Homesteading in the NW

And we're off!!

2008-04-25T07:47:00.000-07:00

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to is borders.'" Numbers 34:1-2

This marks the final post for awhile. Later today, our computer gets packed away for probably a month. At this point, we have no idea what internet service we'll use. There are not many options in the wide-open spaces!! We plan to leave WA Monday as soon as the PODS are carted away. We'd like to travel south to the redwoods in CA, then across to Arches Nat'l Park in UT. We've also heard the CO Monument is quite stunning. Wanted to do the Grand Canyon, but there's just not enough time. If you lives close to any of this and wants to grab us as we pass through, please phone me at 253-951-9485. I'd love to see you!! (Sue, how close are you to the redwoods?)
Here's an aerial view of our 80 acres in KS. The pond is larger than our entire piece of property here in WA! Eric and I walked around the property the other night and found more sand plums than I'll know what to do with. Take jelly to all my neighbors, I suppose!! It was late evening about an hour before sunset and the weather was perfect. So peaceful and so quiet. We are very anxious to get settled. We truly see this as our Canaan from the bountiful hand of God.

Happy blogging! I'll visit when I have internet connection again!!

Filling the holes

2008-04-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

"...After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah carried out repairs in front of his own quarters." Nehemiah 3:30b
This is what my walls looked like when I was repairing nail holes (in virtually every room of the house). Apparently, we had many more items on the walls that I realized. Because the wall color was so light, I marked each repair with a sticky flag. This eliminated guessing where I needed to touch-up later!!

Why are there so many holes above the arch, you ask? That's from nailing a blanket over the doorway during several days of no power. We wanted to direct the heat from the fireplace back to the bedrooms rather than out to the garage. Doesn't everyone do this? :-}

Moving everything!

2008-04-10T22:52:00.000-07:00

"The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Remember when we had big plans for our yard? Well, moving kind of put a kink in our plans! Now, what to do with the remaining supplies? Hmmm. What about Craig's List? Never tried it, but I'll give it a whirl.

Listed our supplies and had responses almost immediately. One guy purchased all the flagstone and two others purchased all the timbers.Because I was selling to the public, I was a bit concerned about what kind of people would be coming to my house. You see, Eric moved to KS about two months ago and now I'm here by myself. He moved the href="http://homesteading-in-the-nw.blogspot.com/2008/02/ok-how-much-is-this-going-to-cost.html">weekend my brother flew in to roof the house.

However, God was my Protector and sent very nice, seemingly-upstanding people. One man even brought his wife every time he came for a load. I appreciated that. Now everything's gone and my dear, sweet neighbor helped me clean the yard. Except, we still have no grass! Oh well, that will have to wait for another day - or another owner!!

Brilliant colors

2008-04-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

"The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst." Revelation 21:19-20
Amazing, isn't it? The colors were even more brilliant in person. Everything you see is blown glass which has been turned, twisted, spiraled - you name it. It cascades down from the ceiling in the mall and can be seen from all levels which allows for some pretty amazing photos. The colors simply take your breath away.
This fountain is on the ground floor of the same mall. More blown glass. Notice the wall of water? It, also, starts from pretty much the ceiling and flows down several stories. I'm not sure how many pictures I took, but it certainly was a challenge selecting only two! (PS - I'm quite sure the head band is not part of the display.)

Here's a photo of the entire hanging sculpture. Incredible!

(PPS - these photos were taken at Lincoln Square in Bellevue WA during Thanksgiving weekend.)

Our little piece of Canaan

2008-04-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

"And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." Genesis 17:8
Here's a sneak peek of our land in KS. Eighty acres of wonderfully rolling ground: 40 acres of tillable land (currently planted in wheat), 30 acres of pasture, 3 acre pond, a house, and a quonset shed. The pond is larger than our entire piece of property in WA!! If you notice, it's been dammed at the north end to capture water from the running creek. Eric thinks it stocked, but we're not certain. We are really looking forward to working this place. Get some chickens running around. Add small animals such as goats, sheep, pigs. Throw in a few ducks & geese. Let's not forget about the fish!! With the water running through, we truly feel this land is our little piece of Canaan.

Currently, there's no basement under the house - seems a bit odd in tornado country. However, we're not too concerned as we have plans to demo the house and rebuild. We are thankful, though, to have residency on-site until our new house is complete.

Our dream is to inspire our family to accept God's magnificent grace & mercy through life on the land with hopes that they would pass that awareness onto their families.

Move date is scheduled for the last full week in April, but who knows when our stuff will actually get there. We've rented a PODS unit and having it transported from WA to KS. We'll keep you posted!

Creative packing materials

2008-04-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

"And those slaves went out into the streets, and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests." Matthew 22:10

If you've moved before, you know full well that not all items fit into a neat square/rectangle box. Sometimes, we have weird spaces left and simply cannot find the appropriate item to fill it.
Unless you shop at Sam's and buy in bulk!! See this empty space? Take a guess at what I filled it with. Rather than going into the streets, I went into my storage closet...

...that is filled with - yep, toilet paper.

It was a perfect fit! Plus, it provides cushioning!!

And there's more where that came from.

Rolls of paper towels, packages of toilet paper & napkins!!

I've even used sweaters to wrap glass platters and such.
Works just fine!

Glorious sunshine!!

2008-03-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

"'Behold, I will cause the shadow on the stairway, which has gone down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, to go back ten steps.' So the sun's shadow went back ten steps on the stairway on which it had gone down." Isaiah 38:8
What a beautiful day to roof a house!! The sun is shining, the temperature is in the 50's, and there is no rain in the forecast. Please keep in mind it's late February...in the NW. This kind of weather at this time of year is quite uncommon. Another instance where God has imprinted His mercy.

(PS. No arguments accepted!)

OK. How much is this going to cost?

2008-02-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

"And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell." Isaiah 58:12

The week before last, Eric received a call from our realtor suggesting we replace the roof on the house. We were not entirely surprised. The existing roof was already two layers thick and we figured it would come up in the inspection, anyway. Here's just one way God has chosen to display His magnificent coordination of events.

Two days after the realtor called, Eric and I hit the road headed for KS. Eric was moving and I was tagging along for the ride intending to fly back. Just one hour north of Wichita KS (2 1/2 days later), I called my brother Michael to feel him out about roofing our house. He's a framing contractor in KS so we were confident in his knowledge and ability. It just so happened (ha, ha) that work was slow for Michael. He stated he could fly to Seattle that day, if need be. What? That same day? OK. What about the next day when I'm flying back? Yes. Fantastic!!! Eric and I would look at available flights and call him back. In the meantime, Michael called a buddy of his living 1400 miles from KS to see if he could help. This buddy (Brian) used to be on Michael's framing crew before moving. Guess where Brian lives now? Only 1 1/2 hours from our house in Seattle!!!!! So, long story short, Michael and Brian are on my roof right now nailing down new shingles. If anyone chalks any of this up to coincidence, you'll have a fierce argument with me.
Here's a photo of the four of us kids. Poor Michael: the youngest and the only boy! (I'm in the middle.)
This is Michael and his sweetie, Jessica. They've been married just a little over a year. She was very practical in the matter stating, "I don't care if he goes as long as he's making money." However, they miss each other terribly. She wants him to come home and he's ready to go home. Completely understandable and expected. Just a few more days, newlyweds.

Simple solution

2008-02-24T10:12:00.001-08:00

"In that day there will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, 'HOLY TO THE LORD.' And the cooking pots in the Lord's house will be like the bowls before the altar." Zechariah 14:20
OK...here's the scenario. Three kids who can't go outside because the house is getting a new roof + chocolate chips & sugars & oatmeal that need to be used + cookie sheets that are already packed = using the skillet to make cookies! It worked perfectly!! The kids thought it was a novel idea and kept calling it a cookie cake. Plus, it added just a bit more seasoning to the skillet.

PS - The three kids belong to a friend helping my brother re-roof the house, 1 yr/3 yrs/8 yrs. Quite a handful since I only had one child of my own and he will be 21 this year. They really behaved very well, but I'm just not used to it. When they left last night, I stayed awake two more hours just to enjoy the peace & quiet!

Dancing, dancing, and more dancing!

2008-02-23T10:13:00.001-08:00

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness." Psalm 30:11
Even though the girls are gone now, this photo is perfect to describe how God is working throughout our move. Every time we come up against a dilemma, He gives us the kind of answer that takes our breath away! Solutions we would have never imagined come to fruition so quickly!!

I know I said I was going to share realtor-suggested changes, but phooey on that idea. You've all been through a move so there won't be any surprises. Instead, I'm going to share the incredible solutions God has brought our way.

One being the previous post. We knew the goats needed a new home, but really hadn't thought too much about it yet. Then, this man from Boeing needed a remedy for all the brambles on his property. God put the two of us together and - voile! A perfect match!! His children absolutely love playing with the goats and the goats are having the time of their lives. Now, who could have put that together so quickly? Only Him!!

Stay tuned for the next unimaginable solution!

Good Night, Ladies!

2008-02-07T18:16:00.001-08:00

"And the man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field..." Genesis 2:20a

Alpha

Bravo

This afternoon we said good-bye to these sweet ladies. A man Eric worked with thought they could conquer 2 1/2 acres infested with brambles. Since the goats love berries, it was a perfect match. But what made it even better is that this man has two children (2 yrs & 4 yrs). How perfect is that? All four kids will have an excellent time!!

Note: As long as we've had these ladies, I've tried to get a good close-up. Wouldn't you know they'd wait until the day they leave to stand still. :-)

On the road...again!

2008-02-04T09:34:00.000-08:00

"Now the Lord said to Abram [Eric], 'Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house [Wichita KS], to the land which I will show you [Seattle WA].'...So Abram [Eric] went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot [Paula] went with him." Genesis 12:1, 4a

That was
May 2006.
We sold the house,
the farm land,
and relocated.

Let's fast forward
to December 2007.

"Then the Lord said to Jacob [Eric], 'Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives [Wichita KS], and I will be with you.' Then Jacob [Eric] sent and called Rachel [Paula] and Leah [yeah, right!] to his flock in the field." Genesis 31:3

Notice the
red stars
didn't change?

Exactly!

We're
moving back
to the same town and
will be closer
to my son
and our extended families!!

