Nanette's Thoughtful Spot

Catch-up Time

2012-01-31T19:34:00.000-08:00

Its time to catch up. My camera and computer both need some updating work and that has kept me from paying attention to my blog. Somehow, pictures tend to inspire posts. I need to get it all taken care of so I can feel like blogging again. I'm not doing so well at this single mom bit. When something needs researched, like my computer issues, I just put it off. I'm too tired to try to learn all about it and make a decision.

I feel like so many areas of my life need attention right now! I'm not sure how I'm supposed to do it all. The Wood Artist is so good at helping me that when he is gone, I feel it keenly.

Anyway, here is a collage of glimpses into my life right now. I think I mentioned that my grandmother talked us into getting a kitten. Really now! This kitten was brought to the barn on her farm and was too small to make it on its own. The guilt trip was laid. Mr. Blueberry Eyes used them (his eyes) to plead his case. The Wood Artist even said he thought the kids needed it (like a hole in the head?!!!!!). So, enter Fluffy. We now have 27 animals. That's what the kids say. I've been too busy to count them. (Most of them are chickens) She is very fun, though. Filled with personality and feistiness.

The problem has been that she is too small to go through our cat door. We've always kept the cat box downstairs as I detest a house that smells like animals. But, for the last month, we've had a cat box by our door. Yuck, yuck, yuck! We've tried to teach her to go through the door and have moved the cat box down, but each time have met with messes. There is nothing worse that cat mess. Seriously! Anyway, I finally asked a new friend about it today. This lady trains animals for the movies. She said, "Prop the cat door open". O.k. That was way too obvious. I'm embarrassed. Why couldn't I have thought of that?! So I used strapping tape to open the door as soon as I got home tonight. She immediately ran down and used the box. Score! Hopefully that is all there is to that!

Laughing Water is in drama again this year. Here she is doing a monolog of Princess Mia from Princess Diaries. It is right after Mia tried to run away, but got caught in a rainstorm and then decided to accept the crown after all. She loves her class. Right now she is practicing for a dialog from "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

This year I've signed the kids up for some classes in town put on by members of the home school association. They are both taking anatomy and physiology and art. Laughing Water is also taking a writing class. They got to explore sheep hearts today. It is fun and so very educational, but I sure wish I lived closer to town! I feel like I'm running Ma's Taxi Service.

There is more to say, but I'm tired, so will leave it for later. Blessings, Nanette

Be Still My Soul

2012-01-05T20:42:00.000-08:00

"Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side...." I have a lot of thoughts tumbling through my head tonight. They are hard to sort out. I guess for starters, I'm troubled about recent decisions in our country's government. I've chosen not to be political on this blog. I detest conspiracy theories. But it is getting pretty hard to ignore the lack of respect for our

Bill of Rights. I won't say more because I haven't kept up on it and can't speak intelligently about it, but it is weighing on my mind. I've always struggled unreasonably with fear of the future. I spent a long time on the phone talking to The Wood Artist today on the phone. I was out walking in our unseasonably warm weather and he driving on a run (thank God for blu* t**th!) He spent a long time reminding me that what is really important is our standing with God. Troubles will come. Troubles will go. But the Saviour is here, right here, with us!

The above picture is a common site in Oilville. It is an oil derrick that is in the process of drilling an oilwell. When you drive around the countryside, you see many of these.

Old Faithful got two absessed teeth. I had a long talk with our vet trying to determine what was best. He is getting so old that I wasn't sure when to say enough is enough. In the end, the vet felt that he is in fairly sound health. When I got the bill, I wasn't so sure I'd made the right decision. Poor boy. His sweet collie face is all swollen and he resists taking his meds because it hurts to open his mouth. He has been dripping fluid and blood. I hope he isn't suffering too much. He did finally eat this morning.

Of course, there is no place like the prairies for sunrises and sunsets. They are truly beautiful! - Nanette

Christmas Away From Home

2012-01-03T21:47:00.000-08:00

The Wood Artist couldn't get enough time off of work to come home for Christmas. So we went to him. When I found out that my grandmother's house would already be full, I began to panic. There are no motels available in Oilville. I laid out my problem to the Lord and asked Him to help our family be together for Christmas. This time, His answer was swift. My aunt found out and immediately offere her tiny cabin. She was not going to be there and said we would be welcome to stay there.

So, we loaded up the presents, the dog, and even chopped down a fresh fir tree and crammed it in the car. We drove the 600 miles to Oilville and stayed for two weeks. The Wood Artist still had to work long hours, but we had him in the evenings and on Sabbaths, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

We set up our little tree and strung popcorn and cranberries to decorate it. The Wood Artist has a tradition of reading Christmas stories to us. My dear Mother-in-Law always gets us the year's "Christmas In My Heart" book and we listen to the sweet, tear-inducing tales.

Brother Schnicklefritz and Brother Military Police live and work there, too, and Brother Medic visited for Christmas, with my parents, so we had fun being with them and a bunch of cousins.

It seemed surreal, staying there in the tiny cabin that used to belong to my grandparents. Memories came - That is where Grandma served her scalloped corn and lefse. This is where Grandpa sat in his chair yelling, "Hurry up, so we can open presents!" in his North Dakota brogue. That is where Uncle Dan always stood and said, "No, we should put away the presents and save them for next year!", in that unique and teasing voice. That is where his teacup chihuahua was left outside in the North Dakota blizzard for a half hour when someone let him out to go potty. The house was noisy and no one could hear his cries in the 50-below-zero windchill. Poor Pete, he was blue by the time someone found him. But he was alive and he did recover. The memories just keep coming!

Evenings were spent playing dominoes (a new family favorite) and teaching Papa how to play Moose Farkle, the game the kids and I learned to play on our summer camping trip.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes got croup. It seems, at nine, he should be too old for it, but he still gets it occasionally. It hung on much longer than usual, perhaps due to the fact that I was away from my dispensary of all things natural and generally yucky!

Mr. Blueberry Eyes wanted nothing but horse stuff for Christmas. He wants to decorate his room with horse puzzles, so he got a couple of those along with a lead rope, halter, grooming tools and good books on horses. He has nearly $300 saved toward a horse and he is getting very excited.

Laughing Water got an extraordinary amount of lovely lotions, body sprays, and other grooming things a pre-teen could love.

I'm pretty sure I scored most, though! My dearest bought me a latte maker! It makes fabulous chai teas and wassails! Laughing Water turned the earth upsidedown looking for a couple of things she knew I had wanted for a long time! She found me the complete set of "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" and the complete series of "Christy". She was, justly, very proud of herself. (I know she had some help from Granny Flash.) I'm a sucker for all things old fashioned. The episodes I have watched so far have me hankering to pull out my sewing machine and start experimenting with costumes again.

Mostly, though, it wasn't about the gifts. It really wasn't. It was about celebrating togetherness. It was about counting the 1,000 gifts....
*Peace in the heart
*Sparkles in the eyes of my daughter
*Thankfulness in the voice of my son
*Kissing chilly foreheads, lately come in from the outdoors
*Connecting heart to heart with a sister
*A warm house
*An Aunt, sharing what she has
*Snuggling a sleeping nephew
*Red cranberries
*White popped corn
*Running into a former student at church (now a couple of heads taller than I)
*Celebrating Life come down to Earth, setting us right with the Father

These, I will cling to in the face of the uncertainty life has us in right now. I hope you are making your own list. It helps. It really does. - Nanette

An Update On The Girls

2011-11-30T19:59:00.000-08:00

I suppose that it is time for an update on our flock of chickens. They are, beyond doubt, the most spoiled hens around! Before he left for Oilville, The Wood Artist moved the TajmaCoop into place using 6" PVC pipe. This was quite an operation as he had built it at our garage and the garden was a few hundred yards away. He had to roll it on the pipe all the way.

They didn't know what to think about the green grass and approached it cautiously. I wish I knew my camera better and could capture the birds better. They are so pretty.

Later in the summer, we decided to show about 1/2 of them at our county fair. So we gave them each a bath and spruced them up.

This is Laughing Water's hen, Truffle Hunter.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes with Spike, our one and only rooster. Everyone of them took a blue ribbon and we learned a lot about poultry! Now they are hunkered down for the winter are ramping up the egg production. I must say, we are going to have to sell an awful lot of eggs to pay for all we have into them, though!

In recent news, the children had their big holiday choir concert lastnight. They just loved it! Their director does a wonderful job of coming up with fun songs for them. Laughing Water is also in the select choir and they will perform with our community choir in December.

The kids have a piano recital coming up, too. Mr. Blueberry Eyes is already just sick with fright. I don't know how far to push him on this one. I'm trying an incentive (read: bribery), but I don't know....

We've had a super busy week and I'm looking forward to some down time soon. - Nanette

1000 Gifts

2011-11-11T20:30:00.000-08:00

So now I'm feeling embarrassed. So many of you have written after my last post. I thank each of you. Your words, prayers, thoughts expressed here on my blog and elsewhere have truly lifted my spirits and I can see how silly it was to feel alone! Thank you!

A few months ago I read a book by Ann Voskamp called One Thousand Gifts. It started me on a journey of noticing the blessings, the gifts that come my way from a God who actually loves us. I thinks its time I started noticing again....

The Wood Artist worked with Mr. Blueberry Eyes on a play fort the last time he was home. They're starting to trick it out with finishing touches. Mr. Blueberry Eyes had me park our car near so he could use the sound system to play a story about the Revolutionary War while he painted. He spent hours being a kid. Peaceful gifts.

Here is my first, home-grown-to-perfection watermelon from my hoop house. Yummy gifts.

This lil' nuthatch hit our window so hard one day, he was convulsing and twitching. I knew he was dying, but didn't want him to feel cold, so I gently put him on a cloth in my bathroom. When I checked to he if he had passed yet, he was sitting up. I took him outside and offered him his freedom, but he didn't want to leave my hand.

So I went into the bathroom again and slid to the floor, offering him my knee. He looked at me for a long time. When his eyes cleared and he fluttered around, I again offered him the forest with my cupped hand. This time, he looked at me for a brief, heartstring moment and siezed the day once more. Nature's gifts.

Sometimes you just have to be goofy. Making pineapple cupcakes with chocolate frosting late at night seemed like a good idea at the time

Bonding blessings.....

Nanette

Digging In

2011-11-09T21:26:00.000-08:00

I think our life can best be described as "digging in" right now. We are in limbo. There is just no other way to describe it. There's no work here and no housing there. We're spending a small fortune on train tickets just to keep our family together a little. Last week, the kids and I went to see The Wood Artist. He is living with my grandmother, so we at least had a place to stay for the weekend - a true blessing. (That's where Mr. Blueberry Eyes found this little donkey to play with.)

Being separated is tough stuff. How thankful we are for the work, though!

My social network has really come unravelled the last few months due to numerous circumstances, leaving me feeling shattered and insecure. I guess its just a time of life to dig in and not think about it. The only thing that is keeping me from giving up is my husband and kids. It bothers me because I usually try to be a positive person, but I'm really down right now. I guess the only reason I even feel like I can write this here is because hardly anyone even reads this anymore.....

The kids loved seeing The Wood Artist's truck

The day we left, he had a run that took him right by my Grandmother's Farm.I had to park the car way off of the drive because there were so many oilfield truck driving by me on the driveway. What struck me was that he was just one of so many, many trucks. Just one. But so very important to us. I guess it was the moment my shield got a crack in it. I got back in the car and just broke. I cried so hard I embarrassed Laughing Water. She asked me to please stop because the truckers on the drive were going to think something was terrible wrong! I guess I just needed the release.

That load of pipe, by the way, is worth over $100,000! All in a days work.

Sorry, if anyone is actually reading this. Its pretty disjointed and emotional. I'm done now! - Nanette

Hiking and More Camping

2011-10-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

One morning we made chocolate pancakes and had some of the first eggs from our chickens.

On one of the camping days, we took a seven mile hike to some waterfalls. The terrain was pleasantly flat and the scenery varied quite a lot.

We had to cross a swinging bridge.

I wish I could remember the name of these falls. We hiked above what you can see in this picture.

We had to cross a log to get to the other side so we could hike above the falls. Laughing Water is crossing in a cloud of mist.

It was a hot day and the kids found relief by dunking their heads in the glacial waters. Brrrr!

Back at camp, Mr. Blueberry Eyes found a buddy of the squirmy kind to play with. Later in the day, they joined a group of Blackfeet children and played happily with them for quite some time. Their favorite story to tell is that the native children said, "Wanna know how Indians fish? Butt naked!"

The camp store had some huckleberry soft serve that we couldn't pass up.

This little black bear hung out for several days on the mountainside above our tent, feasting on ripe huckleberries and elderberries.

S'mores on chocolate graham crackers....perfect ending to an outdoor adventure. - Nanette

Our Summer Camping Trip

2011-10-07T19:56:00.000-07:00

Camping for a week was a high priority for us this summer. It became obvious that The Wood Artist would have to leave for work in the North Dakota oilfields before we could do it, so I realized if it was going to happen, we would have to do it without him. We had never camped in the Two Medicine region of Glacier National Park and were intrigued with its wild beauty. So we packed up and headed out for the adventure. We were not let down! The water and the rocks in the water were just amazing!

The kids took Stratego and had fun playing it at the picnic table.

We situated the tent in the trees, but if you looked through the trees, the view was truly magestic!

On morning I left the children sleeping in the tent and snuck a couple hundred yards to the lake to meditate and pray. Its pretty hard to beat a church like that!

We visited a little restaurant in East Glacier that had this huckleberry French toast. They said it was world famous and I believe it. I ate only about half and I'm pretty sure I still have it with me!

We found a new game we fell in love with. Its called Moose Farkle and played it everywhere!

Sorry if this seems odd. You'd have to live here to see the humor in this This was the most beautiful bear poop I've ever seen! It was a deep, rich purple from the huckleberries in season. I'll have to do another post or two to get in all the pictures I want to share. - Nanette

Uh-Oh! I blinked!

