As I spend the day before Thanksgiving preparing the pumpkin for the pumpkin pie, making the cranberry jello salad, pecan pie and cherry cobbler, I am reflecting on the things and people that I am truly thankful for. It's been a tough year for me spiritually...within the walls of my home church....but I remain faithful to my Savior. I am thankful that He is with me in times of trial and in times of joy.
Today, I also reflect on the other things for which I am thankful; my loving family. No doubt, second to my Savior, my family is truly my rock. They are the ones I crave companionship with and they are the ones I depend on for advice, love and support.
My job has been faithful to me as well. I have a great job that allows me to support three thriving families. I am thankful that He put me there at the right time.
I am thankful for the good health of my loved ones.
Then, I can't help but think of those who are hurting. My sister's stepchildren are about to lose their grandmother. Cancer is an ugly thing. I pray that she knows her Savior too.
Pat lost her brother this week after a long illness. Bill will face a surgery in the coming days. Sharon lost her dad this week. Willie struggles with her faith. Bill has found a new church family, but his wife attends a different one to support her mother. April leaves her job and faces a new journey. Anita still searches for her father. My father struggles with lonliness, one that we cannot fill. Two families lost their sons to suicide last week in the community in which I work.
These folks will be in my thoughts for a while.
I rejoice that an older man, without family, will join our family for the big feast tomorrow. Boy, is he in for a trip! But, I also pray that he sees our love of family while he visits with us.
So, to anyone who might read this. Give thanks for the important things, things you cannot buy. Open your heart to someone who needs you. Give thanks around your Thanksgiving dinner table, one person at a time.
The family on Cedar Lane Farm
These are the people I love! That's my sweet mama in the middle. I wonder what she's thinking.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Leave it alone! Get rid of 'em! Stop it! Shut up! I feel better.
This time changing stuff that happens twice each year really gets to me. I hope that one day they just leave it alone, one or the other.
This political stuff that's going on right now is disheartening to me. They all are self-serving. They all want credit. They all want the glory. In the meantime, everything is going to %^&*. They all need to go.
High school bullying is everywhere. I want it to stop and I want respect for all kids. I want the school administrators to grow some balls (did I really just say that??) and take a stand against it. I want them to get this problem taken care of. Now!
I want cancer to get cancer. We can send a man to the moon. We can create human life artificially. We can create a phone that talks to us.......but we can't cure this. I want it gone too.
And, I hope that someday I can make a difference in this world. I hope I can be just one half of the woman my mom is. I hope that I've done a good job raising my children to love their fellow man and the Lord.
That's all. I feel better now.
Peace
This political stuff that's going on right now is disheartening to me. They all are self-serving. They all want credit. They all want the glory. In the meantime, everything is going to %^&*. They all need to go.
High school bullying is everywhere. I want it to stop and I want respect for all kids. I want the school administrators to grow some balls (did I really just say that??) and take a stand against it. I want them to get this problem taken care of. Now!
I want cancer to get cancer. We can send a man to the moon. We can create human life artificially. We can create a phone that talks to us.......but we can't cure this. I want it gone too.
And, I hope that someday I can make a difference in this world. I hope I can be just one half of the woman my mom is. I hope that I've done a good job raising my children to love their fellow man and the Lord.
That's all. I feel better now.
Peace
Monday, November 7, 2011
No-Shave November
It's that time of year. John is preparing for his two-week-long deer camp with his closest friends. Each year, they all get together (weeks ahead of season) to sight in their deer rifles and have "discussions". Then, they cut firewood, pack the campers, load the food, buy the beer, stockpile the ammo............and they stop shaving. They talk about things they don't talk about all year long, until this time of year....menu planning, generators, deer sausage, and......they stop shaving.
Well, you know what? He leaves on Thursday. And, for the next two exhilarating, wonderful weeks, I'm not going to shave either.
The guys think we wives are miserably lonely while they're out there sitting around a campfire, drinking with other stinky men. (Did I mention that NOT bathing while at deer camp is considered camouflage? Deer aren't stupid, they can smell stench.
Well, we wives are really on vacation during this blessed time of year. I, for one, plan to sleep in the middle of the bed, with the dog. And, the fan will be in the OFF position. :)
I also plan to throw a few things away while cleaning up in a certain person's area. This happens on a yearly basis during No-Shave November.
I think I'll keep the house a nice, comfortable temperature. And, I'll put the sauce ON the noodles....in the same pot, if I so choose.
I'm gonna have Cream of Wheat and toast for supper. Maybe every night.
So, after making him promise to call home every night to check up on me, I'll happily answer the phone ( at the agreed upon time) and tell him how much I miss him. I'll tell him how quiet it is at home, ask him if he's having fun. He'll tell me who killed a deer today, who's was the biggest, and what he's having for supper.
