Holiday Magic

I spent the afternoon with E. and the grandgirls.  We made chocolate and peanut butter fudge.  They so love to "help".  I have not made Christmas candy or cookies in years since my kids left home and my husband became diabetic, he allows himself too much surgar without having the mass amounts I used to make for the holidays in the house.  I had fun sharing the kitchen with my family, it brings the holidays alive!

Season of busy

I have been working in the basement again gathering another 100 things to get out of the house.  This is the 5th set I have done!  Yeah, progress!  Alas my basement looks like a hurricane swept thru.  A garbage run would be a good start for the next set and the back corner will be completely cleared.  The truck is not running right now or a trip would be scheduled immediately.  Unfortunately, my kitchen table is a mess. Again.  I must try to clear it and the dining room table (college study area, mess).

I have been sewing a LOT!  We had two more 24 hour sew at my daughters,giving support and getting a lot done.  A homemade Christmas this year and yes, a bare minimum spent in the (box) stores.  I am so thrilled to keep the commercialism out of the holidays this year.  After the holidays some pictures will get posted (in case the curious want to peek).

Getting Away

My husband and I went to Ocean Shores for 4 days.  Stormy weather, unstructured days, a soaking bathtub is my idea of heaven.  The coast was hit with a moderate storm that kept me glued to the windows all morning with my tea, the book I brought forgotten, unopened.  Waves crashing up over the rock wall, Pelicans in groups heading out to sea in the a.m. (drafting each other like the geese do).  Also, deer everywhere we went.  On the third day it was decent enough to walk the beaches.  The a.m. was windy with dampness trying but also failing to soak thru us, watching surfers and sea lions.  In the afternoon, on another beach, we had a slow and meandering walk, enjoying the ocean sounds and smells.

Oyhut Wildlife Recreation Area, Protection Island (a cape)  Ocean Shore on the horizon

Friday was spent with my daughter and a friend sewing for 24 hours.  Good company, very productive (Christmas gift making), and a movie till 2 in the morning.  Fun!  This week I have finished one of the projects to make way for the other that I cut out (baby doll carriers x 2 for the grandgirls).

A gray day ...... still beautiful!

Waiting to leave one of the most beautiful places (to me) that I visit regularly!

An Apple a Day . . . . or Fifty!

Since 8 am, I have been processing apples for winter storage.  First job was to hang apple peels and cores that I boiled last night, to drip for jelly (which I just finished, it's 9 pm now!).   Then more had to peeled for apple pie jam, trying out a new recipe.  Then MORE had to be peeled to load up the dehydrator again.  The peels were put in a pot to boil and sit overnight, in the morning I will make another batch of jelly.  All this from 3 bags of apples (only half were used), so the rest can be made into apple sauce in pint jars.  I am tired!  BUT, what a good addition to my pantry.

7 pints of applesauce, apple pie jams, apple peel jelly, dry apples

The best part of Monday was the help my 4 yr old granddaughter gave me.  She used the apple peeler with my help and ate a slice out of each apple we did.  She also helped me to arrange apples on the drying trays.

While the Girls are Away . . . .

for the weekend.  My sister in law and some friends stayed at a cabin on Hoods Canal (Tahuya).  We took long walks on the beach, sat on the deck in the morning with coffee (or tea), and played cards on the deck into the night. NO tv, yeah!  Cooking good food, conversation and beautiful days!

Sunset

Low tide, this is the Tahuya river that meets the canal during high tide

Oh my aching . . . . Everything!

This morning I made a batch of Italian plum jam, did 2 loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen.  This afternoon my daughter's family and I helped a friend by turning her compost pile, it took two of us to move that pile over  from 2 smaller piles  (for 1 1/2 hours).  Layering and watering, that was hard work.

When I arrived home, the rest of the bowl of plums were calling to me.  So another batch of jam was made!  I like to use my meat grinder on my mixer to keep the prep time down.  Plums are my second favorite fruit for jam.  If sour cherries were available I would be in heaven because they make the best jam!  After folding the laundry all I could think about is sitting down.

My husband asks  "could you make a blackberry pie if I pick them (7 pm).  Really!  My son pipes up  "I will", he is a good son.  Especially after he spent the afternoon chopping wood.

