Everybody has a story

Im still kickin

It has been a bit since I last posted.. and I was pretty much overwhelmed at that time.  Things are looking up, course its hard not to feel fairly good when you have a beautiful warm spring day  to be joyful in.   Its hard to beleive they are forecasting snow for tomorrow  lol.. but they are...

DH's back got worse before it got better.. finally a trip to the ER got things moving...  and the final diagnosis was a compression fracture in one of his vertabraes.  He is doing well now and back at work.. other then an occasional stiffness he seems to be on the mend..  In fact today he is up combing the hillside looking for morel mushrooms..  we have had an unseasonably warm winter... well we actually didnt have much of a winter.. but anyway they are popping out .  As he went out the door he left instructions to get steak out as he was planning on finding a boatload.  lol...  I dont expect to see many mushrooms.. but I do have some dehydrated ones on hand just in case  lol.  

Sherell is doing great at school but it has been a rough term... LOTS of writing... but even so it looks like she might end up with another  4 point term... I am so proud of her I can't even express how much...  She is enjoying living on her own and seems to have some  roommates that are just as level headed as she is... what a blessing for her and them....

The hens are laying an abundant supply of eggs now... and we have had many folks interested in buying them... I am still not sure about a garden this year.. but maybe with the new dog around the deer will steer clear of it...

The dog is really just a pup.. he turned 4 months yesterday.   What a source of joy and aggravation he is.. I dont know when I have laughed so much at a little critters antics.   although the other morning I was far from laughing... we woke to a heavy rain, more like a downpour... I let him out so he could take care of business.. he went out long enough to pee and that was it... there was no way, no how he was going back out in that rain to finish.   He ended up messing on the floor....I was not pleased!   I decided since both tanks must surely be empty it was safe to take a shower.

As I was soaping up I heard a thump on the shower stall door.. and when I opened it, who should be looking back at me but the little mutt,  I opened the other side so he could peek in if he wanted.. and proceeded to finish my shower.... the next thing I knew the little termite was in the shower with me.... Cant go out in the rain.. but the shower.. no problem lol

he is growing like a weed... he was 11 lbs 7 weeks ago.. now he weighs in at a whopping 25+ lbs... the other day I had to take him in for his last puppy shot., they want you to hold them while in the vets office...  it was about  like holding onto 25 lbs of excited jello.... This pup seems to love everyone.  lol   Here are a few pics of him . We beleive he is a lab boxer mix.

Enjoying the spring weather

Ok Im dancing... and its raining.. so much so I am about to drown...

I posted about our new puppy.. we have had him a week last saturday, since then... DH has pretty much been off work because of his back... we spent last Thurs in ER, and wens at the Vet because puppy likes to eat rocks...  he also seems to have a senstive stomach to puppy food... Friday I came down with the flu and just now am up and around some...  I was planning on going to work today but by the time I got dressed and got some breakfast I was sweating so badly I would have had to change clothes before I left for work... so I guess one more day.

Needless to say the house is crashing down around me and  I have not the strength right now to push the walls baack up.... I am pretty much on survivor mode, which is do as little as possible and when puppy sleeps I sleep.. DH is not able to help much with him right now  because of his back...

At the ER they did a cat scan and ultra sound,  yesterday he had an MRI done... so hopefully he will have some answers soon.. they did find a few bone spurs on his back which are right in the area that the spasms seem to originate from... sure hope they figure it out soon... He hasnt been able to lay down  since before Christmas... he has been sleeping in the chair.   I dont know how he does it.  well looks like Gus is winding down.. might go sleep for a bit... 

Introducing our newest addition, Meet Gus

We got him today thru the SPCA,  he is a nine week old black lab.   Boy its been awhile since we had a young one around...

Back to work tomorrow..

Sure hope the rest of the year goes better then the start... had to replace breaks and rotors in the front quite unexpectedly on my car, belts on DH but we knew that one was coming.... washing clothes for work tomorrow.. I threw my jeans in.. forgetting my cell phone was in the pocket..  nothing earth shattering just makes you shake your head occasionally and I have been around long enough to know better then to say  "what next"... now I didnt say it...Oh I just remembered what the "what next " is going to be... the dryer is going haywire, making funny noises.  Funny I saw a saying yesterday.. that fits this so well... I need to go find it  lol  Ok it goes

" life isnt about waiting for the storms to pass, its about learning to dance in the rain."

