Its official!

Posted on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 05:46 PM

Just wanted to get on here and let you all know that it is official. We are the proud owners of Wesdon Automotive Services. Donald opened the shop doors Monday morning and had his first paying customer that same morning. We are very excited, and REALLY busy right now. Lots of little things that still need to be done.

I also wanted to let you know that our computer is now at the shop so I dont know how often I will be getting on here to post, but I will try to update as often as I can.

Have a blessed evening everyone!

Dandelion jelly!?

Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 10:28 AM

Yesterday the kids and I spent the afternoon on a experimental project. We attempted to make dandelion jelly. I have been hearing so much about it lately, that I thought we could try it. I also decided that we will start the kids' nature journal out with the dandelion. We are learning about all the different ways you can use dandelions and how nourshing they are. I ordered a beautiful book about dandelions. It is called "Dandelions" by Eve Bunting. I haven't read it yet, but the pictures look beautiful. I will try to remember to let you all know if it is a good story or not. I also found a book called " Meet me in the meadow: Finding God in the wildflowers" by Deborah Hedstrom-Page. It sounded very interesting too. I will order that on Friday. I will let you know about that one also.

I decided that for the nature journals this summer that we will study all the useful plant life in our area, starting with the dandelion. That way they are all familiar with what can be used around here and what can't. It sounded like fun to me.

Here are some pictures of our attempt at making dandelion jelly yesterday. I do say attempt, because what we ended up with is Dandelion syrup. Being true to who I am, I had to adjust the recipe. I can never just follow them. So I used honey instead of sugar. It tastes wonderful, but it will be used on pancakes instead of toast!

Picking the blossoms off the greens! NO GREENS!

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Four cups of blossoms gave us three and a half pints of syrup. (jelly) It was a lot of fun to do this project. We were able to do it all together from picking the flowers, to pouring it in the jars. (The kids took turns holding the funnel for me) I love projects like that.

Chicken update.

Posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 10:19 AM

Just thought I would update on the chickens. They are in their new home. We wanted to wait untill it was completely done, but due to the fact that they were flying out of the box and pooping all over the floor in the house we decided that we would move them even though it wasen't quite finished. We still have the inside of the coop to do. Make the laying boxes and the roosts. And I need to paint the outside and put up the trim. We are still waiting for some wire to build a nice chicken run for them. But that is all that needs to be done. Here are some current pictures.

It doesn't look very pretty right now, but it will be much better when we get to finish it. The chickens are very happy to have room to streach out their legs.  They were so funny when we first moved them out there. They would run from one side of the coop the other and flap and jump/fly all over. They were like little kids on a playground. We got such a kick out of watching them.

Will summer ever come?

Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 11:10 AM

I am just sitting here wondering for the moment if summer is ever going to be able to come. Spring is almost over and we havent even had spring. Are we going to skip summer too? It is half way through May and we have had a few little showers, but no real spring rains, and we have only had two days of temperatures over 65 and that was in April. I supose for myself I dont really mind, but I know that my poor garden is dying for some warmth. I probably shouldnt be complaining( I am not really complaining, just concerned) When the temperature hits 100 and more later, I will probably be worried about my little garden scorching in the heat. Oh God give me a content heart even with the weather.

Yesterday turned out to be a very industrious day. I was able to wash, hang dry, fold and put away all seven loads of laundry for the week. I was glad for the wind we had yesterday so I could hang the laundry up. It was cold enough that I don't think it would have dried otherwise. I made two loaves of whole wheat bread and two loaves of cinnamon raisin bread for breakfasts. I also was able to scrub the livingroom, bathroom, kids room, and the master bedroom. In the middle of this Meghan and I tore apart the vaccume and cleaned it up. It is amazing how much better a vacuum works when there is not yards of hair and yarn and such wrapped in the bar!   I was very thankful to get so much accomplished yesterday. Today, I have much to do too. I need to scrub the kitchen. I want to plant my pinto beans and carrots, then I will be done with the garden untill I can move the peppers and tomatos out there. And of course, the weeding needs to be done. It is amazing how even if nothing else can grow, those weeds will!  I want to finish copying that book that my friend gave me about surviving in the olden days. I told myself that I couldnt read it untill I had finished copying it. That has definately given me motivation to complete it!

I decided last week that we are to be done with school. I made up some sheets to keep track of hours through the summer and we will add those in to make up the last few hours we need to have our 780 hours. The kids are going to keep a nature journal through the summer, and we are going to be going through that "survival"book together and trying all the projects in it. There is so much history and hands on stuff in there that we will have no problem finishing up this way. The kids will also be diligently continuing to work on their memory skills by memorizing scriptures. They can earn points for camp (just wesley is going to camp) by memorizing. The younger kids are earning points for some special days that I have put together. Just last Sunday they(the three kids individually) said Psalm 1 for the pastors wife. (She is the childrens sunday school teacher.) We decided that we didnt want to just learn verses. It is too easy to take scripture out of context that way, so we will be learning larger portions of scripture. It has been so good for me to, because the kids make me say the verses from memory with them. Thankyou God for children. What a challenge they are to our walk with HIM.

