Merry Christmas

Since the last update...

We are the proud owners of Blu, a draft cross, half percheron, half quarter horse. He is about 16 hands and has a wonderful disposition.  We have a great trainer working with us so we can learn Blu while Blu also learns us.  I had my first lesson the other day.  The riding part was wonderful, it's the getting on and getting down that proves to be the challenge.  I stood on a mounting block but it still felt very high, I placed my left foot in the stirrup and with a lot of time and hesitation I tried to throw my foot over and decided it wasn't going to work. My trainer said, "This is a big horse, you aren't going to throw your leg over like a cowboy in a movie! Jump to your stomach and then put your leg over."  That was much more doable.  Now, I wasn't graceful, or cute. I was a clumsy, clamoring, definite first timer trying to grab anything I could hold onto to ensure I wouldn't crash to the ground, and I did it! We turned left, and turned right, we stopped, and we walked. And then it was time to get down.  Getting on was easier!  I again just as clumsy attempted to move in ways that I have only seen Gumby move to get off this horse. I went to my belly, but I didn't estimate this right and the horn of the saddle went right into my stomach (ouch!) and then my shirt got completely caught on the horn as I jumped off and flashed anyone who was witnessing my first ride. But when we were done, we had gotten a little closer, and I felt a lot more like the Country Momma that I'm becoming.

We are also the proud FUTURE owners of a new foal that we have purchased in utero.  Another draft horse that in expected to join this world in late March.  Both the parents are absolutely gorgeous and we are excited and anxious all at the same time.  A lot of work and energy comes with caring and training a foal, but we are up for the challenge.  The dam for the foal is 18.1 hands and the sire is 16.2 hands, so the foal is estimated to be around 17 hands, one big horse.  We like the draft horses that have the percheron in them.  Their feet are so big and do not require shoes, less maintenance.  We like that.  We still have to have feet trimmed and shaped but it's not near as expensive as keeping up with horseshoes.  So, the baby is a new exciting addition, expected in March and I can't wait to post pictures!

In the process of getting to the ranch we also have to pack.  Have you ever packed 16 people?  The last time we moved there was only nine of us, and now with 16 it's going to be different!  We are purchasing a semi trailer.  My DH is going to look at one today, and if it's the first of a few that we are going to purchase then I can start packing as soon as it's here.  I am hoping that we get this trailer soon so I can take this packing on in shifts and not feel completely overwhelmed by packing everything in a short period of time.  I am trying to come up with a very detailed list of what is in each trailer and a number system for boxes, things like that to make it easier if we need to find something in a hurry.

The quonset hut is nearly taken down.  Only one day of work left and it will be completely ready for it's ride to the ranch.  This has been quite the process to get the hut down and we have been blessed to have several family members to help take this monster down. Now we will haul it up to the property and start getting the permits to put it back up. 

This time next year we will hopefully be living at the ranch.  We will hopefully have the horses there, and have the four goats and three of them will be pregnant.  The kids will be in school, getting ready for Christmas break that will be spent riding quads, watching for frostbite, and riding Blu.  We will probably have a lot of hot cocoa and have had a few dealings with the weather that cause us to be snowed in or rained in because of the dirt roads.  It will definitely be an adventure.

I wanted to give you an update before the holidays! We are very blessed by all that God has given us, and very blessed from all that He has also withheld.  I am amazed daily by His blessings.  May His blessings also pour out on you especially during this Holiday Season!  Merry Christmas!

Country Momma

Learning Stuff

My DH has taken the 10,000 gallon water tank up to the property. It was a definite journey since he took double the time to drive to the property with his giant "Oversize Load" signs on his suburban with various flags. He left at 1am so he wouldn't hold up any traffic and be as least amount of a nuisance to others as possible. It was incredible to say the least. To give you an idea of the size of this you can see in the attached picture that this is a 650 Case backhoe, a regular suburban and the black circle, that is the water container that the backhoe just pushed off the back of the trailer.

