New Post May 21, 2009

I am adding a separate page here that will help me to keep track of the harvest.  Judging by my past record of doing updates, that page will probably get more action then the main page, but you just never know. Maybe by having to make a pointed effort to come and update the Tote Board, I’ll  also start updating the rest of things more.

May as well start now, with a few random tidbits.

We all just had the most delicious homemade strawberry shortcake for lunch. Yep, only that. What????  It was probably more nutrituous then the hot dogs or processed food they would have eaten!  I prefer my strawberries over warm fresh bisquick biscuits and not pound cake. (Not that I’d turn down pound cake if it was offered, let’s not go crazy.)

The baby is apparantly enjoying his strawberry infusion as well, judging by the activity going on in there.  We are not settled on a name. We have right now two front runners, and the family is split on a favorite. My vote counts as two, but I can’t decide either. The door is still open for a third option to come along and win out.  We have decided on a Jungle Book theme for the baby’s space (too small to be a room!) and so he has been nicknamed Mowgli.  With any luck, we’ll choose something before it’s time to file the birth certificate.

School is out around here, but not for us. We just got back this week from 2 weeks off, and we’ll take mini breaks all summer long.  It is better this way. They don’t forget as much, and they don’t get so bored and squirrelly either. We all prefer a routine.

A water fight is about to commence outside.  I have a naked child streaking around looking for a swimsuit, so I guess I better go find it for her.

Expansion Project March 12, 2009

It has come to my attention that there may be some people who do not know that we are expecting a new baby in the fall! We are all very excited, except Alex who is less so because he is not thrilled at the prospect of having to potentially lose his birthday this year and share it from here on out. (My due date is 9-19) So everyone cross your fingers for the baby to come a couple weeks early or late. (9-9-09 sounds like a perfect date to me!)

In addition, we are keeping busy around the farm as well. We are just waiting for the final frost so that it will be safe to get the early gardens in. Keith was busy all last week preparing the fields while the weather was nice. They should be ready to go as soon as spring arrives.

He’s also been busy preparing the chicken house and we’ve been making plans for our renovations on the house. The boys huge room (16×20) will be split into 4 smaller rooms. Nicholas in particular is excited to get his own room, and I get a small space for myself as well for sewing or crafting.

I can’t imagine anything else anyone needs to be caught up on.

Winter Weather Advisory. December 1, 2008

As much as I’d be excited for accumulating snow, we will probably only get wind, cold, and flurries.  This is particualrly annoying since we were here on Saturday:

We have some friends who were happy to host us for Thanksgiving and be adopted family for the holiday. They are Canadian, so this is not really a holiday for them, but it is now! (Canadian thanksgiving is in October).  April doesn’t really enjoy cooking,  and since I had the entire meal already bought with the idea that I’d spend the day with family, I just carted the whole kit and kaboodle to Venice, FL and made the whole thing there.  It was chillier then expected, but we still went to the pool and two different beaches. The water was really too cold to get into, but of course the kids did. We went to Manisota Beach, where we had gone when we visited in September, and the picture above is from Siesta Key. I can’t wait to go back to Siesta Key when the weather is warm, it is a really really nice beach. The sand feels like silk and Keith helped the kids make sandcastles.

I got a nice little tan, but no one can see it since we are bundled up now. Keith was supposed to go SCUBA diving with Andrew, but had a bad episode and couldn’t go. He was really disappointed, but they plan to go again next time we visit.

The citrus is just ready and we brought home some oranges and grapefruits from the trees on their property.  I have not tasted them yet, but Keith said they are delicious.

We scored a trampoline at the black friday sales. When in Rome, right?? We honestly have always been against the idea of a trampoline mainly because we feel they are dangerous, but all of our kids’ friends have them anyway, and at least if it’s ours we can set rules. I’d rather have them get hurt here then at someone else’s. (And that’s a “when” not an “if”. Sigh) Furthermore, it is theraputically good for the younger two, and Nick is learning his flips for gymnastics on one at the gym anyway and now he can practice.  Who knows, maybe K and I will get on it enough to count as exercise.

I got a ton of hand me downs from a friend for Em.  I’ll be sending at least half up to Maddie.  My friend also gave us a like-new bike for Em too, which is great since we were planning to get her one in the spring.  Looks like that may just end up under the tree.

Back to School August 18, 2008

Yep, we got back into the swing of things with back to school. We had a few scheduling bumps, but that will get better this coming week.

We had some fun and exciting events!

On Tues, Nick and Em went for a trial lesson of gymnastics. They both loved it and we will be starting in October.  Nick has decided to put karate on hold for a while, in order to build up his strength with the gymnastics. The coach is a very good fit for him, I think we will all be pleased. Em will be in her element, she is so fearless and loves to flip and fly.

