Rachael Eliker's Blog, page 39

Training Time

Today, we got snow. There's no denying that we're on the way to winter and, as much as I'd like, that means a reduction in time outside with the animals and in particular, riding. So last week, knowing that the weather was going to take a nose dive, we took advantage of the warm temperatures and sunshine.
Jack doesn't usually get home until the sun is well on its way below the horizon but at the new school, the girls step off the bus a whole forty-five minutes earlier. So, we hurry and get out...

Busy Birthday

Well, another year has come and gone, so I get to add one more candle to the top of my birthday cake. It's interesting that as I age, birthdays don't mean as much though they are still special. There aren't any birthdays of mine that I'm looking forward to (does anyone ever get excited about turning forty??) but I really do enjoy celebrating, especially with my kids. Everything's exciting to them--it's practically like reliving my childhood via observation. Though the day started out the same-...

NaNoWriMo 2017 Winner!

This year has been busy to say the least! I started a new romantic comedy, entitled When A Star Falls , after finishing the first draft of the sequel to The Midnight Slaves during the 2016 NaNoWriMo. Before finishing a draft of my romantic comedy or editing the Slaves sequel, we had a new baby and moved to a bigger farm, which meant a new milk cow, planting an orchard, moving schools, unpacking, home renovations, etc. It was an adventure to be sure but come November and another round of NaNoWr...

Counting Your Blessings

Thanksgiving is usually one of those quiet holidays we enjoy at home because we aren't always able to make it back to Nebraska to celebrate with family. The time off work is a welcome reprieve (although honestly, we end up doing work around our property, like putting up pasture fencing) and we still make a traditional Thanksgiving meal. However, this year, our house was bustling with visiting family and friends.
Zoey enjoyed having a cousin her age visit. The canoe and paddle boats got lots of...

Over a Month

Picking out our pumpkins!Time is one of those things that really intrigues me and when I really start thinking deeply about it, blows my mind. I mean, all those little seconds add up and before I know it, an entire month has gone by. October is always one of those months because it's my favorite and is always jam-packed with beautiful weather, Halloween, visitors, school breaks, and fun family time. Over a month, the girls had their fall break... Grandma can't eat anything without Henry also wa...

Slice of Life

Though several of my goals for the year have been sacrificed out of necessity (having a baby, then deciding to finish our house so we could move really took it out of me!), there are a few that I really don't like to forego because if I miss them, so much will have already changed by the next year. One of those is having family portraits, a tradition that has quickly become one of my favorite yearly goals. We have had some incredibly talented friends take our pictures and this year, it was Ch...

Survival Mode

Hurrying to feed the cows before school.Lately, Jack has had several work trips, leaving the kids and me at home to fend for ourselves.
Okay, so it's not that bad but when Jack leaves, I go into survival mode out of necessity. Thank goodness for technology.Sometimes that means I employ the older kids as babysitters. Claire taking her turn watching Zoey.I'm on full alert as Dr. Mom for anyone who might injure themselves
(and with five kids, that's surprisingly frequent). Pushed from behind. Sh...

Book Sales

Jan Hinds, Jennifer Jensen, and me!Once in a while, I like to go to a book selling event to give me a chance to get together with author friends, meet new readers, and give me a chance to get out without the kids. I've slowly been amassing things to use on display at these sort of events and my newest treat is a giant sign with a quote that sort of hints that books are really awesome gifts:
After we got all set up yesterday, the patrons started pouring in and though I'm personally awful at sel...

Run Bambi!

Run Bambi, Run!The whole family had a rare treat the other day when we were driving the girls home from an after-school activity. A young buck was rather frantically running through the fields, looking rather lost. Perhaps the little Bambi that we saw earlier in the year is all grown up...
Buckling!
Seriously, never a dull moment here.

As Planned

When butter goes terribly wrong.I think sometimes our family gives off the wrong impression. That our life is easy and neat and going exactly as planned. That would be terribly unfair to let anyone believe. Oh, no, no. Life here is very, very normal and to prove it, here are a few photos to sum up the messy, back-breaking, terribly frustrating life we lead...
Getting the kids to start early on farm chores.Stacking hay is quickly becoming our favorite Friday night pastime.

That's if you enjoy a...