2011-10-04T22:35:00.000-07:00

They always told me not to blink. If I did, my children would grow up! But I must have blinked, because Laughing Water grew an astonishing amount over the summer! When did that happen!

Here they are at the start of a very long swinging foot bridge The Wood Artist took them on while he was home.

Chillin' by the river on a gorgeous fall day. - Nanette

Daily Life

2011-10-04T22:24:00.000-07:00

This year, I enrolled my kids in several classes offered to homeschoolers by other homeschool parents. One of their favorites is an Anatomy and Physiology class. They are in different classes since they are in different grades, but they are using the same curriculum. One of the experiments they did was to soak eggs in vinegar for a week. They chose to add food coloring to their eggs, hence the strange colors. They have graduated to more technical experiments since. Today, for example, they extracted DNA from their cheek cells and make necklaces out of them. They are really enjoying it. Mr. Blueberry Eyes was even pretending that the cell phone was a centriole. The resemblance was so striking, I burst out laughing when I heard him chattering on about it!

So Mr. Blueberry Eyes has decided he must have a horse. He is working like crazy, doing little jobs here and there to earn money for a horse. He actually has well over $100 saved. But he got a bright idea to give others the opportunity to help him out and this is what he came up with!

And this is the rough life he has at school! -Nanette

I'm Back

2011-10-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

I knew it had been a long time since I'd added a post, but I was surprised when I saw that my last post was the last day of May. There are a lot of reasons for that. Our family came to a place where we had to make some tough decisions and I just couldn't break through the stress enough to write. In all honesty, we aren't dealing with anything that millions of other Americans aren't dealing with right now, so I feel like a bit of a weakling to admit that it really took me down a bit. I guess its just that I don't like change and change had to happen. I never really dreamed our life would look like it does now, but its all good. God will see us through. I can finally say that. I haven't always had that much faith. But now I know He is good and He will bring good out of it all.

We had to close most of our reading therapy business and The Wood Artist had to go to another state for work. Since I actually like my husband, this has been hard. But, we are thankful for the work! He is home right now, but will soon leave again. We have so much to be thankful for, though. I'm blessed that I live in a safe place and have family and friends at my fingertips should I need them, and I do!

I'm posting some pictures of a hike I did with a dear friend in Glacier National Park. It was 19 miles of pure majesty and we had a lovely time. I have so many pictures to post of our summer. Be prepared for a lot of posts soon!

The views were breathtaking and awe-inspiring.

I'll try to catch up soon. - Nanette

Farewell School Year 2010-11!

2011-05-31T19:01:00.000-07:00

Today was the last day of school. Its a little bittersweet. We are so looking forward to the "lazy days" of summer! But we had so much fun. We made wonderful friends. We learned much about numbers and words and stories and letters and rhyms. We learned about ourselves, too - good things and ugly things. Most importantly, we were a family and enjoyed every minute of it. I'll miss it.

A couple of weeks ago, we had a huge track and field day with 500-600 kids. I was the team leader for the 2nd grade home school boys and girls. I don't usually post pictures of my kids with others for privacy reasons, but this one was so cute I decided to block faces and post it. Mr. Blueberry Eyes had so much fun and he won a 6th place ribbon in the sack race, too.

A few days ago, I told the kids we were done with school for the day and I put on a book on tape by Henty called "The Cat of Bubastes" Mr. Blueberry Eyes got out his cars to keep his hands busy while he listened. Apparently, a candle makes a great anchor for a race track.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes was invested with some honors in his scout club by a dear friend. Laughing Water also earned several honors.

We're starting to make it out into the mountains a little for hikes. The snow pack is huge, so I think it will be some time before we really can get into the back country. Can't wait. I need to chill out in the wilderness for a while.

One of our last science projects was to make rag doll seed testers for 100 domestic seeds and 100 wild seeds. So far (at 5 days), the corn tests have boasted 93% and 94%. The wild mill weed is only at 10%, but I'm sure it will increase.

In other news, I feel like the rug is being yanked out from under me. We're having some big decisions to make and the options aren't my favorite. But, I trust that Providence is in control. This blog could have some interesting adventures comin' up! More later. - Nanette

Drama and Cross Country

2011-05-27T21:26:00.000-07:00

I suppose one can take too many pictures of a mortal pooch, but really, this one takes the cake. The kids have taken to carrying her around in an infant tummy pack and The Might Hunting Hound seems to love it. All seems mostly forgiven, or at least ignored regarding her terrible deed with the ducks!

The school year is fast coming to a close and we've been busy with end-of-the-year activities. Laughing Water had her final performance with the home school drama class. She was in a cast of the Wizard of Oz and played the part of Dorothy.

She loved drama and would like very much to do it again. She made some great friends and looks forward to spending more time with them soon. Here she is with "The Scarecrow"

The same day, both children had their last cross-country meet. Jalen took 6th place in his age group. He was so excited!

Brooke took 6th place, too, but she says it doesn't really mean the same since there were only six girls running in her class! But, I was very, very proud of her committment and I think she did great at racing against herself and not giving up!

I have about half of the garden in. It is proving to be an interesting start to the garden year with the cold and wind. We shall see how it all turns out.

We had an amazing blessing this week. A friend of my Dad's had a like-new set of furniture (sofa and love seat). She GAVE it to us! It is quite beautiful and very good quality. The love seat rocks and there is a beautiful rug to go on the living room floor that compliments it. I was wondering when we would EVER be able to replace our old furniture! It was getting embarrassing when guests would sink to the floor when they sat down on the old love seat, to say nothing of the fact that I had stitched up the holes in it more than once!
The rocking love seat has been a huge hit already! TTFN - Nanette

The Taj MaCoop, Part II

2011-05-15T21:10:00.000-07:00

Laughing Water holding Bertha. Bertha is a Buff Orpington and a super friendly, cuddly little lady!

O.k. so I have a chicken running around without a head. Not really. Meet Tilly. She is a Blue Andalusion and I'm intrigued by her markings.

This is Truffle-Hunter, a Salmon Faverolles, enjoying the new sensation of straw.

This is a Black Cochin and she doesn't have a name yet.

We did lose one little chick when she was a couple of weeks old. We're not sure why. She just seemed to have failure to thrive.

Welcome to the Taj MaCoop!!!!

2011-05-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

At long last the Taj MaCoop is ready for residents. It isn't finished yet, but the girls did move in any way a few days ago. The Wood Artist has truly outdone himself on the design. I'll post more about that sometime, but for now, here are some pictures of their first evening in their palace.

Sadness

2011-05-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

We had something very sad happen. Our cute little Blue Swedish ducks were ruthlessly murdered by The Mighty Hunting Hound. We will miss them and I must say it has been hard to forgive the little mutt!

Our Medieval History Project

2011-05-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable! It has been nearly one month since I posted here. So much has been happening. I'll save some details for another post, but I wanted to post the pictures of Laughing Water modeling our medieval courtier's gown. She is justly proud!

-Nanette

Old Photos

2011-04-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

I was looking through old photos and saw some that I'd intended to post a while back. I have a lot to write, too, but don't feel so well today (I'm fighting a cold), so I might not write a lot. We'll see. This is a picture of the capes I made for Laughing Water and her cousins for Christmas. They are made of a very dark brown faux fur and tied with a satin ribbon.

School is grinding away. I think we are all getting a little tired of it and are ready for summer break. Its still a ways away, though. Here are a couple of fun projects we've done, though. This is a paper castle we made from a cutout book. (I have also finished Laughing Water's medieval courtier's dress - finally! Will post pictures soon!)

Laughing Water has been taking a drama class with the local home schoolers. Here she is in a cast of Peter Pan. I must say I was impressed! She "died" like a pro when shot with the arrow!

Botany class has been very fun this year. We managed to work in the Pathfinder Seed and Advanced Seed Honor. We are almost done with it. Many thanks to those of you who helped with that!

Life is simply crazy right now. We now have all 16 chickens and two ducks. They are growing well and I'm getting anxious to get them out into the chicken coop - when it gets finished! The kids are having a blast giving the ducks baths in our bathtub!

They also started a cross-country running program. I'm proud of them for working so hard at building their endurance!

The kale, raddichio, and peas are up. I decided to do something crazy and plant my watermelon and canteloupe straight into the hoop house, but with little plastic covers. It is like a double greenhouse effect. It is an experiment, so we'll see. The weather here is so cold - about 10 degrees lower than average. There is a lot more garden stuff going on, too, but I'll post more on that later.

We've just come through birthday season here. The Wood Artist, Laughing Water and Mr. Blueberry Eyes all have birthdays within 16 days. I'm tired! TTFN - Nanette

Meet the Girls

2011-03-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

The first and biggest batch of girls arrived today. We haven't assigned names yet. We'll wait and see if they survive!

Spring Break

2011-03-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

We're having Spring Break around here and everyone is feeling a little lighthearted!

And...drum roll, please....Tomorrow is the big day! Our first batch of chicks arrive! The brooder is all set up in Mr. Blueberry Eyes' room (the only room that is safe for them at this time). The Wood Artist is designing and building a thermodynamic coop. The lights are already warming up the bedding, and the excitement is palpable! Pictures sure to follow! - Nanette

Starting the Gardening Season

2011-03-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

Its starting early, this obsession of mine. This time, it seems to be biting the kids, too. And The Wood Artist. Maybe it is the dragging on of our La Nina winter. (Although, I must say, we didn't get hit as hard as the rest of the nation.) Whatever it is, its motivating me. Seeds have been arriving. I actually took the time to plan out the whole garden on graph paper. That was definitely to get me through a few dreary days.

Last week, we decided to try our luck at planting some kale, raddichio and peas in the hoop house. As you can see, it was still "a little" on the chilly side.

The chive patch is "coming to", already.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes helped dig the patch up. I was sifting through the soil, picking out the dreaded quack grass roots, when a huge vole seemed to appear out of nowhere. Yes, I screamed like a girl! Poor thing took of running and disappeared further down hoop house.

It felt strange to be planting seeds when there is snow on the ground, but it was cathartic!

Lastnight, a few friends came over for the evening. Two of the ladies are gardeners. It was fun to visit and share ideas. We shared catalogs, swapped technique information, and divulged our favorite finds. One of them lives really close to me, and I'm looking forward to sharing this summer with each other. The other of them stayed until 12:45 a.m. She is older than me, but is such a kindred spirit that one forgets all age differences! Bless her! I'm just so grateful for the richness that my friends bring to my life. Here's to the salt of the earth folks out there! - Nanette

Healthy Kick

2011-03-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

So I'm definitely on a health kick lately. This isn't the greatest picture, but is is of some fruit ice cream that I made just from frozen fruit. Then I topped it with chopped nuts and, well, I had to add something chocolatey! We've been enjoying this fare frequently lately. Its so fun to have a guilt-free treat!

I've also been sprouting a lot. It adds fresh stuff into the diet in a very economical way. I prefer to eat my sprouts in a sandwich. My BFF has been talking about sprouting on her blog, too, and has me all inspired to take it to a whole new level. (See the homesweetyukon link further down.) I'll let you know how it turns out.

-Nanette

St Patrick's Day

2011-03-27T19:32:00.000-07:00

We have spring fever! The kids had this bright idea to have science and history class on the deck. It was sunny when we got started, but still chilly so they brought all kinds of blankets. Good thing, because, true to March temperament around these parts, it soon began to snow.

I know this is late, but I just had to post these pictures. We spent a couple of days celebrating St. Patrick's Day. The first day, we listened to a radio theater production of the life of St. Patrick. What an inspiring, amazing story. While we listened, the kids designed and fashioned their own St. Patty's Day stuff to wear to the Parade. The next day, we attended the parade in town, amid more unpleasant weather. It was still fun, though.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes had a ball making these, but was too shy to wear them to the parade.

Laughing Water, on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed showing of her stuff! TTFN - Nanette

Today Was a Bust

2011-03-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

Today was pretty much a bust. I was so tired I couldn't keep everyone in the normal routine. We did music and math and literature and that was it! Oh, well, we'll try again tomorrow. I don't feel too badly since we don't slacken on the school subjects very often.

I definitely have spring fever! I've had garden catalogs and seeds and graph paper and garden plans all over my house for days. I even started some sweet peppers and hot peppers today. I really was going to avoid starts this year, since it usually gets overwhelming and I have had some bad luck with getting mold in my starts the last couple of years. I think I might know why now. It was the last two years that I used popsicle sticks to mark them. I didn't make the connection until a friend said that popsicle sticks ruined her starts. Ahah! Maybe that was it. So, I'm trying a new method. I'll try to get pictures if it is working. I'm so excited that I feel myself being lured into planting other things, too, maybe cabbage and tomatoes. It would save money at the nursery in the spring!

I just couldn't resist sharing this photo of The Mighty Hunting Hound getting her vegetables!

I do have an exciting update on the chicken front. We will be picking up the first 2-3 breeds on March 28. The rest of the chicks will be in on Aprill 11. The coop isn't built yet, but The Wood Artist has the plans. They will have to stay indoors anyway until they feather out. We plan to get about 15. I've told the kids they can each have five and I'll have 5. I don't know much about raising chickens, so I need to start reading up on it.

This small-farm stuff really must be a disease, though, because I'm already dreaming about the next step - bees. I just learned tonight that one hive can produce up to 100 lbs of honey a year! That's amazing! Have you seen the price of honey lately? I'd be able to supply all of my friends and family with one hive! (The Wood Artist says I better take better care of them that I did my worm bins. I've somehow managed to kill them off twice!)

And this is what I think of that!

-Nanette

Private Valentine's Day Banquet

2011-03-06T11:03:00.000-08:00

The kiddos put on a lovely banquet for us for Valentine's Day. It was a mystery dinner and the first thing I ordered happened to be this amazing fudge that Mr. Blueberry Eyes had made for us. It was impressive! There was also homemade soup made by Laughing Water.

Our waiter pours Cherry Martinelli.

