Andrew's First Marathon

Hey family. I ran my first marathon in Ellerbe, NC. I was going to do it with an Army team in New Mexico this weekend, but my unit cut the funding at the last minute. I finished at 4 hrs, 25 minutes and placed 36 out of 88. See this link: http://www.etinternet.net/~runrbike/ESM2012.htm.

I usually don't gain more than 70 feet total in elevation on a long run in Richmond Hill, so this hilly course was quite the challenge.

Our new additions.

I've wanted to get chickens since we moved to Mauldin in 2006, and Matt finally agreed. Matt is helping me build a "chicken Tractor", so I figured I'd better pick up some chicks while they were available at our local Tractor supply. The kids helped me pick them out, so while I would have preferred a flock of Rhode Island Reds, we have a variety .

4 Production Reds (Mostly Rhode island, crossed with other heavy layers)
2 Plymouth Rocks
2 Mystery Bantams

The first two pictures are the bantams, the last picture is the rest of them.

More Recent Pictures

Some Recent Pictures

Making Bacon

I just returned home from a visit with Mom and Dad. Among other things, Dad and I decided to give making Bacon a try. I brought some Pork Belly from a local farmer here in SC that raises pigs on pasture. I "cured" the pork in a mixture of Kosher Salt and Pure Maple syrup for 5 days. Then Dad Smoked the cured bacon. In the picture here it's ready to be sliced and fried for breakfast.

Ermine Update

Here is a necklace David made me during school. He called it the necklace of power. It keeps away evil. I should wear it all the time.

Here are the children, playing in the chest together

The Ermine family has been surviving the winter very well. The weather here has been slightly dissappointing due to the fact that we have only had a couple of inches of snow, and nothing deep enough to sled in. I feel put out that I have to deal with cold weather but do not have the benefit of a good snow. Never the less, the children and I have been getting out to play. We have a usual spot along a river that we visit for nature walks when it is not too cold.

Little David is progressing in his preschool aged learning. He now seems familier with most of his letters and some sounds. He has asked me on occassion what something says and we sound it out together. The other day, he wrote his name for the first time, and I was a very proud mother. Amelia is as independent as ever. She will keep herself busy for hours in her little world of dolls and babies. Although lately, David and Amelia have been playing together. It is a great consolation and answer to my prayers. They ofter play Lois Lane and Clark Kent, but today we played Little House on the Prarie. I was Ma, of course, and Amelia was Laura, David was Almanzo, and Edward was baby Carrie. I did not tell them that Carrie was a girl. Edward is just sweet, plump, and wiggly. Big David continues to work very hard at his business and it is going well.

We miss you all, and hope to visit someone sometime soon. Love, Heather