May 19 - 25

Another older post as I slowly work to get caught up...

On Monday Bennett played outside while Chris started to remove a bush that we decided to get rid of.  I stayed inside (taking pictures) and making dinner.
When they came inside Chris and I started talking measurements of our old dishwasher (we planned to replace it) and was calling out numbers to me.  Bennett ran to get his tape measure as well and started calling out random numbers every time Daddy did.
After dinner Bennett played some imaginary friends, ran from a monster, and dyed imaginary Easter eggs.

I'm not sure why it took a month, but we finally got our proofs from Bennett's school pictures on Tuesday.  At this rate it will likely be another month until the prints come in.  Both poses are great though, although some of the backdrop choices are pretty cheesy.  In the past we've gone with the Spring backdrop, but this time we'll stick with the grey.

When we got home Bennett had fun playing outside while Chris and I worked more on removing the bush.  Digging out roots is a big pain!
Since we had been working outside for so long we had a late dinner which meant we skipped Bennett's bath.  The late hour apparently didn't matter to him because he stayed awake talking to himself for quite some time after going to bed.

Well the bush was down but on Wednesday it was time for stump removal.  We dug it out and Chris also tied a rope to it so that we could pull it.  Bennett thought this was lots of fun.  He climbed into his playhouse and back down again and started pulling on the rope.   

It rained on Thursday so we couldn't go outside to play.  Instead we stayed inside and Bennett watched Peter Pan. 

We don't really watch many movies.  We are more likely to put on an episode of Curious George rather than a full-length movie.  On Friday we finally open up American Tale, which Bennett had gotten for Christmas.  He seemed to enjoy it, but did find a few moments to be a bit intense and scary.  (Maybe this is why we don't watch movies- they all seem to have scary parts to them, even the G rated movies.

Saturday started with soccer. Bennett was not interested AT ALL!  We ended up leaving early.  Not sure what it was- being in a different field than normal, no time for running around at the beginning, getting hit by a ball... all combined to make him not want to do anything.

So we headed off on various errands.  We went to the garden center and bought some new bushes to replace the one we removed, Old Navy to get Bennett some new pants, and the mall to pick out and order a dishwasher.  After all of that it was lunch time and then nap.

When Bennett woke up it was time to go to Uncle Andrew's house!  Chris and I had a date night to celebrate our 11th anniversary so Bennett spent the night with Uncle Andrew so that we wouldn't have to worry about getting home late, etc.  Poor Bennett and Uncle Andrew though, because Bennett woke up numerous times overnight.



Sunday morning we met Bennett and Uncle Andrew at Sturbridge for their Wool Days event.  Bennett asked Dave where they keep the electric blankets for the cows and chickens (if this doesn't make sense, read Click, Clack, Moo) but Dave said they don't have any because they don't have a typewriter or a Duck.

Bennett also participated in the tug-o-war.  We'd tried to get him to do it the week before but he hadn't been interested.  This time, as soon as he saw the rope, he wanted to join in.

Back at home we did more yard work.  Hopefully we'll be done with everything soon.

And then after dinner we had cake from the same place as our wedding cake.  So of course I had to put our cake toppers on it.  Yup, that's Marge and Homer Simpson.

We also gave Bennett some new "Mr Smee" PJs which he was excited to find in his room after his bath.

Guy Fawkes, hand turkeys, and sheep

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot.

That's right, Guy Fawkes Day was this week.  As crazy Anglophiles we dressed Bennett in his Spurs shirt and Union Flag arm/leg warmers.  Bennett apparently liked the arm warmers so much that he wanted to wear them again on Friday.

Saturday was the first skating class of the session but we missed it for our weekly OSV trip.  Yeah, I know what you're thinking, but we really wanted to be there on Saturday right when they opened.

The reason?  They were butchering a sheep and it had been suggested to us that we should plan to get there right when they opened.  More on this later, after the warning.

Uncle Andrew and Aunt Gentry came along as well.  This worked out well to have a couple of extra people to help keep an eye on Bennett, especially when things were going kind of slowly.

