Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Oops
Sorry about the following post. I previewed it and it looked perfect with the writing right beside the photos and now look at it. I am so tired and going to bed. I hope you can get something from it.
What I've Been Doing: Gardening
Back in January we began building some garden beds following the "Square Foot Gardening" book. The first ones were built out of wood and then we decided to try two using cinder blocks.
It was most helpful to have good cat supervision while constructing the beds.
This is how it all looked on completion. The bed in the forefront was our first built back in November--our winter garden. It produced lots of good spinach, swiss chard, onions, beets, collards, and lettuce.
The PVC on top is so we could cover it during hard freezes.
I recycled three leaky swimming pools that our ducks had used and turned them into growing beds for melons and squash. I planted several varieties each of winter and summer squash and lots of different melons.
The garden shortly after planting it. We put out lots of heirloom tomato plants. Used a cattle panel down the middle for cucumbers and beans and to tie the tomatoes to.
When Mason was here in May, he and I planted this popcorn patch with a Jack O Lantern pumpkin plant in the middle.
Look at all those grapes!
I planted a row of Autumn Sunflowers at the end of my sweet corn bed. This was the first one to bloom. I think it is so pretty--I just love sunflowers.
The asparagus bed looked lonely with just the asparagus so I added 4 tomato plants at each corner. It is not too lonely anymore...
This is a 24' long bed with about 40 tomato plants, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and beans. Everything is growing great. We left the old pig shed up to give the peppers a little shade from our hot Texas sun.
I potted my old wringer washing machine. Tammie and I washed many a load of clothes in this machine when the kids were small. I just could not bear to part with it so I potted it. And the little "JellyBean" tomato plant I put in there was the first to bear fruit.
Cute little baby squash.
A baby watermelon---I think this is my heirloom variety called "Rattlesnake watermelon".
So that is what keeps me busy and I love it.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Grant at Strawberry Farm (start from bottom)
I think I'll go find another one. This is FUN!
Yep, it sure was yummy.
Ooh, this looks like a good one!
Friday, April 3, 2009
I'm Still Here
Gosh, I guess I missed the whole month of March. Where have I been? What have I been doing?
Our internet service has been awful lately. First, we blamed it on the wind--such high winds we have had for a month now---then, who knows-it was just sooooooooo slow it would make me angry and ruin my day so I stayed away from the computer. I have missed all of you bloggers and still have catching up to do.
And I have been working my tail off outdoors in the garden and other projects around here. I feel i am hardly ever in the house. Still have lots to do--just wanted to check in and report I am still alive and kicking. I do want to write a long blog and catch up on stuff and I will, I really will. It is just that in Texas if you don't get your garden going in time the heat will overtake it and burn it right up so I have been working really hard.
My son, Brian and his family are moving back to Texas from Colorado and will be living with us for awhile until they can find jobs and get settled. So I have been working on re-organizing the house a bit for another family to move in and getting ready for them.
Still have not found out what is going on with our interenet connection but it is working fast today so thought I would take advantage of it.
Later, will post more.........I hope.
Our internet service has been awful lately. First, we blamed it on the wind--such high winds we have had for a month now---then, who knows-it was just sooooooooo slow it would make me angry and ruin my day so I stayed away from the computer. I have missed all of you bloggers and still have catching up to do.
And I have been working my tail off outdoors in the garden and other projects around here. I feel i am hardly ever in the house. Still have lots to do--just wanted to check in and report I am still alive and kicking. I do want to write a long blog and catch up on stuff and I will, I really will. It is just that in Texas if you don't get your garden going in time the heat will overtake it and burn it right up so I have been working really hard.
My son, Brian and his family are moving back to Texas from Colorado and will be living with us for awhile until they can find jobs and get settled. So I have been working on re-organizing the house a bit for another family to move in and getting ready for them.
Still have not found out what is going on with our interenet connection but it is working fast today so thought I would take advantage of it.
Later, will post more.........I hope.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
On the way home from New York
(This post was written on Monday, Feb. 16--I've been a bit busy since getting home.....)
We’re on the plane headed back home now. What a morning. Up at 5:45 to get to train station by 7. We have to switch trains at Seacaucus--and I goofed up big time and got us on the wrong train. We ended up in New York City Penn station instead of the Newark Airport station----which cost us an extra $30 and an hour wait--to get on the right train. So, we missed our flight but got put on another one going through Dallas instead of Chicago and we had to rush to get on that one. Only one security line which took forever and I misplaced my boarding pass….found it on the floor, and we made a run for the gate which, of course, was at the farthest end of the terminal. BUT….good news, the plane was delayed AND we got First Class seats again. This was so wonderful to hear as it is a 3 ½ hour flight to Dallas so the extra room AND the wonderful breakfast they served us was so nice. Thank you, Lord, for taking such good care of us even when we mess up---ESPECIALLY WHEN WE MESS UP. And thank you, Josh, for being a pilot and allowing us to fly like this--cheap, last minute, and First Class. Guess I’m reaping the rewards of those college expenses.
We have had a very enjoyable time in New York, in spite of the sad circumstances. Fun to be with members of Don’s family we don’t get to see often. We learned a new game--it is a Gin rummy sort of game--but you can play it with 2 players or up to as many as you want--you just have to have a deck of cards for each two players. It was lots of fun--easy but challenging.
On Saturday Don and I went into New York City for the day. We did not have long to stay as there was a big family supper and game night that night at Barb’s we wanted to be back for. So we left on the train early, headed for Wo Hop’s in Chinatown for Won Ton soup and Egg Fu Yung for our breakfast. Was as delicious as always. Was a cold, breezy but sunny day so we headed toward the Brooklyn Bridge to do our traditional walk across it. But, after walking about 10-12 blocks through the Bowery, Don figured out he had headed us in the opposite direction of the bridge. Soooooo, we changed our plans and decided we would head over to Astor Place and catch the subway up to the Empire State Building.(Yes, I did get to be at the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day) But we were walking through areas we had not walked before and I was loving all the architecture and sights of the city and taking lots of photos since I had not been there (NYC) with my new SLR camera before. So when we did get to the subway stop we decided we would just walk to the Empire State Building. Mind you, we were walking up 4th Avenue and just hit 1st street and the Empire State Building is on 34th street. But we kept going knowing that, if needed, we could catch a bus. We passed the Flat Iron building and got some good shots of it; a farmer’s market in Union Square; and lots of other interesting sights to photograph. I was having a wonderful time and it really felt good to walk.
