It's like I'm forcing vinegar down her throat...when in fact it's banana antibiotics. She screams bloody murder, and she always tries to hold in her cheeks then spews it out.

Does anyone have any good medicine giving tips? I could REALLY use them .... right about now. We use the syringe method as she wouldn't dream of taking it from a cup.

Gimme your best methods....please.

Little Miss is sicky sicky...

We had to call off our little visitors for the farm tour today, as Ashlyn has now come down with strep throat as well. Poor little thing is having trouble finding anything that'll go down without any pain, and she's been running a high fever for days.

I took her to the after hours Doctor last night (Our family Dr offers a wonderful after hours practice that has many talented Dr's giving their time to be able to offer this option to their patients as well...you get a different Dr. all the time, but each is well mannered and very knowledgeable) and once I hog -tied Ashlyn in my arms, the Doc was able to peer into her throat, whilst little miss gave her best howl.

"Yup, looks like strep" was the conclusion.

We made our way, prescription in hand, to our favourite drug store...and just as we were waiting for the script to be filled...Ashlyn decided it was due time for some upheaval of the bile in her stomach...as there was so very little food.

There I stood in the feminine products aisle with a vomiting child. I tried to catch it in my hand...then it hit my shoulder...and finally my new purse. I skipped over to the prescription desk where a small line had begun and just said "ummm...could I get some help by chance?"... the line shifted away from my dripping hand, and the pharmacy assistant came to my aid with a box of kleenex. I'm sure she was totally grossed out, but she held her composure and called for clean up in aisle 6.

Although they had quoted me 15 minutes for the antibiotic suspension to be prepared...it was (to my delight) done within 2 minutes of the barf-o-rama.

Just a helpful hint to those of you in a rush next time you're picking up meds.

Sometimes the cuteness hurts my tummy a little. Makes me wanna well up and cry some crocodile tears. Especially when he looks at me and says 'You know what Mama ?" ..."I love you."

Oh. Baby, I love you too.

I've been tagged. For a meme that involves food. That's my kind of meme.

List who tagged you - Mandalyn of Grace and Hope

State (ahem province) and country - Ontario, Canada

List 5 top local restaurants....


1. I just love me some Swiss Chalet. Chicken on a spit...can't beat that.

2. Angelo's Bakery and Deli - just some very fresh, very delicious food.

3. Mykonos - a local Greek restaurant that serves fantastic chicken lemon soup and a tasty platter of fine Greek foods.

4. Canyon Creek - gotta try their potato soup....with bacon, cheese, scallions and sour cream...delish!

5. Mandarin - I had to list at least one buffet. Cause I like food, and that's where I can get plenty!

Now to tag 5 people.....
Well if you wanna play please do, but I would love to hear from Jen, Natalie, Chrissy, Dana, and finally Christin .

My mouth is now watering and I must take a blogging break to fill it :)

A little red.

Today whilst I was planting my seedlings in the vegetable garden, I stood up to crack my back and take a gander at my handiwork.

I slowly sauntered through the soft dirt in my bare feet, and stood at the top of the row, admiring its straightness.

I felt a little itchy, and seeing as no one was around AND I was wearing loose shorts, I decided to lift the wide leg of my shorts and scratch my bottom....I was wearing underwear, and at no point was the underwear shifted or lifted.

There I was having a gander and a scratch ... when something shiny caught my eye.

The milk truck. And the milk man.

Randomness.



1. Why did Chris Daughtry remind me of a gorilla with make up on, on American Idol tonight?



2. I cried when Jordan finished the final song, and I cringed when Blake finished. I'm still not sure who I like better ...and I can't vote even if I wanted.



3. I had strep throat this week and it hurt REAL bad. I'm still kicking it with antibiotics.



4. I have approximately 5 loads of laundry to fold. And I'm sitting here. Blogging to you.



5. I had a wonderful discussion with friend today on whether to breast feed or formula feed. I bottle fed Gabe and breast fed Ashlyn (for reasons I won't get into here and now) but realized in the end...it doesn't matter. Doing what makes momma and baby happiest is ultimately the best way.



6. It was a beautiful day here today, and I spent it's entirety enjoying every moment. Mostly with my hands in the dirt. (Plus I think my babes are getting sick also, and when they're outside they seem to have better coping skills...rather than just slapping each other until someone cries)



7. I began the weight loss thing-a-ma-jigger that you see on my sidebar, and have yet to leave a post on how things are going. That's cause things aren't going. Well they might be. I have yet to weigh myself since I added that button. And no, that's not strategy. That's a combo of strep throat, long weekends, and a flippant attitude to weight loss...which I must tame.



8. I have a new favourite photo. My momma took it on a blissful day of her and I and the kiddies together. It was a McDonald's lunch, ice cream for dessert, walks in the park and naps in the car kind of day.

Here 'tis. (and if you know my momma...she's always making it a little extra special...)

Victoria Day Weekend

Last night was a beautiful evening of family gathered to celebrate the long Victoria Day weekend. There were hot dogs, devilled eggs, potato salads, and pop. There were games and laughter. There was a bon fire with marshmallows and s'mores. There were fireworks with ooo's and aaa's and warm snuggles on a cool night.

