Stone Hill Homestead

Just so you know…

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Lisl

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Just so you know…

Your three year old will not always draw little whales and birds on his bed sheets.

He will graduate to dragons and creatures of the dinosaur age.

Then he will begin artwork for his own fantasy novel that he spends his teenage years writing.  Tonight he says, “And I have to go take my shirt off and look at my tummy. Because it’s almost humanoid.” (His dad asks, “What? Your tummy?) And I immediately suspect it’s one of those that enter the uncanny valley and it will give me the creeps. I don’t even like dolls.

He calls this a ragentosque. It lives in dark caves at the bottom of the world. I still can’t figure out how it moves around. Apparently it can, even without living in water, if need be. I feel sorry for it.

He will also take an art course in high school and draw your dog, your house, and your farm. And some of the projects he will enjoy and others he will grit his teeth and do because he must.

But you know what? From time to time you’re still gonna find him in odd positions. It will make you smile.

He will no longer draws cute little animals on the walls and bedsheets. He will be fully potty trained. I remember worrying about that back in the day. He will be sixteen one day and come home happy at 9 o’clock on Sunday evening after a good day with friends. He will milk your cow and haul firewood with very little complaint. And you will be so stinking proud to be his mom. Even when you don’t like all the creepy monsters he draws.

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Hello,

I’m Lisl

Herein lie the events, ponderings, people, and animals that make up the cacophony of our life.

Pictures of farm and family

Fiona finally made her appearance on Monday. Directly followed by her mother's milk fever the following day and then ketosis after that. Freyja certainly did the jersey thing. She's recovering and I think she'll be just fine. Today it was spring. The rest of the week maybe not so much. Malcolm the turkey is gorgeous in his pristine plumage. The goats are pregnant with 2 weeks to go. Freckles the goose is meaner than second skimmings because his lady is nesting. Bitsy is the oldest chicken in the farm I think and still sporting her rediculous foot feathers. The chicken beside her is the daughter of a beloved chicken I lost in a water trough incident. The amount of chaos involved from me lobbying this morning to get that washer and dryer out of Havilah's room so she could have more space was worth it. Still have a few steps in the basement to do before I can wash laundry but we will be fine. Thanks to my mom and dad and Gideon (who I don't even have a picture of) for all the help. Havilah was Bible quizzing in Iowa today and yesterday. It was a perfect surprise. I've been collecting bits and bobs of dishes for the last 10 years. I like pretty china and have enjoyed the mixing and matching. But practicality has come calling and it's time to sort and divide. I have a new set moving in replacing our everyday cracked hodgepodge. Everything in the kitchen and china hutch needs shifted and rearranged. The china I don't actually love is moving out. The other night it was 9:30 and Dru needed to go to Walmart. So we put the kids to bed and left. I had to get both bouquets. I was excited about finding the Canterbury bells because I have seed sown for them but had never actually seen them in real life. Also the purple thistle flower thing gives me joy. So, obviously, I needed both bunches. It's been a week of the sick here on StoneHill. Even Dru lost a day of school out of the deal. I'm so done! Today, my goal is to pretend that life is better now and just do! February funk on top of it does not help me at all. Lists and real life now, here we go. I blogged. A few times. Maybe I'll keep it up. Link in bio. Just happy things. First pic is Rennie helping his dad with opening an old floppy desk using Rennie's raspberry pi computer. The next one was last night while Dru took the rest of the kids skating Rian and I watched Ruthanne Zimmerman make egg noodles while we ate soup in mugs. It's been a very full and happy Christmas season. I didn't take pictures consistently. I miss doing that and want to try harder. I don't have any pictures of my own family's gatherings. But here is a smattering of photos from our busy holiday. My favorite is of Ray sneaking ham to the cat in the kitchen at my Mother in law's house. No, actually it's my boys playing together. The giraffe at the mall, wondering why he is sharing this little bench with a grown man, also cracks me up.