tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71503425496165144042012-01-31T21:00:37.550-05:00And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.comBlogger3081100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-11953030162670403052011-12-25T10:45:00.000-05:002011-12-25T10:45:11.871-05:00

Before the actual day of Christmas, we spent time doing some holiday activities as a family, and also with some new friends.  Amory performed in the Black Swamp Orchestra Holiday program.  We visited a small town and looked at the Christmas lights and shops, and of course cut and brought a tree in the house to decorate. In addition to the Christmas seasonal things, we are also working around

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-13587755111912107052011-11-12T22:57:00.000-05:002011-11-12T22:57:51.991-05:00

Since it was REALLY warm today, I took advantage of the great weather and did some detail work that I have been wanting to do in the barn for a long time.  I am now at the point on the farm that most of the major work is done, and I get to spend time doing some small jobs that a relatively easy.  For example, today I painted another one of the gates in the big barn.  (as well as fixing a few

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-38296747331204901282011-11-10T19:20:00.002-05:002011-11-10T19:27:08.956-05:00

Along with deer hunting, the older boys have added pheasant into their hunting repertoire.  Gary, the guy I have working on all my vehicles, called a couple of weeks ago and asked if the boys wanted to go with him on a local pheasant hunt.  (It is great to have other people involved and teaching the children new skills)  Since they DID want to go, I thought it would be a great experience for

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-11303504496125941062011-10-16T22:10:00.002-04:002011-10-16T22:17:39.178-04:00

The other day I took some pictures of Amory when we were outside playing disk wars.  It was a beautiful day, and a great day for photos.  The leaves on the trees are changing, and since it has rained a bunch these past few weeks, the grass in the pastures are LUSH!

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-4164851241473110652011-10-02T08:13:00.002-04:002011-10-02T08:13:31.069-04:00

The past two weekends Macy and Nolan have spent almost the entire weekend at the fair grounds competing in this year's OHIO horse competition.  Both are riding English and Western, and in different events.  I love going and watching them compete with other students to display their "horsing" skills. Macy placed well in English Bareback, mostly because she spends lots of time here on the farm

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-63374771871644434332011-09-23T21:15:00.000-04:002011-09-24T21:48:15.930-04:00

Wake up, drink some coffee, milk a cow, drive to school.  Teach all day, drive back home, make some chalkboards, go to bed.  DO IT AGAIN!  DO IT AGAIN!  DO IT AGAIN! Since summer, my leisurely schedule has changed. No longer do I get to hang out on the farm and do what I want all day. Now, I am slightly bound to a schedule. Fortunately for me, I like having schedules. :) I teach art most of the

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-84838957341886112282011-09-11T21:58:00.001-04:002011-09-11T22:02:02.016-04:00

The knotting of the string on the gourd is fun to do.  I decided to use this type of attachment to hold the gourd up on the wire.  The only other alternative was to drill holes in the top and run a string through it.  I like this look more than a string ran through it.  This one was EXTREMELY fun to create today.  It all started with our dog Saxon tearing off the top of the gourd.  Instead of

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-71173371485254787142011-09-11T01:26:00.000-04:002011-09-11T01:26:50.632-04:00

I finished the balcony off the game room/loft a couple of weeks ago.  And I am quite happy that I figured out how to match the railing of the porch! I had purchased a screen door to put on to allow a nice air flow in the room and when I took it up to the loft, there was no way it was going to fit.  Even if I cut a lot from it.  So, I keeped the door for a week or so and modeled the one built

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-10254152349757456042011-08-28T10:10:00.001-04:002011-08-28T10:23:34.668-04:00

There is nothing like a small town fair.  The Midway full of vending foods.Glitsy-lit rides that make your stomach flop.And MONSTER trucks the size of a home!And this year, Nolan was a 4-H participant in the fair along with all the other students in the Saddle Slingers 4-H club.  Since the lady that he has been working with training horses is the advisor for the group, he decided to join the club

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-23134525398098602342011-08-27T23:51:00.002-04:002011-08-27T23:55:53.422-04:00

The drive up to Michigan to get the sheep was an interesting experience. The girls, Asher and I went and were not really sure what to expect.  All we knew was that our sheep were weaned, and we were going to pick them up and bring them home.  We have never had any experience with transporting, raising, or doing anything with sheep except looking at and petting them.  This was going to be our

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-47010551822824174912011-08-17T19:53:00.000-04:002011-08-17T19:53:06.384-04:00

Messy shirt, no shoes, and some food stains on his face . . . but awefully cute for a farm boy!  I have been playing around some more with my camera and trying to catch some images of the children that are interesting.  Here's one of the bohemian/hippie child in a farm style mess. 

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-28512050186963136702011-08-14T17:58:00.001-04:002011-08-14T17:59:02.222-04:00

Today is one of those special number times for Macy.  14 on August 14.  It come once in a lifetime.  And today is the day.  Happy Birthday Macy!  May God bless you with His presence, His grace, and His love for others.

