Be Ye Separate

Life is a Bowl of Cherries!

{ 18:25, Thursday, July 2, 2009 } { Posted in Putting Up The Harvest } { 4 comments } { Link }

Blessings!

Well, it's that time of year again...time for CANNING!!!

I didn't take any pictures of our Strawberry and Strawbluey adventure (that was last week) but I DID take pictures of todays Cherry-ganza!:P

First we have 67.8 lbs of cherries (yep you read that right:P)After washing them they are pitted. Here is Miss Mary-Ann taking care of that sticky chore:PLove my cherry pitter:)Once pitted they are put into a large bowl and sent to the cutting stationI had a little help from Miss Sarah (she did a little cutting but mostly did the cooking part)All cut and measured to send to the cooking stationThen the sugar needs to be measured out.

Miss Sarah mixes in the pectin and sugarThe jars are heated up while the fruit is cooking down

Time to fill the jars (me giving "the look":P)Not sure it will fill the last jarYay! it fits!!So pretty:)

Needless to say we are exhausted! But wow what yummy stuff this will be in the winter months when we begin yearning for spring once again:)

A bounty of provision. A blessing from the Heavenly Father. Thank you Jesus!

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

In Remebrance of Father's Day

{ 19:43, Sunday, June 21, 2009 } { Posted in From the Heart } { 0 comments } { Link }

Blessings!

I wrote this last year and wanted to share it again in remembrance of a father's day. Not one on a calendar but one that happens each and every day. So here it is...

Blessings!

As Father's Day fast approaches I have been pondering about the honor of a husband and father. We don't actually do much for these types of holidays but that's not really what this is about. I got to thinking about how I see many folks as a family unit. There are lots of "mainstream" families where the father is literally castrated by the wife and children. I even see parents doing the same to their sons! I find it such a sad thing to see a young boy taught to despise his own gender. Or reinforcing the idea that a husband is an inconvenience and toy. Both at the mercy of an overbearing and often merciless female. Sadly I have also seen daughters do the same to their fathers and brothers. What a state of chaos in the lives of God's children.

I got to thinking, as I my son and I were sharing a moment of gardening and work around this place. As I watch he and his wife share little stolen moments together in between work and responsibilities, I see that my husband and I have raised a good man who has chosen a good wife:)

I watch my daughters as they interact with papa and do things for him each day. Always wanting to please him and do things for him because they love him and respect his place in their lives. It warms my heart and makes God smile I am sure:)

Then I pondered further as I reflected on all the years of raising my boys. How papa was such a part of their lives. How he taught them to be men and how important their role is as a man in God's eyes, despite what the world teaches.

I began to think of all the little times that I had taken the time out to show my boys how to do something. How when they made mistakes we would "work through it" with them. When they neglected a responsibility, how we had gently reminded them and loved them and supported them as they took on the task (whatever it was) and completed it. How we saw them make mistakes that we "saw it coming" but they had to learn it on their own. When they were down on themselves for making those mistakes and feeling that they had been stupid in their choices and final decisions. How we built them up and let them know that we are all human and we all make mistakes and the most important thing is the love of a family who lives before God who will stand beside them and encourage them and support them until they "get it right".

Yesterday while we were out doing our auction stuff we sat behind a family. A wife, husband the three sons all in a row. Each time the man opened his mouth his wife would talk over the top of him and make remarks about his intelligence or choices. He went down to the kitchen and bought his boys a little snack and each a drink, and he brought her back something as well. Once the boys were settled in he gave her what he had bought for her and she complained bitterly about what he had done. That the boys were undeserving and they could have shared instead of had something individually. She complained about the pop being too icey and the snack he brought her wasn't her favorite. Not one thank you, not one pat on the arm or kind word. And later on when one of them made a mistake she was right there to let him know it was alright that things would get better.

I often wonder what women think when they are consoling their sons and helping them through the bad times but ignoring their own husbands when THEY make mistakes and go through bad times? I see it often and it saddens me.

Husbands have such a burden placed upon them and sometimes we think we should take everything else on to lighten their load but we forget to comfort and encourage. We can tend to get bitter about it without realizing that they didn't "give" it to us, we simply "took" it thinking that somehow that was helping rather than supporting him and encouraging him and letting him know that even though it seems overwhelming now, he is more than capable of fixing it of making it better and we will wait patiently and supportively until it turns around.

I always make sure that my husband knows that even when he makes mistakes that things will get better. That he's only humand and these things happen. That even if his choice WAS one that I might not have made, we will weather it out together and come out of it united. I want to encourage him like I encourage my sons. Letting him know that it will turn out one way or the other. I let him know that I recognize his attempt to do what he felt was right for us as a family or a couple or even for himself alone.

