I meant to post about this the yesterday, but I never got around to it, since we went to town (Tractor Supply) yesterday.. The other day, Levi and I went on a long, long, bike ride. It was a nice day, beautiful outside, so we thought we'd take a bike ride. We really didn't know where we were heading (hehe), and didn't really intend to go far, so we didn't even take any water bottles with us (big mistake!).

We ended up riding to a place called Woodson's Mill, and it took us an hour (on bike) to get there. It's probably a really good thing that I wasn't wore out by the time we got there, because it took us another whole hour to get back (if not a bit more, because we were going slower on the way back)! Which wouldn't have been so bad, if the roads weren't hilly, and if we would've had some water. We'd never went that far before, nor have we been there on bike before, so it was definitely an interesting trip! I enjoyed it, but I probably won't be doing it again.

Here's what it looked like, the mill, that is.

Like I mentioned above, we went to Tractor Supply yesterday, and got some fencing so we can fence in the front yard for Gracie, and I was able to get a pair of shoes (I absolutely dislike shoe-shopping, but I made myself because the soles on my other pair are falling apart ). It was so nice outside yesterday — up in the 70's, I think! Dad got the garden rotivated with the tractor after milking, and I was out looking for something to take a picture of (there isn't much yet — I'm waiting for everything to green up again!). With it being so warm out, who would want to stay inside? Not me!

We've been trying to get some of the leaves in the field and barnyard raked up so the grass will grow. By this time last year, we already had all the leaves up! But with all the snow we had this year, we weren't able to do that. The barnyard is soo wet and muddy under all the leaves — you rake the leaves back and you have puddles lying everywhere! The middle part of the field is mostly raked up, and we managed to get the heavy, wet leaves taken away with the new cart Mom and Dad bought (I'll have to get a picture of it). That works so much better than using a tarp — especially when the leaves are so heavy that we can't even hardly lift the tarp!

This is how Hannah naps.. Isn't she funny? Samuel (my guinea there on the right), was in a fight the other day with Jesse (another guinea male) and obviously he lost the fight. Jesse was picking on him terribly, so I had to separate him and put him in the hen pen for a while, till everything calmed down a bit. Though Jesse is still chasing him around, he's not pecking him as bad. Now everyone's (especially Big Guin [the old male guinea]) is chasing Blackfeet! LOL!

I have been feeling so peaceful and happy lately — full of the joy of the Lord! The verses I chose for my birthday this year were different — like prayers. (They're Psalm 119:133,135, 63:1a.)

I love those verses! I pray daily that the LORD would order my steps, according to His Word, and I pray that no iniquity should have dominion over me. Praise God I've been set free from the power of sin! O Jehovah, make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. O God! thou art my God, early will I seek thee!

I have been so blessed by learning the importance of bedtime prayers, which is something I've been doing for the past couple months. Every night I pour out my heart to my sweet Lord in prayer, alone in the peace and quiet of my still bedroom, kneeling by my bed. O how my heart rejoices that I have such a near and dear Friend whom I can tell everything to! There's not one thing that I can think of [Praise Jesus!] that I cannot take to Him in prayer.

I have such a peaceful feeling, an inner peace, after I've poured out my heart before the Lord. Sweet peace. I love my bedtime prayers. I love YOU, Lord!! Help thy servant, dear Lord, as I seek thy face.

– Excerpt from my journal (March 14th, 2010)

Okay, so when I went to chance my braces this morning, I got my "camera happy" feeling and decided to snap a photo of them, seeing as I haven't done so yet, and maybe some were curious as to what they actually look like. (And, of course, after I got my camera out, how could I put it away for the rest of the day? Hint:: photo post!)

My blue container is the one I keep my current braces in (when they're not in my mouth, of course!), the red one is for the previous set, and the bag back contained the braces that I changed to this morning (I'm on set #17, by the way). 2nd photo shows my braces a bit better… I had 'em sitting on top the container!

This is our "wild" rabbit, Splotch — the one that used to live under the barn — who's now living up in the log pile at the top of the field. This is where he sat most of the day, just watching everything and everybody. He's sure got a nice lookout from up there!

A gumball laying on the ground, guineas in the background. I was crouched down getting a shot of this, and, my hair received a sudden jerk from behind me. Some four-footed, hoofed creature snuck up silently behind me and pulled the end of my braid! (Can anyone guess which "creature" that was?)

