I am almost caught up on my Christmas gifts now and can breathe a sigh of relief for the moment.   It has been quite cold, dipping into the -20*s at night.  We now have about a foot of snow but my water hauling paths are tramped down and walkable even in the twilight.

Today after church I am going to get the items wrapped that need to go into the mail and Monday I shall get them off.  It is so good to have this off my mind.  I may be out of tape though, I need to check and stop on the way home.

I may just get caught up yet!

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Good early evening my sisters and brothers,

Today was a blustery cold day with wind chills below zero.  It certainly seems too early for such weather.  I have to keep reminding myself it is nearly December.  Still it is too cold for my liking, especially since we are still fighting with the woodboiler.  It was 55* in the house this morning, too cold for me.

I moved the stock tank to behind the barn yesterday and now it is about 100 feet closer to the barn well.  I cut an old hose and now drop the sump pump down into the well and use the shorter hose to fill my five gallon buckets, lugging two at a time to the tank.  I like this much better.  Everyone comes for their drink and then I add 20 gallons more.  I pull the pump, drain the hose and then watch to see if they need more later.  My old blind horse had trouble finding the tank at first but I led her there yesterday and today she was waiting near it for me.  Praise God.  I feel so badly for her.  In her sighted days she was a real pistol, push, bossy, nasty.  Now she is so dependent and yet quite independent.  I put a bell on my goat so she has someone to follow around.  He takes pretty good care of her and over the last year I am surprised at how more independent she has become. 

We are under a winter storm watch for tomorrow.   The weather reporters are predicting 4-8" of snow and winds...always the winds.  I am looking forward to the 30's they say will be here on Sunday and then back into the deep freeze.  I am ready for spring.

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Well, the "headhunter" came and went.  Fear of the unknown and lack of discussion had me stressed out more than I should have been.  My hubby knew about this school but never even mentioned it to me.   My hubby has the idea that if he thinks it to himself then I know it too.  It can be extremely frustrating, especially when I don't  know what questions to ask to drag the information out of him.  I kept bringing this visit up and he never said a word.

When this man came to the school two years ago and told about the program DS was so excited it is all he talked about.  Hubby's attitude then was "no way, he's going to be an electrician".  That was hubby's idea of what he should do.  I knew by the way the boy was excited that he really liked the idea of this school. But then again I know it is a slick presentation geared to get the boys excited...kinda' like the military.  Plus of course he was just driving and you know how boys get into the cars and such at that age.  Is this something he'd want to do the rest of his life?


This year the man came back and ds mentioned it again, mentioned he knew someone in the program.  They have been traveling to career/school fairs and the such and he kept coming up mechanic in testing.   I know how that testing works, it isn't always accurate, certainly wasn't for me because they don't  have a category that says "at home  mom" or "farm wife".  Anyway, the pressure was on and it was overwhelming him.  On one hand he wants to work out of school to earn some money.  On the other hand he is interested in this school.  Then there is the looming cost of it all and he'll have to go to Chicago.

How it works out is the guy (Brian) has to have two recommendations from the school that they think this would be a path for our son.  Before that he wouldn't even be considered.  That is how the ball got started.  Then they re-contact the kid and feel him out.  They then make the appointment to discuss it with the parents and see what we are thinking.  Is he ready?  Is he responsible enough?  Would we support this?  Can he do his own laundry, housekeeping, cooking, hold a part time job and school too?

They have a list of rules a mile long.  Hair cut a certain length, must hold a job while in school.  Must be prompt and no missing classes.  Must wear a uniform.  Must have an excellent driving record.  May be subjected to random drug tests, etc.  So it is not only learning a trade (and no other classes like english, math etc., strictly trade for 73 weeks) but how life really is, no horsing around, no partying, they take this very seriously.  Kind of like a mechanic boot camp.

This Brian had a kid in the program so he knows how it works.  The boy our son knows who is in the program has turned out to be one of their top students of his class.

