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Dating vs Surviving

It has been brought to my attention that most men are liking for a woman they can take care of. A female who only does the Biblical female roles. A true Proverbs 31 woman.

I think this may explain why I am not dating. I simply cannot afford to just sit and wait for a man to rescue me.

Now, there are many things around my little homestead I can't physically do or would rather not do. I end up having to hire a man to help me. I just simply don't have the same physical strength as a man.

And, given the option, I would choose to have a big strong man around to take care of me. Someone to assume responsibility for paying bills and doing major repairs. That would be truly wonderful!

In the meantime, I must make do and persevere. I can't just let the place fall apart while I sit at my sewing machine!

I Think I May Have a Neighbor Problem!

Good morning!
The weather has been beautiful here!
But...
This is what I found when I went out to feed my chickens!
The neighbor insists it just fell over all by itself!?
The green at the bottom of the posts is the part of the metal stakes the posts are bolted to. The stakes go 30" into the ground.
The lattice was screwed to the posts.
Since this photo was taken they have moved the fence closer to their yard and folded it in half.
Wonder what would possess them to do all this if they didn't knock it down in the first place?!?!

Project 365~ Why Should I Do This?!

Hello! 

Welcome back!

I have a new project I wanted to share with you today. 

 'Project 365' 

This is something I should have already been doing, yet sort of have been at the same time.

The point of the project is to take a photo of something meaningful to you every day. 

Then use this 'photo diary' to watch your world change and see how the things that matter to you change with it. 

Now, to me, this means to take a photo of something that really touches me deeply. 

My intention is to take these photos each day and use these for my blogs. 

As I sometimes post blogs, like this one, devoid of photos, there will, undoubtedly, be days where I will post multiple photos/ blogs. 

I think this will serve two purposes~ first to prompt me to post more regularly; second to give you a deeper look into my world. 

I know that I do a lot of introspection as I read my blog posts and look at all the photos I've posted. 

Sometimes I can't help but ask myself, "What were you thinking?"

Or...

"What happened to your plan to get ______ done?"

My challenge to you is this:

Take a photo of something really special to you every day. 

You don't have to share these photos with anyone, but look through them often and watch as you world changes!

http://content.photojojo.com/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/

Ramblings from the Homestead

Good morning! 

It's a beautiful day in Illinois! 

I can only hope it is at least half as beautiful where you are.

My day started off pretty well~ Matt made it to school barely on time, but against his better judgement~ LOL! 

The chickens were all waiting when I finally got out there, just inside the people door, for me to finally let them out the doggy door into their run. I could almost hear them saying, "Come on, Mom! We want to play outside!" I threw a handful of assorted spices on the floor of the coop and two of the girls began to scratch at the bedding there.

And so now I sit at work~ it seriously is a 4-letter word! 

Not so bad today~ did a couple dishes, swept out my bathroom, read the paper.

Now on to finishing (not that I'm ever done!) balancing out rent books. I am grateful that this part never ends as there would be no money for our paychecks if the tenants didn't pay rent. So, I will pause here and balance books for a bit.

Hmmm........ so I have noticed that I am in need of Bible study and prayer time. Missing three weeks of church has left me way beyond needing my battery recharged! I am seriously not liking myself very much~ such a grouchy demeanor I had this morning. Yuck!! 

Yes, I was outwardly smiling, but, inside, I noticed, I was not feeling very Christian. 

Thinking I Need to start hitting my knees. Have got to get back to basics. 

48.0 F degrees in the parking lot at work. Weather bug says it's the same temperature at Taft Elementary school. Always good to crosscheck! 

It is a good day to play outside~ ride bikes, start yard work... 

I am feeling a deep need to buy the discount mulch out back at Menard's! Hmmmm............. wondering how long it would take me to move the prickly pear and patio for the toter out of my parkway and raise that flower bed to about three feet high? Then I can replant my prickly pear and move the climbing rose and hibiscus out there, too! Surrounded by a fresh layer of mulch that little corner will be So Pretty! 

