This area is gravelly, the grass is sparse and short.. compared to .. say just past those trees.
That's an old well with a plastic owl on top to keep the mice away. Had to warn Janney and Asher that this was a VERY dangerous place, as the top could break and they'd fall in and drown.
Another well..
This one turned out really well, the blues and yellows, and even the red in his face, hands and under his boots. Love this shot!
The deer paths have frost on them..
Another deer path, we followed these lovely meandering paths all around and ended up doing a big circle.
Elias in my mongolian ruck sack long sling , and the blanket has two holes, one for my head and one for his.
Were so loud in the woods. Myles lagged behind taking photos (this is one of Trent's photos) but he was able to find us, by just walking through the woods to the noisy people sound.
Toddling baby toppling over
Dad picks him up
And carries him towards the car
Janney started singing "we want Moshiach, we want Moshiach Now" when this sun went down past the horizon. Havdalah out in the woods
Many properties out here on the prairies are also cemeteries for old cars and trucks, and other household waste that doesn't decompose. I have a friend, who when she moved onto her property, had three truckloads of scrap metal removed from her property, and still there's junk.
Today we came across a pile of school garbage - old desks and chairs.
When you're out in the woods, ever wonder about the history of the animals, where they were born, where their lineage came from? Animals are constantly on the move.. Some actually have burrows for homes, others just keep moving.
And so, when we were out on our walk today, Stuart spotted a bunny. Not a Hare, as is somewhat commonplace around here (Iona caught one the other day and brought it home and left it on the front lawn) but a bunny - you know - the kind of white rabbit people keep as pets, or raise for meat.
OH Ya.. that would be us - many years ago, before eating Kosher, we raised rabbits. No we didn't, we inherited some rabbits from a neighbour when he moved, we kept them, until they died, and we tried to get them to reproduce, and they didn't.. and some of them escaped. Some of them we had a young guy come shoot, as they were eating my garden.. and the rest... we assumed the coyotes got them.
Until today.
Today we saw a white rabbit in the woods just south of us. Now given that our foray into rabbitry was about 6-7 years ago, I'm sure this specimen was many generations removed from "the one that got away"
Myles followed my pointed arm into the thick woods and came up with a dozen photos of white spots in the middle of grey and brown strips in the late afternoon light.. It's his tenacity that helped him find it and get this shot with so little direction.
Trent and Myles got a call from the apiary asking them to come help load the barrels onto the rig - the last step in getting their harvest to market. I decided to go too to take the littles for a walk, as they have such a lovely piece of property with lots of trees.
I bundled Elias up on my back, and we headed out of the yard.
We stopped at the chicken coop to say hello to the hens.
We walked along the back fence and through the gate next to their big pile of fire wood for the winter. As we walked, we saw all kinds of old buildings and pens that had been used in the last 50-60-100 years for animals and equipment. Collette was born and raised here, as was her dad. We came to a beehive that was all wrapped up for winter.
Janney noticed some dead bees on a board outside the hive. We didn't see any coming and going. Later I asked Collette about how the bees survive, given that they have a short life span. She said that the queen bee would have stopped laying eggs about a month or so ago, and the last of the eggs would have hatched recently.. so all the bees that are in the hive right now, will survive the winter in a semi-hibernation... but they'll live longer too, because they're not spending such energy going out and harvesting and tending to baby bees inside the hive.. less work means a longer life for these winter bees.
We headed into the woods, not following the path cut by the truck, or farm equipment, nor the path of freshly cultivated soil which I suspect is there as a fire break, it seem to be in a semi circle around the whole home yard. Rather, we followed what was either a deer trail or a horse trail. We found scat suggesting both used these paths, but there were areas where I knew for sure the horses couldn't pass, as there was fallen trees I had to move or climb under.
Asher had a melt down at this point.. just as we were heading into the exciting woodsy part of our walk. He wanted to go home. For me, I was only just starting, and the boys had about another 50 minutes of work, I didn't want to just sit in the van and wait. He sat in the middle of the path with his back to me. I couldn't leave him there, but I had to make him want to follow me. I kept walking, and eventually he came and held my hand, and kept up his whining for at least half the walk.. sigh.
Deciding which trail to take was sometimes difficult.. not that we would get lost, but there were intersections everywhere, and no street signs..lol Sometimes we'd choose a path, and two steps later there was another choice to make, another intersection. Sometimes the kids would make a choice that was easy for them, but would mean lots of bending over for me, and risking Elias getting twigs in the face, we had to make different choices.
Can you see the path? - see it there, right beside my shadow, where all the leaves are sort of in a line..
Eventually Janney and Asher began to notice their surroundings.. less consumed with themselves, and more open to where they were. We saw a Blue Jay, and Deer scat and dog poop and horse poop, and these white berries, and wasp galls on golden rod, and then this mushroom on a rotting stump.
Unfortunately, it took 45 minutes of walking before they started to open their eyes to nature, but I think if we go more often, the whining will deminish and the opening of the eyes will increase.
