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We have been busy tendin to the gardens, picking flowers for our mason jar bouquets, and baking pies...summer is so full of blessings. Tonight my dh and ds spent the evening leveling a portion of the ground out back for a new swimming pool they purchased today. Hopefully it will be up and running tomorrow, as it is supposed to be record breaking temps of over 100 degrees.
My 4 yr old started a vacation bible camp this week, and is working on learning to read and doing a project on Liberia, Africa this week, for our monthly homeschool friends get together. My son is into his second week of carpentry school. He has two weeks to go for this summer program. We have been blessed with lots of time to spend as a family lately as well, and have had play dates, and fellowship with special friends. One fun thing we did last week was get together with four other families from our church for a dinner night. The cool thing about this is we were randomly grouped together, so you never know who you will end up with. Each family then takes turns having everyone over each month, until the four months are up. We do this approximately twice a year at our church. It has been a great way to get to know people from our church. When we arrived at the first dinner, we had no idea who would answer the door! We had never seen these people before, because they attend a different service from us. They were a wonderful older couple who had a delicious BBQ for us, and were very friendly and fun! The other couple was a young family with 3 girls, and the other family consisted of one single, early 20's female. We all had a great time. We will be going to the other young ladies home next month, then we will host everyone in August at our house.
Well, that is our update! Hope to be back here soon, as I want to be able to post more regularly!
Michelle |
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The other night I was home cooking dinner. I decided to use a new seasoning I had in my pantry to spice up the chicken I was cooking. After I cooked it, I cut off a small peice to taste it. I then began getting the rest of dinner ready. All of a sudden I noticed that my knees were itching, I thought nothing of this until I felt a very strange sensation on my elbows. They were itching intensely as well. I then looked down at my knees and they were bright red!! I was not imagining this. I then looked at my elbows and they were bright red too! I ran into the living room to show my husband this and to tell him that I was having a very odd allergic reaction to the new spice I just used. We were both laughing, as this was so strange. Then my daughter noticed that my ankles were also turning red, and they were! The intense itching and redness of my kneecaps, elbows, and ankles lasted about 15 min. then disappeared. I looked at the spice which is called Herbamare. It is organic and contains sea salt, celery leaves, leek, cress, parsley, lovage, garlic, basil, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and kelp. I have had most of these before, so I am thinking it could have been the lovage, leek or cress, since these are not herbs I recall eating in the past. I have never experienced anything like this before. It felt very strange. I had to find another option for dinner that night!
To your health, Michelle |
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Many years have come and gone since we bought this old farmhouse, and we always envisioned a small farm with children. Each year we worked and worked fixing up the house, and yard. Then we were blessed with two children, and adding farm animals to the place just seemed like it would be too much work. We have finally jumped in. Now we have a dog, numerous cats, a bunny, and 7 chickens, and hope to get two goats. There might be a bit more work, but it has really added so much to our lives. It has become a lifestyle. The kids are involved in taking care and nurturing them, and it is something they look forward to. When we get goats they will provide milk for our family, and the chickens will provide our eggs. The kids will be involved in all of this. We have a routine now that is teaching them resposibility, when each morning we head out to do our "farm chores".
Gardens...this year my now 17 yr old son has decided to plant a garden. He grew up for the first 11 years of his life in an orphanage where tending a large garden was a way of life in his country of russia. You don't see lawns in russia. All of the land a person owns is taken up by anything they can possibly plant to live off of. There is no extra space for grass. They use every inch they can. He was so surprised to see how americans spend so much time and attention on a lawn. His hands look like that of a much older person. He has spent so many hours doing this type of work. He used to hear "no work, no food" and that was enough to keep him out tending the gardens for hours upon hours. He didn't want anything to do with gardens until this year. He wants to grow this garden not only for us, but to share with our friends, which is a big motivation for it this year. He has such a good heart.
I also spent time in my flower garden this morning and planted a hanging basket for my husband. He loves flowers and has purchased all of the flowers this year, but hasn't had time to plant them yet. He just built a planter box that will hang on the outside of our porch.
Well, it has been a pretty productive day so far, but there is so much more to do! I feel so blessed today. My children are making me laugh and we are just enjoying our time at home as we thank God for planting us here on this little peice of land in our corner of the world.
