This Month in Pictures

Boy, let me just say how busy we all are this Spring!  I was glancing through my photos of the month and it reminds me why I've been away from blogging for what seems like an eternity.  I've been doing the typical Spring rituals of getting things cleaned up and set up, still doing what needs to be done on a daily basis, such as school, meal planning, cooking, watering, extra activities relating to anything including school, etc...

Here's an extra-curricular activity we did at the beginning of the month, model volcanoes!

 You can see the darker spots are where the 'lava' went down from the top of their mountain...

And this one had his dinosaurs out for more exciting effects.

After studying a little about Pompeii, there was no way we weren't going to build model volcanoes!  This was May 4th.

Then, May 7th, the kids and I got to enjoy the local terrain of the Diamond Bar while waiting for hubby to finish up his blade work...

And the kids enjoyed that wonderful swing, the highlight of their day.

 May 10th I fretted about my newly transplanted tomatoes.

The hail came down for a while, and I'm thinking those tomatoes I bought two days prior couldn't be liking this kind of treatment!  But the storm soon ended and all was well with the tomatoes!

I don't know how long the broody hens have been sitting, but they're dedicated!

May 12th, I had to make a second run to Lake Havasu to pick up a customer's batteries for their solar system.  It was approximately 85 miles one way to Havasu.  I took a short cut through the desert which was about 50 miles of dirt road, one way.  I love the stark terrain in the Havasu area.  Shame on me, I know, for taking shots out my window while driving, but it was more point and shoot and hope I got something nice!

I loved this view.  Here I stopped to double check the load of batteries to make sure they were ready for the 50 miles of dirt road.

This is the beginning of our dirt road journey.  See those mountains in the distance?  I had to go over them, down into the Big Sandy valley beyond, and then up the face of the next mountain range, the Aquarius Mountains, where we live.  Pure heaven, because it sure beats highway/interstate traffic!

Halfway along the way I found this view with the Ocotillo blooming in front of this cute mesa.

I just love the desert.

I never thought I'd love it after growing up on the Mohave Desert.  

But, after living in the Seattle, Washington area for four years, I realized my affinity for the dry, sparse landscapes was not only a more healthy place for me and my sinuses, but that it was a deep abiding love.

Another Ocotillo in all its glory!

Then on May 19th, Miracle Worker brought home 6 Guinea Fowl.

One was nearly DOA and didn't make it to the third hour of being home.  Some chicks just don't make it for some reason.  We bought the Guineas for snake protection.  They are legendary at insect/pest control.  But more interestingly, they'll even attack snakes that encroach on their territory.  At the very least, if they don't kill the rattlesnakes, then they can be counted upon to give an obvious warning call.  This side of the mountain has more than its fair share of Mohave Green rattlesnakes.  They have no anti venom serum for Mohave Greens because their venom is a neurotoxin instead of a hemotoxin.  We figure it would be quite helpful having these birds close to the house with our children.

My first-born lost his second front tooth two days ago!  He'll be seven at the end of June!!!  Where does the time go?

A beautiful shot of a prickly pear!

 After constant sitting, one of the hens was out and about yesterday with three of her Ameraucana chicks.

The second broody hen is still sitting.  Nothing can budge her.  I don't know how many more they'll hatch, but it's exciting to wait and find out!

What a busy month!  Every single week day was filled with school, household chores, garden and barn chores, and researching homeschool curriculums.  On top of that, I've been doing my own Bible studies as well.  No wonder I'm tired!  It's the good life!

So this Memorial Day weekend, let's remember those who gave their lives to make our daily lives in freedom possible!

I love my country!

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
Thomas Jefferson

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
Thomas Jefferson

We homesteaders and independent types can relate to these quotes.  I believe it's because we don't take our freedom for granted and we don't expect the government to do what it was never designed to do in the first place, which is playing "daddy" to its citizens.  We'll live our lives in peace by virtue of a properly limited government, while we take responsibility for our failures and our successes, thank you very much!

May God Bless each and every one in their lives, and may God truly Bless this nation.