tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53760642024-02-20T19:06:28.101-06:00Deborah's Doings - Proverbs 31-13A place where grace and beauty are celebrated and where Jesus is glorified when a woman ''seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands.'' Proverbs 31:13.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-71809926011895294062012-06-11T08:10:00.003-05:002012-06-11T08:51:42.282-05:00Still HereI'm still around. I'm still gardening, though less so. I'm spending more time driving my teens around to various activities and events. Often times I think wistfully of those days when I had time to knit and spin. And I've been consumed with politics and the woes associated with it. And since my Mom taught me not to say anything if I can't say anything nice. . . I've not been so "post-ative" lately.<br /><br />The kids have discovered Swing Dancing.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2012/Brief%20Update/GregoryandGabrielle.jpg" /><br /><br />In fact, they attended a formal at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pensacolaswing.com/"> Pensacola Swing </a> recently.<br /><br />We got Gregory a suit for a home school formal earlier in the year and had no idea he would be able to wear it so often.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2012/Brief%20Update/GregoryandGabriellereadytogo.jpg" /><br /><br />Gabrielle has me sewing again. I made this formal dress for her to wear.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2012/Brief%20Update/Thegirlsalldressedup.jpg" /><br /><br />And she just loved dressing up in vintage style.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2012/Brief%20Update/GabrielleandTrenity.jpg" /><br /><br />Gabrielle now loves skirts that flair out when she dances.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2012/Brief%20Update/Gabrielledancing.jpg" /><br /><br />Michael bought a fedora awhile back and loves to wear it whenever possible. Actually, he loves to dress up in nice clothes as much as the older children.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2012/Brief%20Update/Thelittleboys.jpg" /><br /><br />The love for Swing Dancing has traveled through our home school group and the kids have plenty of company when dancing.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2012/Brief%20Update/Endoftheevening.jpg" /><br /><br />And boy do they love to dance! Gregory wears himself out on the dance floor every time we go.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2012/Brief%20Update/Dancingthroughtheheat.jpg" /><br /><br />And Gabrielle cannot be asked to dance enough.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2012/Brief%20Update/GabrielleandTyler.jpg" /><br /><br />I can't stand how adorable they all look when they dress up to go.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2012/Brief%20Update/Veryexcitedkids.jpg" /><br /><br />But, both of the older kids now have a long list of clothes they want me to sew for them for dancing. Yes, these guys sure keep me busy these days.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-39241717954025059842011-04-21T13:46:00.004-05:002011-04-21T14:05:38.935-05:00Late Winter HarvestI've been shamefully absent from my blogs for some time now. It seems the Spring gardening takes more and more of my time the older I get. I have little energy for anything else this time of year.<br /><br />We've been harvesting our winter vegetables for some time now. Today I picked the bulk of our remaining cabbage.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Late%20Winter%20Harvest/Sixgallonbucketofcabbage.jpg" /><br /><br />I took a 6 gallon bucket with me thinking I'd pick some early beets, turnips and other veggies at the same time. Even without the outer leaves, the cabbage filled my bucket to overflowing. (The chickens got treated to the outer leaves this morning.)<br /><br />I did manage to pick a couple beets and turnips. I thinned my carrots and clipped a few little shoots of broccoli from plants that bolted long ago. I also picked a few snow peas and some mustard greens.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Late%20Winter%20Harvest/Snowpeasbeetsturnipsmustardgreensandcarrotthinnings.jpg" /><br /><br />I thought I'd make another batch of sauerkraut today. I plan to throw the colander full of veggies in with the cabbage to make a different kind of sauerkraut. I already have a 10 liter <a href="http://www.wisementrading.com/foodpreserving/harsch_crocks.htm" target="_blank">crock</a> of ordinary sauerkraut fermenting on my counter. I think this batch will require my 15 liter crock, the one I got for making pickles. It takes 6 weeks to ferment a batch of kraut; I sure hope I won't need my crock before then for pickles. We might have to eat a lot of cukes before 6 weeks are done.<br /><br />We are planting a fairly large garden again this year. I would love to grow enough vegetables for our family's use during the year. If we could get extra, it would be great to start selling at the farmer's market. Especially if I could get the <a href="http://www.tandjenterprises.com/" target="_blank">Brix</a> values of my vegetables high enough to have something really spectacular. I'd love to show my neighbors down here in the south just how good organic living can be!Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-6685799281610105392011-01-09T14:43:00.002-06:002011-01-09T15:15:47.001-06:00Snow DayOne of the dearest, most selfless friends I've ever had lives in Brewton.<br /><br />Back in December, I really wanted to take the kids to Foley's Christmas in the Park Festival. Unfortunately, the festival was scheduled on the same day as one of the craft shows I planned to attend to sell my soap, sewing, weaving and other items. Kurt had to study for a test and I didn't know what to do. Enter my wonderful friend Darlene. She drove all the way down to Foley to take the kids to the festival and keep them for me while I spent the day at the craft festival. I am so blessed. She also took pictures for me so I wouldn't miss all the fun.<br /><br />Every year Foley has a special Christmas Festival. This festival is particularly special because it snows in the park every year on that day.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/SnowMakingMachine.jpg" /><br /><br />Well, this is how we do snow in the coastal south - we make our own. It was funny to think about snow with the 70 degree outside temperatures that day. It was also rough deciding how to dress the kids. <br /><br />Of course the kids think snow is great fun. I mean, how great is the snow when you can have it and beach weather at the same time.<br /><br />Michael has always wanted to make a snow angel.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/MichaelsSnowAngel.jpg" /><br /><br />Immediately when he got into the snow area, he dropped to the ground. (Next to someone wearing flip-flops, lol.) Since snow melts pretty fast at 70 degrees, it was too icy for a snow angel. So he discovered his next favorite snow activity.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/Michaellovethrowingsnow.jpg" /><br /><br />Michael discovered he could throw snow at people without getting into trouble like he would for throwing anything else. And boy did he throw snow.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/JohnMarkisagoodsport.jpg" /><br /><br />He showed Darlene's son, John Mark, no mercy. He even went after Darlene too.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/Ms.jpg" /><br /><br />Fortunately, both Darlene and John Mark are good sports.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/GregoryArmshimself.jpg" /><br /><br />Gregory had lots of fun snow fighting too.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/Gabriellearmsherself.jpg" /><br /><br />So did Gabrielle.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/Gabriellepummelledbysnow.jpg" /><br /><br />Though I think she got more than she gave.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/BigKidsSnow.jpg" /><br /><br />Of course with Gabrielle, it is always more about meeting new people than the activity itself.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/Gabriellemakingfriends.jpg" /><br /><br />As for Gregory, he was all about the fight.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/GregoryTakesAim.jpg" /><br /><br />He took aim at anyone he could hit.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/GregorysSnowAction.jpg" /><br /><br />And had a blast.<br /><br />You can tell my kids have a knitter in the family. Each one of them wore wool mittens. You can't just walk into a store around here and get wool mittens.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2011/Snow%20Day/Michaelsfirstsnow.jpg" /><br /><br />The kids had an amazing day and we thank God for our great friend Darlene!Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-87009526773800509892010-11-20T16:26:00.003-06:002010-11-20T17:02:51.150-06:00Baby Hats and SalsaDespite being more busy than normal launching our fabulous soap and craft business, <a href="http://www.finchwaldhomestead.blogspot.com/" taget="_blank"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Finchwald</span> Homestead</a>, I managed to knit a couple of little baby hats for a shower I missed last week when I had the flu.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Baby%20Hats%20and%20Salsa/Strawberrybabyhat.jpg" /><br /><br />I love these little fruit hats.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Baby%20Hats%20and%20Salsa/Strawberryhat.jpg" /><br /><br />I modified the strawberry slightly so it would have white seeds rather than green. I think it looks better with the extra color. (Under the hats, you can see some knitting I am blocking for a friend who commissioned me to make a hat and scarf for her daughter. I will blog about it later on the <a href="http://www.finchwaldhomestead.blogspot.com/" taget="_blank"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Finchwald</span> Homestead blog</a>.)<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Baby%20Hats%20and%20Salsa/Dewberryhat.jpg" /><br /><br />And because these little hats are such a quick knit, I thought I'd go ahead and knit a second one, a dewberry. Dewberries grow wild here in southern Alabama and the purple yarn I used from my stash was perfect. The above picture shows good detail, but the color is too light. The actual hat looks more like this:<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Baby%20Hats%20and%20Salsa/Dewberrybabyhat.jpg" /><br /><br />I added a band of ribbing to the bottom edge of the hat for a slightly different look.<br /><br />I sure hope the new mom-to-be thinks babies with fruit heads are as cute as I think they are. I suppose it is possible some people wouldn't appreciate a fruit headed baby, though I can hardly imagine.<br /><br />Meanwhile, my Fall garden has given me plenty of purple peppers and some tomatoes. The bugs always seem to get the tomatoes when they are ripe, so today I fooled them and picked the tomatoes green. I added them to the batch of salsa I mixed up today. I sure hope green tomatoes taste okay in salsa.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Baby%20Hats%20and%20Salsa/Salsatobe.jpg" /><br /><br />I also added some purple peppers (and their more dangerous red incarnation) to the salsa to make it deathly spicy. I love spicy food. After 6 weeks fermenting in my <a href="http://www.wisementrading.com/foodpreserving/harsch_crocks.htm" target="_blank"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Harsch</span> Crock</a>, I should have some super tasty, healthy and not-for-the-faint-of-heart salsa.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-60852565208036778702010-11-07T15:48:00.002-06:002010-11-07T15:51:58.242-06:00Finchwald HomesteadAfter many years thinking about sharing our homemade food and crafts via a home-based business, we finally did it! Please come visit me at my brand new blog: <a href="http://finchwaldhomestead.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Finchwald Homestead</a>. Thanks!Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-31497773801643789022010-10-16T19:13:00.002-05:002010-10-16T19:34:31.714-05:00StumpedWith Kurt not presently working, I thought I would finally get some projects done around the house. Today, I asked Kurt and Gregory to dig out the stump from the middle of my garden. They dug off and on throughout the day and late this afternoon, they pulled it out with our tractor. The whole thing went beautifully. Then Kurt spied a large root. He thought he would pull it out too. He didn't do any digging first.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Stumped/Diggingouttherootbyhand.jpg" /><br /><br />He tipped our tractor on its end just like Mater did in the movie, "Cars." Of course, the kids thought it was the funniest thing they ever saw.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Stumped/Therootoftheproblem.jpg" /><br /><br />And while Kurt finally worked to dig out the root with a shovel,<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Stumped/Kurtwenttractortipping.jpg" /><br /><br />The kids posed with the tractor.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Stumped/Gregorypretendshewasdriving.jpg" /><br /><br />Gregory wanted a picture that made it look like he had been driving when the tractor tipped.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Stumped/Thekidsthoughtitwasgreat.jpg" /><br /><br />Kurt and Mr. Chris finally managed to dig out the root - without the help of the tractor.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Stumped/Stillworkingontherootthattippedthetractor.jpg" /><br /><br />They also located a large fire ant mound with their feet.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Stumped/Posingwiththetippedtractor.jpg" /><br /><br />And for the record, Kurt sent the kids to fetch me and the camera. HE was the one who wanted to preserve the moment in pictures.<br /><br />By the way, it doesn't take much to right a tipped tractor. Kurt thought he would need to crank it back down. He tied a line to the front axle while standing in the "fall zone" and when he gave the line a little tug, the tractor came crashing down. Kurt had to jump away from the falling tractor TWICE this evening. My heart is pounding still.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-32457329176314291862010-10-03T14:54:00.002-05:002010-10-03T15:50:06.700-05:00Sad TimesI haven't had the heart to post to my blog for a long time now. Times have been rough on the Gulf Coast.<br /><br />The largest oil spill in our nation's history pumped millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. That oil began washing onto the pristine Alabama shoreline shortly after my mother's visit and our early morning beach trips. Instead of sugar white shores, we now have beaches marred with oil and chemical dispersant. At times, increasingly rare beautiful white sand covers the oil and at other times, waves and wind expose the hidden, buried oil. The beaches may never recover.<br /><br />If the oil wasn't bad enough, millions of gallons of hazardous chemicals have been applied to the oil to sink it out of sight. These chemicals, called Corexit, are hazardous to life and health and they fill our local waters and beaches. Corexit is more dangerous than oil in part. because it is not readily seen. Local testing has uncovered Corexit on the beaches and in the local waterways.( <a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/article/chemist-mercenaries-hired-bp-are-now-applying-toxic-dispersant-night-and-uncontrolled-manner" target="'_">Testing Finds Oil and Dispersant</a>) Local beach residents have seen planes continuing to carpet bomb local waterways with the chemical despite official statements to the contrary. (<a href="http://blog.al.com/live/2010/09/stress_of_oil_spill_still_ling.html#modg_smoref_face" target="_blank">Stress of Oil Spill Still Lingers</a>) People cough and wheeze and suffer from congestion, including my own family. No one knows whether we are suffering from chemical exposure or unusual allergies or a really bad cold season. (<a href="http://theintelhub.com/2010/09/18/fascism-in-america-government-complicit-in-covert-spraying-of-the-gulf" target="_blank">Covert Spraying of the Gulf</a>) A few people, who could afford blood testing, discovered oil and chemical residues in their bodies. (<a href="http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/09/thousands-of-people-along-the-gulf-coast-suffer-bp-crud" target="_blank">Gulf Coast Crud</a>) The rest of us, if we think about it at all, are left to wonder. The media has been banned from all clean-up operations and the government wants us to believe the crises has ended. Yet oil and toxic chemicals still bathe our shores.