The Legend of Thousand Hills Farm

It's Been a While!

My apologies to those of you who rely on this blog to keep up with us!  It's been a while since I posted, but it seems that life has been moving rather quickly lately.  We spent a couple of weeks dealing with sickness.  First it was coughs and upper respitory junk, and then it was the flu.   We are well at this point, although I still have a bit of a cough ~ just can't seem to shake it. 

We have been running (driving) all over the country, going to track meets and baseball games.  A little over a month ago, we decided that there was no way we could continue to afford gas for our 15 passenger van.  So, we began the hunt for a mini van.  We ended up with a 2000 Montana.  I love it!  It drives so nice, and it gets at least double the mileage that the big van did.  It's 8 passenger, so most of us fit in it.  I would have loved to have gotten a small *really* economical car, but with soon-to-be 2 children in carseats, and one still in a booster, I couldn't see going any smaller than a mini van. 

Will and Levi have ended up being too old to play baseball right now ~ they just didn't have enough kids turn out to make a team.  So, Will has been coaching.  He has done really well, and I have been impressed with how well he handles the boys on his team.  It does look like they will get to play starting in June.  Garth has ended up pitching and is doing a great job!  As long as he does things the way he's supposed to, he's pretty consistent and throws strikes.

Levi is doing track.  He long and triple jumps, and runs the 110 hurdles, and usually at least one relay.  Today was the District Track Meet, and although he didn't place, he did his personal best today in the Triple.  I was very proud of him!

Mike is really enjoying his new job.  It has been fairly varied so far.  They have been in the process of remodeling a couple of the businesses, and so there has been a fair amount of physical labor involved ~ resulting in some weight loss!  He enjoys the people he is working with, and although much of what he is doing is similar to what he did at the store, it's different enough to be a challenge.  I enjoy having a husband who isn't stressed out all the time!

We are patiently awaiting the arrival of Baby E.  Last week at my midwife appt, he was breech, so I made an appt with a chiropractor and went in and had the Webster Technique done.  This is a maneuver that encourages the baby to turn.  I do believe that he finished turning that evening, but tomorrow we'll find out for sure when Terry comes for another appointment.  Mike and I have been talking and praying about what to do if he decides he's going to be breech.  While there have been lots and lots of breech babies born over the years, it does carry a little more risk than delivering a baby that is presenting properly ~ however, to go to the hospital would mean an automatic c-sec.  Which I really don't want.  It would be a serious matter either way, and one we want to approach with much prayer.

Well, I doubt that I will get around to posting again before the baby is born, but when he makes his arrival, we will be sure to post pictures and details ~ so stay tuned!

Up to Speed

Well, we've had an eventful couple of weeks around here!  Our internet has been really spotty, so I haven't been as regular in updating my blog as I would like ~ we're hoping the server gets things figured out.

Two weeks ago today, Mike came home from work early with the news that he had walked away from his job of almost 14 years.   I wasn't sure what to say or do, so I just did my best to encourage him.  It is something he has talked about off and on over the years, when things would get a little stressful, but God has just never opened the doors for him to leave.  That all changed that Tuesday morning.  On the following 2 days he had job interviews (and no, he didn't have them set up beforehand!).  At one of the job interviews, he was told that the job was his if he wanted it.  His response was that he wanted to pray about it, and he would let them know.

So, yesterday he began his new job.  He is now general manager for a local business.  He is still working in Plummer, and they don't have a problem with him coaching football in the fall ~ which is really important to us.  He is making a little more than he was previously, and best of all, I think they are really going to appreciate what he does for them.

During the last 2 weeks, he made a *very* quick trip to Arizona with his brother, Hank to pick up a 5th wheel and a couple of motorbikes.  He was glad to have the time and opportunity to be able to do that with him.  And we just got to enjoy having Daddy at home!  That was nice.

Will, Levi, and Garth are busy with baseball practice.  We have a Little League team this year ~ senior league, so it's for through HS senior.  There aren't enough kids for a middle school team, so Garth will play up on the HS team.  It means he probably won't get the amount of playtime, but we are excited for the experience it will give him.  Will will be pitching and Levi will be catching, I'm not sure where they have plugged Garth in.  Levi is also doing track this spring ~ so we are going to be on the go!  He brought home the schedule the other day, and it looks like if he is good enough to go to state, we'll be traveling to Boise with a baby that's about a week old.  But, we'll just have to wait and see how the season goes.

Happy Birthday, Levi!