Got some great pics of the Empire State Building and got a stranger to take our picture with it in the background to prove that we were there on Valentines Day (even though we didn’t get to see it lit up pink at night). The lines to go up in it were very long so we decided to forego that and save our $40 so we just kept walking. Soon we were at the New York Public Library where we took my picture with the lions and walked around inside that incredibly beautiful old building. Then I saw St. Patricks Cathedral down the street--it looked so close but really was at 50th street--so we walked there, then to Rockefeller Center to watch the ice skaters, then to Times Square back down around 42nd street. So all in all, including our hike from the subway into and out of Chinatown we figure we walked close to 100 blocks. Don’t have a clue how long that would be in miles but it was hours of walking. I loved it! Great way to see sights you would never see otherwise and just get the true feel of the city. At Times Square we bought a hot dog with kraut from the street vendor, then caught the subway back to Penn Station and caught our train back to Barb’s house. Was a great Valentine’s Day.
Josh and Kevin ( husband and son of Angie, Don’s sister Chris’s daughter) had come to the city with us but they did their own adventures like the Museum of Natural History and the cool Toys R Us store. Angie and family live in Kentucky and we don’t see them often so was so fun to get to spend time with them and their two boys, Kevin and Kyle.
I am so looking forward to being back home. I am homesick. I just really miss home and my animals and church and everything. Can’t wait to get there.
Want to go back a bit though and talk about the funeral. It was a Russian Orthodox funeral--done mostly in Russian. Very different and interesting. Wally’s parents immigrated here from Russia--came through Ellis Island--but Wally was born here. Lots of very interesting history of his life was given at the funeral. I want to write about it but will wait until I get the actual transcript from his son, Gary, as I don’t want to mess anything up. The weather that day was so warm and sunny--so glad--as that allowed so many more friends to attend. He was a much loved and respected man. It was so touching to hear his sons speak about him and what a great father he was to them. One of the neatest things he did was take them on extended camping trips every summer as they were growing up. As his son Stephen said, it was on these trips they really got to know their father and be guys together and really talk with him about anything and everything. I just think that is such an awesome thing for a father to do with his kids and it paid off as both sons had such love and respect for their Dad. I just feel so blessed and honored to have known him and so thankful that he brought so much happiness to Mom. She is doing very well. It will just take some time to heal that void in her life, to get used to a new routine without him. She misses his companionship so. But she has two of her daughters close by and many close friends to help her.
We are all looking forward to June when niece Kim marries Josh (Chris will then have two sons-in-laws named Josh) in Florida and we can gather once again as a family for a joyous occasion instead of a sad one.
We’re on the plane headed back home now. What a morning. Up at 5:45 to get to train station by 7. We have to switch trains at Seacaucus--and I goofed up big time and got us on the wrong train. We ended up in New York City Penn station instead of the Newark Airport station----which cost us an extra $30 and an hour wait--to get on the right train. So, we missed our flight but got put on another one going through Dallas instead of Chicago and we had to rush to get on that one. Only one security line which took forever and I misplaced my boarding pass….found it on the floor, and we made a run for the gate which, of course, was at the farthest end of the terminal. BUT….good news, the plane was delayed AND we got First Class seats again. This was so wonderful to hear as it is a 3 ½ hour flight to Dallas so the extra room AND the wonderful breakfast they served us was so nice. Thank you, Lord, for taking such good care of us even when we mess up---ESPECIALLY WHEN WE MESS UP. And thank you, Josh, for being a pilot and allowing us to fly like this--cheap, last minute, and First Class. Guess I’m reaping the rewards of those college expenses.
We have had a very enjoyable time in New York, in spite of the sad circumstances. Fun to be with members of Don’s family we don’t get to see often. We learned a new game--it is a Gin rummy sort of game--but you can play it with 2 players or up to as many as you want--you just have to have a deck of cards for each two players. It was lots of fun--easy but challenging.
On Saturday Don and I went into New York City for the day. We did not have long to stay as there was a big family supper and game night that night at Barb’s we wanted to be back for. So we left on the train early, headed for Wo Hop’s in Chinatown for Won Ton soup and Egg Fu Yung for our breakfast. Was as delicious as always. Was a cold, breezy but sunny day so we headed toward the Brooklyn Bridge to do our traditional walk across it. But, after walking about 10-12 blocks through the Bowery, Don figured out he had headed us in the opposite direction of the bridge. Soooooo, we changed our plans and decided we would head over to Astor Place and catch the subway up to the Empire State Building.(Yes, I did get to be at the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day) But we were walking through areas we had not walked before and I was loving all the architecture and sights of the city and taking lots of photos since I had not been there (NYC) with my new SLR camera before. So when we did get to the subway stop we decided we would just walk to the Empire State Building. Mind you, we were walking up 4th Avenue and just hit 1st street and the Empire State Building is on 34th street. But we kept going knowing that, if needed, we could catch a bus. We passed the Flat Iron building and got some good shots of it; a farmer’s market in Union Square; and lots of other interesting sights to photograph. I was having a wonderful time and it really felt good to walk.
Got some great pics of the Empire State Building and got a stranger to take our picture with it in the background to prove that we were there on Valentines Day (even though we didn’t get to see it lit up pink at night). The lines to go up in it were very long so we decided to forego that and save our $40 so we just kept walking. Soon we were at the New York Public Library where we took my picture with the lions and walked around inside that incredibly beautiful old building. Then I saw St. Patricks Cathedral down the street--it looked so close but really was at 50th street--so we walked there, then to Rockefeller Center to watch the ice skaters, then to Times Square back down around 42nd street. So all in all, including our hike from the subway into and out of Chinatown we figure we walked close to 100 blocks. Don’t have a clue how long that would be in miles but it was hours of walking. I loved it! Great way to see sights you would never see otherwise and just get the true feel of the city. At Times Square we bought a hot dog with kraut from the street vendor, then caught the subway back to Penn Station and caught our train back to Barb’s house. Was a great Valentine’s Day.
Josh and Kevin ( husband and son of Angie, Don’s sister Chris’s daughter) had come to the city with us but they did their own adventures like the Museum of Natural History and the cool Toys R Us store. Angie and family live in Kentucky and we don’t see them often so was so fun to get to spend time with them and their two boys, Kevin and Kyle.
I am so looking forward to being back home. I am homesick. I just really miss home and my animals and church and everything. Can’t wait to get there.
Want to go back a bit though and talk about the funeral. It was a Russian Orthodox funeral--done mostly in Russian. Very different and interesting. Wally’s parents immigrated here from Russia--came through Ellis Island--but Wally was born here. Lots of very interesting history of his life was given at the funeral. I want to write about it but will wait until I get the actual transcript from his son, Gary, as I don’t want to mess anything up. The weather that day was so warm and sunny--so glad--as that allowed so many more friends to attend. He was a much loved and respected man. It was so touching to hear his sons speak about him and what a great father he was to them. One of the neatest things he did was take them on extended camping trips every summer as they were growing up. As his son Stephen said, it was on these trips they really got to know their father and be guys together and really talk with him about anything and everything. I just think that is such an awesome thing for a father to do with his kids and it paid off as both sons had such love and respect for their Dad. I just feel so blessed and honored to have known him and so thankful that he brought so much happiness to Mom. She is doing very well. It will just take some time to heal that void in her life, to get used to a new routine without him. She misses his companionship so. But she has two of her daughters close by and many close friends to help her.