Eric will travel back and forth for the first 90 days, then be there permanently. I will stay until the house sells (however long that takes). Of course, we are praying for a quick sale, but the market is definitely favoring the buyer right now. It's comforting to know He already knows how it all plays out.

The blog will stay current until we move. Once settled, I plan to start a new one or change the existing. Can't exactly use the same title once we leave the NW!! Stay tuned for realtor-suggested changes on our property! One hint: all the trees are staying. :)

Hills of iron & copper

2008-02-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

"...a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper." Deuteronomy 8:9

This is the one of the final two drains along the patio drainage system. Above you'll see the rock frame around the grate which was brought up 1-2" higher to avoid weight from other rocks. We chose rocks with irregular shapes to contour the drain pipe. Extra weight on top affects the grade of the slope; hence, defeating the purpose of even having a drain!

After a few more rocks (large and small), it's finished. Compared to the other drains, this rock area is quite a bit larger. We did this because we are not expanding the patio this far and the drain was so close to the house & retaining wall. It reminds me of a dry creek bed. Our intent is to plant grass around it.

Where did we get all the rocks? From the hills, of course! (Actually, from our front yard.) There certainly is no shortage of rocks in the soil. I am convinced you can grow rocks here!!

Dangerous Boys & Daring Girls

2008-02-01T06:50:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Kelli's “Show and Tell Friday!” Do you have something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item. Be sure to let her know you've joined the group!!

"And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets." Zechariah 8:5
Both of these books were recently purchased at Sam's Club and quickly became favorites. Each offers a practical, well-rounded education pertaining to each sex: science, math, grammar, games, Scripture, etc. There's even a chapter in the boys' book on girls! Let me share the essential gear suggested in each book.

Boys...
Swiss army knife, compass, handkerchief, box of matches, marble shooter, needle & thread, pencil & paper, small flashlight, magnifying glass, band-aids, fishhooks.

Girls...
Swiss army knife, bandana, rope & twine, journal & pencil with a back-up pen, hair band, bungee cord, flashlight, compass, safety pins, duct tape, deck of cards & a good book, patience.

Even if you don't purchase the books, you should at least run to Sam's a read a bit of it. My bet is you'll end up brining it home! In fact, I purchase two of each: one for our library and one for my niece & nephew!!

Blogging with a purpose

2008-01-24T17:44:00.000-08:00

"Having many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that your joy may be made full." 2 John 12

Congratulations to Julie @ Three Fold Cord. She has just been awarded Blogging with a Purpose! In return, she chose five other bloggers to bless with this award - and I was one of them!!

Eric Novak came out with the Christian award “Blogging with a Purpose” in late April of 2007. With so many secular awards around, Eric thought it would be a good idea to come out with a Christian award.

Rules:
1. Awarded parties must nominate five people who have not received the award.
2. The blogs that receive the award must serve some purpose.
3. In their post about the award they need to link back to this entry.
4. Awarded parties must post the award banner on their site. The banner must remain linked to this site.

So, my picks are...

1. Petunia's Garden
This is my neighbor who introduced me to blogging. Way back when, she stated she blogs in order to keep track of her gardens from year to year. If other people enjoyed reading about it, all the better. She and her husband were also our unofficial welcoming committee when we moved to WA. They invited us to go places, told us about different sites in the area, will swap animal care during vacations, and continue to be wonderful neighbors & friends.

2. Down On the Farm
Marci is a new friend I met through blogging. Her faith is quite evident and I appreciate how she shares her heart through her posts. She never ceases to amaze me with her knowledge of practical, everyday living.

3. There's No Place Like Home
Kelli's sweet spirit is quickly realized. She shares her life while displaying His grace and mercy through everyday events. She has such a way with people - even if she's never met them!

4. Savvy City Farmer
This gal is so fun! Her blog is oozing with her energy and spunk. I appreciate her family tributes and how she brings sunshine to world-wide web. And she has a knack for decorating, too!

5. Anna's Photo of the Day
This is one blog I've checked quite often, but rarely left a comment. I was staying current with Anna more for moral support than anything else - and she didn't even know it. When we moved to the NW, I had such an awful time adjusting. Anna's perspective on His world around her was such a blessing for me. At the time, she lived in the UK which experiences weather much like the NW. She could relate to the rain (endless rain). Her photography is an incredible display of the beauty He has put around each of us.

NOTE: Julie stated she enjoys reading the Scriptures I select to compliment the activity of the post. Today's Scripture expresses my desire to keep journals/records of events, but the world-wide web is not paper and ink! Julie, thank you for the kind words and I'm glad you enjoy the content.

Grandma Lilly

2007-12-10T07:53:00.000-08:00

"Most blessed of women is Jael [Lilly], the wife of Heber the Kenite [Leonard the farmer]; most blessed is she of women in the tent." Judges 5:24
This is Grandma Lilly. She has been a constant in my life as long as I can remember. Born in 1920, she has seen her share of hard work on the farm, as well as in the school cafeteria. And always manages to keep her opinion to herself (why didn't I inherit that trait?).

She and my late-grandfather raised 5 children. Those 5 produced 22 grandchildren. Those 22 have multiplied to 30+ great-grandchildren (and still counting). One of the great-grandchildren even has her name. (Did I mention they also temporarily raised four of Grandpa's cousins?)

Taken during our trip back to KS in October, this photo shows her holding the most-recent great-grandchild, Leila Mae (my brother's daughter).

Grandma, thank you for being such a strong, constant, get-it-done example for me.

Leaving a trail

2007-12-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

"Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent?" Ecclesiastes 7:13
How often does one get to see the trail of a slug? The ever-so-slight layer of frost revealed this little guy's swaggering ways. Honestly, I didn't know slugs traveled so randomly.

Priorities

2007-11-21T05:57:00.000-08:00

The Psalms and Proverbs are my two favorites. Through each psalm, the Spirit beacons to hold my heart while tenderly drawing out that which I do not yet entrust to Him. My head, on the other hand, grabs those Proverbs and slaps them up as rules.

Each one is good. For me, however, a balance of the two is best.

Lately, blogging has started to crowd out my morning study and I could see the effects in many other areas of my life. So, a blogging break needed to happen. Eric leaves around 5 am and I spend the next hour or so in His word. Seeing how He honors my time with Him is quite amazing. I actually enjoy cleaning the house now! And the extra time I have - all of a sudden!! Where were those minutes/hours before? When you feel rushed, stressed, or strung-out, seek Him. You will find Him. I promise.

To where does the Spirit lead when you search His written Word?

We have a winner!!

2007-10-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

"But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance." Romans 8:25

Our winner is allotment lady! Congratulations!! Please give me your mailing information so I can get it mailed. It's all boxed and ready to go. Here is your showcase...
Purchased at Cracker Barrel -
a bottle of 100% pure maple syrup
a package of Glee gum [the way gum used to be - with rainforest chicle]
Bluegrass Highway CD [how could I not include something bluegrass?]

Purchased from my sister in Arkansas -
A Little Bit o' Luck sample set from Lucky You Personal Spa Collection [moisturizing hand/body soap, exfoliating hand/body soap, tranquil bath tea (3 bags), perfect moisture hydrating lotion, creamy soy body butter, sugar mousse body polish, soothing bath salts]

Thank you for being so patient with me. I do appreciate all the comments even though you had no idea what the prize was. And please forgive me for waiting so long to post the winner. Never again will I post a give-away and then go on vacation. We got home and the next day it was a week later. :-(

100th Post Give-Away!!

2007-10-10T19:50:00.001-07:00

"And Pharaoh said to Jacob, 'How many years have you lived?' So Jacob said to Pharaoh, 'The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty.'" Genesis 47:8-9

Paula's paraphrase:

And her blogging friends said to Paula, "How many days have you been blogging?" So Paula said to her blogging friends, "The days of my blogging are way more than one hundred!"

True. I think my first post was December 31, 2006. It just took awhile to get to my 100th post because I don't blog every day and I've taken off more than a few days in a row.

However, my 100th post has arrived and (following blogging tradition) I am hosting a give-away!! Just leave me a comment and I'll toss your name in the hat!

Usually the hostess will display the items for the give-away; however, I don't have them yet. Tomorrow I leave for vacation back home (KS), and while I'm away I'll find little goodies to pass along to you!!

Thank you for visiting me today. Don't forget to leave me a comment and I'll see you in a week!!

(PS - If you live near Wichita KS, Topeka KS, or St Joe MO, let me know! I may be right around the corner!)

Ready for the rain

2007-10-09T06:14:00.000-07:00

"For the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock." Matthew 7:25
Boy, did it rain! But, we got the area filled and leveled before the rains hit!! As you can see, everything leveled out quite nicely. In this case, I was thrilled to have two days of rain.

This photo shows the patio as we come down the driveway. We've added solar lights along the walls that don't serve as steps. Eric now calls the patio the runway because there are four rows of lights running parallel to each other. It's much more noticeable from the front door.

Next thing on the agenda is to get the soil ready for grass! Finally!! After living here for over a year, we're going to have grass in our front yard!!!

Holding it all in

2007-10-06T08:41:00.000-07:00

"And I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me, and also about the king's words which he had spoken to me. Then they said, 'Let us arise and build.' So they put their hands to the good work." Nehemiah 2:18
This is the beginning of the final section of wall stemming from the patio. Here's the plan - run it parallel to the house and the trees, wrap around the end of the trees, and taper down to the yard. Then pound in all that rebar, back-fill with dirt, level it, and plant with grass or ground cover. Sounds easy enough, right?

We thought so, too, until we ran into tree roots. In fear of a pine tree crashing through the roof of our house, Eric opted to work around the roots rather than cutting them. Good decision. :)

Perfect!!

Tah, dah!! Finished with the wall.
Now, who's going to clean up that mess by the trees?

Show & Tell Friday - It's finished!!!!

2007-10-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Kelli's Show and Tell Friday! Do you have something special to share? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item. If you'd like to participate, visit Kelli at There's No Place Like Home and add your name to the list!

"I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor - it is a gift of God."
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
The patio is finished!!! I tell you what - there is no greater reward to physical labor than to see such outstanding results. Yes, I know I'm bragging. But this is exactly how we pictured it in our minds.

The largest section is level with the driveway which turned out to be more beneficial than we realized. Eric wants to place potted citrus trees in the corner along the center wall. Once we get the greenhouse put up, he can move the trees in there for the winter. I like that idea!

