Blog Award and Tag

Hey everybody,

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted. Life shifts into high speed and slowing it down is not the easiest thing to do. So let me get you up to date with what has happened since I last posted.

I have received a blog award!! I received Excellence in Blogcasting from Rachel M. and J.J.!!! Thank you so very much! I am very happy that you enjoy reading my blog and I hope it blesses you in some way. I give this award to Anne, Rachel H., Ellie, Olivia, and Sarah. I am pretty sure that everyone else has this one.



Also, I was tagged by Josh from While I am Waiting. I have to write up to fifty things about myself. So here it goes!!

1. I am a Bible believing Christian.


2. I am in 4-H.


3. I love animals and being outside.


4. I love taking pictures.


5. I am working on improving my photography skills.


6. I enjoy horsebackriding.


7. I wish I had a horse of my own. Right now I have three mini horses.


8. I raise meat rabbits. New Zealands, actually.


9. I show rabbits at our county fair every year.


10. I am almost done with my freshman year of high school. I finish next month.


11. I am refinishing a secretary as one of my 4-H projects.


12. I am a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia.


13. I would like major in architectural design when I go to college.


14. I enjoy target shooting.


15. I have never been hunting.


16. I go fishing every summer, at the near-by lake or in our pond.


17. I would like to have my own room. My dad says that should happen by my 16th birthday.


18. I have my learners permit.


19. I have not gotten to drive a whole lot lately because of bad weather. But it is getting nicer.


20. I would like to have a truck when I am older.


21. I enjoy dancing. I take both Irish Step and Ballet.


22. I love spending time with my family.


23. I am trying to decide what language to take next year.


24. I enjoy writing. Creative writing, that is.


25. I am writing a book in my spare time.


26. I am teaching myself to play guitar.


27. I enjoy Irish music.


28. I am going to build my dog, Fritzy, an agility course out of PVC pipe.


29. I entered a homemade apple pie in a contest and placed third.


30. I have had my braces for 8 months.


31. I really miss Snickers candy bars and Blizzards.


32. I wish I knew how to sword fight.


33. I am watching Prince Caspian and that triggered my last remark.


34. I am finding it hard to make it to fifty. But I will make it.


35. I helped my dad load a dump truck full of wood on Wednesday. I will have more on this.


36. I enjoy helping my dad with all sorts of projects.


37. I would like to, one day, have a farm.


38. I am part of an Irish Step troupe that performs at nursing homes and retirement centers.


39. I need to post more often.


40. I enjoy baking with my family. No-bake cookies are my favorite to make.


41. I like lifting heavy stuff.


42. I am strong for a 14 year old, says my dad.


43. I need just a few more, almost there.


44. I have glasses but never wear them.


45. I have had a refinished rocking chair and a clothing selection outfit go to the state fair.


46. I have won agility with my dog, Mandy, at the county fair.


47. I miss Mandy, who was hit by a car almost two years ago.


48. I am shy.


49. I am an alto in choir.


50. I enjoy driving farm machinery.

There!! I made it to 50!!! It is all a bit random, but I hope you enjoy reading it!! Thank you Josh for the tag! If anybody needs anything clarified, just let me know. I will have another post soon about what has been happening in my life.

'becca

Chicks

So, today I was doing school, and about 8:45 our county extension office called to say that chicks we had ordered through them had come in and we could pick them up anytime after 10:00. So mom says to stop school and go get everything set up. Well, I am already half a day behind because I got a cold and did not do much school yesterday, so now I am a day behind. But I will catch up. So, back to the chicks. Rachel and I got out the metal tub, and the feeders and waterers. Rachel filled up the feeders while I went out to the barn to get the heat lamp. I brought it in and hooked it up. Then we went out and got the bag of ground corn cob to use as bedding. I mixed up the water and then everything was set up. My mom, Jonathan, Rachel and I piled in the van and set off. We had to stop by the local hardware store to get a new thermometer because our old one had broken. We went to the fairgrounds and picked up our 13 California Whites and headed home. Jonathan kept telling the chicks to be quiet, but they don't listen to directions very well. :) When we got home, Jonathan, Rachel and I took the chicks and dipped their beaks in the water. Then we left them alone and I went back to school work. We put the thermometer in and I went down later to make sure that the temperature was at 95. It wasn't quite there, so I moved the lamp down a little. After that, the temperature was fine and the chicks are happy. Or at least sleepy!

'becca

I am back!!!

Hello everyone,

Our computer is still having problems, but I can use my grandma's laptop. So I will be posting. I will have an actual post for you later, but I just wanted you to know that I am back.

God bless,

'becca

For your information

To let everyone know, our computer is taking a trip to the doctor!! It is bogged down with anti-virus and other programs. So I will not be posting for a few days. :( But I will have much to post about when I get back! I will be back in a few days. Until then, God bless!

'becca

Trees

My mom said that since I had talked about trimming trees, why not post some pictures. So here you go, apple trees. These are not all the same tree, but this will give you an idea what it takes to get a tree trimmed up.



What it looks like before we trim anything




A partially trimmed tree



A finished tree

Now you know what we are working with.

