changes...

They're changing already. The wing tips on each of the chicks are now developing tiny white feathers, their necks are getting longer and they have tiny little combs beginning on their fuzzy heads.

We're soon moving them to a large circular pen, with 2 heat lamps, as their wood box is beginning to get a little tight.

Greenhouse Pics...

Well I've been busy posting many a' picture for your perusal this morn...hope you enjoy.

Here are some of the greenhouse... the little leafy green sprouts are my cucumbers, and the tiny green ones are the chives...

New Dining Set..

Well they arrived yesterday, laden in blankets. They were expertly put together, and fit to a tea!

The only thing I'm not loving is the handles on the hutch..which really is no big deal as we can run to the depot anytime and get some prettier ones.

There are 2 leaves in the table in these pics ...and there are 4 available...it's a fair size. We've taken all the leaves out for now, and it's very cozy and the chairs are very comfortable, all around we're quite satisfied with our purchase :)

picky's of the chicky's...

Here chicky chicky...

No sitting around today.

The chicks will be arriving this afternoon, the new dining set will be arriving this afternoon, and there's a bridal shower to attend tonight for my sister in law.

I'm excited to post pics of the baby chicks...I just REALLY hope we know what we're doing. The Hubs figures that if the Amish can do it with no electricity, then we shouldn't have a problem. The heat lamp is postitioned nicely over the middle of the wood box, and we're placing feed on papers for now, as the chicks are too tiny to eat from feeders yet. Hopefully it doesn't get too hot or too cold...

Here's hoping I don't have a bunch of McNuggets by morn.

If you have any wisdom on raising chicks, PLEASE let me know :)

How far would you go?

Yesterday....all my troubles seemed so far away.....

I had pawned my kids off to their adoring Oma for the day, and The Hubs and I were on a mission.

How far would YOU go to make some cash to buy a new swing set for your kids?? .... welllll, as fate would have it...yesterday, I was asking myself that very question, over and over.

There we were standing knee high in rusty metal, evaluating the type...be it copper, cast iron, steel, tin, or the coveted stainless steel and aluminum. We were given the okay by The Hubs parents to scavenge the farm for scrap metal to bring to the junkyard. Any money made would be put towards a brand spankin' new wooden swing set.

I was in my glory.

Yesterday I reached the true pinnacle of red neck-edness. There I was sporting my sketchers shoes, a pair of The Hubs work pants, an old maternity shirt, and a filthy pair of work gloves. My eyes were likened to a blackbird, looking for anything shiny that I could toss in the pick up truck. I was ropin' down loads, guiding the tractor, and pointing out the mice that would run from the old pieces of junk.

The Hubs and I would congratulate each other on a 'good find' ... discovering an old aluminum pipe was like finding a be-jewelled scepter. We would high-five each other then move on to the next rusted treasure.

We rode to the junk yard, sucking back cold Cokes as our arms hung from the windows. As we waited in line for the enormous magnet that picked up the heavy farm implements and metal bits from the bed of our truck, we'd pull down the tailgate and sit with our legs swinging....watching the hairy men move the piles from here to there. Then I'd climb back in to my seat and The Hubs would back us up to the magnet and I'd feel the truck rock as the treasure was pulled out.

We crossed over the scales in our empty truck and had it weighed again to get the final tally on the weight of the metal. The Hubs would then run to the office and pick up our cold hard cash....by the end of the day his front pocket was burgeoning from the wad.

After a full day of junkyard journeys, we made our way to the Amish man who furnishes beautiful rustic cedar furniture. We told him our plans for a swing set and made basic little drawing, and he stood there with his brimmed hat and long black beard nodding his head in approval. He went over the pricing with The Hubs and it fit perfectly in our junkyard budget.

As The Hubs was talking to Mr. Amish, the little Amish children were running around in their dresses and overalls..it was so adorable..if only I could have taken pictures for you..but that it frowned upon in their religion....so instead I'll paint you a mental image.

