Our Desert Homestead

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Vita Mix

I have been saving, or trying to anyway, for a vitamix.  I kept thinking I would get it for Christmas at Costco.  They demo it each year.  But, I have not saved up the money.  So, today I was a Cotsco picking up extra things because someone gave us a gift card.  And there was the Vita mix guy.  I stood there for a long time and asked lots of questions and finally decided to put off some medical testing for later and use that money for the vita mix.  I put back all the other stuff I picked up and the gift card helped pay for at least part of it. DH was not annoyed.  He is always so understanding.  I can not believe all the stuff this thing can do.  I just pulled dh out of bed and made fresh orange juice.  What a good sport.  He liked it too.  I am so excited about how easy it is to prepare whole foods easily. 

Well, the dog just had a seizure again so I need to clean some drool off the carpet.  Yesterday we had to clean large chunks of rabbit poo off the rabbits back end.  Not sure why that got all stuck on there but it was pretty nasty.  She seems to be much happier today.  My son said "well mom, you got your wish to finally live on a "farm", are you happy??"  He said that as I was pulling chunks off with my fingernails.  And yes, I am!  It is sure cold out, just wish it would snow and make it all worthwhile. 

curled up kitty

I was just ready to shut down the computer when I noticed Toby (the cat) curled up in a box.   He waits for me every night and then as soon as I get up to head down the hall to our bedroom - he comes runnin'.  I wonder if he will follow tonight or stay in his cozy box. 

I just love reading everyone's blogs.  They are so inspiring and encouraging. 

the fence

A few weeks ago we had a big wind storm and it blew over our chain link fence.  It actually broke the posts off at the cement.  So, it has been blowing around and flopping back and forth.  It is an eye sore but who has time at Christmas to go out and fix fences.  It is a fence along the front yard anyway so we are not sure it is even necessary.  So, last night we got the left over storm that hit Seattle and area.  It blew over the mountains and hit the Eastern side of Washington.  My dh and ds went out today and basically broke off all the posts and rolled up all the chain link and hauled it to the side of the garage.  So, we may or may not replace it.  At least it is done flopping around. 

Today was a Drs. appt. for me.  It is new dr. who checks out the body, mind and soul.  Hmmmm.  Sounded weird but you know, our health is not just our physical body.  So, I was kind of excited to go to a Dr. who actually checked out every component of me.  I will be having extensive blood tests etc... to check for allergies, adrenal gland health and intestinal health.  I got the lecture on not drinking enough water and not excercising.  She sold me some supplements.  I have all but given up on the whole vitamin thing.  Everytime I venture out, I get the wrong thing or a cheap brand.  So, this is high quality, no fillers etc... I have a women's multi-vitamin and mineral and then a fish oil.  The more I read on EFA (essential fatty acids), the more I realize how crucial they are for us and we do not get enough of them in a regular diet.  I go the end of Jan. to find out the results and work on the next phase.  I am not particularly unhealthy, nor do I take any meds etc... but I want to feel better and have more energy.  I should not feel this worn out at 40, should I??? 

Better go to bed so at least I can get enough sleep tonight. 

Rainy Day

The kids are working on their school work and I was going to finish up my Christmas letter.  It is raining today (kind of rare for around here) and the dog got left out.  So, she is closed up in the office and boy, does it smell!  Nothing like a big, wet, stinky dog.  I can't wait for dh to come home and break the news that tonight is a great night for a doggy bath.  I can manage it okay but the dog is kind of big and it hurts my back to lean over and scrub her down.  We use the bath tub and she really likes it.   Then, I brush her out and leave her in the bathroom to dry out.  She smells so nice afterwards.

I am done with my shopping for the most part.  And the kids went to a friends house on Friday so dh and I spent hours wrapping and packaging.  Since my mom is back with my sister I am doing most of mom's shopping and wrapping too.  Lots more work than just my own stuff.  But, since my sister has been totally abandoned by her husband and he is pursuing the divorce thing, she does not have any moral support and was really struggling, so my mom went back there about a month ago.  She will probably stay a few more months to help support my sister and the 4 kids.  Very sad but God will protect her and the kids and provide ALL of their needs.  It has been hard to see what she has put up with for 17 years.  I admire her for giving it absolutely all of her efforts.  She did not want to be in this boat but we can never change other people.  She is only accountable for her own actions, and as far as I am concerned, she has tried to honor God all of these years.  Keep praying for her and her kids.

So, I better get my Christmas letter done in this momentary lull around the house.

Fall is over

I love Fall but where we live it is way too short.  Sept. is still really warm and Nov. gets cold and everything freezes up and dies off.  But Oct. was good while it lasted.  I was gone a lot.  I took 8 days and drove to Minnesota with my Dad and daughter.  We went to help my sister.  Then my dh and I went to Las Vegas to renew wedding vows with friends of ours.  It was different and I had a good time but don't feel a need to go back there again.  I hope to be home for many months now.  We got our sprinklers blown out on Monday and then that night it was like 16 degrees.  I was thankful for a friend who was unemployed who was looking for odd jobs who did that for us. 