'becca

My Busy Weekend!!

Ok, be ready for a long post!! Since we had such nice weather this weekend, it got to fifty on Saturday, I was outside alot. Trimming apple trees, splitting wood, riding my bike, that kind of stuff. So, for my post today, I will give you all an outline of my weekend. My weekend starts as soon as school is done on Friday, so I will start there.

Friday:

Around one o'clock I got done with school and headed outside. I got my bike out and road around on our driveway. We have a pretty long gravel driveway, so it was a little muddy from all the melting, but Jonathan, Rachel and I had fun. I have some pictures but they are still on my camera. I will put them on soon.

My dad got off work early, so when he got home we started pruning apple trees. We have to do this every year, but all of them, we have 25 or so although there are a few that don't produces, have not gotten pruned in the last couple of years, so we have some catching up to do. You just start "hacking and whacking" as my dad says. First you take out all the sap wood, the stuff that won't produce apples, then you start shaping the tree, making sure that it won't be too tall, short or wide. After your all done with a tree, it looks kind of weird because you are use to more branches. But the trees grow better apples pruned up. Once the leaves come in they look fine. So I help Dad trim one. He says that if we trim one a day, we will get them all done before warm weather. So, once we were done with the tree we went inside and had supper. Leftovers, my favorite!!! Actually it was ok, I had some stir fry, so that was fine with me.

Rachel and I went out and did animal chores. The ponies were really dirty because they had been rolling!!! But they will just have to be dirty for a while. Once it gets warm, and stays warm, I'll have to give them baths. Showers, actually. That is a lot of fun!!! When I do it, I'll post about it.

So, then we had Bible time and all went to bed because we were tired. Including Fritzy!! She had been running around a lot.

Saturday:

I made blueberry muffins for breakfast. I had the batter a little thick and filled the muffin cups kind of full, but they still tasted good.

Rachel and I went out and did morning chores. The ponies had been left out and they had gone down to the pen. But the run was sheer ice, so they were having a hard time getting back up to the barn. So we helped them up and I built a make-shift gate. It consisted of their hay feeder, which is half of a plastic barrel screwed to a wooden frame, and three lead ropes. We set it up next to the barn, blocking the ponies from going down the run. So now they are confined to the area right in front of the barn, but not for long.

Rachel, Jonathan and I did a little more bike ridding after chores.

Next, I helped my dad split wood. I really enjoy splitting wood, although I am still working on my aim. But I am getting better. So I split while my dad cut up the big logs with the chain saw and Rachel and Jonathan stacked the wood in the greenhouse.

Then I had to go in and get ready for ballet rehearsal. Rehearsal is from 11:00 to 1:30. That went really well and I had a lot of fun.

Then I came home and helped my dad trim another apple tree. This one was a Golden Delicious. One of my favorite apples. After you do the first tree, you remember that you just start chopping, no need to take hours over one tree.

I am trying to remember, it seems like I did something else on Saturday but I just can not think of it. Oh well, I tell you if I remember.

I remembered! My dad got out his Lever Action 22 and we did some target shooting. We only had 9 shots, so each of us (my sister, brother and I) had three shots. I got to go first and shot just a little to high. So, for you information, we were shooting at a milk jug. My second shot I winged the jug. On my last shot, I hit the jug. I was the only one, but we all had fun.

Sunday:

My mom made hash browns and bacon and my dad made eggs for breakfast. It was all very good.

Rachel and I went and did chores. The ponies wanted to go down to the pen but the run still had a lot of ice on it, so that was a denied request.

My family and I then headed off to church. The sermon was very good and Sunday School was very interesting. I am in the adult class right now and we are talking about the sovereignty of God. Quite thought provoking.

We had steak for lunch, but my teeth were quite sore because of my braces, so I had a hot dog. I know, not the best thing for you, but I wasn't really hungry.

After lunch we had a few things that needed to get done before it rained today. I climbed out my bedroom window onto the roof, which is a level down from my bedroom, and took the Christmas lights off. This is one of my favorite jobs. I don't mind heights at all. I have fun up there.

Then I went down and helped my dad, grandpa and sister stack wood in the greenhouse. We have a wood burning stove that heats the shop. So now we have plenty of wood to last for quite a while.

Then my dad let me split the last log. I really am getting better at my aim and very much enjoy swinging a splitting maul.

Next, my dad and I went down and trimmed a Harlsen apple tree. It did not take that long, because, as I said, then more you do it the faster you get. Now we have three done, just a few more to go.

After supper, Rachel and I gave Fritzy and Carlie baths. We also brushed their teeth and clean their ears. Not a whole lot of fun, but they are clean now. Now I have to clip their nails and brush them.

Monday:

So not part of my weekend, but I thought I would tell you what I have done so far today.

