Christmas

           This morning I realized I haven’t posted for more than a week.  I had no idea that the time was slipping by me so quickly.  During that week we celebrated my Mom’s birthday, and Jeff’s birthday and finished getting ready for Christmas.  It really is sort of a whirl wind of a week.  And a big part of our Christmas is on Christmas Eve and I was determined to have a semi-day off for Christmas Day.

            All of us moms know that from the moment we gave birth until the moment we die we will be “on duty”  or at least “on call”, that is what we signed up for and it’s the Best Job In The World.  But there are parts of that job that we would like a break from every now and then.  So I set out on a week of cooking, cleaning, wrapping, baking and decorating determined that I was not going to have to do any laundry or major cleaning on Christmas Day and could just enjoy the time with my family.  (Taking a day off from laundry is a big deal around here.)  By late afternoon on Saturday the house was neat and tidy, all the laundry was done, the gifts were wrapped, and the boys were dressed up and ready for church.  Mission accomplished.

            Jeff had been on a similar mission only his involved work and farm.  By the time he drug himself in from the barn to get ready for church he had been awake for nearly 24 hours straight.  So it’s no surprise that he fell asleep at the kitchen table with his dinner. (Thankfully not in his dinner.)   An hour or so nap later we gathered up the kids and headed to my in-laws for their Christmas celebration. 

            For those who don’t know, Jeff is the oldest of six and they all have kids of their own now.  So when everyone gets together it’s a crowd.  There are eleven kids from 1 to 13 all running, playing and trying to be heard over the crowd.  Then Jeff and his brothers get out the A Christmas Story monopoly board to start their annual game.  It’s always loud and chaotic.  Then, generally sometime around midnight, we gather up our kids and head home. 

            This year Shane, my early riser, slept in, and left all of us sleep in, until 7:30AM.  A rare treat in this house to sleep so late.  Then we all gathered around the tree downstairs to open our gifts and watch A Christmas Story.  The movie is a family favorite and has become part of our tradition. 

            Ever since our boys were really little we started staying home on Christmas Day.  It was just too much to take two small children all around the county making 5 stops, missing naps, and not getting to enjoy all the new toys they just received.  So we stay home and have an open invitation to anyone who wants to see us on Christmas Day to come to our place.  Usually it’s just my family, which has gotten a little smaller over the years, who comes but sometimes a few friends and neighbors come over too.  This year it was just my Mom & Dad.  We had a wonderful time.  We got to visit with my sister and brother-in-law in Germany via Skype.  We played the new board games and Wii games that the boys got and exchanged gifts.

            Dinner was a collective effort this year.  Mom made a pork loin and cranberries and brought over.  I made the rice and vegetables.  It worked out great!  Neither of us had too much work to do and we all have a good dinner.  We had a wonderful time!  It was calm and relaxing just visiting with each other and playing with the kids.  Just spending time enjoying our family.  That is definitely my favorite way to spend Christmas.    

            I even managed NOT to have to do any laundry that day.  Believe me I’m playing catch up because of it now, but it was totally worth it. 

            I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  I would love to hear how you spent the day and what your traditions are. 

It feels like Christmas now

     

It took me a little longer to find my Christmas spirit this year.  With all that has been going on with the farm and the brutal work schedule Jeff has had it was just too busy to really FEEL like Christmas time. 

We usually take the boys to his Mom’s or mine and go to town together to do our Christmas shopping.  At least the last bit of it, I’m one of those people who will start picking up Christmas gifts throughout the year as I see things that would be good.  This year he just didn’t have time.  So the boys stayed with my Dad, and Mom & I did the shopping.  Don’t get me wrong Mom & I had a great time, (I think the people at Staple’s think we’re nuts because of how we got to laughing.) but it just wasn’t the tradition that I had gotten used to.

This past week we were finally able to get to Kraynak’s to see the tree display and let the boys pick out their ornaments.  We take them every year.  Jeff and I have an ornament with the year on it for every Christmas we have been together.  There are 16 of them now.  And every year we get each child an ornament.  I put their name and the year on the back.  Then someday when they grow up and move out they can take their box of ornaments with them for their tree.  I was starting to think I was going to have to take the boys myself this year.  I’m so glad that didn’t happen, it just wouldn’t be as fun if we didn’t go as a family.

Yesterday I got all of the wrapping done.  Since the boys know about Santa this year that was much easier.  I went back in my room and I told them, “I’m wrapping presents.  You can come back here if you want but then you won’t have surprises.”  No one came within 10 feet of my bedroom door.  So by the time Jeff got home from work & farming the gifts were wrapped and the food in the crock pot was ready for supper.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about him working.  I am very thankful that he has a good job and having the overtime on his paychecks this time of year has been nice.  We are just used to having him around a little more this time of year.