<br /><br />Many people here are out of work and businesses are failing. Our area relies on tourism and fishing for much of it's economy. Who wants to eat poisoned seafood or vacation on a toxic beach? Some do. Those who believe the propaganda. My family won't be returning to the beach or eating seafood for many, many years. There is no joy in living in this area any longer except for the company of the few good friends we've made in the year we've lived here.<br /><br />Finally, our own family is feeling the pinch of these economic times. We have joined the ranks of the unemployed. Kurt has been out of work for a couple of weeks and we are currently a zero income family hoping for unemployment insurance to kick in and relieve some of the pain. It would only cover about a third of our bills, but we are praying. We know God has a plan in all of this and He will provide. Even if we lose our home and everything else material, we know God will protect us and provide for our needs. We wait upon Him and send out resumes whenever we see something even remotely fitting. We have also sent resumes out of the area, though those are few. My dream in all of this would be to be able to move to a cooler region in the country, one unaffected by oil and dispersant. Kurt would like to be able to go to school full time and finish his degree. Finding work begins to feel like an elusive dream.<br /><br />If you think about our family over the next days, weeks and months, please pray for us. Pray for our coastal communities too.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-62876395080920553942010-07-08T13:30:00.000-05:002010-07-08T13:30:50.155-05:00Obama admin bans press from filming BP oil spill areas in the Gulf<object style="background-image:url(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/WpJBsjKhRTo/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WpJBsjKhRTo&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WpJBsjKhRTo&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="480" height="295" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-63257176763517277922010-05-30T17:49:00.003-05:002010-05-30T18:42:40.185-05:00Busy SpringDays, weeks and now months have flown by in sit com speed, though problems are certainly not resolved as quickly. And we have been busy, very busy.<br /><br />My mother visited.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Momsmodelshernewsweater.jpg" /><br /><br />I even managed to finish her sweater on time.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Momsnewsweater.jpg" /><br /><br />And best of all, it fit. Note to self: Don't offer to make a sweater for someone based on a highly modified pattern, when that person lives far away.<br /><br />My Mom's sweater started with the <a href="http://www.fiddlesticksknitting.com/Minuette.html" target="_blank">Minuette</a> pattern and I changed the yarn and the sleeves. I love the way it turned out, but it provided hours of stress as I worried it wouldn't fit my tiny mother. I'm so glad it fits. More glad than I can possibly communicate.<br /><br />My mother visited right after the Gulf Oil Spill. Praise God the oil hasn't reached us yet.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Timetogetwet.jpg" /><br /><br />Several mornings during my Mom's visit, we awoke at dawn and hit the beach before the sun was strong enough to reduce me to a burnt pile of blisters.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Nothinglikestartingthedaywithatript.jpg" /><br /><br />We all had a blast.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Wearesogladthereisnooilyet.jpg" /><br /><br />We brought our breakfasts to the beach and the seagulls did their best to steal it, and often managed.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Oneleggedseagull.jpg" /><br /><br />My Mom and I agreed the one legged seagull appeared to be running a scam. He made you feel so sorry for him that you could not help but share your food. Of course the kids couldn't wait to get into the water and so they happily dropped some of their food.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Makingthemostofthetimebeforeoil.jpg" /><br /><br />The kids loved the waves best of all.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/GregoryandGabriellewatchingforwaves.jpg" /><br /><br />Gregory rediscovered the pleasure of body surfing.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Gregorylovesthebeach.jpg" /><br /><br />And Michael lost all fear of the water.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Whydomykidsalwayswanttothrowsand.jpg" /><br /><br />Gregory was absolutely fearless.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Gregoryhadablastatthebeach.jpg" /><br /><br />And enjoyed laying down and letting the waves carry him around.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Gregorycouldntgetenoughofthewaves.jpg" /><br /><br />The kids kept going out farther and farther.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/MichaelandGabriellelovethebeach.jpg" /><br /><br />And I had to keep calling them back.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Michaelatthebeach.jpg" /><br /><br />Which really interfered with my knitting time.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Runningacrossthesand.jpg" /><br /><br />Though I did manage to get a little sock knitting time in each morning we spent on the beach, which was very nice.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Runningbacktomom.jpg" /><br /><br />And then the kids would be right back out in the deeper water in no time.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Thekidssplashinthewaves.jpg" /><br /><br />I wouldn't mind so much but Michael can't swim.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Michaelonthebeachbeforetheoil.jpg" /><br /><br />And we saw yellow and red flags flying.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Michaelwatchinghisfeetsinkintothesa.jpg" /><br /><br />Michael also likes to chase seagulls.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Michaelshareshisbreakfastwithseagul.jpg" /><br /><br />And I let him chase them after one of the little terrors stole my breakfast muffin right out of my hand.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Michaellikestochaseseagulls.jpg" /><br /><br />We've been processing our meat chickens over the last month. In fact, my mother had the opportunity to experience the origin of her chicken dinners twice during her visit.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Meatchickens10.jpg" /><br /><br />We got her to pluck a couple feathers just to say she did it. We are raising turkeys too and they are growing fast.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Turkeys10.jpg" /><br /><br />The garden is all planted.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Cornandbeansearlyon.jpg" /><br /><br />And the soil in our new house turns out to be not so fertile. I've been cleaning out the chicken coops as much as possible to work on that problem, but there is only so much that can be done in a first year. I'm hoping we can improve soil fertility quickly despite that we are attempting to garden on a slope.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Onionpatch.jpg" /><br /><br />I've had a few things, like the beets, garlic and onions, sort of fizzle, so I buried them under piles of chicken coop bedding. <br /><br />We have been getting some snap beans and tiny squashes so far.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Snapbeansbudding.jpg" /><br /><br />We've also had a few new potatoes. I'm harvesting them because there is a bad wilt or blight killing the plants. I suspect verticillium wilt and that is bad. Very bad. I'm not really sure what I can do, organically speaking, other than improve my soil as much as possible and raise as healthy plants as possible.<br /><br />We have plenty of one thing in the garden though.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Whyaretherealwaysfireants.jpg" /><br /><br />Why do we always have so many fire ants? I hate those things. We compete for the produce. We had a bit of a dry spell and the ants got right in and attacked the plants for their moisture.<br /><br />The bees have been very good this year. We have pulled off probably a hundred pounds of honey.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Extractinghoney10.jpg" /><br /><br />The extractor still wobbles and we still need to find a better solution than Kurt flinging himself on it.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Thehoneyextractingmethod.jpg" /><br /><br />We are also harvesting wax and will need to figure out what to do with it.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/Waxcapsandhoney.jpg" /><br /><br />I would like to grow some herbs and make some salves. I still need to build an herb garden.<br /><br />We had the opportunity to attend the wedding of some friends back in Brewton. It was so nice to go back and see so many people very dear to us.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Busy%20Spring/GabrielledressedintheskirtImadeforh.jpg" /><br /><br />Gabrielle had a great time dressing up in the skirt I recently made for her and curling her hair. The wedding was a much anticipated event for us. We're a little sad it is over. We had fun looking forward to it.<br /><br />We still don't have our goats. It seems every time he is off work and ready to build our fence, we get rain or bee issues. <br /><br />I like all we do, but I wish we weren't so busy so we could do all the other things we want to add to what we do now.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-5196994195572442612010-04-08T13:09:00.002-05:002010-04-08T14:06:53.644-05:00Spring FrenzySpring exploded into a frenzy of activity a few weeks ago and I've barely managed to keep up with it all. For a couple of weeks our bees swarmed constantly.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Beestakingflight.jpg" /><br /><br />We managed to rehive three swarms, so we now have seven bee hives total. Two swarms congregated on branches so high in the air we could not possibly get to them. They ended up joining the ranks of feral bees in our neighborhood and I hope they prosper for the good of all.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Beesswirlingintoaswarm.jpg" /><br /><br />I don't know how many swarms we missed. A couple of our hives swarmed over and over again. The bees would pour out of the hive and then swirl into the air. Bees would climb all over themselves getting out of the hive.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Preparingtoswarm.jpg" /><br /><br />The pile would grow and grow.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Hangingoffthefrontofthehive.jpg" /><br /><br />Until the bees would launch themselves into the air filling the sky with their buzzing.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Beeclump.jpg" /><br /><br />Most of the time we would discover the swarm from the loud buzzing. Even my neighbor said she could hear it on her own property. We also witnessed a mating flight early one morning. At first we thought it was a swarm, but then the bees all went back into their hive. They swarmed for real a couple hours later.<br /><br />Finally, unprepared, out of spare equipment and exhausted, Kurt opened the repeatedly swarming hives and eliminated the queen cells to give us a bit of a break. In the meantime, we've built a couple more hive boxes, frames and started our goat barn.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Abarnraising.jpg" /><br /><br />I don't know why, but apparently the Lord thinks we need dairy goats. We've wanted them for a long time, but something always stopped the process. That is no longer the case.<br /><br />Recently, when Strider, our LPG dog kept getting out of his fence and we were so busy we prayed for the Lord to keep him inside, I told Kurt I thought the Lord was getting us ready to finally get our goats because we were learning all about building secure fencing. Literally moments later the telephone rang. Out of the blue the people from whom we always wanted to purchase goats called wanting to know if we wanted to buy some goats. We definitely wanted to get the goats, but after months of fixing our new house and building chicken coops, we were as broke as we've ever been. So we prayed.<br /><br />Still feeling the Lord's leading in this we told the goat people we were going to go forward though we had no idea how. But first, we had to finish building the meat chicken coop for the chickens that had already been ordered.<br /><br />As we discussed how were were going to manage the whole dairy goat thing, we considered robbing the kids' piggy banks for goat money. Then we got an anonymous gift of money so we could buy our goats. It was exactly the amount we thought we would need. God definitely provides.<br /><br />As we started looking around for materials to build a goat shelter, we realized we were going to need much more money than we expected. Then someone told Kurt she and her husband had built a horse shelter on rented property and then got rid of the horses and were planning to move. They told Kurt he could have the shelter if he wanted to disassemble it. He did. God's provision continues to amaze us, though I don't know why. By now you would think we would be perfectly familiar with God's love and goodness considering our history. But we continue to be amazed anyway.<br /><br />The horse shed ended up being a tremendous blessing, way better than anything we could have ever imagined for ourselves. We needed to replace the roof, but so far everything else is working.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Gregorydoeshispart.jpg" /><br /><br />Gregory and Kurt started assembling our new barn in the front yard, where we plan to pasture the goats.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Tamingouracreage.jpg" /><br /><br />A couple of times the Lord sent friends over to help out when we most needed the help. He is so good.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Buildingthegoatbarnunderthedripping.jpg" /><br /><br />They have now finished the outer structure and we are going to have to figure out how to build the inside part next. We also need to buy fencing materials and get our pastures ready. Everything seems to take such a long time.<br /><br />As we were building, I noticed the tree next to the barn has wisteria dripping from its limbs.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Spirilingwisteria.jpg" /><br /><br />I love experiencing our first Spring in our new house. There are so many surprises to discover.<br /><br />Yesterday, as I worked in my garden I paused to listen to the cry of the seagulls. I glanced back at the woods by the creek and noticed something different. So I went to explore.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Downthepathfrommygarden.jpg" /><br /><br />I discovered a wall of flowers cascading down from the highest tree branches on the edge of our woods.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Cascadingdownfromabove.jpg" /><br /><br />It was beautiful and looked like something you would find in Hawaii.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/WallofFlowers.jpg" /><br /><br />The annoying vines constantly cropping up to strangle the trees and block our access to the creek had burst into bloom.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Flowersattheedgeofthewoods.jpg" /><br /><br />The blooms were not only beautiful, but smelled divine.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Beautifulmysteryflowers.jpg" /><br /><br />The blossoms are fairly large and Gabrielle knew what to do immediately.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Gabriellefoundimmediateusefortheflo.jpg" /><br /><br />The flowers are quite delicate looking.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Delicatewhitebloom-1.jpg" /><br /><br />And they do look like a large dogwood blossom with five petals instead of four.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Closeupfromwallofflowers.jpg" /><br /><br />A friend suggested they might be wild dogwood.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Anewmysteryflower.jpg" /><br /><br />I'd sure love to know what these are if anyone knows.<br /><br />In the meantime, I've planted most of my garden. I've been busy taking care of our meat chickens and turkeys. I've done a bit of knitting. In fact, I finished making the fingerless gloves I promised to Asa.