Thomas' Farm News

Friday already?

My, oh my, where does the time get to???

It's Friday...that means pizza and movie night. It's the most looked forward to night of the week. Next week will be different....I won't be here! I'm going to the MTHEA conference in Nashville!!! I have always wanted to attend a homeschool conference, but never have. We are ending our 11th year of formal education...kinda late to be going to a conference for the first time, but better late than never, right?!

I'm going with some friends and we're spending the night. How cool is that?! Having friends to share things like this with is awesome. There's one friend I am sure praying hard is able to attend with us...for more reasons than just to get to spend this time with her...but that sure adds to my desire for her wellness!

We've had rain, rain and yet more rain lately. We had hoped to accomplish some much needed outside chores this weekend, but alas, rain is in the forecast from today through Sunday. Not cool. We have cows that need to be sold. We have a mower that needs a tire repair. We have things that need doing...and the rain makes them impossible to get done.

I've spent way too much time on Facebook lately....that place is addictive! Add in FarmTown there and I'm hooked!! If only weeding, watering and raking could truly be done by others just visiting your farm. Ahhhh....

As I approach the ripe old age of 40 later this year, I am learning some invaluable life lessons. Some are easier than others. Some are deeper than others. Some are more painful than others. Some are more personal than others.  All take time. 

Right now, life is calling...real life....not Facebook life, not blogging life. Just real life. Like waking my babes. Getting our day started. Doing laundry. Getting school work finished. Cooking. Cleaning. And loving my babes who just refuse to stay little...and keep growing up no matter how much their Daddy and Mama want to freeze time.

Like where are these incredibly cute little faces??? This was a short 4 years ago...seems like forever ago already....this was Father's Day, 2005

And here are those smiling faces this past Christmas...

A giveaway!!

Head over to my homeschool blog to enter a giveaway I'm hosting...

Hurry...contest ends next Friday, May 1st!!!

What a productive day!

We've had company lately....and we LOVE having company! First, my parents, Aunt Nina and brother came to visit. They were here for Rebecca's 16th birthday. What a wonderful time we had with them!
A week after they left, my MIL, SIL and niece arrived. My MIL was here at Christmas time, but we hadn't seen my SIL or niece in awhile, so it was a real treat to spend time with all of them.

They left out yesterday morning. We then headed to pick up milk, then went to town. Four of us got hair cuts. I picked up a piece of glass for our wedding photo frame. It broke a long time ago, and it's been leaned up against the wall ever since. A friend is going to re-frame it for us. What a blessing! We also made a stop at Wal Mart for some last minute Easter goodies.

Today, I got started on laundry as soon as Honey left for work (at 4:30). I had it all ready to hang out by the time the sun came up!

I spent some time catching up on things online...haven't spent much time online lately. The Yahoo mail account had over 20,000 messages in it...I deleted them ALL!

Today was a baking day. Hamburger rolls, angel food cake, shortcake (for strawberry shortcake!), and hoagie rolls were all baked today. I also made a pan of chewy granola bars. Those things are addictive! The strawberries were picked by us last May. How yummy they were!

We talked tonight about how our supper could be completely homemade here on our farm....I cooked it all from scratch.....but it could have been  beef from our cows, green beans from our garden, potatoes (for the fries) from our garden, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles from our garden. I wouldn't have home grown wheat...but at least it's ground fresh here. :)

Thomas mowed the yard today. He tried starting the tiller to till up the garden...but couldn't get it started. Superman...aka..Honey...got it started right away. That man is so gifted with things mechanical. I'm in awe of all he knows how to do! Rebecca filled 500 plastic Easter eggs today for our egg hunt at Keepers/Contenders tomorrow. She also took the clothes off the line and folded most of them for me. Natalie and Mary folded up the rest.

It's time for dessert and then bathtime...and then BED! I think Toby and I both are quite ready for slumber tonight! We have a busy weekend ahead of us....several busy ones coming up....but once May is over, it will slow down. For that, we will be thankful!

More photos...

Here are a few more photos...

