Thinking about my beloved Uncle

With Kali getting married, I have thought about how wonderful my Uncle was when I was getting married, and how he would have loved to be a part of Kali's wedding plans too. He loved her so much, and called her Kitten, because her initials spelled out kit...which he figured was short for kitten. I wish he could have seen her grow up.

Since he wasn't here to spoil her and buy her things, I thought I'd share some of my cast iron pans, with her, since Uncle Orison scoured the flea markets looking for a bunch of them for me. I had several I wasn't using...cause there are only so many I can use, and he had given me a bunch of them...so DH cleaned them up, and I packed them up and put Uncle Orison's name on them. It may have been rather odd to see a gift on the pile from him, since he's been gone for 18 years...but I think she liked her pans.


I didn't have time to season them, once DH cleaned them up, but I told her I could help her do that later...after we get moved...if she needs help.

Least that let my beloved Uncle have a small part in the wedding plans...and kept his memory alive for a little longer. He was such a huge part of my life, so while I've let the pain of loosing him, to soon, go for the most part...finally, I still love the memories, and love sharing his love with Kali too.

It's an adventure!

Kali and her soon to be hubby at the bridal shower with the knives we got her
...and the holder my Dad made her.
Moving is an adventure...yesterday we did our first trip with "things" to Missouri. I wanted to go to my niece's bridal shower, and this is the only way I could think of to get us over there, in the middle of our frantic packing. DH actually is the one who came up with the idea to get the cows over there, since it sounded like we weren't going to be allowed to have them in the pasture here after closing. It worked out good though, cause now we can worry about getting things done here, and not about the cows or milking...or making butter. Dad will milk and Mom will freeze the cream for me (unless she wants it for something) and I can make butter after we get moved. :-))

We loaded up the cows yesterday morning, which wasn't near as hard as loading up Snowflake the day before when the couple we sold her to, came to pick her up...but that's another story that hopefully my hubby will tell one of these days on his blog...if he ever finds time to blog. *giggle* We managed to get out of here at 7, which is what we were aiming at.

It's usually a 3 to 3.5 hour drive for us, depending on how many stops we make, but knew it would be a little more as we were following my Dad, who came over to take the two youngest calves over in his truck...so they didn't get squished in the cattle trailer with the other 5 cows. Dad drives slower than we do...and he was pulling a little trailer with a few other things on it also.

The first leg of the journey, was only about 30 miles long...and took us an hour and a half...at that time we knew we were in trouble. *giggle* Come to find out, my Dad's truck was over heating, so no wonder we were driving so much slower than we thought we would be. We decided to limp on, and stop every so often, to check fluids and let the truck cool down.

There was a detour, cause a bridge was out, that was going to take us a ways out of the way, and since my Dad had just gone on it, we decided we would try a different road on the detour...that would take us right into a town we wanted to go through. Silly us. Come to find out, that road had a bridge out to! *giggle* We stop at the bridge, laughing, and trying to figure out what way we should go. I saw a woman standing in the doorway of her house, right next to where we were parked, so DH went to ask her what the best way to go would be. She told him there was a temp road, beside the bridge, that big trucks were taking...so why don't we just do that. We couldn't see it from where we were, so he walked over to look it over.

Since he has worked on roads in the past, he saw it and said sure, no problem...I wasn't to sure, but climbed back into the truck anyway. Sadly I was hanging on for dear life...to the "oh my God" strap (as DH calls it), AND my sanity...so didn't think to get a photo of the dirt track that went down and across the stream, but thankfully we made it across and back on the road. LOL (Keep in mind we have a 16 foot cattle trailer behind us...with 5 of our precious cows in it too...and I'm not to adventurous.)

We went on our way, laughing about the adventure so far, stopping here and there to let Dad's truck cool down, and laugh at other happenings of the day. We were over half way there when I sneezed, and instantly had a gushing bloody nose...and nothing to use to catch it. DH stopped the truck, and ran to the bed to grab a rag that was back there, but it wasn't very good so he ended up taking his shirt off as he was driving, so I could use it...it was just an old one he had left on, till we got the cows unloaded, and had another one with us...so it wasn't the end of the world there. I finally managed to get that stopped...and the next time we stopped hubby ran in and bought some paper towels and water to use, so I could clean up. There was no way I was going in anywhere with blood all over me. *giggle*

I called Mom to have her dig out one of the shirts I had sent her a while back, that she was going to pretty up for me when she had the chance...thankfully she had some, since I had gotten blood on the one I had on.  (Sorry if you are squeamish about blood LOL)

After that, except for some stops to let the truck cool off, it was an uneventful trip for the most part...just long. It certainly made it interesting, but hopefully that's the most trouble we have on our move. LOL I told my Mom that it's an adventure when the hillbillies move! *giggle*

Needless to say, I was kinda glad when the return trip was almost boring. :-))

It was good to see my niece, and be able to attend her bridal shower, even though Mom and I were a half hour late. They waited for us, before they got started which was sweet...I was surprised that they were when we got there, as I didn't expect it. Mom and I jumped in her car as soon as we arrived...and left Dad, DH and our other niece who has been helping us pack stay there and get the cows unloaded.

