Go Cart, Gift of Greatness!

One day after my birthday, I got a huge package from Gramma. “What could it be,” I thought. It was a go cart! I asked Dad if we could build it and he said, “Yes”. We started building and after a few hours of it we went to eat. Day after day we worked on it and soon we got the go cart completed and it was ready for testing. I went zooming across, the yard, it worked! Soon Abby (my sister) and I were racing around the yard.

A Few Years Later…

“Hey papa, can I go ride my go cart?” “Sure, but let me put gas in it first.” He said. I am just about to take my go cart for a spin when my sister came out to join in my fun after doing her schoolwork. We took turns and WWWWWWHHHHHHHOOOOO! we screamed as we zoomed around the property.

The next day, I asked Papa to ride the go cart again. I was in the middle of the field when, putt! putt! putt! I had just broken down! Papa said my chain broke, so my wheels wouldn’t turn. So Papa ordered a part to fix it. The first time it came, it was too small and the second time it was an EMPTY package! The third time, it was too BIG! Then we finally got it right and Papa fixed it. Because I was cautious, my amazing grandfather cut paths for me to ride on. Soon I was happily racing along on my Go Cart Gift of Greatness!

Puppy Love

Dear readers, I hope you enjoy my most recent story about our newest family member Ruth. Our story begins with Mom and Dad surprising us after their trip to Tennessee with an announcement that we would be getting a new puppy right before my 12th birthday. Sadly she would not be one of my presents even though it was considered.

It was a Saturday morning at 8:00 when we left the house to get Ruth. It was a 2 hour drive to the place were Ruth lived in Roanoke, Virginia. When we finally arrived PJ and I could barely contain our excitement as we were escorted into a large house by two dogs and a cat. While Mom and Dad signed papers, PJ and I played with Ruth who was all short legs and soft round belly!

When it was time to go, I got to carry Ruth out to the car and set her in the crate. Unfortunately, our baby girl threw up about 18 times on the way home! We were lucky Dad didn’t throw up as well! When we arrived at home Ruth was very curious, loved exploring her new surroundings, and meeting Nana and Papa.

Boaz’s first time meeting Ruth was absolutely heart warming and adorable! Later that evening Ruth had her first ever bath. And afterwards we all took turns holding the baby, even Papa. Meow was not pleased! Ruth and Meow Meow’s encounter was a little more eventful than Boaz’s and even though Meow was bigger than Ruth she still decided to chase him around the house until one of us could catch her! Now Ruth is 1 year old and is a stubborn, leash-chewing, toy-stealing, loving, sister and a wonderful addition to our family!

Boaz’s Perspective

I smelled change in the wind as my family returned at last from a long day away from home. As my whole family came into my fence, I saw Daddy carrying something small, brown, and wriggly in his arms. After Daddy set the tiny creature down, I began my investigation of the furry bundle. I soon realized two things; It’s a puppy and a friend for me to play with! It’s a girl and her name is Ruth. She is a fierce little force to be reckoned with and has sharp teeth! Later, when it was time for bed, Ruth tried to hide under my bed and kept doing sneak attacks. Although I couldn’t be happier to have a new friend, I do wish she would quit attacking my tail because her teeth are really rather sharp!

Meow Meow’s Thoughts

I can’t believe it, those humans got another furry groundhog! And this one try’s to play tag with me and ambush me! My family (or servants) didn’t even ask my permission before they got that furry, over grown, rat! I am also starving! I haven’t eaten in the past hour! Hope y’all enjoyed this story! Abby.

Golf Cart Adventures on the Farm

Hi, I’m Nana’s thirteen year old granddaughter, Addison. I love going to the farm because of the nature, land, and especially driving Nana and Papa’s golf cart. I enjoy it so much that Papa always makes sure its charged when he knows I’m coming. Usually when I get to the farm, I turn into a country girl (but I’ve grown up in a saburban neighborhood). After we are at the farm for a little while, I ask Abby (my cousin), if she’d like to go for a ride. We go and ask Papa and he always says, “Yes”. Then we are off on our adventure. Most of the time we just ride around the property and talk about how our weeks have been and just “catch up”. When we get back to the house (especially in the winter) we ask for hot chocolate and we always get it! I am so excited that I have a farm that I can visit, be myself, and have fun.

What Came First, the Chicken or the Egg? (Written by, PJ)

Last spring, Nana and I discovered a section on eggs in my science book. I was glad because we were just about to start raising chicks. It’s a big process, but we read and researched and read some more and then Nana bought an incubator to put the eggs in. The chicks start out as an embryo and it feeds on the yolk sac and begins growing. It was a long time before, “Peep, Peep” came from inside the egg. First the egg started to move, then we heard it. Then finally the next morning, there was a small hole in the shell. We couldn’t move the table or the chick could die of fright. When we got up a couple days later, guess what was waiting for me in the box we set up with a light? Three of the cutest, tiny, peeping, adorable, chicks!

The first few days we fed the chicks, gave them water, and cleaned up after them. One day I saw they were starting to grow feathers and they had grown bigger. Soon they outgrew their box and we moved them to a larger metal container in the garage. During this time, the family built a run for the chicks. Then after a few weeks, we moved them outside to the run. I helped Nana move the chicks (who were now pullets) each morning from the garage to the run and then back to the garage in the evening. Then after a while, we tried putting them with our older chickens, but it didn’t work because the older, larger hens ran and pecked the pullets. By this time, we realized the pullets were ROOSTERS! As time went by, the roosters grew larger and Meaner! They were difficult to catch and they pecked and chased us. Then after awhile we moved them… wait for it…. TO OUR Freezer!

