Done blogging for a while......

It feels like a good time to take a break.  Life is busy and my posting has become sparse.  My Allie may still post occasionally about farm life and such on her blog if you want to follow her :O)

http://allie-polkadotdreams.blogspot.com/

An Unwelcome Guest

I can hardly stand to look at this picture (FYI - I did not take it - Allie did).

I'm sure our slithery friend eats lots of mice, but even so, I am now looking in all directions before I enter the barn.  He is actually up in the rafters in this picture.........so creepy!

Allie's Braces Are On!

This photo was taken against her will.

I Made Ricotta!

It was very easy to do and the flavor was wonderful! I made stuffed shells with it, but next time I am going try something sweet :O)

MILK!

After 3 days of "practice" milking and giving it to the pigs, chickens, and cats; we are finally ready to bring the milk to the table!  We have decided to keep the calf on Beatrice and milk her once per day (in the evening). 

Tonight she gave us 1.5 gallons of milk - probably closer to 2 if you count the rations for the cats and dog.  I'm sure she could produce a lot more milk than this, but it is already more than we would normally use in one day.  Tomorrow we will attempt to make butter :O)

It's a boy!

Welcome to the World Colin

So sweet!

Ashlyn taking the leadrope out to walk Beatrice to some new grass.

The BIG Cook!

It's like freezer cooking....only better!  And, it's easier too :O) 

If you ever cook for large groups, this book comes in very handy.  Check out the website for recipe. samples.   It is also available at Amazon.

Beatrice Arrives

Isn't she lovely! She is due to calve around the 5th of September, so fresh milk is just around the corner :O)

And that's the way the money goes.......

New truck for Allan.........check!

Braces for Allie..........in process!

Milk cow for me........picking her up tomorrow!

(will post her actual picture soon)

Just a quick thumbs up

After trying a few different "learn to read" programs with no real winners, I finally found one that works for us!  Ashlyn LOVES it, it is easy on me, and it is fairly affordable.  Another plus is that it works well with the Happy Phonics games we already enjoy.  What is this great program you may ask? 

READING MADE EASY
By: Valerie Bendt


If you are in the market for a reading instruction program, this one is worth a look.

Some days are like that

Some days the kids (one or all) can drive me nuts.  Today, it was Ashlyn's turn at the wheel and boy can she drive.  We have been working on first time obedience, and I'm feeling like we are getting nowhere!  At the library the Alice in Wonderland DVD had to stay behind because of bad behavior.  And later, at the bookstore, several sunglasses from the turntable rack had to be picked up off of the floor because *someone* couldn't resist giving it a big spin.  ARGH!  No ice cream at Jason's Deli for that one.  What's a mom to do?  Well, first I checked out a book recommended by a friend called Creative Correction. 

I clearly need some fresh ideas!

Then, I started wondering if God ever looks at me as I fumble through life, make bad choices, and lose my temper with the kids and thinks, "There she goes spinning the sunglasses rack again!".

GRACE

Isn't it wonderful!

I need to remember to give it as often as I receive it.

God is so patient.

Back to School

Yesterday we officially started our 2010-2011 school year.  Ashlyn is joining us now full-time as a kindergartner for family work time.  This adds some new, but welcome, distractions.

I have kept most things as they are posted on the "Our Curriculum" page, but I did make a switch for Allie's science.  She will be using Apologia Physical Science this year.  I think it will be enjoyable.

Getting back into the swing

July has been a whirlwind.  It began with a 10 day vacation to see family in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  While there, we attended a baptism, a funeral, and a family reunion; needless to say, we saw nearly *everyone* on this trip. 

We also had the opportunity to get to know an amazing family of six.  The Cowperthwaite's have a traveling evangelism mission and they spent about a month living on the property just north of us.  We were able to share meals, play games, and encourage and inspire one another.  A lifelong friendship was formed this summer!  We were very sad to see them leave on Tuesday, but we know that God has great things for them and we wish them much success in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

My garden has been producing abundantly as have the squash bugs.  Yesterday, I admitted defeat and pulled out the infested plants.  All other vegetables are doing well.  We will have fresh green beans for dinner today. 

It rained 4 inches last night and it is just plain swampy out; today promises to be another sticky 90 something.  Fall can't come too soon for this girl :O)

Moments in the garden

Zinnias

Henry Hiding in the Pole Bean Tepee

Morning Dew on the Strawberries

I am loving God's creation!

Picklers are ready

This morning I canned 4 pints of dill chips.  Hopefully I will be able to do at least that many more later this week.  Soon the greenbeans will be ready too......YUM!

We have also been blessed with *a lot* of squash lately.  Hopefully some of that will make it into the freezer for leaner times.

Next year's garden plan is growing by the day :O)

Reshaping my views on nutrition

I have been a perpetual yo-yo dieter since I was 14.........sad I know.  As I get older however, it is becoming less about how I look and more about how I feel.  Enter Nina Planck.



Her book has totally changed the way I view food.   I feel liberated to enjoy butter, eggs, and whole milk again without guilt. 

We are a family who subscribes to the slower rural lifestyle and this way of eating just fits!

If you need help getting off the industrial food conveyor belt, READ THIS BOOK!

Other great resources that have inspired change are:
















*Just a note:  The majority of the resources above do speak of evolution as truth.  Even so, much wisdom regarding our food choices can be gleaned.  Read with a discerning eye.  Blessings.  

Making Hay

We are having the hottest days of the year here thus far, so one might think we'd be sitting on the front porch with cool glasses of lemonade in hand, but alas, we are making hay.   I snapped this shot of Allie and Henry when the hay wagon rolled in around 9:00 p.m.

One AWESOME Week!

Last week was VBS at our church and I am part of the coordination team. After several months of planning and painting, it was time to open our doors to the the 11 and under crowd. What an awesome and crazy week! We had about 100 kids having fun learning about Jesus everyday. Here are a few pictures. Sorry family, there are none of Caleb.....they all turned out blurry.....he just never stops moving :O)

Happy Birthday Dear Allie

Thirteen years ago today I gave birth to my first child.  A beautiful 7 lb. 15 oz. baby girl we named Allie.  Where does the time go?  Am I the only mom who cries on their children's birthdays?  I was looking through pictures of when we moved to the farm seven years ago.  Allie was six.  Now, my eyes are filling with tears because I realize that in seven short years she will be twenty.  What's a mom to do?
I just want to pause and thank the Lord for the gift of my precious Allie. 

"Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing me with an amazing daughter.  Help me to savor every moment that I have with her.  Give me the wisdom to raise her as a young woman who hungers for you.  Remind me daily that while the days are sometimes long, the years are ever shorter and being a mom is the most important mission I have.  I ask these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen"

Allie- I love you more than words can express.  You are my right arm most days and a treasure to our family.  You grow more beautiful every year.  May God bless you richly. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Love, Mom

Allie age 6

Allie now