Michelle |
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Here are my children hangin out on the front porch last year after we had it built. We weren't quite done painting it at the time, and still aren't! I am trying to learn to post pictures to my blog, as Tara was so sweet and kind to come over the other day to help me figure this out! It was easier than I thought it would be. Now I hope to be able to make this blog a bit more interesting!
More later... |
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I needed to post an update on our new baby kittens, since my last entry ended in the middle of the birthing process. Only two had been born then, they were both pure white with little pink noses, then two more were were born, and all four of them are identical! I did a little research, since they did not look siamese, like the mama, just all white, but I found out that siamese are often born that way. By day two, their ears had all turned grey, and their noses went from bright pink to black! They are still very white, and oh so cute!!! We can't wait until they all start opening their litlle eyes, start walking and becoming playful! What fun. I just love baby animals of any kind. I always have. I will take some pictures of them tomorrow and try to get them on here...stay tuned.
Michelle |
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I love spring, and the birth of new babies! From the window of our sun room, and the front porch, we have a view of our neighbors pasture and cattle. I don't know what breed they are, but they are a beautiful rich brown and white in color. The other morning, one of them gave birth to a calf, and my husband saw part of the process on his way to work, and a couple of hours later as my daughter and I were driving by, we saw the mom caring for it, as it was standing for the first time. We saw it attempt to take its first step, then fall on wobbly legs. At that point it decided to curl up and rest for awhile. Later on as I went by again, I saw the sweetest picture. They were lying side by side, cheek to cheek, and the calf had its paw on top of its mothers. They were bonding. So sweet.
Right now, as I type this, my daughters cat, Snowflake is giving birth to a litter of kittens! This is her third litter. She is a mixed breed, but looks like a siamese with beautiful blue eyes. She is a very calm, loving cat, with a sweet temperament. With both of her other litters, her kittens were brown/grey tiger striped. This time the two she has so far are both pure white! They are going to be beautiful, and may also end up with blue eyes like her. She had three kittens with her first litter, four with the second, so we will just have to wait a few more hours to see how many we end up with this time. She is such a good little mommy! More to come... |
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This was my lunch and dinner yesterday! So healthy, and delicious, I had to post it!
Black Bean and Avacado Salad 2 T lime juice 2 T olive oil 1/4 cup plus 2 T cilantro leaves 1 jalapeno pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped 1 clove garlic, finely minced 1/2 t salt Dash of stevia 1 can black beans 1 and 1/2 cup diced cucumber 1/2 cup diced red onion 2 avacados, pitted, peeled and diced Shredded lettuce
Process lime juice, oil, 1/4 cup cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, salt and stevia until smooth. Mix beans, cucumber and onion and 2 T cilantro leaves. Toss with dressing and avacado just before serving and serve on a bed of shredded lettuce. So cool, and refreshing. Yum! |
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The trees and flowers will come to life With dawning of the spring, And birds who long had southward flown Return and sweetly sing. The fields will lose their barren look And turn so bright and green. The earth will seem to be reborn And smell so fresh and clean. Such is the wondrous hand of God In His majestic way, When winter gives way to the spring And brightens up our day. ~Harold F. Mohn
It is a beautiful, sunny, but chilly spring day today. I have a day at home all day, and Miranda and her cousin Olivia are playing together keeping themselves busy. Since she doesn't have any siblings close to her age, it is a blessing that they get along so well and love to be together.
I have been reading about all the new beginnings people are experiencing in their lives on the other blogs. New growth in the gardens, new babies of all kinds, goats, kittens, chicks and real baby people! My friend Erika just gave birth to her first child, a little boy two days ago! What a blessing.
We have a cat who will be having kittens again soon, and I am anticipating the blooming of the new tulips (my favorite flower) in our front yard that Miranda and I planted last fall! If you look closely, spring will always bring new and beautiful blessings in many forms all around us!
Spring Blessings to you!!! |
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This looked like fun, I think I'll try...
Appetizer What is your middle name? Would you change any of your names if you could? If so, what would you like to be called? Shiree-my mom heard this when she was young, and made up the spelling, and always wanted to name a daughter that, then when she was pregnant with me and on the way to the hospital, the song "Michelle my bell" came on, and that's how it ended up as my middle name instead! Cotton because it's soft and comfortable, and anything that requires no ironing. I have an ironing pile that is about 5 yrs old. I can never seem to get it done.
