One Little, Two Little, Three Little Bunnies...

Good evening to everyone! How are you? As for me, I am exhausted!

I know, I know...it's been a while since the last post, but here it is all the same!

It has been extremely busy around here on the farm since I updated everyone. We sold Samson (our billy goat born to us last year), and we've also sold all of our alpacas except for three. We were on a mission to down-size (at least I thought we were)!!!!

I came home late Friday evening from a karate class at the main dojo when Nathan said, "Hi Honey! I looove yooouuuu!!!" My first thought was, "Ok...what did you do?!!" Nathan said he didn't do anything yet! He has been doing some research on raising meet rabbits. He said he was planning on going to go look at two or three breeding females (does) and another guy had a breeding male (buck).

I offered to go with him. We left around 9:30 A.M. We ended up driving all over the place! We went to Mountainaire, Monzano, Tijique, Las Nutrias, Bosque, Veguita, and Los Lunas. By the time we traveled to all these places, I was exhausted! The first stop that morning, we bought a hog. His name is "Big Red" and he is a Red Waddle. He's kind of cute, for a pig!

The next stop, we were looking to buy two or three female rabbits. The lady was having back surgery and she was trying to just find good homes for all her animals. She made us a deal that Nathan couldn't refuse! She sold us thirteen rabbits and gave us a cage!

The next stop, we bought eight or nine cages.

The next stop, we went and looked at the breeding buck and bought him. So that's how we ended up with 14 rabbits!

Nathan and I stopped at Tractor Supply to purchase some watering bowls and got some feed for the rabbits. We then went home and tried to set up the cages and separate all the rabbits into their appropriate cages. We were so physically drained by the time we were done. I think we got done around 8:30 or 9:00 P.M.

So, I will try and post a couple of pics tonight. Enjoy! Rest well and God bless!

I SURVIVED!!!!!

Hello to everyone out there! How are you all today? Much has been going on since I wrote my last blogs many months ago. I will try my absolute best to get everyone caught up!

Well, I had a "1st" in my life on Saturday morning. My boys and I and a friend of ours from church (Avram, an extended part of our family and former Marine) decided to participate in a 5K mud run called the Dirty Dash. Let me start off by saying...I HATE running! I despise running. Running is in no way, shape, or form fun for me in any way. Now that I've made that perfectly clear...

We showed up for the event around 8:20 a.m.  We were signed up for the first heat of the race which started at 9:00 a.m.  The Dirty Dash was being held this year at Wild Life West Animal Preserve in Edgewood, NM.  When we got there, there were already tons of vehicles coming in for the event. I didn't know how big this was going to be. 

We started stretching and getting warmed up for the run. They were doing a pre-race get to know the MC kind of thing. He had one of those t-shirt launchers and he would launch t-shirts, koozies, and Red Bulls!!!  They even had a battle of the sexes doing a tug of war. The women won and pulled the men into a watery mud pit before the event even started! They asked for 5 male volunteers and 1female volunteer. Avram and Aaron were 2 of the 5 men. He loaded his t-shirt launcher with a T-shirt and a Red Bull. He instructed the men to go off a couple of hundred feet, then launched it in their direction. The Red Bull went soaring through the air. It landed pretty close to Aaron and he had to run, grab it, pop it open (it exploded due to be violently launched through the air and landing abruptly on the ground) and proceed to chug it foam and all!!!! Aaron was so excited he got it. It got him pumped (literally) for the race!

So prior to the race, there had been some talk amongst my very own team members. I still don't think I know what truly was said!  According to Aaron, Jordan wanted to get everyone on board with taking on Avram, ganging up on him and throwing him face first into the mud. But, according to Aaron, Jordan just wanted to make me think that and he wanted everyone to gang up on his poor little ole mother!  The story according to Jordan is just the opposite, saying Aaron wanted to gang up on me.

Anyways... I was a little but concerned about the race. I have never run a 5K before. No, I didn't train to get ready for this. Didn't I tell you at the beginning how much I just LOVE running??? Why on Earth would I practice??? They also set up an obstacle course. I wasn't sure what all they were going to have. I've never done an obstacle course before either! So, the plan was for the four of us to stick together as a team. I already told everyone on my team that I didn't want to hold anyone back and keep them from enjoying themselves and to just run on their own and I would run my own pace and I'd finish when I could. Avram insisted that we would stick together as a team since Marines never leave a man (or in this case a woman) behind!

So the race started off with a bang, well not really...their buzzer thing was jammed and wouldn't work, but we started off like a herd of cows! We immediately came to the first mud pit and only a few people jumped in without hesitation. The rest of the group kind of waited to see what would happen to those first few people. When they saw how deep the pit was, everyone made their way through it. I cautiously made my way in and bless Aaron's heart, when I got ready to climb out, he was already looking for me and he was waiting to lend me a hand to be sure I made it out ok! What a sweetheart! Btw, need I mention...Jordan was NO WHERE in sight!

