2008-Jun-26
A Week Later!
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Good Morning Everyone!
It's hard to believe a week has passed since I've been on here. I do have a good excuse...My Honey is now home and he's home for good! While we're thankful for all the extra money Keith has been making, I'm more thankful that he's home where he belongs. We have both agreed he'll never take another contract during the summer months. It's just to hard on the kids and I to try and keep up with all that needs doing around this old farm in the summer time!
With Keith home I just knew I would have tons of time! WRONG The rain keeps coming, the grass keeps growing and the house still needs cleaning. Then there's the added problem of I didn't run the pump right on the pool and we ended up with an algae problem! Poor Keith has bought every chemical known to mankind and at long last I think we have it fixed! (See why he can't leave me during the summer months!!!)
Earlier this week during an electrical storm, the big tree out by the kids trampoline got hit by lightening....It blew the bark all along one side off. Right now it doesn't look to bad (Ok, a little naked on one side!) but I guess time will tell if we'll lose it. I sure hope not. It's a wonderful old tree and provides lots of shade.
Then, if all of this wasn't enough, the main phone line into our house has suddenly quit working. (The second phone line works fine!) Personally I have enjoyed not having a phone, after all we have our cell phones if we really need to get in contact with someone but Keith's right, it does have to be fixed. Friday we'll be heading to Topeka and we'll buy all new wiring/fixtures and start at the beginning to see what the problem is. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the sound of quiet!!!!
Not everything has been bad since Keith came home....Last Friday we met up with our oldest son and his wife and two little ones for lunch. Naturally the little ones all wanted to go to McDonald's and ole grandma here was siding with them....After having eight young'uns, I know if I'm going to have a peaceful meal we need to eat where kids want to eat!!!! Unfortunately the other three adults over-ruled me and we ended up in the Mexican restaurant Keith and I like to eat at. When the little ones found they could still order their chicken strips, they were ok with the idea. It was wonderful sitting around gabbing and the food was out of this world....Fred must have said ten times, "This is the best Mexican food I've ever eaten!" And of course the day wouldn't have been complete without Grandpa & Grandma letting the grand babies pick out a few toys and clothes to take back to K.C. with them!
Because the weather has been so darn hot, we've been spending a lot of our time in the house. I feel sorry for Keith because he was used to the cool air and to suddenly be thrust back into our hot, wet, humid conditions has about killed him. At least he knows how good he had it while we was gone! HA Plus he learned real fast about how much rain we're really having and how often the grass needs mowed! (Bet he's wishing he was back up there sitting behind a desk! HA)
Well my friends, time to start my day. The dishwasher is just about to shut off and then I need to do a load of laundry. Tomorrow is our fun trip to Topeka so hopefully I'll have more to write about then! Summer Blessings, Sher |
2008-Jun-19
Toaster/Convection/Oven Question?????
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Summer has definitely moved into Kansas and with it has came the oppressive heat we're known for! Even though it's super hot I still like to fix my family large meals and in going through my menu's I've discovered that most of those meals call for the oven. Now on days you can verily breath, the last thing I want to do is heat this house up with an oven!!!! I use my many crock pots for the things I can but there are something's (cookies, cakes, muffins, ect..) that it just won't work on.
That brings me to my question of the day....How many of you have the newer Toaster/Convection/Ovens???? I have looked at them in Wal-Mart and my Sweetie has been pricing them in stores in Wisconsin. We have pretty well picked out the one we want (One that will hold a roasting hen and has a dial for the controls) but before shelling out the money I need to know if they are REALLY worth it! Can you really bake in them or are they just good for "toasting" and heating up????? I live in a little tiny house so storage is going to be a problem too. I don't mind making room for something if works and will save me the expense of heating a large oven and heating my house up.
If any of you have one, I would really appreciate you telling me what you think of it and if it's worth the money. Thanks so much! Hugs, Sher |
2008-Jun-18
How We Are Cutting Back in Kansas
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Yesterday I wrote about how our living cost are rising here on Old Crow Farm. Today I thought I would tell you how we are going to try and cut back without going without all the good things in life. (Like eating! HA)
When it comes to cutting back there is only so much a person can do....After all, we do have to live and pay bills. As a family we have worked to cut our bills back to the bone. We don't have a house payment or a car payment. However, we still have bills....Electric, water, phone, cell phone, Dish Network, propane, taxes, car insurance and house insurance. Some of these bills I guess we could do without (Dish, cell phone, Internet) but we're not....I'll cut back in some areas but I need that Dish for bad weather (And yes I have a weather radio but it's never been as good as our local station!!...We live in an area where you can't get anything with just a TV antenna) and the cell phones keep in contact with my older kids and the Internet, well let's just say it's not going!!!! HA So, our monthly bills won't be going down to much.
For years I've been made fun of by all my friends and family as I refuse to use the dryer! Yes, even living in Kansas with it's bad winters, very seldom do you see me turn on that dryer. Instead, I watch the weather report and I do my laundry accordingly. In the winter time I might have to go as much as a whole week without doing a load but when the time comes and it's warm enough for things to dry, you'll find me out at those long ole clothes lines hanging out....And if they "freeze dry", I just bring them in, spend them around the family room and within hours they are dry enough to put away.
I also drive my family crazy nuts with turning off lights! Keith swears it only cost PENNIES to run lights and maybe he's right...I just can't see having them on unless you 100% NEED them!!!! So, he turns them on, I turn them off! HA
The one place I don't skimp on spending money is our food budget! I feel that no matter how bad things are in this old world, if you have a nourishing meal on the table they can't help but look better....I also feel if your sick you need to eat a healthy meal! So, knowing this, while my grocery bill may not drop down through these lean times, there are things I can do to cut back in this area.
