Psalm 27:4 The Happy Palace Homestead

Poor Kitty Ear

Well, so much for my stay home, no make-up day.  I let Johnny in this morning & he purred his thanks & made for my ironing board.  I caught him & gave him a kiss on the back of the neck & put him in the garage.  I went out for something a little later & let him come in to say hi to the girls & Kristen says, "What's wrong with his ear??"  Oh, it was gross!!  Oozie & bloody & all matted down.  Yuck!  We know he's been fighting with something because he has a scratch on his nose & some dried blood in his ear that looks like fang marks.  So, we called the vet & Dr. Lynn was in surgery, but we could drop John off & he'd check him between surgeries.  2 hours later, poor Johnny has a shaved ear with some very obvious bite wounds.  Poor kitty.  Dr. Lynn suggested keeping our "barn" cat in at night to help prevent the fighting.  We'd moved Johnny's food back out to the workshop because he'd made some "messes" in the garage.  We're going to compromise with Joel & put a litter ox in the garage for Johnny.  I guess we need a dog to protect our barn cat.

I made some 6-Week Muffins this morning & had told the girls to take them out of the oven while I was in the shower.  They did, but the muffins weren't cooked through!  They collapsed.  I tossed them back in for another 12 minutes before we took the cat to the vet.  They are delicious.  I guess if you don't let the batter come to room temperature you need to lengthen the cooking time! LOL

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

6-Week Muffins

Six Week Muffins

15 oz. raisin bran cereal, 3cups sugar (I fudged with 2 2/3), 5 Tbls. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt, 4 eggs beaten, 1 cup applesauce, 1 qt. buttermilk, 5 cups all-purpose flour

Mix cereal, sugar, flour, soda and salt in a very large bowl (they are NOT kidding).  Add eggs, applesauce and buttermilk.  Mix well.  Store covered in the refrigerator.  Will keep 6 weeks.  More raisins and pecans may be added if desired.  (I've thought that shredded carrot & apple would go well too since the base recipe is similar to my apple carrot muffins).

To bake, fill greased muffin tins two-thirds full and bake at 400 for 12 to 15 minutes.

Yield:  30 regular and mini muffins.

Christmas box in the mail

Wow, the new year 5 days old already and we got a Christmas box in the mail.  Our dear, dear NaNa in North Carolina sent us presents.  The kids were thrilled & the girls look so stylish in denim bolero jackets!!  Kurt's gift was the best.  A car that flips over when it runs into things!  I don't need a Wii fit after all - I can just run after his flipping car.  What great exercise!!!  No, really.  I'm serious.  We are thrilled with our gifts and such a surprise.

Friday night Joel took Karra & Kurt to the Monster Truck Jam at Nationwide.  You should have heard the thrill in Kurt's voice when he came home.  "It was so exciting, Mommy!!!"  His little eyes lit up like sparklers!   Kristen had finally gotten to spend some time with her friend, Macy, so she'd opted to stay home (partly thinking the trucks might be too scary).  She was a little upset to find out that they had had little people on 4-wheelers.  There's a big part of my darling little girl that still wants to race.

We had lunch yesterday at Maria's Restaurant.  Oh, she cooks so good.  Chicken and noodles, roast chicken, vegetables, fried rice, corn pudding.  Who needs dessert when lunch is so full.  I asked if she used a rice cooker (I usually just do instant rice that is oh, so bad for you) and she offered to get one for me.  I would just go in the store & pick up the first thing that says 'rice cooker' on it, so it will be nice to have one picked out by someone who knows what she's getting.  It won't be long and I'll be making my own fried rice with really good for me rice.

I made 6-Week Muffin batter Saturday and stuck it in the fridge.  In need of breakfast this morning, I grabbed the bowl & baked some up.  Oh, my goodness.  Yum, yum.  So, I'll go ahead & post the recipe although I'm not sure what I'm going to call my category.

That's what's happening on the homestead

Happy New Year's Eve!!!

Well, my little family came home & I obviously don't have as much time to blog!  They had a good time in Michigan with the family, but the kids were ready to come home.  When my Mom was packing Kurt's new Christmas duffle bag, he told her "I miss my Mom."  Yup, time to come home.

