Trip to the mountains and homestead update

Today was my mom's birthday. She is 86 years young and her request was to go up and walk in the mountains. My mom loves the mountains.  She was born and raised here and when we were in high school she would take us up to different trails and towns to share her love of the mountains. So we paid her back in kind and took her up to Elk Meadows in Evergreen. 

We stopped for a moment for a pictures.  Her goal is to be 100 and I think she just might make it!

Of course, Dude watched the horses getting ready for the trails. 

We saw some beautiful birds along the way. I believe this is a Blue Swallowtail. 

The weather at home was a hot 92* but here it was in the 70's. 

It was time to head back to the homestead but it was a great way to spend the morning.  The state has a bunch of open space trails to use for free. This one usually has elk wandering in the morning and early evenings if you get up there. 

On the homestead.

Here it is hot and dry. We are expecting rain beginning tomorrow night and through Wednesday. We are praying for the rain, not destructive rain but refreshing rains to help the crops and the fires that are burning. 

Our plants are giving it a good try. We water as much as we can but we really need rain. 

A friend of ours took our geese to her home - thank you. She has a small flock and they fit right at home there.  Here their noisy honks are not missed.  They were just too loud. 

Some of our plants love the heat. 

The greenhouse is doing well too. 

The teenage chickens got their first taste of roaming the yard. They didn't venture far. Their rooster made sure they were protected along the way. 

Kerouac, the turkey, roams the whole property but always come back by the end of the day. 

Baby turkey chicks say hello and will soon transition to their new area. 

Summer came by to say hello.

As did Molly and Prudence .  Dude calls them Molly and Dolly. 

This one Lavender Orpington hangs out with the lambs.

We are praying these clouds give us some water tonight.

Porch time with some sewing. 

peace

Turkey day, pup learns to sing and evening mass

Today is the day we took the turkeys to the butcher. It is USA's Thanksgiving Day on Thursday and you can't get any fresher than this. 

We packed them up. The geese were not happy their roommates were leaving and were honking loudly. The turkeys were just surprised they were caged up and quietly looked on.  It was cold outside so we worked quickly to get everyone packed. 

The farther southeast we go the more snow we encountered. 

By the time we got there, there was a long line in front of us. 

We has a two hour wait so we went out to lunch. As we looked for somewhere to eat we turned on the radio to sing.  Norman has been watching us all week as we worked and jammed to the music. Today was his day.  He sang his little heart out. 

And, at times, sang back up. What a dog. 

It was a long day. We got home around 3pm.  I had an hour before I would leave to take my mom to Saturday evening mass. 

The sermon tonight was to treasure the people in our lives.  Don't take them for granted. Thanksgiving should be a celebration of what we are thankful for and people God brings into our lives.  It's a time to listen and take in the treasures of those around us, especially the children. It is not a time to hold grudges or argue with family. Remember to be careful what you say - our children are listening.  Model what you are thankful for.  "Children are like wet cement; whatever falls on them leaves an impression." Show them conversations of respect and appreciation.

Remember to breathe this week. 

It is only a meal, it's the people we are surrounded by that are important.  Pray to St Martha, the patron saint of hospitality and St Benedict who said when someone comes to your home treat them like Jesus Christ because Christ is inside all of us. 

Live with joy. 

Be thankful.

Love those who are treasures in your life. 

Remember we are Children of the Light

peace