  "EXPERIENCE THE WORD IN WOOD"If you buy a plaque, please use Loretta Rizzo in "referred by" section during checkout
I wonder ....
• Monday, September 8, 2008 - Livin the dream
Let's see .... the last time I posted was right after I got out of the hospital .... I think. A lot has happened since then. We moved ... from AZ to MN 
We are not in our own place just yet but are staying on a farm with friends, geting a taste of what life will be like. Barn chores, plans . and yesterday I even ade jam forthe first time. I have pictures but until we can et my computer to convers with the network here, I can't put them on line. Trust me when I say that the strawberry jam ooks, smells & tastes YUMMY!!!!
Ahhhhh ... livin the dream!!!
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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• Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - Hospitalized
I haven't been around to blog lately. I was taken to the ER last Thursday evening with severe swelling in my feet & shortness of breath. After all the tests, labs, x-rays & what have you, they determined that the left side of my heart was failing due to a blockage. They admitted me & did a bunch more tests. God was present & He showed me. How ever, fear got the best of me more than a few times. The most important thing to me was being able to see my children .... how ever, that wasn't going to be easy because our tags are expired on our car & it's not running very well. So .... a long distance friend made it her project to find a way for my children to be with me. She called taxi services but because of price, size of vehicles etc, that wasn't going to work. She then got a hold of a local church in my area, explained the situation & they told her that they'd pick my husband & children up & bring them to see me. I can't explain what that did for me.
I kept thinking I was going to die .... that fear attacked even more when I found out I was going to have an angiogram. I'd heard so many horror stories about them ..... people having heart attacks & strokes in the midst of them. I have never been so scared in my life!!! I was so scared that I'd written a letter to my husband & children & intrsucted the nurses to give them to my husband if I died. The same doctor that found the blockage in my heart, did the angiogram. He said that not only could he NOT find the blockage, but that my heart looked great. The flesh might think that that there's a scientific answer .... but I really believe that there was divine intervention & healing. I am thankful to be alive!!!
It's ironic .... after my dad died I had many occasions where I'd close my eyes & think it was ok if the Lord called me home. I'd even asked him to a few times. Now here I am in the hospital thinking I'm going to die & actually informing God that He'd have to take my name off *that* list because I had a husband & children that needed me. I was begging God to let me live ..... and .... He did.
God moved in so many different ways .... including a total healing. I left the hospital on Monday after noon with oxygen (to help with sleep apnea) & an order to rest for 72 hours. |
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• Saturday, August 16, 2008 - The beginning
We've sold a couple things yesterday. We have some people coming today & tomorrow, to buy some other things. We're also putting the word out that we're selling the car. Hopefully it will sell quickly. It should. It's being offered at almost $500.00 below Blue Book value. Once we sell the car we can get the RV .... wooooo hooooo!!!
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I have been watching old TV shows .... The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, Bonanza .... why did we ever stray from such simple times? The wages were much less but people worked together, for the good of their town. No high utility bills .... much hard work .... no high tech medicines or medical practices .... but herbs were created before man so I'd be comfortable.
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Things we'd like to get for our new home:
wash tub
clothes line
wash board
buckets from AZURE STANDARD
Gamma seal lids from AZURE STANDARD
old wagon wheels
something that can level the ground, that can be pulled by a farm animal
There's more but I can't think right now.
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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• Friday, August 15, 2008 - For sale:
I thought I'd list some of the things we're selling, in hopes to jump start our new journey.
If you live in or near the North West corner of Arizona (about an hour and 45 minutes from Las Vegas, NV & maybe 45 minutes away from Needles, CA) & would like to purchase the following please let me know ....