So the gifts are wrapped, the cookies are baked, (although I am going to have to make some more chocolate chip, they never make till Christmas) and the house is decorated, and this morning we got SNOW!!  Now it feels like Christmas.  I can’t wait for the kids to wake up and see it.  They’re going to be so excited.  I love the snow!  It’s so pretty and peaceful looking.  I hope we keep an inch or two on the ground from now until April. 

Books for Christmas

           Every year at Christmas I try to make sure we all get a book.  I love to read and I am working to instill a love of reading in my boys.  JJ has definitely caught the bug, he has a wish list of books that he wants to read that is as long as his arm.  Shane is getting there, but he is still young and reading just isn’t as easy as watching the movie.  Jeff on the other hand is a whole other story.

            I find myself wondering if I should keep getting him books or not.  He will hear about a book that sounds interesting to him, tell me that he wants to read it but once I buy it the poor neglected volume will sit on the shelf and collect dust until I finish what I’m reading, read his book and then tell him all about it.  I don’t really care to read anymore books about farming techniques and practices, and business planning for farms etc.  Only to have Jeff say, “Never mind, I’m not changing anything that I’m doing.”  It’s just too frustrating.  Maybe I should start buying him books that I would like to read. J

            I haven’t quite caught on to the e-reader craze yet.  To me there is just something special about reading a paper book, in all of its low tech glory.  No batteries that need charging, no error messages or downloading problems, and there is something soothing about physically turning the pages and working my way through the book.  When I think about all the sharing of good books that has gone on between my friends and I over the years it makes me a little sad to think that my kids generation may miss out on that.  After all you can’t loan a friend a digital book. E-readers know which files you have paid for.  So the Michel household will continue to read the good old fashioned paper books for a while.

            JJ has a great list of books that he wants to read for me to choose from. He just started reading The Hatchet  by Gary Paulson and he can't put it down.  Shane wasn’t so sure.  I picked up 2 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books for him. They looked really cute.  But I’m always searching for new titles the boys might enjoy.  I’m going shopping with my Mom this evening (That’s who I got my love for reading from.) and I'm hoping we will make a stop at the book store so that I can find myself a book for Christmas.  I’m looking for something light & fun. Any suggestions? I have also decided that this year I am going to read the Bible.  I’ve never actually read the whole Bible, cover to cover, before.  I’ve always just looked up special stories or passages or reader a few chapters here or there.  So this year I’m starting at the beginning and read the whole way through.  Well, at least I’m going to start it this year; I’m not sure how long it will take to read it all. 

Battle

         

The battle has begun, just as it does every year about this time.  Old fashioned as it may be I love to sew and cook and bake.  This time of year the baking is kicked into high gear not only by me but by most of our friends and family, so the battle to remain capable of fitting into my current wardrobe begins.  Everywhere we stop lately there are tasty treats to indulge in, cookies and candies, many of them home made, all beckoning to me.  Then of course there is all the recipe sharing, because once we tasted these fabulous morsels I must be able to recreate them for our family again later.  That is of course for one exception, cheese cake.

My Aunt Rose has a fantastic cheese cake recipe.  It is the absolute best I have ever tasted….I sooooo love it.  That being said we all know that there are about 6 billion calories in cheese cake so I cannot ask for a copy of that recipe.  I won’t even own a spring pan because I know if I do someday I will cave in, ask for the recipe, bake the cheese cake and then eat most of it. (I would have to share a little bit with the kids.)  No this battle is difficult enough without the possibility of having an entire cheese cake in my fridge.

Every year I say, “I’m only going to bake a few cookies this year.”  Then that turns into half a freezer full by Christmas.  Oh well, I guess I’ll just be spending some more quality time with the treadmill and the Wii fit.  Perhaps Santa can bring me some new sneakers?

Sad Situation

          Over the course of the last week I have heard and read a lot about Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar.  There have been several reports on the news and online about the family and the loss of their soon to be 20^th child.  I am amazed by some of the insensitive and ignorant responses that some people have posted.  The Duggars are real people who have suffered a real loss. 

          I realize that not everyone wants to have a large family for a multitude of reasons, however those that do have large families should not face constant criticism for it.  I have seen posts where people are saying that Michelle Duggar should not be “allowed” to have any more children.   Allowed!  Really!  And just who do these people think they are that they would presume to tell another woman how many children she can have?  For that matter where are all these “Pro-Choice” people?  This is her “choice” to embrace all of the children God sees fit to give her.  So why do they only want women to have the freedom to “choose” when they are choosing not to have children? 

          I just don’t see how people can get so put out when they are told what to do or how to live yet feel that it is fine for them to do it to others.  None of us is perfect.  All we can do is try to live our lives the best way we know how.

          I give the Duggars a lot of credit.  I couldn’t handle a family that large financially or in terms of patients.  (I know my limits.)  What I have seen of their family on TV, the kids all seem to be well mannered, kind, caring and well adjusted.  And they are taking care of their family themselves.  I have not once heard of them taking any kind of public assistance.  So why all the negativity? 

