The end is near.......

Yes, that title sounds ominous, but it's not quite what you think. We are getting close to the closing on our house here in South Dakota! Maybe, they keep coming up with last minute things that are really beginning to aggravate us and our sellers. So far, today was the last hoop, I think and we should be moving in this week!!!! Finally.
I can't wait to get into the house, I just road tripped to Colorado to pick up my antique Chambers stove. She's a buttercup yellow and in great condition. I can't wait to get her hooked up and start cooking.
There is so much to do yet. Spring is coming here to the Black Hills, but I have been assured that there will be one more good blizzard in April to look forward to. I can't wait to start the garden, there is a nice size plot on the side of the house where she gardened. I also need to get chickens and get our horses here. So much to do and so little time.
Well, until after we close, when I can get pictures on here for you all....

Ah, New Year New Place New Beginnings!

It's truly a start to the new year for me. My husband and I took a leap and up and moved to South Dakota. I had lived in Kansas for basically my entire life, oh, I had travelled and seen other places, but I never had the nerve to really pull up stakes and move to a unknown city. We were leaving a wonderful life and spectacular friends and neighbors, but the adventure was calling me in the back of my head. We knew the kids who suffer from eczema and asthma would do better there, plus who doesn't want to see Mt. Rushmore everyday?

Job one was to get our house in Kansas sold. Well, we put it on the market and waited. And waited, and then waited a little more. We found nice renters for the place and were able to leave the chickens and barn cats in their charge. We also found a nice home in Custer, SD to rent while the search for the perfect home commenced! Well, maybe perfect is a far stretch, but at least one with no major renovations to deal with.

We're excited to have a new start in a beautiful place that we're happy to call home.

The Countdown Begins.....

Well, the time is nearing to when we will make the big move. So far, it appears that all of us will not be going at the same time! The other half and the oldest boy will trudge on ahead, while the little ones and I will stay behind. As it stands, I don't think that I'm all that upset by it.

The weather in South Dakota right now is very, VERY cold and snowy. I don't mind the snow at all, but the -35 temps they have had can go to the birds, my Kansas butt can't take that just yet. I have to acclimate a bit before I just rush into it. I'm used to 20 one day and then 60 the next!

Other than that, nothing really newsy here on my end. I've been half heartily packing and downsizing. It just doesn't seem real yet. Maybe because we don't really have a home to go to yet? But we have a place for the horses and other animals until we find permanent digs.

I am also determined to have a last Christmas here. That way we can do a proper goodbye to all our close family and friends. So I'm digging out the 12ft. tree and decorations to deck the halls one last time.......

I'm Back!!

After a long hiatus, I have reappeared! So much has happened in the last serveral months, I don't know if I can put it all in one post.

We had our family vacation to Colorado and not too long after we got back, my husband learned that we were to be transferred to Rapid City, South Dakota. Hmmm. I have lived my entire life in Kansas and was nervous at first, and just in shock because we had talked about it, but I never really thought it would happen. Now I'm to the point of excited nervousness. Now we just have to wait until our house sells!

The kids are excited to move, but they are worried about all the animals. It has been decided that the horses, the dogs and a couple of cats are coming with us. The neighbor has graciously accepted the chickens. The only problem is where to house everybody. We have found some wonderful places up there, but we have yet to physically go look. Those trips are in the making.

So here in a few months, I should have pictures of the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore instead of the quiet Kansas prairie.

Oh, the goings on here at the Hacienda!

OK, I know I have not been posting anything as of late. But, I have been pouring through all of yours. We have been quite busy the month of July and I actually can't wait until the lazy days of fall to slow down. Or, at least it seems to me that fall is slower than the other months!

In the beginning of July the family took our yearly outing to Colorado. Oh, it was a WONDERFUL time. The kids had a great time hiking and swimming and climbing rocks. I just enjoyed the weather and the peacefulness of the mountains and the watching the kids love the outside. Here in Kansas, I can only get them to go out for snippets at a time because it's so hot and humid all the time. There, they are up and out the door before anyone else!

We also have had a death in the family. Poor Bug's chicken did not make it. She just never looked as healthy as the other ones and I knew it was going to happen and should have prepared her, but I um, "chickened" out and told her it must have run away. But we have had a rash of deaths here lately and I didn't want to add another, the fish have been keeling over left and right and I don't know why. So, we're actually up on animals for the moment. We replaced the two fish that died and also added two HORSES!!!!

Oh, they are beautiful. When the weather calms down around here, we'll ride them like crazy, but it's been so god awful hot and humid that Nooooobody wants to do anything outside. So I will leave for now and post pics of the horses and my pretty zinnias later.

The Longest Day!

I fully took advantage of yesterday's solstice and worked in the garden until I couldn't see anymore and for fear of the long slithery things that creep in the yard, I skedaddled back to the house.

My garden is one step, OK maybe more like a half a step away from being out of control on me. It's been so freaking hot and humid here the past week, that it's no joy to go out and work in it. And if it's not too hot, it's pouring down rain! I can't win.

The girls and I are enjoying the chickens very much. I didn't think I would say this 2 years ago, but I actually like the little buggers. They follow me around the yard and talk to me. The only problem is when I mow the yard, they won't get out of the way of the mower, so I have to wait on them......... something is wrong there, but I haven't figured it out yet. They must be somewhat happy because we've been getting 5-6 eggs a day. I'm actually giving some away now!!!

I know my post are few and far between, but with the oldest boy gone I don't have any help for the yard and it's all me! Five acres is a lot to contend with alone. I can't wait for our vacation getaway to Colorado. I will relax then and bask in the glory of the mountains!!!

Cleaning day!

Today is the day if we see that the girls are really into their chickens. It's clean the coop day. At

best it should be interesting. We had a chicken fiasco the other day, my sweet old dogs decided

that they would chase the chickens. Needless to say, we haven't had eggs the past two days.

My pumpkinhead, the self proclaimed artist is making some pretty cool designs and logos. If her

goofy mother could figure out how to get them to the computer, we'd be fine. I'll see if I can post

her wares later.