July 4, 2008 - Today... Happy 4th!

I took the girls to the parade.  They decided at the last minute to help with the church's float, so I took them.  It's about 30-35 miles from our house, so we got up early and got some chores done then left.  The Parade theme this year was REMEMBER WHEN... and our church's float was small (just a pick-up truck with several walkers walking by it).  They had signs that said "Wise Men still seek Him"  and 3 wise men in the back of the truck with a wooden camel.  They got lots of cheers, I guess, through out the parade, so they knew people appreciated the thought.  My kids handed out flyers with the rest of the walkers... they has small children's booklets and magazines to hand out and a few adult flyers as well.  I just watched from a friend's house which is the very corner the parade starts and while we saw all the floats, many weren't in sync until after the first block. 

After the parade, I quickly ran into town with a friend's keys to her store and picked up as many empty boxes as I could fill in our mini van for the BIG FIRE CLEAN UP!  I so appreciated the boxes, that means I can start right away (and we did this afternoon), just removing dirty items from the immediate house and have them out of the way for the cleaners.  I packed up my cookbooks and then boxed up all the food they told me to throw and I also inventoried it all.  My girls packed a few boxes of items they did not want to have messed with when they are away at camp.  

We are to record our time cleaning and boxing items and we can work off our deductible.  The insurance adjuster told us to keep track of times.  He does not have the exact rate we will be paid at, but it will be between $8-10.  I figured if we got the rate of $8, we need to work off 132.5 hours.  So far, we've logged 16.25 hours.  Not much, but it's hard to do much when they say you can't clean until the cleaners come.  But some things like laundry and boxing up items we can do (now that we have approval).  I have four pages of inventoried items from my spice cupboards.  The adjuster said I'd likely have to take a price shop and get some prices on the items and then figure the cost... by how much was left in the packages.  Full, half, 1/4, etc.  I am really hoping that turning in sheet with prices will be adequate.  Rebuying everything right now seems just over my head.  First, there is no where to put it, and second, I just want the house clean before I think about restocking the cupboards.   I will say however that fried potates with no seasonings aren't as grand as one might think... LOL.  I really should buy a little salt and some garlic or a couple seasonings... but then again... maybe I just shouldn't fry anything!!!  That's bad for my health anyways!  

I am feeling a bit better today.  I was thinking about how overwhelming this process is really turning out to be.  And yet... I recall that recently I was stunned by the doctor's diagnosis of depression.  As I was thinking of the garden... if you are gone 1 week, it takes nearly 3 weeks to catch up with weeding... things just don't stop growing!    As I looked at the house and noted my past couple years worth of keeping house (little was done when I was dealing with my daughters illnesses, our hard sheep year, and my depression)... I realized I kept the family areas clean... as clean as say... there wasn't food stuck to the furniture, but dusting was done every couple of months rather than once a week... I had lots to catch up on... and if it worked out like the garden... even though I am getting my energy back, trying to keep up and catch up at the same time was still going to be a lengthy process.   Now I am offered help.  I was at first mortified that they are cleaning EVERY little piece of my home, but I am beginning to be grateful for this opportunity... I mean how often does one get a full cleaning and professional cleaning help when one does spring cleaning?   I simply have to humble myself and just admit that I need help to get back on my feet... and Wow, God already provided that help!  Even before I asked.  How great is that?  God is sooooo good to me sometimes that I know I hardly deserve any of this (I don't deserve any of it!), but oh how grateful I am to be His child!    

Warmly, ~Melissa

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July 1, 2008 - Fire Update: Cleaners came today to look around...

The cleaners came today to look around and WOW is all I can say.  They told me that I need to throw out any food in the kitchen that was in a box or in a jar... that the soot gets into the food and it is junk... he said if you want a head start ... start making a list of all the spices and foods in your cupboards here by the stove and in the cupboards in the kitchen.  UGH! 

They also took their special cleaning sponges and wiped in every room and found soot around the entire house.  They said this is worse than moving.  You have to take everything out and clean it and replace it back again.  Electronics... especially in the kitchen are likely junk and hopefully the insurance will cover.  Apparently the soot gets into the workings of the machines and will ultimately burn them out in a short time... that's my stove, my microwave (which I don't use alot, but DH does), two bread machines, my grain mill, my kitchen aid mixer and my bosch mixer, my fryer (which we were going to give up anyways), my smoothie maker, all that kind of stuff...   I'm wondering if the fridge qualifies as well. 

