Garden Over Board!

The first 3 rows of onions

 I think we went a little overboard with the garden planting in some areas... like maybe onions.  We planted over 800 onions.  How does one do this you might ask?  How does one know they planted that many? And ... Why?
Well, here is my story...
We ordered onion plants from Dixondale Farms, a wonderful company with excellent customer service.  I know this and shall explain as the story progresses.  I ordered 6 bundles, thinking there were 50 plants in each bundle.  The order was delivered the week of

Garlic

the mountains of snow.  I use the term mountains loosely.  It was mountains to a mouse maybe.  We also had frigid temperatures.  I am not exaggerating, -12 or -18 is frigid.  Well, the deliverer (who shall remain nameless) left the box of onion plants, clearly marked "Live Plants" at the end of our driveway, next to the mailbox on the county road.  Now, our mailbox is over 1500 ft. from our house and not a straight line either.  They were left after we were home for the day, so did not know they were there.  The plants stayed outside all night long until I took the kids to school the next morning, the low temperature for that night had been -12.  Oh dear.  I emailed the Dixondale and the delivery firm when I discovered my package.  Dixondale, immediately sent us more onions and said, "Just throw those out."  Wonderful customer service.  I did not ask them to do this, I just told them what had happened so they would know and could discuss it with the delivery firm.  My husband, who it seems cannot throw anything away, said, "Let's wait and see what happens to them."
A couple of weeks later we now have 2 boxes of 6 bundles of onions, 60 plants in each bundle that is 720 onions or so we think.  We plant 3 rows and still have over 7 bundles to plant.  We make a new garden space and plant 5 more bundles.  My husband counts the onions in the first 3 rows we planted,  over 600 plants.  Oh my!  That is a lot of onions.  I think I overdid it just a little.  Oh well.
We also have garlic planted and we planted broccoli and sugar snap peas!  Yum!  Yum!
My husband warned me that I could only buy 60 tomato plants.  I just smiled.

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off to Freezer Camp We Go!

Due to our previous cattle herding, cowboying experiences, and the fact that I still do not own a Cowgirl hat and boots, and the fact that we have had a mega dose of snow, that has melted so it is muddier than all get out, we did not expect the loading of the two steers for Freezer Camp to go well.

We prepared, called in extra help, extra vehicles... we expected fence jumping, crazy steers running every where...
These are the suspects... two juvenile, teenage boys... rebellious ...

The cowboys

The Help, my brother-in-law James

We're a little restless

We are very suspicious of the cowboys.

We are thinking about the fence...

Let's go see what this is...hmm...

Cowboys:  "That was too easy."

Get in there you silly things.  Notice the farmer cowboy is hanging back...
Looks like cowboy ballet.

Loaded!  TaDa!  That was easy, nothing to it!

So how did it go...
Tomorrow the Steers will be at Freezer Camp!  Yeehaw!

Playing Farmer in the Snow

So, it snowed.  Actually, it was two separate blizzards with close to 2 feet of snow each time, a week apart.  That is a lot of snow, at least for us.  And the temperatures, brrrrrr.  -18 in the morning.  That is cold!  So, what does a farmer do?  Do farmers just shut down like everything else and stay home?  Noooo.  There are critters that must be cared for.  A bottle calf in the barn.  Twice a day, the farmer trudges through the knee deep white stuff to the barn to feed the calf.
The turkeys have to be fed and watered.  So, buckets of water are carried from the hydrant (because in -18 weather the hose is frozen) to the turkey pen.  Feed the turkeys.  Chickens, need feed, water, and gather the eggs.  The chickens quit laying eggs during the blizzard apparently, the few that were laid were frozen.  Bother!  More water hauling.  All the water everywhere is frozen.  The steers headed for Freezer Camp in a few weeks keep knocking the heater out of their water trough.  Silly things.  Trudge over to their feeder to feed them.  The rest of the cows have to have hay and feed.  So the tractor has to be started and hay put out.  Now, the tricky part... the water for the cows.  The pond is frozen.  The ice on the pond must be broken with an ax.  Not to bad, except for the hike to the pond.  In knee deep snow it seems like forever.  Then there are the dogs and cats, all need feed and water.  Now we are done... only to start again the next day. Phew, it is exhausting.
However, on a lark the female farmer wants to go take pictures of the pond.  Male farmer says, okay after he feeds all the critters he will walk with her.  She however is impatient, and can't wait that long and decides to go ahead.  About halfway there, she is thinking, "Phew.  Maybe this was not a good idea.  It is a lot farther in the snow."  Then she realizes she didn't bring her cell phone,  if she passes out, or has a heart attack she will just fall down and freeze to death.  So, now a prayer is issued, "Please God, let me make it to the pond and back.  I forgot my phone and will die a frozen death and my family will not even realize it.  Thank you.  Amen."