          I don’t expect everyone to like the Duggars, but they have suffered a loss.  And how would any of us feel if we had just miscarried a baby and found the internet blowing up with nasty, hateful things about our family?  I guess I just feel that if you can’t say something nice, (especially if the situation is already painful) you shouldn’t say anything at all.

Where does the time go?

             Where does the time go?  That seems to be a question I ask more and more these days.  It seems as though every year flies by faster and faster.  As I wrote out our Christmas cards this year I kept thinking of how many times we said, "We'll have to get together soon."  with our friends only find that it impossible to get our schedules to allow for visits and play dates on a regular basis.  And this time of year it gets even worse.  All of us rushing around Christmas shopping, planning or attending holiday get togethers....run, run, run... I have my little list of things I want to do each day and never quite seem to get to it all. 

              Then there's the kids.  It seems like 10 minutes ago they were babies.  Now they're in the 4th and 5th grades.  How did they possibly grow so fast?  I know this is asking for the impossible but I wish I could find a way to slow our lives down a little so we could have more time to enjoy them.

               I know these posts have been pretty short, but right now I'm doing good just to get this done.  Maybe after Christmas it will get easier to take a few minutes to sit down and write. 

Gifts App

          This year Jeff got me an iPhone for Christmas and has given it to me early.  Anyone who knows me knows what a geek I am and how I delight in all things electronic.  (I think I get that from my Dad.)  So I have been spending some time figuring out all the things I can do with this new gadget and what all apps are available.  I am thrilled with what I have found so far.  Actually the first thing I said was, “There a compass in the stock and a thing what tells time!”  But once I stopped quoting Christmas movies I found lots of useful applications that I’m very glad to have access to now.  There is a measurement converter which will help with figuring dosages for calf medicine, a level, a barcode reader that will tell me not only the price where I am but also who has the best price for that item in town, facebook (of course), and my new favorite 1000 Gifts.  I’ve also found many different daily inspirational apps, though I haven’t found exactly which one or ones I think is best for me yet.

            1000 Gifts is basically a way to keep a catalog of all the blessings in our lives.  I think this is fantastic.  As people we keep track of our money and physical property very carefully, why shouldn’t we keep a record of all the gifts and blessings in our lives as well.  After all aren’t they more important?  Especially since there is so much focus on the negative in this world I think it’s wonderful to a someplace to look when we need reminded of just how blessed we are. 

            Of course I am also using this as an opportunity to teach my boys as well.  I gave each of them a notebook, and every night we write 5 good things about that day.  It could be that they had something they especially liked for breakfast or that they got to see a friend that day or a good score on a math quiz.  Whatever they thought was good in that day.  Then when they are having a day that’s not so good we can look back at all of the good things that happen in our lives.  And it’s more hand writing practice to boot.

            If any of you would like to get this app too there is a link on the website  www.onethousandgifts.com

Can dogs get cabin fever?

          I think the dog has cabin fever or at least I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt and call it cabin fever.  This the weather has turned colder the boys have not be going outside to play nearly as much, some days hardly at all.  This is starting to get to Sally.  She wants to go outside and play “Herd the Kids” all the time and with school and the cold weather the boys just aren’t outside as much.  So the dog has started to retaliate. 

          It started out small; a small toy here and there would get chewed.  Then she started to play a little rougher in the house.  I quickly put a stop to that.  One thing I will say about Sally is that she is smart and catches on real quick when we try to train her to do something.  So since running like a loon in the house didn’t go over well she went back to taking the kids toys and hiding them.  Then the other day she knocked down their prized creation, a Lego tower built clear to the ceiling.  Poor Sally was in trouble with them the entire rest of the day.

          The worst of it has been the butchering scraps.  When we first took the barrel of fat scraps and bones out after butchering the other day it didn’t get moved outside of Sally’s radius for about an hour.  In the mean time she was let out to do her business and hit the jackpot.  I think she must have taken ½ the bones in the barrel and buried them.  She has been digging them up one at a time and trying to bring them back in the house almost every time we let her out.  And she has started trying to bury her toys in my flower pots so I had to put all the big ones up high.

          Normally Sally is a good dog.  She listens to me, is protective of the kids, and barks at strangers.  All the things a good dog should do.  So this must be from the lack of activity.  I’m going to have to figure out something challenging to train her to do or get a good toy that will keep her occupied.  I can’t wait to get my mellow, well behaved dog back.

Snail Mail Update

      Well, we're a couple of weeks into our Snail Mail Project and it's going very well.  I've sent 2 letters and I managed to get all of our Christmas cards in the mail yesterday as well.  December 1st is definitely a record for me.  The kids are really starting to get into the project as well.  They weren't quite as sure before but they received their first letter this week and it totally renewed their enthusiasm.  They have started a list of who they want to write to and it's getting long.  They aren't even asking to type them in Word like they do with the writing assignments they get from class.  This is becoming a wonderful experience.

