Country Girls Heartstrings Our Friendship set on Fire with Love

P.S.

{ 11:11, Friday, February 26, 2010 } { 1 comments } { Link }

If any one would like more info on Juice plus.... my site is www.tracygardnersharesjuiceplus.com

100th Blog and Juice Plus Challenge

{ 10:57, Friday, February 26, 2010 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Hello to all.... I can not believe this will be my 100th post, I have been here for so long but I guess I just rather read than write.... I am so happy to have found this site. I just love it. I just signed up to take Juice Plus and I am so excited. We took Juice Plus in 2002, when we found out my youngest daughter had a bone tumor, It was not cancerous, thank you God. But to help her heal and give us the fruits and veggie we were lacking we took the product, then as life would have it my dh got laid off and money was such an issue, we stopped. Well I do not know why or how I could have put that on the back burner, but now my dh and I want our health to be as good as it can. So we are starting a new. I do however believe that we do not eat well, so this is one area that we are going to work on. Wish us luck.....
Today I am going to the Dr.'s, I am going to have all my blood levels ran and then in a month or so I will do it again to chart the process of my Juice Plus journey. I will let you know how the results are. They best thing is it cost less than a cup of espresso a day. Lord knows I waste so much on less important things. I really hope this helps me to feel better and have more energy.
Grace and Blessings around.... :)

Hello

{ 10:32, Wednesday, February 24, 2010 } { 6 comments } { Link }

Today I am happy to have logged on, I just read a post from Gabbie, and she helped me to realize, how blessed I am. Live in the moment for we never know what is coming next. I have been going through a rough patch, and doing a little to much self pitty.... so off the pot I go, and onward and upward for me, with the grace of Jesus, I will live life in the moment.
I want to thank all the wonderful women here, that blog, and share their lives. You all motivate me in so many ways. So THANK YOU......have a great day, it is raining here, but I will not complain. We have had a wonderful winter, and I know all you east coaster have been hit so hard. I am going to head off to my loom room and weave some today. Grace and Blessing to All

Oh My, its been a while

{ 09:00, Friday, February 5, 2010 } { 3 comments } { Link }

Good morning! It has been quite a while since I have posted. Life has been busy and I have been feeling so tired , I am hoping with spring just around the corner, I will snap out of it. The fresh dirt is calling. We have had such a warm winter this year, we are going to be around 50 today.....AWWWW I can feel the warmth. Is any one out there planning their gardens yet?
I have woven a couple of rugs and now I am warping my loom for baby blankets. I am not sure yet but I am thinking big bright bold primary colors, I know not typical for newborns, but I want different and something they can grow into. We just found out baby #3 will be born in the fall. We will be busy Nana and Papa. We will have 11 grand children since 2000. Can I just say Wow!
Blessing and Grace to all who visit here. Have a wonderful day.

M I A but you are all in my thoughts

{ 12:42, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 } { 2 comments } { Link }

Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season to all here at Homestead Blogger..... I have been out of touch for a while with starting a new full time job and all the Christmasing going on I have just either been so busy or just plain tired. You have all been in my thoughts and prayers though and I wanted to take a minute to check in and say " Have a wonderful time with your family and friends" "Merry Christmas and may 2010 be an awesome year for us all"
Blessings and Grace to all!

A word on my Reflections

{ 07:13, Thursday, October 22, 2009 } { 4 comments } { Link }

First I would like to say thank you for the comments that have been left concerning this part of my blog. Second I would like to say that this is my life and as I am coming to terms with a lot of my hurts I find this a good therapy. I had a bit of great advise from a blogger friend, that said to write things down would be healing, and that is exactly what it is for me. I have written letters to those who have hurt me and I have never even sent them and the release that I got from those letters was a God send. I no longer have to carry those hurts or burdens. So during that process, I decided to blog all the injustices of my life, not that I regret any of these thing, sure some caused damage but hey I wouldn't be me if I hadn't gone through all of this. At this point I am learning Me is a good thing, and if I can help but only one person, to know they are not alone with abuse or pain, a life that isn't perfect, then this blog will have helped heal not only me, but hopefully a few others along the way.
Do not be sorry or sad for me, rejoice in the love that I have had our Lord God since I was a child and I know he walks with me holding my hand. The evils of this world are just that and I will leave them here, when I finally get to go to my Father's House!
Blessings and Grace to all who stop here......

Reflections....

{ 05:45, Friday, October 16, 2009 } { 3 comments } { Link }

Good Morning. It is 5:46 here, and I am so tired today. My dh really can manage on 61/2 hours of sleep and he does great, but me towards the end of the week, I start to drag. I feel totally old. But as I sit here I have found myself reflecting on how God had given me 3 lives. All the same, but the journey has made each one so different.

