Remembering

Saturday was a day to remember.......by making memories. Every year, on the first Saturday in August, we gather to celebrate the legacy of Grandma and Grandpa Hatfield....Iva and Alfred.  We are the legacy of Grandma and Grandpa Hatfield....our children and for some of us lucky ones, our grandchildren.  All of the sudden, we're the elders!  Wendell and Aunt Gina are patriarch and matriarch of the crew.  Unfortunately, none of the Morrill crew could make the gathering but Wendell and Arbie's crew were there in numbers!  It was an amazing day seeing the  newest generation of cousins having their noses in the water and out of their phones and video games.  There was swimming, kayaking, fishing, sack races, tug of war and corn-hole games.  Seriously, there could be no Hatfield celebration without corn-hole!!  The annual So-Co toast was given in honor of Uncle Arb and the best darn spread of vittles was offered.  We are blessed with amazing cooks and grateful eaters!
So much reminiscing, so many stories and so much laughter.  I can't believe I didn't get more group pictures of each generation... Big slip up on my part but I did get many random shots, too many to post.  Before you know it, it will be time for the Al-Iva Reunion 2016.  At this point, two new members of the clan will be with us, Erica and Scott might be delivering as I type and Jeff and Lacie in mid February.  We make very good looking Hatfields!!!

Yay... Technology Baby!!!

The world of technology is moving so fast.  Sometimes, I wish it would just slow down a bit and let me catch up.  Yesterday was NOT one of those days! Lacie texted early in the day to say she had heard "Walter's" (our name until we know better) heartbeat.  Emoticons help express feelings but none were needed in that text.  152 bpm.....kind of fast and that old wive's tale of faster- girl, slower - boy really only applies to honey-do lists.  She was able to bring home the miracle Doppler thingy and actually let me hear for myself. Right after the cold front moving in and the mini hurricane.....I heard it!!! The very best sound in the world after someone saying, "there's a rest area in one mile!" It was loud and pretty fast and then it moved out of ear shot... Seriously?   How far could it go?  So we took a short walk around EIEIO hoping for him/her to return to the surface. I don't know about Walter but I could then hear MY heartbeat and I didn't need a device... (Maybe more walking is in order for Grandma too.)  Once again, the auditory search was on...."Where's Walter"   and suddenly the tiny, rapid, little beats filled the room...OK, maybe not the whole room...it's a big room... maybe they just filled my heart and it seemed like the whole room.  How could anything the size of a lime steal your heart at every turn? 
On September 5th, Grandmas, big sis and Mom and Dad are heading to Rochester to see just what the heck is growing in there.  We know Walter is already who he (or she) is going to be and it's time for us to know too.  How in the world did my parents manage an entire 9 month period without knowing who I was?  And that's another head scratcher.... Why does it now take TEN months to have a baby...?? 40 weeks....I'm not any Einstein but last I knew 9 x 4 = 36... WTH. Must have something to do with Common Core!
So today, a big thumbs up for technology! We learned he was there, now we know that he's growing and soon we'll see what he looks like and if he's sporting the junk on the outside or inside. Either way, I really don't care.  His mommy has already proven she's got the brains, compassion and common sense to be a great Mom and I raised the daddy......enough said♥

Monday-Funday

Survived another weekend.  Lee safely turned 65 with no repercussions. We had a fun dinner at Dutch Hollow.  The food there is excellent.  We missed Jess and B but otherwise a fun bunch.


We managed to make some progress on the duck pond and are pretty much now just waiting to get the new fencing up and everybody will be living in the Walnut Grove.  Ducks flew out of their pen yesterday as everyone's a little antsy for some more room...soon!


Moved the peacock and  Bic, the chick, to the smokehouse so they are a little happier and my garage smells a little cleaner.


Saturday morning, Lacie's cousin Scottie came over with Greg and brought his drone.  His is much nicer and he knows what the heck he's doing.  We drove over to Eagle Point hoping to at least get some shots of the nest from above.  We were gifted with an added bonus of not one fledgling but TWO.  I guess 2 did survive.  They were pretty curious about the UFO hovering atop their nest.  They were talking and circling and probably signaling for their folks to come and check it out.  Hoping to avoid disaster, Scottie brought the drone back to us to wait for another flight when the leaves are off the trees.  The combining of technology and nature is pretty freaking awesome.





We're getting ready for a big week ahead with the arrival of Joy and three of her grands from California. Saturday will top off the week with our annual Al-Iva party (to celebrate Grandma Iva's birthday) at Wendell's pond.  Then next week, Gayle and Curtis will arrive to spend a few days too.  We'll then celebrate Gayle, Joy, Jill and Wendell's August birthdays at our house!  Should be a great time to get all the cousins together:-)


And of course, this week is the first of the Presidential debates.  I'm a Trump fan so this will be pretty interesting to watch. The neglected nine have all been practicing with mock debates and sit-ins for The Donald.  I'm pretty sure it will be way more than anyone could practice for.... Dashing Donald has absolutely NO political correctness and nothing to practice....If you tell the truth, you have nothing to remember.....isn't that how it goes?  We shall see...Will be entertaining if nothing else.

One of Those Days

Today is one of those days!  I strongly dislike the heat....I'm HOT (in the sweaty sense).  I had an early morning call from a dear friend that made me sad beyond comprehension....I'm devastated!  I went to spend some time with Mom this morning.....I'm depressed.  My knees are killing me.....I'm old!