So we signed him up for a seat in the program.  In February we have to travel to the school for their open house (mandatory), find an apartment (the school works with several buildings), financial information etc.  After the open house we can make the final decision whether he goes or not.  That gives him plenty of time to mull it over and decide.  He'd not start until mid September so he can work with hubby all summer earning a state construction wage which would help immensely!

We also got a book of scholarships he can perhaps apply for.  We will be doing a lot of hunting for more scholarships.  I  know  our 4H has one and I am sure there are more just waiting to be applied for.  After taxes we will see if we qualify for any sort of grant too.

I do not know how we will finance this but I will leave it all up to God.  God hasn't steered us wrong yet and this right now seems like a good fit for our eldest.

The question now is...is his mama ready to let him go...

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I found this on Kitty's blog.  I think it is a terrific idea!  I sent two out this morning and will send more as the weeks go on since I have left over cards.  Please consider doing this too and pass it on!

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I have lost a day somewhere.  I told our postmaster yesterday that the week is over with already.  He laughed at me and said it is only Tuesday.  I told  him once Sunday is done the week zips by so fast it may as well be over.  The speed at which the days are flying by has become un-nerving to me.  I cannot seem to keep up and each day fall further and further behind.  Or so it seems.  Perhaps it is because once again I am adjusting to a new routine.

I do think the weather and early darkness has a lot to do with how I am feeling.  12* for a high with 20 mph. winds has got me not looking forward to the long winter ahead.  I am a northern bred girl but I certainly can see what the lure of the south is.  My day right now is broken down into reading the good Lord's word, cleaning, cooking, loading the wood boiler and hauling buckets of water.  Much beyond that is extra.  So much for a long winter's rest.  That is reserved for bears .

All my Christmas cards are out but for two of which I want to include letters.  So that is one less thing on my list. 

The "headhunter" comes tonight which also has me a little stressed out.  It is hard to keep a floor clean when one is tracking mud and snow back and fourth while filling water buckets in the bathtub.  Do you think he will pardon me my foot printed floors?  Do men even think of these things?  The house is cold as we are still trying to adjust the woodboiler to its new job.  Hubby was shocked to hear the electric heat turn on this morning.  He has it set at 50  in case the boiler failed somehow.  He's since turned the thermostat off and it is quickly cooling off in here.  I suspect the electric heat was on more than we think.  I didn't think to check and it is next to soundless so who would know?  Of course there is always a drop in temperature as the sun rises so we will see if that is it.

I think I will give in and bring out my long johns today. 

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Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

                                                                       Matthew 7: 7-8

 

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For once I am able to get onto the computer in the evening.  I have turkey soup in the pot and am letting it cook down a bit.  It  has been a long day and I am almost glad to see the sun setting.  I am tired.

This week we have what I call a "head hunter" coming to discuss schooling opportunities for our eldest son.  He is set to finish  his schooling this year and is exploring options for additional schooling.     He doesn't want to attend a college but is looking more at a tech. school for electrician (hubby's choice) or mechanic (what he is interested in now but who knows in the future).  The poor kid wants to know why he has to choose NOW.  I totally understand where he is coming from .   My family is a long line of late bloomers, finally deciding at age 28 or so what to do with the rest of our lives.  I tell him he doesn't have to decide now.    Hubby thinks he does.  I guess of the two of us I am more the free spirit.  Hubby comes from a family where money is the big thing.  He is the only kid of 8 that didn't go on to college and has heard about it since.  I am sorry but if there isn't a huge drive for a certain occupation I just do not see pushing it.  Let him decide on his own.

So I have this head hunter coming in on Wednesday night.  I am not happy about it knowing the kid is feeling pressured.  So I need to get  my questions together and just listen.  One is what are the job opportunities for here.  He is a country boy and I want him to have an occupation that will allow him to stay here or if he wants, move on.  He is not a city kid and like me, city life would kill him.  I understand that.

I try and tell him he can do whatever he wants.  If he wants to farm, go for it.  If he wants to be a mechanic that is great too.  I don't care as long as he is happy.  Isn't that what counts?  We are lucky here in the USA that we can follow our dreams.  Why do we limit ourselves?  It is all in the mind.

