|
Country Homeschool in the City
Oct. 2, 2009
Forgetting
Sometimes I wonder if there will ever be a time (month) where each small cramp or twist of my uterus doesn't make me remember previous miscarriages. I don't relive them as much as before, but I can't help but think how once upon a time, I was feeling these things and knowing I'd soon be miscarrying. It's been 5 years since my last one now.
FarmMom |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Aug. 4, 2009
20 metre diet
With all the talk of the 100 mile diet, we have been trying to grow some more of our own food here on the farm. Admittedly, we do have a lot more space than the average person but considering that a) I'm really not an outdoors kind of girl and b) well, basically 'a' covers it.
So yesterday DS comes in with some of the bounty he found in his garden and in mine: beautiful full big garlic cloves (thanks to the nice lady/friend at the farmers market who gave him a few bulbs and the instructions on how to grow them. He's all excited about using some of these cloves to grow more for next year.), yellow onions, red potatoes (3) and lots of white potatoes plus some carrots. Add that to the oregano he brought in from his herb patch and the tomatoes I picked from my greenhouse and ta da! A wonderful harvest, oh, and did I mention this was all from our back yard?
We decided to try out our "from the farm" meal with all the above mentioned items plus a steak from one of our cows. We could've topped it off with some milk from the farm but I didn't have enough for all of us (whole big story about being w/o a fridge for a month and only able to keep small amounts of milk in the wee little egg fridge we have).
A whole meal that came solely from our farm! I wonder how many potatoes we'd have to grow to last us all year . And carrots . . . onions . . . garlic . . . would be interesting to know! Just to know, not sure if I want to delve completely into Little House days.
FarmMom |
• Comments
(1) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Jul. 5, 2009
Unloved
I think my whole life I felt somewhat unloved. I knew I was loved by my mother but there's something about being abandoned by a parent, knowing that they are ever so close but refuse to support or even see you, does something to one's sense of self.
Well, at the age of 35 I'm finally realizing the depth of the love my family has felt for me! My uncle pulled some of his trademark yuckiness after my great Uncle Pat died. He chose to call me and rant about my grandparents (grandma and step grandpa that I have always called Uncle Bernie). I dismissed his comments as they seemed quite unlikely and I'm aware that my uncle is a trouble maker. Well, my grandparents were devastated that he spoke to me that way about them. My Grandma even called me and we've never had such a serious family talk before. She wanted to make sure I did not believe that my Uncle Bernie could do those things and apparently the thought that I'd believe those things was the most upsetting part to my Uncle Bernie. I assured her that there was no way I could believe that my Uncle Bernie would be the least bit dishonest and she was relieved. Apparently this came up again when my mom and dad went to see my grandparents and have lunch with them. My Uncle Bernie talked about how he'd been around since I was a toddler. I don't have any memory of a time without him.
And that's when I knew how loved I was. That it would even matter what I thought of him. That my Grandma would even worry to clear it up. Who I am matters and they love me.
My Grandma had told me a few years ago that she always thought of me as her last baby. I was surprised - never had guessed. And she's mentioned that lately too. I try to call her more often to cheer her, especially now that I feel a role beyond just a granddaughter.
I have mentioned this to my mom and, like she said, I was always loved - just had that huge shadow that hung over me. I would like to be rid of that shadow fully. I don't know if I ever will but perhaps these are all the steps to healing a gaping sore that festered all these years.
FarmMom |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Jun. 24, 2009
Bachelor Uncle
This morning my Great Uncle Patrick died. He had a long battle with cancer and other things, quite the amazing man. In these last 5 years, my mom has become quite close to him. Although they say she wasn't named Patricia after him . . .well, I have to wonder!