Next project: taking the retaining wall around the trees and leveling all the dirt. Stay tuned!!

Back to the patio

2007-10-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

"I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean." Romans 12:14

Some may not enjoy yard work in the least; however, Eric and I are quite thrilled to be working outside. We love being unclean!! (You know what I mean.)

We've started work on the last section, but it's been so long since I've posted so I thought you'd like a reminder. Click here to see where we left off.
The walls are built and it's time to remove the soil. Eric had to use the tiller to loosen the soil inside because it had been there so long and was quite compacted. We removed enough dirt to get down to 5" below the surface of the patio.
Guess who had the camera for this photo? Eric is always saying we have too many pictures of him and not enough of me, but he never thinks about taking a picture. Today, he remembered!

PS - Please excuse the quality of the photos. My digital camera decided to take a leave of absence without filing the proper paperwork in advance. The 35 mm graciously stepped in.

Count Your Blessings Monday

2007-10-01T05:42:00.001-07:00

Thank you, Marci, for giving us an opportunity every Monday to not only count our blessings, but to share them with others. This is a way that we can encourage one another. Make a post on your blog telling us about your blessing. Please put a link back to Marci's post and add the URL of your blog post on Marci's Mr. Linky. Many of our blessings we will have pictures of and we can share those as well. Many times we forget that it is a blessing to be able to breath, to get out of bed, to hold a baby... Share your blessings with us.

This week I jumped the gun. I posted this yesterday. If no one had commented yet, I was going to change the post date and start over. However, I had comments!! (That's one blessing in itself.) Please check here for my blessing this week.

I am blessed

2007-09-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

"I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me." Song of Solomon 7:10

Since going back to work, Eric has taken over most of the cooking. He gets home earlier, enjoys cooking, and (as you'll see) is more creative with leftovers*. The other day I came home to a four-course meal prepared by my husband.

First course...

Pepper Jack cheese cubes*, olives*, crackers*, glass of wine
(Notice the lit candle?)

Second course...

Salad with mixed greens, strawberries, goat cheese, pecans/walnuts* & macadamia nuts* drizzled with a raspberry oil & vinegar dressing

Third course...

BBQ riblets*, chicken gnocchi*, fried okra, & bread stick*

Fourth course...
S'more Pie
Oreo cookie crust with layers of marshmallow, chocolate syrup, & chocolate chunks then broiled in the oven to burn the top
(everyone burns their marshmallows, right?)

Is there such a thing as being too blessed? Hmmm...nope - don't think so!!

PS - The S'more Pie came straight from the pages of Bon Appetit magazine.

PPS - We have no clue (nor do we care) about the calories, fat grams, preservatives, etc, etc, etc.

terror in the night (con't)

2007-09-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

"Sounds of terror are in his ears, while at peace the destroyer comes upon him." Job 15:21

If you read our post about the killing/slaughter/sacrifice, you're probably wondering what we found the next day. Come with me and I'll show you!

First, let's head down the old driveway. Rather overgrown, isn't it? Perfect place for an attack!

Here we see a well-defined trail.

It appears to be used quite often.

Eric and I trekked up the hill and found nothing.

This is actually the ground underneath the tree where we thought the fought took place.

This is on the other side of the tree - two of many dens we have found on our little plot of land.

And back up the hill to the house - another well-defined trail.

Now you've just seen as much as we saw the day after the attack. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not even the slightest hint that the battle took place. Now can you understand why we are so ready to develop the land?

Count Your Blessings Monday

2007-09-24T08:36:00.000-07:00

Marci at Down at the Farm is giving us an opportunity every Monday to not only count our blessings, but to share them with others. This is a way that we can encourage one another.

Make a post on your blog telling us about your blessing. Please put a link back to Marci's post.

My blessing is time. I will admit that time is more of a curse at times, but it really is a blessing. When I set my mind to it, I can accomplish quite a lot in a short amount of time.

After we moved to the NW, I did not go back to work for almost a year. During that year, I learned that the more time I had on my hands, the less I got done. Going back to work afforded me the schedule and structure I needed to get busy.

However, I will say that if I can be outside working, everything in the house gets knocked down on my "to-do" list. If you visit during this time, you'll see clean laundry on my kitchen table, dust on my furniture, clean dishes in the dishwasher, etc, etc, etc. The long rainy season really motivates us to use our time outside. Besides, at least the clothes are clean!! Right?

Marci, thanks for giving us this opportunity to share.

Show & Tell Friday

2007-09-14T06:09:00.001-07:00

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday” hosted by Kelli at There's No Place Like Home. Do you have something special to share? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item. Be sure to let Kelli know you've got something to share!!

This clock was a gift from Eric's parents the first year of our marriage. A coo-coo clock? No. A cluck-coo clock!! My maiden name is Cluck. Really. I'm not joking. I didn't realize my name was funny until we moved when I was in high school. Where I grew up, that name was common.

I have since embraced my maiden name by collecting none other than chickens. See my collection here and here. (Notice the name on the plate??)

This is the little guy that pops out at the top of every hour. The reaction of first-time visitors is quite funny. They hear the chicken clucking, but have no idea where it's coming from. They just know it's close by - like in the same room!!

Kelli, thanks for giving us an opportunity to share our favorites!

Happy Birthday Eric!!

2007-09-13T06:08:00.000-07:00

"And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets." Zechariah 8:5

Happy birthday, my love.

This verse fits Eric perfectly. As a child, he and his brother organized the best games I've ever heard of. They would get their friends together for bicycle fighter pilots, the adventures of Lewis & Clark along the creek in Mulvane KS, or war with all the little soldiers and rubber bands as ammunition. Mind you, this was not ordinary war. There were definite rules and no one could move their soldiers until it was their turn!!

Thanks Mom & Dad for providing a strong, stable environment for my future husband.

This photo was taken several years ago while on vacation at Biltmore Estate in NC.

terror in the night

2007-09-11T06:38:00.000-07:00

"Sounds of terror are in his ears, while at peace the destroyer comes upon him." Job 15:21

Just barely asleep, Eric and I were awakened last night to the most hideous screams of terror. Before Eric was out of bed, he had the night vision monocle in one hand and protection in the other. It was coming from behind the house, but where exactly?
Gingerly, Eric walked out onto the deck. Somewhere in this tangled mess, the screams of the prey continued as it desperately tried to escape. Each act of defense forced the predator to find a new grip, dragging his victim until he found another stronghold.
Were the goats still in their pen? Neither of us spoke a word. Posed for action, I stood guard at the patio door ready to slam it shut after Eric's dash inside. Still in pursuit of a meal, the predator gave no relief to its prey. Chills of the hunt were right in front of us. But, where?
With one last bolt of energy and every ounce in his spirit, the prey did not go down quietly. Branches crackled, screams intensified, battles enraged. We stood breathless, stiffened to the bone. As Eric wildly scanned the tree with the monocle, protection prepared, the war ended as quickly as it began.

No more screams. No more struggles. No more defense. Just the tired, deliberate steps of a conqueror's victorious parade home after a long battle. It was done.

The goats were fine. Wide awake and just a breathless as we, they knew Eric's voice and were comforted by his presence.

Sleep came once again - finally. Will we ever know what succumbed to the terrors of this night? Probably not. Isn't this reason enough to continue landscaping?

Count Your Blessing Monday

2007-09-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

Another great start to a what's going to be a great week - thanks to Marci at Amazing Graze Farm. She started this concerted effort to be conscious of our blessings. Check out her website and see what other people are thankful for. You'll meet some great people!!

These two little ladies have become wonderful source of entertainment.

Bravo (black) loves affection and will usually let you walk right up to her then put her head under your hand and expect you to stop what you're doing to pet her.

On the other hand, Alpha (brown) will let you pet her only when she's good and ready. She's the vocalist of the two, also. If she has something to say, she'll let you hear it - loud & clear & as long as it takes!

colors & textures of His hand

2007-09-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

"One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD." Psalm 27:4

Enjoy these treasures we found as we trekked a mountain trail Monday.

The dew of the earth

2007-08-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

"Then the remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on vegetation which do not wait for man or delay for the sons of men." Micah 7:5

In the stillness of the morning,
the air heavy with dew,
the Olympic Peninsula
cries out praises
to His glory.

A few more photos from our trip.

The last section!!

2007-08-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

"The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins, and Thou hast uprooted the cities; the very memory of them has perished."
Psalm 9:6
The enemy? All the tree roots and gravel from the previous owners' landscaping/circle drive. Thou? It actually means our LORD; however, today it means Eric.

We're getting started on the final level to our front patio!! See this post for the lay-out.
After Eric dug the trench for the timbers, we were able to get the walls built. Everything has been tied in with rebar. Next? Level the inside for layers of gravel and sand, then those enormous pieces of flagstone!

With Michael back in school, we're not sure how to move the flagstone unless we hire someone again. Maybe two someones!

(PS - We know we could break the stones to make them smaller, but both of us really enjoy the statement made by the huge pieces of stone. Too, it makes for a much safer place to put a chair!)

Just had to share this picture of the girls with you.

Aren't they cute?

The beauty of flowers

2007-08-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8

Just a few photos from our recent weekend to the Olympic Peninsula.

Count Your Blessing Monday

2007-08-27T14:35:00.000-07:00

Down on the Farm, Marci has started Count Your Blessings Monday. Please join the fun!

Visit her site for more information and to visit more bloggers sharing their blessings!

My blessing? A potato. A potato? Yes - a potato. Actually, it represents the food we have been gathering from our garden. I am so grateful the LORD has allowed us the space for a garden, the knowledge to garden, the weather to garden, and the desire to be self-sufficient. This potato was one of the first we harvested and now we have two baskets full in storage under the house. That night we had baked potatoes for dinner. It was the best baked potato I'd ever eaten!

Marci, thanks for starting this weekly tradition!

Confusing Week

2007-08-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

"Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." Genesis 11:7
Have you ever had one of those weeks? A week that flew by at rocket speed? A week that made you wonder if you accomplished anything? A week full of confusion? Last week was one of those weeks for me. And it wasn't the goats' fault. Who knows what it was, but - whew! what a week!!

Today a gal at work asked if I was at that stage in life, yet, where it was hard to remember common, everyday words. My answer was, "NO!! Certainly not!!" And then I laughed and asked, "What do you mean 'yet'? Is it a for-sure thing?" She assured me it was coming, had something to do with menopause, and would not linger long.