Seven Days at . . . . .

. . . . . .  the Evergreen State Fair in a row.  I work at the Speedway which is in the middle of the fairgrounds.  So I worked 2 days pre-fair and the first 4 days of fair with racing events, then today my husband and I went to enjoy some of the fair together.

 We took the grandgirls on some rides, had cotton candy, visited in the pygmy goat barn (J is 7yrs and showing for the 1st time).  She was absolutely clueless but watched the other kids and copied them very well.  V is having a great time attaching herself to the kids in the club, "teaching" the public how to pet a goat or loving up all  goats including her own.

It's been 10+ years since our 4H fair experiences in the horse program.  It left us with some of the greatest memories, on looking back my husband and I both agree it was worth it. We care leased most of the time. and took care of a barn full of about 5-7 horses to keep our leased horse in exchange.  Western riding clothes were easy to put toghether if kept simple.  Then our daughter wanted to ride Saddleseat. Riding english in 4H is about 90% Huntseat and a few Saddleseat and being the good individual she is, following the crowd was never her option! The only used suit at the time that I could find was $600 and sky blue (all wrong).  SoI put together $175 and bought some hunter green wool blend for a coat and black material for the lining, vest, and 2 pairs of pants.  It took me a month to complete and some learning about tailoring, it was  beautiful.  I still have it!

In those years, we also tried out open class entries.  My daughter made peanut butter cookies and entered a wood project made in school.  My son put in a K'nex structure 6' tall that had motors, biscuits, and angel food cake.  I put in jams and a blackberry pie.  Everybody received blue ribbons and a few extras as well.

My favorite exhibits to visit is the sewing, quilting, canning and baking, art, goats and horses.  If I see these then it's been a good day at fair!

Kelcema Lake, WA

We took a day hike today with our daugher's family, this hike is described as kid friendly and the 3 1/2 yr old did very well.  I think the trail becomes a winter/spring run off even though there is a permanent creek that is the lakes outlet.  The lake is in a bowl that looks exactly like a volcano (probably ancient, when the range was created).   The lake is at an elevation of 3,500 ft (we live at sea level).
                                                                                                                                                                   The bowl on three sides is steep and almost straight up, the road up to the trail (4.2 miles UP) is probably the outlet.  From the trailhead up to the lake (300 ft elevation hike) we walked on HUGE boulders and the land was strewn with boulders that were probably flung out or carried down with a volcanic flow.  The lake was pristine and clear (you could see the bottom).                                                                                    

We climbed the rock on the right side

The rock we climbed from the lake edge.

Old trees, even though it's a logging area, were everwhere (if logeed, maybe 100 yrs ago).  Gorgeous natural  plant life.  Tiny, delicate trillium in flower.  What looked like a tiny hosta blanketing some areas and many that is don't recognize.  Two grandaughter running around barefoot, fishing, exploring and having the best time.  An amazing day to share!

It's Quiet . . .

. . . around here.  My son is gone for 8 days of hiking and climbing in the wilderness!  For two weeks we dried food and he pre-packaged all his dinners.  A list of food dried:

• canned beans
• hamburger
• tomate sauce and spaghetti sauce
• sweet onions
• green, yellow and red peppers
• canned pineapple for granola
• lot's of yogurt drops

He rounded out his meals with quinoa, thin spaghetti and cous cous and loves how is food tastes.  Homemade granola with fruit for snacks, instant oatmeal and chocolate.  The estimated weight of food is 10 - 12 pounds which is nothing compared to the climbing equipment, he carries about 80 pounds.  Elevation gained the first day is about 3,000 feet, Oh to young!

I took a 5 gallon bucket of finished compost (2 yr old, worm ridden, YES!) over to my daughters garden for the tomatoes.  They are looking so beautiful and a ample harvest is looking good with lot's of canned tomatoes! The rest of the garden is amazing too.  I have about 2 more bucketsof compost left to keep feeding the garden.

Family time

Island life is heavenly.  We had family time at my parents with both my kids and the grandkids camping out in their front yard.  Of course the promised sun did not make an appearance until today when my daughter and family left.  Life cannot stop because of the weather!  We had campfires and some-mores.  Set up tents and still had the benefits of showers and a kitchen.  It's a fun way to spend time with my parents.