Pretty neat huh?

Anywho,  the waffles turned out great.. and I mixed up some sourdough bread tonight.  I will form it, and cook it tomorrow after work...  I am working on getting my starter strong again.. its been resting in the fridge for a bit. 

I go back to work tomorrow,  It ought to be interesting... 2 weeks off and we will have a new aid in there...so things will be up in the air for awhile...I guess I ought to head that way.   goodnight

Changes happening here and there:>

Right now I am playing with backgrounds and headings on my blog... so some days It might look ok, and others not so OK, just bear with me until I find me.  Its also a bit intriguing to me to go behind the scenes and mess with things  lol

We had a nice New Years.. I did not quite make it to see it in... but it was here all the same the next morning.   Today I am planning on taking down the Christmas decorations... usually I have this done the day after Christmas.. but I am running a bit behind. 

DD left to go back to school yesterday...I will miss her...she is such a sweety... 

I have some sourdough in the kitchen bubbling away this morning to make some waffles.. we will have some homemade sausage to go with it... so I guess I ought to go get with the program.  Have a wonderful day.

Have a Happy New Year

I wish everyone a safe and happy New Years Eve and New  Year. 

We will be leaving soon to go to my folks for a few hours... I will not make it to the new year tonight.. I have been chugging along since 3:45 am this morning... I will sleep it in.

I need some help

Always enjoy Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas,  DD has been home.  It was nice getting together with my family..... We all got together on Christmas eve, and had some really good food, then the kids opened their packages from their aunts and uncles,  I didnt have any really go ideas for them so they all got GC's  and here is how they got them... I made some rectangle size sugar cookies and then  put the cards between two of them.. then frosted them together.. they had to eat their way to the cards..  other then they didnt know for sure there was anything in there:>:

The care packages I made for my family was well received.. I ended up putting in a 3 jars of jam, 1 raspberry, a blackberry, and one called apple pie jam, it turned out pretty good  next year i will make two batches of it.  I also included a pound of homemade breakfast sausage, 6 homemade english muffins and a stick of homemade summer sausage.

We have an adult gift exchange which has a 10 dollar limit.  I wrapped two pkgs up each with 5 lbs of homemade sausage.  They went over well .... The gift I picked up was  I could tell a frame and it was something my mom did... so I knew it would be good.   She is so creative, you should see some of the digital scrap book pages she does all on the computer... anyway when I opened it  it was a picture of my great grandmother  in the background and her very delicious apple cake recipe.... I was thrilled since it fit right into the scheme of my kitchen...

I really enjoy things that people take the time to make... My MIL sent us a box that  I was also thrilled with... she had hand crocheted  quite a few  dish cloths, I use these daily, still using the ones she sent a couple years ago.. and some homemade scouring pads....one of the dish cloths was made from a "camo" yarn lol  DH mumbled something about now I suppose you will expect me to do dishes  lol 

I am very blessed.. I have such a wonderful loving family,  I have a wonderful home, a good hubby, a job I love.  I was up first Christmas morning and  had a lovely cup of tea,  its put out by a company called tazo.. and the tea mix is called "JOY"  so as I was sitting there  having my cup of joy,  enjoying the soft lights of the Christmas tree, and listening to the Christmas carols,  It occured to me just how very lucky and blessed I am. 

I received some really nice things this year, and love all of them....

I have been saving my pennies for a  bosch mixer, since my KA went down  some time ago...  but I have been a bit in conflict because my camera also died... and I just about had enough saved to get one or the other...  Well the  Mr and Mrs. Claus  that raised me,  gave  DH and I a very nice camera this year... both DH and I were thrilled and very grateful and a bit shocked as this was VERY unexpected... so now I will have some new pictures to share... as soon as I learn how to use it  lol  

The only bad things is that DH is still fighting with severe muscle spasms in his back... I think they are somewhat better  bu t not much... He went to the Chiropractor yesterday and he wants him to come back twice today.. and then again tomorrow... I hope he gets some relief soon... he is some better because at least the last two nights he has been able to sleep in bed.. and not in the chair like he has the prior couple weeks. 

