life on the farm uhhh in the city

Although we live in the heart of the city we have turned our little spot into an urban homestead. This spring we have added 3 new chicks to the 3 hens we already have who are still producing 3 eggs a day.

We have just added bees, as Dan's project he is learning bee keeping from a neighbor. It is funny how people react when you tell then you are getting bees, they are either excited and think it's interesting or they are slightly freaked out. We have had to assure all our neighbors these are honey bees they mind their own business and won't bother you if you don't bother them. They are not attack killer bees!
Here Dan is checking the hives the filling in of the frames is called Brood or baby bees.

It's the bee man...before he got his full bee suit
Dan smoking the hives to check the progress

Victim of crime

With the economy in a downward spiral our neighborhood has experienced a new wave of crime. Instead of breaking into homes and stealing electronics and such people have stealing porch furniture and planters things that are outside and easy to throw in the back of a truck and go. So far our street has not been directly hit...until today!





Today I came home from taking Caleb to school as I drove into the yard I noticed what was missing...my peony! Yes two years ago I planted peonies and have eagerly waited their first bloom and this year to my excitement I had a bud. I've watched it form and just couldn't wait for it to open, so you can imagine my disgust when I found it missing. First I thought Dan had cut it and given it away so I promptly called him at work only to find out he did not know it was missing. Upon a close investigation I found they not only took my bloom but the stand that held it up. Dan's advice was "just imagine the joy it is giving someone" well I can't I am on the lookout for the culprit and when I find him or her I will promptly poke him in the eye. Crime will not be tolerated on this street!






Fortunately I did have another bloom that broke off and I brought into the house, so if you see a flower that looks just like this give me a call so I can catch our peony thief this is an unforgivable crime!

No Spirit of '76

For Ella's 4th birthday we decided to get Ella her own girlie bike, until now she has been riding Caleb's old yellow very boy bike.

Ella's new bike is pink and purple with princesses all over it and tassels on the handle bars, it's the ultimate girlie girl bike and Ella loves it! When I went to Wal-Mart I was tempted to buy the cheaper girl bike the Seastar it too was pink and purple but instead of princesses it has a star fish and was no where as cool as the princess bike, but the $20 savings appealed to the frugal side of me.

After considering it for just a moment the memory of Dan's most disappointing Christmas ever came to mind. He was like 8 years old and had been asking for a bike, well on Christmas morning his dad rolls out this cool tough black bike called something like the black widow and he was beyond excited about how good he was going to look on HIS bike. Much to his dismay it was not for him but for his older brother, then out comes HIS bike red, white, and blue with a banana seat and tassels from the handle bars...the Spirit of '76... not at all cool!

So as I fight my cheapness I remember the Spirit of '76 and the answer is clear, princesses are worth the extra $20, besides if I had gotten the Seastar Dan would have taken it back that night for the Princess bike...those scars never fade!

Ella is now a biker chick it's all she wants to do!

On this day

Four years ago today Ella was born and what a day that was, I can't help but remember the events of that day every year. Here we are four years later and I can't believe how quickly it has gone by,Ella has grown into such a cute and funny little girl I just love every moment I have with her.

Last week I told her I would make what ever she wanted for her birthday dinner or we could go out to where ever she wanted so what did she pick....Olive Garden!

Guess what's for dinner tonight?

Four things I love about Ella on her 4th birthday

1) she is allll girl

2) her deep belly laughs crack me up every time

3) she loves to be in the middle of whatever I am doing cooking, cleaning, weeding she's a great helper

4) I love how she comes up and says " I love you mom" at random times during the day

I Love my sweet "baby" girl!

Thoughts for this day

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Happy Birthday Caleb
Mrs. Patty Hall 2009

I know it's not July but for birthdays Caleb's school does "birthday blessings" and for the kids that have summer birthdays they work them in during the year. Friday was Caleb's birthday blessing and his teacher Mrs Hall is so sweet I thought i would share her thoughts with you.
"Caleb is what childhood should look like. He is joyful, affectionate, trusting and best of all innocent. Caleb is kind to everyone. He is sensitive to the needs of his fellow classmates. He takes great to do neat school work from hand writing to math. Caleb your name means, the devoted one or faithful. It also means forceful. Caleb was one of the spies to go into the Promised Lnad. He and Joshua reported that it was indeed a wonderful land. The other spies said that giants were in the land and Israel could not take the land. Caleb knew the promises and saw the possiblities, not the problems and trusted God. Caleb, I pray that you always see the possiblities, stand on His promises and be forceful to promote Jesus and His Kingdom wherever you go!"

The verses I chose for you:
Numbers 14:24
But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly,I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.

Proverbs 2:7-9He holds victory in store for the upright he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he gaurds the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair-every good path.

We love you Caleb and are so thankful you have teachers and classmates that feel the same you are a special boy.

Spring Break

Spring Break 2009 has come and gone for us, I can't believe it is already over. We so looked forward to it and going to Grammy's and now it is just a memory. What is even more scary once spring break is over it is only a short time until school is out for the year. I find that scary not because I will have both kids home all day, but it means that Caleb will be a Second Grader and Ella will be starting school...my kids are growing up and way to fast.


Spring Break was fun we hung out at Grammy and Pop's house and just had a good time. Ella learned about life on the farm and helped Grammy with chores like hanging out laundry...she loved it!

We spent an afternoon with Aunt Mary playing in the park, Caleb and Ella will both tell you they met some "mean kids" that threatened to get their BB guns and shoot their eyes out...and people say we live in the bad part of town. The kids did comfort themselves however in the fact that they got spanked on the way out of the park, not for the BB gun comment mom totally missed that one she was on the phone.

We even went to the beach for the day. We drove down to St George Island and let the kids put their feet in the water, well it was supposed to be just their feet but Caleb accidental sat down. The water was freezing, I don't know how they even played in it I guess you have to be a kid

In the words of Dr Seuss "today is gone today was fun, tomorrow is another one" Today is gone but I look forward to many tomorrows and Spring breaks with Caleb and Ella