Joy. There may be more posts like today's!!

Thanks to all my blogger friends for waiting on me so patiently!! Maybe a few of you can relate - and coach me through this. When the time comes, of course!!

Our new little babies

2007-08-11T20:23:00.001-07:00

"And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name." Genesis 2:19
We now have our goats!! There's a Kinder breeder about an hour north which is very convenient. The little ladies spent most of the afternoon checking out their new surroundings. We let them lose in the front yard until they decided to go down to the hill. They would have had a grand old time in the timber, but we would have had a darned old time catching them!

This is the nice little goat house all ready for the babies. We have the straw on the floor for bedding. We attached the bale feeder (compliments of Petunia's Gardener). We have the alfalfa and goat chow ready. We even have the water which is situated on the ground to the left of the grain. Have we forgotten anything? Nope - every thing's ready.

Or so we thought!! In one breath, Alpha quickly learned that she could stand on the top of the bale. And in the next breath, she learned she could jump the pen! We caught her and threw her back in the pen hoping it was a fluke. It was not. She jumped again and the game was on! We knew we had to make a few adjustments to the goat house - ASAP!

Now our cute little goat house is not so cute anymore, but I think it did the trick. Alpha tried to jump a few more times - each time moving one or two steps farther back before taking off. Maybe she's really not trying to get out, but just likes to jump. And the only thing to jump on is the goat house.
With that in mind, we threw a few things into the middle of the pen - away from the goat house and away from the walls. It's really not very high, but maybe (maybe) it will do the trick.

And, yes, their names really are Alpha and Bravo. That idea was Eric's (you know, the military history buff).

Yummy Peach Cobbler

2007-08-10T06:12:00.000-07:00

"Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S; it is holy to the LORD." Leviticus 27:30
Until we have fruit trees again, we're buying fruit from the local grocer or fruit stands. Right now, Safeway has peaches on sale: 10 lbs for $10!! Who can pass that up??

One of my special blogger friends, Sue, recently harvested peaches from her newly acquired peach tree. Here's the recipe I promised her. I got this years ago and it is one of the best cobblers I've ever had. Enjoy!

PEACH COBBLER

Filling...
1 c sugar
2 T flour
1/4 t ground nutmeg
4 c peeled, sliced, fresh peaches

Topping...
1 c sugar
1 c flour
1 t baking powder
1 t salt
1/3 c cold butter
1 egg, beaten

Filling...Combine sugar, flour, nutmeg. Add peaches*. Stir to coat. Dump into greased 11x7x2 baking pan**.

Topping...Combine sugar, flour, baking powder, salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in egg. Spoon over peaches. Option: sprinkle nutmeg or cinnamon on top.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until topping is golden brown.

* I regularly substitute a large can of peaches from the grocer using the juice and all in a 9x13 pan.
** I prefer cast iron or stoneware which does not need greased once seasoned.

Please visit Sue at photowannabe. The view of life through her lens is really quite amazing.

Goat Houses

2007-08-09T05:53:00.000-07:00

"Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who were carrying the tabernacle, set out." Numbers 10:17

Far cry from the tabernacle.
And the sons of Gershon and Merari were nowhere to be found.
But the little goat houses are finished and Eric and Michael moved them into place! We're almost ready for the critters!!

If you check out my Scrap Lumber post, you'll see what we started with to build the goat shelters. Now you know why Eric wanted to use a pallet as the base!! Pretty ingenious, if you ask me.

Fish and tomatoes???

2007-08-08T07:07:00.000-07:00

"We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic." Numbers 11:5
But what about tomatoes and fish?

After such an incredibly relaxing weekend, we come home to fish in our garden!! Fish? Yes, fish. Strung all through our tomatoes!

This trout line has become a gag gift in our neighborhood. If you read Petunia's Garden, you'll notice that she's posted about these little critters for several days in a row!! The joke started last Christmas when they were away for the evening. How do we welcome them home? We can "decorate" the tree outside their front door (see here)!! The lights were taken off their tree and fish went into hiding. Until now, that is!

Petunia's Gardener thinks the fish need to travel the neighborhood, but I'm not sure others would appreciate them as much as we have. Who knows? They may love them!!
(PS - There has been no scientific data which suggests illumination by fish is beneficial for growing tomatoes!)

Twin Bridges

2007-08-07T06:20:00.000-07:00

"In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, and travelers went by roundabout ways." Judges 5:6
No, the highway is not completely deserted. But, we did go by roundabout ways this past weekend. Just love these old-style bridges. The quiet, peaceful journey was the perfect prelude to a great weekend. I'll be posting more photos in the coming days.

A little rest and relaxation

2007-08-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

"Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you." Psalm 116:7
Eric and I are taking a little break this weekend and won't be returning until Monday. We've rented at room at Lake Quinault Lodge on the Olympic Peninsula. Hope you all enjoy your weekend.

(Photo courtesy of Microsoft Clipart.)

Show & Tell Friday

2007-08-03T06:42:00.000-07:00

Yea!! Another Show and Tell. If you haven't been to Kelli's blog, please check it out. She has graciously invited us to take part in her Show and Tell each Friday.

"Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, jealousy is as severe as Sheol; its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, nor will rivers overflow it; if a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised." Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Fist of all, thank you for the kinds birthday wishes. Blogging has turned out to be much more beneficial than I thought. I have met the nicest people - you!!

Second, normally I would not be carrying on so about my birthday. However, I wanted to share the card from Eric. It has his personality written all over it - quiet, unassuming, polite, respectful, playful.

It's perfect; I absolutely love it!! Thank you, honey. And, no. I don't mind one little bit. ;o)

Sweet Surprise

2007-08-01T06:49:00.001-07:00

"...and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." Proverbs 31:26
This was my surprise this morning before Eric left for work. However, it was not from Eric. It was from my sweet neighbor, Petunia's Gardener and her DH. She brought it over yesterday before I got home and Eric was ever so kind as to hide it until today. (Today's my birthday.) What fun to open this goody bag!

- recipe book for making smoothies of every concoction
- lovely printed napkins
- two envelopes of traditional European bath therapy
- candle with the most amazing scent
- gentle green candle plate
- card with a sunflower recalling memories of our KS roots

Petunia's Gardener and her DH have been incredibly hospitable since the day we moved in. God certainly knew what He was doing when He allowed us to find this house. The two of them both graduated from Wichita State University - we had just moved from our farm 30 miles south of Wichita, KS! Coincidence? Hardly not (no such thing). Unmistakably the hand of God. It has been such a comfort to talk of familiar things with our new neighbors. They even put up with me during my 6-month funk! She introduced me to the fabulous world of blogging, they share veggies from their garden, and she likes to check out thrift stores!!

Thank you, Petunia's Gardener and DH, for such a lovely surprise this morning!

Scrap Lumber

2007-07-31T07:13:00.000-07:00

"Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood..." Genesis 6:14a

1. No, we're not building an ark.
2. I'm pretty sure it's not gopher wood.

We are, in fact, building shelters for the soon-to-be newest members of our family: goats! Eric has been researching different breeds and has decided on Kinders. They are good for meat and milk. For starters, we'll have one buck and two does. The kids will follow!

This photo shows a pallet from the flagstone and the pieces of an old play fort our neighbor disassembled. Stay tuned for photos of the finished product.

Count Your Blessings Monday

2007-07-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

It's Monday and time to post another blessing. Marci started this weekly tradition and I'm loving it!

Check out her website to see who else is counting their blessings.

My blessing today is my incredible, very capable husband Eric. He's level-headed, street-smart, not afraid of hard work or learning new skills, self-disciplined, self-reliant, can read between the lines, knows how to work with people, puts butterflies in my stomach, and is my absolute best friend. My husband is perfect for me!!

When I started praying for a husband, my prayer was bold and quite descriptive as far as character was concerned. However, if God did bring me this kind of husband, was I the kind of wife to compliment such a man? How arrogant of me to pray for my dreams to come true if I wasn't willing to change. Well, God heard that side of my prayer and did some mighty work on me, as well. When God brought Eric into my life, there was no question that this was the man God had planned for me. And there was no question that I was the woman God had planned for Eric. We knew within the first three hours. Neither one was playing games. He had his list (actually written). I had mine (mental). As we talked that first time, we were checking off pertinent items.

In the end, he proposed on the second date and I accepted. We were married five months later and continually see the fingerprints of God on every part of our lives. We will always be newlyweds!!

A major milestone

2007-07-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

"So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days." Nehemiah 6:15
Wall? No - patio. Elul 25th? Close - July 21st. Fifty-two days? HA! Not quite - I'll let you calculate!

But...the largest part is done!! It's finished!! Woo hoo!! This day was a long time coming. I know the entire patio is not finished, but the most difficult and labor-intensive section is complete!!!!! And all joints and muscles are still functioning quite nicely. :)

Here's the view from our front door. Quite a lovely sight!

Giants of Flagstonia

2007-07-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

Another Friday and that means Show & Tell. When you were in school, don't you remember how excited you got when that day rolled around? Kelli has restored this timeless pleasure - check out everyone else's Show & Tell.

"(For only Og King of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was an iron bedstead; it is in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. Its length was nine cubits [13 1/2'] and its width four cubits [6'] by ordinary cubit.)" Deuteronomy 3:11
Look at the size of these stones! Not quite as large as Og's bed; but giant, nonetheless!! No wonder it we only got half way the other day.

I'm 5'6" and both of these guys are taller than me and 90% of the rocks are taller than them!! If it wasn't for that tractor, who knows how we'd get those rocks moved into place. You should hear the grunts and groans when the rocks need to be lifted for leveling! Each lift takes a moment of mental preparation - for the guys. Of course, I can't help. Who would take the pictures?

(Just kidding - I think Eric would wring my neck if I didn't help.)

Hitting the half-way point!

2007-07-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

"So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." Nehemiah 4:6

Paula's paraphrase:
So we built the patio and the largest patio area was joined together to half its design, for the people had a mind to work.

Here's a shot of a hard day's work. If you look closely, you can see the drains which I've already posted. Now turn around and look the other way.

Yes! More gravel and more sand!! Apparently we did not order enough. Actually, we did order enough for the initial lay-out. But you know how it goes. You get started and realize, "Hey, if we did it this way, it would look so much better." Ideas are spilling out left and right and before you know it, you've run out of supplies. But one thing I know - when it's all said and done, you'll know it's a patio! That's for sure!!