I hadn't seen Uncle Pat in a great many years, even though he lived close by. He had always been the closest to my Grandma and I know it was hard for her to see him deteriorating. I wonder about his character and who he really was. I mean, he grew up backwoods with his 6 other siblings (including my Grandma), he worked hard, I imagine drank and smoked hard and married the love of his life in the '50s even though he knew she was dying. I thought that was sweet enough but heard from my mom and Grandma today that he had hired an English nurse to live with them and when his wife died, mom told me, he stayed with her that night until they came to take the body away.
Apparently he was meticulous. I wonder if that was a bit of that generation. I mean, my Grandma is, my Grandpa is . . . and even some older people we know here are. The nurses told my mom he'd be up at 5am to shave and wash up. They were quite surprised by his standards. Mom says his apartment is clutter free and tidy.
Uncle Pat would send me coins and paper money (collectible) for Christmas. He did the same for my mom (and I imagine her siblings) when she was growing up. Writing this, I feel sad that I don't think I told him I've enjoyed showing my kids, especially DS, the coins. But maybe I did. I know I wrote to him a while back, hoping for some info on his childhood. I didn't hear back but I didn't blame him.
So I talked to my mom today. There's something special to being that close to an aunt or uncle, I think. I know she cherishes the time they've had these last few years. And I know she feels some comfort in knowing that like Uncle Pat did with Joyce, staying with her in her last moments and beyond; so she did with him.
I also talked with my Grandma. She is sad, I know. Out of 7 children, only 2 remain. The eldest girl and the youngest boy.
It seems slightly odd that I had this experience a year and a half ago with DH's great aunt Mabel and that was my first experience with death and here's my mom experiencing it for the first time as well. It puts it all in perspective.
FarmMom |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Jun. 15, 2009
How Clean Is Your Fridge?
The fridge is looking great . . . looking empty . . . looking like I am saving money from not grocery shopping because I can't drive there so it's just not getting done.
On the upside, I still have some meat from #801 and we tried tenderloin steak last night. OH MY GOODNESS! They were soooooo good and tender! None of us (well considering 2/4 were our kids) had ever had tenderloin before. Soooo worth it. Sooooo going to spoil us. Anyway, I made sure to save about 1 1/2 for today, with no specific plan in mind. Well, I had 2 tortillas left in the fridge and the lettuce is growing well outside. I sent DS outside to pick 6 lettuce leaves for dinner, I cut up a tomato and DD cut up 1/3 of a cucumber I was surprised was still okay to eat. I got out a package of pitas from the freezer, thankful for Costco and their mega packs. Sauteed a bit of red onion for DH and myself and then warmed up the meat. Spread some dill ranch dressing (thanks Costco) on the pitas/tortillas, added the veggies and meat and ta da! A great dinner!
I also made a smoothie out of some, um, er, VERY old yogurt - that still smelled fine (little containers I bought at 1/2 off), the mixed frozen fruit mix (I think this is a Costco commercial) and milk. I also wanted to make DH a "round bale" dessert since he has gotten in all our round bales and that is no small feat! THere would've been over 200 and considering he can only take 13 in a trip, well, you do the math. I thought a rocky road type of square with mini marshmallows to look like round bales would be in order. mmmmm, was so good - and easy to make! Basically:
2 cups graham crumbs, 1/2 cup melted butter and 1/3 cup sugar. Mix together, save 1 cup for the topping and press the rest into a greased 9x13 pan. Next time, I'd not save the whole 1 cup, I think 2/3 would be enough.
Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
Melt about 300g (I just guessed, maybe 2 cups) chocolate chips, spread over slightly cooled bottom layer and top with 2 cups (or so) of mini marshmallows, pressing into chocolate lightly.
Sprinkle with remaining crust stuff and put back in the oven. They had it go under the broiler for 30 seconds but I opted to bake it lower for longer.
Let cool and dig in!
I cut this recipe out of a parents magazine July 1999!