Now we have also gotten a new goat. Mister Dashell was found on craigslist, where else? However, I noticed a cough when we got him. We thought, with the rain lately he probably has a little bit of a cold, no big deal it's not like he was a baby goat the owner's said he was ten weeks old. The next day he was worse, so I took him to the vet. The vet takes one look and says, "He's not 10 weeks, no way. He's 3 weeks old tops." (We learned that horn growth says a lot about the goat's age, let alone the umbilical cord was still attached!) Also, Dashell has pneumonia and since he is sickly he has no fat or muscle on him and we have to give him two sub-cutaneous injections a day. My DH does this while I hold him still. It's a whole new world. We were going to breed Dashell with our other goats but since he has started his life so sickly we have decided against it. He will be a wethered (fixed) male and will run with the does as soon as he gets well. We have another two weeks of antibiotic injections. Here is our loving little Dashell...he's great at taking his meds, and in the second picture he has his butt in the air like a dog and his tail is wagging back and forth. He is a LOVE!

Through this we learned that we have to separate sick goats. Dashell also has two parasites that we have to treat the other goats for because we didn't separate him from the start.  Lessons learned.  We are also realizing that it will be good to have a stock of dewormer and other animal supplements available on the property since we will be no where close to a veterinarian. We are researching all the things we will need on hand keeping close mind to expiration dates, storage requirements and anything else that we need to know.

Some added goat pictures. Here's our three girls, Abby, Bailey and Capri. Abby is the most friendliest and the other two are warming up! First pic is Abby and Bailey getting into the hay, the second pic is them leaving the hay after getting in trouble. :)  Then Miss Capri who is the prissiest goat, and then a pic of what we usually see them doing, grazing and hanging out side by side.

I am also doing other research to find out more about meal planning, gardening, storage for all of it.  I've looked into canning, but it looks like a lot of work. I have fallen in love with Pinterest and all of the ideas that it offers, I've just got to put it into practice. I'm trying to start freezing meals, but I am wondering if I'm going to need another freezer. I'll post a picture of my freezer after I start this process. What a process!

Currently we are taking down a quonset hut that we have purchased (from craigslist). This building is 25 feet wide and 70 feet long. This is going to be a temporary living quarters at the property. One more week and the hut should be disassembled and we will hopefully be beginning it's transport to the ranch in September.

There's a little update from this Country Momma!
From Raising Faith Ranch! (We named the ranch!!)

Our FIRST STAY-cation! Part 2

We got there late on Thursday night and we stayed until Monday afternoon.  It rained off and on the whole time. It was wonderful! We all worked together and had a great time. The kids had television withdraws for the first day and then started using something I think they had forgotten about....their imaginations.

I loved watching the kids enjoy nature around them.  There was a lot of mud and so the kids made Brownie Soup...a step up from the mud pies I made when I was young. They played "drive-thru restaurant" which was hilarious. I think the funniest part was when Lily ordered, "Two Dr. Peppers the largest size you make," just like Daddy does.  Nathan (9) was the cook and came up to me totally exhausted, he said, "Lily (7) just ordered three of everything on the menu! Even though it is pretend, I'm stressed out. Now I know how Burger King feels when we pull up!"  Carissa (5) was inside and I heard her say, "Costco will be closing in 5 minutes please get your food and items and head to the nearest register. Thank you for shopping at Costco." It was interesting to hear how the kids played and I am sure that moving from city life to country life this will change drastically over time. I really got to enjoy the kids and just sitting back and watching how they play.

My DH was able to get the chicken coop off off the trailer and then the trailer and the dump truck got stuck in the mud.  The dump truck and the trailer took two days to get them out of the mud.  It was a lot of work but we were able to do it together.

We learned that the baby propane grill takes over 45 minutes to grill hot dogs for our family.  We will be investing in a new-to-us grill to go to the ranch the next time we go to spend more time with family and less time cooking. 

