The Shepherds' Journey

Jay-El is our resident numismatist. For months he's been looking forward to attending a big coin show today. This was our second visit to a show, and we enjoyed learning from all the pros.


Learning about grading coins.


Learning about errors during the mint process and seeing some very rare mistakes.

Labels: Coins, Jay-El

Jay-El has really taken an interest in coins, currency and banking. He came with me to the office this morning so we could attend the Grand (re)Opening of the local bank after they finished a number of renovations they'd been working on over the last few months.

We were able to have lunch and meet various people who work at the bank.

Labels: Jay-El

We were invited to the Grand Opening of the J & J Coin Dealer owned and operated by our very own Jay-El and Julian.



Welcome!


Jay-El hands out tickets for the drawing


Showing us the collections


Looking up some answers from the gathered crowd


Exhibiting State Quarters


Displaying special coins


1 + 1 = 2! Here we have 2 sequential dollar bills along with a $2 bill.


Enjoying some post event snacks provided by Kelley Rose

We all had a great time!

Labels: Coins, Family, Jay-El, Julian

Lsat year we raised chicks in a make-shift brooder that Kyle and I made. It wasn't a very good fit for what we need because it's not enclosed on all sides and doesn't stay warm. Since we are about to get a lot of chicks in about a month, we decided to build a more permanent brooder specifically designed to keep the chicks good and warm as well as dry. Kyle and I sketched out a design on some paper, and started with the project.



We creating a block foundation that was 2 blocks high. This took a little work to prepare the ground surface to make sure everything was set level. In this picture we are just finishing up the last of the bottom row.


Kyle and Jay-El and I learned a lot with this project. In the end, it's probably the best thing we have built to-date.



Jay-El unloading the blocks from the truck


Here you can see the location of the Brooder in relation to the other chickens.

The next step is to frame it in.

Labels: Chickens, Farming, Jay-El, Kyle

Jay-El and Julian enjoy collecting coins and so while doing an inventory they decided to build a neat stack out of the coins:

Labels: Jay-El

We celebrated Jay-El's birthday this evening complete with a football them and football field cake made by Kelley Rose.


What a fun cake!


Lots of Auburn related party fun. Why am I the only Alabama fan in my family?


Opening some presents...


More coin collecting books and items


Time to blow out the candles!

Happy 10th Birthday, Jay-El. We are so glad your are a part of our family and look forward to our years together ahead.

Labels: Birthday, Jay-El

It's that time of year for another birthday for Jay-El! This year he turns 10 and so I decided to pal around with him all day doing fun things together.



Lunch at O'Charley's.


We visited a couple of coin shops. Jay-El enjoys coin and currency collecting.


We went bowling for a while, which is something we rarely get to do.

Labels: Birthday, Jay-El

Today was a productive day with the plucker project. We primarily worked to seal it, paint it and get the rubber fingers into the holes. It's important to seal and paint it because this will get very wet when it is in use. Even when we get to the electrical part, it will all be waterproofed.


Caulking all the joints


Kyle painting the frame


Looking good!

I started inserting the rubber fingers into the "Featherplate". This is the large plate that will spin at the bottom of the plucker.


Kaleb helping me with the fingers


We soaked them in warm soapy water to try and help them go in a bit easier.


All done!


This is the shaft that will get attached to the bottom of the Featherplate


Time to layout the holes for the rubber fingers that will go in the side of the tub. Who says yo will never use a compass in real life?!


Holes drilled and ready for fingers


Pulling the fingers through. This was more difficult that it looks and my arm was sore for several days.


All of the fingers are now in the tub wall


Putting the tub in the frame


Starting to look like a plucker!

Labels: Jay-El, Kaleb, Kyle, Pastured Poultry, Plucker

Kyle, Jay-El, Ruthanne and I did some shooting today down in "Deer Meadow" (named affectionately by the children because we see deer there from the kitchen windows).


Teaching Jay-El


Jay-El shooting a .38 Special


Kyle's turn

Ruthie-annie Get Your Gun!

Ruthanne getting a feel for the shotgun before trying to hit some skeet.


Kyle does fairly well shooting skeet. He's wearing my Husqvarna Helmet that I use while clearing land because of the added ear protection. (He's had major reconstructive surgery on his inner right ear in the past.)


Teaching Kyle how to load more shells

Labels: Jay-El, Kyle, Outdoors, Ruthanne, Shooting

Jay-El was up in the "Mac" room today, named after a computer we have in there. It's also now our Library.


Jay-El is working on a puzzle


Glory the cat takes a nap after reading Elsie Dinsmore.

Labels: Glory, Jay-El

A week ago, I was wondering, "Where can I get a lot of compost/manure, and how am I going to transport it?" A week later, I have a farm truck and unlimited supply of horse manure/compost! Kyle, Jay-El and I worked very hard today to load 3 pick-up truck loads and brought to the house. We spread 2 truckloads onto the garden area, and the 3rd we just piled nearby for extra.





Kyle and Jay-El spreading the compost


Here is where we picked up the compost.


I think we're being watched

With some of the left-overs, I worked it into our Square Foot Garden boxes. We will be transplanting our seedlings to these soon.


We recently bought some various lettuce seedlings and so I went ahead and planted those today.

Labels: Farming, Gardening, Jay-El, Kyle