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Asasfingerlessgloves.jpg" /><br /><br />He loved them and I am very glad. I hope they help keep his hands warm next winter.<br /><br />I've also done some canning. A couple days ago I cooked and canned four and a half gallons of turkey soup with the turkey carcass left over from Easter.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Spring%20Frenzy/Homecannedturkeysoup.jpg" /><br /><br />I love stocking our pantry with homemade food. And home canned food works as fast food around here.<br /><br />Today we got rain and so we are inside. But we will be back to the Spring frenzy soon with more gardening, bee chores, chicken and turkey raising and butchering and preparing for our dairy goats. I also promised my Mom I would finish her sweater by the time she visited next month. Whew! We are going to be busy for awhile still.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-30075137986206251572010-03-09T14:13:00.004-06:002010-03-09T15:28:34.624-06:00Goodbye Mr. WinterWe've had more winter this year than I can remember for some time. But I finally believe it is over because the bees know. And one of our bee hives swarmed.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Goodbye%20Mr%20Winter/Ourfirstswarmfor2110.jpg" /><br /><br />In the Spring before the "honey flow," bees sometimes get it into their little heads to swarm. A strong colony will divide itself into two smaller colonies and the Queen and a bunch of bees will leave their hive in search of a new home. Some bees will remain in the old hive and will raise up a new Queen, who must then mate and begin growing up the hive again.<br /><br />The swarming bees will all of a sudden pour out of the hive entrance in a massive swirl, filling the air with a tornado of bees. They will find a branch or something similar and will congregate into a mass that looks like it hangs down from the branch.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Goodbye%20Mr%20Winter/Theswarmhangsoffahighbranch.jpg" /><br /><br />The bees will "hang out" for a limited period of time while they determine where to move the colony. As beekeepers, we have our own ideas about where they should live. In fact, Kurt had a new beehive just about ready. Unfortunately, the bees settled on a fairly high branch and we weren't prepared to recover a swarm that high in the air. Kurt called a beekeeper friend and then raced to collect a swarm grabbing tool - a bucket on a stick. He had to get back before the bees left once and for all.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Goodbye%20Mr%20Winter/Jamesgottheswarm.jpg" /><br /><br />Our friends came with the bucket. James went after the swarm.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Goodbye%20Mr%20Winter/Jameseasesthebucketundertheswarm.jpg" /><br /><br />After cutting down some lower branches, James eased the bucket under the swarm. Then he smacked the branch.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Goodbye%20Mr%20Winter/Jamesgoesaftertheswarm.jpg" /><br /><br />The vibration dislodged the cluster of bees. They dropped into the bucket and James closed the lid with the attached string. Kurt and James dropped the bees into a new hive box and if all goes well, we will have five hives of bees instead of the four we had a couple of days ago.<br /><br />Granted, the bee swarm rearranged our priorities yesterday but we are very excited about the new hive. Gregory quickly reminded everyone he was promised the first swarm of bees so the new bee hive will be Gregory's. He wants to raise honey and sell it to earn money. I hope he prospers with it. Especially since he will have to reimburse us for the equipment first.<br /><br />I finally finished Asa's sweater and it fits perfectly.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Goodbye%20Mr%20Winter/Asatriesonhisnewsweater.jpg" /><br /><br />He loved it and I am glad. I loved the lack of fabric bunching in his arm pits. Little people just don't have clothes stores to shop. Everyone should have at least a few clothes that absolutely fit. I am so blessed I was able to give Asa his first custom piece of clothing.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Goodbye%20Mr%20Winter/Asafinallygetstotakehomehissweater.jpg" /><br /><br />I'm so grateful the Lord gave me that nudge a few months ago, even if the sweater did not get finished until Winter finished too.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-60168653957049208562010-02-26T13:44:00.002-06:002010-02-26T14:24:00.295-06:00A New Addiction?I think I might easily fall prey to addiction. I'm showing the early signs of an irrepressible urge to bring treadle sewing machines into my home and it needs to stop. I don't have the money or room.<br /><br />Now that I have positively affirmed my choice to be responsible forevermore, I will post about the road trip I dragged the kids on yesterday.<br /><br />Kurt procured a lovely Singer Model 27 sewing machine for me for my birthday. Unfortunately, it was in pretty rough condition and I doubted my ability to ever get it into working, usable condition. So I started haunting Craig's List looking for parts or for other Singer Model 27 sewing machines. I didn't actually intend to buy another sewing machine; I was simply looking.<br /><br />Yeah right. Last week, I found this Singer Model 27:<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/A%20New%20Addiction/BeautifulModel27irons.jpg" /><br /><br />The table was in beautiful shape for a sewing machine manufactured in 1903. My pulse raced every time I saw it. I made several phone calls, requested more pictures and finally made a ridiculously low offer to buy the machine. Knowing I was quite a drive away from Ariton, Alabama, the owner of the antique store decided he would sell me the machine for what I offered if I was willing to make the drive. I think he'd had it in his shop for awhile. The sewing machine has lovely "pheasant" decals I believe.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/A%20New%20Addiction/BeautifulNewSinger27.jpg" /><br /><br />I really couldn't believe I would be able to get such a lovely machine for so little so yesterday, I grabbed the kids and we headed out for a small town in Alabama whose name I'd never even heard referenced before. I don't have GPS, but I did print out a map from Mapquest. The map would have been sufficient had I not missed a turn early on in our journey and traveled many miles before discovering my mistake. In the end, Gregory learned how to read and navigate from a printed map, which comprised our homeschooling lessons for the day. We created our own route from faded gray lines representing "secondary" roads without names on the large United States Map Book I've had in our car since our last trip across country to visit family. Secondary roads are interesting. There is almost no traffic on secondary roads which I like, and fortunately we had no car problems while in the middle of nowhere, for which I prayed the entire time. We also saw a lot of cows. We even saw a pasture full of miniature cows. I had no idea Alabama had so many cows. I suspect we might have more cows than people.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/A%20New%20Addiction/NewSingermodel27head.jpg" /><br /><br />Despite all the wrong and missed turns and the long trip and all the cows, the machine was every bit as lovely as I'd hoped for a 107 year old sewing machine. I think I should be able to get this machine into working condition, though I feel rough and clumsy around it.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/A%20New%20Addiction/NewSingerModel27table.jpg" /><br /><br />Before traveling to Ariton, I asked the proprietor of "Not Too Shabby" antiques (a LOVELY store by the way) if the Model 27 Singer had any of the attachments with it. He told me no, but that he had another treadle machine in his store that had lots of attachments. If the attachments fit the Model 27, he would let me have them.<br /><br />Another TREADLE MACHINE? Why wasn't I told???<br /><br />He tried, but the attachments wouldn't fit. I got the serial number for the second machine and my research told me it was a Singer Model 66, supposedly a good work horse machine that can handle fabric as thick as leather. It sounded interesting. I thought my trip would be a great excuse to learn about another model treadle machine. So upon arrival, the kids and I innocently asked to see the second machine.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/A%20New%20Addiction/SingerModel66table.jpg" /><br /><br />While not as ornate, the table was in pretty good condition for a machine manufactured in 1924. I casually asked the price. It was more than I was willing to pay and I walked away. Gregory moaned and told me since we'd come so far, we really should bring both machines home. It was a lovely "red eye" Model 66.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/A%20New%20Addiction/Singermodel66redeyehead.jpg" /><br /><br />In the end, the man made me an offer I couldn't refuse if I would take both. And I did.<br /><br />I didn't know how to tell Kurt because he tends to be too practical to understand my love for antique tools beyond what I "need." I did call him and reminded him he loved me very much. I reminded him 3 times so he knew something was up. In the end, he took the news very well and helped me get the Model 66 out of the car. (I did a bit of damage trying to get the Model 27 out of the car with just Gregory's help. It made me sick to my stomach although it is fixable.)<br /><br />I think one of the things that excites me most about the Model 66 is all the accessories.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/A%20New%20Addiction/Model66Accessories.jpg" /><br /><br />I see what looks like a hemmer. I haven't looked at anything too closely yet to determine what else might be there. I decided the clean up of these machines will be my summer project once it gets too hot to garden. I can hardly wait.<br /><br />Of course Gregory, Kurt and I are now sick today with something that is going around. I'd hoped to get some more seeds in the ground, but don't have the strength for it. Lousy germs. But my new sewing machines are happy things despite colds and flu and work left undone.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-44609014868824383992010-02-20T15:17:00.002-06:002010-02-20T15:50:51.007-06:00Ready for SpringAfter a very long winter (to us Southern folk anyway), we are itching for Spring. I've ordered my vegetable seeds for the year and I signed up for a tree grafting class. I planted potatoes.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Ready%20for%20Spring/Gettingreadytoplantpotatoes.jpg" /><br /><br />In Brewton, my potatoes generally rotted before growing. I think the heavy clay and winter rains conspired to kill my potatoes year after year. The soil in our new house does not appear to be as full of clay and I'm hoping we will get our first potatoes this year. I planted gold, red and white potatoes.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Ready%20for%20Spring/Lotsofseedpotatoes.jpg" /><br /><br />Next up will be lettuce. The weather forecast calls for rain tomorrow so I will have to wait until later in the week to plant my salad garden.<br /><br />In the meantime, I am trying to finish my knitting projects because I don't get to do much knitting in the Spring. I finished my Farmhouse Monkey socks.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Ready%20for%20Spring/FinishedFarmhouseMonkeys.jpg" /><br /><br />And I've been knitting as much as possible on Asa's sweater.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Ready%20for%20Spring/WorkingontheyokeforAsasSweater.jpg" /><br /><br />Normally I would not knit something with skulls. We don't like to celebrate death in any form around here. But, I do think Jesus meets us where we are sometimes. Asa is a neat kid in our new neighborhood. He has a growth disorder which makes it impossible for him to buy clothes that fit. Ever. After seeing him in a new jacket with sleeves almost double the length of his arms, I felt the Lord whisper to me to knit something warm for Asa. Something that fits. So, I pulled out my budding design skills and worked up a pattern for someone who doesn't fit within typical pattern proportions (proof that all that math I had to learn in school had application to my life after all). And since I was designing the sweater from scratch anyway, I thought I would design a yoke pattern that would appeal to the young man for whom I am knitting. He likes the whole pirate and skull fad so I'm knitting skulls.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Ready%20for%20Spring/SkullYokeSweateralmostfinished.jpg" /><br /><br />As creepy as the skulls look, I have to admit I'm pretty proud of the way they are turning out. I have one more round of skulls and the yoke will be done.<br /><br />In the meantime, we actually saw another forecast for snow a week or so ago. Since Brewton got three to four inches of snow the snow forecast before, I thought I'd be ready to travel if snow arrived again. Both Michael and Gabrielle have mittens, but Gregory only had fingerless gloves. So I let him choose some yarn and I hurriedly knit him a pair of wool mittens - just in case.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Ready%20for%20Spring/GregorysSnowForcastMittens.jpg" /><br /><br />We didn't get any snow near here after all. Oh well, I'm really clamouring for Spring anyway.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-25878979052434764642010-02-09T13:09:00.002-06:002010-02-09T14:16:41.737-06:00Winter Keeps Hanging OnWinter keeps going and going and going this year, sort of like the Energizer Bunny. Our new house cannot keep up with it's lack of insulation and gappy doors. For us, winter means lots of rain and the rain keeps coming. We've found a couple unrepaired roof leaks that are fortunately not too bad and my gardening efforts have been on hold.<br /><br />Last Fall, I did manage to plant some garlic and onion bulbs. They are peaking through already.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/Garlicgrowing.jpg" /><br /><br />I haven't done any soil testing at all yet. I did throw a bit of chicken manure into the ground when I dug the beds hoping for the best. Eventually I'll walk the more scientific path. In the meantime, I plan to see what will grow in the native ground.<br /><br />It rained again last night and the creek once again overflowed its banks.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/Ourswollencreek.jpg" /><br /><br />A small bend of this creek cuts through the corner of our property. I think it is quite pretty.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/CreekintheTangle.jpg" /><br /><br />I would love to build a little deck by the creek with a porch swing structure or something. It would make a lovely place to sit outside and feed the mosquitoes in the summer.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/CreekOverflowingitsBanks.jpg" /><br /><br />Originally I wanted to truck in a load of sand and make my own private beach. But everyone keeps telling me the sand would wash away in the rain and during these times when the creek overflows its banks.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/Themorningafteraheavyrain.jpg" /><br /><br />But first, the house needs work. Lots of work.<br /><br />I thought I was done with big remodeling projects, like ripping up floors, tiling, grouting, etc. But apparently not. A couple of days ago, my oldest child sat on the toilet. A couple of minutes later, we all heard a big crash.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/BrokenToiletBowl.jpg" /><br /><br />The side of the toilet bowl literally disintegrated and fell to the ground. Fortunately for my son, the toilet seat remained intact. Ugg. Now we have to replace the toilet. But the prior homeowner laid the floor in that bathroom and instead of doing it properly, he carefully cut around the base of the toilet, custom fitting the floor to the broken toilet. There is probably no way we are going to be able to find a toilet with a big enough base in exactly the shape to fit the opening. And since I always figured we'd have to redo that floor eventually, we figure we better rip out the bathroom floor when we replace the toilet. Fortunately, we have just enough tiles left over from the kitchen floor, if I don't mess anything up, to tile the bathroom. And then the room needs painting, so I should probably go ahead and paint before I install the new floor and toilet. Nothing with this house is ever easy.