Then, we'll give our kisses goodnight over the phone, say our "I love you's" and hang up.
Days of our Lives on the DVR.............priceless.
"No-Shave November" is really "Dear" Season..............get it? *wink wink*
Peace.
Well, you know what? He leaves on Thursday. And, for the next two exhilarating, wonderful weeks, I'm not going to shave either.
The guys think we wives are miserably lonely while they're out there sitting around a campfire, drinking with other stinky men. (Did I mention that NOT bathing while at deer camp is considered camouflage? Deer aren't stupid, they can smell stench.
Well, we wives are really on vacation during this blessed time of year. I, for one, plan to sleep in the middle of the bed, with the dog. And, the fan will be in the OFF position. :)
I also plan to throw a few things away while cleaning up in a certain person's area. This happens on a yearly basis during No-Shave November.
I think I'll keep the house a nice, comfortable temperature. And, I'll put the sauce ON the noodles....in the same pot, if I so choose.
I'm gonna have Cream of Wheat and toast for supper. Maybe every night.
So, after making him promise to call home every night to check up on me, I'll happily answer the phone ( at the agreed upon time) and tell him how much I miss him. I'll tell him how quiet it is at home, ask him if he's having fun. He'll tell me who killed a deer today, who's was the biggest, and what he's having for supper.
Then, we'll give our kisses goodnight over the phone, say our "I love you's" and hang up.
Days of our Lives on the DVR.............priceless.
"No-Shave November" is really "Dear" Season..............get it? *wink wink*
Peace.
Monday, October 17, 2011
An evening in the lower 40
The many years of parenting are slowly coming to an end at our house. Danny is 26, Becky is 24 and they both live out on their own. Our youngest, Kelly, is now 16 and a Junior in High School. She is in sports, has her drivers license and a part-time babysitting job. So, John and I have a lot of alone time.
Tonight, we enjoyed a four-wheeler ride down through the farm, crossing the creek, and we ended up in the lower 40 (acres). We recently purchased this part of the Century-old family farm from the estate of my beloved Uncle Buddy. It joins our property and we are honoring the lease that he had with a man who farms alfalfa hay, cane, pumpkins and corn. We "keep an eye on the place" about once every 2 weeks or so. Tonight was nice. We slowly made our way to the lower 40, walked up the wooded hills and then back down to the fields. It's beautiful down there.
As we came back up, we stopped at the old barn, that was (about 120 years ago) fully utilized as a dairy barn, sheep barn, hay loft, etc by my grandfather. The old barn is nearly falling down, but we love to walk through it and pretend that we know exactly what it was used for, and I imagine grandpa milking "Butter" in there.
We will soon be taking the old barn down, as there isn't enough to save, and building a newer one for our small herd of beef cows. We plan to bulldoze the old brushy fields and make them workable again. I'd love to have the farm be a working farm once again, just like grandpa used to have it.
We will plant a nice orchard, raise some beef, cut hay, and fish in the old pond. When the old house just can't be lived in anymore by renters, we'll probably take it down too. I might just have to build a little farm house where the old house stands now. I think Grandpa Marsh would like that.
I don't want to wish my life away, but retirement sounds so good........
Peace
Tonight, we enjoyed a four-wheeler ride down through the farm, crossing the creek, and we ended up in the lower 40 (acres). We recently purchased this part of the Century-old family farm from the estate of my beloved Uncle Buddy. It joins our property and we are honoring the lease that he had with a man who farms alfalfa hay, cane, pumpkins and corn. We "keep an eye on the place" about once every 2 weeks or so. Tonight was nice. We slowly made our way to the lower 40, walked up the wooded hills and then back down to the fields. It's beautiful down there.
 |
| The lower fields which are leased out. The sights are breath-taking. |
 |
| More than 100 years ago, this beautiful pond was an iron ore mine. Now, we can sit by it and dream of the life of Grandpa Marsh. I think he would really love this place. |
As we came back up, we stopped at the old barn, that was (about 120 years ago) fully utilized as a dairy barn, sheep barn, hay loft, etc by my grandfather. The old barn is nearly falling down, but we love to walk through it and pretend that we know exactly what it was used for, and I imagine grandpa milking "Butter" in there.
We will soon be taking the old barn down, as there isn't enough to save, and building a newer one for our small herd of beef cows. We plan to bulldoze the old brushy fields and make them workable again. I'd love to have the farm be a working farm once again, just like grandpa used to have it.
 |
| This is an old dry creek bed. It's so gorgeous this time of year. |
We will plant a nice orchard, raise some beef, cut hay, and fish in the old pond. When the old house just can't be lived in anymore by renters, we'll probably take it down too. I might just have to build a little farm house where the old house stands now. I think Grandpa Marsh would like that.
I don't want to wish my life away, but retirement sounds so good........