I seriously was thinking this is nuts... this was a small fire.  And you're telling me that cleaning up my house alone (just wiping things down) is going to cost between $5,000 and $10,000!!!  And replacing all this other stuff...   Not to mention the cupboard damage, the counter top damage and the hood vent damage.  The ceilings in the kitchen and dining room can be cleaned, but not completely... both cleaning companies suggested cleaning, then sealing, then painting over.... OR replacing completely.  I absolutely LOVED that tile!  It was unique with gold flecks in it... nothing on the market like it now.  GONE!  We'd rather see it replaced than painted however.  But what a mess that will make. 

I asked the guy after hearing all that they wanted done... every thing cleaned out of every box, every cloth item washed... every hard item wiped down (down to every single book ... everything (does he realize how many books we have????  I own a small library in my house!) .  I'm like... is this really reasonable for a small fire???  And he said... small fire big fire... it's still a fire and still smoke damage to the home.  He said realistically the  damage is the same except our structural support is still there.  He said it is like being pregnant... either you are or you aren't... there are no little pregnancies.   That made total sense to me and helped it sink in.  Cuz when I am sickest with my pregnancy is in the beginning.  (when I'm a little pregnant... ain't no one going to tell me I'm just a little pregnant!  LOL)

So, now I am befuddled over this.  I am trying to figure out what this little fire has caused in our life... a total upheaval!  My girls are leaving for summer camp on Sunday.  The one cleaning company said they can likely start on Monday after they leave.  That leaves me alone to work with them with Paige by my side and keeping her out of their hair as well.  If I clean, I can make between $8-10 an hour to decrease what we owe on our deductible...  great.  Perhaps we can work off our deductible considering the expected expenses...  But why this trial?  Why if we can make this work without too much added expense... what is the sense of this trial happening.  That is what I am pondering.  I am considering if it is God giving me an honest look at how much stuff we have and how if we didn't have this much stuff (which most of it is other peoples giftings to us)... how much easier it would be to clean...  Is it building character... Is it me taking an honest look at myself and my own abilities.  I just took on SS teacher at church and it starts this Week... now I have this mounting over me?  Wow is all I can say.  I'm sure God will show me what the true reason is in time. 

I'm still not mad with my daughter.  Her room actually the guy cleaning was going to be the worst of them to clean... they said 2 days alone in her room.  UGH!   And she will be gone at camp when they come to clean... so she will have little say on what stays or goes.  She is a bit worried. 

Well, tomorrow the adjuster comes and We will find out (hopefully) what the situation is with the appliances and damage to the cupboards and such.  The cleaners just eluded by past experience with other fires of what to expect. 

Until then,  ~Melissa

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June 28, 2008 - A few flood pictures from our view...

I thought I would share a few pictures taken from our yard.  Most of them focus on the creek that runs through about a 1/2 - 3/4 mile from us.  This creek is normally not overly visible from our place.  The tall grass usually covers it and it is normally about 5-8 feet across and ankle to about 3 foot deep in the small pooling curves. 

As for the flood measurements... I am unsure of how deep it got.  I do know that it covered about 1/4 mile across at least.  A bit more in some areas.  This is one of the creeks that eventually leads to a river that runs to the town south of us.  The town that I mentioned had lost water because the flooding flooded the water treatment station and put out the generators.  At the end, I will post a link to our local newspaper and you can see pictures of the flooding in north Iowa.  My aunt sent me some pictures of flooding damage in her area as well (she is in eastern Iowa... broken roads from the dirt underneat being swept away)... Crazy... water can do such amazing things! 

This is our back pasture.  The ground was saturated like this for days.  The standing water in the field behind the fence belongs to our neighbor.  You can see water in another field near the top of the photo.

This is a small leak in the basement.  Just fun to catch the drip coming out of the wall.  It was less than a half inch deep around this and it ran towards the drain, so no real big mess. 

This was off our porch.  This is the day before we left on vacation. You can see the water up around our chicken barn.  The feed bin on it's side was like that... so it wasn't damaged.  Dh just hasn't gotten it set up yet. There is no creek in this photo... this is all field and yard that is filled with water. 

The road we live on is about half way down in the picture.  You can barely see the gravel road through the grass.  The water you can see rushing about 1/3rd the way down the picture is in a field.  This is a field that we actually used to cut hay in a couple years ago, until dh decided to start buying hay.  The fence in the bottom of the picture is our paddocks for the sheep.

This is the same position, just down a bit.  I tried to take them in succession.  This is just to the right of the above picture. 

Here the gravel road is about 2/3 down in the picture.  Cows graze where this flooding is normally.  The farm pictured is a mile away and they raise cattle. 

This was taken near our apple trees from our yard.  Poor picture, but a wider view to see how extensive the flooding was.