Even with the troubles, it was a good day yesterday. It sure seems odd to not have cows here now though...gotta get moved, so we are back with our animals. Moving day is getting closer...and we are going to have a REALLY BUSY week this week...busier than last week, and it was pretty busy. So...posting may or may not happen, but...I'll hopefully get back to it one of these days.  Hope everyone will have a great week!  :-))

Birthday happenings

Today happens to be my birthday, and with all the packing going on around here, I've not been able to be to lazy or anything...however there are compensations for that!

I didn't have to make my own cake for a change, cause our niece was here helping pack, so she made it for me! It's so NICE to not have to make my own!! Sometimes we've managed to be out where we can buy one, but not usually, so I usually have had to make my own. Thats just WRONG! *giggle*

I've not had to cook today either...hubby has been extra special, and made breakfast AND lunch so far...and has promised to make supper for me. SUCH a Sweetie!!!

He also slipped into town while we were packing up my kitchen and bought me flowers. Then he picked some of the roses from the bush out front and laid them over the card he had for me. He put everything on my desk this morning...and it was after lunch before I found them. *giggle* Oops! I was so busy packing I didn't even come check my e-mail from time to time. I got a card from our niece too, they were both so sweet to me this morning, I felt loved! Thanks to the both of you!!

I did have to slip the roses into the vase with the other flowers...cause I've packed my vases already. LOL

I also got a e-mail from our SIL and my Mom bright and early, wishing me a happy birthday. Yesterday a friend sent me some kindle books, it really made my day yesterday too so all in all it's been a good birthday...even if I have had to be working on packing!

The "skin" I ordered for my "early" birthday present that I got a month or so ago (a tablet so I could put my recipe's on it, and stop printing so many out... saving on paper, ink, and most importantly SPACE) even came today...so it was like I got one of my presents today after all! LOL Course now I have to find time to put it on my tablet. LOL

Now...I gotta go get busy in the kitchen again, need to finish packing up the non essential stuff. I'm getting close...but not totally done. Our niece and SIL had to leave this afternoon, so I'll be finishing up on my own. Thankfully the biggest part of the kitchen is done already, thanks to their help!! :-))

Getting close to being packed...well except for some things I can't pack till the last minute of course. Course there are quite a bit of those "essential" things too...but I may make it...we will see. Then the fun of getting it all moved to Missouri begins...once we close of course.

Thank God for true family and friends! The offers of different kinds of help, from packing, to moving, to milking and even helping get the new farm and home fixed up have helped ease my mind, and got me excited about the move. It's still going to be hard work, but least we know there are a few who care enough to offer to help us out in whatever way they can. May God bless them, one and all. Thanks to all who are praying for our move to go well too, as well as for hubby to not overdo with his still recovering back! :-))

Ok...now I'm for sure getting back to packing...just wanted to take a moment to thank the special people in my life, who have helped make this birthday special!  Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Been a busy week!

There hasn't been to much picture taking around here lately...been to busy, but DH did take this photo with his phone and I had to share it, cause it was kinda neat.

Our big dog has taken to laying under the big, sprawling rose bush out front...the bush could use a little cutting back...I didn't get it done this spring, but I figure the new owners can do that cause I'm to swamped right now to mess with it. LOL Can't believe that dog can get in and out of it without getting tangled up to much in the thorny bush...but she does.

We've been packing here this past week, we have a mountain of boxes in a couple rooms...but there is still a LOT to do. Several rooms to get packed up, some of which we haven't started on yet, including the kitchen. *sigh* Will see if we manage to get done. I'm getting to old for this I think. *giggle* (I've always wanted to say that...now I've found the perfect time to I think.)

Anyway, gotta get going, so I can get a few things done and get back to packing! Hope everyone is having a great week! :-))

Spring Blooms

This year, with our early spring a lot of things seemed to bloom early. However most of the time I couldn't tell for sure if they did, cause I didn't commit to memory, just WHEN everything usually bloomed.

However, when it comes to our peonies, I KNOW they are really early, cause usually we have them blooming around memorial day weekend...and sometimes they have even been later than that!



So the fact that they are already blooming now, is just so strange, it's a good 2-3 weeks early!

We have a lot of other blooms outside now too!



We have roses blooming...




As well as the larger iris by our front porch. In fact, the iris have more blooms on them than I've ever seen!



Our Clematis Vine is also blooming.