I did get through my kitchen pantry, but didn't cook for the freezer until yesterday.  I never did make it to the sewing room for cleaning, so I just made a list of all of the projects & I'll plow through them & the room will magically clean itself as I do all of those projects.  Too bad I didn't put ironing on the list.  Joel actually asked where his khaki pants went - they've been gone for weeks!  Shouldn't have gotten them dirty and then I wouldn't have had to wash them and then they wouldn't be in the ironing pile!!  I'm such a problem solver.

We're off to church tonight to hear the vision of the house for the coming year.  The kids are looking forward to staying up until midnight to watch the ball drop & see the Coleman lantern lit.  We'll toast the New Year with some sparkling cider Rick & Beth sent from NC.  I don't think I'm ready for school start again next week.  Must be the only Mom alive that can wait for school to start after Christmas break!!

I was reading on my Sonlight forums & there's a Mom who is going to do a No Spend Month in January.  She posted a menu for the whole month & she's not going to spend any money.  (I'm sure I just heard Debbie hit the floor).  We're trying to get her to blog about it.  I can't wait to hear what happens.  I printed some yummy sounding recipes and if they turn out good, I'll have to start a new recipe category on here.  The Stewpot?  Over the Open Fire?  On the Electric Flame?  Anyway.  I'm fasting chocolate for the month of January;  I don't think I could fast spending money.  What do I do when the gas tank's empty?  I can't exactly stay home!!

I believe that January will see a reunion of me and the evil machine.  Joel claims the thing never breaks down.  Until the first time I plant a foot on it at 6am!!! 

I told Karra today that I don't think I'll get a new dishwasher until she & Kristen have mastered the art of hand drying dishes and they are actually DRY!!  I can see this taking until Thanksgiving - family members, come prepared!

And that's what's happening on the homestead!

Cleaning

Man!  It took me ALL day to clean my bedroom & closet!!  ALL DAY!  Maybe I shouldn't let it go for years at a time?  Anyway, it's clean and the rooms are rearranged a little & Joel probably won't be able to find anything & then he'll get mad. 

I did get to the floor in the linen closet, so it's done.  I moved the shoes around in the laundry room & discovered that the plan I wanted to use, won't work.  We just need fewer shoes.  I got the girls birthday pictures put up.  I framed the kids Christmas picture & unbelievably, they wore the same sweaters that they wore last year!  That is inconceivable for me!!  They look cute both years.  Sure, I'll post that picture right away - NOT.  Tomorrow looks like my big kitchen & cooking for the freezer day.  At least I'll be downstairs where I can watch some football.  Buckeye basketball isn't going very well today.  They're loosing to West Virginia 76 to 44.  Good grief!

That's what's happening on the homestead.

Shopping, Cleaning, Hmmm

The day after Christmas found me up & trying to open my eyes (I stayed up too late).  The age old dilemma had struck - shopping or cleaning?  SHOPPING!

My dear friend, Heather, picked me up & we left about 9:15.  Off to the fabric store!  We found a few things that we just "needed" to have.  Heather was on a hunt for wrapping paper and I, of course, have projects to buy for.  In the next couple of weeks Kurt will be the proud owner of a new "special" pillow and a scarf to match this year's winter coat.  And I found the cutest fabric with chickens & roosters to make a backing for a little cross stitch that Karra made for me.  The chickens she stitched even look like my Barred Rocks!  It says "Happy Chicken Lays a Happy Egg!"  (I'm always telling people that grumpy chickens don't lay happy eggs.  We have to keep the chickens happy!)

We had a nice lunch at Cosi's (salads for both of us - aren't we good?).  THEN we headed off to our favorite bookstore - 1/2 price Books.  Ooooo, 20% off the entire store!  It had started to sprinkle while we were eating & it wasn't long after we got to the bookstore that it started to pour! and thunder!  Nothing like a good ol' thunderstorm in late December.  I had 6 or 7 clearance books in my arms before I ever took my list out of my purse~  I just love this store!  My dear MIL will be proud of me, I bought 3 books on herbs - growing & using.  I'm starting to get interested in herbal remedies (I know, like I don't have enough on my plate!)  I'm really looking forward to a cookbook called Homemade Health.  It has a chapter called, "Enjoy Being a Girl:  Calm Those Turbulent Hormones";  I figure we can take care of the departure & onslaught in one fell swoop!  I also found Back to Basics for $10!  Another awesome book.  It has basic info on just about everything our ancestors did on a homestead/farm:  woodworking, blacksmithing, soapmaking, candlemaking, spinning, gardening & preserving, animal raising and butchering, on & on.  It's going to make a nice companion to my Encyclopedia of Country Living.  Now, I need some companion bookshelves (hint, hing).