Upon arrival at the pond, pictures taken... she rests at the picnic table.  It is really cold.  Time to head back.  "Man, it is an awful long ways."  Falling in snow this deep and this soft is not a good idea.  Just for your future knowledge.  You can't get up.  There is no where to put your hands to push yourself up.  Bother!  Another prayer, "Please God, let me make it back to the house."  Finally there it is, made it.  That wasn't so bad.  She probably needed the exercise.  I don't know was it worth it...

SNOW

SNOW

Snow so delicate and white

Clean, so clean it glows at night

Reflects the sun, so bright

Sparkles likes diamonds

Beautiful and unique each flake

As it melts, its satisfies the thirsty trees

Cold, white, wet

Snow

Jesus

Wash me white as snow

I am without strength and dirty without you

That I might glow to those in darkness

And show them The Way

Help me to Reflect the Son, so righteous

My worth to You, more than diamonds

Beauty is Yours, You meet each need uniquely,

Even if I am a little flaky

Satisfy my thirst for living water

Love, Faith, Hope

Jesus

Family: Dodge

It's a boy named Dodge. He is our first born.  Dodge is named after some dear friends of ours, well really just one of them, but they come as a set.  Dodge and Lisa Pool.  It is rather a long story to be told another time.  This is about my Dodge.  He is twenty years old.  I can't wait until he is twenty-five, then I will know something again.  Dodge has been called by God to be a minister, specifically a youth minister at this time.  Which is good, because Dodge likes to play games and do athletic kinds of things. He likes to do stuff like play dodgeball.  You would think he would win.  I mean with a name like "Dodge" how can you not win dodgeball.  But he doesn't always win. 
When he was younger, a teenager, his dad could not walk by him without being tugged into a wrestling match.  It was constant wrestling at our house.  He is studying at The College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He loves studying Greek. 
He is a lifeguard and swim instructor, has a First Aid card.  Feels obligated to offer first aid to anyone he sees who is injured.  When I broke my toe, he stood there, looked at it, said, "It's not broken."  Guess what, Dodge was "playing" Tae Kwon Do the other day and kicked, missed, and Broke His Toe!  It was all I could do not to say something incredibly witty.  Dodge runs full speed ahead all the time.  The boy could run across the room at 7 months old.  He likes to talk, he talked in complete sentences by the time he was a year old.
At 6'2", he towers over most.  By the time he was 13, he was taller than I was.  I know that is not saying a whole lot.  He looks a lot like "Shaggy" from "Scooby Doo" at the moment.  Tall, slender, shaggy hair and beard.
He is a very serious, tenderhearted, thoughtful person. I know that doesn't really go with the playful side, but it is true.  He knows a lot about the Bible. Still has a lot to learn.
He helps out around the farm when he is home, which isn't very often anymore. Mostly, he runs errands for me when he is home.  He feeds the animals some, and occasionally likes to play "cowboy." 
He is famous for getting lost, even with a GPS and having a wreck on his first date.  His sister ran into the back of him.  His favorite meal is Fajitas.
Dodge is a special gift from God to a man and woman who thought they would never have children, after trying for seven years.   Love you Dodge!

