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I found these statistics on Cindy Downes blog (homeschoolblogger.emptynestmom). It was so interesting I just wanted to post them to see if anyone else knew this.
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Posted in Kitchen
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I am so glad to report that our ewe "Willimina" is up and eating. We aren't sure what it was but we think it was either "bloat" or "colic" I just know she was soooooo sick. The old saying "a sick sheep is a dead sheep" wasn't so this time. I'm up very very late trying to get the kitchen cleaned from an evening of blackberry jam making. I hope these pictures load right. I'm still practicing my blogging skills. We will have enough for us and there's still a ton of blackberries for me to pick. I feel very blessed but it's a lot of work. My dh helped alot. Well, hope all is well with everyone. Good Night
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Living on our little hobby farm has been very exciting and rewarding. But there is a side to it that I would rather do without.... Today our dog "Rex" got out of our yard and chased several of our prize rabbits that were out for their morning meal (they do not go far from their barn, but they do like to explore a little and normally it's not a problem. Rex never gets out of the yard and the few times he's out with us we never let him near the rabbits, but the timing was just not on the rabbits side. Now I know of one at least that will have to be put down because of Rex getting a hold of it's backside. I almost wish he had just killed her completely instead of just leaving her to suffer. It's just an awful sight. Rex was a dog we adopted from the local pound last summer. He has been nothing but trouble. I'm dealing with this while also trying to nurse a sick ewe, clear up pink eye (me!), organize our home and office, plan a quick getaway to CO to see my brother who is coming in from Iraq for 2 weeks, and there's umpteen other undone projects that need my attention. Just feeling very overwhelmed. I'm going to go now and start counting my blessings if I say dwelling on all the negative I am never going to get anything done!!!!! |
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My soul, I have never seen so many blackberries growing hog wild in my life!!! That's right, on our back 5 acres, blackberries are overtaking the pasture and we have been picking like madmen trying to get them off the vine and into something. There is a very short window of opportunity for these perfect little gems. I am so excited and very inspired that God would bless us so. I am going to put up as many jars of blackberry buckle and blackberry jam and I'm going to try freezing some whole and I just can't wait to share the goodness with friends and loved ones. I t hink they will be very impressed with our harvest. BUT the only downside is they have THORNS, lots of prickly sticky things all up and down the leaves and plants and you have to be so careful, each one is precious. So, I need some custom gloves or does anyone know of a special tool for picking blackberries without getting poked and scratched all up and down the arms.... Anyway, just wanted to share our neat surprise find, mind you, we have never planted blackberries nor harvested them. There's a first time for everything. The kids are loving it. They hardly notice the pokes, I have them work the outer bushes, and I go in for the inner ones. I will definitely put up some pictures soon. I took pictures of the boys picking them, and my dh and I and also of the kids making blackberry cobbler. |
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It was on a little car with a feisty looking teenaged girl driving. We were at a 4-way stop, she got there a few seconds before I did and she was driving west and I was driving north. So when she took off to continue through the stop sign I saw the bumper sticker because it was actually on the car right by her gas tank. And it was big and it said "CAUTION; FORMER FETUS DRIVING" Love it........ |
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We had a really nice valentine's...... We didn't spend a bunch of money either!!! I made some cute cookies, and some paper decorations left over from previous year's valentines and used some of the kids Valentine's decorations they made in the past. it was very cute. My sweet dh took us all out to eat at OLIVE GARDEN!!!!! Oh, yeah. I was so excited. We had not eaten there in about 10 years. It's always so crowded, there's just never any possibility of waiting an hour with 3 kids, now that the boys are out of the toddler stage I'm sure it would be easier but we just never do. Well we got to olive garden at 4:00. And they were ALMOST full but we beat the real rush by about 10 minutes. So we got right in, filled up on their salad and breadsticks and I couldn't hardly eat my entree. We got a to go box but it got left out in th e car, so, wasted as usual. The kids were bathed and in bed about 7:30 and I was in bed at 9:00. I wish every night would go that smooth. One of my new year's resolutions was to go to bed by 10 every night. I was so bad about staying up to get this or that done, but I'm getting old and sleep is SOOO important. The more I study nutrition the more I'm convinced that my sleep habits were making me age faster than I should. Well, it's off to do my morning duties. It's a really cold morning here so we'll be staying in. There's some nasty rain/snow moving our way and will be here all weekend. Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday. Love ya. |
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I am still getting over the flu! I have never had the flu and until now didn't realize what all the fuss was about. I still don't think it qualifies for getting a "flu shot" I really do not like shots and have conflicting information as to whether or not they really do work. Anyhoo. So, since I have been down with this for a while now you can guess how beautiful my house looks with |
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There's not much going on today at our homestead. I baked a fantastic Banana Bread and some Banana Muffins. I got the recipes from www.hillbillyhousewife.com. The kids scarfed them down. I thought I'd have some left over to freeze for another day. I was wrong. It's windy today. 2 of our ewes are at another farm so we don't have them to feed. And all the cows are at my in-laws wheat pasture (40 miles away) for the next few months. Now that settles this little place down fast. We had 3 cows 1 yearling heifer, 4 calves. They are all gone for a while because we just don't have the pasture for them. It's been so quiet. Just the 2 dogs, 2 cats and some rabbits. I am happily on schedule for my Bible reading, but my weight loss is just not happening like I wanted. I'm not giving up. It has to come off. Well, I have absolutely got to get to bed. That was another issue I wanted to conquer for 2008. BED BY 10 NO MATTER WHAT. Just drop everything and GO TO BED. So, I'm 2 hours late but at least I'm going.