Since things were going a little slowly we went back and forth from the farm a few times.  Plus it was cold so we needed mulled cider to warm up.

When we stopped in the tin shop we were talking with Phil about how almost daily Bennett shoots his "musket" and how the other day he was saying that he'd forgotten his powder and his earplugs.  When we asked him where they were, he said they were in the tinshop.  Phil also gave Bennett a  musket ball.

Another fun moment was when Dave started to fill the woodbin.  Bennett asked if he could help.  Sure! Dave then had to go and do something else, but when he got back Bennett made sure to tell him that he's filled the woodbin.

On Sunday we went to Uncle Andrew and Aunt Gentry's house for a brunch and hand turkey craft party.  Bennett had so much fun cutting paper that he wanted to do more after his nap.

His finished hand turkey.

In other news, here's a friendly reminder (and doing my wifely duty) to remind you of Chris' Etsy shop.
Now is the time of year where he sells lots and lots of his Nativity Advent Calendars.  I know, it's crazy early to be thinking about Christmas, but if Santa can be at the mall already I guess it's not too early.

In years past he hasn't been able to keep up with the demand for them.  This year he worked a bit harder to have more of an inventory.  Only time will tell if it's enough.  What I find exciting is that I've been able to find lots of these pinned on Pinterest!

If this particular puzzle isn't of interest to you, he has lots of other designs available in his shop, plus even more that aren't listed.  And if you are local, his work (including puzzles, ornaments, and pens) is available for purchase at Sign of the Dove Gallery in Newton at The Mall at Chestnut Hill.

In other shopping news, I’m having a thirty-one catalog party, open until the 22nd.  If interested, you can peruse and order online at https://www.mythirtyone.com/beckythackston.  Go to “My Parties” and then select my name. 

The special for November is a limited edition Medium Utility Tote for only $7 (with $35 purchase).  It’s also available at the regular price for $30.

There are lots of great items for organizing your home, car, etc or plenty of items that would be great hostess/teacher/whomever gifts.

Also, if you would be so inclined to click on the ads on this site it would earn me a few pennies.  Not a lot, but every little bit helps, right?  And I'm not kidding about it only being a little.  Last month there were 6 clicks which earned a whopping $2.05.  Only you have to earn $100 before they will send you a check.  Hmm, this could take a while.  :)

And now for pictures of the sheep.

Here's my warning for Mel and other people who are squeamish that you may want to stop reading.  These are a bit more gruesome than last week's turkey photos.
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THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING!
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Sturbridge opens at 9:30.  Just before they opened they shot the sheep.  We were there right when they opened and headed straight back to the farm.  When we got there the sheep was lying on the table.  They then sliced the skin on one of the legs and hung the sheep up to better be able to work on it.  

We were the only ones there (other than the interpreters) for at least a half hour, but it was nice because Bennett was able to run around a bit to check on the other animals, see what was going on inside the farmhouse (not much), etc.  Lots of back and forth running.  Also most of the people working know us as regulars so they knew that Bennett would be ok.  Plus if he went into the farmhouse we were usually right behind him.

As you can see below, Dave is taking some notes about the process.  Since this type of event doesn't happen very often it becomes an educational experience for all of the staff as well.

It was taking a while to remove the skin so we went to get warm drinks and visit some of the other buildings.  When we came back it had been skinned and the organs had been removed.  Victoria asked Bennett if he wanted to see the organs, mentioning that they were similar to the turkey he'd seen the week before.  Dave is working here on the heart and lights (lungs).  The other useful organs are in the pan.

Here it is about to be brought inside. 

Inside Victoria starts by removing the "hams".  Apparently this is the name of this cut of meat- the legs.  She had to ask one of the guys to come in with an axe to help break it apart.

And that's all the butchering pictures I've got.  We went away for lunch and when we came back it was pretty much all cut apart.  They cooked up the loins right then, but the rest was going to be saved for other cooking presentations.

Ultimately a sheep is pretty small.  The amount of meat would only be enough for 3-4 meals.

It was interesting being there for so long and hearing different parts of the process and also learning about Victoria's transformation from a vegan PETA member to the head of the butchering program.