Well, my darling Levi is 16!  Where has the time gone?  He is driving ~ still under supervisory time, he should get his license in July sometime, and is getting ready to start track and baseball. 

Levi is becoming quite a nice young man.  He is so good with the younger children ~ Josiah in particular.  The other day, Josiah hurt himself and I picked him up and was comforting him, but as soon as Levi walked in the room, he wanted Levi!  Levi wasn't even that sympathetic to him!!  But Levi is almost always a favorite of the babies.  He loves the Lord, although he is not overly outspoken about his faith.  And he has the highest tolerence for pain of just about anyone I know!  Which is good, as often as he manages to get injured.

This last week it was slicing the end of his thumb open with his knife ~ took 8 stitches to close it up.  We're praying for it to heal before sports start in earnest.

Levi was an induced baby, because I was young and stupid and the dr.s office staff weren't horribly attendant.  Mike was on his delivery route (he worked in his Dad's produce store then), and he just "happened" to show up after the dr.s office sent me to the hospital ~ along with a 17mo Will (Will was with me, not Mike).  While I labored with Levi, Mike sold boxes of apples to the L&D nurses.  Thankfully, it was a fast labor, and it wasn't very long before we were holding our sweet little Levi in our arms.  He weighed in at 7lb 13 oz ~ our smallest baby.  We named him after my great-grandpa Storms (Levi), and my grandpa Storms (Carl).  He was also our only baldish baby.  He had almost no hair, and what he did have was blonde, so you couldn't see it!  Levi was a good baby, and from the time he was little we have seen God's hand of protection over him.

Levi ~ Happy Birthday!  I pray that the Lord will use you in mighty ways for His Kingdom.  I love you, son.

Here he is!

Well, he is still nameless ~ not something to sweat about yet, since he's not due until the 16th of May, , but I thought you might enjoy a peek at our little man.

Not the very best of pictures, but he had his little face snuggled up into the placenta, and he wasn't going to co-operate!  So, the midwife had to press a little harder to get all of his face, which led to a bit of a skeletal appearance.  He was also enjoying his thumb while we were taking a peek at him.  It'll be interesting to see if he's a thumb sucker after he's born.  Both girls are, but none of the boys have been...as of yet.  It doesn't show real well, but he definitely has the little "Dole" nose ~ we are looking forward to May even moreso, now that we've "met" our son!

Menu Share Thursday

Well, Thursday is usually Mexican night, but Mike wanted stroganoff, so stroganoff it was! 

To make the stroganoff, I take steak ~ pretty much any cut of steak (I usually get whatever cut is on sale, if I'm not taking it out of the freezer - this is a great way to stretch meat), and cut it into bite size pieces.  In my dutch oven, I brown the meat in a little oil, with diced garlic.  After the meat has browned, I make it into gravy with flour and milk.  I add enough liquid that I can cook noodles in it.  We like Country Pasta noodles, which are very similar to homemade.  While the noodles are cooking in the gravy, I either boil potatoes or cook rice to eat with the stroganoff.

I had some fruit left over from the other night, so we also had that with our stroganoff.  So, that was our menu for tonight.  I may make some cookies later, since it's still fairly early.

A Great Deal

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Here is the link to Vision Forum:

The Coupon Code is: Vision

This is a wonderful opportunity to get some great resources, or to get gifts for birthdays, etc.

It's Official...

We're only having *one* baby!  LOL  And it's a.....Boy!  We didn't get any real good pictures of him, he had his little face snuggled up into the placenta, so the pictures we did get have a skeletal look to them, but we could see that he's got the little Dole nose.  Now on to find a name... After 6 boys, it's getting difficult to find names that really grab us.  However, now that I know what kind of name we need, I can get serious at looking at options, which will be followed by good discussion with Mike, I'm sure.

As I suspected, we weren't home for supper, so the boys ate frozen pizza (they did cook it first!), we ate Taco Bell.  I suppose I should have picked a different week to do the menu thing.  Perhaps next week I'll do it on my other blog.

Menu Share ~ Tuesday

Well, I thought I would share our menu this week.  That should keep me on my toes!   I haven't made a menu in over a month, and I really need to get back to doing that.  I was thinking the other day that Kathleen is actually old enough to begin learning the process and helping to come up with our menu.  I only do dinner ~ breakfast and lunch around here are pretty much "help yourself", unless of course, you're too little! 

Not that I always stick with it, but in general, I have each day of week designated for a particular "food". 