This one shows how wet and soggy our garden was for days and days.  Sometimes more water than this was in it.  I couldn't walk in it at all.  It was just sinking mud.  My garden looks nothing like this, now.  It is nearly all green with 6 inches of grass in it... looks like the pasture.  The rain sure helped the grass to grow and it is keeping me busy trying to find the plants of veggies.  Our land ends about half way down in the middle of the picture.

Hail pictures from the day before we left on vacation. Some as large as golf balls... this was about 20 minutes after the hail... so some melting had occured. 

I think this was in my flower garden.  UGH! 

This is paige collecting hail in a canning jar.  Yes she has a piece in her mouth!  She thought this was great and collected about 4 jars full of hail.  She loves ice! 

Hail brought the leaves down. 

Hail hit the rhubarb.  Only 3 bunches were ok, being sheltered from the hail.  I have about 5 bunches that look like this.  Now the holes are all crusted up and brown... looks pretty bad. 

I'm out of space.  I'll likely pare down some pictures in a few days.  But enjoy for a short time!  Look at the Globe Gazette site for more flood pictures of north iowa. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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June 27, 2008 - FIRE! in the Kitchen!

Oh My!  God was watching over us today!  My husband isn't so sure, LOL... he'd of rather had the entire house burn down!  *grin*

I was upstairs on the telephone ordering some SS supplies for church.  My daughter was making lunch.  She had put a pan of oil on the stove and had a question so came up to ask me.  She waited patiently for me to get off the phone... in the meantime, black smoke comes billowing upstairs and we are wondering what is happening. 

(here the cupboard you can see is a bit black.  We even wiped this... it doesn't come clean.  It melted the paint off the hood and the buttons of the hood are melted as well... the only melted items on my spice rack was a bottle of Vit. C tablets!)

We go downstairs (me still on the phone trying to politely finish up my order without saying... goodbye and hanging up).  The house is so dark with smoke you couldn't see across it downstairs.  Sparks were coming from below the pan.  My daughter shuts off the heat and we open windows to clear the air.  Once the air is cleared, we come back in to see what happened. 

Apparently, the pan of oil caught fire.  The front panel of the stove is melted... so that my push button controls no longer work.  My pan, my teapot, and some tupperware near the stove are melted and cracked.  A bottle of oil that was near the stove is melted and oddly shaped.  The stove hood is black and charred... the light cover melted out of it and on the top of the stove.  The cupboards are slightly burnt/charred (the one above the hood and the one to the right of the stove.  But BLACK soot is all over the entire house!  The tile in the kitchen and dining room is questionable as to whether that will clean up... we can't wipe it, it is a soft tile.    The tile in the kitchen appears discolored under the soot as well, as if the heat had discolored it as well. 

(hood light cover pieces) 

We wait for insurance adjusters and a cleaning service to tell us what will clean and what won't.  My daughter just feels sick about the situation, but is realizing how she will never do that again.  She is so sorry! ... she even learned in home ec what NOT to do, and yet she didn't realize how just slipping away for a short time would cause a fire so quickly.  Mom and Dad are just happy no one is hurt.  I have much cleaning to do, now... on top of my garden troubles, but we are all fine. 

(In this photo, you can see that dh took the ceiling duster and tried to swipe the ceiling... that became black instantly and the part that looks white from his sweep... isn't.  It is still fairly gray and sootish looking, despite what the picture is showing.  So the gray parts are actually pretty dark black in the house.)

I praised God that we were all safe.  I chuckled and said Chelsea... this is a sign from God that we aren't supposed to eat fried foods!  She couldn't help but laugh.  That was one of my diet changes we plan to make.  (less fried foods).   I also told her that it is uncommon for a grease fire to put itself out, usually it catches something else on fire and the house starts on fire.  I told her that I think God put it out.  After all, she was obeying by making lunch.  She came and waited patiently and respectfully while I was on the phone... ordering church supplies of all things.  She just forgot about what oil could do if left on the stove unattended.  God knew that.  Even though we have an entire mess of a house to clean up, and we lost our stove and the stove hood... and oven, I guess, too... none of the controls work.  God is good to keep us safe. 

( these containers both had oil in them.  Imagine had they caught fire as well... the tupperware mini pitcher is melted by the handle.  The canola oil container is smooth and extended from the heat... instead of molded like the rest of the bottle). 

Back to clean up...