The littlest boy was sporting his blue button up shirt and a pair of handmade navy overalls with little black boots. His dark hair was shaped in a bowl cut, and he wore a hearing aid that was tethered with a string to his overalls in case his over-activity caused it to loosen from his ear.

He stared at us worldly folk with awe, he backed further in the un-lit barn while still keeping his eyes on us. The goats were maa-ing and Mr. Amish was milking them by hand with a head lamp on.

Once we had been laughing and talking with his father for a while, he became more comfortable, and was beginning to show off his skills on the little red wagon. He would use one leg to propel himself about, and the other sat beneath him on the wagon. His hands used the handle to steer...and there he and his sister (sporting a bonnet and dress) went...up and down the lane.

He got closer to the van and walked around it, keeping one hand on the cold hard metal, feeling it's power.....he gawked at it, as though it were a rocket ship from outer space. ...I wanted so badly to show him the VCR .....now that woulda' blown his mind huh?

He was sorry to see us leave and waved as we backed the rocket down the lane way...

As we were driving home, we saw a little Amish girl in her long dress, jumping up and down on an old trampoline... she had the biggest smile on her face and not a care in the world. It was beautiful.

We hit our beds last night with a great feeling of satisfaction, and an awareness of our blessings... I thanked my Father for the day ...and the beauty in it all.

Un-Fit Part Deux...

I truly have the best husband God could have given me.

I arrived home, my bleary eyes red and puffy, my legs hardly making it up the steps. He was doing the dishes, and Gabriel ran up to me saying 'Momma are you okay? What happened to you? Were the people mean to you?"

Once I had fully described the torture session, The Hubs got on the phone and called the gym. He talked directly to the 'nutritionist nazi' and told her to act more like a professional, to not use indecent language, and to try positive reinforcement rather than making someone feel like a useless piece of garbage.

She apologized and offered me 2 free nutrition sessions, and 2 personal training sessions.

Of course, I declined once the hubs told me what she had said. I believe there may have been some hip wiggling and finger waggling as I said ' OH YA, the poor girl that cried in the office gets a pity offering, No thank-you.'

The next morning, The Hubs still wasn't satisfied with having only spoken to the guilty party, so he called the General Manager. The GM was very sorry to hear what had taken place, and said that the nutritionist had only been there for a week, she was brand new, and he didn't know her very well. He was sad to hear what she had said, and asked if I would come and speak to him for a formal apology.

So as it stands I am no longer participating in the 'Required' Fit tests, and they've okayed that. As I am required to fulfill my 12 month membership, I will, but it will involve walking into the gym, swiping a card, and avoiding staff members at all cost.

I may even wear a hat and sunglasses, so they don't recognize me as the 'weak one'.

And no, it wasn't Curves, it was Premier Fitness. (there....now I feel better.) (Thanks for all of your comments...it's so wonderful to have y'all as a sounding board )

Un-fit test...

It was horrible.

I sat in her office and cried as she spouted on about how I had done everything 'poorly' in my fit test. She didn't clue in to the fact that I'm currently inhaling anti-depressants to help overcome the 'Seasonal Affective Disorder' even though I had told her and her co-worker.

She's a nutritionist at the gym where I work out, and yesterday was my tri-monthly fit test. A kinesiologist went through my shortcomings and fatcomings, and helped me to understand how to use the machines better...he was nice, and was at the least, tactful about my apres pregnancy weight. He said it wouldn't take me long to get back in shape, and was even somewhat complementary after he beat me to a pulp in the 'fitness' aspect of the testing. I was beyond tired after the 2 hours with him, then I was to visit with the nutritionist....AKA "Hitler in a pink shirt".

I sat down in the room at the same table with them as they discussed me in the third person, (which is always a delight). They described how 'Leanne did poorly' in ALL of the exercises, including core strength and cardio.