Sunny. I really like taking up close shots of his face for some reason! The middle shot was a bit tricky, since I was scratching him with my right hand, I had to take the shot with my left hand!

Hannah being silly, Shadow getting ready to take his nap, Gracie munching on hay, and Sammy Allen. I find it hard to get a good picture of Gracie when she refuses to look at me, though maybe I just haven't learned how to correctly photograph cows yet! I never seem to tire of taking photos of my guineas – particularly their heads. Levi says if you've seen one photo of a guinea head, you've seen them all….. but, I disagree. hehe

Last, but not least, my reflection in the barn window. Not the best self-portrait (far from it! haha), but a neat effect!

It was really nice and warm outside today! I didn't even need a jacket! (Well, after I got sufficiently warmed up!) Dad and Levi worked on the raised bed this morning, adding a metal bar to the center of it to hold it together better in the middle [the pressure of all the dirt inside was pushing the boards out], while Mom and I worked on working up the dirt in the other raised bed and getting all the weeds out, so Mom will be able to start her seeds whenever she's ready!

I think just about everybody was enjoying the warmth and sunshine today! As you can see from the picture below, the goats were just laying on the other side of the fence taking a sun bath, and watching us work! At one point, Shadow was laying completely over on his side, and he looked so funny! I went to get a picture of him doing it, and Hannah saw me and got up, which in turn made Shadow jump up, so I didn't get a picture of it this time. I'm pretty sure he'll be doing it again though!

Here's me — driving the tractor! This is probably only the 2nd (or possibly 3rd) time I've ever driven it. Dad asked me if I wanted to when we went to put the tractor away, so I did. I was kinda nervous at first, but it really wasn't that hard, and it was kind of fun! Dad hopped up on the back and was helping me figure out how to drive it. Things like when to take my foot off the clutch, and the brake, and how to change gears, etc.

I raked up some of the leaves in the barnyard today, and it sure was laying wet underneath all those leaves, so hopefully the ground will dry up a bit better now, and more green grass will grow! The goats were happy that I'd raked them a few leaf piles to lay in.. LOL! The chickens, well, they just decided the leaves shouldn't be in piles and should be scattered back all over the ground again! At least it gave them something to do!

I decided to be nice today and let the hens out early, and in turn they only gave me 2 eggs. Tsk, tsk, bad chickens! Hopefully they'll pick up production again soon! I remember when we were getting 13 and 14 a day! And, with Gabriel on patrol in the barnyard, I'm hoping the rooster fights won't be as bad this year, though I'm sure I'm going to have to separate Danny and Jacob if they start fighting that bad again. I don't look forward to all the separating animals again… lol, maybe I should just let them all fight it out!

Gracie is doing great, and still giving us about 2 gallons of milk per day! We use a lot of it just by drinking it at breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Mom has been letting the goats in with her sometimes in the mornings, and so far everything has been going well. Shadow and Hannah headbutt her, but she doesn't pay much attention to them. (Good cow!)

I suppose I should stop rambling now. Oh, and thank you everyone for the happy birthday's.

Is it possible? Am I really turning seventeen today? That seems like such a big number! Just last year I turned sixteen. Now another year has passed already… wow!

It seems like, the older you get, the faster time flies. It's March already!! But, it was just January 1st, 2010! I don't ever remember the year going by that quickly when I was 12 & 14! Here below is a conglomeration of pictures I collected of myself since I was a baby – up till now (the last picture at the bottom was taken last month, I believe). I figured ya'll might be interested in seeing what I looked like when I was younger/smaller. lol…

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. The LORD is King for ever and ever:
(Psalms 8:1, 9:1, & 10:16a)

Thou art my God, and I will praise thee; thou art my God, I will exalt thee. Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. O GOD, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:
(Psalms 118:28, 119:66, 119:133, 119:135 119:140, 63:1)

I was doing my Bible reading last night and noticed a detail I'd never noticed before, so I thought I'd make a Bible question & answer out of it… see how many others know it! Here goes, and remember, try to do this from memory… after you've answered, you may look it up if you'd like.        

Have fun! I'm lookin' forward to seeing all the answers!

Guessing comments won't be immediately published, so others have a fair chance of guessing! They'll be published later!