Welcome to 4 D Farms

Dec. 15, 2009

Can anybody say BEHIND?

I dont mean Behind like your behind (fanny), I mean the kind that is the opposite of"caught up". Cause thats what I am. BEHIND!!!!! So much stuff to do. I get so overwhelmed sometimes. So much has gone on since I posted last time, Im sorry.
Let me recap. We had a good Thanksgiving with family and friends. Too much to eat though. If I keep baking and taste testing, Im gonna get as big as the house. Freezer is full of pies. Cant keep cookies around, the boys love them. Their favorite is the Chocolate Chip, mine is the Peanut Butter. Dip them suckers in milk and Im happy. Dallas is my baking buddy. Anything he can bake, he wants to help. When we do bake we make extra batches and they go in the freezer for later.
The boys decorated the tree all by theirselves.

They did an awesome job, so they have been dubbed the Christmas tree decorators from now on.
Dakota and Daddy have both killed some deer and is now in the freezer. This is a small one that Dakota got.

Dallas is not into hunting right now, but he loves to learn how to skin it out before it goes to the processor. We mounted the horns of Dakotas 8 pt. that he killed that the coyotes got a hold of. When gun season opens back up it is my turn to go. I have been practicing with Dakotas 243. I can barely hold it up but David got me a little tripod to prop it upon on and I got a bullseye every time. Look out deer here I come. I want a trophy rack ha!
Dakota has gotten a few projects done in school. His Japan report is wonderful. It has a picture of David on it when he was stationed in Okinawa, and my Papa when he was in WWII.

His Library Research Report is done and it is wonderful. Daddy is going to be so proud of it. He(we) worked really hard on it. All the family want to see it when we get it all finished and the folder decorated. There is one picture that I absolutely cannot find. It is a picture of David standing by his artillery weapon when he was in Saudi Arabia. That is the last thing to go into the folder when I find it.
Dakota has battled a cold for two weeks now or maybe longer. One night he felt so bad he crawled up in my lap.

As my grandmother use to say, "Now, ain't dat sfweet?" I wasnt about to tell him, he was breaking my legs. Ha! I loved it myself.
This weather is driving my RA crazy. There has been some days I cant move hardly and some days are fine. The colder it gets my hands kind of give me fits.
Of course if it wasnt for the boys helping, I could not get alot accomplished. Dallas is vacuuming his room. Bless his heart. They do their part around here.

If its not done right the first time, they know we do it again.
We have already had a Christmas dinner with family and had a good time. Too much to eat again. Dakota bday is Saturday and hes counting he days. I cant believe hes going to be 12. My how time flies.
We have set out a deer feeder in our back yard along the tree line and its nothing to see deer coming up and eating.
Dallas is still doing great in Karate. There is a competition in April. If he thinks Dallas can compete, he will enter him. If not, were gonna go watch anyway.
Dakota was in the Parade this year with his football team 2009 Pewee Champions. All his friend had a good time throwing candy specifically at my head. ha!
Twice now I have took Cocoa to the breeder to no avail. This time we came up with a plan. Cocoa was suppose to have come into heat first, next. Then Tisha. Well they switched on me. Tisha came in before Cocoas next cycle. So I gave Cocoa a shot to bring her into heat and syncronize them so both would be in heat at the same time. Wholah! I took them to Waynesboro and left them for a week this time. My breeder said nature took its course and if all goes well, I should have some babies in May. If they do not come back into heat I will know they "took" and will have a blood test run to make sure so I can monitor them more carefully. And yes I will be spending the night in the barn again.
My mother came up here and rode with us to Waynesboro and spent the day with us. She had a great time.
How is everyone spending these cold weather. I drinking alot of hot chocolate and staying warm. I cant hardly get Dakota to drink hot chocolate, he doesnt like it. Ive been making homemade hot chocolate. I can remember when I was little, Momma would make us homemade hot chocolate and toast for breakfast before we would have to catch the school bus. It sure did help battle the cold.
This Sunday night we have our Christmas Cantata at church. It is going to be beautiful.
As I blog my computer room is a mess, but we have the cleanest keyboard I believe. The other night I was on the computer and broke rule number 1. No eating or drinking around the computer. I spilt Salsa all over the keyboard. I spent the next 2 hrs popping every key off the keyboard and washing them. Then I cleaned the keyboard. It was acting a little crazy for a while, I just knew I was going to have to buy a new one. But the next morning when it was dry it was working fine. Phew!
I would love to leave you with a few thoughts for this season.