Cowgirl and Snowflake

A new baby calf was born the night of the snowstorm.  Go figure.  You would have thought the mother would have planned a little better than that.  The calf is cute, really little, so it seems to me.  Me, the experienced cowgirl of all of not more than 6 months.  We named the calf , "Snowflake."  We don't know if it is a boy or girl calf yet.  Snowflake is really cute, has a white spot on his back and part of his tail is white and his belly is partially white.  The rest of him is black.  Snowflake wasn't getting around too good, and the mama didn't seem to be feeding him and keeping him warm like she should.  How do I know?  That is a good question.  Facebook has the answers.  So, today my husband calls me from work and says he is concerned.  Maybe we should catch the calf, put it in the barn, and bottle feed it.  He says, have Jack go catch it and carry it to the barn.  Jack, being out of school because of the inch of snow we received two days ago.  So, we put on our coats and head out to play cowboys and cowgirls, Molly was out of school too, same reason.
Now there are a couple of things you should know about me, one I was raised in big cities.  Houston, Athens, Greece, London, England, I all call home.  Two, I am a girl.  I like girl things, pink, lace, sewing, etc.  Three, I don't however like to change clothes.  This morning when I got up, knowing I wasn't going anywhere due to the inch of snow on the ground.  I put on a denim skirt, knee socks, and knit top and a cardigan.  I know, I dress like a dork.  I am okay with that, however, my fashion plate daughters wish differently.  But oh well.  I am dressed.
Now, I have to help catch a calf, and who knows what else.  Well, we head out to the cows, which are behind the house on the far side of the creek, quietly eating hay and minding their own business.  We go through the gate.  The cows back away.  I send Jack to go around and cut them off.  The boy moves sooo slow.  I think there is something wrong with him.  That, however is another story.  Well, the cows take off.  Snowflake can not keep up, but is too fast for us.  So, we go back to the house.  We absolutely fail at cattle catching, herding, whatever it is called.
A little while later, I notice out the window that the cows are back.  Snowflake is all by himself.  So, I send Jack, in his Father's coat and hat.  That way the cows will think it is Jerry and just stand there.  I tell Jack to catch that calf and carry it to the barn.  I watch from the window.  Obviously, the calf is a little heavier than Jack's father led us to believe.  I go out there with the calf bottle to help.  There is absolutely no way, Jack and I can carry this calf all the way to the barn.  We did get him out of the pasture.  I send Jack for the wheelbarrow.  We put the calf in the wheelbarrow.  I am leaning on the calf to keep him from standing, Jack is pulling the wheelbarrow towards the barn.  We finally get Snowflake in the stall in the barn.  After stepping over, while carrying Snowflake, three lawnmowers, two gas cans, and who knows what else.  You have to understand our barn is full of stuff.  It has two stalls.  One is full of chickens, don't ask.  The other is empty, more or less.  It is also dark.  Very bad lighting in this barn.   But we got it done.  Now, if we could just get him to take the bottle.  So, I have to traipse up to the barn every so often to check on Snowflake and try to get him to take a bottle.  And yes, I did all of this in my denim skirt and tennis shoes.

 I really think, I would be so much better at being a cowgirl with a hat and boots.  Don't you?

Cow Herding

We had to sort cows today.  We have two steers that are needing to prepare for Freezer Camp.  There were a couple of extra teenage boys here this weekend for Jack's birthday, so we made use of the extra help.  It was quite a challenge because they had never been around cattle before.  Cows are really big, especially when they are running towards you and a crazy man is hollering, "Don't let 'em through!"
So, me being the expert cow herder that I am had to give them a few lessons.  I tell them, "You must through your arms up in the air really fast and big.  Make yourself look bigger.  Then at the same time, holler, "HA!"  really loudly.  And take a step forward while doing that."  It was a lot for them to comprehend and coordinate at the same time.  However, it works so much better if you are wearing a cowboy hat and some cowboy boots.  It just really makes the cows think you know what you are doing.  And you can use your hat to wave at them and make yourself even larger.  Which is useful, when the whole herd is running toward you because they fear for their lives.  We really just wanted two of them to go through the gate. 
It is quite funny to watch.  My husband has a real bossy side.  I was unaware of.
I really think I need a cowgirl hat and some boots.  I would be so much better at cattle herding.

Family: Jack

I thought since this is a blog about our "family" farm, I should tell you a little about our family.  I'd like to start with Jack.  However, it has to be a secret.  You see Jack does not want his name floating around the internet, which is not necessarily a bad thing.  Just weird.  Sort of.  Jack is my younger son.  I love Jack.  He is probably one of the more interesting people I know.  Either I don't get out much or he is really interesting.  Jack also doesn't want to have his picture taken, ever, by anyone.  So we have days appointed as picture taking days.  He still resists.  I know some things about Jack.  He is really funny.  To make it easier and more Jack like I will give them to you in a list.
1. man of few words, actually Jack doesn't say a whole lot.  Maybe that is why he is so interesting, when he does say something, you have not heard it before.  Unless of course you have asked him a question, then you get one of two answers:  "I don't know." or "I guess."
2.  Black and white kind of guy, he deals in facts, no gray areas here.
3.  SMART.  (Yes, I know it is all caps.  No, I didn't have the caps lock on.  No, I am not yelling.)  He is super smart.
4.  Jack looks like Michael Phelps.
5.  He has a British accent.  Why we don't know.  But we had to read in front of the church as a family around Christmas time, and one of the comments was:  "Wow!  He talks!  And he has a British accent."
6.  Witty.  Really he is super funny.  If you can get him to talk.
7.  He strives to live godly and be an example for others.
8.  He is almost always respectful of others.  There have been a few slip ups, and I can't make him sound like a saint for the sake of my other children.
9.  He is servant hearted.  He will do anything someone asks him to do at church, to be helpful.
10.  He has a math brain. Which he so totally did not get from his mother.  But that is okay.
11.  He will only play smartacle kind of games, like Chess, Wise and Otherwise, Trivia Pursuit.  No games of chance like Farkel.
12.  He is strong.
13.  Godly, or always working towards that.
14.  He does have a temper.
15.  He doesn't like potatoes, of any kind.
16.  He turns sixteen on the 18th of this month.
I love to be around Jack, he is so solid.  Like his dad.  This is how Jack has described himself, quiet, respectful, cunning, determined, and intelligent.
An example of Jack humor:  His older brother was going to take him Christmas shopping one night and told him to get ready.  Jack said, "But I went Christmas shopping last year."  He was totally serious. It was so funny.  He knew it was funny.  On the "farm"  Jack is the all around helper for Dad.  He helps build barns, mows, feeds the animals, and will soon learn how to break the ice on the pond.  He is so excited.  He helped build the hen house, learned to roof there.  He is also practice driving.  That is kind of scary sometimes.  He says I am tense.  He feels oppressed in the area of driving.  However, he does things like this, when caught straying to the wrong side of the road (fortunately we live in the country)  he says, "Sorry, I lost focus."  He lost focus and almost got me killed!  Well not really, because there weren't any other cars. He likes fettuccine alfredo.  He loves bacon.  He can help Molly with her homework.  I am thankful for Jack, and the way he makes me smile.  God has great and mighty plans for him.  Can't wait.