In the begining:
When I was a little girl, I had a life that most wouldn't want. My Mom, God bless her soul, and yes I do love her, and miss her more than I ever thought possible, was an alcoholic. So she raised me the best, I guess she could, but in a house of disorder and chaos, I evolved. I even as a little girl learned when to speak, when to hide, and when and more importantly where to be a little girl. I had a totally of 5 step Daddy's, even though my Mom was married 6 times, and my biological father is not included in this number. In 1970 on Feb.9th, lived though a huge earthquake, that hit the San Fernando Valley. We watched as our neighborhood crashed down around us. Houses fell, cars were squashed and people were hurt. I remember the shock on the nameless faces that surrounded me. During this time, (my mother not religious, was married to my brothers father) put me in a Christain Private School (K-6). Thank God this is where I found Jesus, this is where I found morals, this is where I learned to pray. All things I would need more than I ever knew I would.
My Moms drinking continued, my step father didn't come home much. He was having multiple affairs, which looking back I did not understand. But I knew that even when he was at home, somehow he wasn't.
Before long he left a note on the fireplace saying he was gone, and wouldn't be back. I remember that letter so well as in it he said " he loved me like his own child, he had wanted to adopt me, and he was sorry."   What???? At 10 my life even though crazy at best was pulled out from under me. The drinking only became worse with my mom, she would spend nights at the neighbors, and bring home many men, who quickly became my "Uncle...." They were gone as fast as they came.
And finally another Husband, he had horses, dogs and a big house.... so off to Vegas they went and we moved.
Life remained nuts as now my Mom had a man who drank with her. And he came with an 18 year old daughter who I had to share a room with. Needless to say she was not a happy camper.   Our house became a party house, lots of BBQ's and drinking, a pool table in the living room, a colt that was being raised in and out of our house, yes I did say a colt, his mama didn't want to nurse him as she was to young to be a mom, so we hand feed him with a bottle. I though this was too cool, but looking back, a horse in your house. Just a little CRAZY....
During the day my step sister had her group of friends over. Bikers, Hells Angels. They scared me, so as our house was right across the street from my school. I didn't want to come home. They played pool, and teased me about things at the time I didn't have a clue about....
And looking back I realize God was taking care of me even then.....
(to be con't)

Weaving with HeartStrings and Love

{ 05:58, Thursday, October 15, 2009 } { 2 comments } { Link }

My wonderful hubby surprised me last weekend with a new to me weaving Loom. It is a36" Leclerc Artisan. I am so excited. Starting this Sat. I am taking a beginners weaving class. I have to learn to warp the loom. It all looks so Greek and complicated. I have fallin in love with Fiber all the soft, fuzzy warm and cozy strings that call to my heart. I love crafting and making useful items to share with the ones I love. Other than that I have been doing weaving research and trying to get a few Christmas Blankets done. I will have 6 finished by tonight.... Only 4 to go after that.....yea!
I am loving Fall we had rain yesterday. It is rare for here. We get about 9 inches a year and we got 1/2 an inch yesterday alone. It was nice for a change, I just love the fresh rain scent. Well if I am going to get my list done today I better get going. Hope everyone has a beautiful and blessed day. Thanks for stopping by!

Chilly Fall Morning and very busy lately.....

{ 07:06, Thursday, October 8, 2009 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Little house on the prairie life, has been so busy I don't know if I am coming or going. Maybe it is just that I am getting older, but I just don't seem to have enough time in the day or days in the week. How does that happen. We went to our cabin this past weekend, it is turkey season, so a hunting we must go.... my darling hubby got us a nice big bird for our Thanksgiving dinner. When we got home Sunday, we found that we had our first frost while we were gone, so before I could even unpack from the trip, I had to go out to our garden, and get all my last harvest in. I have green tomatoes hanging everywhere and carrots that I stored in our root cellar, my pumpkins are still on the green side but I read that you can put them out in the sun during the day to help them to ripen. I have tomatillo's to can, I will be making salsa verde with them....yummmmm.
One of my friends who also love to plant and garden called me and offered me all of her Peonies.... about 14 plants in all, so today I will be digging my heart out.... So I can replant them before we freeze here. My yard is already so full, but who can say no to free plants and flowering ones at that. I am also getting my garden turned and cleaned up, mulch to put on our blueberries, grapes, and roses....I am ready for winter though, I have weaving that I want to do. I found a weaving class that starts next week and I really want to take it, my only hold back is it is 80 miles away (one way) and it is a 5 week class. I have been making a few rugs, and I am going to be putting a few up for sell. They are super soft and fluffy, I really love mine.