Canning Beef

            

            I spent today really living up to my role as farmer’s wife.  We butchered a cow not long ago so I spent a good portion of my day today canning beef.  Canning is one of my favorite “farmy” activities.  There is just something very satisfying about having shelves full of quart jars filled with food that you’ve raised for your family.  It always makes me think that my Grandma Green would be proud.  I can remember being in the kitchen with her and my Mom when I was little and they were canning vegetables from the garden or meat from a deer my Dad got.

            Oh, how delicious it smells all through the house today.  The jars of beef cooking in the pressure canner with garlic and onion smell so good it makes us almost hope that one of them doesn’t seal and we’ll have to eat it for supper.  That was actually the first question Jeff asked me when he got home from work today.  But to everyone’s disappointment all 35 jars sealed and we polished of the last of the Thanksgiving turkey and mashed potatoes for supper instead.  (I think we’re all getting tired of turkey.)

            We also had the repairman here to look at the big washer and hopefully the part will be in by Friday so that we can get it fixed by Monday.  I’m glad we have the little washer downstairs, but it’s just so much nicer when the big one works and all the dirty laundry doesn’t have to go downstairs to be washed and then brought back upstairs, still wet, to get dried and folded.  Today that fit in pretty well though since I was making a lot of trips downstairs canning several batches of beef. 

            Sally got a sudden surge of bravery today too.  She decided it was high time she took on the vacuum cleaner.  This is very unusual for her.  Normally when I run the sweeper she will find an out of the way place to hide until the noisy beast has gone away.  Not today.  This time she thought that trying to bite the front of the machine (where the beater bar is) would be the best course of action.  Even with me yelling “NO” at her she still tried about 4 times.  Each time she yelped and ran.  Final score Sweeper 1- Sally 0.  I hope she learned her lesson I hate to see her get into things that could get her hurt.

            It’s very peaceful here now.  Jeff has just left for work and Sally and the boys are all asleep, no doubt dreaming of what kind of adventures we could get into tomorrow.

Christmas Magic

            I wasn’t sure what to expect this Christmas season and I was a little nervous that I would feel sad or disappointed.  You see this is the first year that the boys don’t believe in Santa anymore.  They put their heads together and figured it out this past Easter.  I wasn’t surprised, they are 9 and 11 and very bright.  I knew last year, with all the questions, that they were getting close to figuring it out.  They have been strictly instructed not to tell any other kids and I think they like the idea that they are in on the grown-up thing. 

            I guess I was worried that they wouldn’t get into the whole idea of preparing for Christmas as much now that they knew.  Boy was I wrong.  When asked about it, both boys said they wanted to be surprised with a few smaller gifts instead of one main gift that they knew about. Yay!  I love surprising them!  Finding the perfect thing to surprise them with is half the fun for me.  Seeing their excited faces when they get their surprises is the best.  We spent all day Friday and half of Saturday baking and decorating cookies.  JJ has been so excited about helping pick out new Christmas music.  And Shane has already asked when we can get a tree. 

            I would say that this Christmas will be just as magical as all the others. 

A Joyful Heart

          This past week has been rather exceptional to say the least.  I have been jokingly telling my family and friends that I’m on a lucky streak.  I’ve won a few small drawings and contests over the past week.  And while that is all very exciting what really lifts my heart the most was something my oldest son said.

          This weekend it’s just JJ and I.  Shane is having an all-by-himself over night visit with Grandma and Jeff is working.  So as we were coming home from bowling yesterday JJ and I were talking about some of the things that happened this week.  I mentioned that I felt I must be sure to get to church today to give thanks for all of the good things that had happened to us this week.  This is when I my heart was filled with joy.  JJ’s response was, “I can come too, right?  I want to go to church too!” 

          Over the last few months I had started going to a different church and while I felt that this was what I needed to do, I wasn’t completely sure.  Not to mention that it would probably cause quite a stink with my parents & in-laws.  Jeff knows where the kids and I have been going.  He is fine with it, but does not come with us or go to any other church.  I know at thirty-something I am an adult and shouldn’t worry so much about being scolded for making this decision but I do.  That was until now.  That fact that my child enthusiastically wants to go to church, to worship and learn about God, tells me that I must be doing the right thing.

Goldenbrown and Delicious Friday

Ahh, the day after Thanksgiving.  There will be no Black Friday shopping here.  We have a much better plan.  We’re baking our Christmas cookies today!   After a wonder breakfast of pumpkin pie and coffee, still on the good dishes because everything tastes better on the good dishes. We will plan out which recipe to start with.  After my Dad leaves for deer camp Mom will head over here to join us. 

This year we have decided on four different kinds of cookies.  Chocolate chip, no self respecting Green can have Christmas without the chocolate chip cookies.  Chocolate No Bake Cookies, or Cow Pies as they are known in our house.  Cut Out Cookies and Ginger Bread Cookies, the boys love to cut out and decorate these.  I’m not sure where we’ll start yet but I would say we’ve got a full day ahead of us.

