Adventures In Country Living

So over the spring/summer we raised some pheasants and now that it's gotten so cold out - seriously it was -13 and the windchill is like -40 we decided we should throw out some corn for them.  My BIL was able to get us some free corn which was great.   So the other day I put out corn in 3 different locations - two of which I can see from my kitchen.  The other day I was leaving and look over to the spot and see a big black spot - as I approach it it slowly slithers - yup the only way I can describe it slithers away.

Can you see that blackish brown thing over there on the edge of the weeds?  

The conclusion its from it's pointy nose long nasty tail and hairy body is that its a possum!  Who knew that they were around.

Then yesterday a HUGE red squirrel shows up and that thing keeps coming back!  I have to admit every so often I show it to my dog and let her chase him - mainly for our entertainment!  

So I tried to be nice and feed pheasants but apparently am feeding possums and squirrels instead!

Happy MLK Jr Day!

Amazing Story

This is one beautiful story. This honestly gave me goose bumps! Take the time to watch this!

Laugh Out Loud

This literally made me laugh out loud this morning! I just had to share! Happy Monday!

Wedding Reading

 

Here is a reading that Daves Dad read for us at our wedding.  I just love it and had to share!

 

“Blessing of the Hands"

“These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

 

And lastly these are teh hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch."

Happy New Year!

How To Be Amazing!!!!

Can you do it?

YES!!!!

I think this is great - and we should practice this as long as we can!

What I can share from my bachelorette party!

Rough Night - ugh!

Do you ever have one of those nights/days that everything seems to go wrong? 

Well last night was mine!

 

~Side note, I was going to add pictures but blogger isn't allowing me to do so!~

It started off by me thinking my DH was going to be home to let the dog out and I find out we are both getting home at 7:00 p.m. and now the poor dog has been locked in the house for 11 hours.

Ok, ok - she's fine, I just feel bad. 

Next, my DH runs off to have supper with a friend to discuss their upcoming snowmobile trip (notice my blog name).  While he is gone - I start to think man it feels cold in the house.  I go over to the thermostat to find that it's 62 degrees in the house and it should be closer to 68!!!!!

I go to the furnace (like I know what I'm looking for).

 I can hear the blower running but no fan going.  I text my husband to have him come home - and get no response, as it's getting colder he finally says, he heard me!   I go into the bedroom to get my electric blanket, slippers and a sweatshirt to first find the dog has sat on my bed with feces on her and she has vomited on our ivory carpet!!!!!!  UGH!  I am now past upset - freezing and text my hubby to get home NOW - after 30 minutes he finally arrives and acts like it's no big deal.  Before he gets home I get the sheet off the bed, get out pet cleaner and start cleaning up the puke.  It was NOT coming out - so I head on over to pinterest for some tips & find 2 carpet stain removers - one I have used before and it works - so I start with that one - it was working somewhat - but not enough.  You know what I mean right, it's gross you can still see something and I will always know what happened there.

 So back to the computer I go for the "recipe" on the second one - mix that one all up and start scrubbing again - to find the first solution has made things even worse!  You have to use an iron with the first one and the iron has now left a dark ring on my carpet!  After an hour of scrubbing I finally decide to just stop and let it dry overnight and now you know what I'll be doing this weekend! 

That must be it for one night, right?!

Nope

One last issue - I head on out to my car this morning arms full of stuff to get to work including my cell phone.  I turn around to shut the garage service door - when what falls out of my hands and onto the cement....yup, that's right my Iphone...with NO cover!!!!!  I even have a cover - jsut don't like it because it doesn't charge with my Bose speakers!  I pick it up to find I have cracked the back cover....ok, so I'm dissapointed I'm going to miss my first yoga class of the year because I now have to go to the cities to get it fixed...2 hours away is the closest apple store! 

On the way to work this morning I tell myself

 everything is here to teach us something - what? not sure on this one yet

 there has to be some reason for all of this  - again not sure what

and find the positive - that I can do!

 

So - the bright side - the puke wasn't on my NEW carpet

at least it wasn't the front and the entire phone isn't ruined,

 and

it's Friday!!!!!!!!

Word of the Year!

It's the New Year and I used to think you HAD to make a New Years resolution!  I always tried but never came up with anything that I really wanted to change or do differently that I would stick with. it always felt very forced.  But this year I've come across a few blogs that do WORD OF THE YEAR!  This called my name, it seems easier to stick with, more truthful  - so I started thinking what my word for 2013 should be!  Lots came to mind - but finally I came to OPEN!