Well, I supose I have rambled on enough today. I guess I just feel like talking today.

Have a blessed day everyone!

Wednesday.

Posted on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 06:02 PM

Today has been a good day. It has rained and the sun has been out too. I love these days. You get the best of both worlds. I was able to get out in the garden between showers. I planted 8 baby raspberries. I added about 2 dozen strawberry plants to our patch. I finally planted the pole beans. I have everything planted except carrots that need to be planted now. I have to wait a couple of weeks befor I can put the tomato's and peppers in the ground. I will plant the squash then too. The peas and beets are starting to come up. I am always so excited to see the first seeds come up. I am always afraid that I did all that work and nothing will happen, so when I see those first signs of life I get very excited. So, if nothing else, we will have peas and beets!  

I think I have mellowed out a bit over the news of our neighbors to come. Donald is not sure he really wants to move right now. I think I am okay with that decision too. Neither of us want that many neighbors especially that close, but with just starting a new business, we dont want to take any extra risks, so we are just in wait mode right now. I think for the first time in my life, I am happy to be waiting!  I am not usually a very patient person. That is something that God has been working on me for a while now. Once I know something needs to be done, or should be done, just get going. Dont wait, just work. Well, that is not how our God does things all the time. Much to my dismay! But I am learning. His timing is perfect.

I tried a new recipe today. It is mongolian beef, except I used deer backstrap. It turned out so good! I got the recipe from Crystal Miller on her website www.thefamilyhomestead.com/mongolianbeef.htm It was really good. I followed the recipe except for changing the type of meat, and I added some minced garlic to the sauce. YUM! This will be a good addition to my new menu.

As soon as hubby gets home we are going to work on the chicken coop some more. I will try to take some more pictures as we are almost finished with the construction of it. I am not sure when I will get to paint it. Soon I hope.

Have a blessed evening.

Never a dull moment....

Posted on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 04:06 PM

Boy, the saying "Never a dull moment" sure fits us lately. Donald (my wonderful hubby) should be opening his shop the first week in June. He told his boss that the 31st of May was his last day. (the last day of that pay period) So, a new adventure is just on the horizon for us. We were going to refinance that house to have some money in the bank "just in case" it took a while for work to pick up for Donald. We found out last week that across the road from us they are putting in 39 low income homes. WHAT!?!? The piece of property is maybe 2 1/2 acres and most of it is on a slope. We thought for sure we were safe from more than one or two neighbors. But thirty-nine....

So, we are not refinancing now, because Donald is certain that he doesnt want to live in the city or anything that feels like city. Instead, we will finish up a few projects here and try to sell..... Oh God give me strength I pray! So many changes all at once! Pray for me please. I do not do well with change and so much of it all at once threatens my sanity for sure!  I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthes me! I will cling to that!

On to more normal info, the chicks are growing, the peas are coming up and we are all healthy and happy. My new menu is coming together, but not complete. I am struggling finding recipes still. So many meals that have recipes now a days are so full of such expensive ingredients. And besides, how do you pronounce half of the things well enough to ask your grocery clerk where to find them?  Anyway, so my request for some yummy, "simple" summertime recipes is still standing. Please help if you can. Thanks so much!

Have a blessed day!

A busy Wednesday.

Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 04:24 PM

Today has been a busy but exciting day. My girls worked on the kitchen this afternoon while my son and I made our way to the pantry/storage room to do some much needed cleaning and organizing. Boy was it Bad!  But with Wesleys help, we made it through. I did a count on all my jars and decided it is definately time to go garage saleing to find some more. I am way low for the amount of canning I want to do this year.  Speeking of canning, I got my first batch of pinto beans and red beans canned. The red beans did not turn out, because I tried to can them without cooking them after I soaked them. When they were done canning, there was no water left in the jar.  The pinto beans I soaked and cooked. They turned out great. I guess I know what to do next time. Oh the joys of learning by trial and error!

I had a huge blessing shared with me yesterday. I am so excited. A friend of mine let me borrow a book that her great-grandmother wrote. The whole book is information on the pioneer days and survival methods and living experiences. There are recipes, patterns, ideas, wild vegatation info. and so much more. I am so excited to read through this and gleen knowledge from the women of olden days. I will try to share some of the tidbits that I read. One of the things I remember seeing in there was how to make your own yeast. Talk about being able to be completely self sufficient! Oh I cant wait to read!

I want to get some more beans on to soak so I can do some more canning tomorrow. Have a blessed evening!