On Thursday, we went for a hiking adventure. We went to the Cherokee National Forest. WE stopped at the Meadowview Lookout Tower:

THis is looking back towards Greeneville. We think we can see this tower on the horizon from our house on a really clear day.

After the tower, we made our way up, up, up, 45-min-up a gravel winding road to the trail head of Max Patch Bald.  Listed as “Novice”, this hike is over a cleared grassy-yet pretty steep-incline. At the peak it’s at 5000 ft and has an excellent 360 view that is not captured in these pictures at all!

We picked a quart of the most lush beautiful blackberries at the top. The bushes were close to the ground and had not been picked over by bugs, unlike the ones we have at our house.  It was another torturous trip down to get back home.

When we got home, K went to pick up this:

Hurray for freecycle! We are all very excited to learn to play. I have ordered a learn at home system to start things off. Music lessons are so expensive!!

Today we went to the Davy Crockett Days festival at David Crocket State Park nearby.  We only had about an hour before the folks started packing up, but it was small and we all still had a good time looking at all the campsites and referring back to the Little House books which we’ve started reading.

This is just a little girl that Em was playing with. she reminded me of “Carrie” )

The campsites all made such a pretty tableau:

This week we are planning a trip to Wonderworks in Pigeon Forge.

Guess what?
I love my new camera!!!

Lovely, Fabulous Rain June 26, 2008

Oh Joy!! The rain!!

We spent more then one night walking out to water the corn field by hand in buckets and jugs. I felt like that one episode of Little House where Laura is huge pregnant but can’t let the orchard die so she waters until she drops. Except I”m not pregnant, and dh did most of the walking. )

Garden’s are coming right along. DH  cut another bit of ground for a late corn crop.  We have also put in a second round of peas, the first batch didn’t take well. We’ve only so far been able to harvest squash, which is sooo salty good fried up.

We fought through the neck high weeds and brambles to get to some blackberries in the field next door.  It was painful, but worth it. We got about half a quart, freezing now.  Keith’s uncle gave us 3 sugar pumpkins that will have to be cut and puree’d here before we leave if we can.

Leaving Sunday for Mi just after the choir’s patriotic performance.  We’ll be gone all week.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Hug your favorite Vet!

 

Spring flung! June 1, 2008

Here are some pictures of what projects have been done this spring (all by my talented and clever husband) and a few other pictures too.

This is the rain barrel water catchment system. The three barrels are plumbed together, with one attached to the gutters on the house. There is a spigot for a hose hookup, and an overflow (which is needed! These things fill up fast!!) It is gravity fed since dh built the wooden stand for it. We are able to get the water out to the corn field, but not to the veg. garden since the veg garden is at higher elevation.

Veg garden. You can only see the potatoes in this picture, but we also have carrots, snow peas and squash and watermelon. We plan to put in a different variety of peas in a few days.

Corn. You can see one row really well, but it’s all coming along nicely. We should have a nice crop of it.

The treehouse, always a work in progress. We have been saving up for a slide, and then I found this one at a yard sale for $7!!! The other new addition is a climbing wall on the other side. The next set of plans include a second floor and a zip line.

Not a project, but cool eh? Not even a “Michigan Strawberry” this one was grown in Irwin TN. Neat for me to find, and it would be a nice logo picture for a Michigan strawberry farm.

Just some weeds…..

Furrocious Queen Fuzzyface

***Please see my about me page for creative commons license****please do not use any pictures without asking***

The Quest May 28, 2008

My quest for the right solo song for the 18th is still ongoing. After dedicating last Sunday to the task and making no progress with the small accompaniment library I have, I contacted my church music director about coming in and browsing the churches library. I will be leaving shortly for that, as soon as Keith and Alex get back from grade rewarding ice cream trip.

In the meantime, having exhausted Rhapsody on Sunday, I have been listening to Pandora Radio. If you have not checked out this website, you should. I realized that I enjoy the arrangements of the group Selah, and so I went and added to my extensive radio listings and created “Selah radio”. Pandora will choose and play music by Selah, and by other artists similar in style and content. No downloading, but it’s a great way to browse while surfing. I have a list now of a few ideas should I not find anything in the church library. My favorite station is the Mozart station–I like to have it playing while I am writing or working. It is non-distracting and whitening.

I’ll keep you posted on the quest for the perfect song.

EDIT: My choice

Memorial Day May 26, 2008

For the most part, today I am going to be cleaning. We have invited over some family members for a cookout later, and realized it’s been far too long since we have had company over–the house the pits!

As much as I hate housework, I do love to cook and entertain. I have plans for new recipes. Some are already finished:

I have never made my own potato salad. I tried this recipe and as of last night, it’s totally delish! Sweet and tangy, yum yum! I made it ahead of time because I think that potato salad is one of those things that is better after it flavors through a while.