I just wanted to encourage each of you to recognize your husbands weaknesses and strengths. Encourage him no matter what he is doing or has done. Let him know that side by side you can get through anything. That his place in your life and the lives of your children is important and even if he makes mistakes you all love him and want to help him in any way possible even if it's just making sure his supper is on the table at the same time every day, or making sure his socks are matched up to save him a minutes time in the morning when he gets ready for work:)

I am so very blessed to have let go of a part of myself that was such a hindrance in my relationship with my sweet husband. Over the years I have not only come to appreciate and honor my husband in his role as husband and father, I have also come to appreciate and honor my own role as mother and wife:)

I pray that each of us is able to find that sweet place the Lord has given us as women:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Very Productive!

{ 01:49, Wednesday, June 10, 2009 } { Posted in Country Doin's } { 3 comments } { Link }

Blessings!
   Well, yesterday was one of the most productive ones we've had around here in quite some time:) Although I think I wore myself to a thread, I am pleased with all that was accomplished:)
   We began with making a run for hay, sweetlix, grain and sand in the pickup. Our son had come over the night before with our daughter-in-love and granddaughter Little Miss Shea and spent the night. He has been borrowing our pickup so we needed him on his day off:) Anyway, he drove me to all the necessary places to make these pickups and get it all back here to unload it all.
   Once we got it unloaded, Miss Mary-Ann and Matthew (our son) spread the sand around and papa helped her to level it all to put the pool up! Yep! Matthew had purchased this pool last summer when he was living out in the country where he had room for it. After they moved into their apartment they had no place for it and his in-laws didn't want it there anymore. He asked if the girls would like to have it and of course they said yes:) I told him that it was still his pool and if he ever ends up with a yard again where he can set it up, then he can have it back. Until then he and the family can come use it anytime they like:) The pool will be a nice treat as it tends to get very hot around here in summer:)
   I mowed the area so they had a place to put the sand, then they got to work while I mowed the front of the property. I drove out back where the mower began to sputt and sputter before it died, it had run out of fuel:P While papa was filling the mower for me I looked over to the side of where I was parked and realized that Little Miss Shea was sound asleep in the playpen! And she didn't blink an eye when I restarted the mower and drove off:P She's definitely a farmer's daughter:)
   About a half hour later she woke up and wanted someone to hold her. Everyone else was rather busy so I stalled the mower and grabbed her up. We climbed back onto the mower and took off:) She helped me mow another 2 acres of the 9 1/2 acres we have here:P And when I say she helped, I mean she kicked her feet, played with the throttle and squealed with delight the entire time:P Silly turtle:D She had a great time and cried when I finally shut it down and got off the mower to help with the pool things and getting things redded up for supper. :D
   We got the garden sprinkler to work finally and planted more things before turning that on. It worked beautifully:) It takes a lot less of our time now to water that very large garden:)
   I walked about the garden and got to see all the new starts! The pole beans I started are sprouting already! The tomatoes we planted a couple weeks ago are more than quadrupled in size now and the new ones we planted yesterday are looking less shocked now. My three different lettuces are sprouting, both spinach beds are sprouting, the watermelon, pumpkins, spaghetti squash, cantaloupe, and radishes are all sprouting! It's so wonderfully exciting! God is so good!
   We got the pool up and partially filled with water now. It should take maybe two more days to finish that part. It looked like it might have had a leak so we stopped filling until we could measure the water. Then today we measured again to see if there was a significant amount missing. There wasn't!
   I did get a little too much sun though and my lips are parched from it but this too shall pass:) I know that the sun is so good for me and it always makes me feel energized and cozy:) Tonight I am pleasantly tired out:) Today I was a bit weak from all the activity yesterday but I think it's just the Good Lord slowing me down to enjoy the accomplishments:)
   Matthew and family stayed the night with us again as he and his papa are working on a car together:) They are fixing up a jaguar that Matthew traded something for and he and papa love to do these things together:) He has been so helpful and I know that we simply couldn't do all this without him. He is such a blessing:)
   Yesterday the girls and daughter-in-love helped to make noon meal and then supper which took a load off of me too:) I had completely forgotten about noon meal so was very pleasantly surprised when they came out with hot pastrami sandwiches and drinks! Then papa made smoked ribs for supper which he'd been smoking all afternoon:) The girls finished up the meal with a fresh fruit salad, green salad and sourdough bread/butter:)
   I hope to have his help again on his next day off as we desparately need weedwhacking done that is very necessary but no one here has been able to do it. The girls are afraid of the weedwhacker and I don't have the stamina to use it and papa simply doesn't have the strength with all his surgery issues. Matthew offered to help with it so I have about an hour of it for him to do. Once that's done it will be finished and we can get that area finally cleared out of the old planting containers, get it tilled so it's level and set up the garden sets:)
   The children all want to put up a volleyball/badminton net out by the barn where Little Miss Shea and I mowed today:) I have missed it for certain as we haven't had one since we moved here. The girls and I have some pvc paddles to make for it as well as decorating some rings for stick toss. Our favorite outdoor garden games:)
   So that was our couple of days. Long, hard but very rewarding:)
   Praying you all have a God filled blessed week!
God be with thee!
Sister Lori

Finally!