On way I have decided to cut back is our trips to the grocery store. We live on a farm that is over six miles from the nearest grocery store and since I won't shop in that store (I refuse to give our hard earned money to a store that treats their employees like dirt!) that means we have to drive thirty miles for groceries. So, I'm now on a mission to cut our driving (GAS) down to one day a month for groceries!
The past two weeks I have been working like crazy on recipes for good meals that groceries can be bought one month at a time. I have sat and went over hundreds of magazines and cookbooks, carefully writing down recipes and filing them in a new recipe holder. While I'm doing this I have been making a grocery list so I'll know just what to buy when I go shopping.
Next week I plan to put my plan into action. I'll be making a trip to Topeka and while at Sam's Club I'll be stocking up on what I hope will be enough groceries to last us for at least a month, maybe six weeks. [I plan to spend between $500-$600 and really stock up.] I know I'll have to make a trip to town for milk since I can't buy that for a month at a time but we'll just buy it every two weeks when we go to the library....We won't be wasting gas for just a trip to the free library!
Gas in one thing this family spends a fortune on....We mow over three acres and with all the rain we are having we are spending a small fortune mowing. This can't be helped. I am not having snakes move in just because gas has hit an all time high! So, trips to town and running around are about the only way we can cut back.
I am someone who enjoys being in my home so being "stuck" here certainly isn't going to hurt my feels any. I plan to make my house more of a "home" via way of primitive decorating, and work on all the crafts I've been buying supplies for.
I hope you'll join me with this "stay home" adventure and please feel free to post how your cutting back too. Blessings, Sher |
2008-Jun-17
The Cost of Living is Rising in Kansas!
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For months we have slowly watched the price of everything from gas to groceries rising. It wasn't until the past two weeks that we have come to realize this is just the beginning of bad times to come. Let me tell you about how we here on Old Crow Farm have seen first hand how high things are going to get.............
It all started with our electric bill. We were notified our electric company had a "rate hike" and the average electric bill would go up $10.00 a month. Now no one said what "average" was! Are we "average" and does that mean we'll only see a ten dollar increase each month, or are we "above-average" and we're going to see this double or triple???? I guess time will tell!
Next came our rural water bill. The same week we were notified of the electric raise, we received a letter from our water company saying our water bill is going to go up $2.00 per thousand gallon. Now this is one bill I can tell on my own what the increase will be... An extra $12 a month!!!! Not much but remember, we're having a higher electric bill too!
THEN, came the propane bill!!!!~~~~ Last year it cost me a little over $600.00 to fill one of our tanks and to half fill the other. (Our second tank still had propane in it so I was left with 70% in it at the end of winter.) With gas cost rising we decided we had better buy propane now before it got any higher. Ok, are you all sitting down??? To fill this one tank it cost me the grand total of $1,035!!!!! I about had a light stroke when I paid that bill! And get this....Where always before a person could "reserve" so many gallons with out paying up front, (I never did, I've always paid cash for our propane.) this year it was cash on the line!!!!
While these extra dollars aren't going to help our budget, I can't help but wonder how many people are going to go under because of them??? I young single dad I know who works a minimum wage job in our area told me he is verily keeping a roof over their heads. I can understand why! How are people with a large family or a low income going to make it????
In my next entry I will tell you how we are going to cut our cost and how we plan to live on a very tight budget! Blessings, Sher |
2008-Jun-16
The Other Dad in My Life!
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Having eight children it's obvious there is another "Dad" in my life but this posting will be about a very special "Dad", my Keith. Keith came into our lives when we needed him the most..... I met Keith while my husband was dying with lung cancer and my two youngest son's were just little boys. (Nine and eleven) I pray none of you ever go through the pain of watching someone die from cancer. It's a horrible time and made even worse when a stay at home Mom has to go to work and her children have to take over.
I guess it goes without saying that by the time Keith came into our lives our boys were very confused. Not only had they watched their father die but suddenly they had a new "dad" in their lives. That first year was one if I had been Keith I would have walked out and never looked back. The boys resented him and never missed an opportunity to show it! To this day he talks about how mad they would get at him and how they would run to the walnut tree on the back of our property, climb it and stay for hours! If I had been the step mother I'm not sure I would have "liked" these children, much less love them but loved them he did!
Through the years I watched two little boys grow into fine young men and Keith was behind them every step of the way....Teaching them all the things a man needs to know to make a woman happy.... How to tie a tie, how to open doors for women, to buy flowers just "because", to always put the woman first in your life, to work hard and climb to the top of any job you do and to support those you love whether it be with money or moral support.
I watched Keith cheer for my boys at football games, grieve when an injustice came up in their lives and beam when they graduated from college, got married or started climbing the corporate ladder. Their accomplishments were truly his accomplishments. After all, he was their "father" if only from loving their mother. To this day they tell people he's their dad and he calls them his sons.
My older kids are his children too....He loves those grandbabies just as much as I do and loves telling people about them. He worries when their jobs aren't going good and panics when bad weather hits the areas they live in. How could any woman be so lucky?????
Then if this man hadn't deserved the title "Dad" enough, in 1999 he earned the title all over again....This time when we went into foster care to pay back some of the Blessings in our lives, we turned around to be Blessed again when two precious little ones came into our home. For over two years we loved those children like our own and yet knowing in the back of our minds they really weren't "ours" and if the parents did as the courts instructed they would be leaving our lives.
Those times were both bittersweet and happy. How could you not pray these precious children were returned to their birth parents and yet how could you not pray they stayed with you? In the end the parents made that decision for us. They chose to continue their lives of drugs and we chose to take on the responsibility of parents at the age of 52 and 63.
Suddenly for the first time in Keith's life he really WAS a father. A responsibility that he entered in the same way he did with my children....Loving those little ones and wanting only the best for them. So, at a time when most men his age are doing the things they want in life, Keith is off on a contract working so his little ones can get the braces they are both going to need. Does he complain? Only about being away from us. The rest of the time it's how much he's going to be able to do for his children when he gets home.
