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ALL DRESSED IN WHITE! Today was the first day in over a week that we have gotten a glimpse of Mt. St. Helens. As the low clouds and fog lifted this morning, we could see that the mountain had exchanged her gloomy, gray summer apparel for that of a new dress of white! The first snow of the season - and it came mighty early I might add! What a blessing to look out each day (when the mountain is not shrouded in clouds) and see the handiwork of God. Hope you enjoy the view from our place!
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Curiosity is a hard inkling to squelch - especially when kids and spiders are involved. Just the other day - during a break in our morning school routine - my youngest scholar pointed out a very busy spider located outside of our downstairs patio door. The eight legged critter was finishing it's web and quietly awaiting the arrival (and demise) of some unsuspecting flying morsel, or so it seemed. Just as our eyes began to focus on the spider, a huge mosquito eater flew right into the bottom of the waiting spider's web. In a flash, the furry yellow and brown spider was speeding vertically downward on it's web to intercept it's catch. By this time, my daughter and I had cried "Oh no! Poor mosquito eater!" We had also ventured out of doors to get a better vantage point. Upon reaching it's prize, the spider began swiftly wrapping the mosquito eater - like the tasty gift it was - with silky strands and strands of webbing. How fascinated my dd and I were to be witness to one of God's miracles of life - His design and provision for, yes...even the likes of a creepy, crawly spider. The next time I have another opportunity to see "science in action" I'll be sure and take a minute or two and yield to my curiousity. For God reveals Himself and His ways in all of creation if only we'll pause... and ponder. |
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Today has been a melancholy day. My oldest dd (who has been homeschooled all her life) has been getting adjusted with a new school routine. She is participating in a dual-enrollment program that we have here at our local comuunity college. What this means, is that she is doing some of her high school courses at home, and some at the college. The courses she takes at the college will count for high school AND college credit. ( I know my friend Suzy Scribbles can relate. She has a son doing something similar at their community college!) It is a wonderful program, and God has been so faithful to answer many prayers this week for: peace, safety, and even friends from church in my daughter's classes. She is beginning to take steps toward adulthood...it is fast approaching. I am thankful that there are still three more chicks here at home firmly in the nest, otherwise my melancholy state would be all the greater. Our weather is taking a BIG turn come this evening. Thus the other reason for my melancholy state. Our weather is going from sunny to, well you guessed it, cool and rainy. On the one hand, I love to see the fall ushered in by the many colorful leaves swirling down from the trees and the air taking on that crisp smell of fall. But on the other hand, this advent means rain - lots of it - and I am NOT ready for that just yet. Did not summer sneak up on us only but a breath ago? It sure seems like it. I did enjoy this last lovely afternoon of sunshine however. Our couch potato pooch and I took our usual stroll down our rural road, and the children played and played outside. Cathcing frogs has been a popular past time of late, and a few more were saught after this warm afternoon! So it is with a happy/sad heart that I greet the coming fall. Change. It's hard sometimes. How thankful I am this day for God and His word - the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I think I'll spend some time with Him and shake the "melancholies"!
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Glass-like water, a beautiful sunset, a soft breeze and my family near by. As we caught many, many fish during our vacation in Northern Idaho last week, I was reminded of Jesus' words : "I will make you fishers of men." While the sun slipped down behind the tree-lined horizon, the fish were jumping and splashing about. They were hungry. How many unsaved people do we encounter in our lives during the course of a normal week who are hungry? I know in my own life, the number is more than a few. The group might include neighbors, folks in line at the grocery store, or an employee at the library. Mind you, cookies, pasta and Swiss ham steak is not what they are after. Many of them are hungry, but they are searching, flitting about, doing whatever it takes to grab a hold of something to feed their souls. You and I have the answer. Let's take the gospel message to the "ends of the earth" and to the end of our block if need be, so that we may be fishers of men for Jesus sake. He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 5:19 |
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Do you hear a faint buzzing in your ears? We had a horrible problem with fruit flys around our home until I read somewhere - I can't remember where of course - that the pesky little snits like to breed in one's kitchen sink garbage disposal! Can you believe it? I guess it makes sense when you think about the kinds of food substances that are being put down a gargbage disposal. It is most likely to be fruit peels, rinds and vegetable tid-bits at our house. Ah-ha! It is all starting to make sense to me now. Here is an easy solution for your fruit fly dilemma: Pull out the rubber ring that covers your sink's drain. (This is where most of the fruit fly eggs are being laid.) Take an old toothbrush - or other small brush - and scrub the back side of the rubber ring with very hot water. I also use a bit of Soft Scrub with bleach for extra added germ-busting! Also scrub the inner rim of your garbage disposal opening where food and guck build up. Look for it; you will see it! By using this simple method we have all but wiped out the fruit fly population in our home. You have to keep at it though. I employ this cleaning procedure every 3-4 days throughout the summer months and into the fall. Good luck! |
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I only have a minute, but I wanted to post a few of my favorite photos from fair - just so that you all know I have not vanished off the face of the earth. Life has had a way of being "crazy" lately. Enjoy!