FarmMom
PS Jodi, I can't drive because I had a seizure and after one, you can't drive until you've been seizure free for 6 months. I'm 1/3 into it now. |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
May. 17, 2009
Love the Chicken
We have been out of chicken for, well, probably 2 months or so. This has been sad but since we have a freezer full of beef from good old #801, well, I couldn't complain too much. But I had bought broccoli to make the "curry" chicken meal the kids love so much (a not-so-good-for-you, definitely not the curry in restaurants meal with 2 cans condensed chicken soup, mayo, curry powder, lemon juice, chicken, broccoli and cheese, served over rice) so I was feeling desperate to make something with the broccoli.
Scene 2: walking by the cooked chickens at Costco. I am always hesitant to buy these types of items. I mean, what IS in that seasoning? And gee, I can cook my own chicken! But this time, it seemed the answer to all my chicken problems. I only buy chicken from the butcher and since I can't drive for 6 months, I have to rely on DH to get me there and this is, well, slowing me down. I looked at the $7 chickens and the heavens opened up . . . oh the things to make with this already cooked meat!
Scene 3: we get home and there's a message on the machine from the dance teacher that she will swing by and pick me and DD up at 2:20 (see Scene 2 regarding not being able to drive). It is 1:40 and we are starving and just back from Costco. I whip out pre-cooked chicken and dive into the brown meat - planning on keeping most of the yummy breast meat for the curry chicken. I had bought some pitas and the dill ranch dressing the kids like and so put a bit of the dressing on the pitas and picked off the chicken meat in little bits and spread it out through the 6 pitas. I topped it with some fresh greens from my friend's greenhouse and we were good to go!
Scene 4: the family LOVES the pita wraps! huh, who'd have thought they'd be such a hit? Perhaps the near starvation helped  In any case, the guys each ate two and DD and I ate one each and were ready for our ride to dance. DS proclaimed that meal to be the best lunch ever.
Scene 5: we get home from dance and, again, I attack the chicken. Normally, when I roast a chicken, we eat it and then when I'm dealing with leftovers, I pick it apart and then boil the bones. Since the dance class time crunch, I had to tuck the bird into the fridge to deal with later. Somehow that's a bit ewie to me. Anyway, I pick off all this yummy meat, shocked at how much there really is on the bird, after we all ate such a good lunch too! So I make the curry chicken meal and we all eat a hearty dinner with lots left over. I considered holding back some of the chicken meat in my normal frugal style, but decided against it, in case I didn't get to making something with it.
Scene 6: I boil the chicken bones, thinking that they'd be a nice addition to the sweet potato fries I had made the other day. Sweet potato fries are very yummy but don't keep very well, so I thought I'd make a quick soup and blender the little suckers and make a nice cream soup. Chicken stock would be a nice addition to that.
Scene 7: We come in from Dairy training and my pseudo teen-daughter/neighbour girl is over so I invite her for lunch so the 5 of us eat the rest of the curry chicken meal.
Scene 8: In closing, today, I make the sweet potato soup, something different than I've ever made before and it is well received by all 4 family members  This makes me happy. And alas, that is the end of my $7 chicken. I could've dragged it out more but I feel pretty good with the convenience it offered me and the 2 lunches (meals for 8) and the 2 curry chicken meals (meals for 9).
FarmMom |
• Comments
(1) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
May. 16, 2009
DS Makes Me Laugh
I find that since DS is getting older (12 in 4 days!), he makes me laugh so often - and laugh so hard! He has such a good sense of humour and oh my goodness, we have fun.
That's about all I have to say about that. He just gives my insides a good workout : )
FarmMom |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Apr. 5, 2009
Thanks, Grandma!
I like to play the, "Guess how old I'm turning" game with my Grandma. I think it's losing its shock-value though and I'm not sure what that says. Perhaps, "Gee, I'm getting so old even my Grandma isn't shocked at it anymore." That's what I'm going with.
Anyway, my Grandma called me because she wanted to drop something off for my birthday. I asked her if she knew how old I was turning (and DH commented, "You love this game.") and she said she wasn't sure. So I told her, 35. She did not even feign being shocked. Again, not sure what that is saying. Turning 28, turning 32, turning . . . whatever was always greeted with shock and wonder at how I could have grown up (she once told me she thought of me as her last baby. aw.)