Today, we went fishing at a private pond.  The owner dug it out himself and allows a club to host a kids fishing derby which gets stocked by the state.  My parents are alway welcome so we took the girls on their first fishing trip.  They had so much fun.  J (7yrs) caught and released 5 fish, V (3 1/2 yrs) caught 3.  My dad patiently helped J and helped her learn to cast, also.  This is the best place, I listened to the trees rustling and the muted shouts of little girls,watched a bald eagle and turtles jumping of rocks into the water.  Heaven!!

Also did the sneak on a mama deer and her single baby (her twins are still around from last year) with my daughter and 2 granddaughters.  They were amazing! quiet and not fidgety.  We stood a good 15 minutes when a noise from some else had them walking away.  Such beautiful creatures and amazing that the girls love to quietly watch them.

To the dump . . . . .

As a final part of my 100 things to get rid of project comes to a close for the items waiting for a dump load, I went TODAY!  I love going to the dump, a weight gets lifted (in my mind anyway).  After loading first my project stuff and some from a sorting months ago, I added my regular garbage (plastics).  Our city only has pick up for plastic recycling and that is the bulk of my garbage since everthing else can go to the recyling center.

The kitchen table is bad again, it's me every time who gets to clean off everybody elses junk!

Childhood memories . . . . .

JP Patches, the name makes me smile.  Getting ready for school was quick and efficient if you wanted to watch the JP Patches show before walking to school.  He portrayed a clown who was the mayor of the city dump and lived in a shack.  The show was "live, unrehearsed improv (for children)" and well loved in my generation.  Lived 1928 - 2012, his showed aired 1958 - 1981.  Thank you for the memories JP.

A few days . . . . .

. . . . .  with my parents.  I am helping my mother clean up a sewing room, a friend of theirs who is in advanced stages of  Alziemers.  She may have been sick earlier than was thought because "junk" was coming home and being tossed into the pile.  Think of the Hoarder shows, it's frightening to see it in person.  In bout 3 days of work (weeks apart) my mom and I have taken out a dozen bags of garbage, a dozen bags of good will donations and the same in recycles,  and we are half done (this is way too much for my mom to do and having company helps).  This was a beautiful, organized room at one time and mom's friend was very talented (I have some Christmas decor of hers).  It is so hard to see her and know that she is locked up inside with no hope.  We will help put on a garage sale to get the good stuff out:  fabric, notions, machines, everthing knitting, baskets, art supplies, bookshelf (full), silk  flowers, tools, crafting.  OMG!  Makes me want to finished a few projects!

I did enjoy time with my parent, it's never enough because visiting is restricted to summer.  Mom and I watched 4 deer playing which was fun.  A mom, her baby and her twins from last year.  The baby wanted to play and mom tried so hard to drive them away with kicking and blocking.  I forgot my camera a home, does no good there!  Loved it! and had a good visit.

MRE's made at home

My son and I did some dehydrating a couple weeks ago.  The list so far:

• onions, peppers
• spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce (into leather)
• a variety of beans
• flavored yogurt drops

He went camping and tried out some recipes, (for practise) adding quinoa, angel hair pasta (least liked),  buillion cubes and was very please with the results.  More drying is now required for his weeklong hike and climbing trip into the Enchantments (a wilderness area near Leavenworth, WA).  This will include hamburger, apple slices, to add to the above.  Encouraging his friends to dry food by sharing is on the list also, (they have been impressed).

Very strange weather, a few days ago we had thunder, lightning.  Today, we have had thunder, lightnin, sun, sudden but brief downpours, and snow (not kidding)!   Tonight, we are having the worst outbreak of mosquitos I have ever seen and they are making themselves felt.  In my hair, trying to crawl up my pant legs, it's miserable.

Summer? Here?

Right on schedule, summer starts after July 4th!  Although we did not have the usual rain on the holiday.  We had the first hot day of summer yesterday and enjoyed Sunday dinner outside with family, goats and pickings from the garden (and farmers market).  A cloudless sky, cooling breeze and the hot sun  ....  so perfect.  As the sun was setting (with lavender clouds down in the hills and gold edged, I have never seen the color and wished to capture it but the vibrance never comes thru), we took a short walk and all played with the girls until bedtime.  I say "perfection" !