So this Father's Day I have two Blessings in my life....The Dad that raised me and the man that chose to be a Father to my children. How lucky can a girl get? Blessings, Sher |
2008-Jun-16
My Dad is a "Gambler"
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With thoughts of Father's Day I thought it was time to write about the two men in my life. This posting will be about my father. Yes, it's true, my dad is a retired "gambler". Now before you start envisioning him with a deck of cards in his hand and a pile of poker chips in front of him, let me explain.........For over fifty years my dad has been one of the best "gamblers" around....A farmer!!!!!!
To those have you who have never grown up on a farm or depended on it for a living, you might not understand the term "gambler". To be a farmer, you truly do gamble and this gamble can make a difference whether your family is fed and the bills paid for a year.
For years I watched as my dad tested the ground and searched the sky for rain clouds before climbing aboard one of his Oliver tractors and starting across the field. From sun up to sun down he would stay in those fields only eating the meals Mom prepared and brought to him. I've seen crops reaching for the sky be destroyed by wind and rain (One year before they bought their present farm I saw a river come up and take everything.) and with those crops went the hope of Dad providing a good living for his family that year.
Along with losing crops I've watched my dad's eyes fill with sorrow as a young neighbor boys son was killed on the road in front of our house. I've watched him bury his farming neighbors, some from farming accidents. These tragedies would be hard for anyone but worse for those living in a small farm community.
Two years ago I watched with horror has my father lost every piece of farming equipment he owned when a pick-up truck caught fire and destroyed the building they all were stored in. Even though he was officially "retired" (Does a farmer ever retire???) the loss was devastating. Not only because of the money they were worth but because everything he owned, short of the land, was in that building. Being a true "gambler" he grieved for a few days and then went back to life.
From my Dad I've learned to live with "what you have" and not long for the "what ifs" in life. I've learned never to go in debt and to pay cash. I've also learned that no matter what life deals you, you'll make it and if you live within your means, not only will you survive but nine times out of ten you'll come out on top.
Today my dad is 82 years old (He'll turn 83 in August) and still lives on the family farm with Mom. While not a man to show his emotions he's still a man that stands above others. One of those that if he gives his word it's as good as done and a man that will be there for his children and grandchildren if the need should arrive.
Daddy I love you but more than that, I'm proud of the man you are and all you taught me. With Love, The Farmers Daughter, Sher |
2008-Jun-12
Summer and Children
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Good Morning!
Once again we are waiting for bad weather here in Kansas (Is there any other kind??? At this point in my life I don't think so!) so I decided today would be a good time to talk about children and summer vacation. I'll be the first to admit I would rather my children be home than in school. There was a time I didn't feel this way.... I loved having the freedom of coming and going as I pleased. All of that changed with the adoption of these last two. I don't know if school has changed and they are just piling more work on children today or if it's these two struggle harder than my other kids did. For what ever reasons, I find that when school is going on in the evenings all we are doing is home-work or something related to school. I'm glad that our school system wants our children to be the best they can be but I have to admit I hate doing school work EVERY evening of the week. This is why I so enjoy our summer vacation. Yes, I don't get to spend as much time alone with Keith but I do enjoy the kids!
Of course having the children home all the time brings it's own set of problems...Mainly what to do! We are lucky we live on a farm so there is tons for them to do....Ok, let's make that there is tons for them to do if the weather would just cooperate!!!! Having rain five out of seven days a week really limits the time they can spend outdoors!!!!
Several years ago Keith and I put in a pool. I am someone who absolute HATES the water so a pool was the last thing I wanted BUT I wanted these children to learn to swim too and I sure couldn't afford to take them to our local town pool everyday. The first year I was a nervous wreck with that pool....I was afraid to blink my eyes for fear one of them would drowned! But, by the end of the summer they were swimming like little fish!!! Now our pool has became a part of our daily summer lives. The kids are big enough to swim when ever they want and the only problem is keeping Jeni in enough swimsuits (HA) and making sure she doesn't burn to a crisp!....As a red-head she burns very easily!!!!
Living on a farm we have lots of other things for the children to do....There's the "Fort" Keith built them (Oh how they love to climb up and hide in that thing!), our three-wheeler, a go-cart, the trampoline, bikes, a play-house, sand pile and tons of outside toys. Unfortunately, if the weather isn't nice, it's hard to do any of these things!
So, we have a list of other things we do! Number one is our Public Library! There's nothing better than curling up with a good book or two. Plus, there's the fact our library has VHS tapes, DVD's and music so a trip there can bring us all kinds of entertainment! Add that to the fact we can keep our "goodies" for two weeks and even the gas to get there isn't bad.
Another thing our little ones like in the summer is going to one of our local parks! They love to take their scooters and ride up and down the sidewalk while Mom and Dad watch and read the local paper. And, of course all this "work" makes for a trip to the Dairy Queen afterwards! HA
On days we're stuck in the house things kind of change. We have more toys than I care to think about (If I was to sell Drew's Thomas the Train collection I would be able to pay off the National Debt!!! HA), computers, Wii player, PlayStation 2, baking together, working on our multiplication and of course lots of board games. Plenty to keep a hundred kids busy.
Ok, now you know what we do around Old Crow Farm. Please tell us what your children do during the summer months...We can always use more ideas to keep us entertained!!!! Hugs, Sher |
2008-Jun-6
What a Night!
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Last night was one of those nights that I don't want to relive! For a week, it's been in the forecast that Thursday evening was to be one rough night. This is one time I wish the weathermen had been wrong. While we didn't get the tornado's and extreme high wind predicted, it was still way to rough for this old country gal! Keith was following the storm on the Internet and just before it hit he called to say it should be arriving any minute. We stayed on the phone until the storm had passed but even then I was afraid to go to sleep....The National Weather station kept saying that more storms could fire up so I was afraid to go to sleep for fear we would get hit again. The results are, I've been super tired all day. At this point I'm counting the hours until I can get these kids to bed!