Laughing Water leading out in one of the many entertainments of the evening, Mad Libs. We were also treated to puppet shows and a gymnastics performance. There were precious pictures and signs posted everywhere advertising the "restaurant" we were at.

In other news, The Wood Artist is out looking for antler sheds today. I was bummed that I couldn't go with him, but a couple of things came up. So, I'm making the best of it by highlighting my hair, doing laundry and finishing up gardening plans. Happy Sunday, everyone! - Nanette

Old News

2011-02-28T20:30:00.000-08:00

Salad sprouts are growing beside the kitchen sink. Batches and batches of doggy biscuits are cooling on the counters (the kids' afternoon handiwork). And I'm catching up on old news here in the blogosphere. I just couldn't move on with current news before I posted these. Laughing Water had made it known for months and months that she really, really, really, really wanted a fancy recipe box. So I put a bug in the Wood Artist's ear around Christmas time. This is what he came up with.

The corners are beautifully dove-tailed. Inside the lid it says, "Laughing Water's Recipes". Well, o.k.,not quite, but you get the picture. She is justly delighted! The Wood Artist outdid himself yet again.

Here's my growing-up-girl at a super bowl party.

Here she is again all dressed up to help her friends serve at a Valentine's Day banquet. My next post will be about a private Valentine dinner she and Mr. Blueberry Eyes put on for us. - Nanette

Laundry

2011-02-25T10:08:00.000-08:00

Here's an example of what I mean when I talk about having lots of laundry to do!

Oh, I guess this load comes with a helper! This is what happens when its cold outside and you're hard up for entertainment! - Nanette

A Ski In the Night

2011-02-20T21:50:00.000-08:00

If there is one thing I love, one thing that invigorates, yet relaxes me, its cross country skiing. I found the pristine snow covered hills of the Palouse country absolutely irresistable last December while visiting family. The Wood Artist snapped these pictures after I'd sliced through the perfection.

Lastnight, the call of the wild came again. There would be a moonlight ski led by a ranger. The winter winds were whipping and we really didn't know if we should attempt it. I figured it would be cancelled. We left the kids with Grandparents and decided to give it a try. Imagine my surprise when there were 55 people waiting for the rangers! We were in a relatively sheltered area where the winds were a non-event. We skiid for 3-4 miles, hearing stories of nature and Native American lore. The swish of 110 skis and the chk, chk of 110 poles, faceless rangers in the dark, telling stories was a charming experience! The moon never did show its face, but we had fun! Next time, I think we'll go by ourselves, or with a small group. We'll take the kids. And we'll tell stories.

In other news, the winter is grinding away. I'm having difficulty providing enough exercise for the kids. Getting together with friends has been a bit sketchy this winter, too. I'm learning a sad fact that when you commit to a debt-free lifestyle and the chips are down, friends you never thought would go away, do. They stop inviting you to go along down-hill skiing or out to dinner. You have to forego your kids' friends' birthday parties because they require an expensive hotel stay in another town. Its isolating. And that makes me sad. Life comes with enough tough decisions without having to forego time with those you love.

On a positive note, our immediate family has had a very sweet, bonding winter. We've turned to the simple joys in life - board games, stories, puzzles. We've laughed together. That makes us rich beyond measure. - Nanette

Of Pets and Coats (of arms, that is)

2011-02-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

We've been studying the medieval knights and lords and kings. Making our very own coats of arms seemed the thing to go (especially since we had a book that told us all about it.) It is quite a technical pursuit. Each color has a meaning. Each design has a meaning. You cannot use certain colors on each other (because you might not be recognised quickly enough on the battlefield, for goodness' sake!) Each person or family has their own coat of arms. We learned that, even now, families can have a coat of arms. In the process of our studies we learned that some of our relatives even have an official one on record. We're still trying to obtain it, but in the meantime, the kids made their own. The above is Mr. Blueberry Eyes' coat of arms. The red stands for courage in battle, the blue, loyalty and truth. The lion stands for courage in battle, also.

Girls also had coats of arms, but since they did not go into battle, it generally had a more decorative, diamond shape. If the girl was unmarried, a blue ribbon was tied at the top. Towers represented protection or safety. This is Laughing Water's coat of arms.

We finally started getting back into our art curriculum and had lots of fun making color wheels last week.

It was a review for Laughing Water because when she was in third grade, she took an in-depth art course. It was, however, new for Mr. Blueberry Eyes (and me, too!)

Here's a funny picture of Hong Kong kitty, sitting in her castle atop the entertainment center. Yes, she always has a 'tude on her face!

A few weeks ago, The Mighty Hunting Hound ate chocolate. We had to get activated charcoal down her and monitor her heart rate for three days. Mr. Blueberry Eyes made a great little veterinarian!

Life has been confusing and up in the air for us lately. We're not sure what our future holds and it has had me in a bit of a dither, hence, the lack of posts. Maybe I'll make up for lost time soon! - Nanette

Playing Around Again

2011-01-27T19:10:00.001-08:00

I've been playing around again. Let me know what you think. Is the font too hard to read? Does anyone know how to change the color of the frames around the pictures? - Nanette

Quiets Moments of Learning

2011-01-26T19:11:00.000-08:00

Our home school year has been, well, interesting. It has been fun, hard, frustrating, exhilerating, educational (imagine that!) I tried not to photograph the bad days. I apoligize if that seems inauthentic. I don't think you'd really want to see us in tears. Here are some peeks into our year.

Since we follow a quasi-classical approach, we are in the second year of Laughing Water's second trivium and the same in Mr. Blueberry Eyes' first trivium. That means we're studying medieval history. For our literature, we are reading biographies/stories of people who lived around this time period. Our first book was about Polycarp, early Christian bishop of Smyrna. He was martyred for his faith. In honor of his sacrifice, and to remind ourselves of the "sweet savour" our lives are to God, we burned a yummy scented candle each time we read the book.

In science, we're studying botany. Here are the scholars, toiling over their leaf classifications. We also just mounted a huge seed collection on a cardboard sewing board. I'll try to post pictures of that soon.

Early in the year, Laughing Water hurt her ankle and was forced to do her school in a convalescing manner (bother!). The Mighty Hunting Hound didn't mind.

Here's a closer shot of the "poor, unloved" creature!

One of the aspects of education that I wanted to make a strength this year was art. I haven't done as well as I had planned, but, we have done some cool things. Here, Mr. Blueberry Eyes is working on a tracing/drawing of a Viking Longhouse.

Laughing Water also joined a drama class this year and is enjoying working up an excerpt of Peter Pan with her team. She gets to be Wendy.

I really should get more pictures of our activities. I think it would help me remember the good things when I worry about what we might miss. - Nanette

"If Home Is Really Where the Heart Is...."

2011-01-20T19:13:00.000-08:00

"Then home must be a place we all can share." So begins a song that helped celebrate the start of our home fourteen plus years ago. I've had a week of being home - very little running, snuggling with a sick child, reading stories for long hours. It has been delightful. Perhaps it was this that prompted the question. Perhaps it was looking at Old Faithful, curled up in the living room. (For me, a collie embodies domesticity.) Or it could well be that we've borrowed DVDs of "The Waltons" from our library. That family has certainly gripped our imaginations lately.

Whatever it was that prompted me, I posted a question on my Facebook page. The essence of the question was, "What speaks domesticity/hominess to you?" I received the most replies I've had on a Facebook update-ever! Apparently, its a subject that is dear to everyone's heart.

Their answers? Family. It was the most frequently mentioned element of the world we call home. Of course. "Wherever theres is laughter ringing, someone smiling, someone singing...". Children noises, quiet conversation. Snuggles, tickles, debates, smiles.

Then there was the mention of bread baking, bowls of steaming soup, hot mugs of tea and coffee. Comfort. Communion. Pets were highly esteemed as symbols of domesticity. Community with a furry twist.

Others mentioned music, crackling fires, aprons, family feasts, mom's cooking.

It tooks several days for the comments to stop flowing in. When they did, I noticed that there wasn't one mention of anything that didn't fit with a theme of nourishment, communion, a profound sense of peace and belonging.

Funny how our culture is the antithesis of these. And yet, we all know what we think it should look like. Like Michael Oher in "The Blind Side", insisting on sitting at the dinner table for Thanksgiving Dinner. We long for it if we don't have it. We treasure it if we do. Perhaps that is why I got a record number of responses to the question.

"We will be together there. Love will be our home." - Nanette

A Lazy Sunday

2011-01-16T20:40:00.000-08:00

We haven't had a relaxing day like this in so long! It was just plain yummy! The Wood Artist didn't have to work. The kids had an ice skating party to attend, but it was cancelled due to unseasonably warm weather. (There was too much water on the ice!) So we just hung out with each other.

Laughing Water worked on her pinewood derby car for this year's race. The Wood Artist is working on Laughing Water's recipe box. He is making her a very special one with dove tail corners and all. We'll keep you updated.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes' friend from across the fence knocked on the door around 10a.m. and ended up staying until 6 p.m. or so. Really, this child's parents have never even met us. The grandmother has met us, but has never been to our house! He comes over for hours and they almost never call and check on him. I really don't mind because he doesn't actually live next door, so he isn't here all of the time. And, he is a sweet little guy. He and Mr. Blueberry Eyes have a lot of fun together. Today, they played snap circuits, made a store/fort, ate pizza and blueberry muffins and cheered on the New York Jets.

Laughing Water has a parakeet now. His name is Echoe (yes, with an "e"). He is a pretty little thing.

The Might Hunting Hound is giving us grief yet again. Last time it was her salivary gland. This time, I think it is her salivary gland again. We knew it was beginning to swell and I was planning to call the vet tomorrow. But, we couldn't find her today. We launched a frantic search and found her under Mr. Blueberry Eyes' bed. "It" had burst and she had fluid/blood/whatever drenched down the front of her. We washed her as best we could with colloidal silver and are waiting anxiously for the vet to open in the morning. We do have a pet E.R., but I trust our vet more. I'm going to wait and hope I'm not making the wrong decision!

Nanette

A Little Catch Up

2010-12-28T16:40:00.000-08:00

Its been way too long since I posted. Life took me by storm and my writing took a back seat. I hope all my readers had a wonderful Christmas. I've had so many ideas of things to write about, but time passed until I lost the spirit for them. So, I guess I'll just do a "quick" synopsis of our life the last few weeks with a promise of more faithful posts to come.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes finally felt like he had studied parakeets long enough and took the big step of bringing home Butterscotch, a blue bundle of songs. Scotch is a young bird and doesn't mimic yet, but he is learning to love Mr. Blueberry Eyes. Lately, he has made violin practice a lot more fun! Mr. Blueberry Eyes is fastidious about his care and amused the Christmas caregiver by his multitudinous and opinionated directions. He even wrote down the bird's bedtime and posted it on its cage!

About three weeks ago, our kitty, Leo, got a blood clot that lodged in the sadle of the veins branching to his back legs. I don't remember the name of the condition. Our wonderful vet thought that there was a possibility of his recovery and we started a regimen of shots, pills, hot water bottles, massages and crating. He improved slightly and then came down with a bladder infection and began urnating blood. Since he still couldn't go to the bathroom properly, he started to get awful sores from urinating on his legs. I bathed him frequently, but the sores got worse. On Monday, last week, we decided that his quality of life was just too poor and that his prognosis was not a promising one. We made the difficult decision to put him down. It was hard on all of us. I was comforted by the gentleness by which it was done and the peace he was in. We had a graveside ceremony.

The next day, my brother "Schnicklefritz" was married in a beautiful ceremony. Our whole immediate family was in the attendants' entourage. This fulfilled Laughing Water's dream, for certain! The bride put me in charge of flowers, too. I don't have much experience in flower arranging and virtually none in wedding finery. Here is a picture of the bride's bouquet. I was relieved that it seemed to work.

I'll have to get permission before I post pictures of the happy couple as my brother is a little shy about notoriety. But, I must say, I am incredibly happy for him and I adore my new sister. She is intelligent, so pretty, and, she brings a lovely little man into the family, too! My brothers have done a good job picking life partners!

Wednesday and Thursday were filled with frenetic preparations for the holidays! I made most of our gifts this year. (More on that in another post.) Thursday night found us arriving at the grandparents' house and now I've just crashed and am enjoying being pampered!

This is so long I'll be surprised if anyone is still reading it! A belated Merry Christmas to each of you! - Nanette

Snowshoeing

2010-11-27T20:16:00.000-08:00

When we got home from church today, we all had an urge to get out in the snow. The temperature has warmed up so that it is not so bitter cold as it was last week. So we loaded up the snowshoes and headed for our favorite place in the whole wide world. We tried a trail that had been closed due to grizzlies one of the last times we'd tried to go on it. This time, however, the bears were fast asleep in their dens.

It didn't take long before we fell into a pretty good rythm. The kids are still quite a bit slower than we are, so we stopped here and there for breaks. The snow was specatular! It was plastered on the North sides of the trees. New snow was bunching into big globs as it fell onto our heads and eyelashes. The trail gained in elevation quite a bit, but our snowshoes made us feel safe from slipping.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes has outgrown his little boy snowshoes, so he opted for trudging along in his snowboots. He did fine, but we are going to try to get him a real live pair of snowshoes soon. At one point, he rolled down a steep bank and lounged against the trunk of a tree while he ate snow. While we waited for him to rest, a fluffy brown squirrel sauntered sleepily down the tree. While we were oohing and aahhing, he vanished into the tree. The opening of his little tree hotel was hidden to us, making it seem very magical.

The coloring made it all feel mystical, which was a tonic to my bruised soul. Thanksgiving was pretty rough for me and I needed a good day. Its pretty hard to stay in a funk when you are surrounded by such incredible beauty. I didn't want to quit, but the kids were getting tired after about a mile. I asked The Wood Arstist to start back with them while I got in a few more minutes of soul-time. The trail took off quite steeply then, so I followed it curiously. There is something really exhilerating about being a woman alone in nature. The feeling is hard to describe - empowering, quieting, refreshing... I had only a few minutes, so I wasn't all that alone, but I did promise to grab a friend and head out there again soon. Next time, I'll go further.