I was hungry. I was tired. My legs were shaking. And all the while these two "insert name call here", dogged me down and told me how, and I quote 'Obese' I was. They said I was very unhealthy and needed nutritional counselling and a personal trainer.

So I did what any other self respecting woman would do. I bawled. Like a baby.

She said I was making her uncomfortable with my crying. She went on to tell me she has a masters in nutrition and that she spends $1000 a week on her trainer. (insert several expletives and a few GD bombs, and you get the gist of the conversation)

She asked me how I'd like to pay for the program of training and nutrition. I asked how much it was and she quoted me $1800 ...and said that was a deal.

I wiped my eyes and told her I'd have to think about it.

Then I did what any other self respecting woman would do. I called my husband from the parking lot. Bawling like a baby.

To be continued...(as I've just received an invitation to dine at McDonald's...and I'm gonna do what any other self-respecting woman would do .... and go)

When to slow down on the Bloggity Goodness?

I'm torn.

I feel like my blogging/facebook/MSN computer habits are overwhelming me, and that's just not good. I feel like there are certain things I don't get to in a day because I just HAVE to find out whats going on in the blogosphere, and that's just not good. Sometimes I can waste an entire hour in a day reading blogs, chatting with friends, and concocting blog posts, and that's just not good.

I've also noticed my children's TV habits are getting slightly out of hand. I know Dora is quite educational, and I have to give her props for teaching my child many a Spanish word, but alot of the other stuff is just plain ol' time wasting c-r-a-p.

So...what to do???

I approached The Hubs about putting the TV away for the summer, but he's worried about missing America's Funniest Home Videos and Cops. And sometimes Cops Funniest videos. Or Americas Funniest Cops. I on the other hand would be willing to sacrifice my American Idol for some serious book reading. I LOVE to read. And, I REALLY need to delve into the scripture more often, I figure one less distraction could only promote that.

And as for blogging..... I love this blog for the joy it will bring my children one day in reading it, and I love the comments (LOVE the comments) but I think I need to set goals...or writing times...or a blogger blogging weblog times. Perhaps once or twice a week...rather than incessantly checking hourly to see who has written what and who's done what, and who's eating what, and who's cleaning what. And instead of writing, doing, eating and cleaning my own what's...I'd rather be seeing yours.

I think I have a problem. I like to live vicariously through y'all. I feel like I'm reading your diary and know you from way back when.

So as I process these thoughts, tell me how you handle your blogging times...do you post and read when inspired, or are you like me, living through bloglines and the potential that Dee Dee has posted something and you must read, 'cause you desperately need a laugh?

a little bit of everything...

So I lied.

There ain't no good writin' goin' on. At least not here and now.

I'm beat, it was a long day and I'm ready to hit the hay.... figuratively of course...I really could go and hit the hay in the 'hay mow' upstairs in the barn, but that would be itchy and I wouldn't sleep very well. Maybe one day the kids'll want to go and camp out up there one night. But the mice would probably chew our hair off and we'd be bald by morning...

Please. Excuse. The. Randomness. I don't know where my brain has gone. Probably up in the hay mow having some wonderfully needed down time.

Enough of the hay mow.

Onto Gardening...

I planted some pepper and tomato seeds,(many of which I saved from our own vegetables, and some of which I acquired from our wonderful organic farming friend) several weeks ago and they've sprung. All of them. I was hoping for 5 or 6 if I was lucky, but I've ended up with about 50 of each variety. Lucky me.

So I decided to thin them out and transplant the seedlings into pots of their own, they look lovely, but are consuming some serious space in the house. I've perched them in front of the south facing windows, and after Ashlyn spilled several pots and the cats ate several seedlings, The hubs and I decided we needed a better place to perch them.

We purchased a small greenhouse, and I can't tell you how darn excited I am. The feeling of dirt beneath my fingernails is long awaited...forget the gardening gloves...I want to have dirty 'ol nails and a ring caked in mud....and then sniff it....only to hack at the mustiness of the earth.