We have had some interesting weather the last couple days... lots of fog, and yesterday it snowed... wasnt supposed to but it did.. those nice big fluffy cotton ball kind of snow flakes.. I love to watch them come down... so soft and quiet... I suppose I should go get busy... I would like to take the tree down today and tuck away all the Christmas decorations...  and just do a little bit of cleanup around here... its not to bad right now but it seems to get ahead of me quite easily...

Christmas Preparations winding down

I have tried to stay pretty busy the last couple of weeks... most  of my shopping is done... except for some grocery shopping.. I will go do that today. 

I have been busy making  things for a homemade breadfast package for my  folks and siblings... I have made blackberry, raspberry and apple pie jam.   Home made breakfast sausage,  and although this isnt breakfast I will also include a stick of summer sausage made here on the ole place.   It was my plan to add some homemade english muffins and  a dozen fresh from the coup eggs.... but the chickens arent cooperating, and I may run out of time for the muffins.. but they still might happen... I will have to make them tomorrow...

I knitted a wool scarf for DD and lined it with fleece for added warmth... looks good.   I still need to make a pair of jammies for my little nephew.... I am making 2 batches of candy later today...and that should be about it....

I havent had much sleep lately as DH hurt his back somehow and has been having horrible spasms... he finally listened to me and called the chiropractor and was feeling some relief last night.. at leas he was able to lay in bed most of the night... 

I dont know that I will get on again before Christmas, I want to wish you all the very best Christmas possible and hope you and yours stay safe and  Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!  God Bless you all:>

The loss of a good friend-Jessie

I have mentioned Jessie here a few times... She was a very good and faithful friend to me for 9 1/2 years.   On Dec 6,  she became ill quite unexpectedly .  It all happend so fast... one minute she was chasing her tail and the next she was staggering across the room.   On Dec 7 we had to have her put to sleep.

I have been fortunate to have some very good friends like her in my life... she is the last of the 4 I had... so the house is quiet now... I miss her so terribly.. its hard to make myself do anything,  I have been trying to stay busy but just dont have my heart in it.... She left quite a hole in there...and it still feels quite raw and painful.

Jessie was an amazing dog.. she was a bird dog that could go in the chicken coup while I fed and not bother the chickens.. but let one get out and  me chase it... well lets just say the bird dog  instinct kicked in, and the race was on.  She would just about wrestle you over an orange  or any fruit for that matter.   She would ring the chimes on the back porch to get in.   

 She loved to go fishing and would get so excited when the bobber or better yet, the fish was landed...  We had to keep a leash on her or she would follow the bobber into the water. 

she was always close, always where she could see me...  she was protective.. occasionally to protective... she would not let my FIL close to me..  good judge of character? perhaps.   Jessie was one of the best friends I have ever had.   I will miss her!

A few small changes

I have made just a few minor changes.. I have changed the name of my blog and also the picture.. I am going to try to make a heading that reflects me a bit more.. but right now this one feels right. 

I have stayed pretty busy lately.. with work and the house... My daughter is doing well at school and is going to come home on Wens, I am looking forward to seeing her again... we talk daily but I just cant wait to wrap my arms around her...

I am working towards getting ready for Christmas, I have a scarf about halfway knitted.. it is sure turning out pretty... For my nephews I normally I  get them a gift card for Christmas since they like to do their own shopping and I find some clever way of hiding them... This year is no different  I found a very nifty little gadget to make icecream sandwiches,  I may even forgo the gift card and wrap some cash in plastic and put in the middle of the sandwich... for the adult exchange I will make some homemade sausage.   DD will get a new suitcase, and some  perhaps some pizza making supplies  as well as several lumps of  frozen pizza dough all ready to make pizza, while away at school.  I am trying to think outside the box a bit this year... more homemade stuff.. more useful connsumable things... I want to start a few more traditions.......

The weather here has been somewhat cooler.. we have had some strong storms go thru.. last night the wind was really blowing around out there... The mighty hunters are out again today.. so it is pretty quiet around here... I kind of enjoy a day alone now and then... I have a picture to post of the 50 year anniversary if I can get it on...

Bittersweet day..

It has been an awesome day, watching my daughter take steps out on her own... There was a time that I beleived she would never live on her own... but here she is  out on her own...  I won't lie  there have been a few tears today.. but mostly of joy. It took her awhile longer then most kids...she is such a special, sweet young woman...

