WELL.. the baby shower was great!! The kids and I had a great time and the twins were very tiny and very cute and they got lots of really helpful and cute stuff.
One of the kittens that we've been taming has recently decided that humans are awesome ear scratcher's and lovely all around caretakers. He, named Patches as he looks just like his mother did (who never did come back), loves to wind his way through my legs as I'm milking with quick foray's into the milk bucket to see if he can reach the milk yet. He allows us to pet him but would rather not be picked up just yet. He is actually becoming a bit of a pest and try's to 'play' with my hands as I'm milking, drink out of the milking bucket, and swat at the milk when it streams into the bucket. As I'm only milking into an old pail these are not serious offences. Yet! This morning I decided that even 'happily friendly kittens' need manners and started to swat at him when he tried to drink out of the bucket. I got a playful swat back! But after a few thumps he got the idea. And as the 'thumps' seemed to come out of no where he is still friendly and playful. The other kitten will not come near, but often plays with Patches tail while Patches sits by me. We have the loan of a live trap and are going to try and tame him when he gets caught in it. The trap is actually for 2 strays that showed up this last fall and are making themselves at home here. They are both Tom cats and neither have any manners or sense. One of them cause our water to freeze the time the bathroom flooded but living under the house after Papa thought he had it all shut up so nothing could get in. We still don't know how he's getting under the house but it must stop.
Papa and I are looking forward to home schooling J and in prep we are looking into different types of programs. Several of our milk people home school and tonight I went to one of their homes to look at what she does and find out more about the program she uses. The kids had a great time playing with their kids and as we left their oldest child started to play their keyboard. J was all ears, riveted on the music and this child only 3 years older then him that was playing it. I got a fair amount of info on home schooling, I really wasn't sure what all to find out, and learned a bunch about that great family.
This week is Papa's 6 day late shift week which means we have mornings together and so far we are really enjoying it. He has time to get some stuff done in the mornings before work which is really nice. And we all get to have breakfast together. Last night he even got home in time to read the kids their book. He's reading Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder and we are all enjoying the story of that hardworking, constantly eating and dreamer of horses Almanzo Wilder.
This morning every thing finally aligned for the cleaning out of the children's closet. Boy did it need it. I got 8 totes on Sunday when we were in the 'city' to go swimming with friends and today I put them to work. Lots of the clothes were sorted and in diaper boxes, but several were over flowing and missing stuff. So I filled up totes and got everything labeled and sorted and finally finished. I had several piles of too small clothes that needed to be put with the proper size in a new rat proof tote. These totes are going to go out to the shed to be stored until we need them again. I also got the kids toys resorted and some of them re boxed and stacked away in the closet. Because of our small space and my own need for neat living area, the kids toys get put away in boxes then every few weeks we switch the boxes out for new boxes and it's like Christmas all over again. I also found some things I'd thought I lost and some I'd forgotten I had at all!! I put all 8 totes to work and emptied out many more boxes. Oh and I went through all the kids current clothes and sorted out too smalls and moved in larger stuff. E and Baby R are almost ready to share clothes!!! Shirts they could almost already. Not the button between the legs shirts but just T-shirts or sweaters! Soon I will only need one pile for them both! I was in an organizing mood and got my brown cabinets above the microwave done as well. Things are looking up!! Papa still needs to make me some shelves in the kitchen and the back 'pantry' bathroom and then I'll feel almost ready for spring!! Wellll maybe not!!
My hands are doing better now that I picked up some non latex gloves. I use the gloves for dishes and wiping up and I'm amazed how fast they are healing. A few more days of this and I may be able to hold a needle again. My finger tips were so sore that I couldn't even hope to do my next winter project which is a cross stitch wall hanging for Baby R. I've made one for each of the kids. It has a teddy bear sitting on a moon with stars all around and their names and dates of birth on the bottom. I really wanted to get it done as if I don't get it done this winter it will have to wait until next winter.
The eagles are gone I think. I've not seen them for about a week. I was sort of sad to see them go but have decided it's for the best. I was a bit worried they would hang around all year and that would not be good in the spring when we have chicks out and about!! Never mind cats!! They may come back next butchering day but hopefully they do not stay! A few years ago my brother had a pair of golden eagles taking baby goats out of his kidding pasture. An eagle can easily carry 5 or 6 lbs, and can kill a lot of chicks if it has babies to raise!!