We are all looking forward to June when niece Kim marries Josh (Chris will then have two sons-in-laws named Josh) in Florida and we can gather once again as a family for a joyous occasion instead of a sad one.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Photos to go with previous blogs
One of our raised beds we were mixing soil filliing
what I see looking out Barb's window
pretty sunset at home
Don's dirty face after working with dirt in the fierce wind all day
another golden end to the day
unusual, cool cloud formations at sunset
almost looks like a tornado forming, doesn't it
"I wanna go, too, Mama"
"I can play Wii just like my bubba"
This is a typical Wally pose--He was always interested in what others had to say. He was the ultimate good listener.
Wally and Mom dancing on her 80th birthday.
I loved Wally in the hats he wore. He was such a treasure to us.
Barb and Carol's house I love this place!
Snowy woods beside their house
It is just so pretty outside. Quite different from our brown at home.Update from New York
Wally and his son, StevenNote: this blog was written Sunday (yesterday)
Right now I am on a plane headed for Chicago, then to Newark. Sure was not planning on this trip. We love going to New York but this is twice in a row we have gone for funerals of loved ones. We don’t like that--much prefer going for birthday parties.
Wally, Don’s step-dad, passed away yesterday. He was dearly loved by all of us--a real treasure. I always looked forward to chatting with him and seeing his beautiful smile. He was such a sweet heart. It just won’t be the same without him there to lighten up the room, crack a joke, or give his opinion on something. I feel blessed to have known him for the past 8 years. Mom and he were so very happy together.
We spent all day Saturday in Johnson City taking a CPR/AED/First Aid class for Red Cross. We have to have this class to drive the ERV and we just plain like having the skills and knowledge it teaches. I think everyone should have this course.
On our way home we got the news about Wally--so we knew we would be leaving today. Ran some errands in town then spent the rest of daylight finishing up tasks outside--like planting the two peach trees we bought at Sutherlands…..and the 20 asparagus plants that arrived in the mail..and just getting things set for Alisa to take over. We ran into her in Walmart so that worked out well. We were stocking up on ammo in Walmart as we are scheduled to take the Concealed Handgun course in a couple of weeks. But Walmart said as fast as they get ammo in it is bought up and they did not have any that we needed for our guns. I guess lots of folks are worried about the state of our country and what our President may do. Did you know that in part of his stimulus package is a clause that any schools or public facilities that receive money from this package can no longer rent to or allow a religious group to use their facility. So no more could churches hold services in a school gym or auditorium if that school receives funds from this stimulus bill. That package is so full, so many pages, no telling what other little clauses like this are lurking inside it. ok-I will get off my soap box now.
If you have a chance please go view my daughter Jenny’s new website and see all the awesome photos she has taken. It is http://www.sprinkleofgracephotography.com/ An awesome website. I think Jenny did a terrific job of expressing just what her photography business is all about and described her heart for expressing her creativity through photographs.
Almost to Chicago so I will close. Miss you all. I am so sad that I had to miss our gathering in Austin for Josh’s birthday. We were so looking forward to seeing those family members on the southern end of the state.
Ok--It is Monday morning now and I am sitting at Barb's breakfast table enjoying the beautiful view of the snow covered ground. The weather is sunny and gorgeous.
Right now I am on a plane headed for Chicago, then to Newark. Sure was not planning on this trip. We love going to New York but this is twice in a row we have gone for funerals of loved ones. We don’t like that--much prefer going for birthday parties.
Wally, Don’s step-dad, passed away yesterday. He was dearly loved by all of us--a real treasure. I always looked forward to chatting with him and seeing his beautiful smile. He was such a sweet heart. It just won’t be the same without him there to lighten up the room, crack a joke, or give his opinion on something. I feel blessed to have known him for the past 8 years. Mom and he were so very happy together.
We spent all day Saturday in Johnson City taking a CPR/AED/First Aid class for Red Cross. We have to have this class to drive the ERV and we just plain like having the skills and knowledge it teaches. I think everyone should have this course.
On our way home we got the news about Wally--so we knew we would be leaving today. Ran some errands in town then spent the rest of daylight finishing up tasks outside--like planting the two peach trees we bought at Sutherlands…..and the 20 asparagus plants that arrived in the mail..and just getting things set for Alisa to take over. We ran into her in Walmart so that worked out well. We were stocking up on ammo in Walmart as we are scheduled to take the Concealed Handgun course in a couple of weeks. But Walmart said as fast as they get ammo in it is bought up and they did not have any that we needed for our guns. I guess lots of folks are worried about the state of our country and what our President may do. Did you know that in part of his stimulus package is a clause that any schools or public facilities that receive money from this package can no longer rent to or allow a religious group to use their facility. So no more could churches hold services in a school gym or auditorium if that school receives funds from this stimulus bill. That package is so full, so many pages, no telling what other little clauses like this are lurking inside it. ok-I will get off my soap box now.
If you have a chance please go view my daughter Jenny’s new website and see all the awesome photos she has taken. It is http://www.sprinkleofgracephotography.com/ An awesome website. I think Jenny did a terrific job of expressing just what her photography business is all about and described her heart for expressing her creativity through photographs.
Almost to Chicago so I will close. Miss you all. I am so sad that I had to miss our gathering in Austin for Josh’s birthday. We were so looking forward to seeing those family members on the southern end of the state.
Ok--It is Monday morning now and I am sitting at Barb's breakfast table enjoying the beautiful view of the snow covered ground. The weather is sunny and gorgeous.
We left home at 5am Sunday after about 3 hours of sleep--so much stuff to do before we left and then to try to pack for really cold weather. Thank goodness Josh is a pilot and we get those flight privileges so we can easily leave on a moment's notice. Our flight was at 7:25--through Chicago instead of Dallas this time. We thought it would be nicer to break the flight time up into 2 - 2 hour segments rather that a short one and a really long one. Weather was gorgeous and looked good in Chicago so we took this one and we got to fly First Class. Wow! Was that nice--lots of good food, lots of room.
It was a great day of travel. And to top it off when we got on the train to take us to Pearl River, NY where Mom lives, we met up with niece Kim, arriving from Florida. We arrived at Mom's to a huge feast being prepared by two dear family friends, Judy(fondly known as Princess Judy) and Eileen (the owner of those gorgeous gardens I photographed last summer). Judy makes the most wonderful pasta sauce and Eileen made a huge, wonderful salad and the greatest, most garlic laden, garlic bread ever, and they topped it with fresh fruit to dip in a heavenly chocolate fondue. What a delicious way to show their love for Mom and all of the family. Mom was doing well and delighted to have all her children and dear friends surround her. Later in the evening Wally's son, Steven, arrived from Texas. It was a nice, warm family gathering. Just what Wally would have wanted. But I must say it was so nice to get to Barb's house and crawl into a warm bed and catch up on some sleep.