Listening to the rain

2007-07-24T05:49:00.000-07:00

"Now with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God...onyx stones and inlaid stones, stones of antimony, and stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones, and alabaster in abundance." I Chronicles 29:2
It's raining here in the NW. Imagine that! But what a great opportunity to show you the beautiful rocks we find in the dirt. When everything is wet, the true colors really come through. This is one of the drains we put in the patio. If you look closely, you can see water dripping off the end of the rain chain.

It took me nine months to realize this, but God still shows Himself in the rain. Sound funny? Let me explain. When we lived in KS, we got rain once in awhile. The thunder storms were incredible, to say the least. In fact, thunder storms are my all-time favorite weather phenomenon. To see the awesome, controlled, deliberate power of our Lord would certainly make me appreciate His grace and mercy.

Thunder storms have a beginning, a middle, and an end - just like watching a play performance. The rain in the NW has a hard time figuring out which act we're in. It seems to be perpetually caught in the first act. There is never any climax. Occasionally, I will hear bits of thunder and get all excited that we're moving on to the second act. Then I realize it was just an airplane! So, I settle back into my seat prepared for a long performance.

Since being in the NW, I have come to realize a longer play is OK. An anti-climactic play is OK, too. Not preferred, but OK. God still shows Himself from the treasures found in the dirt to the numerous bird calls to the long-lasting blooms that seem to be frozen in time.

Count Your Blessings Monday

2007-07-23T09:03:00.001-07:00

Another day to point out my blessings.

Marci started this and I think it's a great idea!

My blessing today is my son. This photo was taken in November 2003. At that time Adam was 16 yrs and just a few inches taller than my 5'6". Now he's 6'5" - maybe even a little taller! When we moved last year, he stayed in KS. And he's still there! I miss him, but I know he is in God's care.

He has seen hard times, experienced heartache, made poor decisions, and turned in the wrong direction for comfort. Haven't we all?

I believe God has designed a ministry for each of us according to our talents and life experiences. Who can effectively minister to those in trial? Only those who have lived through that trial. God continues to preserve & protect my son. Through his experiences, Adam is being prepped to minister to "the lowest of these". I'm OK with that. I've always been OK with that.

My prayer is that God would continue to send ministers to Adam that can walk with him step-by-step, that Adam would recognize the hand of God preparing him for future ministry, and that Adam would empty his soul of himself and allow to God to fill him beyond measure - conquering all doubt. My tears are of joy in hopes of the fruit yet to come. One day Adam will allow God to do mighty things through him.

Show & Tell Friday

2007-07-20T06:01:00.000-07:00

Each Friday, Kelli hosts a Show & Tell.

Hmmm...what could I show you?

Of course - the most recent addition to my chicken collection. When I came home from work the other day, there was a small box in the mail. A package for me? I love surprises!! Inside was the cutest little chicken timer from Eric's parents.

According to some, it appears I'm almost out of room for more chickens. However, there are times when a cock or hen beckons to become part of the family. How can I resist? As you can see, it looks quite content next to the large plate. The colors blend perfectly!

Back to Work

2007-07-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

"And the rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights." Genesis 7:12

We're not anticipating that kind of rain. However, we are getting the drains ready on the patio.

Breaking the stones allowed us to have smaller pieces which worked perfectly for the small areas around the drainage grates.

I wanted something to hide the grates without obstructing the flow of water coming off the rain chains. Since we have a never-ending supply, small rocks found in the dirt became the obvious choice. Works pretty good! I really enjoying seeing the contrast between the large flat stones and the small round rocks.

Count Your Blessings Monday

2007-07-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

Marci has started Count Your Blessings Monday. So, today I'm sharing my blessing!

This is what I see virtually everyday as I'm running around town: Mount Ranier! Sometimes the clouds decide to visit the mountain making it impossible to see. We only live about two hours north which makes for a wonderful day trip. The trails are really fun and the views from up there are spectacular!! To the left, you'll see a much smaller mount - that's Crystal Mountain which has great ski slopes I'm told. (I'm not a snow skier so I just take their word for it.) This photo is actually what I see as I pull into our housing development. One of these days, I'll get a photo from another spot in town so you can see it without the tree smack dab in the middle!!

Evening beauties

2007-07-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

"One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to meditate in His temple." Psalm 27:4

Please walk with me around our plot of land. The beauty in the evening is quite amazing.

Thanks for walking with me tonight!

Pressing on

2007-07-12T05:57:00.000-07:00

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

True - we do press on toward this goal. However, today we're also pressing on toward the goal of finishing the patio.

In comes the dirt. For some reason, we thought we had to remove 9" all the way around. In reality, we only had to remove 9" where the drain pipes were. So, we had to bring all that dirt back in.
Thank goodness for the tractor!!

Looking good!

The laser level works great for leveling the dirt all the way across.

Gravel is next. Now I'm really thankful for the tractor!

Can you imagine how heavy that would be?
Or how long it would take with a shovel?

Are we finished? So soon?

Actually, we're finished several hours later. But doesn't it look good?
If you look back near the foundation of the house,
you'll see three little black boxes on the ground.
Those are the grates for the drainage system.
Wait till you see what we did with these!!

You know, it seems to me that something was missing today.
Oh yeah - Michael (our hired summer help)!
I'm sure he's glad to know we still work when he's not around!!
Tomorrow: sand and flagstones.

Decorating the front step

2007-07-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

"Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity; and clothe yourself with honor and majesty." Job 40:10

We haven't had closure on a project since finishing the raised bed. It was time for closure again.

Hence, decorating the newly finished front steps.

Rather than sand, we chose ground cover to fill the gaps. Sand was too messy.

We decided to fill the space on the front porch with a large pot.

My neighbor suggested using a ground cover called wooley thyme (aka: elfin thyme). In her yard it grows in the sun, in the shade, in the dirt, and in their gravel driveway. It seems to be virtually indestructible! Eventually, it will grow together and fill all the gaps. At one inch high, it lets off an oregano aroma when crushed. The little purple flowers are so cute!

[Correction 1/12/08: Wooley thyme & elfin thyme are not the same, but we did plant both between the rocks.]

This planter was fun to fill. Draping down the front is Myrtle - Bowles variety. On either side of it is Coral Bells - Caramel on the right and Color Dream on the left. Way in the back is Liriope - Marc Anthony. But the crowning jewel is the Cypress - Cyano-viridis. I loved this tree from the get-go. It's one of those plants you just have to touch. It's so soft and just beckons to be scrunched!

OK. Now on to the other and definitely larger part of the patio. But that can wait until tomorrow!

Up from the ruins

2007-07-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

"They in turn gave it [money] to the carpenters and to the builders to buy quarried stone and timber for couplings and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had let go to ruin."
2 Chronicles 34:11

We're not exactly repairing ruins, but we are converting an over-grown yard to a front patio.

With the front step finished, it's time to work on the middle step. See this post to figure out what I'm talking about.

With the help of our trusty orange steed, we had no trouble moving the rocks from the pallets to the patio.

Making the stones fit was another matter. As you can see, Eric had to try several different maneuvers before getting it just right. Those stones can be quite stubborn when it comes to cutting them.

Since the span was only 6', a 2x4 worked great for leveling the stones.

I'd say this day is done!

And a good day's work it was, too!!

Our summer help

2007-07-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

"What a help you are to the weak! How you have saved the arm without strength!" Job 26:2

OK. So we're not quite so weak and without strength. However, we are so appreciative of the summer help. Michael is home from college until the end of July. Then he's off to officer training camp with the Air Force! What a worker he is, too. Here's an example of how he's helped, thus far.

Cutting and driving pieces of rebar.

Filling areas with dirt, gravel, and sand.

Helping Eric add cement to the new front step.

Michael, we are too thankful you needed summer work!

Kioti has found favor

2007-07-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

"And of Naphtali he said, 'O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD, take possession of the sea and the south.'" Deuteronomy 33:23

Paula's Paraphrase:

And of Kioti the mechanic said, "O Kioti, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of Eric, take possession of Paula's side of the garage and the driveway."

The new tractor (Kioti) was not registering the hours. The mechanic tried to fix it at the house, but ended up taking it back to the shop. This was the scene when I came home from work the other day.

It struck me odd that the tractor would have such a place of honor - until I learned Eric asked the mechanic to park it there so he could do routine maintenance: check all the fluids, grease all the zerts, etc. It was time.

Where did I park?

Under the tree.

In the shade, of course!!

And I was happy to park there knowing Eric was taking good care of our not-so-little investment!!

Happy Birthday America!!

2007-07-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

"Now listen to me: I shall give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people's representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, then teach them the statues and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk, and the work they are to do. Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain;...If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace."
Exodus 18:19-21c, 23
What a great place to start. I believe our forefathers felt the same way. Not everyone knows (or wants to know) that the United States of America was founded on Godly principles. I do. And I am so grateful.

Here's a photo of several founding fathers of the US Constitution. We all know Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Sorry to say, I am not familiar with the other men. My research came up empty. Maybe you could help out.

My research did lead to a few interesting websites, though.
For an accurate history of our forefathers, try WallBuilders.
To read a copy of the entire US Constitution, try this link.
To purchase a copy of the entire US Constitution, try this link.
Here's an interesting speech.

Have a safe holiday!

A measuring line

2007-07-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

"Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand." Zechariah 2:1

Before we started laying tile, we determined where the center would be. You can see the lines at the top of the photo and then again on the timber. These reference lines are essential to making sure the tiles are straight.

In this case, a woman had the measuring line in her hand.

Putting tiles on the diagonal meant we had to cut. So much for uncut stones!

Measure the space. Transfer to the tile. Measure again. And again. And again. You get the idea!

Once I'm absolutely sure that I've measured and transferred correctly, Eric cuts the tile.

Eric and I work so well together. He trusts me completely. Not one time did he remeasure or check my work before cutting. That says a lot since I've never done anything like this before! He even tolerates my bent toward perfection by shaving off "just a bit more". He certainly is my perfect mate!

The result was fabulous!! At this point, everything is dry fit.

Once all the tiles were cut and placed, we removed them in preparation for the adhesive. Be sure to keep them in the same order!!

Tomorrow I'll share photos of the finished patio!