When we left the bookstore, it was still pouring down rain.  We drove to Kroger so that I could get some milk, but we felt more like ducks swimming in a monsoon.  It was incredible.  We did manage to get in & out of Kroger & on our way home without drowning.

After a not so healthy supper (never mind), I decided that I needed to tackle something else on my cleaning list, afterall, I only have 3 days of solitude left.  Now,  I had cleaned my bathroom cupboard & drawer & the top shelf in the linen closet on Christmas (I was really being lazy on my first day alone) and had thrown away 4 bags of trash & expired medicines.   So, I decide to clean my nightstand, shouldn't take too long.  Well, 2 hours later, I had a huge pile of old cards to pitch; 3 neat little piles of notes for the kids from Joel's folks; a few more cards for he & I to preserve; and a sweet pile of homemade notes & cards to Mommy from my kids.  I think my MIL is right (yes, I really said that my MIL is right!) why do we spend $3 or $4 on a store bought card and sign our name, when a note or letter means so much more?  The bday cards I kept are the ones where my SIL thanked me for praying for her and told me what a blessing I am in her life.  I think instead of store bought cards this year, I'd rather send a letter or even a quick note to let a dear friend or family member know how much they mean to me.  I know that some of you with fall bdays are thinking 'this is never going to happen'!

Well, I guess I have to get off the computer & go attack my to do list again.  I think I'll open the windows & let in some of this absurd 60+ December weather.  It's so pleasant outside - soggy, but pleasant.  I'll try to stay away from my new books for a while.  I think it's time to start seeing that evil machine again in the mornings.  At least when it works, it gives me time to read!

And that's what's happening on the homestead

Merry Christmas Blogosphere!!

Merry Christmas!!  My Christmas gift of solitude has begun.  After a morning of presents & packing, the family is on its way to Michigan and snow.  I don't know what to do first:  clean, sew or paint.  I've decided to indulge in a little more junk food & make a long list of doable & dreamable projects.  THEN I'll do the dishes & mop the kitchen.  I may go hang out on Homesteading Today for a while.  I had plans to take a long whirlpool bath tonight & eat a ton of popcorn while I watch "It's a Wonderful Life".  I'm not really in a movie mood, but that could change as I start to get things accomplished around here.  I don't think I'll bother to get dressed.  I like my comfy M&M's racing jammies!  Karra's gingerbread bathrobe did look comfy - too bad she took it with her.

We went to church last night & it was so nice.  Kristen said she really felt God's presence & was very touched.  Joel, Karra & I were really blessed to have our Pastor serve us communion last night.  Karra said she played shy & didn't wish him a Merry Christmas.  We had a chance to see our friend, Maria, after service & she's invited us to lunch after church in 2 weeks (when we'll be back).  We jokingly call it "Maria's Restaurant".  She is a VERY good cook!  She always makes fried rice & corn pudding for us.  Yum.  Maybe I'll be recovered from all of the Christmas cookies by then.

I do have a funny chicken story that I've been forgetting to tell.  Karra & I came home from somewhere a couple of weeks ago & I asked her to go let the chickens out of the run.  They came out & crowded around her.  Kurt's chicken, Sarah, took one look at Karra and scurried back into the run.  Karra opened the coop to check for eggs & there was Sarah making a beeline for the nestbox.  She set up quite a squack when Karra did indeed remove the egg.  She's such a sweet chicken.  She'll hang around right at your feet until you pet her.  She just needs some people love - and to have her eggs left alone!!

By blog entry ends with lots of love & well wishes for your Christmas.  Enjoy each other and I'll enjoy the solitude that only a homeschool Mom can appreciate!  God bless us, every one!!

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

Well, That Week Flew By!

Boy, this last week before Christmas sure blew through like an Alberta Clipper!  Let's see.  My friend, Paula, swiped my Sunday a.m. post for her devotional.  I've been sent around the world!  We have officially agreed to quote each other.  Church was such a blessing.  A great time of worship & healings.  Just awesome.  Lives are definitely being changed at The Harv.