We ran to the second mud pit. I was a little less reserved this time and just charged right in! Again, aaron was waiting for me if I needed help climbing out of the pit.

We came to our first real obstacle, a verticals wall. They had two short 5 foot walls and two taller 7 foot walls. They had a series of two of these back to back. I tried the first short wall and failed! For those of you who don't know, I was diagnosed about three months ago with a fractured L5 in my lower back. I was not able to get enough power in my jump to get over the wall. Avram was a doll and he cleared the first tall wall, then he came back to give me a boost over the short wall. He misjudged my weight and actually LAUNCHED me over! He cleared the tall wall again and met me at the second vertical wall. He gave me another boost and cleared his tall wall, then the three of us made our way to the third  obstacle.

We got to two sets of monkey bars. I failed miserably. I couldn't get enough momentum to keep moving and let me say, it didn't feel so good on my back! Aaron stayed with me though. So we all took off for the next part. We ran, and ran, and ran some more.

We came to a ramp with a long plank and a ramp down. I tackled that, no problem. Then we came across another mud pit with four culverts half buried in mud and water. We crawled on our hands and knees to get through.

Our next obstacle  was fun! It was a series of logs that were raised maybe a foot above the water in the mud pit. Avram and Aaron decided to do it the hard way (seems like that's how all the Marines are trained!). The went over-under-over-under. I did it the normal way...over-over-over-over!

We ran some more. I began to slow down some, but I never quit! I walked a little but still kept moving. My back was really beginning to not like me. We ran for what seemed like ages. We had no idea how far we had gone. We even stopped and asked at the two water stations they had set up along the race, but they didn't even know how far we were. FYI, don't drink Edgewood water...YUUUUCKK!!!

It tasted about like what the mud pit water looked like!

We cam upon our last main set of obstacles. They had two short cargo net obstacles and two large. The short ones were about 6-7 feet and the large ones were 12-14 feet. I'm not exactly sure of the measurements, but you get the idea.  I opted for the short one since I've never done this before. I went straight  up and over! I felt robbed! I felt cheated!! I decided to run around the obstacle and do it again...this time on the large one. Avram and Aaron completed the large wall and cheered me on while I completed the large one! They were proud of me! I was proud of me!

The last obstacle was an almost verticle wall with ropes with knots to help you climb up and over the wall. They had two sets of these and I did the big ones without any help!!! Again, I surprised myself. Then we all ran some more. My back was killing me, so I pulled off to the side and tried to stretch out my back again. I told the guys to go on ahead, but they wouldn't hear of it! (Still no sight if Jordan...still love ya babe!)

We walked a ways and then we could hear people getting ready to start their race and we knew we were getting close to the finish line so we began to run again. We came to the final mud pit and guess who we saw???? Mr. Jordan Gabriel Cogburn was waiting for us on the other side of the mud pit. He was bragging, "What took you all so long? I've been waiting for you forever!!! I'm almost dry. I'm not even wet!" That was it! Avram grabbed one arm, I grabbed the other and Aaron joined in! We grabbed Jordan, push him down onto his back in the thick mud and slid him all the way back down into the mud pit!!!! Word of advise...never, Never, NEVER make fun of your mother and leave her behind!!!

We had a total blast! I have never done anything like this before. If you ever get the chance to, you ought to try it! I am so looking forward to this event next year. Maybe I'll even make over ALL the obstacles all by myself!

I just want to say a huge thank you to Avram and Aaron for their patience and understanding. They could've totally run this race doing circles around me. They probably could've run it twice in the time it took me to run it once, but they held out for me. That says a lot about your character and team building skills. On the other hand, I'm proud of Jordan for running to the best of his ability. I think he was born a runner, so good for you for using the skills God has given you! Well, I couldn't have asked for a better team. Thanks guys! Next year, maybe???

Now You See It...Now You Don't!

Good evening! How are you my friends? I am fine.

When we went to bed last night, we counted five eggs when I took the picture I posted. When I walked  Nathan to his car this morning, we only saw four eggs! A little while later, there were five eggs. Before Nathan came home from work, I counted six eggs! After Nathan came home, he said there were only three. I was beginning to really get confused. Nathan said the crows must have found the nest and were carrying off the eggs. I didn't want to loose all the eggs, so aaron went and got out our incubator and got it up and running. We got the three remaining eggs and placed them in the incubator. We hope to have at least three babies in about 26 days!