<br /><br />During the brief period of time between things going very wrong in our house, and winter keeping me inside, I did manage to finish my <a href="http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianArtisans" target="_blank">Christian Artisans</a> Stash Sock Club socks.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/StashSockClubMonkeySocksFinished.jpg" /><br /><br />They are Monkey Socks. I liked the Monkey Sock pattern so much, I actually started a second pair.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/AnotherMonkey.jpg" /><br /><br />I'm knitting this pair from stash yarn too. It is Socks that Rock in the Farmhouse colorway. When I look at the yarn I can see an old red barn sitting in a golden field under a blue sky. This is the first yarn I've used where I think I can glimpse the dyer's vision.<br /><br />I'm actually very close to finishing my second pair of Monkey socks. However, Gabrielle has me distracted. Gabrielle told some new friends that she could sew skirts and they asked her if she would sew a skirt for each of them. Gabrielle readily agreed. It finally got to the point where the girls were going to each have a matching skirt. Every time Gabrielle saw her friends, they asked her about the skirts. I knew the project was really beyond Gabrielle, so I thought I'd help her out and do them for her. So, that has been my afternoon project for the last few days.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/PileofSkirts.jpg" /><br /><br />We found some fabric in my stash. (It is not actually so bright.) I had barely enough. Unfortunately, I don't have adequate light yet in my sewing corner so I can only work on them when the sun is right. I'm hoping to be able to finish them today or tomorrow.<br /><br />I finally started combing out the beautiful wool Caroline sent me for our <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-queen-susan-shawl" target="_blank">Queen Susan</a> spinning. The fiber is just beautiful!<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/Acoupleofeveningsofcombings.jpg" /><br /><br />I'm a little concerned about the range of colors in this fleece. While I love the colors, I'm not sure they will work for a lace shawl.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/CombedCVM.jpg" /><br /><br />I hate the waste combing produces.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Winter%20Keeps%20Hanging%20On/Anewkindofwasteyarn.jpg" /><br /><br />So, I started carding up the waste pile and spindle spinning a waste yarn. It feels bumpy and rough, but I'm sure it can be used for something. Otherwise, it is nice to be spindling again. I haven't picked up a spindle in a long time.<br /><br />I'm really tired of being cold all the time and I want to eat fresh garden food again. However, I really enjoy the knitting, spinning and sewing time cold, nasty weather affords.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-82336179534871062292010-01-27T15:47:00.003-06:002010-01-27T16:11:02.043-06:00Happy 45With every spare dollar going into house repair and remodeling, I had very low expectations for my birthday this year. But Kurt blew me away with a birthday present I've wanted for quite some time.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Happy%2045/TreadleSewingMachine-1.jpg" /><br /><br />He found a Singer treadle sewing machine a couple of months ago and had been keeping it at work until now. I literally couldn't believe my eyes when he called me into the family room to see "something."<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Happy%2045/SingerSewingmachine.jpg" /><br /><br />I'm so excited and am really hoping we can restore it so that it can be used again. My dear friend <a href="http://fiberarts.typepad.com/fiber_arts_furry_critters" target="_blank">Caroline</a> has restored these before and has promised to help. Actually, it is funny because as soon as I saw the sewing machine I told Kurt I needed to talk to Caroline.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Happy%2045/Intricatedetails.jpg" /><br /><br />In its day, this Singer had to be something else. Under the wear and age, you can still see its beauty. Beautiful and intricate design work once graced the metal portions of the sewing machine and it is all metal - no plastic parts here! I just love this machine. I love just looking at it.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Happy%2045/Smallfrontdrawer.jpg" /><br /><br />The table has a place where you can apparently store the sewing machine. It even has a small drawer in it.<br /><br />I've been looking for the serial number so Caroline can help me figure out the manufacturing date. But I can't find it.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Happy%2045/BobbinWinderandemblem.jpg" /><br /><br />It has a bobbin winder in the front and an gold emblem behind it. No serial number though.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Happy%2045/Brokencirclepiece.jpg" /><br /><br />The lower right part of the machine has the Singer name wrought into it, but still no serial number.<br /><br />Unfortunately, while looking for the serial number, I discovered broken pieces of metal.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Happy%2045/Brokenpieces.jpg" /><br /><br />I really hope these broken pieces can be fixed. I so love my "new" sewing machine.<br /><br />As a side note, I saw a beautiful sunset the other evening.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Happy%2045/LovelySunset.jpg" /><br /><br />I had a hard time getting a good picture because I didn't have time to set up a tri-pod. I would love to have some yarn in the brilliant peachy pink color of the sky that night. Or perhaps some fabric to use with my sewing machine.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-41980388225251038482010-01-24T16:27:00.003-06:002010-01-24T17:37:49.953-06:00Plodding ForwardThe rhythm of life moves slow and steady as winter slowly releases its hold on the South. One at a time I empty boxes and move the empty ones to the front porch until they can once again be moved into the burn pit. Meals are cooked, kefir and kombucha cultures bubble on the counters and the kids have settled into their new school semester. I painted the living room, hallway and dining room, mostly. Many rooms still need paint. I've managed to squeeze a bit more knitting into my routine. Cold weather demands knitting from me as much as it demands hot chocolate or coffee or tea from others. And it has been very cold here lately. In fact, the pool froze over a number of times during the last couple of weeks.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/Icecoveredpool.jpg" /><br /><br />The growing cover of ice continually amazed our southern family. We rarely see ice forming on large bodies of water where we live and our pool is rather large. One day, the pool remained icy all day.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/Pooliceatendoftheday.jpg" /><br /><br />At sunset we found a good cover of ice on the pool. Unbelievable. We never did get snow, but we sure got cold.<br /><br />Oh, Strider started using his doghouse. It only took one cold day with rain for him to change his view of dog houses. He has used it regularly since.<br /><br />I finished the beret I agreed to knit in exchange for hay.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/BlockingBeret.jpg" /><br /><br />It turned out nice though I found out later Ms. Kitty wanted one she could pull down over her ears. This one may not be quite that large.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/Finishedhaybarterberet.jpg" /><br /><br />I may try to make her a larger one later. In the meantime, I hope this one will work for her. It fit her head fine and looked lovely on her. She looks lovely in hats and I think she liked having a wool/silk beret anyway. They have already delivered one roll of hay and have promised a second one soon. Since we have meat chickens and turkeys on order, we really will need the hay. We typically spend a great deal of money on hay in the spring and it will be nice not to have to do so this year.<br /><br />I managed to add another inch to Asa's sweater and will be casting the sleeves onto my needles soon. And I finally finished my Riverrun socks.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/FinishedRiverrunsocks.jpg" /><br /><br />I am so glad to be done with these socks. I love the colors in the yarn, but I really didn't care for the pattern. I started these socks before we moved and had little time since to work on them. I am so glad they are finished.<br /><br />I've already started my next pair of socks, randomly selected for the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianArtisans/" target="_blank">Christian Artisans</a> Stash Sock Club. They are going to be <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/monkey" target="_blank">Monkey</a> socks knit from <a href="http://www.theloopyewe.com/browse/byvendor/creatively-dyed" target="_blank">Creatively Dyed Yarn</a>, Luxury in the Salsa colorway.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to start spinning my fiber for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-queen-susan-shawl" target="_blank">Queen Susan Shawl</a>. I'm still unpacking spinning stuff and am just not there yet. I can't wait to convert my unpacking time into fiber time. I hate unpacking.<br /><br />I received another fabulous gift from <a href="http://fiberarts.typepad.com/fiber_arts_furry_critters/" target="_blank">Caroline</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/BoxfromCaroline.jpg" /><br /><br />I love bags and boxes and neat little things that hold stuff. I've never found a good container for my stitch holders. Caroline said she was sending a sample of our target yarn for the Queen Susan and she did, in this fabulous box. She also sent some of her homemade stitch markets and a neat pair of folding scissors.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/CoolboxfromCaroline.jpg" /><br /><br />Caroline has long been an inspiration for me and she is also a sweet and generous friend.<br /><br />The kids had a slumber party of sorts last week.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/SingingandDancingattheslumberparty.jpg" /><br /><br />Our neighbor had an early morning doctor's appointment so we took the kids for the night and following day. The group had a blast.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/SlumberParty.jpg" /><br /><br />They played karaoke on the Game Cube and danced to the music.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/Asaplayingthecargame.jpg" /><br /><br />They played computer games, ate popcorn, watched movies and played more karaoke.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/KarokeKids.jpg" /><br /><br />My kids never wanted it to end. The neighbors are supposed to be coming again this week and my kids are very excited. I'm very grateful we have a nice family living next door.<br /><br />Kurt celebrated another birthday Friday.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/Happy46toKurt.jpg" /><br /><br />We celebrated with a tribute to Kurt's sweet tooth. We made him his favorite German Chocolate cake with coconut pecan frosting (yuck), ice cream, cinnamon and pecan rolls with cream cheese frosting for breakfast and Gabrielle made him pralines. The kids have been on a perpetual sugar high for 3 days now.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Plodding%20Forward/Kurtblewout46candles.jpg" /><br /><br />Kurt also took Gregory hunting for his birthday and had great fellowship with some really nice men from church.<br /><br />As winter finally releases its stranglehold on our normally mild temperatures, I realize I need to get serious if I am to plant a garden this year. I don't have a space yet claimed for my garden and it is already time for planting cool weather crops. The weather forecast predicts too much rain for much soil work now, but I'm hoping to explore some of the local feed stores and nurseries for seed potatoes this week. I'd hoped to have been unpacked before the busy Spring season, but I still have a bit to go. Apparently Spring starts earlier in Foley than it did in Brewton.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-24930300074564211792010-01-07T13:21:00.002-06:002010-01-07T14:53:03.902-06:00Extraordinary Cold and Hangover ProjectsUnusually cold weather forced its way down from the North a couple of weeks ago and took up residence here in the South that is south of the Deep South. We have seen crazy cold temperatures, lows in the low 20's and highs in the 30's kind of crazy. The weather forecast people say it might even snow tonight.<br /><br />I awoke this morning to the sound of my neighbor using a chainsaw. Then I remembered they don't have heat at their place though I suspect they installed their wood burning stove. We have heat, praise God, but only because we replaced the unit when we moved into this house. I just wish we had functional insulation. I don't know how the people up North manage every winter, though I suspect they are much more prepared for it.<br /><br />When we first brought Strider home, we found an old, barely adequate dog house in some junk left behind by the former owners of our house. We put it out for Strider, but he would never use it. Kurt and I always felt bad about Strider not having adequate shelter so when the weather forecasts started mentioning hard freezes and snow, I knew something needed to be done. I couldn't wait for Kurt to have time off so Gregory and I decided we would build a dog house for Strider last Monday. We only had a couple warm hours to do it and had to use supplies scavenged from the various piles of junk strewn about our property. I've never built anything in my life.<br /><br />In three and a half hours, Gregory and I built a very Red Neck doghouse for Strider.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/AVeryRedNeckDogHouse.jpg" /><br /><br />Granted, most of the wood we used was in poor shape, but I thought we did an amazing job, all things considered. I don't know how to cut stuff to build something, but I've used a chainsaw before. So I cut things after they were in place. We sunk 5 posts and then I used the chainsaw to cut them down to size. Then we attached pieces of scavenged plywood and cut off some of the excess when we had to. The rest got left for wind breaks. I did use Kurt's circular saw for some of it. Gregory fretted the whole time because my methods were quite unconventional, but in the end, he agreed that we did a pretty good job. We installed a brick foundation of sorts and Strider even got a window.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/AWindowandEverything.jpg" /><br /><br />The window came about due to the shape of the piece of plywood we found for the southern wall.<br /><br />We finished the doghouse off with a floor of hay and our old, King size electric blanket. The house is warm and cozy and Strider refuses to go into it, even though it is plenty large enough for him. He likes to sit on the hill and stand guard over our property and I don't think he is comfortable being where he cannot see everything. At least he now has an option if it does snow tonight.<br /><br />The hay we used for Strider's dog house and for the chicken coop came from our neighbor across the creek. We brought some goodies to them at Christmas and as we were talking, Gabrielle told her I knit Michael's sweater. That conversation moved to how much she, Miss Kitty, wanted a black beret. She offered to pay me to knit one, but I needed hay. They grow hay so we agreed to a barter. They delivered a roll of hay and I started knitting the beret.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/HayBarterHat.jpg" /><br /><br />Miss Kitty said we could have all the hay we wanted. I just need to hurry and finish her beret.<br /><br />I also have another knitting project with a looming deadline. Longer ago than I like to remember, I started knitting my Mom a sweater. I don't have much left, but she plans to visit this Spring and I need to get done.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/MomsSweaterSleaves.jpg" /><br /><br />I've already finished the front and the back and am working on the sleeves. I pick this project up from time to time, but it requires thought and I just haven't had much time to concentrate lately, with all the moving work going on. I really do need to focus however. I need to finish this sweater before my Mom's visit.<br /><br />I tend to keep a pair of socks on the needles no matter what else I am doing because socks are such easy to transport projects. I started a pair of socks before we moved and am still working on them.