Then of course we’ll be having left-overs for supper.  This is always a favorite part of Thanksgiving for me.  I love having a week’s worth of left-overs in the fridge and making turkey soup, turkey casserole and turkey pot pie.

Who needs the craziness at the malls and shopping centers?  I prefer to have my Christmas shopping done by now or at least the bulk of it.  Then we can sleep in, I managed to get to 6:30 before Sally woke from her turkey induced coma to want outside.  Instead of a stressful day that started in the middle of the night navigated crowds and rushing around to different stores, I get another relaxing, fun day with family.  Yes, this is one of my favorite days of the year because I get to spend it with my Mom and my boys making cookies and memories

Truly Thankful

     

            With all the hype on TV this time of year about Black Friday and Christmas shopping it makes me wonder if most people have forgotten what Thanksgiving is really about.  Thanksgiving is supposed to be a day when we get together with family and friends and give thanks for the blessings in our lives.  And our family truly has been blessed.

            The four of us are all healthy.  In fact today is the 12 year anniversary of my last chemo treatment.  The boys are both over their Lyme Disease and haven’t had any symptoms for quite some time.  We have lots of friends and family around us.  We have a comfortable home to live in and Jeff has a good job.  Especially in this touch economy, that is really something to be thankful for. 

            I think sometimes we get too worried about things we don’t have or the things that have gone wrong when we should be concentrating  on how truly blessed we really are.

Happy Thanksgiving

Rainy Days

     There’s an old song that talks about how the singer “loves a rainy night.”  I completely agree.  Rainy days have become some of my favorite because a rainy day will more than likely be a Family Day or occasionally a Date Day!  Working a full time job and farming doesn’t leave much time for anything else, but when it rains field work has to be put on hold so there is time.  Usually, we will play some board game or Wii games together.  Other times we all go bowling together or to rent a movie but always we do things as family, an entire family.  A date day takes a little planning but today got to be just such a day.  My Mom took the boys and Jeff and I were able to go to town, just the two of us to get a little Christmas shopping done and have lunch.  This really was a rare treat.  Normally any and all shopping, Christmas or otherwise is done by me.  I just tell Jeff later what we got for everyone.  Thankfully done of the gifts got too soggy while we loaded them into the car.

Be Prepared But Don't Plan

There are two things I have learned about being a farmer’s wife…be prepared and don’t make plans. 

            Being prepared for the unexpected has been a good thing for me not only as a farmer’s wife but also as a Mom and homemaker.  A prime example…I seem to be jinxed when it comes to my appliances this week.  The microwave was just replaced thanks to my parents’ early Christmas gift, then the coffee maker and washing machine both went on the fritz.  The coffee maker was still under warranty (I just bought it in July) so Cuisinart is sending a new one.  In the mean time I have and old stove top percolator from our camping that will keep me caffeinated. It’s not nearly as fast as the new model but it works in a pinch.  As for the washer, I’m hoping that it’s a worn belt or a clogged filter that’s causing it to make such a terrible noise.  While we wait for our appointment with the repairman (of course this happens on a holiday week) I’ll be using the farm washer in the basement.  It took a little elbow grease and some Lestoil to get it clean enough for the general laundry but totally worth it not to have to take everything to the laundry mat. 

            Things can change on a moment’s notice around here.  As soon as you are all settled in with how the day will go the weather changes or something breaks and everything is instantly up in the air.  It’s not always a bad thing.  I was expecting a routine week of homeschooling, house work, and preparing for Thanksgiving.  Then Jeff called from work this morning and you guessed it…everything changed.  He is hauling a cow to the butcher.  This will be our beef for the year so Saturday (and probably Sunday) after Thanksgiving will be spent cutting and wrapping beef.  No problem, all the plastic wrap and butcher paper are stocked up and I have plenty of Ziploc bags for the burger.  Good thing I didn’t make any plans past Friday.

            Being married to a farmer definitely keeps you on your toes.  You never know what time he’ll be home or whether he’ll need patched up when he gets there. Will he drive the tractor home or did he have to walk…and whenever the phone rings at an odd time the first thought to race through your mind is “How many cows got out?”  You just never know what the day will bring.   

Traditions

We’ve reached the time of year again when the hunters of Pennsylvania head off to camp.  My family has some traditions that go along with this that have been going on since I was a little girl.  Some that we have changed in the last decade or so. 

The week before Thanksgiving my Dad would head off to bear camp.  So this weekend my Mom, my sister and I would usually clean the house and do some baking to get ready for Thanksgiving and have a nice supper out just the three of us girls.

Dad always came home sometime on Wednesday while we we’re at school.  He would be home for Thanksgiving and then it was off to deer camp in the early morning hours of what is now known as Black Friday.  This was a special day when I was little.  Back then it wasn’t Black Friday yet.  There weren’t giant shopping centers everywhere you turn like there are now.  So on this day we would get together with my Grandma and all four of us girls would go to what at the time was a big mall to go shopping for the day.

