Friday, July 11, 2014
Friday, July 4, 2014
Interesting Evening
It was a rather uneventful day. Can't say the same about this evening…
Eli lost his glasses while playing at a neighbors house. He took them off to try on a mask and then couldn't find them. The neighbor dad called on the phone to let us know Eli was upset and they had all been looking. Thankfully, he does have a spare pair. So he came home to eat dinner and then went back with several brothers to continue the search, but the glasses were not found.
I called Wesley home from the glasses search to keep an eye on Annabeth while Jerry and I went to take care of the another neighbor's animals (we're feeding/watering 1 horse, 2 goats, 3 dogs, 6 cats, 2 kittens, 1 goose, 1 duck, and 8 chickens for them while they are on vacation). Things were going well until I found one of their chickens dead in the coop. No known cause. Just dead. While we were there a dust storm picked up. The first one of the season and it was a doozy! Both Jerry and I ate a pound a dust.
While we were gone, Wesley and JD had to gather up all the suits and towels that were blowing around outside when the storm started. Wesley also had to grab the (now-broken) umbrella that was blowing all over the place after we left open in the pool area.
Jerry and I couldn't even see 10 feet in front of us on the short car ride home from the neighbors. We were met at the door by Wesley, JD, and Annabeth who excitedly told us about the storm craziness that was happening here while we were a few doors down.
I used the walkie talkie to check on Eli, Justus, and Hayden. They took shelter at the neighbors when the storm started. Eli was concerned because he had to leave his bike behind in the field where they had been playing when the storm hit. They ended up waiting a few minutes until things settled a bit and then came home - still without the missing glasses. Hayden was upset and crying because the storm scared him and he wasn't sure if they could find the way home.
JD opened the back kitchen door at the same time Eli was coming in the garage door and with the wind blowing like crazy the pressure change caused the kitchen door to slam so hard that a decorative plate fell off the wall, hit the tile floor and smashed right as the dog was coming into the kitchen. Now the dog won't step foot in the kitchen. (Yes, we got a dog. That will be another post!)
The pool was (still is!) a disaster. Jerry pulled a half trash can of leaves out already and there will be lots more pool clean up tomorrow. While Jerry was cleaning the pool, I fed and watered out chickens. Thankfully, they are all fine and I hope whatever caused the neighbor's chicken to die isn't contagious.
We all (well not Hayden and the dog) enjoyed a few sprinkles, the dropping temperatures, and the lightning for a bit before going in to get everyone to bed. Annabeth then proceeded to throw a fit because a Curious George episode she watched today had scary sounds in a basement and she was sure there was something scary in her room. She wouldn't go to sleep without the light left on.
Just as we were kissing the boys good night, the door bell rang. It was the neighbor boy. He had found Eli's glasses under his dresser. We thanked him and sent the kids to bed. So at least the night ended on a good note. Now I'm enjoying the silence and in a minute I'm going to sneak in and turn off Annabeth's light and hope for the best! Shhhhh!
Eli lost his glasses while playing at a neighbors house. He took them off to try on a mask and then couldn't find them. The neighbor dad called on the phone to let us know Eli was upset and they had all been looking. Thankfully, he does have a spare pair. So he came home to eat dinner and then went back with several brothers to continue the search, but the glasses were not found.
I called Wesley home from the glasses search to keep an eye on Annabeth while Jerry and I went to take care of the another neighbor's animals (we're feeding/watering 1 horse, 2 goats, 3 dogs, 6 cats, 2 kittens, 1 goose, 1 duck, and 8 chickens for them while they are on vacation). Things were going well until I found one of their chickens dead in the coop. No known cause. Just dead. While we were there a dust storm picked up. The first one of the season and it was a doozy! Both Jerry and I ate a pound a dust.
While we were gone, Wesley and JD had to gather up all the suits and towels that were blowing around outside when the storm started. Wesley also had to grab the (now-broken) umbrella that was blowing all over the place after we left open in the pool area.
Jerry and I couldn't even see 10 feet in front of us on the short car ride home from the neighbors. We were met at the door by Wesley, JD, and Annabeth who excitedly told us about the storm craziness that was happening here while we were a few doors down.
I used the walkie talkie to check on Eli, Justus, and Hayden. They took shelter at the neighbors when the storm started. Eli was concerned because he had to leave his bike behind in the field where they had been playing when the storm hit. They ended up waiting a few minutes until things settled a bit and then came home - still without the missing glasses. Hayden was upset and crying because the storm scared him and he wasn't sure if they could find the way home.
