Author: farmbudgetmom

The weather has changed up a few things here. A couple weekends ago we got the chicken coop set up for the new babies to arrive. No better time to clean and set up the coop then when its negative outside(insert eye-roll). Coop in now insulated in the roof area, we may do the inside walls this summer. But for now the heat lamps and stock tank will work nicely. The new editions have been delayed a month. Honestly, this was a great decision by Cackle Hatchery to hold off shipping due to the weather. I was nervous how many loss there would be if there was shipping delay once they were en-route. Now we’re set for the week of March 11th time frame. It’s like Christmas excitement cause really we’re not sure what mix we are going to get!

Another project I have been wracking my brain on is hay feeders for the goat pen. So a funny story, I was searching Pintrest cause why not you can find all kinds of ideas on there! I found this hay tower type feeder. I’m thinking okay great lets do this. I’m trying to figure out the gaping size so I go look at the picture and palm to forehead and a ah ha moment at the same time. The Pintrest picture was for a rabbit size feeder at 56cm tall not the 5 foot one I was building. But you know what it works! Eric built another one the next day for the other pen. (The hay in the last picture was the bale I had put in the day before I built this feeder.)

The feeders are big enough to fit a full bale unopened or a bale and a half of flakes. Not too bad and not a lot of waste any more. Next project is birthing pens set up for the girls and a separate pen for the new buck coming in.

Last week we came to Oregon for a family emergency, we were not supposed to be here till this Thursday to celebrate Jett’s 16th birthday. Despite all happening we have been able to spend time with family and see a few friends. Before we leave this coming Sunday we are picking up our new Nigerian dwarf buck. I will post up pictures of him when we get him. It will be nice to not have to stress finding or having someone else’s buck with us or taking our girls to someones place. I’m looking forward to getting him and growing our herd.

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough”~Mae West

Wow, Thanksgiving flew by! We spent 3 full days in Spokane with Eric’s family. Saturday we drove Jett back to Oregon, my mom graciously met us off I-84 which saved us about 4 hours of extra driving. Sunday I was dreading the drive home. Let me tell you why… Back home in Central Oregon the snow plows take the snow off the roads “sort of”, the roads are still white. But much to my surprise most all the roads from Spokane all the way home to Montana were clear, only snow on the sides of the road, and not a white lane anywhere! 

I promised the kids when Thanksgiving break was over we would check out schools. Well the kids started yesterday, they both love it and have made lots of new friends!  They are over the moon excited. Though Tater is feeling the recourse to yesterdays P.E. class. Made me laugh the way he described his P.E. teacher sounded like mine from back in middle school. His legs were hurting this morning and was asking for the Deep Blue Rub (https://www.doterra.com/US/en/p/deep-blue-rub) but he was off and going after putting that on. Fallin’s excited to see her friends again and she’s in love with music class!!

When I was back in Oregon, Tater’s dog Cooper ate the cord to my rice cooker that I used to cook everything. So I figured I would look for a new on one black Friday online, nope Santa (aka mom) bought me a new Instant Pot before I left which has been amazing! I was just cruising amazon and came across this great deal on the same one I have! https://amzn.to/2P4epsA  We have had things from Pork tenderloin burritos, to Zuppa Tuscona like the Olive Garden kind, to Philly cheese steak sandwiches! Normally the idea of cooking all those things and the time it would take forever to make, but not with the Instant Pot 45 minutes or less from start to finish. Tonight is meatloaf, mash potatoes, and broccoli, yum! I love sitting at the dining room table and being able to look outside to this view! Bring on the holidays….

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Time is flying by, before we know it Christmas will be here! Hard to believe the last 21 days has flown by, well for me it has though there was a couple of days that seemed to drag by. Honestly, I can’t wait to be home this is the longest I have been away without the family. On my drive back to Oregon on October 26th, I took this picture (yes I stopped in the middle of nowhere on a back road) the road seemed endless but is was beautiful!

Since being back in Oregon, I have got to spend time with family and friends which has been great! My Uncle and Aunt were here from New York visiting and also went on the trip to Hawaii with my mom. It was wonderful to spend some time with them chatting and catching up I really do miss them since they left. Maybe one day I will make it to their side of the map to see them. Though the stories of the cities and parking and such makes me love the country so much more!

Kai the silly dog made friends with one of the local Sisters deer, which Jett and I named Elliott due to his horn issue. Elliott ate the pumpkins that were out on the front porch, thankfully after Halloween was over. He ever so nicely scratched his horns on mom’s house in the process of eating the pumpkins. Halloween was slow only 15 kids this year, funny it wasn’t even that cold out. Eric let me know that he and the kids went to the mall back home and the kids had so much fun trick or treating there as they had really rainy weather.

Jett and I got to see the Christmas Tree that is heading to the U.S. Capitol which was exciting to get to see. Though he’s on crutches it made it a bit difficult to get down to the tree, but none the less we made it. I swear this kid is always up to something thankful no surgery needed for this injury he just has to take it easy and time to heal. Baseball is coming up again pretty fast and Jett is supposed to be catching this year, I see lots of PT coming up!

But all in all its been a great trip, plus time to read which is my favorite thing oh and can’t forget the pumpkin spice coffee amazing! I’m excited to get home Friday, as I have had to extend my stay an extra 4 days for a couple different reasons. Jett is coming back with me for Thanksgiving Break, then yes again I will be driving him back the following weekend. Guess it’s a good thing I love to travel and drive! Now on to the holidays I can’t wait to share what I have been working on!

Getting settled in there have been some changes since we got here. We have parted with our couch which is kind of funny, but it was so uncomfortable. With the dogs we have opted for zero gravity lounger chairs now we have the ability to fold them down at night and give them space to sleep. Not to mention less weight in the trailer is nice too, now I can have my cast iron pans. There’s a few things that still have to get done before winter really hits. The kids are getting settled and making new friends, luckily there are other kids their age here in the RV park. It’s funny you never see adults outside of the trailers only the kids, so we really haven’t met anyone else yet. I will be leaving back to Oregon for 2 and a half weeks Thursday to work at the shop while my mom goes on her Hawaii trip.

I absolutely love this end RV parking spot! We have a huge side yard and the views out of the windows of the mountains are beautiful, verse someone’s window or side of their trailer is a huge bonus. Also, I can see the front area where the gazebo is and all the kids play. The fall colors are so pretty here, but I can’t wait to see them blanketed in white!  (10/23/2018)