This tradition continued for many years.  Eventually it got to be too much for Grandma, my younger sister moved away and I had children of my own.  This was when I discovered that boys do not like to shop at any age.  I think it’s in their DNA.  So we started a few new traditions.

My boys love to get to have one on one time with Grandma Green.  So when my Dad goes to bear camp one of my boys gets to spend the night at Grandma’s by himself.  Then the following weekend the other one gets his turn.  And Black Friday has become Cookie Day.  We don’t go anywhere near town, unless it’s to the grocery store.  Jeff always has to work that day so my Mom comes over and we bake our Christmas cookies.  The boys love it!  Especially because this is the only time of year that we make cut out cookies and decorate them. 

I know there will come a day when they will want to go to camp with Grandpa.  I’m just enjoying the special time we have now and hoping it lasts as long as possible.

Winging It

   

     Oh my, what a day.  Once again Sally decided that my day should start well before dawn.  So at 4:30 I let her out and went downstairs to start the wood burner.  So far so good, then back upstairs for some much needed coffee.  This is where things went off the rails.  The coffee maker wouldn’t work!  It’s one of those new single serve deals.  I was so excited when I got it this summer.  Shinny new technology and a fresh cup of coffee in any flavor I want in only 30 seconds.  Crap!  I fussed with it for 20 minutes or so before I finally resigned myself to the fact that it just wasn’t going to happen. 

     I realize that I probably sound very spoiled, but “me time” just isn’t easy to come by here.  I have a morning routine that I just don’t like to deviate from.  It throws my whole day off.  Unless the dog gets me up extra early I get about ½ hour each morning before the kids get up to sip my coffee and read a few pages from my bible.  I find wisdom and patience I need for the day easier to summon when I remember the passages I’ve read. If Sally gets up early I may get a few extra pages in, but once the boys are up my day quickly gets very busy. 

     Determined to salvage my morning I returned to the basement to search through the camping gear.  After fighting the cobwebs and dust bunnies for a few minutes I found the old fashioned stove top percolator.  I MacGyvered a coffee filter out of a paper towel and was on my way.  Time to call Cuisinart while I wait. 

     Thankfully, I had registered my warranty online.  After I told my whole sad story to the poor lady on the other end of the line she told me that they would send me a replacement which should be here in 10 business days.  I am so very relieved.  I thought about how much that coffee maker cost and that in died after four months, it just about made me sick.

     Before I knew it everyone was up and our day was off and running.  Helping with homework… making another small dent in the basement mess… laundry…try to reassemble the package that the mail lady threw into our yard (She won’t get out of her car because of Sally.  She just throws the packages in the yard and I get whatever the dog doesn’t eat.)... make a quick run to a client’s office to fix a computer (with the boys)...Then for some fun.

     I know it’s silly but they love all the little samples at Sam’s Club.  So, since they behaved so well while I was working we went to Sam’s Club and ate all the samples.  JJ has declared that he loves Brussels sprouts.  Shane was all about the desserts. We also discovered that none of us is fond of Brie cheese.

    It was a crazy, busy day, but I think it turned out to be a good day after all.   Some days “winging it” works.

Snail Mail

   

    Ok, so I’m totally stealing this idea from a friend, but I just love it and I want to give it a try.   She was telling me about the snail mail challenge on Facebook and I think it’s a wonderful idea.  With all the texting and e-mail, communication has become rather impersonal.  There is something very special about receiving a hand written letter or card in the mail.  Knowing that someone took the time to sit down and put pen to paper means so much more than just a quick text message. 

    As a Mom who is home schooling my children I also see how cursive writing is becoming a dying art and I am saddened by that.  I think this is a fantastic idea for kids to practice their writing in a fun way and stay in touch with friends.  Although, with kids we need to be sure to write to other kids that you know, just like we need to know who they are talking to online.  What a fun way to practice their handwriting and they’ll start getting letters back in the mail too. 

     The Snail Mail Challenge says that you should send one hand written note or letter each week for a year.  One letter per week really wouldn’t be difficult to work into our routines and what a great way to unplug for a little while and remember simpler times.   Besides who doesn’t love to open the mailbox and find something other than junk mail and bills.  I can’t wait to get out my pretty stationary and fancy pens.  I hope some of you will join me!

Autumn isn't just for leaves

    This is my favorite time of year when it comes to the farm.  This is when I really get to step in.  Every year Jeff and I take a day (sometimes two) and make apple dumplings.  They are one of his favorites.  We will spend nearly the entire day down in the canning kitchen around the big table cutting apples, making dough, then wrapping them up to freeze.  Knowing that they will be quick tasty meals over the next year.  No need for highly processed, pre-packaged food in this house.  Most years my Mom and Dads will come over to help and we make about 2 bushels of apples into dumplings to share between us.  I know this sounds like a lot of work, making these from scratch but it really doesn't feel like it when we're all gathered around that big table working together, visiting and joking around.


