Sep. 25, 2008 - I'm alive and well...
My oh my, how the time flies!!! I'm sorry that I haven't posted is such a long time. So much to do--so little time.
To bring you up to speed...
Our new school year officially started August 4th and we're already behind in our schedule (usually by the 1st of the new year we've long since abandoned the schedule and have stopped feeling guilty about not doing all of the extras I had wanted to do). I am happy if the daily basics are fully accomplished. 
Both Zane and Scott had birthdays in August. Scott had commented how he thought it would be cool to have someone to share his birthday with. We had been talking about how we have so many birthdays in our family that either are the same day or within a few days and thus having shared parties. Well Zane decided to wait just a little over a week for his party so that he and Scott could have a shared party. It was so hard for him to wait (a hard job for an 8 year old!!) but he was committed.
Steve and I celebrated our 27th anniversary in September (our anniversary is 2 days after his birthday). To make a marriage last so long my motto is "Don't do what you WANT to do. Do what is RIGHT!" Not that I'm perfect at it by any means, but marriage is such a good way to practice all that "dying to self" stuff we're so unfond of. 
This has been the strangest year of gardening. Seems that something wasn't quite right for the tomatoes to do their thing. They just take forever to ripen. One day I'll check them and they won't be near ready. 2 days later they are overripe and on the ground. Crazy. And it's pretty much the same for everyone around here. Seriously, I just got my first harvest worthy of porcessing yesterday. Go figure.
With the financial world in an uproar as of late, I'm thankful that we are preparing for possible hard times ahead. It's not easy to squeak out the extra cash to do so but it sure feels good to know that we will eat for the next few months should bad things happen. If you are interesting in learning to prepare check out this site... http://simplylivingsmart.com/training/
Along those lines, we are beginning the process of saving our garden seeds. This year our garden consisted of open pollinated or heirloom varieties. Josh and I are already planning for next year's garden. I'm amazed at the things that I learn each year from our garden. Lessons in diligence, patience and the value of hard work (more of that "dying to self" stuff). Our garden taught us many things from history as we learned about some of the origins of our seeds. And it just feels good, both body and soul, to work the soil. It is a comfort to know that I won't HAVE to reorder new seeds next year either!!
We've been foraging as well. We have numerous shagbark hickory trees and also black walnuts. The children and I spent some time picking hickories yesterday and need to crack them today. Tomorrow we will pick the meat from the shell. The black walnuts have only just started falling and it looks like we will have them coming out of our ears this year. We will gather and take them to be shelled. Most of them we will sell but I do plan to keep some for ourselves this year.
I've been looking into cob building. Interesting stuff. I remember many a summers that Joshie had the younger kids out making clay bricks to build a miniature city. Some of the city was built but it was hard finding willing workers and then as he got older his time was spent working on more profitable pursuits (like making some money). But the dream still lives. I'm hoping that we can possibly involve the whole family in building a nice size cottage on the land that we own free and clear. Who knows, maybe it'll turn into a whole house.
Seems like the sewing bug has hit me lately. I don't have a lot of time for it but I try to fit it in when I can. I made a really cute apron and sold it on ebay a few weeks ago. Here's a picture with Bethany modeling.
I've made up a bunch of flannel nursing pads to sell on ebay as well. Eli still nurses (at age 4 1/2!!!) but I don't need the pads myself. It was just one of those projects that I started several years ago and didn't finish. Now I have lots of them done and I'll just sell them. They are so pretty!!
Well, I've rambled long enough!! Just one more picture...
I love fall!!!
Comments
Oct. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Good to see you here! I have missed you..... love the pics and all the news!
blessings,
Teena
