My Big Boy.

My big boy is....drum roll please.....walking! He took off across the vast ocean of space between the rocking chair and the couch...made it half way and fell. He thought he was Mr. Smarty Pants with that grin he gave. Since then(Christmas Eve) he is walking more and more. He has been taking steps for quite some time now, but we do not count it as walking until they take 3 real steps at a time. My second 9m old walker and he is a slow and steady one.

My baby Lillie sitting so pretty I couldn't help myself but add this picture.

Jacob with his three man sling shot he recieved for Christmas and Miker in his big boy Carrhart coveralls, they all look so cute now! Here they are launching potatoes into the neighbors field.

My two Christmas projects, more knit hats, making these #5 and #6! This time matching ones out of homespun yarn for Lidger and Daddy. Lidger isn't too keen on the idea, but puts up with it. Yes, I loooove knitting, no I have no plans of buying a sheep for fiber.

This was awesome. I done gots myself a homemade version of Mindy's cheesepress! My hubby somehow snuck this one by me and worked on it without my knowing. It is made of UHMW instead of wood then the rest of stainless steel. Isn't he the best? What a sweet talented hubby the Lord gave me! Unfortunately now I need to save up the money for the rennet, lipase and cheese wax...but I am a large step closer to cheddar, baby!

My Mom won't like this picture because she never likes pictures of herself, but I LOVE it. She kept an otherwise crabby baby happy on Christmas by taking out the binky and inserting a candy cane. NOT something a Mamma would do, but Grandma can get away with it and surprisingly, he was quiet and sat very well on Gmas lap!

Success at last

Have you noticed how I talked about potty training my newly 2 yr old back in July? Then never talked about it again? I only boasted a little on how well all my children have trained, thus far. Thinking Gracie would fall right into that mold and be trained in a couple weeks time. We bought our *incentives*, washed all the trainers and the couple weeks it was supposed to take turned into a few weeks..then I gave up. One thing I have learned(and it took a long time) is that you can not say at "c" age a child should be doing "d" and don't frustrate yourself trying to *teach*(force) them do it. It will come.

Gracie refused to train, quite stubbornly, so I put her back in diapers and every couple weeks we'd give her a 5 min refresher course, to keep it fresh in her mind. I had given up on ever training her when all of a sudden, she was sitting at the table coloring by herself Monday when she quietly got down mumbled something about #2 and ran off.

I had Jess spy on her and she found Gracie ran and did the whole works herself, #2 even! Usually they start with #1, not Grace, she thought enough was enough. She has been in panties every since that episode three days ago, NEVER an accident and even dry for naps. Try to figure that one. Micah trained himself and did the same thing, only younger. Gracie just trained herself. Maybe it is the Teddy Grahams or the Fishies, I don't know, I just know I am glad it is done with! What a big girl! 2 yrs 5 months. This little girl is such a hoot, she talks non-stop and cracks us up so much! She isn't the handful she was as Mamma cracked down on her antics and she is much happier and in less trouble, too! We are so blessed to have each one and look forward to the future of having more if the Lord sees fit.

Did you see that?

Did you see that? That extra minute of sunlight this morning? It is coming. Spring is coming...It makes us giddy to think of the planting, the eggs, the produce, fresh veggies, so much fresh raw milk we give it to the dogs(something that does NOT happen now), young kids leaping around their mammas, incubators peeping, children outside these walls...snap out of it Jenn...it's December. Bummer. But I know it is coming and that makes every day a little brighter. The longest day of the year is OVER. Oh happy day!


I have this hen. She thinks it is Spring. She is a confused hen. Every morning we collect eggs she sits there with ruffled feathers and a mean look on her...er...face. She is broody. Passionately broody. She is ready for a family. One small detail she missed is that it is winter yet. Poor chicken. I will not leave the warm, nicely tucked eggs under her, for they would die as soon as her brooding efforts produced chicks and if there is one thing I can not stand, is to see a mother hen who lost her chicks. They wonder around distraught for hours. It is a most pitiful sight. She needs to trust I know better, not peck my hand as I take those eggs from her and in two more months, when her mother chicken broodiness returns, I will leave her a whole handful of eggs. Oh, if only those dumb chickens could understand!