Ironing Wow, it must have been traumatic, I can't even remember it!
In my sunroom, looking out over my front porch and down the dirt road. I see my new patio furniture |
, the hay bales in the garden, and an apple orchard far off in the distance. |
7 Blessings:
I woke up feeling like counting my blessings this morning. Here are some of the things I am feeling blessed with right now.
1. I got up early enough to feel the sun on my face, it now looks like it might be fading away for the day.
2. Our home. It is really turning out to be a little farmstead. I love working on making it more and more of a home, and a small farm for our family. My four year old already calls herself a "farmer" and she's got big plans for this place.
3. My family. We have relatives coming to stay for a few days. They will be helping with some repairs, but it will be good to just visit with them.
4. Today is my Dad's birthday. He is turning 62. I get to celebrate with him tonight.
5. Our jobs. My husband and I both work part time at jobs we love, so that we can also be home to homeschool, and nurture our children as much as possible.
6. Friends near and far. I thank God for the friends he has placed in my life here, and the ones I have far away that are very special to me too!
7. God's word. God's word is true. It keeps me in line. The power in it is real. I don't know what I would do without it. Thanks to God for all He has blessed me with, and I pray that I can be a blessing to someone today!
Michelle |
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Today is the five year anniversary of the adoption of my son from Russia. It is so hard to believe that exactly five years ago, we were sitting in this little russian courtroom in the city of Vladimir, Russia. Kolya was escorted in by the orphanage director. He sat there with them, while the judge questioned us. He asked us things like what religion we were, and was happy to hear that we were christians. I remember things being said like why we would be interested in adopting an 11 yr old. I also remember numerous times hearing them say that he wouldn't be wanted by anyone in their country. I remember the director sitting there in tears. I know she knew he was special, and even though she said he was very difficult, I think she believed in the good, and very sweet part of him. I continue to carry that on, and often remind myself of that day.
I will never forget driving out of the huge city of Moscow, away from the crazy traffic, the 16 lane highway going through the city, and out towards the airport. For the first time, we had a taxi driver that did not drive like a maniac. I felt a sense of calm. As my husband and I sat in the backseat with our new 11 year old son seated between us, we all stared out the windows in silence. At that moment, the driver reached toward the radio, turned it on, and began to switch stations. He stopped on a song I somehow recognized. I had heard it once before I thought. Maybe a few weeks earlier back in the U.S. It was a song called "Thank-you for loving me" that had recently been released by Bon Jovi, of all people. It was beautiful, and as I stared out the window, taking in my last glimpses of russia, a country I had grown to love, I knew it was God who was playing that song for us. Our son could not yet communicate to us in a language we knew, to tell us what he was feeling at that moment, but our amazing God was able to do it for him, in only a way He would. It was one moment in time, I will never, ever forget! God is so good! |
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Okay, Snowberry farm is in it's beginning stages. We have been here 11 years, and have always dreamed of a little farm for our children and ourselves. So, then the kids came, and now that Miranda is 4 it seemed the perfect time to begin. So, today, we finally purchased our first baby chicks! It was so much fun. We got four of them. Miranda picked out two Auracanas, a yellow one, and one that is brown, black and yellow. She named them "Strawberry and Blueberry". Kolya chose a Barred rock, and gave it the name "Outlaw", and I got a teeny tiny little banty. She has feathers on her feet, so her name is now "Miss feather foot". On our way home, we stopped by a feed and seed place, that is also the neighborhood post office. We were going to pick up two more there, a couple of rhode island reds, but they were all sold out. So, we may check back next week. For now, we are just nurtuing our four tiny little feathered friends, and praying that they will make it.
My dh and son got out the straw bales today and put them in the garden area. He will be getting them ready to start a straw bale garden later in the spring. Should be interesting! We still have many, many projects to complete around the farm. We need to finish painting the exterior of the house as the weather hopefully warms up over the next few weeks. My dad and brother are coming to help pour a patio for us soon, the barn needs a paint job, and we need to get a fence up so we can add some more little critters. Apparently it will be lambs. Miranda was telling Daddy that he needed to leave the hay bales in the barn for the lambs she is getting soon. Hmmm? Don't know where she thinks she will be getting these lambs!