Nana said she would like to have some more chicks before fall. We gathered and saved eggs and then we put them in the incubator. It was the same process except one thing, these chicks are nice while the first batch were mean. The largest chick, we named Buddy, is a rooster but he is gentler than the first three. There is a pure white one who is sweet and shy. The third one is small but Very brave, and she has specks of brown on her neck. After a few weeks, Buddy looked after the girls. Later, we tried to move them to the coop with the older hens, but again the older hens picked on the younger three. So they lived in the run until they grew bigger and stronger, then we successfully put them with the older chickens. After a few months, the girls started laying Green and Blue eggs!

Simply Mint 2 Bee

It’s Abby here and I am guessing some of you are probably wondering how we chose our farm’s name. One night we were all sitting around the dinner table discussing farm names when it hit me like a lightning bolt. Why not name the farm Mint 2 Bee! It represents the struggle of looking for more than a year for a family farm big enough for all of us to live on and suit our wants and needs. It also is a reference to our newest endeavor the honey bees and the mint that we tried and failed to dig up for so long! After I introduced this idea to the family we debated some more and in the end our two favorites were Birds and the Bees and Mint 2 Bee. (Which one do you like better?) We decided to pray and think on it a while……… A month or so later we talked again and officially chose; Mint 2 Bee! And that my fellow Readers is how the name of our farm came to bee. It’s really quite simple.

A Golden Friend

Hi readers, its Abigail and I am back at it again with a new and possibly my most favorite story! This story takes place back in 2019 on Christmas Eve. I had been very sick for months, with vertigo, and Mother and Father were taking me to see a DO specialist. PJ my little brother was forced to go with us. Little did we know that Mother and Father had met the man the night before. His kids had gone to the CO-OP we attend and their youngest had a golden retriever that he could no longer take care of. Mother had coordinated with Dr. MacDonald’s wife and arranged to pick Boaz up from them on Christmas Eve after my visit to Dr. MacDonald. Knowing none of this, PJ and I were surprised when the kind man invited us to his home to meet his dog. After playing with Boaz for about 15 to 30 minutes we had fallen in love with this sweet, gigantic, golden, slobbery, smart, tug of war loving, dog. So we were over the moon with excitement when Dr. MacDonald told us he was OURS! “MERRY CHRISTMAS!” We had wanted a dog of our own for years! 4 years later, Boaz is one loving, ball-stealing, fast running, member of our family!

A Fluffy Surprise

What’s up dear readers? It’s Abby with our sweetest story yet and a heads up to people who hate cute kittens, you will not want to read this story! And I will pretend to not be silently judging you for it.

I was sitting down stairs doing school with Nana when all of a sudden the world’s cutest ginger and white tabby kitten about 4-5 weeks old raises up on his back legs, and peaks through the low window in our french door. He was so small only his eyes could be seen, as he let out a cute, tiny meow. If you have not fallen in love with this kitten yet shame on you! Unfortunately, PJ was letting Boaz, our 1 year old golden retriever, outside to play in our fence [without a leash again]! Boaz thought the little kitten looked like a small furry squirrel and decided to chase him under Papa’s shed. After getting Boaz inside the fence, Nana and I warmed some milk and took it out to the kitten. Later in the day, we asked Papa to get us some cat food. After about three weeks of feeding and taking care of this kitten, I finally coxed him out and into my lap! He even went belly up and let me stroke and love on him! There was much debate on his name and we settled with Captain America, I only agreed to it so I wouldn’t have to call him Chuck! Captain America or Meow,Meow is now 2 and lives the spoiled life as Papa’s favorite. Our mice hunting, small animal killing, “barn cat” comes inside quite frequently in the winter and stays most of the day, thanks to Papa! Fun fact; Papa used to hate cats but ended up falling in love with this one! If you still dislike cats by the end of this story, Meow meow and I will maybe forgive your misled delusion, it depends on his mood though, cats hold a grudge…..

PJ’s Perspective

Farm life for a nine year old boy is enjoyable. I awake early each morning so it’s my job to feed our two golden retrievers, Boaz and Ruth, and let them outside. Afterwards, I have my quiet time and devotions. Then I go downstairs to visit Nana and Papa who live with us in our basement. Sometimes Nana makes me French toast or pancakes. After breakfast I usually start school. My mom teaches me math, reading, geography, history and spelling. Nana teaches me science, writing, grammar and art.

On our farm we have chickens, bee’s, pigs, dogs and a barn cat. Meow [or Captain America] loves to catch mice, tease our dogs and eat treats. Our first bee’s were unexpected. I think God planned for us to have amazing, pollinating bee’s [Nana will tell you that story.] Our first chickens we purchased from a farmer. Our rooster Diago, was a gift and our three youngest chickens we hatched in our incubator. The six pigs were given to us by a friend who was moving away. I hope you will keep reading and enjoy the stories about our adventures on our family farm. P.J.

Hiking With Dad

Dad said, “Let’s go for a hike around the property.” While we were walking, Dad hung signs and ribbons to mark our property line. We were excited to find a creek. As we neared it, we could hear the water rushing along the banks. Dad encouraged Abby and I to walk over the slippery rocks and and he taught us to skip stones. When he said it was time to head back towards home, I was glad because my legs were so tired, they were shaking. (P.J.)