But, I'm going to turn this day into a good one!  I've been chatting with my goose and ducks this morning while giving them their morning shower. Baby gave me a little HISStory on his life and the ducks were trying to wash away all the carnage from their relative's recent slaughter.  They have begun eating again which is a good sign.  Christmas and birthday orders are arriving daily..You're welcome Amazon.  Birthday planning for Lee, (Friday,) Lacie (Sept,) Jeff and Bailee (Nov) is progressing nicely.  A week-end getaway with family, especially Bailee, is coming up soon. Family will be arriving next week from California and last but so very far away from least is Walter's ( every embryo gets a nickname in this family) arrival and all the planning to welcome him/her in style. 


Thank God for supportive friends and family and things to look forward to.... those things make one of those :-( days.....one of these :-)

Sitting Ducks

Our first duck casualties last week. In the night, I heard a commotion and awoke to find a raccoon helping himself to my ducks.  I had asked Lee to put them in their house but he was "tired."  He said they'd be fine. He was wrong!  We finally scared the nasty little bastard off but not before he had ravaged my sweet Bruce and one of the K's. Thankfully, just a couple of days before, Bruce had taken advantage of one of the girls in the pool so he went out "on top!"  We set a couple of traps last night and hit the jackpot on one big sucker... Lee had baited the trap with a piece of Bruce and it did the trick.  This morning I awoke to a couple of "pops" and Rocky was history...DRT! Karma's a bitch at EIEIO. RIP (rest in pieces) Bruce:-(


We got the pond all set and filled yesterday. We just need to get it back-filled with sand and do a little landscaping with the rocks.  They need a good foothold to get in and out of the water.. Webbed feet aren't very conducive to climbing. We have to lengthen the ramp into the "soon to be" duck house as they can't walk up anything greater than a 45 degree incline and they need sides on their ramp.....just like me;-)  Hopefully we will soon transition all the animals to their new quarters and hope that they're all happy...I'm still trying to figure out how to get grass to the ducks... I may have to have some raised beds for them as they're taking over the chicken run which is pure dirt... I wonder if they realize how good they have it?  The barn is nearly ready...The girls are even getting curtains for their nesting boxes..... I mean who really wants to "lay" right in public....





Today is a hot one so they'll all get some nice, cool watermelon.  You could live in a worse place than EIEIO....just ask the raccoon!!!

I Believe

Remember the song, I Believe?  Many recorded it but I think I remember Elvis and the Lettermen's renditions the best.  It was the song that the Senior class of 1962 sang at Moravia's graduation that year.....my brother's class.  Every time I hear it played, I get a little emotional. Today, a dear friend is really struggling with a nasty disease.  She's young, beautiful, compassionate, smart and never hurt a single person.................ever.  So, why?  Folks tritely say, "Everything happens for a reason!"  Really, I find that hard to believe. 

I Believe

I believe for every drop of rain that falls
A flower grows
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night
A candle glows
I believe for everyone who goes astray, someone will come
To show the way
I believe, I believe

I believe above a storm the smallest prayer
Can still be heard
I believe that someone in the great somewhere
Hears every word

Every time I hear a new born baby cry,
Or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why, I believe

Every time I hear a new born baby cry,
Or touch a leaf or see the sky
Then I know why, I believe

I believe it all up until that "Someone in the great somewhere hears every word."  Who and where? and How do we know... And why does he/she pick and choose who he hears and who he helps and why not help everybody?  If you love someone, you're supposed to help them and love them unconditionally.  If he loves us all...........................................What's up with that?  .... But, we're taught to believe.  I believe it'll get dark every night and the sun will come up every morning (whether or not I see it.)  I believe that no matter how much money I make, the government will want much of it and use it unwisely.  I believe that chocolate undeniably makes me happier.....and wider. (not a typo) I believe that if we can walk on the moon (and return,) there are cures for horrible diseases and others don't want them known. I believe that there is someone for everyone!  I believe that all good things take time and good things happen to good people.  I still struggle with everything happens for a reason and all you need to do is believe......

I pray ( to someone) every single night. I guess I'm a hypocritical Christian. I hope, if he/she's out there, that they cut me a break and take my wavering beliefs with a grain of salt and not judge me if it's added to my Bloody Mary!

I'm trying my best! 

Fowl Power

Today, the girls and boys are getting power to their condo (aka barn.)  Bright and early the equipment and manpower arrived. By 8:30, the ditch was dug, the conduit was laid, the bees had stung and the Bud Lite was popped. Who says country life isn't grand! (yes Bailee, that's a rhetorical question..how does an 8 year old know that?)



Jeff and Greg built my screen partition in the barn, curtains for the nesting boxes are in production, the pond is on site and the drainage ditch is in place. Jeff's in-laws made us the most beautiful barn quilt and my new windmill is in place.  I must admit, the walnut grove is looking rustically and beautifully country. It will be so nice to have all the critters in one place.....and down wind....sort of.
Mr. P (who Jon believes is most likely Penny) and her pen pal, Bic, are heading to the smoke house on the next leg of their journey at EIEIO.  One escape artist was enough but the two together, in the house, are a real Penn and Teller act..... get it? Penn :-/  I will miss their incessant peeping....not!



Baby is settling in pretty well.  I believe he likes me......and only me.  He tends to stand dead center in the big pool and forces Bruce and the gang to share in the feeding bowl water.  Whatever works...his long tongue and loud hisses give him carte blanche in Web World.

Things are coming together nicely.  The big move is right around the corner...I'll soon have my yard and my garage back and the Grove will be buzzing with fowl language.  I love it!