Just some random photos. Some taken by me, some by my in-law’s and some by my sister and brother-in-law during their visit.
Peace!
Watching the rain (yes, X’s cat Emo is watching too):
Having yummy egg tacos with our friend A:
Making mudpies!:
Soccer anyone?:
Just made her last goal of the season:
The ramp with cousin H:
She loves the camera!:
Botanical gardens with Grandma and Papa:
Peace!
We got June last year with the hopes of a wonderful pet and wonderful goat milk. Alas, she has never bonded with us. Having come from a herd, she has always stayed wild. She has never allowed us to touch her without a fight. She’s never forgiven us for trading one of her boys in for Kubra, and she’s never accepted Kubra. She isn’t joyful like Kubra and Mongo, basically she just eats and avoids us at all costs while the other two play with the girls and follow us around like puppies, running and leaping, climbing trees, etc.. Quite the joyful duo.
We made the decision to give June back to Cindy, our good friend and goat lady. In exchange, we will be able to breed Kubra at no charge, but it is still hard to say goodbye and not feel like we somehow failed her. We are hoping she’ll be happier once she’s back with her herd and find that joy she should have. I feel badly that she never was happy here, but she’s healthy and will find her place again. Cindy loves all her goats, so we were very happy when she agreed to take her back. We dreaded the idea of trying to sell her to people we didn’t know. The last thing we wanted to have happen was for her to end up abused or worse. So the best possible decision was made.
I’m sorry June, sorry that we couldn’t be the family you wanted. Sorry that you’ve missed your son so much (she’ll be living with him again on the new/old farm). Sorry that we couldn’t give you whatever it was that you desired. You will be safe and loved, and we will always be grateful for having you in our world this last year.
Namaste June!
“This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time –- to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth –- that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes, we can! “
President-Elect Barack Obama
I can’t even begin to put into words how I feel this morning. The realization that we all changed the course of history, that the system really worked and that we finally have a voice who speaks for us with integrity, intelligence and courage, is just so utterly amazing. Any one of our children really can become president. And we as a people stood up and made it happen. Community at its finest!
Peace!
My sister just left today. It is so hard to see her go. Her family is extremely close to us, so we always have fun when they are here. They flew out for less than a week, but we had such a great time! My nephew, H, is exactly a month younger than Xi. We got to celebrate his third birthday with him and enjoy the Halloween festivities as well! Oh I love that little man. The girls had a blasts too. Uncle Sean is the cat’s meow in Lola’s eyes, and Auntie Barbara is too much fun.
They arrived on the night of the 28th. The next day was little H’s birthday so we had our mom up and family over for a birthday bash! Mom made the cutest pumpkin cupcakes which got gobbled up immediately. We carved pumpkins with all the kids, including the little ones I take care of for friends. We also roasted the best pumpkin seeds ever! Well, Barbara did. What a cook she is! That night we had a bbq with friends and family and celebrated H’s third bday. So much fun!
The next day we took all the kids to the kids’ gym in town for a free gym time/Halloween celebration. Then on to the Java Dive – my darling friends’ organic coffee shop – for snacks. That night the moms got to go out for awhile. We went to the Iguana Grill for margaritas and nachos. It sits right on the lake, so we got to watch the sunset and just be for awhile. It was so nice to spend that time with my sister. We are very close, so to just be together is more than special for us.
Then it was Halloween! The kids were excited all day for this. We found a really cool street in a neighborhood just over from us. We know the people who live on the corner, and they tipped us off that it was THE street to go to. One culdesac is all we did and it was enough! The kids were so excited to see all the costumes, and Lola ran into friends so got to run off with them down the street. I think she felt very independent. We ran into Obama supporters all up and down the street as well and were so excited to talk to them (we really thought this particular neighborhood was much more conservative, so we were pleasantly surprised to find we were wrong!). Can you guess our political leanings? Haha!
After the candy gathering, we came home and went across the street to a gathering where poor little Xi proceeded to throw up all over. We couldn’t figure out what was going on as she didn’t seem flu-like, and had only been allowed 2 pieces of candy. We “bought back” the kids’ candy in exchanged for treats from the coffee shop. It was a long night, but she finally felt better the next day. Poor little thing!
The rest of the weekend was spent playing, bbqing and hanging out with family and friends. The weather was perfect, the company was happy and we had a wonderful time.
Last night before going to bed, my sister and I made these little dolls. I have never done any needle felting with roving before, so B taught me how. They are gifts for other people, but as I was taking the pictures this morning I realized we’d really made each other.
I love you Barbara, thank you for just being who you are and always being my heart.
I love the changing light that occurs with the change of seasons.
Very focussed doing schoolwork.
Two princesses and a snake.
Happy Halloween!!!
(Image courtesy of amazon.com)
It was 38 degrees on my back porch this morning. Crisp, cold air met me as I went out to feed the animals and get the day started. My favorite part of the year has finally begun! And with the cooler weather, it also means it’s crockpot season in the AmLo household.
I love my crockpot. It is so easy to just throw things in in the morning and have dinner ready without a whole lot of fuss. But for me, it’s always meant soups, some meats, beans, etc.. That is, until now. A friend from my darling mothering site has turned all us gals on to this blog – A Year of Crockpoting. It’s like being given a wonderful gift! Stephanie, who loves her crockpot, has taken it upon herself to make the New Year’s resolution last year to use her crockpot everyday. And she is blogging the recipes to prove it! I haven’t had a chance to go through the entire year’s worth so far, but have randomly looked up recipes and am so inspired. Who knew you could make french toast in a crockpot? Or yogurt? Some of the recipes she even breaks down the costs. And you can totally tailor them to your own tastes. We use mainly organic, all-natural ingredients, and so far I can’t see any reason why they won’t work with Stephanie’s recipes.
What a wonderful blog. Stephanie, you don’t know me, but thank you!! Crockpot season here has officially taken on a whole new meaning!
Peace!
We went to a Halloween festival on Friday night and they had face painting going on along with an egg hunt in a fake cemetary (didn’t quite understand this tradition, but the kids sure loved it!), crafts, music, balloon animals, and a man on stilts. It was all free and the kids had a blast. X decided towards the end to get her face painted, and since she is usually so shy of these things, I didn’t mind waiting in line until late. She was so tired on the way home, she could keep her eyes open. So I got a pic of a sleeping kitty and one beautiful princess!
ETA: I forgot to mention that the face painting was so popular with X that she refused to let me wash it off until Sunday. It was so smudged from her sleeping that I was able to convince her finally that it just had to go. Hahah!
She’s doing so much better. Her site is coming back just fine and she’s happy and relaxed. We are keeping her in the front yard for now until she’s 100% again and she is still sleeping in the kitchen at night. She has a hard time with night vision still, so in case a dog was able to get in or anything like that (we are completely fenced but I get paranoid), she is safe and sound with the cats inside.
We are becoming experts at giving shots to her. She gets thiamin and penicillin twice a day. She doesn’t like it much, but she isn’t holding it against us either.
We painted the porch yesterday as well and I must say it looks snazzy! Can’t wait to see it with the table J refinished last week. 
Peace!
We get to bring her home today. She’s finally eating and drinking on her own so doesn’t need an IV anymore. She’ll still have to have thiamin injections 2-3 times a day for the next few days, but otherwise she’s on the mend. She’ll be living in the front yard for awhile until she gains her strength back and can keep up with the other 2 goats.
What a scary ordeal but thank the gods for the positive outcome!
Peace!