Console TV $50.00 OBO
Coffee table: $10.00
File cabinet (metal) $25.00
7 drawer long dresser $20.00
Futon w/ cushion $100.00 OBO
Bunk beds $75.00 w/ out mattresses .... with mattresses is $150.00 OBO
Sponge Bob Toddler bed $10.00
KLH Audio System, 5 Disc Changer & Speakers $150.00 OBO
Book shelves $10.00 each (have 2)
Mac Computer (older) $25.00
Desk Top (IBM compatible) $50.00
Gorgeous Stained Glass Lamp $100.00
I also have some collectible/porcelain dolls; various prices
I also have Greeting Cakes on hand. You can check out my web site & decide which ones you'd like. If I have them on hand, I'll give them to you for less than the web price + S/H
See them at SweetSentimentz
~ Happy Trails ~
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• Thursday, August 14, 2008 - Selling everything
What's the best way to do this? Maybe have a couple companies come in & bid on our entire house filled with stuff? That way we could get rid of everything, all at once. I think that if we have a sale spread out over a few weekends things will be harder ... like, what happens if we sell all the beds first & a couple dressers? Then we have an uncomfortable few weeks left ... or how ever long it takes to sell everything. First thing we do once we have all the money, is buy an RV. At least we'd have a roof over our head. Then, we'd probably park it at an RV park until we have enough money to buy the solar power kit for it.
Baby steps .... it's so hard to be patient. Now that the ball is rolling, I just want to run with it.
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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• Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - It's official
Let it be known that as of today, the 12th day of August, in the 2008th year our family has decided to take the plunge. We will be crunching some numbers ... finding costs of a solar RV kit & a water storage tank (including pump & set up). Then we'll work at selling everything we own with the exception of curriculum & some clothing. Then we buy an RV & a piece of land we've had our eye on.
I am so excited to finally take real steps to reach our dream of homesteading!!!
I know it won't be easy ..... I'm sure we're trading one group of stresses for another .... but to know we will grow our own food .... build our own home ..... it is sooooooooo worth it!!!
As for our home .... we'll be building one 20x20 room at a time .... paying cash for all the materials & slowly, by the sweat of our brows, we'll have a home. Once we have a few 20x20 rooms built, with the sq. footage we want, we'll work on the inside.
The plan is to have everything sold, be in an RV & on our own land in less than 6 months .... preferrably less than 3 months!
~ Happy Trails ~
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• Friday, August 8, 2008 - Ahhhh yes, the simple life
The simple life .... no, not an easier life ... but simpler by far!
By selling (or even storing until we build a garage) everything & buying an RV, we eliminate high rents. By purchasing land we add a payment but much less than typical rent. We also eliminate an electric and gas bill as well as cable (until my husband gets satellite). We'll use solar power but may have to use a gas powered generator every once in a while .... the cost is minimal. Cooking would be outside a lot of the time, by earth oven or maybe even solar or cob. We'd have a water bill due to trucking in water. Doing this may be a lot of hard work ... but very worth it financially .... I'm sure the finances differ from family to family ... but for us, we'd be cutting out $1300.00 of expenses every month. All that could go to building and setting up alternative energy sources. I'll say it again .... ahhhh yes, the simple life!!!
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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• Thursday, August 7, 2008 - Our new business
As I mentioned in an earlier post, we've decided to start a family business. It's something that every one can get involved with .... even our 18 month old baby. Any way .... we're ready to get started since all our supplies have been delivered. Now we just need to come up with a name .... a creative one ..... that stays in one's mind. Any ideas? Oh wait .... I guess you need to know what kind of business we have, huh? We're starting a tie dye company. We're selling t-shirts, onesies, hair scrunchies, socks, cloth diapers, spit up cloths .... if it can be tie dyed, we'll eventually start selling it LOL
So ... now that you know .... do you have any ideas as to a name? |
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• Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - An easier life ....
I say quit your job, sell it all, buy an RV & a piece of land .... enjoy an easier life. If you can't pay for the land in cash, arrange to make more payment than expected so it can be paid of quickly .... or even better, use your tax return & see if you can arrange to pay for an entire year's worth of payments. Then you'll have a year with no mortgage & you can save toward the next year's payments and start to build a home by paying cash for materials and doing as much work on your own as possible. You could build one 20x20 room at a time ... adding on as your income allows.
Things to do to earn an income:
1) Sell on Ebay
2) Odd jobs
3) Painting houses, rooms etc
3) Start a business you can do from home
4) Build a web site & join affiliate programs
5) Blog for money
6) Raise animals to sell or sell what ever they give (eggs, milk etc)
7) Grow a garden & sell what your family won't eat
8) Take up a hobby (like painting, pottery etc) & sell locally
9) If all else fails, work part time at a less stressful job
10) All of the above
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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• Sunday, August 3, 2008 - Journey in life
Our family is certainly on an interesting journey .... life has brought so many forks in our road .... each named by the lesson learned.
