Saturday

Feeling so much better in the last week or so. Still uneasiness around certain foods (the smell or thought of chicken - blah!), but for the most part I feel steady. Levi chatters endlessly to our baby who we have named "Love" - telling he/she all that awaits them on the outside. I'll have my first and only ultrasound in mid-January. And as we did last time we'll wait & have a surprise. I *love* surprises!

We're headin' to Wildwood next Wednesday - excited about a long weekend at home.

Buckskin

For all the deer meat in our freezer, we've never gotten into the habit of tanning their hides - they usually go with the carcass back to the woods - this year we've decided to start. Joe's put several in the freezer & we'll be saving any more this season.

Today we took a small doe skin & began the fleshing process. There are many different methods & we're just learning what will work for us. We'll be brain tanning. The theory goes that each animal has enough brain to tan its hide. And I've just learned in the absence of a matching brain, eggs can substitute.

scraping flesh & membrane from the inside of the skin - we'll leave the fur on the outside of this one for a soft bedside rug - the next ones we'll remove the fur to make buckskin for making clothes - I want a pair of leather pants!

using a sander to remove the fine membrane that remains on this now dried hide

New Ride

In the last week he's finally figured out how to use the pedals & now, can't be stopped. Afternoon walks included.

Sunday Morning Biscuit Makers

A special treat this morn - the gents let me sleep in till 10 and then made a batch of biscuits. Thanks guys!

His first sampling of buttermilk - after a moments pause & a strange face he decides he really likes it

a buttermilk moustache (and some in his hair too somehow)

Ready for the oven

Dad

This is a pic of my Dad in his tradition mountain man attire (dropsleeve shirt handstitched by me - - it only took me a year...). I love these pants too Dad! Great pic.

Our cousin Koyle took the pic & I always go back & check it out on Facebook - couldn't resist archiving it on our blog.

Latest Family Pic

Checking In

Have been feeling blah & not really motivated on the blog front lately. Or any front for that matter. There's piles of clean laundry lying around & the house could use a good deep clean. I'm nearing the end of the first trimester & I'm expecting this upset tummy to be history soon.

I'm headed to the midwife for the first time tomorrow where there will be some blood drawn (dread). I get whoozy when needles come out. This will be the only needle ordeal the entire pregnancy so just have to get past tomorrow without hitting the floor.