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-69362802557765154722011-08-10T10:11:00.001-04:002011-08-14T12:32:35.432-04:00

Nelson's Tree Service was contrated to cut the trees on our road that interfere with the electricity lines.  A few days ago they came out to cut a little in the patch of trees that are in our front yard.  I decided to talk to them about possibly getting some of the mulched branches in hopes of amending my garden beds and using it around the trees that I planted this year. Not only did they agree

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-27506159973102926942011-08-10T00:37:00.001-04:002011-08-10T00:38:59.683-04:00

Being an artist, it is difficult for me to not want to make environments (spaces) like galleries, full of interesting things to look at. In fact, Dard Hunter said it best when back in the turn of the century was quoted saying "Life without industry is sloth, industry without art is brutality.” I tend to believe the same way. I love making homes, classrooms, and even barns on a farm a place where

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-28420240305532404402011-08-08T22:01:00.002-04:002011-08-09T20:52:52.960-04:00

Mr. Wilson is just plain  . . . a nice man! Not only has he let me use his tractor to mow this HUGE front yard of a farm, he has taken Asher under his wing and is teaching him how to be a "Bee" man.  A little over a week ago we went over to extract the honey out of the hives that he gave to Ash.  They first smoked the supers (the boxes that are stacked up) and then took them down to see if the

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-78999345113573250442011-07-31T23:47:00.002-04:002011-08-08T22:11:32.388-04:00

Marriage is a life long commitment not to be taken lightly.  It is not a "ring," or even a ceremony, it is a life shared.  It is a "for better or worse" perspective that gets worked out daily in the kitchen, family room, AND even the garage.  It is a life spent sharing, caring, forgiving, and living. For the past several years I have played around with the idea of not wearing my wedding band

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-55024870729645978102011-07-28T12:35:00.002-04:002011-07-28T14:11:32.709-04:00

Brooke came over one time to buy eggs and we started a conversation about healthy food.  The conversation led to ALL sorts of other interests and me inviting her and her husband over for dinner one night.  Since that night, we have had them over again, and she occasionally pops in for a short visit. The other night was one of those visits.  In addition to spending time talking, she snapped some

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-84735453162422365752011-07-23T15:01:00.000-04:002011-07-23T15:01:24.177-04:00

I think it would be safe to say that I am addicted to building things! As if the fence, pergola, and a couple of other smaller projects were not enough, I decided to add a balcony above the garage.  :) It really isn't my fault.  Someone, who had this place before us, made an outside access door off the front of the garage/wood shop/game room.  It probably had some purpose for it or was part of

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-44761552911340447912011-07-17T10:36:00.001-04:002011-07-18T09:50:32.507-04:00

Asher got out to do his chores around 9:00 today and came RUNNING back into the house to tell us that Janey was about to give birth.  All of us scurried to go out to see our first calving here at the farm.  For us, it was a lesson in nature, and an educational experience.  She did really well and the whole process took around 30 to 40 minutes.  And thank God, there were no complications at all. 

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-64141148322041128812011-07-15T22:51:00.004-04:002011-07-16T21:12:25.862-04:00

Yesterday I added a diving board to the dock to make our swimming time a little (funner) more fun. (Amory hates it when we use that word!) I used an old plank I got from a farmer friend and lag bolted it to the support beams. I then added a little wood to the end of the dock to act as the fulcrum. It's a little "slippery when wet" but a WHOLE lot of fun on a day like this! In fact, all of us,

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-24202381729417831022011-07-06T23:08:00.001-04:002011-07-07T09:41:47.646-04:00

Today we finished the bulk of the haying for this year.  It was a few days in the process of cutting, raking, and baling, then us collecting the bales and storing them in the barn.  Our Gator and wagon came in handy with transporting the bales from the field to the Big Barn.  And I am so glad that we have the animal's food for the winter taken care of.  It always is a little stressful to need hay

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-8574307324098440112011-07-02T10:08:00.003-04:002011-07-04T23:27:42.572-04:00

Haying is a hot, dusty job that takes some getting used to.  And yesterday we spent some of the day getting HOT and DUSTY with grass. The boys and I have helped out with putting hay up on other people's places, but this is our very FIRST hay crop from our OWN farm.  In addition to the boys and I working outside, the girls helped out as well heaving the 50lbs bales around!  It was WORK! Since we

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-79824937038298526402011-06-30T09:12:00.000-04:002011-06-30T09:12:07.455-04:00

This year is our first attempt at making our own hay.  The open pasture, about 8 or so acres, is full of timothy grass, red clover, and of course some big WEEDS.  My thinking, cut it, store it, feed it to the animals and they will sort out what they don't want.  I asked a neighbor farmer to cut it for me and today we are going to put it up in the barn.  Hopefully he'll get to cutting the rest of

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-17780024691889857222011-06-24T09:01:00.001-04:002011-06-24T09:14:52.527-04:00

Now that summer holiday has started, I feel like a child in a candy store.  So many things to look at, wanting so many things, and RUNNING around to make sure to soak up all the store has to offer.  The difference between the child in the candy store and me is that I am not in a candy store, and I am not looking for candy.  But all the same, on the farm, I am "keyed up" like a child with farm

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-64045723699188305782011-06-11T21:23:00.003-04:002011-06-11T21:34:52.629-04:00

Homesteading requires a bit of ingenuity.  Ingenuity that includes everyone's ideas and help.  When you want to do things around a farm, and you have no BIG equipment to work with, it definitely takes great ideas.  This idea that we came up with today is going to be logged in as our GREAT idea for this summer's garden row making work. It all started with the "different" plan to not till the

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-79055040040758196032011-05-27T18:47:00.000-04:002011-05-27T18:47:00.888-04:00

The weekend of Easter, Dad and I decided to hatch out our own chickens. So I got together what we needed. Almost a month later...CHICKENS! Wednesday the 18th, I noticed one of the eggs was cracked. We watched for about a hour but nothing happened. Next morning, I went to check, and the egg was cracked almost all the way around!   It struggled for about fifteen minutes and then out it popped!

