random pictures

January Pictures

March 16, 2014 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Time to catch up! Here are some pictures we took back in January that I never shared.

The littlest fellow still needs naps, although he doesn’t necessarily want them. One evening he fell asleep, and I laid him on the couch. When he started waking up awhile later, he ended up like this! While we were working on the new house, he took naps on a blanket in the corner of the living room.

This is a close-up of the windowsill in the living room. For 16 years, flies and bees had been the only occupants of the room! We scrubbed the white windowsill, then sanded and painted it—now it looks much better! I was amused at the layers of old paint on the outside; can you see all three?

The kitchen remodeling, getting closer to completion!

I painted the living room ceiling. It is wallpaper, but was looking old and dirty. The paint really freshened and brightened the room. I had to glue a lot of spots up, too.

The boys love playing around the creek!

The creek is nearly dried up.

Today’s Activities

March 15, 2014 by NZ Filbruns 1 Comment

This has been another busy day. We started out butchering roosters and making tomato juice, and while I cut up the roosters the boys worked on their projects. We also picked apples and made applesauce, and the boys helped their daddy cut off the rest of the cornstalks from the garden and bring them home; we’ll husk the corn tomorrow.

Now it is tomorrow; I didn’t get this finished last night. So, I’ll add the pictures and try to get it posted today!

Boy # 2 is working on building a workshop to store his tools in, in this picture.

The base for boy #2's sleepout. — The base for boy #2’s sleepout.

Boy #4 working on his sleepout--a defunct freezer that served as a swimming pool for a couple of years. — Boy #4 working on his sleepout–a defunct freezer that served as a swimming pool for a couple of years.

And this is what the kitchen looked like!

tomato juice, applesauce and a jar of lentils to fill the canner,

Gayle and the boys brought home all the corn, then picked it off the stalks and husked it.

The cows enjoyed the stalks, husks, and cobs. They would have enjoyed the corn, too, but we didn't share. — The cows enjoyed the stalks, husks, and cobs. They would have enjoyed the corn, too, but we didn’t share.

January Pictures

January 16, 2014 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Just some miscellaneous pictures my two chief photographers and I took recently.

The older four boys are participating in the local library's summer reading program. That has gotten the two littlest quite interested in books, too. — The older four boys are participating in the local library’s summer reading program. That has gotten the two littlest quite interested in books, too.

The day before, and the day after, New Year's Day, two hens each hatched 11 chicks out of the 12 we had put under each of them three weeks before. We gave all 22 chicks to one of the hens, and she is taking superb care of them. — The day before, and the day after, New Year’s Day, two hens each hatched 11 chicks out of the 12 we had put under each of them three weeks before. We gave all 22 chicks to one of the hens, and she is taking superb care of them.

We rarely see dolphins on the way to church, but one recent Sunday morning they were up very close to the shore. I was glad we were early so we could stop and watch them for 10 minutes. That’s a Whale Watch boat just beyond the dolphins. It is a little hard to make them out, but you can see splashing where the dolphins are jumping.

The boys are weeding the garden for me this summer. They are each required to pull a bucketful a day, and show me before they dump them. To ensure honestly, they have to stand on them in my sight!

Is your book more interesting than mine?

Little brother watches closely to see exactly how big brother does things, then does it himself!

Catch-Up Time

December 21, 2013 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Just some random pictures from the past month around here.

The youngest participant in the library's summer reading program! — The youngest participant in the library’s summer reading program!

We removed all the books from our shelves and packed them. He thought it made a nice place to hide!

The books I weeded out of our collection--I think he lost his balance as he brought them in for me to sort and list! — The books I weeded out of our collection–I think he lost his balance as he brought them in for me to sort and list!

The youngest loves to play with toy animals. When I told him it was time for bed, he was holding all three of these ducks, and very carefully set them down. I had to laugh when I saw how they were arranged in order of size, and in a straight line!

We have a cute visitor this week--a California quail! — We have a cute visitor this week–a California quail!

Our harvest from the garden a few days ago. I have a hard time believing that this is the equivalent of the middle of June in Michigan!

Two of our cuties--numbers 5 and 7. — Two of our cuties–numbers 5 and 7.

Budding Photographer!

November 23, 2013 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Our eight-year-old borrowed a camera yesterday from his sister and went around the place taking pictures of anything and everything. He wants to make a book of these pictures so he can remember this place! I asked if he would let me post some of his pictures, and he was happy to grant permission. So, enjoy his first set of pictures!

My Rosemary plant--I'm hoping I can move it to the new house. — My Rosemary plant–I’m hoping I can move it to the new house.

Ginger likes to sleep in the strawberry bed.

The boxes I've packed. — The boxes I’ve packed.