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/Riverrunsocks.jpg" /><br /><br />I don't really care for the pattern and have modified it extensively. I love the colors in the yarn though.<br /><br />Back in November I started a special sweater. I thought I could finish it pretty quickly since it is all knit and in the round. Within a relatively short period I knit it up to the underarms.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/AsasSweater.jpg" /><br /><br />At that point I decided I needed more yarn. So I placed an order in mid November. The yarn FINALLY came a couple of days ago! Unfortunately the sweater has been on hold long enough that I need to figure out once again, what I am doing.<br /><br />In the meantime, our <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianArtisans" target="_blank">Christian Artisans</a> group decided last month we would do a Stash Sock Club this year. We've talked about it for a couple of years and decided we would finally go for it. To that end, we are making kits by matching stashed yarn and patterns that we will randomly select throughout the year to knit. It will be a great way to use resources we already have. I made up my kits last week.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/StashSockClubKits.jpg" /><br /><br />I used some of my favorite yarn for my kits and can't wait to get started.<br /><br />In addition to the Stash Sock Club, we've been talking about the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-queen-susan-shawl" target="_blank">Queen Susan Shawl</a>. Several of us want to knit it so we thought it was something we could do together.<br /><br /><a href="http://fiberarts.typepad.com/fiber_arts_furry_critters" target="_blank">Caroline</a> suggested we spin for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-queen-susan-shawl" target="_blank">Queen Susan Shawl</a>. Talk about a challenge! But I decided if Caroline wanted to spin for the shawl, I would too. She said she would send me a sample of the fiber she intended to use.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/PotentialQueenSusanFiberfromCarolin.jpg" /><br /><br />She ended up probably sending enough to do two shawls, depending on how the CVM wool combs out. I loved opening the box and seeing all the flattened fiber. It sprang to life almost instantly.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/PotentialQueenSusanFiber.jpg" /><br /><br />I couldn't believe the difference a couple of seconds of air made.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/AlmostInstantPuffing.jpg" /><br /><br /><a href="http://fiberarts.typepad.com/fiber_arts_furry_critters" target="_blank">Caroline</a> sent black alpaca fiber from her favorite alpaca, Got Milk. She also sent some CVM from her stash. I've never spun CVM before and am looking forward to the opportunity.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/BeforeandAfterPuffing.jpg" /><br /><br />I think there is about a pound of each type of fiber. I'm not sure how much I will need to do 7,000 yards of 60 to 70 wpi double ply yarn. I'm also wondering how long it will take.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2010/Cold%20Weather%20and%20Hangover%20Projects/PuffedUpFiber.jpg" /><br /><br />The fiber continually beckons. I wish I was done with all house stuff. Last weekend, Kurt took Gregory hunting. With fewer family members to feed, I decided to move the stove and grout the kitchen floor. I also grouted the master bathroom floor. Once Kurt reinstalls the trim, I will finish painting in those rooms. In the meantime, I got the paint for the dining room, living room and hallway. Cathy will be helping me get started with that painting on Saturday. I can't wait until everything is done and we are simply living in the house. In those days, I will be able to spin and knit more regularly.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-62301759159779467852009-12-30T13:57:00.002-06:002009-12-30T14:59:50.208-06:00Christmas 09We had a really lovely Christmas this year. I expected the opposite. We've been moving and remodeling and unpacking and remodeling some more. We've been building for chickens and the dog. We broke ground for part of the garden and planted. Normally I knit for the kids for Christmas. We don't have much of a budget for Christmas and they enjoy getting things made especially for them. But with so many house things going on all Fall, I did almost no knitting, aside from a special project for someone outside the family. And since Gregory got an expensive present for his birthday, he had no money left in the budget for Christmas. However this year we decided as a family to really focus more on giving to others. It is the day we celebrate Jesus's birthday and we know He loves people. We've been so inspired by our friend Bob the Builder, who has given so much to us over the last couple of months. So the kids decided to buy presents for each other from the little bit of money they each had and we spent a good chunk of time baking presents and visiting neighbors.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/Michaelcantwaittostartwiththepresen.jpg" /><br /><br />Their generosity with each other filled the space under the tree with presents.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/MichaelbytheChristmastree.jpg" /><br /><br />The kids excitedly gathered in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas morning this year, eager to give their gifts to each other.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/Moreexcitedaboutgivingthanreceiving.jpg" /><br /><br />Each gift, while not expensive, resulted from a great deal of thought and planning.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/GregoryarmedMichaelforChristmas.jpg" /><br /><br />Gregory couldn't wait to give Michael a dart gun of his very own. Michael constantly played with Gregory's old gun and the single dart remaining from the original collection. In fact, Gregory spent a good portion of the money he had been saving for a special computer game to give Michael a deluxe dart gun with plenty of darts. Gregory's thoughtfulness really touched me because my kids don't get much money to spend on themselves. They really have to save for a long time for the things they especially want.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/Gabriellepulledout5looseteethbefore.jpg" /><br /><br />My lovely daughter enjoys giving to others more than anything. She started the Christmas present shopping and infected Michael. Gregory quickly caught the giving bug later.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/Gabriellefinallygotherbooks.jpg" /><br /><br />I asked Gabrielle what she wanted for Christmas. For a long time she wanted the last 4 books in a set she'd started reading a couple years ago. By the time she asked, the publishing company had gone out of business and the books were out of print. Fortunately, a few months ago I purchased the last few books knowing they would soon no longer be available. Gabrielle couldn't believe she finally had the chance to discover how the story ended.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/GabriellesmainChristmasgift.jpg" /><br /><br />We also got Gabrielle a charging station for her iPod. I'm hoping this will keep her from losing it. Now she has a place to keep it.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/Michaelsnewtransformer.jpg" /><br /><br />I stumbled upon a sale at Toys R Us the week before Christmas and found a Transformer toy for Michael. When Michael opened it he told us he always wanted one. How convenient.<br /><br />Since Gregory didn't get a Christmas present from us, we let him open all of the general gifts.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/Nutsfromneighbors.jpg" /><br /><br />One of our neighbors sent over a gift and I had picked up a couple movies for the family as well.<br /><br />Grandma sent gifts to everyone including a nifty multi-tool for Kurt.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/Kurtsmultitoolfrommom.jpg" /><br /><br />Kurt had a tool themed Christmas. I purchased a set of tools when we moved which Kurt has been using during our home remodel. These were an early Christmas present.<br /><br />Kurt found a lovely vintage cedar chest at his store which he thought to give me for Christmas. However, Kurt couldn't finally decide to get the chest because he wasn't quite positive I would like everything about it. Then one day I visited his store while he was out. As I waited for him to return, I looked around and found the chest, which I bought on the spot. I'd been wanting one for a long time. In the end we decided it would be my Christmas present anyway. It needs to be refinished and I am hoping Kurt will put it in the queue of ongoing projects and get to it soon.<br /><br />Our home remains my favorite Christmas present by far. Bob the Builder recently brought over another surprise.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/CanningCupboard.jpg" /><br /><br />I had mentioned I wanted to put up some 2 x 4s along the wall in the kitchen where no cabinets would fit. I told Bob I could use the small shelves for canning jars. Apparently when I turned around he rolled his eyes and started measuring. He told Kurt not to tell me, but he would take care of my canning shelves.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/NewCanningCupboard.jpg" /><br /><br />Bob the Builder amazed us once again. These shelves completely outdo anything I could conceive. They are beautiful and the gleaming rows of jars look fantastic in my kitchen. I love being able to see what I have canned too. It helps me plan.<br /><br />The sun room is very close to being finished.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Christmas%2009/Sunroomalmostcomplete.jpg" /><br /><br />We still need doors to close the hole between it and our bedroom and we need a new ceiling fan. My warping board still sits under the coffee table stowed until I paint the wall upon which it is to be mounted. Even still, I LOVE my sun room. It reminds me of the lanai in our old Gulf Breeze house. And Michael got me a little table top fountain for the sun room for Christmas, like the one we had in Gulf Breeze. Yes, we had a very good Christmas indeed.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-61596267532944919282009-12-23T13:28:00.004-06:002009-12-23T14:39:48.517-06:00Busy, Busy, BusyLike always, December rushed by in a whirlwind of busyness. Gregory's thirteenth birthday sprang upon me despite my firm belief he could not possibly have grown so old.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/13yearoldbirthdayboy.jpg" /><br /><br />For more than a year, Gregory wanted an iPod Touch.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/GregorywithhisbirthdayandChristmasp.jpg" /><br /><br />But he dared not hope for one. They are out of our budget. Little did he suspect I found a good buy online. Of course, we didn't want to be too obvious.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/Nottobeobvious.jpg" /><br /><br />I'd sort of suggested Gregory could expect a new computer game for this birthday. After all, an iPod plugs into the computer and you do play with it.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/Notwhatheexpected.jpg" /><br /><br />Gregory's last iPod died after being sent through the washing machine no less than 5 times. Either Apple makes an amazing product to survive 4 washings or my front load washing machine cleans marginally, if at all. Unfortunately, I suspect the latter.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/GregorywithhisiPodTouch.jpg" /><br /><br />Gregory swears there is no way this iPod will go into the laundry. I suspect he may be right because he never puts it down long enough to forget about it or wash it. In fact, I told Gregory I would need his iPod on Christmas Eve so I could put it under the tree. The iPod is also Gregory's Christmas present. At first he wanted something under the tree, but now he is not certain he can part with the iPod even overnight on Christmas Eve. I'm glad he is happy, though I'm not too happy about seeing him constantly wired to the thing.<br /><br />Despite all the distracting work of moving and renovating, I had a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of having a teenager in the house.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/Gettingreadyfor13.jpg" /><br /><br />Nevertheless, I had to put 13 candles on his cake. Unreal. It really seems like he was just a little guy not that long ago. I realize all parents say that, but it is really true.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/Gregoryblewoutthe13candles.jpg" /><br /><br />And my little fellow, who once could not blow out the few candles on his cakes, easily blew out all 13 this year. Happy birthday Gregory.<br /><br />Squeezed in between the holidays, our friend and hero Bob the Builder and his mighty son Adam spent a couple of days helping us with a couple of tiling projects.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/BobtheBuilderCuttingTile.jpg" /><br /><br />This time I got to use the wet saw so now I think I could tile by myself if I had to tile by myself. And since we have some tile left over and there are no floors in two of the closets, I anticipate tiling by myself eventually.<br /><br />Kurt also got a few lessons in tiling.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/Kurtdoinghispartwiththebathroomtile.jpg" /><br /><br />Kurt worked with Bob in both the master bathroom and the kitchen. Not only is Bob amazing when it comes to building and installing stuff, but he is a good teacher as well.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/TileintheSunroom.jpg" /><br /><br />Bob also taught me how to do the grout part of tiling. Grouting isn't hard in itself however, being hunched over freezing cold tiles in the dead of winter in a room without insulation when one is no longer young can be a bit of a challenge.<br /><br />After grouting and incidentally after Bob left which is generally when things are likely to go wrong, I tried to seal the grout with a couple different products. The grout never actually sealed according to the descriptions on the products. Kurt and I sought help and we couldn't actually find anyone who had successfully sealed their grout to the place where it wouldn't absorb water afterwards. I now suspect grout sealing is not real. I think someone is making a lot of money with an idea that just sounds good. However, if someone has actually sealed their grout to the point where it is no longer absorbent, I'd sure like to hear about it.<br /><br />Gabrielle and I decided to continue our Christmas baking tradition this year despite not being very moved in yet.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/CookiesandCandyeverywhere.jpg" /><br /><br />So we spent a couple of long days making candy and cookies.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/ChristmasGoodies.jpg" /><br /><br />And we piled the goodies onto 25 plates, which was the number we thought we needed.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/ChristmasGoodieseverywhere.jpg" /><br /><br />Kurt brought a couple of the plates to work and the rest went to our new neighbors and friends at church.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/ChristmasGoodieLeftovers.jpg" /><br /><br />The kids and Kurt were relieved to find plenty of left-overs. We ate them pretty fast though.<br /><br />Gabrielle decided to participate in the Christmas program at church this year.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/Thelivingmangerproduction.jpg" /><br /><br />The kids were all so cute.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/ThekidsofCCFH.jpg" /><br /><br />At first Michael said he wouldn't participate. He has never liked being in front of a crowd.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/ThebigChristmasProduction.jpg" /><br /><br />Everyone wanted him to be the donkey.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/Waitingfortheircue.jpg" /><br /><br />They didn't have anyone to play the donkey role.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/KidssangwhileMichaelstared.jpg" /><br /><br />But every day, Michael refused, until the morning of the production.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/TheirChristmasdebut.jpg" /><br /><br />Finally, Michael agreed to be the donkey. (I think he had such a great time meeting our new neighbors the day before when we brought our Christmas goodies around the neighborhood that he finally decided people were fun.)