Yarn along!

Well it has been a few weeks since I joined in with Ginny for yarn along-ok since before Christmas! But I have been working on something, I just couldn't seem to get a post up before Wednesdays! So without further ado-I am knitting a milo vest, but I altered the pattern to make it into a dress for my littlest girl. Its in such a pretty lavender color and I want her to wear it like a jumper with a collard shirt underneath! Love how it is turning out-I just m1 stitch every four stitches after the garter stitch portion. I think it is going to be full enough (I hope). So we will see how it looks when its finished! I have a cute little pair of yellow longies I will use as leggings underneath- I think it will look so cute! As for reading-I have been rereading the Duggar's second book-A love that muliples, my friend returned it this week and I just pick it up when I have a free minute or two. I have also been reading my latest copy of the No Greater Joy ministries magazine-I just love their stuff, I am always so encouraged by what they say and walk away wanting to do and be better with my kids and hubby. Well there you have it! Don't forget to head over to Small things and see all the other Work in Progress! Yarn Along.

After a long hiatus, more homesteading adventures!

I apologize for the lack of activity going on over here, its been a wee bit busy since the holidays and I am just finally getting back into the groove of things. I always find it difficult to get back on track after a holiday, the kids fight doing their school and practicing, I fight getting back to the everyday after so much interesting activity. But alas I think we have gotten back into routine-and with that comes some adventures to share with you!

We have had some new member join the homestead and sadly lost a few as well... Both of the older girls horses foaled two weeks ago! Ohh the excitement of getting up early to go see if there is a new baby in the barn lol! Sadly Julianna's filly was born in the snow and got its one leg caught in the new wind fence. Its mama is so protective she hides as far away as she can and then has her babies in really terrible places-two years ago she had one right by a pond and the baby drowned *GRRR* So this new little filly didn't get found for a few hours, and it later showed evidence of frozen legs...I WILL NOT go into how this looks as it will make you cry, so my poor dear hubby had to put it down lastnight. We have not told our girl yet-was waiting for daddy to be home too. Seriously dreading the task.

We have also had two more litters of baby rabbits, and we don't know what is going on, but both batches have been eaten by the mothers gahh!!!! We are having a very heartbreaking year on our farm this winter! Please pray for my children as they are learning a few of life's heartbreaks all at once.

On to some more positive news-I am getting almost three dozen eggs a day now lol!! My barred rocks have started laying-the first egg we found from them was sooo tiny! It was the size of a small gum ball lol! They lay much darker eggs than my buffs, they are very pretty! Only a few are laying I think, so it won't be long before we will be having more eggs than I can sell! The barred rocks were supposed to be butchered by now, but they are not quite big enough, the weather hasn't been cooperating and my hubby has been working like crazy!  He has next week off though so hopefully we will be taking care of at least all the big roosters.

I can't remember if I mentioned it before, but a neighbor had some square bales for sale, we bought 100 of them to put around our house as we are still awaiting insulation and skirting. Well he was only charging 1.00$ / bale which is incredible for good hay. So we ended up buying all 800 bales. Well my dad and hubby decided it would be great fun to haul all the bales with the team and sleigh, as they only live two miles up the road. So they did! In - 20/25 below lol! The following pictures were taken just as he was getting in with his last load for the day around 4 ish so the light is not great. The first load the took straight out to the field and fed to the cows. They can get on about 75 bales/ load. The kids and I made a few trips, and I drove the team a couple times while he hand bombed them off to the cows. It was lots of fun-if not a little cold! I of course didn't get picks of the kids and I *grrr*.

So I will leave you with that! I have a few more post coming up so stayed tuned-and enjoy the pics lol!

Merry Christmas!

May the Lord richly bless you and yours this Christmas and throughout the coming year!
Blessings
Erin

Yarn Along / KCCO

Good morning! Today is a chilly day here in Alberta, however it is about 15 degrees warmer than it was this weekend so I won't complain!
I have worked on and finished several projects in the last few weeks, but sadly was unable to post them and join along with Ginny and Nicole! So this week I determined that I am going to this week! Even if I have to take pictures in the dark!
My current wip is a scarf for myself, which I have hardly touched because I finished 7 frilly sashay scarves in the last few weeks as Christmas gifts! I have also been trying to get to my huge sewing list, as we are doing a handmade Christmas this year! I was able to make a sweet little skirt for my middle daughter, I still need to finish two seams with the serger and topstich over the hem and add some embellishment, but it is mostly done lol! I have more of the same beautiful fabric so I am going to make a similar skirt for Julianna.
As for reading, I was given a couple of easy read Christmas books, I have read one of them, just for some light reading, not sure if I will get to the others!
Hope you are all enjoying crafting this week and don't forget to head over to Ginny's  and Nicole'sto see what all the other ladies are working on!
Blessings
Erin

Three new additions to the homestead!