and I am still Well I should have turned the picture, but Oh well what can I say....Silly Me! I am also working on blankets, slippers and cozy caps, for my grandkid-o's for Christmas, we just found out I am going to be a Nana again.... This will be grand baby number 9 for us. I just love the smell of a newborn baby and to hug and cuddle the babies, while they sleep.That is just pure heaven! We are so very blessed. I have to thank God for all he has given us. I have been learning to make diaper covers for the cloth diapers, they are the new green way to go and designer too! they are becoming very popular with new mommies. This is the first one I have made, I still need velcro or snaps but you can get the idea. I am going to be selling them, as soon as I can purchase some water-proof material. I am looking for a source now. Here is the diaper cover and the blankets I am making:

Plus I am also working on my book. I have been doing research and I am ready to write a few more chapters. Busy is good.... I think I must love busy..... Well I have written a small book today, so I must go get myself ready so I can play in the dirt. Blessings and Grace to all who read my blog and have a wonderful rest of the week.

Just another crazy weeks end

{ 06:43, Monday, September 28, 2009 } { 1 comments } { Link }

God is so great! Jeff and I had a wonderful weekend filled with blessings around. Jeff had to work 12 hours all week but ended up with a surprized Friday Off...... yeah! So he got up at 3:00 a,.m. and he and our son in law we up to our cabin and Phillip on the last day of the archer season got a deer. Such a Blessing as last winter, that is what feed my daughter, Phillip and their two babies. I was so happy to hear his shot was true and accurate. Saturday Jeff and I scouted an area for Elk hunting, and went to enjoy the rest of the day in the Tri-Cities. We found some awesome antique stores in Richland, a must to go back too! We got to go out to lunch and then Jeff treated me to a movie. After the movie we stopped by Lowes and found fruit trees for $19.99 each..... We brought 6 more trees, we now have a total of 14, in our lower yard. We finally have a mini orchard..... Thank You God! Only two more to buy..... I pray they all winter over and survive. Little by little we are getting where we want to be with our little house on the priarie. Sunday meant a day of work for us though, as we had all these trees to plant, before our first frost sets in, we also had to finish taking the pool down and in the barn, and removing our air-conditioners, And Jeff BBQed an Elk steak for us for dinner. It was wonderful. Fall is here finally. We had a cool 37 degrees this morning..... It was a nice week end for me, I love to work out side being beside my hubby and being his helpmeet. I hope you all have had a wonderful week end too and enjoy the begining of our new week.

Blessing and Grace to all.....

My My How Time Flys.....Fall is here! (Sort of)

{ 06:44, Wednesday, September 23, 2009 } { 2 comments } { Link }

Good Morning and I have missed you all..... We have just been so busy. My dh did get a deer last week, so we butchered our little hearts out and have lots of wonderful Venison in the freezer now. My garden is still going to town... Our summer here is holding on for dear life. Today is the first full day of Fall and the good ole' weather man says we'll be in the mid 90's. Looks like an Indian Summer for us. I am happy since I just LOVE the sun, but I must confess I am looking forward to putting on some comfy jeans and a big ole sweat shirt..... Ummmm heaven! since we have been home I started draining our pool. Today it should be done, only a little water left, I attached a hose so we could use the water on our grass and plants instead of wasting 3400 gallons. It has taken longer than I thought though. I have lots of fall harvesting and cleaning up to do but, Today I am off and running I have some shopping and banking to do, and I have to pay bills.... you know all the fun stuff you get to come home too, after being away. UCK! Tommorrow I will be back in the yard.

Out of my garden I have harvested our Peas, Potatoes, some of our Sweet Potatoes, our Fall Gold Raspberries, they are so good...., Tons of Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions and Tomitillios. There has been so much now I have to get ready to can my heart out.... I just love it though. Oh yes and my Stevia, I have three plant and I am going to bring one into my back sun room to carry it through the winter..... I am already excited for next spring. Do you think I'm going crazy??? I am thinking an even bigger garden is in order..... I have missed you all and look forward to seeing how everyone is and reading all your posts. Have a Blessed day and enjoy what God has given us. Each day is a little taste of heaven.

