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Pictures, Pictures and more Pictures
Nothing special about the pictures...just things around the homestead lately :o) Enjoy!Some of the property over the weekend. This is the back clearing where we want to build. If we don't build here, I want to put our schoolhouse up back here anyway (just to the right of that center pine tree...that's where the trail heads back to the pond.
The next is the logging road they used a few years back to get to the neighbors property...and where they come up with the 4-wheelers. The bottom of that range there is the end of our property.
Next two are of the pond, coming in from that logging road, through the trees. It's just seasonal and lately, that has meant no real water to speak of. The first year it had maybe 2 foot of water. This year, maybe the same. The 2 years in the middle, it was just about bone dry and useless with the drought. We'd like to dig it out more and shore it up to try to keep water in it. We know there's a decent aquifer running through this part of the mountain, down about 150 here at the house end of the property. Would be nice to have some water for the animals if nothing else.
Thanksgiving weekend work on the homestead...Finally getting the holes dug out for the posts for the back porch area. Most likely, it will never make it as a porch and will be enclosed for living space...maybe that outdoor kitchen ;o) I tried to get the holes started but it's all clay...and really thick nasty stuff at that. I just can't do it. I'm a wimp. I admit it. So, as Drew was over for dinner, we put him to work with Dewey :o)
The goofy pup there is the beagles basset mutt mix we have...brains of a stuffed animal, but lovable. He chases rabbits and such all night. Pinned a coyote down in the timber last year so we could shoot it. He's a good dog...just goofy. Notice Miss Abigail's bare feet...this was the day after Thanksgiving. Sure wouldn't be out running the countryside like that back North this time of year!
Thanksgiving fixins' on the homestead...We spent all day Wednesday baking...2 pecan pies, 2 apple, 2 chocolate (that's the empty crust with the tin foil in it) and 2 9x13 pumpkin cobblers. And the yummiest yeast rolls :o) It's a mix we do up and keep in the pantry --delicious. And, yes, I'll add the recipe soon!
The full menu ended up looking like this...deep-fried turkey, a huge (h-u-g-e) smoked ham from the butcher (stupid me didn't ask about size, just got the one that looked so good...it didn't fit inside the 18qt Nesco roaster we have...had to sit cockeyed until it cooked down some and slide into the pan the right way!). Dressing, green bean casserole, baked corn, potatoes/gravy, sweet potatoes, then the list of desserts. We made honey nut crunch and ranch/dill crackers for snacking all weekend.
This was the first year our eldest wasn't at the table. He rode up with Dewey to pick up Hope's car and drive it back. He wanted it to be their first Thanksgiving, and he was frying his first turkey solo...
The 20 quart mixer...yes, that's a make-do kitchen sink set up there. We pulled out the cupboard a while back. I have a very nice, new countertop sitting out in the building, but until I know for sure what we are doing (building or simply remodelling) I don't want to use it yet ;o) And, yes, those are cinder blocks under the mixer -- it sits too low to the floor for comfortable use. I know it looks rather hillbilly-ish, but it works ;o)
The meat, part 1/Day 1...still partially frozen, even after 2 days of thawing in the cooler bag. Guess that cooler bag works far better than I thought it did! We cut up most of the chunks to more suitable pieces and readied them for the canning jars.
Attention Stargazers!!
Got this from my Farmer's Almanac e-newsletter...
Sky Watch
The planets and the Moon are putting on a show! For a few nights, brilliant Venus, bright Jupiter, and the crescent Moon blaze in a striking conjunction. They first formed their brilliant triangle last night, 15 degrees high, in the southwestern sky. The three celestial objectives will continue to stay close together as seen from Earth even though the planets are millions of miles away.
Read more Sky Watch! We provide the current and upcoming months free for our Almanac.com readers.
Evolution of Dance
Oh my! This guy is GOOD!!!
Here is his website. What a fun video to watch!!
6 Things Tag
I was tagged by Nancy-Dearest...
Here are the rules:
Rule #1 ~ Link to the person that tagged you.
Rule #2 ~ Post the rules on your Blog.
Rule #3 ~ Write 6 random things about yourself.
Rule #4 ~ Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
Rule #5 ~ Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog. Rule #6 ~ Let the tagger know your entry is up.
Here are my 6 things:
1) I play the hammered dulcimer, flute and Irish penny whistle.
2) I'm 5'7"
3) I'm a twin
4) I used to smoke 
5) My dream vacation is 2 weeks (or more!) on a dude ranch!
6) I have either sang (sung?) or played flute or dulcimer on 8 DVDs.
(I know what you're thinking...those studio earphones are SUCH a fashion statement!)
OK...here are my tags:
2) http://www.homesteadblogger.com/simplefolk
3) http://www.homesteadblogger.com/nurseforlife
4) http://teenytinycabin.blogspot.com
5) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/sisterchicksteph
6) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momto4beauties
Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><
Back Online again....several updates here
First off -- Ron & Jo...if you visit and read this, do email me! We've been worried about how you both are doing!The computer went down again. Apparently, the first computer geek didn't do any sort of system diagnostics and simply wasted 3 days or so re0installing my modem driver.