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Our new school year starts in 2 weeks ..... we're almost ready. I'm pretty sure things will be done by this coming Wednesday. This year will be busy ... but packed with lots of fun & plenty of opportunities to learn outside of the traditional school room.
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We have decided to start a new family business. The plans on still in the works ... but we know what we'll be doing. My husband & I are looking forward to this as are our children .... each person will be able to contribute .... even our 18 month old son. I'll post pictures and information as soon as we start going.
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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• Sunday, July 27, 2008 - Here's where we are ...
My husband just got a new job ... he's driving people to & from their medical appointments. It's a great job to have!!! It's not only local though .... he'll have to drive out of state on occasion .... to Nevada & California and some times even parts of our own state that are hours & hours away. That's kool though .... it's a great job!!!
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We're picking up containers today, so we can start planting our *crop*  Way late, I know ..... but we were told it could be done due to our weather. We'll start small just in case it doesn't work.
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I'm so excited .. my husband is repairing our original computer .... so we'll be a 3 computer family. Once we get a couple other desks, I'll set our school room up.
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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• Sunday, July 20, 2008 - Crazyyyyyy
| Lots of crazy stuff going on right now ..... just popped in to say hello. I'll blog again in the next couple days. |
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• Friday, July 4, 2008 - Home, home on the road ....
Ok, so we're not in the country ... don't have land .... aren't allowed to have livestock .... & have neighbors close enough to shake their hands from our windows .... that's ok though. It's where God has us for right now. We're unpacking, hanging pictures & getting ready for our yard sale tomorrow.
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I'm going to start doing research on container gardening. I need to know how much I can plant per container, when I can plant & really .... how to plant. I gather I don't just fill a container with soil & throw seeds on top. Eh .... talk about a newbie LOL I'm wondering if I can plant things right now & if so, what will grow at this time of the year.
We'd like to plant:
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Zucchini
Squash
Carrots
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Corn
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Watermelon
Not sure I can plant anything else in containers ... if I gave it thought I'm sure I'd figure it out. I'm just a bit fried today.
~ Happy Trails ~
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• Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - Moved
We are moved ... unfortunately it's in to a rental & not on to our own property. We'll have to wait .... yet again .... at least we're all safe from the snakes though!!!
Life right now is filled with unpacking tons of boxes & trying to get settled. This weekend we'll be having a HUGE yard sale .... even though it was more of a hassle, we decided to haul things that we didn't want because yard sale traffic is better here than where we were. We really need to sell my dad's furniture. We just do not have the room for it .. nor would we want it any way .... it just doesn't fit our *style*.
One of our dogs is an excessive barker .... how do we shut her up? LOL
~ Happy Trails ~
P. S. Thanks so much for all your thoughts & prayers for safety when we were dealing with the snakes!!! |
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• Sunday, June 22, 2008 - Ssssnakes
We have spent the past few days fighting snakes .. that are coming IN TO our home .... we've killed 9 just in the past 2 days. These are Mohave Green rattlesnakes ..... the deadliest. To top that off ..... 99% of them have been babies ... & they're even more dangerous than the adult snakes.
One of our cats attacked one of the snakes .... each time the snake would coil & start to strike, the cat would bat it away .... the cat wound up slicing the snake on the belly & when he stunned it, he was able to bite a chunk out of the back side. We never feed our animals table scraps .... but that cat, "Teddy" deserved a hero's dinner ..... so he got some yummy chicken.
We threw moth balls under the home & around the property .... it's said to help make the snakes leave. The moth balls irritate the snake's skin. Hopefully it works!!!
Staying in our home is no longer a matter of discontent or learning to be content ... it's a matter of safety.
We spent one night in a hotel but last night we all slept in the living room of our home. We've been frantically looking for a new home ...... have a couple prospects so I'm sure we'll know soon. Each landlord has been told our situation & if they decide on us as tenants, will let us move in on Monday.
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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• Friday, June 20, 2008 - Learn to be content
Well, we didn't get the house we looked at. No reason was given other than she just decided to go with some one else. We'll keep looking ... but I think God is trying to teach me to be content. I haven't been really .... I am not happy here. We came here so I could build a relationship with my dad .... well ... he's dead. I don't want to be here any more. I do not like the desert .... I miss green grass & cooler weather (all though it does get cold here in the Winter & Fall).