A bright, happy, flowery dam to hold back flood water from the neighbor's yard. 

Yup! Need to play outside tonight!!! And Matt can ride his bike. Oooo! I can't wait to get home!!!

Headed outside to take Matt fresh clothes at school~ What a Beautiful Day!!! 

Rolled down the window on the Jeep and put my arm out! 

Ah, Spring is finally here!

It's like a whole new beginning.

Can't wait to get out of work!!! 

Now...

Do I stay late to see how the new outside lighting Ken Kemp is putting up for us is bright enough? 

NO! 

Not tonight! 

Tonight I leave on time so Matt and I can play outside. 

Tomorrow night I will check all the new lights as I have to attend a neighborhood meeting in the evening anyway. 

Hopefully these new lights will be bright enough that the problem children will stay across the street where things are not well lit!!! We like our rental properties safe and quiet. Too many senior, veteran and handicapped tenants here to tolerate anything else.

Warming My Toes by the Fire!

As I sit by the fire I realize how easy it is for things to get completely out of focus.
What really matters?
To me, IMHO, all that really matters is having my family close to me and a few good friends I can really count on.
Odd that something I blogged earlier today was hammered home so firmly tonight.
But, as I sit here, I am so grateful I am here.
I am grateful to be free to be myself.
I am grateful for a job where I can show up in old sweats if things are just too crazy.
I am grateful to be on my own home.
I am grateful for a small circle of supportive friends.
Yes, there are many things I want that I just can't have right now.
I want to finish college.
I want to own a campground.
I want a loving cooperative supportive husband (I honestly do believe that exists).
I want a hug every day.
Sometimes we just have to focus on all the great things we already have.
I am truly blessed.

Friends~ 'Christian' vs All Those Who are Nice to You

I am well aware that the Bible says our closest friends should be fellow Christians. That we should have the majority of our fellowship/ social activities with Christians. 

I am, however, also aware that many who say they are Christians are wolves in sheep's clothing. 

It seems, all too often, that those who say the least about what a good Christian they are, are the ones who truly "walk the walk and talk the talk."

But I also know that we are to be a light to those still in darkness.

We are to show though our everyday lives who Jesus is. 

By spending time with someone who is unsaved or backsliding it is possible to open their eyes and have them see Jesus in us. 

I am fortunate as most of the people I talk to are Christians. 

I am fortunate as most of these people accept and love me for who I am.

Yes, there are still those who judge me.

There are a few who think they are better than me because:

1) they have a college degree

2) they have belonged to a specific church longer than myself

3) they are younger

4) they are thinner

5) their house is more expensive

But, my true friends just love me for me. They know who I am inside and that I'll be there for them when they need me.

They know I love hugs and steal hugs from them whenever I can. 

I think I'd rather have people around me who have a true Christian demeanor vs those who can recite all the reasons they are the holiest person in the room!

Earthquakes and Tsunamis

How did the recent events in Japan affect me? 

In considering this question, I am unsure. 

I was already so numb from all that had already gone on. 

I had been crying for so many days.

When I saw it on the news, I remember wondering if the quake in NZ had set this one off.

And...

When and where will the next one be?

And I realized my stash of critical personal papers weren't with me! 

And then remembered that a tenant's mom lives there.

Would her elderly mom be okay?

How was the tenant coping?

~

So now I am rethinking my lack of organization and how unprepared I really am. 

Matthew Graduated!

Well, his smile was so big tonight as we said prayers and his "Thank you God for..." was "...for finally finishing the God and Family class"!

Yes, something to smile about. He finished the class successfully and with only one meltdown! He memorized the Ten Commandments without much help from me (other than encouragement and the fact that I hung them on the bathroom door).

Yet another Cub Scout program that has helped Matt to grow and realize all he is capable of.

And realize how much God dearly loves him just the way he is!

Bedtime Prayers

Good Morning!!!

