the water. I say no thank you!!! Way to cold even for me.

My dear and loving spouse looking stern and tough.

My sweet boy looking stern and tough.

The day before we left we visited the skate park on Bainbridge Island. They have a great skate pit where Mike could jump his bike a little. It's not really meant for bikes and they have signs up saying skate boards only but since no one was around we just went for it.


The graffiti was appropriate for a skate park I think. There were the obligatory skulls and zombie faces, profanity and drug references and undecipherable word pairings.



Wyatt not one to back down from a challenge dropped in too!


The men can actually share the same space. Amazing.


And Ella not to be left out of anything ran around in the bottom of the bowls getting in the way of everything. Good thing it was just us in the park that morning.


And we took a family portrait with my aunt Karen, and cousin Greg's family on their lawn. My Aunt has quite a view of Puget Sound!


Finally, to close out the vacation I am showing Ella playing on a piano that has been in our family for many generations. It belonged to my great grandfather on my moms side of the family. Maybe Ella will learn to play an instrument in the tradition of both of my parents. I somehow did not have the patience when I was 6 years old. I can only hope she is more focused than me!


And after cleaning my house and floors and laundry and kids and truck I am ready for my own personal vacation! It's just back to the grind again!

Pictures from Bainbridge Island. Can You Say Vacation?

After a 14 hour car ride and two amazingly good children we arrived at Bainbridge Island, WA. It is beautiful with it's tall trees and lots of water. The quote of the day was from Ella who said, "I wanna look at da big pond."


I am always amazed when I see trees as precariously perched as this one along the shoreline.


Ella likes the little kid chairs at out rental cottage. They are on the porch an she thought they were just right to bring out her blanket and bunny for a little snuggle. While we were watching the local fauna including chickadees, towhees and hummingbirds I caught site of something big moving through the trees.... Bragging rights go out to the first reader who can id this bird.


We have spent some time terrorizing downtown BI on bicycle and Mike has not yet been chased along the street with disgruntled towns people, but that is only a day away from occurring. Mike likes to ride his bike down steps and bunny hop benches and shrubs and such... We did however spare the city center from Mikes presence by visiting a waterfront park where Wyatt and his Dad could pedal in total freedom.


Ella and I brought up the rear in the stroller and Ella thought pulling the beanie down over her eyes was the best fun in the world.

That's better!

Finally, here's a picture of Ella and I along the rocky shore line.


Tomorrow we will go to Seattle on the ferry! That is always so much fun. Driving a car onto a boat is always a little exciting and strange to me.

I will be back visiting blogs next week. I just wanted to put up a brief summary just so ya'll know why I have been kind of sparse lately. Bye for now!!

New Definitions

I think this photo gives a new meaning to "kiss my ass."

Why Men Like Motors

From a very early age Wyatt wanted to be behind the wheel of power. It started with a simple,

"Hey Mom, look at me!"

Some of his early words were, "John Deer." He made a very grumpy old man driving the miniature John Deere gator.

"I got corn to tend, Lady! No time for pictures now..."

And when motorized vehicles were not available he attempted to coerce his cousin Adam into pushing him around the yard. Not such an easy feat considering the base rock is not a smooth surface.

"PUSH ME ADAM!!!!"

Then with bigger things on his mind it turned into,

"Can I just please start the tractor now mom?"

And with a need for speed he was saying,

"I am totally going to ride this here dirt bike one day soon!"

And on Easter all the boys got to drive the tractors for real. And you can see them wearing their "manprons" (aprons for men) in action!