Coffee in hand...

For a 5 minute break. Sorry Nana for the lack of posts. Here is a quick run down. Daniel kicked a glass jar by accident last week Friday. By the swelling and pain the next day, we decided to go to the doctor, have x-rays and get it looked at. It wasn't broken after all, he was on crutches for 3 days and then, as he puts it, was miraculously cured on Sunday!

There has been something keeping us busy every morning, noon and eve these last few days, I am sure like all of you!

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Here is the photo Mr. Camera took of us for our Christmas cards! Smile Daddy! He is the poor guy that volunteered to start the timer on the camera then run back, get in place, position children and look good in less than 10 seconds! I think he did a fine job...just forgot to smile.

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This one is my favorite! Can you guess why? ;)
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This one Mr. Camera took for our church directory photo. It just works better to take our own pictures at home! I think we took like, 11 pictures before we had one that we all agreed on.

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Silly me. I got this great idea to dry slices of grapefruit and hang them on the tree. The problem is they resemble the real fruit they once were, thus are snacked upon by hungry little 2 yr olds.
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The 2009 gingerbread house.

Yes, EMILY, it was a KIT...again.

Shame on me...I forfeit all brownie points.

The first SNOW!!!

It started as a wispy snow falling over the lake as I held Elijah in the foyer at church, walking him to sleep during the sermon.

The drive home was a little scary, Daddy got his donuts in at the grocery store parking lot much to the delight of the squealing children and we did a premature stop so the kids could get out and throw snowballs at us while Daddy and I sat in the van pulling faces with the windows up.

When we got home it reeeeally started in. There is a hushed quietness that falls over the countryside when it snows, I love standing on the front porch and listening to the nothingness. The Sunday clothes were quickly cast off and the sled tied to the 4-wheeler. The littlest ones are napping, the big ones are making snowcones and sledding. The worried chickens are holed up in the coop as if a natural disaster has taken place. Hot chocolate is heating on the stove. I love snow.

Need a Christmas gift idea?

Need a classy but inexpensive

gift idea for stockings or a gift exchange?

How 'bout for yourself?

Consumables are in, clutter is out

Give a gift that gets used and appreciated.

Visit my website for our new Squaw Creek Soap .

..it may be the beginning of something beautiful ;)

Bus Rides and Yickish

Anyone who was reading my blog last year knows that our family has had a yearly tradition of riding the Lynden City Circular while wearing Santa clause hats, eating red licorice and singing carols.

Daddy is such a kick in the pants. He had no problem donning a Santa hat and singing with along. Jessie and I had too much dignity to *mess our hair* ;) at least, that was our excuse.

“Jingle bell, jingle bells…”

Gracie loved the yickish. We think she put down about 6 sticks on the 1/2 hour ride around town. Our favorite house of the year is in Heartland Dr off Bender Rd. The inflatable Grinch that popped up and down is what sealed the deal!

My beloved camera is on it’s last leg. My pictures are turning out horrible and I am anxiously looking forward to that tax refund.

Wonderful ad

That is all I have to say. Doubt it will be here long, because it is so truthful.

www.us.dockers.com/season/landing.aspx

Woodstove hot and toasty? check
Ice broken and warm water given to all animals? check
Goat milked? it's soooo cold....uncheck


Today is piano lessons, Danny gets his bow for his fiddle(major squiggly excitement), gingerbread house making day. Enjoy your cold winter day ;)

Happy Birthday Jessica!!

I am the mother of a teenager!!!!!

My first baby was born 13 years ago yesterday??!! How did that happen??!! I mean, you hear all the time that “it all goes by so quickly” and you hold on to every moment you can, but it STILL goes by quickly.

Jess was born 3 days after her due date(ah, if only they all could have continued this!) As we walked into the hospital it was a cold crisp sunny day. By the time we walked out, 9 days later, Whatcom County was in the middle of one of the worst blizzards(‘96) I can remember.