I have a habit of giving up if something doesn't go the way I want it too .... any way .. because I haven't been happy here our house has not been made up to look like a home .... you know ... pictures on the walls, knick knacks on the shelves etc. We have the bare necessities & that's it. I guess it's time to get the paintings & pictures hung up [kick, stomp, stomp, stomp] I know, I know .... when you do something, do it as though you are doing it unto the Lord .... so my stomping & having an attitude certainly isn't happy submission ....
I just don't feel like we can do the things we need to be doing while living in our current house ...... we can't store up food, can't garden (we could if we did container gardening ... but what a hassle when it comes time to move!!!) .... can't raise animals for our food .... we are trying to be wise stewards & prepare for the future, what ever it may hold .......... what is God's problem with letting us do that? That's right .... I said that .... I'm not throwing a fit .... but really, have you ever wanted to ask God what He is doing with your life & why He doesn't let some of your plans flow? I'm pretty sure He can handle my questions.
I'd just like to settle some where & start planning, saving & storing things .... before my children marry off!!!
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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• Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - House
We went to see a house the day before yesterday. We're hoping we get it but not sure if we will. The owner is an older lady, very sweet too. We looked at the house & got an application (it's a rent to own) then made arrangements to meet with the owner to give her the app once it was filled out. The next day she called & asked for more information (including a credit report & tax papers to prove our self employment income). We got all that to her & this morning she calls & asks if she can drop some papers off because she needs even more information. She also suggested that the house may be too small for our family size .... so I'm guessing she'll back out. I'm glad I don't put all my eggs in one basket .... as much as I hope we get this house, we'll keep looking.
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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• Saturday, June 14, 2008 - Our 17th anniversary
Today marks my 17th wedding anniversary .... I can't believe how fast the time has gone. Really ... some days the only reminder I have of how long I've been married, is my oldest son walking in to the room. It seems impossible that we've been together this long. It's been tough at times ... but we have fought to stay together. We are still honeymooners according to a lot of our friends .... holding hands through the grocery store, me giggling at silly little things ..... I am blessed to have this wonderful man love me!!!
It's hard to make plans when illness is present ..... but provided I have energy, we'll be going window shopping & out to dinner to a new Chinese buffet.
Here's to 17 more of the best years of my life!!!
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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• Thursday, June 12, 2008 - Survival mode
Lupus, CFS, EBV, Sjogren's, Arthritis, FM .... all in full force. Living & parenting from the couch .... not easy!!! This too shall pass!!!
The last time I was this sick was 9 years ago .... it lasted 2 years. I can not afford to be sick for *that* long!!!
I know that being sick is not my *fault* ..... but not being able to function as the wife & mom I need to be, makes me feel like a failure! |
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• Sunday, June 1, 2008 - The possibilities are endless
Do you ever sit while in planning mode & become energized by all your possibilities? I know some people may become overwhelmed looking at options .... but me, in most cases .... I become energized.
My husband has decided that we need to buy land with a home already on it .... and then we can build our dream home, while having something other than an RV to stay in during the build. Once moved in, we'll decide what materials to use for our build. I think we're going to go with an earthship or papercrete. Those are the least expensive materials & yet really, the ones allowing the most creativity. I wish we'd find the perfect place already .... I so want to plant a huge garden!!!
My husband got me some graph paper last night .... now I can make some tentative plans on what our home will look like, where we will plant our garden etc. I know that a lot of the planning depends on what our future property looks like .... but I just can't not draw up some ideas. I like to have some what of a plan LOL
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Did I post that my husband has agreed to go back to cloth diapers, if we have any more babies? I am sooooo excited!!! I'd love to start stocking up but that wouldn't be the best use of our money right now.
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Any one use a compost toilet? We've considered this option quite a few times ... not sure we'll do it but it's a thought.
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Some decisions we've made:
We're only buying things that were made in America ... toys, furniture, etc. If it's not made in our country, it's not worth having!!! The extra expense goes along way, since the products usually last longer than all the "made in China" garbage that are put on the shelves of all our stores.
I'd also sure love for America to stand together & boycott gas!!! I think if we all did it, we'd get lower prices. We need to quit complaining & take action!!!
Off my soapbox for now LOL
~ Happy Trails ~ |
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