This morning, I am drinking tea to the sound of the fish tank and gazing at my plants in the little window that get's morning sun, (they are glowing, spectled with shadows and so pretty.  I have taken pictures before and captured how they look).  More perfection! and so peaceful.

Update on the List

Another 100 pieces of clutter,  bye, bye!

Mostly stuff to Goodwill, some to the garage sale pile, some garbage.  My garbage pile is big enough to go to the dump now (I have an unfinished basement and put NO perishable in it),  I keep a designated corner for this because running around the house "looking" for last minute garbage, because the truck isn't full enough, is counter productive.  When I am in the area of the dump the recyclables are a side trip to keep them under control and it's free!  My pile of stuff to sort (can't decide what to do with it) and reassess, is shrinking because I don't really need them.  This is feeling so good that  walking into a room becomes an automatic look for more clutter.  Yes, it is a slow process.  I am trying to see the clutter for what it really is!

My day was busy with sweeping the main floor, clearing another surface (in my bedroom), working on 2 others, clearing the floor of my closet and storing some pantry items, and starting a new sack for donations.  I have let some of toys build up in a corner (the K'nex) so sorting and putting them away took some time.  And of course, some laundry and dishes.

Thank you, darling daughter, for the beautiful header for my blog!!

Stuff and Clutter!

I posted for the year end (2011) my disaster areas, today after counting the surfaces with clutter on them, something must be done.  Ten surfaces (tables, desks, etc.) in the kitchen dining room, living and bedroom.  This doesn't count my sewing room because every time I organize it a bomb goes off and disaster reins again!  After counting the mess I immediately followed up with cleaning off two of the surfaces.  Not only do I not get help but when something is put away, a gremlin comes along and put the stuff right back where I cleared it off of (kitchen)!  Two more surfaces do exist but they belong to another 100%, the ten belong to me or are a community mess.  I also have one more shelf in the kitchen to clean out for better storage.

I have been making Kombucha for 2 months now and have a good balance of brewing now, it is giving me a 2 cup bottle a day to drink without flavoring it.  I like it very much this way and enjoy the hint of apple and sourness, refreshing!

Tilling

Spent the afternoon and evening at my daughter's.  We tilled up a good size garden for summer planting and it was exhausting.  It was too warm to do such heavy work but it must get done.   My shoulders, back and hands ache but it feels good to be out in the soil.  We need to do another pass before taking the tiller back, then out goes the squashes, corn seed, beans!  The raised beds are waiting for warmer nights to happen (soon). The girls made mud pies in a little bucket and had a great (old-fashioned) time.  Must go get ready because after gardening, I must head to the racetrack!

A bit of heaven!

I went to see my parents for a few days and it is so hard to come home (they live on 2 acres of green beauty!)  and watched hummingbirds for hours, they are so fascinating.  What is so interesting is you can stand right by a feeder and they will still come for food!  It's so calm, quiet and slow.  I sometimes question how a city kid became such a country adult?  A morning walk around the properties with my Dad is a great way to start the day (the road goes around a 20 acre area that equals a 1 mile walk) and an afternoon stroll under the canopy of the forest.  My mom cooked a rack of lamb just because she knows how much I like it (the rack was big and too much for 2 people, it seemed melted like butter when chewing and smelled good AND tasted better.  She sent the rest home for my daughter (she loves lamb too).  E and the girls came for one day to spend some quiet time, the girls spent a lot of time wandering the woods, playing and searching for treasures.

Spring has exploded!

The shades of green spreading across the evergreen canvas is amazing.  The young leaves range from grass green to lime green.  I wanted to pull over to the side of the hiway and stare, but my schedule would not allow it.  Our field of grass is about 3 feet tall over the septic and had a lot of wind today.  I watched the grass for a while and it's like watching the ocean waves, waving and serging.  It's elegant like ballet.   Right now, a heavy rain is falling hitting grass and leaves.  Creating a background for the frogs across the street, nature's music!  I love spring the most, even rainy days are beautiful!

Too soon for Christmas!