I wanted to share our bedtime prayer routine as I find it an amazing barometer of Matt's day and all the things he couldn't verbalize as they happened. 

It does seem like, after a long hot bath, tucked deep in cozy comforters with fresh sheets and pillow case, he feels safe to share.

Our prayer is simple. I think the simplicity is the key to it's success. 

We start simply with, 

"Thank you God for..."

Then we each list what we are truly thankful for that day. 

I always let Matt go first. 

Sometimes it is something as simple as,

"letting me sleep near my Mom."

Sometimes it is,

"for me having friends today,"

which brings me to tears as friends really ought to be a given when you are ten years old!

We follow our thank yous with

"Please, God, help me..."

We list what we need help with the most.

Matt's is usually 

"mind my Mom,"

or

"be nice to my Mom."

Mine is usually,

"to be a better parent to Matt and understand what he needs."

This is followed by hugs and kisses...

And a way better understanding of each other.

Numbness

My friends, please bear with me for a bit. I have had an overly busy week and am behind on everything. A dear friend died without family to mourn her and Matt was diagnosed with Aspergers, which I knew he had, but now it is formally 'out there' and a reality. 

Right now my priority has to be Matt and the continued battle for a school setting that will be right for him.

I will try to get back to you as soon as I come up for air.

Yogurt Chips with Pizzaz!

More yogurt went into the dehydrator. This time I sprinkled liberally with Znax 2go. This is an Hispanic seasoning readily available at any of the Hispanic grocery stores.

It's a blend including chili powder and makes yogurt and fresh fruit salads so yummy!

It's also great on chips. Simply sprinkle the chips with lime juice then Znax.

FDIC? Seriously?!

I was sitting in the drive-though at my bank and, as a habitual reader, I was reading the 'interesting' sticker on the chute. When I finished laughing and told the teller, 'no, I really was okay and wasn't trying to get her attention', I took this photo of it.
"What,"you ask, "is so funny about this particular sticker?" let me ask you to read the whole sticker again slowly.
Yes, the money is insured by the 'credit of the United States government! If that does not scare you into banking your money in your back yard under the shed next to your dog's grave nothing will.
The country that is insuring the money we loan to the banks (so they can loan it to others) is the same country that is so far in debt it could easily be taken over by another country simply on the premise of collecting the debt owed!
Seriously folks!
When China or Russia demand repayment in 30 days or they will take possession of this country, the same as a bank repossesses a house when repayment of a loan stops, what are we going to do?
There will be nothing we can do.
They will have collected a debt.
We will be their possession.
Legally we will belong to them~ be subject to their laws.
And so, the sticker made me laugh... ... maybe so I wouldn't cry.

Beware of Sinkholes!

Once this was a pond.

The farmer who owned it had no idea that his farm and his pond were sitting on a cavern.

Then, in the 1920's the bottom fell out of it~ well, at least the portion covered by boards.

When the farmer realized his pond was gone, only to be replaced by a hole in the ground, he boarded up the hole to prevent his small daughters from falling in and getting hurt.

The hole remained secured for 40 years until he sold the farm.

The new owners opened up the hole and began to explore their caverns!

Makes me wonder how many more caverns are out there boarded up?

If every fresh water spring could be coming from a cavern, don't you have to change the way you look at those springs?

Underground Living?

In contemplating the solar storms and political unrest that could easily lead to nuclear war, it has occurred to me that it might be a good idea to check out your local caverns.
My understanding is that we need to be 3 miles underground for the worst of the predicted solar flares. I am unsure how far down we would need to go to avoid radiation sickness from a bomb.
My only working knowledge of caves/ caverns are the 2 small caverns in Put-in-Bay, OH. That simply wasn't enough knowledge, so I was really excited to do an overnight trip with Cub Scouts in Blue Springs Caverns in Indiana!
Now Blue Springs is not 3 miles underground, but it gave Matt and I the chance to experience sleeping in a cavern. It was so cool and absolutely terrifying at the same time. Just the knowledge that huge chunks of rock had broken off and fallen to create the flat ceilings gave me cause to stop and think about when the next would fall.
If you have not visited your local caverns, do try to soon. It's a great family adventure and a way to measure how prepared you really are.

