Chasing Chickens

The kids are pretty much having a field day -- every day -- with the poultry in the yard.

The chickens have been part of our family now for almost seven months. We're getting six to seven eggs a day from our eight hens. They've been a great addition to our little homestead.

The big issue is going to be figuring out how to incorporate Joe's dream bird-hunting dog into the family...

Self-Sufficiency is a Beautiful Thing

Some people ask, "How do you do it with five kids?" "Do you ever have time to breathe?" "Aren't you constantly doing things for the kids?"

The truth of the matter is that it gets somewhat easier as the numbers increase and the big ones get older.

Case in point: One rainy Saturday, Anna Marie (almost 12) and Kathleen (10) decided that the unfinished basement could be vastly improved. While their amazingly dutiful parents were upstairs folding laundry or -more likely- putting together a year's worth of homeschool lesson plans, the industrious Leone girls busied themselves building a basement swing for their younger siblings--one big enough for all three little Leones to ride at once.

While we might have wondered why it was so quiet for that hour or so, far be it from experienced parents to interrupt blissful solitude with needless inquiry.

Disclaimer: Industrious energy in basement building projects does not necessarily predict industrious zeal in school work.

Sweet tooth acting up? Kathleen will cure what ails you.

Kathleen is rivaling big sister Anna Marie for the title of Master Dessert Baker in the family.

Latest concoction: Smores Pie. Mmmmmm....

Let's just say we're all hoping Kathleen put that recipe in a safe-but-handy place.

Pest control problem? We have your girl.

Have some uninvited pests in your home? Insects, spiders, ants? Rodents, perhaps?

Just call our Anna Marie.

Unafraid, undeterred, she'll catch any living thing that finds its way into your abode.

Witness the trapped ground squirrel which she caught in our home this summer.

How did we end up with a ground squirrel in our house, you ask? Ahem. Please ask that question of William and Andrew, primary culprits of the leave-the-door-open-every-time-you-walk-in-the-house routine.

Summer in Whitewater

We spent a good bit of time at Joe's family's cottage on the lake in Whitewater this summer. With talk of selling the property, we are getting in our last hurrahs. This photo montage displays the great fun to be had "at Whitewater."

Joe's mom and his sister Cathie with little Therese:


Uncle Lou teaches William to play tennis:


Uncle George takes Andrew and Therese for a walk:


Therese loves the ride from atop Daddy's shoulders:


Conked out on Daddy's back:


William takes great pleasure in manning the wheel of the boat:


Kathleen takes a turn at the helm:


Anna Marie takes over so Uncle George can get back to his beer:


Uncle George has to pay attention again. Andrew is at the wheel!


Even Therese gets a turn:


























Andrew gets Oakley outfitted in a life jacket on the floor of the boat.


Ahoy Matey, it's Captain Therese!


Kathleen and William get ready for their wild ride:


The kids play on the Whitewater lawn:


Kathleen and Grandma Carolyn:


Joe and his mom:

Stone Ground Flour, Anyone?

We recently purchased a manual mill for grinding our own wheat berries and other grains. It complements the electric mill we already owned, and gives us some self-sufficiency in the event of a power outage. Joe got his work out grinding the wheat berries after this photo was snapped. We all had fun taking turns and seeing how long we could crank that flywheel.

It's All About the Hair

Therese showing off summer pig tails and Andrew showing off a summer buzz cut...

We Offer Protection Services

Should you find yourself in sudden need of a warrior, a ghostbuster, or a damsel-rescuing knight, just contact Masters William or Andrew. You'll find them ready, willing, and able to take on the dastardly doers of the world (at least the imaginary variety).

Bon Appetit!

Mr. Andrew, our resident four-year-old, likes to eat summer sausage atop chocolate donuts. He's been a real gourmet health nut from day one.