So this is what I have been praying about, that God puts the right questions in my mouth and opens my ears to hear my son's yearning.  It doesn't help that his girlfriend enlisted in the Navy for 6 years which will take her out of the area.  He has that weighing on his mind too.

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Good morning dear friends,

This is the day the Lord has made!  Let us rejoice!

I am rejoicing in the fact that we are back on wood heat again as of last night.  Praise the Lord!  We are still in the "testing" phase as hubby wants to tweak a few things, change around some others.  But we are better prepared for the cold blast of arctic weather heading our way this week.

With all of this taking up my spare time I am now behind on my Christmas projects.  I have two gifts to finish creating.  I have decided this year all shall be handmade and have done well until the past two weeks.  So this week, God willing, I will get caught up again.  One is for a secret sister and it has to be in the mail on December 10th.  Another is for a dear penpal so that too has to be in the mail at a reasonable time. 

I was reading posts about Black Friday.  With no television and rarely even turning on a radio I forget about these so-called special events.  Just this morning I saw an "ad" for the internet's version of Black Friday which is this Monday...Black Monday. 

We have been bombarded with sales fliers this week from the various stores.  Some stores that rarely send them out sent two, one for Friday, another for the weekend.  I am torn by these, knowing that people's jobs may be on the line as the stores flounder and try and get shoppers in but then again what does one really NEED from these places?  I am sure the need is much less that the want.  Meanwhile folks are spending money they cannot afford to spent due to the lure of sales.  It is a catch-22.  Of course I cannot worry about them, just my own family but it does break my heart.

Once again it appears my beloved will not be laid off this winter as his company just got another project.  I am a bit torn by it as it will include 2 hours a day travel which takes him away from home even more than he already is.  But it is paying state wage so he is happy about it.  I have been putting together a projected budget to try and make the extra money work for us.  Once I am finished with it I will give it to him and see what he thinks and let him make any changes.  I suspect he wants to build a garage out of this and I want to pay off the loan we have for the land we bought so there will have to be some sort of compromise there but we will work it out.

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As it turned out the tree stand is on Anthony's side of the property line although the bait pile is on our's.  Hubby will go out and tack a  no trespassing sign right to the tree by the bait.  The rest is up to Anthony.  Darn and I was looking forward to questioning the trespasser.   Turns out Anthony questioning it is just his polite way of seeing if it was our stand or not because hubby says the fence line is clear. 

Danny stayed the whole day which was nice.  His family had Thanksgiving at his aunt's during the week and decided not to do anything for themselves today so we told him if he wanted he was more than welcome to stay with us.  He helped hubby most the day hauling that wood boiler out of the basement.  That was a job in itself as you can imagine, hauling a square box of solid metal weighing a ton with gadgets hanging off it every direction up the stairs and out a back door!  Thankfully we have a fork lift so Danny manned that, my hubby directed the boiler from behind and I watched the front end (which kept getting hooked on the post) and translated directions to Danny.

I spent two hours fuddling with the hose to fill the water tanks.  It is funny how the pump, if I don't pull the hose out of the tank, will back siphon 150 gallons of water but when I pull it out, walk it back while draining the hose it still has enough in it to freeze.  Now why is that?  And really, if you think about it, there certainly  is a metaphor in it .  So I had to re-drain and haul in 200 feet of hose to thaw in my hallway and bucket water out of my bath tub.  Hubby then ran the hose back out, filled the tank for the day and drained it himself.  So we will see if it runs later today or if I start all over again.

Danny and hubby did the turkey on the grill and then we all sat down later than anticipated and enjoyed.  I sent him home with a pie for his family.

I cannot believe it is over with already.  Time just flies faster and faster despite trying to slow it down by savoring every day.

