The Needle in a Haystack

What a Memorial

  so, along with working at the shoppe for the weekend I had several things I wanted to do for some soldiers and then dinner with the inlaws on Monday.... none of that happened..

Friday morning I woke up tired and not feeling 100%.. Christopher and Chris both said the same thing ( thankfully Cadence was home and she seems fine)..

  By Saturday Chris was "OK" sort of .. Christopher was feeling yucky, and I was spiking a fever of 102 with headaches, back aches and tummy aches...

  Chris recouped fastest .. of course when I asked how he got rid of the really bad headache he confessed to 10 ibprophen before he went to bed which I do NOT encourage anyone to do..

 Christopher and I hung on the longest...but I am happy to report today we have no fevers, chills, aches or pains.... a bit tired....

  So the post of the awesomeness of spinach/ strawberry salads and grilled sliders will just have to wait for another time..

  I will tell you if you have a tummy ache then raspberry leaf tea and a spot of honey does just the trick... and the warm liquid is comfort when you have the chills... might want to keep a stock in your medicine cabinet...

  give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thess 5:18

..Be safe if you and Beryl are dancing... and have a fine day...all day long

 

A Week with a Three Year Old

 Jeremy and Carey had a conference in savannah and we were more hten happy to watch Cadence for the week . We were sad to see her go yesterday ( but a bit on the tired side)..

We played dress up

 ..and visited pug puppies

... and who doesn't like a bowl of soapy water to play in while MeME  is cooking dinner

..or scoops of rice and measuring cups

 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3

 

Have a fine day, all day long

I'm such a slacker....

... bt really I haven't done anything over the top exciting except  spring clean and work in the garden... we had a bit of a day in mourning when the deer decided to exfoliate our poor baby apple trees and grape vines... off to the farm supply store yet again ( oh these folks know us so well by now) for some wire and the trees are now nicely secure away from deer mouths.  They decided NOT to eat any of the fig leaves... and I must say growing figs, I am not sure how Adam and Eve covered htem selves wiht fig leaves... perhaps more like a burdock leaf.... but any how... I thought I would share some Mom's day pictures with you... Josh decided to cook for Mom in law and I and he also introdced us to

Edamame ... I am not sure if it was just absolutely delicious all warm and salted... or if we were just very hngry, but both the mom in law and I were slurping these things out of the pods like we hadn't eaten in days ...

  Anyhow.. Josh prepared chicken and rice ala Josh.. which we didn't eat a whole lot of case we had slurped down edamame...

some folks just hate to have their picture taken

..and I got puppy kisses

  and hubby got to spend the evening with his mama

...and my FIL got to hang around with all of us......he looks thrilled..

... and he was... I really think Josh enjoys his time with his dad and grandpa more then his Grammy Sue and I ...

  But it was so nice of him to cook for us... and we really did enjoy ourselves.

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  1Timothy 5:8

 

....now everyone...have a fine day...all day long.....

 

 

Busy Week Behind Us...

NC's Primary Election was last Tuesday ( the 8th) and both Chris and I worked the polls.

This was a heated primary with a constitutional Amedment on the books for same sex marriage.  I worked 13 and a half hours at my precinct but poor Chris was counting ballots etc for 16  almost 17 at his. We had started the day at 4:00 and were exhausted by the time we fellinto bed that night BUT we are very proud to live in a society that still allows us to vote.

  A great quote from Dave Black today on his blog today. With all the bickering going back and forth about the amendment it really summoned up how I felt about the whole thing

You can idolize man-made institutions with the hope that they will solve the societal ills of our day if you like, but I prefer to stand by the Bible and the life-changing power of the cross."

  So after the long day on Tuesday and spring cleaning, afghan crocheting ,family dinner night  and gardening, it was a real treat to have lunch at our friends for lucnh today. The food was delicious . Joe made  the most awesome brownies that sent us all into a chocolate coma

Joe's Brownies

chocolate chip cookie dough for crust in a 9X11 pan

next layer oreo double stuff cookies

next layer brownie misx made according to pkg

top with chocolate chips and bake in the oven 10 minutes longer then on the brownie pkg...