Ahhhh, good times, good times.

Routine

There has been a change to our routine here on the farm.

The Hubs is trying to take advantage of some 'incentive days' the milk board is offering, and he's decided to try milking 3 times a day, rather than the typical 2.

This means he'll continue to get up at 4 am, complete a milking, go out again at 12:00pm, complete a milking, then go out again at 8 pm and complete a milking.

There are some advantages to this new schedule that have me excited. For instance, instead of the kids eating dinner at 7pm each night, we'll be moving it ahead to 5:30 pm. We tried it tonight, and it was great! They both ate a plate full of food...typically they have some cheese or grapes or some crackers before Dwight gets back in, and then they're not as hungry for the good stuff.

Also, it'll help to increase the production of milk given by the cows. There's the potential for an extra 200 or more litres of milk per day.

And Finally, The hubs'll be here for putting the kids to bed before he goes out, then I'll have 2 hours of peace and quiet. I will certainly miss that time with Dwight, but he'll be back in around 9:30...which isn't too late.

Hope you're looking forward to some good evening posts...all this quiet time oughtta' bring on some good writing.

Until tonight my dears.

Whats your emergency??

Tell me it's happened to you.

Please.

We were all upstairs and The Hubs and I were checking upon a trap we had set for the creature in the attic. (another post for another day...) The kids had followed us up, and were playing quietly together.

Quietly dialing 911.

There is a pretty coloured triangular button on the upstairs phone, that just screams 'PUSH ME!'...and so Gabe did as he felt he should do...and he pushed it.

The Hubs caught him red-handed and realized what he had done...and quickly plopped down the receiver. I told him they would call back if the call went through..and he didn't believe me.

Within 5 seconds the phone was ringing and sure enough it was the 911 call center. The Hubs stammered out that the kids had been playing with the phone, and that he was very sorry for any trouble.

I recalled a scenario that had taken place at my last position as a receptionist. Someone in the back had called 911 by accident and said they had rectified the situation, but in case someone should call, I needed to know about it. Sure enough within 15 minutes a police car pulled up and in came the officer, with his best stern face. He gave me the third degree, and watched my face so intently...I was afraid I might blink and he'd whip out his gun asking me to 'Put 'em up!'

After I told The Hubs this story, he told me to get dressed...and he called his Dad (who lives next door) to let him know what had happened in case a police car were to pull in the lane way.

As we've sat in the living room for the past 20 minutes, I see him looking up from his book at each passing car just waiting for the flashing lights. If I don't post in the next day or two, you'll know we've been put in the slammer for prank calls.

Have your children happened upon the emergency number yet?? If so, please tell me how it went :)

Gaming...

Thanks to Scribbit, I'm currently trying to master this game. It's like a freakishly fast version of Tetris.

I've reached 5 seconds after 5 attempts. In order to be deemed a genius, you must reach 18 seconds.

I guess I'm about as dumb as a stump. I'll let you know once I reach genius status...could be days, months even.... Perhaps next time I'll try it without my children in the room....focus, focus...'

Good Luck Y'all.

Thinking Blogger Award...

It's unbelievable. Particularly since I just erased the post I was working on. How can it be that I was nominated for the coveted 'Thinking Blogger Award'?

It's unimaginable that there are people out in blog land that actually read my daily dose. To imagine that I am a thinker is well....humorous. Don't get me wrong ..there are lots of thoughts that travel through this noggin daily such as ... 'what am I having for dinner tonight' and 'how wonderful it is to know who Anna Nicole Smith's baby's father is, I can finally sleep' and 'How can I hide from my children today' and finally ' What bloggity goodness can I come up with for this post'.

Stimulating I tell you.

What a shock it was to be nominated for an award such as this, that would give the impression to others, that I may actually have something intelligent to offer...my apologies.