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-65353464322133129922011-05-08T22:17:00.000-04:002011-05-08T22:17:01.897-04:00

The past week, and the last couple of mornings, has been a a welcomed change for us.  We are in the process of drying up Janey (our milk cow) and went down to milking one time a day.  Last week the children (except for Nolan) stopped their milking chores in the evening.  Nolan and I still continued until Friday which became our last milking day. We are drying her up because she is due to calf

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-70722339076763015522011-05-07T13:32:00.003-04:002011-05-07T15:17:30.121-04:00

Some updated farm children pictures.  A new photographer friend of the family came out to the farm to do a photo shoot of a local student, and while she was here, she snapped a few of the youngers.

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-80158955238502363182011-04-24T08:56:00.001-04:002011-04-25T19:15:31.041-04:00

I normally don't respond to mail campaigns for donations.  I am a little, really a lot, skeptic that even a dime goes to the actual cause.  But a few weeks ago I got a letter from the Arbor Foundation that wanted a minimal donation of only eight dollars.  Even when they are minimal like that, I don't respond.  I like helping people or organizations out where I can see where the money has helped

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-23397758694027855192011-04-19T21:12:00.001-04:002011-04-19T21:17:46.758-04:00

I brought the pig back from the butcher shop today.  And for some strange reason, I was a little giddy.  Like a boy with a new toy!  Only in this case, a man with a processed pig.  :) The shop called yesterday and said they were finished sorting it out and packaging it.  The final numbers went like this.  2/3 of the total weight is known as the "dressing weight."  Dressing weight was 234 pounds.

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-42636835647787276372011-04-12T22:56:00.000-04:002011-04-12T22:56:20.043-04:00

Since it is now officially spring, we have the great pleasure to get out in the garden and start the planting for this year.  And this year, the peas we planted the other day are going to have a new look.  We cut some branches off the "down" wood in the woods, and then plugged them into the ground for a trellis of sorts.  And a pretty, natural kind of trellis at that!  I love natural looking,

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-83565074534782422072011-04-01T20:52:00.004-04:002011-04-01T21:01:03.909-04:00

My newest art venture is the barn quilt I am working on for my barn.  I have always been fascinated with quilting patterns, and have done several projects in and outside the classroom with designs notable on quilts.  This one is a 4' x 5' piece of plywood that was on the property when we moved here.  It was one of two signs that advertised the family's antique and dried flower business.  The

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-11808007053056634142011-03-27T09:58:00.000-04:002011-03-27T09:58:24.187-04:00

Finished activities around the farm.  A list form of all the new items. I am now on Spring Break (yeah I get to do homestead stuff) The puppies are ready to find new homes. (one is gone already and we are going to keep one) Spring has sprouted I have trimmed and sprayed the fruit trees Purchased and am "walking on" red clover and tall fescue on the pastures The patio is set up to use again

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-81847225791187303492011-03-07T22:22:00.004-05:002011-04-01T21:04:51.226-04:00

Here's an older post that I forgot to publish . . .  Another snow day today . . . Last night we had another storm come in.  A little snow, a little freezing rain, and presto, I get the day off school again.  Got to love jobs like that huh? Amory also went to the same competition as Nolan and performed her piece.  She played just about thirty minutes after her brother did, and listened to some

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-83982896927089291832011-03-05T21:07:00.001-05:002011-03-07T22:21:20.524-05:00

Miss Leisa is now on holiday and visiting us here at Foutfolk Farm.  About a month ago we were chatting through our mutual online connections, and she mentioned that she was due for a holiday soon.  Naturally, I told her that she should make it up to stay for a spell.  So, she took me up on the offer!It had been a year and a half since her last visit with us here, and this was the first time to

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-35106927366977277912011-02-22T19:23:00.004-05:002011-02-22T19:30:12.919-05:00

So we were on the road, a tiny bit late for the Ohio Music Education Association's District 1 High School Solo and Ensemble Event and we ended up with a flat.  After slowing down considerably, Nolan yells from the back that it is coming from the rear passenger wheel well.  I pull over, get out of the van, and indeed . . .a flat.  Mind you that Nolan is supposed to be playing his piece in front of

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-37242701262509784892011-02-21T08:11:00.001-05:002011-02-21T08:25:12.846-05:00

Today is Ildi's birthday.  Today is the BIG  . . . no it is not the big . . . it's just another year added to all the rest. :) Birthdays, as you get older, change. They usually don't carry the same excitement they once did.  In fact, some people dread them!  The older you get, the more they are a reminder of our finite life here on earth.  The fact that we are all slowly dying.  In some ways,

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-24376052386802321072011-02-20T07:08:00.000-05:002011-02-20T07:08:53.769-05:00