Her response to this new year of my life about to start was, "Well, you are almost ready for menopause then." What???? Grandma!!! And then the, "you just wait" sort of comments, rounded out by some vague encouragement how it is different for some women, just like getting their periods, being pregnant, childbirth. I told her I remembered her going through it. I remember cardboard pieces in various places. In the bathroom, on the coffee table. Periodically, she'd grab one and start frantically fanning herself. I just did some quick math, she was probably 56. Since when is 56 close to 35?? Since WHEN? Am I in denial? humph! My mom'll hate this, but for heaven's sake, SHE'S 56!!
But on that note, and a warning not to let DS go galavanting out there with hoodlums, she said she'd see me the next day as she had something to give me. Fast forward to today, when she and my step-Grandpa (who I call Uncle Bernie and has been a part of my life, and hers, since I was about 2 - so forever - or at least when my going through menopause wasn't even thought of) came by to drop off 3 boxes and my card : ) Since I send them food sometimes, I usually get those containers back, so those were there along with some lovingly packed heavy items. My grandparents didn't stay long, we had dairy calf training and it was time for that and my grandma really doesn't get around well at all so she stayed in the car. My Uncle Bernie asked me how old I was turning and I told him and he cheekily said, "So I guess you're almost an adult now." Yup, I said, "And maybe I could have a family, and run a household." heh heh heh.
And what was in those boxes? My grandma's good dishes. I remember when she got them. We all sort of wondered why as it was evident she was outgrowing making the big family dinners anymore. I have a feeling my Uncle Bernie wanted her to have them. They weren't used too often and now they are mine : ) I feel very special and chosen and I will cherish them.
I think I'll use them tomorrow, but I will make sure to break them out the day I get my first hot flash!
FarmMom |
• Comments
(2) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Mar. 23, 2009
Actually Sad It'll End
Believe it or not, I've been thinking how sad it'll be when the kids are grown and the homeschooling is done . . . this said with DS being almost 12 and DD 6 1/2. But I just see how they are maturing and I know my days are numbered. This also said by the woman who never wanted or intended to homeschool at all!
We have decided to hold DS back a bit and call next year 8/9, for all it's worth, instead of straight grade 9. This is because it all changes for grade 10 with funding and so on so it gives us a bit more time - while his peers are in grade 7. Seven!? How could that have happened! We left school after grade 2 and I know I was really old by grade 7 - his peers are still just wee, I know it!
DD will start grade 2 in the fall. With her I'm struggling with the repetition monster. She hates it like her brother did too. I've ordered Saxon 2 math for the rest of this year but it's hard when they balk at repetition. Just do it! For all the time we had to repeat things - sometimes it is worth it and helps cement things in your mind. Anyway, if that's my biggest gripe, I suppose we are doing okay.
Spring break is over and today we had our 4-H Agriculture Awareness Project meeting. We have 3 homeschooled kids doing that project so we can meet during the day. We are looking at where our food comes from, starting with the meat group. Each member had to research 2 meat items and I made worksheets for them to see if it's produced locally, how it is produced, what's required, what jobs are created, alternative uses for the animal etc. We also visited 2 bison on a dairy farm and ended the day with a bison burger lunch. A little macabre but the kids are adjusting quite well to DH and my tell it as it is lifestyle - and our fellow 4-H leader is just the same so there's no escaping the truth ; ) It's been really fun to watch the moms also figure out where the food comes from too!
And on that note, while I don't want to go too overboard about food, I have decided to give myself a goal for my usually poorly maintained garden . . . previous years I plant w/o a strategy and hope for the best (including hoping I'll enjoy the outdoors and actually weed and water the garden!). This year, while reflecting on eating locally and this sad little garden, the Farmers Market and 4-H, I thought about how 4-H members have to do record books and part is to write what they want to do with their project, what they want to achieve by the end. Aha! I decided that my goal is first and foremost to provide my family with healthy food that we grow ourselves. 2nd, I'd love it if I could provide our family with carrots and potatoes to at least January. This'll require some studying on preserving the harvest as well.