Here's my youngest dd with her special friend Abenique. She was quite happy with her ribbon!
Both my dolls getting ready for the big day!
Littlest doll and daddy enjoying a treat. My oldest dd and her 4-H pal relaxing between classes.
Showing off her beautiful gelding.
The junior Groom Squad Team with "Kid". My doll is in the pink cowgirl hat!
The senior Groom Squad team. My dd is on the left and she shares a photo pose with her teammates and horse "Kody".
This ends my photo journal for now. Thanks for coming along for the journey! |
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My home is missing me - and I am missing my home! The fair grounds is where I have been spending a great deal of time lately. My home is NOT totally organized (as my friend at Hafflingerhorses assumes, since I have not posted in 2 weeks). In fact my home is in quite the opposite state...dissaray!! Ever feel like you are living out of a suitcase even when you are living in your own home? The boys are off to church camp this week, and the girls and I have been consumed with "horse stuff." There was Groom Squad and setting up fair decorations in the horse barn last week, and several shows this week. My oldest daughter showed her Paint "Kody" yesterday at the fair grounds and had a wonderful day. We arrived insanely early at the fair grounds at 6 AM and arrived back home last night somewhere around 10 PM. My hubby has been a real gem in being "chief horse hauler"! Today the girls will help with herdsmanship for their 4-H club, so we will only be at the fair for 2-3 hours. Tomorrow my younger daughter will show her Arab, Abenique, and the day will be another long one. We will get up early, be horse-engaged all day, eat too much fair food, and go home exhausted, but fulfilled. My girls work all year with their horses in anticipation of showing them at the county fair. It is a big deal for them, and when it is all over and done with, they will start working with their loving steeds toward next summer's fair. Until this week is past, my life will be crazy, and my home will be somewhat neglected. Next week, however, will be here soon enough. I think I'll soak in the craziness for now!
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My books and school room have been consuming most of my time lately, so I have not been on the web much. It is once again that time of year when I sort, pile, shuffle, organize, re-organize, bag, box, throw away, give away, or sell much of my "school stuff". This has been the first year in our 11 years of homschooling that I have actually been ready to part with some things. I am no longer teaching phonics, so the phonogram cards, letter games and beginning readers get to part this place. There are a couple of things, however, that I am having a hard time letting go of - isn't that silly and sentimental? Alpha-Phonics by Samuel Blumenfeld was my program of choice for teaching all four children to read. It's a red and white book with black and white pages - with no bells, whistles or colorful pictures, just: am - s am - sam! Oh the look of accomplishment and wonder on the faces of my youngsters as they realized they had just read a word! Then there are the little ABEKA readers that my kids loved to buzz through (and I loved hearing them buzz through!) I guess it's not the books that I am wanting to hold onto, so much as it the sweet memories that they evoke in my mind and heart. Little ones perched on my lap like eager pups awaiting a treat. They would devour our simple reading lessons. So I'll press on tomorrow - sorting, boxing, organizing - you get the idea. I will spend time letting go of some books, but I'm gonna' hold tight to the memories forever! |
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A Sleeping Giant.
