Christmas 2010

We had a lovely Christmas topped off with it starting to snow in the afternoon. Of course as always, we missed all of our family that live far away... But all in all, it was a wonderful Christmas. Decorations by Jewel Our Christmas Tree... Christmas Tree Ornaments... The Stockings were hung by the chimney with care... Patchy is VERY excited about getting the goodies from HIS stocking! Our Christmas Train Jewel with her birdhouse she built from the kit she received on Christmas. Jewel helping Ken build his new shop workbench Jewel wearing her new National Geographic Shirt & bear slippers Papa Bear, Mama Bear, & Baby Bear... Jewel opening her new IPod and wearing her new slippers... How our bear slippers were listed on the packages - notice it's from Santa CLAWS... Mama Papa & Baby Bear attempting to dance!


Ken and Jewel attempting to dance with their bear slippers on.

Trip Down Memory Lane...

While I was going through some stuff in my desk, trying to tame down the files and
paperwork, I came across a cd with some pictures on it. What fun it was to find some of the rare pictures with my hair cut boy short (when I used to actually go into the barber shop for a $6 hair cut) after I volunteered for service in the Navy again after 9/11. This was one of the all time easiest hair styles.

Looking at the pictures though took me back to one of many memories in particular. I remember as we were enroute to Virginia from Northern California, we stopped at a gas station in Salt Lake City. When we were pumping gas, making casual conversation regarding our Navy move with gentleman,the gentleman looked at me from across the car, and proceeded to ask Ken where we were headed and how long HE (me) had been in?! Ken got QUITE a chuckle out of that and didn't let me live that one down. He still chuckles about that every now and then.

In this picture (below), this is where Jewel spend most of her time as a little girl In Weaverville California next to one of our favorite spots. "Rock 'N Water." Yes, the majority of the town looked like this. It was BEAUTIFUL! Ahh... I miss the countryside. Having grown up in the county myself, my heart often aches for the county. I'm so glad Jewel was able to spend some of her time in the woods. She too longs to live out in the country again someday.


Jewel taking a photo of Ken and I looking back at her being silly while we waiting for our food at Miller's Drive-In, which is a cute carhop in Weaverville.


A few years later as my hair grew out, I went for a short curly style. This is me in uniform after being frocked as a Third Class Petty Officer.


Later as my hair grew longer per Ken's request, I started putting it up in a bun and french rolls more often. That's me on the left serving as a sideboy during a retirement ceremony for HM1 Carrol.


Finally, me nearer to the end of my enlistment in 2005. I'm receiving my 3rd Naval Achievement Medal(NAM) from Capt Kuhn in 3 years. It was so nice to have my sweetheart be so proud of me. It was a lot of work earning 3 NAMs in the 3 years and Ken never let me forget that. It was so wonderful to have his full support.

Chicken Coop Construction - Continues!

Well construction of the chicken coop has been coming along nicely. We're getting more and more excited as we reflect on our progress. This project has been especially nice for Ken as he's getting a opportunity to use the majority of all the nifty toys... oops! I mean tools! Yes, tools he's received as gifts - most over the years by his loving wife! :-)



For a few days we had some much appreciated help from Johnathan Hetrick, which was fun for us and for him. Jewel also enjoyed taking a break from construction during one of the days and spending time and having fun with the other Hetrick children Samantha, Christina & Nick when we did a "kid swap." On one day, when Johnathan came to help, I did have to give him a hard time though... here's why: So I come out to check on the progess and see if anyone needs another hot chocolate (motivation for cool autumn mornings), when I see three eggs on the deck table. Odd I thought, hmmm... thinking nah - our girls are supposed to lay brown eggs, but without holding, but rather after touching the eggs softly and feeling them just barely warm, the fleeting moment of excitement came - Oh my! Has the day come? But they're white eggs! Only to find out Johnathan had brough 3 hard boiled eggs to snack on during the day. We all got a good chuckle out of that one!


On a perfect day - Johnathan helping Ken put the roof on while learning some basic carpentry skills. What a trooper and such a big help!


Coop construction is really looking good & the roof is on!


The wonderful overhang to keep us dry at the end of the coop. It rained a couple of days after we put this up and it was SO nice! We're also putting up a bug zapper attached to the corner of the overhang to keep some of those pesky bugs at bay. Hope the chickens like their bugs well done!


Jewel helping with Linoleum & trim installation on a cool autumn morning.


Ken finishing up nailing the flooring trim. I thought it looked nicer than what we have in the house now, perhaps trim updates will be another up and coming project since Ken did such a lovely job!


Ken and Jewel working hard while I document their progress inbetween helping.


Ken getting some much deserved appreciation from one of the chickens for building their lovely coop!


Jewel with her favorite hen "Tender," a Black Australorp. Tender is the most calm and sweet bird so far of the older bunch. This breed is quickly becoming one of my favorites.


Tender is our biggest hen, though our older girls are all quite large. They'll be 18 weeks old as of Monday!

Our HOT but AWESOME Day in Amelia County Virginia

It was a record breaking HOT day in the 100s, but was a great day nonetheless! Today we traveled up to Amelia County Virginia for some fun and learning.

Ken completed his FIRST Blacksmithing class ever today! It was so exciting for us all. Ken has really wanted to try his hand at this incredible craft and finally was able to have the opportunity. The first class was free, but you had to pay for the materials which were $25, which was wonderful considering how much he learned and accomplished on his first day of class!

http://yesteryearschool.com/index.html



Ken Forging a Cross.



Ken at his forging station.





Ken - One happy guy with his new

toys tools.

Heating up the metal.



Shaping the metal.





Ken's Finished Products (in order of completion):

We added Ken's cell phone (a T-Mobile Tap) for size reference of his completed projects!



S Hook



Decorative Hook



Cross



Hook with Decorative Leaf



Dragon Poo (aka Clink) - It's the leftover material that didn't burn in the coal.



While Ken was busy foraging, Jewel and I watched for a bit, pet the old cows on site at the blacksmith's yard, and then took in some of the sites and history of the area.

This cow was such a sweet girl.





Their tongues are SO strong & so rough! We felt like they were going to pull our hands in their mouths! Oh, and they enjoyed the all the sweating we were doing! The salt improved out taste!



Ahhh... Food - Always a good way to make friends!



Jewel at Sailor's (Saylor's) Creek Battlefield. Which we learned was an incredibly important turning point in the Civil War, but is often overlooked as it occured only 3 days prior to final battle at Appomatox. The tour (just us and a docent/officer) was highly informative, the countryside lovely.
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/sai.shtm

Jewel at the Hillman Home and Sailor's (Saylor's) Creek Battlefield Hospital



Oh to have been a medic during those bloody battles. Check out those medical tools.



Overlooking Sailor's Creek Battlefield. At the time of the battle, the water was a real obstacle and would have stood about chest deep, versus the knee deep it is now.



Jewel standing by the graves of three of the Hillsman children (children of the residents who occupied the home) at Sailor's (Saylors) Creek Battlefield during the war. All three of these grave markers showed the children to be one year of age or under.



Marker in Honor of CAPT Moses Overton for service in the War of 1812. This was a little more obscure, we're going to try and learn more about CAPT. Overton and why this was next to the children's gravesites.