Wind Farm

This is a wind farm in Indiana.

It was really cool to see it up close, although the turbines looked a bit like rows of aliens!

I wish Joliet had a wind farm.

Regardless of what the studies say, there is enough wind to power our city.

I wonder what it would take to get at least one turbine put up in each neighborhood/ subdivision?

Put multiple turbines in windier locations.

Provide free electric to each home owner hosting a turbine on their lot.

Anyone want to help with this?!?!

Refocusing

Well, Good Morning to all! Glad to see you! Grab an iced tea, pull up a chair and let's chat a spell.

I've overextended myself again! Not sure why I keep doing this other than to keep from noticing the overwhelming loneliness that comes from being 47-years-old and single. And, to be honest, with no one I can say is such a close friend that I could call them at 4:00am. But, enough of the pity-party! I am trying to refocus.

Last night was a typical evening for me. Changed into farm clothes and gave the chickens a huge platter of leftovers. They had half a Reuben sandwich, fries, pretzels, mashed potatoes, spaghetti, mastaccioli.. 
Then I was on to my normal 3-5 loads of laundry, wash some dishes, keep the fire going in the wood stove (furnace does not kick on and suck my money up!), get Matt to thoroughly bathe (boys!) and sweep my floors (mess caused by the firewood).
Seriously, this is enough on my plate right now! 

From Where I Sit...

From where I sit I wonder if you realize I am here?

From where I sit I am not fat, just overly fluffy.

From where I sit I can hear you chatting happily and wonder if you know I realize you don't include me~ ever?

From where I sit my son is awesome despite all his flaws.

From where I sit coffee tastes better with a friend.

From where I sit happiness is hanging out at home with my son.

From where I sit I wonder why you think your college degree makes you better than me?

From where I sit my child has to come before my job and I wonder why yours doesn't?

From where I sit what's inside you is all that matters.

From where I sit I can see you are really scared and wish I knew what to say.

From where I sit... ... ...

Coffee= life

I have a trick I use, but it is for old fashioned coffee makers. I have a large cannister that stores my coffees once opened. In it I mix one container of my current flavor of choice with whatever was on sale and whatever was given to me by those who've temporarily given up coffee due to a lapse of sanity. :)

I shake the container every time I add another pack of fresh coffee. 

It is so good~ like the expensive coffees at the coffee shops.

Total Coffee Yum!!! 

A Feast fit for my Children!

Look at my girls munching!
Some friends gave me their old produce to supplement the cracked corn and layer crumbles.
The girls went nuts!
I can say that they were much more polite with the produce than they were with the ham.
At least they willingly shared this snack with Farmer Fred.
AND, he didn't look scared to get between them and the food!!!
Matt and I set up this salad bar Friday night.
Saturday morning we drove to Blue Springs Caverns for a Cub Scout overnight adventure.
When we came home Sunday afternoon, there were 10 fresh eggs waiting!
I think the salad bar was appreciated.
What do you think?!

Doing for Others

Sometimes life is just about helping others.
It's about remembering another's needs before our own.
About feeding your friend first even though there may not be enough for you to eat also.
Or...
Making a hiking stick for your den mate even though you may not have as much time to spend on yours.
If we take care of others...
If we do for them as though we were doing for Jesus...
The world will become a much better place.

Peacefully Hanging Laundry in the Dark

As I stood out back peacefully hanging sheets on the clothesline and listening to the washing machine discharge water into my grey garden pond, I realized how truly lucky and blessed I am. 

My house is a small fixer-upper and I barely make bills, but I have an incredible peace of mind when I'm on my homestead. 