Susan, you said, if you lived out here, you'd just go walking out your yard and enjoy.. but you know, just as you get bored with your city surroundings, we get bored with our country surroundings. We've been through the pasture many times.. there's not much there. Walking through a crop field is not so exciting, there's no diversity, - wheat stubble is wheat stubble. You can't walk through the fields in spring, the mud sucks you in -you end up with "KISS" elevator boots .. gumbo sticks to the boots and you end up with 6 inches of mud stuck to the bottom of your boots, which is heavy. In summer the crop is growing, not "neighbourly" to walk through a growing crop... and the fall has the stubble. I do go out for a walk or a run, which I've sent you pictures.. so still, going somewhere else is fun, exciting.. and not so familiar. But I thank you for inspiring me, and encouraging me to go.
Oh, I forgot, When Myles went back this morning, I went with him and took some books for reading and study while he was loading the second half of the honey into the rig. Rick loaded the barrels into the rig, and Myles move them to where they were placed for best balance in the rig, and Collette kept track of the barrel numbers.
Last night, Janney wanted me to go outsides and build her a doll house for her dolls. Well, I was just about to hunker down and make dinner, so - no - can't make a doll house, BUT I tole Myles to go get some Legos and I showed her how to build with them.. and she and Myles and Asher played for a while, and Elias tossed them around the kitchen a bit.
Today, the bulk of the legos are back upstairs, but a few straggling pieces are here, and Asher and Elias are keen on the little cars that were built.
We have a cool system for managing legos. We use a fitted sheet on the floor, and all the pieces stay on the sheet, at the end of play time, pick up the edges of the sheet, and voila, they're easy to cart away and put back in the big rubbermaid bucket. Myles also has a little truck that you can drive around and it "vacuums" up the straggling pieces.
However... this doesn't keep track of these bits that are on the cars that Asher and Elias are playing with.. but that's only about 20 pieces, I can live with 20 lego pieces underfoot.. I think
I have a friend in Boston, she goes for walks at Horn Pond often with her kids. She writes me long letters and tells me all about her family's adventures, the treasures they find. What a healthy experience, getting out, walking, seeing nature up close, collecting things and bringing them home.
Last night I was thinking.. What could we do to recreate our own "Horn Pond" experience here on the prairie. You see, it's not like out here we have "Parks" or "Green Spaces" it's all green space, but owned by private land owners. There's no where with groomed trails, or even ungroomed trails..lol. But I wanted to get out. We drove south, towards an area we know has hills. I was hoping to find a place with trees and hills, and no fence, so we're not trespassing, and hopefully no hunters so we're not shot by accident. I didn't want to drive miles and miles away, sure there's places like Horn Pond about 30 minutes away in the valley, but I wanted something closer to home, less gas expensive. Finally we found a place with no fence, an alfalfa field with different grasses in a low lying area where a stream must run through, some trees, some hills.
All was great.. except Elias had fallen asleep by then! We piled out of the van, I picked up Elias from his car seat and we meandered around for an hour or so. Myles took photographs.. I'm hoping he'll re-do my blog with some of the photos he took today. I carried my sleeping baby the whole time, but it was ok, because I was enjoying the other children and their explorations. Janney and Asher had fun in some tall grasses, and on some rocks, and down a big hole on top of a hill.
Crush, crunch, under my feet
the dew, frozen to frost, glistening in melt as it's touched by the sun
cold wetness seeps through my shoes
yellow and green, and brown,
standing tall and lying down
the warm sun smiles on my face
my baby curled on my chest
joy, and running, and singing and dancing
click, remember, memories, time captured
playing in the tall grasses
crunch crunch under my feet
sleepy baby
snow angels in the grass
budding photographer
king of the castle
climbing the hill
the big hole
gravel pit
prairie people
Elias finally woke up
tough walking in the tall grass
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is. While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu): 1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications). 2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (except to eat or bathe).
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method. 4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at using a Neti pot to clean nasal cavities, but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5.. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption. 6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm. Pass this on to your entire e-list. You never knowwho might pay attention to it - and STAY ALIVE because of it.
I've been reading some really great articles lately, as I learn to be "self-taught" (isn't that silly, how can I claim to be self taught if I'm reading articles other people have written!!).. What I mean is, now that we're no longer attending service, we no longer have someone else choosing our teaching materials for us, now we're having to seek out materials for ourselves.
I've been trying to read these out to the family too, as time permits. I was in the middle of the Monday study yesterday when we had to leave to go take Trent to meet with Jim for his farrier apprenticeship.
For the last few nights we've (Janney and I) have gone outside to look for the new moon. The first night I didn't expect to see it, I went out to prove it to myself that the Rabbinic Calendar was not spot on.. then Monday night, I did expect to see it, but it wasn't there, and the sky was fairly clear - clear enough that I saw some stars, but I didn't see the moon. I came in and checked with the TorahCalendar.com site, and it had not changed months. Last night as we came home from Cheri's, I looked again, but the sky was completely cloud covered. I checked the Torah Calender site and Karaite Korner and yes, there they were, both showing that the new moon had been spotted in Jerusalem - where the month begins whether I see it here or not.