    When the dumplings are done and the weather turns a little colder it's time to harvest the cabbages.  Then again Jeff and the boys and I will spend an afternoon cutting and salting cabbage and packing it into a crock to make sauerkraut.  Making sauerkraut is a lot like making wine.  Once you get everything into the crock there is a lot of waiting involved.  The night before last we got our kraut started so I am hoping it will be ready to eat by New Years.  I'm not exactly sure why but we always have pork and sauerkraut on New Years Eve.  Then I'll pack the rest of it into jars and can it. 


    Then of course we have the butchering.  Whenever we sell beef it's totally different.  We find out how our customer wants it cut send it to the butcher with their list and it comes back a couple weeks later cut, wrapped and frozen.  Ready to be delivered.  But when the beef is going in to our freezer things get interesting.  Jeff will take the cow to butcher who will do what is called a kill & chill.  In about 1 week we get a call to come pick up our sides of beef.  And that is exactly what it is.  Two giant slabs of beef each weighing 200 - 300 lbs.  They will cut those down into quarters and then we're off.  Back at home and once again down in the canning kitchen, we gather around the big table and begin to turn it all into steaks, roasts, and ground meat.  With this job if we have help it's usually Jeff's side of the family.  The adults all talking and laughing around the table while we cut and wrap.  The kids all running and playing happy to be getting together.  Once the work is done and the freezer is full we all sit down for a well deserved meal (we've usually had crockpots going all day) and a drink.


     At some point during the fall we will usually head over to Jeff's parents to butcher pigs.  This is a little different.  They buy 6 or 8 pigs, depending on who needs what, and we all gather at Jeff's parents place to cut and wrap them.  By the end of the afternoon we each have at least a grocery bag or two of pork for our freezers and a ham and bacon heading out to be smoked and cured.


   Yes, this is a very busy time of year, getting everything put up for the year ahead, but it's work we can do together.  It's not like the spring when planting requires hours solitary tractor work.  This is work that we do together as a family.  Which is one of the reasons I enjoy the controlled chaos of this time of year.  Also, there is something very satisfying in seeing a shelf full of mason jars containing fruits and vegetables of every color.

Jeff & I with some of this years corn crop.

Choices

    I am truely amazed at the attitudes of some people and how they feel it is their duty to convince you that your choice is wrong.  My husband & I have chosen to raise our kids in the manner that we think is best.  We don't expect everyone else to make the same choices we have but I don't think it is too much to ask for others to respect our choices. 

    We decided that I would stay home with our children.  We knew that this would mean that we would be giving up certain things, luxuries, like week long vacations (not really something you can do with a farm anyway), and frequent dinners out.  But in our hearts we felt that our kids would benefit more from having a parent home with them.  Yet when we turn down and offer to go out to a bar, (Neither of us really cares to drink.) or an expensive restaurant or vacation with a group we hear how I should be sent out to get a job.  As though raising our children is not important work.

     We have even been told that I shouldn't be feeding my family food that we raise on our farm that I should buy all of our food from the store.  Really!?!  Are they just trying to be rude.  Where do you think the food at the store comes from?  Farms.  And I will have you know that by raising a lot of our own food not only does it cut down on the grocery bill but I know exactly what I'm feeding my family because I am the only one who put anything in that jar.  Do you know exactly what is in your can of green beans or soup?  Can you pronounce all of those ingredients? 

     Then we have the home schooling issue.  It is amazing how polarizing this topic is.  We have actually lost friends over this one.  My husband has had people at his work tell him that if we don't put our children into public school they will become serial killers.  Come on people.  First of all, Jeff and I would presume to tell you how or where to educate your children, so why do you think it's OK to tell us.  It's not like we're all hermits.  The boys have lots of friends and cousins to play with.  The difference is that when they are having school it is time for learning.  Socializing is done when we when it is time for that.  Kind of like how as adults we have to work when it's time to work and socialize after.  When asked how we like cyber school or home schooling we always respond "We love it!"  because we do.  That does not mean that I am going to try to convince you that it is the only way a child should be educated or tell you that you have to do this too.  However, it also doesn't mean that I am willing to sit and listen to you read me the riot act about how the brick and mortar public schools are the choice we should have made and what we need to do to get our boys into the public school.  Every family should do what works best for them and not have to spend the rest of their lives justifying it.

What happened to Sunday?

     Finally it's Sunday again.  Lately we have had so many things happen on Sundays.  With Jeff working, only having 1 road worthy vehicle, and some serious problems with our water well, it feels like we haven't been to church in ages.  Thankfully today at least the boys and I will make it.  No one is sick, we have running water so everyone was able to shower, and even though Jeff is working I have the car.