My goal is to post some photos to this blog soon. It is time I start learning a little more about what I am doing here!
More soon... Michelle
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I just recently read some great info at this blog: CountryLiving. This is totally new to me, but sounds great. Straw bale gardening, what will they come up with next? My dh was so interested, he spent the next few hours researching this concept online, and is now determined to do this with our next garden. He even bought some seeds already, and plans on starting them indoors soon. I didn't think I would have time to plant a garden this year, but hey, we gotta try this. It will be his project, but I will try and keep you all posted.
Well, it is late here, but I wanted to post this for my friend tnschaffer and anyone else interested in trying this. Let me know how it goes!
Michelle |
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Mayo
6 egg yolks 2 C oil, safflower, or canola 1/4 C fresh lemon juice 1/4 C water 1 t sea salt 1 t dry mustard 1 t garlic powder 1 t parsley flakes pinch of stevia
Beat yolks for 2 min. in a food processor, or with electric mixer. Pour 1 cup of oil into a measuring cup. Very slowly drizzle a thin stream of oil from the cup into the yolks, while beating at high speed, until all has been used; mixture will become thick. Drizzle in remaining cup, still beating at high speed. Add lemon juice, water, and all other ingredients, mix. Spoon into a wide mouth quart jar with a tight fitting lid. Refrigerate until ready to use.
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I had to make a 2 hr trip to the Seattle area the other day to take my husband to see a back specialist. On the way home, I made sure we stopped at Whole Foods. I bought a few things, then I was talking to one of the employees and she told me that they don't allow any artificial sweetners in their store. I was so impressed. If you order a coffee at their espresso bar, they have stevia and xylitol there along with the cinnamon and nutmeg. I only use stevia-as it is the healthiest, most natural sweetner I have found, so I was so excited! Although I haven't used xylitol much, I know for me, it would be on okay choice. I gave up nutrasweet (aspartame) over 10 yrs ago, after learning from my nutrition teacher how toxic and horrible it is, and I have shared much of my information with family members. My dad did listen at one point, but then went back to drinking diet pop. In the meantime, I have seen so many people suffer around me with symptoms I know are stemming from an abundance of aspartame in their system. My dad just called me yesterday and said that he stopped drinking diet pop again about a week ago because he was having horrible itching spells where his skin was itching like crazy. He thought it could be the diet pop, so he stopped drinking it, and it went away. He then drank one more a few days later, and the itching came right back, so he said he is done with it. I also know someone who was having night terrors and other symptoms from it. She took it totally out of her diet, and has been fine since.
Tonight I got home late from running errands around town, and my family had already eaten. I had an organic spinach salad with tuna, boiled egg, avacado. The dressing was vinegar and sugar free lemon and chive by Annies. It was sooo good! This is a typical meal for me. People that have known me a long time cannot believe I eat like this now. I used to be someone that could not pass a cookie, candy, cake, or anything sweet without shoving it down my throat. I had huge sweet cravings, especially chocolate and mochas. I no longer do. I also weigh 40 lbs less than I have for the last 4 yrs. I am finally over the hardest part of changing my diet. It's getting much easier. I used to find it so hard to cook from scratch. Tonight I also made my own mayonnaise to mix the tuna in. This was hard at first, none of my batches turned out, but through trial and error, they are now turning out wonderful! I will have to post my recipe for this. So, for those of you out there thinking it is too much of a switch, you can cut out sugar and bad fats from your diet if you decide to. The withdrawls were difficult, but coming out of it on this side is so worth it!
To your health! Michelle |
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Here's a recipe I tried and it was very yummy and healthy!
Coconut Curried Vegetable Stew
1 1/2 T olive oil 2 med onions, chopped 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced 4 med red potatoes, peeled and diced 1 diced red or green pepper 1/2 med head cauliflower, cut into bite sized pieces 2 cups frozen cut green beans 1 to 2 t grated fresh ginger, to taste 2 to 3 t good quality curry powder, to taste 1/2 t turmeric One 15 oz. can coconut milk 1 cup frozen green peas, thawed Salt to taste
1. Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add the onion and garlic and saute over med heat until the onion is golden. Add the potatoes, carrots, and 2 cups water, and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer gently for 10 to 15 min, or until the potatoes are about half tender.
