Kids on the farm, repair work, caged birds and answered prayers, Joshua

Nate, Cori and the kids arrived safety on Friday evening. It had been a long day for them. It took over two hours just to get through the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. When we knew they were only a few minutes from the farm Mama and Grandma went to the intersection of Mac Donald Loop and Hwy 59 to meet them and guide them the farm. Since our property is only a few hundred feet from that intersection it was a very short part of their trip, but it was the best part for the two grandmothers.


We walked around a while before going into the mobile home. Cori and Nate were glad to be there. The kids were happy to be out of the vehicle. We looked at the horses and collected the eggs. Grant helped Mama with the evenings feeding and watering. It was pretty late when we finally went inside. The kids got down pretty late. We were much later.

Saturday Grandpa and Nate worked on the tiller. We had been unable to get it started last week. Turns out the carburetor was fouled and had to be taken apart to get a small plug out of the tiniest part of the pathway of the gas to the engine. After one attempt to clean it, it still would not work so Grandpa will pull it apart again today. I am glad he and Grandma are back. I think both of them are glad to be back also.

On Saturday morning while Nate, Grandpa and I were blowing out the carburetor the guineas decided to come home. Grandpa was working on the tiller and Nate and I had gone into the farm house so I could show him the materials and tools to build a swing for the kids. When I got back over to help Grandpa he told me to look in the coop where we had kept the guineas and all four of them we were in there.

I closed the door and got them some food and water. Mama and Victoria told me to just open the door let them go about as they pleased, but I would like the chance to do it correctly this time. I have been given a second chance to try this out. Maybe it will end up in the dogs killing them one at a time as I turn them out. Time will tell but it is a rare opportunity for a take two. I would like to be able to use this particular answer to prayer wisely.

Mama, Cori, Mykenzie and I spent the better part of the day in Dallas at IKEA. Cori had her heart set on getting some items there for her home and for gifts. We were in the store for about three hours. Mykenzie was content to ride along and look at all the items we were showing each other. Cori found everything she was looking for and Mama and I got a few ideas on how we can do the kitchen and bath in the apartment we are planning to build.

No work has been done to the shop since I cut away the piping that needed to be removed. I am hoping to get started leveling the area so we can move forward with our plans to begin construction. There is a lot that needs to happen before we can pour any concrete or put up any wood to attach the metal siding and roof. I am getting a little anxious to get started but Grandpa is still getting over the trip to West Virginia. We will get there, but it is slow going. (Grandpa is more interested in getting the hay put up; which is as it should be.)

Joshua did not make it up on Saturday. Part of the reason for our trip to Dallas was to use the time shopping to be there for his arrival later in the afternoon. He called late in the morning and told us that he would not be making the trip because he did not feel the bus company was treating his case fairly and the cost to change his ticket ($50) was more than he was willing to pay at this time. He managed to catch Russell before he got too far away so he could get a ride back to Victoria, TX.

It was disappointing, but not totally unexpected.