I took Karra to the Dr. on Monday and she has a sinus infection, but she'd gained a whole pound in 2 weeks!!  We went to our cookie swap on Tuesday and had a great time.  We came home with 6 doz. really yummy cookies.  My friend, Gail, made sorghum cookies & they were fall apart delicious!  Then we went to dance for the girls' Christmas parties & got caught in town for the ice storm.  We slid slowly home and Joel came later with Karra.  She gave him two cookies for only scaring her once.  Wednesday Karra's physical therapist told her that she could start dancing a little if she'd pay attention to when something bothered her leg.  She was thrilled.  After watching their warm-up for jazz & the dance & the Petite Elite Feet dance, it's no wonder the girl got hurt!!  I got hurt just watching it!

Ah, Thursday we stayed home all day long!!!  I love those days.  Today was one of those mother/daughter discussions in the morning, where the daughter points out how wrong Mom has been (and she's right).  Oh, how I wish I could change overnight!  I'd rather screw up 100 times and have her talk to me, then to do everything right and have a child that won't talk to me.

I've had 3 2-hour sewing sessions on Kurt's present & it's still not done.  I'm going to figure out how to post a picture while they're in Mich.  It's going to be really nice and won't hold everything that it's supposed to.  I'm guessing it will take 2 more sewing sessions to finish.  THEN I have to measure & get sewing on the rest of Kristen's gift.  At least if I don't get hers done, the main gift can be given & I can do the sewing while they're gone.  Except I really wanted to clean and maybe paint while everyone was out.  (I had that same goal last year and only got the fridge cleaned).

It's rained & rained here (not like the family in Mich. that got snowed & snowed upon) and I made my chickens stay in the coop all day.   The run is so muddy that I just let them out when we came home.  I still got 4 eggs despite their being grumpy at me.  I have 18 in the fridge & had better start baking cookies or something to send to Mich.  The girls seem to be laying 11 eggs every 3 days.  Somebody is a little behind in her production!

I hear through the grapevine that Beth is still apologizing for standing me up for breakfast.  It's okay.  And if Sami doesn't want to spend Christmas in a hotel, just drop her off here & she can keep me company.  I'll take her for a ride in Joel's big black truck.

That's what's happening on the homestead.

Reflecting Already

I had no business getting up at 3:45am today.  I just couldn't sleep.  I've spent the last 3 hours, grading schoolwork, making pancake batter, righting the checkbook and checking the weather.  I'm going to blame the sleep loss on some really good Papa John's pizza last night.  I ate too much of it and boy, does my stomach hurt!  But it did taste good going down.

While the girls birthday partied yesterday, Joel dropped me at JoAnn's & took Kurt to Gander Mountain.  "We looked at hunting stuff, Mommy!" 

I wandered around JoAnn's "looking" and spent $50!  I just had to buy some magazines, to inspire myself.  I love going through organizing magazines to get ideas.  There's something about the end of December and January that makes me long for clean and organized.  Which got me reflecting on the chaos of Christmas.   Isn't it nice in January to just put everything away?  We're so excited to get it out and yet it's a relief to pack the boxes and get back to normal.  But as January fades into February and March and so on, the chaos starts to snowball all over again.  By July & August we're left wondering where the summer went and then it's fall and school and before we know it the holidays are here again. 

As I look forward to organizing & cleaning my house for the new year ahead, I need to schedule some time to clean & organize my soul.  There's plenty of clutter in the corners and cobwebs I haven't dealt with.  I'm glad God's mercies are new every morning so that I don't have to wait until the New Year to start clearing away the chaos from my heart.  There's no time like the present to pick up my coffee, pick up The Word and start cleaning.  Blessings, friends, from the homestead pond.

Hello, weekend!

Not alot to report here this week.  We've been so crazy busy that Karra has said she's tired of going places and just wants to stay home.  Imagine!  A 12 year old that wants to stay home?!?

I'm going to have to add a new category for Musings or Reflections.  My friend, Paula, writes the most beautiful devotions and I'd like to post them from time to time and add my own when I'm in a musey mood.

I hope everyone has a great weeknd.  The girls will be off to a birthday party Saturday afternoon and Joel & I are going shopping for a new dishwasher.  Yippee, it's really dead this time!!!!!

I got half of my Christmas cards out today & hope to send the other half tomorrow.  I need to print some more copies of our letter and send a big box of love to friends in NC.  The rest of you know that you're loved, I just can't send boxes everywhere!!:) 

Well, we've got a busy afternoon, so I'd better make sure that math tests get taken this morning.  And that's what's happening on the homestead.

Miss Joni's poem

I hope this is quick.  Kristen sang & danced at the Marysville International Family Festival last night (with the whole studio, not alone!).  She did so good.  I think the cold & wet in Michigan have caught up to her, she has a sore throat today.