We had fun dressing the kids up for trick or treating.  Lexi was the cookie monster and Jenise was a soccer player and Tristan was darth vader.  It was cold so we did lots of layers.  We went with friends that we went with last year too.  It was so cute watching Lexi run to the doors and say trick or treat and then peering into the basket and then waiting for more.  Then she would finally say thank you and leave.  I know Halloween is a controversial holiday but I have great and fun memories of the day and I just want to have the innocent fun with my kids too.  We ate dinner together with our friends and then watched a movie afterwards. 

Today my mom and I are going to the Holiday Bazaar thing at the big colosium (sp?).  We used to go together years ago when we still lived in the same area but it has been quite a few years since we have done that.  Papa will come over and help watch the kids since dh has meetings this cold Sat, morning.

Think I need to go get the paper - drink my coffee and sit by the gas fireplace before I get moving with my day.

Still down!

Our computer is still down but my husband figured out how to plug in the laptop and I can get online.  We need to take the time and money and fix our problem, but just have not done it yet.  We may just get another laptop.  I guess we are not really very up to date at this time. 

I just came home from an 8 day - 3,000 mile round trip drive to Minnesota with my Dad and my daughter.  It was not a fun trip but rather a trip to help my sister with her marriage problems.  Some things came up that we felt it necessary to be with her.  It was hard to drive through so many neat places and not be able to stop and sight see a little bit.  Plus, we hit the early snowfall in North Dakota and Minnesota and then some snow on the way home in Montana.  Butte had a little snow.  It was strange to experience 25 degrees in October and come home to upper 60s.  My tomatoes have died - I guess we had some cold nights while I was away. 

Tomorrow we are flying to Las Vegas for the weekend.  WE are going with some friends that have asked us to come with them (they paid!) and we are doing a vow renewal with them.  It will be an interesting and fun trip.  I have never had a desire to go to Vegas but I have heard we will find plenty of good clean fun.  We have some friends who live there and will also see them and hopefully go to church with them Sunday morning before we fly home.  Then - I can't wait to get back home and be a mom and wife and get on with my life.  Just when our Fall was getting going well - BAM - big interruptions.  But - God is in control so I do not fret.  Just desire for my normal life again.

Hello

Our computer crashed last week so we are out of touch.  I miss blogging and I miss being able to print things for homeschool on my printer and find things on the internet for school too.

I actually had to go to the library to order my books. What a concept!!

Hope to be back on line soon.  I am at my mom's using her computer for the moment.

Off to do some rainy sunday afternoon errands.

Pictures Finally!!

My dh finally has helped me get pictures onto my blog.  The first one is of my bread and then the other is of the mural in my ds bedroom.

I am excited to finally be spicing things up on the boring blog.

Hope you enjoy.  More to come. 

Civil War Wall Mural

Homemade Bread

Happy things

These are from a book I have called 14,000 things to be Happy About.

If you can't find something to make you happy with a list of 14,000, then you need some help!

going to a football game with a warm blanket and a thermos of hot cocoa to share

taking back road tours

selecting a wood stove

the ticking of an old clock

Sunday night family-room suppers

feeding and watching the winter birds

someone with boots on the wrong feet

fall foliage

Williamsburg, Virginia

electric blankets

helping someone do laundry

chicken coop turned coffee table

crinkled aluminum foil

brick floors

common sense

Kansas wheat

Just to name a few!!!  Jill

old and new friends

Tonight we went to dinner at some new friends house.  They are older than us and have been visiting our church for awhile.  They are wanting to get involved and thought it would be good to have us over for dinner.  You know when you go somewhere new and you hope all you have taught your kids will come out of them?  Well - my ds10 and my dd8 were fine.  I had to nudge the 8 yo's elbow off the table as she leaned over her yummy dinner.  Then there is my wonderful 3 1/2 year old daughter.  She was carrying around this beautiful glass candy dish and then was stacking and clanging the coasters together.  Then she picked the silk flowers off the arrangement.  She dumped the entire box of game pieces (marbles, chess pieces and more).  She kept opening th fridge and demanding to have milk.  After she ate her apple cake, we had to find the broom and dustpan.  And the whole while our hosts were very gracious.  As we left to go home, she ran over and hugged the lady and then hugged the man and said bye.  I guess she didn't actually break anything so that was good.

Old friends:  Hang on for this long story but quite amazing.

When I was about 8 my dad read a letter to the editor in our local paper.  It was written by a mom on the other side of the state and it was regarding the problems she was having with public schools.  This was in about 1975.  My dad wrote that family to say he agreed and we began to correspond and my sister and I became penpals with their 2 girls.  So, as we grew up and into college even, we kept in touch and would visit each other when we were nearby.  When we would have these occasional visits - we always found things we had in common, like the same set of dishes, matching bed room sets etc...

Then, when I met my husband in South Carolina, we find out that my husband grew up in the same exact little town in Massachusetts as my penpals mom.  In fact, my mil and my pen pals mom went to high school together.  And we found this out while this family and our family were living in Washington state.  So, thru all that, we have remained friends for over 30 years and today she came to visit us.