On Nov 15, at 11:59pm she arrived after a safe labor and delivery. Our little Dutch/Polish “can only be blond and fair skinned”, Jess came out with dark skin, dark hair and NOT looking like your typical Dutch/Polish cross. After one look at her feet and toes, it confirmed, yup, they were her Daddy dearest's. At 8lbs 12oz, 22” , she was a nice healthy size. A pound of that must have been her feet. ;)

We spent very little time together before Jess started crying. Screaming really. I could do nothing to comfort her and talked to a nurse who smiled a tired smile and said under her breath something about why did get all the *emotional new moms* in one day. Seriously. “She’ll stop” she said.

She didn’t. Long story short, it hit them there was something wrong. Jessica had a good fever soon after birth. I did deliver after testing positive for GBS, but rarely does this cause problems and I was fed antibiotics while laboring anyhow.

Everything is a blur, the doctors took over and I sat in a puddle of tears in the camping room for 9 days while she was kept in an isolette the nursery with monitors and I.V.s entering everywhere, from three spots on her now shaved head to her feet. Two spinal taps. In the end she was fine. Still not sure what happened as they said the tests would not give clear results because of the antibiotics I received while laboring. Something was said about meningitis, so that may be why they were so aggressive.

9 days later, we slipped and slid all the way home on the ice roads.

Jessica has always been a very obedient child despite her over bearing first time parents(again, why couldn’t they all have continued this?!). She has been so forgiving to her Daddy and me as we learn to parent.

I am so thankful for the close relationship the Lord has given to me and Jess. She is not just *one of the children* anymore, she comes along side and offers great ideas and seizes opportunities to serve in the home. She is a real blessing to this mother! She loves the Lord and is daily dedicating her life to serving Him.

Jess and I had a big date on Friday afternoon. We hit Otion, Food Coop, Woods on Boulevard(the BEST), lunch, JoAnns, Piper Music..some places we have always wanted to go together alone. We watched from sunny Boulevard Park the “big storm” Friday moving across the county. Sitting in the sun on the boardwalk over the ocean, we watched the lightening and dark center move slowly inland. It was scary! It had brought rain, hail, sleet and inches of snow…all in one afternoon. What a treat to watch. BTW, I left my camera at home. Hence, no pictures.

Happy birthday Jess! May the Lord give us many more years together growing in His grace. May the Lord continue to give you wisdom, understanding in the coming years and a heart of love and joy in serving Him.

Forgiveness and Rebuke

At our church’s Keepers At Home meeting this last week we had a handout on Forgiveness and Receiving Rebuke. Little did I know they would become two great tools  to add to our fridge. I taped them up and put a sheet of contact paper over it to keep it from being torn and make it easy to wipe off. They are using it(!) and, as a mother who has an awful lot to learn in the area of parenting, it helped me teach my children true biblical steps, as well as use them in my relationship with my husband. After looking into the subject of rebuke, I admit I do not receive rebuke rightly. Thought I’d share the two, you can copy, paste,  edit and print if they look interesting.

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How to Ask Forgiveness

1. Admit that you have sinned “I was wrong, “ or “God has convinced me I was wrong…”

2. Call your sin by its biblical name: “What I did was selfish,” or “What I did was rebellious.”

3. Identify, biblically, what you should have done or what you will do next time: “I should have listened and obeyed the first time you asked,” or “The next time I will tell the truth no matter how afraid I might be of the consequences.”

4. Ask for forgiveness; “Will you forgive me?”

****************************************************************************************************************************************How to Receive Rebuke
Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends - Mally Family

1. Listen to the whole rebuke without arguing back.
Jas 1:19

2. Thank them.

3. If it’s clear that they are right, acknowledge this on the spot. If you think they are wrong, tell them that you will think about it, and that it is important to you to be like Christ, and do the right thing.

4. Carefully think it though, pray about it, and determine what God wants you to learn though the situation.

5. If possible, go back to them and explain how their rebuke helped you.

Fantastic Fleecies

We went into JoAnn Fabrics last week(50% off fleece!) to have each child pick out fabric for a blanket. Just one yard cuts of one patterned & one solid peices. After much thought and deliberating, they each chose what was special to them. Jessica – horses, Jacob – camo, Daniel – deer hunting, Emma - ladybugs & bumblebees, Micah - “dangerous sharks”.

I had no idea everyone would love doing this as much as they did, nor did I know each one would stick to the task of tying each dog gone tie. Hundreds of double knots. We dreamt double knots!