I feel very honoured nonetheless and would love to thank the sweet Judi from Mommy of two that nominated me. Here is the post she wrote about the awards, please read it to see the nice things she said about various blogs she nominated for the award.

Thus it brings me to the duty that is now required of me...listing 4 blogs that make me think.
(I would love to list my entire blog roll of friends, and to see that, you can go to the lower right hand side, there are some pretty great reads in there)

Here goes nothin'. (I'm going to try to list 4 blogs that aren't on my blog roll...other than #1)

1. Wilhoite Prayer Blog - This is the journal of a young mother that is suffering from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia cancer. She's been given a very short life expectancy, and yet she battles each day knowing God can heal her, if that is his plan. She reminds me of what is truly important, and she remains so focused on her love for the Saviour, especially through this unimaginably tough time. Please go and see her today, and leave her an uplifting comment would you?

2. Hello My Name Is Heather - This blog inspires my decorating side, she is absolutely the most creative and photogenic woman I have encountered. She sends me goosebumps when she posts those colourful pictures, and it makes me wanna be more creative. Her husband also has a wonderful photography blog, seen here.

3. Waar Is Lotte?- A dutch girl -Lotte- who spent a month here on our farm, has now travelled to Africa to continue her farming education. She is a wonderful person, inside and out. She became part of our family while she was here, and I love to keep up with her as she travels the world...it's my way of seeing the sights, without leaving my house! (her blog title means 'Where is Lotte?')

4. Homeliving Helper - Lady Lydia dishes up a good helping of thoughtful posts, never a dull one! She stays focused on Christ, and helps ladies who stay home, to be as productive as they can be. She has wonderful advice, and tells it like it should be. Thanks Lydia for making me think!

If you've been listed here, please feel free to post the award button on your blog.

There you go, now you've got some reading material!!!

Thanks again Judi!

Here kitty kitty...

Well it's official. They are once again barn cats. I know, I know some of you don't like the idea of them living in a barn, but we need mouse control out there...and they just happen to be very good at catching mice.

Yesterday was really the last straw for me. I was sitting quietly at the computer when the tiny ninjas were planning their attack. They were cavorting in the corner and were secrectly mewing about how they would shred me this time around.

The orange one was coaxed to come over to me and put on his best 'I'm so sweet and helpless, pleeease pick me up, mew mew' face, whilst the others sat back and waited for their moment.

I picked him up, just as their plot entailed, and then they began.

One after the other they speared out their tiny sharpened claws (they had been sharpening them all afternoon on the metal leg of my desk chair) and took a run, as fast as their stubby little legs would take them. They were aiming for my uncovered legs.

HI-YAA!!! ...1...2...3..4.... they all ran at me and took a running leap onto my bare legs, only to sink their little hook claws into my bare flesh.

I screamed and it meant nothing to them. Then they began to climb.

I counted 25 puncture wounds and scratches on my legs in the shower last night.

Needless to say, they are now residing in the very warm, very cozy calf barn. Now they can practice their ninja moves on the gangster mice. It's really best for all involved.

(UPDATE: LOL, I just realized I had written "I counted 25 puncture wounds and scratched on my legs in the shower last night" I had infact meant to write 'scratches' rather than 'scratched' ...cause that would be just gross. I wasn't scratchin' on my legs in the shower...)

Strawberry Torte

Strawberry Torte

It's quite a masterpiece, and it dazzled my Easter dinner guests. It's a very simple recipe and very was quite easy to make.

If you you're so inclined, I'll post the recipe.

Ingredients:

1.5 bricks of cream cheese

3/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 pint heavy whip cream

3 packages lady fingers (try to buy short fat rather than long thin...they're too long)

1 pack frrozen strawberries

1 container fresh strawberries

Directions:

strain frozen berries in bowl

Whip cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together.