The Candy Cane

“J” is for Jesus the one and only son of God whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. He came as an act of love to save us from our sins.
The white base color of the candy cane reminds us that he was pure and completely without sin.
The red stripes remind us of the blood He shed to save us from our sins.
The candy is bent into a cane to remind us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Turn it over and it becomes a "J" for Jesus!
A simple piece of candy, yet it is so much more. A reminder of our Lord and Savior.
Here is a poem that remembers our soldiers that might not be home with their families for Christmas. I have a nephew that is still in Iraq right now and they dont know when they are coming home. Remember our troops this time of year. It is not all about "What am I gonna get" or "If I dont get the perfect gift, what are they gonna say?" Christmas is more about giving not getting.

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq
Gives you goose bumps dont it.
Well,Ive got alot more of catching up to do, so cant play on the computer all day. Laundry is calling my name.

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Nov. 19, 2009

Ive got a sick one on my hands today

Well Ive got a sick one on my hands today. Dakota started running fever yesterday and not feeling well.

He was cold all day and last night. I checked on him through the night and a few times he was still running fever. Around 4am he must have sweated it out. It allergies because the seasons are changing and we do this everytime. Hes ok today so far. We made some homemade chocolate chip cookies and that made him feel a little better.
Right now Im enjoying a glass of goat milk with some homeade peanut butter cookies. I cant believe they turned out right.These boys love cookies. Ive gotten an Amish Cookbook and Im enjoying it so much. So much I want to try to make. Its mostly a baking cookbook. Im gonna find an Amish Recipe book for meals. WOW. I finally got some goat milk because I outsmarted the baby. She is pouting at me. I finally figured out the udder support which she kept walking out of and got it strapped right. Tasha is not happy. While Im milking, she will bite on my hair when Im not looking or she will "politely" try to nudge me off the stool. I can feel her breathing down my neck and probably making faces at me behind my back. She snorts at me too. She is just too funny. Ive got to take Cocoa back to the breeder, because she didnt "take". This is the time of year that drives me crazy with worry. Are you pregnant or not? I really thought she was pregnant but she came back in to a strong heat. She has been pacing the fence looking for a MAN!
We had baking day and the boys really enjoyed it. We started out with Chocolate-Chocolate Chip pancakes for breakfast. All you do is add cocoa powder and chips to your batter. Wonderful with whip cream or chocolate syrup

I had all my baking things out on the counter. I really wanted some pecans and walnuts, they are just too expensive.

Next we started with simple things like cookies. We made homemade peanut butter cookies.

Lets see, 3 people, 3 cookies missing, you do the math. Ha! I just had to try this Chocolate Chip Pie next.

Look a there, somebodies been taste testing again. You do the math. I couldnt resist making my holiday favorites. Sweet Potato pie and Pumpkin pie.
I made Sweet potato and pumpkin bread. Had a slice of it this morning with some butter. Yummy. Ive got to try some of their bread recipes. My boys also love homemade bread warm with butter.
Sister Baby spent the night with us last Friday night. She has Dakota wrapped tight around her little finger. If she wanted to play dr. he was the patient, if she wanted to play horse, guess who was the horse?
Our church took the children to the Childrens Museum in Memphis that Saturday and to Taco Bell afterwards to eat. They had a blast. Us adults were exhausted.

We are trying to get our back deck finished. This is what it looked like before we started.

Now were getting the platform put on.

Next will be the steps, but is has rained a couple of days. Cant wait til those are on and we can start using the back door. Some men are coming to estimate the walls and roof for us. I guess this is my Christmas present. Ha.
Dakota is doing real good on his Research report. He just hates all the reading. I have to read it too, because Im the one who grades it, so I have to make sure its right.Ugh!!!I took a picture of Davids medals and he will put this in his folder.
He will do an interview with Daddy, but there is just some things he want talk about that happened. That is understandable.
Dallas has started Karate. Hes already having trouble pairing up with a girl, cause he knows we dont hit girls. Ha! He would hardly punch at all. But when the young instructor came and told him to punch him in the stomach, he did. Whopow!!!!!!!!! It is just too funny. Now hes going around the house punching and kicking everything.
His next class is tonight. He is so excited. He just couldnt wait til Thursday.
Well speaking of that Ive got to go get ready to take him. Let ya know how hes doing.