That same evening all five blankets were completed. That was so fun and easy!

www.instructables.com/id/no-sew-fleece-blanket/

Oh Happy Day

We are thrilled to announce our goat, Junie, is due to have twins(we assume) on April 9, 2010. (O.k. I know, get a life Jenn) Junie and Mr. Buck(?) met after their parents arranged their marriage over the phone. We are looking forward to the arrival of their kids in April and hope they tast..I mean…arrive safely and produce wonderful flave...er...markings.

We are so excited to have yet another *goaty experience* under our sleeve. We thought our goat was big, this guy was huge. He seemed very gentle with his owner, but to me, he was a little intimidating.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

What a good goatamus.

Monday

Overdue pictures.  Thank YOU Kristi for the FYI on Windows Live Write, much easier!

Are these not the most adorable pups? This litter is one of my most beautiful! 

 

Here is Micah giving his sister Gracie a little brotherly support while debuting together singing Jesus Loves Me.

 

Shaking hands and getting cheeks pinched. ;)

 

We found a brand new 1 gallon ice cream maker at Second  Chance for $3.49!! Our goat milk ice cream needs a little work imo. Everyone loves it, but to me it was like frozen ice chips…I like creamier ice cream(sugar maybe?).  Either way, they think it  is quite a treat so it works.

 

Here are Emma’s carrots I promised to blog about weeks ago.  We found some interesting shapes while harvesting our carrots, but none so odd as these two!

Nothing much

Now that we are settling into the school year, we are bringing a little more activity into life. Our children used to sing regularly for the senior centers, rest homes and adults homes, but that came to a halt. I'd play piano while the children sang, then it became too hard to manage toddlers so I took up the guitar and accompanied them that way. Well, this year I threw in the towel and they went a cappella! I just can not play an instrument, direct children, hold a baby and control a toddler and guess what? It is working out very well. It is encouraging the children to learn harmony because 5 children singing a cappella is really only nice for the first two songs. ;)

The elderly at rest homes rarely see children and they eat them up. Everyone comes home with pinched cheeks and elevated egos. Many of the people came from big families and they love to reminisce about their brothers, sisters and home life. It brings joy to them. Jess and Jacob may play a piano recital song. We sing hymns, oldies and recite Psalms. There are always people trying their best to sing along in their frail voices. Most of the people there say they never hear hymns anymore and they treasure hearing them sung. It is just wonderful all the way around for both them and us! We've learned who has the best cookies or chocolate milk. The children have learned to feel comfortable being around and conversing with people of all colors, shapes and sizes, speech impediments and disabilities. That is worth gold!!

The rest homes and adult homes are lacking entertainment for the folks who live there. I encourage anyone to go. Anything you can fill 20 minutes with...give it a try. Have a show and tell, sing, recite, show off a project, play an instrument. Most of all, do it in the name of Christ.


Pictures coming when Blogger cooperates.

My Elsie Dinsmore...

Our family was invited out tonight with some families. The older girls love to dress up in their beautiful dresses, but these are not your typical dresses they are the old fashioned fancy, gorgeous, "I've always wanted to wear a dress like that!" dresses. We don't have one. We don't have the funds to buy one nor the skill to make one. Until I talked to a friend that gave me the courage to attempt making an easy skirt with that....that...sewing machine over there. Yes, I'd have to physically touch and work the sewing machine. Without a pattern. Hmmm...


My mother just happened to have a twin sheet she found at a garage sale this summer and has been saving it for such a time as this. I dug out my hoop skirt? from under my wedding dress in the closet, fluffed it up and rough tailored it to fit Jess. One whooooole twin sheet later(every square inch) and we had us a turn of the century skirt. Add a white blouse, a cream crocheted shawl, some pearls and a period hair style(pony tail, tuck-through then braid three braids and wrapped up and tucked) and you have one 12 yr old girl who does not stop smiling.

I have to admit it was terribly fun and terribly easy. Out the door she just went happy as a lark and my goodness she looked beautiful and grown! She called herself Elsie Dinsmore from her favorite book series. Paul and I have head colds so we had to miss the fun dog gone it, but it was wonderful seeing her off.

How nice is that?