In honor of his 16th birthday... shhhhhh!

Garden Planning -- Time to Dream

From "Fine Gardening" magazine

It is time to plan the garden for spring.  To begin, I want this really fun gate, pictured here:
Not that we have an enclosed garden, but it is just too fun.  Maybe Jerry will build it for me for my birthday.  (that is a hint) And an appropriate bench would be nice.
Now that the important part is out of the way... to the plants.  I say, since this is just dreaming stage, dream BIG! 

Available from cooksgarden.com

I want to try the sugar snap peas again.  Those were delicious.  Tomatoes, of course.  Jalapenos, Tomatillos, Habeneros, and some mild flavored Bells.  Sweet corn and sweet potatoes.  I think I will try carrots again, but I want to get some of those cool colored ones like this:  purple and yellow and orange, who knew.  I want some of those.  Green beans, broccoli, cucumbers, lettuces, okra, potatoes, zucchini ( I like the term "courgettes" much better, Molly and I are into all things French.)  yellow squash. Maybe some other French type vegetables. Like a Potager.   Where did I put that French Vegetable Garden book.  Maybe some pintos, and other beans.  Onions, lots of onions.  The garlic is already planted.  Who knows what else I might stick in there.  Hmmm.  Then there are the herbs and flowers.  Some nasturtiums, violets, marigolds, zinnias.  I wonder what other flowers are edible or good in a garden.  Basil, lots of basil different kinds, like Globe Basil, Cinnamon Basil, and Rosemary, Parsley, Cilantro, lots of cilantro, Thyme, Marjoram, Oregano, Chives, Garlic Chives, Lemon Grass, Apple Mint, Peppermint, Spearmint, Chocolate Mint, I am sure that is not all.  Now, I would also like to plant a Rose Garden.  Oh yes, I also want to do a container of "Pizza Herbs" with a miniature tomato plant, oregano, basil, and a Habenero pepper.  And maybe one similar only with cilantro, and some chives for salsa.  Where are those seed catalogs?  I must look through them again.  I am sure I am leaving out something.  I can't wait.  I am so excited.  I just love the planning of a garden.  Now to draw out the plan, to make sure I have room for all this stuff.  My eyes are usually bigger than my budget and my time and energy.  But, what's life without a dream...Where are those seed catalogs?  Pumpkins, totally forgot pumpkins.

 Happy Dream Gardening!

Too Many Chickens!

Too many chickens!  Too many eggs!  I think we have totally lost it.  I am tired of making chicken broth and canning it.  Making chicken soup and canning it.  All that chopping!  And bagging boiled chicken meat.  When you have 122 eggs in the frig and no end in sight, that is too many!  What on earth does one do with 122 eggs!?  We have so much chicken in the freezer, we won't need any for the rest of the year.  Or longer.  Never mind the turkeys.  Then one of my children says to their father, "Dad, are you getting more chickens?"  I wanted to throw something at them!  What were they thinking?  Seriously?  More chickens?  Although some cute little exotic Bantams would be fun.
The soup is yummy.  I have used a lot of the chicken broth.  And...
New Year's Eve we gave 18 eggs to some good friends.  Saturday morning, my husband always makes pancakes for the kids.  He got ready to make the pancakes, which requires eggs.  We had 1 egg!  Only one?  You have got to be kidding me.  Only one egg?!  What happened to them all?  Maybe we do need a few more chickens, just for fun.

The very small egg on top is a "No Cholesterol" 

egg, no yolk.

Oh, and if you need fresh eggs... you know who to call.