The front step foundation

2007-07-02T09:29:00.001-07:00

"You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones; and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God." Deuteronomy 27:6
Well, we're not building an alter - just a front step. However, we decided to use ceramic tile (uncut stones) rather than flagstone simply because the flagstone was too thick. We grabbed a few pieces that flaked off, and away we went.

The match is almost perfect!

First things first: frame the new front step. Here's a close-up, but look at this post for a larger perspective. After framing, we added layers of gravel and sand as a base for the cement.

Adding the cement was really quite simple and went pretty quickly.

Here I am sealing the cement getting it ready for the next step.

I chose my best grungy clothes for this photo!!

The original front step had started to pull away from the house slightly which meant we needed to bring it back to the correct grade. Level Quick did the trick!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's episode when we see Eric and Paula actually lay the tile!

Dances with bees

2007-06-26T06:42:00.000-07:00

"They surrounded me like bees; they were extinguished as a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off." Psalm 118:12

Lately, we have been focusing so intently on the ground that we hardly ever looked up. Until, that is, Eric got stung by a bee in the front patio area. After looking around to see where it came from, this is what he found. The neighbor's DH estimated this as a three-week construction project.

What to do now? Counter-attack!! So begins Eric's dance with the bees.
First weapon of choice: diesel fuel. Works great for killing bees; however, leaves an awful mess on the house. And the smell is not so lovely, either.

After awhile, Eric switched to Simple Green just to clean the house off.

In case you're not familiar with this dance, here's a few moves for you to practice at home (ha, ha, ha).

Have you got it? It really is quite simple - you just let the bees lead!

Where was I during this dance? In the vehicle, of course! In one of the photos you can see the side mirror of my Jeep.

Sown on the good soil

2007-06-19T19:45:00.000-07:00

"And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." Matthew 13:23

Please excuse my absence of late; however, we've not made much progress on the patio this week. But our garden is coming along quite nicely. Click here for a before shot.

The rhubarb adjusted to its new home right away. Once new buds were formed in the center, they took off like crazy! New shoots in every direction!! Rhubarb pie is right up there with gooseberry pie - love that tart, make-you-pucker sensation on my tongue!
Runners are good thing for straw- berries. You can see onions popping up all around. If you double click on the photo, you'll see little, tiny berries near the base of the plant. This year the crop may not amount to much, but next year we hope to have lots of sweet fruit!

Mustard.

Italian parsley.

Arugula.

Lettuce.

Potatoes, garlic, and elephant garlic. Those potatoes took off about as quickly as the rhubarb. From the looks of it, we're going to have a bumper crop!!(PS - The background is our no-grass, weed-infested yard. Since moving here one year ago, we've mowed three times!)

Here's the whole shoot 'n shebang! I'm standing over the rhubarb looking past the tomatoes & peppers toward the mustard at the far end. In between the tomatoes and peppers, we planted marigolds & nasturtium. They are finally starting to show themselves.

All in all, I think we have a pretty good garden going. Especially since gardening is not our number one priority right now.

Starting to see it now

2007-06-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

"And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." Joel 2:28

Can you envision the patio? When it's all said and done, we'll have three levels.

1. Even with driveway and the top of the bottom row of timbers.

2. Two timbers higher (in the bottom left corner of the photo and middle level at the back of the photo).

3. Again two timbers higher (the front step and area around the trees).

Right now, the timbers are just sitting there. We decided to dry fit everything before we started pounding rebar again. And I'm glad we did because we soon learned that each of us had a different plan in mind! (My plan won out!)

We saw this after we laid and removed one of the timbers. Each time we lay a timber, we need to level it in all directions. This means pounding it quite a bit which leaves an impression if we remove it later. The wood grain was so obvious in the dirt. Interesting, huh?

Can you guess what this is? It's a root - and I think it's an Oregon Grape. I say that because this area was once infested with Oregon Grapes. I liked how the red and orange swirled together. Quite a contrast against the dirt.

Getting it right

2007-06-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

"According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

After we got the new front steps figured out, it was time to start laying the rest of the timbers. In this photo, Eric is using a string to determine the wall which runs parallel to the house.

Marking possibly-changing boundaries.

Digging rock-invested dirt.

Chopping never-ending roots.

Wait a minute.

Isn't there an alternative ending to this story?

"Just then, Prince Charming rode in on his trusty orange steed and saved the princess from the exhaustion of physical labor."

Ahhh...that's more like it!

Building the foundation

2007-06-14T06:16:00.000-07:00

"Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work." 1 Corinthians 3:12-13

Remember seeing our gold, silver, precious stones, and wood? Today I'm going to elaborate on wood.

After playing with Legos, we're ready to build the walls!!!

New front steps: once we placed a few timbers at the correct width and height,Eric cut the timbers with the chainsaw to stagger the seams. A warped timber made a great work surface.

OK.

Maybe the chainsaw didn't work as well as we had hoped.

On to Plan B.

Do we have a Plan B?

Now we do! And Plan B worked like a charm!!

(Landscaping can be an expensive hobby.)

Ladies, this was the scene after we quit for the day: filthy, dirty feet!

Mind you, I was wearing shoes AND socks the whole day.

Bath time lasted a few minutes longer that night. :)

Building the walls

2007-06-13T07:02:00.000-07:00

"The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Before we started carrying 8' timbers to the patio area, we thought it wise to determine the layout. Being the visual learner that I am, Lego blocks worked great for this. The longer we worked at putting these blocks together, the more we realized the layout was not that difficult. Most likely, the plan would change as we went along anyway.

(Even though my son is now 19 years old and no longer living at home, I have always kept his Lego blocks. They are such great toys allowing kids to be wildly creative!)

Back to the patio

2007-06-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

"Though your beginning was insignificant, yet your end will increase greatly." Job 8:7

Back to the patio. We still have a great vision for this project.

Even though we had more dirt to remove, we decided another raised bed would have to wait. For now, all the extra dirt was piled where the holly tree stood.

Up until now, the boundaries of the patio have been cut in roughly. It's time to be exact. We purchased a can of orange marking paint and went crazy marking the boundaries and high/low spots - digging out and adding dirt where necessary.

Next step: drainage from the driveway.

Using the backhoe saves us so much time now. Before the tractor, digging this trench would have taken several days, at least. The rocks in the soil would have given us quite the workout. However, Eric was able to dig it in just a few minutes. Every time we use the tractor, we are so thankful God allowed us the means to purchase it.

Tools of the trade: 100' length of drainage tube, connectors, junction boxes with grates

Looks good!!

A day with Dad

2007-06-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you." Philippians 1:3

Recently, Eric and I were fortunate enough to enjoy a day with my father. He's never been to the NW, so decided to make it a road trip. That was perfect since he's a huge fan of nature - he could see the sights and get lots of pictures. The trip out was a four-day trek which means the trip back was also a four-day trek. Having ten days vacation, that left 1 1/2 days with us. But that was perfectly fine. I'd rather have 1 1/2 days than none at all. Besides, he'll be back. Right, Dad? Below are a few snapshots of our time together.

First things first.
They thought it wise to make sure the tractor was working properly.

Removing a tree stump seemed to be the best test of the day.

Whew! That was hard work. Better take a breather.

Day two.
We started our ventures at Snoqualmie Falls with breakfast at the lodge. Then we trekked from the top of the falls to the bottom. Views are spectacular from either viewpoint.

Off to the piers of Seattle and Pike Place Market.

You can't go to Pike Place Market without stopping at the world famous Pike Place Fish Co.
And you can't stop here without buying.

Because watching them throw (and catch) the fish is the most fun ever! If you are even remotely close to the market, you must visit. Hearing these guys chant back and forth is quite amazing - loads of fun. Even if you don't buy, they'll throw so you can get a picture.

Fresh flowers from the market.

We watched her put the arrangement together right in front of us.

Only $15, too! What a bargain.

They found a nice home on the table on our deck.

A view of the port, as we drove home.

And the
Space
Needle,
of course.

We did
not visit
the Needle,
but who
comes to
Seattle
and does
not get a
picture,
at least?

Dad, thanks for a great visit. Love you.

Certainly a good thing

2007-06-04T06:51:00.001-07:00

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11
This deck off the back of the house has become our favorite spot in the evening. You can see Eric (Hubby) relaxing with a good book. The trees keep the temperature cool even when the sun is shining. Eric's smoker/grill is located directly to the right of where I was standing to take the photo.

I absolutely love this patio furniture (from Target) which is a far cry from what I wanted to purchase one year ago. Please check out this post to get the background. For months, I shopped and shopped for the perfect patio furniture - stores, catalogs, internet. Finally, I found the perfect pieces. However, Eric just about choked over the price. "We may need to wait a while longer to purchase this set," he said very sweetly. What he really said: this costs way too much, please rethink it. What I heard: this is great, let's get it soon.

After opening my heart again to receive His instruction, my idea of the perfect patio furniture changed. No longer did I need "perfect patio furniture". I just wanted it be comfortable. We truly enjoy sitting here in the evening talking about our day, laughing together, enjoying a good book, or listening to the bird calls.

We truly have a good thing.

You Inspire Me

2007-06-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

"Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that." 1 Corinthians 7:7
Just playing around with the photo software on my computer. This photo was cropped, tinted, highlighted, low-lighted, and whatever else I could think of.

Let me explain the verse I chose. It made me think of the different types of blogs I visit.

Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am -
homesteading:
Down on the Farm
Homesteading Blogger
Muller's Lane Farm
(As long as I keep searching, I'll find more blogs on this subject.)

However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that -
gardening:
Petunia's Garden
cooking:
A Year in Bread
homemaking:
A Place Called Home
Making a House a Home
There is no Place like Home
photography:
Anna's Photo of the Day
Nature Trail
Photowannabe
Antiques:
Stuff in the Burbs
(I thoroughly enjoy each and every one of your blogs. You demonstrate areas I have not mastered and may never. However, bloggers, your insights & talents inspire and encourage me to stay the course - hence, the attempt at creative photography.)

Enjoy your weekend!

Doors of Bronze & Iron Bars

2007-06-01T05:47:00.000-07:00

"I [God] will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze, and cut through their iron bars."
Isaiah 45:2
After we planted our first raised bed, we realized we may as well make room for another. However, throughout the years trees & bushes have completely consumed our property making it impossible to landscape without removing them.