My old penpal lives in upstate New York and I live in Eastern Washington state.  I live about 1 hour from her parents so she and her mom came to my house and mymom came over too and we had a great time remembering how God has led us and directed our lives over these many years.

Thirteen Fall Favorites

Fall Favorites

1.  Homemade soup

2.  Going to the pumpkin patch with our homeschool co- op

3.  Turning on the gas fireplace in the morning to take the chill off the room

4.  Sipping hot spiced cider

5.  Dressing the kids up for trick-or-treating

6.  Making popcorn balls

7.  The autumn colors

8.  Jumping in piles of crunchy leaves

9.  The down comforter tucked under my chin when I fall asleep

10.  Having a routine after the summer craziness

11.  The scents of fall - pumpkin spices and autumn scented candles

12.  Hay bales and big, fat pumpkins on my porch

13.  Baking and canning apples and peaches

Fall Routine

I think we are getting the Fall routine down pretty well.  I always start the school year off by not wanting to overcommit and to really limit what we get involved in - it just gets too crazy.  But there are so many good things available so it is hard to choose.  I enjoy being home and feeling like things are under control at home.  When we are running all day things at home are certainly not in control.  But - so far we are doing okay.  Tonight was our first small group meeting since last spring.  There were 7 couples so it is about as big as it should get.  We may have to start a new group from this one which would be great. 

I hope my blog calms down - honestly I feel in a bit of an upheaval over some of the comments etc...  I guess I need to get a grip into the realities of blogging.  It is hard to think I have been misunderstood and I need to let things roll off a bit more.  I tend to be overly opinionated myself so I sure know how to dish out my opinion so I think this is a good lesson in allowing others to express their views.  That is the idea of blogging I suppose. 

Anyway - back to homesteading and all the great things I have learned from all of you amazing women out there.  Thanks for sharing your lives. 

Orthodontists

Why do orthodontists and dentists have to charge so much money????  Okay - I know they are professional and deserve it.  And I agree - but when it is my bill it is tough to come up with the money.  Today, my 8 year old is gonna be costing us some bucks with her teeth - but we don't want buck teeth - so - heeehee.

God will provide and I think it is a wake up call for us to get more serious about our finances.  Sometimes we need things like this to realize that we have to be responsible with every penny God has given us.

Domestic violence

I just had to add one more note to my blog - and that is the very harsh reality to domestic violence.  There are some things that I won't give details to in my blog about someone else, but we have to be so careful not to judge people when we don't know the circumstances.  Not, that anyone has done that - just that we all know how dangerous that is.  There are no situations that God is not aware of - and there is nothing to big for Him.  I know that and I claim that but not everyone understands the character of God and how BIG he is and that he can be our helper and provider and protector.  We just need to keep reaching out to all the hurting people and love them and teach them the truth.

WOW

It is interesting how the written word can be interpreted in many ways.  One of the dangers of writing things down for others to read is the misinterpretation factor.   I am maybe realizing how summarizing a 17 year marriage and a 3 1/2 hour phone call into a few sentences can leave much for discussion.  I tend to be a "get to the point" kind of person and I don't usually ramble on or give large explanations.  Which is another time when misunderstanding can occur.  Also, I have to say that the 2 comments I received on my last blog are right on the mark as far as I am concerned.  I have read a lot on the Biblical roles of men and women, been taught it by Godly men and even taught it to young ladies.  That is why if you understand your role as a woman, it is an awesome place to live.  There is so much freedom in living out your Biblical role.  Which is submitting - and the husbands role is to love his wife. 

I think in regards to my sister, when one is not living out the Biblical and Godly roles, much sin is allowed to reign in the marriage.  But, the exciting part, is now that she is learning that, God says that a wifes submission is what will win the man to Christ.  She is finally catching on to that and she is going to clean the house and bake for him this weekend when he comes  to visit.  But, the empowering part - which sounds like a feminist word - is really what God wants to give us.  God wants us to have HIS power.  Then, we are empowered to live above the fear and sin that has suffocated us.  That is called victory and so many women have no idea how great it is to submit to God and our husbands and have VICTORY.

So - thank you for your Biblical reminders and may we all seek God in our marriages.

Blog comment

My sister update

I just talked to my sister for 3 1/2 hours.  Her husband told her I was off limits and she was not allowed to talk to me.  I was on the unapproved list I guess.  He does not like when she gets empowered and stands up for herself.  Plus, he doesn't think the faith part of our lives is helpful at all.  He needs to be saved from his selfish and proud ways.  It is quite sad.  But today Darci was reminded of our mighty and powerful God and she is going to start claiming the truth of His Words!!  She was reading verses to me from Isaiah that her pastor preached on and it was very encouraging to her.  The God of the universe is holding her in His hands and will never let her go.  That is good stuff.

I got my homeschool stuff friday.  I got My Father's World.  Good stuff.  I was really hoping to hit the schedule in the morning but every time I think I am on the ball - I get distracted with a long phone call and now it is nearly midnight and I am tired and I am not quite ready for tomorrow.  It is hard to know how to handle the curve balls but also be disciplined and stay on task.  Plus, I have to clean and cook for company tomorrow.  I need to give the day to God and go to bed!!