Song Of The Sagebrush - Homeschool Blogger

Mountain Moments

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 18:02:00 -0600

When the burdensome moment passes,
And I turn for just a glance
At the mountain You have moved,
And the way that You helped me through...
I will revel in Your glory.
I will shout my thanks and praise.
I will treasure mountain moments,
As You straighten paths and guide the way.

When the mountain looms,
I cry to You;
I stretch my heart,
But still fall short.
Though I think there's faith,
I find the lack,
But it's filled by You
As You hold me back...
And move the mountain.

I will revel in Your glory
I will shout my thanks and praise
I will treasure mountain moments
As You straighten paths and guide the way.

A.D.W. 2009

Catching up?

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Last week was challenging, as we had an early frost. We tend to be at least 10 degrees less than the low temp in town, but Tuesday, it was almost a 20 degree difference. With a boatload of tomatoes on the vines, I didn't want to lose the crop, and picking them green would mean some ripening, but alot lost. We got the area covered with tarps, and managed to avoid losing much. The worst damage happened when the dogs got in, chasing a bunny, no doubt. They got on top of the tarps, and took out some pepper plants. Ugh! Still, we managed to make it through the chill. Things in the forecast look better for the next few weeks, so hopefully we won't have any more frost this month.

I've been able to harvest plenty of ripe, or nearly ripe, tomatoes in the last week, and have turned toward making salsas and sauces to freeze. My canning skills are still a little lacking, but it's not too difficult to boil tomatoes and onion, seasonings, peppers, etc. Give them a whirl in the blender, and voila! My tomatillo crop got hit by the frost, although I do still have some production. A friend recommended a mix of tomatillo and tomato for a tasty salsa, and I have to agree. I have a plentiful supply of habaneros, and have been boiling a couple into my salsas. Not near the bite that the uncooked pepper has. Just enough!

The frost took out my pole beans, as well as any remaining cucumbers. That will about do it for the season. We're working on an area that may be devoted to onions and such, but I haven't had much time to put into it yet. I tried to get some broccoli and cabbage going, but I guess that bunny took care of that crop.

We have 7 remaining turkeys. The first of the 8 became the first to grace the dinner table when it developed a problem with its leg. It was only 14 lbs after it was cleaned, whereas the broadbreasted bronze we had a couple of years ago was 30 lbs. That one had nearly 2 additional months to fatten. I have to say that it turned out quite well, and had very little fat. It's a different result than with a store bought bird. We have at least 3, possibly 4, Toms out there, and I'm interested to see where they weigh in and whether they fit in the oven.

Soccer is still busy. Two more JV games to go, and less than a month of season play for AYSO. Plus baseball...ds is practicing with a group of highschoolers, and serving as bat boy during their games. Mom is looking forward to a little break!

That's the news from the ranch...cooler mornings, lower power bills, and lots of domestic activity as we preserve what harvest is left. Loving the restful resting place we call home!

Blessings!

Happy October!

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 08:54:00 -0500

Fall is in full swing! A Southern wind on Tuesday became a North wind on Wednesday, and morning lows dropped from upper 60's to mid 40's in two days' time. Brr! Possibilities of a low in the 30's this weekend is a little bit of a concern, as my tomato plants are loaded with green tomatoes. Just a little early to be quite that low. Yikes! We'll see what happens. The garden has wound down in many respects. Squash are almost completely done, and cucumbers are nearly so. Tomatoes will keep going until the frost hits. My melon are mostly done, and the corn crop was a total dissappointment this year. Pumpkins, too. I'm hoping my pole beans do well. There are loads of blossoms, but I had a hard time finding any for the festival.

Speaking of the festival, last week was busy, but fun. We entered 72 items in the fair...an average of 9 per person participating from our household. Much of our produce did well, with 13 yo son earning first place ribbons on all of his entries. 5 yo son picked a watermelon, and got a grand champion ribbon on it. I got lot champion ribbons on my yellow pear tomatoes and on my "Long of Naples" winter squash (28.2 lbs.). 13 yo entered the big (31.2 lbs) watermelon, which got a first. 10 yo dd earned several ribbons with her sculpey clay artwork, and with her decorated cake. I entered some of my last year's poems, one of which received a second and a reserve lot champion. The judge's remarks indicate that he/she wasn't all that taken with most of them, as the one ribbon-winning entry said, "At last...continuity"...oh, well. The poems with Christian reference seemed to receive the worst marks and comments. The ribbon winning one, "The Quiet Sounds of Evening". Gotta laugh, though...many of my poems are a little disjoint because of the manner in which they come together, reflective of a busy Mom who must grab the moments as they present themselves. New strategy next time I enter more than one item: package and print them all differently so as not to cause the judge an attitude if they dislike one or more. Grin!

Fall in our corner of the desert means birthdays, and we have two coming this month. We will also be watching our flock of turkeys fatten up for Thanksgiving and beyond, Lord willing. One of the hens had a limp, and perhaps hurt its leg. We butchered it yesterday. 14 lbs. after cleaning it. 2 years ago, the hen we had for Thanksgiving dinner weighed in at 30 lbs. after it was butchered and cleaned. It had nearly 2 more months to fatten up, though. Turkey cooking tomorrow, and a little time to wait before the next one.

