Reynolds Family Vacation 2015

We survived....no broken bones and everyone still speaking...hard to do when you have 22 immediate family members gathered together sharing all their own opinions.  This year our oldest daughter and her two youngest flew out from Mississippi to join us at the North Coast.  We stayed at Wages Creek out of Westport...the last time we were here our youngest was one month old...he's now 33 years old.

Noyo Harbor

Our Ocean View

The Light House

Our camping spot was perfect...the Group Site...big enough for our 3 travel trailers (2-30+ feet and a 27+ foot) and 4 tents...a camp kitchen area and a BIG outdoor movie screen...3 picnic tables, 6- 6 foot banquet tables, 2 cook stoves, 2 BBQ's, a popup canopy and a small fire-pit...can't tell you how many chairs there were so many.  We pulled the trailers up in a circle and faced everything towards the small creek (Wages) running along our site.  The vehicles (10) we pulled up on the outside of the camp at the backside of the travel trailers.  The tents were placed together next to the creek and housed the older kids...and one son and his family (he did announce this was his last tent trip...he's buying a nice used pop-up tent trailer).

Trailer One

Trailer Two

Wages Creek...Near Our Tent Area

Our Youngest, Sam With His Wife, Sarah and William...Heading For The Beach

My oldest son's wife and her 2 daughters were the first to arrive and they had set up their tent.  We rolled in next with our hybrid trailer and were setting it up when our youngest came in with his big fifth wheel...our youngest daughter and her 3 kids came next...they set up a tiny little tent (she always stays with us...she's afraid of the dark) her husband (the Dentist) had appointments the next day and would be in later in the p.m. or early the following a.m. She and the two DIL's started setting up the kitchen as my youngest and his father were leveling the trailers.  Sam's is new and totally automatic, but ours has to be done by hand and is a pain in the butt.  Towards evening the last of the trailers rolled in and completed our circle.  The oldest daughter and her two drove down from the Oakland Airport the next day...and the men left to check the harvest!  For a full day it was only women and children...then the next day the menfolk started filtering back.

Setting Up Our Firepit Grate/Grill

Papa Fixing Steak

Set-up For Dutch Oven Cobbler

We had rain on the second day!!  Unbelievable....the men were gone and we did just fine...thank goodness for the covered kitchen and the 3 trailers...the tents were flooded!  The next day the sun started shining and we were able to dry everything out at the camp laundry.

Daughter, Tess and G-Son Vincent Fixing Breakfast

Granddaughters/Cousins...Best Friends Forever

Youngest Daughter Kelly...Always Smiling

We built big fires, popped popcorn and watched old timey movies after dark.  John Candy's "The Great Outdoors", "Summer Rental", Jimmy Stewart's "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation", Disney's "Old Yeller", "The Incredible Journey" and the "Swiss Family Robinson".  We invited the whole campground and actually had a number of little kids join us...great fun and because the trailers blocked the sound from carrying we didn't disturb the other campers.

Relaxing Before Movies

Daughter-In-Law, Sarah and Youngest Grandson, Williams
And Oldest Son's Daughter, Claira

The Great Outdoors

Perfect Night For A Movie

The small town of Fort Bragg is about 20 minutes south of Westport and then Mendocino is another 15 minutes.  Mendocino is famous for many movies and television shows that have been filmed there...including Murder She Wrote.  My grandfather had a small homestead in the area where during the summer months he would grow a huge garden and berries...we would spend part of the summer there selling the produce to the neighbors while he fished the ocean.  When winter came he would move back to the small ranch he had in the Sacramento Valley, just 45 minutes north of were I live now.  I was lucky enough to have spent my young teenage summers in Mendocino when the "hippy" movement was just beginning.  Great times I love sharing with my grandchildren...of course their parents think having a "hippy" grandma isn't that cool!!  I showed the Littles all of my old haunts and hang-outs...fun!!

Leah and Little Lynda Enjoying a Day Away From
The Parents....Sharing Fish and Chips At Noyo

Audrey and Her Chocolate Face

Williams Showing Off His Shark Week Hat!

The Reynolds Family Camping Trip 2015:
Papa and Grandma Lynda
Tera, Lanie and Lillie Smith (Oldest Daughter and 2 of 5 kids)
Tessa and Ruben Reynolds-Reynoso with Vincent and Leah (Middle Daughter and family)
Leslie and Teryn Reynolds with Little Lynda, Claira and Audrey (Oldest Son and Family)
Kelly and Adams Reynolds-Stephens with Jack, Isla and Halle (Youngest Daughter and Family)
Sam and Sarah Reynolds with William (Youngest Son and Family

all names have been spelled correctly...yeah...I know...weird family.

Our Oldest Son, Les...Taking A Nap!

Heading Out

Well, it's that time of year: The Annual Reynolds Family Camping Trip!!  This year we're heading West...to the Coast!!  Wages Creek Campground in Westport, CA.  I went ahead and reserved the biggest Group campsite...it fits 40 folks...and it's isolated from the rest of the campground: Thank Goodness...we are a noisy bunch of campers!!  Our campsite has a really cute little creek running through it...the kids just love it.  I've invited my brothers and sister and their families...I hope they can take the time to visit.