Peace
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Hot pepper hands
Today, I learned that you should never EVER chop jalapeno peppers without gloves.
Peace.......
Peace.......
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Comfort food
When the seasons change from the hot and humid days of summer, to the cool and rainy temptations of autumn, comfort food comes to mind at my house. I knew when I woke this morning to the sounds of a steady rain, lightning and thunder, that I would have something simmering all day. I take every Wednesday off of work to be a mom, a wife, a volunteer, a daughter. I use this day, in the middle of the week, to prepare a hot, nutritious meal for my family. I get my laundry caught up, I dust, I sweep. Sometimes, I get a nap.
Well, today is no exception. I got up and made my bed. I had a bowl of Cheerios and began the pot of ham and beans. I prefer white navy beans. That's what my sweet mom made for us when we were growing up. John likes the brown beans. So, I switch it up now and then so that he's happy. Today, it was my turn. I washed the beans, took out some ham that I had put in the freezer from a previous meal, added a little salt and pepper and then let the stove do the rest of the work. The beans have been simmering all day, and I've cooked them down so that there is a rich, thick gravy.
The cornbread, probably my favorite part of this meal, is baked in my old iron skillet. The cookies, (Hillary Clinton's recipe) is my family's absolute favorite cookie.
So, in less than an hour, we will sit down at the table on this cool rainy September afternoon, and enjoy a delicious, healthy, comforting and home-cooked meal.
Peace.
Well, today is no exception. I got up and made my bed. I had a bowl of Cheerios and began the pot of ham and beans. I prefer white navy beans. That's what my sweet mom made for us when we were growing up. John likes the brown beans. So, I switch it up now and then so that he's happy. Today, it was my turn. I washed the beans, took out some ham that I had put in the freezer from a previous meal, added a little salt and pepper and then let the stove do the rest of the work. The beans have been simmering all day, and I've cooked them down so that there is a rich, thick gravy.
The cornbread, probably my favorite part of this meal, is baked in my old iron skillet. The cookies, (Hillary Clinton's recipe) is my family's absolute favorite cookie.
Peace.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Am I a Homesteader? I sure hope I am!
Millions of Americans have joined the band wagon in getting back to the land, growing their own food, (or at least knowing where it came from) exercising, and just "doing the right thing". I am no exception, except the exercising. For the last five years, or so, John and I have made strides in creating and building our homestead here in Central Missouri. In the past, we've had sheep and goats. We have moved on from those two species due to them not being a good fit for us. Now we have beef and dairy cows. We also have chickens for meat and eggs.
In addition to our livestock, we have been working on building an orchard. So far, our orchard sports a peach tree, two apple, one pear, two cherry and three plum. The late frost got all of my apple tree blooms, so it was bare. My peach tree found the same fate. Our cherry tree gave us a handful of fruit, and our pear tree will give us about 10 pears. But that's ok! Our orchard is only about 3 years young. We also planted four blueberry bushes last fall, and they don't seem to be growing at all. This fall, I will heavily mulch them with seasoned manure and a layer of mowed leaves.
The garden gave us corn, green beans, okra, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, jalapeno peppers. We canned that bounty. Hopefully, next year will be bigger and better. But, I'm satisfied and thankful for what we did get. I also processed two bushels of peaches from the local farmers market.
The milk cow gives us more than we ever imagined. Fresh milk, heavy cream. With that, we make our own butter, cheese, whey.....and I can my excess milk. That canned milk can be used for gravy, pancakes, and other recipes calling for milk...even pumpkin pie!
Fall is coming soon. We will soon be working on the wood pile. We bought our hay for the winter and have it under cover. We might even put a few of the older hens in the freezer. I feel good. We feel good. I'm thankful.
In addition to our livestock, we have been working on building an orchard. So far, our orchard sports a peach tree, two apple, one pear, two cherry and three plum. The late frost got all of my apple tree blooms, so it was bare. My peach tree found the same fate. Our cherry tree gave us a handful of fruit, and our pear tree will give us about 10 pears. But that's ok! Our orchard is only about 3 years young. We also planted four blueberry bushes last fall, and they don't seem to be growing at all. This fall, I will heavily mulch them with seasoned manure and a layer of mowed leaves.
The garden gave us corn, green beans, okra, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, jalapeno peppers. We canned that bounty. Hopefully, next year will be bigger and better. But, I'm satisfied and thankful for what we did get. I also processed two bushels of peaches from the local farmers market.
The milk cow gives us more than we ever imagined. Fresh milk, heavy cream. With that, we make our own butter, cheese, whey.....and I can my excess milk. That canned milk can be used for gravy, pancakes, and other recipes calling for milk...even pumpkin pie!
Fall is coming soon. We will soon be working on the wood pile. We bought our hay for the winter and have it under cover. We might even put a few of the older hens in the freezer. I feel good. We feel good. I'm thankful.
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