We got to Klamath about 10:30 and  got her unloaded and checked in... we went to lunch and I could tell she was ready to be on her own.. so we said  so long and she headed in....I met one of her room mates.. they should do well together lol...  there is lots going on at the college this weekend... I just called her and  they were all watching a movie... I think I will let her do the calling...  She sounded very happy...

Big day tomorrow

Well tomorrow is the big day.. tomorrow night I will officially be an empty nester.  I think it is really sinking in tonight with DD.  The neat thing is  DD got a letter today from the college and they have all kinds of things going on this weekend there... she is busily packing as I type this.

I seem to have caught the creeping crud, it has a name but  that was easier to spell. started out with sore throat, went to full gunky head... I probably have had fever to.. but cant seem to locate the thermometer,  I just hope and pray DD does not get it...

We split the kindergarten class and so far is had been SO much nicer... much easier to manage.. other then we had a sub today a very new sub that has not had any experience with special ed.. I am afraid feeling the way I do, I was not as tolerant as I should have been... Teacher has the crud to and has been told to stay out for at least 2 days...

I have two jugs of Kombucha brewing.. one with   black/green tea combo, and one with dragon pearl combo...it comes up really fast so I have to start trying it soon. the first batch I made got way to sour.. the second is good... My first batch was made with Pu-erh tea.. and I REALLY liked it... going to give it another shot soon...

Kombucha tea

I finished brewing my first gallon of kombucha tea.. and I really like it... much better then what I have been buying from the health food store...;. I just hope the next batch gets done before I run out.. Im afraid though there will be a day or so between the two.... I would have written about it sooner.. but , well I have just been plain brain dead by the time I get home in the evening....

Work started a week ago last tuesday and our little Kinders started monday...   Oh my.. they will either whip me into shape or kill me in the process....  this week has been one wild ride... next week they will be split into a AM and PM class. which should help.. It seems to me that this year the problems are much more severe.

We are on the count down.. one week from today I will move my girl over the hill... I seem to not be quite so teary this week...(just to darn tired, I suppose).  The really nice thing is that she is really not moving that far away... about 70ish miles... and with all the technology these days... it shouldnt be to bad...  do I sound convincing:> 

Short night, makes for a long day

I woke up this morning about 2:30 ish.. to my brain clammoring, Im not sure whats up.. I have not had this problem for awhile... but It could be a couple of different things... I am moving my DD to college in a couple weeks time..and while I think I am very excited there is a part of me that is very sad, to see her fledge,  yesterday there was an ad on from walmart , I think it was... Showed mom and daughter showing up at the dorm... well guess who started crying... hmmm guess who is crying now... This apparently is bothering me more then I thought it was going to.

Also my first day back at work is Tuesday.. and while I am kind of getting my brain wrapped around the thought .. I am stil not ready to go... I LIKE STAYING HOME AND BEING A HOUSEWIFE!  Now if DH would just agree.   I am dreading going back in some ways because of the nightmare it was last year... and also because we have way to many kids in a way to small room..   Our Maximum was supposed to be 12 we have 16.  I am looking forward to seeing some of the kiddo's from last year.. and I know I will come to love the new ones coming in.

I harvested our onions yesterday.. we got quite a few... once I found them among the weed patch we call a garden.  I think perhaps I have about enough tomatillas for another batch of enchilada sauce.. boy was it good... I will freeze this batch...  still getting plenty of beets.. in fact I probably should pickle some before I eat them all.. I have been using them in juice...more about that farther down.  I went to my brothers yesterday and got my moms old pickling crock.. I am going to start some saurekraut(sp) we have several good heads of cabbage in the garden..

I have started juicing a bit.. it started more to help my gallbladder which it has.. but now It also helps my energy level... my favorite so far is... 1/2 large cucumber, 1/2 lg beet, 2 apples, and 1 carrot... and sometimes no carrot.. pretty good stuff.. well I think so anyway...