{ 13:11, Wednesday, May 27, 2009 } { Posted in Country Doin's } { 8 comments } { Link }

Blessings!

Well, we finally have them! The babies were born this morning sometime between 6:30am and 9:30am. Why don't we know for sure? Because when we checked on the mama at 6:30am she wasn't showing any signs of labor in the least. In fact, she was busy as usual. Then at 9:30am when we checked again, there were two boys on the ground! Yay!

Baby 1He was so sleepy:P

Baby 2He's very perky:P

Mama is doing very well and is enjoying just laying around with them:) If we could just get her to stop nursing of her own mama now:P Silly goat! I will say it was pretty funny to see her nursing off her mama while the babies were nursing off of her! If only I had the camera then:P Oh well, at least they are healthy and looking like they are doing just fine:)

Out of all the babies born here at Heavenly Acres, we have never witnessed a single one:P I am convinced that it's God's way of reminding us that He is in control and that human intervention is not necessary. He has provided for all the animals needs and though on occasion human involvement has worked out, most of it is done just fine on it's own. We are thankful that everyone is doing well and are looking forward to seeing how they develop:)

I will also say that out of 9 babies born here only two have been does! Yikes! I'm thinking that we are simply not intended to have girls around here...hehe! Such is the way it goes:)

Praying you all are having a wonderfully God filled spring!

God be with thee!~

Sister Lori

How does your garden grow?

{ 01:45, Wednesday, May 20, 2009 } { Posted in Country Doin's } { 3 comments } { Link }

Blessings!

Our weather is finally cooperating and spring is quickly turning into summer:)

Our dear friend CaraDD came over and tilled the garden! Yay CaraDD!!!She's an amazing dynamo! As you know Brother Craig and I are not physically able to get to this sort of activity just yet and she's not one to put things off soooooo, here she is! Remember I told you that she makes up reasons to help me because I don't ask for it? Well, here ya go:P Thank you!

Miss Sarah and Miss Mary-Ann started planting little green things :P

And watering it, of course...

Then there is the entrance to our lovely garden area...Where are the goaties when I need them? Actually, this part is so overgrown that we will be weedwhacking it instead of waiting on the goats to eat it down. Living on the river makes for very quick growing flora for certain. It sure doesn't take long for things to get overwhelming. Thankfully, it won't take a long time to get this all cut down so that I can till this particular area so that we can move the longhouses over to this side which will make them more accessible:)

This particular garden spot is completely fenced in to keep the deer out! I love that:) At the far end, you can see my goats that are fenced in. Yes the climbing little tykes toy is theirs:P Goats love to climb on things:) Anyway, this blocks the far end which didn't have a gate on it and you can see the gate on this end in the picture:) You can also see the henhouse on the right of that picture which we moved the henyard fencing over to make more room for gardening and less room for chickens to get out:P At least they won't have enough room to get a running start and fly over the fence anymore (I hope):P

You've seen the pictures of the sewing cottage which is right behind me when I was taking this picture:) That area is also going to become a sort of sitting area just to enjoy the day with family and friends...mostly girly stuff really:P

We have such plans this year for the back area as we will be setting up the outside kitchen soon and getting the grill and picnic area all fixed up:) The owners had a huge (and extremely heavy) picnic bench that had apparently been built by the previous owners out by this particular area. We tried to move it one day last spring and it literally fell to pieces! Sooooo, Brother Craig got some lumber and fixed the broken stuff and resurrected the table! It's wonderful and we moved it over to the picnic area just outside the back door:) Along with the table and chairs (and a market umbrella that I purchased last summer), we will have plenty of seating for our friends and family to enjoy some of that backyard fun:)

The barn is getting another cleaning out finally. It has been just awful with the rain and nasty weather (such a long winter this year) that we hadn't been able to do much of anything out there. We had emptied out a storage unit and put most of it in there and covered it with tarps. Well, now that the weather is getting so beautiful, we will start going through all that and I'm thinking a barn sale or two will be a good idea about now:) I'm looking forward to that:) We figured that if we dedicated ourselves to two weekends next month to sell, and send the rest of it to the second chance shoppe at the end of it and out of my life forever! yay!

I'll take more pictures as we get things cleaned up and fixed up. All the different things we hope to accomplish this year while we are here. God has given us such wonderful opportunities and we are ever grateful. He has given us such wonderful godly landlords, true believers in Him. He has provided us with the means to afford to live here and keep ourselves fed, clothed and comfortable.

Little things that seem so insignificant do not go unnoticed here as we are ever mindful of every tiny detail of His grace and mercy in our lives. We strive, daily, to focus and know His will. No matter the difficulties we know that He is God and that through Him we can do anything:) Thank you Jesus!

Have a very blessed rest of the week!

I will post more as time permits (with pictures of course).

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

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