I must get out and take snow pictures. Us "girls" of the family are going to go out and "stimulate the economy" (go shopping). Barb is busy putting together a slide show of pictures of Wally. The wake is on Tuesday and the funeral on Wednesday.
Here is something interesting: In December Don and I watched that best movie of all time, SLEEPLESS IN SEATLE and I mentioned to him that I would love to be in New York City on Valentines Day. And now....the possiblity is here...we will see how it pans out. Wouldn't it be so cool to go up on the Empire State Building on the evening of Valentines Day?
It was a great day of travel. And to top it off when we got on the train to take us to Pearl River, NY where Mom lives, we met up with niece Kim, arriving from Florida. We arrived at Mom's to a huge feast being prepared by two dear family friends, Judy(fondly known as Princess Judy) and Eileen (the owner of those gorgeous gardens I photographed last summer). Judy makes the most wonderful pasta sauce and Eileen made a huge, wonderful salad and the greatest, most garlic laden, garlic bread ever, and they topped it with fresh fruit to dip in a heavenly chocolate fondue. What a delicious way to show their love for Mom and all of the family. Mom was doing well and delighted to have all her children and dear friends surround her. Later in the evening Wally's son, Steven, arrived from Texas. It was a nice, warm family gathering. Just what Wally would have wanted. But I must say it was so nice to get to Barb's house and crawl into a warm bed and catch up on some sleep.
I must get out and take snow pictures. Us "girls" of the family are going to go out and "stimulate the economy" (go shopping). Barb is busy putting together a slide show of pictures of Wally. The wake is on Tuesday and the funeral on Wednesday.
Here is something interesting: In December Don and I watched that best movie of all time, SLEEPLESS IN SEATLE and I mentioned to him that I would love to be in New York City on Valentines Day. And now....the possiblity is here...we will see how it pans out. Wouldn't it be so cool to go up on the Empire State Building on the evening of Valentines Day?
More news from down on the farm...
Note: this blog was written Friday and just posted today. We are now in New York.
Today Don and I worked all day getting our raised garden beds ready to plant. We bought a pickup load of compost from the nursery down the road and mixed it with peat moss and coarse vermiculite. Sounds simple but it was not. We were using the stock tank/swimming pool as a mixing bowl and our feet and legs were the mixers. But the peat moss was all clumpy and we had to stomp on it to get it to crumble. So picture Lucy and Ethel stomping grapes. Talk about leg exercise--try walking around in knee deep planting mix kicking it around and mixing it up. And all this being done with 15-25 mph winds with gusts higher than that. It was crazy.
But we got it done. Filled the 4’x4’ asparagus bed, the 4’x12’ bed, and most of the 4’ x 24’ bed. They look so pretty and nice.
Also, that same day my next shipment of fruit trees arrived so I planted 3 plums, 1 apricot, 1 pomegranate, and Don planted the two pecan trees and 10 blackberry vines.
And then I tackled my chicken problem. Moved the three girls who insist on setting into a separate pen and used dog crates for their nesting boxes (so I can lock them up safe from predators at night). Moved them eggs, nest, and all --boy, were they ticked off-- they all had a giant hissy fit. It was like they were telling the rest of the chickens they were being violated so the whole barnyard got involved and carried on squawking their heads off loudly. But now they have settled down and seem happy in their new quarters. It is much nicer to gather the eggs without getting my hand pecked when reaching under them to swipe the fresh eggs other hens lay in their nests.
So that is the news from down on the farm.
Today Don and I worked all day getting our raised garden beds ready to plant. We bought a pickup load of compost from the nursery down the road and mixed it with peat moss and coarse vermiculite. Sounds simple but it was not. We were using the stock tank/swimming pool as a mixing bowl and our feet and legs were the mixers. But the peat moss was all clumpy and we had to stomp on it to get it to crumble. So picture Lucy and Ethel stomping grapes. Talk about leg exercise--try walking around in knee deep planting mix kicking it around and mixing it up. And all this being done with 15-25 mph winds with gusts higher than that. It was crazy.
But we got it done. Filled the 4’x4’ asparagus bed, the 4’x12’ bed, and most of the 4’ x 24’ bed. They look so pretty and nice.
Also, that same day my next shipment of fruit trees arrived so I planted 3 plums, 1 apricot, 1 pomegranate, and Don planted the two pecan trees and 10 blackberry vines.
And then I tackled my chicken problem. Moved the three girls who insist on setting into a separate pen and used dog crates for their nesting boxes (so I can lock them up safe from predators at night). Moved them eggs, nest, and all --boy, were they ticked off-- they all had a giant hissy fit. It was like they were telling the rest of the chickens they were being violated so the whole barnyard got involved and carried on squawking their heads off loudly. But now they have settled down and seem happy in their new quarters. It is much nicer to gather the eggs without getting my hand pecked when reaching under them to swipe the fresh eggs other hens lay in their nests.
So that is the news from down on the farm.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Yahoo Groups and some other stuff..........
Don had been telling me for months that I ought to check out gardening groups or photography groups or anything--just take a look at all the groups available on Yahoo groups. Well, I ignored this until one day over Christmas when I was sick and had not energy to do anything but surf on the net. So I checked out the groups--oh, man, there is every interest imagainable. I went crazy and joined about 7 groups--gardening, homesteading, frugal living, and some preparedness and survival groups. I must confess I have mostly been a "lurker"--just reading the posts and not sending in my own. I have commented on a few but mostly just read. They are all so interesting and informative. Really have enjoyed them.
Most of them are Christian groups. Read a lot of scary stuff on many of them--fears of what lies ahead for us in America because of the economy and of course, Obama. I really struggle as I want so badly for Obama to be a good president--and govern with integrity and the best interests of our nation at heart. I pray for him and I will support him and do my best to think the best of him.....but I am watching him like a hawk, too. There is just something in me that does not trust him. Yet, I really really hope I am proved wrong here.