Does anyone have any suggestions how to get rid of crows or how to keep them from flying off with our chicken/duck eggs in their mouth. I've seen them do this. It's absolutely insane! We've tried taking some eggs, poking the end with a needle and extracting some of the yolk. We then replace the fluid with "winky juice". Winky juice is made with apple cider vinegar, onions, garlic, habanero peppers, horse radish and you let it ferment for a couple of weeks. You strain out all the veggies and drink the juice to boost your immune system. It packs quite a punch and it will kill whatever ails you. I was hoping it would deter the crows from wanting other eggs in the future, but it hasn't seemed to help. Can anyone give me some advice? 

Well, as usual, everyone is in bed and asleep except for me. Guess I had better join the ranks and get some shut-eye. Until tomorrow. God bless you and may God bless America!

Is It Crazy Around the Farm? Eggsactly!

Hello to all! How are you this beautiful evening? We are enjoying the coolness of the slight summer rain we got today! Yippee! It's the first rain we've had in over three months.

Well, just to let everyone know, Jordan woke up feeling all better. He just drank too much pickle juice yesterday and he felt much better after he got it all out of his system!

We got up and around this morning. I made my daily cup of mocha. I even splurged and made an second cup of iced mocha! I fried a pound of bacon and Nathan made us some crepes. We left for church and listened to a wonderful lesson. 

After church let out, two families from church brought meals for the Gloetzner family. It was very sweet of them, we dropped the food off and the family really and truly appreciated the love and kindness shown to them.

Well, I was outside this morning talking with my nephew, Avery Cogburn. We just happened to start talking about our guinea hens. He said that he thought he saw some guinea hen eggs the other day. I have never seen any, so I told him the next time he sees some, to come and let me know. It wasn't even fifteen minutes later when something really cool happened! Nathan turned on the watering system to my flower garden yesterday. We forgot to turn it off, so he went to turn it off this morning. As he was turning it off, I walked up beside the flower garden and noticed that someone or something's had trampled one side of my flower bed. Needless to say, I was NOT happy. So I walked around to check the other side of the flower bed and I found where the guinea hens made a nest and laid three eggs! I was so excited! I ran to go get Avery and Savanah to show them. Before we left for church tonight, we saw a different hen laying on the nest and we counted four eggs! By the time we got home from potluck and volley ball this evening, we had FIVE eggs! I looked the information up on line and their gestation time is 26-28 days. So hopefully, we might have some away chicks by the end of the month, Lord willing! Life never slows down for us Cogburns!

Well, I'm very sleepy and I'm having a difficult time typing. I had better turn in. Praying Gods love and blessing on you. Take care and rest well.

Jordan's Sick...

Good evening to all! How are you? I want to encourage you to leave comments and ask questions. I'd love to hear from you!

We had an extremely busy day today. Wait a minute...we started off by sleeping in (around 7:30)! I set my coffee maker to brew at 7:00, so I woke up to smelling freshly brewed coffee! I love it when I make time the night before and set it to brew before I wake up!

I made me a tall cup of mocha and sat down with Nathan and Leslie to enjoy it! Nathan left to go to the local nursery to pick up some more trees and bushes while Leslie and I made breakfast. Darin and Dakota left the house around 6:30 to go golfing today.

Leslie and I fried up some real bacon (Jordan wanted a break from turkey bacon)! I made toast while Leslie scrambled some eggs. She also made a fresh fruit salad which was absolutely yummy!

Aaron, Jordan and I went outside to get started on the garden while Nathan got home and grabbed some breakfast. Aaron and worked on getting all the blackberry bushes transplanted to the correct row outside the garden and then getting the rest of the raspberry plants transplanted as well.

Tonya and Chad (Nathan's brother and his wife) are in the process of building a house and they started raising walls today. Tonya and her mom, Kay, provided a wonderful lunch. After lunch, Aaron, Nathan and I hopped back in the truck and drove over to the Schwebach's farm. We dug up quite a few stray raspberry plants and a blackberry plant.

As soon as we got home, Aaron and I got busy planting the plants from the Schwebach's. Nathan, Jordan, Peyton, Dakota, Cayden, Haven and Avery helped Nathan lay out all the drop hose and got the garden prepped.

Tonya provided supper again to night, but we moved it over to my house. I made some asparagus and desserts. Leslie made a really good dessert...coconut strawberry tres leches truffle. I also made coconut ice cream to go along with it!

About two hours before supper, Jordan started complaining of his stomach hurting. He complained of it last Sunday, but nothing came of it. This afternoon at lunch, Tonya ran out of pickles and Jordan thought it'd be a great idea to just drink the pickle juice from the jar. I'm not real sure how much he drank, but I think it was quite a bit. We thought he was just feeling the consequences of drinking that stuff. He ended up getting sick after we got done with dinner. We thought he got rid of the pickle juice and would start to feel better. He just threw up again a little bit ago. He has a slight fever 99.2. He usually runs about 97.8. Poor guy! He really is trying to be a trooper about it though!