     Although Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest it rarely is anymore.  When I was growing up my parents didn't work on Sundays.  First thing in the morning the four of us and my Grandma would go o church.  Then we usually got some breakfast, then went for a drive, or to visit some family.  Whatever we did, we did it as a family.  I miss that.  I want my children to have that.  Yet now Sunday doesn't mean that everything closes by 5:00pm if it is even open at all.  Now, Sunday is just another day.  All the stores stay open until 9:00pm or later.  There are even some banks that are open on Sundays now.  My husband has to go to work along with most of the rest of the nation and when he's not working at his job he can always find some farming to do.  I'm afraid the time when Sunday was a day for worship, rest, and family has past.  And while I may not be able to give my kids the same kind of Sundays I had as a child I'm going to try to get as close as I can. 

    Our children have a lot of advantages that we didn't have growing up because of the technology that exists now, but I think it comes at a price.  We live in a much more hectic, fast paced world.  I am very happy to be able to take my children and go to church today and hope that circumstances won't prevent me from doing so more often.

Run, run , run

    Oh what a day today has been.  Since the time change I have been waking up between 4 & 5.  Today, the one day this week I need to be somewhere in the morning, I sleep in until 7:00.  Ahhh!!  Time to scramble.  Get everyone up and fed and ready for bowling.  Then out the door by 8:30. 

    Once we made it to the boys bowling league things started looking up.  Both boys got new all time high scores and earned their 300 series badges.  It was so exciting!  And to top it all off this all happened on one of the qualifying days for the Pepsi Scholarship Tournament.  I can't wait to find out if they'll be going to districts.

    Then we headed out to do a little shopping.  JJ decided he would rather go to Grandma's and that he would be happy with whatever I bought him.  So Shane & I set out.  We needed a new winter coat for JJ, boots for me, and Shane was buying a Nintendo DSi XL.  He had been saving up for it for nearly a year and was just about ready to burst with excitement.  First we stopped at Target.  Hello coat for JJ.  We also found the new Harry Potter movie so I picked that up for the boys for Christmas.  Then we headed to Game Stop.  Shane proudly marched up to the counter and asked for a DSi XL.  He chose a blue one.  Then he sat his bank on the counter, pried off the lid and began to count out the correct amount of money.  It took a little while because it was mostly in ones and change.  I'm so proud of him for choosing to save his money for something that he really wanted and not just letting it burn a whole in his pocket as soon as he got it.

    Finally we went to Boscov's for my boots.  Shane was such a good little shopper.  Boscov's was a zoo!  They were having a one day sale on shoes, buy 1 pair get the 2nd pair for $1.99.  It was a great deal and I think every women in Butler county was trying to get in on it.  After a little searching I found what I was looking for.  Mission accomplished.

    We ran out to Mom & Dad's to pick up JJ.  Then we headed for home.  Poor Sally had been waiting nearly all day for us.  We had a quick supper before Jeff had to get to sleep.  His company started delivering on Sundays now, so he'll have to get up for work in the middle of the night tonight.  I have just enough time to clean up the kitchen and get a load or two of laundry done before I have to put the kids to bed and head there myself. 

    I thought that the weekend was supposed to be a time to rest, but really Saturday & Sunday are far more hectic than  Monday - Friday are for us.

Making Little Changes

     This past spring I decided that we needed to do something about how much we were spending just to watch television.  We had the basic cable package for our area, and a DVR through the cable company.  All of this came to about $70/ month.  After some careful observation I realized that most of what we were watching was on the 3 main networks and those were all being recorded on the DVR and held months before we watched if we watched them at all.  Then on top of that we spent $10- $15 every week or so at Blockbuster renting movies.  We were spending so much money for what.  To sit in front of a box.  So, much to the dismay of the men in our house I announced that we needed to eliminate the cable TV. 

     At first I was met with looks of shock and horror, but then I made my argument.  For less than the cost of one months cable bill I purchased a set-top antenna and a digital converter box.  As luck would have it where we live we're able to pick up about 16 channels.  Then I connected to kids Wii to our home network so that we can stream Netflix, which has TV series and movies.  Instantly we went from spending roughly $100/ month to spending $8.  It took a little getting used to but it has worked out great.  I have also discovered that Netflix has a lot of discovery channel and  history channel shows that tie in nicely with what the boys are covering in school. 

    Now that we have all gotten used to that change I'm going to change things again.  Although, I'm probably the only one who will notice this change.  I'm going to start using homemade laundry detergent and household cleaners.  We use all organic farming practices so I don't see why our home should be full of chemicals. 

     I have been doing quite a bit of searching online to find recipes and testimonials and I think this is the way to go.  Not only will our home be a healthier environment but from what I have been finding I will be able to save a good deal of money as well.  The trade off is that I'll need a little time to mix up my cleaners and probably a little more elbow grease when I'm cleaning.  I'm really excited about this change.  I think this is the sort of thing that would make my grandmothers proud.  Wish me luck.