Time to Begin Gardening!

The almanac says that it is now time to plant onions, radishes, cabbage, early snow peas, lettuce and spinach.  So Mel & I decided we had better get busy planting!!  I planted these in my gardening boxes behind the house and we also planted some more in the garden at the barn.  Yum! Yum!  There is nothing like the taste of fresh veggies out of the garden.

Spring Must Be on the Way!!

Signs of spring being on the way is evident in the flowerbeds.  It is so refreshing after the winter months to see the beautiful early flowers and hints of others to bloom later.  Nature is so amazing!!

"Treasures from Geneva"

Geneva went on a trip to Sipokni West at Reagan, OK with the "James Gang".  She brought back treasures for Mel & me - a horse and the man "shodding" the horse and a darling pillow.  How sweet and thoughtful of her to do that!  Thank you, Geneva!

                                                         Mel opening his treasure

                                                                My Darling Pillow

Grammy and the Girls

 The grandkids are always happy to see Grammy.  She came to eat lunch with us so the girls had to tell her the latest things they had done.  Needless to say, Grammy is always well entertained and "up to date on the latest"!

The Shower Knob and Mathew

In the late evening after coming in from the barn it is time for baths and showers.  With 4 kids to get clean before they eat we "divey up" the bathrooms. 
The girls took turns taking a bath in the guest bath and the boys took their turn in the shower in the master bath. 

Mathew came in and was cold.  When asked why, he informed us we did NOT have hot water in our bath.  Concerned that something was wrong with our hot water heater, I went to check.  YES, we did have hot water.  Mathew had used the handle of the shower knob for the water temp instead of the pointed end.  He explained that he stood at the edge of the shower would wash part of his body, rinse, then do another part so he was not totally under the cold water while showering.  Everyone sure had a good laugh.  Mathew did not think it was funny!

Learning to Cross-Stitch

Emma seems to enjoy doing crafts.  Cross-Stitch is a relatively simple craft so I ironed the Sunbonnet Girl pattern on a piece of fabric so she could begin.  She is doing a good job on her stitching. 
McKaylea wants to learn as well so the next visit will be her turn.  I have the boy that matches the girl ready for her.
 Possibly they can frame the boy and girl when they finish.

Emma made a potholder using the loom and loops while she was at our house.  I was the lucky one to receive the one she made.  How special!!  Thank you Emma!

At the Barn

The barn is a favorite of the grandkids.  With horses, cats, Fort McHenry, building supplies, etc. why would it not be. 

The Kansas family members are taking riding lessons.  Emma showed us her trick of getting on the saddle. 

Great job Emma!

Emma waiting for Grandpop to get Trinket

Mathew observing

Grandpop putting the saddle on while Jacob talks to Trinket

How Wonderful to Have a Nurse in the Family

Mathew's asthma had been flaring up last week.  Melodi suspected that his wheezing was getting worse.  She asked Amberlea if she would bring her stethoscope to the party and check Mat.  After listening to his lungs and breathing, she said his left side was wheezing. 

Melodi & Bryan decided to take Mathew to a clinic in Yukon since it was late Saturday afternoon and not wait any longer for problems to develop.  Grandpop & I brought Jacob, Emma & McKaylea home with us while Mathew went to the doctor.  It was a good thing since he did have bronchitis. 

Great job Nurse Amberlea!! 

A Fun Week-end

Grandpop & I were invited to Jett's 6th Birthday.  It's hard to believe he is already 6.  Saturday we met at his Papa and Gigi's in Yukon to have a birthday party. 
Bryan, Melodi & the kids came from Kansas for the party.  Everyone had a fun time!

              Our Invitation                                                                                  The Birthday Boy

 

Amberlea getting things ready

                                                        Jett's Birthday Cookie

                                                    
                                                             Mitch Lighting the Candles

                                       
                                          
                                             Gathered Around the Table for Cookie & Punch

                                                    The Cousins Watching Jett Open His Gifts

The Creative Birthday Banner Amberlea Made

                        
                                                   All the Cousins Posing for a Picture

Mel's New Saddle

Mel decided his saddle he had years ago had "shrunk" and that he needed a better "fitting one".  While in Sulphur he visited Billy Cook Saddle Shop and found exactly what he wanted.  What a beautiful saddle for him to use on Rosebud and Trinket!

                                                        
                                                        Mel and the new saddle on Rosebud

Valentine's Day

Mel and I went to Polo's for our Valentine's Day dinner.  The food was delicious and we were stuffed afterwards.

My Sweet Darling put the date on my mirror again this year.  He has been doing that for years.  How I love my wonderful "Farmer Mel!"

Ear-Tagging Cows

Our cows have a "knack" for losing their eartags.  I suppose they get them caught in the hay bunker, fence, bushes, etc.  Also, the numbers on the eartags fade making it  hard to see the number.  Sometimes the cows will have distinguishing features, but not always for telling them apart.  So, for Mel's cow records, it was time to eartag each one  (Emma calls it - an earring that the cows have).   Mel kept them in the "lot" after feeding and we then got them in the head-gate so we could put the new eartag in or remark the faded one. 

The equipment used

Remarking an eartag

                                                                       I even "get into the act"

Our 2010 Surrey Hills Farm Book

On Monday, February 14th - Valentine's Day, we received our 2010 Surrey Hills Farm Book in the mail. 

I began doing our "Surrey Hills Blog" last year and  thanks to Melodi, I used a program called "Blurb" to put the blogs and pictures into book form.  Here is the result - our very own book of our lives for 2010!  This  takes the place of our traditional scrapbook albums that I had been doing for years.  I was very proud of our book!

Thanks Melodi for your getting me started and the tutoring !

The back and front covers of our book

Calves "Bedded Down" in Hay

These mama cows know how to eat in peace.  They "bed down" their babies in the hay (especially if there is snow on the ground or the ground is wet) and then they enjoy their meal.

Blizzard # 2 of 2011

Weatherpeople predicted " blizzard storm # 2"  for Monday night into Tuesday.  Fortunately for us in southern Oklahoma we did not have near the snow as was predicted .  Cold temperatures were the worst part of this storm.

Monday afternoon one of our cows had a calf and she buried it in the hay to keep it warm.  Pretty smart mama cow!

Radar early Tuesday morning showing precipitation across Oklahoma

A later view of radar and it seems as though the snow "parted " directly over us.  Thank goodness!!

                                                               The light snow falling

Since I have been feeding the birds on the patio, a beautiful Red Cardinal has been coming for the past week.  He has made himself at home - sitting on the flower pots and sitting on the foot bar of the patio chair.  Hopefully this fellow will continue to come to visit us the rest of the year.

                      Here he's sitting on the foot bar of the chair keeping company with a "buddy bird"

               We lucked out with smaller amounts of snowfall, but will not escape the arctic temperatures - windchill of -6 degrees for Ada - Brrrrrrrr!         That is cold!!                          

Can you believe the predicted temperature at the end of the 7 Day Forecast?????  60 degrees!! - only in Oklahoma would it be 3degrees one day and a week later 60!  The amazing Mother Nature's humor!!