Catching Up...

Wow, it's been awhile. Life has kept us running crazy. We celebrated 3 years of marriage in November; I can't believe how fast the time is flying. Over the past year I've been working on passing the CPA exam, and Steven's been running the farm (with my help from time to time). Until recently I was still driving back-and-forth to Montgomery every day (120 miles round trip), but thankfully I was able to find a job much closer to home in February. I'm working at a CPA firm doing public accounting (tax returns, audits, etc.). It's been a challenge, but I'm really enjoying it. I haven't passed the CPA exam yet, but I'm hoping to have that out of the way before Thanksgiving this year.

Our busy season on the farm started a few months ago. There's always something to do when you operate a farm, but spring/summer is definitely the busiest time of the year. There's corn to plant and fertilize and eventually pick (if it rains, that is), hay to cut and bale, and cows to work. Our goal is to expand the farm so that he can eventually farm full-time. Over the past year we've really been running with that. Although our herd hasn't really grown, our row-cropping operations have. Last year we planted 25 acres of corn; this year we doubled that. We're still a good ways off from making farming his full-time job, but we're growing every year. With God's help, we will succeed.

We haven't done much work on the house since we moved in; I guess we're still settling in. We did finally get cabinet doors for the kitchen cabinets, and they look amazing. I'll try to get some pictures posted soon.

In very recent news, Hershey had 10 puppies on March 17! She had 5 girls and 5 boys, and they are all very healthy (10 weeks old this past Thursday, and they weight about 15 pounds each!). This was her first (and only) litter, and it turns out she is a terrific mom. She loves playing with them now that they're old enough to play, and we've even noticed her teaching them things. For instance, about a week ago she caught a live mouse and took it to their pen and let it loose so they could learn how to hunt. Gross, but sweet. She also helps them swim when we take them down to the pond. We've decided to keep two, and have found homes for three others. We're hoping to find homes for the other five soon (before they eat us out of house and home).

This picture was taken a day or so after they were born.

This is what they looked like at about a week old.

This is Jasmine. She is the little girl we are keeping. This
and the other pictures below were taken just a couple days ago.

Steven taking the puppies for a walk.

This puppy changed colors on us just a little bit. We're not sure
where the brown came from.

These puppies were pooped after their long walk and some
swimming.

I've added a few features to the blog with hopes of doing a better job keeping things updated. I've got a few ideas for posts about the farm, etc., so just bear with me.

Our Birdfeeder

We recently bought a birdfeeder so we could watch the birds when we sit on the back porch.  Here's what we get to see from time to time...

I'm pretty sure this one is a female cardinal.

This is a mockingbird.

I'm don't know what this one is... any ideas?

Fun in the Snow!

Steven, Shadow, and I had a great time playin' in the snow this past weekend! We built snowmen...

We also went sledding. Since we live in a place that only sees this kinda snow once every 17 years or so (last big snow was March 1993!), we didn't have a sled...we also don't have any steep hills. But we didn't let that stop us; we improvised...

Yes, it is as much fun as it looks!

Our Winter Wonderland...

On February 12, 2010, we got to see something we haven't seen in a long time...snow!! Here are some pictures I took around the farm...

Settling In...

We're almost unpacked!! And we're getting organized! YAY!!!

I'll post more pictures as I get things cleaned up...these pictures were about all I could get that were clutter-free!

Home Sweet Home

We just spent our first night in our house!! It's so great to finally be able to enjoy our new home after all the work we put into it. Of course, we're still not completely finished (we still have to make the cabinet doors for the kitchen cabinets, build shelves for the laundry room and bathroom, and repaint and reupholster the kitchen table and chairs), but all that can be done with us in the house. I'm so excited! And I promise to post pictures as soon as I can get everything in order (i.e., get rid of boxes). God is good!!

More Pictures of Our FUR Baby...