Just to know the chickens are all comfy in their coop, Matt is cozy in his bed, the fire is roaring and that the laundry water is watering our fruit trees is awesome. 

We are by no means self-sustaining at this point, but we are well on our way and, as long as we keep up the momentum and positive attitude, we will accomplish everything we need to!

Yogurt to Dehydrate

Hello!

Recently I was blessed with an abundance of yogurt so I decided to make yummy yogurt chips in my Excalibur dehydrator.

Yogurt chips are a delicious addition to our snack box in the Jeep.

'Polite Society' and Shunning

I never thought I would be sharing something like this in 2011. I am very saddened to say that adults today are very cliquish. I really thought this would end with high school, after all we're grown-ups now. Right? 

Well, maybe some of us are. 

Many still exclude others from activities. Exclude members of their club/ group. 

I do wonder if, in some instances, it is because times are changing so drastically and you just don't know who you can trust. I can see how a person might not want to let others into their personal world until their character and intentions are known. 

But, within group activities I am stymied at this sort of behavior. 

Welcome to 2011?

Foraging

Good morning! Here I sit looking at an old list of things to get done... ever notice how those lists, once lost, are so quickly forgotten? 

Well, this list included the task to continue learning the art of foraging. 

You may ask, "Why would you want to forage?"

Let me tell you... 

We, as a family, love to go hiking. 

We have our own unique hiking style. We look at maps and compare that with what we've seen when driving. When an area just doesn't seem to make sense, we hike it! 

Hence, our family hikes are off-trail explorations of any and everything. 

While hiking a few years ago I noticed there are a lot of berries out there. Then the Pilcher Park Nature Center put out its annual recipes for garlic mustard as well as a complete pictorial to help identify and pull this edible invasive 'weed'. 

I bought a wild edible book at Barnes and Noble to keep in the Jeep. Now when we are out hiking we can learn to identify edible plants. 

There is nothing to compare to the look on your child's face the first time they eat cattail seed pods cooked like corn on the cob! 

And gathering acorns to shell, dry and grind for fresh organic flour has its own reward that you can not understand until you begin to forage. 

There is also the knowledge that your family has an even more well-rounded education because you hike and learn together. 

To me foraging is great exercise that extends your education leading to a super healthy diet. 

What more could you ask for from a hike?

My New Feed Scoop

Good evening all! Isn't the weather beautiful?

What do you think of my new feed scoop? It was on sale at Farm and Fleet in Aurora and I couldn't resist! At $2.50, it was a small price to pay for happiness. It sure makes me smile every time I refill feed!!!

What small measures have you taken to make your daily chores more enjoyable?

Where was I Going Again?

Isn't it truly amazing how off track a person can get in the course of just living their life? 

I recently noticed how far from my goal I was. What the heck happened? How could I have allowed myself to let this happen? 

My original intent for my homestead was to be self-sufficient~ as in not require my paycheck to live. I wanted my homestead to pay it's own bills. I wanted it to cover all basic necessities based on my personal criteria. 

Although I've gotten a lot done in improvements toward my goal, I can safely say that I am still way off the mark. The chickens are in and a huge blessing every day. Yes, even during the Snowpocalypse! They are not, however, making me any profit. 

Last year I allowed personal circumstances to prevent me from fully planting and harvesting my garden. What little planting did get done was soon overtaken by weeds and weeding just didn't get done often enough. With the weeds overtaking the garden, harvest time was a disaster. I had very little to dehydrate.

This year I did no canning from my garden for the 3rd year in a row. I did make a few jars of jam from our own fruit. The last one is open in the fridge. 

This was not my plan. Not my plan to look into the pantry and contemplate eating beans every day WTSHTF. Not my plan to not be self-sufficient by now. 

I am re-assessing my game plan and mode of operation. I am formulating a plan to get my humble little homestead back on track. By December I intend to be at the point where my job is not a necessity. Not that I intend to quit! On the contrary~ I just want showing up to work to be because I enjoy being here. 