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The pies are now baking, hubby ran to get some round bales moved for the cattle and horses.  My "adopted" son, Danny is coming by to go hunting.  We are one of those places where all the teenage boys like to hang out so I have a large "adoptive" family of 16-18 yr. old boys from all walks of life.   I enjoy having them around and am blessed to be the kind of household they like to be at when there are so many bad options.  It amazes me when my Christian neighbors allow their underage children and friends to drink alcohol under their roof.  They say better here than elsewhere and are fearful of being seen as "uncool".  It hasn't turned out real well with the boys being caught driving drunk, accused of rape and other such horrible consequences!   So yes, I am more than happy to have boys over here working, hunting, tearing apart trucks, eating me out of house and home. 

My beloved is working on removing the old wood boiler and setting up the basement one for removal.  He is also the turkey-master.  Three or four years ago he made a turkey on the grill and thought it was the greatest thing.  Even the neighbor's who had a taste rave over it.  I personally do not care for the smoky flavor but not one to burst his bubble I celebrate it also.  So now he has this "reputation" to uphold and I look at it as a blessing that the turkey is one less thing I have to deal with!  I buy more than one so can have a roasted turkey at another time which is how I like it, with sage, salt and pepper...yum!

He also brought home some pumpkin rolls from the church fundraiser so we will  have that along with delicious fresh baked pie.  Pumpkin anything is my downfall so I am in heaven and my waistline shall suffer!

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This electric heat just isn't do the job for me this morning.  Thankfully the sun trying to penetrate the clouds to give me the illusion of warmth.  It is brisk outdoors and snowflakes are falling here and there.  I need to get my pies mixed up and in the oven.  That will help warm me.

Our Mennonite neighbor has come to ask if he can hunt on our "back 40" this morning.  I directed him to where he could find hubby to ask.  Turns out someone has planted a tree stand in that section according to Anthony so hubby will be going out there after they are done and removing it.  The owners will  know where to come find it if they are so bold as to want and explain why they haven't asked permission.  My children and friends are hunting out there off and on during the day so finding that someone else may be out there without our knowledge is frightening. 

I am feeling a bit lazy today so I suppose rather than sit here I should get moving, . 

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I have been tagged by Kitty.

Here are the rules:

Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules of the tag.

Share seven random/weird things about yourself.

Then let each person know they  have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.  Have fun!

1. I used to be deathly allergic to cats (asthma attacks).  Now I have a house cat with no problems.
2. I have pet walking sticks.
3. I prefer a real letter over emails.
4. I don't have a television.
5. Animals choose me, I do not choose them.
   
6. I often take on more than I can handle.
7. I dabble in everything and am an expert in none.

Ok, since I know most of  you have probably done this already, feel free to tag yourself and do it.  Let me know in the comments if you do .

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I have another long day of processing deer today and then hopefully that will be done for this year.  We are so blessed and grateful that the men brought these deer home.  We are grateful to the good Lord above that the deer offered themselves up to us.  Thank you.  One of the children took this photo of my beloved with his buck so he could show his cousins.  I cleaned up the blood a bit with photoshop as it wasn't the most pleasant to look at.

My hands are a bit puffy this morning and feel odd.   Too much repetitive  gripping I suppose.  Thankfully they do not hurt because I have a lot of work to do today.  Don't we all?  That is one great thing about living on a homestead.  There is never the lack of anything to do.

It is funny because I kept looking at my little profile photo on here and thought goodness I need a more flattering picture.  But something seemed very familiar about it.  Well, finally it dawned on me.  I see my GRANDMOTHER!  The cheekbones and how my face goes into my chin.  I had never even thought I looked anything like my grandmother but there she is reflected in my face. 

I miss my Grandmothers.

*****
The HSB font bug is making crazy!

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Good morning once again my dear friends,

Here on our little bizzy homestead the weather is quite foggy but actually very pleasant once we get past the dampness.  I keep hearing whispers of a small storm front coming our way. 

For most the autumn I was dreading winter but now I am actually starting to look forward to it again.  I used to love winter with its beautiful snow blanketing the earth, muted colors, using my snowshoes of which I love and even learning to skijour  behind  my  goat  if you can imagine that!  Me niether (and no, I will not show you pictures that my children took!) but he is the right speed for me unlike the dogs and pony my children use.

