This is rather a large post, mostly because I've gotten quite behind again. :)
Dad has been home from the hospital for over a week now. He continues to improve with each passing day. Just today, Mom and he went in to get the stitches removed from the incision in his foot. The doctors said everything looks great so far! :) We still covet your prayers as Dad still has a long road of recovery ahead of him. We have felt the lifting power of your prayers all throughout Dad's illness.
I know, Abi sold Buster a long time ago, but here are some of the last pictures they got of him.
:)
Making more butter!
Thick creamy cream
Abi and Sam were home alone...
...Making salsa. :)
Sam has been a champ all through Dad being sick. Here, he had been cutting onions with goggles on. You can see the marks on his face. :)
A stray tom cat had established himself at our house. He made himself at home by eating a lot of cat food. The boys set up the live trap one night and closed our cats in. The next morning, voila! we had our man! KK and I took him for a nice long drive later that day...
I must've been going through a huge nostalgia crisis these last several weeks. I made a Toll House pie awhile ago, which was a childhood favorite of mine. Then, while Dad was in the hospital, I bought a huge box of Hot Pockets as a treat. Hot Pockets were something we grew up with. Dad used to work for a vending company so he would bring home crates and crates of left overs. Hot Pockets were a definite favorite. :)
We also drank up a whole half gallon of iced coffee concentrate that the Martin girls very sweetly made for us. The four oldest Martin children came to visit us one night and brought along the iced coffee and a plate of soft pretzels. They told us the pretzels would taste better warmed up, but I don't think any of us ever warmed them up. They were perfect the way they were. :) Thank you guys for brightening our day! You are a blessing!
Sh... Even Sam got to have coffee. :)
Doughy came over with Ryan one Saturday morning. Josh put Dobes in Sam's cowboy boots. As you can see from his expression, it wasn't fun. :)
I made Tammy Strong's coffee cake as a treat for a yummy Sunday morning breakfast.
Katelyn and Michael like to play together. Michael speaks Dutch and Lynna speaks English, but, somehow, they understand each other.
She loves "mothering" him. :)
Sunday relaxation
Abi is very vigilant in cleaning the bucket, jars, and other milking accessories. The only way to keep the cowy smell and taste away is through bleach!
We got Dad's area all ready for him the day before he came home.
Abi put some doll bloomers on Lynna's head.
:)
She looked hilarious!
Josh put up a new railing for Dad. He did an amazing job!
Dad's foot from about a week ago.
She was telling us stories. :)
Incredible cuteness alert!!!
We had a mini Irish breakfast reunion last Saturday. It was three years ago this September that we took our first trip to Ireland. :) Time sure does fly!
Instead of making a full Irish breakfast, we just met for scones, tea and pictures.
Doughy was playing with grandma's lotion and lost it under the cedar chest.
Found it!
Melt-your-heart eyes
Cheyenne Christian Fellowship sent Dad a flower basket the other day.
There were even goodies in it! :) Thank you all so much!
The babies have sure gotten a kick out of the balloons that Gram got for Dad. :)
Abi and I were up till nearly 1 Monday night, whoops, I guess I should say Tuesday morning, working on spaghetti sauce. :)
Lots of clean dishes!
Abi and Sam made cheese curds the other day.
Dad showed me how to season a pork butt just right.
It tasted amazing!
Abi, KK, and Sam cleaned out the old turkey pen for some new chicks we'll be getting.
Bugsie helped too. :)
A silent observer
Abi has started using cat litter to help her clean up Talitha's pen. It really works great!
Katelyn was helping Grandma the other day. :)
She had so much fun with those gloves!
Dad has been teaching Sam his history lessons.
Abi made Ellen Miller's yummy granola yesterday.
And last, but not least, Sam is raring to go hunting Saturday. Youth season opens then, so he spent the better part of the morning gathering all of his supplies. :)
Well, I'll catch yuh later, then! Take care till next time. :)