After deciding to make potholders from denim for christmas presents, I had a total of three! so far.  This weekend was  a wedding shower for my nephews intended and guess what?  I gave two potholders to them along with a plastic sack holder to match (a heart was apliqued for decoration.  I have given thses sets away in the past, she seemed pleased.  With a look and "I want one" from my sis-in-law, making one for her will go on my growing list of projects.  Maybe writing this list down is needed because it's getting long!  So I'll keep plugging away to accumulate enough by December (2 for each family).  They are a bit tedious but look great when done.

Busy weekend!

Birthdays!  Years ago, on a very special day, Friday the 13th in April.  It was my husbands birthday.  We had been in the hospital 2 days trying to have our first child (health prolems).  She was stubbornly waiting though, and on the morning of my husbands birthday she made her entrance. What a LUCKY day.  Here it is Friday the 13th again . . . . .  Happy birthday!

We have our grandchildren friday overnight. Then a stop by the Speedway on our way to my Uncle's wedding.  He is a hoot so I am sure it will be fun.  Sunday will be birthday dinner and chicken enchiladas will be on the menu.

Daughter's house

My son and I went to E's house to take a couch to the dump.  While they were gone, my granddaughters and I puttered around the yard with the goats, and the garden.  Such beauty surrounds us if we would stop and look around, listen and when the garden is ready taste as we work. The grass is at it's greenest, the trees are bursting into masses of blooms, birds and frogs are a concert of music.  Sharing all this and more with my grandchildren is new and exciting!   J and I put together another raised bed from scraps I found, it is a perfect size for 4 tomato plants.  A warm and pleasant day made for a lovely day to help with some chores.

March

In like a lion, out like a lamb.

This year March came in like a lion and went out like a lion.  My daughter came up with this one.  We had some beautiful days in the middle, even fooled the early blooming trees.  My favorite is to see the patches of purple crocus and yellow daffodils.  I don't mind the dreary days of pre-spring with the splash of nature's beauty, there is such promise.

............ Tired!

What a long day!

• Dropped off a flat tire for fixing
• Get emissions test on my car
• Deposit check at bank
• Do monthly big grocery shop
• Unload  groceries
• Pick up fixed tire
• Go out and look for wood (found a half truck load)
• Unload wood

What a beautiful day here in the Pacific NW, it was actually warm outside with lot's of blue sky.  Of course the clouds have rolled but that's OK.

• One last thing - bottle Kombucha (7 bottles) and start a new batch

• 
  

Midnight Sew

I went to midnight sew with my daughter and a friend, we enjoyed a great evening with a group of about 30 ladies.  Hours of talk, sharing and eating with a little sewing thrown in!  I worked on my denim rug and a crazy  quilt square, this one is a rose.  It turned out great and I did some spiral stitching to enhance to floral shape.  To fix a couple minor mistakes I appliqued 2 lady bugs over them.  With just 3 more to do, I can put it together and finish it.

This week I added to my pantry 4 extra cans of soup on sale with a coupon - .40 each and lemonade (1.59)  - free.
 I need to purchase tubs for storage in case of bug out and to store neatly, this house is not good for organizing.

I am getting a lot of sewing done lately!  Yeah!  The last two fridays I went to E's house to hang out and sew, her friend also comes.  And guess what?  yes, I am starting gifts for Christmas 2012.  This year will be quilted  demin hot pad holders (decision made), something I made about 5 years ago, but noticed my bother in laws are wearing out and he loves them (to the point of requesting some for his sons last year).  They are a little time consuming but worth it, I have finished 5 so far.  Ornaments are still on the thinking about what to make list.

I finished a third square for my crazy quilt and now have 16 squares.  After laying them out on my bed yesterday, it looks like 4 more are needed.  I don't want it to hang over the side, just to lay on the top.  It will be for decor, either folded at the foot of the bed or spread out.  I am not going to go to nuts and embroider every seam, but yo yo's might show up.

I had a great time with the girls and am glad they include this "old" lady!

"Urban Farming" ... Good Memories

My daughter and I have been talking about our "urban farm" in the middle of the city, and having a laugh because giving a title to our endeavors would never have accured to us.  When we moved into a beautiful 1906 farmhouse with a quarter acre that once owned  miles of land between a freeway and an old highway,  our excitement mounted to learn about it's past.  This was pretty easy since only one family had owned the house (grandparent then the grandson and he was 70+ years).