We had storms blow through on Good Friday. Here is hail piled up on our trampoline. Never saw it fall like this before...very interesting!

Getting started on egg decorating...

More decorating...

And yet more decorating...

Each child gets 18 eggs to color...I think Daddy will get his own 18 carton next year.

I LOVE this photo of Mary. We were at a birthday party and the girls dressed up. How cute is this?!

Some photos...

I've just spent some time re-sizing photos to share....so here's a photo entry....

Here's Thomas learning how to replace a sink drain. What a handy young man he is!! Daddy should be so proud of all he has taught his son to do!

Mary fell on her elbow, not once, but twice. Poor babe! She had her arm in a sling like this for a week or so.

Ahhh...sibling love. Thomas giving Mary a ride around the yard.

Honey doing what he loves..playing in the dirt!

Natalie giving her dog, Bean, a ride on her bike.

Thomas waiting to shoot at a scrimmage last weekend.

And here he is taking his shot. Check out that stance!

Rebecca's 16th birthday party!!

I love parties....the planning, the theme, the execution.  Any reason for a party is a good reason to me!

Rebecca's party was a blast! We had a different sort of theme. Since her party was on April 1st, we did sort of an April Fool's theme....we don't really go for pranks as a rule...but thought some different foods would be neat.

So, we had taco salads...that we actually chocolate ice cream balls rolled in nuts inside waffle bowls. Topped with shredded coconut colored green for lettuce and yellow for cheese. A dollop of Cool Whip on top for sour cream and maraschino cherries for tomatoes.  Next was the cupcake...which was actually a meatball topped with mashed potatoes colored blue, placed in a cupcake liner. The drink was a red soda...that was actually jello, topped with whipped cream....with a straw! There were also french fries that were actually pound cake baked for a few minutes, along with ketchup in a small cupcake liner...that was seedless strawberry jam. Also fried fish...that was actually fried pineapple. What fun we had!!!

I so enjoyed visiting with Rebecca's friends.....and so love that they welcome me into their conversations. They don't run off and hide. They don't have to be "away from the adults". I love that!

Rebecca's friend, Anna, gave her a card game...Dutch Blitz. I am officially hooked on it! If you haven't played it before, find a deck and a couple of friends....and PLAY!

And here is the birthday girl. I love her so!!!! God surely has abundantly blessed me with the most awesome, awe-inspiring children!!!

Being frugal...

On being frugal...or doing without......

We have always lived frugally. This began in my youth. I was raised on a dairy farm..should be "enough said"..but far too many these days have no clue what farm life really is like. Many have a idyllic picture and have no idea of the struggles it entails. There's usually too much rain..or too little. Too much sun...or too little. Too much outgo..and always too little income. But, it's a trade-off for a most wonderful life. Our dream has always been for Honey to work here at home with us, on the farm. So far, it hasn't earned enough money to do that..but who knows what the future holds.

Hmm...well, we've always been there. Trips? Nope...we instead spend vacation time (since Honey gets two weeks' paid vacation now) at home together. We might take a day trip away..but no trips to theme parks for us. Can't say that we'd do that even if we had extra money....I'd see that as a waste of money. New vehicles? Not here...our vehicles were both bought used for cash...the Burb is 18 years old and we've had it for 11-1/2 years. Honey's truck is 20 years old and we've had it for a year. Prior to that, he drove a car that generous friends of ours gave us...cause he was driving his 78 Scout..and needed better transportation. Name brand clothes? Only if they are hand-me-downs or cheap at a thrift store. New furniture? HA! The only piece of furniture we have ever bought new is our bed...and it's over 10 years old now.

My point is that this has been our life all of our life. Seems funny to me that so many are just now getting to this point. Yes, we do have debt...I'm sorry to say that we do. But, we don't have debt for dumb things like meals out, boats, 4-wheelers, vacations and new cars.

It's a bit interesting to me....not that I am amused at their plight, but interesting in that they are now living as we always have...and they seem to struggle with something that has come so natural to me.

