Dumplings

Yesterday was a busy one. Darlin cleared brush and set up a fence for the pigs out in the woods. He kept at it and it still took him until almost dark to finish. It looks good though. This morning he put a few pigs out there to see how they'd do. It's electric to discourage them from going through it.
  I spent my day in the house catching up on dishes and laundry. Dusting, folding laundry, sweeping, folding laundry, cooking, folding laundry, de-cluttering, folding laundry, reorganizing, etc. But this morning when I got up it was totally worth it! I could get to the coffee pot with out shuffling through dirty dishes, the bathroom was clean and tidy, the house (what I cleaned of it yesterday) looks nice and welcoming and I feel relaxed. I still have some laundry to wash, dry, fold and put away (imagine that!) but I have a handle on it now. I also cleaned up the basement, swept the steps and floor, wiped down the washer and dryer and washed the table. I have a small table next to the dryer that I keep clear just for folding laundry. I have found that if I fold it right when it comes out of the dryer (or shortly after) it doesn't end up in piles upstairs do fold "later". So if there is clean laundry down stairs, I fold it and take it up with me and put it away right then. It makes it so much easier.

 For supper: Beef soup and dumplings. I made a soup out of leftover roast, and it was my first time making dumplings. They are yummy! I don't remember ever having them but they are so good!
 You drop the biscuit dough on top of the soup/stew when it is simmering, then cover it for 15-20min. They cook up nice and fluffy inside *Mmmm!* And not all mushy and doughy. You want to make sure you have plenty of liquid in your soup though. I should have had a little more in mine, the soup turned into a stew and some of it stuck to the bottom of the pot. I think I'll use a heavier one next time too.

 Have a wonderful day!!

Pea Trellis

Darlin made a pea trellis the other day for our growing peas.

 He had a large ball of twine and placed it in a small plastic bucket that had a handle. Then he put his belt through the handle before buckling it. Next he took the end of the twine and threaded it through a 18in long by 1/2 piece of PVC pipe, and tied the end off to the first stake. Then he walked back and forth between the rows, wrapping it around each stake he came to.

 Pea blossoms

 Hilled potatoes

 Rows of peas

Farm shopping list

Thought it might be nice to share what a typical "farm shopping list" looks like for us:

• Mineral block for the cows
• shavings for the chicken coop
• pig feed
• layer pellets
• broiler feed mix
• diesel fuel for tractor
• various hardware
• canning lids and bands
• tomato plants

This is today's list, usually it's basically the same (except tomato plants).

Got goats??

It has been almost a year since I've had a goat around here. I could not believe how hard it was to find one in Uncle Henry's, Craig's list or at an auction (besides, if you are looking for a decent milk goat, auction goats are somewhat questionable). I didn't find one I liked in any of those places. So, I took a chance and called up the folks where I got my very first goat, and asked if they had any milkers for sale. They called me back-Yes, they did have some!!!!!!! Yay! Here is Ivy, and her doeling... Ivy is a first year freshener, currently giving about 1/2 gallon of pure, healthy milk a day. I will be bringing her home soon.

~A farmer's wife needn't concern herself with being a big bread winner in today's society; she simply makes her own.~

This is AMAZING!

This family lives in urban California. Their electric bill is $12.00/month! They sell surplus from their front door to chefs, as well as deliver. Grant it, they live in the city, but they only use about 25 gallons of bio diesel/month!-that they make themselves! (out here in the sticks, we live 30-35 miles form the nearest "big town") This is a must-watch! It puts my "needs" in proper perspective, how about you?

Get Together

The siblings came for an overnight visit Thursday!!

  June Bug (Photo courtesy of the Vet's handiwork)

 Perky pepper plants

  Playdough time

The next day...

 Chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast!

        Mmmm, coffee!

 Helping out

Weed whacking

 Hilled potatoes

 Working on the new egg mobile...

 Lunch time! Home made pizza sticks dipped in pizza sauce

 A serious game of Go Fish!

 Or, not so serious

 Egg mobile progress

Portrait of Lady Bug by request, Cute!

 Ta-da! Darling finished it yesterday. The girls look very happy!

 Our meat birds came when the siblings were here, so glad they got to see them! This is what 72 birds look like...!!!!!

 Awwwah

What's been going on?