JD opened the back kitchen door at the same time Eli was coming in the garage door and with the wind blowing like crazy the pressure change caused the kitchen door to slam so hard that a decorative plate fell off the wall, hit the tile floor and smashed right as the dog was coming into the kitchen. Now the dog won't step foot in the kitchen. (Yes, we got a dog. That will be another post!)
The pool was (still is!) a disaster. Jerry pulled a half trash can of leaves out already and there will be lots more pool clean up tomorrow. While Jerry was cleaning the pool, I fed and watered out chickens. Thankfully, they are all fine and I hope whatever caused the neighbor's chicken to die isn't contagious.
We all (well not Hayden and the dog) enjoyed a few sprinkles, the dropping temperatures, and the lightning for a bit before going in to get everyone to bed. Annabeth then proceeded to throw a fit because a Curious George episode she watched today had scary sounds in a basement and she was sure there was something scary in her room. She wouldn't go to sleep without the light left on.
Just as we were kissing the boys good night, the door bell rang. It was the neighbor boy. He had found Eli's glasses under his dresser. We thanked him and sent the kids to bed. So at least the night ended on a good note. Now I'm enjoying the silence and in a minute I'm going to sneak in and turn off Annabeth's light and hope for the best! Shhhhh!
Saturday, June 21, 2014
New Furry Friend Part 2
We half promised the kids we'd get a new dog "after we got back from Wisconsin". So as soon as we got home the kids started asking about it. We knew we wanted to go about things differently this time. We didn't feel safe just getting a dog off Craigslist or even from the pound. Too many risks. We also didn't want to pay a fortune for a pure bred. So we decided to look for a dog from a rescue - where the current foster would be able to tell us more about the dog and his/her temperament and possibly help us determine if the dog was the right fit for us.
I joined a Facebook group called "Adopt Me AZ" that is rescues posting available animals. The animals on this group are safe in foster homes just waiting to be adopted. I started checking it every day and on June 18th I saw a beautiful yellow lab named Phoenix. I decided to message the rescue and find out more. It turns out Phoenix was in training to be a service dog for autistic children but failed because she was too scared. I knew it was a go when the rescue lady said she loved kids and she had been around chickens! So, we asked if we could meet her.
Today, Cher from Charlotte's Way Rescue, drove all the way from Oracle, AZ to our house so we could meet Phoenix. As soon as she walked in the door we all loved her. After a short interview, we signed the adoption contract and she was ours!
She is shy and a bit skittish. Hopefully, over time she will feel more comfortable with us. She is so good with Annabeth. In fact, Annabeth is the one who can get nearest to her without her getting nervous. It seems the taller you are the less comfortable she feels.
Cher from the rescue said a new home means a new name so we decided to call her Libby. Jerry and I came up with that one night this week while sitting in the pool. We rattled off names until we came across one we liked. Having just driven through so many places on vacation we tossed out a few city names. Libby is sorta shout out to Liberty (Missouri) and Liberal (Kansas).
I have to say adopting from a rescue is the way to go! Libby is already fixed, up-to-date on shots, potty-trained, crate-trained, great on a leash, knows several commands, and we know a good bit about her history. You can't get that from the pound or even from a new puppy! Instant pet, just add food and water. Actually, that is just about what happened; right after Cher left Jerry had to run to the pet store and get a collar, leash, and food!
Welcome to the Shown Family, Libby!
I joined a Facebook group called "Adopt Me AZ" that is rescues posting available animals. The animals on this group are safe in foster homes just waiting to be adopted. I started checking it every day and on June 18th I saw a beautiful yellow lab named Phoenix. I decided to message the rescue and find out more. It turns out Phoenix was in training to be a service dog for autistic children but failed because she was too scared. I knew it was a go when the rescue lady said she loved kids and she had been around chickens! So, we asked if we could meet her.
Today, Cher from Charlotte's Way Rescue, drove all the way from Oracle, AZ to our house so we could meet Phoenix. As soon as she walked in the door we all loved her. After a short interview, we signed the adoption contract and she was ours!
She is shy and a bit skittish. Hopefully, over time she will feel more comfortable with us. She is so good with Annabeth. In fact, Annabeth is the one who can get nearest to her without her getting nervous. It seems the taller you are the less comfortable she feels.
Cher from the rescue said a new home means a new name so we decided to call her Libby. Jerry and I came up with that one night this week while sitting in the pool. We rattled off names until we came across one we liked. Having just driven through so many places on vacation we tossed out a few city names. Libby is sorta shout out to Liberty (Missouri) and Liberal (Kansas).
