Per Request: Property and House Pictures

Here's the kitchen when we got started.  Our original goal was to repaint existing cabinets and get new countertops.  However, when we started to chip off the tile, we discovered that the cabinets were rotten.  We difinitely didn't have cabinets in our budget, so my amazing dad decided to build us our cabinets.  And as you will see he did a wonderful job!

Here's a view of the dining area from our living room.  The walls were rediculous and shrunk an already small house.  We promptly removed them.

Here's another view from the front door.  The dining area is on the right and the living room is straight ahead.  Have you noticed yet that the carpet was originally pink?  Look at the edges...you'll see.

Ta da!!!  Our new kitchen, dining, and living room!  Doesn't even look like the same house right?  Seth made the butcher block island top out of rock hard maple and the rest of the countertops out of concrete.  He's a general contractor and does a lot of concrete. 

To say that I love my kitchen would be an understatement, but what I love more is that my kitchen was made by two people that I love dearly.  And I think they are very talented!

*Just a side note- we also remodeled the bedrooms and bathrooms, but this post is already long and the living room and kitchen (mainly) are the jewels of the house.  Although our office space (used to be the laundry room) and bathrooms are fabulous.  Maybe I'll post pics some other time.

And here's our living room.  So much better without the walls.

In the end of March, Seth and I (and family) started working on this house.  We gutted everything out of this house.  And by everything I mean...there are only two things left that are original.  It was so much work, but so worth it.  We love the house that the Lord has provided for us and are very thankful to be living here.  We bought the house with two acres and Lord willing in the next few years, we'll buy 18 more...acres that is.  The gentleman who we bought the place from wants to sell us 18 more to make it an even 20.  We'd love to, but have to save up for a while in order to do so.

Here's a few pictures of our view from our back porch.  Enjoy!

Pretty nice, huh?  :)  Our property line goes beyond the back fence about 90 ft.  When we buy the next 18 acres, we'll have all the property behind us.

Don't the clouds and the snow on the mountains just make you smile.  So pretty!  The tree peeking in on the right is our walnut tree and right next to it we have a pear tree.  Yum!

And last but not least, here are a few more property pics.  Lord willing, next summer we'll get started on the outside of the house.  And of course the property, fencing, and etc. will be always changing and made better.

This is the far left of our property.  There are blackberry bushes the line the whole fence and they are tasty!  Blackberry pie galore in the summer.  ; )

This winter Seth and I are going to be converting that little shanty into a chicken coop.  Chicks come in the Spring...cant' wait!  And this opening in the middle is going to be our garden area.  I am hoping to have this tilled and fenced off come Spring as well.

The front view of our house from the road.  Right now it looks as if a tornado has blown through our yard cause Seth has ripped all the fence and plants out and they are all piled up waiting to be burned.  We are going to re-fence the front yard and reseed it so it will just be grass for the kids to play on.  You can't really tell, but there are 55 rose bushes in our front yard.  Eeek!  Not good when you have two small children, plus I don't really want to care for them.  Sorry to those of you who love rose bushes.

The only real grass at our house.  And by 'real' I mean not destined for animal consumption.  :)

This is the little pasture that is right in front of the barn (the barn on top of my page is the one that is connected to this pasture, and is the one that I have the pictures of my sheep in).  (Neighbors sheep, not mine)  This will be included in the 18 acres. 

Hope you liked these pictures and I hope it gives you a point of reference when you see future pictures of the happenings at the Shepherds farm.

Have a great day!

What happens when you ignore Step 5...see post 'Clipping Hooves'

*Well, today I realized what happens when someone doesn't consider Step 5.

   I felt great when I woke up this morning and was with my kids in the kitchen getting ready to start breakfast.  I had Ella in my arms and I turned to give her a kiss and suddenly...my back went out!  I have never hurt my back like this and hope it never happens again.  Right between my shoulder blades my back was excruciating.  I immediately went on my knees, put Ella down, and waited for the pain to subside.  It didn't.  My next step was give the kids a banana, grab the phone, and then I went and laid on my bedroom floor.  I made a few phone calls to let my hubby, sister, and parents know what was going on, and before I could say more, I had more help than I could have asked for.
  I am blessed by the Lord to have amazing parents!  My dad came over to say hi and kindly fed the kids some yogurt and applesauce.  Next my mom came, packed clothes, put away toys, and took the kids to her house for a slumber party.  I have been able to lay on my back and take it easy.  It has been really hard to do nothing, but thankful that this can even be an option.  Whenever I get sick or hurt, I always realize how blessed I am to have a healthy strong body and I know that it all comes from God.  He always takes care of me...no matter what.
   I have a massage scheduled for tomorrow and I can't wait.  Looking forward to some relief, but I do feel a little better as the day has progressed.  I am hoping that I will be able to have the kids back tomorrow, but also want to be wise and not hurt my back again.  I have a tendency to over do it.