As we came out of the woods, there was a park ranger waiting for us to make sure we weren't hunters. I guess our drenched hair and snowshoes were convincing. We didn't even have to get to the part where we say we are vegetarians, so, of course, we're not hunters! We had a good visit with him. Rangers are really first-rate group of people. He lives very close there and told us about two mountain lions that hang out there. Maybe I'll take pepper spray with me next time.

Tomorrow we head out to find THE perfect tree. I'll keep you posted. - Nanette

The Hill

2010-11-22T19:56:00.000-08:00

These pictures are hardly representative of our day! We're having frigid temperatures and high winds with a little snow. We're keeping the house warm with space heaters. Poor Old Faithful's hip bones get awfully stiff after he goes outside for relief trip.

Still, it is fun to look back at the summer's photos. I got so behind on posting my garden pictures when Blogspot was reworking things, so I figure I'll just keep posting garden pictures for a while. Here is a beauty! Its a seed globe of a leek. I fully intended on harvesting it. If I can make it out tomorrow, maybe I'll see if I can still get it - if the blizzard winds haven't blown it away. It would be fun to see if I can start some leeks indoors next spring. I'm on quite a learning curve when it comes to seed saving! I'll have to look up just how to do leeks.

I took this picture of my long cayenne thins on a warm, fall day. I stepped into my hoop house to find it exceedingly hot. My camera lense immediately fogged up. I thought the effect was kind of cool!

This is the pole bean tipi I made for the kids this summer. I was pleased with how it filled out.

So I guess the biggest news is that I've come to the hill. Today was the big day. I've been dreading it, but now that it is here, I'm accepting it. Laughing Water threw me a party a week ago. It was very sweet of her and she did a great job! I know she had lots of help, too.

It has me thinking many philosophical thoughts, like, "What have I done to impact the world in a positive way?" "Am I just a consumer, or have I been a producer and made the world a better place?" I have a lot of great friends, which are softening the blow a little! They tell me that 40 is the new 30 and that 40s are better than one's 30s, etc. We'll see. The support I'm getting at home is that The Wood Artist keeps reminding me that I need to update my blog profile. He says it shouldn't say 30-something anymore....I could do without that kind of support!

As for me, I spent the day reworking my living room to make a more convenient sewing area for myself. That is a gift for me! (Weird, I know.) I think I will feel like being more creative with a workable work space. First project up is to finish Laughing Water's medieval courtier's dress.

I've also been nursing a sick Mr. Blueberry Eyes. Its looking like a trip to urgent care will be first-up on my agenda for the morning. Poor little tyke had been battling a fever now for two days and now has a painfully sore throat and stuff up ears. Enough of trying "natural remedies". Its time for a doctor! Wish us luck! - Nanette

Some Things Never Change

2010-11-18T18:14:00.000-08:00

I was pondering my life the past 2 1/2 years, thinking about my attitudes and how the economic downturn has affected them. There have been pretty dark days that I hope I never have to repeat. I don't like having to make every last decision based on the minutia of our income or lack of it. But then, there are good things, too. Here are some things I've learned:

In tough financial times,

*Applesauce smells sweeter.
*Homemade bread makes you feel rich.
*Sawdust does work for cat litter.
*Friends may or may not understand.
*Friends may say they understand when it is obvious that they do not.
*Forgiveness is still valuable.
*Your kids' laughter is still amazing.
*You feel like you won the lottery when you find something you wanted for free, or almost.
*Kissing still makes your heart flutter.
*A movie from the library saves you a theater ticket.
*Librarians are honest-to-goodness heroes and heroines.
*Watching your pet suffer because you don't have the money to get him help stinks.
*Thank goodness for veterinarians who are helpful anyway.
*A good book feels and smells the same whether you paid full price, or borrowed it.
*Home-made gifts are more meaningful.
*Home-made gifts take a freaking long time to make.
*Good neighbors are a benefit in the salary of life.
*Snow is a free seratonin booster.
*Its scary when you don't have the $ for safe snow tires.
*Self-confidence goes up when you learn to do something you used to pay someone else to do.
*My house still gets dirty
*Children are better problem solvers when they have to earn their own money to get something they really want.
*Hot baths are a great self-comfort strategy.
*Parents are good people to have around.
*Good health IS wealth. (Like they always said.)
*Creativity blossoms when its needed.
*Soup IS good food!
*Butterflies and bees still bring a smile - especially when they all land on your homegrown echinacea right in front of your camera.

Here's to seeing the good in bad times! - Nanette

The First Day of Snow

2010-11-16T11:58:00.000-08:00

Today is the first snowstorm of the year. We've planned this with great anticipation and we plan to celebrate! We're taking the afternoon off of school. Sinbad and scimitars will just have to wait until tomorrow. We're going to celebrate the blustery day by going to the library. This is a real treat because I usually order the library books we need using the online option our library provides. But this time, the kids will get to paw through the books and sit and read in the little chairs. I may even get to sniff through some engaging material for myself. I'm on the hunt for a good book on c.d.

After that, we will check out a winter movie, maybe even "Frosty the Snowman", and head home for some chai tea and a little screen time. Usually, we would break out our first jar of huckleberry jam, but the bushes just didn't cooperate this year, so we'll have to do without.

I'm pretty excited about Laughing Water's growing artistic talent. This is a freehand drawing she did of a gladiator to add to her history notebook.

So, I'd love to hear what you all do to celebrate the first day of snow.....Nanette

Drying Up

2010-11-10T08:43:00.000-08:00

My kitchen is slowly starting to look normal again. For months now, there have been piles of produce here and there, awaiting the freezer, the canner, or the dehydrator. I tried several kinds of dry beans this year in hopes they would be easier on the digestion. That part still remains to be seen. I stacked them in these boxes until they were dry. I think that in the future, we need large screens for more air movement. Some of the beans molded this way. But, I still got a delightful array of pretty beans. I spent hours shelling them in the evening while The Wood Artist read to me.

I never get tired of looking at my Painted Mountain corn. We got a good harvest this year and there is enough to have lots of yummy corn bread this winter. It has been drying for weeks and will probably be ready to thresh soon.

Just my own little declaration of independence! - Nanette

A Corny Day

2010-10-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my luck today! Blogspot let me put several pictures on at once! Now I can get caught up on old news! A few weeks ago, this is what it looked like in our living room. After such crazy summer weather, we still got a great harvest of corn. Hurrah for short-season corn.

The ears were plump and extremely sweet!

We saved some of the silk and air dried it for tea. Corn silk tea is thought help bedwetting. It is yummy, too.

We froze the rest of it. Here, Mr. Blueberry Eyes is helping take the corn off of the cob. - Nanette

Three Cheers for Zoe

2010-10-18T18:48:00.000-07:00

Blogspot finally let me get one picture posted. It won't let me do more than one at a time, though, so I can't show you any series of pictures.

A couple of weeks ago, we visited the farm of some friends. We got to meet Zoe, a beautiful, gentle Jersey cow. I bought a share in her and received a 1/2 gallon of cream. We brought it home and poured it into quart jars and began to shake them. We shook them until a bright yellow, creamy butter formed. If we decide to do this on an ongoing basis, we'll have to get some paddles for my Bosch. That would make it easier. We've had a lot of fun eating the results of our labor, though!

I'm feeling crabby tonight, so I probably better not post any more, lest I ruin your night, too! Just a bunch of small stuff. I spent a lot of time at the vet with The Mighty Hunting Hound again. It seems that she has an infected salivary gland. That set me behind for the day. That meant that a reading lesson with Mr. Blueberry Eyes happened late - when he was less than cooperative. I was steaming mad when I discovered that Laughing Water left me stranded in my classroom without my shoes and I had to walk to my house in my stocking feet. I came stomping into the house and decided to iron, only to find that Mr. Blueberry Eyes had lain on my ironing board and bent it so it wouldn't rise to my height. Then I had to leave dinner out while waiting for The Wood Artist. Now it is almost eight p.m. and I have to get up and clean the kitchen. Oooo! I better stop! Sorry!TTFN - Nanette

Sabbath Celebrations

2010-10-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

I'm so ready for a Sabbath rest tonight! Its been quite a week! Last weekend I went with 7 of the girls from my family to a women's retreat. It was an inspiring time and it was so fun to be with my grandmother, mother, aunt and several cousins. My grandmother went down a 350 ft. waterslide. The lifeguards said that she was the first 80 yr. old to go down it!

I was fighting some sort of a virus and felt unwell for a couple of days. I'm still tired, but am thankful to be feeling better.

Today, I took Mr. Blueberry Eyes out to celebrate the completion of his polite chart. He worked hard on manners for a long time and as a reward got to go on a "date" with Mommy. We went to his pick of a restaurant and then ran errands in town.

These are a few pictures of my garden as of about 1 1/2 weeks ago. Frost has since visited and some things are pretty much gone. Blogspot still won't let me upload very many pictures at a time, but I'm thankful to be able to do even a couple! Happy weekend! - Nanette

Another Try

2010-10-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

I'm just trying pictures again. I seem to still having trouble. Will try to post more later. - Nanette

A Drama Unfolds

2010-10-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

I've been obsessed with the Chilean miners. I canceled history today and we were glued to the computer for most of the rescues. What amazing courage and fortitude! I found myself incredibly drawn to physical expression that the rescued, rescuers, politicians alike. The Chilean president seemed so genuine and caring. He was there with hugs, handshakes, pets and pats for everyone in a way that didn't come across as condescending or fake. I was impressed.

I felt drawn into the human drama of each story - except for the man who invited his mistress and his wife to the occassion. Apparently they had each discovered the other through this drama. Not cool. I could have gone without being enlightened!

I appreciated that most of them were obviously aware that there is a God who was present with them. Of course that raises the difficult question of hundreds of miners in other countries who have gone to there death in mines. I don't pretend to know the answers. I only know that I was thankful for a feel-good drama to lose myself in for a while!

Now that I have the pictures working, I'll post more soon! - Nanette

Trying Out the Pictures - Bear With Me!

2010-10-13T21:13:00.001-07:00

Here's one of my latest delights - raddichio from the garden!

Technical Diffictulties

2010-10-13T20:40:00.001-07:00

I have been trying for several days to upload pictures to my blog. I downloaded a new and improved something for my photos and, well, it got me into trouble. Since I'm really not savvy at the computer, this could be a real problem. I'll keep working on it! - Nanette

Harvest Frenzy

2010-10-05T21:32:00.000-07:00

These pictures are a couple of weeks old. We were making spicy pickles. Unfortunately, I forgot the garlic. Peeling garlic is not high on my list of favorite things to do. So, the day before, I had peeled a large bowl full of garlic so that I wouldn't have to do it on pickle making day. Alas, it remained in the fridge!

I wish the pickles would stay this lovely color! It certainly is inviting! I am having trouble with my pickles sealing properly. Several of my jars didn't seal, so, rather than processing them again and making them mushy, they are taking up room in my refridgerator until they cure.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes was a big help that day. I've been pretty excited to see his maturity level rising lately. He actually fell asleep with his reader next to him tonight. He was really excited about his new book. - Nanette

Bears and Bling

2010-10-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

I was going to go to bed early tonight. I'm so very tired. But, The Wood Artist was just informed that my parents have three grizzly bears in their yard. He was off like a streak with the camera. It is 9:30 p.m., so I doubt he will get any really good shots, but you never know. I would have enjoyed going with him, but the children are in bed. Its hard to go to sleep without him, so I thought I would share some recent snippets of our life on here.
Mr. Blueberry Eyes has been practicing his violin faithfully. And I have been faithfully trying to ensure that he has the correct posture - for obvious reasons.

No, these are not rats. They are a recent experiment with baked, stuffed aneheim peppers. They were yummy! I stuffed them with a vegetarian burger, cream cheese and spices. Then I coated them with a garbanzo sauce and bread crumbs and baked them.

This week we picked the sweet corn from our garden. There was an abundance for fresh eating, plus, we froze 25 quarts. I have found that Sugar Buns corn from Territorial Seed works very well for our part of the country.

Girls will be girls. Laughing Water had a great deal of fun glittering herself up this week.

Our weather has been spectacular. I so love Indian Summer and this year it is making a blockbuster appearance. We've had warm, glorious days and even warm nights. My garden hasn't frosted yet, which is amazing since many of the gardens around have. I heard the rumors confirmed by the weatherman lastnight that La Nina is strong this year and is expected to cause much snow in our part of the country. Now that I feel like I've had a little summer, I say, bring it on! - TTFN - Nanette

Simmering Salsa

2010-09-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

I've made salsa before. I've even blogged about it. But for some reason, I've never canned any. A few weeks ago, we were having dinner at a cousin's house when the lady of the house broke out her last jar of handcrafted, home canned salsa. I was smitten. The flavor was amazing. I begged the recipe off of her and last Sunday, set to work. It is more work than I expected, but the end result was mouth watering! These long cayenne thin and habanera peppers are from my hoop house. The hand, by the way is not that of the grim reaper. I'm wearing gloves to protect my hands from the hot peppers.

Laughing Water took charge of the blanching operation. She thought it was pretty fun. All of the tomatoes were also from my hoop house.

Here is the pot of simmering salsa. I was delighted to learn that you can dice the tomatoes and let them sit for a while and then drain the excess liquid off. It makes for a thicker, chunkier product. I know most of you knew that, but I didn't.

My finished product. I left these on my table for days and kept looking proudly at them. It was pathetic! I'm planning more batches already! - Nanette

A Balancing Act

2010-09-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

Life feels like a balancing act this week. I have a number of business issues going on that are requiring a great deal of concentration. One is an annoying, recurring issue that just seems impossible to put to rest. The other issues are happy. We have two consultations this week for new students! (Maybe last week's announcement that the recession is over will actually be true...eventually!)