The Gate

The new gate.  My husband built this new gate.  Those that know him may not realize how creative he is.  It is hard to see in this picture but, are pretty little scallops in the wire at the top of the gate.  He does those things for me.  He says, "There is value in the 'cute' factor."
I think it is sweet that he takes the time to do those things.  He could have just built an ugly, ordinary gate.  The gate is down by the creek on the far side.  It is a really beautiful part of our place.  The gate fits right in.  Thank you, dear. 

The Things God Taught Me in My Circumstances

First of all, I had a very busy day today.  I had BSF - Bible Study this morning, was supposed to fix Lasagne for 100+ people at my church, attend a funeral for a dear friend, serve the Lasagne, attend Prayer Meeting at my church.
I made a point to honor God by going to BSF even though I felt like I didn't really have time.  I had finished my lesson and everything.  I went to the Discussion Group but did not stay for the lecture.  When we started, I realized I had done the wrong lesson.  Ugh.  God is at work in all things.  I needed to sit and listen, and focus. I love BSF, if you haven't written anything on your paper you can't talk.  I didn't even have my paper so... I just listened.  We were studying Isaiah 24.  It was about how Israel/Judah had forgotten God, betrayed Him, played the harlot and the consequences of that, ungodliness.
I rushed back to my church (20 minutes away) to start the Lasagne, I had asked a friend to come at 1 PM to help while I was at the funeral.  I cooked the meat, but that is all I could do. The groceries had not been delivered and weren't scheduled to arrive until 12:45.  Time to breathe in and out. There were also no disposable pans for the cake, I learned that cobblers had been ordered, so we would have those instead when they arrived.  Save the cake for next week.
Through my circumstances, I remained calm, unflustered.  God was in control, He knows what He is doing.
I left at 1 to go to the funeral.  The funeral was interesting, worshipful, and instructive, and full of love. There were many people there who I had not seen in a long time.  People I love and who love me.  I needed that.
Seeing Bro. Charley and Darlene, reminded me of all the things they taught me, and something he said once, "You just have to love people.  Love God and love people."  God continued to speak to me through the funeral.  The funeral was beautiful.  But more than that.  Maybe because it was about a man who had spent his life loving God, worshiping Him, and loving people.  Something that was attributed to Russell saying was "Jesus redeemed 'Joe' Jesus will use him."  Hmmmm.  Jesus redeemed me, Jesus will use me.  Listen, Tracey.  How is God using you?  Is He?  Do you need to make a change?  Jesus will use me.  Jesus will use me.  Yes, Lord.  Use me.
Then the music,  two songs spoke volumes to me:
Christianity is about the greatest story of liberty and freedom ever told.
"My chains are gone I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy rains Unending love, Amazing grace"  My chains are gone, I have been set free!  (I need to find a Bible verse to go here)
Unending love and mercy, Amazing Grace!
Followed by: "How great is our God, sing with me How great is our God, and all will see How great How great is our God"
The greatest story of liberty and freedom is written by the Greatest God, The One True God.
The scripture that I remember comes from John 14:1-6  "Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  And you know the way to where I am going.  Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, How can we know the way?"  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  It was as if God was shouting from a mountain top for all to hear,  Don't be troubled or upset.  I have prepared for Russell, I am preparing for you.  Don't let your hearts be troubled!  Ahhhh.  What a comforting thought.  These happen to be some of my favorite verses in the Bible.  They are so beautiful.  If God is preparing a place for me, He wants me there.  He will come back to get me and bring me to where He is.  Makes me cry everytime.
Then something else about Russell, repeated over and over. Two things really, the first one was something I had heard and been led to recall earlier, "Love God and Love people."  Or "Worship God and Love people."  And then... Authentic worship.  Authentic heartfelt worship.  That is what happened there in that place today.  Oh, how I wish I could hang on to that and carry it with me.  Authentic heartfelt worship by all those around me.  They love the Lord, they strive to live for Him.  Wow!  What a feeling!  Russell never did anything (at least that I know of) half-hearted or halfway.  He did his very best for the Lord and used the very best that he had.  He was always organized, and things were well planned.  Yes, he had helpers.  But isn't that part of planning, to plan who you need to help you accomplish what God has given you to accomplish.
Then to return to my task for the day, Lasagne.  The groceries did not arrive until 3:45, too late.  We (actually Krystle and Kim) made Pizza Pasta.  It was awesome.  Had to rush a bit, but it was good.  Didn't have to do the dishes, the drain was clogged.  I hate doing dishes anyway.  I was at peace about dinner. A little harried but not anything like I would have been if I had been there all day.  Thank you so much to Kim and Krystle.  God was at work.  Then I went to prayer meeting because I was not exhausted from cooking and didn't have to do dishes so...
In prayer meeting we studied Psalm 78.  Have you ever read it?  It gives God's plan for a godly generation.  How to raise up a godly generation.  Fathers are to teach their children about the wondrous things God has done.  About the Exodus, the Red Sea, the Manna, Jesus in Bethlehem and on the cross, and their own testimonies of what God has done for them.  Teach them to their children so that they turn around and teach them to their children.  So they will set their hope in God, not forget the works of God and keep His commandments.  It goes on to show the character of God, always faithful.  He provides for our Deliverance.  Deliverance.  That brings us back to liberty and freedom and life with Christ everlasting.
Was I frustrated with myself for doing the wrong lesson?  Yes.  Frustrated about the groceries and dinner?  Yes.
Was the funeral sad?  Yes.  And yet, it was full of Joy.  Real joy.  And liberty.  And worship.
God was in it all.  I was looking for God today.  He was there for me.  How about you?
(Maybe these things don't speak to you.  They spoke volumes and volumes to me. I wanted to share. Tomorrow, I will look for God again.)