The house was three stories with the fireplace going up the middle with built in shelves on either side, with a plate rail going around the room, paneling below done like frames.  We painted them eggshell and put cream with little blue flour above, it looked very period.  The porch on the front was so deep (5 ft) and ran the whole front of the house with 4 river rock pillars, we spent a lot of time sitting out there on a swing.  When this house was built, it had no bathroom, no modern sink with plumbing, a wood cooking stove (because there was a metal plate in the wall for a vent into the chimney) and no inside stairs to the basement. All was added by the grandson; the bathroom was a small narrow room, the wall behind the sink was cut out to make room for the kitchen sink and stairs were cut into the floor of a walk in closet.  She was a beaut!

In the backyard was a very big shed with windows down one side.  We decided to get chickens, 7 of them.  We found some one that sold fertilized eggs so we bought equipment to hatch them and had the good luck to have every one survive.  Our daughter loved hearing the peeping and watching the hatch.  We did not think of city ordinances and our neighbors loved to watch them.  Much later we found out the the laws allowed 3 (which is more now).  We rescued the old garden with the richest, blackest  soil and dandelion roots that were huge and multiple. We ate very well from that garden all summer.  I didn't have a compost pile but practiced trench composting all winter and fed scraps to the chickens in the summer.

We did all this without the intense library one can have or the internet (it didn't exist yet),  we learned as we went along and found advice at the feedstores.  There is so much information now I might have been scared off.  Anyway that how we started.

The sewing continues . . . . . .

I finished two more squares on my crazy quilt (actually a throw).  They are 15 inches each and some have a theme to work around. I am not going to finish each seam with decorative stitches, but the idea came to me to use yo yo's to hide corners or add depth (I like to make them). Just finished the block "sewing day on the farm with the girls last year block", all the fabrics came from the other girl's projects (to remember the day).  A couple have centers from hawaiian shirts I made for my husband years ago.  Many of the fabrics come from clothes I made for my daughter and son.  Talk about procrastination, this project has been going on for 8 years and I wuld really like to finish it.  This year? can't promise! I would like to, though.

I also finished a hot pad made from jeans, this may be my project to work on for this next Christmas.  It's never to early to work on Christmas presents.  I made so much last year and felt really great about it.

Tea for Young Ladies!

J. dressed and ready for her guests to arrive

The adults tea is ready!

My daughter had a tea party for J (7 yrs) with 4 other little ones, all were dressed up for an afternoon garden affair indoors (since it's winter out there).The table was beautiful with a lace cloth and cloth napkins, the plates and tea cups, flowers and greenery, the plates of good food, when E saw it she said "it's so beautiful".  The adults sat in the living room with our tea and I couldn't stop smiling, the girls were so cute.  E put in a lot of effort and it was well worth it. J had a ball and the moms comments were 'best party ever'!

We went to the midnight sew that night also.  A great time!  I so love the companionship and feeling inspired for days to come.  I worked on a crazy quilt (started 10 years ago, procrastination .... hmmm).  E started a quilt for her husbands birthday.  OMG ....  the beautiful quilts that were in progress, my favorite was a black/grey/cream quilt and all the squares were different.  I am not a quilter but have constructed garments since the age of 10.  So my crazy quilt has pieces of scrap from clothing made for my husband, daughter, son and of course me ( also from my mom).  The construction part is my favorite, embellishing is a challenge since I am not accomplished in that area.  This is a good way to push myself into practicing though.  Two of E's friends also came and we talked of spring gardens, shooting practice and possible hunting trips for the fall.  A big storm blew thru with thunder and rain on the roof competing with the conversations, it stopped by midnight (thank goodnes).