It's hard to get my mind into anything efficiently because there is so much that needs my attention. My exercise routine...isn't. That must change tomorrow!We've hit on a great treat. We've dehydrated fruits and vegetable for years, but always threw away the apple peelings. No more! Providing the peelings are organic, you can just heap them on the dehydrator tray, sprinkle them with some sugar, xylitol, or other sweetener, add some cinamon and dehydrate them for a few hours. Yummy stuff!

Wild, Wacky, and Wonderful

2010-09-17T10:24:00.000-07:00

Here's a few cool shots of what we've seen the last few days. This is a toy car that was left in the yard. I started to pick it up to put it away and all of these ant eggs fell out. The ants were justly upset by my intrusion. I left the nursery alone. I can pick up the car another time.

I'm pretty proud of these melons! This is the first year I've had a melon harvest. The watermelon was not ripe enough, but the canteloupe was amazing- so juicy and sweet!

We were pretty excited to see the pine siskins return to us this week. A few years ago, we had a lot of them, but for some reason, they've not been around for a while. I love this action shot - Nanette

Settling Into a School Routine

2010-09-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

Meet the shoe taxonomists. We're studying botany this year for science and yesterday we learned about taxonomy. To illustrate the concept, our textbook had us collect all the shoes in the house. (I truly didn't know we had that many!) The students were then assigned to separate them into 4 kingdoms. They could pick the criteria. They immediately landed on the idea of separating the shoes according to family members since there are four of us.

They further had to separate each kingdom into two phylum. They chose indoor/outdoor. From there, they separated them into classes and orders.

The "Mama" kingdom definitely had the most choices! I was amused and amazed at how they chose to organize it all. They really had to think about characteristics. Today, we had to record it in their botany journals.

We are settling nicely into a school routine. The kids have a new piano teacher and they both adore her. This comes in handy when trying to get Mr. Blueberry Eyes to practise! I'm particularly excited about his attitude, because was definitely an at-risk piano student! :)

Our landlady is boarding several horses right now. The kids were delighted when the horses' owner let them ride one tonight. Horse fever hit our family this summer hard and let me tell you, this is NOT helping! The children both want a horse so badly! It is a little anti-climatic to tell them that all we can afford this year are chickens! It doesn't quite cut it!

Mr. Blueberry Eyes and Laughing Water have both had the privilege of helping with a convalescing horse. He was a much beloved horse of a trail ride outfit. Unfortunately, someone shot him in the shoulder. He had to have his shoulder operated on and the bone chipped and smoothed to prevent muscle trauma. They never did find the bullet, but since there is no exit wound, they assume it is still in there. His shunt has to be irrigated twice a day.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes takes great delight in helping however he can. Here, he is walking the gentle beast to give him a little exercise. Laughing Water even overcame her fear of medical yuckies and helped apply vaseline tonight. She was rightly proud of herself.

It seems that there is so much happening that it is hard to keep up with journaling it all! I'll just have to do my best and hope I don't bore you all! What is exciting to me, may very well bore you all. But, I guess the purpose of a blog is to write about what one finds significance in herself! - Nanette

Catching Up

2010-09-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

Its been a month, now, since our friends from Kenya came to visit us again. This is Nahoshon sharing at Mr. Blueberry Eyes' Sabbath School. Nahoshon is 12 and he is such a joy to have around. He is very polite and kind. His eyes sparkle, belying the trauma of his past.

Here, we visited my parents' store. Benson and Nahoshon were fun to take around.

We took them to the mountains and found a little snow for Nahoshon to feel. I love the look on his face!

It was fun to hear first hand the stories of how they have used the things we sent to them in the 40' container a year ago. I was particularly pleased to hear of how they have started a sewing industry with the sewing machines, patterns, cloth, and buttons we sent.

I wish them godspeed. Oh, and I really hope that someone else sends another container to them. I would love to help out, but I'm not crazy enough to do it myself again! - Nanette

'Twas the Night Before School

2010-09-07T20:46:00.000-07:00

This is my little brother. He leaves for a tour of duty in a little over a week. Our church had a special service of dedication for him and a couple of other young men who are in his unit. I really can't believe it. I always used to worry about my little brothers "having to go to war". It has actually happened! Fortunately, this time it is to a place generally thought of as safer than "the other". For that, we are thankful.

This family picture isn't complete. Brother MP and his wife weren't there that day. Still, I like the picture.

The Wood Artist is still feeling yucky tonight. Mr. Blueberry Eyes is still feeling a little punky, but was enough better that we could tease him about his less-than-finest moments yesterday. Today, he could laugh. That's good. I don't like seeing my peeps down.

So, tomorrow is the big day. School starts. Laughing Water is a sixth grader. Mr. Blueberry Eyes, a second grader. They are excited. I'm mostly ready, but there were a few things that didn't quite get done - mostly typing out the schedules I've scribbled out.

I did manage to pull in a few things from the garden. A dozen quarts of pickles are cooling on the table. There is still much to be done. Tomorrow is another day. - Nanette

Precious Days

2010-09-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

Meet Yukon Lady. I don't get to see her often, for obvious reasons. She was my roommate in college. Like Anne of Green Gables and Dianna Berry, we were "bosom friends". Still are. We consider it one of life's great cruelties that we are unable to live in the same town.

She spent last week with us. We talked, laughed, cried, and sewed and sewed. She brought three of her four beautiful boys. Mr. Blueberry Eyes was in 7th heaven! Laughing Water enjoyed it quite a lot, too! And me? I was ministered to! I let the house go, and just soaked up every minute I could. Her calm, earnest and genuine spirit was such a blessing!

Here is an apron we made for my sister-in-law's birthday. Laughing Water had fun modeling this obvious "mature" article!

Yukon Lady made all of these little bags, except the little wallet. I made that. She gave me the one with the leaves. I can't wait to use it. The small leaves on the top are made of baked clay, also custom designed.

It was a sad day when she left. I cried as she drove down my driveway. I'm scheming about how I can launch myself onto the Alcan Highway (not exactly sure how to spell that) with my kiddos to spend a month or so with her. Maybe next spring?

In other news, I took my kids to a small theme park several hours away yesterday. We had fun and got started back too late. Granny Flash insisted I stop and get a hotel. I was relieved to do so since I was truly weary.

This morning, Mr. Blueberry Eyes awoke feeling sick to his tummy. He was sick in the hotel hallway. Mortifying! We traveled home today, stopping every little while for one "emergency" after another. We arrived home to The Wood Artist pasty-pale with a fever, chills, vomiting, etc. All is calm as I write this now, but we're very tired. I think I'll delay the first day of school until Wednesday - because I can! ;) - Nanette

Kaleidescope

2010-08-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

I'm sprawled on my sofa wondering why I'm still awake. I'm completely wiped out! Old Faithful is curled up on the floor - a perfect picture of domesticity, except for the fact that he is a bag of bones and is starting to show his age!

It is hot. Living here this summer has been like bungee jumping on the thermometer. Monday night we had a frost advisory and had to cover up the sensitive plants. The next morning there was ice on the covers. Yesterday and today have been like an oven! I'm hoping the heat will plump up my corn. There are tons of ears on the stalks. Now they just need to fatten up.

I haven't blogged much this summer several reasons. I just have a lot of stuff on my mind. Our business is taking a ton of energy for me. Not that we have that many students. We're "reinventing" ourselves to stay afloat in the "new normal" of this economy. In order to do that, we've had to develop our own curriculum so that we can use it in an online setting. The Wood Artist and I are both working on it. It seems that it has consumed us! It is hard to find us in the middle of it all! Still, there are good things happening and we hope to start the testing phase in October. This date has been pushed back so many times in the last year-and-a-half that I'm afraid to give it voice. But, it looks feasible this time.

I'm truly struggling with life on so many levels. Maybe its that I'm in a fullblown, midlife, existential crises. Maybe its just that I'm tired. Its been so many year since we had a real vacation, I can't even comprehend what it would be like. Things have got to break through for us soon! O.k. I'm done whining.

Good things are happening, too. Like the fact that I just went camping by myself for three nights. I sat in awe of the silence of it all! Then there is the fact that my garden is actually doing very well, despite the crazy weather and grasshopper threat! I'm thankful that I decided to plant afterall!

Then there is the fact that I'm seeing a new doctor who is figuring out some of my issues. The fact that I passed the physical with good marks is alone something to give praise for!

I'm super excited about homeschool this year. We have so many fun things planned. I'm thankful that both of my kids have had some great friends to play with this summer. They also both made great progress in their swimming lessons. I'm so, so thankful for my husband. He is the best! I hope that someday he is rewarded for all of his hard work!

And, last, but not least, I'm thankful that the creative writing police can't see this rambling, maniacle, pathetic excuse of a blog post! TTFN - Nanette

More, More Garden Pictures

2010-08-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the overall garden. It is hard to see the colors in this picture.

Painted Mountain dry corn

Volunteer sunflowers

Long Thin Cayenne

Polar Bear Zinnia

More Garden Pictures

2010-08-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

This is a climbing rose I just planted this spring.

Raddichio

The pole bean tipi is filling out!

The dry bean and string bean patch. Petunias and nasturtiums in the foreground. We canned 40 quarts of beans off of this patch two weeks ago. Now it has slowed some, maybe from the cold.

Flowering kale

One of Those Days

2010-08-25T10:37:00.001-07:00

Today is one of those days. Yesterday was one of those days, too. I'm really crabby and I can't believe the amount of things that have gone wrong. Not everything, mind you. Some things have gone really well. I just need a serious attitude adjustment. So, I'm posting pictures of my garden. Maybe that will cheer me up. And maybe it will bring a smile to your day, too. I hope so. Enjoy!

Hiking Days

2010-08-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

This summer is a good one for our family. Our kiddos have grown to the point that they can walk much further, so we've been stretching them a little. Thanks to Granny Flash, the kids have new hiking boots and waterpouches.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes has turned out to be a strong hiker and lead the way much of the time.

Here is a trout that we spotted on one of our recent hikes. He's being reeled in by a catch-and-release fisherman.

We had some spectacular weather two weekends ago. I love this shot. We were back in the car by this point.

This is at the beginning of the famous Highline/Loop trail, a delightful 11.6 mile trip we did on a Sunday a couple of weeks ago. This rock ledge is dizzily perched above the highway for a stretch. I've seen two grizzlies and numerous mountain goats on this ledge. Thankfully, this day, was free of the large creatures.

We had to seek shelter from some pretty cold rain that pelted us for a while. We took the opportunity to eat a lunch, willing away the lightning that cracked around the alpine hillside.

This buck simply did not wish to leave the trail! What a beautiful creature!

Taking a break among sweet-smelling bear grass is always a treat.

When our water got low, we simply stopped at an alpine stream and filtered some into our drinking bottles.

Coming down the trail was more of a challenge. It was painfully steep.

TTFN - Nanette

Some Creatures

2010-08-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

We've done some spectacular hiking recently and I plan to write about it soon, but to whet your appetite, I thought I'd post a few photos of the creatures we've seen. Here is a hoary marmot. He is eating as much as he can so he can go into the long winter well nourished. Hmmm. That sounds like a great plan. Eat one's self into oblivion for six months and then sleep for six months! Where was I when that position was hiring?!

Here is a great looking goat - healthy, strong, a lush, clean coat growing. And you really can't beat the backdrop!

Awwww!!! Babies always get me!

And.....my favorite! "Ahahaha! Well, when ah was a kid...."

Nanette

Camping

2010-08-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

We were excited to go on our first camping trip altogether as a family in about two years! I, for one, was pleasantly surprised to see how much the children had matured and how much they could to help set up and then put things away at the end! I could get used to this!

Here, The Wood Artist is putting up the clothesline for the weekend.

We took Buddy, our canoe and spent some time paddling about.

Here is a pan of spuds frying. Note the purple ones mixed in. They are some we grew last year.

Our culinary adventure for the weekend was making corn pone out of the Painted Mountain corn we grew and dried and ground into meal. It was really yummy and so simple. We just baked them in this cast iron pan over the fire. They were too salty as the recipe was just plain wrong, but we'll adjust for next time and it will be even better. We are definitely getting addicted to the fun of growing and using from our own labors! - Nanette

Gardening Pleasures

2010-07-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

The last two weeks have found us doing some serious weeding in the garden. The result is that the garden is looking great! I'll have to post some pictures of it soon as it is really pretty! These are the salads we ate a couple of nights ago. The is butter lettuce, spinach, red and green leaf lettuce, fresh dill and a little scallion. We topped this with calamata olives, feta, and a yummy tahini dressing.

I've also been drying some of my pineapple mint for winter tea. It sure makes the house smell nice! I have a large batch of dill weed sitting in the oven. It has dried with just the pilot light. Now I need to crush it and get it into jars.

Here's a little shot of the butter lettuce patch.

And....my favorite! Mr. Blueberry Eyes found this toad and had a boatload of fun with it!

Happy Gardening! - Nanette

Biking the Hiawatha

2010-07-25T21:22:00.000-07:00

Events are happening so fast in our lives this summer that I can hardly pack and unpack for them, let alone blog about them. But, I have been taking pictures and I thought I'd stay up a few minutes tonight and put some of them on for you to look at. The Wood Artist and I celebrated our 14th anniversary recently and celebrated by doing some exploring in Northern Idaho. We went to museums and antique shops in Wallace and had fun biking the local trails.

These pictures are from the Hiawatha Trail. What a beautiful, fun ride! It started with a 1.7 mile tunnel where we had to use headlamps. It was so cold in the tunnel! The rest of the day, however, was pretty warm.

My headlamp wasn't very new and bright, so I had a little difficulty seeing, but eventually, I did make it.

We stopped partway down and had a haystack picnic!

At the bottom, we met a bus that took us back to the top. Here's a picture of the bikes hanging in the bus. The trip was a total of 17 miles. It was made on the famous, old train track called the Route of the Hiawatha, so the trail was gradual and an easy down hill. It went over tressles and through a number of tunnels. So there is one of our latest adventures. - Nanette

Tired

2010-07-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

This picture sums up what we're feeling right now. Exaustion! I haven't been on my blog for so long and I miss it! I should be able to be more failthful at it now that most of our summer travels are over.