On that note, disregard the leggy veggies that are in a little greenhouse in my kitchen - who knew we'd have negative temperatures and severe weather mid-March? DH set up a grow light for them but, well, they are kinda anemic looking. Oh well, Spring is just around the corner - I know it!
FarmMom |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Jan. 21, 2009
Rant of the Bear Tootsies
So, it's -2 outside and as I scurry to the grocery store, I see a mom with her two babes in a buggy. Child #1 is a toddler who can talk. Mom asks her if she's warm enough and the girl says yes. Child #2 is a baby just sitting up age . . . and . . . only has thin socks on his feet! Oh, but good thing he has mitts on.
I have never understood this. When my babies were small, they wore socks and booties or shoes AND then a blanket around their little legs when out in the cold. I wouldn't leave my feet hanging out in winter weather with nothing on them.
And the other day I saw a baby with BEAR toes.
FarmMom |
• Comments
(2) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Jan. 5, 2009
I Did It!
I finally took the plunge and got the laser eye surgery done! It was something I dreamed of for a while, then thought I'd do for my 30th birthday - but then chickened out a bit and sort of "forgot" about that plan. Well, just 4 3/4 years later I did it! My sister and I both had it done on the same day (although we didn't see each other there), New Year's Eve. By the 3rd day, I was told I was legal to drive and to carry on. It is amazing. Some things are still a bit blurry but I can see without glasses! Yay!
I am soooooo thankful! And thankful for the snowfall that is giving DH some snow clearing work - paying for the expensive surgery!
FarmMom |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Dec. 15, 2008
Lapbook Crazy
We are entering into the homeschool craze of lapbooking. Not so much for DS (although he exhibits some lapbook envy), but DD and I have done an addition facts one, a Little Red Hen lapbook and she really wanted to learn about Canada so we've started a non-conventional style for that one (piece of posterboard about 11" tall, with 3 pieces of cardstock stapled on top, red on the outside, white on the inside and the white one overlaps over the red ones. On the white one, she traced a maple leaf and wrote: Canada Lapbook by DD and coloured it. Today we discussed how Canada fits in with the continents etc. and the coat of arms that go with the country, province and municipality.
I have cut all the pieces for a music one for her and DS is envious of that one. DD's are, of course, easier, and his needs to be more advanced, more like a mini-office as a resource. His music theory is now getting beyond me - I have to think WAY too much to be of any help. Oh well. The time had to come at some pt!
FarmMom |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Dec. 10, 2008
A New Christmas Carol: God Made Jupiter
Angels We Have Heard on High was playing in the car as we drove to piano lessons. DD shushed her brother claiming that she wanted to learn the words to that song. She sang with great gusto, "Gloria . . ." and then when it came to "in excelsis deo." she came up with somtehing else. I couldn't understand the last word and asked her if she knew what it meant. She said, "Isn't it a planet or something?" And I realized, she was singing, "God made Jupiter" instead! She says it sounds like that.
FarmMom
PS ate a roast from #801 today. She's a good cow. |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Nov. 28, 2008
Where Does Your Meat Come From?
DH and I decided we could try having some of our meat animals butchered and then sell the meat from home. This is legal, providing the meat is butchered/packed by an inspected place. We really weren't getting any $$ for sheep or beef and he tried raising some bulls for a few months and then selling them but we saw no benefit there.
I did my research . . . I posted it on facebook and was amazed how many people responded, wanting our farm-raised meat. Okay, next step, send the animals and go into the unchartered territory of arranging for my "custom kill" (sorry to any vegetarians) and what I wanted wrapped and how it was to get done. The sheep went in first. Sheep #1 was about 2 years old so his prospects were pretty low, Italian sausage and ground. Sheep #2 was about 9 months old and would have all the yummy cuts. I already had Sheep #2's racks spoken for.