Since I've been so tired, today has been one of those days when I didn't get anything accomplished. Ok, not true....Drew had his closet in one royal mess so my morning was spent getting it back in order. Jeni and I then got around and dyed some more wool....I'm now looking at luscious Americana colors that are going to be just perfect for an Americana rug. Maybe something with a flag on it for the Fourth?????
The weather is suppose to be nice and hot tomorrow (Dry too!!!!) so the little ones and I are heading for the pool to see if we can't get Dave the Diver to do his job. Jeni is wanting to have some friends over to swim and that can't happen until the pool is clean (The water is crystal clear but it has some crud on the bottom) and it's a little warmer. Hopefully next week.
Well, as I said earlier I'm really tired so I'm going to call it a night and get to bed. Have a great weekend. Blessings, Sher |
2008-Jun-5
Thursday Storms!
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Good Morning!
Once again the Kansas prairies are under a storm warning! This has been predicted all week but we kept hoping it wouldn't materialize. No such luck! While our morning is dark and windy the real threat isn't until this evening. At that time we could have heavy rain, high winds, hail and even a tornado or two. I absolutely HATE this kind of weather and it's even worse when it's dark. (Naturally that's when most of our bad weather hits.) So, this afternoon I'll take a nap and tonight will find me wide awake in case I have to get these little ones to the basement.
Along with having to worry about my family and our buildings through bad weather, I also have to worry about my flowers. Just this week I noticed my Hollyhocks are starting to bloom. If we have super high winds it will topple these tall plants. Several years ago Keith put some metal stakes in my hollyhock area and while I know that will help protect some of them, the way they have taken over my "Secret Garden", there is no way to stake them all. Once again, we'll just have to pray for the best.
  With Keith out of State, all yard work and outside things have been turned over to the children and I. While it's true Seth is keeping up with our grass (Or as much as he can keep up with it on his one day off!) we're trying to do the rest. Yesterday was "swimming pool day". I'll be the first to raise my hand and tell you I know absolutely nothing about this swimming pool and if I had my way it would stay that way. Unfortunately, with kids wanting to swim I have no choice but to learn. Yesterday we managed to get it "shocked" and the filter going so we could start moving the water around. Tomorrow if the rains let up we'll be working on getting "Dave the Diver" going so we can clean the bottom. Hopefully by next week the rains will have moved on and warm weather will be here so the kids can actually swim without freezing to death!
Another job we have taken over (Gee I'm missing Keith!!) is feeding our fish. Now this is one job I really don't mind. I love how you just have to move some rocks together to make a sound and they'll come right up to you. And, right now it's a double joy to feed them as the Honeysuckle over the water garden is in full bloom so the smell is heavenly. The Water Lily's are getting ready to bloom too so they'll soon be eye-candy as well as the smell. Sure makes this job fun!
Since we are cooped up in the house this morning Jeni and I are in the process of dying some wool. I honestly think this is a job she could take over by herself. She loves mixing the colors and knows just how long to simmer the wool and when to add the vinegar to set it. We're on our third batch right now, so one more before we'll be cleaning up our mess. (Wonder if she'll be good helping with that? HA)
Well, the morning is sliding away and I've still got tons to do. I put a small roast in the crock-pot this morning so now it's just a question of baking something for us to snack on. So, I'll bring this to a close and get busy. I hope your all enjoying safe weather. Blessings From the Farm, Sher |
2008-May-30
Another Humid Day!
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Good Afternoon!
As I'm writing this we are waiting on another thunderstorm. While I definitely do not look forward to more rain it will almost be a Blessing when it finally arrives. The reason for this is the humidity! Earlier this morning I took a walk around my gardens and discovered that the weeds are starting to over-take some of my herbs. I knew I could make short order of them so set about pulling and mulching. I couldn't believe that in just a few short minutes I could work up such a sweat. That's when it hit me....It's the humidity that's making it this hot!!!!!
So, while I about died out there, I'm really thankful I got as much done as I did. Not only do they look better but with more rain coming, I know the weeds would have only gotten worse. If anyone is interested in seeing my gardens, you can check out my PictureTrail for a quick peek. http://www.picturetrail.com/sherkeith
Since it's to hot to be outside, I've been doing some work around the house. I finally got the spare bedroom put back together after having everyone home for the weekend. I wish I could say my living room was in order but that would definitely be a lie.~~~~Drew has had ever battery operated Thomas the Tank sets he own out (And trust me, there's a lot of them!!!) and they have been strung all over that poor room. He has picked up one set before he tears out another but still, the living room floor has never been bare at one time. Ok, not true....It's clear at night but who's up to see it? I guess we're all just bored with this hot, humid, rainy weather!
Yesterday I got around and placed a wool order to one of my favorite wool sites. I feel quilty spending so much on wool right now and yet this is really Keith's fault....He's in a State that is known for it's cold weather so I know if he would just look in the thrift shops he'd be able to buy me tons of wool skirts. Now I ask you, why would a grown man think it's beneath him to look at SKIRTS in a store???? HA Since he choose not to, I had no choice but to spend his hard earned money. When he sees what I spent, I wonder if the next time he goes somewhere on business he might just give those skirts a once over? HA
Well, the afternoon is flying by and since my little ones want "Greek Pizza" for supper, I guess I'd better get their school work out of the road and get the dough raising. I hope everyone is having a great day. Summer Blessings from Old Crow Farm, Sher |
2008-May-28
A Wednesday in May!
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Good Morning Everyone!
It's another dark, cold day here in Kansas! I honestly don't know what is going on with our weather. If it's not raining, it's dark and dreary! The sun was suppose to be out this morning and I was really looking forward to that as I have about four loads of laundry that are really needing done. However, I'm to cheap to use the dryer so they'll just have to wait until things warm up around here.