Here is the definition of open.
o·pen

/ˈōpən/

Adjective Allowing access, passage, or a view through an empty space; not closed or blocked up: "the door was wide open".

Verb Move or adjust (a door or window) so as to leave a space allowing access and view.

Noun (Open) A championship or competition with no restrictions on who may qualify to compete.

Synonyms adjective. frank - overt - candid - free - public verb. unfold - begin - start - unlock       I want to be OPEN to: new experiences new chances new opportunities new ideas new friendships/relationships new ANYTHING!!!   I want to allow myself to be open to whatever will come in 2013!!   How about you - do you have a word for 2013?

Happy New Year!

I know it's been awhile!  However, it's a New Year and a New Start!

While going through my 2012 Calendar and getting ready for 2013 I came across a magazine clipping I had saved and it had this great prayer on it that seemed like a great way to start 2013!  I am not sure who wrote this or where it came from - nothing was stated in the article.

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith!

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God

Let this presence settle into your bones and allow your should the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Beautiful

I read this today on facebook and had to share:

Our Deepest Fear
By: Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.
 

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

Weekend Update

So I think, yup I lost track, I think our pheasants were 10 weeks old this week!!!  Can you see them?!  So since D has been back I haven't had to do much, thank goodness but look at them!!!  However, they are eating like crazy, I mean D has to feed them 2 - 3 times a day!!!  I think we are going to have to release them soon!!!!!!








Here is what I found in the yard this weekend!
Can you see that - we had to pull it out with the mower!!!  I was mowing away when I saw a small piece black plastic & got off to pick it, I looked over and saw another part of it and knew there was no way I was going to get this out.  So I went & got D and he had to dig this thing out!!! 

So I admit I thought we were getting to the end of finding treasures in our yard but apparently not - this was completely buried in the yard!!!

3 Months!!!

Three months from today until

I dropped off the invites at the printers today - it gets a little more real ever day!!!

And I just got the call I've been waiting and hoping for:
MY DRESS IS IN!!!!!  That made it REAL!!!!!

5 Weeks Old!

Here are the pheasants at 5 weeks old (they are 7 weeks this week) !!!!

 Loving the outdoors!   

We don't shut the door at night anymore so they can go in and out all day & all night long! 

The Tales of Pheasant Farming Continue!

So - no picture - but there should have been because we'd all be laughing right about now - maybe a video would be better!  I'll let you decide after reading my story!

Last night I go to D's to mow lawn, he had to be at work late so he tells me I should let the pheasants out they won't bite! 

 I'm like yeah I know they won't....(note the sarcasm).... but they'll peck my eyes out & fly in my hair!  I need a "bat hat." 

But I know it's true, they need to get outside - it's probably close to 100 in the shed & they need to get some fresh air. 

 So I do it! 

I enter slowly into the pen trying to keep them from flying at me. 

 I'm sure they can smell my fear!

I pull the door closed behind me as far as I can get it - now there's no latch on the inside which I've come to realize is the biggest problem of all!

Oh & i've opened up our shed service door and the BIG door that you drive vehicles in and out of - so the shed is wide open!!!!!!

So I creep over to the door that let's them outside & slowly start to open it when the little suckers realize they can get out the door I came in!!! 

 AHHHHH  - 2 escaped on me!!!!!!  So I go running out of the pen - praying no more get out and I'm sure I was squaking or squeeling too while chasing these suckers!

The both go around the corner of the pen where we have a pile of wood and I see a cardboard box so I throw that on top of them!  No I don't have a plan here - just irrational thinking!

I have one under the little tiny box & the other is creeping out!  I grab him up against the pen &YES I caught him in my bare hands.  However in doing so I slit my thumb open so during all this I am now bleeding as well.  But what to do about the other one?!  I somehow managed to grab him with the other hand so now here I am with a pheasant in each hand & wondering how the heck am I going to open the pen door & get them back in there.  While holding them one is flapping it's wings like crazy - I'm sure pretty mad at me!!!!!!  Or petrifed - let's be honest I think I was more scared then the pheasants.

I managed to open the pen door with my elbow and toss them in.

Thank goodness they didn't escape and I was the only one injured!!!!

Pheasant Farming!

Our pheasants are 5 weeks old this week! 

I haven't taken this weeks picture yet but here is the 4 week picture.

4 WEEKS OLD



Outside Pen


Because the pheasants were getting old enought to go outside we had to build an outside pen for them - so here it is!

