March 21, 2010

We are preparing for the shipment of 400 baby chicks that will be coming April 7. We have poured a concrete floor in the brooder house. We are excited about no longer having to shovel out the dirty sand and shovel in fresh sand each spring prior to chicks coming each spring. We will put wood shavings in the floor of each pen and rake it out and replenish it as needed. The discarded shavings will be good for the garden. We are also putting in an automatic gravity watering system. Russell and I worked on it all day Thursday and got most of the watering system plumbed. We tested it and were thrilled when it actually worked!! It is all taking shape. I'll post pictures soon.

Weekend at Ron and Cindy's 3-13-10

Weekend at Ron and Cindy's 3-13-10 --Sat am BBQ pics

We have had a great weekend with Ron and Cindy. We went up Friday night and stayed till Sunday afternoon. Jacob had drama things going on so he stayed home to do that and feed the dogs. We went by Columbia and picked up Lora and got to Ron and Cindy's about 9pm. Jacob called about 9:30 when he got home from drama and was locked out of the house. After much consternation, we decided for him to try to get off the storm window on one of the screen porch windows. The storm window broke (which was ok) and with Papa's help, they got the window pried open and he was able to get in the house.
Saturday, Ron and Cindy took us to Charlotte to ride the new Lynx lightrail commuter train and visit the Museum of the New South. We happened upon a St. Patrick's day parade and stopped to watch. The weather was beautiful and we had a really nice day.
On the way to Charlotte Saturday morning, we stopped to see Cindy's brother-in-law Tim who was cooking 116 Boston Butts for a church fundraiser. He and his Dad had built the gas grill with electric rotisserie and smoke box. It was complete with piggy decoration. Russell was impressed.
Boston Butts cooking
decorative piggy on top
motor for totisserie
smoker box for hickory logs

Weekend at Ron and Cindy's....more pics-St.Patty's parade and Lynx

Russell and Jeff at the Lynx
Ron, Jeff, and Cindy
Lynx stop downtown Charlotte
Loch Norman Bagpipers
Leapin' leprechauns

Weekend at Ron and Cindy's....more pics-downtown Charlotte

Russell, Ron and Cindy in front of art work
Taking a break
at the library

Clouds relected in the skyscrapers

Weekend at Ron and Cindy's....more pics

Cindy invited Linda and Lloyd over for a delicious Sunday dinner. It was nice to be together and have a relaxing afternoon.




Ron and Cindy Gillis
Jeff said he wasn't going to take a nap but the recliner got the best of him.
Russell visiting with Lloyd and Ron
Me and Linda

Sunday March 7, 2010 union meeting potluck

Had a great union meeting at David and Evy's with Sumter and Ashwood churches. All the Sumter folks stayed for potluck lunch and enjoyed the fellowship. Sierra Purcell was (as usual) the center of attention. She is such a sweet baby. Always happy and smiling.
Sheri and I walked off a few of our calories after we got home, then I took Bella to her third obedience class. She is a quick learner and does very well when we practice the commands at home. She is so anxious to please. However, class is another story. She gets so frightened and intimidated by all the people, dogs and noises at Petco, that all she does in class is cower trembling in the corner. She doesn't know she's supposed to a vicious dog and every one is supposed to be afraid of HER, not the other way around.
After class, I noticed I wasn't feeling so good. In no time I was violently ill. The 'Norovirus' is going around, several people have had it at work. So, I guess I got it even though I really didn't want it. So for the next 24 hours, I was sicker that I have been in a long time. I have really tried NOT to share! I sure no one in the house gets it.

More potluck pictures

Esther, Julian, and Nate
Russell reading the news
Wilbur
Loren Purcell, Hester Willett (holding Sierra Purcell), Lydia and Rachelle Hawkins
The center of attention

Sunday potluck pictures

Papa and Nate deep in conversation

Russell and Sierra Waiting for lunch
Sweet, sweet Sierra
Southern Cooking: collards, Ham and sweet potato casserole and macaroni and cheese

Jeff's downtown ramblings

Jeff and Russell went downtown to Law Range Barbershop today to get a haircut. Jeff took his camera and posed for a few snapshots. (Note the new glasses he got yesterday)

Monday (3/1/10), We have been given a washer and dryer! Sheila and Kevin got new appliances when they bought a new house and were thoughtful enough to give us their old one. We're freecycling! We gave Lora our old dryer and Sheila and Kevin's washer and we took Sheila and Kevin's dryer to our house. Jeff and Bella went with us to Lincolnton to pick the appliances. . We rented a cargo van which had two seats and we had three human and one dog passengers. So this is a picture of how Jeff and Bella road in the van. Looks pretty comfortable to me!