But to go on, I hear lots of things on these groups and I fear of passing them on to my family and friends as I do not want to be thought of as a kook or fearful or paranoid or crazy or pessimistic. I am not afraid. I know and trust my Lord and I KNOW He is in control of everything and I am safe in his hand. But does that mean that I just sit back and do nothing and let what may come, just come. Is it wrong to want to be prepared and wise to the best of my ability and to warn others to do the same? We have many seperate issues going on here--the collapse of economies worldwide; war and terrorism; Obama. So even if Obama is an outstanding , wonderful president he cannot control the other two. So I just think we all need to be wise, aware, pay attention to the news and what is going on in the world, pay attention to what goes on around you. By this I mean--listen to lots of things--what are people saying,?are those around you losing their jobs? do you no notice bare spaces on grocery shelves?, are more and more major companies going under each day? how does the dollar compare to other currencies? are more of the rights we used to take for granted being taken away--even in the name of national security? Just pay attention--that is all I am saying. Pray for God to give you wisdom. Buy a few extra groceries each week and stash them away. Keep cash on hand. Keep your gas tank filled. Work hard to get out of debt. The best way I know of to think of this is to pretend a hurricane is coming your way and it is likely you will be out of power for a couple of weeks and that all stores and gas stations will be closed. Could you survive for those two weeks on what you have at home? Where would you get water? How would you stay warm? How would you communicate with loved ones? Do you have a battery radio so you can stay informed as to what is going on? Do you have enough diapers? formula? baby foods? your food? pet food? another way to cook besides electricity? Everyone should have one or two out of area--preferably out of state family contact for emergencies. Often, for whatever reason it is easier to reach someone far away than across town in emergencies. We should have someone out of state that can take messages and relay them for us. I suggest for our family we use Barbara Barlow in New York or Chris Elder in Florida--Don's sisters who are listed on the family address sheet I emailed everyone. And everyone should fork out the $29 for a weather radio and put batteries in it NOW. That is an emergency broadcasting station, too, for your local area for emergencies other than weather.
I am just going to start posting (at the risk of my family calling the little guys in white coats) anything I come across that bears hearing. You can do with it what you want. I just don't think I could live with myself to just keep quiet and let my loved ones be surprised by events that I think are quite likely. The main one being food shortages. Frankly, I think all of us would be wise to try to grow at least a little bit of food--or at least buy some seeds to keep on hand (non-hybrid ones). That's all for today. (please don't think I'm crazy)
Most of them are Christian groups. Read a lot of scary stuff on many of them--fears of what lies ahead for us in America because of the economy and of course, Obama. I really struggle as I want so badly for Obama to be a good president--and govern with integrity and the best interests of our nation at heart. I pray for him and I will support him and do my best to think the best of him.....but I am watching him like a hawk, too. There is just something in me that does not trust him. Yet, I really really hope I am proved wrong here.
But to go on, I hear lots of things on these groups and I fear of passing them on to my family and friends as I do not want to be thought of as a kook or fearful or paranoid or crazy or pessimistic. I am not afraid. I know and trust my Lord and I KNOW He is in control of everything and I am safe in his hand. But does that mean that I just sit back and do nothing and let what may come, just come. Is it wrong to want to be prepared and wise to the best of my ability and to warn others to do the same? We have many seperate issues going on here--the collapse of economies worldwide; war and terrorism; Obama. So even if Obama is an outstanding , wonderful president he cannot control the other two. So I just think we all need to be wise, aware, pay attention to the news and what is going on in the world, pay attention to what goes on around you. By this I mean--listen to lots of things--what are people saying,?are those around you losing their jobs? do you no notice bare spaces on grocery shelves?, are more and more major companies going under each day? how does the dollar compare to other currencies? are more of the rights we used to take for granted being taken away--even in the name of national security? Just pay attention--that is all I am saying. Pray for God to give you wisdom. Buy a few extra groceries each week and stash them away. Keep cash on hand. Keep your gas tank filled. Work hard to get out of debt. The best way I know of to think of this is to pretend a hurricane is coming your way and it is likely you will be out of power for a couple of weeks and that all stores and gas stations will be closed. Could you survive for those two weeks on what you have at home? Where would you get water? How would you stay warm? How would you communicate with loved ones? Do you have a battery radio so you can stay informed as to what is going on? Do you have enough diapers? formula? baby foods? your food? pet food? another way to cook besides electricity? Everyone should have one or two out of area--preferably out of state family contact for emergencies. Often, for whatever reason it is easier to reach someone far away than across town in emergencies. We should have someone out of state that can take messages and relay them for us. I suggest for our family we use Barbara Barlow in New York or Chris Elder in Florida--Don's sisters who are listed on the family address sheet I emailed everyone. And everyone should fork out the $29 for a weather radio and put batteries in it NOW. That is an emergency broadcasting station, too, for your local area for emergencies other than weather.
I am just going to start posting (at the risk of my family calling the little guys in white coats) anything I come across that bears hearing. You can do with it what you want. I just don't think I could live with myself to just keep quiet and let my loved ones be surprised by events that I think are quite likely. The main one being food shortages. Frankly, I think all of us would be wise to try to grow at least a little bit of food--or at least buy some seeds to keep on hand (non-hybrid ones). That's all for today. (please don't think I'm crazy)
Busy, busy, busy down on the farm
I have been away again--from blogging, not home--for far too long. We have just been real busy around the ole' homestead. Both Don and I are deep into "homesteading mode". We want to grow lots of our own food so we know where it is coming from and that it is safe and that it is real food. I am really into growing heirloom vegetables--the good old varieties that have not been messed with by Monsanto and genetically altered. They should taste better and just be unique. As I mentioned in my New Year's goals, I would love to be able to grow and sell heirloom tomatoes. So this year will kind of be my trial year--I am planting about 18 different varieties and will try to keep records of which one do best and that we like the best and then zero in on those. We are going to plant just about every other vegetable imaginable, too.
Don has been busy building us garden beds as we are using the Square Foot garden approach. This is where you plant intensely (close together) in 4x4 size beds. So far we have a 6x7' bed that I planted last fall with winter vegetables. Yea, it is off size but we found it in the barn at the ranch and it was designed to dovetail together so we used it as is. It is a bit hard to reach across to the middle but I can live with it. All our lettuce, onions, spinach, chard is growing nicely but the brocoli did not do so well. I think I will have to use transplants next fall instead of direct sowing.
So back to Don's building..he built us a 4x24' bed; a 4x12' bed, and a 4x4' bed all of which share the space inside the old pig pen (the one with the chainlink fence around it back of the goat pen). But I still want one more 4x12' bed so we are going to fence a little area off next to this area and add some more room. It is hard figuring out just where to plant everything so that something does not shade something else, etc. I think I have it all figured out on paper.....now I need to start planting my little peat pots so things will be ready to set out in April. I have stacks of gardening books and seed catalogs all over the kitchen table. Have all my seeds bought. I ran into a great deal last week at Ace Hardware--all their last year seeds were 10 cents each and they had lots of the heirloom varieties in there and lots of flower seeds too, so I went kind of crazy and came home with a whole bag of seeds. If you keep them cool and dry seeds will last for years.