I have to say adopting from a rescue is the way to go! Libby is already fixed, up-to-date on shots, potty-trained, crate-trained, great on a leash, knows several commands, and we know a good bit about her history. You can't get that from the pound or even from a new puppy! Instant pet, just add food and water. Actually, that is just about what happened; right after Cher left Jerry had to run to the pet store and get a collar, leash, and food!
Welcome to the Shown Family, Libby!
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Field Trip: Peter Piper Tour 2014
We joined our old neighborhood friends for a tour of Peter Piper Pizza today. We went last summer and had a great time. This year was just as much fun!
We got to go in the back and see them making the dough and baking the pizzas. Then we got to make our own pizzas and have an early lunch.
We got to go in the back and see them making the dough and baking the pizzas. Then we got to make our own pizzas and have an early lunch.
While we were waiting for our pizzas to bake each of the kids got 10 tokens. Even Annabeth used some of her tokens this year. Her favorite was the candy claw game where you get to keep trying until you win something. The prize was Tootsie Rolls which is one of her favorites anyway. She was very happy with her small cup of "winnings". The boys played on their own and even went up and spent their tickets on prizes and candy all without help from me.
Then on the way home we stopped by LaForce to say hello to Jerry and give him a hard time that we got to have his favorite pizza without him!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
New Furry Friend (Part 1)
We've done something we've never before… a Shown Family first... we adopted a kitten! Our 4-H Cloverbud leader had some kittens she was trying to find home for. She told me her cat (the kitten mama) was a great hunter - including gophers. So we thought we'd take a chance and see if a cat can help us with our gopher problem. Wesley and I are both mildly allergic to cats so this fellow will be an outside "farm cat".
When we got back from our WI vacation I send 4-H leader Molly an email and asked her if she had any kittens left. She said she had one orange boy left. So that evening (June 5) we stopped by Walmart and picked up some kitten food and then went over to her house to pick him up. She said he was the most shy of the kittens and he proved it by hiding. Her daughter finally caught him and I carried him out to the van and placed him a box. He didn't appreciate that and clawed his way out despite Wesley keeping his feet on the box. Thankfully he didn't freak out, climb under the brake pedal, or pee in the van - which were all my concerns as we drove him home.
We followed the advice of a neighbor (and an internet article about farm cats) and put him in a dog crate with food, water, and a make shift litter box for a week so he could learn where home is. We played with him, cuddled him, and fed him generously. A week later we opened the door and let him out. He hasn't run away yet!
In fact, the shy kitten is no more. He comes when called and seems to really like our company. He is so great with the kids even letting Annabeth carry him around. I have always said I am not a cat person, but this little guy is so cute and has a good personality to boot. After the kids go to bed, Jerry and I usually go out for a swim. He loves to sit by Jerry and I, either on the deck or the table right by the pool.
I give him a bit of wet cat food each morning. He knows it's coming and waits by the door. When we can't find him we call "Kitty" and he usually comes yawning and stretching out of the irrigation tube that runs under our driveway.
We were stumped when it came to giving him a name. We got several good suggestions. The boys wanted to call him Stampey after a video game character but when we got him it just didn't seem to fit him. I suggested Morrissey which Jerry really liked but that didn't seem right either. My sister suggested Carlo because she has a cat named Monte or Tom because we already have a Jerry.
Jerry took him for some shots last Saturday. Knowing we'd have to put something down on the paperwork we decided Annabeth's name made the cut. She loves the new PBS kid's show Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. The main character is a little tiger named Daniel. From the first time she laid eyes on him she called him Daniel.
We called him "Kitty" for 3 weeks before we decided on a name so as a compromise we named him Daniel Kitty and the first time he brings me a dead gopher I will love him forever!
When we got back from our WI vacation I send 4-H leader Molly an email and asked her if she had any kittens left. She said she had one orange boy left. So that evening (June 5) we stopped by Walmart and picked up some kitten food and then went over to her house to pick him up. She said he was the most shy of the kittens and he proved it by hiding. Her daughter finally caught him and I carried him out to the van and placed him a box. He didn't appreciate that and clawed his way out despite Wesley keeping his feet on the box. Thankfully he didn't freak out, climb under the brake pedal, or pee in the van - which were all my concerns as we drove him home.
We followed the advice of a neighbor (and an internet article about farm cats) and put him in a dog crate with food, water, and a make shift litter box for a week so he could learn where home is. We played with him, cuddled him, and fed him generously. A week later we opened the door and let him out. He hasn't run away yet!