You wouldn't think this took very long to build but let me tell you it was quite the ordeal!  We started off with fence posts that we had and put the outside ones in - which was a bit interesting for me!  D had me hold the post while he pounded them in with a sledge hammer.  Well everytime he would pound on it I flinched!  I eventually had to squat down towards the bottom of the post and close my eyes and hold on tight! 
At one point the posts were so tall D got out a 3 step, step stool and stood not on the top step but the top handle and was pounding on the post.  I survived but wasn't overly thrilled with the situation.

So after we got all the outside posts pounded in - we realized if we put chicken wire across the top without any supports it would just sink in.  So back to the shed we went for 3 more posts!

Once we got all the posts in we started adding the chicken wire to the outside.  This went along smoothly until we realized our ground is so uneven we had to do something about that - that is why you see the straw bails!

We got the outside done & then proceeded to work on the top.  We had to climb in the pen & then I would hold one end of the chicken wire with my hands and on my head while D unrolled it to the other end and cut it.  Then we attached it with zip ties.  We did this 4 times!

Finally we had the outside done!  We had, had enough for the night so we went in for supper at 9:00 at night!

The next day we still had to cut a door out for them to get from the inside to the outside.   This all started out quite smoothly with Dave on the inside of the pen (in the shed with the pheasants) and me on the outdie handing him tools and closing the door behind him.   This was smooth until we realized the whole was cut taller then where the chicken wire was attached on the outside!  So D tried to shoo the pheasant to the outside pen and while doing so at least one flew away! 

Then I had to get in the pen to help attach the chicken wire to the shed & cover the hole we now had.  This meant there were pheasants around our feet and the door couldn't be shut tight.  This led to 3 pheasants escaping in the shed!

So we quickly got out of the pen

D got both shed doors shut & we had to catch 3 pheasants with our hands. 

Ok, ok so really D caught them with his hands, I just helped move them closer and open & close the pen door! 

Finally we caught all 3 and closed up the hole and got them all outside!

They now can go in and out and are very happy!!!!

How do people learn these things?!

I am a town girl at heart!!!  Lesson learned again today!!!

Did you know that when you live in the country & your power goes out you have to call someone?!  I had no idea!!!!!!!

I wake up this morning to find the power is out.  So I text D and ask if it was out when he went to work (much earlier than when I get up).  He says no and asks if I  called the electric company.  I'm like - "no" don't they just know?!  Apparently not!  He says you have to call them, how else would they know we are without power!!!!!!

Another country life lesson learned!!!!

Have you ever?!

Hope you had a wonderful Fathers Day weekend!

D & I went to my parents house on Saturday night to celebrate with my Dad.  We had a great evening eating some awesome food and the weather was perfect so we played a few rounds of croquet.  Somehow Dad won both - we must have let him win because it was Fathers Day!!!

Then on Sunday D & I hosted his side!  But let me tell you what happened! 

 So on Friday night D & I did outside work all day & around 8:30 at night we got ready to go get our groceries for both Fathers day events.  I was going to make a cheesecake flavored salad for Sunday and needed cheesecake flavored instant pudding mix along with some misc things.  So we got all our groceries and headed home. 

All was well! 

Then Saturday I had an open house in Atwater so afterwards Dave met me & we parked my car in town & headed to Raymond to my parents. 

We were there until about 9:30!

  We stopped and got my car in Atwater & then Dave followed me to Litchfield.  On the way I almost hit a deer, a fox & a raccoon in about a 7 mile span!!!!!!!! 

We got back to his house, unpacked our vehicles & I started making my salad ( it needed to be made the night ahead of time).  So I start my salad & mix my pudding mix & cool whip together when I realize it seems REALLY thick.  I get out the recipe and read it - all seems fine, then I start to think - Dave told me I needed 4 small boxes of pudding to equal 1 large box - and BING a light goes on!  NO YOU DON"T!!!!!!!!!!  I have now DOUBLED my recipe!  So Dave & I head into Wal-Mart at 11:00 to get the rest of the ingredients.  We pull in to the parking lot at literally 10:59 - get to the door & it closed at 11:00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Did you know Wal-Marts close?!!!   I thought they were all open 24 hours a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So I left my salad until morning and D was nice enough to get up at 7:00 and go get my ingredients!!!!  I had enough of that salad to feed about 50 people!

It all worked out but have you ever done that?!!!! 

This is not my salad but was as close to what I made as I could find online!