I took this picture of the kids today as we were driving home from our latest adventure. The children both spent the week away from us. Mr. Blueberry Eyes stayed with his grandparents for the entire week while Laughing Water went to summer camp for the first time. They both had a fabulous time!

The Wood Artist and I spent time working on more curriculum writing for our online tutoring service and then celebrated our 14th anniversary by spending the weekend at a historical town a few hours from us.

I'll write more, but for now, I'm just checking in.

Nanette

Oh, Summer, Where Art Thou?

2010-07-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of one of my life's great memories. My 80 year old grandmother came from North Dakota for my brother's wedding. After the festivities, she, and the other relatives stayed an extra day - a rare thing for them. They wanted to go to our local nature reserve and see the sights. We took them hiking to one of our favorite lakes, a five mile trek on a rather uneven trail.

We stopped at my favorite, upturned tree for the photo above. Grandma hiked with the best of us, charging up the trails and stopping only to check on those who had fallen behind.

What an amazing legacy she's given us. She re-inspired me to stay strong and healthy so I can continue enjoying life! Thanks, Grandma, for showing your daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters the way! I want to be just as strong as you are when I'm 80!

In other news, summer is being a naughty child who doesn't come when called. We spent Independence Day gathered around a campfire, wishing for hot chocolate rather than the coolers of water and pop that were there. Lastnight, I was working late in my office and had to start a fire in the woodstove to keep warm.

My garden is less than thrilled. The zucchinis are not much bigger than the last picture I showed you. Inside the hoop house, however, things are going much better. The kiddos picked three trash sacks full of kale for me on Sunday. I made a banana/strawberry/kale smoothie for my lunch today. I also put flax oil in it. Yummy!

Today, I did get out to weed the beans and put twine on the green bean tipi. I might try to get out there again tonight.

Yesterday, I visited a new doctor who seems to know an amazing amount of balancing ones' hormones. I'm so excited to have met her. Hopefully things will go well with her natural prescriptions.

Just checking in, Nanette

Wedding Whirlwind

2010-07-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

Last Sabbath was the long anticipated wedding of my Brother MP and his bride. I don't have time to blog much today, but I thought I'd post a few pictures of the festivities.

More Garden Pictures

2010-06-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

Pineapple mint is taking over my salad garden. I need to start drying it for winter tea.

O.k. Don't laugh. I'm proud of my little zucchini! It has been a tough spring and I'll take what I can get!

Ireland Creek Annies! I'll write more about these beans another time. They are an heirloom with special significance to me.

Gotta love those cheerful poppies!

Some Early Garden Photos

2010-06-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

My Painted Mountain corn - not going to make it knee-high by the 4th! Still, it is looking healthy and strong.

I decided to try out watermelon and canteloupe in the hoop house this year.

My bleeding heart is the biggest and best ever!

Mr. Blueberry Eyes playing in "the pea green boat" today! This is in his mud hole in my garden.

What Do You Think?

2010-06-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

O.k. I did some playing around with my blog. What do you think? Like it, or prefer the old style. I can't decide! - Nanette

Our Life Most Recently

2010-06-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

I seem to go through periods where I have much to be philosophical about. I always think I'm going to pose a line of thought and invite comment. But, recently, it has been a lot just to keep up with our summer adventures. Here are a few photos taken on a recent trip to our favorite hiking spot. As you can see, the kids are growing before our eyes.

Lastnight, we returned home late from a homeschool convention in western Washington. I needed the refocusing that comes with those conventions. I needed the reassurance to some of my late ponderings of educational choices. That is exactly what I got.

The main speaker was John Taylor Gatto, a first-class educationalist. He was awarded "teacher-of-the-year" awards in the New York school system. It made one feel as if you were learning at the feet of a great thinker.

I was also tickled pink to meet Catherine Levison. Her books on a Charlotte Mason education influenced me early on in forming
my educational philosophy. She has a delightfully humorous
speaking style. We fell into a bonding conversation after her last meeting of the weekend. It made me so thankful for the greats who have forged the way before me. I don't think I would have been so brave and visionary.

We left Laughing Water and Mr. Blueberry Eyes with their grandparents for the weekend. They had a grand time playing with their cousin and bonding with Grandma and Grandpa.

In attempting to be thrifty, we got ourselves into a less than desireable motel situation. We had to listen to people fighting for two nights. One of the nights, I woke up with a start to the sound of a gunshot. When we awoke the next morning, the cops were there. I really don't know what happened. We had planned on staying for three nights, but decided enough was enough and drove back to The Wood Artist's parents' place. The kids shrieked in surprise when they saw us come in 18 hours early!

This picture of Mr. Blueberry cracks me up! Boys will be boys!

On the way home yesterday, we picked up two girls who were hitchhiking to Detroit. They were college kids headed to a symposium of some kind. I worried about them after we dropped them off. I hope they found a safe ride. They were sweet girls. I hope we hear from them again.

It has been raining great gadzukies here - definitely not your typical rainstorm for our corner of the world. I haven't even been out to my garden since I got home. It has been too wet!

I started a new student today. A delightful child. It is so good to be back tutoring again after several months' break!

I'll try to post garden pictures soon. That is, if there is anything other than puddles out there to take pictures of tomorrow! - Nanette

The Whole Point of the Trip

2010-06-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

So the whole reason we went on this trip was to attend my "little" brother's graduation from Ft. Leonardwood's Military Police School. On Tuesday, his wife and his twin joined us and we made our way to a hotel room near the entrance of Ft. Leonardwood. It was hard to be that close and not be able to see him until the next day!

That night, my kids got to see a small taste of a southern storm. It wasn't severe, but it was surely more of a storm than we get in the northern mountains!

This is a picture of Brother MP with his twin,
Brother Medic, who graduated last year. I think
I wrote something about him then.

I have some great pictures of Brother MP being reunited with his wife, but I hesitate to share their special moments on my blog! I'll just say it was a fabulous moment and it was so good to see them reunited after being apart for the better part of six months. He left for training about five days after they tied the knot at the courthouse. Their wedding ceremony is coming up.

This is a picture of him and me on graduation day.
He got an award for his expert shooting. He also lost about 40 pounds. I'm just so proud of him.

I must say, while I know it is necessary, I found myself feeling a little amused and irritated with the drill sargeants. Some of them are obviously good people, and some of them, well.....

So, imagine my delight when my mom inadvertantly backed up and smack behinds with the meanest of the mean female drill sargeants! Ha! It was great. She spun around, glaring, and ready to smoke someone. Behold, it was my little civilian mother. And there was nothing she could do about it! Delicious!

One of the connecting flights home that night was so difficult. For starters, we got delayed because of a lightning strike on the field. Then, there were two young children sitting in the seat behind us who were rather noisy. Mr. Blueberry

Eyes reacted violently to the noise. I've worked with kids in my tutoring business enough to spot some issues and I would have sworn he was having an autistic meltdown. It was a rough night. I have so much sympathy for parents of truly autistic kiddos. I also can't help but wonder what exactly is going on in my little guy's head. There may be some interesting days ahead.

The Wood Artist and I are taking a short trip to the Washington Homeschool Convention this weekend. Can't wait to get reinspired and also have some time alone with my Sweetie! Its been a long time!

I'll try not to let it be too long before another post. - Nanette

Here's Some More Baker Creek Photos

2010-06-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

Next Stop, Seed Heaven

2010-06-14T20:50:00.000-07:00

Just a few minutes away from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum is Baker Creek Seeds and Bakersville old time village. I've blogged before about the catalog. I use mostly Baker Creek's heirloom seed in my garden. I'm rarely disappointed. The seed is robust and delivers what is promised. I read their catalog like a bedtime story book. The pictures are rich and colorful. The selection is a bio-diverse dreamland.

I must say, though, that when I learned we would visit Baker Creek, I was worried that I had had it built up too much in my mind. Maybe I would be disappointed. Nothing could have been further from the truth. If I could have, I would have taken up employment and residence on the spot!

We missed June's festival by two days. That was disappointing. But, we were able to stroll around unhampered by the legendary crowds. Harriet's Mercantile was open, but there was a sign saying that if we wished to purchase anything to take it to the seed store. I had to purchase a jar of pickled okra. A must.

The apothecary was a pungent trip to the senses. There were handmade soaps and bags and bags of herbs and spices.

We continued strolling around the delightful place, peering into the flour mill, the blacksmith shop. We visited the community outdoor brick oven and the opry.

Bakersville boasts a delightful collection of exotic chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. It made my longing for my own flock deepen.

Granny Flash sells Baker Creek Heirloom seed in her store, so I had to get a picture of her beside some of the seed shelves to show her customers.

After that, we ate in their restaurant, a fun, rustic place with a set menu. The intriguing thing about this restaurant is that they don't charge you. There is a donation jar on the counter. You pay what you think it was worth. The food was definitely worth a lot!

O.k. I'm totally sounding like an infomercial. Sorry. It just captured my imagination! If you ever get the chance, go!

I'm excited because I have my whole garden in, except strawberries that are still sitting in my fridge. The seedlings are coming up and looking healthy.

The grasshoppers are there, but are not eating much. I'm thinking that the Semaspore from last year is delivering on its promise to infect this year's crop of hoppers. Time will tell. - Nanette

Living in a Dream

2010-06-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

When I was young girl, I lived in a Laura Ingalls Wilder fantasy world. I loved the movies. I loved the books. I would pretend to be her, picking up my imaginary, billowing skirts, and saying, "Drat! These hoops!"

I've long since grown out of it, but I still have a marvelous time reading her books to my kiddos and even sneak a peek when they watch an old "Little House on the Prarie" movie.

Last week, my Mom took the kids and I with her on a trip to Missouri for my brother's graduation from military police academy. We went a day early to take in some sights. Among the "sights", was the Laura Ingalls Wilder home in Mansfield, MO. This is the rock house that Laura and Almanzo's daughter, Rose, built for them in their later years. It was in this house that Laura wrote her first four books. She was 65 years old when she started them. I guess you are never to old to follow a dream!

This was the farmhouse that Almanzo built for Laura after they arrived in Mansfield. They lived in the stone house for 8 years and then moved back to their old farmhouse. Laura wrote her last four books there.

She saved everything. The museum beside the farmhouse has amazing things that belonged to the Wilders - Pa's fiddle, the breadplate. We looked at pictures, documents and lots of embroidery and cutwork that Laura had done. There was beadwork that Mary had learned to do at the blind school.

In the farmhouse was the water system and furniture that Almanzo built for Laura. There was the table where she read her Bible every day. There was the clock that Almanzo bought for her on their first Christmas. That, and the bread plate are the only things that survived the devastating fire that struck them in South Dakota.

I must say, I was smitten all over again! What an amazing woman. An amazing life!

In other news, Mr. Blueberry Eyes graduated from his music
school last Sunday. We are so proud of him. He will move onto private piano lessons next year.

I will post more about our Missouri trip soon. - Nanette

What To Do, What To Do!

2010-05-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of pictures of my kiddos playing baseball. Its fun to see my girly girl getting into the game!

Now, here's my dilemma. I've already had so many gardening woes this spring, I'm ready to quit for the year. My hanging gardens in the house got infested with gnats. I had to dump them out. Most of the tomatoes I planted in the hoophouse froze. The grasshoppers ate two large beds of basil as they came up in the hoop house. (I did borrow the neighbor's chickens and put in the hoop house with great success. There are now only a few grasshoppers to contend with.) The weather has been unbelievably cold and rainy. Tomorrow is June first and I haven't even planted my cold weather crops.

I truly am thinking about not doing much in the garden this year. That breaks my heart, but I'm discouraged about it. And tired. I feel like I wish communities did "plantings" for each other like they used to do barn raisings!

Bah humbug! - Nanette

An Answer to Prayer

2010-05-29T16:34:00.000-07:00

The Mighty Hunting Hound a couple of weeks ago

The last part of our week was trying, indeed. The Mighty Hunting Hound, as you know, holds celebrity status in this house. She is doted on, spoiled and, well, almost human. Imagine our concern when, on Wednesday, she started getting very wobbly in all four legs! About a year ago, she had a spinal injury and had to be on steriods and be crated for weeks. Thinking that this was the same, only worse, I called the vet and asked him to prescribe some Prednizone. We fixed up a crate and put her in it. Thursday night when we got home from the track and field, she could no longer get up. We rushed her to a therapist who worked on her and seemed to help. We were encouraged, and put the kids to bed with a little hope in her recovery. (They had been in tears and had prayed many, many prayers. I was worried that their prayers wouldn't be answered.)

Before The Wood Artist and I retired, however, she took a turn for the worse. She couldn't lift up her head. I was worried sick. Normally, she sleeps in our bed, but, thinking she was injured, we kept her in the crate. At about 4:00 a.m., I awoke and checked on her. She had made a mess, but couldn't get up, so I awoke The Wood Artist to help me clean her up. She had also tried to get to her water dish, but had fallen into it and her ear lay in it, without her being able to lift it.

The Wood Artist took care of her for a while and I went to bed. I soon heard him calling. He said that she was struggling for breath. I assumed that this time the spinal injury was so severe that it was affecting her breathing. I felt helpless. I went to bed again. I lay there praying that God would let her die before morning. I was heartbroken and had to give my children's faith to Him as well. I was worried that their faith would be devastated.

Then I heard him call again. Fearing the worst, I hurried to him. "Its a tick!!!!!!!!!!," he yelled. He had it removed in short order. (By the way, did you know that the best way to remove a tick is to turn it counter clockwise?) Only then did we remember that ticks can cause paralysis. At this point, we didn't know if tick paralysis victims recover. We stroked her limp body and started to snuggle her without fear of hurting her now that we knew it wasn't her back. About five minutes later, I thought she looked a little better. Then I thought it was just my sleepy, grieving brain. The thought no sooner entered my head, then The Wood Artist said, "Does she look better already?" Indeed, her breathing was stabilizing. A few more minutes and she was pushing a little on her front legs.