I also decided we needed to revive our old orchard, too, so ordered a dozen fruit and nut trees. Six of the fruit trees came in last week and we got them planted. There were 1 plum, 2 peach, 1 apricot, and two Apricot/Plum crosses--1 called an Aprium and the other a Pluot. I love apricots and plums. Then I have some more plums, apricots, pecans, and a pomegranite tree coming in early February. I also want to buy locally a Loring peach (my favorite) and a fig tree.
And we ordered six blackberry vines to plant where grapes used to be in the orchard and 20 asparagus crowns to put in that 4x4' bed. Asparagus is a perennial that should last 12 years or more.
We also accomplished something else on my goal list: got three cats spayed and their shots and got rid of two wild feral cats. So now we have only 1 cat on the place that is not fixed--she is a wild one that lives under the old white pickup. She is tough to catch but we sure want to do it before she adds more kittens to our lot. Now we just need to get our older cats caught up on their shots and we will be up to speed. Also need to haul the billy goat, the two mamas and their 4 babies back to the ranch. It is getting too expensive to feed them all here. That will leave us with 3 pregnant goats, 1 pregnant ewe, and 1 ram.
It is so so dry here--not a blade of anything green. The chickens get let out of their pen after noon and love to roam and scratch and are roaming farther and farther in search of food. We have got to figure out a way to let them out to scratch and range but keep them contained somehow, too. Right now, they don't do much harm but I would like to plant some muskmelons and watermelons and corn and pumpkins in the orchard, too, and they would really make a mess of that.
So that is some of what we have been up to lately and what has kept me from blogging. But today is drizzly, cloudy day--the kind it is nice to stay inside and blog kind of day so I will add more in next blog.
Don has been busy building us garden beds as we are using the Square Foot garden approach. This is where you plant intensely (close together) in 4x4 size beds. So far we have a 6x7' bed that I planted last fall with winter vegetables. Yea, it is off size but we found it in the barn at the ranch and it was designed to dovetail together so we used it as is. It is a bit hard to reach across to the middle but I can live with it. All our lettuce, onions, spinach, chard is growing nicely but the brocoli did not do so well. I think I will have to use transplants next fall instead of direct sowing.
So back to Don's building..he built us a 4x24' bed; a 4x12' bed, and a 4x4' bed all of which share the space inside the old pig pen (the one with the chainlink fence around it back of the goat pen). But I still want one more 4x12' bed so we are going to fence a little area off next to this area and add some more room. It is hard figuring out just where to plant everything so that something does not shade something else, etc. I think I have it all figured out on paper.....now I need to start planting my little peat pots so things will be ready to set out in April. I have stacks of gardening books and seed catalogs all over the kitchen table. Have all my seeds bought. I ran into a great deal last week at Ace Hardware--all their last year seeds were 10 cents each and they had lots of the heirloom varieties in there and lots of flower seeds too, so I went kind of crazy and came home with a whole bag of seeds. If you keep them cool and dry seeds will last for years.
I also decided we needed to revive our old orchard, too, so ordered a dozen fruit and nut trees. Six of the fruit trees came in last week and we got them planted. There were 1 plum, 2 peach, 1 apricot, and two Apricot/Plum crosses--1 called an Aprium and the other a Pluot. I love apricots and plums. Then I have some more plums, apricots, pecans, and a pomegranite tree coming in early February. I also want to buy locally a Loring peach (my favorite) and a fig tree.
And we ordered six blackberry vines to plant where grapes used to be in the orchard and 20 asparagus crowns to put in that 4x4' bed. Asparagus is a perennial that should last 12 years or more.
We also accomplished something else on my goal list: got three cats spayed and their shots and got rid of two wild feral cats. So now we have only 1 cat on the place that is not fixed--she is a wild one that lives under the old white pickup. She is tough to catch but we sure want to do it before she adds more kittens to our lot. Now we just need to get our older cats caught up on their shots and we will be up to speed. Also need to haul the billy goat, the two mamas and their 4 babies back to the ranch. It is getting too expensive to feed them all here. That will leave us with 3 pregnant goats, 1 pregnant ewe, and 1 ram.
It is so so dry here--not a blade of anything green. The chickens get let out of their pen after noon and love to roam and scratch and are roaming farther and farther in search of food. We have got to figure out a way to let them out to scratch and range but keep them contained somehow, too. Right now, they don't do much harm but I would like to plant some muskmelons and watermelons and corn and pumpkins in the orchard, too, and they would really make a mess of that.
So that is some of what we have been up to lately and what has kept me from blogging. But today is drizzly, cloudy day--the kind it is nice to stay inside and blog kind of day so I will add more in next blog.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Happy
I am so happy. Last Sunday Don and I visited a new church--Hill Country Fellowship in Burnet. We have been feeling the call to find a new church home for some time now. That is so hard. But when we walked into this church we knew we were home. We both loved it. God was there. We loved the worship, the preaching, the pastor and other leaders. It was all about Jesus and praising Him--no agendas, no programs, just people gathering to love the Lord togeether. So we now have a new church home. And even though the church is in Burneet, there is a home group that meets just about 2 miles away. We saw so many old friends--it was like coming home again. We sat next to Ronnie and Jodie Waggoner and Stefani Powell. I am just so excited about getting involved there.
Can't remember if I blogged this earlier but back in December I went to a community Christmas program--MESSIAH--by myself as Don was sick. I just love Christmas music and this was directed by my friend, Barbara Bend, and it was so wonderful. And I ran into two old friends from home schooling days--Suzan Leggett and Stefani Powell. We had such a good visit and they invited me to a book club they have started that includes some of my other old friends. I am so excited to be getting together with some women friends once a month. The book we are discussing this month is THE MEMORY KEEPERS DAUGHTER. Anyone read it?
I have started my own little workout using a book I ordered from Amazon. I like it. I am also trying to walk everyday with Don--we have a 2 mile route--and I want to work out on my cardioglide 3 days a week. I already feel better. And I want to follow the Superfoods RX eating plan. BUT......my sweet tooth is hollering something awful. I just crave sweets. I am going to have to give all those Christmas goodies leftover to the chickens tomorrow to save myself.
So I am feeling energized and ready for the new year. But I gotta go to bed now. Night, night
Can't remember if I blogged this earlier but back in December I went to a community Christmas program--MESSIAH--by myself as Don was sick. I just love Christmas music and this was directed by my friend, Barbara Bend, and it was so wonderful. And I ran into two old friends from home schooling days--Suzan Leggett and Stefani Powell. We had such a good visit and they invited me to a book club they have started that includes some of my other old friends. I am so excited to be getting together with some women friends once a month. The book we are discussing this month is THE MEMORY KEEPERS DAUGHTER. Anyone read it?