Butchering Turkeys

As you may or may not know, we raised turkeys this year.  We started with eight.  Something ate two of them.  So we have six, now.  Well, actually five, but will get to that in a minute.
Turkeys are beautiful except for their heads, well, and their necks.  The rest is beautiful.  And sooo, interesting.  I have really enjoyed having them.
Alas, it is time for them to go to Freezer Camp.  A very sad day.  Jerry decided to butcher one.  It is different than the chickens.  The chickens, he just pulls all the skin off, doesn't have to deal with the feathers.  Then when I see them, they have been in the frig for a day or two, and he slices the meat off the bone or cuts them in pieces and I put them in freezer bags.
Turkeys have feathers.  They have to come off.  So, in the dark, cold night my sweet husband decides to butcher a turkey.  He pulls most of the feathers off and brings it inside.  Dripping, holding it by the leg, and saying to me, "Can you finish pulling these little feathers off?"  I look at him.  I look at the turkey.  I look at him.  I am thinking of the beautiful creature that adorned our pasture not so many minutes ago.  I look at him.  He goes outside.  I look at the turkey, for a long time. I touch the turkey.  I pull several feathers.  Some come off, some stay stuck.  I think of the turkey.  I look around for the man that has me standing here doing this.  I start to cry.  I think to myself, "Self, this is so dumb.  It is just meat.  Pull the feathers off."  I can't do it.  It is all I can do to clean a turkey from the store for Thanksgiving.  And they don't come with feathers.  I haven't seen them strutting around my yard.  I start to gag.  And cry again.  I give up.  Jerry comes in, he looks at me.  He looks at the turkey.  He rolls his eyes and shakes his head.  I think, that is what men are for, pulling feathers.
Oh well, five more to go.  Maybe I will improve with experience.
So much for me being a farmer... I wanna be in my dream farm...

The Birds

Ahh, the memories.
"The birds are coming!  The birds are coming!"  I screamed.
Like something out of a nightmarish land.
There we were out in the middle of nowhere in my Grandfather's pickup truck, riding in the back.  Thinking we were right up town.
Being from a big city, it was always a treat to visit my grandparents in their charming little town.  We would get Tall Cherry Limeades at the Fountain Drug Store and sometimes order Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.  We would walk in the creek that was icy cold until our feet were blue at a nearby State Park.  Oh wow!  Those were fun days.
One year, my grandparents decided to take us for a drive in my grandfather's pickup truck.  This was a novelty for us.  We got to ride in the back with my grandmother.  We took stuff for a tea party.  When we got out in the country, my grandfather stopped the truck so we could have our tea party.  After a little while, he tried to start the truck to go home.  It wouldn't start, or so he said.  He would have to walk to get help.  So, off he went.  No worries, we just extended the tea party.  My grandmother, my little sister and I, until...
This HUGE flock of black birds starts approaching.  Having recently watched Alfred Hitchcock's movie, "The Birds," I panicked.  I started screaming, "The birds are coming!  The birds are coming!"  Jumped in the cab of the truck, screaming, "Roll up the windows!  Hurry!  Faster!  The birds are coming!"  I think I was slightly hysterical.  My grandmother thought it was quite funny.  The truck was not really broken.  Grandfather came back.  The birds flew on by.  We went home.
Until this day, those large flocks of black birds, "caw, caw-ing"  send a chill down my spine. I want to run.  I want to scream, "The birds are coming!"
Even today, as they invaded my backyard.  The yard and trees were covered with birds.  That is a lot of birds, with twenty-six acres, my backyard is big.  They were flying into the windows.  It was really getting to me.  Kind of creepy.  But funny, that it bothers me so.

Oh, well.  You just gotta love me!

