Be a Blessing Today

Want to make a bit of difference in the world today? There are two families fund raising to adopt five severely neglected children in Eastern Europe. The bonus is that there are tons of prizes to win in a raffle for as small as a $5 donation. Once you read their stories, however, the prizes fade; these families need help to get these children's ransoms paid; one already adopted four and is returning for four more.

Take a look and consider being a blessing to them today: many $5s will go a long ways.

http://covenantbuilders.blogspot.com/2016/07/crib-mates.html

God bless,
Jenny

Happiness

Sometimes happiness is the little things, like my first 12 quarts of salsa canned and lined up on the shelf.

We are also thankful that Tori made it home safely from Gabriel and Alayna's house in time to swim in the last swim meet before finals. It's always awesome to watch her swim; she is just fast.

Tomorrow is Julia and Elijah's birthday. We are celebrating a bit today with a trip to see The Secret Life of Pets; Tuesday movies are a much lower price so we can't wait from tomorrow!

                                                                 Jenny

Gunieas - Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them

The guineas have just turned into one big pain. They are roosting in the barn every night, making a mess, and then attacking the grain every time I attempt to feed the goats or donkey.

 

They also found out there were weak spots in the garden electric fence and have helped themselves to about half the tomatoes, and then ate bites out of every watermelon. I have spent too much time flushing them out.

Here's one hot on the run -

 These three large bowls are damaged food from the guineas; I then pick the veggies for the chickens. All of this hassle, however, there have been many copperheads this year in our area and three dogs have been bitten. We haven't seen a snake since getting the guineas and I'm sure our tick population is cut in a fraction, so I keep putting up with them.

I'm still left with a nice haul for today's salsa making plans.

Our green beans are a disappointment this year. They have strong fibers running through them; we call them "dental floss beans". I have not had that happen any other year, so I'm calling it quits with them, pulling them and putting something else in their space. Maybe another try at beans if it's not too late in the year.

I have a new crew for cutting bean ends this year, but they are little and tire quickly.

We had VBS all week, so things are piled high - off to make salsa because the tomatoes can't wait as long as the laundry.

                                                                         Jenny

THE Wall

JD's big house project for some time has been THE WALL. The wall is actually four walls, with the largest going from the front, along the side and wraps around the back of the house. JD ran out of bricks and had to order another 500; it is likely that he will have to place one more order. The wall is on break now so that he can get the footers in for the future deck as well as the wiring for the electricity to be run. After the breaker boxes are up, the siders can come and finish the last wall. Then the wall will get a bit higher, but lifting the 60 pound blocks is easy compared to the digging, leveling and graveling.

Here's the front (obviously) where the one wall starts. The first is way up by the actual house and the second is between the second and third garage doors.

 

Here's wall three and four running along the side; there had to be two because each one can only have so many feet of dirt exposed, etc, so they have to stair step.

This is the back where the side walls just kept on running.

I guess we will plant bushes along the area between the walls; it has the potential of being very pretty.

Up close picture of a wall built by a bit of a "building perfectionist". He's a pro with the level. Since the heat index is over 100 today, it's good that the major wall work is done!

                                                                                                      Jenny

On the Coasts

JD has joined the west coast kids, and today treated them to a tour of the Midway. The Midway is one of the first (maybe the absolute first and I should know this...) ships JD was stationed on, in Japan, and has now been turned into a museum in San Diego. JD likes to visit it (over and over and over), and while none of the rest of us are interested in seeing the same ship multiple times, there are enough of us that he still has new people to tour every now and then.  

Since there are no floating museums in our area of Virginia, we gathered some friends, put on our cow spots and headed to Chick Fil A for some free eating. Dress like a cow day has become part of our summer tradition and contrary to Selah's look, we all had a good time!

                                                                                                                  Jenny

California

I am dependent on my children to send me pictures of the adventures in CA. Tori wins the prize since she sent me a long line of Sea World photos. Tori arrived on Thursday and the group, minus Alayna who couldn't fit in the SUV, headed down to visit Alyssa in Marietta on Friday, since she leaves for Mexico tomorrow.

Here's the Marietta group, minus Chris who I assume took the picture.

Nathan was interested in whatever Alyssa was showing him.

He decided to make himself more comfortable and get a better look. It's quite possible that he wins the prize for most aunts and uncles that are totally infatuated with him.

Tori is having a blast with the big kids in California.

People are continually getting Moriah and Alyssa confused. They work at different places and customers ask them if they work where the other works. I think I have to agree that they look more and more alike the older they get.

Gabriel wins big brother of year award. He took everyone to Sea World yesterday; that's Nathan watching the polar bear.  

Chris has family in San Diego also, and attended the Bible college where Alyssa is now, so he has been able to cover visiting his friends and family as well.

All those animals are fun but the little guy can only go so long before he has to nap.

I love this picture. All the aunts are great, but you can't replace Dad time.

                 

                                                                                     Jenny

                                                                                                                    

Sunny CA

Nathan and Moriah

 

 We put Tori on the plane yesterday by herself for CA - I'm working on an update on my kids currently in CA; and the horrible events in the news.

 

In the meantime, look how big Nathan is getting? Check back...

     

                                                  Jenny