I hope everyone had a safe and happy Memorial Day. Ours was kind of bittersweet! Some of the older kids came home so it was a weekend of laughter. I honestly don't know when I have laughed harder! It seemed like every time we turned around one of us was doing something stupid and that would set everyone else off. An example:
Sunday evening we all decided we would play "Skip-Bo". I quickly took my bath and while Codi headed for the tub Renee fixed Drew some ice cream. (We had all had Root beer floats earlier in the evening but naturally Drew wasn't hungry for ice cream then.) Jeni has always had problems with her hands (They just seem to take on a life of their own and she has no control of what they do!) and tonight was one of those nights. I was sitting there writing out a check at the kitchen table with a Chocolate Pepsi in front of me and Jeni made a dive for bowls which knocked them across the table, which knocked my Pepsi over. I kid you not, I had chocolate, COLD Pepsi all over my lap. Poor Renee grabbed a towel and said, "Do you want me to try and soak it up?" I told her that would be even to much for a DIL to do! HA So, I start screaming at Codi to get out of the tub (Poor thing had just gotten in!) that I needed another bath, RIGHT NOW!!!!! Of course everyone was just rolling as I stood there with pop dripping off my lap!
After my second bath we sat down to play "Skip-Bo" and of course we each had a drink in front of us. I went to move Seth's and instead of picking it up I slid it across the table. I hit a wrinkle in the table cloth and over went the glass of pop! This time it missed everyone but it sure made a mess!
Halfway into the game Codi decided she wanted a pop-tart. By this time Seth had moved his glass over to my antique cupboard to keep it out of harms way. You guessed it...That's where the pop-tarts were! As Codi turned to get one, Jeni's hands went wild and she grabbed too. Over went the pop. This time the glass BROKE and we had pop everywhere!!!! All we could do was laugh! It took us almost half an hour to clean up that mess and still not sure we got every sliver of glass up!
The older boys jumped right in our yard the minute the rain let up and in a few short hours they had everything looking super. Of course we've had three inches of rain since then so you can't tell they even touched it! GRRRR
Keith is still out of state on business so he missed all the fun this weekend. I hated that and yet it was kind of nice to have all my kids to myself. (He's probably glad he missed all the wild times! HA) However, he'll be home for the Fourth and we're all making plans for that.
Another bittersweet time this weekend was when we went up to see our eight-three year old friend, Floyd, who is in the hospital. No one is sure just what is wrong with him (Maybe just old age?) but it's sure not looking good. I think Floyd knew this might be the last time he would see Sam (Who he loves!) and he was teary most of the time we were there. I tried to joke he only went to the hospital so he could get the good looking nurses to take care of him (He's a bachelor) but even that didn't help. Prayers are still going up so maybe we're all wrong and he'll snap out of this....I can't imagine my life without his daily phone calls!
So, now that things are settling down on the farm, the children and I are getting back into the groove of being on our own. The house has been cleaned up from the weekend and now I can work on a few craft projects. (For all you cross stitchers, check out my friend Betty's blog....She has two wonderful new patterns out and a little freebie! http://primitivebettys.blogspot.com/) On that note I'll stop writing and start my day. May your days be filled with sunshine and warm weather. Blessings, Sher |
2008-May-13
The Month of May
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I can't believe that the month of May is going by so quickly. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact we have had rain, cold and more rain all month long??? As I write these words this evening we are once again under a sever thunderstorm watch. Watching the news I can't help but wonder what is going on in this ole world....So much disaster caused by Nature. (Or is it man???)
I hope each of the woman reading my blog had a wonderful Mother's Day? Our day was quiet...Phone calls and cards from the kids. The rest of the day was spent relaxing. Keith is out of town on business and as always he sent me a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. I'm sure the gal delivering them thought they were for Mother's Day but I know...His way of saying I miss and love you. Seth and Codi also got me a gorgeous bouquet of yellow tulips so the inside of our home has almost as many flowers in it as the outside.
 Speaking of my outside flowers~~~~ A walk through my gardens has showed me the flowers I thought I had lost over the winter have suddenly re-appeared. In all honesty I have never had a more gorgeous garden. I'm sure it's because of all the rain we've been having. Before Keith left we went to town and he bought me a ton of annuals for my water garden. (Now those were my Mother's Day gift!) Right now they are being held over in the greenhouse because we keep having all these late frost warnings. I checked the forecast a few minutes ago and it looks as though the next week will be warm so I think I'll go ahead and set them out tomorrow.
Since Keith is gone for a few days, I've had time to do some serious house-cleaning. This morning I started in our spare bedroom. It took me hours but long last my wool is now all arranged by color. This is going to make it so much easier to chose wool when I want to start a new rug. Tomorrow I'll work on the family room or Drew's bedroom. Slowly but surely I'm getting there!!!
I've also been doing a little Needle Punch and rug hooking while Keith is gone. I'm happy to report I've completed two projects. Tomorrow I hope to start another NP pillow that I'll be using for the Fourth of July. I also have a new rug hooking pattern I'm hoping to start on. So many things to do, so few hours to do them. I know every woman can relate.
Our school lets out May 21 and I think I'm happier than the kids! HA It's been a long year with tons of home-work and I look forward to a summer of laying around the pool, reading books and just having time to be a family. No more yelling at kids that this and that has to be done!
Well, it's time to finish up the kids home-work (Yes, with just a few days left in school the teachers are still sending it home!) and then we'll be getting around for bed. I hope each of you are staying safe and your weather is sunny and warm. Blessings, Sher |
2008-Apr-25
One Woman's Choices
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Good Morning Everyone!
