New Beginnings

While we were eating supper (without Daddy ), Mary showed me her corn on the cob and asked what the red was. It looked like blood to me, so I asked her to show me her smile. Sure enough, there's a hole where there used to be a tooth! She's lost a tooth at the youngest age of my four children. She's quite proud of that missing tooth!

So, we called Daddy to tell him. He was so happy to hear her sweet little voice. Sure do miss him at supper time. We've always been a family that eats supper together every night. We get a kick out of magazine articles that recommend a family eating together at least two meals per week. HA! Well, it sure is different eating supper without Daddy. We don't like it much and will be oh so happy when he's home at night again!!!

Talked to Mom as well. She got to talk to Mary and Natalie. Natalie sure takes after her big sister. As soon as she starts talking on the phone, she starts walking. For Rebecca, it's walking and waving her arms around. While we were in NY, she made a phone call...but we were at the pool, so she had to go to the patio area to be able to hear. She was just standing there, so we knew she hadn't gotten through yet...then all of a sudden, the arms were going, so we knew she was talking!

Last night I overheard a conversation between Rebecca and Mary that just made me so proud. Mary tried on my glasses and thought she looked oh so cute. Then she tried on Rebecca's. Now, Rebecca's prescription is at least twice as strong as mine. When she got them on, she asked Rebecca how she could see with those glasses. Rebecca asked her how she could see without them. So, Mary answers....

APPARENTLY, I DON'T NEED GLASSES.

Now, I ask you, how many five year olds could use the word apparently correctly in a sentence? Yep, that's my babe!!!

Our realtor came today. We're not ready to list, but are thankful for the visit. Gave us some ideas as to what to do to get ready to list and when the best time would be to actually list for sale. Also he gave us a figure for an asking price that he felt we would be able to get. It's not as much as we had hoped for, but much more than what we paid four years ago. Now, the job is to get things cleared out of here, make some improvements and see where we stand in a few months time. It is exciting to be in the moving mindset again.

I'm about to update Quicken. Payday tomorrow!!! Have a great evening!

Little Bear has made herself a new home. . . . . .

Toby, do you want to play with me?  We can share your cage!

Blessings!

   Well, as with all things on a farm, nothing ceases to amaze me:)

   As you all remember, our duck hatched out a total of 3 chicks. Two of which, lived. Now she's had 2 ducklings! (As a good duck should):P

  These ducklings are the cutest things ever. They were born 2 days ago and were so yellow the first day that it looked like someone colored them in with a yellow highlighter:P

These are just hours old. Actually I'm pretty sure that the wet one was not quite an hour. We take them from the mom because we don't want her to abandon her nest before they are all hatched out. Once there is a lull in hatching the duck will abandon the nest and crack all the eggs open to eat what is inside of them. Sometimes this means there are partially formed babies in them which means a lost "harvest" as it were. We do raise these for meat so it's important to have as many appear as possible:)

All dry, happy, and spoiled:P

Along with the two living chicks, it feels good to see our farm expanding on it's own. Isn't that what we strive for? Self sustaining? Well, with the Lords help, of course:P

Now if we could just hug our Nigerian Dwarf enough that she will finish up our breeding year:P

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

The flu bug snuck up on me during the early hours of the morning, and boy have I been sick.  I have slept most of the day.  My mentally handicapped son just couldn't understand why I was in bed.  He came in several times during the day and grabed my hands and tried to pull me to my feet.  I am so thankful that I feel well enough tonight to sit up and post.  I couldn't go out and water the garden and it has been so dry.  Tomorrow I hope to be able to freeze corn and peppers.  Life is wonderful.

More of my scripture study gleanings.

Make and keep covenants

Humility

Might One of Israel

Listen

Hearken

Baptism

Obey commandments

God is our strenght

The LORD is faithful

All flesh shall know that Jesus is the Christ

Be obedient to the commandments

Endure to the End.

Good afternoon, sisters! I can't believe it's Mid July already! I just picked up my Trevor from his youth camp and I'm glad to have him home!  The rest of the house is quiet as Gram took the others swimming at our local swimming hole :)

We are heading out in the morning to go to our friends home for a weekend visit and skiing ;) Thank God for little blessings!

We are still going thru our prairie primer and enjoying it. We are going to make some butter when they get back from swimming. Will serve over our home grown corn tonight for dinner ;)

On A Country Homemaker we are about to have an apron swap. Is anyone interested in joining us? Feel free to sign up at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ACountryHomemaker

I'm excited on how well our My Space alternatives are doing ;) Please feel free to check them out with the links above :)

Here's a nugget for today

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be trouble, neither let it be afraid.  Jphn 14:27

Makes me wonder what they know and ain't tellin, (bad English I know.)