(soot.  You can  tell where we wiped.  What you can't tell from most of the photos is even though we wiped, it is still gray on the panelling, not yellow toned like in the photos... because of the flash.  The swirly lines in the soot are from Dh vacuuming... the cobwebs were horrendous... really black and he had to clean them up before the adjuster came... I'm like... we've been gone on vacation for 2 weeks... who cares!  The soot is on much in the downstairs, the upstairs is less of a mess, so I am thankful for that.  For some reason the smoke congregated in the bathroom off the dining room... that room is about as bad as the kitchen.  And the smell... well, it isn't going away.  I'm sure it will take professional cleaning for that.) 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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June 25, 2008 - I am back.../campmeeting

I just thought I'd mention quickly that I have gotten back from our vacation.  Campmeeting was wonderful.  I spent my mornings with my little one in cradle roll.  My afternoons were spent at two classes by Hans Diehl on health while Dh watched Paige.  And the evenings we three spent at the evening meetings.  The older girls had their own classes that they attended.  All enjoyed campmeeting. 

Megan was in earliteen and most of her meetings were on health.  She LOVED it... I thought it was quite interesting that she enjoyed it so much.  I think their theme was Shine for Jesus.  Some parts were on witnessing, but most on how to give your life to Jesus and how to shine for Jesus.  She learned what cigarettes do to your lungs.  She learned about dandelions and some on food choices.  She loved her teachers and enjoyed the singing and all the activities.  The activities were changed a bit from past years, but that didn't bother the kids much.  Megan didn't miss the ball game, she never wanted to go anyways.  And while they still went to V. Fair, Megan opted not to go.  She gets sick on long car rides and was hesitant to once again climb into a bus full of stinky kids.  *grin* 

Chelsea was in Youth and enjoyed her classes.  She said they were very real.  Not way out there as past meetings have been.  They talked in the mornings in small groups and had specific discussions on dating and friendships and witnessing and things like that.  She said they had good discussions and everyone in her group really was honest and the leaders were well appreciated.  She said she even commented on a few things and her thoughts about waiting for the right one... giving your husband something special... not your boyfriend.  And the Pastor appreciated that she was able to voice it without being vulgar, but with being able to make it sound like a "special" way to keep your relationships clean.  The pastors had good thoughts on getting the kids to think when it came to relationships and dating.  We're kinda ... well really close to courtship... I don't like to get in a box and say this is what we are about because simply we aren't so strict to follow all the "rules" some have put on courtship.  We basically follow the courtship principles in dating and really work with the girls to know who they are dating before they are dating.  So far, just my 18yo has been "dating", my other girls are not even ready... my 16yo even said... I am waiting longer... I mean if I found a boyfriend at 16yo... what is that nearly 4 years to wait until marriage... that's WAY TOO LONG (too much temptation).  Amazing.  On the Mom side it has been so neat to talk with my girls and prepare their hearts for relationships... hearing their concerns and their honest thoughts... At times I wondered if I bordered on insanity because of how I was leading them (so different than I was raised), but after their upset outbursts (my friends are dating... there's nothing wrong with dating, I'm GONNA date, etc.), they calm down and rationally think it through and come to the same conclusion and often are more convicted on the thoughts of courtship and I see them sharing them with their friends... they've seen close friends make poor dating choices and they all are seeing how following a pre-thought out course is much better than just jumping in and winging it.  ANYWAYS, the pastors gave each of the kids a fake pearl to represent how they are a pearl of God's.  You've only got one pearl to give away... wouldn't it be neat to give this to your husband and say... it's all yours!  Chelsea thought it was neat.  The pearl sits in a little box on her dresser, now.  Maybe I will consider getting her a nicer pearl... than a plastic one with a bead hole in it!  LOL.  But overall, she enjoyed it.  They did prayer walking this year... on campus and out in town.  She really enjoyed that.  I was so shocked, she is the loud one, but usually more shy when it comes to praying or doing anything in public and she did it.  These Pastors really worked with the kids and helped them learn how to reach out to others and gave them practical things to try and mentored them along the way... terrific.  her class also didn't go to the ball game... Chelsea didn't mind... she only went to be with her friends... she never enjoyed the games.  She did go to v. fair... that was about the only outside activity other than one day of swimming that was off campus and she thought it would be boring that way, but she loved it... really enjoyed her week.  Still is talking about her Pastor's thoughts and now applying them to how they will work for her.  God was there this year! 