I got up at about 6 o'clock. I grabbed some cereal, then got on the computer to polish my essay. I don't have to turn it in until Wednesday, but my mom has someone coming to take the computer and clean it out. It has all these software programs that are slowing it down. So I got that done and then Rachel and I went out to do chores. I got a little of my school done, then I had to go to the orthodontist. I now have pink and black rubber bands. A little twist on Valentine's Day colors. When I got home, I finished my school. Now I am using my Grandma's laptop to type this post, even though our computers still here, but Rachel is using it. It is now raining outside. It has been a long time since I saw rain!!

So there you go, my weekend. Hope you enjoyed the post.

'becca

Blog Awards!!!

I finally figured out how to get the pictures of the blog awards!! Now don't laugh, because I might not know how to do it right a way, but I usually figure something out. So here they are.

From Marissa and Lucie

From Lucie and Ellie

The Silver Linings Award

From Joshua

Thanks guys for the awards. I already awarded the first two to people, so I give the last one to: Anne for always finding the best in things, even injury, Rachel for being who she is, and Sarah for making me laugh at her stories and the great pictures on her blog. I am pretty sure the rest of you already have these awards.

Thank you everyone!!

'becca

Update

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay in posting. I have been very busy since I last posted. So to give you all an update:

1. I have received two blog awards.



2. I went to our 4-H club's sledding party on Saturday and had a great time. I also got to ride a snowmobile for the first time and loved it!




3. Today I worked on the secretary that I am refinishing as one of my 4-H projects.




4. My Mom made me take an AMC test to practice for when I have to take the real test.




5. I have been writing a really hard essay for the class I take through the homeschool program we are part of and have been having a very hard time (hence the delay in posting).




6. I have am amazing Mom who helped me by reading and re-reading my essay.




7. I gave my presentation for my 4-H club and at our homeschool group's music fair.




8. I finished my 4-H award application and turned it in before the deadline.




9. I am having a great time at the dance classes that I take and am learning a lot.




10. My Dad said that sometime soon we can take my bow in and get the weight reset. And get arrows so I can actually shoot something at the target, not just pretend.




11. I have officially decided that my sister is very weird. Just check her blog and you will understand what I mean.




12. I have very much enjoyed my experience as a blogger and am looking forward to being one for a long time.



13. My blog is under going some changes, so please bear with me.


14. I have been tagged!!

Well, I think that is about all. To elaborate a little:

I received the "creative blog" and the "your blog is fabulous" awards. I can not get the pictures onto my blog and I am sorry about that. I give these awards to Anne, Sarah, and Rachel. Ellie and Olivia, I think you have these already, but if you don't, I award them to you also.

The sledding party was a lot of fun, although none of the kids my age showed up. I went on my very first snowmobile ride and absolutely loved it. My dad says I'm crazy, but I still think it was cool. Now I really want to go again.

The secretary is a lot of work. The last owner painted it green, which means that I have to strip all the old paint off. Also, since it has been sitting up in the barn for quite sometime, it needs a lot of gluing. That is all done, so now it is stripping, sanding, and staining. I like refinishing and my grandpa is teaching me. It is a lot of fun working with him.

The math test, no fun. Enough said.

The essay is on character analysis in short story and it is a lot of work and not any fun. I am better at creative writing than at assigned work. Some of it is o.k., the things where I can be more creative, but this topic does not give you much leeway.

My Mom is amazing and that is all I can say. Yes, she made me take the math test, but she did that for my own good. God blessed me with amazing parents and I would not trade them for anything. Not even that horse I really want.

My presentation is Step it Up: A History of Irish Music and Irish Step Dancing. Giving it at my club and at the music fair went really well. Now I am in the process of memorizing it for the county level 4-H competition.

This is the first year that I could apply for area awards. I chose just to do one area, although you can do two. I applied for the rabbit award. Later this month, I have an interview!! That will be my first experience in that area.

Dance is going really well. I am taking advanced Irish Step and Ballet IV/V. I have a lot of good Christian friends that dance at the same studio as I do, which is a great encouragement to me. I am also a Teacher's Assistant for three classes, which is a great learning experience for me.

I have had my bow for over a year, but the poundage is set a little too high. So, we are going to take it in and see if they can make it a little easier to pull.

Rachel's blog is Pure Country Kid. It is in my "girls I dance with" blog list. Check it out and you will understand what I mean by wierd. But I still love her.

I really like blogging and am enjoying posting on my life. I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog and will continue to enjoy reading it.

I am trying some different things with my blog, like changing my background and header, which still needs some work, and adding music. So as these changes happen, please bear with me.

I have been tagged by Marissa! So here are my answers to the questions:

A book I read: The Ballet Companion. I am still reading this book, and enjoying it very much. Thank you Anne for letting my borrow it.

A moment I will always remember: When my dance teacher awarded me with my buckles.

A new skill I acquired: I am learning how to drive!!

A movie I watched: Prince Caspian

A lesson I learned: When you are going through hard times, you find out who your friends are.

A new place I visited: New York City and Minnesota, including Lake Superior

An inspiring verse or quote: Read the Bible and you will find many. I don't want to just pick one.

I tag Anne, Ellie, Rachel, Olivia, Sarah, and anyone else I missed who has not done this.

I hope you had fun reading my long post. I will try to get the pictures of the blog awards and of my secretary up.

'becca