Day 38-58- May 13, 2020

I realized today I haven’t blogged in about a month! 😳.  We have totally been keeping busy with fun things.... and getting ready for summer!

The kids are finishing up school stuff this week.  With the weather getting nice out, we have spent a lot of hours taking care of the three gardens we have.  Mia is the champion garden tiller this year and Brad likes to plant seeds when he feels like it. 😂.  We have survived three rounds of frost and only lost a small amount of tomato plants.  Good thing I have more in the green house!   We have three garden plots.  Mia is pictured with our raised herb garden behind the house.  We also have matching gardening hats.  At least she acted excited when I brought them out.  She has been a huge help this summer!  

I’ve been working on up cycling my great-grandmothers sewing machine.  I love old stuff and like to find ways to put it back into use.  I needed a desk for my office at home and was super excited to get dusty doing some woodworking.  It turned out so great.  I hope it continues to be something passed down the family.  

We have been trying to find more homesteading ideas to stay home and shop less.  I know my Amazon account probably thanks me for that! 😂.  Yikes! 

This week we tried out second batch of dandelion jelly which worked beautifully.  My last batch I used older pectin and it didn’t set.  This time it was gorgeous!  My kids weren’t sure about eating “weed jelly” but I assured them they would like it.  And I was right!  I just love watching them run in the field picking dandelions.  

Our ducks and chickens are doing well.  Brad usually gets pooped on once a day! 😂😂.  I keep telling him ducks have zero control of their poop.... he still HAS to told the ducks all the time.  This last week...it was the chicken that pooped on him all the way down to his shoes.  Epic.  The duck coop is also complete with a sweet turtle plastic pool.  Those ducks are going to be living it up this summer.  I was just watching them jump around in the rain this evening.  They are so funny to watch!
Brad is the ultimate poultry keeper.  Mia is scared of the chickens and screams when she has to pick one up.  Parenting is so fun sometimes.... I have to get a video of Mia wrangling the chickens next time we clean the coop.    

The duck palace

 We were excited that Clinton County Conversation had started compost kits last week.  So cool!  Brad and I got our compost up and running this week.  He just likes the fact that we are collecting worm poop for the garden.  Boys are weird... 

Compost bin

As for me, I’m rocking 2020 like 1896.  I’ve been sporting fun t-shirts, long skirts, and garden clogs like a champion.  I’m like zen hippie Laura Ingalls Wilder.  It works.  🙋🏼‍♀️  If there is one thing I have learned from all this it is that really... we are not in control of anything.  Nothing is promised.  You might as well wake up and make it the best damn day possible.  Usually this time of year I would be running around like a chicken with my head cut off prepping for concerts and end of the year activities.  This year is quite different.  But, I'm going with the flow.  In bible study this week, Psalm 40:2 hit me hard. "He sets me on a rock and gives me a firm place to stand."  I'm standing firm in this trial of life.  When you know the truth, and live the truth, it changes everything.  

My FAVORITE shirt!  

Also in exciting news, Brad is learning to drive the ATV (with an adult riding with him.)  Our mule works like a car... the kid is mastering the gas foot pedal.... I'm thankful for not getting whiplash yet.  He loves to "cruise the loop" around the garden and backyard.  I learned I have to keep him in low gear because he LOVES to "gun it" on the corners.  Then he looks at me and laughs.  God help me...


Blessing to everyone!-  The Ruley Family

Day 29-37- April 21, 2020

Let's go fly a kite...

 Oh look..... a zillion days passed and I forgot to get my butt on the computer to blog.  LOL.  

Don't worry, everything is okay.  We have been keeping busy with school in the morning and outside work in the afternoon.  My fence lines and horse pastures have never looked better! 

Brad has been busy swimming in the tub with his ducks, making moon sand, and completing his bridge in the pasture.  The kids is BUSY!  He has also taken a liking to the horses. :)

This is better than a rubber ducky!

Making moon sand

The bridge is done!

Mia has been busy with her school work, texting her friends, attempting to sleep in.....  She has really enjoyed her time with the horses and exploring out back in the wilderness.  

Ground driving the pony to begin spring training

All horses like apples!

Mia's sleep in buddies

The boys did haircuts this week........

The greenhouse is full and ready to be planted.  We picked up the rest of our plants on Monday.  I've been keeping busy with getting all this ready to go, planning a map of the garden, and figuring out how big I'm going to have to make it this year!  