My friend, Beth, apologized for standing me up for breakfast on Saturday.  Please pray for her husband, Keith; he got hot metal in his eye at work on Friday.  It's been removed, but he's in alot of pain.

I'm sending a link to our Miss Joni's blog.  http://joni.rodparsley.com/Journal.aspx  This is poem is so true!  Have a great day.

And that's what's happening on the homestead.

We Had a Snow Storm!

Kristen & I made it home from my Mom's.  We had a great trip up and only ran into snow on the road when we were within an hour of my Mom's.  And then on Saturday, we got 10 inches of snow.  This is unheard of in our neck of Ohio.  Kristen had a wonderful time playing in the snow and shoveling off the deck.  She was Grandpa's little helper with clearing the driveway and the sidewalk.  I got my Mom to drive us around for shopping.  I'm quite spoiled in my van-in-the-garage, it-never-snows-here life, but it sure was pretty to see all of that snow.  I admit to missing it.

Karra took good care of my chickens while I was gone.  The weather has been so cold here that I'm amazed they're okay.  Pretty tough little birdies.  It's supposed to warm up & rain over the next couple of days.  A good soaking for my girls before it freezes again!

I promised the kids that I'd decorate the Christmas tree tonight, so I'd better get to it.  We won a free Veggie Tales DVD from a give away on my Homesteading forum and Kurt can't wait to watch it.  In it goes and Mom heads up the ladder to decorate the tree.

And that's what's happening on the homestead.  God bless.

Wow! What a Difference a Week Makes!!

I hardly know where to begin.  Our annual Rudlaff Family Thanksgiving was as good as ever.  Joel & the guys took the grandparents and the kids to the Ohio Caverns on Friday.  It was a big hit!  There was an archery contest and video game racing.  All 17 of us stayed at the Happy Palace this year.  We had 2 bedrooms with 4 people each and 2 bedrooms with 3 people each and 3 people in the living room.  That bonus room will sure come in handy someday! 

Of course, the ladies (with Rachel & Karra) headed out for our annual Black Friday shopping trip.  We got up at 2:45am and were at JCPenney at 3:55am.  We hit 8 stores before lunch at 1pm and then drove to Easton for 3 more stores and to pick up Karra's friend who spent the rest of the weekend.  We finished off the shopping trip at 4:00.  It is so much fun to go out together and just enjoy the opportunity to be with the girls.

On Saturday, I took the kids to the Zoo for the Wild Lights.  It was cold, but we still spent 2 hours walking around and looking at the Christmas lights.

Bright and early Monday the fun really started.  Karra had a well child check with Dr. Mary.  We mentioned that her hip flexor had been bothering her after dance and she thought it was from stretching.  Turns out Little Twinkle Toes has a badly pulled groin muscle.  We let her go to the Marysville Christmas Walk last night, but she needed to modify her movements a little.  She said all of the dancing hurt.  Today we went to see a physical therapist and my little dancer has been sidelined for the rest of the year.  She has to do exercises at home 3 times a day and see the therapist 3 times a week for 6 weeks.  Sigh.  She's so disappointed that she can't do the dances that she made up for the family at Christmas. 

As I prepare for a quick trip to Mich. to see my folks, I enjoy the pretty snowflakes and the fact that the tree is up and has lights on it (no ornaments) and that all of my shopping is done.  The sewing is another story and the days are down to 22!

It seems that our lives will never quite calm down, but through it all we know that God is faithful and is in control.   And that's what's happening on the homestead.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Sorry I haven't blogged lately.  Some of you got my e-mail why.  Last Saturday (during THE game), Karra & I went shopping with her friend, Caitlin, and Caitlin's Mom, Heather.  It was the annual birthday shopping outing.  Karra's panda bear, Yoshi, now has an extensive wardrobe, courtesy of Build-A-Bear.  We had a nice lunch at Abuelo's (Mexican, yum) and froze ourselves silly at the outdoor mall.  Of course, I was decked out Michigan and Heather & Caitlin wore OSU.  (A lot of good of my wardrobe did!).  Karra insisted upon dressing like a REAL person!  She just can't get into this rivalry thing.

Karra & I are continuing to battle through our little colds.  The kids & I spent yesterday at the dentist & hairdresser and today cleaning and prepping.  Tomorrow is the big baking day, and yes, Kurt, Joseph comes tomorrow!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

And that's what's happening on the homestead (like my new tag line?)