<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/MichaeldonkeyintheChristmasproducti.jpg" /><br /><br />Although Michael told us he would be in the Christmas production, he told us he would NOT sing.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/KidsinthePlay.jpg" /><br /><br />And he didn't. Gabrielle did a great job in her angel role and sang beautifully, which is not a normal thing in this family. We really don't have good voices in general and mine is absolutely terrible.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/Michaeldidnotparticipate.jpg" /><br /><br />While Michael looked bored and sleepy. (I love that Michael still fits into the Dale sweater I knit for him a couple years ago. However, this will be the last year he will be able to wear it.)<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/Angelssinging.jpg" /><br /><br />I don't know why he refused to sing.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/CCFHChristmasProduction.jpg" /><br /><br />Since he sings all the time at home.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Busy%20Busy%20Busy/Doingtheirpartintheplay.jpg" /><br /><br />But that is my quirky little guy.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-8419512479747632922009-11-30T20:45:00.002-06:002009-11-30T22:55:42.134-06:00Sugar Cane and TurkeyAll moving and remodeling things must pause for harvest and holidays and we've had both this last week. After unpacking as much of the kitchen as possible in the couple of days I had available, I took a break for Thanksgiving and for harvesting our sugar cane. We finally faced the challenge and cooked one of the giant turkeys we raised this year. It fit into the oven just fine.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Turkeytoobigforpan.jpg" /><br /><br />However, there was a bit of an issue getting it into a pan.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Notevenclosetofitting.jpg" /><br /><br />Even after thawing, the turkey sat on top of my roasting pan, obviously way too big for the largest pan in my house. So Kurt ran out Thanksgiving morning and brought home the largest disposable pan he could find.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Hangingoverthesides.jpg" /><br /><br />It just fit and we bent up the sides for extra holding ability. But the pan was shallow. Too shallow. I used a cookie sheet for support and to catch any drips AND I installed an oven liner.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Finallyabigenoughpan.jpg" /><br /><br />Praise God we were able to cook the thing. I wasn't sure we'd be able to do it there for awhile. And really, the fire that happened when the shallow disposable pan filled up with juices and overflowed caused very little damage to the inside of my new oven. And really, had I seen the instructions warning against putting the liner on the bottom of the oven, we may not have had any damage at all from the fire itself.<br /><br />Several people suggested I cut up the turkey to cook it, but I wanted to stuff it and stuffing a turkey cut into pieces just didn't seem right.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Crumbledbreadcrumbsforstuffing.jpg" /><br /><br />Besides, I'd made my own bread crumbs for the stuffing already and really wanted to use them. The stuffing turned out really good and I am glad we roasted our turkey the old fashioned way, though I really am going to have to find a larger roasting pan for the future. We gave two of these giant turkeys to friends and both of them had extra large roasting pans from their mothers. I'm pretty sure my mom doesn't have one for me. I'll have to figure out something else before Christmas or cook a smaller turkey.<br /><br />We were very blessed to be allowed to harvest the sugar cane from our old house in Brewton last week. We pulled a borrowed trailer to Brewton and cleared the field in about three hours with a single machete. We pulled the cane home and the day before Thanksgiving, while I baked pies, the kids stripped off leaves.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Kidsfinishingafulldaystrippingleave.jpg" /><br /><br />Stripping leaves is not an easy job because the leaves are sharp and will slice up your arms. Gregory has really made a huge effort to be a good and reliable worker lately (after a couple talks with Bob the Builder and his parents) and he did the bulk of the stripping work.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Gregorypullingleavesfromsugarcane.jpg" /><br /><br />I am so proud of Gregory. Not only did he work hard and make sure all the leaves got stripped in a single day,<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Gregorypullsleavesfromthecane.jpg" /><br /><br />but he maintained a really good attitude throughout a very long work day.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Gregoryworkinghardstrippingleavesfr.jpg" /><br /><br />I really appreciated his attitude since Gregory doesn't even like the cane syrup. He is the only one in the family who doesn't like it.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Gabriellestrippingthecane.jpg" /><br /><br />Gabrielle helped without complaining as well.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Kidsgettingtothebottomofthepile.jpg" /><br /><br />Michael sort of helped.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Michaeljumping.jpg" /><br /><br />But mostly he just played.<br /><br />The kids only had one day to strip leaves instead of the three they had last year if they didn't want to do it on Thanksgiving. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, we traveled back to Brewton to press the cane at the Wilsons' house.<br /><br />I love the Wilson family. They are such great people. I really respect the lifestyle they lead. They raise lots of their own food and work together as a family. And they have THE BEST way to cook in winter.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Wilsonswoodcookstove.jpg" /><br /><br />The have a fully functioning, intended for the job, wood-burning cook stove.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Woodstove.jpg" /><br /><br />I LOVE this stove. It keeps their home so warm and cosy (though I think they have a wood burning stove in the living room for heat as well). And they cook on it too! How cool is that???<br /><br />Pressing the cane this year was much like last year.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/MrIJcomingouttowatchthepressing.jpg" /><br /><br />Mr. I.J. drove the 4-wheeler down to the pasture with the cane mill to watch.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/MrIJselectedsomeplantingcanes.jpg" /><br /><br />Though this year he selected a few stalks of sugar cane to plant. He told me he wanted some cane for "chewin and a bit of juice".<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/JohnDavidgoesroundandround.jpg" /><br /><br />While some of the men piled up the cane and then fed it into the mill. Mr. John David once again spent hours driving round and round keeping the mill cylinders in motion. While I wasn't at the house visiting with the Wilson sisters, I sat and visited with Mr. I.J. I enjoy the stories about his younger days in Brewton, especially the stories about raising and processing sugar cane. He told me they used to make Whiskey from the cane juice skimmings. He told me about pressing cane and boiling it down late into the night and about selling the syrup. He told me a little about the mule that once powered the mill. Some of the whiskey stories made me laugh. Part of me wanted to know how to turn skimmings into whiskey, not to drink it or anything, but just to know how to do it. And really, it is not like I would ever try making it. I just like knowing how to do things, things people don't do so much anymore. In the end, I never screwed up my courage far enough to ask how.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Kurttakesashift.jpg" /><br /><br />The men took shifts, straining to push the large canes in between the pressing cylinders.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Jasoncamebytocheckonthingsandsayhel.jpg" /><br /><br />Jason walked over to say "hello" and took a shift as well.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Jasontookashift.jpg" /><br /><br />Gregory took frequent shifts throughout the day.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Kurtwatchingforthebeam.jpg" /><br /><br />The men had to be ever mindful of the beam going around and around. It got me a couple of times before I remembered I did best visiting with people instead of trying to push sugar cane into the mill.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Lunchandchatbreak.jpg" /><br /><br />Gregory had an enjoyable chat with Mr. I.J. over one of the turkey sandwiches I'd made for lunch. Gregory also borrowed Mr. I.J.'s cup and drank a whole lot of the cane juice. He doesn't like the cane syrup, but Gregory drank more cane juice than anyone. We were warned the juice has a bit of a laxative effect, well quite a bit, but it didn't seem to phase Gregory.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Westartedwithalargepileofcane.jpg" /><br /><br />He worked all afternoon with few breaks.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Pressingthecane.jpg" /><br /><br />And I think he only got bonked once.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Pushandduck.jpg" /><br /><br />Unlike me. I should have sat in the chair like Kurt or stayed away all together. You don't really get hurt or anything since the pole proceeds at a slow, steady pace. You just get pushed and then embarrassed.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Workingthroughthepile.jpg" /><br /><br />The entire time we spent with the mill, the Wilson sisters played with Michael.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Michaelkeepingtheguineasfromroostin.jpg" /><br /><br />They are such sweet ladies. At one point Miss Wanda pushed Michael on the swing.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/YesIwanttogohigh.jpg" /><br /><br />He told her "yes" when she asked if he wanted to go high.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Michaelsaidhewantedtogohighandthenq.jpg" /><br /><br />I really don't think he knew what "going high" meant. Either that or he changed his mind quickly. But he never said a word and Miss Wanda didn't realize how terrified Michael was until I said something to her - after I took a blog picture.<br /><br />Once we got home with our eight and a half, five-gallon buckets of sugarcane juice, I started the race to boil it into syrup. Sugar cane juice spoils rapidly so it needs to be condensed to syrup quickly. Cane syrup is shelf stable and lasts for quite awhile.<br /><br />When we moved into our Foley house, we upgraded some of the appliances. I saved the old stove with the idea we could build an outdoor kitchen of sorts for cooking cane juice into syrup. We still need to build something to protect the syrup from falling leaves and bugs so this year we once again boiled the juice in the house. I talked Kurt into bringing the old stove back inside (since we have room where the refrigerator is supposed to go after the floor gets installed). Then I convinced him I should use both stoves to process the cane juice faster. Kurt simply had to convert the cord on the old stove to work with the dryer outlet, which he did. I love my clever husband.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Twostovestheexplodeddehumidifyerand.jpg" /><br /><br />Working with two stoves cut the process from four days to two, much to my relief. It also kept the juice sweeter which makes for better syrup in the long run. I told Kurt I like having two stoves and want to keep both of them inside for now. He doesn't like the idea but I figure as we get stuff put away and messes cleared up, there might be room for the extra stove in the laundry room.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Startingwithcanejuice.jpg" /><br /><br />Each five-gallon bucket holds enough juice to fill up a large stock pot.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Canejuiceonthesecondstove.jpg" /><br /><br />And with four stock pots going at the same time, condensation filled the house pretty quickly.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Majorcondensation.jpg" /><br /><br />And naturally that meant "rain" once again dripping from fixtures, vents and even the ceiling. I thought a dehumidifier would help so Kurt dug ours out of the workshop. We've had it stored for at least four years and I was glad to have a reason to use it again.<br /><br />I meticulously cleaned up the dehumidifier and plugged it into a kitchen wall outlet. The small explosion and burst of flame flipped a breaker and ended my hopes to remove moisture from the air. Kurt tried to fix it, but a mouse had long ago attempted to establish residency in the inner workings of the machine. Either the nest or the mouse snacking on the wires caused the dehumidifier to short out and the explosion made it permanent. Lousy rodents. I'm glad we have cats now and I hope this particular mouse became dinner for one of the cats at some point.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Michaelwithoneofourbarncats.jpg" /><br /><br />Kurt thinks our "barn cats" have been overly tamed by the kids, but we still see them with mice periodically. They are doing their job and I am glad they are around, no matter what they do to the screens.<br /><br />After a good 12 to 13 hours, the sugar cane juice foams more orange and with smaller bubbles, signaling that it has become syrup.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/FinallySyrup.jpg" /><br /><br />We got five and a half gallons of syrup this year. I'm so grateful to have it around again. We ran out a couple months ago and oatmeal is just not right without it.<br /><br />I had to stay with the syrup all day, each day again this year, but didn't get much knitting done. While I did a little knitting on the second day of processing, on the first day I cracked and shelled the bag of pecans the Wilsons gave to us as we were leaving.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/Pecansthroughafoggeduplens.jpg" /><br /><br />I'm so grateful for the people who share things like pecans with us. I wish we had a producing tree ourselves, but since we don't, I am grateful for friends who share.<br /><br />On the pet front, Strider has become a much happier dog.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Sugar%20Cane%20and%20Turkey/AmuchhappierStrider.jpg" /><br /><br />He likes to sit on the top of the hill left from our pool installation and sometimes chase chickens. We are trying to break him of the chicken thing. He is supposed to protect them. Silly dog. I'm really going to have to pray for the means to distract him with dairy goats as soon as possible.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-6940651391348805982009-11-22T15:11:00.002-06:002009-11-22T16:05:29.241-06:00Ongoing ProjectsAlthough remodeling related tasks continue to absorb a great deal of our time in our new home, we are starting to settle into a more normal life. (Though if you ask Michael, he will say, "I want to go back to normal; boxes aren't normal.") I'm not as picky (though I will confess the piles of boxes are starting to drive me a bit batty). Kurt and I are finally sleeping in a bedroom and for me, that feels nice and normal.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Ongoing%20Projects/Sleepinginourownroom.jpg" /><br /><br />We've been sleeping in our bed in our own room for more than a week now and I just love it! In the morning, dancing beams of sunlight reflect off the pool onto the ceiling in our bedroom to greet me. I love the look of sunshine reflecting off water and praise God the swimming pool ended up in exactly the right place.<br /><br />I've started unpacking kitchen stuff in earnest.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Ongoing%20Projects/HomemadeNoodlesinthenewkitchen.jpg" /><br /><br />I love my new kitchen so much. I've been doing all sorts of cooking just because I can. I've made homemade pasta more times since I got my new kitchen than I ever did the whole time we lived in Brewton.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Ongoing%20Projects/HomemadeNoodlesfromthekitchenade.jpg" /><br /><br />I've discovered homemade noodles are wonderful cooked in the chicken broth left over when I boil a stew chicken for ginger chicken.<br /><br />I love all my counter space. I probably don't have any more counter space than I had in prior homes, but I've never had it all in one long run and the sheer length of it makes all the difference.