My classes with Hans Diehl went over the CHIP program... Coronary Health Improvement program.  I attended some of his the year before, but this year tried to hit everyone, but I did miss one.  Somehow I got out of the aspect that it was meant to improve heart health and just saw the overall picture of improving one's health overall.  As a nurse I had always divided health into categories and even though I thought I understood preventive medicine, I don't think I totally grasped how to relate that to others.  And yet maybe it is because I've had issues with my overall health as of lately that I'm trying to figure out what is wrong and how to fix it and that ISN'T the issue!  DUH!  I shouldn't only choose one thing to get better... but rather make choices to be healthier regardless of what is wrong with me.  I was treating good health like a pill.  Only do part of it as long as I can stay healthy enough and enjoy the rest of my offences until they show up in health disorders down the road.  God created us and gave us the perfect diet... fruits vegetables and grains to keep us healthy.  When meat and dairy were introduced our life expectancy dropped dramatically.  Health problems became an issue and continue to this day.  Good health means good heart health, good lung health, good muscle health, good mental health, etc.  It means I make healthy choices because God told me this was what my body needed.  God didn't create cheetos for a reason... they aren't good for our bodies.  Why do we insist on tantalizing our tastes and feel cheated if we eat the way God created us to eat?  Somehow that sunk in to me and for the first time, going vegan (no meat or dairy or eggs) doesn't sound scary or way out there or even fanatical... it sounds reasonable. (Sounds funny coming from a small farm that raises their own lamb and chickens, eh?)  I understand I will have major challenges in our home as we adapt to eating better, but overall my entire family is receptive of making better food choices... We will take it in steps and our first step is to increase fruits and vegetables and whole grains.  I make whole grain bread, but our french bread and rolls and such have been with white flour... and they are all willing to experiment with recipes to find a whole grain alternative to these items.   Willing by having an open mind about it... before when I've tried, they baulked right from the start.  Give up our white flour cinnamon rolls???  I like what Dr. Diehl said that you are working towards the optimal diet.  The diet that your body runs the best on.  Changes made fast or small, but changes made to eating better.  I saw that not only that, but we also need to have the optimal lifestyle (which he didn't touch on, but due to alot of reading I've been doing lately... I've applied it to the total picture... good food, good lifestyle habits means a healthy person).  I don't want to fix problems one by one as they show up by taking pills and being dependent on surgeries or other fixes that the doctors decide I need to accept and treat my condition... but ultimately never cure it.  What I found out is that health is reversible.  Meaning I can obtain better health and be healthier at 50yo than I am at 39yo by making some better choices and by doing that, I can reverse damage on my heart, my mental health (depression), my physical condition... Wow!  Feel younger, less pain, less foggy brain, less whatevers...  I learned that it isn't about doing it on my own power, but by God empowering me to be more than I am right now.  And why?  Because it will bring Him glory.  If I am healthier, I can do His work much better.  I can reach out, I won't be tired.  I can  also keep my family healthier and raise my kids up with tools that will help their families as well.  Not to my glory, but God alone.   I will share some of the items I am looking at for obtaining better health in another post.  I hope share my journey with you all.  From start to finish in accomplishing better health.  Can you tell I am psyched to get started?  (My family isn't as Xcited as I am, but they are anxious for me to get to feeling better and if it means doing it together... they are OK with it.) 

On arriving home... I found lots for me to do.  I have been busy since arriving back last Sunday.  I still am not caught up.  But overall, I think we will be fine.  The flooding didn't hit us exactly, but it did cause some sifting of the soil and my entire garden has a hard crust on it... not too healthy for growing veggies and fruits.  The hail also did more damage to it than I first thought... we likely lost 50-75% of the plants.   I will likely be busy adding compost to soften things up again.  I am also replanting.  I will give a garden update in another post.  Just wanted to touch.  Several of you have asked how we were doing... and we are doing well.  The town to the south of us has water once again and is functioning again.  I saw yesterday (while going to a dentist appointment) the park hauling away truckload after truckload of dirt.  The city park was completely flooded and it looks more like a sand quarry than a park.  Very dirty, ruined the grass and flowers... and like I said, just piles and piles of mud and dirt and sand.  I see road repairs have been mostly completed while we were away.  Ruts in the roads are filled in and again usable.  Still a few roads closed, but overall, life has returned to normal for most in our area... short of the neighborhoods that were underwater... their homes show piles and piles of garbage out on the front lawns.  My sister got a foot of water in her basement (not as bad as some, but still not good) and it ruined her furniture in the basement (it was a finished basement... the sewer actually backed up in her house, it sounds like).  I will be making a visit out to her in the coming week.  Things are stable as far as her damage goes, clean up is done... she's just got to now replace the lost items.   

Well, thanks for the thoughts and prayers.  I appreciated them.  God is good.  Short of a problem garden, we are doing fine.  

Warmly, ~Melissa

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June 10, 2008 - CRAZY WEATHER!

We've been having crazy weather here lately.  Tonight was no exception.  Since Sunday, we've gotten near 10-12 inches of rain.  Lots of local flooding and saturated grounds.  Our yard is full of water.  Today after no rain yesterday and partially today, I was able to walk in the garden without getting stuck.  I still sunk, but I wasn't stuck. 