Women, Farm and Food

This is the title of a conference that my daughter and I went to today.  The first keynote speaker talked about her experiences in buying and running a farm in Pennsylvania, she was inspiring  and at 62 is going strong!  Some important  issues for me to remember are:
    a. throw out the negative actions and compormise less
    b. Success equals happiness NOT $ means being sustainable not rich this is my goal
    c. Reading, research, knowledge is all good, I need a place to jump in and make it work
We also heard the stories of 3 local ladies in the 'farming' business.  One that works for a seed company (Osborns), another who was a field manager for a CSA with 300+ members and last an owner of a CSA in the City of Seattle (an acre and a half, very successful).   Some very good information.                                                                                                                                                                The 2nd keynote speaker is an author on the sbuject of procrastination, a very good subject in connection to farming and the tug of war on time between house, children, gardens, animals, a possible outside job and marketing if product is sold.  I take away from this lecture that the path in my home of downsizing is in the right direction.  In the basement, I am going to implement setting aside 1 hour of time with NO distractions, No breaks and using a timer.  Giving a reward for every hour is a bit of overkill and she said a pat on the back was too lame, I disagree.  An accomplishment can be exciting if it's a job I don't want to do and overwhelming.  The speakers were via the internet and the connection for the 2nd one was bad which took away from the lecture, her humor came thru fortunately because it was hard to keep the continuity going.

The dicussions after each lecture was also good, and hearing the experiences or questions of local women in farming left me with the knowledge we can do it in a man's world.

Amazing!

Instead of being overwhelmed with down sizing the whole house, I am using a pinterest idea of  '100 things'.  Two days ago I finished my 2nd 100 things and today was my 3rd 100 things. This all came from our main living spaces NOT the frightful abyss downstairs.  Tomorrow I will deliver 4 sacks to donate, a small amount went into garbage and garage sale boxes.  This is exciting and so easy to 'feel' the progress! 

I started a different pattern/look for a jean bucket that came from pinterest also.  It's half done so I will post on it later.

Losses

Last night I went to a wedding shower, my uncle is getting remarried after losing his wife 3 years ago.  Most of the women present went to their church including his fiance.  His daughter came and was most supportive and cheerful until one of the women read a short commentary on the couple.  His first wife was mentioned quite a few  times since she had known this lady quite well.  I could see the pain swirling around my cousin across the room and wanted to reach out with comfort but couldn't. It hurt just to watch.  She was OK though and amazing, her mom would be proud.

The following excerpts, used by permission from an article by SNOMAN on Survival News Online, express much of our concern on the subject.

“Child labor laws and state intervention in child-rearing in general have put our children at greater risk than ever. At the age of twelve, Jesus Christ was able to find food and shelter in Jerusalem and carry on an intelligent discussion of complex legal and religious matters with his elders. To be sure, he was exceptional, but Western socialist societies are not using that as a model or target for what a child ought to be; instead of producing kids who can take care of themselves and others by the age of twelve, we’re extending their uselessness into the young twenties and beyond. Adolescence is proof of our social bankruptcy.

When I was a kid, it was a singular shame to have to ask someone to borrow their pocketknife. Nowadays I teach my kids never to lend a pocketknife to another kid, because it’s almost a sure thing they haven’t been taught how to use one. They don’t know how to work, survive, or think, either…

One of the most productive things you can do to bring about long-term change in society (while reaping instant benefits for yourself and your children) is teach children some principles of self-reliance, and teaching life skills is a fun way to accomplish this. They learn not just how to keep themselves alive; they also learn the fundamental concept that they are the first and best provider of their own safety. “Self-reliance” is the theory, and learning life skills puts it into practice.”

One of the problems with teaching our children basic life skills is that we don’t know them ourselves.  We’re trying to take the opportunities God gives us to learn along with our children.  It could save a life someday.

I think the February can be a beautiful month, with 3 days now of warm sun, cold air and frosty nights so far. The mountains have been at their best, so clear you can see the valleys and the sun glints off the snow on the peaks like diamonds.  I wish the camera could capture the beauty I see!  I hear opinions that it feels like spring.  To me it's a promise of spring to come, that here in the PNW after days and weeks of rain and gloom the days are longer and it's time to plan for the garden!

I bottled my kombucha yesterday in to three jars and drank the fourth one right away, very good andwith no added flavor or juice!  It's was mild, I only brewed it 12 days and my house is cold.  So now it's the 3 - 5 day wait for fizz to build up.  Keeping up with brewing will take some juggling because it's so good and buying it is a little expensive ($3.50 for 16oz).  This is one of my  goals  (to learn new skills this year).