Power Washing The Trailer

Our tomato harvest started this morning...so this year, as in too many years past, the menfolk will drive the trailers to the campsite, set them up, eat a hearty camp cooked dinner, spend the night, cook up a big campfire breakfast and head back home to the Valley.  The ladies and kids will have a great time together and then one-by-one the menfolk will filter back over the mountain to the Coast and spend whatever time they can with the family....then, after a week, we'll all be together to hitch up the trailers and head back home...if we're lucky we'll all be together for at least a couple days.  So go the lives of a Farm Family...feeding the world can be a pain in the patootie!

Turkey Mama

Well, it turns out I'm not a very good turkey mama.  I started with 10 awesome little poults a month ago and today I'm down to 4...what's a mama to do?  I lost four the first 5 days I had the little buggers, before I figured out I had a vixen fox stalking my outdoor brooder...then yesterday I noticed one of my remaining 5 was hanging back and just not looking happy.  I isolated the poor thing and did the best witch-doctoring I could come up with...didn't work...sometime in the early a.m. we both lost the battle.

Each time I lose one of my animals I go over my long list of "could'a, should'a, would'a"...then I tell myself I'm no longer going to raise animals...I'm just going to let them die of old age and not replace EVER!  Then Spring comes and I walk into the neighborhood feed store and there they are: baby chicks, baby turkeys, baby pigs and baby goats...it's just not fair.

(Not My Photo)...

This summer's project is to replace my flimsy fencing in the chicken yard with hog wire panels and electric fence top and bottom.  I've got all the supplies and a builder lined up...now to find the time. At the moment the poultry is running willy-nilly on the property...much to my husband's chagrin.  We have poultry poop everywhere!  I know, sounds totally gross.  Even though the home place is about 200 acres and they have plenty of room to roam, they seem to do their majority of pooping on my patio and sidewalk!  When we get back from our annual family vacation next week the fencing will be top priority...folks cross your fingers for me..."The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men"....

This Is The View From My Front Porch: NOT Acceptable!!

Best Livestock Ever....BEES!!!

I've had bees for about 5 or 6 years and I've had my share of ups and downs.  I keep bees for pollination and not so much for honey...which is a good thing...I usually end up with at least one weak hive and transfer honey frames over from the strong hives to keep the weak hive alive over the winter.

This year's bees have been very strong and productive.  I decreased my garden size because of the continuing drought so every plant needs to be productive and has been...thank you ladies!!  The fruit orchard has been under stress because of lack of consistent water, but has managed to produce fairly well...again...thank you ladies.  I planted lots of hollyhock, mustard, lavender, sage...anything that took little to no water just to feed the bees.  Today I will have to feed sugar water for the first time...while I wait for the 200 acres of squash to bloom my husband has planted for seed production ...should just be another 2 weeks.  When I open the hives today, I'll get a chance to see how the ladies are doing...I check every 4 to 6 weeks...it's been 7 weeks: YIKES!  I had an ant invasion 2 weeks ago that I had to address and didn't want to further the stress by smoking and opening the hives...every time you open a hive you cause severe stress to the ladies and I just hate doing that.  Ants have been horrible this year...they are everywhere...and they are not little black sugar ants...they are protein loving Argentine ants...they are AWFUL and EVERYWHERE!! Bastards!!

They're Hitched!

Tessa's Son, Vincent of the Long Legs and Daughter, Lovely Leah
Bringing Up The Rear: Youngest Daughter's Son, Jump'n Jack Flash and Daughter
Awesome Isla!

Youngest Daughter Kelly: Matron of Honor and Best Man Charlie Lyss...Groom's Best Friend

Bridesmaids: Granddaughters Little Lynda
AND  Leah

Daughter Kelly, Her Husband Adam and Daughter Halle
The Two Blondes are Son Les's Daughter's Claira and Audrey (yes that's how they spelled
Claira)

Our Middle Daughter, Tessa and Her Husband Ruben

All five of our children are now married and hopefully happy!  We had another lovely Reynolds Family wedding.  This one was held at Our Lady of Sorrows..."The Little Shrine"...the first Mass in Colusa county was held here.  The land the Shrine was built on was donated by my husband's great-great-great grandmother.  My mother-in-law spent many years having it registered as a historical landmark while a member of The Native Daughter of the Golden West.  I believe it was at one time listed as the smallest church in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records.  It was hotter than Hades (bless me, Father)...104 degrees! AND the couple had a full Mass...I swear I thought I was going to melt. Whew!

Our Lady of Sorrows

Right behind the Shrine is the historical Davis Ranches.  Eight years ago, when the youngest daughter was getting married and looking for a venue...she BEGGED the "owners"  (it's held in trust and has been for many, many, many years...no one lives there) if she could hold her wedding there...the answer was NO.  Fast forward...the younger generation has taken over and other than a Davis family wedding; we were lucky enough to be the first book it for Tessa's Wedding...

Oops!