A friend of mine caught the fact I loooove mushrooms, those poor little underdogs. She has a beautiful new camera I am trying not to covet and look what she did!...what a sweetie. ;)

Visit her blog here

BTW, if you ever go to Bellis Fair Mall on the north side, look closely in the parking lot gardens, these beauties(fly agaric) grow in record numbers. Did you know a mushroom is a flower? Under the ground there is a large mass of fungus and every year, or twice a year, the mass flowers, or sends up mushrooms.

...Had nature any outcast face,

Could she a son comdenm,

Had nature an Iscariot,

That mushroom---it is him.

-Emily Dickenson

You know the swine flu paranoia has gotton out of hand when...

Cattails, Chickadees and Other Delectable Dishes

This past week, we received a magazine that had some great information on edible wild plants. I love searching out free food...it is the Dutch in me. We came home from church and went on a nice walk a'hunting for some. What better Sunday afternoon pasttime! Cattails being the first to find and plentiful.


Apparently most cattails, if uprooted in the Fall, have a *horn root* growing from the root ball. It is distinctly brite white and filled with goodies for our bodies. Yay! There it was after the first plant was plucked from the muck!

With a little twist, it snaps off into your hand. We replanted the cattails and put the horn roots in our pockets. Many parts of the cattail are edible, highly nutritious and readily available. They taste like corn if eaten raw, but I, being Dutch, took them home to fry them in that health oil called butter...oh and salt. Yeah, I could eat wild...I could eat a piece of firewood if I had enough butter and salt. Anyhow...it was good! I thought it tasted a lot like artichoke.

I have this dream of when my children are older...I am wearing a hand-knit sweater, a khaki hemp skirt(with beads sew about the hemline) wool socks and trusty ole birkenstocks on my feet. I will lead groups of happy, energetic children through the woods and will show them how to provide a meal for yourself using only the plants we find....sigh....sooooooomeday.

Then there is my favorite, plantain. Every part of this plant can be used. The seeds yummy and a great brain food. The Spring leaves great in salad. These plants are found everywhere, I guarantee you can find a plant with in 1/2 a block from your home, if not as soon as you step out the backdoor. The leaves are medicinal. They can draw poisons out of stings and bites. We have used these on deep cuts or scrapes as they work as an antibacterial, astringent, anti-inflammatory & antiseptic. It speeds up healing. In case of an injury or bee sting, grab a leaf, chew it in your mouth and spit the whole mess on the injury, It will make a paste that will adhere. Really, it isn't just something touted in books, it really works and we have seen sores close amazingly fast.

Then there is Lambs Quarter. We just discovered this beauty! We noticed it was our goats favorite snack, that should have been a clue. It looks completely different now as it has gone to seed, but still good. It is a wild relative to spinach. Very nutritious to eat.

Here is what it looks like right now. You can also google image lambs quarter and see what it looks like in the Spring. I love making green salad for my family to go with dinner, but man, greens are NOT cheap..especially the amount we consume. I am confident we can eat wild next Spring...oh...did I mention free?

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Then there is the issue of meat...

According to my calculations, my sons would have to shoot >90 of these beauties a day to provide a meal for our family. Meet the Black-Capped Chickadee. Danny took out this big guy in one shot yesterday. He has been trying to get up the guts to follow through with tasting a wild bird. His brother caught wind that I was blogging about it and so he followed suit.

Two chickadees later, the pot was boiling on the stove. They wanted to dip the birds like we do our turkeys to loosen the feathers. Can't say plucking could have been thaaaat difficult, but oh well.

Dip, dip, ouch, dip, dip, ouch.

Ewe.

Roasting over an open fire. Mamma made sure tweets were well done. Burnt if anything.

I LOVE this face. LOL! "Tastes like chicken" was the consensus. I even tried some! Jessica would not come within 10ft, but Emma was right there to taste. Danny didn't care for it and Jacob said it had too much flavor. For the record, it was quite gamy and strong.

Daniel found this little gem while dissecting the birdie later, isn't it cute?

The tiniest little heart we ever done did see.

I can't help it...

They are so dern cute! Elijah fell asleep after a short ride home in the van, he was zonked.

I know what you are thinking, but...



It is MY blog, so deal with the overposting of my baby's pictures ;)