Now that we were not afraid of hurting her, we tucked her in bed with us. At about 8:30, she walked across the room, albeit very shakily. Minutes later, she was getting up on her own. She has now made a full recovery. The tick, by the way, was on the ear that was in the water. We likely wouldn't have found it it her ear had not been wet. I KNOW it was a God thing!

This is the picture of her Friday night. She has fully recovered and is racing around like a puppy. The vet confirmed that she would have died if we hadn't caught it. The ticks are bad this year because we didn't get a killing freeze this winter. I learned that this can happen to people, too.

Enjoy your outdoor summer, but do check yourself for the little friendly (or not so much) critters. - Nanette

What Has Kept Me?

2010-05-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

What has kept me, that my blog has been so long neglected? Certainly not desire. Blogging is an art expression, a therapy for me. I miss it when I don't have time for it. The last six weeks have been perfectly overwhelming to me. I don't even know if I can explain it all. I think I'll start with the most recent and work backwards. Yesterday was a Track and Field Day for the homeschoolers and private schools of our valley. Normally there are 500-600 kids in grades 1-6 who compete in the long jump, dash, relay, soft ball throw, sack race, and three legged race. Yesterday, however, was cold and rainy, and rainy and cold. Naturally, there were a few less athletes because of that. We, however, braved the discomfort, mostly because I'd agreed to supervise the 1st grade homeschool boys.

What a hoot! They were precious! They picked up a friendship and gabbed all day. I mused to myself over those who say that homeschooling does not allow for enough socialization. Could have fooled me! They were just as talkative and jolly and comfortable with each other as the kids from the other schools.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes was nervous at the beginning of the day, and stated his resentment that I didn't ask his permission before I signed him up for the event. (I replied rather undiplomatically that I was the Mom and didn't need to ask permission.) After a few minutes, however, that attitude faded away completely. He stated rather emphatically that he could win a ribbon. I encouraged him to just have fun. I didn't want him to be disappointed. He shocked me with two 8' jumps at the long jump! He had never practised this event! Then, at the dash, he proceeded to win 3rd place. At the soft ball throw, he took 6th, and at the 400 meter relay, his team took 2nd! They had gotton behind but he ran like the wind and made up the difference. Needless to say I was proud of him. And he was exceedingly proud of himself.

Then, Laughing Water's relay team took a fifth place ribbon. She was justly proud!

I just had to post these pictures. The kids' baseball coach let us borrow the pitching machine so the kids could practice their batting. I looked out my bedroom window to see this funny sight. My daughter, the Hutterite! Laughing Water may play a mean game of baseball, but she will always be a girly-girl!

One of the things keeping me the last six + weeks has been the baseball season. I've been running crazy trying to get the kids to their games and practices. They've done so well, and I'm particularly glad to see Laughing Water's imrovement in athletics. We've had a few hitches. Their team is young and have been matched with older, bigger, and more experienced teams. Naturally, they are scarier. But the worst night was when one of their teammates was up to bat and the ball came in a little too far left of the plate. Their teammate was whisked off to the hospital with a broken (badly) nose. It was traumatic and many of the kids wanted to quit the team then and there. But, bless their brave little hearts, they all stuck with it. The entire team has been afraid of the ball ever since, but, with the aid of face guards, they are really trying and are improving a great deal!

The other hitch was for me. I knew nothing about sports and didn't know the game of baseball well at all. Imagine my consternation when I was recruited to keep score for the game. Saying no was not taken as an answer! I was terrified! How could I keep official score for the team when I didn't even know the game! I was dropped into the middle of it, though. And I learned! I am now one of the scorekeepers and I know the game of baseball much better.

I have so much more to say. But I'll try to write more soon. TTFN - Nanette

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T19:06:00.000-07:00

A happy Mother's Day to one and all. I am so blessed to have my own mother. There are many days when her faith carries me. I am blessed to have my mother-in-law. She has encouraged me countless ways and more times than I could count. I am blessed to be surrounded by incredible mothers who share their wisdom and joy with me. I send my thoughts to all the mothers and those who ache to be mothers. Blessings!

My day started with whispers and hushed sounds going on in the house. When I tried to go into the kitchen, I was told I could not enter and got the distinct feeling that I was supposed to be in bed. So, back to bed I went. After some time, candles were brought into my room and lit, which set off the fire alarm! It was soon hushed. Then came a delightful breakfast! Great care had been taken to make tiny sandwiches in the shape of butterflies.

A fruit plate was decorated with freshly gathered wildflowers. (Who knew! I thought it was still too cold and blustery for flowers to be out!) The meal was rounded off with vegetarian sausages, an egg, and a glass of cherry sparkling cider. Dessert was a berry smoothie. This was followed by cards and treasure hunts and a great many wishes for a wonderful day! Such great people I have!

In the afternoon, The Wood Artist and Mr. Blueberry Eyes went for an explore with Buddy (our canoe). Meanwhile, Laughing Water and I tried something we've talked about for 2 or 3 years - making clay buttons. We kind of went wild. Laughing water was inspired to start making all different shapes of beads. Then we baked them. I'm very pleased with the outcome.

I was in a yarn shop the other day and saw hand made, clay buttons selling for a pretty penny. I'm thinking this would be a great thing for the kids to make some $ on!

I love Laughing Water's round bead here. We have all kinds of ideas floating around in our heads right now! - TTFN - Nanette

Need Some Recipes

2010-05-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

I love to cook. I love to try new recipes and make them just right. However, there are two dishes whose perfection has eluded me for years. One is vegetarian baked beans. The other is Spanish rice. I would love to get a recipe that uses whole grain rice, but I'd be satisfied with a scrumptious white rice recipe.

So, if you have any great recipes for either of these dishes, do share them! - Nanette

Catching Up

2010-04-28T19:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! Its been a long time since I blogged. Sorry about that. We've had some unexpected stuff come into our lives that has taken us by storm. Mostly, it is good stuff.

I thought I'd post some pictures of our hanging garden progress. The basil has taken off like crazy since I took these pictures.

I'm working several hours a day now in our tutoring business. I'm so very relieved that things have picked up with that!

The kids are both in baseball. Mr. Blueberry Eyes enjoyed celebrity status on the team when he hit a home run on Friday! I nearly damaged my vocal chords screaming! I'm actually learning the game now that I got roped into scoring! Yikes! Someday I'll have to post about how that happened!

I'm behind in my garden. Onions, cabbage and pease should be in by now. I'm trying to not think about it. Maybe I'll get to it this week. - Nanette

Cleopatra and Her Brother

2010-04-13T18:15:00.000-07:00

I'm always delighted when a history lesson captures my children's imaginations. I love to see them absorbing the story so much that it becomes thought material for them outside of history class. But, really, did it have to be the story of Cleopatra?! When we read the story yesterday, Laughing Water was mesmerized! Who wouldn't be? The carpet stunt and drama and lovers and more drama has captured many a romantic.

Tonight when I emerged from my own quiet time (hiding out in a hot bath), this is what I saw. I asked Mr. Blueberry Eyes if he was Julius Caesar or Mark Antony. He said, "Oh, I'm her brother!" Laughing Water quickly reminded me that Cleopatra married two of her own brothers. Gross! Did she have to remember the lesson quite so well?! I doubt Mr. Blueberry Eyes remembers that they both died under suspicious circumstances!

Gotta love history! - Nanette

A Place to Keep My Small Garden Tools

2010-04-08T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is my latest project. I'm tired of having my small garden tools and supplies laying around the garden or back at the house when I need them. So, last summer, I purchased a mailbox to put them in. It never did get mounted. Last week when I was hauling manure into my hoop house, I saw it sitting there. I was in a mood to be creative, so I brought it in the house are starting playing around with it.

My latest poultry craze phase influence my motiff! (We're making progress in that dept. I got permission from the landlords and have started working on cheap fencing options. The Wood Artist is completely overwhelmed with business developments, though, and I'm thinking we may have to postpone getting the chicks until next year. Time will tell.)

I still have to put an outdoor sealer on it. I can't wait to use it!

In other news, Laughing Water has been taking ITBS tests in town this week. This means that I have had to spend a lot of time in town. The kids got snowed out 1/2-way through their baseball practice again today. We had several blustery squalls go through our valley.

I got to spend time today with my new sister-in-law tasting cake options for their upcoming wedding ceremony. We're all getting excited about it!

It has been quiet on the blog lately. Is anyone out there still reading it, or have I worn you all out entirely! TTFN - Nanette

Random Thoughts and a Birthday Wish

2010-04-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

Today has been full of snuggles and tickles and favorite foods and lots of remembering. Laughing Water turned 11 today. Cliche's can't capture the meaning of time flown by. Surely it was just yesterday they put her stout little self into my arms. We bonded the first instant. Now she is eleven. I refuse to think about the future. I'm content today.

Here is a picture of Laughing Water working on her sewing project over spring break. It isn't done yet. I'll post pictures of it when it is.

Here are random pictures of our garden, bare and anticipating the good things to come. We hauled lots of manure for it, but it isn't near enough!

Baseball was cancelled today at the last minute due to a snowstorm. Laughing Water was delighted. She's afraid of the ball now that she's been hit in the mouth.

I'm scrounging to see if I can find about 600 ft. of 6 ft. chicken wire for really cheap or free! Am I crazy? Yah.

My chive patch is bursting to life already. It is inside my hoop house.

Here is my garden, ready for the planting season.

Fish Hatchery and Chicken Fever

2010-04-04T15:32:00.000-07:00

We visited a local fish hatchery last weekend. It was a lovely spring day, so we snapped a few pictures. After the long winters that living in the north provides, spring sunshine is always welcome.

This spring, I've come down with a peculiar fever, though. I'm really not sure sure what triggered it. I've always thought that I would one day want chickens. Someday. In the future... When we have our own land. But, alas! It has hit my head with overwhelming desire. Now! I have to have chickens now!

Now this does present a bit of a problem in that we rent. Our landlords have chickens that run all over the property and it would be a nuthouse to add more. This, however, I think, can be managed with The Wood Artist's plans. He has proposed to me that the perfect way to keep chickens is to build a 6 foot run all the way around our garden. The coop would open up into this run. The run would also be covered with chicken wire, thus protecting the darlings from the bald eagles and resident hawk family. The run would also keep the foxes from grabbing at will, and would keep our flock separate from the landlord's flock. It would achieve the idea of having free range chickens with all the safety benefits of confinement. Since our garden boasts a perimeter of 320 feet, I figure that I can keep 15-20 chickens.

Another benefit that has me delirious with joy is that, with this plan, the chickens will eat the grasshoppers as they move into the garden. This should be a good year to test this. We had a mild winter - too warm to kill off the grasshopper eggs. I have confidence that my Semaspore bait from last year will kill off the resident hoppers, but what about the ones that will move in? Cluck-clucks to the rescue!

My poor husband. He is so overwhelmed with things that must be done. I really don't know if I should push for it this year. He is, however, game to give it a try. I think I'll make enough sewing for this wedding to pay for most of the fencing and posts. The Wood Artist thinks he has enough scraps for the building of the coop. I've got how-to books and chick catalogs on the way. The children are so excited. We've agreed they each get five and I get five. Most of them have names already.

So, stay tuned. We have a few hurdles to cross - like permission from the landlords and $. This could be a new adventure! Just think of the benefits - eggs, manure, free and safe insecticide, and countless hours of fun just watching them strut around! When I was a kid, my favorite place to be was my grandmother's coop. I could watch them by the hour, such comical creatures they were! I want that for my kids. - Nanette

Spring Break

2010-03-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

We're having spring break here at our house. I chose to reserve two weeks for our spring break because one week just didn't seem near enough! We haven't done much of what we set out to do, but we have had fun. Grandpa and Grandma visiting and filled our pantry to overflowing with yummy foods. Laughing Water has worked on sewing her first dress. I've started teaching myself how to knit dish cloths. (This is especially fun using hemp yarn. It is supposed to be antibacterial, so it will be useful as dish cloths.)

My kids have been cooking and baking a lot lately. The first picture is of Mr. Blueberry Eyes making French toast. Here, Laughing Water checks on her baking while managing her dress-up skirts! What a hoot!

I'll try to post more often now. I have a lot of philosophical thoughts rattling around in my head these days! - Nanette

Spwinter

2010-03-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

We're in the dreary days of spwinter - that time of year that can't decide if it is still winter or if we should venture into spring. I dislike this time of year the most! We've returned the kids' cross-country skis for the year. There isn't any snow to use them anyway. But neither can we break out the short sleeves and flip-flops. Spwinter. Bother!

The Wood Artist found this butterfly on a piece of firewood in the wood pile. Thinking it was likely dead, he brought it in the house. Not long after photographing the poor, deceased creature, it flew up to my ceiling. I guess the warm house had awakened him. Not sure how to best care for him, we talked to a ranger and he said it would be best to put him back into the cold so he could stay dormant or whatever you would call it, until there was something outside for him to eat. The next day, Mr. Blueberry Eyes was able to guide him outside without touching his wings.

Here's the view from one of our recent outings. This view never ceases to take my breath away. It is the view from where I spent most of my teenage life.

We're in Spring Break now. I set aside two weeks for it. We did some sewing together today. My goal for these two weeks is to sew, knit, work on some garden chores, and rest. Hopefully, I'll have something to show for it! If I do, I'll post pictures. - Nanette

Puppy Love and Swings

2010-03-11T20:56:00.000-08:00

It's no secret in this house that Papa (The Wood Artist) is an animal lover. I saw The Mighty Hunting Hound enjoying a snuggle and had to snap this picture. She stayed that way for about five minutes! It oughtta be illegal to be such a pampered pooch!

The kids were delighted when The Wood Artist put up this swing in the woods for them. It didn't take any time at all for Mr. Blueberry Eyes to start working on stunts.

I'm poking along on the dresses for the wedding. One is ready for a fitting and I fully intended on having the other one ready by now, but it is going slowly. First one thing and then another happens that needs my attention or that I would rather do. I'm glad that it is coming along, though.