In a seperate bowl beat whip cream until stiff peaks form, fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.

slice 5 large berries for middle layer in cake

Arrange ladyfingers around bottom and sides of 8 or 9 inch springform pan (use some whipped mixture to pipe along edges, and stand layfingers into it, to help stay upright)

Pour 1/2 filling into pan, arrange sliced berries on top, with another layer of ladyfingers

pour remainder of filling over ladyfingers

place defrosted berries in a bowl and mash with 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 tablesppons lemon juice to a fine pulp

Spread strawberry puree over top of cake

place fresh berries around cake

Refigerate overnight or until thoroughly chilled

Enjoy!

He is Risen..

The Resurrection

1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Thank you Jesus for your wonderful gift of salvation! Wishing everyone a joyful Easter Sunday!

Hello, hello are you there??? are ya, are ya???

It's official. And it's sad.

I can no longer enjoy a cuppa coffee after 6 pm.

The other day I was talking with my friend, who has always been very particular about not enjoying a caffeinated beverage after the dinner hour. I took a long sip of my coke classic, and told her that I needn't worry about such preposterous notions. I was able to have a coffee with some tea AND coke AS I turn down the sheets, and still be asleep within 15 minutes.

Well heck, why'd I have to go and say that.

Tonight after the delicious Easter dinner put on by my mother in law, I enjoyed a coffee and a slice o' pie. It wasn't until bedtime rolled around that I noticed something was different.
I was buzzing like a bee.

Soooo here I sit, with nothing in particular to say, other than ....CALL ME. I'm bored out of my skull...since the others have gone to bed, I've already done 2 loads of laundry (washed, dried and folded) I've cleaned the playroom, organized the laundry room, checked on my children, watched the washing machine spin, was tempted to poke Ashlyn just to have something to do, played with the kittens, did a load of dishes, organized my menu for tomorrows dinner, then decided to come to my faithful blog.

And that brings me to now.

I still feel like singing the national anthem at the top of my lungs, while marching back and forth in my kitchen as I prepare tomorrow nights dinner...

D'ya think I had a liiiiittle too much caffeine a liiiitle too late? huh? do ya? do ya?? huh, huh? whad'ya think? huh? c'mon tell me..c'mon, c'mon, c'mon....

I'm gonna go run around the house now.

Rainbow Rocket...

We planned it weeks ago. Made the phone call and signed up, told them we were looking forward to it..........If only I'd known.

It was a chilly morning, the wind was brisk and the anticipation was thick in the air. Oma had made her way over and was looking forward to a day with her grandchildren, while the Hubs and I said our good-byes.

We were off to the 'Dortman Brothers Barn Tour'. Yipee-ki-yi-yay.

I was actually elated about getting out of the house without children, and looking forward to the joy of sitting with the Hubs on a school bus...as though we were in high school. Since we wouldn't know anyone, I envisioned us having long talks while bumping our way through the countryside and enjoying long strolls down barn walkways (albeit covered in manure...but hey, beggars can't be choosers...)

I realized the error in my visions as we approached the meeting spot before setting off on the tour.

There she was in all her glory, ready to be filled with eager dairy farmers. Although I had expected a school bus, I was greeted with a far superior automobile. The Rainbow Rocket. If you're a mom of younger children, you'll know of the show 'The Doodlebops'... uh -huh ...picture their tour bus.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Doodlebops, let me familiarize you. "Let's Get on the Bus, Let's Get on the Bus!...' It's a rainbow coloured, blaring-ly bright, disco dancing bus that carries the singers to their gigs. Lemme tell ya, I was ready to break into song and dance when I stepped in this shaggin' wagon. Then we met the driver. Mm-Hmmmm. We were in for quite a day.

As we left the lot in the Rocket, we soon began to understand the magnitude of the un-wonderful ride we were embarking on. The driver soon became known to the Hubs and myself as 'the narcoleptic city slicker on a suicide mission'. If he wasn't falling asleep at the wheel, he was testing the width of the road, seeing how many times he could shower the cars behind us in gravel, or how many cars beside us would give up on his game of chicken. It was .... ahem...entertaining to say the least. The hubs and I had a serious discussion about the writing of our will, and who the children's guardians would be. This was all in jest..of course.

