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.

How would I look as an octopus?

     Today, I find myself wishing I had a few extra hands or that I could somehow make this a 36 hour day.  I have my usual list, getting the boys into class, laundry, lunch, helping with homework, etc....but then I have my self imposed extra list.  I'm working on several Christmas gifts, plus with the holidays coming that means company is coming.  I love having company come to visit, but I absolutely hate having a messy house when they do.  I'm a stay-at-home Mom, having a clean house is a matter of pride with me. (I know pride is one of the 7 deadlys and I really am trying to work on that.)  But I don't think having my house spic and span when company comes is to much. 

    Over the course of the Spring and Summer when farm work is done at a frenzied pace by my husband and the boys have countless adventures outside, building forts and the like, and I am busy with canning, our basement gets a bit neglected.  The downstairs dishes get washed then left out on the counters to dry, tools and bits of wood are left in buckets and on tables with the intention that they will be put away when the sun goes down but before you know it there's a mess.  Then it just gets worse because no one wants to tackle that. 

     So here a stand in the 2nd week of November trying to make a noticeable dent in the chaos that is the basement, (because there really is a game room down there somewhere), make Christmas gifts, and all of my regular Mom stuff.  Yes, right about now I think 3 or 4 extra arms and 1/2 a pot of coffee could be put to good use. 

     As much as I would like to think that I can do it all, and all by my-big-girl-self, I know this isn't true.  A little help from Jeff & the boys and good dose of "Nobody's house is perfect and nobody is going to care" should get me through just fine.

A Pleasant Chill

     I know it's Monday but I can't help but start this day with a smile.  We turned the clocks back this past weekend and when I woke up this morning there was a definite chill in the house.  So as I begin to take up my winter morning routine again I know that soon the field work will really be done for the year and Jeff will have time to spend with our family again.

     Before the boys get up I get the dryer started.  We put a heat exchanger on the dryer exhaust a couple years ago so that in the winter I can divert the warm humid air that comes from the dryer back into the house, and why not.  Since we're already paying to heat that air to dry the clothes we might as well get our moneys worth.  Then I head down stairs to get the wood furnace started.  It usually burns itself out overnight.  All the while Sally, our 1 year old Australian Shepard, is right in toe wondering when I'm going to start breakfast.

     I'm also reminded that Christmas is coming and there are several gifts I am planning to make, so I better get moving.  My sewing machine had to be sent out for repair this fall and was gone for 3 weeks.  I don't need to panic yet but there is no time to waste.

     This particular Monday, is a pretty big deal for the boys too.  This is report card day.  Even though we cyber-school and the boys & I are well aware of what their grades will be, the boys always like to get the official print out to show their Dad. 

    

We Have to Start Somewhere

     I wasn't raised on a farm, this is my husband's dream. My goal is to find a way to balance life in our modern world while we raise our kids on our small farm. 

     Years ago we decided that when we had children, which ever one of us had the lower income at the time would quit and stay home with the kids.  That turned out to be me.  So besides farming my husband Jeff, drives truck.  Over the years I have done lots of things to bring in extra money or stretch the dollars we have while staying home with our boys.  I also try to find every opportunity to help our boys learn life's valuable lessons and grow up to be Godly men. 

     Well, now that you have a little background, from here on I'll just be diving right in.