Remembering Heather

This past Friday morning one our local news anchors past away.  She lost her battle with breast cancer and left behind a husband and two young children.  She was my favorite anchor and the morning news just isn't the same without her.  She spent the last 4 years (this was her 2nd battle with the disease) raising awareness and fighting for a cure.  She never shied away from battle, but met it head on.  My life was touched by her warmth and her courage.  I know that our community won't be the same without her.  She lived her life to the fullest because she knew that her time was short.  We keep in the back of our minds that no man is promised tomorrow and yet too often we live like we really do have forever here on this earth.  So, these few words are my tribute to a woman I never met, but would have been privileged to do so.  She is the closest that I have come to a personal confrontation with breast cancer.  I am blessed that a disease that strikes so many hasn't yet touched those that I love.

Heather, your gracious smile is so missed by so many.  May the Saviour wrap you in His presence and your family in His comfort.  Thank you for being a part of my life and the lives of so many people in central Ohio.

My Thankful List

Originally posted on 11/5/08 on the Sonlight Forums

1.  My children are healthy
2.  We do not have overwhelming credit card debt
3 . DH has a very good job
4.  An awesome church
5.  Very good friends IRL and on-line
6.  The leaves on the trees outside are so gloriously yellow/gold
7.  My new slippers came Monday and they are so toasty (it's supposed to
     get cold & yucky this weekend)
8.  A Rock, A Shelter, A Friend who loves me and understands me so well
9.  Children who get along (most of the time) and really do love each
     other
10. My MOMMY!!!! Who let me cry and held back her own tears so that I
      could calm down. Who talked me through yet another crisis and loves
      me and understands me so well. Who has set such a godly example as
     my friend and mom and inspires me to the day when my own daughters
     will be my best friends.

Cooking apples

We actually accomplished school today in an orderly fashion.  Okay, we didn't do science again and I haven't done read alouds with Karra (and we're at an exciting part in the book, too), but seatwork was done and the kids had lots of PE time in the beautiful late Indian Summer weather.  Kurt & Kristen dug a  moat in the middle of the garden & built a fort.  They shooed the chickens out (poor birds only wanted the bugs they could dig up) and did fill in the holes when they were done.

Speaking of the chickens, they ate a milkweed pod last night.  One of them kept standing in the yard like a statue.  She finally made it to the coop for the night & seems fine today.  There is a strange smell in the coop today.  I wonder if it's toxic milkweed poo?  There was also the chicken that layed the shell-less egg last night.  I scooped the mess out from under her and wonder if based on smell, I didn't get it all.  Silly bird, the egg goes IN the shell!

I used my new apple peeler/corer/slicer to put all of the baking apples into my new crockpot to make applesauce.  The 7 qt. cooker is heaped way up high!!   I poured 2 cups of apple cider over it & may add a little more tomorrow after things cook down some.  I still had apple butter from last year and Kurt eats so much applesauce that I thought I'd make sauce this year.  He's very excited about helping to put it into the jars.

I received so much encouragement yesterday after my gloomy report and a plea for prayers over on Sonlight.  I was encouraged to think of 5 things that I was thankful for.  I'll go over and retrieve my list and share it with you in the next few days.  I admit that it took me some time just to come up with 3 things, but then I forced myself to keep thinking and ended with 10.  And as my friend, Beth, reminded me:  I've read the back of The Book and WE WIN!!

Have a blessed evening and enjoy the wonderful weather because it's a changin' tomorry!!   TTFN

Feeling Blue

It can't be the gorgeous weather.  Karra said I've seen too many political ads (I would believe that).  I could feel the blue depressed feeling close in on me yesterday even before I went to vote.  I prayed - believe me - I prayed for the feeling to lift.  It tells me that my faith and my eyes were not in the right spot.  Last night I re-read my notes from Pastor's New Year's sermon.  He said not to look to men in '08 or you will be led into captivity.  He also said God would give us His perspective.  Without God's perspective, we will fear what we see and what we hear.  So, I find myself seeking only God's perspective on American's future.

My dear, hard-working husband fixed my dishwasher (so he could buy a new gun before they close the gun stores.  He took a half day off work and was the 20th person in line!  He had to park on the street. I hope he bought alot of ammo!).  I am very grateful to have the machine back and will be kind to it (for a while).

I think I need a vacation.  TTFN

Happy November!