In other news, we’re working towards moving. I’ve packed a grand total of five boxes this week (up to 32 altogether), and did a lot of sorting and pitching. That feels good! We’re still working on sleeping quarters; we have a bid in on a sleepout. The auction closes in 44 minutes. I’ll report on the results another time!

Update: I had a phone call, so didn’t get this finished, and now the auction has closed. We got the sleepout! Someone else wanted it, too, but weren’t willing to go as high as we had decided on. It is a 20-foot shipping container that has been insulated and lined, with a glass sliding door in one end. Just a plain shipping container is more than we’re paying for this, and then we’d have to convert it yet.

November

November 17, 2013 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Here I am again–no new posts for awhile! So, you can enjoy a random sampling of photos from the past couple of weeks.

How do you like this for a place to do your math lesson?

New Zealand road block--these two people sat here talking on the road by us for at least 15 minutes! Not much traffic on our road. — New Zealand road block–these two people sat here talking on the road by us for at least 15 minutes! Not much traffic on our road.

First you empty the cupboard...then you climb in! — First you empty the cupboard…then you climb in!

Starting the moving process by sorting books--baby wants in on it, too. — Starting the moving process by sorting books–baby wants in on it, too.

Building a birthday gift: a model cathedral.

Ah hah! Now I can get Esther's door open! — Ah hah! Now I can get Esther’s door open!

See the trail of rose petals he left behind? He loves picking huge roses and bringing them in for us to smell.

Camelia--the rest are just a sampling of the roses around our house. — Camelia–the rest are just a sampling of the roses around our house.

September

September 28, 2013 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Whew! Another month has gone by, in a hurry! It’s already been two weeks since I posted. Here are a few pictures, just to give you a tiny glimpse into our lives.

Nearly the last of the old harvest--beets, carrots, and a few leeks. — Nearly the last of the old harvest–beets, carrots, and a few leeks.

I finished harvesting everything except the leeks from last year's garden, and this boy helped me bring the harvest in. — I finished harvesting everything except the leeks from last year’s garden, and this boy helped me bring the harvest in.

This little boy had a birthday! He was showered with gifts, and of course loved the attention!

Off they go on a bike ride! The four-year-old just learned to ride with training wheels.

A few of the 28 chicks we've hatched out over the past week or so. — A few of the 28 chicks we’ve hatched out over the past week or so.

August

August 31, 2013 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

I’ve been busy living life, not blogging it. So, here’s a collection of pictures from the past few weeks.

Two little boys who like to do things together.

Snuggled up to big brother, doing what he does.

Our first calf for the year. The boy who has taken over calf-feeding had trouble with the bottle, and the calf followed him up on the porch when he came to ask me for help.

"I'm washing my hands, of course!" He climbed up on the sink counter when no one was watching, and rubbed soap all over his hands (and clothes!) — “I’m washing my hands, of course!” He climbed up on the sink counter when no one was watching, and rubbed soap all over his hands (and clothes!)

Sorry if this is too much for some people. I put this on for Mom. It's a trail of mucous, with a dried-out slug at the end! — Sorry if this is too much for some people. I put this on for Mom. It’s a trail of mucous, with a dried-out slug at the end!

Under the hot water heater! This little fellow has recently discovered the joys of climbing into tight places! Usually, though, by the time I find the camera, he’s done.

Instead of retracing our steps when we got to where the creek flows into the sea, Gayle carried most of us over!

Sunday we walked along a creek in Kaikoura. The boys all walked along the top of this wall.

There! I got them posted. I had to take the pictures out and put them back in several times because they weren’t cooperating the way I wanted! (And my daughter laughed at my struggles! And, enjoy the new header–she spent several days making it.)

Random Pictures

July 27, 2013 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

Here are a few random views of our life from the past few weeks. Lots happens around here, but this can give you a tiny glimpse into our family!

We are still harvesting giant leeks and carrots from the garden.

My big find at Recycling a couple of weeks ago--a cast-iron Dutch oven! It was very rusty, but I cleaned it up and seasoned it and it works beautifully! — My big find at Recycling a couple of weeks ago–a cast-iron Dutch oven! It was very rusty, but I cleaned it up and seasoned it and it works beautifully!

A couple of Sundays ago, it was quite stormy when we went to church. That makes for a beautiful ocean!

Winter Harvest, and random pictures

June 6, 2013 by NZ Filbruns Leave a Comment

One thing I really enjoy about our climate here is being able to grow things year-round. Right now, it is the equivalent of early December in the Northern Hemisphere. I harvested our salad and some vegetables for soup today, and spent some time weeding. After spending six hours teaching the children, weeding is a great way to relax and reset.