Grand Champion !

We are in disbelief and shock.

We are speechless.

Our jaws have dropped and we haven't been able to close them yet.

Ranae's "Piggy Sue" has won GRAND CHAMPION !

That means that after the judge looked at over 120 hogs he decided that Ranae's hog was the best at the fair. WOW! UNBELIEVABLE ! We are all so thrilled!

GREEN THUMB RANCHERS 4-H CLUB BOOTH

Well, this is what "the tree" looked like after we painted it and added leaves and all the birdhouses that the kids made in 4-H this year.

Not bad for a paper mache tree.

I love seeing all the booths and all the clever ideas that other 4-H groups have. It always gets my wheels spinning with more ideas. I have already come up with design possibilities for next year! We have such a great group of 4-H kids and I wish them all the best this year at the fair.

Go Green Thumb Ranchers !

THE 4-H TREE WENT TO THE FAIR.

This is what Brian's truck looked like as I drove it to the fair.

Scary, huh.

I didn't really realize how much "the tree" stuck out on the sides. It is a wonder that I didn't knock down every stop sign from here to the fairgrounds. And I didn't even think of little red flags that I probably should have put on the ends.

Not until I passed a police car.

Oh, and did I mention that this was done in the fog.

But I got here.

Me and "the tree" in one piece.

PIGGY SUE MADE WEIGHT !

We are happy to report that Piggy Sue made weight and is going to the fair!

She is a beautiful 285 pounds!

WOO HOO!

Two Days Old

A baby goat's favorite game: King of the Overturned Bucket

Sarah said, "Mommy he has a pink nose. I love it!"

A kiss from Lightning.

Ranae got a goat kiss from Lightning today. He's turning out to be a very, sweet boy.

And we are very proud of first-time mom, Arella, who is doing a great job with him.

ESTER FINALLY WENT BOOM !

Ester with her triplets.

Sarah with the doe.

Matthew with the biggest buck.

Kevin with the smaller buck.

Ester finally gave birth to triplets on February 16th. Mom and kids are doing fine. Now comes the lengthy discussions on what we should name them. One suggestion was Snap, Crackle and Pop but Matthew was certain that they are all boys and we have one doe. So the search continues...... Stay tuned......

Oh, and if you're counting, that's two births done, three to go.

Cold nights, Warm hearts

I just love a warm, crackling fire.

We don't always get enough cold weather to enjoy it for more than a few weeks but this year has been the exception. Just looking at this makes me want to have a cup of warm cider and get my toes really, really close to the fireplace. Ahhhh - warm, relaxing bliss.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today was full of activities. After church we headed downtown to enjoy the Annual Edison Junior Parade and Junior Kids Run. Ranae ran a mile along with all the other 5th grade girls and came in third. YEA RANAE! For the parade Ranae got to ride on the church float and Sarah rode on her preschool float which was 25+ wagons strung together decorated as space shuttles. To top it all off it was Valentine's day and Chinese New Year!

Don't forget to share your love today and every day.

And...

Gung Ho Fat Choy! Welcome the year of the Tiger!

BABY NUMBER ONE ! ! !

Just checking to see if a boy or girl.

(It's a buck.)

Mom is still delivering placenta and I am helping dry him off.

Yea! He is standing for the first time on his own.

Isn't he gorgeous.....and HUGE.

Today we had the 4-H meeting at our house and Arella was kind enough to have her kid today so the whole group could see! He is BIG and healthy. We have named him Lightning. Partly because he came so fast and surprised us and also because he is the color of a bolt of lightning.

Since we have 5 does pregnant, that means one down and four to go.

Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick Tick

Ester is the tan and white doe on the right. She is SO pregnant that it seems as though she is a ticking bomb and will explode any day....any moment....any second. So every time I see her I just mutter under my breath, "tick tick tick tick tick". I talk to her and say "Any day Ester. Just hang in there." By the way, isn't this the greatest goat hay feeder ever. They can't step in it and soil the hay and it makes them all share. Ingenious.

Flowers in February

I apologize.

Right up front.

If you live up north, and it's gray and cold, and icy and snowing, then I really do ask your forgiveness. Flowers in February is not something you see everywhere. But I would be remiss not to show some of the pretty blooms that we are enjoying this time of year. Besides, come August, we'll be dodging hurricanes and reaching for the bug spray and looking for activities that involve air conditioning. So, in an effort to balance things out, I'll show the February flowers in my small farm life.

Birthday Party !

We love birthday parties! And this one was no exception. Sarah was invited to her preschool friend's party at Gymnastic World. As usual, Sarah took about 20 minutes to warm up to this new place and then she tried everything. More than once. What a fun place!

Piggy Sue Eats Scraps

For one day we ran out of hog feed.

YIKES!

So Ranae and I got creative and feed Piggy Sue table scraps. We combined corn and potatoes and cantelope rinds and lots and lots of bread. She loved it so much we were worried that she would not want to go back to her feed. But alas, this pig eats like a pig whatever the food.

Good Piggy Sue!