<br /><br />I love my kitchen. I love the impractical "Shoreline Green" color on the walls and I love, love, love the counter tops and cabinets Bob built. And it just keeps getting better as Kurt builds my pantry space in the laundry area. God is so good. By all rights, considering our own resources, I never should have been able to have such a nice kitchen. But I do.<br /><br />We brought home our new livestock protection dog last week.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Ongoing%20Projects/Striderhidingbehindthechickenwire.jpg" /><br /><br />He is still a puppy. A 55 pound puppy. We brought him home hoping he would keep our chickens safe from predators and would put us closer to raising dairy goats eventually. But "Strider" is such a cute little guy and we've all spent too much time playing and interacting with him. I suspect he would rather be a big pet than a working farm animal.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Ongoing%20Projects/SadStrider.jpg" /><br /><br />But poor Strider was so sad when we brought him home. He missed his goats and his family and it just broke our hearts. In fact, Strider managed to get out of the fence his first night with us and we despaired of seeing him again. But lots of prayer and God's mercy brought Strider home the following morning. We are so grateful.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Ongoing%20Projects/Stridersfirstdayatourhome.jpg" /><br /><br />Even though Strider looks forlorn in these first day pictures, he is starting to become much happier with his new home here. We are very glad.<br /><br />In the meantime, Gregory has done a great job returning dirt to the back deck foundation by the pool. However, when it started raining a couple days ago, we gave him an inside job.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Ongoing%20Projects/Michaelreallygetsintohelping.jpg" /><br /><br />Gregory is removing Thinset from the concrete sub floor in the kitchen. On day two of the job, today, Gregory recruited some help.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Ongoing%20Projects/Kidsremovingthinset.jpg" /><br /><br />Michael really loves helping and really threw himself into the project. I love the way my children want to be a part of the projects around our home.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-44941678075126239982009-11-11T15:26:00.003-06:002009-11-15T09:21:42.375-06:00ProgressSometimes I can hardly imagine we have been living in Foley for almost a month. From an unpacking stand-point, hardly anything has changed. Every day or two we rearrange stacks of boxes to find something or move them out of the way for construction, but we've unpacked very little. However, the house itself has changed a great deal.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Thebeginningofmycompostpile.jpg" /><br /><br />We finally saw the end of stump 1 and stump 2.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Stumpgrinder.jpg" /><br /><br />The large machine in the back of the above picture quickly ground the stumps into the beginning of my new compost pile and the Bobcat hauled it to the new garden site.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Gettingthepoolin.jpg" /><br /><br />After triumphing over the stumps, the pool installers quickly built the pool.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Thebeachatthebottom.jpg" /><br /><br />I like the idea that beach sand sits under the pool, though sometimes I think it would be nice to have a beach too. I wanted to create a beach by the creek at the back of our property but everyone I know insists it will wash away when the creek floods during heavy rains or tropical weather. Sometimes I hate practical details.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Leavesandcoldasidethekidslikedthepo.jpg" /><br /><br />Once the pool contained water, the kids decided to try it out. Had it not been so cold, I might have been tempted to join them since to this day we have still not added chemicals to it.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Kidshadtotryoutthepool.jpg" /><br /><br />But I am a wimp and wouldn't even get in for poor little Michael who wanted to swim so much. He ended up being a good sport about the whole thing and watched from the deck when I assured him the water freshly pumped from our well would be too cold.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Dallaswatchinghiskidsinthepool.jpg" /><br /><br />Our kids and our neighbors' kids convinced each other to brave the cold for a good 45 minutes. Dallas, our neighbor, watched his kids freeze in our pool, probably grateful his kids could swim well enough that he didn't have to get in himself.<br /><br />We love the fact the stumps required so much earth to be removed because now the pool is in a perfect position relative to the deck. However, because so much dirt was moved from the foundation of the deck, we are having to fill in the area between the deck and the pool with some of the removed earth. This is no easy job and Kurt and I figured it was a great opportunity to develop the kids' work ethic.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Projectsforeveryone.jpg" /><br /><br />Actually, we gave the job to Gregory and he recruited his siblings. He even put Michael to work. Michael loved helping and for awhile, worked harder than anyone.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Childlabor.jpg" /><br /><br />Normally Kurt and I would help, but we have so many projects going right now. Fortunately, God has graciously supplied help for our many projects.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Dallassettingfreemoredrywalldust.jpg" /><br /><br />For example, until a few days ago, several people worked very hard to put as much dry-wall dust into the air as possible. And, the more dry-wall dust in the air, the more dry-wall dust on all of the surfaces and in all the cracks and crevices in the house. Multiple applications are best for full coverage.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Thedrywalldustnightmare.jpg" /><br /><br />We have some wonderful friends who've been helping us tear down and rebuild our home. Our neighbor Dallas is one of them. He got sucked into our house remodeling projects when Kurt needed some help removing a wall and applying final coats of mud.<br /><br />(I won't go into the pleasures of sleeping on the dining room floor next to the area where walls are coming down and dust is being set free. You will have to imagine how fun it is to have such work take place next to you during normal human sleeping hours.)<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Nomorewallinkitchen.jpg" /><br /><br />I will admit I really like the open look of our kitchen now that the structural wall separating it from the living room has been removed. I especially liked it when the ceiling didn't come crashing to the ground. Especially since it was 2:00 a.m. and I was trying to sleep next to the area in question. I will confess I worried when Kurt and Dallas wanted to hurry and remove the wall before "Bob the Builder" saw what they were doing. (Bob has been pretty much in charge of projects and keeping us reasonable during the whole process here.) I recalled when we talked to Bob about the wall, he said something about structural walls and then sort of ignored it afterwards. However, even Bob liked the end result when he saw it.<br /><br />When Bob arrived about a week ago for a 3 day remodel marathon, things started moving fast. He brought the most BEAUTIFUL counter tops and open cabinets for our larger kitchen. (He built the cabinets and the counter tops in his home workshop and is a custom cabinet maker [and homebuilder] by trade. If you are in the Pensacola area and ever need cabinets [or a custom home], you really NEED Bob's telephone number!)<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Countergoinginanddrywalldusteverywh.jpg" /><br /><br />For hours, all I could do was stare at them. They are so pretty and there was a time when I really feared I would have to live with the dilapidated pink counters that came with the house. Once the counters went down, Kurt helped install a brand new sink. I'm so excited about all of this I won't even let Gabrielle do the dishes. I don't think she minds.<br /><br />Bob also sort of taught me how to install tile in the sun room. I helped with the Thinset anyway; he did all the hard parts.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Bobtearingdownthesunroomwall.jpg" /><br /><br />Before we started the floors, Bob removed the wall the prior home-owners installed in the doorway between the master bedroom and the sun room. Eventually we'd like to add French doors to the opening.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Sunroomfortemporarystorage.jpg" /><br /><br />Unfortunately I had to order the grout I wanted for the sun room tiles so the work in that room stopped. But we were able to move everything from the master bedroom into the sun room so work could start there. I started by painting the walls a nice pretty green and right before he left, Bob gave me a quick lesson in laying the snap together wood floor.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Oneofmanyfailedattempts.jpg" /><br /><br />I got about 5 rows down when I noticed the floor had started unsnapping. So I pulled it apart and tried again. And again. And again. My neighbor Dallas saw my distress and he came to the rescue. But he made the mistake of trying to teach me. And once I started helping, the floor had to be pulled out and redone because all of my work started coming apart. (Dallas says it is not my fault, but I don't know how he arrived at that conclusion.)<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Attemptnumber7.jpg" /><br /><br />In the end, on the seventh try, Dallas and my husband got the floor down, including the closet.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/TheBedroomissoclose.jpg" /><br /><br />Kurt started reinstalling the molding yesterday. Today I noticed a couple rows of floor in the closet coming apart. I care, but I'm sorta wishing I hadn't noticed it maybe. . .<br /><br />While we were still trying to install the floor, my friend Cathy from church and my neighbor Donna came over and helped paint some of the kitchen.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Kitchencomingalongnicely.jpg" /><br /><br />The kitchen still needs work, but I already love it a great deal. When things get crazy and they do, it is my happy place in the house.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Progress/Amidsttheclutter.jpg" /><br /><br />Michael and the other kids are getting tired of living out of boxes. Gregory says it is like a camping trip that never ends. I agree.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-23143195468920608472009-10-23T14:42:00.002-05:002009-10-23T16:53:16.860-05:00The Big MoveAfter two weeks of crazy, surrounded by the best friends people can have, we moved into our new Foley home last weekend and started a whole new kind of crazy. Despite my firm belief we could make two runs with a rental truck and be moved, we took several runs with the van and a borrowed trailer, filled our friend's trucks, trailers and vehicles at least twice and took 4 runs with the rental truck to move our stuff. We lost all of our stuff just 5 years ago in the hurricane and it is incomprehensible to me that in 5 years we could accumulate so much. But looming piles of boxes tell me we did.<br /><br />Apparently moving large chest freezers full of food sucks. They are heavy and cumbersome. Then there is the ever present problem with things thawing if you aren't quick enough.<br /><br />In order to get our largest freezer onto the trailer and then off again, the men in charge piled up the contents on a box.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Pileofpoultry.jpg" /><br /><br />After putting the freezer in place, everyone then quickly returned the pile of poultry to the freezer. And then when the door wouldn't close, I got called in to rearrange things so they would fit.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Cleaningupthepileofpoultry.jpg" /><br /><br />Now I realize organizing the freezer was a breeze compared to the house.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Familyroomhell.jpg" /><br /><br />And I can't get anything done. The family room (above) is filled up with stuff, much of which belongs elsewhere. Some of Gregory's bedroom furniture is here. But Gregory's room is full of his stuff and Michael's stuff. I can't move Michael's stuff until I paint Michael's room. So far, I've only painted the ceiling. And I did a lousy job at that. I've decided I don't like painting. Except when my friend Kathy is around. She loves to paint and she is good at it. Her good attitude infects me and then painting is okay. I'm having a hard time getting to the painting because there are so many people at the house doing stuff and I have a hard time isolating myself in a bedroom when there are strangers around my children.<br /><br />Much of the master bedroom furniture likewise sits in the family room. But I can't really move anything (more) into the master bedroom because it doesn't have a proper floor and flooring work is imminent.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Masterbedroomhell.jpg" /><br /><br />The master bedroom floor sits in the family room next to the floor for the master bathroom.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Masterbathandbedtile.jpg" /><br /><br />Because we ran out of space, we did put some stuff into the master bedroom. Most of the stuff is fragile or expensive. We also stored the furniture destined for the sun room in the master bedroom. We couldn't put anything into the sun room because the sun room floor was so bad it had to be completely removed.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Sunroomfloorrepair.jpg" /><br /><br />In fact, our friend Bob, the best of builders, had to jack the sun room onto blocks in order to repair the bad foundation.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Sunroomonstilts.jpg" /><br /><br />Fortunately, Bob performs miracles these days and he not only fixed the foundation and the sub floor, but he retro-fitted some sort of flashing that should prevent future rotting issues. He is my hero this week.<br /><br />But I still can't move the furniture into the sun room because the tile for the floor is in boxes.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Sunroomtile.jpg" /><br /><br />I have to install the tile. But to do that, I need to learn to install tile. Hopefully it isn't harder than knitting or sewing.<br /><br />Since we can't sleep in the master bedroom, we have set up temporary sleeping quarters in the dining room.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Ourtemporarybedroom.jpg" /><br /><br />The dining room is probably too small for our dining room furniture anyway. But for now, we've set up a temporary dining room in the living room.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Livingroomhell.jpg" /><br /><br />The living room also holds a bunch of boxes. One pile leans precariously over Gabrielle's chair.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Gabriellesleaningboxbane.jpg" /><br /><br />I'd like to unpack some of the boxes, but most of them hold kitchen things. And of course, the flooring for the kitchen is in the family room.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/KitchenTile.jpg" /><br /><br />And the kitchen isn't habitable.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Kitchenhell.jpg" /><br /><br />The cabinets and counter-tops are in pieces. Any time I try to unpack something into the kitchen, it gets moved for work being done. I've given up trying to unpack the kitchen for now.<br /><br />There is some "light at the end of the tunnel" however. I entered all the receipts for everything to date and we're basically out of money. Thus, construction will be done very soon. I can't believe how fast it spends. It feels like we've had a black hole attached to our bank account.<br /><br />Of course we had a bit of a drain before we moved. Everything started breaking. Kurt replaced the pool pump and then the dishwasher quit and had to be replaced.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Replacingthedishwasherbeforewemoved.jpg" /><br /><br />All day today, we've had an air conditioning repair person fixing the broken units. Apparently the quoted price is just a starting place.