God's putting on quite a show for our last spring on Hillbilly Hill Farm in Nebraska! :-))

Thankfully my SIL said she is willing to help spread out the iris before we move (even if it is usually a fall thing...we've done it other times of the year), so they aren't so thick (It's needed done for some time now), and that way we can each have some of them to take with us. I'd miss my flowers, if we didn't take some with us...even if I do neglect them.  The new farm didn't look like it had much in the way of flowers...the last owner was more into planting trees, which is good...cause they cost way more to get and plant than flowers do.  I'll just move some of what I have, and maybe...over the  next few years, add more.   :-))

Praise God for his beautiful flowers, and the helpers he is sending our way!

Farm News

We found our new farm! It's smaller than the one we have...in acres, and while the house may be a tad bit larger...it's not as convenient, cause it's spread out over two floors. It also didn't have a dining room, so...we are improvising for now, and making the living room the dinning room...and putting the living room out on the small (well narrow anyway) enclosed/finished porch. Should make for good bird watching out there, when we get my feeders hung! :-))

If it were all on one floor, it would actually be (almost) perfect...because the family room that is downstairs could have been used for our living room...but guess perfect wouldn't fit our hillbilly ways, so thats ok.  LOL

I am hoping to build a new living room sometime, depending on how things go, but will have to save up money for that...cause all the extra we have from the sale of this farm, will be put into a barn and shop for hubby...well not ALL the extra...a little of it will go into the house, to make it a little more "perfect" for us. *giggle* He will get the bulk of it though, cause they don't have much in the way of out buildings...and we gotta have them.

The nice things about this new place is...it's close to my parents so they can help us or us them...we will have two ponds...AND there are black berries, raspberries and lots of fruit trees on the place already!!!!! Course the fruit trees are still mostly small...but hey, least we won't have to buy them...just wait till they grow up! LOL

The one thing that made me say "that is OUR place" (before we EVEN went to see it) was the photo my Dad sent me of the Asparagus patch...it's not huge yet, but it's there, and we both LOVE asparagus!! I saw that and knew right then and there it HAD to be ours. *giggle*


I love the trees by the driveway...looks really neat coming up the hill...I just didn't get a photo from that direction. LOL

Anyway, since we found this new place, and it was quite a bit cheaper than most of the rest we saw...we decided to accept a low offer after all! Yippee!! I tell you the last couple weeks things have been moving around here, and the next month things will be moving even faster I think. We have so much to do...and so little time to do it in! God willing we will manage...even though I don't think I'll make it to my niece's wedding shower at the end of the month. *cry*

This really has been kinda bad timing in a way with the wedding (praise God for pushing me to get the mints done early!!)...but I can't complain, cause it's turned out more perfectly than I feared it would. I felt at home in this new house when I walked in the door...the other ones we looked at I didn't. That was important to me...even if my hubby kinda thought I'd never find one I'd be happy with. Sometimes Men just don't understand...but I love him anyway. LOL I wasn't looking for perfect (like that would even be possible), I was just looking for "home" if you know what I mean. :-))

I guess this place JUST came on the market...and had several people looking at it already, as well as another offer that was given to the seller the same time ours was. Thankfully ours beat out the other one. Makes me feel more than ever like God led us to this place, when we get it by the skin of our teeth. LOL

I'll share more photos later on, probably mostly after we move, but just wanted to say we found a place, and will be moving soon!! Now, for sure, posting this summer could be hit and miss...with packing, the move, unpacking and getting a barn and shed up at the new place. Thankfully it's not all that far from my parents house, so my Dad will be able to come over and help with the building. One of these years, maybe we will be able to help him, instead of him always helping us. LOL

Oh yeah.....the house sits on a hill...so...we are thinking about keeping our farm name (Hillbilly Hill Farm), instead of trying to think of a new one! *giggle* I actually wanted to change it to Hillbilly Haven, but that's taken by several different places it looks like when I google...so decided I'd stay away from that name. If anyone has any other ideas for a farm name (with hillbilly in the name), feel free to give me the suggestions...it doesn't really seem like we should take the name with us when we move...but I can't think of one I like better so we may just have to! :-))

Ok, gotta run! I'll try to keep my blog updated as much as possible, but we will see how well I manage to. LOL We do have a few helpers lined out for our move...probably not enough, with as much as we have to move, but God willing we will manage. Praise God for the true friends and family he has provided to help us! :-))

Prayers for everything to go well would be appreciated!  Thanks!

Calico Kitten

Our calico cat finally gave us a calico kitten this last time she had kittens! It's almost a better calico than she is I think!!

I'm just hoping it survives the cows heavy feet, cause they are venturing out now and don't know to dodge things yet...I'd sure hate to lose this one! Hopefully one of these days I can find time to get better photos of it. :-))

Gotta love our farm babies...even if they are just barn cats!  :-))