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There are several areas of my life that God has been dealing with me about improving on. They are areas that are not very pleasing to Him and do not bring Him glory. In fact, if an unbeliever saw what was happening in some of these areas, they might be hard pressed to see any light in my life at all. Now, I need victory over such things such as reading my BIble everyday, prayer life, housecleaning (no more C-H-A-O-S), more nutrient dense meals,organizing my family, our business, our finances (get out of debt-you cannot even imagine what's going on with that one. imagine the worst and double it) Just to clarify I'm not full of anxiety about these things, I'm trusting the Lord to show us, help us, strengthen us, give us wisdom. We can't accomplish any of these outside the will of God. Happy 2008 to everyone. You have all helped so much with all the information that is available on this blog. I have gained so much knowledge about homelife, homesteading, parenting, and so much more. Bless you all. |
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A Cowboy’s Wife is having a contest on her food blog! You can win a Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer and she’ll ship anywhere so everyone is eligible! The Prize:
About the mixer: From Hamilton Beach’s “Eclectrics” line, this all-metal stand mixer comes with a host of accessories - a Flat Beater for cakes and cookies, a Dough Hook for bread and a Wire Whisk for whipped cream or pudding. The 4.5-qt. stainless steel bowl comes with a Pouring Shield that helps prevent splattering while in operation. The pouring shield has a built-in chute for adding ingredients. Powered by 400 watts, the stand mixer has a two-way mixing action to ensure all ingredients are incorporated into the mix. The quick-release, tilt-up head assists when removing the bowl. 9 x 14 x 14-in. When you’re ready for a kitchen re-do, don’t call in the carpenters! Instead, “counterscape” your kitchen with Hamilton Beach’s retro-designed, affordably priced electrics in happy, sun-saturated colors. Their “Eclectrics” line includes updates to those classic appliances from the 1950s. All of their “Eclectrics” are available in six colors: Apple Green, Moroccan Red, Pineapple Yellow, Intrigue Blue, Sugar White and Licorice Black. |
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Today the boys and I had a conversation about what some of the traditions we had when I was a kid like them...... This really got my ole brain churning. I remembered things that I thought I'd forgotten. I was pleasantly reminded of all the great ways my mom and dad celebrated Christmas. All the wonderful surprises and oh the anticipation. I am so grateful that I was raised in a Christian home where there was caring from both my parents. My mom just went all out on decorations. We would turn on some traditional Christmas music and decorate the tree together. She'd bake I don't know how many dozens of cookies for us to decorate and take to school for parties. And she'd make vats of hot cocoa mix from scratch and we'd drink it morning noon and night. We even hung mistletoe over my mom and dad's bedroom door. We would just laugh and laugh that they had to "kiss" I don't know how they put up with us. We were raised in South Texas so it was always about 75 degrees on Christmas day. Always sunny and never any signs of wintry landscapes. I remember plain as day the first time we ever saw snow...... I can still smell it and feel it as if I were there now. Such an amazing thing. It was a "miracle" I said. We tried to stuff it in our pockets and bowls to keep "forever"........... It's been too long since I've allowed my thoughts to drift to those days. I think I will do it more often............... |
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Online story about Christmas. Very sweet and meaningful
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We haven't had any icy rain today but there was enough yesterday to keep everything iced over. Tomorrow the forecast looks clear (no more rain or snow) but Friday there's some snow expected. We are hoping for snow. I know we are crazy but the children love it...... |