Lets see what tomorrow brings.      :)

Jumping Sheep

Here are the girls enjoying their evening.  I am pretty sure they could clear a fence if they knew they could or wanted to.  Lets just hope that this talent remains undiscovered amongst them.

The residents (minus 1) at the Shepherds farm

Here are my kiddos (Silas might as well be mine :) and one of our Scottish Blackface Sheep...her name is Flora.

Here are our three Scottish Blackface sheep.  They will be bred, Lord willing, next fall.  Here are their names from front to back...Flora, Fernie, and Juice.  I let my nephew Silas have one and he got to name her.  Apparently, it was between Juice and Pancake...and you know which one he chose.   Silly boy!
(We also have a Holstein/Angus cross steer named Gus, but I don't have a picture of him.  Sorry.)

The kids after we finished picking walnuts from our tree.  So much fun.  And here's our dog Franco.  He's an American Staffordshire Terrier.  He is an absolute sweetheart and a ninny.  He doesn't take good pictures because he doesn't much care for the flash.  Oh, well!

Our cat Frances.  She is a feisty one and this is the best picture I have of her.  I am sure there will be more to come.

And last but not least, here's me and my hubby Seth.  He is the best husband and I am blessed by the Lord to be his wife.  <3




Since I am starting this blog, I figure I should give a run down of who lives here and so I can look back in years to come and see how we started.  We are blessed by God to get to start this farm and if it is His will to bless it's progress then, Lord willing, there will be more to come!

Clipping Hooves

Step 1: Set up proper lighting so you can see what your doing.
(Here's a better picture of Frances. :)

Step 2: Lock sheep in barn.

Step 3: Feed grain to gain trust. My sheep are a little on the wild side.  And by a little, I mean a lot.  :)

Step 4: Catch Juice and Fernie, put on halters, and tie to panel.
(This is also Step 1 in halter training.  I have already started with Flora because I have had her a little longer.)



Flora may be feeling a little left out, but as you can see Fernie is not happy about her situation.
Below:
Flora (the unshorn and unhaltered one) is looking at Fernie like "What's your problem?"

Fernie, as you can see, is undoubtedly my wildest one.




So I undertook trimming my three sheep's hooves the other day and it was quite the process.  You see I was doing it by myself.  Not the best idea.  Anyway, I grew up raising sheep, so I knew I could do it and so gave it a shot.  I decided to tie up Juice and Fernie so they could start to get used to having a halter on.  Its always a good thing to tie up your sheep (on an incredibly short lead and under supervision) when halter breaking.  The panel is practically immovable and if tied long enough will give up the fight...some sheep will take longer than others.  I started with Flora, thinking she would be the easiest one, and I was only half correct on that assumption.  She is the one I've handled the most and easiest to catch.  She didn't mind me trimming her front hooves, but didn't want me to touch her back ones.  All in all, not too bad though.  Next up was Juice.  She turned out to be my easiest one...once I got her on her rear.  She is probably my prettiest ewe and largest.  Once in position, easy as pie.  Fernie, however, is a handful.  She took longer than Juice and Flora combined, got loose twice, and didn't want me to touch any of her hooves.  Thankfully, I am just as stubborn as she is and I got the job done.  Towards the end, she finally gave in and I was able to finish her back hoof.  When Fernie and I were done with our wrestling match, and that is exactly what it was, she was lying on the ground, head down, sweating (as was I), panting (as was I :), and I was kneeling with my elbow on her for support.  When you have a ewe as wild as Fernie, and all you are doing is resting on her with your elbow, you know she is one tired sheep.  We were exhausted to say the least.  I was going to walk Juice and Fernie around the pasture a few times to work on halter training a bit more, but once I was finished trimming hooves...I was too tired.  In the end, I have learned another step...and here it is...


Step 5: Get help!