Technically they were born two weeks ago-however, they are sooo tiny and naked and their mothers will eat them if we disturb them at all, that we haven`t actually seen them until today!
Baby bunnies!!!
There are three, two black and one honey colored. They are sooo soft and sweet and cute and oh I am gushing lol! I LOVE baby bunnies!
The girls were delighted today when they went out to feed and water them, and to their surprise three little balls of fluff hopped around chasing each other! They came running to the house to tell me all about them! Then begged me to come see ( of course I was going to anyway!)
Seriously-there is no cuter baby than a baby bunny!
As soon as it warms up I will go take a picture of them! So stay tuned for major  cuteness!

In other homesteading news, we loaded 110 square bales into the horse trailer yesterday from a neighbor, to go around the bottom of our house-we are now officially hill billy`s... I had hoped they would get put up today, but dad and Les are hosting a group Christmas party from the city today, taking them sleigh riding and having a bonfire out in the back woods, roasting chestnuts over the open fire, and having hot dogs and hot chocolate!  Trouble is it is -25 and much colder with the wind chill! Sure hope everyone dressed warmly!
Guess my house will have to wait until tommorow!
Also wanted to tell you that my buff orpington`s are finally laying! I am now getting on average 16 eggs per day! Needless to say we have had scrambled eggs several times this week!
Well that about sums up what`s happening around here!
Better go put more wood on the fire! Hope you all are staying warm!
Blessings
Erin

The birthday tea party!

Julianna has been asking for a tea party birthday for awhile now, so this year I thought ok-we can do this! I am pretty proud of how it all turned out! The girls were all required to dress in their favorite fancy dresses ( and to bring a change of clothes for going outside).
I have to admit that I searched pinterest for some idea's as I am not that creative when it comes to the finer details! There sure are some elaborate party decor's out there!
We went with a pink/yellow/white theme, the table was set with 7 different mini tea sets, I made mini cupcakes, mini sugar cookies ( I had lots of help decorating them!) little jam heart sandwiches and jelly pinwheels. They had apple cinnamon tea, and were able to serve themselves cream and sugar. I explained to them how high tea started in England, and why people still enjoy it today. Then Julianna served all her guests, and they chatted away! It was quite cute! My girls also bought Olivia a little plastic tea set so she could participate in the tea party! She was sooo cute!
Once they were done tea, they played downstairs (by the way this is all taking place at my parents house across the yard from us as we don''t have room in this little cottage!)
Then after awhile they all went outside to join the boys and men for a sleigh ride. Les and my dad had hooked up both teams and so they had two sleighs going, which always makes for lots of fun as they chase eachother, play catch up and try pushing eachother off lol! After everyone came in and warmed up, we served an early supper, and a bunch more appetizers and junk food!
All in all I think it was a very successful party, and the girls were so thrilled with how it worked out-which of course makes me happy!
So here are a few party pics-not as many as I would like, because my sd card was full!!! Gahhh!

These first two are the morning before the party-Olivia with her new tea set!

The girls were pretty happy with the decor, Les and I were up till midnight the night before to finish decorating!

With one of the cute cousins!

All gone mama! Where`s more!

Happy Birthday to the sweetest 1 year old!

My baby turns one today...trying really hard not to cry about that! This little girl has stolen all our hearts! She is doted on by everyone in our family and her dimpled grins and cute little character have endeared her to pretty much anyone she meets!

At one you are pulling yourself up on all the furniture-but not letting go yet! You are a little chatter box (how could you not be with two older chatterbox sisters!) You can say eight words already! Hi, hot, owieee (in a high pitch whiny voice lol) mommy, daddy, papa and kitty!

You love to snuggle! And give kisses-wide open mouth ones ( and sometimes you try to give me tongue!) You wave hi and bye, and you can blow kisses (sooo cute). You have such a little personality! You are always making us laugh with all your funny faces and goofy antics!

Olivia I am so thankful for you, you have filled our family with so much joy, and brought us all closer together. You have even managed to wrap your daddy around your baby finger! He has never been so willing to change a diaper, and he even insists on me leaving you with him when I have to run to town-this is highly unusual!

Baby girl I can't wait to see who you grow up to be, but please don't grow so fast!
We love you!
Happy 1st Birthday!