Homestead Happenings: Aug 2016

This little girl is now officially at "tween" at 9 years of age. She wanted a Luau-themed birthday party at the local aquatic center. She was blessed to have many friends attend, many from out of town. 

She and Josiah each made a cake. Josiah's was a island theme as was Hailey's. However she drew a big Tiki mask in the middle of her ocean. I made lemon cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for the adults. 

So spoiled!

Best sister trip ever! Five whole days visiting Canada and Leavenworth, WA. Stayed with a blogging friend of ours, Camille and got to meet another blogging friend, Jen, who flew up from Georgia to meet in person! I will write about our trip in a separate post.

Got some huge pumpkins growing this year! The pumpkins were about the only thing that grew in my garden this year. 

Hailey and Rina gave me a pedicure one day.

My stepmom came back from European vacation and Hailey brought back cute t-shirts for the kids. Hailey loved her Paris -shirt with bling. 

Michael and the kids were hard at work building the sheep shed in anticipation of a couple of ewe lambs joining our homesteading venture. 

We decided to add a lean-to to store a ton of hay for the winter. Glad we did!

Meet Dixie and Pixie our first ewe lambs! Josiah and Hailey saved up their money and bought these gals as an investment. They are a welcome addition to Mission RD Homestead.

And then there were three ewe lambs. Our friends daughter couldn't stand the thought of her sweet "Angel " being slaughtered so they brought her to our house where she will continue to be loved and adored. The new pasture mates all seem to get along just fine.

Earning their keep by keeping the weeds down! So glad we aren't going to have to try and mow these pastures anymore. Whew! So hard on the riding lawnmower. 

15 months old. This girl eats dirt like I eat chocolate!

Picked up this circa 1800s spinning wheel at a friend's yard sale. Michael has really wanted one for a long time but I think Hailey is going to be our resident spinner. On the hunt for some good carding paddles now. Glad we just got sheep!

Josiah and Michael went on a day hike with the Boy Scouts. Hot day for it, but he made it. Boy Scouts is sure toughening him up!

We celebrated my mom's 65th birthday. Josiah put 6 candles together and it ended up looking like a torch! Hailey made the layered cake for her. 

Rina is sitting in the cute rocking chair Josiah's great uncle made him. Rina has used it more than any of the kids. 

Hailey's first pedicure. She's officially spoiled! We went with Mom and my niece, Jess. It was super fun to do this together.

 When we got home, we took a picture and Rina put her little foot in the photo at the last moment. Cutest photobomb ever!

Rina loves to swing by herself. I love the look of joy on her face. What a sweetie. 

Josiah went up to the "Tenderfoot" rank in Boy Scouts. He managed to get the polar bear badge despite getting hypothermia at camp. He also earned his fishing, chess, wood carving, wilderness survival and swimming merit badges. So glad he has found his niche!

So proud of this young man!

Canned 30 jars of spicy German dill pickles this year. Much rejoicing in the house. I don't like pickles so this is a labor of love on my part. The whole family has to help with this activity. 

 A MOPS friend of mine took this at a Mother's of Preschoolers beginning of the year picnic. So cute! I've decided to be a mentor mom this year. Love being a part of MOPS again!

Picked up this 1950s solid metal sewing machine for Michael at a yard sale for $25. Michael looked it up and found out it is a hand-built silver-plated Domestic Rotary. It is the Rolls-Royce of sewing machines of its time. It can be used for quilting all the way up to sewing saddle leather. All the accessories are there and the case is in excellent condition. Let's just say it's worth way more than I paid for it even with the one part we need to buy to get it to work. Scored!!!

Last day swimming at the pool! Love her little sunglasses a friend of mine gave her. She keeps them on pretty well, too. 

August is always so busy, but what fun we always have!

God Bless, Jackie

Virginia Vacation Part 7: Petersburg Cemetery and Blandford Church

The last day we were in Virginia, we rushed over to see the enormous Petersburg Cemetery before we had to head out of town to take me to the Richmond Airport. So different from what you see in the West. 

The statuary was amazing!

