Zechariah 13:9

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. Zechariah 13:9

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Of Food & Flies


Tuesday, 25 May 2010

  • Of Food & Flies

    Breakfast, lunch and supper.......and sometimes snacks........what do they all have in common?  Food!  Here in America, we have a many, many different kinds of foods in all the different food groups.  We are very, very blessed!  We have no idea how blessed we are, until we witness or read about people who do not have food or just enough food for that day or that meal.  What a shame for us to grumble and take for granted what we do have.  And, yet we do, don't we?  I have been thinking about this food issue, for here of late I feel frustrated with my meal planning, or should I say, lack of meal planning.  We do not eat elaborate, fancy food, but just usually a meat, veggie & starch & sometimes a salad.  Desserts are treats for us, too, much to the boys dissatisfaction.  There are 2 of us in this family that I would consider to have hyperinsulinism, which simply means the more carbs we eat, the more we seem to be hungry and dissatisfied and the more we gain weight.  I have found that if I eat by the Atkins guidelines, I feel better.  Atkins means lots of meat, vegetables, salad, and good fats.  We are permitted to have alot of food in those categories, but did you know that vegetables and salads are NOT real food?  According to Solomon they are not.  Real food is french fries, milk shakes, and pizza.  I am learning to prepare meals that satisfy Atkins, but also my "real" food family members.  Simple, but nutritious are my requirements, however, we get tired of the same things over & over.  Then I have to think of those who have hardly any food and we get tired of the "over & over" food?  Lord, please forgive us!   I got a book at the library called "Eat-A-Bug Cookbook" and it literally gives recipes to make bugs into meals.  Wonder if they are considered "real" food?  I'll have to ask Solomon.   I am tempted to try a few recipes, just to say we did, but who knows?  In the future we may be glad to eat bugs!  Ummm...they fit my criteria, too - simple and nutritious AND cheap!  Would anyone like to come for supper this weekend?  It will be a mystery supper.    While I contemplate food for our family......
    Dave contemplates food for the cows.  We have our farm land planted in grass for the cows.  Our goal is to be able to have the cows grazing year round.  Well, to do that, fencing is essential, so that has been an ongoing project around here.  By this time in Spring,  we have no silage for the cows and no equipment to make hay and the grass is ready to be cut.  The best thing is to get those cows out on the grass, so this past Sat., Dave and the boys worked all day putting up fence.  They got half of the large hill done.  Alot more to go, but it is getting there.
    cows, flies, garden 008
    While we were back in the fields, I noticed that the dry cows (cows not being milked, due to being pregnant), were full of flies.
     cows, flies, garden 006
    I mentioned to Dave about this and he gave me a lesson on how God had a plan for fly control.  If you look at a cow, you will notice that their ears are positioned just right so that the cow can flap them front and shew the flies out of their eyes.  Their tails are long so they can swish the flies off their sides and back.  Their necks are long enough that they can swing their heads around and shew the flies off the front of their bodies.  God's plan for fly control comes in the form of fowl.  Do you remember seeing pictures where there are birds or chickens riding on the backs of cattle or wondering around with the cows in a pasture?  Fowl love flies!  Hey!  Maybe I should put a few in our house!  I cannot stand flies in the house!  But, I don't think I would like chicken manure, either.  Bad plan!  Anyway, the chickens roam around the cow pastures, picking through the manure for fly larvae and corn that was not digested.  They will eat flies right off the cows, too.  That decreases fly population, chickens are fed, and they help to fertilize the pastures. The pastures needs certain minerals and such to be able to produce a healthy crop of grass.  The cow manure is deficient in nitrogen, but chicken manure is high in nitrogen.  See how the Lord had all this planned out?  Cows and chickens are meant to be together.  Also, chickens are great at keeping tick and other bug population under control. Tempted to get yourself a flock of chickens?  If you decide to put them in your house, let me know your manure management plan.     By the way, we don't have chicken's either.  You can tell by looking at that poor cow.  Georgie had a flock the other year and a predator took over half his birds.  We heard later, that more than likely the predator was in the form of a cougar.  Before we get another flock, we have to come up with a better plan of safety for the birds.
    Until next time...............
         