The things dreams are made of.

Gabe saw the first star of the night above the tall silo, and whispered quietly

"I wish I may

I wish I might

Have the Wish

I wish tonight"

When asked what he wished for, he said .... 'ice cream'.

Conservations With a Three Year Old

Mommy: My throat is very sore.

Gabe: Oh let me see, where is it sore?

Mommy: (put Gabe on my lap and open my mouth wide) There in the back...

Gabe: ...Ooooooo, (inhales breath very sharply) MOMMY!! You have a worm in your throat!!

Mommy: (can't stop laughing) that's my uvula




Another moment

Gabe was standing at the bookshelf, looking at a picture of me on my wedding day.

He pipes up and says: Mommy, was this taken when you were a very good mother?

Mommy: A very good mother? What do you mean?

Gabe: A very good mother, your dress looks like the very good mother.

Mommy: (laughing...again) Ohhh, you mean the Fairy Godmother

Gabe: Yessss!!!

Jesus:

I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken
I’m accepted, you were condemned
I’m alive and well, you’re spirit is within me
Because you died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be
that you my king would die for me
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor you

In all I do, I honour you.

Here puppy puppy...

Oma watched the children yesterday as the Hubs and I completed our monthly grocery shop. She had stopped by the local small town grocery store in the morning to pick up some treats to have on hand for her grandbabies.

She even told the checkout lady that her grandchildren were coming over for a visit and she needed to pick up some special items for them.

She came home with her purchases and put the special treat in the freezer, anticipating the excited look on the children's faces as she'd serve them a tasty cup of ice cream.

That afternoon she decided it was time for them to experience the special treat. She brought out 3 cups of the ice cream THAT SHE FOUND BESIDE ALL THE "REGULAR" ICE CREAM...(I might add) and lucky for them she was the first one to rip her cup open.

In went her spoon, as she opened her mouth wide for that first cool, delicious bite.

It didn't take long for her face to twist and contort as she slowly realized what was up. With her mouth full, she took the ice cream from the children ...and ran to the bathroom. She spit out her spoon full as Gabriel chased her, wanting his special treat.

She told him how it tasted awful, and he wouldn't like it..then she showed him the box...and explained why our farm dog Sadie, would enjoy it so much more.

Gots me a new camery.

Corn Cart in old barn.

Tiny flowers

My cousin Biancas little guy, Owen and his Opa.

Gabe in his barn clothes.

Layla in the barn...

Meme...

Coach J tagged me for this meme a while ago, and I had yet to complete it.

Well here you go :)

1. Go to Wikipedia and type in your birth date only–without the year: August 3

2. List 3 events that occurred that day:

1) 1527 -First known letter was sent from North America by John Rut while at St. John's, Newfoundland

2)1827 - First Boat Race between Yale and Harvard, the first American intercollegiate athletic event.

3)2004- The pedestal of the Statue of Liberty reopens after being closed since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

3. List 2 important birthdays:
1) 1941 - Martha Stewart, American media personality
2) 1926 - Tony Bennett, American singer

4. List 1 death:
1879 - Joseph Severn, English painter (b. 1793)

5. List a holiday or observance:
Kentucky - Watermelon Day

Annual Event...

It's an annual event here at the farm. There's no tea to be served, no crumpets to consume, rather we celebrate it in our rubber boots behind closed gates.

The event I'm talking about is the annual 'Pasturing of the Dairy Cows'.

You see, during the winter months, (from approximately November to April) the cows are kept inside the barn, neatly tied to their area, with a cozy straw bed. They get to run around in the barn yard after milkings and they come in after they've eaten their silage and had some fresh air. They are quite content to come back into the warm barn during these snowy months.

But when the grass turns green, it becomes a whole different story. They know....they can see the grass through the gates, and they want it. Badly.

Sometimes it can prove difficult to get them to come back into the barn when it's a lovely day, they don't realize the frost is still thick in the evenings of March and sometimes April. Eventually, they make their way back in, trying their best to avoid their beds, racing about the alley ways of the barn...ultimately agreeing that Farmer knows best and settling in for the night.

On our farm we pasture the cows during the summer months, those light rains get them clean, the hay is prolific, making for ample milk supply, and they are just plain happy. Sometimes in the beginning of their pasturing period, their milk is even tinted green. Just like the Chicago river on St. Patty's Day. It's from the consumption of that nice green grass.

Yesterday was their lucky day.

Unbeknownst to the herd...The Hubs was preparing for their big moment. The family was out and about yesterday in the Gator and Pick-up truck, checking the fence lines and making sure the field was sound for the animals to run amuck.

After everything was given the a-ok and the evening milking was complete, the Hubs put the kids and I behind a closed gate that had a great vantage point of the event.

He undid the wire fence that held them in the barnyard, and that led to the pasture.

They couldn't believe their shiny black eyes, it was indeed time. As one cow realized what this meant, she charged past the Hubs and galloped her way to the great green sea. The others were then alerted to the happenings, and then it started.

They get beside themselves with glee. They throw caution to the wind and act like jail birds on the run....