Well, it went down on me again, 2 weeks ago now. Not that it didn't make for a quiet and peaceful Thanksgiving, and we did get many things accomplished, but still....
This time, I went to the original geek I had planned on using last time. They did a full system whatever and ran several diagnostics. They think the main issue I was having is that my BIOS system was rather outdated. There were 5 newer updates than I had, and they don't simply install with the regular system update stuff this thing does on it's own every so often. He updated me that way, installed another antivirus program then downloaded a new modem driver and viola...we have internet again.
And life picks up with hectic busy-ness, of course.
Just to note: If you sent me an email over the past couple of weeks and haven't heard from me...don't expect to. Just email me again. I had a million emails in my inbox and they are all being deleted as I write here. Please, email again if you need me!
I have all 300# of meat in the freezer...well, minus the 50# of stewing chunks sitting in the kitchen waiting its turn in the canner. My pressure seems a bit off today -- it's taking forever to get up to pressure for some reason. But, it's all cut up, the packing juice blend prepared and jars scalded and waiting.
I am going to get very tired of looking at meat, I can tell that already, and it's just Day 1 of a long line of days to come! We may well turn vegetarian for a couple months once it's all said and done!
We have, aside from meat meat and more meat in the works here, fencing outside we are dealing with. Seems we are being over-run with wayward hunters. We knew they had been around the property, but they have found several signs of them running 4-wheelers clear up to the back of my barn! They are using our deer stands, running their dogs all over and apparently using our private property as their own personal hunting grounds.
That will come to a stop this week. We are getting the signs up so we are more properly POSTED everywhere, and I am setting up some wire along the back access where we know for a fact they are coming and going. If they damage a 4-wheeler with a slightly hidden barb wire fence, serves them right. It will be well inside the perimeter of my property line, where they don't belong. That and some bird shot peppering their hunting expedition should do the trick.
Before anyone takes issue to our methods here, we have a very good idea as to who the culprits are, and they know we don't want hunters here. They know we have young children who enjoy our property, and as they hunt with high powered rifles, they are definitely not welcome here. My own dogs stay on our property, and they are being annoyed with the constant traffic as well. I don't need the aggravation, or the worry of my children being shot while playing on their own land.
To give you some idea of the genius we are dealing with out here, this group was shooting targets last year in their own cleared plot just down from our line. It's their property, I have no concern there whatsoever. It's a free country.
However, they use high powered, long range shot guns/rifles whatever you call them. Where they were shooting from/at, in virtually every direction on the compas, they had nothing but timber land. Literally hundreds upon hundreds of acres going out in every direction. Nothing in line for miles and then some.
Every direction, that is, but they one they chose to shoot in. They set up just the other side of the creek and were shooting directly toward my house. Literally peppering my roof with their shot. Branches and leaves were falling after every shot. Genius, pure genius. In any other direction, they would have had nothing but trees for miles and miles, yet they picked the direction that went through my property straight to my house and animals....and children.
Running a 4-wheeler across a low-lying wire fence is going to be the least of their concerns if we actually catch them on the property hunting, instead of their leftovers and signs.
We also have a lengthy sewing list, as usual. And school work to catch back up on. We are having reading issues it seems. I need to determine where my cut-off needs to be. There is a point where not reading well is a problem, and I think we might be there. I know we took more time with our first reader learning, but I've 3 in the works now and they simply aren't coming along very quicky. I know, homeschooling certainly affords my time in that respect, no hard-lined schedules to adhere to and all, but still...we have been at this enough now there should be a bit more progress I think. Time to re-evaluate The Plan here.
As to the olders, Jennifer finished a decent amount while gone with Dewey the past couple weeks. And Johanna, well, she has her own agenda. She is set on graduating when she turns 15 years old...about 2 years or so from now. She blew right through one grade level already and is just about finished with the next set of math, language and science I bought a couple weeks ago. She definitely needs some more indepth work to keep her coccupied. She easily completes 4 or more lessons a day. Like I said, a girl with her own agenda.
I have a Christmas gift...yes, I know what I said about Christmas and all, but this is different, sort of. I came across a bargain and couldn't pass it up. Dewey said birthday and Christmas gift and I jumped on it! (my birthday is Christmas Eve...I tend to get those 'combined' gifts quite often!). I have a 20 quart Welbilt Varimixer sitting in my kitchen :o) It's huge. It's sitting on the floor right now -- there's no way my counters, besides being far too tall, would accommodate this machine. I'll have to build some sort of stand for it, but for now, it's just sitting there, waiting to be used. We will start selling bread and such soon, and much easier.
The man we bought it from buys out various businesses and such and resells the equipment. He thinks he knows of a commercial oven and stove and is checking on that for me. Dewey wasn't really in the mood to drag along with me to pick it up, but he wanted to check it out first. Well, he has found his new dream shopping warehouse now. This man has virtually everything. If he doesn't have it and doesn't know where to find it, you simply don't need it. He has all sorts of building materials and so on. Dewey enjoyed his trip more than I did I think!
I will get some pictures up this week, but today, the meat is calling!