The Giant Awakes! A couple of the many faces of Mt. St. Helens. Most of the time Mt. St. Helens is quiet and stately. But every now and then - as in the second photo, taken in Oct. of 2004 - she gets rid of a little bit of steam. Hope you have enjoyed the view from our place! Friday Show & Tell is sponsored by Canadagirl. Head to her blog to find out how you can take part too. |
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The rains have been coming down here steady the last few days. To think that a week ago our thermometer was topping 104 degrees and yesterday it barely crawled past the 65 mark! Change...it is inevitable. As I sat in the front room yesterday morning, spending quiet time with the Lord, I gazed out across our pasture and intently looked for my dear Mt. St. Helens. The normally ominous and stately mountain had been obscured in a blanket of low, gray clouds and drizzle. Even though at that moment I could not see the mountain, I knew it was still there. This is something I can bank on. When the clouds lift, and the rain moves east, there she will be, standing strong. God's love, God's presence, God's forgiveness, God's kindness, God's peace - these can all be likened to a mountain. God is ever-present, unmoved and a constant aspect of life. Do you ever wonder if He is there in your life? He is, as the Bible says in Psalm 18:2: "my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." When you are tempted to give up or consider that perhaps the Lord isn't listening, rest in the fact that He is with you always. Psalm 121 is one of my favorite Psalms - it leads me to Jesus - the Rock! "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come?" Who knows, tomorrow could bring blistering heat, and the veil of gray covering Mt. St. Helens may be gone. The temperature might sore above the 100 degree mark yet again and I'll be wishing for rain. Life is always changing - God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. |
Posted in Favorite Recipes
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PIZZA PASTA SALAD Not much time to fix supper and too hot to be using your oven? Here is a tried and true salad recipe to get you in and out of the kitchen in no time, and satisfy your hungry family too. It was hot here today and I had three family members outiside operating machinery at the same time. Hubby was on the tractor, dd was was on the quad, mowing the pasture with the pull-behind field mower, and ds was zippin' around the lawn on the John Deere. (And no....my sweet dolly was NOT in the path of the John Deere this time around. And yes....the blue/green goose egg on her forehead is healing up nicely!) By the time all were finished with their outside chores, and I was done scrubbing the tile shower, we were all ready to devour supper. I served the salad with fresh, cold, juicy, watermelon and buttered bread. There's a little left-over for tomorrow'a lunch - but not much! 5-6 cups Rotini pasta 2 peppers: 1 red and 1 green 1/2 cup sliced celery or green onion olives 1/2 cup pepperoni, sliced and quartered (you can also toss in cooked Italian sausage, ham or beef) 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese (or a combination of both) Italian salad dressing - use 1-2 cups, depending on how wet or dry you like your salad.
Bring water to a boil in a large pot. When the water is boiling, add the rotini pasta. Cook for 10 minutes or according to your pkg. directions. Drain pasta in collander and rinse with cold water. Set aside. While the pasta is cooking, slice one green and one red pepper in strips. (Or any other shape that strikes your fancy.) Slice celery or onion. Slice 1/2 cup of black olives. Next, slice up pepperoni. Put the cooked pasta into a large bowl and add the vegetables, meat, and toss all together. Stir in the grated cheese. Now pour Italian dressing over mixture and stir one final time. Add more dressing as needed. Garnish top of salad with a little extra cheese and fresh ground black pepper. * This is a great make-ahead salad. Whip it up the night before a picnic or potluck and store it in the fridge overnight to save yourself time the day of your gathering.
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Today's Show and Tell is sponsored by Canadagirl. If you'd like to join in the fun, take a trip over to her blog to see how you too can be a part of the festivity. Best wishes to all for a little summer heat reprieve!
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With the thermometer soaring into the 100's the past two days, a bit of snow is sounding mighty nice! Since I am unable on my own to whip up a batch of the cool, fluffy, white stuff...I have turned to the pages of my photo album to at least find a little visual relief from the heat! Above, my darlin' daughters are loving on their new snowman pal which they built out behind our barn. Pictured below, are my boys, my youngest dd and also their buddy from next door. They were doing some fast slipping and sliding down a small hill in our front yard. Seeing these photos again, reminds me of the "cool" fun times" of winter. Maybe I should call this post my Friday "Snow and Tell!" 
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Twenty-seven years ago today, my dear hubby swept me off my feet...literally. After our introduction by a mutual friend, and getting to know one another for several months through the college group at my church, my would-be suitor bravely made a phone call to my father. "May I take your daughter out?", he eloquently asked my father. "Yes," - to my delight - was my papa's answer. Two days later I found myself, my date, and two other friends soaring high above our town's lush, green landscape in a Cessna Piper Cub! It was my first time ever to be up in a small, twin engine plane and my white knuckles gripping the co-pilot's wheel bore testimony to the fact that I was "out of my comfort zone!" The four of us did make it safely back to the ground, and then we headed to a favorite nearby pizza shop to satisfy our growling tummies. And thus began a joyous, (and always adventurous)dating relationship. My beau and I were married three years later! I praise God alone for His faithfulness to us all these many years!! I love my dh more with each passing day. To God be the glory! |
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What to do with 13 pounds of ruby-red raspberries? Yesterday morning as the marine cloud layer finally lifted, my sweet Dolly and I headed to the berry farm. In about an hour, she and I managed to fill three buckets to overflowing with luscious, dew-laden raspberries. (A few berries did make into our tummies!) We have made one batch of jam and have covered two large cookie sheets with berries to freeze, but I need some new and different recipes/ideas for using up the remainder of the berries. If you have an idea to share, I would love to hear from you. Thank you in advance!