Take this tree, for instance. Actually, it's an overgrown holly - waaaaay overgrown. For a comparison, I took a photo of Hubby peering to the inside to see what he was up against.

After getting past the "doors of bronze" (the leaves - prickly little things), he had to "cut through their iron bars" (the vines).

Here's a photo after Hubby removed enough vines to control the direction of the fall. It almost looks like a tree rather than a bush. (Sorry for such poor quality - the sun took a siesta!)

Finally, the tree was conquered and has been transformed into...you guessed it - firewood!

Simple Beauty

2007-05-31T06:45:00.000-07:00

"And out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight..." Genesis 2:9a
This little beauty pops up everywhere I go. I see it often as I'm driving around town. One day I thought, "When we get to the point of planting flowers, I'd like to have this one in my garden."

However, it was under my nose the entire time! As I was walking our plot of land last week, I found it tucked underneath a pine tree - in full bloom!! I quickly ran up to the house for my camera. The peach-colored blooms are stunning against the green foliage.

Beauty is most often found in the simplest forms, I think. Wouldn't you agree?

Planting Our Garden

2007-05-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

"Then God said, 'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you.'" Genesis 1:29
After we installed the drip irrigation, we added more dirt and leveled it to within 4" from the top, removing any large rocks we found. We ignored small rocks - too many to remove!

Next on the agenda was amending the soil. We started with one large bag of Miracle Grow every 8'. As you can see, Hubby just dumped it in one big pile. A rake works good for leveling.
Fertilizer and lime came next. Hubby measured out what he needed and just spread it by hand. Nothing too difficult about this process.

Now we can go shopping for plants, seeds, etc!! We found the best nursery and were very excited about our finds. Here's a list of the seeds we purchased: mustard, parsley, basil, coriander, chives, arugula, lettuce, peppers, onion, sweet corn, and fava beans.

We also decided to plant marigolds and nasturtium.

You may recognize the plants: shallots, two varieties of onions, strawberries, seed potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, and rhubarb. Yum, yum!

Now that this project is completed, what's next? Wait, didn't we build the raised bed to hold dirt from the patio area? Of course! Oh my. We still have more dirt to remove. Does that mean another raised bed? Hmmmmm, I wonder.

Living water

2007-05-29T07:40:00.000-07:00

"And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I [Jesus] say to you he shall not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42

Hope you all had a great weekend. Back to our landscaping. Let me explain how we installed drip irrigation for the raised bed. The process is fairly simple.
First drill a hole completely through the end 12" from the top, centered from side to side. We drilled our hole at the deepest end, but either end would be fine. Then run a piece of tubing (cut to length plus a few inches) through the hole.

On the inside of the bed, attach the hardware to the tubing. Next, figure out where your lines need to run in order to irrigate the entire bed. Our bed has an interior width of 4' and each line has a 24" spread (12" on each side). So, our lines lay 12" from the edge with a 24" space in the middle. Insert the mounting piece for each line.

On the outside of the bed, attach and adapter/pressure meter for the garden hose. Be sure your pressure meter is in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation. Our lines are manufactured for 15 psi.

Attach your lines and run them the length of the bed. Drip irrigation is more efficient if the lines are not kinked under the soil so be sure they are flat on the ground. At the far end, slice the tubing to the appropriate length plus 6-8". Cut two more pieces approximately 2" long. Fold the end of one line several times and slip one of the 2" pieces on to secure it closed. Repeat on each line.

The lines are 12" under the surface for a couple of reasons: 1) the water won't evaporate as quickly as if it were near/on the top, and 2) this depth allows us to use the tiller at a maximum 8" depth without interfering with the drip lines.
Now it's time to test the system for leaks. Gently turn on the water and increase pressure until you've achieved the recommended force. In a few seconds, the water should be gently dripping onto the ground. Check all connections for leaks. If nothing is leaking, you're done for the day!

Our reward? One happy garden!!

With honor & dignity

2007-05-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands; one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Are you grateful to be living in a free nation? Teach your children our history. Tell them why they, too, can live in a free nation. Encourage them to be patriotic. Teach them to be proud of the US flag and all it represents. Teach them about the sacrifices that make this nation #1 in the world. Teach them that our freedom is a privilege that must be fought for - on a daily basis. A great place to get the facts is here.

Be sure to thank a soldier, enlisted or veteran, when you're out and about today. I pray their sacrifice puts a knot in your throat and brings tears of gratitude to your eyes.

Contentment...hmmmmmmm!

2007-05-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

The lesson at church this morning made me face the fact that I have a hard time being content. I do not consider myself contentious, though, either. Is there such a thing as being middle of the road? I'm not sure. My husband is much better at being content than I. The events of this past year have proven that.
At one time, I considered myself pretty flexible when it came to change. Until, that is, God decided to change every major thing in my life save finances & health. Within six months, our lives changed drastically: my one & only son moved out of the house; we sold our house & farm land [livelihood & dreams]; we left our jobs; we left our church; we moved 1/2 way across the country [1200 miles]. My entire life was new again. At one time, new things meant excitement. New things meant energy and invigoration. At one time.

Those six months were nothing compared to the nine months that followed. I hated everything around me. Each time I looked outside, I cried. What was I supposed to do with myself? I wasn't working anymore. I only knew four neighbors and they were my only friends. I didn't have a church home. My business had to be built from scratch. My son had his own place now. What was I supposed to be doing now? And once I figured that out, where would I find the energy to get it done?

I was continuing to study His Word, but it became a duty rather than a privilege. Needless to say, I wasn't really learning or hearing His still small voice. The barrier around my heart was becoming thicker and thicker. My husband was so patient with me. However, he would also prod me along when need be.

Then one day it dawned on me that God must be so disappointed with me. He has placed me in a new world with new surroundings for a new purpose. And that purpose was His idea - not mine. I was having a hard enough time remembering why I agreed to come here in the first place.

But can you see my problem? I was using so much energy looking at the past that I didn't have enough left to see the future...His future...His future that He is allowing me to be part of...His purpose that I have a role in...His plan that I get to enjoy.

His future.
His purpose.
His plan.

It's always His. Everything is His. Do I remember that? Not always. However, I am so grateful there is a larger force than myself. Life is too overwhelming without Him.

"I can do [endure] all things through [in] Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Filling the raised bed

2007-05-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

"And again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground." Genesis 4:2
In order to lay the patio, dirt must be removed first. A lot of dirt. The soil had eroded down the slope toward the house until it was half way up the vent on the wall. After we leveled the soil to below the vent, we had to remove another 5" to make way for the gravel, sand, and stone. That's a lot of dirt. This shot was taken right after Hubby tilled the soil. Tilling makes light work of excavating. All this dirt will be thrown into the raised bed.
Before adding dirt to the raised bed, we removed the walls at both ends. That's why we didn't drive rebar into the end walls. (See yesterday's post.)
When this picture was taken, we didn't have the tractor, yet. Everything was done by hand. We loaded the little wagon attached to the back of the mower, drove into the raised bed, tilted the wagon, and dumping the dirt as I drove out the other end.
Hubby was so wise making the bed 4' wide - everything worked like a charm!
We added enough dirt to fill the bed to within 12" from the top, put the end pieces back in place, slammed in the remaining pieces of rebar, leveled the dirt, and called it good! Tomorrow's post: drip irrigation!

One raised bed coming up!

2007-05-25T07:04:00.000-07:00

"For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?" Luke 14:28
We didn't build a tower, but rather a raised bed. And I'm pretty sure we purchased enough materials to complete the job (see yesterday's post). Here's a quick run-through of how we did it.

From the highest point, figure out where the land drops 18" (laser level & yardstick works for this). This determines the length of the bed. Our mower & tiller determined the inside width (4').

From the lowest point, lay timbers - leveling the ground as necessary. When the bottom row becomes even with ground, go back to the lowest point and start a new row of timbers. All the while, use a tape measure to keep the inside width consistently 4', a 6' bubble level to make sure the two outside walls are the same height, and a smaller bubble level to make sure each timber is level in all directions.

From the lowest point, mark every three feet on both sides. Girls, fingernail polish works great for this! Alternating between a 1/2" bit and a 5/8" bit, drill a hole at every mark. A 3' drill bit allows you to drill all the way down the ground. Standing on the timber helps secure it while you drill (I stood on the other end).

(NOTE 8/28/07: We found using the larger drill bit allowed the timbers to pop up. From here on out, we will always use a drill bit the same size as the rebar.)

Next, at each hole, measure from the ground up and add 18". Cut pieces of 1/2" rebar to this length and place next to appropriate hole. On each side wall of the bed, drive the rebar into the holes using a sledge hammer. The holes drilled with the 5/8" bit will be a breeze. However, the holes drilled with the 1/2" bit will be quite a work out! Don't drive rebar into the end pieces - yet.

Here's the finished product! The timbers are stacked and leveled, the pieces of rebar have been driven into place (except on the ends), and we're ready to start adding dirt. See you tomorrow!

We're starting to dream!

2007-05-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

"And they said to one another, 'Here comes this dreamer!'"
Genesis 37:19
Yes, we're finally able to move on from clearing the land to developing the land. First things first, though: patio leading to the front door. But where do we put the excavated dirt? Of course - in a raised bed for vegetables! But what materials will we use to build the raised bed? Of course - landscaping timbers!

We ordered the materials: 2 bags of sand, 3 pallets of flagstone, 1 pile of quarter minus gravel, and 7 units of landscaping timbers. Yes, 7 units of landscaping timbers. Half a semi. 420 pieces. Why, you ask, do we need 420 pieces of landscaping timbers? Simple. Not only are we building several raised beds, but we plan to use the timbers for terrace walls, as well. (You only see 4 units in this pictures.)

It really doesn't matter that we ordered the materials first because the patio is relatively small and won't take that long. Right?

And another thing. Some of those rocks are pretty large - taller than me. How are we going to handle those without breaking each one? Of course - the new tractor!

What is it?

2007-05-23T18:32:00.000-07:00

"But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him." Luke 24:16
Don't look at the next photo.

Do you know what this is?

I think it looks like a bone-in spiral ham.

Hubby thinks it's a sea shell.

Wanna take a guess?

Actually...

it's the...

end of...

a piece of firewood!

Isn't it funny how things are more confusing when we don't see the big picture? Life can be like that at times. Fortunately, He knows everything!

Hubby's new plow

2007-05-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

"You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together." Deuteronomy 22:10
OK. But what about a backhoe and a scoop together?

