Homestead Happenings - September 2016

 We've fallen in love with our three ewe lambs. They each have such different personalities. I never thought I'd like sheep, but I have to say, I'm getting attached pretty fast to these sweethearts. The kids love having barnyard pets for the first time.

Homeschooling started so I decided to take some school pictures this year since I didn't get around to it last year. Josiah wanted to wear the shirt he received from his Nana who actually went to Rome this summer. He wore it to his first Latin class of the school year. He is now in his third year of Latin and not loving it, but doing okay. He likes the friends he's made in the class and his teacher but not so much the language. He is now a 7th grader!

Hailey is now 9 years old and in 3rd grade. She is really looking more grown up all the time.

Hailey and Rina love to hang out in the garden and eat grapes whenever they get a chance.

Cutest angel food cake ever!

Rina's first time at the ocean. She was enraptured of course. I'll do a separate post soon about our fun family trip to the beach.

Hailey helped me harvest the grapes when they were finally ripe enough. We got about 5 gallons of clusters. By far the most we've ever gotten thanks to my nephew, Marcus's expert pruning efforts.

Made it into juice with my steamer/juicer.

Pendleton Round Up week. Let 'er Buck! We started out with the kick-off parade and then the next morning we went to Cowboy Church in the park. What a privilege to worship with hundreds of other Christians from our community is unity and love.

Rina likes to supervise her dad when he's working on the T-Bucket.

Not only did we go on a field trip with our local homeschool group to the Round Up and Happy Canyon grounds, we also went to Tamastslikt Cultural Center to see famous Nez Perce cowboy, Jackson Sundown's personal effects. It was the 100th anniversary of Sundown's historic bronc ride on "Angel" at the Pendleton Round Up in 1916 at age 53, making him the World Champion. Saw his riding gauntlets that were made and beaded for him by his wife. Also saw his teepee and cook stove that he and his family used during the Pendleton Round Up all those years ago. Neat to see the kids appreciating local history.

Spending time with the sheep. Love watching these girls. They are so funny and cute.

Took the kids to the 100th year anniversary Happy Canyon night show. We all loved it! A lot has changed since I was a kid. Moved along much faster in the first half. Much larger cast, too. Costumes and horses were so beautiful! Perfect homeschool field trip.

Michael found a blower for a forge at a yard sale for a great price. Now all we need to find is a forge. Josiah and Michael love blacksmithing.

Westward Ho parade! All non-mechanized. Lots and lots of horses! Rina enjoyed herself sitting on Grandma Kricket's lap. Her sunglasses pressing her ears down crack me up.

Found this cute little western/prairie shirt for Rina at a thrift store. She was Round Up ready!

Josiah turned 13! Hailey made him his cake and for the first time ever, we didn't have a party. We let him have a sleepover with one of his Boy Scout friends. Then we went to his favorite place for dinner and had - sushi!

The next week we started our Chronicles of Narnia unit study. I will "chronicle" those in separate posts. So far we're loving it!

Hailey amazed us with her flexibility. She must be double jointed or something. I wouldn't have a smile on my face if I attempted this! Wow!

Josiah turned his room into an army bunker, complete with trap door (Hailey is demonstrating). The creativity of these kids always astounds me. All the hides on his wall are ones that he and his dad tanned naturally a few years ago. Currently they are working on a beaver, cougar and racoon hide.

Honey harvest time! Again, late because of busyness, but we managed to get approximately 3 1/2 gallons out of the one hive that Josiah and Hailey captured in the spring. The other two died. So we were grateful to get any honey at all! Not enough to sell, but enough to provide our family honey for a year. We go through a lot of it!

Liquid gold! Isn't it pretty? So much work goes into honey harvest, but when I look at this, I know it is all worth it. 

God Bless, Jackie