Earlier this morning I read Sister Lori's posting on "Decisions". As I read her words I was once again reminded of a very dear friend of mine and decided this might be a time to share some of her wisdom. These days we are facing shortages on everything from food, to gas to jobs. Not a day goes by where we don't see that more and more companies are laying off or cutting back and yet at the same time we hear/see the price of fuel and food rising at astronomical rates. It's a scary time for everyone and I'm always amazed to see how people react. Some will complain, some will wait for the Government to bail them out and others will let family or friends solve their problems for them. Then there are those who step up to plate and do what they have to do. This entry is about such a lady..........
Yesterday I received an e-mail from a dear online friend of mine in another state. She started her note off with asking how we were as she had seen Kansas had been having storms. (Being a true friend her thoughts were on us, not herself!) She talked about the things in her life that had kept her from writing and then towards the middle of her e-mail she started talking about her job. My friend is a divorce woman who has been supporting her daughter on her own. She depends on this job to take care of both of them and now with the shape of economy her job has been scaled back to four days a week. Add that to the fact her ex-husband just lost his job that means she just lost her child support too.
The whole time I was reading her note my heart was breaking but I should have known who was writing. While most woman would have been complaining, crying, hoping others would help, not her! She was so positive and up-beat it was amazing! She talked of all the things she has "planned" to help bring in money and even has "Plan B" in line in case those don't work out.
As I read her note my heart started to swell with pride. Here was a middle aged woman who was facing a very bleak future and yet she wasn't giving up and or dwelling on it. Instead she was facing the problem head on and deciding what she could do to survive and support her child.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone could be this positive about the things that are going on in there lives??? Don't we all wish we could have a little more of this "drive" to make it??? No matter how much we want to be in control with our economy the average person is going to be making some difficult choices. Maybe we'll have to cut back on groceries, maybe it will the miles we drive or maybe it will be which bill we can pay. Maybe it's time for each of us to put "Plan A" and "Plan B" down on paper so if this happens to us we at least know what we are going to do.
So take a good look around you my friends. Ask yourself what YOU would do if this was to happen to you and how would you would cope. If we're even half as strong as my friend, not only will we make it but we'll come out on top. God Bless, Sher |
2008-Apr-24
April Showers
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It's definitely been a month of April showers here on Old Crow Farm. Well, maybe showers wouldn't be the best word, it's been more like April storms!!!! Once again we have woke up to heavy rain and while the sun did peek through for a few minutes, it's starting to cloud up again. I knew strong storms were predicted by evening and from the looks of the sky I'm sure we are going to get them.
All of this rain has definitely greened things up and of course that means there's three acres to mow! GROAN Keith and I talked it over and decided the time has come to buy a new ridding lawn mower. Our old one still runs (We're giving it to Sam and Renee) but I'm not sure it would take another hard summer of mowing every three to four days. For weeks we looked at mowers and I finally had my way (As Keith would say, "She always does!" HA) and last week we bought a new John Deer. This is a mower than not only can I handle but Jeni too. So, this summer we will be taking over all the mowing with a little help from Seth.
Along with the grass growing so are my flowers. I was so afraid I had lost a bunch over our long hard winter but from what I can tell the only ones that didn't come back are the Black Eyed Susan's. Not only are the others all growing but some of them have re-seeded and I now have tons of new ones. I swear I never feel near to God than when I'm on my knees in my gardens. Just seeing how He's allowing my flowers to shoot up makes my heart sing.
With rains and warm weather has came all the other things that Spring brings. Keith and I have been working on our pool and I don't think that thing will ever be completely drained. Every time we get it almost empty another good rain comes along and adds more water! I know a lot of people just leave the water in it all year long and add chemicals at the beginning of summer. I just can't bring myself to do that. No matter what anyone says and no matter how clean the water LOOKS, I do not want my children in water that was GREEN only a few days earlier! So, we'll continue to work on it and by the end of the week hopefully we'll have it filled with sparkling clean water.
Since I've been stuck inside several days because of the weather, I was able to finish up several hooking projects. Within the next few weeks I hope to have another one done and they'll soon be on their way to my dear friend Sher in N.Y. to finish up... I don't know what I would do without that girl and I'm so thankful God gave her the talent to do all the hand sewing since I wasn't blessed with that ability!
Well, it's getting darker here by the minute so I best get in there and finish my cookies up (I'm making Keith and the little ones some "Chewies" which is their favorite new cookie recipe!) and then get something done around this house. I hope this finds everyone safe and enjoying this gorgeous Spring weather. Spring Blessings, Sher |
2008-Apr-6
A Gorgeous Sunday!
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It's a gorgeous Sunday on the farm! After a cloudy morning, the sun has came out and it just darn right hot out there. Ok, maybe I think it's hot because I've been out working in my greenhouse. There's only one word for that poor building and that word is FILTHY!!! At the end of Fall we shove everything in there from push lawnmowers to lawn furniture so come Spring I always have a mess to clean up. I'm a long ways from being done but I'm close enough that I can start thinking about what flowers I want to get started! Tomorrow we have to take Drew to the Dentist so hopefully by Tuesday I'll be doing just that!
Keith and I went over several of my flower gardens this afternoon and have decided we are going to do one more right up here by the house. I'm really not thrilled over this idea but I'm sick of mowing over three acres too! So, within the next few days we'll be laying it out and then will hopefully start filling it with flowers within the next month. I also walked over some of my other flower and herb gardens and was thrilled when I found I didn't lose as many herbs as I first thought. In fact, EVERY Chive plant I set out last Fall has not only lived but thrived! So, the middle herb garden isn't going to take near as much time as I first thought. I'll just have to clean out a few weeds and put down some more mulch. I wish I could say the tiny herb garden has done as well. I'm about ready to rip everything out of that one and start all over! GROAN
Let's see, the last time I added to this Keith and I were getting ready to go to Iola shopping. I wish you all could have been with us! Not only did we find several neat treasures at our favorite Flea Market (A darling old wooden box that had been painted red in its early life but also an old long wooden box that was just perfect for holding CD's on top my computer cabinet!) but we ate a wonderful Mexican meal in peace and quiet....Our little ones hate Mexican food so if we do go when they are along they complain the whole time! It was just a nice "Couples Day" and I know with school ending soon those days are quickly coming to an end! (At least until school starts next year!) Our Summer meals out will be spent at McDonald's to keep the crew happy! HA
Well Drew and I still have four more chapters to read so I best get him in here and get started. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and it's as gorgeous as ours! Spring Blessings, Sher
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2008-Apr-3
One of my projects......
