The Newest Member of the Family

I'd like to introduce you to Pooch, or Sir Pooch as he will be known in Fairy Tale Land.  Pooch joined our family about a week ago.  He had been living with Grandpa and Grandma but had a problem.  He liked to run with the wrong crowd.  Peer pressure was more than he could bear, and Grandpa was afraid there was too much influence coming from the wrong side of the tracks.

Since Grandpa and Grandma were concerned about his future, and because we have a lot of space on the farm, along with experience with wayward teens and dogs, they asked if we would take their beloved Pooch.  Of course we agreed.  All of our kids (except Maiden) love Pooch.  Maiden has decided she is allergic to dogs, especially big ones.

He is a really good dog and very smart.  I think he will be a much better dog than our last one.  We were concerned for the chickens and sheep, but Sir Pooch pays no attention to the chickens.   He chased the sheep once, but The King told him no and Pooch immediately obeyed.  He has not tried to leave our yard to find friends, nor has he tried to chase a car.  We are quickly falling in love with the sweet canine.  For now, we continue to keep him chained when we are not around.  Soon we hope to have our perimeter fence completed so Sir Pooch can freely guard our land.  Welcome to the family Poochie! 

Past Post Clarification

I fixed a blog post that didn't make sense to "Anonymous".  Actually, after reading it again, it didn't make sense to me either.  I was trying to share two things in one post and didn't get my ideas out clearly. Anyway...I fixed it.  Hope it makes more sense.  Click here to be directed to the post.

Blessings

Getting Ready for the Garden

I have finally gotten all the seeds started for our garden.  This has taken a few weeks.  First we ran out of potting soil, then decided we should plant some hybrid tomatoes along with the heirlooms.  After many trips back and forth to town, this task is complete.

 

We have many varieties of tomatoes this year.  A mixture of heirloom and hybrid.  We have never planted heirloom, but really liked some a friend of ours gave us last summer.  

I saved seed from some of my favorite heirlooms from that friend.  I hope we will get results from them this year.  If the fruit of the seed I saved works to be of good quality, I plan to save heirloom seed this fall as well.  I have never saved seed before and am wondering if cross pollination will be an issue.  Only time will tell.

The King got me started by mixing my potting soil with water and then into the trays.  That's the part of the job I do not like, so I am thankful for his help.  Along with the tomatoes, I also planted a variety of basil, peppers, and eggplant.  I saved half the eggplant seed to see if it can be directly sowed into the garden.  I've never done eggplant before, so this is a new experience for me.

(Yes, that would be me working in my pajamas.  I do my best work in jammies.)  Another new thing for me this year is perennials.  I planted delphinium, bee balm, hollyhock, red poppy, purple coneflower, white coneflower, lavender, shasta daisy and lemongrass.  

Side note:  I want to infuse lemongrass in vodka to see if I can get a lemongrass antiseptic type cleaner.  It's just an idea I got when I was in California.  I have found a lot of ways to use vodka in my cleaning (and no, I'm not drinking it while cleaning).   Last spring I could not clean my sister's wood floor without leaving streaks.  I used vodka which evaporated quickly and the floors looked great! Recently I was able to get some washable marker out of dry clean only fabric with vodka...no stains left behind.  It sounds weird, I know, but it's my new miracle cleaning product.  Anyway, I'm excited to make my lemongrass cleaner.

Here is our setup for the seedlings.  This sits in The King's office.  The florescent lights each have one warm bulb and one cool bulb in them and the timer is set so the lights are on for 16 hours per day.  This seems to be working.  The kids take turns spritzing the dirt and young plants to keep them moist.  The larger plants need more than a daily spritz to keep going.

Now to get them all growing, hardened off, and eventually transferred to the garden.  I'm getting excited for warmer days!

Maple Syrup Field Trip

Today our homeschool group went to a local county park and learned how to make maple syrup.

First we had to hike out into the woods to find the maple trees.  Our guide told us that boxelder trees could also be tapped for sap to be made into syrup.

First he showed the kids how to drill a hole into the tree.  He said you could drill 1 ½ to 3 inches deep.  He showed us holes from last year and explained that he needed to stay about 6" away from those old holes.

The sap immediately started running out of the tree.  We were able to taste the sap to see if it was sweet.  It was tasteless and looked a lot like water.  But, after touching it, it did feel sticky on our fingers.

Next he hammered the tap into the tree.

Here is the bucket that catches the sap.  Just minutes after tapping the tree, there was about ½ cup of sap in the bucket.  40 gallons of sap will produce one gallon of syrup.

Here are two taps running into a bucket.  He told us if we wanted to tap our own trees we need to make sure we use food grade tubing and buckets.

Next we headed to the syrup shack where they cook the sap.  Duchess is in the dark purple coat on the right.

I had to run ahead of the girls to get a front shot.  I thought they looked so cute holding hands.

Squire is checking out the Gator.  This is what they use to haul the sap to the syrup shack.

In the shack, they cook it over a wood fire for the first part, then they move it into the next area to be cooked over gas.