I am praying he gets over it quickly and that NONE of us get it! Nathan can't afford to be sick. Aaron, Jordan and I leave Thursday morning for karate camp...we CAN'T get sick...we're not allowed!

Oh well...

In other news, Lily, our baby cria (baby alpaca) is now 12 days old!!! She is strong and healthy!! We are so very happy! I am just thrilled to look out across the pasture and see a baby alpaca running around! The other momma hasn't had her baby yet, but we're still watching her.

Well, I am tired and want to get some sleep. Please pray for Jordan to get over this quickly and that the rest of us don't get it! Thank you so much! May God bless you and good night!

Praise The Lord For Little Angels!

Good evening everyone! How are you doing tonight? I am fairly exhausted!

I got the boys up early today so we could get chores done and be finished and washed up ready to leave by 10 a.m.  I was set and all ready to walk out the door at 9:58 when Nathan called me and asked to to pick up our truck at the mechanics. We had to have our rear U-joint replaced. So, aaron and I ran over to the mechanics, picked it up, then dropped it back off at home.

When we got home, we loaded the car with food that my sweet sister-in-law made for the family that we've been praying for. In case you hadn't heard, there's a family that does karate with us. This family is extra special. The dad and mom have adopted over 20 kids over the years. They always asks for special needs or handicapped children. They still have nine kids at home right now. They have a sweet 9 y.o. Daughter named Gracie. She was born with hydrocephalus and had a shunt put in. Two weeks ago, she developed meningitis around the shunt. She has been in the hospital this whole time. Mom and dad take turns staying with her overnight at the hospital and day time too, around the clock.

I found out that they had been receiving meals to help them, but that their time was up and they had no more meals lined up for the next day. It was just by God's grace that we found out. I got busy making some calls and posting on Facebook to see if anyone would like to help provide meals for this very dear family. We had a great response and we've had meals provided through Monday! Thanks to all who volunteered and showed them God's love and compassion when they needed it most!

So this morning, we came back from the mechanics and loaded up the food my SIL made and loaded my boys in the vehicle. We stopped halfway to Albuquerque and picked up one of the boys' friend. Then we dropped the food off at Gracie's house. 

I had to stop by the main dojo in town and pick up some stuff that Sensei Nagatomo had for me. Then we met up with Nathan's cousin Darin and his family and a good friend of ours, Avram. We met for lunch and enjoyed Dion's pizza. From there, we took all the boys to Cliff's Amusement Park. We had a blast!

I left the boys with Avram at cliff's at 4:30. I had to go back to the main dojo again for a mandatory training session for registration for the karate summer camp and National Competition. At six, I met back up with everyone and Nathan too for dinner at Cracker Barrel.

After dinner, I was driving home and something in my mind clicked. I was supposed to pick up a meal that Avram (a bachelor and former Marine) made for the Gloetzner family. So I met up with him and picked up his potato soup. I then drove back to the Gloetzners to give them their meal for tomorrow!

Leslie and I made it back to the house about 9:30 tonight. Boy, am I exhausted!

I am just so very thankful that God has blessed our lives with little angels like Gracie! She sure brings happiness to her family and those who know her. I pray for her continued healing and strength for her little body to cope well with having had the shunt completely removed!!! She has never been able to be without a shunt, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for prayers on her behalf!

Well, I need to turn in. Nathan fell asleep on his recliner in the living room and I have tried twice now to wake him, unsuccessfully I might add! May Gods peace and love surround you tonight as you rest well.  God bless!

Swing Your Partner Round 'N Round!

Good afternoon! How is everyone? I am doing great!

I woke up this morning a few minutes before six (without my alarm clock to rouse me)!!! I got up, curled my hair, put on my make-up and got ready to head to Albuquerque this morning for a karate business meeting over breakfast.

We had a wonderful visiting, spilling coffee all over the table...blaming other people...lol! It was a riot! We actually did accomplish talking a little bit about business!

I came home. I had to call over to the main dojo to find out some information and Sensei Nagatomo and I got to talking about camp. He asked if we had already gotten our rooms. I had given all our information to our Sensei. Our Sensei thought we were taking care of reserving our own rooms. We thought he was taking care of lining things up...you see where this is going??? Well, I called the hotel. They did have three rooms left, but they all only had one king bed. We have four people staying in each room. I contacted the manager and ey were able to switch our rooms to two queens in each!! Yaaaay!

Aaron and I had to go by the mechanics and drop my vehicle off for some repairs. He also took a look at our truck while I was there. Looks like we're going to have to replace the U-joint on the rear if the truck as well. :/

Right now, I am baking several dozens of cookies for the boys drama club tonight. They are hosting a fund raising square dance! I am so excited for the guys! They can't wait! I'll try and take some incriminating photos and post them!

Well, I need to get my coconut almond cookies out of the oven!

God bless and take care!