My Special Project

Hey! Nice of you to stop by. Come on in and sit down. Take your boots off and put your feet by the fire! I'll pour us some coffee while you warm your toes a bit.

I know the weather doesn't seem conducive to it, but I am planning to put a garden in at MorningStar Mission in the spring. 

Yes, this is a tall order. It is what God is requiring of me at this point in my walk. I went in and got permission last year, then felt overwhelmed and backed out. I am embarrassed to say it, but I wimped out! In order to do this, I must be willing to teach an hour long class on gardening, composting, rearing chickens, etc each week. I was at a loss. 

This year I am following God's will for my life more closely. More obedience and less rebellion. His way is always the best. 

Think of the possibilities! Teaching those who have less than I how to put in a garden and raise their own food. Giving them that sense of independence. But, more importantly, sharing food, Christian music, fun, fellowship and learning! Isn't this the basis of what we are supposed to be doing every day? 

I have mentioned the project to a friend at church and she loved the idea. She heads the outreach and wants to talk more about it. She even knows others who may want to help! 

Maybe we could get some local Boy Scouts to come help too? And don't forget Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts!

We are going to have so much fun! 

Preparedness vs Snowpocalypse 2011

Well, Dear Friends, Snowpocalypse 2011 seems to be over...

or is it? 

The weather will tell us over time!

How did your family fare during the storm? 

Did you have enough firewood and groceries stocked up? 

What did you learn from the experience?

As for my household? 

Well, we were okay.

That is definitely Not a reassuring statement! 

Here we sat with no firewood on hand. 

Well, there is wood out back, but I can't find the little chisel I used to split wood last winter.

Huge logs and no splitter is the same as no firewood on hand! 

Just plain dumb and unprepared.

Plain and simple.

Yes, the furnace still works. 

It rumbles incessantly putting out some heat. 

But...

I was not prepared.

No excuse in the world will keep us warm.

What would we have done if the gas or electric had gone out?!

We would have been beyond cold. 

And so, come summer Matt and I will be stocking up on firewood.

This will be a major priority. 

Scout Sunday?

Good afternoon all! 

I'm glad to see you today. 

Happy Scout Sunday to you!!!

How was your church service this morning? 

Yes, I'm sincerely hoping you attended your worship service this morning. 

Matt and I attended service at a local Baptist church. 

I was amazed the Matt was the only boy there in full class A uniform.

He was the only boy I saw in uniform at all. 

How sad that was.

How sad that there was no mention of scouting during service.

I would not want scouting to be more important than worshiping our Lord, but I would like to see scouting encouraged more in churches. 

So, as we drove home, Matt and I chatted about the similarities between the contents of his Bible, his Sunday school Bible study book and his Webelos scout book. 

The 12 points of the Boy Scout Law are:

Trustworthy

Loyal

Helpful

Friendly

Courteous

Kind

Obedient

Cheerful

Thrifty

Brave

Clean

Reverent

Maybe I'm a bit confused, but aren't these things we are teaching and encouraging in church?

How wonderful it would be if all the boys could have the scouting opportunity! 

Death by Snow? 2.2.11

Hi!
Glad to see you!
You just missed all the shoveling fun.
Matt and I finished for today (hopefully).
Now, take a look down this hill...
Would you believe people are voluntarily driving down it?!?!
And honking at people who are in the road at the bottom of the hill!
How would you explain that accident to your insurance provider?

Shovel Out? 2.2.11

Well, the drive is done, but the streets are not plowed!
No sign of the plow yet!
Does Will County still plow side streets?
Matt and I are digging out the street at the end of our drive while Mr McDoodle romps in the snow.

Driveway, 2.2.11

Well, I found the drive.
Or, part of it!
It really wasn't much of a snowfall.
But, where is the street?
Haven't seen a snow plow yet.

Inside the Chicken Run, 2.2.11

I am so very glad I took the time to stand out in the cold last month and finally tarp the run!
And think, it was so cold and my fingers were so numb that I almost quit half way through.
This is so much less snow than on the rest of the lot, but I don't think my feathered children will be venturing out as they are not fond of snow on their toes.