Eventhough we live in town, we still have enough land and projects to warrant a small tractor. This little baby was delivered several weeks ago and has been used quite often. It's a 38 HP Kioti with front scoop and back hoe as pictured. However, we also purchased a pallet forklift and blade for grading.

Now we can get some real work done! Woo Hoo!!!

Revealed with fire

2007-05-21T05:57:00.000-07:00

"...each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work." 1 Corinthians 3:13

Absolutely nothing compares to watching fire. The flame is changing constantly; the wood is transformed dramatically; even the smoke heats to the point of flame. I can be mesmerized for hours, losing all track of time.

Look at this picture. You only see those objects near the flame, revealed by the light. All else is dark. All else is hidden. All else is private.

What's happening in the private areas of my life? How do I behave? What do I think? Am I selfish? Of course, I am. In the private areas of my life, I don't want to think of others. I don't want to be concerned with anything but my own desires.

Incredibly greedy, aren't I? The LORD understands, though. He's patient with me. And He's lighting the way.

He knows my heart does not want to be self-centered. He knows I would much rather live in the light where I can see what's going on - where He can be glorified. Is He always glorified in the private areas of my life? Not completely, yet. But I'm getting there. He's patient with me. And He's lighting the way - through His Word.

He meets with me each morning before I start my day. He walks with me throughout the day as I work. He rests with me at night as I prepare for tomorrow. He's patient with me. And He's lighting the way - through His Spirit.

Tree + Axe = Firewood

2007-05-20T16:10:00.000-07:00

"And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Matthew 3:10
Another willing sacrifice for the sake of firewood (and garden). We're talking about the tree in the background with the three main branches. If you look at yesterday's post, this tree would be located directly behind the tall tree on the left. You can't actually see it in the photo, though. The yellow cinch cord is attached to the branch leaning heavily to the right (and even more heavily toward the neighbor's yard).
The chainsaw may be hit and miss; however, the axe is always ready for action. Hubby whacked away until the branch finally gave way. Somewhere in the middle, the cinch cord was moved from the supporting tree to the hitch on the back of the truck. The theory was to persuade the branch to fall toward our property and not over the fence.
Try as we might, the branch was not to be persuaded. However, please take note of its angle. Never once did it actually rest on the fence. The Lord certainly was the Expert Landscaper here. We were able to trim it on-site and get the bulk of it back on our side of the fence with no damage. I'd say that was a minor victory! And the end of our day. The other two branches can wait.

Another one bites the dust.

2007-05-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit." Matthew 7:18

Notice the tall tree on the left. It's located on the western-most edge of our property just in front of the house. This poor thing had to go. The seed pods dropped off like flies and took root where ever they landed. What a mess! This photo was taken the morning Hubby "transformed" it into firewood.

On the right side of the photo you'll notice trees located closer to the house. One day, these will be gone, too.

As you can see from the aerial view, we have no grass. As you come down the driveway, don't you agree grass would be a lovely view?

I won something!!!

2007-03-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." I Cor. 10:12

This treasure arrived at my home several weeks ago - compliments of Nature Girl. She held a drawing and I was a winner!! Note cards with envelopes, stickers, and a pencil, too (it was already in use by the time this photo was taken). Thank you, Nature Girl. Sorry it took me so long to extend my thanks. Hope you're enjoying your time in Florida. I am certainly enjoying your photos!

Revealing one mystery

2007-03-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

"He reveals mysteries from the darkness, and brings the deep darkness into light." Job 12:22

Thanks to all my blogger friends, I have come to the conclusion that revealing my true identity is not such a bad thing. However, as you can tell, I'm taking baby steps (ha, ha).

This is one of my favorite baby pictures. At the time, we lived in a small town (200 max), but a train came through every day. In fact, it ran right by our house and I remember waving at the man in the caboose! He would always wave back, too. You can see the grain elevator in the background.

My family has asked me to post pictures of Hubby and myself. This is my first small step. Eventually, I would like to add photos of the two of us (and maybe even our names); however, the whole blog thing is still a bit overwhelming to me. It's such a world-wide thing - you know?

Another reason I decided to change the photo on my profile is because, in reality, this blog is not ours, but mine. I'm the one to post; I'm the one the check comments; I'm the one to do everything. And that's perfectly fine; I love doing it. I've just decided to make it a bit more personal to my taste. Hubby really doesn't care what photo I show.

Hope you enjoy the new photo as you'll being seeing it every time I leave a comment on your blog from now on! Any encouragement you can offer as far as posting personal family photos would be helpful. Thanks!

Dripping with dew

2007-03-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

"The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drip with dew." Proverbs 3:19-20
These little flowers poked their heads up several weeks ago which means that spring is just around the corner!! There is a lot of moisture in the air, as you can see on the flowers. In fact, this picture was taken just after noon.

Being from an area of the US where there a four very distinct seasons, having flowers in February is a new experience. I have not investigated this flower, yet, so I'm not sure what it's called. When I got close enough to take this picture, I realized it's in full bloom with its head bowed. Even the flowers praise Him continually!

Watch for more homesteading posts. Rumor has it that Hubby is going to start cutting down trees along our west property line to make room for gardens and a greenhouse. Changes are in the works!!

Snow. No, ice. Both?

2007-03-02T10:37:00.000-08:00

"From the breath of God ice is made, and the expanse of the waters is frozen." Job 37:10
Yesterday morning, Hubby and I witnessed something falling from the sky. At first, we assumed it was snow. But, after closer inspection, this is what we saw. It was little pellets of ice. Interesting, huh? Even though the sun peeked out for awhile, the temperature never did get high enough to melt it all away. We still have little patches of this in the yard.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Thanks to all my blogger friends for bearing with me as I continue to increase my business.

Are you ready for a splash of summer?

2007-02-26T16:37:00.000-08:00

"Thou hast established all the boundaries of the earth; Thou hast made summer and winter." Psalm 74:17

You've just got to try this. I know it's a summer recipe, but it is a truly wonderful splash of summer goodness!

Fresh Dill Tzatziki
Bon Appetit, August 2004

2 c plain whole-milk yogurt
1 12-oz unpeeled English cucumber, halved lengthwise, seeded, coarsely grated
1 t coarse kosher salt
1/4 c sour cream
1 T minced fresh Italian parsley
1 T white wine vinegar
2 1/2 t minced fresh dill
1 1/2 t olive oil
1 small garlic clove, minced

Line sieve with 2 layers of cheesecloth; place over deep bowl. Spoon yogurt into sieve. Cover; chill sieve in bowl overnight. Toss cucumber and 1 t salt in bowl. Let stand 1 hour. Drain as much liquid as possible from cucumber, then pat dry with paper towels. Transfer yogurt to bowl; discard liquid. Mix cucumber into yogurt. Mix in remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. Cover; chill 1 to 4 hours.

NOTE: It tastes best when eaten with plain crackers such as Carr's Table Water Crackers. Chew very slowly and let it sit in your mouth for just a few seconds before you swallow. Your tongue will love you for this! Let me know if you try it.

The Lord's touch

2007-02-26T13:08:00.000-08:00

"Bow Thy heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, that they may smoke." Psalm 144:5
Last weekend, Hubby and I took a little trip to the other side of the mountains. As we journeyed up to the pass, this was the scene. Breathtaking! How can one see such beauty and not glorify Him for His handiwork?

A special treasure

2007-02-23T18:31:00.000-08:00

"Let marriage be held in honor among all..." Hebrews 13:4a

Wonderful, sweet, darling Hubby surprised me the other day with this gorgeous bouquet of flowers.

The colors blend so nicely and look brilliant sitting on my desk.

He doesn't often buy flowers so when he does, it's very special.

The Lord never ceases to confirm that our marriage pleases Him very well.

Self-Employed

2007-02-15T22:45:00.000-08:00

"In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." Prov. 14:23
Please excuse my absence. The best thing about being self-employed is that I can give myself a pay raise anytime I want. And that's exactly what I've decided to do. What a busy week! More phone calls and more appointments leads to more profit. However, it does not leave much time for our blog. Or checking your blogs either, unfortunately. Petunia's Gardener and I haven't walked at all this past week.

Thank you for all your comments regarding my most recent post. I did research each suggestion; however, I still haven't found the one verse that smacks me between the eyes. When I get something in my head, I am bound and determined to find just exactly the right thing. Still looking!

We'll be out of town visiting friends this past weekend, but I do hope to get caught up next week. Hope all my blogger friends are doing well. Have a great weekend!

(P.S.: The woman in the picture is not me and that's not my office. Mine is much neater than that, thankfully.)

In every part of life

2007-02-10T18:52:00.000-08:00

"For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?" Eccl. 2:25

Many of you have expressed appreciation in the fact that I start each post with Scripture. Let me explain.

First, when I developed our blog, I was completely unaware of exactly how large the blog world is. After several weeks of searching other blogs, I was encouraged to find bloggers with Christian beliefs and values who expressed them freely. This was my first inspiration.

Second, I firmly believe the Lord is involved in every circumstance whether we acknowledge that or not. With each new post came a growing excitement to find a verse to match. The Holy Spirit has challenged me daily to NOT find a verse. (I am much more productive if I'm told I can't do something!) This was my second inspiration.

So far, I've been able to find just the perfect verse for the topic. Until today. I've spent almost an hour searching the concordance in the back of my Bible and an exhaustive concordance I have on the shelf, but to no avail. And now it's time to go to bed.

Maybe you can help. Can you find a verse that better explains the presence of God in every situation? I'd love for you to share it with me. I know it's hidden somewhere in those 66 books, but I'm just too tired to keep looking.

Texture

2007-02-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

"Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days." Lev 23:40
After seeing such great photos here and here, I was inspired to experiment with my own.

The texture of the cut wood is my favorite part, I think. Can you see how wet this middle branch is?

I'm not sure if the bark in the third picture is normal for this type of tree or if it became a woodpecker's best friend.

A little diversion

2007-02-08T07:24:00.000-08:00

"For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God." Hebrews 6:7

Hubby spent quite a few hours on this drainage ditch for the driveway slab - digging the trench, laying rock, ensuring the slope is just right.

This project was a must as the garage is at the bottom of a small hill in the yard. Water (and mud) sitting on our driveway was a regular occurrence.

He did a fantastic job! It works like a charm.