• Monday ~ chicken
• Tuesday ~ breakfast
• Wednesday ~ pasta
• Thursday ~ Mexican
• Friday ~ pizza
• Saturday ~ soup
• Sunday ~ roast

It makes the whole planning part much easier because instead of starting from scratch each time I need to make a menu, I at least of a starting *point*.  So, yesterday was Monday, but it was also payday, so I didn't cook, we ate out because we were in town.

Today is breakfast.  I believe that we are going to have French (or as we prefer to call it, Freedom) Toast.  My Beloved treated me to a new griddle yesterday (much bigger than the old one!), and I need to try it out!  Along with our Fr... Toast, we will have breakfast meat, either sausage or bacon ~ I'll leave that up to Mike ~ I forgot to get any in town yesterday, so it will be whatever appeals to him at the store.  Perhaps some fresh fruit and orange juice.

Tomorrow we are going to be in town again ~ we're having the ultrasound!   So, I don't know if that will end up being an all day affair (I have some shopping we also need to get done ~ a few things we saved doing knowing that we would be in Cd'A tomorrow and sales tax is cheaper!), so I don't know if I'll be cooking dinner tomorrow or not.

At any rate, I won't post until evening.  Either way, there will be menu and/or baby news!

SOS ~ Pray for Noah!

Please click on the Pray for Noah button to the right and read Kate's update.  Noah is desperately in need of your prayers.  Kate and Jeff could use them as well.

Day 7 Week in Feminine Dress

I can't believe the week is over already!  Today has been fairly laid back, I had things I wanted to get done ~ partly working upstairs, because *that* didn't happen last week!  However, time got away from me last night and it was late when I got to bed, so it was a late morning as well.

Tonight we are going to the PBR (Professional Bull Riders), and that should be fun!  We love rodeo around here, and especially bull riding.

I have on a tiered denim skirt - I don't know that it's maternity, but I can still wear it, even though my belly is getting big!  A white maternity camisole from Target, and a pink floral Wrangler 20X cowgirl shirt - worn open because of aforementioned belly.   Brown stockings and my newest pair of lace-up ropers that are two-tone black and brown.

Day 6 Week in Feminine Dress

Today was full of straightening up!  I have been trying to be very diligent about "if you're done with something, put it *away*!"  But, we've had popcorn a couple times this week, and I've been out and about enough, that it kind of looked like a tornado hit.  So, before anyone was allowed to start in on computer games today, the house had to be straightened up. 

It was pizza night, and Will wonderfully made the dough and put the pizzas together!  Then this evening, we went to the high school girl's basketball games.  We had a good time, although now my neck is out, and my head hurts.

Today I wore my new skirt again (didn't manage to get it very dirty sitting and visiting yesterday!), and a deep purple long sleeve maternity tee, with my brown stockings and my red Keen maryjanes.

Day 5 Week in Feminine Dress

Today is tea!  Kathleen has her piano lesson at 11, and then we head to McKinney's for tea and visiting.  I haven't been with my 3 dearest friends since just before my birthday, so this will be a wonderful treat.  Other than that, today will be filled with our normal activities.

I am wearing a beige long sleeve maternity tee from Shopko, my brand new corduroy skirt that I made last night, brown stockings and my new necklace I made yesterday.  I feel so creative and industrious! 

Day 4 Week in Feminine Dress

Today, we've been cold!  It's about 23 outside, and we're running low on wood, so our fire hasn't been the hottest.  We've had a relaxed day of school work, and a John Wayne movie - during which a made a cute new necklace and our new mama cat arrived (we hope she survives!).  I'm hoping in a bit to get my new skirt made.  I was planning on spaghetti for supper, but we may go with chili instead.  We'll see.

I'm wearing a black corduroy dress by Eddie Bauer.  It's not maternity, but it is empire waisted, so it accomadates my belly.   I'm also wearing a black tank top underneath, so that I can unbutton it to nurse Si, but still be modest.  Black tights and my comfy slippers complete the ensemble.

Once again, I'll have to post pictures after a while.  I apologize that none of the pictures have shown a complete outfit so far, my Beloved didn't quite get the concept. We'll try to do better for the rest of the week.

Day 3 A Week in Feminine Dress

Well, it's quieter here today.  Will and Garth are out trapping with Pak, and it just changes the whole dynamic here if even one is gone, let alone two.  Today is full of the normal day to day activities; school work, tidying up, cooking, laundry.  I did get some fabric last night, so I'll be making the final window topper for the living room, and as a super bonus (!), I found some *beautiful* green courduroy that has a rose print at like, 75% off ~ so, I bought 2 yards of it to make a new skirt.  $2.50 a yard!  I am so excited!!  So, I'll get that cut out today as well. 