I planted the last of my tomato and pepper starts today and took the milk jugs off the early ones I had already transplanted into the garden.  I wanted to get it done before we left and the coming rain was not to be too much... maybe another inch or so, but not like before. 

Well, that is changing again!  Tonight a storm popped up out of no where... Hail starts falling, golf ball sized hail!  Not all my starts were covered and my husband sighs and says I'm sure we lost the entire garden.  The yard was covered in hail... I went out to check the garden and I would say I lost about 25% of the plants that weren't covered (of my tomatoes and peppers).  I saw broken leaves on other plants.  My pumpkins and squash plants have holes in the leaves, looks like we were invaded by a herd of rabbits (they aren't a herd, but I cannot think of the term!).  Some of the corn was hit, some of the peas, beans and onions, too.  So we will see what all that damage will do to the garden.  My strawberries still look ok, the apple trees still look ok... I think it was a blessing the fruits are just starting to grow and not bigger! 

I have a rhubarb patch that got hit pretty hard.  the leaves all have holes in them.  CRAZY! 

Anyways, even a half hour later there were still nickel and quarter sized pieces in the yard of the hail... and the coming rain... is now expected to be torrential rain!  Not just an inch, but 3 to 5 inches.   We were to leave for vacation, but Dh works in emergency services and isn't sure it is wise for him to leave.  He likely will take us up, but then return home as the calls will come if we get that much rain... the town to the south of us experienced severe flooding which knocked out their water treatment plant and the entire city of 35,000 people have NO WATER.  The national guard are bringing in water everyday and all the stores have recently gotten shipment.  The first day after the flood, there were fights in stores over drinking water and sump pumps.  People would leave with carts full of water... like gallons and gallons of water and they ran out and others were left with NO water!  Sad, really sad... I see why they called in the national guard to distribute the water.  Dh spent the day of the heavy rain and the next at the station and spent many hours doing boat rescue in the rain.  He was bushed when he got home after working so many hours straight and he wasn't home 2 hours and they were calling him back in.  He took a nap regardless of the call, then went back once he felt adequately rested. 

Anyways, this next rain will really challenge already flooded rivers, streams, and roads and houses... The last week of May our church set up help for Parkersburg Iowa, setting up a warehouse to distribute supplies to those hit by the tornado.  Now our town is hit by a state declared disaster and Dh said this morning Federal Disaster was pending a walk through of the area. 

Just crazy weather.  I praise God for watching over our home and our animals and our garden.  I might not have it all, but it appears that I still have some.  Our animals, sheep and horses endured the hail without a fatality.  I was surprised... big hail and they were all caught outside... and it hailed for a good 15 minutes straight.  I'm not sure how that will affect all the crops that were planted... corn and soybeans were already sprouting in the nearby fields, but it was really pelted at a young stage... just crazy to watch that much ice fall from the sky for so long.  We don't farm large fields, just on 14 acres do we raise sheep and we have about a half acre garden.  

Well, I need to get my laundry done.  I will post pictures eventually.  But we were planning to leave for vacation, so I am not sure if I will do it before or after our trip. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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June 4, 2008 - Depression...

Well,  I went to the doctor to get some blood tests done to check my thyroid levels.  What bugs me the most is always always ALWAYS being so cold.  Even tonight it is 72 degrees out still and I was downstairs chilled and wanting a blanket! 

My labs came back today.  They are perfectly normal.  I was pleased and remind myself that is GOOD.  But the end result of what that meant, I am still churning around in my stomach.  The doctor basically said I was depressed and that she wondered if I wanted to set an appointment to discuss finding a medication that was right for me. 

I guess I knew I had some lingering post partum depression that I could tell was lifting, but she said that since my symptoms have no cause... I simply have depression.  I think it is more the process of getting to that point... no checking hormones (which can cause depression), no digging deeper to see if it is any myriad of things... like cancer.  Just... it's depression.  I guess it is a quick fix for doctors, but what now?  Put me on a pill and call me good?  I just found that a true sad ending. 

I have been doing some research for some time on my ailments... being a nurse, you kinda know where it is going, but you want to be sure.  I needed the doctor to order labs and such.  Mine did not want to do hormone testings as she did not find anything significant in that area.  I guess going from a regular 28 day cycle to a 25 day cycle isn't alarming to a doctor... even it if is a pain for me and a drag... having more cramps, more PMS and more tenderness, bloating and swelling each month.  I guess that is NORMAL.  *sigh*... now I am getting angry, eh? 