That's what I'm talkin about!

 

We were all very excited... great stuff... BUT

better then the brownies....

Rose and Joe raise Pugs and they have them in various ages... I add the seet priviledge  of feeding one of the babies with a bottle

Oh yes I was in love and it took evewrything I had not to tuck him in my pocket and take him home... except the cats might think it was a mouse.... but such a sweet little babe!

  Time to rest up but I want to leave you with something that was on my heart when I woke up this morning.

The answer to any question you might have, any thought that might be, any emotion you might feel................JESUS

  Have a fine day ..all day long...!

 

April 30th, 2012

 This morning both Chris and I spent the morning at the BOE for training. This election both of us will be working seperate polls and this year I was sworn in as a judge.  I am so honored to do this.  I think everyone should do what they can in their communities  to serve.  My Grams worked the polls many many years and I am glad to be able to carry on the tradition.

   Then we decided a little trip into VA was a good idea ( only a few miles) so we shopped a bit in South Boston at their Goodwill store. They have such a nice store and we picked up  a few things for only a couple of dollars.  Then we splurged a bit and had lunch.

   Even though we were in a fried greasy fast food coma on the ride home we had worked to do so we trellised a few peas, fed the chickens, pulled a few weeds , plucked some lettuce for dinner and I set to work on my big project dujour.... getting the 50lbs of wheat flour into mylar.

 While I do most of my dry goods in jars or 2 litter soda bottles, flour I prefer to do in mylar.  Our consumption of flour goes up and down but it is soooo much cheaper to buy in bulk.

 We use 1 gallon mylar bags and a 300cc oxygen absorber.. probaly over kill but air is wheat flours worst enemy ( next to meal bugs)  and during the summer we just don't use the flour like in the winter so we need to keep it fresh.

Here is an excellent video about storing in mylar...

 

 

I use a regular iron to seal ours. We haven't had a bit of problems with this method

 

 

 

Genesis 41:49

Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

 

Have a fine day...all day long!

Of Rain Barrels and Such

.. This time of the year is hectic... no question about it the slow paced days of winter when you throw some soup on simmer and snuggle under a blanket to crochet or something are gone....

  I am thinking that is why we have winter... to rest up for spring when  the flutter begins again. spring cleaning, gardening, new chicks..

   Of course there are family dinner nights... and 7 year olds who need introduced to perler beads

..and getting excited about Christopher's biology project for an Earth Day expo at college

..its a rain barrel.. and I am excited to put it over by the chicken coop so I don't have to lug water so much....

  Chris and I were working out in the garden the other day and realized it was way past lunch time and we were hungry and tired... neither of us felt like cooking much so I grabbed a couple boxes of cornbread mix ( true confessions... I am deeply in love with Jiffy Cornbread Mix... so anyhooo.. we had some Hebrew National dogs in the fridge and I cut them up and mixed them in the cornbread batter... instant corndogs... dipped in some Zatarans Creole Mustard and we were happy campers!

   Chris was a bit alarmed that this one had ears...

   This is the season of weddings, babies and graduations so my hooks and embroidery machine needs to get flying....

   "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

.. Enjoy the season... and have a fine day..all day long!

Date Night.... Iron Lady

With Chris traveling for 18 hours on Tuesday we knew we would be celebrating our Sabbath on Wednesday. One of the things we like to do is pick a movie to watch together.  This week it was Iron Lady with Meryl Streep .  It had been recommended to us by Dave and Sandi when they came to visit and since we both love biographical things we were anxious to watch it.

  Let me say that Meryl Streep was phenomenal.  Her acting was brilliant!