Shoveled Out Back Patio, 2.2.11

Well, I shoveled enough to feed Farmer Fred and his harem!
Obviously it's a little deep.
Nothing to cry about, though!
The chickens appreciated the visit as they turned their water over again.
Mr McDoodle tried the bunny hop through the drifts, but only hopped 5 feet before he hopped on back!!!
How is your puppy enjoying the snow?

Snow Apocalypse, 2.2.11

Back door!!!

Snow Apocalypse, 2.2.11

Remember when I said to use the front door?
Well, this is a view of the front yard,
and,
after a second Long look,
I noticed the street appears to be
3-4 feet deep!

Snow Apocalypse, 2.2.11

Snow Apocalypse!

Okay, this is the view this morning! Note the drifts around and beyond the neighbor's garbage tote.

2.1.11 A Little Drifting

It's a good thing the feathered children have plenty of food, munchies and a lamp on a timer for heat!
The snow has drifted over the bottom edge of the door. It will still be easy to open it, though. That's good as we have a platter of oranges and onion and potato peals for their breakfast tomorrow!
Thinking I may have to go out the front door on my house and wade around back to the coop.
Sure glad I thought ahead to drape the run with tarps on two sides. They should have a fairly clear run to play in despite the storm. And sun beaming in on the south side of the run.
But... I am rambling a bit... I'll try to post more pics as things develop.

2.1.11 'Blizzard'

Well, friends, it is best you not come to the back door! This is all the further it would open! LOL
It is the west side of the house... not so deep out front! The fire is roaring so you can come in and warm up.

Snow Apocalypse?

Well, dear friends, I am still waiting for the blizzard to hit... Maybe my perspective is due to the years I lived in Bradford, PA...? I'm thinking that is probably the case... I look out the door and think, "Finally, a decent amount of snow!" well, I have been saying, "We either need three feet at once or none at all!" This messing around with an inch here and there just doesn't seem right~ or logical...
Yes, there is the remnant of a large TV in my driveway... it belongs to Matt who brought it home to strip it of copper for his recycling business... he started to take it apart when cute little Destiny wandered over and he lost interest in the copper and spent the last day warm enough to do anything worthwhile outside trying to impress a girl with his abilities to pummel a TV with brute strength! As it is frozen to the drove, I have decided to ignore it until the spring thaw!
Are you getting any decent amounts of fluffy white stuff?
'Snow Day' tomorrow?
Any special plans?

2.1.11 @ 8pm

So, this may be a better photo of how far my storm door was opening..?

Snow Apocalypse 2.1.11

Happy Blizzard!
This is the amount of snow blown up against my back door.
This is all the further it will open!

Sometimes it Really is All About Attitude!

Well, Hello! Happy Blizzard to you!! 

As you look at the impending storm, or the storm hitting you as we speak, are you focusing on how beautiful God makes the snow and ice? 

Have you noticed the reflection of the sun on the snow and ice is almost enough to light up the inside of your house? 

Are you prayerfully grateful for the snow as your town is running out of water? 

Maybe you are planning a Blizzard Party?!

Here, at work, I have set our 

1st Annual Blizzard Party

in motion. 

At 3:00pm there will be a potluck in our tenant library. 

Between now and the party our tenants should be cooking up a storm to show off their culinary skills to all their neighbors! They'll be way too busy to fret over the pending blizzard.

From 3:00pm till 10:00pm they will be so busy munching and chatting happily with their neighbors they won't have time to worry. 

Take a blizzard and make it a party!!! 

Maybe the snow is God's way of saying "Slow down, enjoy and take care of each other!"