I have started my own little workout using a book I ordered from Amazon. I like it. I am also trying to walk everyday with Don--we have a 2 mile route--and I want to work out on my cardioglide 3 days a week. I already feel better. And I want to follow the Superfoods RX eating plan. BUT......my sweet tooth is hollering something awful. I just crave sweets. I am going to have to give all those Christmas goodies leftover to the chickens tomorrow to save myself.
So I am feeling energized and ready for the new year. But I gotta go to bed now. Night, night
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Grandkids at Christmas time
Mason and the string of fish he caught with Pop-pop in our pond.
Pop-pop and his fishermen
Rebecca
Elizabeth
Grant, the "I-refuse-to-wear-shoes" boy, loves being outdoors.
Star football player, Blaine, runs to catch a pass in a football game with daddy and his uncles.
Hayden and his grandma
Hayden things Mason bouncing a ball is the funniest thing ever.
Monday, January 5, 2009
2009
This is the year:
- I will lose 20 pounds and keep it off. (had to start with that one, right?)
- I will have a quiet time with the Lord early each morning and continue to chat with Him throughout my day.
- I will eat healthier. I will concentrate on eating the Super foods.
- I will walk two miles at least 4 times a week and do a workout 4 times a week.
- I will be active in our new church--Hill Country Fellowship
- I will grow heirloom vegetables and practice organic gardening methods. I will work hard to learn how to be a better gardner and grow more of our own food.
- I will plant more fruit trees.
- I will learn more about animal husbandry--especially chickens, goats and sheep. I will develop a market for my fresh eggs.
- I will get all our cats fixed.
- I will get caught up on all the animals vaccinations.
- Don and I will finish the ranch fence so that our animals have access to entire ranch.
- I will find ways to volunteer and be more active in my community.
- I will plant lots of flowers.
- I will improve in my photography skills.
- I will spend more time with my family and friends.
- I will play games more.
- I will pray that together Don and I will develop a home farm business that will produce an income, delight us and our customers, bring families together, help others and bring us all closer to the land and to God. I pray for God to lead us to something akin to the strawberry farm--an activity/business that could complement that enterprise.
- I will work hard at learning to remember people's names.
- I would like to write more and improve my writing skills.
- I would like to read more for pleasure and relaxation.
- I would like to be more confident with my cooking and invite others over more.
- I will strive to have positive thoughts, a cheerful countenance, and gracious speech.
- I will have an attitude of gratitude. I will make a habit of sittin' in the sunshine and counting my blessings.
- I want to have a teachable spirit and to accept criticism graciously and to learn from my mistakes. I want to be quick to recognize my faults and repent. I want to be quick to forgive and difficult to offend.
- I will practice building up and encouraging others. I will smile more.
- I will fight for my country to remain a Godly nation.
- I will be alert, vigilant, and informed on any attempts to destroy the rights and freedoms given to Americans in our constitution.
- And the only reason I might succeed in any of these resolutions is because: I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH.
Happy New Year
I'm glad to be in the new year. I love Christmas and we had a wonderful one but I am glad to get back to normal life....whatever that is. Yet, at the same time it is a bittersweet parting. The house looks so sad and lifeless without the Christmas lights and decorations. And it is so quiet (after having grandkids here for five days). I loved having everyone around--both at Tammie's for Christmas and here at home for New Years. We played lots of games but the best by far was our New Year's eve game of Capture the Flag. Tammie and I rocked! One of us captured the flag in each of the three games. We showed those youngsters how to play. Adam would be so proud of us--yet so mad if he was on the opposing team. It was great fun.
Seemed that most of us went through the stomach bug, too, at some point during the holidays. We share everything in this family.
I am sitting in front of a nice roaring fire on this very cold, rainy evening. We have had our woodstove for nearly 30 years but it never drew really well so if you left the doors open smoke would fill the room. We got the chimney worked on and it draws so much better now that I can open the front doors to the stove and put on the firescreen that came with it and it is like a fireplace. I love it. Sitting on my new couch, cozy by the roaring fire, surrounded by several sleeping cats, and catching up on the blogs. Doesn't get much better than this.
But then.....the telephone rang and it was the Burnet sheriff calling us about a house fire in Granite Shoals--10 people lived in the trailer that burned to the ground--thankfully, none were home when it happened. So looks like we will have to out in the cold and wet and do our Red Cross duty.
I will try to be better at blogging. It is just that sometimes my life seems so uninteresting. I am not being a snob, or lazy, just hate to be boring.
Seemed that most of us went through the stomach bug, too, at some point during the holidays. We share everything in this family.
I am sitting in front of a nice roaring fire on this very cold, rainy evening. We have had our woodstove for nearly 30 years but it never drew really well so if you left the doors open smoke would fill the room. We got the chimney worked on and it draws so much better now that I can open the front doors to the stove and put on the firescreen that came with it and it is like a fireplace. I love it. Sitting on my new couch, cozy by the roaring fire, surrounded by several sleeping cats, and catching up on the blogs. Doesn't get much better than this.
But then.....the telephone rang and it was the Burnet sheriff calling us about a house fire in Granite Shoals--10 people lived in the trailer that burned to the ground--thankfully, none were home when it happened. So looks like we will have to out in the cold and wet and do our Red Cross duty.
I will try to be better at blogging. It is just that sometimes my life seems so uninteresting. I am not being a snob, or lazy, just hate to be boring.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Merry Christmas
I feel like such a slaker--so long since I blogged. I just lead a dull, quiet life and feel I have nothing too interesting to say. Have just been enjoying being home for a long spell and puttering around the house. I love this time of year with all the weather changes--you sure don't get bored with the same ole weather. Have had so many gorgeous days to spend outdoors doing stuff. And today----Brrrrrrr! It is nasty cold outside. I am sitting next to the woodstove enjoying the warmth, cozyness, and pretty Christmas lights of my little village. I'm surrounded by sleeping cats and listening to Christmas music. I love it.
We have two new additions to our barnyard. Don went out to feed early Saturday morning and there were twin baby goats. They are so sweet. And I think we will soon have more by the looks of our other nannies.... We went down to the ranch yesterday to check on everything there. The sheep and goats all looked good but were glad to get the food and treats we brought them. The creek still has lots of water, springs are still flowing, and there seems to be enough grass to keep the critters going--they all looked good. We cleaned up the cabin and yard and gathered some firewood to bring home. Was a nice warm day to be out there. Saw a huge flock of wild turkeys cross our land and quite a few deer.
We will spend Christmas at Tammie and Jess's home this year along with Beki and Josh and Kara. The Wilde family will be down the week before Christmas for our Christmas with them. I looks to be a quiet but wonderful Christmas. I only put out a small table size tree this year because of Dickens, our kitten. She is a wild thing and into everything. She knocked my bird in his cage into the bathtub yesterday. The whole world is a playground to her. So far, my little tree has not been abused too badly.