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Newairhandler.jpg" /><br /><br />Every time I turn around, there is a new expense. This air conditioning thing could turn the bank account inside-out by the end of the day.<br /><br />On the day we closed, we hit an end of the season sale and bought an above-ground swimming pool for the new house. We had one at the house in Brewton and our family just loved it. And I was glad to have paid for it in full, in advance.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Stumped.jpg" /><br /><br />Well, that was until the installers were stumped.<br /><br />Meet stump one.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Stumpone.jpg" /><br /><br />And stump two.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Stumptwo.jpg" /><br /><br />When pool installers discover large, live oak stumps, pool installation cannot proceed and big, expensive equipment must be rented. Guess who pays for the extra expenses. . .<br /><br />And what would be a pool installation without cutting an underground power line?<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Newpowersourceforworkshop.jpg" /><br /><br />At present, the workshop has no power and the poultry freezer is plugged into an extension cord running into the house.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/The%20Big%20Move/Rewiringtheworkshop.jpg" /><br /><br />But God is good and at the moment the power problems surfaced, our friend John was in our attic fixing some other power issues.<br /><br />Final score at the end of the day? We're poor, but Jesus is still mighty in our lives.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-88173942785903239072009-10-23T13:48:00.003-05:002009-10-23T14:36:41.548-05:00Michael's Fourth BirthdayFor some time now, the computer drive that allows me to upload photos from my camera hasn't worked. Today it worked. Thank God because I truly need a break from the chaos of life today.<br /><br />Almost a month ago, we celebrated Michael's fourth birthday.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Michaels%20fourth%20birthday/Michaelcouldntwaittoopenpresents.jpg" /><br /><br />He remembered opening presents from last year and couldn't wait.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Michaels%20fourth%20birthday/Michaelloveshisnewtrucktoy.jpg" /><br /><br />He got a little confused when we didn't put up the Christmas tree. He insists we had a tree last year. Despite the confusion, I thought his memory quite good for a four year old.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Michaels%20fourth%20birthday/Michaelgothisownlegos.jpg" /><br /><br />Michael got a cool truck with tools and a set of his own Legos from us.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Michaels%20fourth%20birthday/AnewtrainforMichael.jpg" /><br /><br />Grandma sent a train and this year's noisy toy.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Michaels%20fourth%20birthday/Fourthbirthdaynoisytoy.jpg" /><br /><br />With so much of their own stuff already packed, all the kids were glad to see some new toys in the house.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Michaels%20fourth%20birthday/Fourthbirthdayfunforeveryone.jpg" /><br /><br />Michael desperately wanted an ice cream cake for his birthday.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Michaels%20fourth%20birthday/Pizzaandicecreamcakeforhisbirthday.jpg" /><br /><br />He loves ice cream, but cake is not his favorite.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Michaels%20fourth%20birthday/Blowoutthefourcandles.jpg" /><br /><br />So I made him one. It was very good.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Michaels%20fourth%20birthday/Tryingsohardforthelastcandle.jpg" /><br /><br />Michael loved the whole idea of blowing out candles.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/Michaels%20fourth%20birthday/Michaelsfourthbirthdaycake.jpg" /><br /><br />Though he really had to work for the last one.<br /><br />Michael had a great time on his birthday with his presents and cake and homemade pizza. For us, it marked a transition to our new life. On Michael's fourth birthday, we finally got the call telling us it was time to close on our house in Brewton. In fact, we closed two days later and the chaos began!Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376064.post-40849052917862241662009-09-08T11:04:00.004-05:002009-09-08T13:02:24.637-05:00In Need of a FixToday I want to play a little game. I am going to post pictures of an impossible kitchen and a crazy bathroom and see if anyone can come up with remodel ideas to make the rooms more functional. I'll start with the kitchen.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Crazykitchenspace.jpg" /><br /><br />I snapped this picture from the dining room. As you can see, the bar extends from one side of the kitchen to the other, completely cutting off kitchen access to the dining room. Food must be brought through the living room to get to the dining room or passed over the bar.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Impossiblysmallkitchen.jpg" /><br /><br />Seen from the other side of the kitchen, the bar has more cabinets built into it than the rest of the kitchen combined. The kitchen is already too small to be practical and we simply cannot afford to lose any cabinet space.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/kitchenstoveandpantryarea.jpg" /><br /><br />In fact, the kitchen is crazy tiny considering the way I have to cook. With 2 children who cannot tolerate gluten, I need a decent size kitchen and a functional space.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Kitchenandtwoutilityrooms.jpg" /><br /><br />The bar also provides a majority of the counter space in this tiny kitchen.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Kitchenandhallwayandlivingroom.jpg" /><br /><br />The bar attaches to a small wall that forms a part of the living room. This small wall also holds up the kitchen ceiling and is thus, load bearing.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/diningroomandbar.jpg" /><br /><br />We would like to remove this load bearing wall and open up the kitchen a bit, but cannot figure out how to do it without sending the kitchen ceiling crashing to the floor.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Structuralwallwedliketoremove.jpg" /><br /><br />There is a small corner of the bar poking out from the wall and I know with all of the trips back and forth past this wall bringing food from the kitchen, through the living room and into the dining room, I will gouge holes into my legs eventually. I would hate to leave this hazard unfixed.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Overhangingbar.jpg" /><br /><br />It would be nice to have some sort of bar area where the kids could sit while I worked in the kitchen. Otherwise they tend to end up in the kitchen itself, making it hard for me to work.<br /><br />The dining room is rather small as well and there is no breakfast nook for extra space. I don't think we could expand the kitchen into the dining room effectively. The prior homeowners converted the sun room into a dining room by boarding up the wall between it and the master bedroom. The job was poorly done and we plan to reopen the wall.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Olddiningroomarea.jpg" /><br /><br />It would be weird to have master bedroom access to the dining room through French doors.<br /><br />I have wondered about moving the dining room into one side of the living room.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/diningroomlivingroom.jpg" /><br /><br />The family room is quite large and will probably be our main living space. I really don't have furniture for the living room and might use it for my computer area.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Darklivingroom.jpg" /><br /><br />Perhaps a combination sitting area and office area along with a dining room could free up the original dining room for kitchen expansion? But I don't know how that would work with the French doors opening into the sun room right in the middle of the space.<br /><br />We think the best idea for expanding the kitchen would be to move the water heater and expand the kitchen into the first utility room. There are two utility rooms in a row off of the kitchen, the original one and the new one. Both have room for the washer/dryer and we could eliminate the first one pretty easily.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Firstutilityroomandkitchen.jpg" /><br /><br />It is not a large space, but we could add cabinets and additional counter space. It looks like the divider wall would come down easily.<br /><br />The master bathroom is the other crazy room in need of restructuring. It is a small, "L" shaped room divided into cubicles.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/MBvanityfrombathtub.jpg" /><br /><br />The sink and vanity hides at the tip of the "L" farthest away from the master bedroom.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/MBtoiletarea.jpg" /><br /><br />Stepping back from the vanity and past the full length window, you reach the toilet cubicle. The toilet faces the half wall at one end of the bathtub cubicle.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Afterthoughshower.jpg" /><br /><br />The toilet is in the angle part of the "L" and the bathtub is under a window. It extends almost to the door between the master bedroom and the master bath. However, the craziest part of the master bathroom is the shower. Look behind the door.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/showerandbath.jpg" /><br /><br />Tucked behind the bathroom door is a tiny shower, seemingly the after-thought of a home-owner who realized one couldn't build a master bathroom without a shower.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/HiddenMBshower.jpg" /><br /><br />I tried to get a picture of the shower, but my camera couldn't focus in the cramped, dark space.<br /><br />Personally, I don't know how the glass shower door hasn't been broken by a door slam or the door knob.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Showerbehindthedoor.jpg" /><br /><br />We haven't even started trying to wrap our minds around fixing the crazy master bathroom yet.<br /><br />We managed to resolve some questions with our lastest trip to the Foley house. I also took a couple pictures to stimulate ideas.<br /><br />I grabbed a quick picture of the master bedroom and the window overlooking the deck.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/MasterBedroomwitholdcarpet.jpg" /><br /><br />I think Kurt agrees it would be nice to create door access to the deck through the window space.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/MasterBedroomdeck.jpg" /><br /><br />The deck area outside of the master bedroom is nice and the sun room creates a little niche area.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Deckbymasterbedroom.jpg" /><br /><br />I would love to put a hot-tub on the deck outside of the master bedroom, but our budget is already stretched beyond capacity with necessary house repairs. We already probably won't be able to do everything that needs to be done.<br /><br />We would like to get the kids another above ground pool. The one here in Brewton has been a blessing. Not only do the kids have a way to cool off in summer, but they get plenty of exercise and have great swimming skills. I would feel much safer if all three children could swim well with the property backing up to a creek and with us living so close to the ocean.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Paverlandingatfootofstairs.jpg" /><br /><br />We've been trying to figure out where we could put a round, above-ground swimming pool. Kurt thought we could do it right off the back deck where the bird bath resides presently.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Birdbath.jpg" /><br /><br />While I would like to have the pool close to the house, I have a hard time visualizing how it would work with the steps to the right of the area.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Hopefullyfutureabovegroundpoolarea.jpg" /><br /><br />I think Kurt plans to take those steps out of service since there are two sets of steps.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Backdeckarea.jpg" /><br /><br />I do think the back of the house would look nicer with a pool rather than all of the weeds and I could use it if it were in the shade since I burn like crazy in the summer.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Backdeckbyairconditioners.jpg" /><br /><br />Kurt would like to build an access gate from the deck to the pool. I just hope the pool will be level with the deck.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Backdecktreeandbench.jpg" /><br /><br />The tree in the deck is close to the area where we want to put the pool and could end up being a nice little sitting area eventually.<br /><br />We looked for an area for the kids swing set and think it would work on the side of the house by the master bedroom.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Roomforkidsplayground.jpg" /><br /><br />There is a little bit of a clearing with a flat area and plenty of shade.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Roomforswingset.jpg" /><br /><br />While we were at the house, I snapped a picture of the area I think we will use for a garden.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Futuregardenplot.jpg" /><br /><br />We will have to remove a tree or two, but it should provide a nice space for growing things.<br /><br />Kurt asked me to get some pictures of the overhang behind the workshop.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Tractorparking.jpg" /><br /><br />Kurt thinks the tractor will fit beneath the overhang and be protected.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Backofworkshop.jpg" /><br /><br />I hope he is right. There doesn't seem to be much head room.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Overhangonbackofworkshop.jpg" /><br /><br />I hope the homeowner removes all of her stuff from the area too. I'd hate to have to deal with all of it before we can store our stuff out there.<br /><br />I figured I would take some pictures inside the workshop too.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Oldmilkcaninworkshop.jpg" /><br /><br />In addition to the tools and building stuff, the workshop is the only area where I can think to put the chest freezers. I hate to have to brave the weather to get our food, but I just can't think of a better place for the freezers.<br /><br /><img height="401" src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Somesortofbuiltinstructureinworksho.jpg" width="404" /><br /><br />At least there is power.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Oldmilkcaninworkshop.jpg" /><br /><br />And some wall space.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/smallairconditionerinworkshop.jpg" /><br /><br />And I just hope the seller removes her stuff before we close.<br /><br />Now that the seller has moved out of the house, I saw some more issues that had been hidden behind boxes and furniture.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Missingtriminschoolroom.jpg" /><br /><br />Here in the school room the base board is missing from one wall. The same problem exists in the master bedroom.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/cobwebsinschoolroom.jpg" /><br /><br />And then there are cobwebs and dirt everywhere. I'm going to try so hard to really clean our house good before turning it over to the buyers.<br /><br />I didn't think I was going to need any shower curtains in the new house, but I do after all.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Hallbathroom.jpg" /><br /><br />I can't imagine using the shower in this bathroom though.<br /><br />And despite everything and all of the busyness, Gabrielle and I managed to put up a dozen or so jars of pears.<br /><br /><img src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o105/dalofink/2009/September%20premoving%20Foley%20pics/Cannedpears.jpg" /><br /><br />Due to the sugar in them, I haven't tried them, but the family loves them.<br /><br />Today our buyers are doing their final walk through and I have to get busy and clean up. Last Thursday morning, we heard we would be closing this Thursday. Thursday afternoon we were told "maybe." We're supposed to close in Foley on Tuesday and I don't know if that is going to happen or not. This has to be one of the most stressful moves we've ever had to make.Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339873778625811767noreply@blogger.com4