Just Enough for Breakfast

Good morning! Welcome to my snowy world!!
Have you ever thought about how much 'enough' is?
Is a dozen back-up eggs from the store enough? Could you be okay with whatever your hens lay each day? What if you were really hungry for French toast and it was so cold out your hens weren't laying? Could you be grateful for a bowl of cereal?
What about that man on the highway on ramp? How many mornings does he wake up craving French toast? Is he grateful for whatever the local shelter is serving?

Seeds for the Future

Okay, folks, Spring is just around the corner so it's time to drag out all the seeds you harvested/ had left over from last year. 

Thinking back, was your garden successful last year? The year before? Was the difference due to the planting method or the seeds you used? If you're like me, you are always reading up on the old, time tested methods of planting and trying those 'new' concepts out! 

Okay, so we're sorting our seed packets~ good vs compost. What's left? 

I know my corn (both varieties I planted) came up and produced well for a change. I know I have a few kernels left of each, but not enough to plant the next few years. Not really even enough for this year. I wonder if the unopened packets I have are the same varieties/ manufacturer? 

Sad to say, but I'm pretty sure all my seeds are hybrid and GMO. That means that I really absolutely have to replace all my seeds with heirloom non-hybrid non-GMO seeds in order to protect my future and the future of my family. 

Where Do We Go From Here?

Hello there! Have you ever noticed how wrapped up in our own lives and troubles we can become? As the world as we know it collapses faster and faster, it seems to me we should each execute a plan to 'pay it forward'. 

What I'm thinking is that, if we each provide serious assistance to someone else, we can change the path we are on. 

What can you do to 'pay it forward'? 

Soon I will share my plan.

A Snack for the Chickens

Good afternoon! Glad you stopped by. Did you bring any left-overs to feed to my feathered children? I try to keep one of their platters clean and ready to fill with scraps, peels and left-overs. It is so neat to watch them when they realize I have a platter of fresh munchies!

Sunday Breakfast

Good Morning!
Happy Sunday!
How are you this sunny morning? You're just in time for a country breakfast. This morning we're having fresh scrambled eggs with veggies, toast and coffee.
For today's veggies I included diced red bell pepper, onion cilantro and potato. I seasoned it with a little Sazon and Adobo.
Yummy!

Simple Things

It's so easy to let our lives get caught up in daily activities and the need to keep up with our neighbor's shopping habits, but is this really healthy?
When you look at your stress level compared to that of your grandparents, what so you see?
Yes, I realize my grandparents had some stress, but not like what I sometimes add to my own life.
This fact really hit home as I watched Mr McDoodle with his ham bone. He was so delighted over something so meaningless most.
In my life I must simplify. I must remove the overly dramatic people.
I have placed a stack of empty boxes by my front door. As I sort, deep clean and rearrange each room, I am removing anything that complicates my life.
It is truly amazing how little is left after this process is barely started in each room! Yes, for now all the rooms ate torn apart. So what?! I am deep cleaning and purging my life of stress and drama.
Refreshing!

Just Knowing My Bill Will be Low!

Hi! Welcome back. Come in and warm your feet by the fire.
Today was my lucky day! I was able to pick up a Jeep load of wood from a nice family on Joliet_Area_Freedom ( yahoo group). All this beautiful wood was piled in the back of my Jeep, along with some kindling.
We will be warm for quite a few days without the furnace kicking on very often. That means that Nicor gas will, once again, be getting very little of my hard warned money!
My gas bill for November, on a 1200 sq ft house, was $36.00!
How much was your November 2010 heating bill?

Grey Water Garden in Winter

Good evening!
Merry Christmas!
Isn't the grey water garden lively in all this fluffy snow?! Today I'm on my 5th load of laundry, so the garden is thawed. It's nice to have a water source for all the wildlife... and my neighbor's little herd of stray cats! It's also nice to have a source of water fir my fruit trees and vegetable garden all year.
How pleasant to look out my kitchen window and see a bird hopping around by one of the ponds.
Imagine if every one of your neighbors put in a grey eater garden?! How much less usable water would go onto the sewer lines! How much greener their landscaping would be!!!