Thankfulness

I have so much, so much, so much to be thankful for!  Can't help singing that song and thinking of my friend Steve Lane.  Makes me smile every time.  By definition thankfulness means "a feeling of appreciation" or "expressive of gratitude."  So what does gratitude mean? Well, according to my dear friend Webster it means "affording pleasure or contentment" or "appreciative of benefits received" or even just "glad."  During this season of Thanksgiving, I want to share with you some of the things I am thankful for and some of the benefits of being thankful.  Maybe it will inspire you to count your blessings. 
Today, because this is America and it is an election day... I am thankful for the opportunity and privilege to vote.   People in other countries don't all get to vote or maybe they do but the elections are rigged.  It is a great privilege to vote.  I hope you did, if you are able.  I am even thankful for the fact that I live in The United States of America.  The land of the free and the home of the brave.  It is a beautiful country full of diversity and freedoms and responsibilities.  God has richly blessed this land and its people.
And because today is the 2nd of November... I am also thankful to live out in the country on a "farm."  It is so much fun, hard work, and wonder.  I learn something everyday.  Notice something new.  Stop and enjoy the world that God has created for you.  We live at such a frantic pace sometimes that we don't notice the small pleasures He places there for us. 
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” Cicero
"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;" Psalm 92:1
Our world has little room or time for thankfulness and gratitude.  We have all but lost the art of writing "thank you notes."  Practice thankfulness today, write a note to someone thanking them for their kindness.  Smile, and sincerely tell some one "Thank You."  Take the time to notice and be thankful, it will make your day better.
What are you thankful for?

Cowherd?

Yesterday about dusk my husband calls me.  He is out doing chores.  He says, "Go look out your front door you will see something interesting.  Nevermind the fact that I am in the middle of trying to get dinner ready.  We all, myself and the two children who are home, go stand on the front porch.  Fortunately, I grabbed my camera on the way out the door.
It was so funny.  Here comes my husband, walking along the fence row, and nine (all that we have) cows (well, technically they aren't all cows, but you know what I mean) following him in a line.  Totally cracked me up.  The picture is not very good because it was almost dark. 

He said, he walked back to the back of our property to count the cows and turned to head back to the barn.  He didn't say anything or have any feed.  As he was walking along the path, he hears the "pitter patter" of hooves.  When he turned around to look, there was the bull chasing after him with all of the others following.  Is there a such thing as a "cowherd" as opposed to a shepherd?  You know sheep follow their shepherd, now the cows are following their "cowherd"?  The joys of country life.  I am glad God has given me the opportunity to experience country living.

The cows followed me home!

Love is...

Love: A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.

Beloved: Dearly loved,well loved, dear to the heart

On the Eve of our 27^th Wedding Anniversary...October 22, 1983 was forever a turning point in my life. So in honor of my husband's love for me I am writing this post. I have also posted pictures on Facebook. My life with him has been amazing. Sometimes a struggle for me at least. He is always so full of patience and goodness. I can't imagine life without him.

When I think of my husband... strong, good, kind, caring, beloved; I think of our life together and our marriage and union.  I am reminded of the account given in

Genesis 2:18-25 says, “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”

There was not a fit helper for Adam out of all the animals, think about how many creatures that is, don't forget the bugs, caterpillars, snakes, etc. That is a lot of creatures. None of them were a good fit for Adam. But God has a plan. I just love that God always has a plan. He knows just what to do. He gets busy, and prepares a surprise for Adam. I love surprises (well, good ones anyway.) God gets creative and makes Eve. Now Eve was perfect for Adam, Adam recognizes this immediately. Don't you love Adam's reaction to Eve... He burst into poetry (verse 23.) Now, if I think about my husband bursting into poetry, I crack up. Not his style, I guess. Although sometimes it might be nice. Then God says, “Therefore”, I love this word, because it is a pointer word. It points us to something important. Because of what God did for Adam, He makes a pronouncement for us all, it is recorded in verse 24. Because God gave Adam, Eve, specially made just for him, men shall leave their parents and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh. Remember the definition for love, we started with? Remember the part that says, “a sense of underlying oneness?” Look at that verse again what does God tell us, “they shall become one flesh.” This is more than just the physical part (I know that is what you were thinking of.) It is a spiritual, emotional, mindful oneness. As Anne of Green Gables would say, you become “kindred spirits.” The last part of that verse talks about being naked and not ashamed, more than physical, but more like they were not afraid to bare their hearts to each other. They could be themselves and feel loved and accepted, just as they are.

Loved this quote from Matthew Henry on Genesis 2:18-25, "The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near to his heart to be beloved." Right where I want to be!

I love the feeling that I have when I go to bed at night and lay my head on his shoulder and he wraps his arm around me. I feel safe, protected, and loved, but more than loved, cherished, treasured, a part of him and all that he is. I guess we really have become one.