Our lives move at a much slower pace while we are at the ranch. We didn't worry about the time or about how dirty the kids were getting.  The kids played in the rain and had mud ball fights. In fact, they went off exploring and kept in touch with us by using the walkie talkie. ("Come in home base, come in!") They loved the freedom and we loved feeling relaxed about it.

My stepson learned to ride a quad! That was a huge accomplishment and we are very proud of him. He is really growing up, at 13 his voice is beginning to change and he is starting to want to take on the more manly jobs.  He was Dad's helper the entire time and loved it.  I know he will probably be taller than me his next visit and a little more mature.  He is becoming quite the young man and it was a blessing to see him light up with such excitement over everything that he did with his dad.

Since we've gotten back and the kids have asked to go back up there several times. Vivi (11) has said, "Mom, it's just so comfortable there. Everyone is so much more relaxed. When can we go again?" It makes me feel good that our first time staying up there was a success and that the kids want to return and have some more fun. If this is a preview to life there, I am so excited!

The laundry when we got back....nightmare. I am looking forward to having a washer and dryer at the ranch to be able to bring home clean laundry!

Future Focused!
Country Momma

Our FIRST STAY-cation! Part 1

Instead of going on our usual vacation for a roadtrip to Yellowstone, or a week in Southern Cali we decided to stay at the ranch. My stepson was in town visiting and very excited to go to the ranch so we decided to make a special trip for him before he left to go back to his other home.  With one extra kid we have to drive two vehicles. So my DH was driving the dump truck with a trailer and a 25-foot chicken coop that we had bought for the ranch with two of the kids, and I had our 15 passenger van with a trailer and two quads on it with 13 kids.  So off we went. The van I was driving went much faster than the dump truck and the kids and I arrived much sooner than my DH, in fact he was over an hour and a half behind us.

So, when I got to the dirt road one mile from the ranch and the tires started spinning because we were totally stuck in the mud, I knew I was in trouble. I called my DH and he said he would be there as soon as he could but it could be up to an hour and a half.  My poor city kids were already freaking out in the van talking about, "When there are no lights people can see you, but you can't see them. What if there is a mountain lion waiting for us!" I knew I couldn't just have them sit there, they were getting scared. I decided to take action. I don't know why I thought I could do this, but I did.  I unstrapped the quad and took it off the trailer and decided that I was going to drive the kids two at a time through the dark and the mud to the trailer that my DH took up there two weeks before.

There I went...I was so nervous. I left the oldest there and grabbed the next oldest to take her to the trailer to get things set up for the rest of the kids. I drove super fast (for me) and this was the first time I was driving this quad on something other than a city paved road. It was bumpy and the mud was flinging! Mud chunks were flying off the tires and hitting us in the head and sticking into our hair and then twirling around getting more stuck. It was an adventure! I dropped off the first kid with all the specific instructions about taking off your shoes outdoors and locking the door, and then back I went as fast as I could to get the next kids.

It was cold and I figured out that I had to breathe in a downward fashion so I wouldn't fog up my glasses. I learned certain spots were bumpier than others and began to navigate around them. I made this trip 6 more times. Back and forth, back and forth. I began to relax, and enjoy the trip. I was becoming the Country Momma. I had a problem, I found a solution, and I was making it happen! :)  I wasn't as stressed and even began to laugh and feel empowered by the experience I was gaining by the moment.

By the time the last two kids were the only ones in the van (the oldest and the baby) I was relieved to see my DH pull up with the dump truck at the end of the road.  He came down to the van and because the mud had dried while I was hauling the kids he was able to get the van unstuck and drive it to the trailer. I went and picked him up with the quad and drove him back to the dump truck.  Then he drove the dump truck through the mud and made it to the trailer. (He is obviously a much more skilled driver than I am because I would've gotten the dump truck stuck too!)