I have also been drinking Kombucha tea.. I think its helping me as well.. I have been buying it.. but currently have my own brewing... so not much longer... kind of an interesting process, I can see the baby starting to form at the top.  The flavor took awhile to grow on me.. I am  hoping the homebrewed tea is not quite as dry or bubbly,  when I bought the starter kit.. I also got some tea called "dragon pearl tea"   It is VERY good.. and very soothing...  I have read that making Kombucha tea with  the dragon pearl tea, will help anxiety... I guess I ought to make several gallons at a time:> 

I guess while I am talking nutrition I should say that I bought a flour grinder,  it was rather inexpensive, as wheat grinders go,  and while there is no way to adjust for the courseness.. it does grind a nice  fine flour... I think it will work very well for us and I am looking forward to  making more whole grain treats around here...

We have had something getting at our chickens again, I dont know what.. but they got one of our old hens,  one of the few I had left from lasts years group, and one of the favorelles that we worked so hard to raise up..they for some reason are tricking little chicks to raise... sure are pretty though.  Out of 5 we had 2 left and now just one.. DH brough them home.   I guess I ought to go ahead and post this.. it has turned into a 2 cup (tea) post.  Have a nice safe holiday.

What a beautiful day

This morning has been so nice.. coolish, almost that fall feeling... there has been a breeze ruffling thru the windows every now and then.. that feels good.... I have a  fresh loaf of bread, still hot out of the oven that is smelling  soooo good.. Dh went fishing and DD is housesitting so its just me and Jessie.. pretty quiet except for the occasional  rooster crow.. he is much better at it now, the hens  are cackling occasionally... and of course Jessie snoring.  it makes one feel very calm and content.

I cooked a chicken last night.. on the wings and thigh/leg sections I put some of the homemade peach BBQ sauce.. it was pretty good.. I just baked the breast and back section, then pulled all the meat off.. I mixed it with a small bit of the green enchilada sauce I made the other day and then this morning I made  chicken enchilada's and have them soaking in the fridge until  dinner... and there is enough for DH's lunch tomorrow.

I have been reading the book "Nourishing Traditions" and have started to incorporate some of their ideas into my life,  I have made and used the beet Kavass, and am also soaking my grains before  using... what grains I am using.   I also got that green enchilada recipe from that book.. I did  make a few changes to it...

I have been quite curious about Kombucha Tea, I read a post on here not long ago and had actually been researching it long before... I finally got brave enough to order a SCOBY and also some tea,  It seems that  certain teas do things   Like Dragon pearl tea is good for phlegm and anxitety.  I will let you know how it goes... I would love to hear from any Kombucha brewers/users out there what they like/dont like and what they feel it has done for them..

I have also decided to do away with ALL non stick pans.. I have tons of cast iron and alot of stainless steel so there is no use in keeping those nasty looking pans around... I dont know that  DH will be thrilled with this..

Yesterday I canned 18 Qts. of Peaches and  6 pints and 6 half pints of peach BBQ sauce.. got it put up today...

I also have been playing around some with juicing.... I have been juicing, a  small beet, a 1/2 lg cucumber, a apple and one large carrot.. its makes a tasty juice.   So far that has been my favorite..  anyone out there have any other combinations they enjoy and would like to share?

I also did something else a few weeks ago.. just for me.. I got contacts... it has been pretty interesting trying to find the right lenses,  They either feel good and I cant see well or they feel like I have  A HUGE piece of platic in my eye but I can see ok...  I have one that is distance and one for reading/up close... so I feel a little of balance all the time... but its getting better... I did also get a new pair of glasses..  I do find that when I am doing work on the computer the glasses are much less tiring... although today I have pulled the computer up closer and it doesnt seem as bad...and these dont fee like they are going to fall out all the time... oh welll... If these dont work I will probaby give up on the idea.. I gues I ought to get busy... Have a wonderful day...

mostly summers end stuff going on aroud here...

Yesterday I made green enchilada sauce.   A few days ago.. a yummy peach BBQ sauce.. and I have some peaches i still need to get in Jars...  I have raspberry's in the freezer to make Jam with but that can wait until the coolness of Autumn hits...

the only other really exciting thing is.. that DD is going to be able to go away to school this year like she had planned... she wont be that far away.. just 70ish miles.. but it will be good for her and me (I think:)

DH and I  spent last weekend over at the coast, crabbing with my folks.. it was a nice break.. from the heat.. and we have some nice crab in the freezer to enjoy this winter.