When we brought in our beef, I was able to visit our sheep and while it probably sounds gross, I think it was good for me to see where all this was being done. Having been a city girl, thinking about where my food, especially meat, comes from is a fairly new undertaking. I arranged for the beef, trying to figure out how much 25lbs of pepperoni really is, and went home to make room in my freezer for the sheep.
I then started researching prices. Oh my goodness! Sheep are expensive and they travel soooooo far! From Australia mostly! I could not find any local sheep anywhere! And as I stood in Costco, looking at the wrapped sheep, I wondered where the sheep grew up, were they healthy? Did their owners care for them? And then I realized how little we really know about something we put into our bodies! I don't want to get crazy about this but really, why can't I get meat from an animal that was raised nearby? Australia? Like there are no sheep in Canada? I don't think so!
I've also started wondering where the food I eat at restaurants comes from too. Again, don't want to end way out in the left wing or something but gee, I think I'm probably the 2nd generation to really have no clue where my food comes from. I think my Grandma had some understanding in her day but now, things are so convoluted and labels are misleading (like the BC Hothouse sticker on the peppers, with "Made in Mexico" underneath. BC in Mexico? How is that? Well, BC is NOT British Columbia, it is Best Choice! eek!) and what about the fruit that comes from South America but the majority of the cost is the packaging and processing so they can say "Product of Canada"?
So enough of that . . . today I cooked some of the sheep I had known its entire life. I didn't get too grossed out about it and I talk about it matter-of-factly to the kids and DD actually asked what part of the body the sausage comes from . . . I think it's healthy that they know. Anyway, my first time cooking lamb and I made an amazing (if I do say so myself) gyro-type meal from it and also cooked 2 of the lamb Italian sausages and mmmmmmm. So good! The kids were thanking me AND the sheep!
FarmMom
BTW DD has had to do her "6 minutes" twice now. She hates it. I told her that was the idea. |
• Comments
(2) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Nov. 2, 2008
6 Minutes
I've been struggling trying to find a way to deal with DD's volatile words that she will spew at DS. And DS, being 5 years older and so kind-hearted, puts up with them for the most part, but they really do hurt him. Not having grown up with any siblings, I'm a newbie at this whole sibling relationship thing but I know that I do not want these words flying around my house!
The other day the idea of washing her mouth out with soap actually seemed like a very good idea. Today, though, we had an impromptu family meeting about it and decided that when she starts acting up and saying mean things, DS is to tell her that those words are not appropriate and he doesn't want to hear them. If she continues, he's to tell one of us and leave it at that (I do not need a lengthy list of the words, they usually are, "I hate you!" "You're the meanest brother ever!" - and these were while he was helping her clean her room!). Then, one of us will put her in a corner for 6 minutes at which point she needs to apologize. If it happens again, she gets spanked.
Putting her in her room would do no good so I think the corner will do the trick.
When things like this come up, it is confirmation for us that having her home for schooling is one of the best ways to raise her to be all she could be. Nurturing her character is very important to me.
On another note, I have learned that she is a very independent learner. This came up first with piano. She does not like me to be there while she practices but she will ask me if she has a question so now I just let her be and she is doing wonderfully! And enjoying it! Also, she prefers that when it comes to schoolwork. Unfortunately, she doesn't read overly quickly but I'm sure once that picks up, she'll do well, and prefer, to do it on her own.
And here is another time I feel blessed to homeschool them, she can work on the things she enjoys. She loves artsy things, loves to play the piano, and violin, was teaching herself the guitar (and she's 6!), with a bit of guidance from her brother. She loves to sing and dance and create. If she wasn't home, she wouldn't be able to have all these experiences and let her talents be explored. I sometimes wonder how DS would've done if he were HS from the start. He was so academically focused, and was reading when he was 2 but I wonder what other things I could've fostered in him if he had had the time to explore more. But I suppose the biggest thing is that now he is free to grow in knowledge and character.