It's Been a Busy Wednesday

{ 11:29, Wednesday, September 2, 2009 } { 2 comments } { Link }

I have been so busy here today, but I wanted to stop and take a few moments to catch up here before we take off for our little cabin in the woods. We will leave tomorrow or Friday, depends on my hubby and his work, they have been unmerciful to him lately. Days one week, nights the next, And now we are back on days, we think until the 14th????? subject to change at any moment. Thank God he is a hard working guy, and will do what ever his company needs him to do, but it does make it hard for us to plan anything. This morning I have already finished up the laundry, pulled in most of our camping things from the garage, watered the yard like crazy, baked blueberry banana muffins and peanut butter cookies, made a batch of buritto meat to take with us and I am making pulled BBQ pork in the crockpot as I type.....Whew... I still have to clean up the kitchen and pack our clothes, and cook dinner but hey I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yeah!
We are going archery hunting for deer, and If we are lucky and my sweet guy gets his deer now early in the season, then on the 16th we will hunt for Elk. The last time my hubby shot an Elk with his bow, mind you, it took us forever to finish all the meat. They are just so big..... so now that is just Jeff and I, if he get an Elk....God willing we will be sharing the meat with our family and pass some out to friends here in town. So wish us luck. Have a great labor day week-end and be safe....
Blessings and Grace

{ 10:21, Thursday, August 27, 2009 } { 2 comments } { Link }

Life here on our homefront has been so busy and hectic..... I dont even really know the last time I blogged. We have had family out visiting, A work weekend where we put some siding up on part of our house, and I am getting ready to lay a section of sod down. Work Work Work... and no rest here. Fall is coming so fast I can't believe it.... Where does the time go. next week-end begins our archery season, so a hunting we will go.... And with God's goodness maybe we will fill part of our freezer.
I am planing on stocking up the freezer and pantry for winter and would like to have some water storage too. The world is becoming so changing, god has put it on my heart to be prepared.... So I will be busy. If I don't blog that often please bear with me. I read your posts daily, but lately I just haven't seemed to have the time I used to have.
I have started on Christmas gifts though, and have one completed. I am making no sew fleece blankets for all 8 of my grandchildren. And we just found out that my two daughters and daughter in law are all trying to get pregnant. We have so many blessings now, but I would love to have even more. Grandchildren are the best gift.
I also have started weaving.... on a frame loom. I just love it. I have made two rugs, which well should have been a little better, but you know practice make perfect. So Practicing is what I will do. I will post some pictures later... I would love to share... I really want to buy a loom.... and I found one but it is in Oregon and a 12 hour round trip to pick it up, well, my hubby found out yesterday he is back on nights for about a week plus he has to work through the whole week-end, and with hunting I just can't see how we would be able to fit the trip in. I hope I can find a way.....If God wants I guess, I will just leave it in his hands. I must go for now I need to get outside and start getting the ground ready for my sod. Hopefully I can pick it up Sat. and lay it Sat. and Sunday.... Wish me luck I will need it.
Blessing to all

5:16 Club

{ 07:42, Thursday, August 13, 2009 } { 1 comments } { Link }

To find out about the 5:16 Club here is the web site:
http://www.likeawarmcupofcoffee.com/home/?page_id=837
This is a Wonderful Christian blog site. Written by Sarah Mae, her honesty and openness warms my heart. She is a breath of fresh air in a world full of non believers. I hope you like her too!
Grace and Blessings on this wonderful Thursday.......

Been so Busy

{ 07:28, Thursday, August 13, 2009 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Do you ever feel like you are so busy you haven't the time for yourself..... Well that has been me lately! Jeff my darling hubby has only been working 4- 10's, And for me that is wonderful, since we are use to a 50, 60 and even a 70 hour work week. But in saying that we have been trying to share our extra time, doing camping and traveling, things that normally we can't enjoy. The first week end of the month we went to our cabin, it was a great time, the lake was sooooo nice. And this past week-end we traveled to the Blue Mountains, for a camp out. It was just beautiful, peaceful and I want to go back. We were able to see two bucks, a two point and a three point, and silly me while reading an owners book, my hubby got to see a wolf. I am so jealous by the time I looked up, gone and in the woods he was. I have been busy getting out in the yard and getting all the chores done so we will be free again this week end. We are going to Spokane for the day, on Sat. Yard Sales, dinner at Chilies and a gondola ride over the Spokane River..... I hope we have time for it all. My oldest granddaughter is in Spokane also, visiting some of her momma's family, so maybe we can visit with them at the park. It would be great fun.
I found a wonderful Bible study I am working on and have a terrific study helper, and I have been devoting time each morning to prayer and study.... I also found group called the 5:16 Club.... To help me with my morning devotional time. I will post more on this great site later. I hope you are all blessed and having a wonderful day..... I am off to change the water and pull weeds, the story of my life...LOL!!!