My mad dash up to the Cabin before the BIG wedding ended in an "owie" for my poor car.  That is not a limb...it's a whole tree!  My old school chum and I had to MacGyver a way to get that damn tree off...but we did it...I limped home and after a week in the shop all should be well.

Well, Life on a Farm is Kinda Laid Back...Thank God I'm A Country Gal!

Vincent's 4th Year Selling A Hog!
$8.50 a Pound

Leah's Second Year Selling a Hog!
$13.50 a pound!

Another County Fair has come and gone.  Three grand kids raised and sold their hogs...and they did an awesome job! Our County Fair Livestock Auction earned the kids in the county in excess of $1.6 million dollars!  How amazing is that...we're a county of only 22,000 folks.

Granddaughter Lynda...First Year and She Was Beat! 
$18.50 a pound!

The Garden has been down-sized again due to our continuing drought.  I plant just enough for my pantry and a bit to give to the kids.  The kids all have their own gardens...small, but enough to keep salads and fresh veggies on the table daily.  I turned 2 of my raised beds into chicken brooders!  My egg sales really ramped up last year so I doubled production...and because of the avian flu I have folks from all over wanting eggs and meat chickens...and turkeys.  I'm raising a small flock of turkeys for the family to see if this is something I want to do on a bigger scale.  Never thought I'd be in the poultry business...but looks like I am!

Baby Turkeys...Just Love These Guys..Too Cute!

I've invested in a nice little shed/barn this year...my stuff was just getting out of hand..I had gardening, poultry, bee, hog, kayak equipment strung all over the place...just looked junky.  You would think with FIVE barns on this property I would have plenty of space...well, thanks to my husband's HOARDING I was being pushed out.  We have 3/4's of a barn that is storing all the DEAD family members junk...really, like an Egyptian pyramid!  I keep threatening to have an estate sale...my husband used to violently reject the idea...but I recently noticed 2 brand new expensive tractors parked next to that same barn and not under the roof...he told me there was no room!  I told him it was time to start getting rid of stuff: he shook his head and said: "Yeah...maybe"...I take that as a YES!

My Wonderful Shed/Barn!!

I'm still working at the school...love the job.  Lots of changes and sometimes turmoil...but so goes life.  I have a great staff...finally.  Hard working gals that want to make a difference and really love and care about the kids. We're doing more and more scratch cooking...we've introduced some great lunches for the teachers and administration...and that's a BIG step.  If the teachers eat at the table with their students I give them a break on their lunch...such a difference in behavior and less food waste. It was just a fluke: I had a kindergarten teacher want lunch and I told her I'd "comp" the lunch if she ate with her kids (usually they lead the kids to the cafeteria and leave).  One of the best ideas I've had since I started the job.

Staff Acting Silly On Halloween!
We Don't Dress Like This AT ALL!

I've been able to spend more time up at the cabin.  Smaller garden, timed irrigation and automated poultry operation has freed up a lot of my time.  I only work 182 days a year and have lots of earned vacation and sick leave.  I was earning over time hours and cashing those hours out...not now, I use them to extend my 3 day weekends!  I take an extra day each 3 day weekend!  Fridays are PIZZA day at our school and a very easy "cook/serve" day...it's just perfect for me to take it off  on the weekends we have Monday as a holiday.  This tiny little change in my schedule has changed my attitude 100%!  I had reached a point where I just wanted to quit.  I was earning $$ but no time to enjoy my life.  I would get off of work at 2 p.m. get home feed the animals, water and weed the garden, start dinner and sleep...weekends I was watching grand kids.  Just adding that extra one day to an extended weekend a couple times (or once) a month has done wonders...I even encourage my staff to comp a Friday once a month.  Of course my Department Head doesn't like it...but our Union contract allows for it...and if it's a Friday (EZ-PZ day) who cares.

My youngest daughter and her husband bought a nice vacation property up at a nice Lake within a 1/2 hour drive of my cabin! So I have another option to getting away from it all!! They purchased an established dental practice in Paradise, CA...and are living in Chico...his hometown.  They have a cute place across from Bidwell Park...if you know anything about the area, Bidwell is a slice of Heaven...horse, bike and running trails right on the the creek...beautiful setting!

Daughter number two is getting married the 20th of June...a real outdoor Farm wedding.  Thank goodness she and the younger daughter are best friends...the two have everything under control...and Dad is in charge of the "funding"...I just have to sit back and enjoy: My kind of wedding!

A Practice Table Arrangement...We have to
Make 40 of These!  YIKES!
Flowers From Our Combined Yards and Gardens

My oldest daughter has opened her Baby Business on the Gulf Coast...her dream...with her oldest daughter as a partner!  She's a Mid-wife and teaches all sorts of classes...the storefront offers Natural baby needs, classes for moms and dads and the Midwifery services.  Hopefully I'll make it out this Fall to check it out myself, in person!  Luna Babies

Today we're to break the 100 degree mark and it's already in the 80's at 9:00 a.m.  I'm heading out the door to turn the misters on the birds...don't worry...I'm very drought friendly...recycled water from the catchment system (the same system my son and husband thought was silly a few years ago: "We have a deep well...we'll never run out of water!"...yeah, right).