The past few winters the snow has been lean and my children are tired of hearing about our 19 foot snowbanks we had as children.  They think we came from another planet!  So we know one of these winters we are in for a doozy.  Last year we had snow on the ground on Oct. 9th and it never left.  This year it has been in the air and a little on the trees but nothing has stuck around.

I am happy to report I slept really well last night.  After dinner duties were done I relaxed with a few letters that came in the mail but couldn't hardly concentrate enough to start letters back.  So I just enjoyed the news of my friends and left it at that for the evening.

I was asked about our church, whether it is conservative or progressive.  Here they are all quite conservative, most are horse and buggy churches.  The one we attend is a hair bit less strict and most attendees arrive by bicycle or vehicle (vans and the such).  They are plain but welcome with open arms anyone who would like to attend.  It is a terrific ministry as it isn't  too frightening to the outsider who is  curious.  That was how I started.  Curiosity.  After we moved here I met some of the wonderful women from several districts and wanted what they had, the knowledge of what their purpose was here, their faith in God, their worship with every step.  And so I one Sunday took them up on their invitation and as it is said, the rest is history.  I am still learning as we all are but it is the most glorious journey of my life!

For those of you who read some of my earlier post I am sure you recall the incident about my beloved son losing his temper and 'breaking" our source of heat.  Well, the update is the boiler is still down.  My beloved and brother worked on it all weekend trying to weld up the leak and it turns out as they welded it grew bigger thus hubby has deemed it dead.  It is a very old handmade wood boiler so really, no big surprise but as things go, we wish we had known it was going to give up the ghost before winter, LOL.  So now my hubby has his excuse to pull the one out of the basement and install it.  I am pretty excited to have "The King" outside and in use as that boiler is a dream to work with compared to "The Beast".  So we will have a very busy weekend with hauling that thing out.  We had to install it using a tractor to lower it down the stairs and then roll it on metal pipes to where it rests now so you can just imagine the trouble it will be to get back out.

Meanwhile this house has two old electric registers from the electric heat installed in the 40's.  Hubby wired them up and that now is our heat.  So I am doubly blessed the weather has been good and my beloved is so handy or I'd be dressed like an eskimo trying to do chores

Isn't God good?

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It has certainly been a long morning already today.  I have been awake since 2 am., tossing and turning and trying to will myself back to sleep eventually spending the last 1 1/2 hours praying.  5 rolled around and I got up.  No sense fighting it anymore.

The visit with my brother went really well.  I took my SIL to our new local winery which is still a working dairy farm too.  Being from the city they are used to higher classed things and so I thought for fun I'd show her what is high class here.  They had a special evening of wine tasting, various vendors with food, crafts and the such.  Something for everyone.  She loved the place (so quaint), enjoyed talking with the owners (she knows more about wines than I would have ever guessed.  I am a wine dummy, rarely having alcohol at all) and tasting the wines etc.  She purchased several bottles and some other things.

The next morning we all went to our church which is a small country Mennonite church.  Being from the cities it is the only time they get to attend a Mennonite church as there are none where they come from.  So it is a bit of an experience for them and their youngsters.  Every time lots of questions as the girls notice more differences.  It is fun to discuss our faith with them.

The kids had a lot of fun together despite the age differences.  I am happy to say ds is good at entertaining anyone of any age.  They were all over climbing hay bales, feeding the critters, playing word games, eating us out of house and home and making hot cocoa.  Had my brother not been so stubborn I could have given Tippy, one of two left over kittens a good home.  She had her in the van and the whole bit but Daddy said no cats.  The problem is the baby digs in litter boxes so yes, understandable.

They have gotten a real education with having two girls and now a boy.  Ian keeps them on their toes and running all the time.  He is a rough and tumble little guy who loves to climb on our machinery and run down the dirt driveway.  They have their hands full with him.