Oh the anger isn't about me.  I really am not upset over it... I just shrug my shoulders and know that I have two alternatives, well three.  I can go to a different doctor (a lady doctor) and run tests on my hormones.  But even if they were found abnormal, I know we don't have any natural type doctors and that would likely put me on another pill as well... or I self medicate with natural progesterone.  I could do nothing... assume depression at it's fullest point (major depression) and treat from there in naturalistic ways... my doctor told me that exercising aerobically every day works as well as PAXIL.  Now tell me, a pill and side effects vs... a little sweat and good health.  Hmmm...!  (today I did heavy weeding which actually made me pant and sweat for 30 minutes straight.  I praised God for the bit of breeze that came my way to help cool me down).  Or I could go back to my doctor and say I am not satisfied and want more tests.  I mean... it is 72 degrees out, I am wearing a full length denim dress, long sleeve shirt, with long underwear, knee-high cotton socks and I am still cold! 

At this point, I've decided to simply work at getting back to healthy.  That was my resolution a few months back... and about the time my head cleared as well... perhaps it just will take time to work out this stuff.  I am also watching a Depression seminar which I purchased to give at our church by Neil Nedley.  IT is very well done and I am learning alot.  Apparently I have alot of markers indicating that I could have mild to major depression.  I however don't feel sad and I don't feel desperate and I don't feel like hurting myself or anyone else... I'm just tired, cold, and irritable.   The tired and irritable can be markers for depression (as well as a host of other things).  Anyways, there are 10 categories of causes and I have several of those as well.  So, maybe I did/do have depression and just didn't recognize it because I wasn't sad...?  Weird.  Anyways... most of the natural ways to beat depression are diet, sleep, circ. rhythm patterns, ...basically things I have ignored since I had a baby with her own set of diet intolerances.  I guess it is time to get momma back on track.  If I do and if this is truly depression... I should feel good as new within 5 months... and considering I started a while back... it won't be much longer. 

Well, off to bed... can't miss out on my healthy sleep... not to mention the computer has to go to bed, there is a storm on the way. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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May 29, 2008 - Rainy Day...

We've gotten over 2 inches today of rain.  And it is pouring again.  So what does one do on a rainy day? 

Well, I didn't plan out our rainy day, it sort of happened.  We started school as usual.  I then started a new bean recipe in the crock pot.  It was to be done by 9 pm (lol).  But my cooker cooks faster, so it was done by 6:30 pm.  It was good, but not terrific.  I was trying to figure out what you would eat it with.  It was a basic white bean recipe with onions and some herbs and some chopped spinach added at the end.  I still am unsure what I would eat with it. 

I also put some frozen chicken in the crock pot.  That was done about 8 pm.  I am letting it cool at the moment.  I will shred the meat off and add barbeque sauce tomorrow and make buns for barbequed chicken sandwiches... a new family favorite.   I made it a few weeks ago and they still haven't stopped talking about it.  So, that is tomorrow's planned lunch. 

When the rain let up this morning a bit, we ran the garbage down the end of the lane, as Dh forgot.  A couple hours later I remembered that pick up was delayed a day because of memorial day... so he didn't forget, I did!  LOL.  None of the storms today have blown it over, which is nice.  I guess it is ready for tomorrow.

Shortly after lunch, the rainsoft man came to do repairs on our water conditioner.  I guess a motor was broke, so it had to be replaced as well as a few other things... $635 later... it is fixed and running smoothly again.  The girls will be thankful their hair won't turn orange as quickly.  I am thankful as the clothes were all getting dingy as our water is SOOO hard.  And cleaning will become easier again as the shower is currently ORANGE as is my washing machine!   I wish it wasn't so much, but we dont' have alot of choice out in the country.  It's either replace hot water heaters and clothes and tiles and such because the damage the water does to the equipment and to our clothes and other items... or it is pay to have this conditioner.   I guess part of our tax rebate went to fixing that.  I hadn't paid the Sears card yet because of a few repairs that needed doing and we were unsure what the cost would be... this one turned out expensive! 

When the repairman was downstairs working in the basement, I was cleaning the entry way.  I put some things away and cleared off the counter.  We will see how long it stays clean.  *Ü* 

I entered the spelling words into the computer spelling program for Megan this afternoon.  I figured the checkbooks, figured our budget, and worked on some dishes after the rainsoft repairman had left.  A note about that which was funny.  He was a timid kind of man... He knew what he was doing, but when it came to telling me about the COSTS of the bill, his hands shook.  But he talked to my husband over the phone just fine.  Anyways, as I was writing the check out for the payment, he timidly asks me... do you homeschool?  I said yes, and then he just started talking and talking and it was kinda funny.  I really felt for him.  They want to homeschool starting next year as their son isn't doing well in public school, he says the kids pick on him because he has autism and he ends up getting into a lot of fights.  I gave him information for our states requirements and how to find out how to get started by contacting the state organization and that they will send you a contact in your area whom he could then ask questions that would help him in his area better.  He was very grateful. 