I had a great weekend starting with a quiet visit with E and the grandgirls, playing games and watching a movie.  My sister in law called me for an overnight, we had a ball. Lot's of laughs, wine and helping a little with putting her house in order after they put down new floors.  Then back to E's house to watch the girls while she went to an appointment.  We spent a couple hours outside gardening, pulling new weeds from the vegie beds and pulling compost from the bottom of the pile to the top.  I guess V. fell asleep on the floor (she is 3) after a very busy day.  She is the one who stuck with me thru all the weeding.  J helped thru half which is still pretty good.While locking up the chickens, J pointed out the full moon coming up behind the bare trees, another beautiful picture! At 7 yrs, she takes on the responsiblity of the chickens and goats like I haven't seen in a girls new to animals. She is amazing! I was holding V. and noticed the sunkissed cheeks, what a good day! And to my darling daughter, you're smile today is beautiful!

Storm of the Century or not!

It's been one heck of a week!  My daughter's house was broken into Saturday, she and the girls stayed at our house that night. It's very hard to see the pain and anguish of being invaded upon,  to feel again the mind numbing, ugliness that the scum of our society produces.  Her laptop was stolen, one of the biggest losses.  Skype is the link between them and her husband who is in Afghanistan, it's hard enough coping with everday problems and then this.  And the sentimental items, the ones that have NO value.  Irreplacable!

My husband went to nail the door shut until repairs could be done thru a snow storm.  And on Sunday I went to  stay with at our daughter's (at her request), the stay was extended thru Thursday.  The Pacific NW has been hit with snow storms, then ice storms.  At our house we estimate 12 to 14 inches of snow, I understand why the weather stories feel this one is so bad;    most storms are not so big (from Oregon up to Bellingham),  rain is predicted 1 - 3 inches) and with the snow melt we'll have devastating floods.  We made National news!

The granddaughters had so mcuh fun in the snow, they went out multiple times everyday and became quite expert (and eager) at garbing up and peeling off.  V looked like a pink marshmellow in her snowsuit!  We walked, made snow people and threw snow (no packed balls, a 3 yr old doesn't understand) V giggled a lot.  The girls loved to fall over again and again or make angels.  E practiced with sourdough and made some good bread, fresh is the BEST!  The power did go out Wednesday night at 10:30 (time for bed!) and came on 6:30am, the kids never knew!  That's not so bad, some family  had power out much longer and 2 separate times.

My son came and picked up E for a little shopping trip, he installed chains and still slipped around once in while but did a good job driving (better than most out there, driving too fast or hogging the road).  I came home with him,  Thank you!!!

Beau-ti-ful !!!

My favorite kind of day: cold, crisp, blue sky, SUN !!!  When coming home today, from a particular point on the road I can see Mt. Baker - Mt. Rainier - Mt. Pilchuck, Three Sisters and the multitude of mountains surrounding them.  All glowing in the mid afternoon sun and from my kitshen window I see the Olympics in beautiful shadows against the setting sun with a colorful sunset.

I am thinking that one of the goals for this year is to implement 'changes' in how we eat.  We like oatmeal and cream of wheat but I woud like to take it further.  For instance, using brown rice not white.  I love brown rice, it will be the thought put into meals that needs working on because of cooking times, etc.  Instead of listing goals I will create a 'living list' (making the list as changes are incorporated into meals.

Good Food!

I made ham bone and beans today!  Brings back memories of Mom's soup, so good!  I boiled the bone (with plenty of meat left on it) with an onion and garlic for an hour then took it out to cool for shredding. Then I cooked the Anasazi beans, they cook in about 1 hour and originate from the Southwest. Nice, huh!  When the beans were done, I combined them with the meat, broth and a packet of Knorr Vegetable soup mix simmering for 10 minutes. OMG, so good!  My soup is more like a chowder, very thick.

For brunch, I made Bannocks (Scottish pancakes) using sourdough and rolled wheat flakes (I didn't have oatmeal).  The wheat didn't absorb the moisture well and so I will try again with the oatmeal.  Good but could be better!  Both these meals left me full and satisfied for hours with no heartburn that I have been experiencing lately.  Flour, cream of wheat, sugar so far seem to be the culprits.

I have a challenge on Pinterest, getting rid of 100 things.  Five garbage bag liners full, 4 grocery bags and 1 box went to the Goodwill box, Yeah!  Going to work on another 100 items!