We began to wonder about the shrill alarm that had been seared into our brains, and when the noise would stop. The Hubs ...being the funny man that he is....was joking with the other Dairy farmers about a similar alarm that goes off in the barn when the milk is too cold or warm. Everyone had a laugh...then Driver Dan piped up with a maniacal laugh, and stated that the noise would be staying on during our ride on the Rocket, as he couldn't locate the source of the screech. So he tuned the radio to the local country station (whilst swerving violently from side to side as he twirled the knob) thinking us farmin' folks would quit complaining if we heard our Aggie anthems being played.

In our attempts to stay positive, the Hubs and I were serving each other raw humour in the form of a running commentary on the news report that would be featured on the 'Live at 5' regarding the Dairy Farmers Bus Tour that went awry.

[Said in reporter fashion] 'The Rainbow Bright bus was found to have busted through the guardrail and had plunged into the icy waters below. The investigation continues, but so far leads have been pointing to the Narcoleptic Bus driver, who was too busy fiddly-farting with his add on GPS to notice that he was veering directly into a river. He was found asleep at the wheel, while clutching his cell phone in mid-text message. Fortunately the duct tape on the drivers shaft and exposed wiring helped to further reach conclusions into the cause of the accident)

By the time we arrived at the first barn, I was thankful to be alive AND to still have my hearing. I jumped down from the Rocket, with the rainbow designs from the ceiling still dancing in my head, and my breath caught in my throat.

It was Captain Highliner. Straight from the box of fish sticks in my freezer.

He was standing 2 feet in front of me. Pipe, blue cap (complete with cording), turtleneck and all. He had jolly sparkling blue eyes and a skip in his step. The only difference was that I had always imagined Captain Highliner with a British accent, and this chap was sporting a dutch one.

The hubs and I finally quit giggling like school children, and made our way through the Captains barn. We shuffled throughout with our plastic booties on (as to not spread contaminants from our farm to theirs) and admired the structure and livestock.

After we hopped ourselves up on caffeine and timbits, we were whisked away on a magical bus ride to the next farm.

In total we visited 4 farms, and saw some pretty innovative ideas in the industry....but it made me appreciate what we have so much more.

At the end of the day we were somehow still in one piece and were safely deposited back to the parking lot. We thanked the driver and he gave us a goofy grin.

I imagine he's now singing 'Let's Get on the Bus...' whilst driving and dancing in disco fashion.......perhaps he'll be driving for the seniors 'Maple Syrup At The Spring Fling While Fiddling Tour' next and I'm Sure we'll be hearing about that one on the news.

Festivities....

He's 3 now. He's a big boy who is the new owner of a John Deere Trike. And it has a bell. A loud bell. It's raining outside, and the trike is inside. Both kids like the bell. A lot. The bell is still ringing...even though it's stopped.

He had loads of fun, was spoiled rotten, and had a huge piece of cake...a perfect birthday to any 3 year old. It was a fabulous recipe from Kraft's latest magazine, named 'Strawberry Swirl cake' ... definitely a worthy celebration cake.

Miss Ashy Poo thought it was only the right 'sisterly' thing to do. She stole his thunder. All. night. long. She wore his new Diego boots. She wore his new Diego shoes. She rode his bike and sat in his wagon. She was hammin' it up, and Gabe was quietly playing with his little people garage set.

Paybacks Ashy...wait 'til October.

It was a real success, and it's been a good day around here...long naps and lots of quiet playing with toys. (....and leftover cupcakes and dip for moi. tee-hee, makes me giggle like a school girl, just thinking of sitting and watching idol tonight with leftover dip and cupcakes..... I'm a simple girl.)

Happy 3rd Birthday little man!