The oldest grave in the cemetery dated back to 1702. The most incredible thing is that the man who did was 87 years of age. Most people didn't live that long back then. The stone has deteriorated badly, so this man's relatives made another in front of it.  

There were also graves dating back to 1702 the War of 1812 soldiers buried in this cemetery, too. The monuments and wrought iron were beautiful and so interesting. This monument was erected in honor of the Cockade's a volunteer company out of Petersburg who fought in the War of 1812.

There were Confederate flags on all the soldiers who fought for the Confederacy. Had no idea the South did this still. 

This is the entrance into the mass grave sites where 30,000 Confederate soldiers (of which only 2,800 where identified) were dug up in shallow graves all around Petersburg and then reburied in mass graves sorted by Confederate state. 

 So many young men killed in action. You could read this gravestone very well.

This monument overlooked the Confederate mass graves. I can't remember who the soldier was, but he was quoted as saying he would never turn his back on the North and so he faces that way today.  

 Walking the trails between the mass graves sorted by Southern states. Seeing a modern day soldier in this historical place gives me chills. So proud of my husband! I pray he will not have to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country, but I know he is willing to do so.

The words on this side of the large monument spanning the road say, "Awaiting the Revelry" 

Last thing we did in Virginia was visit the Blandford Church in the Petersburg Cemetery. It was used as a field hospital during the siege of Petersburg. Afterwards it was turned into a confederate war memorial.

 It is one of 9 buildings in existence that has all its windows entirely made of original Tiffany stained glass. Walking through this building made me really appreciate the art of stained glass on a whole new level. Sadly we weren't able to take pictures inside the building. St Peter's sword literally glowed! I really enjoyed learning about this place through the eyes of our tour guide who was an expert on the meaning and construction of each window. Really interesting. 

Well it was back to Richmond and then I flew home in the morning and Michael (after his flight got cancelled) was able to join us the next day. We enjoyed our time in Virginia, but were so happy to be back in Oregon as whole family unit once again. I'll never forget this trip and I hope to be able to take the kids back there someday, too. 

God Bless,

Jackie 

Virginia Trip Part 6: Civil War Living History Museum in Pamplin, Virginia

Michael got out of class early on day, so we headed to a privately owned Civil War living history museum located on the far western edge of the Petersburg Union-held siege works, at Pamplin, Virginia.  

 There were some beautiful memorial bronzes right out front of the museum. 

Examples of siegeworks around Pamplin, VA. 

There was a Confederate winter camp located here. They had a couple of examples of what the Confederate soldiers would lived in during the winter. 

This little cabin had a sign that said "Hotel D'Louse'" I think that pretty much said it all. I can't image the conditions these soldiers were living in. Way more soldiers died of disease than in battle. 

This reenactor did a great job of showing us how to fire a Civil War era rifle as well as explaining winter camp conditions of the Civil War soldier. 

This is where the "Breakthrough" battle took place and the Union was finally able to shatter the Confederate siege works and effectively cut off the Confederate supply lines to Petersburg and Richmond. 2,800 Confederates ,mostly older men and teenage boys lost their lives in the Breakthrough Battle. 

 This put Lee on the run west to Appomattox Court House where he finally surrendered to Grant a few days later.

 Original earthworks. 

There was a modest plantation on these grounds and the house was still there.

 It was turned into a Confederate officers quarters during the siege. 

They replicated the slaves quarters. This was an example of a field slaves' quarters. 

Very dark and dingy inside. 

 There was a chicken yard in the back where slaves were sometimes allowed to keep chickens to supplement their diets and sell eggs. This was completely dependent on what their master would allow. The white cabin in the background is an example of small house where the household slaves with live. 

 There was an amazing interactive museum on the grounds as well where you walked into a "battle" with noise, rumbling floor and blasts of air hitting you as you walked towards the enemy firing at you through a video screen. It made an impression for sure. Very sobering.

Here is a piece of a tree with a cannonball stuck in it. 

I thought this was amazing! 

It was a super hot day, so we didn't stay as long as we would have liked to walk the trails. However, what we did see, was very worth the price of admission. Plus they gave a military discount. I would highly recommend visiting Pamplin, Va, if you are in the area. 

God Bless,

Jackie