In fact, the shy kitten is no more. He comes when called and seems to really like our company. He is so great with the kids even letting Annabeth carry him around. I have always said I am not a cat person, but this little guy is so cute and has a good personality to boot. After the kids go to bed, Jerry and I usually go out for a swim. He loves to sit by Jerry and I, either on the deck or the table right by the pool.
I give him a bit of wet cat food each morning. He knows it's coming and waits by the door. When we can't find him we call "Kitty" and he usually comes yawning and stretching out of the irrigation tube that runs under our driveway.
We were stumped when it came to giving him a name. We got several good suggestions. The boys wanted to call him Stampey after a video game character but when we got him it just didn't seem to fit him. I suggested Morrissey which Jerry really liked but that didn't seem right either. My sister suggested Carlo because she has a cat named Monte or Tom because we already have a Jerry.
Jerry took him for some shots last Saturday. Knowing we'd have to put something down on the paperwork we decided Annabeth's name made the cut. She loves the new PBS kid's show Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. The main character is a little tiger named Daniel. From the first time she laid eyes on him she called him Daniel.
We called him "Kitty" for 3 weeks before we decided on a name so as a compromise we named him Daniel Kitty and the first time he brings me a dead gopher I will love him forever!
Saturday, May 3, 2014
New AC
We have known since our first summer in this house that our AC unit wasn't long for this world. We had it repaired a couple times under the home warranty and then tuned up and repaired once on our dime. Every technician that has looked at it told us it had problems. Some parts were pieced together while other parts were missing (like the plenum). The wiring was weird and we had too many tons for our square footage which meant we were wasting a lot of money on our electric bill. So we decided to be proactive and get it replaced before it died on us in the middle of a hot AZ summer.
We got a few estimates and we learned things from each guy that came. In the end, we chose the company that seemed the most thorough and creative. This guy did a heat load calculation to figure out what size AC units we need. We had two 4 ton units - one on each side of the house. The heat load calculation showed we were in good shape as far as exposure to the sun, number of windows, etc. so he recommended dropping down to two 3 ton units or maybe even one 5 ton unit.
We were intrigued by the idea of only having one unit to maintain, but wondered how that would work with a larger house. The AC guy suggested using the one unit, but creating 3 or 4 zones in the house with separate wireless thermostats. That way each zone could be set with a programable thermostat and could run simultaneously or independently of each other. The unit would be variable speed which would increase efficiency as well.
We decided that was the best option for us. The only down side was the cost. We had planned to replace one unit this year and then save up to replace the other next year. Going down to one unit would cost less than two but we'd have to pay it all now, no saving up for an additional year. After some discussion and budget review we decided to just go for it. So we signed the paperwork and they put in the new unit May 1st.
It took a lot longer than I thought, two full days. The second day they were here well into the night. A lot of the work they had to do was on the kid's side of the house, specifically in Annabeth's room where the access door is so that meant she skipped nap for two days. She was a good sport about it and wasn't too fussy. We were without AC while they worked and, fortunately, we had mild enough temps that it wasn't too bad.
Technically, they still aren't done. There are a few loose ends they need to tie up (patch a few holes, run a few wires), but we'll be leaving on vacation in a few days and those things will just have to wait until we get back. It will be interesting to see how are utility bill changes in the next couple months. We're hoping to save a bit of energy and money!
Update 8/7/14: Our utility bills have definitely decreased! Our July utility bill this year was about $200 lower than the July bill last year. Should be about the same for the August bill too!
We got a few estimates and we learned things from each guy that came. In the end, we chose the company that seemed the most thorough and creative. This guy did a heat load calculation to figure out what size AC units we need. We had two 4 ton units - one on each side of the house. The heat load calculation showed we were in good shape as far as exposure to the sun, number of windows, etc. so he recommended dropping down to two 3 ton units or maybe even one 5 ton unit.
We were intrigued by the idea of only having one unit to maintain, but wondered how that would work with a larger house. The AC guy suggested using the one unit, but creating 3 or 4 zones in the house with separate wireless thermostats. That way each zone could be set with a programable thermostat and could run simultaneously or independently of each other. The unit would be variable speed which would increase efficiency as well.
We decided that was the best option for us. The only down side was the cost. We had planned to replace one unit this year and then save up to replace the other next year. Going down to one unit would cost less than two but we'd have to pay it all now, no saving up for an additional year. After some discussion and budget review we decided to just go for it. So we signed the paperwork and they put in the new unit May 1st.
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| The new unit is huge! |
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| The new unit compared to one of the old units. |
Update 8/7/14: Our utility bills have definitely decreased! Our July utility bill this year was about $200 lower than the July bill last year. Should be about the same for the August bill too!
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