I then started supper.  After supper, I gave Paige a bath and then I stuck calamine lotion on half her fly bites and charcoal on the other half.  We will see tomorrow which helps them the best.  Hers are starting to either blister or puss up and I wanted to get them dried up... she is now in the itching stage of the bite.  She slept horribly last night waking up just to scratch at her bites. 

I finally sat down at the computer, posted a few more items on my store and now a post before I head off to bed myself. 

Dh is resting watching tv.  He went to the doctor finally and is telling us how he has bronchitis... so bad that it is bordering on pneumonia... I laugh as he tells the girls about it... he makes it sound so dreadful.  Megan asked me if he was contagious.  I had to tell her that the germ is contagious, but whether you get bronchitis or not is not up to the germ, but rather up to her in how she takes care of herself.  She says... is this the same germ I had last week?  I laughed and said that it was likely the same GERM that we've all been battling with runny noses... Dad's just happend to crawl down his neck and get into his chest.  She smiled, thinking she had BEAT the GERM! 

The news is on, so that means it is near time for bed.  We've had alot of rain the last hour or so and looks like it will rain all night on us.  I hope my garden seeds don't get washed up as there are puddles everywhere and this is the first rain since I planted.  My flower garden is a mess of puddles and such.  We will see what happened with those seeds in a few days. 

(I had to unplug the computer due to a bad storm passing through last night before I got time to post).  This morning we found we were in the 4-8 inch range for rain for yesterday.  I believe it... the creek is out of it's banks... just a half mile over. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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May 17, 2008 - Strawberry Bed Plans...

Well, we planned to just let the old garden spot fill in with grass once again and just mow it like the rest of the yard, but plans have changed.  The asparagus is growing, which was on one end, so mowing as normal is no longer an option. 

I decided to place a raised strawberry bed near the asparagus bed.  This would help dh and kids not to mow down the asparagus by giving a straight line edge to follow so they don't.  I kept talking of it, and told DH I would do it, not to worry about fussing with it... and he just rolled his eyes that I would never get to it.  Well, on Friday, I purchased the last strawberries I could find in the store.  So, I think Dh realized I was serious, LOL 

Tonight, after it got dark, I asked Dh where the wood was that I was open to use... he has lots of wood piles around, but much of it has plans to be used in extending a farm building for hay storage.  As he was looking, he asked what do you want???  I said simply what I wanted and he sits there and says, "Yah, it will work... and sighs".  I said... don't worry, "I'll do it"... I had some wood shop experience and can run the table saw and drill.  But he stands there looking at the pile.  So I ask him... what is it?  Is he upset over the plan?

He answers, "No,  I was just thinking I could put it together in about 20 minutes is all, with your help, rather than you fighting the boards yourself alone."  And he proceeded to do just that... although I think it took a little longer than 20 minutes.  But, It is done... now all I have to do is place it where it belongs and fill with dirt...and plant strawberries!  Woo Hoo!  

I will try to post pictures of the strawberry bed once it is planted... but no promises on it looking pretty just yet... I've just got dormant plants to use, so it won't be all green, other than a few transplants that I put into it. 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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April 30, 2008 - FINISHED! Quilt Block Exchange!

Well, after getting sidetracked on Monday... I finally completed my last 5 sets of blocks.  I headed out at 3 pm and mailed them off.  I enjoyed the opportunity to share with others in a project that kept me motivated.  Even as simple as this project may have been, I learned some tips as I progressed through my blocks.  My blocks were not perfect...this was a new project for me.  I hope that whoever gets my blocks will still enjoy them with the little imperfections. 

It would have been much easier for me to have cut the blocks a little larger.... but I guess that is part of learning.  I had gotten some clear plastic things for quilting years ago... I finally put them to good use!  (See, I don't even know what they were called! (6 by 12 inch clear measuring pieces.  It allowed me to see if my blocks were ending up the correct size)).   I mismeasured as well and have lots of blocks left over.  However I cut it close with the thread.... I will need more thread to do anything with the leftover squares that I have left. 

I am excited about the blocks I am to receive.  I am still trying to figure out what to do with them.  Pillows seem an easy obvious choice, but I'd like to get creative.  I'm sure my little one would like a doll quilt.  I could even do a small quilt hanging with matching squares.... or maybe a small lap quilt.  We will see what I come up with once I see all the blocks. 

Deanna, thanks for hosting this swap!  It was fun.   ... now back to cleaning out our basement and decluttering the house!!! 

Warmly, ~Melissa

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