Lastnight was the first time The Wood Artist and I went out to eat on a date since last September or October. We had Red Curry, which is one of the few things I can eat at resaurants right now. It was so, so yummy! We had a lot of business to discuss and it was lovely to just sit and talk without interruption. (I'm thankful for grandparents close by who do a great job of babysitting.) Then we shopped for some badly needed items, talked some more over a chai tea, made more plans, and then came home.

We are spending a lot of time working on the expansion of our business to an online forum. It is finally moving ahead and we are so excited. It can't come too soon for our family budget! We are on a steep learning curve, though, especially in regard to new technology.

Tonight, Laughing Water and I did some shopping for clothing for her. I really haven't done much shopping for her in her lifetime because we've always had friends who would pass down their lovely clothes. But she is getting to that age where hand-me-downs come less frequently, and the child is growing like a weed! And I found out that she has very definite opinions about what she likes! For the most part, though, she has good taste. We were blessed to find some fantastic sales.

My plant starts are up and looking healthy and strong. It is good to have living things around me.

I'm starting a book club. Any suggestions for good books? - Nanette

The Doggy Biscuit Co.

2010-03-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

Laughing Water wants to go to summer camp. She also knows that summer camp is simply not in Mom and Dad's budget right now. So she is working and scheming and scheming and working. She works for her Granny. She does extra chores around the house. On Friday, she and Mr. Blueberry Eyes (who is motivated to earn money, too) Actually washed all of the windows of our business classroom - 7 in all. They washed inside and outside, with the help of a ladder. Then they cooked up another plan. They made a catalog and went to several neighbors and a couple of relatives and took orders for doggy biscuits. Surprisingly, everyone they approached put in an order! They were thrilled!

So, today, they started right off. They baked and baked and baked - all by themselves. They made doggy treats that were so wholesome and delicious that I even sneaked a couple of snitches! They used fresh ground w.w. flour, farm fresh eggs, and all sorts of yummies.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes hung in there a remarkably long time for a little guy! He worked pleasantly alongside her for hours. Suddenly, he started complaining of a sore throat. Within 30 minutes, he was down. It is apparently a nasty sore throat, because he usually suffers rather silently. Not so this time! He fell asleep hard with a fever and when he woke up, he wanted to know if he was still going to get 1/2 the proceeds from the sales! Laughing Water magnanimously assured him that he would get his share because he couldn't help it that he was sick. What sweeties!

So, now the doggy biscuits are baked and the bigger ones in the food dehydrator to insure against mold. All of the orders will be filled tomorrow and I have two very tired kidlets. I'm proud of their stick-to-it-ness.

As for me, I didn't get as much done today on sewing for the wedding as I had planned. But I did some. And I got a veritable mountain of laundry/bedding washed and put away.

TTFN - Nanette

2010-03-04T18:23:00.000-08:00

I took The Mighty Hunting Hound to the groomer today. She was getting pretty scruffy, and, try as we might, this seems to be something we don't do well. Once, when The Wood Artist tried to groom her, she dove for cover under my leg, then under the pillow. She was so embarrassed! Poor thing! But tonight, she is happy and feeling good about herself.

I'm making slow, but sure progress on the bridesmaids' dresses. I'm taking it a little at a time!

My plant starts are coming up! The peppers and some of the tomatoes are a little slower than the cabbage, but those that are up, look healthy!

I don't have much to say tonight, so I'm off for now! - Nanette

Pooh Bear Pancakes and Pink Lace

2010-03-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

This is supposed to be Pooh Bear. I know, I know. It looks nothing like him. My kids love creative pancakes and this was one of my attempts. No matter. He was a fine remedy for the rumblies in the tumblies.

I'm sitting at my computer when I certainly shouldn't be. I'm sewing for this wedding and I have a fitting deadline coming up. I've reconstructed the pattern to create what the bride wants, and I've cut out one dress, but I haven't cut out the dress that needs to be ready for the fitting. I usually love to sew, but lately I've been making novice mistakes all over the place, and, frankly, I'm afraid to work on it for fear of making some dreadfully expensive mistake. So, here I sit.

I haven't shared anything about my private journey of the last few months on here. And I don't plan to share much because I promised to keep this blog positive. However, I'm dealing with some pretty big burnout issues. It is hard to concentrate and think like I used to. In a perfect world, this would be where I would go to a retreat to sleep and take care of myself and voila! I'd be all better. But, a perfect world it is not. So, I'm taking baby steps here and there. I say no to more things (except sewing for weddings!) I sleep in more often. And I trust that the God of Heaven is hearing and answering my prayers in His own wonderful time. And it IS improving. I'm thankful for that!

Another thing I've done is a radical, controversial weight loss and metabolism reset program. Diet and exercise wasn't working, so I decided to go for broke. I lost 22 pounds in my first, eight-week round. This time I'm doing a 1/2 round and I've lost 7 pounds so far. I have one more week to go. It has been hard, hard, hard, but so rewarding and I'm so excited that the program boasts a huge success rate for maintaining. But, at the moment, I'm hungry and grumpy.

So, watch out: Middle aged loony with rumblies in her tumbly is headed for the sewing scizzors and pink lace!!!!!!!!!! Runnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TTFN - Nanette

Need Your Opinion

2010-03-01T10:26:00.000-08:00

O.k., everyone. We want your ideas. The Wood Artist found this banjo shell at the dump. The wood is in great condition and he wants to make an art object out of it. What are your ideas??????

In other news, Laughing Water and Mr. Blueberry Eyes are practicing hard for a guitar/violin duet. They have a recital coming up and will play "Polar Bear Kiss", a song their teacher composed for them and let Mr. Blueberry Eyes name.

Knitting Debut

2010-02-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

I'm excited that I just finished the burnt orange scarf. I ended up giving Laughing Water my hat because it looked better on her. So I gave her the scarf, too! I think I'm hooked on knitting!

I have my friends' three kids here today. Three-year-old twins and a 7 year old. It is a CRAZY day! But the sun is shining and tummy feels better than the last two days. Woohoo!!!!!!!! Feelin' lighthearted! TTFN - Nanette

Hanging Gardens, Part II

2010-02-21T16:01:00.000-08:00

Our hanging gardens is up and working! The Wood Artist drilled holes in the bottom of the PVC. He also put screen over the holes to keep the dirt from falling through.

He hangs two PVC trays beside each light. (The light between them shines down to the level below.)

My Brother Schnickelfritz gave me some pea starts and some Chinese greens. I planted them along with lettuce, endive, and raddichio seed. I can't wait to see how they mature.
I'll keep you updated. - Nanette

Winter Fun

2010-02-17T21:40:00.000-08:00

Sunday was a pretty exciting day for the children. We visited some friends who had a spectacular sledding hill. Laughing Water was a bit fearful, but Mr. Blueberry Eyes took to it with glee!

There were jumps and he caught some great air.

We also strapped on our snowshoes and took a trek through the woods. In the evening sleds were hooked up and the children were pulled for about seven miles on the long driveway.

A lone wolf had left his tracks of about four inches and scat on the road. One could easily see that he had recently dined on a rabbit.

We're lovin' God's great creation! - Nanette

Librarians Are The Best

2010-02-12T11:32:00.000-08:00

Librarians are some of my favorite people. They are right up there with firefighters and policemen in my book! They are a breed all their own and they all seem to have one passion - helping you find books. At my local library, I'm afraid that someday I will reach my limit of the lengths they go to. I keep them busy finding and processing stacks and stacks of books.

There is one librarian, however, that goes above and beyond the call of duty repeatedly. She keeps her eyes open for books on subjects she knows we like and puts them on hold for us. The book in the above picture is one such book. It is a book about felting old wool sweaters and all the wonderful things you can make with them. I highly recommend "Warm Fuzzies" by Betz White. And thank you, Ms. Library Personified!

I've been flattered recently to learn that at least two local librarians read my blog. So, here's to you! May your influence inspire the children in our valley to become just like you!

In other news, Mr. Blueberry Eyes read for 30 minutes on his own today. He is very eager to earn a ticket to a local theme park. Whatever it takes! It is so fun to see him growing up. We've had some tough times with that kiddo, but can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Well, at least this tunnel. I hope we have a few good years before we hit the teenage tunnel!

My brother, Schnickelfritz, helped me highlight my hair this morning. I bartered with him for squash soup. I'm pleased with the outcome.

It was chilly the other night and we found Lucky Tiger warming her buns at the heat register! Thought you'd all appreciate a good laugh! TTFN - Nanette

Putting Off What Must Be Done

2010-02-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

I'm stalling. Yesterday I was given a large bolt of fabric for a wedding I'm sewing for. Although the wedding is not until May, I really want to get the dresses done. I have the measurements for two of the bridesmaids. The third is going to sew her own. There are several changes to the pattern and it is up to me to communicate all of that to the other seamstress in hopes that the dresses will all look similar! Right now, I need to compare measurements and start altering pattern pieces. Usually, I would look forward to the challenge, but I must be getting old. I just want to be done already. So, I'm blogging! Its more fun.

Here is a picture of the recent snow-shoe excursion we took into Glacier Park. It rejuvinated me to get out to my favorite stomping ground! Pictured with the kiddos and I are my parents, Health Food Man and Granny Flash. The Wood Artist is behind the camera.

I had a treat the other night. My sweet Laughing Water told me that she was making dinner. I ran to town on an errand and when I got back she was busily making potato soup and apple muffins. They were superb! I'm not sure where she learned to cook because, honestly, as much as I intended to teach her, I really haven't done so great at it! The muffins were so scrumptious! I couldn't have done a better job myself!

Today, Mr. Blueberry Eyes was in his skivies (I don't know how to spell that) scrubbing the bathtub (his favorite chore). He said, "Mom, can we web-catch today?" I thought, "Oh, bother! He has already passed me up in technology savvy." I said, "What is web-catching?" He replied, "You know! Getting down the cobwebs!" (So now you know that my house isn't perfect!) So, he spent part of his morning "catching webs"!

I'm excited to see how Mr. Blueberry Eyes has been motivated to read the last few days! It should help him make a lot of progress. I gave him a test, which he did not pass. I explained that he would pass it just as soon as his brain started paying attention to the vowel sounds in the words. That was all it took. He asked for the test again the next day and he passed it with flying colors. Now he is asking to read! Funny, the little things that can make a big difference.

I got some old wool sweaters and suit jackets from a local community service center that could not give them away. I felted them in my washing machine and plan to start making some hats and mittens out of them. Oops! That reminds me. I have a wedding to sew for first! I guess I can't stall anymore. I'm grabbing my measuring tape. I'll turn on the radio or a book on tape and just tackle it. Wish me luck! TTFN - Nanette

Hanging Gardens Progress

2010-02-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

We're in the doldrums of winter. No snowstorms. No sunny days. Blah. Our spirits seem to be doing the same thing. It is hard to feel creative and energetic. Funny thing, though. When I look through my pictures of the last week, we've done quite a bit.

Above is a picture of the soil trays that The Wood Artist is making for my hanging garden. It is made of 4 in. PVC pipe.

Here he is building the frame to hang them on. He should have them up and ready to plant this weekend sometime. I'll keep you updated.

I promised I'd let you know how we liked the creamed kale made from the dehydrated kale. It was yummy! I made my sauce with dairy, but you could make it with a nut sauce if you prefer a vegan option. It was slightly chewy and I think that next time I would cook the kale next time. This time I just soaked it.

Mr. Blueberry Eyes lost another tooth today. He said, "Mom, I'm putting my tooth under my pillow." I said, "What if the tooth fairy is broke?" He replied, "It would be really nice if you'd give two dollars so that I wouldn't have to earn any more money for that toy I want." Inflation these days! - Nanette

Happy Super Bowl, Everyone

2010-02-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

I am the scrooge of football. I don't understand it. I don't get it. I don't care about it. And I think it is noisy. I think it is silly for grown men to race around like idiots chasing an oblong piece of rubber. And why do they ALL pile on top of each other when one or two well placed takles could stop the rubber? At this point I'm cringing and can hear bones snapping. (Oh, wait, that was my knitting needles clicking away.)

So when Super Bowl Sunday rolls around, all I care about is the food and watching my family and friends laugh, cheer and scream. As it happens this year, The Wood Artist is heading over to friends to watch it. I'm staying home to tuck in the cherubs and steal a few moments of peace. I'm not even slightly sad. (Though I will miss watching my friend, Nancy, scream and cheer. I'm told it is not to be missed!)

Despite all of this, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed "Blind Side". It even helped me track what is going on a bit better. If he was playing in the Super Bowl, I might have had to watch it.

This picture is of my new kitchen growing operation. Though I'm afraid putting it up inspired so much creative thought that it will soon be taken apart for the much grander "hanging garden" that I mentioned before. The Wood Artist has been working hard all day and it is taking shape nicely.

Yesterday we went for a snowshoe in Glacier National Park. We were looking for Charley Russell's famous cabin. But we didn't find it. We determined that we will have to search again in the summer by canoe. The day was nice and it did my cabin-bound mind good to see the Park again and breathe the pristine air.

So, now that I've allienated all of my football-fan readers, I bid you a good evening. Enjoy! - Nanette

Dried Kale

2010-02-04T12:33:00.000-08:00

Thursday is my cleaning day. I don't like Thursday, because it is a lot to get the house sparkling clean and do school. But, I have some great helpers and today they were in fine form. I assigned Mr. Blueberry Eyes the job of mopping the kitchen floor. His response was, "Can't I do all the floors?" That is a sound a mother loves to hear.

So the house is coming along and school is coming along. Now I just need to work in my walk and wrap up loose ends and all will be well. I LOVE Thursday nights because it is the culmination of the regular weekly duties and I can relax and plan food for the weekend.

Speaking of food, I made a soup this week and tried out my dried kale. It was so yummy! I really don't think I will ever go back to freezing kale when I can dry it. It is easier to preserve, more nutritious and just as yummy to eat. I plan to try making a creamed kale over rice dish. I'll let you know how we like it.