50 years of marriage

Can you imagine being married that long?  Well Mom and Dad made it on the 2nd of August.  They have been working up at a boy scout camp all summer so they wanted to celebrate it at the rendezvous we go to over at Myrtle creek Oregon... a week later.

They wanted to exchange new rings, and wanted us to plan it all the only stipulation was that is was to be kept light and they did not want to renew vows, so this is what we did.  My brother Mike, became the Officiant,  many years ago at a rendezvous he presided over a fake trial and his camp name since has been "the judge".

He wrote out a small talk about how us kids brought them thru this 50 years and the lessons we taught them and tried to teach them... it was quite light and quite humorus..  We then took the new rings they were to exchange and passed them around, each person saying something or relating a story while  holding and warming the new rings.   After the telling of stories  they took the rings and exchanged them.. Dad can finally wear a ring after years of being a mechanic, he is retired so the danger of smashing it on is not as great... Moms ring had broke after being cut off a few times... I think from her fingers swelling while she was pregnant... now this didnt happen with me or Mike, so it had to been the two younger ones that caused her so much aggravation and swelling:>

There were 21 of us there... all their kids and one short of all their grandkids.  Moms brother and his wife. and My FIL and MIL were both their as well.  For dinner we had a feast... I cooked  several prime rib roasts, in the dutch ovens... and we had twice baked potatoes, fresh picked corn, fruit salad,  sourdough biscuits, green salad... and a huge cake that was cooked in the dutch oven as well.   My SIL, smart woman that she is brought a  signature frame, everyone in attendance signed it and  they will have  their choice of pictures to put in the middle... there were many taken... 

The rest of the rendezvous was alot of fun as well...  I spent a good amount of time  cooking..I made sourdough bread most every day... and  the last day I used the dough and made cinnamon rolls... they turned out really good...  I also bought a new primitive looking pair of tongs for my dutch oven cooking... DH and DD went out and shot the rifle trail...DH also did the candle shoot and long gong... we visisted with friends we have made over the years... some of them we only see at this rendezvous... I got to know my MIL and FIL a little better...

Its amazing that this big field shaded by old myrtle wood trees in the middle of a working dairty ranch, turns into a bustling little community of friends and like minded folks... even it if is for just a short time....

this N that

Jim is back on his feet and doing well... he has more energy then he has had in ages...  a few days ago my 11 year old nephew got bit by a black widow and had a horrible reaction... he spent a day and a half in the hospital, with severe muscle cramps and horrible pain... I had no idea that those spiders would cause such a reaction... he is much better now... in fact they are leaving on a trip tomorrow..

Jim and I made 20 lbs of breakfast sausage the other day.. and  froze 5 1 lb pkgs of cubed pork for his famous chile verde... I think this is the best batch so far... we like to make our own sausge because we can control  the fat that goes into it... and we make it VERY lean... we do our hamburger the same...

Our egg production is picking up... between yesterday and today we got 3 full size eggs and 5 pullet eggs.. one was green.   I also harvested our garlic and have it hanging to dry now... we have a good supply of onions to gather and dry for storage..but that will have to wait until we get back from our rendezvous this next week...

We had some pretty wild thunder storms last night... and the retardent planes have been flying all day... thankfully we didnt have any storms today... and its supposed to be cooling down... it has been awfully hot the last couple weeks...

I need to figure out our food plan for the next week so I can get the ice chest packed... I dont think I will have to buy much... most of it we have on hand anyway....

We are also celebrating my folks 50th anniversary... we will have a big dinner saturday night...   I need to head for bed... my eyes are  looking at the back of my eyelids   

One itty bitty green egg

I went out to make sure the chickens had plenty of water as its supposed to be about 103 today.   Down in the corner of the coop was a small itty bitty green egg... I suspect the others will follow suit soon... It wont be to long before we have eggs coming out our ears  lol....which will be nice... my folks love fresh eggs and so far we have not had many we could share with them.. our older hens are only laying 2-3 a day... we dont have many older hens.. something hit them pretty hard last fall... so it will be nice to have the abundance of eggs again.

I dont know why I get so excited when they start laying but it sure does excite me to get those first little eggs

I got the house closed up early today so hopefully it will be later in the day before the A/C kicks on... it sure can run up the bill... Well I have my list of things to get done... so I better get started...