This morning it is dark outside, and dark in the house.  It was a little warmer than usual for chores, and Asher went back up to bed not feeling well.  I lit a couple of candles liking the glow and the mood that it sets for the morning.  Quite, calm, pondering. Macy made it up early this morning.  She's cuddled up in the rocker reading a book.  Nolan is just finished eating breakfast and is on

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-89361291339295961262011-02-19T09:40:00.000-05:002011-02-19T09:40:37.702-05:00

Today I start another 4 day weekend off from school.  In the month of February, the school systems always celebrate President's Day and we get a Monday off around the third week of the month.  In addition to the Monday off, since we had parent conferences this week and stayed late a couple of nights, we get today off as well.  Times like this gives me additional working time to get caught up on

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-42460596895944421762011-02-12T07:27:00.003-05:002011-02-12T07:40:21.630-05:00

The other morning while Nolan and I were milking, we somehow got on the conversation about my alarm clock.  He said that it sounded like an "old man" while it buzzed to wake me up.  He said it was a "tired, grumpy sounding noise" like it had spent years telling me to get up and start my day.  It is like the droning voice of my mother saying "boys, get up" for the time that I went to school. :)

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-43345683856444938442011-02-05T21:39:00.000-05:002011-02-05T21:39:36.045-05:00

What a whirlwind of snow and fun here at the farm.  Last week I was off three days due to the weather, and then today the old lady upstairs was shaking her fleece out again!  (that is what Macy told me this morning when we were talking about how much snow was coming down.)  It was absolutely beautiful outside today with about a foot of new snow on the ground.  Since we got a fresh blanket

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-58044667245493752632011-01-21T08:14:00.001-05:002011-02-05T20:57:51.953-05:00

This week has been a vacation it seems.  Monday was a holiday, Wednesday school was canceled, and now today we are on a delay (so far).  It feels like break time all over again! Today is the day that Amory, our oldest daughter, turns 15.  Wow, time stops for no one, not even her.  As we were filling out best wishes for her on her card, I wrote that I never imagined my first born daughter at the

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-936504675752051932011-01-16T19:08:00.000-05:002011-01-16T19:08:51.379-05:00

This one is for Ed and Barbara!   Down the road 3 mile or so is a cemetery that the locals have used as a sledding area for years.  This afternoon we joined in fun and brought our sleds along for some fun in the sun . . . I mean snow!  Gresham, along with sledding, decided that it would be just as much fun to roll down the hill as slide down it.  It was funny to watch him roll down on an angle

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-60565496408189823762010-12-28T22:28:00.083-05:002011-01-15T15:11:23.951-05:00

For the past several Christmas times, we have been slowly decreasing the gifts that we give to each other.  In fact, last year we sort-of skipped Christmas altogether!  It could have something to do with moving during Christmas break time, but it also had to do with not making Christmas a time where we get all kinds of stuff.  We aren't opposed to Christmas or celebrating with gift giving, but

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-61854009295896756542010-12-26T22:52:00.042-05:002010-12-28T22:49:52.288-05:00

Since the chalkboard work is still continuing, I had to come up with a heating plan for the wood shop.  For weeks now it has been really cold.  Like 7 in the mornings and in the 20's during the day.  I was having to go out in the shop at night after supper for a couple of hours, and spend a little time as well on the weekends out there.  When I had orders for chalkboards, I found myself out in

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-12944207777599879532010-12-18T20:33:00.001-05:002010-12-18T20:47:28.185-05:00

Last year we didn't have a tree during the Christmas season.  We were right in the midst of moving, and decorating for the holidays was not a priority.  In fact, we skipped the traditional Christmas we usually have.   This year, since we are now settled, I asked the children if they wanted to decorate for Christmas time by getting a tree.  They all decided that we should, and they wanted to go to

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-57480289432548279412010-12-11T21:08:00.000-05:002010-12-11T21:08:40.533-05:00

I would have never thought that Nolan would have wrecked one of the vehicles so soon after getting his license.  Yet, that is exactly what happened.  Thank God he and Amory weren't hurt at all, and it could have been much worse than what it was. He was traveling down a country road on his way to the barn where he and Amory train horses.  After coming out of the woods section he ran into some

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-75555783879968281492010-11-20T21:50:00.000-05:002010-11-20T21:50:37.989-05:00

We lived in a small two bedroom home on the edge of our little town.  In fact, half of the road was considered city, and the other half of it was country.  I was fortunate to see both worlds of country and city.  On one hand, I was part of a neighborhood, and then on the other hand, I was able to watch farmers plow beans, wheat, and corn annually.  And I was able to track back into the woods and

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-76119330276072571122010-11-19T19:04:00.001-05:002010-11-19T19:05:41.887-05:00

Here's another UP-CYCLED farm project that is now being used in the house.  Nolan and I came up with this idea after seeing an example of it in our copy of Back to Basics homestead book. It started with some metal rings that we found out in the metal/concrete graveyard.  The metal/concrete graveyard is a place on our farm where the people before us (like ALL of the people before us) threw all

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-30523476895280153092010-11-16T19:46:00.008-05:002010-11-16T21:47:15.497-05:00