I tried my first time making bone broth.  Not bad.  Will have to keep looking to add stuff to make it a little better. 

I started every day with my 3 miles walk.  I love getting out of my house... ALONE..... for an hour and listening to my audio book.  Good time! 

We did school pictures last week the morning after it snowed.  I really love how they turned out.  It was a beautiful morning with all the snow... but..... I'm glad it didn't stick around long either!  

Have a blessed week!

Love- The Ruley Family

Day 25-28/ April 12, 2020

Happy Easter!  What a weekend!  We've been so busy that I haven't had time to write.  😋

We have kept busy during Holy Week with activities for the kids.  On Thursday we did a traditional Seder (pronounced say-der) meal which is a telling of the Passover.  It is traditionally celebrated in one night and has 15 steps.  It is done on the Thursday before Easter as part of Holy Week.  This Sedar incorporated Jewish traditions with a Christian prospective.  It was fun and the kids were taken out of their comfort zone with some of the food.  We made Charoset (which is a mixture of apples, honey, and cinnamon), ate bitter herbs (horseradish) and hid the matzah.  For the actual meal, we make lamb and potatoes with rosemary.  Definitely an experience for all!  And a lot of grape juice!  You have to fill the cup four times for the ceremony!  Mia accidentally filled the cup full at the beginning of the dinner so.... she had a lot of grape juice!

Table is set!

On Friday, we cleared brush and dead trees.  A lot of trees.  We had a lot of storm damage last summer and in the fall and Grandma needs it cleared to mow.  Aunt Megan dropped off the Easter baskets while we were gone.  The kids were excited to have more candy and TP.  LOL!  I was pumped for the disinfectant wipes and coffee!  The kids also love the M4M bracelets! 

There was a surprise in the van!

The weekend was pretty low key.  I spent time getting the video and music ready for church.  I was very pleased at the opening for church that I put together.  They had taken some great pictures of the stained glass windows in the church and wanted them in the video.  I did a little recording of one of my favorite contemporary christian songs.   Not perfect, but I like the way it all came together.  It's sideways on here because I screen-recorded it, so you might have to flip your phone!

Click here for video!

The kids have been building a bridge behind the house.  It was still standing after the rain today, so that is a plus.  They are pretty creative with the build.  This is the second attempt and they have a new plan to make this better.  My little engineer CEO Brad tells everyone what to do and how he wants things done.  Pretty clever design for an 8 year old.  

Brad inspecting the bottom of the bridge

Buddy the cat supervising work!

Brad has also been keeping busy with his ducks.  O-M-GEE!  He loves his baby ducks so much.  Here's a video of him talking about his baby ducks. 

Mia and I made homemade cinnamon rolls for the weekend.  She has never done this before, so it was a lot of teenage sass as she doesn't like to be wrong or be told what to do.  Sometimes......she did learn that you can't put a half cup of milk and frosting with only a 1/4 cup powered sugar.  I tell ya, sometimes I wonder about this girl!  I mean, just look at her socks!  She has also been watching youtube videos on sketching.  Her most recent work is pretty amazing.  A lot of improvement in quarantine!  

Saturday Grandma Cindy and Jody dropped off their Easter stuff for the kids.  It was nice for the kids to see them from a distance.  Adam started the new walkway between our house and Mom's as well.  That will take a few days to complete, especially with the rain!  And Grandma Karen did her first mowing for the year.  Yes, my Mom LOVES to mow.  

Saturday night we did a little family lip-sync fun.  The kids got a huge kick out of Adam's skillzzzz.  I did too!  😂😂  Probably the most fun we have had so far staying home all the time.  I keep telling him this is why he was lucky enough I married him.  LOL.  The kids were laughing so hard having pillows stuck in their pants!

The greenhouse has some plants in it now.  Even with the weather, we needed to transplant some of the seedlings because they are too big for their first containers.  Hopeful everything goes well this week!  I doubled the plastic over them for the night!  And I hate wind advisories!   

Easter was fun.  We had our egg hunt this morning while it was nice out.  Grandma made a giant lunch.  Very thankful she lives next door.  It looks like Mia is creeping up on Grandma in height.......The kids scored big (thanks weeks ago Amazon shopping and LTD catalog!) and Grandma has worked on her online ordering skills.  Brad is pumped to see his dinosaur egg hatch in the giant bucket of water in the next 48 hours.  He asked to take it to his room, I replied with a solid, "no."  