This is the gas cooking area.  The reason they cook it over gas for the last part of cooking is so that when the syrup is done, they can turn off the heat immediately, stopping the cooking process.  When cooking over fire, they have no way to stop the fire, and could potentially burn it if it continues to cook. 

Here is our whole group of kids.  We had to do a little coersing and threatening to get them to all pose together.  They preferred gender segregated photos. 

Here I am with Squire, Scribe and Duchess.  I left Maiden and Prince Charming home.  (Not alone.)

Of course, we thought the best part was the free samples of maple syrup they handed out at the end!  We are maple syrup consumers in our house.  It costs about $16.00 a quart, so when I serve it I am always saying, "Don't be wasteful, this stuff is expensive."

Scribe couldn't believe that they would just 'give' everyone a 3.4 ounce bottle of syrup.  He said, "Boy, they spent a LOT of money on their free samples." and made sure everyone in the group knew it.  On the ride home the boys talked excitedly about being able to taste it the next time we made pancakes.  Duchess didn't bother waiting.  Hers is nearly gone.  She drank it right out of the bottle.  

Guest Blogger--Prince Charming

Hi, my name is Prince Charming and I am 2 ½ years old. My mom is letting me be a guest blogger today because I have become a very good photographer. She wants me to show you some of my photos.

First we will start with a self portrait.  I love to take pictures of myself.  Usually I just get my feet, hands, or belly button, but this time I was able to get most of my face.  I like that you can see some food in my teeth.

I love my cars.  I thought you might like to see how I set them up.  "Lighten Akeen" is the car in the middle.  I like the movie 'Cars'.

 
In this photo, I moved the cars from the table to the floor and put "Lighten Akeen" at the end of the line up.

In this one, I put the van in the middle and "Lighten Akeen" on the opposite side.

Now they are back on the table, in the same order, but this is a back view.

I changed the order of them once again.  I am good at car portraits, don't you think?  My talent doesn't stop there.

I also like to take pictures of my mom.  Here she is on the treadmill.  I sit by her when she walks and runs.  I laugh a lot at her because she lets out loud "UH's and OH's" when she is working out.  Sometimes she says, "No pain, no gain."  I have no idea what she's talking about. 

Here is a picture of her feet and legs.  I like to put my cars on the treadmill when she is running.  They move really fast.  Sometimes mom stumbles on them (which I think is funny).  This causes the safety magnet pulls away, and then the whole treadmill stops running.  After this happens about three times,  she yells and tells me to go away...making me cry.  I just don't understand why she's so sensitive.  One time she fell off the treadmill after she tripped over a big truck I put on the belt.  I thought that was really funny.  She didn't laugh at all.

Occasionally I take random photos.  Here is a nearly empty bag of tortilla chips.  

But my true passion is in photographing cars.  The little blue car is  "Thally".  She was in the movie 'Cars' too.  

Well, that's all I have for today.  I'm sure I'll get a few hundred more photos to share with you really soon. 

"Thanks for letting me be your guest blogger today, Mama!  I love you berry berry much."

Ready for Spring

Spring is not officially here, but the warmer temperature is making us feel like it is.  Yesterday after church we pulled out the mud boots and took a walk.  I wish I had a way to play for you the concert of song birds who entertained us on our trek...and a way for you to smell the freshness of spring in the air.

See the bottom of Duchess' boots?  It's just a little glimpse of the color that will overtake the lawn and trees.  I am so ready to see God's beautiful colors of spring.

I bought new mud boots this year.  Girl ones.  Why, you ask?  This is just a theory, but I am thinking these may save wear and tear on my socks.  I have two tween age boys whose feet are the same size as mine.   In the past we have had the same style of boots and they don't always care if they are wearing their own boots or mine.  They wear them barefoot...with dirty feet...which makes my white socks really dirty the next time I put them on.  I am pretty sure neither one of the boys will want to been seen in Mama's polka dot boots.  I'm hoping this experiment works.

Me with Squire, Scribe and Duchess out by the garlic patch and some apple trees.  We are excited to see these things begin to bloom and grow.  We had a good friend who planted the garlic last fall and will share his bounty with us in exchange for the use of our land.  What a great deal.

Here is a better view of the size of the garlic patch.  Those two good lookin' guys are The King and Scribe.  I can almost smell the garlic now...fresh pesto...garlic bread...Alfredo sauce...Yum!  I can hardly wait.

I Love Farm Stores

Our local Runnings store moved to a larger location this week.  It was the place to be in town.  Many people were checking out the newer and improved version of their favorite farm store.  I needed to purchase tomato seeds to start indoors, and couldn't resist seeing Runnings Farm and Fleet for myself.

There is something about shopping at a farm store.  First of all, it reminds me of where I grew up.  Everyone I knew was a farmer.  I feel nostalgic the minute I enter Runnings.  Everyone there is friendly.  People don't put on airs or pretend to be someone they are not at a farm store.  Everyone can find something in common with other customers.  Interesting people are all around and best of all, strangers strike up conversations with you no matter which section of the store you are in. 