Girls' Handiwork

In an effort to bring this blog back up to date, I am going to try to post like a mad-woman in the coming days... It's been a long hiatus with fun summer adventures, visits from grandparents, finding a new home for Grammy (and moving her into it), and dealing with a bit of the stomach flu. Now it's time to catch up, make some school plans, and throw a few photos out there.

Anna Marie and Kathleen continued to take sewing classes this summer with Katie, a teacher from Han's Sewing in town. Their handiwork amazes me, especially that which they can now do independently, thanks to Katie. In this photo, the girls display a hand-sewn apron (Anna Marie), hand-sewn fabric bowls & trivets (Kathleen & Anna Marie) and a hand sewn table runner (Anna Marie).

Look Out, Sneaky Guys!

Joe and the kids were playing a board game the other night. While the game was in high gear, hungry Joe (aka "Dad") reached over to grab a handful of peanuts.

Apparently, the two-year-with-eagle-eyes didn't approve.

"You 'neaky guy. I bank you," she scolded sternly, with all the seriousness she could muster.

(Translation: "You're a sneaky guy. I'm going to spank you.")

For more funnies from the mouths of babes, see my friend Meredith's blog.

Sneaky Scavenger in the Pantry

This is what it looks like when a hungry two-year-old gets caught, red-handed, raiding the pantry.

Homegrown Passion Play

Recently, while Joe and I were busy working in the gardens and Therese was busy napping, the four big kids decided (unbeknownst to us) to put together their own mini Passion Play. Here are a few photos from the memorable show. Need I tell you the audience went wild?

Double Digits!

We have a ten-year old in the house once again! Our little Kathleen has moved into the double digits arena.

She said this was her best birthday ever, as she received the gift of Nellie, the cat; a bow for archery with Dad, a new big-girl purse; a homemade apron from her big sister; an art set and an heirloom flute from her grandparents; and more! What fun! Happy Birthday, Beanie!

Laid to Rest

We laid our little miscarried baby to rest this evening in a private ceremony in a country graveyard of a beautiful, old Catholic Church. Fr. Rick performed the burial ceremony in honor of our little Mary (or Mario). The evening was perfect, the setting was idyllic, and we came home feeling so very happy that our little one who was called by God weeks ago has now been laid to rest.

Anna Marie Has Been Writing Poetry

From the pen of our eleven-year-old:

Spring
A sea of green, yellow, and blue.
The pitter-patter of rain on the roof.
The wind, ruffling my hair, and playing in the branches of the trees.
Cold lemonade, trickling down my throat.
The faint, clean scent of lilacs.

Summer
Yellow and white daisies on the edge of the road.
The twitter of birds, as they chase through the air.
The rays of the sun, warming my face.
The clean, oniony taste of chives.
Hamburgers, letting off their savory scent, while cooking on the grill.


Fall
A sky full of yellow, red, orange and brown.
The crisp, dry crunch of leaves under my feet.
A gust of wind, bringing in a cold front.
Sweet, creamy pumpkin pie.
The smoky scent of bonfires.

Winter
A world of swirling whiteness.
The crackling fire.
Snowflakes melting lightly on my cheeks and lips.
The warm, spicy taste of a freshly baked gingersnap.
The clean, crisp scent of snow.

Turquoise
Turquoise looks happy and cheerful, like bluebirds.
Turquoise feels warm and breezy as a spring morning.
Turquoise smells like freshly cut grass.
Turquoise sounds like the twitter of birds.
Turquoise tastes sweet and tangy, like an orange.

Navy Blue
Navy blue looks big and cold as a winter evening sky.
Navy blue feels cold and hostile like a desert night.
Navy blue smells bitter as black coffee.
Navy blue sounds windy and loud as a tornado.
Navy blue tastes as strong as black licorice.

A Little Leone in Heaven

On Thursday, April 3rd, we learned we were expecting a new little bambino/a. Another little Leone!

Our surprise and health concerns (given my pregnancy-induced stroke history) quickly turned to great jubilation as we realized the gift we'd again been given. Rather than adding to our family by adoption, as we were considering, we were now going to be adding by birth once again. Six little Leones.