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Good Morning Everyone!
It's a dark, misty day here on the farm but my sprits are high.....I have kids coming home from college tomorrow so decided today would be a good day for Keith and I to run to Iola and pick up a few groceries. Normally this wouldn't be a "fun trip" but we've decided to hit my favorite flea market and then go have Mexican for lunch! This is our favorite Mexican restaurant so I'm really looking forward to it. After all the dark, nasty days we've been having I really look forward to a fun day out.
My reason for this note this morning is because so many have asked to see the rug hooked chair pad that my friend Sher put together for me. Since my kitchen is the room I spend the most time in (Doesn't every woman?) I decided it was time to move it in there. Our kitchen is extremely small so there wasn't a lot of choices of where it could go. I finally decided on an old shabby chic kitchen chair that sets by the door leading out into our family room. While it doesn't exactly match the decor in there I still love how it looks. Of course seeing it makes me want to make a dozen more! HA Actually I would love to make a different chair pad (Using the same colors) for each of our kitchen chairs but I'm sure that's not going to happen in my life time....So many ideas, so little time!!!! So, I'll just have to enjoy this one.
Yesterday I hooked on my cabin rug and I swear I never know when to leave well enough alone! I decided some "smoke" coming out of the chimney would look great so proceeded to use a light gray wool to give it that effect. It now looks as though the chimney has a "blog of gray" on top it! I'm going to try "feathering it out" but if that doesn't work it's going to become a non-working chimney! HA
Well girls, I best get around so we can make a mad dash to town. I hope everyone his having sunnier weather than we are and that your all getting tons done. Spring Blessings, Sher
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2008-Apr-2
Sunshine!!!!
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This morning I'm looking out the window here on Old Crow Farm and I actually see SUNSHINE!!!! After days of rain and dark skies it's honestly looking like Spring. Of course it sure doesn't feel that way! It was a cold 34 degrees this morning when the little ones got on the bus! That's way to cold for this old gal! Poor Jeni has a Science project of two seeds she's suppose to be growing in the windows here at home and it's been so dark they haven't even spouted!!! Of course none of the other kids have either! The weatherman talks like things are going to start warming up and I pray he's right. I'm ready for some warm weather so I can get out and dig in the dirt!!!!
And speaking of dirt....A quick walk around my flower beds earlier this week (Between the rain showers) has showed a lot of green peeking up. Unfortunately it also showed that I had lost a lot of flowers too! I'm not sure if I lost them because we had a bad winter or if it's because I bought them from our local greenhouse. (Biggest selection around but I'm finding their plants aren't that healthy!) So, this year Keith and I have decided to grow a lot of our own and the rest will be filled in with those purchased from some little Mom & Pop greenhouses around us. I LOVE my flowers and I really want my beds full!!!
Since I have been stuck in the house for so many days you would think both of my rugs would finally be hooked, right? WRONG Dark days throw me into a depressed like mood and I find myself doing NOTHING of any value...Unless you can call reading a thing of value! I've been reading a book a day and while I've enjoyed it and learned a lot, it's still not like you can SEE anything being accomplished. Yesterday I drug out my cabin rug and slowly started hooking the background. It looks as though the "greens" are going to blend in so I'm sure I'll be pulling them out shortly! GRRRRRR I'm beginning to wonder if these last two rugs will be done before the summer winds blow. (Remember, I don't like to hook when it's hot out!)
The children are starting to count down the days until summer and I'm counting right along with them. I know they are tired of being cooped up in this house and they can't wait to ride their go-cart or go swimming. Not much longer. (I hope!) I did get our back deck cleaned off the other day so it's just waiting on us to come out and sit a spell.
Well, all this talk of warm weather has reminded me of the things that need done here in the house so I best get a move on. I pray your weather is warming up and your thoughts are drifting to summer projects. Until later...Spring Blessings, Sher |
2008-Mar-25
Tuesday Ramblings
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I want to start this entry off with a "Thank You" to all who commented on the little picture of our living room. As time goes on, I'll be adding more pictures of our home and explaining about each and every thing we have done on a shoe-string budget.....And don't forget, I'd love to see pictures of your homes too!
As these last cold days of winter come to a close I've been busy trying to get some "winter projects" caught up. Most girls will tell you they can hook all year long but I swear when the sun is shining and it's hot out I can not make myself be surrounded in wool!!!! I keep hoping this year will be different but I really doubt if that will be the case. So, the top priority of this house-hold is to finish up my winter project and move on to some fun summer ones.
With this in mind and knowing I can't sew worth a lick, several weeks ago I packed up a box for my dear friend Sher (From the Country Knoll) and sent them off for her to complete. I told her take her time as there were no hurry and of course one day after receiving them not only did she have them back in the mail to me but she had made Jeni a precious little Needle Punch purse too!!!! Can you imagine being able to sew like that and being fast too???? I'm sooooo envious!!!!
So, thanks to Sher I'm now sitting here on my new hooked chair pad and I have a precious Needle Punched sewing pouch ready to send to my DIL Renee. (She's the only one of my DIL's that likes the look of old things so the poor dear gets all kinds of stuff from me! HA) I can't tell you what a blessing Sher is to me because without her help these things would probably never have been completed!