This is me . . . when I was REALLY young. My mom had pictures of all of her children taken at three months old.  So this is what I looked like at three months.  That was forty-five years and some months ago. :) I was born in 1964, in a small rural town in Ohio.  It was the kind of town where high school football was BIGGER than life, young people hung around the Dairy Queen parking lot to talk,

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-19712615225816214002010-11-12T22:54:00.000-05:002010-11-12T22:54:53.643-05:00

My last post got me thinking about something I wanted to do a few years ago, but never started it.  It was a fleeting thought, in the car as I was driving to school on day, that turned into a desire that just never developed.  Until now. Along with that, a couple of years ago, I thought about my children getting older, marrying, and leaving my home.  (which makes me sad by the way)  I thought

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-51046777758907363582010-11-07T18:15:00.002-05:002010-11-08T20:13:52.776-05:00

It has been a VERY long time since we have taken a family picture.  For some reason, we just can't seem to get everyone on board with getting a picture with all of us in it.  It seems to never work. However, today, we finally got a picture.  I look at pictures like this and think "is this all?"  wondering where everyone else is . . . as if there are others. The Opel's visit was fantastic.  They

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-6423815204526757652010-11-03T21:35:00.000-04:002010-11-03T21:35:36.572-04:00

This past summer the Opel family came to the farm to visit.  They live in Michigan now, but years ago their family and my family all attended the same church.  In CALIFORNIA!   Through a series of moves around the country (and in their case out of the country) our families have ended up only a couple of hours away from each other.  GREAT for us!  So last summer, when work brought them down to

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-45740701577276826582010-10-28T18:59:00.005-04:002010-10-28T19:56:48.888-04:00

This is the bridge in the woods that I now have completed.  It was a bear to get there and I ended up having to take it mostly apart after building it.  I built it close to electricity, and then when Nolan and I started on our journey out to where we where going to install it, we ended up popping two of the tires on the Gator!  It was REALLY heavy.  We left it in route to the creek for a couple

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-90925428543241694372010-10-26T18:21:00.001-04:002010-10-26T18:21:25.978-04:00

Etsy sellers and bloggers . . . Here's the post for the FREE mini chalkboard set.All you need to do is leave a comment on this posting and you will be entered to win a FREE set of eight mini chalkboard signs, or a set of eight mini chalkboard place settings.  At the end of this week, (Saturday at midnight) I will have one of my children choose the lucky winner. I will contact the winner for

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-26197686912092819292010-10-24T21:31:00.001-04:002010-10-24T21:41:55.183-04:00

Here's the finished outhouse where it's going to stay.  It's up close to the rode so that in case a passerby needs to use the restroom, they have a place to stop!  It also serves the people that come to buy eggs from us.  The Star (men) and the Moon (women) are the symbols used that denotes that it is a unisex bathroom.   I propped the door open to take this picture of the inside.  A natural

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-8981148193787855692010-10-22T17:54:00.013-04:002010-10-22T21:25:15.257-04:00

WOW!  What a fun time at the farm! Yesterday, the after school program from one of my schools came out to the farm as a field trip.  It was a blast for everyone involved.  65 students arrived to be greeted with a slew of hot dogs and cookies.  And after they ate, it was a free for all with several activities for them to experience. Nolan took students on the Gator for a ride through the woods.

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-17964645468748413182010-10-17T09:57:00.004-04:002010-10-17T10:29:35.223-04:00

yearbookyourself.com is a funny little site that Jostens Yearbook Publishing company has come up with to play around with vintage images. Here I am, back in 1968 playing basketball with a school mate friend. I am number 32 . . . and that was back before my beard.Even from a half mile away you can see the barn illuminated as you drive down the route toward our farm. Two weeks ago, I dug out

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-45038210396647498982010-10-16T21:26:00.006-04:002010-10-24T21:52:48.582-04:00

Another successful butchering day. And a BEAUTIFUL day at that! The chicken plucker has revolutionized our chicken butchering times. It is a pleasure to process 30 to 40 birds now. This morning, I leisurely got around to setting up our stations knowing it was only going to take a few hours of work to process our birds. I don't even think we got started until 10:30 or so with the first of the

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-6279847099863269142010-10-10T10:05:00.004-04:002010-10-10T10:13:23.781-04:00

Last year, when we bought this place, it was full of weeds . . . mostly teasel, an invasive, eye sore of a plant that grows to almost 6' tall. Hidden in the barn pasture teasel was a worn looking, ill repaired hay ring. I didn't even find it until after spring came! This weekend I decided to give it an update with some cinnamon color that blends in nicely with the fall backdrop that is slowly

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-46052578321186589732010-10-07T20:04:00.007-04:002010-10-07T20:34:29.854-04:00

My Etsy business has taken OFF this past year and I find that I am out in the wood shop most nights cutting chalkboards. However, I am finding some time each evening to do a "little" work on the outhouse and have gotten about half way done with it. Here's some updated photos of my progress thus far.Inside seat (it's a one-seater)Sliding Plexiglas windows with screenView from the frontI have it

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-34784783587755191412010-09-28T18:19:00.006-04:002010-09-28T18:48:59.060-04:00