Although it was a little scary and stressful. I did it. I made it through our first challenge. I was proud of myself, I figured it out.  My DH was so proud of me also for taking care of the kids and making the most of it. The kids thought it was great, they loved it. Even now I will overhear them talking, "Remember when mom drove us fast in the night and the mud was flying all over? That was fun!"

Some of the lessons we learned were; always wear your hair back when riding the quads to avoid what we now call "quad hair," the country is very dark at night especially when it is overcast, and if you are ever feeling like a target just make sure you remain a moving target!

More to come...
Country Momma

Autobots, Roll Out!

Today I spent two and a half hours outside using the pressure washer to clean off the backhoe. The backhoe was greasy and oily with years and years of yucka all over it. I went out there to see how to make that pressure washer work, and before I knew it there I was...abandoned. Everyone went inside and there I was. I decided to go to town and make it as clean as I thought I could. I didn't feel like I was under the beating sun because the back spray from the pressure washer was spraying all over me cooling me down. The large chunks of tar and grease bouncing off and flying into my hair were also a distraction as to how much time I had spent out there. Now I am suffering from heat exhaustion and thinking to myself after we get the house built it will not be so hot, it will be cooler and less days of heat exhaustion.
It was very satisfying to see the dirt and grime disappear and see the bright yellow paint shine through. I had a few minutes to myself to let my imagination run wild and I decided that our dump truck and our backhoe together would be an excellent Transformer. I tried to imagine the fun Autobot that our two vehicles would make crushing the Decepticons with the large digging bucket. Then I thought, this is probably weird. I'm imagining a Transformer out of my backhoe and my dump truck, then I realized I passed weird a long time ago and the simple fact that I can say "my backhoe and my dump truck" puts me in a category with very few people. So, imagination gone wild I feel our Autobot would be called Digger (because Dump-hoe didn't sound kid friendly) and he would crush several lower level Decepticons at one time, however, Megatron is out of his league because, well, let's face it Optimus Prime is the bomb! :)

Before...

After...

Now that I see these two pictures together there's not that much difference...however, in person there is a significant difference and plus, I know I worked really hard!



Anyways, my DH will hopefully be taking Digger up to the property tonight. He has to drive the dump truck up there at night because there is no air conditioning and he also wants to prevent overheating since the dump truck hasn't proven its abilities to us yet with a long trip. Digger will be delivered to his home and start working very soon.

I'm going to send my camera up with my DH so he can take a picture of Digger and I am sure that his golden yellow will be beautiful against the scenery on the property. Throughout the next two weeks we are hauling all of the big items that we will need to get things moving up at the property. So far this includes, Digger, a 25 foot chicken coop, three 275 gallon containers to use for septic for the RV, a storage container, a 10,000 gallon water storage tank, two quads, ten horse panels for a corral, a trampoline, outdoor furniture, and a lot of tools.

I can definitely say that we are on our way! God has opened up so many doors and I know that we are just beginning to see the miracles and wonders that God can do.  We are definitely feeling like things are going to be changing on the property. I can't wait to start showing you pictures of the property and the changes that happen!!

Raising Faith,
Country Momma

Water Tank!

Hello Interested Readers...or maybe you're just curious! Well, we bought the dump truck and the man delivered it as promised. A few days later my DH used the dump truck to go and pick up the backhoe. My DH got the backhoe loaded and hooked the hitch to the dump truck and made way for the 20 minute drive home. Then something "caught" in the gearshift. Now, I don't have all the technical jargon but I can tell you that it was not the transmission, it was a lever in the shifter that got caught and made "3rd" gear the only gear that he could drive in.  So, the 20 minute trip became nearly an hour driving with no air conditioning and going about 15 miles per hour with the hazards on during rush hour. To top it off, a tire blew up somewhere along the way and the 6 tire trailer became a 5 tire trailer. However, he got it home and everything is safe. Since then he has fixed the gearshifter. This did not cost anything....oh!! except for the pressure washer that he said he REALLY needed to clean off some of the parts before putting it back together. I think I was played a little, but I'm going to use it to wash my car. :)

The next item on the "To Get" list is a water storage tank. There is no water on the property yet. We have access to a community well where we are able to get 8,000 gallons a month, so we needed a place to store it.  We have been all over craigslist and also calling on leads from anyone who gives us a name and a number.  The largest tank we had found until now was 5,000 gallons and it was for $2500. However, it was a galvinized tank and my DH wanted a plastic one. So, the search continued.