So thats my news for now. Don and I have both been sickly the past week or so--bad colds and Don has a nasty cough. He gets this crud every year about this time when the cold fronts start rolling in--plus it is just so awful dusty and dry right now.
Will try to not go so long without blogging in the future.
We have two new additions to our barnyard. Don went out to feed early Saturday morning and there were twin baby goats. They are so sweet. And I think we will soon have more by the looks of our other nannies.... We went down to the ranch yesterday to check on everything there. The sheep and goats all looked good but were glad to get the food and treats we brought them. The creek still has lots of water, springs are still flowing, and there seems to be enough grass to keep the critters going--they all looked good. We cleaned up the cabin and yard and gathered some firewood to bring home. Was a nice warm day to be out there. Saw a huge flock of wild turkeys cross our land and quite a few deer.
We will spend Christmas at Tammie and Jess's home this year along with Beki and Josh and Kara. The Wilde family will be down the week before Christmas for our Christmas with them. I looks to be a quiet but wonderful Christmas. I only put out a small table size tree this year because of Dickens, our kitten. She is a wild thing and into everything. She knocked my bird in his cage into the bathtub yesterday. The whole world is a playground to her. So far, my little tree has not been abused too badly.
So thats my news for now. Don and I have both been sickly the past week or so--bad colds and Don has a nasty cough. He gets this crud every year about this time when the cold fronts start rolling in--plus it is just so awful dusty and dry right now.
Will try to not go so long without blogging in the future.
Friday, November 21, 2008
I AM THANKFUL
- These are some of the things for which I am thankful:
- that I belong to Jesus
- to live in the United States of America
- freedom
- Don
- all my children
- the wonderful spouses of my children
- all my grand-children
- all of Don's family
- a warm, safe home to live in
- plenty of food to eat
- a nice car to drive
- our ranch
- all of our animals
- a hot shower
- no debt
- land to grow things
- good friends
- the beauty and intricacies of God's creation
- the Bible
- books
- flowers
- that I can hear the songs of birds, laughter, water falling, a loved ones voice, the winter wind, children playing, babies babbling, thunder, our windmill, music, and all the wonderful sounds of life.
- that I can see the faces of my loved ones, all the colors of nature, autumn leaves, flowers, deep blue oceans, colorful birds and animals, mountain vistas, the printed word, photos and paintings, big cities and rural landscapes, home, clothes hanging on the clothesline, windmills, fields of cotton, my chickens---just everything
- that I can smell a wood fire on the hearth, snickerdoodles baking, puppy breath, freshly mowed grass, the sea, a baby's head, my husband's aftershave, grubby little boys, the fresh earth in spring, bluebonnets, honeysuckle, home, a new book, a new car, the barn, Ink's lake
- my parents
- my good health
- time together with family
- for all the people in our military who preserve our freedoms
- for all those people who serve to help others
- for our forefathers in America who sacrificed to form this nation and give us the freedoms and prosperity we have today. I am thankful that they honored God and established a Christian nation.
- I am thankful for life.
GOD IS SO GOOD!
Thank you, Lord
I have been so sad thinking that Josh and Kara would not get to be with us this Thanksgiving because Whole Foods was open on Thanksgiving and she would have to work. I mean, Josh actually had the whole holiday time off from flying which is a miracle in itself so that made it doubly hard to take.
So I have been praying diligently for God to make a way for them to come. I was hoping maybe she would get Friday off so they could at least come be with everyone even if they had to miss the Thanksgiving meal. But God (as He always does) gave me far more than I was hoping for and Kara was scheduled OFF for Thanksgiving so they will get to come on Wednesday and spend all day Thursday with us. I am so excited and so happy. EVERYONE in our family but Brian and family in Colorado will get to be at Thanksgiving. I can't believe it. I am so thrilled. Thank you, thank you, God. You continually delight my heart.
And oh, the pictures I will take.........
Lord, I just praise you for your goodness and deep love for us, your children. I thank you for this upcoming holiday time to be together and to remember all the many things we are thankful for--just how very blessed we are. You are our God and we love you and honor you. I pray, Lord, for protection and safety for all of us and we travel back and forth to San Angelo. Please keep us all safe and secure in the shadow of your wings. And may this time of thanksgiving bring us all closer to one another and closer to you. In Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, I pray. Amen
I have been so sad thinking that Josh and Kara would not get to be with us this Thanksgiving because Whole Foods was open on Thanksgiving and she would have to work. I mean, Josh actually had the whole holiday time off from flying which is a miracle in itself so that made it doubly hard to take.
So I have been praying diligently for God to make a way for them to come. I was hoping maybe she would get Friday off so they could at least come be with everyone even if they had to miss the Thanksgiving meal. But God (as He always does) gave me far more than I was hoping for and Kara was scheduled OFF for Thanksgiving so they will get to come on Wednesday and spend all day Thursday with us. I am so excited and so happy. EVERYONE in our family but Brian and family in Colorado will get to be at Thanksgiving. I can't believe it. I am so thrilled. Thank you, thank you, God. You continually delight my heart.
And oh, the pictures I will take.........
Lord, I just praise you for your goodness and deep love for us, your children. I thank you for this upcoming holiday time to be together and to remember all the many things we are thankful for--just how very blessed we are. You are our God and we love you and honor you. I pray, Lord, for protection and safety for all of us and we travel back and forth to San Angelo. Please keep us all safe and secure in the shadow of your wings. And may this time of thanksgiving bring us all closer to one another and closer to you. In Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, I pray. Amen
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Instructions
Ok-so I had lots of free time on my hands to blog today. Photos will make more sense if you scroll to the bottom to my first post titled Thoughts from New York and read in chronological order ending with the pics.
About photos--I had a nice slide show madeup on that place I have always used but could not get it to download to my blog. I wonder if they are on the "outs" with blogger or something because it was not the same easy download as always before. So I just added some photos to my blog myself--but I am not too good at lining them up nicely. Desperately need some help from Jenny on this. Hope you enjoy the photos anyway. I took hundreds--it is just so incredibly colorful and pretty here--I cannot get enough.
About photos--I had a nice slide show madeup on that place I have always used but could not get it to download to my blog. I wonder if they are on the "outs" with blogger or something because it was not the same easy download as always before. So I just added some photos to my blog myself--but I am not too good at lining them up nicely. Desperately need some help from Jenny on this. Hope you enjoy the photos anyway. I took hundreds--it is just so incredibly colorful and pretty here--I cannot get enough.
More New York photos
We celebrated our anniversary at Babe's with family. Josh/Kim in forefront.
Can you see the skyline of New York City?
wild geese on the reservoir we walk to
hills near Barb's house
House on island in Brant Lake
Don's family's camp house at Brant Lake
colorful country lane
mist over mountains near our B&B
really old cemetary and pretty farm
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