Pigs actually do come from the sky!The other day our neighbor came by and asked Macy (or Amory) if we would take a pig off her hands. Apparently, she found a small wondering pig that she thought fell of the feeder pig truck. The day came two days ago when she dropped off this little porker for us to raise and butcher. He's a tiny little thing. :)I am also in the throws of building our first,

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-50654494542376953342010-09-11T19:06:00.012-04:002010-09-11T20:21:33.348-04:00

WHAT an eventful few days . . . PHEW! I need to take a big sleep now. :)Wednesday after school I came home and started this whole series of NEW events that will continue until tomorrow evening. First, I came home right after school, got in my previously furniture loaded van and headed out to Wisconsin. An Amish friend of mine was getting married on Thursday, so I took a couple of days off from

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-49682451699217662552010-09-06T16:23:00.006-04:002010-09-06T17:02:22.319-04:00

Oakwood, a small village of 607 people (last census) had it's annual Homecoming Labor Day Weekend Parade today. Homecoming meaning those that have moved away come home for the weekend, not the football homecoming game being played. For such a small village, there was a HUGE turnout with a whopping 45 minute parade train!These were some of the people that participated in the parade this year.

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-2199827439461970792010-08-29T08:03:00.011-04:002010-08-29T09:37:09.495-04:00

There's starting to be a welcomed hint of Fall in the air the past few days. And milking time in the morning feels slightly chilly, the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up with a blanket outside with a hot cup of your favorite morning drink.Speaking of hot, morning drinks, I have converted to drinking Tea in the morning instead of coffee. About a month ago I decided that the levels of

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-64221625001089417732010-08-21T08:50:00.002-04:002010-08-21T08:53:04.546-04:00

Lady (and Nolan) jumping again. Both the horse and the rider are getting better at it!

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-15463242811686630082010-08-21T08:00:00.002-04:002010-08-21T08:12:52.320-04:00

Well . . . summer break is coming to a close. That means school/work starts again!For years now people have asked me if I like going back to school after the summer break. As well, they have said things like "Aren't you going to miss staying home . . . " and "Are you READY for school to start?" It it really interesting how throughout the years my attitude has changed about work at home and

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-54815260601146137862010-08-09T19:57:00.004-04:002010-08-09T20:16:41.968-04:00

Nolan in his first few attempts to jump lady. He made a jumping pole out of PVC pipe and built a couple of stands for it. For this, he has the pole set at two feet high. She's made it over it a couple of times. This is one of her misses.

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-63092011140687481312010-08-09T10:22:00.007-04:002010-08-09T11:15:52.539-04:00

My dad was full of ideas and built all sorts of gadgets for himself to do his work. He was a machinist and worked with his hands all his life, and he came up with some REALLY useful ingenious devices. One creative idea that I learned from my dad was this dust-blowing tube that keeps your work clean while you work. Since I use the scroll saw tons, I needed something that would blow the dust

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-60995456451344982882010-08-07T15:09:00.003-04:002010-08-07T19:02:42.716-04:00

This is what the finished plucker looks like in action. And it WORKS! It was one of those things that was either going to work really well, or not at all. I am sure glad is was the former. And all of us are glad that the whole plucking time has been cut WAY down. The last time we butchered, the plucking of the birds was the most time consuming, and the most dreaded work of processing. Today

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-5303223814855166332010-08-04T19:12:00.009-04:002010-08-04T22:20:55.845-04:00

I love making art and appreciating the art that others make. One of those such artists is Rodney White, a creative man who's work I LOVE! His modern day inspirational paintings inspired me to create an inspirational painting of my own on my wood shop door. He does work reminiscent of the early 1900's works that were painted to advertise products of the day.My wood shop, which is attached to

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-83420838082474514242010-07-23T16:37:00.007-04:002010-07-24T11:57:38.734-04:00

The heat is on and the work on the barn has begun! WOW is it hot up there. It is currently 95 with the heat index of 100-105 today. And the wind is blowing as well. Feels like a day described in a story book.On Wednesday a crew of four Amish men came to roof one section of my barn with steel. The back side if this part was done a few years ago, and it definitely time to do this side. Each

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-27135882089458455402010-07-17T23:08:00.003-04:002010-07-17T23:24:38.716-04:00

We are almost at the finish line with Macy's Hip Roof Chicken Barn building project. It has taken us a few days for a couple of reasons. One, we ran out of wood and needed to make it to town to get more 1 x 2's. Second, we are sort of building this one "off the cuff!" Macy had told me what she wanted, but it was a little bit of work to get the idea she had in her head, out to a physical house

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-61430461400090313252010-07-13T21:08:00.004-04:002010-07-13T21:29:09.447-04:00

My whole Etsy mini chalkboard business is having a BLOW OUT summer. It's hard to believe that I have made and shipped well over 200 of them just in the last month! Here's an example of how an event coordinator used them at a bridal shower she planned last week. It seems that the boards are a big hit at both weddings and showers. Here's a link to a wedding planners site that started this whole

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-6276564338210409062010-07-08T18:52:00.003-04:002010-07-15T10:40:14.566-04:00

Here are NINE of the TEN little puppies that frolic all over our property now. Floppy, our Black and Tan Coonhound, had her Collie mix puppies about four weeks ago. They will be ready for a new home August 1st.