2. Add the pepper, cauliflower, green beans, ginger, curry powder, and turmeric. Continue to simmer very gently, covered, for 20 min, or until the vegetables are tender.
3. Mash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon to thicken the base. Stir in the coconut milk and season with salt. If the time allows, let the stew stand for an hour or so before serving.
4. Just before serving, heat the stew and taste to correct the seasonings. Stir in the pease, and cook just until the peas are heated through, then serve in shallow bowls.
Pass around chopped cilantro, if desired.
Enjoy!!!
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CHOSEN...a prayer
Oh, Jesus, I fail so much. I am not the mother I dreamed I would be. I carry the image of her with me in my mind and often wonder why she can be so hard to find.
She is beautiful. Some days I feel ugly from the inside out.
She is patient. Some days I have shouted at my sweet children before it is 7 am.
She is loving. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed I want to run away and never come back. I get too focused on myself to love-wondering if I will ever matter?
She is centered and always has her priorities in line. I can go from desperately wanting a quiet, clean and orderly house, so much that I turn into a drill sergeant, wishing my children would hurry up and grow to be more responsible, and in the very next moment crumble at the overwhelming joy these small children bring to my life, a joy so staggering I wish I could make time stand still.
She has all the answers and always knows just what to say. Sometimes I think my brain will burst from all the questions these children are looking to me to answer. Jesus, they are so bright they amaze me and sometimes I am too tired to answer and sometimes I wonder if I have what it takes to teach them all they will need to make it in this world.
She is godly. Some days I don't read my Bible and sometimes I fall asleep when I pray. Sometimes I forget these children are watching and I lead them the wrong way.
She has well behaved children and others notice and admire her for her mothering. Sometimes I am embarrassed by my children's behavior and the things that they say. When they fight with one another, hitting, screaming, and calling each other names, when they disobey in public-or are rude in front of others. Sometimes I worry that others are watching and thinking I am not a good mother.
She remembers everything. Sometimes I can't remember the words I need to finish my sentence or which day I signed up to work in preschool, or when my sister-in-laws birthday is, who walked at 10 months and who at 9?-and where is that paper I wrote it all down on? Oh, Jesus! Please don't let me forget the way their sweet, newborn breath felt upon my neck.
She is certain of the future. Some days I worry that I don't have the ability to get us through the dinner hour-healthy, whole, and still loving one another-let alone until tomorrow. Sometimes who they are becoming worries me and I wonder if this is a result of my failings, who will they be when they're grown, will they grow old, will they still love me? Some days I think Jesus, couldn't you have chosen another?
(This prayer was written and read by Laura Pickett at our MOPS 2005 Christmas tea. It was so powerful, and touched so many moms there. After this, moms were given the opportunity to come up and share. A sweet young pregnant mom came forward. She was touched to the point of tears, and shared that she had never been part of an organization like MOPS, and was so grateful. She also had just moved here from New Orleans, due to the aftermath and losses of Hurricane Katrina. It was such a touching moment! Just as Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus and to raise Him to fulfill His unique God given purpose, we are not different, our call is the very same. We have been CHOSEN by God to be the mother of our children. It is our call to raise them to fulfill their unique God given purpose. No matter what our mommy dreams are, or our own agendas, these children are God's children. We have simply been CHOSEN to fulfill God's divine purpose, just like Mary.)
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Last sunday our local seventh day adventist school had an international food fair, and I stopped by to see what they had. It was great! They had booths selling ethnic food of all kinds such as Italian, russian, alaskan, Indian, mexican, etc. It was all vegetarian, fresh, homemade and delicious! It was a blessing to me since I can't eat out anymore, but I was able to find many foods there I could have! It kinda makes me realize how eating healthy and fresh is okay for my body, but eating the way the majority of Americans eat, and the availability of what is out there and easy to find just cannot be tolerated by my body anymore. Wonder how I got in this predicament? Stress + years of eating convenience food with an abundance of processed sugar is my theory.
The international food fair was a wonderful experience. Not only was the food healthful and good, there was entertainment and it was just an overall good learning experience, and something I plan on going to each year. I think it would be a great field trip for homeschoolers to attend and I plan on taking my kids next year.
Healthy eating to you!!!
~Michelle |