If the story had been written about a woman suffering dementia and the progression and struggles... it would have been interesting, but maybe not date night interesting... the fact it was to be a  series of falshbacks from Margaret Thatchers life and her dementia I felt was a bit degrading to her. It made me feel uncomfortable veiwing such a personal look at some one so powerful and strong.  I thought how we would feel as Americans if a film had done that to Reagan?  

   We tried these for our movie snack... soooo good.. and fun to do!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I'm reading...

In between  planting, caring for baby chicks and spring cleaning I have been in quite a reading mood lately. while its not uncommon for me to have two books going at once... it is unusal for me to ahve 4 or 5...but that's how it is... I thought I would share..

First up... The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough I love all of his books. Chris and I recently purchased Truman on audio that we hope to listen to soon

My Mother in Law and I decided to read  Respectible Sins by jerry Bridges I am anxious to have a good discussion on this book when we finish. we have given ourselves a nice long time of 5-6 weeks and then we will meet over lunch and talk about it.

Kristy and I are reading two books together Created to be His Helpmeet by Pearl ( no hate mail please.. I am not drinking hte kool aid and neither is Kristy but there are several good points to take away from the book no matter what your opinion of the Pearls are) and A Confident Heart by Renee Swope.

.. and lastly Coalwood Way by Homer Hickam this is for my Book Across the States project I have been working on for... ummm 4 years now.

 

 

The pollen has been so bad lately that when I am not in the garden it has been good to plop down and read a  bit...

  This morning the daily Bible verse really made me think about our business..

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth . . .

That is exactly how we want our business to be known, by our good name..

..have a fine day...all day long!

 

An Easter Sabbath

.. Sorry, no grand pictures of us eating chocolate eggs  and wearing fancy clothes. With me being sick for the last 3 weeks Chris declared Easter a true Sabbath.  The night before we prepared food for the following day and after animal care, we rested, and reflected, and had wonderful talks about many things..

   While I had grand plans to go visit Jeremy, Carey and Cadence in the Charlotte area, I am very greatful that we stayed home. It seems to be just what we both needed and I am happy to report I am almost back to my old self again this week.

    We have tied up loose ends, done a bit of spring cleaning and set a game plan for the rest of the month...

  nothing really exciting going on so I thought I would grace you with a few fur baby pictures..

   Holmes, in the tree by our back door, and if anyone knows what sort of tree that is.. let me know...we have no clue..but it shades the back door wonderfully and the cats use it to climb on the roof...

 Cubbs waiting for her turn in the tree

Facey..

 not the best picture of Chuck...

... anyhow, I was listening to the radio today and someone spoke about how Ethiopia use to word their calender....  " By the Year of God's Grace".  I thought this was so interesting.  So this would be By the year of God's Grace 2012.

  I thought I would share our Bible Memory verse for this week. a real hat tip to my friends who memorized the whole bookof James for Lent.

 Because our minds aren't the book of James good..

  Blessed are those whose trust is in the Lord, whose confidence is in him... Jeremiah 17:7

  Go with confidence, and have a fine day... all day long!

April 6,2012

 Hopefully, hopefully I am on the mend after another set back to this total body virus thing.  I went to work today  after spending yesterday back on the couch.... couch sitting in the spring gets old.......... quickly....  but I have hopes of getting back in the yard  starting on Monday  and getting  plants into the ground and stakes put up for peas and grapes...

  I did get out on Wed . to gather with  relatives from New York. They spend half the year traveling in an RV and working on Habitat Houses.  I am very proud to know them. Its a great thing.  We also got to spend a bit of cuddle and play time with our neice and nephew.

... I am almost sure we have more fun then they do!

Sweet Little Violet and Uncle Chris

and while I was snapping pictures of Violet, I peeked in the diningroom and saw a cute little something making faces at me

 I did what any self respecting Auntie would do... and made faces back.... no pictures of that to follow..BUT, I did get a picture of Evan and one of his favorite people " Uncle Tris".... he decided he wanted to look just like him so he grabbed Grammy Sue's glasses and this was the result..

 ... Be still my heart....

Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46