Re-reveiew

Okay. Keith thinks I was a bit too kind in my comments about the new "Pride and Prejudice." We watched part of the A&E version last night, and I'm inclined to agree with him. The A&E "P&P" really is a well-done production--far better than the new movie. However, I still think the new movie is not bad, and makes for a nice albeit expensive diversion.

Would I go again? No, certainly not at theater prices.

Would I go in the first place, if I knew what it was like? I'm not sure. Like I said, we don't often go to movies, and it was fun with everyone along. However, the wait-and-rent method is a lot more practical, and I don't think we'd have missed a lot by missing it on the big screen. But we would definitely have rented it soon after it became available.

Mary Susan

Afterthought

I meant to mention the previews that were shown before "Pride and Prejudice". My advice is to avoid them, if at all possible. They ran 20-25 minutes, and some were quite offensive.

Mary Susan

Thanksgiving and eggs

We had a good Thanksgiving. My sister was here for the weekend, which is always nice; she's a wonderful aunt and sister. Keith's mother stayed Thanksgiving night and most of the day Friday; the girls beat her and their brother in one of their games of Rook--not an easy thing, as my mother-in-law is something of a cutthroat Rook player. On Saturday, newly-acquired friends from the Atlanta area (first met them in September) stopped by for lunch and an all-too short visit on their way home from her parents in the Nashville area. It was so great to see them; they are a God-honoring family that is an inspiration.

We met this family at their church, after being invited to a conference there by another inspiring family--one that we met while on vacation in Virginia in July. This is a great and God-honoring family, who shared their hospitality with us that weekend and again for their church's Reformation weekend activities. These are two of the families that make up an incredible church family--one like we never imagined existed, but that seems so much more like what a church family is supposed to be, when held up to God's word. It is a blessed church family and we are humbly grateful that God has allowed us to become friends with them.

Late Saturday, Keith, myself, all four children, and my sister drove an hour to the closest theater that was showing "Pride and Prejudice." We like the A&E production a lot, so we didn't expect much from this one. We were pleasantly surprised. Of course, a lot of shortcuts had to be taken to fit the story in to just over 2 hours, and there is a place or two that really seemed a bit unlikely (e.g., did Elizabeth's aunt and uncle simply leave her at Pemberley, so that she had to walk home, or did I miss something?) But it was a nice diversion--a rare movie-at-the-theater for us, although we occasionally go to the drive-in; that's fun, and if 3yo gets restless, it's less likely to bother others. By the way, 3yo did great at "P&P"; but then, he knows the story well, he's seen the A&E version so much at home (His conversation is occasionally peppered with lines from that production!)

Note about egg-production: we're down to 2 a day; we were probably averaging 11 a day before the time-change. We've put a light in the hen house in the hopes of getting that number up some. At least, we heard that adding "light" hours helps. Hopefully that makes them more comfortable, too, on cold nights.

Blessings

A happy and blessed Thanksgiving to all.

Mary Susan

Dixie

It looks like dd has decided to name the Gordon setter Dixie.

Dixie has a very nice disposition. She's friendly with all of us; seems to have a soft mouth when she plays; doesn't bark much; immediately bonded with our blue heeler, Lily.

I think dd has given us a nice addition to our home.

Mary Susan

Meet The Puppy

Her name will be announced soon.

Ahhhh.

As I typed the "New Puppy" entry, our 3yo ds awoke from his nap--too early, but not whining or screaming, at least. So most of that entry was done and this one is being done with a 3yo sleeping in my lap. Not the easiest way to type, but I can't imagine a more blessed way!

Mary Susan

A New Puppy!

Keith and oldest child (15yo dd) have gone to Indiana today to pick up her puppy. They should be home in a couple of hours; I'll see if we can post a picture. Keith said the the owners are great (husband is an Assembly of God minister), as was the puppy's mother.

Three or so years ago, we promised dd that we'd get her a puppy if she proved herself dependable with one of our dogs that has a recurring ear problem. She did, and continues to. (She's an incredibly responsible person.) We said, however, that she'd have to wait for our sweet labrador to die, which we expected to happen fairly soon. Well, the lab hung on 'til this past February about 16 or so days shy of her 15th birthday. (She arrived a few months before dd.)

We'd have gladly gotten dd a puppy fairly quickly, assuming she wanted a lab, which are readily available and are among the absolute best dogs in the world, in my opinion. But dd had had time to investigate breeds and had settled on one that is way more expensive and way, way, way more difficult to find, but sounded good, even after her extensive research. We agreed to pay up to a certain amount; anything over, she'd have to pay. She scoured the classifieds for months, and finally found an ad for Gordons in October.

And so, she and Keith are on their way home with her as-yet-unnamed (unless she's been named in the last couple of hours) Gordon setter.

As far as I know, I've seen one Gordon setter in my life, a couple of years ago (almost). I didn't know what it was, but came home raving about it; very impressive dog. Soon after that, dd decided on a dog called a Gordon setter, showed me a picture of it, and I was excited to see that it was the breed I'd seen.

We're all looking forward to seeing the puppy, but I'm glad dd will be dealing with her these first few nights! Great real-life learning.

Mary Susan

Water, Water Most Everywhere...

...but none from the sky. October was terribly dry. We haven't had a true rain shower since Hurricane Rita left about 1.5" at the end of September. The pastures are really showing the stress. Many of the locals had to put out hay last weekend for the cattle. Most folks around here ususally hope to defer that task and expense until December or even January. Thus far, we have been spared that necessity due to our low numbers.

Speaking of water, Kyle and I have been busy getting water to the two pastures. Next, we will be putting up some cross-fencing. Hopefully, this will make it easier for us to practice management-intensive grazing. The concept certainly makes sense to me and many folks swear by it.

Keith