Grandma, Brad, and Mia

Solid Easter finds....

Only a few pictures were taken this weekend for fun.  But, the skies have been beautiful for photography!

Have a great week and God bless-  The Ruley Family

Day 22, 23, 24- April 8, 2020

The weather has been a roller coaster this week.  A few sneak peeks of summer weather, storms, swimming in the creek, and busting out sweatshirts again for the rest of the week.  Gotta love Iowa. At least, I have my camera! 

We have been keeping busy with school work, Holy Week activities, new ducks and chicks, and keeping as sane as can be.  Aren’t we all????  I took my first trip to Walmart since this all started... that was interesting.  I wore my mask and did my part.  What an odd feeling????  Post-corona is going to be weird seeing people's faces again at stores.  LOL. 

Brad has been working in math on money, telling time, and multiplication.  He loves to play "Mom's Toy Store" where he has to buy his toys and pay me when money in the change jar.  (And yes, I washed the money before we used it!  GROSS!) 

Mia has been really enjoying our Holy Week activities.  We made bread for "the bread of life" and the next day we made french toast with it.  We watched a tour of the Holy Land online.  She is really interested in this and is actually turning it into a school project. 

The weather was nice on Tuesday... so I let the kids go creek stomping.  Probably the highlight of their week, especially when Mia fell in because she is super graceful!  It was a gorgeous day outside so I brought along the camera.  (of course!)

Adam surprise the kids with baby ducks and chicks today.  We already have a 4 pack Happy Meal, but we need more laying hens.... and I guess some ducks.  THEY ARE SO CUTE!  Brad was pumped!  The best part of bringing one inside and it jumped out of my lap and went after Mavis (our golden-doodle.)  She hid on the couch then!  Wuss.  Brad is already calling himself a duck farmer.  Oy vey!  We will see how he feels after a few days with more chores added before breakfast!  One of the ducks has one eye, so we call him One Eyed Willie after the movie, "The Goonies."  The others are Huey, Duey, Louie, and Uncle Scrooge.  The chicks do not have names yet.  We already have a Batman and Mrs. Peckers.........who knows what Brad will go with.

As for me... I am trying to balance some school things, teaching the kids, making sure things are safe here, planning bible study for my group, and finding peace in small moments.  I really just take it day to day and enjoy all the moments I'm having with the kids.  Throughout the week, I always take pictures.  I love to see the wonder and beauty of everyday.  Here is my favorite!  There is beauty in every storm is you just look for it.  This is how I truly see the world.  

Take care and God bless-  The Ruley Family

Day 20 & 21- April 5, 2020

This weekend has been busy!  We finished the chicken coop!  Whoop, whoop!  The girls are very happy to be out of the barn and into their new space.  We completed it with an old tractor tire they can climb on.  The worst part was not the building, but the cleaning out the stall they were living over the winter.  TOTALLY GROSS!  Good thing we had masks for the RONA.  It helped a little bit with the stench.  I did laugh at Adam gagging while shoveling.... it was the best entertainment in weeks!  LOL. 

Day 1

She is complete!

Happy Chickens!

I had the job of re-fencing once side of the horse pasture and clearing brush for the last few days.  I get an A+ in electric fence circuits.  :)   I also ripped out our cattle panel fence to utilize the shed more this summer.  My body tells me today that I'm in fact, getting old!  Holy cow am I sore from ripping out brush, moving panels, and 12 hours of raking.  The horses visited and did a few rolls in the dirt for me.  Mia was quite entertained.  Brad was more into building his bridge over the drainage ditch.  To each their own!  I'm sure this bridge will be epic by the time quarantine is over.   Brad just hopes it doesn't wash away next time we get a big rain.  

You see me rollin....

Had to clear the whole right side.... my body tells me today I did a good job!  Ouch!

Brad down in the valley engineering his bridge.

We watched church this evening after a long day outside.  We only had one piece of green construction paper, so we had to be creative with out palm branch making.  The kids read John 12:12-13 about Palm Sunday.  

Brad's palm art.

Mia's palm art

My cabinet is getting full!!!

It was a beautiful weekend with the sun shining!  I hope everyone was able to get out and enjoy it for a moment!

Love- The Ruley Family