Sunday, May 16, 2010

My First Car


Sunday, 16 May 2010

  • My First Car

    Yes, it is the middle of the night again, and I can't sleep.  This time, the reason is because I have tremendous pain in my right arm.  I knew this would happen!  The reason? I waxed our van yesterday.  The good old fashioned-rub on the wax-let it dry-rub off with cotton rag-buff with another rag-kind of waxing.  This is not a mini-van, but a full size, dodge 8 passenger van.  Last year I drove it in one of those automatic car washers and when I drove out, it was obvious that something happened to the paint.  It had a dull, hazy look to it and the pin stripes along the sides were  chipped off.  It looked terrible!  So, I decided to wax it to see if it would look better.  It does!  It has a sparkle to it again, even though it still is not totally clear looking.  However, it is costing me some sleep.
     I couldn't help but think of my dad while I rubbed on that wax.  My dad loved vehicles!  He would make sure his car, or truck, was washed and swept out and was mechanically taken care of.  I remember having quite a few different vehicles over the years of my growing up.  Some of  the cars were big, with big trunks and hoods, and big back window ledges.  We would lay on those ledges sometimes when we would go on a trip (those were the days of no seatbelt regulations).   There were also small cars, like the rabbits.  Anyone remember them?   Dad owned one (as a run around car) when I got my driver's license and that is what I drove until I purchased my own.  I loved that thing!  Dad's love for cars carried over to his children.  I loved to drive around, especially in zippy little cars.  Every weekend we would wash and sweep out the vehicles and I remember having to wax one every now and then.  Well, a friend of ours had this little black pinto for sale and dad said that I could buy it.  A payment plan was set up for me. Oh, how I wish I could remember how much I paid for that car!  It was the cutest little thing.
       first cars
    It also was not the safest thing and my dad grew concerned about that fact.  I think they were known to blow up if another vehicle hit them and that is something to be concerned about!   An opportunity came up to buy a bigger car, so I sold the pinto.  The memory of that car still lingers on after all these years - let's see - 27 years to be exact.   This is the car I purchased.....
      first cars. buick
    It was a beautiful buick Regal which served me, and eventually Dave & I, for many years. For this picture, some of the young guys put mag wheels on it.  Mag wheels were the thing back then.  Made the cars look hot (I think that was the word they called them).   Now who cares about mag wheels?  I'm not even sure what the fad is anymore   We eventually graduated to a four door, then a station wagon and now a van.  I still like to have nice, clean cars, but it no longer has priority.   In fact, our vehicles get neglected more times than not and things start collecting under the seats and in the back of the van - you know things like clothing, books, toys, trash - until a nice sunny day arrives and we decide that enough is enough!  And, I must admit that for some reason a vehicle seems to drive better and faster when it is clean.  Just my imagination, I guess!  Anyway, as far as waxing the van again?  Not for a lloonngg time!!
    This is in remembrance of my dad, who passed away almost 12 years ago.  I don't believe he is washing and sweeping out vehicles in heaven, but could he be driving one of those chariots?
    Until next time..............  

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Solomon is Driving - Alone


Wednesday, 12 May 2010

  • Solomon is driving - alone!

    Well, after driving for 6 months with a driver's permit, Solomon took his driver's test - and passed!   How excited he is!   I had to include a picture of his 2 favorite trucks.  For months, we had to travel every day to a farm about 5 miles away for silage for the cows and that task fell on Solomon.  If a vehicle has farm tags, a 15 year old can drive it on the road (this was confirmed with the State Police), so he gained alot of experience with driving on the roads.  Anyway, the dump truck that he used was this 1970 dodge.  Needless to say, it drew attention from bystanders and Solomon had so much fun with that.  Every day he had to drive by the local high school and when it was nice weather, the kids would be out playing tennis or volleyball and boy! did they get a kick out of this monster looking dump truck.  Solomon would blow the horn and this became the norm to the point that the kids would watch for him.  So funny!  But, it is a good truck!  Maybe the old vehicles were made better then the vehicles today!?    He now owns a much newer dodge truck and we no longer have to drive for silage, so the old relic is able to stay put.    Here he is ....... with his 2 dodge friends
    Solomon & trucks misc. 003
    Until next time.................. 

Monday, May 10, 2010

Now He's 44


Monday, 10 May 2010

  • Now He's 44!

    Dave turns 44 today.  We almost share birthdays!  We celebrated his birthday last night with his parents, my mom and our family.  If it would be up to Dave, I would make pies every day.  Sad to say that I don't get that accomplished, so I thought instead of birthday cake, we would have birthday pie.  I also did not have 44 candles, so 5 had to do.  Plus, we didn't want the smoke alarms going off! 
    dave's BD 
    When I was a teenager, I thought if you were in your 40's, you were old!  I changed my mind - 40 is young yet!   Now when I think of being old, I think of being in the 90's.  However old we are, it is sobering to realize how fast the years roll around.   Each day is a gift from our Heavenly Father!
    Until next time...............

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Now I am 44


Sunday, 02 May 2010

  • Now I am 44!

    Yesterday, May 1st, was my 44th birthday.  I remember my 16th birthday party!  Where have all the years gone?   One of my presents this year was that Oakley stayed overnight while her mommy and daddy had an overnight date.  She is such a sweet, smiley little lady and it was very fun to have her here.  Of course, the boys just love her to death.
    misc.1 016
    misc.1 017
    We had a busy afternoon at an auction and bringing a piece of equipment home.  Then in the evening we went to one of my cousins for supper and a fun evening. It was a good day and I really enjoyed turning another year older.
    misc.1 035
    My dear family - Solomon, Ben, Dave, myself, Kelsey - holding Oakley, Gordon, FRONT - Uriah, George and Oliver
    family pic
    Until next time.................