I have been in the bolt section looking perplexed when a man came to my rescue, "Do you know what you are looking for?  Let me help you out."  I have been contemplating chicken feed when a grandfatherly figure approached and gave me a lesson.  I have been seen looking at Carhartt clothing when someone I have never met informed me about the quality of Carhartt. 

The first interesting couple I saw yesterday was in the snack aisle.  They looked to be in their eighties, and the husband sat at a nearby picnic table waiting for his wife to make her selections.  "These cookies are a good price, aren't they?"  I agreed with her.  Then she noticed my shopping basket and decided she needed one too.  Off she went in search of a basket...leaving her husband to watch me do my shopping.  Minutes later she came back pushing a cart.  She told her husband, "I couldn't find a basket."  Her husband pointed to me and said, "She found one."  The woman looked at me, raised an eyebrow, then said to him, "Well, I couldn't find one.  Push this.  Let's go."  He immediately followed. 

As I headed toward the garden seeds, I couldn't help but wonder how The King and I would be at that age.  I'd probably be bossing him around a farm store too.  And he'd probably point out to me some younger woman who had no problem finding the shopping baskets when I couldn't.  

I didn't have long to ponder my old age because a man, who was a few years older than me,  noticed I was purchasing tomato seeds.  He told me, "I never have good luck with growing my own.  Do yours survive when you plant them outdoors?"  I told him we didn't have problems.  "Oh, I wonder what I am doing wrong."  After a long discussion, I was finally able to diagnose his problem.  He had never hardened the plants off before planting them outside.  Ah, a light bulb went off and he thanked me over and over.  I was a little surprised I could help him out with my meager amount of gardening knowledge, but happy to know that one more garden in the area may survive due to a little problem solving conversation at the seed display in Runnings.

Then while walking through the store, another man carrying a big bag of dog food, noticed my shopping basket of seeds.  "It looks like someone is planning for spring."  This turned into a conversation of how cold this week has been, how nice it is going to be, and how we will all be thinking about gardens next week at this time.

Leaving the store I thought about how many times I shop for groceries or clothing and never have conversations with other customers.  It's just not the same.  People don't look in my cart at what I am purchasing.  They don't care.  Or they don't dare.  "Oh, I see you buy 100% cotton panties...do you launder them in a special way?  Mine always seem to lose their shape."  Or, "I see you are buying macaroni noodles, tomatoes and hamburger...looks like someone must be having goulash for supper."  

No, I don't think those conversations will be had at the other places I shop.  They are treasured conversations one can only find at a farm store.  If you are ever feeling lonely, or just need some adult interaction, I suggest checking out your local farm store.  Maybe I'll see you there!

No Naked Drawings

This is Maiden's reaction when I told her to look in the mirror one morning after she woke up.

The photo has nothing to do with the following kid quote...I just liked the photo and wanted you to be able to see Maiden's face when you read it. 

Maiden (after having drawn a stick person):  "Mom, how do you put clothes on people you already drawed?"

Update

We're both okay!  

Thanks for your prayers.  Both my sister and I were given good news.  She's just a little lumpy, and the lump my doctor felt was not really a lump at all.  My official diagnosis:  Dense Breast Tissue.   In other words, my boobs are dumb.

I am glad I went to a breast clinic.  The surgeon I consulted with really put my fears about breast cancer to rest.  Everyone on staff was extremely helpful, and so thorough.  I never felt rushed which was very impressive.  I can't praise them enough.  And to make it all even better, they served me tea in a china cup with a saucer.  Lovely.  It almost made me forget what I was there for.   They will get many referrals from me!

Praising God,

Prayer Request

Yesterday I went to my doctor.  I have been having some pain in my breast.  I thought it was because Prince Charming is nursing only once per day.  The doctor felt a lump.  For those of you who don't know, breast cancer took my mother's life.  Today would have been her 61st birthday.

The first person I called was my sister.  After we cried together, she told me she's been having some breast pain too.  She called her physician and was seen yesterday as well.  Strangely, she also has a lump of concern and will be seen by a specialist on Friday.

Today I go to a breast clinic for a breast ultrasound.  Other than that, I don't know what else will happen.  The doctor yesterday told me he thought it felt like a cyst.  I pray he's right...or better yet, that whatever he felt was nothing.  I am more than a little anxious about this right now, worried both for me and my sister.   I covet your prayers for both of us. 

Blessings, 

New Fence

The King has been working on a new project around our little farm.  He is putting up a new perimeter fence.  Our power company was replacing poles last fall, and The King talked with the power crew, expressing interest in the poles.  The power crew gladly dropped them off in our driveway rather than hauling them somewhere more remote.

I was none to happy to have a driveway full of poles.  I was very skeptical about his idea.  In fact, I complained a time or two about the irritating pile of logs blocking my path when trying to back out of my parking space.  He had visions of more animals grazing on our property.  I had visions of a great bonfire.

And now I must eat my complaining words, because he was right again...he followed through with his plan and now has fine corner anchors for his new fence.   Oh, I should clarify that last statement.  He now has fine corner anchors that were absolutely free.