A busy week ahead....
The week ahead is filled with activities....but fun activities!!!
We are home today...doing our school work and enjoying the bit of snow that has fallen. Tomorrow is my town day...I'm meeting two different ladies to sell them some of our "stuff". I will be so happy to have this stuff sold!!! Then it's off to Wal Mart to return something I bought on Friday, and do a bit of Christmas shopping. Then it's time for my Mom's night out!! It's our Christmas party...we'll celebrate with a good meal, great friends and a round of Dirty Santa!
Wednesday, we're "watching" a friend's BIL. He's mentally at the age of about 5, but is over 50 years old. They are going to the public school to teach an abstinence program (so proud of them!!). When they come to pick him up, we're headed for our milk run. I'm really looking forward to getting milk this week. The gal and her husband we buy milk from moved into a new rental home, and out of her parents' home this past weekend. We have a gift for her and can't wait to give it to her!
Thursday...at this moment, looks like we'll be home as usual that day. :)
Friday is our homeschool group's Christmas craft party. I actually have chosen my craft already! Yeah, me!
Saturday, we're headed to town to see Handel's Messiah at a local church. We've never seen this and are really looking forward to it!
Sunday, is a Christmas parade in town. We watched our little town's parade yesterday....can you tell we LOVE parades?!
So, that's our week....busy, but fun!
We bought our tree yesterday. And brought home a bag full of trimmings to decorate with. Yep, it helps to be married to someone who works there... 
I think we'll get it put up tonight, provided we get some other decorating done today. We have a TON of boxes of decorations...and I do mean a ton....that need to be unloaded and taken back to the attic so we can move around in there! The living room is small...and the boxes just make it feel smaller.
Next week doesn't look as busy...that may be the week we get started on cookies. I also am making a cake for a friend of mine for her grandson's baptism later this month. I need to get her approval on the design.
Lots to do, lots to do...but I just love the holidays....only wish the season lasted longer...
I'm off to make some hot chocolate for my red nosed babes who've been outside trying to play in the tiny bit of snow that fell this morning...
Have a blessed day!!
Vision Forum sale!!!
Go check out the deals at Vision Forum's sale!!!
I could sure spend some major money there!!
The Simple Woman's Daybook ~ #11 ~ 12/1/08
FOR TODAY...
Outside my window...On this cold, gloomy morning the snow has just started to fall. Even as I watch it seems that the flakes are getting a little bigger. Forecasters say we 'may' have up to 3" today. It is - after all - December in Ohio.
I am thinking...that I will miss our wonderful church family that we love so dearly. After 12-1/2 years of making the 70 mile round trip at least twice a week to our church, we have decided to look for a church closer to home after the first of the year. It's breaking our hearts, but it has been confirmed in all 4 of our hearts. I will, however, still attend the Seminary.
I am thankful for...a warm house on a cold, blustery day.
From the learning rooms...We are OFF for CHRISTmas break! In our homeschool, we take off June, July and December instead of August. Our long, wonderful break has begun!
From the kitchen...I'm considering potato soup. My grandma's VERY simple Kentucky Depression-era version.
I am wearing...thick, warm socks, flannel pj bottom and a sweat shirt. It's a cold morning!
I am creating...an empty corner so that Jenna and I can put up our CHRISTmas tree today! Woohoo!!!
I am going...to the local Old Order farm and get my milk and brown eggs before the snow really kicks in. I underestimated how much milk we would use during the Thanksgiving weekend and we squeaked out the last of it last night.
I am reading...Bible; still reading Pride & Prejudice.
I am hoping...that we will find great opportunities for ministry in which-ever church we 'land' in.
I am hearing...the T.V.
Around the house...Jenna and I will be putting up most of the CHRISTmas decorations today! That's ALWAYS so much better than taking them down.
One of my favorite things...good food, fellowship and deep conversation with trusted Christian friends.
A few plans for the rest of the week: putting up CHRISTmas decorations - inside and out, getting Maggie (our dog) trimmed, making some time to spend w/my mother. Unfortunately, it may include a funeral as my 94 year old uncle (my mom's last brother out of 13 siblings) will probably pass away today or tomorrow. I'm praying that the Lord works in ways that we don't understand while he is uncounscious and that somehow he will be Heaven-bound.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
~ CHRISTmas Eve 2004 we had 21" of snow!!
Be sure to enjoy other Daybooks by clicking on: http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/
Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><
What’s Been Coking in my Kitchen?
Prayers for Jeanine Taylor and Family
Could you all pray for Jeanine and her family, they were so kind to us when we were expecting Daniel and they are experiencing a miscarriage. This is so hard on the children as well they were so excited as they had lost one baby stillborn in 2007. Their excitedness when we were expecting daniel was shown in pictures drawen and the gifts sent to us. I can only imagine how hard this is on the whole family. Please pray for her to be able to pass everything on her own and that all will be well physically and that the Lord would heal their hearts.
Jeanine, I am here praying if you read this know that I am so sorry and yet I am so thankful to you Sis.
Your loved and cared for....
Linda, Mark, Faith, Hope, Daniel Josiah...
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