She Graduated!!!!!

Yay!! It only took 3 seasons in the beginner class but Mollie finally "graduated" to the intermediate class. You see, it's really hard to move up when you aren't willing to get your face wet! She even hates getting her hair washed in the bathtub! However, on day one of lessons, she asked me why the teacher didn't teach her anything new. I told her she couldn't until she put her whole face in the water. She also wondered why all her friends weren't in her class anymore. I told her that they had all graduated to the next class. After that she started to get more daring and each day would try harder. Finally she was putting her face in the water while kicking and using the kick board. On the last day she was even floating on her back! Each day she would ask if she would graduate when finally, on the last day, her teacher said "congratulations, Mollie, you graduated". She was so proud and so were we that she finally stepped out of her comfort zone!

Notice dripping water on the face!

Motherhood

A few weeks ago our guinea disappeared. I thought something got her but a few days later we heard her and found her hiding in a flower bed sitting on a nest of eggs. Mollie was so excited to have guinea babies and so was I until Jerry asked how we were going to have guinea babies with no guinea dad! Duh, Steph! I wasn't exactly thinking! However, Miss Guinea had other plans! A couple of days after our conversation out she came, a proud momma with newborn chick in tow! She has no idea this baby isn't a guinea and if she does she doesn't seem to care. She seems to be thrilled to finally be a mom. She proudly herds "her" baby around the yard, defending her from all evils. She has nastily chased off the dogs, Mollie and I. I think the only way we'll ever know who her "birth" parents are is to do DNA! Until then the "adopted" mom is doing a fine job!

Clover Kid Pet Show And Super Farmer

Not only did Mollie enter 3 projects she got to show one of her kittens, "Zebra", in the Clover Kids Pet Show. Each child had to answer questions about their pet by speaking into a microphone (which I think is great). She did well, spoke clearly and loud enough (no shocker there!). She had been so excited to show everyone Zebra's special trick of laying on his back in her lap and not moving, however when the announcer asked if her pet had any special qualities she would like to tell about, she just said no! Later she realized she didn't show the audience. I guess the pressure was on and it made her forget! The kids also got to participate in a "super farmer" contest. Mollie could hardly pedal the tractor but was quite adept at the "pie" in the face. She loved the whipped cream and so did Zebra, he got to lick some off of her face!

Fair Day

As in keeping with the family tradition, Mollie was working on her fair project the day before! She entered the poster from her illustrated talk on how to raise baby chicks, her terrarium and a scrapbook on raising her 3 bottle calves. We rehearsed many times her presentation to the judge. I helped her carry her projects in and had to leave the room but was able to sneak a couple of pictures of her explaining her projects to the judge. I was busting with pride! When she was done the judge came out and said she did a very nice job and that she had some very nice looking chicks and calves. Later, Mollie told me that when she was telling him about the terrarium he told her he didn't need to know anymore about it! Do you think she was a bit chatty with the judge?!! Anyway I was very proud of my "clover kid". She may only get to enter posters or scrapbooks of her raising the animals but she did all the work with the animals to get to that point. Good job Mollie!

Ginger

We have a chicken that Mollie has named Ginger. Ginger doesn't know she's a chicken. She spends all day, everyday in the barn with the cats and only goes back to the chicken house at night (sometimes). She loves to eat cat food and is right there with the cats eating their food with them. She lets Mollie carry her all over the place and is quite content to go along for the ride.

Kitchen Unveiling

I said a couple of months ago that I wasn't going to post pictures of the kitchen until it was done. Well it is not done but I'm too excited to wait anymore! The floor went in the end of May and last week the cabinets got finished, my island put in and the island light as well. Jerry still has window and door casings and trim, beadboard backsplashes, a little more electrical and I have a lot of painting. Then on to finish the sheetrock, beadboard, floor and trim on the porch. Then wire, plumb, insulate, sheetrock, beadboard and the list goes on as to the new room. Wheewwww! I lot of work done, a lot of work left to do! I figure it will be at least another 6 months until we are done. He's been working on it for almost 7 so far! I am so pleased! The space is incredible! I have a dishwasher and a garbage disposal!! Such a difference from just a few months ago. Well, without further adieu....drum roll please......!





Hasn't he done a great job?!

Thank you Jerry for giving me the kitchen of my dreams. I know you would rather of spent your weekends the last 7 months doing something else and you have selflessly devoted your time to my dream. I need to thank, Mike for commiting to the job to see it through, we could never have done this without you. Also, to my Dad for supervising the granite install and to him and his friend Ed for putting up the new room and my new back door and windows (as I type!).

I have waited 9 years for this remodel and it truly is my dream kitchen!

O.k. Herb, Here's a Post!

Jerry informed me that Herb was sick of looking at the cat (the last post) so Herb, for lack of anything else to post, here is Mollie "working" her cattle.




We did go on a short camping trip, the "maiden voyage" of the new (to us) camper. We went to Branson for 4 days. While I was checking out a scrapbook store, Jerry and Mollie went to find something to do. Within minutes Jerry called to tell me that he and Mollie were getting on a helicopter! All I could say was "you don't even have a camera!" He did, however, get some pictures with his cell phone and if we can figure out how to put them on the computer I'll post them. We had a nice time camping and it was so nice to get away from the kitchen. Speaking of which, today is the day, the one I've been waiting 2 months and 3 days for. They are (finally) coming to finish the cabinets (trim, crown molding, ect.) and bring the island. I'm hoping I'm thrilled. After having all the trouble when they put in the cabinets, I'm kind of hesitant to get excited. I'm hoping they do a good job and I'm pleased. We are so ready to be done! I'll keep you posted!