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Nov. 13, 2009

Ive been outsmarted

Ok, I have been outsmarted by Tisha, she walked out of her udder support. For some reason I cant figure how the back is suppose to go around her legs. Ill get it figured out if I have to use Dakota as a model ha
Cocoa got sick on me and got scours. Not good. They can die from this if not treated soon. So I doused her with Kaopectate. She actually loved it. It was cherry flavored.
I looked like Noah's wife this morning going down to the barn. I had goats following me, then a single file of about 18 chickens and one duck waddling, then cats. I wish I would have taken my camera. I have a wounded chicken to take care of. One of the older hens hurt one of my buffs that I let out to join them. She pecked her really bad in a muscle that connects to her lower wing to her upper leg joint. She is getting better at standing. Shes eating very well.

The kittens seem to enjoy baby sitting her too.
Ive had to put her in a kennel at night because big daddy doesnt like animals in the house.
They are working on our back deck, although its not going fast enough for me. If they dont hurry up and get done, we will find someone else to finish. Here is the progress.
Now were working on the steps. They have til this weekend to finish this.
This morning the first class was Home Ec. we had biscuits, eggs, fried Spam, and hashbrowns. Yummie!!!!!!!!!! Then Bible class. Great day.
We have to go to the Library later to get a book for Dakota's Library Research Report. He chose to do it on Operation Desert Storm the Gulf War. He will do a live interview with Daddy to get some information too. I dug out 4 scrapbooks I put together in 1991 for David covering the war. Dakota has really enjoyed going through these.
Well gotta go for now. Hope everyone has a good day.

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Nov. 7, 2009

I guess shes still pouting

Well today I had to put the udder support on Tisha so Tasha would quit nursing. She has pouted at me all day. LOL

I dont exactly have it on there perfect cause I cant hardly figure it out. But it'll do the job I guess.
Today I let the Buffs out of the hutch and into the coop with the others and already the oldest hen attacked one. She just might be chicken soup one day if she keeps this up! She got really close to her jugular vein and she is really weak and cant walk. I will check on her again in the morning. I hope she is not paralyzed.
I was able to gather another mess of radishes today.

Tonight we had deer minute steaks, mashed sweet potatoes, new potatoes, green beans, butterbeans, corn and some radishes. Yummie!
Now Im full as a tick.
They started on our deck today and will finish hopefully Monday. Right now we are just getting the bottom put on. Ill post pictures of the progress when its done.
Well gotta go clean the kitchen and start getting church clothes ready for tomorrow.

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Nov. 6, 2009

Not a wasted day afterall

Today we had a review day because they were suppose to come start our back deck. But come to find out, the guy that was suppose to do it had to go pick up his little boy from school because he got sick. Oh well, sick children are alot more important than my deck. I hope he gets better soon. It was not a wasted day, we had review and then I went to town and we picked up some sweet potatoes, pumpkin and some peanuts from a farmers market. Right now we are enjoying parched peanuts. Yummie

Just checked on my blogs, and together I have had almost 1,000 visitors this month. Wow! Word really does get out. This is not just in the US, this is from other continents as well. Thanks for all the readers.

I hope Im helping all the readers out there somewhere. Just leave me a note and let me know.

You know, if the Lord doesn't come back soon, we may be seeing some pretty rough changes in our country that we are not use to. I never thought my kids would see these things come to pass, much less me. If we teach our children how to handle these situations in a Godly manner, I know that we will be ok.We just put our trust in Jesus and we will be fine.We have to prepare ourselves and our children for these changes.
We won our Allstar game last night. 16-6. Now we have ended the season with 7-0 wins. Yea!
I missed Tishas heat cycle and will have to wait for 3 weeks then plan it.
Hubby had to use my truck today so I couldnt take her. Today just wasnt a good day to go.
For those of you who do not like to run to the dr. everytime we get a cold, I have a few home remedies that are tried and true in my house.
Upper Respritory problems or acute bronchitis:
1 cup boiling water
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp red pepper (optional especially for children recipe)
2 tbsp honey
1 cup apple cider vinegar (white will be fine)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp ginger
Put all ingredients in a jar, close, shake, and take 2 tbsp. 3 times a day.
Sinus infection or stuffy nose:
2 drops garlic oil in water in a nasal spray bottle. Spray liberally during day.
I hope these help your family as they help us.
Well its getting late and my eyes are getting tired so Im gonna retire for the night.

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Welcome to my world of homeschooling, homesteading, homemaking, farming, gardening, spiritual insight, loving the Lord and trying my best to be devoted and dedicated to my family like the Proverbs 31 woman, she ROCKS!!!! Lord help me as I raise my kids in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. May he always keep me in his will. I would love to dedicate my blog in memory of my Grandparents, Dorthy Rebecca Oliver,and Bennie Franklin Oliver Sr.who are now together at home with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I thank the Lord that they gave me such wonderful memories to last a life time and share with my children.