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-81015717130868873482010-07-04T14:08:00.010-04:002010-07-05T21:20:26.680-04:00

Today started with work on a sign for a friend. A morning spent designing and painting. After milking, I added the farm name and logo-of-sorts to the top of this sign. It's a two-sided "A" frame chalkboard farmer's market sign that I am bartering for my cow to be bred. Out here folks work for each other with the skills they have. I need a bull, and he needs a sign. Even trade. The

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-57667909815117855002010-06-26T07:44:00.004-04:002010-06-26T22:10:03.661-04:00

I finished the table the other day ready for THIS session of butchering. I added quite a few items to it, and after yesterday's work, have already made some changes in how we will use it.First off, I stained it the same as the killing cones to create a unified butchering set. I love when things are functional, yet aesthetic as well. The oil from the stain also helps to repel the water

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-9580936656448673432010-06-22T07:39:00.004-04:002010-06-22T08:04:20.310-04:00

Butchering season is upon us now so I had to come up with another plan for dressing out the 100 or so birds that we will have. Hence, the NEW Butchering Station!For weeks I have been looking for stainless steel sinks, counters, and tables on Craigslist and have decided that I do not want to spend $150 to $300 on a used bakery counter or a restaurant sink. I found a stainless steel sink for $20

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-76311068844382321312010-06-14T09:37:00.005-04:002010-06-14T10:02:37.504-04:00

And the fishing game is on! The youngers have been spending quite a bit of time so far fishing in the pond (and swimming as well). I have yet to eat some of their catch. Just yesterday, a friend showed me how to clean a fish, so I think the next few finds I might just have to try it.We had our first fishing accident yesterday as well. Gresham, whose all but four now, and wants to fish like

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-59246188922381854712010-06-04T07:09:00.005-04:002010-06-04T07:42:43.015-04:00

Today is the FIRST day of summer break for me. What a different year this has been. I enjoyed the school year, we bought this farm, and we bought a car. Tons of changes going on all at once. And I love it!First off, a couple of weeks ago some friends planned a move out of state, and needed to sell their car. Ildi and I decided that it would not only help them out, but help us out on my gas

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-15063788324841887492010-05-22T07:32:00.004-04:002010-05-22T07:56:49.526-04:00

More wild animals visiting the farm. It is a such a treat to see so many different types of wildlife here. Beats driving so long to get to the Zoo and fighting the crowds of people. (and seeing all the animals in cages with a pretend background) Here, they are co-existing with us in a natural setting and we seem to be sharing the place together.One week and three days and it is all over for

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-79429660973665692262010-05-16T06:50:00.010-04:002010-05-16T07:42:02.437-04:00

It's just about the season of the year where I can wake up in the morning, finish milking chores, and then decide what I want to do for the REST of the day! Did I mention that I like being a school teacher for that reason? It's not like I spend the whole day sleeping, or here on the computer, but it is nice to wake up, spend some time leisurely in the morning, and then work hard all day with my

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-48059608291895968012010-05-12T20:46:00.002-04:002010-05-12T21:13:22.894-04:00

Justin and Dave, who happen to have the SAME brown hoody I have, have been somewhat regular visitors to our home in the five short months we have lived here. We are on a fun first name/story basis. :) This last visit they came to replace the sand filter that had a faulty backwash function. It was as cheap to by the whole tank and regulator as it was just to buy the regulator. Now, we are

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-3774315739203554372010-05-02T08:16:00.003-04:002010-05-02T18:57:14.957-04:00

Yesterday a fellow teacher and her family came to supper and to visit the farm. The children rode the horse, fished, and since it was fairly warm, played in the pond. Little did we realize that we would also have another guest visiting today.One of the boys who was visiting found a Canadian Gosling by the wood shop! Now you are probably thinking the same thing we are still thinking . . . why

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-36571462769360354292010-04-27T18:39:00.003-04:002010-04-27T18:56:27.272-04:00

Springtime comes and out come the fish! And OHHHHHH what fun fishing is. (for the children that is)Along with some makeshift fishing poles, my brother brought out some actual fishing tackle and a couple of fishing poles. All the children have tried their hands at it and it seems to be a hit with all of them.Tonight when I got home from school the older boys and Macy had just pulled out a 24

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-9971660273559673762010-04-17T22:08:00.008-04:002010-04-17T22:45:30.598-04:00

A view at sunset. There are some interesting plants that are covering the ground of the woods. I am excited to see what they turn into.I hired my neighbor to mow the pastures for me so that the grass that is supposed to be growing now could see the sun. This is from the South end of what we call the Big Pasture. To give you some perspective of size, I walked along the fence row shown here, (

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-38892144233376251952010-04-13T19:59:00.002-04:002010-04-17T22:07:58.281-04:00

A couple of photo postings of some of the things one does when the weather is nice! We have been rotating Janey out into different pastures to get the greener grass, and Amory has taken the chance to ride Lady around the pond.

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-25359105344348799352010-04-09T21:28:00.005-04:002010-04-11T21:54:36.231-04:00

Did I mention that I love WARM weather! I think spending 21 years in California spoiled me a bit concerning the warmth from the sun. When the sun comes out, and it is warm here, it's like a breath of fresh air . . . an unexpected Christmas present . . . the taste of pasta after a nice glass of wine . . . OK, I'll stop with the analogies. It is WONDERFUL outside here when the sun is out though.