At this time I am working on two rugs! Yes, I know it was stupid to have two rugs going at once but I swear I have came to a complete standstill on my rooster rug! I know I want to do the checkered border around him in the colors of the rooster itself but when it comes to the background behind him I'm drawing a complete blank. I'm hoping to order some new wool next month (Waiting on my wool samples to get here) so in the meantime I have started a small log cabin one. As these come to completion, I'll be posting pictures and telling you where I purchased the patterns.
Last week our little ones were on Spring Break and I can't tell you how much we enjoyed it. Not only did we sleep in every morning but we spent our days being total bums!....One day Jeni and I took off and went to our local library where we stocked up on books and enlarged rug hooking patterns. It was nice to have mother and daughter time but even more fun when we got home and I let her try her hand at rug hooking! Of course Monday brought school back into our lives and we are now busy with home-work and the not so fun things.
Well girls, the day is ticking away and I've still got a million things to do. So, I better sign off and get started. I hope each and everyone of you are enjoying Spring temperatures and you too are finishing up all those "winter projects" in your homes! Spring Blessings, Sher |
2008-Mar-4
A Peek inside "Old Crow Farm"
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The sun is out this Tuesday morning but it's still bitter cold. If you can believe the forecast we have about a week left of this kind of weather and then it's suppose to turn off warm!!!! I swear, just saying the word makes me smile!!!! Drew felt fine this morning until it came time to get on the bus and then he said he felt "funny". At this point I don't know if he's truly sick or just likes staying at home with Mom & Dad! HA Since they were doing State testing today I told him he had better go but if he got sick to call us and we'd come after him. I have a feeling the van will be pulling out of our drive within the hour! HA
This morning I thought I would talk about homes. I really hate to admit this but I'm one of those people who would walk a dog around a neighborhood just to peek inside people's homes! Not because I want to see what goes on inside their home but to see the house itself! I love looking at how people decorate. Have you notice how no two people decorate alike???? Even if they have the same furniture it looks so different simply because the houses themselves are so different!
My favorite homes to scope out are those that decorate using old/antique furniture or those that have taken cast offs from others and made them theirs. Those are truly HOMES with the character of the people that live in them. It's always so amazing to me that a person can buy a simple table from a yard sale, give it a coat a paint and make it something we all drool over. I guess it's because they have made that table theirs and gave it their own personal stamp.
Living on a shoe-string budget our home falls into the "Making do with what you have" category. Now I'll tell you a little secret. If we had tons of money I wouldn't decorate any other way!!! Yes, I would buy some nicer antiques but for the most part I would still take "cheap" things and use them in my house. I guess that's just because no matter how much money I do or don't have, I'm a "cheap person" and I'm darn proud of it! HA
On Sunday I took a picture in our living room of some little "eggs" that Jeni had painted Robin Egg Blue. We mixed them in with some other speckled eggs I had in my shop and decided to display them in an old dough board I bought at an auction. When we finished with our display we decided it added just the right touch of Spring to our drab, winter filled living room. Not only was it a cheap idea but it was an idea that Jeni and I worked on together. Mother and daughter time that no amount of money could buy.
So, today I will give you a peek into "Old Crow Farm's" farmhouse. You'll see our second-hand sofa with a second- hand cover, an old primitive bench filled with second-hand items, the antique quilt that my precious friend Mary gave several years before her death, a brown and cream colored crock filled with cat toys but more importantly you'll see US. A peek into our lives and how we live. Blessings from the farm, Sher
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2008-Mar-3
A Miserable Monday!
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It's Monday on the farm and I'm one step from going back to bed! After a gorgeous weekend, everything has gone down hill. It started last night with a wind and rain storm. I honestly don't think I've ever heard the wind blow so hard. Naturally it kept me awake and I'm sure I kept everyone else up the way I kept flipping on the television to see if we were in a storm watch! Morning finally came (With the wind still blowing!) and I crawled from under my warm covers to discover Drew is now sick. Our local paper had reported last week that the flu has made it's way to our neck of the woods and naturally our family would get it. (We had been home all weekend so he must have picked the germ up at school Friday!) I called his school this morning and the secretary told me not to be surprised if he's out all week because it's really hanging on everyone. Great, just what I need ~~~~ A week of sickness because you can bet if he has it the rest of the family will come down with it too! One of the joys of being old parents is the little ones bring home every germ going around and you get it! HA
So, even though we are sick now I have really had a productive weekend. It started off with getting all caught up on the laundry (I know, I'm old fashion but I want all of my laundry line dried!) and giving this house a through cleaning. From there I moved on to Jeni's room. The time had came to get rid of her and Drew's "baby books" and replace them with "chapter books". So, I spent all afternoon going through books and toys that she no longer needs. Not only does she have a clean room (I just finished it up a few minutes ago) but some lucky little ones are going to be thrilled to find all her "stuff" at the Salvation Army! I figured she would give me forty-fits about getting rid of everything but she never said a word once she found she had tons of room for all her purses! Yes, she's a "Purse Diva" and has a purse to match every outfit! HA
Jeni and I worked on a Spring project Saturday and tomorrow I'll share a picture of it and one of our Spring arrangements. I also finished putting the "handle" on the little sewing pouch that I had Needle Punched and my friend Sher had put together for me. I was so thrilled with the way it turned out and of course once again Sher did super work! Bless her heart, she has offered to finish off my chair pad (If I ever get it finished!) and I can't tell you how that thrills me. (Hand-work has never been one of my strong points and that gal excels at it!!) Of course she can't go "unpaid" so Jeni and I have been busy getting a "Goodie Box" fixed up for her. We're having more fun with this and I hope she can use all we'll be enclosing.
Well, I scrubbed my kitchen floor a little while ago (Adding a dash of bleach to kill the germs!) and it's now time to go empty the water and get to work around here. I hope your all enjoying warmer weather than we're having today and that your all staying away from these nasty flu germs going around. Have a great day! Blessings from Old Crow Farm & Sher
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