Let's see....what are the suggestions and ideas that you can find for reducing your outgo?? Here are a few that I found browsing the Web just now...

1. Make your own cleaners

2. Hang your laundry out on the line

3. Cook in bulk

4. Stay out of stores

5. Shop monthly

6. Buy off brands

7. Buy used clothing, toys, and such

8. Combine trips to town 

9. Cook from scratch, no pre-made foods

10. Make a menu and a shopping list..and stick to it!

11. No disposables...diapers, napkins, plates, etc

12. Use coupons (but only on items you normally buy)

13. Get rid of internet, cable, etc

Okay, so you get the idea.

We have done all of the above...for most all of our marriage. Yes, there were times we used disposable diapers instead of cloth. There are still times we use the dryer (like today, for example..it was raining and the next two days are quite busy). There are times we use disposable plates (like on a picnic at the creek). And, obviously, we have internet. We even have DISH....

My point is this....all these websites and magazine stories about how to live frugally simply tell me how to live as I currently am living. How about telling me something new? I already do all that they suggest....and more.

I have no idea if we'll ever be in the same boat as some we know...who don't have money concerns. It would be nice, I'll admit...but at the same time...some of those we know in that boat also have terrible family lives. It's not worth the trade-off if that's the case. A happy marriage and family cannot be bought...no matter how much money you have.

The Old Schoolhouse NO FOOLING AROUND DEAL!!!

As you know, my FAVORITE magazine is The Old Schoolhouse©...

I just found out about a great offer that's valid for today only!!!

They are offering the No Fooling Around Deal to new U.S. subscribers. For only $14.09, new subscribers will receive a one-year print and
one-year digital subscription to The Old Schoolhouse© Magazine. But, this deal ends at 12:00 a.m. on April 2nd, 2009!

So, hop on over to The Old Schoolhouse to sign up for this incredible deal!!!

Happy 16th Birthday to Rebecca!!!

In honor of Miss Rebecca's special day today...here are......

16 Things About Rebecca

1. She's loving and loveable.

2. She's our first born.

3. She's an incredible blessing to her family.

4. She has awesome insight..and the ability to "see" things in others.

5. She is smart as a whip!

6. She loves to read.

7. She is a girly girl...or a tomboy when the situation calls for the need.

8. She loves to bake!

9. She is one of my most favoritest people in the whole world.

10. She likes to have long, drawn out conversations.

11. She has incredible insight.

12. She has a great head on her shoulders.

13. She has no interest in guys at this point in her life...which is a good thing since she's too young to even think about marriage...so she wonders why other girls spend so much time thinking about guys...

14. She is an easy student to teach.

15. She is EXTREMELY trustworthy and dependable.

16. She is BEAUTIFUL, inside and out.

Happy Birthday, Rebecca. My first born...the one to help me learn how to mother a babe. My life is incredibly blessed and better for getting to be your Mama. I love you, my dear Peanut.

It's Friday!!

It's Friday!!!

This makes me happy most weeks..but this week especially. My family is coming to visit!! We are eagerly awaiting their arrival.

We've remodeled our bathroom. Oh, how much nicer it looks! I still need to put the needed items back in there...in an organized manner, of course! :)

Yesterday, we went to the big town. Honey had to visit the dentist. He had broken a crown off. Thankfully, the dentist was able to put it back in place, this time with four screws instead of one. I went to Hobby Lobby...and found so many sales! I found some birthday gifts for one almost 16 year old girl.  And I found some neat metal signs with sweet sayings on them. I wanted one of each, but limited it to just three. These will hang in our bedroom, over our bed. I'll try to remember to take some photos....once they are hung up!

We have some busy weeks ahead. Thomas' shooting schedule is about to get really busy...mostly with travel to compete. April and May are busy, busy, busy!

I'm organizing a used curriculum sale for our homeschool group. The local rec center is not always the most homeschooler friendly place...but it's the only choice we have. I need to reserve our room and get things in place. June will be here before I know it!

Life is, as usual, busy...but oh so good. God is gracious and merciful to us. We are indeed abundantly blessed!!!