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-38924329972464342152010-04-02T21:41:00.008-04:002010-04-02T22:19:19.846-04:00

Macy is all about the blooms that are happening here on the farm. She took this picture of one of the trees that are in bloom now. It sits behind the garage and is filled with beautiful, yellow, fuzzy buds!Since I have been on break this week, and the weather has been EXCEPTIONALLY nice, the children and I have spent most of the day outside cleaning up the debris from the property getting it

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-10459288585782861702010-03-29T22:12:00.006-04:002010-03-29T22:28:13.132-04:00

This is what happens when your daughter (Amory) reads Lord of the Rings too much. She has now started writing her own sort of Elvish way on the milk jars! Using a Sharpie marker on the jars was just a plain good idea. I am now on the hunt for an old paint shaker to make our butter!Below are some more updated house picks. I should be finished with the whole thing by the end of this week since I

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-26174623245260656682010-03-23T22:53:00.002-04:002010-03-23T23:03:48.400-04:00

I thought I would update the previous picture with this one (which is much better) from the back of the property. I also included a picture from the front of the house looking out the front door. The front, which is really not a way we will be entering the house, has a porch and steps, but no sidewalk leading up to it. I think years ago the horses pulled up and dropped people off, but as for

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-42490305161199906572010-03-21T07:57:00.002-04:002010-03-21T08:11:18.079-04:00

Sipping my coffee this morning, I couldn't resist taking this photo of some of the children eating breakfast. In addition, I wanted to get a photo of the chandelier I installed. This particular one Jeff gave me years ago after his family's exodus out of California. I used it outside in one house, and stored it for a couple of years while we rented homes, and now it has found its permanent spot

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-51763356719556914782010-03-20T21:56:00.002-04:002010-03-20T22:13:03.331-04:00

Here's the view from behind the pond looking up toward the house and barns. We have had some REALLY warm weather this past couple of days so all the snow has melted, and the trees are starting to bud. I hope this means spring is coming soon! I am excited to see what this place looks like in the spring and summer. All the books I read concerning buying a farm always suggested looking at it

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-81142194549371954112010-03-07T07:42:00.008-05:002010-03-07T08:12:15.872-05:00

Some more before and after pictures for the fans of my interior decorating ability . . . peel paper, paint, and put my junk in. It is a simple format to follow. Those people who make/produce/star in the HGTV series Design on a Dime have nothing on me. Give me the thousand dollars and I will actually BUY something instead of getting it out of the trash or off the roadside! This is considered

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-82636416883951629422010-02-28T19:31:00.005-05:002010-02-28T21:20:35.674-05:00

The kitchen was a blur the other day when the children made our noodles for the spaghetti dinner that night. We spared the wasteful expense of the Playdoh extruder and instead collected a couple of noodle makers these past few years. We have two pasta makers now, and have recently gotten them out to make homemade noodles with. As if TWO were not enough, last week Ildi's mom sent us yet another

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-53000174563625961752010-02-21T07:39:00.003-05:002010-02-22T20:07:40.097-05:00

Another beautiful Sunday morning in the great state of Ohio. Great state of Ohio? I'm not sure of that, but it is a beautiful morning anyway.Yesterday I spent the day "hauling" people again. Since I had most of the last two weeks off school, I decided to drive some of my Amish friends to a sale in the largest settlement of the Amish in America. Holmes County Ohio. We were there most of the

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-66764784661551565712010-02-16T06:42:00.005-05:002010-02-16T07:11:22.218-05:00

Looking out the back/side door to some of our property this morning we were greeted with a winter frost/freeze over all the trees. It was ABSOLUTELY beautiful. This is the south view from the house looking over the woods and creek. Our 4 acres of woods is connected to a greater 100 acre or more patch of woods that follows the Auglaize River up to Maumee which eventually flows into Lake

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-15204684441673692832010-02-14T20:24:00.003-05:002010-02-14T20:42:15.046-05:00

Who needs the circus when you have all the thrill a person could want in a barn!Nolan climbed to the top of our hip roof barn to change one of the light bulbs today. It was quite scary for him, and me, watching him scale up the beams to the light socket that was 30 feet in the air. In the first photo he is climbing up the support beams. In the second photo he's twenty feet high and is still

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-71390257502795527192010-02-14T07:08:00.002-05:002010-02-14T07:43:12.619-05:00

Happy Valentines Day.Over the years I have had the children make Valentines packages of "treats" and "things" for each other. For example, one year they made paper flowers and placed them in clay pots. Where the dirt is supposed to be, I had them place small, not-so-sugary sweets and then cover it with shredded paper to look like a potted plant. On another occasion, they filled a small bag

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7150342549616514404.post-77468081388796165172010-02-09T12:53:00.009-05:002010-02-09T13:33:58.885-05:00

What do you do with a WHOLE BUNCH of old broken radiators in your house? How do you remove cast iron pieces that weigh over 500 lbs?Today, since we had school canceled, I decided to start the grueling work of disassembling the radiators that are not in use in the house. Actually, it is not grueling at all, it was quite easy to take the largest one apart in the living room today. Since our

foutfolkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079651678447028444noreply@blogger.com1