Well, we made it to November and I'm overdue for a good update.  Let's see.  Joel took Karra & Kurt to MI last weekend and Kristen & I got to spend a Mom/Daughter weekend together.  We worked our fingers to the bone on a special Christmas gift (I wish I could give details, but it's a surprise) that turned out beautifully!! 

I was telling my MIL & SILs that I have no right to go Black Friday shopping when I can't find the fabrics that I bought the day after Christmas last year.  I FOUND THE FABRIC!!  It was in the one box I told myself that it wasn't in.  Now Karra can have Christmas sleep pants.  I am so looking forward to shopping this year.  It seems like forever since we went last year.

We got 123 eggs from our chickens last month.  They're quite productive!  I'm still trying to figure out how to cover their run to keep the snow out this winter.  I hate the thought of them cooped up in the coop all day unable to get out in the fresh air.  We're going to get straw at the fairgrounds next weekend and we can use that to block the wind, but I'm still working Joel for a creative cover for the run.

I have informed my dear, hard-working husband that I WILL have a working dishwasher for Thanksgiving.  If he doesn't want to fix it, he needs to tell me now and I will go and buy one.  If he does not tell me soon, I will go and buy one anyway.  Family dishes was fun during the power outage, it is no longer fun.

Joel & Kurt put in 6 fence posts this morning and then Kurt snipped the fishline that marked the placement.  Joel & I went to lunch and then he put in 4 more this afternoon.  The cedar posts look so much nicer than the treated pine.  It's going to make a very nice fence across the front of the property.  We're leaning toward a nice Michigan blue fence for the driveway (sorry, Debbie, but look at the bright side - you don't live next door anymore so you won't have to look at it; or hear the cow moo; or listen to the sheep bleat; or smell when the wind shifts around from the east).

Don't forget to vote, if you haven't already (please don't get me started about early voting.  Joel did absentee and decided that it was more of a pain than going to vote).  TTFN

Catching Up - and racing to get there

Wow, I can't believe how long I've waited to tell you about Kurt's last soccer game.  He had an assist!!!!!!  The shot was there, but he passed off.  The coach was really impressed.  The truth is, he kicks with the OUTside of his foot, instead of the INside, so of course it looked like a pass.  We were so proud of his progress in just two months.  He was much more willing to get into the mix and go for the ball than he was at the beginning (you know, back when he practiced jumping over the white lines and making sure Shadow was still with him).  We told him that he can play spring soccer even though it overlaps the girls dance recital.

Joel made it home alive and well Friday and we've worked him to death ever since.  First we had the soccer game and then a pizza party Saturday morning.  Then he and I went and bought a truck load of fence posts (yippee) and then he fixed the temperature sensor ont he heat pump so that the furnace knows that it's cold outside and it's supposed to turn on.  Then after his Sunday afternoon nap he decided to fix the leak from the washing machine.  Well, he needed parts and got to Home Depot to find out they were already closed.  He did what he could so that we could have water and then came home very late on Monday with parts.  He promptly broke a part (9:30pm) and got the rest of the evening off.  Last night I got my washer back and so far no leaks (3 loads later - 3 to go today).  He said absolutely not will he tear into the dishwasher tonight so that I can order parts.  I think he's running away this weekend.

I got lots of advice about winterizing my chickens and it was all good.  No heater, freezing temps and they're still happy little girls.  We're down to 3 eggs a day, but I don't think I'd be very productive in this cold either.  Besides, 3 is much more manageable than 6!  Look out springtime!

Monday, we went with our homeschool group to Young's Jersey Dairy Farm in Yellow Springs.  It was so much fun.  We watched a movie about the history of the farm and how they make their ice cream.  We took a wagon ride and got to pick out little pumpkins.  We went through the petting barn and they had a chicken just like ours!  We got to see ducks and pet the calf and they had a sheep.  Then everyone got to feed the goats.  What a big hit!  We got free ice cream and went to the Golden Jersey Inn for a yummy lunch.  It was a nice drive (a little over an hour) to a part of Ohio that we don't visit very much.  It made for a fun day and a chance to get to know some of the members of our group a little better.  I'm not terribly pushy about getting into groups and these folks all seem to know each other!  But they're friendly and welcoming and the kids are well behaved (mostly.  Karra could have killed someone's son for chasing the cats and kittens that she wanted to cuddle).

I guess I'd better make sure that Kristen's schoolwork gets done and I'm sure Karra would like to read with me.  TTFN