'WE'RE OUT!! WE'RE OUT!!......RUNNNNNNNN!!!'

The udders were flapping, the tails were held high in the air, they kicked up their back legs and hopped about. Some even got a little ahead of themselves and their legs went out from beneath them. But they were right back up again, trotting to freedom. They would run in a stampede back and forth, back and forth, the dust clouds pluming up behind them. They made high pitched moo's and let out all pent up gas that had been brewing. It was a sight to behold.

This is when you start to worry about them running through the fence lines, but last night had no extra work involved, they remained safe in their designated areas.

Soon enough there will be too much of a good thing, and they'll all be bloated up with over consumption of hay. They'll lay down lazily in the green pasture, chewing their cud, tossing looks of contentment to their Farmer ... and his Wife.

Farmers Wife...

I'd have given you two guesses, and there's no doubt in my mind that you'd have gotten the correct answer.

There was absolutely no denying my lot in life today...I am Farmers Wife. I couldn't have passed for an accountants wife, or a teachers wife....it was plain to see that I was, who I was.

Lemme give you a mental snapshot, as there's no way in h.e.c.k I would dare to post a photo of my downhome-ly self.

This afternoon was when it all came together...there I was sitting on the tailgate of the truck, shovel in hand. The black chips had plastered themselves to the back of my old maternity shorts, and my great white thighs. We bounced and bopped over the lawn to the next freshly planted tree, and jumped off the tailgate. We shoveled piles of the black wood chips around the base of each maple sapling.

My hair was an exact replica of a rats nest, the gentle rain was bringing out every bit of fuzz and curl that I was attempting to tame with my elastic. A few days prior I had forgotten to apply a thick layer of sunscreen and came in that evening looking like a lobster. I still look like a lobster. I was wearing a t-shirt the afternoon of the burn, and today I was sporting a lime green tank top.

So there I was ...Farmers Wife....a lobster with a rats nest upon it's head and a blaring bright farmers tan. There were bruises upon my pasty white legs, dirt on my feet, and my rather large bottom was covered in black, itchy wood chips.

It was a sight to behold. My own mother was giving me looks of disbelief, I think even she didn't know it could get this bad.

Bad as in Good...that is. I know you're envious of my 'handle'...after reading that, wouldn't anyone want to be Farmers Wife?

I'm a little late getting this post off...

It's time for the May Day weight loss Challenge.

I think I can. I think I can.

It's only within the last 6 years that I've began to struggle with weight issues. I got married almost 6 years ago. See the connection? yessss.

So here I am, willing and ready....the weight loss goals are basically 30 lbs. BUT what's more important to me are how I feel in my clothes, how I look, and how I feel mentally. IF at 25 pounds down I feel wonderful...then so be it.

Cheers Ladies, here's to a fabulous next couple of months...

So I haven't been much of a blogger these days..at all. My apologies.

And when I do blog, all you're reading about is the little peckers in the barn. And I mean that in the most realistic sense of the word. Ahem.

I've have been gardening my nuts off...that's chestnuts ...off the lawn...Ahem again.

I've also been killing lots. Of weeds that is.

So before I put my foot in my mouth, I'll sign off and let you know you may not be hearing so much from me in the next couple days...the weather is supposed to beautiful and I can't resist the sunshine.

Hope you're all enjoying the nice weather!

yum yum gimme some...

In my researching of the little fuzzy birds, I had read that chicks love worms. So I thought it only appropriate that I save each and every writhing creature in my sons bug collector whilst I gardened.

There must have been over 50 of the slimy things and I tenderly flung them in the holder. I finished edging my largest circle garden and took the children by the hand to witness the event.

I flipped open the acrylic door and dumped the mass of brown noodles onto the floor of the chick pen.

Well ....Lo and behold. Chicks love worms. ....A little too much. ....Almost to the point of self induced coronary failure.

The minute they laid their little black sparkly eyes upon the moving brown lump, they went into hyper drive. Chicken hyper drive. Which, by the way, is much more hyper than a human could possibly get, as chicks are so flighty to begin with.......get it? flighty...ahahaha..(grrroan)

The first chick ran over to the pile and picked his fine specimen as a worm connoisseur would, and there he went, running around the pen showing all his chicky friends. They all suddenly caught a whiff of the worm and began peeping like their eyes would soon pop from their tiny heads.

Then another. And another. Soon half the pen had their worms and were wildly running on their little chicken legs, flinging the wormy side to side, showing off their treat.

It was a sight to behold. My children stopped silent, watching the phenomenon unfold. The Hubs even came in from the adjacent calf barn and was wondering which cat had gotten into the chick pen.

Once he saw their tiny worm drama, he just shook his head and rolled his eyes.

Wishing I had taken a video for y'all....next time I promise...

Ever wanted really pretty dishcloths that match your kitchen? Then you'll have to enter this giveaway over at Teamouse's...

Good Luck!

Here we Go!!

This is what I've been waiting for. Internet accountability. As you all know the ticker wasn't exactly what I was hoping for...so this might just do it. If you're interested...you can sign up here and join in the fun!!!

Thanks to Dee Dee for linking to this!