FarmMom |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Oct. 13, 2008
Getting Back
Living on the same property as my in-laws, people think we'd be naturally close. Um, no. Case in point . . . every year my MIL would have this thanksgiving dinner, the last 7 or so years at a hall where her dad lived. Last year, after he died, she emailed to say she wasn't doing the dinner. I actually breathed a sigh of relief - it meant we'd have a yummy dinner with my family!
Well, a few days before thanksgiving she emailed to say she WAS doing a dinner. What??? I told her we had plans and heard nothing.
This year, we heard nothing about Thanksgiving dinner. DS talked about keeping a piano piece ready just in case. I found out my MIL asked DH for the tenants of the mobile home (where we lived before the house)'s phone number to invite them for dinner but our invitation never came.
DH came home from milking and yes, there had been a full dinner there. His sister, BIL, the tenants (he thinks), and the pseudo-grandmother. But not us. Not our kids . . . I was actually a bit hurt but this is her way of getting back at us for last year, I guess.
You never know what you'll get with her. It was either last year or the year before she decided last minute that she would not do Christmas eve as had been the custom for 30+ years. No thought of the grandkids or anything. sigh.
Although I doubt I'd ever play the mind games she does, her treatment of me and as a result, her son's family, has taught me exactly how I do NOT want to be as a MIL - even if I do not really like my child's spouse!
FarmMom |
• Comments
(1) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Oct. 11, 2008
Family Pictures
It's been 3 years since we had family pictures done and I've made friends with another homeschool mom who takes amazing pics. I asked her if she'd do ours and she agreed and I was so excited. You see, this is a woman who can make a pair of plastic green crocs look good on a beach. Can make a flower look like the perfect bathroom picture . . . can make one of those stick-a-quarter-in-to-see-far-away machines look amazing . . . yes, this indeed was the person I wanted to shoot our family : )
We all dressed in jeans and sorta matching tops (colours at least did not clash). The kids and DH have cowboy boots. I do not. Very sad for me and I believe Crystal got a picture of them all showing off their boots and me pouting.
Well, I just saw a few of the pics on her blog and I LOVE them all, even the one of ME! Who'd have thunk?
I always marvel at the gifts God has given people and I feel giddy over her gift and am thankful to have the pictures of my little brood (even if Lenny, the dog, wanted to sit facing me, butt to Crystal).
FarmMom
I think I'll look for some boots on ebay. |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Oct. 9, 2008
On the Sunny Side of the Street
What beautiful weather October is bringing us! The air definitely has a chill now, but after a dismal summer, this fall has been wonderful - too bad we can't grow corn NOW! First year in eons w/o the corn cash-o-la coming.
A few weeks ago we took our RV (dubbed the Pan Pan Squash) for our first roadtrip in its 1977 splendor. Repairs had to be made on the way, as can be imagined. Fuel leak, sink leak . . . starter problems (nothing a hammer can't fix when in a pinch). I'm thankful DH can do all these things. Although, if he couldn't, we wouldn't have purchased such a beast!
Anyway, we wanted to take the kids up the coast and to see the island where my Grandma grew up and where DH's grandfather had a summer home, ironically enough. I went everywhere I have always been told not to . . . well, okay two places, both reserves. And I found I was related to most of the people on one reserve, not even the band the family was supposed to be part of! An amazing experience to a) go to the band office, b) plunk down a picture taken off another band's site with a picture of my great-grandma and her siblings as children, as well as their dad and have the girl at the desk point to one of the sisters and say, "That's my granny's grandma." I think we both stopped and looked at each other - this meant we were related!