The kids were thrilled. Kathleen, our nine-year-old, cried tears of joy, a new experience for her. Talk quickly centered on names, room arrangements, and much more. The pregnancy hormones kicked in for real a week later with the usual nausea and the quick-popping abdomen. We spread the news earlier than usual this time, as we hoped friends and family would join us in praying for a healthy pregnancy.

Three weeks later, on April 24th, we received the overwhelmingly sad news that our baby had no heartbeat. It was estimated that our little Leone had died within just twenty-four hours of the OB appointment where the lack of heartbeat was revealed. She (or he) was 8 weeks gestation. This was our first miscarriage.

Anna Marie, our eleven-year-old, had joined me for the ultrasound. We had prepared her that ultrasounds don't alway reveal good news, but of course, we never expected the outcome we'd receive that day. Thus, Anna Marie and I together were the first to hear the news.

We saw, on the ultrasound, a perfect little baby at the very early stages of development. The spine was distinct. The head was prominent. And although I think I could detect arm and leg "buds," there was also still a bit of that early "tail" shape to the bottom end of our little one. But there was no movement. No heartbeat. No sign of life.

A follow-up ultrasound the next week would confirm things definitively for us.

We are full of emotions. The little one whom we already loved will never enter our lives in the same way that our other five children have. But this little one already has a special place in heaven and can intercede on our behalf to God. We have a treasure in heaven, and we know we are blessed. But we are human, and the tears still flow.

I have a beautiful bouquet of a dozen long-stemmed red roses from my dear husband and a magnificent spring bouquet of tulips and lilies from our great friend Claudia. The flowers helped put a smile on my face during a time that felt so strangely bleak. They came just as the lovely congratulations-on-your-pregnancy flowers from my mother-in-law had faded.

We hope to bury our baby next week. Our children have decided that our baby was a girl, and have named her Mary. Whether she's a Mary or a Mario, she's dearly loved by her parents and siblings and won't be forgotten. We hope she'll pray for her siblings and parents here on earth.

Chicken Update

Our chickens are growing! In this, our first foray into chicken rearing, we've managed to keep all sixteen alive and healthy. They made their first venture into the great outdoors yesterday (although as I speak, they are outside in their coop in a thunderstorm, and I'm wondering how they're doing).

This series of chicken photos shows the chickens at the following ages, respectively:
* One day old
* Six days old
* Twenty days old
* Forty days old (yesterday)

What a difference six weeks makes!

Tie-Dyed Egg Instructions

My friend Andrea asked how we created the tie-dyed Easter eggs. Here is the answer!

We read somewhere (can't find the link now) that the following "tie-dyed eggs" recipe works well. We tried it for the first time this year, and we were very pleased. We'll definitely do it again this way next year.

1. Take 1-4 hard-boiled eggs and put them in a colander over the sink.
2. Splash them with some white vinegar.
3. Place 2-3 drops of yellow food coloring on each egg.
4. Gently roll the eggs in the colander (as much or as little as you wish, depending on the effect you're seeking).
5. Let the eggs sit for a good 30 seconds, so the food coloring has a chance to set a little.
6. Now repeat steps 3-5 up to two more times (using a new color each time). Remember to roll and let set after the addition of each color.
7. After the final color sets for 30 seconds, gently rinse with running water. (The more you rinse, the fainter the colors.)

The directions also said that using more than three colors can result in muddy-colored eggs. However, with some experimentation and small applications of additional colors (barely rolled in the colander), we had some luck with small applications of fourth and fifth colors.

The neon food colors work really well, although the neon pack does not include yellow for the base color. (We also experimented without using yellow as a base color, and it worked fine.)

This was such a simple project (way less messy, due to doing it over the sink), and far more creative than our typical egg-coloring activities. We'll definitely do this again next year.

Elizabeth