Read here:

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=70281

Bless all who pass this way!

Amanda <><
II Corinthians 5:7

OK...I'm going to see if I can get this to work 'cause the link is LONG!

Staples is having their annual Teacher Appreciation Days.  I take advantage of this every year.  In case you don't know, homeschoolers CAN get a Staples Teacher Rewards card/key ring tag!!  Be sure to let the clerk swipe it at every visit.

Here is the link that you can go to and find out the date of your local Staples' Teacher Appreciation Day.

Hope this works...

http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/tad_2008/?storeId=10001&cm_ven=Glamour&cm_ite=teacherday&cm_mmc=email_retail_TRW-_-CORP_TRW-_-TRW-_-TeacherDay&cm_lm=ex:WOLFHOMESCHOOL@NETZERO.COM

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

I am picking and pickling cucumbers as they come. I usually buy a whole lot of pickling cukes from a gal who grows rows and rows. BUt I actually had success with my cucumber patch this year. I planted and replanted because of the earwigs and I ended up with lots of plants despite my worrying... So I am pickling. And I think I like mine better only because I can pick them smaller or larger depending on what I am after. I don't use vinegar at all, I only use lemon juice.  People really like them and my kids friends always ask for them. The garlic cloves disappear first!

Dill Pickles

2 1/2 c. lemon juice

1 1/2 quarts water

1/3 c. course pickling salt

Bring to a boil.

Pack jars with grape leaves and dill and garlic cloves, cucumbers and top with more dill and garlic cloves. Pour brine into jar leaving 1/2 inch space. Cover with hot lids. Boil in hot water bath 5 minutes.

Let the jars sit for a month or so before using to blend flavors.

Just a tip if you have to buy your cukes:

It takes 1 lb of cucumbers  to make a quart jar of pickles.

I will get those other recipes up when I get a chance....

Here is a family favorite I thought I would share w/you.  Our family has had the pleasure of going to Holmes County, Ohio ~ the largest Amish settlement in the world ~ a few times.  Once my dh and I enjoyed the most wonderful long weekend at an Bed & Breakfast there.  The husband had grown up Amish but left them to marry.  Their B&B was built by his Amish family members and looks just like an incredible Amish home.  The difference being that the whole 1st floor is made up of lovely, themed guest rooms (we stayed in Grandpa's Room) w/a good 1/3 of the 1st floor being a HUGE country kitchen and a wonderful country gathering room w/several tables and chairs (for those incredible breakfasts and freshly made pie in the evening!) and a relaxing living-area w/a fireplace, piano and comfy couch and chairs.  There is also a wrap-around porch.  The family that funs the B&B has the entire upstairs as their own "house."  That, of course, is a private area.    It's been a while since we've been there, if you're interested, I believe it's called Miller Haus.  It sets on the highest knoll of Holmes County.

Anyway...one of our incredible breakfasts while there was Amish French Toast!  I have made this from-time-to-time ever since!  If you try this, you will be in food heaven!    Let me know how you LOVE it! 

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Amish French Toast

eggs

milk

butter

bread

syrup

powdered sugar

~Mix w/fork 2 eggs and enough milk to cover (this you will do as necessary for each slice of bread)

~Melt butter into med/hot skillet (do this for each serving.  IF you MUST use margarine, use one that is non-hydrogenated like Earth Balance – I have to do this for one of my girls)

~Crack egg into skillet

~IMMEDIATELY soak a slice of bread in the egg/milk mixture and lay on top of the egg in the skillet; fry for about a minute or so until bottom egg is cooked through.

~Flip egg and bread – together – and let bread toast on other side.

~You MAY need to flip over on each side again until egg is fried to your satisfaction.

~Move egg/toast to a plate and top w/syrup and powdered sugar.

~ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

I spent all day painting yesterday! I didn't realize painting a red wall would take soooooo long and so many coats of paint. It turned out nice and I hope that Vanessa is surprised and happy with it. It's a huge change from the pale blue paint and white bedding to the darker richer colors. The light tan color is showing more yellow in the pictures than it really is. Found the bedspread set at the Goodwill and she was given nice new sheets and a throw pillow. I just need to get a few things for the walls and a little curtain.  It's out with the little girls stuff and in with the "grown up stuff".