This evening is Levi's last Driver's Ed class!  I am so thankful that we are done with driving back and forth to Cd'A several times a week.  Depending on roads, he may even get to drive home.

So, for today, I am wearing a dark green velour skirt ~ it's not maternity, but it has enough room for my growing belly!  I purposely look for skirts that have elastic waists and "growing room" so that I can wear them whether I'm pregnant or not.  I also have on a lavender hooded, Soon To Be sweater from Shopko and black stockings.

Hopefully tonight I can get pictures posted not for today and the last two days!

Note on the Week in Feminine Dress

Well, you may have noticed, there are no pictures!  I do hope you'll come back, I'm hoping that this evening I'll be able to get some photos posted.  We have taken them.   But we bought a new camera during football season, and I haven't figured out how to upload photos from it yet.   Will's the one in the "know", and he's not home right now.   So, in a little while I'll take time to blog today's entry, and then hopefully this evening I can get you some pictures!

Day 2, Week in Feminine Dress

Well, today is full of schooling, cleaning (Daddy's home, and he's got projects!), and for Levi, Driver's Ed this evening.

Today I'm in a straight not-quite ankle length denim skirt that I think is Motherhood brand.  A heather blue tank top under a floral striped, 3/4 sleeve, western styled blouse from Motherhood.  Oh, and black stockings.

Day 1 A Week in Feminine Dress

I'll do my best to get pictures posted tomorrow.  Today I wore a turqouise sweater set by Mimi Maternity, a black velour skirt (not maternity, just bigger than my "normal" size), black stockings and my black wingtip mary-janes.

I do wear a covering to church, and this morning's was a wide black velvet headband with a black chiffon scarf stitched onto it.

We had a lovely morning at church, and then this afternoon attended a memorial service for the husband of Kathleen's piano teacher.  We then came home for a quiet afternoon/evening of watching videos and snacking.

This and That

Well, we're almost 2 weeks into the new year already!  I can't believe how quickly time goes these days.  We are also on the "downhill" side of this pregnancy, at 21 weeks.  Sometime next month we will be having a 3D ultrasound, and taking a peek at this busy, little critter.  Such a wiggly baby!  I must admit, I am anxious to find out if this baby is a boy or a girl, so that I can get serious about names.  We have known what some of our babies were ahead of time, and we have had some surprises ~ which we love!  There is little more satisfying than having someone ask you if you know what you're having and answering them with, "A baby."  For some reason, it really irritates people if you haven't peeked.  However, after losing Tucker, we have decided that we like knowing ahead of time, that way, we can call our baby by his/her name, and everyone in the family can "connect" a little even before the birth.

Tomorrow I hope to start a Week in Feminine Dress!  This isn't a novel idea ~ I don't seem to have those very often!  But I thought it would be fun.  I will try to get one of my dear children to take a picture of me each day in whatever I'm wearing, and then I can post it and talk a bit about what's happening that day.  I pretty much exclusively wear dresses or skirts, but on occasion I do wear jeans.  But I know that a lot of folks wonder how you can live day to day in dresses.  I have found, since becoming "dresses mostly" that dresses and skirts are just way more comfortable than jeans!  I can stay in the same size with a greater weight fluctuation than I could with pants (a huge bonus for a mama!), and they are just a whole lot more flattering when I'm sporting a post-partum body!

Well, today on the schedule is trying to get the nursery end of the upstairs straightened up and begin getting it ready for Josiah (he's still in our room), and I think we may go to the basketball games this afternoon.

Ever get the feeling...

that God thinks you're a little on the slow side?   It seems when He is speaking to me, I am *bombarded* with sermons, articles, conversations, etc., that all revolve around what He wants me to work on.  Lately, okay, for the last 6 or 9 months or so , it's been hospitality.  I really intend to be more hospitable, and am *fully* convinced that the best place to minister is within our own homes, inviting others in, but every time I decide that now is the time, our schedule goes berzerk. 

Anyway, I haven't been listening to much ~ as far as radio goes, but I have been doing quite a bit of reading lately.  And several books I have been working through have talked about hospitality.  And then came TEACH in the mail.  Have I mentioned how wonderfully encouraging this magazine is?  Of course I have, but it's worth mentioning again.  This issue is all about being hospitable.  It is full of articles on how to easily incorporate hospitality into your routine, how to help your children learn not only how to extend hospitality, but to be good guests.