All three dogs get along great so that is always a blessing.

Hubby did bring home a deer last night, an 8pt. buck.  It is his first buck he's gotten here in 11 years.  Most are pretty well cleaned out before hunting even starts as a lot of the men here are antler mad.  Ridiculous since you can't eat them.

Oldest son called and said he'd be bringing home a doe.  Now to get them to quit while we are ahead.  There are still 7 days left!

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Ok, I do not know why the font size is changing here and it is making me crazy looking at it!  Hrmmmpf!

Well, the house is as good as it is going to get.  I just hope my brother (who can be really critical at times) is blind to some of my things I have laying about.  As I tried to find homes for some I was totally frustrated by the fact I have no closets.  Oh to have a closet to shove something in!  But no, everything we have is out for everyone to see.  That is the way it goes.  I will have to just fill them up with food to make them too delirious to notice.

What I like most about the smaller boiler is it is easy to clean.  It has an ash drawer that is pulled out and dumped.  The big one we have to shovel out and that is a NASTY dirty job!  The smaller one is more efficient too.

Eventually we plan to heat our water, the house and a shop with this thing.  We aren't getting any younger though and cutting wood gets to be a big job.  We buy a logging truck of pulp and cut it ourselves.  As my grandmother used to say, wood is a real bargain because it heats twice, once while cutting and hauling and once while burning.

Next year we may look into getting a permit to cut wood in the national forest.  That would be fun for a day or two, LOL.

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Last night eldest son came home from work and was in a bad mood.  He has been feeling a lot of pressure with schools coming to him trying to "recruit" him into their program.  He wants to know why he must decide NOW what he wants to do for the rest of his life.  I keep telling him he doesn't but he doesn't hear  me.

We heat our home with wood and an outdoor wood boiler.  The water pipe have sprung a leak somewhere and so twice daily we have to add water to the system to keep it flowing throughout the house.  My beloved, who is working a difficult job outside the home, had planned to work on it this weekend.  Son decided it wasn't  fast enough and used that as an excuse to release his frustrations.

After his rant I told him to just not worry about it, tomorrow is another day (this is at 10 pm).  Well apparently he took it upon himself to add water to the system which flooded out the motor and so now we have NO heat.  And I have been informed not to use it at all.

Great.

It is 55*  in here and I am sure it will not get much warmer as the day progresses.  So I am a bit put out as I have a lot of work to do and a cold house is not conducive to my productivity as it makes my hands ache.    I best call my brother and let  him know the situation just in case we are without heat for their visit. 

To say I am not pleased with my son's actions is an understatement.  I am quite displeased and disappointed in him.  I just pray this will be a lesson for him on his temper.

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Greetings once again!

What a pleasant surprise to see not just someone but THREE people have already found my little spot here.  The welcomes and kind words are so sweet.  They fill my heart with gladness.

I have been quite busy with hunting season here starting on Saturday.  I am expecting a house full of company, specifically my brother, his wife and their three little children.  It has been 1-1/2 years since i have seen the baby and I am so excited!  I am sure he is a big boy now!

Meanwhile that means LOTS of preparation, extra special cleaning (as I said it has been awhile since I have had youngsters in the home ) and of course my favorite part, cooking and baking!  I plan to have them need larger waistbands when I am through with them!

I took a bit of inventory, made my list of meals and went to our little Mennonite run store in the nearby town.  Sister Grace was tending the store and she knew right off that I had company coming by the amount of flour and fillings I was purchasing.  I also got each of the children little handmade book marks to bless them as they read. I  am a firm believer in reading as I am a voracious reader myself.

The are planning to arrive tomorrow afternoon sometime and leaving after church on Sunday.  It will be all too short but alas, that is how life sometimes is these days.

Blessings!

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Hello my dear new friends and welcome to our busy little homestead!   I hope to share with you our daily life here along with some crafts, recipes, trivia and the such.  Since it is late in the day (too busy playing with my template) I will get back to work and see you all tomorrow.

God Bless

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