Soccer is still busy, kicking back into gear after the Fall Festival break. 14 yo dd has 4 games to go before the high school JV season is finished. The other kids have games through the first week of November, and then playoffs for the older 2. Busy, chilly weeks ahead. And, that's the news for now from the ranch! Blessings!

Slowing of the Season

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:41:00 -0500

Slowing of the season,

Autumn breezes dust my face

With the drying leaves

Of slowing crops;

Production takes a lesser pace.

Tangled vines

And cooling days

Evidence the summer's grace;

Earth giving forth,

In each season, its due.

God's bountiful provision,

My reflection in

The season's change.

A.D.W. 2009

In Memory...

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:28:00 -0500

This was written in the week following that riveting and horrifying morning of September 11. So far away in time and space, it is still a moment that moves me and others to tears and to prayer.

Nation on Its Knees

Nation on its knees,
Bowed in grief and disbelief.
Nation on its face,
Plundered by an angry thief
Who seeks to steal, to kill,
Destroy...
Who glories when
he steals our joy.
And yet, his seeming victory
his greatest loss
When we're brought to our knees;
For worship and prayer,
Faith and trust,
Are treasures that
Will never rust.
Though war is waged,
he's missed the mark,
For he stirs us up
And the Father calls,
And we bend and are broken
For the Father's heart
For a dying world,
And we stand and we march
On in His name,
Carry a torch, speaking His word,
Promises claim.

Press on,
He is coming!
Press on,
He is here!
There is hope in His name...
His glory is near.

A.D.W. September 17, 2001

Honest Scrap...LOL

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 09:09:00 -0500

Ginny at Proverbs 22:6 Academy conferred this award upon my humble little blog...grin! Thanks, Ginny. I don't know if I can comply with the requirements, as I've been a little neglectful of my homeschoolblogger buddies, and with the household computers dedicated to school right now, probably won't be able to pass it on to the 7 or so that I am supposed to share the award with. Still, I suppose I can comply with the sharing of 10 honest things about myself...well, maybe. Let's see...

1. I hated gardening as a kid...love it as an adult.

2. I'm very disorganized! Hubby is very organized. Just compare my purse to his wallet, and you'll see.

3. I hate to cook from recipes. If I can't wing it, it's very rare I'll fix it. Unless I'm baking.

4. I hate beets. I grew some this year, but even the exotic looking ones still taste slimy. Yuck.

5. I love Dr. Seuss books because they rhyme!

6. I can't wait 'til the Fall Festival! It's two weeks away, and the kids and I usually have a blast entering arts, crafts, homegrown veggies, and baked goods! I'm starting to think about which poems I want to enter this year.

7. My best poems sometimes start with the oddest thoughts or in the most unusual places, like the shower. The things that inspire me to write are works of the Lord, both those recorded in the Bible and those in my life, as well as nature and mountains, and of course, listening to Rich Mullins or my hubby on his guitar.

8. I'm a terrible housekeeper. Too easily distracted.

9. I hate driving! Teaching my 16 yo is gonna be a challenge.

10. I love fishing, but don't like eating the fish so much. I kinda cringe when people order fish at a restaurant...not my favorite! LOL!

I'll have to do the passing on of the award at a different juncture, as the day has dawned and kids need tending!

Blessings from the ranch!

Shadows

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 08:55:00 -0500

Shadow of a blessing

In the shadow of a doubt;

Uncertainty that tugs the heart

As emboldened feet step out.

Hearken my heart, Lord;

Strengthen my faith.

Lift up my arms.

Don't let me faint.

There would not be shadows

If there were not light;

The shadow of the blessing

Is keeping You in sight.

A.D.W. 2009

Nothing More, Nothing Less

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:31:00 -0500

Nothing more than a black sheep;
Nothing less than His own kin!
Unblemished One,
The perfect Son,
In mercy, took me in.
No spot or stain upon Him,
The sacrificial Lamb,
Lifted high in grave dishonor,
Honors this unworthy one.
I am nothing more than a black sheep,
Unfit to pay the price;
Purchased by His perfect gift...
Unblemished, worthy sacrifice...
Nothing less, now, than His kin,
With an everlasting, perfect hope
That only comes through Him.

ADW 2009

Such As Is Common

Fri, 7 Aug 2009 23:24:00 -0500

Such as is common
To mothers
And man;
Such as is needed
In times now at hand;
Such as is given,
Such as is breathed,
Such as is asked for
And gratefully received;
Your breath,
Your fire...
Your love inspires
Hope in hearts
For the ages,
Hope to manage the stages,
Help to conquer the battle
That pulls and now wages
War for my heart...
The world that pulls
My attention from You...
Such as is common
To mothers
And man.

A.D.W. 2009

Midnight Dance

Fri, 7 Aug 2009 23:10:00 -0500

Midnight dance...
The rabbits prance
To and fro across the plain;
Coyote cry...
The bunnies fly
Off to hide in the desert terrain.

Morning mountain landscape
And slowly fading haze;
Chilly air...
The prancing hare
Fades into the morning
To rest a bit
'Til it's time to dance
The night away again!

A.D.W. 2009