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What does one do when the quad (which usually tows the manure spreader) is on the fritz? Why, hook the spreader full of smelly stuff up to the lawn mower and pull it with that instead! Dh gave my #1 daughter these instructions prior to leaving with the boys on their 50 mile scout canoe campout today. So this afternoon, dd dutifully and obediently started up the John Deere and drove it out of the shop. She proceeded on it to the large, brown gate at the back of the corral, where sister #2 was carefully undoing the chain to open it and let her in. I was in the laundry room when I heard the blood curdling screams. I raced out the laundry room door and across the back lawn toward the barn. I saw one of the horses running from it's stall and I began to fear that my dd #2 had been run over. Well, she had been - in a way. Not by the paint gelding, not by the lawn mower, but by the hard, corral gate. Daughter #1 was driving toward the gate to enter the corral and realized that her papa had not told her how to STOP the mower once she got it started. You can probably imagaine what happened next! Big sister drove full force into the corral gate, which then whacked right into little sister's head and mouth. The force of the crazed John Deere against the gate was so great, that it knocked my wee cowgirl off her feet and into the dusty corral. By the time I reached her, she was standing up holding her head in her hands. Upon removing them from her face I could see that she had a lump as grand as a large, grade AA egg! Oh my, she was a sight, and crying loud enough to wake the bats sleeping in the barn rafters! The home treatments have begun! We have iced her head, and the swelling seems to be coming down a bit. And fortunately, she did not get any teeth knocked out in her close run-in with the gate. Homemade pancakes, and a dish of freshly picked raspberries with whip cream for supper, have also helped to ease her discomfort. The John Deere still sits at the scene of the crime. I think I'll leave him for dh to deal with when he gets home! Such is life in the country. |
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Like a steam engine rushing down hill with no brakes, this has been my life lately...until today. Ahhhhh. The train has reached a flat spot and is beginning to slow down. My MIL's 80th birthday this past Saturday was a huge success! Many old friends and neighbors came to the church to honor her on this momentous occasion. Older folks reminisced; in-laws served and visited; nieces, nephews and cousins ran around laughing in merriment because of too much fruit punch and butter mints! It was a great day, one that my dear MIL will treasure in her heart for all time. One of my SILs took photos of all the family members with mom. Only the Lord knows when, and if, we shall all get to be together again. Our nephew's graduation party Sunday was simply a continuation of all the fun and chaos of the previous day's festivities. The graduate thanked us all for our support and love through the years, and asked forgiveness too, for the times he let us down. The highlight of the afternoon was an all-family baseball game right on our front lawn. I wish I had pictures to share, but unfortunately, our camera was stolen out of our luggage a couple of weeks back. So instead, my dh whipped out the video camera and recorded lots of memorable footage on tape. Family members aged 9 to 60 were giving their all to win the game for their team. My little great nephew, just 18 months old, kept running out to home plate and trying to muscle the whiffle bat away from the batter. He wanted to be a big boy and get in the game too. With company gone home, it's now time for me to tackle the school room. Thank you Lord for the quiet times in our lives to rest up and refuel for the next ride.
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BUSY AS A BEE!! That's my life this weekend. This morning I'm off to the local curriculum faire. Then I'll race back home to make final preparations for my MIL's 80th birthday celebration tomorrow. And on Sunday, we are hosting my nephew's graduation party here at the ranch! Whew...I think this little bee and I will be buzzing together. Thanks to Canadagirl for hosting today's show. Be as quick as a bee and zip on over to her website if you would like to join in the fun of Show & Tell Friday. By the way, my dd took this awesome photo right out in front of our home. Mr. Bumble is enjoying a leisurely pause in one of the gorgeous blooms on our azalea bush. Got to fly!!!! Bzzzzzz..... |
Posted in Favorite Recipes
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Let's all try and quickly say that 5 times in a row without stumbling over our tongues! This summer recipe is sure to be a delight to your taste buds and tickle your tongue's fancy. It's a recipe that I prepare a lot during the summer months for my family, as the ingredients are plentiful (especially if you have a garden) and also tasty. Special thanks to Taste of Home magazine for this, and the many other wonderful recipes I prepare that my family devours! Be sure and look them up at www.tasteofhome.com . COUSCOUS CHICKEN SUPPER 1 medium yellow summer squash, chopped 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped 1 medium green pepper, chopped 1 tsp. dried rosemary, crushed or 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary, chopped 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 4 TBSP. olive oil, divided 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in bite size pieces 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 1/3 cups chicken broth 1 TBSP. dried minced onion 1 cup uncooked couscous * A note on couscous for those of you who are unfamiliar with it. Couscous is a small, yellow, grainy-type pasta - kind of like tapioca only smaller. It is quick cooking - only takes five minutes -and is so versatile. It can be found in most rice/pasta sections of your grocery store. Place the squash and peppers in an ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with rosemary, salt and pepper. Drizzle with 2 TBSP. olive oil; gently stir to coat. Broil 4 in. from the heat for 10-15 minutes or until tender, stirring every 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook chicken and garlic in remaining oil until chicken juices run clear; remove and keep warm. Add broth and onion to the skillet; bring to a boil. Stir in couscous. Cover and remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Next, in a large serving bowl, combine the broiled vegetable mixture with the couscous; add the chicken and mix well. How easy! Now all that's left to do is take your Couscous Chicken and head out to your deck or patio with some tall glasses of iced tea and a side of warm garlic bread. Supper is ready!
