Pigs--March to May 2012

 We had planned on picking up the pigs on St. Patrick's Day, but because of the flood, we had to postpone that.

I really don't know which pig is whose, but here are the 3 pigs.

 Zane's is once again the smallest pig.  But we discovered that his pig had a hernia & so in May, he took the pig to the vet to get operated on.

 He recovered & even though it looked like another hernia was forming about a month later, it went away on it's own.

 Zane's pig has been fun, because he acts like a dog--when Rusty pats his side, he lays down & lets Rusty look at him.  It's funny!

 And like our pigs last year, they are all at fair weight 6-8 weeks before fair!

 Getting the pigs ready for their last pre-fair weigh-in.  We have changed their feed to straight barley.  Hopefully they will slow down on their weight-gain.

July 3, 2012--Revolutionary War Re-Enactment

For the past 25 years (plus), we have been going up to the Bills' house for fireworks on July 3rd.  When we first started, only a handful of families went up and took a dish to share for an evening picnic/meal & then we would go to their pasture to enjoy some fireworks.

Brent Bills is very patriotic & always had stories to share about the constitution and the beginnings of our country with us.  Later, they added bigger & more fireworks, music, computers & then synchronized everything (you could even listen to the narrative/music on the radio).   The family provides ice cream & watermelon for everyone to eat.  And over the years, hundreds & hundreds of people come from all over to see this fireworks program.

This past November, Brent Bills unexpectedly died in an airplane crash.  The family didn't know if they would still have their fireworks.  They decided they would have it again this year.  But with the dry, hot weather & a county-wide (& almost state-wide) ban on fireworks, they thought they would have to cancel everything.  But on Sunday, July 1st, they announced that they would still have the program--minus the fireworks.   

 So on the evening of July 3rd, our family went up to the Bills.  My Aunt Susie, Uncle Errol, cousin Angela & her 2 kids--Jacob & Kami--were here too.

Orley went around recruiting (drafting) people to help with the revolutionary war re-enactment, and after some persistent persuading (and may a gun/knife was involved????==ha, ha), Zane agreed to help.

 One of Brent's sisters made all the people involved get their pictures taken, so that is how I was able to capture all these pictures of Zane.

 Orley (a good family friend--like a second dad to me) has always played a minuteman & uses his muzzle loader gun.

 

 Zane held the ammunition for the other guys because there weren't enough guns (and he was the youngest one there).

My mom sitting by Aunt Susie--the heat gets to both of the quickly so we found some shade until the program started.

Sashaann, Emmalee, Benjamin & Brienna enjoying watermelon & ice cream.

Mom finding some shade.

You can see some of the smoke in the background--most of it would be gone in the mornings and settle back in the evenings.

Emmalee sitting on Brienna's lap.

Ben snuggling on Aunt Pamela's lap.
I'll have a separate post with the video from the re-enactment.  I hope it works :)

Anne of Green Gables--April 20, 2012 Part 2

 Zane & Brienna

 The set

 All the cast received a rose (girls) and/or a candy bar "flower" (boys & girls)

 Curtain call

The cast in the foyer as everyone leaves.

Anne of Green Gables--April 20, 2012 Part 1

Brienna, Zane & Emmalee were all in the school's production of "Anne of Green Gables".  Brienna was Marilla Cuthbert, the spinster that takes Anne in, even though she wanted a boy to help at the farm.

 Emmalee was a little child--the little sister of Diana Barry, Anne's best friend.

 Brienna's friend, Lindsay did the hair & make-up.  Emmalee had a blast & loved being "pampered".

 Before the play--Abby Grover, Kami Killian, Zane, Matthew Shenton & Maddie Jacobson (with her back to us)

 Zane & his friend, Matthew;  Brienna & her "daughter" Anne.

 Emmalee--what a doll!

 Zane was Gilber Blythe, a fellow student who likes Anne.

 Emmalee being held by her "big sister".  She didn't have any speaking parts, but she had to pretend to sleep, cough & cry.

 Brienna standing at the table.

 Zane & his school teacher.

 Brienna (Marilla) & her bachelor brother, Matthew--played by Salvador Cano.

 Brienna is standing on the left with a black shawl.  Emmalee is on her "sister's" lap.