On the Farm

Today on the farm, we have one pig, nine cows, six turkeys, 21-23 hens, 40 baby chickens, two dogs, three cats, and four hives of bees (which makes for over 200,000 bees, I think).  Thirty of the chicks are Cornish Crosses for eating and 10 are Rhode Island Reds for eggs next summer.  Why we need more chickens for eggs... the egg situation around here is pretty desperate!  We get 18-20 eggs a day.  I have over 100 eggs in my refrigerator.  They are beautiful brown, fresh, farm eggs.  We can not possibly use 18- 20 eggs a day.  Ludicrous!  So, we get more chickens to lay more eggs, go figure.  Jerry says, he plans to send some of the hens to freezer camp soon and because of their age, they will slow down on egg production next Spring.  So, we have new egg layers getting ready to do their job.  We chose a different breed just for fun.  The different kinds of chickens available is absolutely astonishing.  The hens we have now are Buff Orppingtons.  The are beautiful, calm and lay brown eggs. We do have one chicken that lays green eggs.  We don't know what kind she is though.  We will see what the Rhode Island Reds are like. 
Bees are very interesting, I think we have fed them over 500 pounds of sugar since July when we first got them.  That is a lot of sugar.
One pig has gone to freezer camp.  The other one was not quite big enough, he will go next month.  We are also contemplating taking a steer or two to freezer camp soon.  The turkeys will soon find they are attending freezer camp.  This is sad.  I love to watch the turkeys.  They fan their tails and prance around turning their tails first one way and then the other.  They are very interesting creatures.  Their head is ugly, but the rest of them is very beautiful indeed.
The autumn colors are beautiful, red, yellow, orange, burgundy, and many shades of green.  God is a fantastic painter.  The clouds have been fascinating.  I enjoy watching the sky. The fog in the morning has been extremely attention getting.  Funny, how when you start noticing things and point them out to your children, they in turn notice and point them out to you.
For the time being, I am focusing on housekeeping chores, creative projects, and dreaming of the garden for the Spring.

Fog and Earthquakes

Disclaimer:  This is not a scientific research paper, and in all likelihood contains no scientific facts.

Yesterday, Oklahoma had an earthquake.  5.1 on the Richter Scale.  Pretty exciting at least for us.  Not that I felt it or anything, but my husband and daughter did, so I can live vicariously through them I guess.
Buildings shook (vibrated really), some people close to the epicenter had windows broken.  I wish I had been outside at the time to watch the animals, but alas, I was cooking for 100+ people, but that is another blog.
This morning as I am taking the kids to school...
We notice the fog.  (I know you are wondering what this has to do with the earthquake.  You will see, keep reading)(Really, I just wanted to discuss the earthquake.  So cool!)  The fog is floating, as fog is want to do, but it is in an unusual place.  The fog is mid-air.  About the top of the trees is a layer of fog, crystal clear above and crystal clear below.  It looked kind of like a fog sandwich, with the fog as the meat. (Why is so much of my life and thought spent on food.) I point it out to my two darling children.  We discuss how it looks (mostly me, discussing).  I ask my highly intelligent (no, really) child why it is that way.  He shrugs.  I guess his brain has yet to awaken.  I pose a probable cause,  the fog is confused because the earth moved yesterday.  He says, "Mom, its fog.  Can it get confused?" He is probably thinking his mother is confused or insane.  Oh well, I delight in tormenting my children with my insanity.  It makes them think.   I tell him to ask for permission from his science teacher to research weird fog and let me know.  I pose another cause for the fog, maybe God is confused because He moved the earth yesterday, or maybe He just forgot where He put it.  My daughter says, "Mom, He is God, He can't be confused or forget."  I knew that, but she didn't know I knew.  "Ever so correct," I reply, "Your theology is impeccable."
The fog was very interesting.  I have never seen it do that before.  God is so amazing.  Never a dull moment.

Ode to a Clothesline

Ode to a Clothesline

Oh you old fashioned, out of date contrivance for drying clothes

Freshly washed laundry, hung with cute little wooden pins, 

On the line to dry in the wind.

Tall (actually, a little shorter please, I am short and squatty) and strong,

Standing there in my dreams, with the laundry being scented with

Cool, fresh breezes.

Oh how I wish my beloved would make me a clothesline

Instead he whines about the dampness of the sheets

As he crawls between.

The clothes are in the way, laying flat on the bed to dry

So they will not shrink, or get out of shape,

And have to be replaced.

A clothesline in its simplistic beauty, is so useful,

And frugal, saving money that would be spent on

Propane by drying the clothes in a mechanical device

Reducing our dependence on foreign oil ; ) (for those who

like politically correct poetry, that is for you, I care not)

Making the clothes dryer last longer and sing fewer songs.

Clothesline, you are so beautiful to me.

Clothesline, of my dreams, beautiful laundry swaying in the breeze.

Clothesline, oh how I wish you were mine.

Clothesline!