• cleaning
• laundry (now that we have a new dryer I can get all caught up from all this rain!)
• playing catch with June
• drinking herbal tea and fighting off a miserable cold the last two days
• thinking about baby things
• reading
• started writing the book I've always wanted to write
• coming up with ways to get important papers and documents organized
• working on reorganizing all my favorite recipes
• our trout fish for the pond came
• trying new recipes like :whole wheat pita-pockets with hummus and veggies *yum!* and pork/pineapple kebobs
• enjoying peaks of sunshine today after a long stretch of rain
• we have hens sitting on eggs

That's pretty much all that has been going on in the last few days. Hope you all are having a great day! God bless!

P.S.

Thank you Sis, for the link. I liked the trackers and it was waaayyy easier than when I was trying to add one earlier. You're so *smat* lol. Love you!

BABY!!!!!!!

Today was the ultrasound (it was moved a day due to a more urgent situation). I have to confess: up until today I was in a sort of denial. I was happy about the baby, of course. But having two consecutive pregnancies end in miscarriage, I was a bit skeptical. In a way, it didn't seem completely for real, if I'm making any sense. Obviously I felt pregnant, my tummy was growing, morning sickness, the whole nine yards. But the whole time, I was wondering; Is it for real this time? Is the baby actually ok? Is there really a heartbeat? I hadn't realized how much I was worrying about this until Darling and I were in the waiting room. I had the butterflies so bad I could have thrown up, and also wanted to cry-I didn't realize I was so scared. We got called in. Here we go, I thought, It's going to happen all over again, isn't it? Glad I remembered to put on my waterproof mascara, I was thinking. (I know, crazy, right?)
 So when that screen came on, and I saw that baby, our baby, I thought, Ok, this is a first, a bigger baby, good so far. Then our little love moved and wiggled around, and I heard that heartbeat, a strong, steady heartbeat. It was like a huge wave of relief and excitement came over me. Our baby IS ok, it's going to be ok! It was so beautiful to see him/her, and hear the heartbeat, tears started running down my face, I just couldn't help it!
     So now, introducing our baby...

I think the 3D is so neat! And, If you look close, looks like our little one might be a boy! Although it is too early to say for sure, but time will tell. Anyway, the big thing is that Little Love is healthy!!!!!!

Oklahoma

While I type this, I am sitting in the safety of my home, knowing my loved ones are safe. In Oklahoma, parents watched helplessly in horror as the hurricane ruthlessly made its way toward schools, day cares, and their homes, some still not knowing if their children are alive. Tonight, I also had a hot meal. In Oklahoma, people are sifting through what's left of their homes, wondering when they will have their next meal, how they will feed their children. I have a warm, dry bed to sleep in tonight. Some of these folks don't even have a car left to sleep in. I have clean clothes to wear tomorrow. They have the clothes on their backs. I get to see my husband come home from work, and give me a kiss. Some husbands and wives are now left behind, never to hold each other through this terrible time, or the good times to come-and don't have any photos left of their true loves to carry with them. Parents lost children. Our child is safely tucked away, growing inside me. As I sit here, I feel a little guilty. Because some of these people have lost EVERYTHING, and I am so blessed. There are trailer trucks headed out with supplies, food, water. The Red Cross is in action. Fellow Americans are wrapping victims in blankets, and offering comfort. Those of us at home can help too. We can pray, donate funds, supplies and blood.
     This terrible ordeal has reminded me to keep in touch with family. To thank the Lord for each day He gives me with Darling, for our home, baby, food, clothing, vehicles and animals... How about you?

10 Weeks

Little feet at ten weeks.
 
                                                   
                                       (Photo courtesy of Google Images)
8 Days until ultrasound and counting! Can't wait to see our little love!!

~Thinking about:~
*Finding some clothes that fit! (besides Darlings shirts lol)
*Crib sheets
*Baby names
*Oranges

Darling is so sweet, on Mother's Day he brought me a gallon of orange juice and some Tim-bits from Tim Horton's *yum!*

Craving

Ok, I think it is official. I have a craving...oranges and orange juice! Gotta get some when I get groceries!!!

I never had to have it before, it was ok, but not essential. A week from this coming Tuesday we hope to see the little heartbeat of our angel, and should be able to make out the little arms and legs too.
Awwah, soooo cute! Doesn't that just make you want to yawn? Lol.