uh oh...

We got a new member in our family. Yes you could say that I'm certifiable, but the kids love him. He's not got a name for sure yet. Aubrey and Ralph are currently in the running.

Baskets

basket-resized, originally uploaded by Paula G.

My family (adult brothers and sisters and their kids) are going to South Haven, Michigan where we're renting a house. I told them i'd teach them all how to make this basket. It's fun...time consuming...and a little irritating to do if you're not in the right frame of mind.

I wouldn't want to do it for a living, but it's fun to make a basket here and there.

This one is really simple. It's not sprayed yet with the stain...I just finished it this morning! It's my sample basket!

mallards

mallards, originally uploaded by Paula G.

These goofball ducks are almost 2 wks old in this photo. The remaining ones are quite resilient. PEEP PEEP PEEP!

Look what arrived at our house yesterday

baby mallard, originally uploaded by Paula G.

The post office called at 6:30 am to tell us we had a package. Well, they said we had chicks. They didn't know they were baby mallards. We got 10 total, but 2 have died already. The pic is red because of the warming light. I have to tell you these things are so fun! I'll get a better pic, but they were born with webbed feet and these huge bills. So fun to watch! So different from chickens to be sure! Just hope no more die!

DC Photographer

DC Photographer, originally uploaded by Paula G.

This is the guy that took all the photos on the Huntington Catholic Field trip to Washington DC in March 2008. He was a camera tote'in fool...took over 500 pictures!

You can see these photos at giddykids.com!

You can view the slideshow and order prints on flickr here

PIG

PIG, originally uploaded by Paula G.

Last spring M came home with 2 little piglets. This was one of them. They're so cute when they're little, but as time goes by...they're pathetic. I never thought I'd be able to raise pigs (well I don't raise them...I stay afar away!). But they were cute!

blackie

blackie, originally uploaded by Paula G.

This is our littlest chicken. We call him Blackie...creative, huh?

He's a laid back little rooster dude. This day it was after the huge snow dump and it was a little chilly out. He was sitting outside the hen house shivering. I felt so bad for him. I gave him some bread...he almost let me hand feed him. He was obviously out of sorts as he usually doesn't let me get this close to him. He's an exotic chicken...when you order chickens in groups of 25, they'll send you a couple exotics for fun. He's a fun one. ...sweet little bird.

The fishing hole.

DSC_0304 copy, originally uploaded by Paula G.

Umm...we got skunked today. I wasn't actually fishing, but M was and I hated to point out to him that he was fishing a cold front. That's fishing terms for sucky fishing. Skunked means he didn't catch any fish. He got a ton on the weekend with his friend, but not today. IT still was good to get out in the fresh air.

Indiana Ice...lake wawasee

Indiana Ice...lake wabasee , originally uploaded by Paula G.

How can I go a day without including a picture of the ice. It was about 9" thick. Don't let the cracks fool you. It was safe. We have a little spud we take along just to be sure but we didn't need the spud today because the guy in the 3 wheeler was out on the ice. There was no open water anywhere...well...except where M drilled the holes...and those froze up fairly quickly...

All in all...it was good to get out of the house...cabin fever be darned!

fav-day

fav-day, originally uploaded by Paula G.

Today I went ice fishing with my husband. He asked me to email him my favorite photo that I took today. I have to say it's his mini heater. Remember I said ICE fishing as in we were standing and sitting and walking on ICE...of the frozen variety? Yes it was a mite bit chilly and it's much toastier if the heater is on in the shanty.

I said to M that all the people around here are saying how they can't wait for spring and how I was thinking...winter's just begun! I'm a northern girl at heart ...not a southern girl! I like my winters with lots of snow and cold clear days...AS LONG AS M BRINGS THE HEATER!

shed

shed, originally uploaded by Paula G.

This is the neighbor's shed...we buy milk from them. These neighbors have the goats from a previous post. They milk the cows at 4am and at like 10pm everyday. They never go on vacation. When all is said and done they live below the poverty level. Hmm...food for thought when you get that next glass of milk, eh?

philly

philly, originally uploaded by Paula G.

I'm still trying to find some real kids to put on this blog, but in the meantime, here's my furry kid. Philly. He has a twin sister, Lil, but she's not as sociable as Phil.

He's a funny people cat. He's really a barn cat, but he gets into the garage and house whenever he can!

thermometer

thermometer, originally uploaded by Paula G.

It was a mite bit chilly today. Gotta love living in the north (well south of where I grew up, but still in the north), eh?

Maddie

None, originally uploaded by Paula G.

Maddie was my model for Operation Love Reunited. (oplove.org).

If you know a service person who is being deployed, please contact Paula for further information.

A funny...

goats, originally uploaded by Paula G.

Springtime is around the corner. The neighbors have some baby goats! And Momma goat is careful to take care of baby.

Yes, baby goats are KIDS!