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Having a servant's heart - just what does that look like? This post was inspired by my friend Tammy over at luvmysaviour, as well as my oldest daughter. This past Saturday was the area pre-fair for my both my daughters and the other members of their 4-H horse club. The day dawned cool with only a slight breeze, and we could see the fog lifting from the riverbed just down the hill from our home as we left for the show that morning. All was peaceful and the stillnes of the new morning brought a calm to each of our spirits. So off we headed to the fair grounds. We arrived at the barns nice and early - around 6:45 AM - with plenty of time for the girls to feed, groom, polish and make final prepartions with their horses. The day's classes were due to begin at 8:30 AM sharp, and my girls were ready! The first event of the day was Showmanship. This class involves working with one's horse on the ground and not in the saddle. From minute one that day, my older dd was helping her younger sister with her horse tack, outfits, and any other area where she had need of assistance. You see, when participating in a 4-H event, the parents are NOT allowed to help. Neither I nor my hubby could hold a horse, help with putting the saddle on, or anything at all. The club members had to do it all on their own, and being that this was only our younger dd's second -ever show, she needed quite a bit of help. Big sister came to little sister's aid, even though she was trying o get her own steed ready at the same time. She was quite a servant that day. By late morning, it was time for the English riding classes to begin. My older daughter was so helpful and kind to her younger sister, making sure that she had everything 'just right' before entering the show ring. You can imagine our surprise, when after her younger sister was just finishing her class, that the announcer began summoning my older dd over the loud speaker! My sweet gal did not realize that her class was next, and she began to panic as we heard the announcer plead over the barn's loudspeaker, "Number 145 - where are you???" She grabbed her horse's bridle and bit, and became frantic, as it was all goofed up and twisted. Her normally nimble fingers were shaking and she could not get that bit in the horse's mouth quick enough. They held the class for her while she fumbled around trying to quickly get her horse ready. By the time she entered the show ring, the other riders had already been circling the ring for five minutes. Needless to say, my oldest dd did not fair as well as she had hoped in that class. She was not awarded a high placing in the class, as she had longed to have been. But my hubby and I both decided that she should be the recipient of the Big Sister Servant award for the day. What a testimony her actions were to my own heart, as she placed her sister's present needs above her own. In Phillipians 2: 2-4 Paul charges the saints at Phillipi to "be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." He goes on to encourage the believers to "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own interests, but also the interests of others." A living example of a true servant's heart is what we witnessed in our dd that day. She considered the interests of her sister over and above her own, and we praise God for the maturity and growth in her life. The earthly award that our dd desired at the horse show was not to be her's that particular afternoon. But a greater award awaits her in eternity. |
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Do the piles all over the floors and countertops of your home drive you nuts? The ones in my house sure do! There are tennis shoes here and a baseball cap there. Here a sock, there a book, kid's junk everywhere I look!!! (Okay, I confess. Some of it is mine as well. Sigh.) So the other day, I set the dreaded TIMER! For those of you familiar with The Fly Lady, you may know what's coming next. She encourages ladies to do a 15 Minute Room Rescue. On this particular day, I decided that we needed a 15 minute House Rescue. I could not look at the strewn clutter for one more minute for fear I would blow a gasket. So when the kids finished breakfast, I started the timer, and yelled"go!" We all darted in different directions, like lightning bugs just let out of a jar. We picked up and put away whatever came into our view. I told everyone to retrieve and put away their personal belongings first, and then to move on to taking care of everything else, regardless of whether or not they were the one who got it out. My heart leaped for joy when in 13 quick minutes I could see the carpeted floor, and there was not a discarded, left behind item in sight. Hallelujah!! This was the most pain-free pick up we have ever had, and the fastest too. Be encouraged, you too can once again see your floors and countertops without the clutter. For more of the Fly Lady's great home organizational tips and help, visit her website at: www.flylady.net Set your timer. Now... get ready - get set - go!
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