Finally! I found "IT!" A 10,000 gallln container, huge! The nice part, only $1,000. Amazing. We emailed the ad and got no response, in fact, we got no response for so long we just assumed that it was sold. However, this weekend we got the email that the seller was in the hospital and that's why she didn't respond. The business called us today and they said that the container is ours. It's so large that we have to get a permit to move it! We are taking measurements and finding out what the regulations are to move this monsterous water storage tank.

Just another item to check off the list, but it is amazing how it's all working together. Next on the list, a water trailer to be able to haul the water from the well to our storage tank.

Pray for our neighbors! So far these items are out front just filling the cul-de-sac. Pray that our neighbors have tolerance and that we are not in their way.

God is so good!

Blessings to you!
Country Momma

Dump Truck? Yes.

My DH found the backhoe but we don't have a way to haul it. None of our vehicles are big enough, or have the right towing hitch. We also need a dump truck to be able to haul dirt and debris all over the property, and my DH knows that we can haul the backhoe with the dump truck...two birds, one stone.  So, to craigslist we go. We found a dump truck that met my DH's list of expectations: be a diesel engine, have a pintle hitch, be about 12 tons, have a long bed and it needed walls. It was listed for $6500, and so off he went to take a look at it. But he was given some fun instructions...

It went like this...
Dude said, "Okay, I'm going to be at my son's baseball game. The keys are in the ignition. Take it for a spin and feel it out. When you get back just leave the keys in the ignition, and then give me a call and tell me what you think about it."
My DH said, "Oh, I'm going to love country life."
Dude said, "There's nothin' like it!"

My DH took the dump truck for a test drive. This sounds hilarious to me. Who has a dump truck besides a sanitation specialist? Who does this? Us, we do. So my DH likes this dump truck and it seems like he's actually made a friend. My DH thinks about it for a few days and decides that he's going to start off the deal by offering $4000. He makes the plan to call him while he is on road to spend the weekend at the property and then...his phone pooped out. :(  The new phone was delivered today.

In my opinion, my DH takes awhile to make decisions. We've lost a few deals because he takes time to research items before calling the people to tell them that we are interested. I admit, at times this causes a bit of frustration, for both of us. So, because he didn't get back to the dump truck guy I thought, "There goes another deal! Where will we find another dump truck?"

We got the phone today, activated it, and there's a text message. "Are you still interested? If you are I will sell it for $4000." Seriously!! :) My DH didn't have to wheel and deal, it was offered at the price that he felt the most comfortable with. God's hand is all over this from the broken phone, to the timing of it all.

Our schedule is REALLY packed and we were worried about how to pick it up because it is about 4 hours away.  No problem (God says) the man is delivering it to us! Not only that...he has a friend that might sell us a 40 foot storage container and deliver it! In addition, he used to work at a cement company and may be able to help with some information about having concrete delivered when that time comes. God has supplied again, and I am sure that He will continue to.

I am learning that God is supplying us with not only materials and equipment for what we need, but He is also directing some amazing people to enter into our lives. These people may bless us for a time or bless us for awhile, but it is obvious we are to be open to the relationships that are possible with each person we call through craigslist or from a friend through a friend. I just pray as these people are blessing us that blessings are heaped upon them from God and maybe God will use us to bless them, and that will also be a blessing!

The journey continues!
Country Momma