We fondly recount adventures of our newly discovered "Second cousin Larry" and how DH and DS got to ride in a helicopter to see the power plant work going on on reserve land! What a treat! And that all these women are built like my grandma, mom and aunt . . . and they're all the same height too! It's funny, being raised w/o my biological father and his family, I did the standard adoptive child "searching" thing. We learned about this in a course we took about adoption, children will often search for others they look like. Well, when I met my father's family and saw others that shared similar traits, I finally felt a bit settled. Then, at the reserve to look into eyes so my like my own and speak to others that looked so much like my grandma and aunt, well! There was no denying family! Matt even said that as he looked at the women he thought, "I know that hair."
The one that looked most like my aunt asked what traditional food we'd tried. I was tickled to be included! She gave us candied smoked salmon. mmmmmmm. Sooooo good!
Our blessed Pan Pan trip! Not far from home but full of discovery.
FarmMom |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Sep. 8, 2008
Jesus in the Clouds
Admittedly, DD has not gotten the Christian education DS got as a youngster but she does surprise us sometimes with her understanding. Being a child, I guess she's just more open to listening and hearing than adults.
Well, a few weeks ago, we were moving 2 ex-4-H heifers out to be bred. It was sort of a momentous occasion because, well, they were last year's 4-H calves and their time had come. I told DD to stand by the blackberry bushes while we went by. I guess we forgot her there and since I've trained her to always stand where I put her when I'm doing something potentially dangerous, she does stay put.
I little while later, I went and got her and she was all sad and started to cry as she related how she had been forgotten. I felt horribly! It had been a fair amount of time and she had been such a good girl to stay there the whole time and not sacrifice possibly scaring the animals by yelling out to us. We patched it up and continued with our evening.
Well, fast forward about 2 weeks to Friday night when DD and I were picking blackberries and she brought up being left there while we bred the heifers (AI if you are interested.). She told me how she was so lonely and looked up to the clouds and she knew Jesus was in the clouds. She said it was like He told her she wasn't alone.
This was just one of those moments and because she hasn't had all the Christian education all these years, it made my heart sing as I knew she didn't get this thought from anyone else, it came from her heart.
FarmMom |
• Comments
(1) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
Aug. 29, 2008
House Repairs
I hear the "light sanding" going on in the kitchen. Everything is drywalled and mudded - I can't wait for the painting and then for it all to be done!
My first plan will be to unpack everything in the school room and get that organized. Oh, it will be glorious! We will be cutting back on some nonessentials this year. No more theatre for the kids, DD has said she wants to stick with Highland dance, providing it's not so late in the day. It's been at 5pm the last 2 years and she says she's just not "jumpy" at that time of day. Here I gave her the out to quit but nope, she wants to keep going. Well, okay then. She is good at it.
DS wants to take fencing at our local Parks and Leisure centre and maybe woodwork. He says he wants to try new things this year and while he enjoyed pottery and painting, would like to see what else is out there, hence the fencing and woodwork. DS is starting grade 8 this year so Medieval times is part of the curriculum and fencing will be a nice additive!
I have decided not to start a girls group at church this year. I was constantly running last year and after this summer, have realized I need to slow down too. 4-H will wind down in the fall, only to start up again in the new year and really, bang for the buck, 4-H really gives a lot back to my kids and our family.
It's been a crummy year for selling at the Farmer's Market. I don't even know if we made back what we've put in yet for supplies - let alone for weeding, of which we have definitely NOT earned back : ( But I guess that just goes with the "cash crop" territory. So I will need to cut back more this year and see how it goes. It is a blessing that we get piano paid for through homeschooling.
Been watching RVs on craigslist and finally the 1970s ones are coming available under $4000. We will probably jump at one of these as it'll be something our family can enjoy and will sure come in handy for the fairs. We hope to go look at one on Monday or Tuesday for around $3000.
My mom hasn't been feeling well for the past week or so. Says she feels worse than she did 15 years ago. This morning she sounded much better so I pray that lasts. She's been so well for so many years, you forget what the illness is really like.
FarmMom |
• Comments
(0) • Post A Comment! •
Permanent Link
|
|