So now we are in the month of Cheshvan - Rosh Chodesh - the Head of the New Moon. I "blew the shofar".. (no I didn't, I curled up my hand and blew into my hand like a horn and made a noise.lol) Trent has a shofar, but he's the only one who can blow it, and he's not here.
Myles and Rourke are both studying Hebrew in their own ways. Myles is using the Hebrew Bible and writing out verses and then using the dictionary and word by word trying to translate the verse into English. Rourke is using the My First Hebrew Primer book and working through the lessons. I've been reading the Hebrew Word Pictures book. Janney just learned how to make the letter Zayin in her Sarah David workbook pages.
Today is the first Parsha of the year, the Torah portion called B'resheit - Genesis 1:1 to 6:8. We also read from the Haftarah Isaiah 42:5 to 43:7
These are my thoughts, as we read today.
The Great Escape - our journey though the Tribulation - has been on my mind in the last few weeks. I heard from the Lord that there will be another Holocaust - and it is we who will be persecuted this time, not just the Jews, but the Christians too - any who call on the Name of the Most High as their Saviour and Shield - we are the targets.
So today, after reading the Creation story, we then read th Haftarah and these words jumped out at me:
"Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you;
I am calling you by your name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through water, I will be with you;
when you pass through rivers, they will not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire, you will not be scorched - the flame will not burn you. 3 For I am ADONAI, your God, the Holy One of Isra'el, your Savior
Recently we watched the movie Defiance - Jews who escaped the holocaust - the Shoah. It was like a preview of what life will be like during The Great Escape - when we too will have to be on the run, keeping to the hills away from the enemy - the followers of the Antichrist who will seek to destroy us.
But God has given us this promise - Don't be afraid - I will be with you, they will not overwhelm you, you will not be scorched - the flame will not burn you.. I think we need to keep this promise near to our hearts, - it needs to be repeated over and over again. We need to have our muscle memory ready, so that when it comes, we are not afraid. We can be bold and be strong, and walk in faith, knowing that we will be safe. It doesn't say that the water, the river, the fire won't come.. it does say that we will be safe.
Genesis 4:9 -ADONAI said to Kayin, "Where is Hevel your brother?"And he replied, "I don't know; am I my brother's guardian?"
Janney and Asher have heard Daniel Lancaster's message on the Torah Kids CD on this subject a few times. They know that the Blood Speaks - that the blood of Abel (Hevel) cried out from the ground - God knows. But Even greater than the blood of Abel crying out, is that the Blood of Messiah also speaks - The Blood of Messiah says we are sanctified, our slate is clean of the sins we have committed, for we are forgiven.
But I like the words that God has used here. ADONAI said to Kayin, "Where is Hevel your Ach?"And he replied, "I don't know; am I Shomeir Achi?" Ach the Hebrew word for Brother means "a Strong Fence" or.. protection. and yet, Kayin suggests.. should I be protecting the one whom I'm to protect? Am I to be guarding the one who's Fence I'm to guard?. The purpose of brother's is to protect one another, to keep out what is not welcome, and to guard what is within. Yes, we are to do exactly that. When God uses a word - that word defines what that thing is. A brother is something valuable.. and that is why it's so special to have friends who are as close as brothers, for we protect one another. The Lord says
Henei MaTov.
Psalm 133:1 A song of ascents. By David: Oh, how good, how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in harmony.
My last thought, which was actually my first thought, I'm working backwards here, is that in the scripture verse Genesis 3:13 it says ADONAI, God, said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman answered, "The serpent tricked me, so I ate."
Now in Exodus 12 we read 8 That night, they are to eat the meat, roasted in the fire; they are to eat it with matzah and maror. 9 Don't eat it raw or boiled, but roasted in the fire, with its head, the lower parts of its legs and its inner organs. - this is about the Passover Lamb. We're to eat the whole lamb - the whole flesh - in Hebrew, that's basar - which is also translated as gospel.. we're to eat the whole gospel of the Passover Lamb.. eat therefore is also an idiom for believe.. we're to believe the whole gospel of the Passover Lamb.
So, back to the Gen 3:13 verse. If the Serpent is the Deceiver - HaSatan - and he is tricking, or lying or deceiving Eve.. and she ate.. then we could also understand this verse in this way.. Eve says to Adonai "The Deceiver deceived me and I believed him."
How sad, this is exactly what happens every time we sin. Instead of believing the gospel of the Lord, we believe the deceptions of HaSatan.
Be careful what you believe friends. Make sure that what you are believing is what Adonai is saying in His Word, and not the deceptions of this world - deceptions which HaSatan has implanted and generation after generation, we have believed.
I am Sombra, and these are the stories from our house. We're a Messianic family where academics often take a back seat to the work and adventure of life.
