She's a winner!

The annual Spring Awards Banquet for FFA at Minarettes High School took place on campus last night. It's a fun affair honoring the students who work hard all year in a fast-growing chapter. Minarettes High is just four years old and the FFA chapter started out with only 26 students and 3 "Ag" classes that first year. There are now over 400 students participating in FFA and 14 "Ag" classes.

Our granddaughter, Karah, has played an active part of this chapter for two years. She has made lots of great friends and loves to participate and work hard with them. 

Karah was the recipient of several awards. She accepted honors for Prepared Public Speaking, Advanced Parli-Pro . . . this year's team became State Champions 2012 (there are over 300 chapters in the state), Academic Achievement, and a competition with her friend Josh . . . Farm Record Banking.

Oh . . . I almost forgot . . . she was also elected to serve as Vice President next year. Here she is (third from right) posing with all the 2013 officers.

It was a most enjoyable evening and we couldn't be more proud of you Karah!

Life is good!

After the dust has settled . . .

Ten days ago there was quite a bit of excitement going on at Simply Country Farm with three mama goats giving birth to six baby goats. Today we went up to see the new additions to the herd.

Christian is pretty happy with the babies.

I took a turn at bottle-feeding the twins who had been neglected by their mama.

We went up to the pasture to find the others prancing around playfully with their mamas.

Jen is quite comfortable with all her animals and loves each one dearly.

These cutie pies are the offspring of "Cover Girl".

I think babies of any species are adorable.

After a morning of romping around with her new buddies, this one found a nice grassy spot to take a much needed rest.

Since the dust has indeed settled, Lacie doesn't get why "they" get all the attention.

Life is good!

Congratulations Lulu + Update

Our daughter, Jen, loves living in the country too. She and her husband and three kids have lived just eleven miles up the road from us for nearly five years. Being active in 4-H and FFA means there are several four-legged critters plus over twenty chickens on their farm. This afternoon, upon returning from Heritage Days at the Rodeo she checked in on her three very pregnant goats who are due to "drop" any time now. One of them by the name of "Lulu" greeted her at the window of the kidding stall and behind Lulu Jen noticed two adorable baby goats who were apparently just born. Lulu gave birth to twins (a doeling and a buckling) all by herself. They have been given the names of "Lily" and "BB King" . . . welcome to the family sweet things! And congratulations to Lulu, a first time mama.

Jen just loves her new babies.

Welcome to the world sweet Lily!

New mama Lulu admiring one of her twins.

The happy family enjoying the sunshine.

Update: All the mama goats have "dropped" their babies. . . and all three had two each. In total Jen and Karah have added two bucklings and four doelings to their herd.Two were born breech and needed help in delivery. All are now doing fine.  "Destiny" had nothing to do with her babies which means her they being bottle-fed . . . that's life on the farm!

 
Life is good!

A Special Gift for a Great Niece

I love tole painting and I love painting gifts for special occasions. My great niece Chanelle got married to Johnny last June. I know I'm a bit late, but I finished their gift and sent it off so they would receive it today. I hope they share a lifetime of happiness together. 

Inside the lid received a bit of embellishment too . . .

I finished the interior of the box with a padded lining.

Life is good!