Wonderful Wednesday

{ 03:43, Wednesday, August 5, 2009 } { 3 comments } { Link }

It's been a great day, I woke early got my dh off to work and headed straight out for a walk at 6:15 am It was so nice, the sun was rising, the air was crisp and cool. But oh was I warm by the time I got home. It was just a little trip to the post office and sooo sooo nice to start out the day. Then I was off to the yard, weeds, weeds and more weeds, plus I had to get some of my sun flowers down as they had already bloomed and I have seeds fallin everywhere.... Next year I will have an even bigger bounty of fresh bird food. We have the most beautiful yellow canaries that visit our yard for the sun flowers and to bath in our pool.... It looks funny as they dive bomb this big pool to get a little wet.... I have cleaned the house spic and span, I even mopped. Oh my goodness I must be coming down with something...LOL! I pray you all have had a blessed day, one as good as mine. It's time for me to start thinking about starting dinner, Homemade burritos . And I think I will make some Ice tea. Until next time Grace and Blessings.

A big Thank You

{ 08:32, Monday, August 3, 2009 } { 0 comments } { Link }

I wanted to take a moment to give Ginger At Suburban Steader a big thank you for giving me the Sisterhood Award It means so much to me for everyone who has given me this award. I really can't believe the women here at homestead blogger's are so special and wonderful. For everyone Have a blessed day, and Thank you once again.

Master Mix subusitute for Bisquick

{ 08:23, Monday, August 3, 2009 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Master Mix
A Substitute for Bisquick
Found on www.cooks.com

1/2 cup baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
9 cups flour
1 1/4 cups oil

Sift together powder and sugar into flour. Sift together twice, into large mixing bow. Slowly add oil, cutting in with pastry blender, until mix in consistency of corn meal. Store in tightly covered container at room temp. or may be refrigerated.
Makes 1 dozen cups. Spoon lightly into cup and level with spatula. Use for pancakes, waffles, biscuits, and coffee cake.

You can use this mix with any Bisquick recipe.

Wednesday

{ 07:12, Wednesday, July 29, 2009 } { 3 comments } { Link }

Good morning and Blessings to all. This week had been HOT... My hubby went back to work on days....Yeah! but now I am so tired from getting up at 4:15 am Uck.... it seems some days that there is no happy in between space

Today I am getting things ready so we can go to our cabin. It should be a nice get away. Hunting season is coming up in Sept. and we like to go and make sure the animals still visit us and clean up any falling limbs. Fire season is here too so we rake all the pine needles up and away from the cabin. Lake Roosevelt in about 3 mile from us so we will spend some time there, basking in the sun and swimming. I'm excited already. We are thinking about getting a small blow up boat so we can paddle around a bit.... I would love to get a paddle boat some day, but for right now I would settle for some warm sun and water to cool off in.....
Our garden is doing wonderful. We are harvesting daily. Tomatoes galore.... I must have been hungry went I planted.... But not a problem as I love to make home made salsa anyways. My Cilantro did really good too but is now going to seed and that is o.k. as I will harvest the seed pods and grind them up to use as Corriander. We have little ears of corn and little pumpkins and few cantaloupes and even honeydew. And can I say WOW to my speghetti squash. I hope it is as good as it looks. Next year I am going to have to enlarge the garden if I plant as much..... Hee heee!
God has bless us soooo much. I pray you all have a great week end. Until next time Grace and Blessings around.

Its a crazy life...here on the homestead

{ 04:52, Thursday, July 23, 2009 } { 3 comments } { Link }

The garden is growing like a weed, oh wait those are weeds...LOL! We have harvested lots of peas, and hot peppers so far, along with raspberries and black-caps that I dried for my winter teas....YUMMM...
We even got our first tomato. I just love a fresh bounty. But now the weeds, well that it a differant story! you can have 'em.

Jeff just called me and found out he get a 3 day week-end and on Monday he is back on days. Thank You Jesus! and Amen! It has been a hard 3 weeks with him being on nights. I don't sleep well at all when he is at work at nights and my routine still stays the same, Up at 6 or so and at it in the garden, I do all the out side work while he sleeps so I don't wake him. Then we have a bit of time together, We eat a meal together and visit for a bit and then he is off for work again. With him asleep I cant really do my household chores so I must wait for that until he leaves for work. It makes for a really long day for me. The night then comes and I can't sleep so I have begun writing a book..... I am only two chapters in, but I have always since I was a teen wanted to write a book, so finally I decided it was way past time to begin. I really didn't think about the whole process though, you have to have an outline and a time line. So I have done the basics and begun the writing process. I only hope I will be able to finish the process and write something worth reading. I have written many poems and even have had two published way back in the early 90's.
I hope everyone is doing well and having a blessed summer. I love reading everyone's blogs even if I have been bad about my own blog writing.
Blessings and Grace to All.

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