One of the things that was interesting to me was the idea of not putting on a great spread of food, serving on your best dishes etc.  This is something that my friends and I have spoken of often.  It can be a real hang-up for us romantic types or perfectionists.   We want everything to be perfect, and to wow our guests.  Not necessarily to be *impressive*, but to let them know that they are special.  But you know what?  So few people actually cook from scratch anymore, that a simple pot of stew and some homemade bread has the same *wow* factor that Glazed Ham and all the fixin's does.  And it has the added bonus of not making your guests feel uncomfortable, or feel like they could never be hospitable.  I think that within the church, one of our goals should be not only to *be* hospitable, but to show our brothers and sisters how simple and easy it really can be.  Not that we shouldn't put forth effort to make our guests feel welcome and comfortable, but I have noticed, at least in the area where we live, that people are intimidated by china and crystal.  So, while I want my guests to know that they are worth the effort it takes to make them feel at home, I don't want to make them feel uncomfortable, or like I'm putting on airs.  It kind of defeats the purpose of being hospitable in the first place.

The other thing that was a good encouragement, and something that I struggle with on an ongoing basis is ~ keep things tidy.  That way, it's much easier to be hospitable on short notice.  I am a clutter bug, by nature I think.  However, as I get older, it bothers me more and more, and while I am certainly better than I was even a few years ago, it's still a major area of struggle for me.  It also happens to be a hinderance to me feeling like I can have people in my home.  Now, my Grandpa used to tell Grandma that, "Folks don't come to look at your house, they come to see you."  While I am sure this is true, it still makes me feel self-concious to not have things "just so" when we have company.  I have also found though, that making hospitality a priority, and doing it on a regular basis gives me *a lot* of incentive to keep things straightened up!

Once again, I encourage you to check out TEACH magazine.  You can do that by clicking HERE.  You *will not* be disappointed!

Recipe Share Friday

We had a wonderful time on New Year's Day, and one of the things that we had to drink was mulled cider.  YUM!!  I got this recipe from Recipezaar, a favorite place of mine when I'm looking for something new to make.  This recipe is designed for a crock pot, but I just put a big enamelware pot on the stove and let it cook all evening.  I did adjust the spices some, because I did 2 gallons of cider, but I don't have measurements to share, because I just added 'til it tastes right!  So, here is a wonderful mulled cider recipe ~ try it on a cold, snowy day.

Mom's Mulled Cider for the Crock Pot by HeatherFeather

1-2 med. oranges

1-2 med. red apples

2 cinnamon sticks

   whole cloves for poking into fruit

2 lemons (I only used one)

1 dash ground cinnamon (optional)

1 dash ground cloves (optional) ~ I omitted this, not too big on cloves!

1 dash nutmeg (optional)

1 gallon good quality cider (or more) ~ I used Treetop from the grocery and it was fine.

1/4 cup brown sugar, to taste

*Set a med or large crock pot to HIGH heat.

*Fill crock pot with cider- leaving room for the apple and orange to float around.

*If you have extra cider use it for replenishing later.

*Wash oranges and apples and dry off.  Poke cloves into the flesh of the orange and apple ~ as many as you like.

*Set the clove-studded fruit into the crock pot.  Add cinnamon sticks and some brown sugar to taste.

*Using a veg. peeler, cut off two long strips of lemon rind from one of the lemons, being careful not to get any of the white pith.

*Drop these into the cider pot and save the rest of the partially zested lemon for another use.  Slice the remaining lemon into thin slices and drop 4-5 slices into the cider pot.  (I forgot this part).

*Cover crock pot and let mixture come to almost a boil (this may take up to an hour, depending greatly upon the size of your crock pot).  Once it is almost boiling, sprinkle with a very light dash of each ground spice to taste (don't add too much or it will be gritty).

*Turn the heat down to LOW and allow cider to cook at least another hour before serving.  Leave the crock on LOW and ladle out mugfuls.

*Keep replenishing more cider as the crockpot empties.  You WILL NOT need to add more spices, etc., as long as you still have 1/4 of the original mulled cider left in the crock.  No need to bring to a boil again, just pour in the new cider and continue to heat on low.

*The last dregs of the cider will be very heavily spiced - you may just want to disgard the remaining 1/4 of the liquid when you're done replenishing for the day.

Enjoy!