I just finished a new recipe for homemade ice cream and it’s in the deep freeze hardening. We’ll see how the texture is after freezing, but the flavor is the best yet. AND–it’s no cook!

I am also planning these, but haven’t gotten them done yet:

Strawberry Limeade

Apple Strawberry Spinach Salad

Also on the menu is hamburgers, corn on the cob and watermelon.

We told the kids we will finish up the fireworks that we couldn’t do all last year because of the drought. May as well use them up since we will be in MI this year for the 4th and they have different laws there.

Holidays are about family to me. I feel like of all the things I miss from living near family, celebrating holidays is the number one. Growing up, every holiday was spent with one side of the family or the other. For so many years now, we’ve lived away from any relatives. Therefore, more often then not, holidays were just like any other day–except maybe we didn’t have school if it was a weekeday. Now that we live here, I thought things might be different, but that seems not to be the case. It’s one of those things that I have to tell myself that even though I think my kids are missing out, THEY don’t know they are, and they will just have different memories of childhood then I did–and that’s ok.

We are all excited to host a quiet event today though, with K’s relatives. I am sure it won’t last very long, but at least it’s something. Besides, I had a reason to get my house clean and try out new recipes.

Best Intentions May 24, 2008

I am starting afresh here. No reason not to, it’s been AGES since I posted.

After the neverending winter boredum, spring has been project intensive, esp for Keith. We have 3 gardens, and he designed and built a rain catchment system, in anticipation of a drought. It is mind boggling how little rainfall it takes to collect 170 gallons of water! He is catching off only 1/4 of the roof, and yet one rain has it all overflowing.

We have a cornfield, and a garden with potatoes, carrots, peas, squash, and watermelons. So far, only the potatoes are doing anything, and I am quite sure there is no way we’re ever going to be able to eat that many potatoes! He does such a great job keeping the house going, both inside and out. Which reminds me….

:Laundry break:

We are trying to become more self sufficient and cost efficient. (That’s a nice turn of phrase!) Following the lead of some of K’s relatives, we have decided to shut down much of our house at the breaker box. Any thing plugged into an outlet that has a light (clock or led or whatever) draws power, and therefore, it gets shut down when not in use. Hot water heater, TV, microwave, etc.  It’s made a big difference in our relatives electric bill, so we decided to give it a shot. We have not gotten a bill yet, but we’ve been watching our meter, and it’s been a big difference, so there must be something to it!

Speaking of energy savings, Keith wants to begin making airfoils for a windpower company. Windgenzen.com has a low cost class to learn to make the foils and then you can become a vendor for them. He is very interested in any sort of alternative energy, both wind, solar and bio-fuel. Since he also enjoys woodworking, this was a real fit for him. He’s excited to give it a try. He is gone at the moment getting some free Bamboo plants. He wants to make things out of that wood, like toy bows and the like. I think it will add a fun jungle feel to the treehouse.

My attempts at cost efficiency begin with recipes and ideas found at Hillbilly Housewife.com. I have been learning ways to save money on the food bill by cooking things from scratch as much as possible. I am trying to get away from those 30 min quick meals too.  We plan to buy into a cow and get it slaughtered, and the meat should last us a year roughly. Last year, we got a quarter of a cow and it lasted us about 6 mos. Not like we strictly ate beef, but I didn’t buy any either!

In the fall, we plan to buy chickens. I don’t know how we’ll feel about killin our “pets” for meat, but we’ll have the eggs, and we can sell them for a good price.

The children are out enjoying the weather and having a squirt gun fight. We tried to go to a family fun fair today, only to find out this was the wrong weekend for it, whoops!

Want Ad January 8, 2008

from an email forward:

POSITION :

Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma

Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Long term, team players needed, for challenging

permanent work in an,

often chaotic environment.

Candidates must possess excellent communication

and organization oral skills and be w illing to work

variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends

and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

Some overnight travel required, including trips to

Primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!

Travel expenses not reimbursed.

Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

The rest of your life.

Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,

until someone needs $5.

Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.

Also, must possess the physical stamina of a

pack mule

and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat

in case, this time, the screams from

the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.

Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,

such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets

and stuck zippers.

Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and

coordinate production of multiple homework projects.

Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings

for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.

Must be willing to be indispensable one minute,

an embarrassment the next.

Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a

half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.

Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Must assume final, complete accountability for

the quality of the end product.

Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and

janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION

None.

Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,

so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.

On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!

Offering frequent raises and bonuses.

A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because

of the assumption that college will help them

become financially independent.

When you die, you giv e them whatever is left.

The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that

you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,

no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and

no stock options are offered;

this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,

and free hugs and kisses for life IF you play your cards right.