Food, family and fun

These are some of the things I've tried and some I continue to do and use.
There's cooling chicken broth, simmered for hours to get all the nutrients and homemade, creamy yogurt.There is a jar of lavender infused raw honey from Tom's own hivesbeside the jar of rose buds. This is new for me , but it's alot of fun and gives a nice result. Ihad already done a jar of rose honey-a very delicate flavor!I also have a container of plain honey which we use quite a bit.Then there's a gallon of organic virgin coconut oil. I not only use this in cooking, but we use it as our body lotion too. No, you don't smell like coconut and it soaks in realatively quick. So,we can keep our skin soft and nourished at the same time! The bag is red clover which I'll be using to make cough syrup. I had a small bottle that an aquaintance had made and I really liked the results it gave so I want to make some to have on hand.The 2 bottles off to the left are Tahitian and Bourbon vaniila. I statred my vanilla back in June and let it set til Christmas-very good! I love the Tahitan vanilla! It has such a rich and wonderful flavor! The small bottle in the front is Echinacea with peppermint tincture. We use the tincture alot to ward off sickness. It does a very good job to stop it if you catch it at the first inking of it coming on--if you don't then it still helps to cut down the severity and legnth, we think.
These are just a few things I do that I enjoy and we can feel good about ingesting. I have done some dinks that are very refreshing and helpful for the body but, since I did not have access to good ater they were let go for a while. Later you'll see that that is soon to be remedied! I also do a milk kefir--this is an excellent probiotic and actually makes wonderful smoothies!
This may sound strange to some, but the health benefits are too good to give up!




Family scenes with Chastity












Scary? Nah--I had seen this area in passing a few times and thought it would be great to have a source of water other than city water. I don't like the thought of ingesting the chlorine and possible flouride! So--one day I finally went over with my jugs to fill and -wa-la! the sign said it was unsafe! Rats! I thought my source was gone until I saw a lady filling her water jugs there. I stopped to ask her and she assured me she has been drinking the water for years and knows older folks that have been drinking it too. Good enough! Now, hers wasn't the only word I took for it, I did talk to someone else, too. We're happy to be able to have a good source of water--now I can get back to making some good, healthy, refreshing beverages! Oh, the litte things in life!!


Andy, Hannah and Chastity enjoyed some winter fun while here. Chastity wasn't so sure about the snow-it was so cold. The snowman was Andy's creation!

New house?

Tom wanted to show me the place he would like to own, so while we were out scoping out the hunting area we went to this little place. It sets up on a knoll on about 2 acres. The kitchen/dining area has french doors that open on to the deck on the other side of the house-very nice! There are 2 bedrooms and baths. We're assuming the upstairs is an open loft. We are thinking about checking it out. Maybe while the kids are home we'll all go take a look! Anyway-it's all fun to think about.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Tom and I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

It sure is different not having the children home for the holidays. We'll see Aaron and Shannon today and celebrate with my family tonight. We'll celebrate with Hannah and her family in a few days. Nate and Becky won't even leave WA. til Weds. My, how time changes things!
We are so very glad Christ came, but even more glad He completed the plan of salvation for us!Some days more than others, we are acutely aware of our need of Him. I am so glad HE KNOWS!
He is most trustworthy for every need!
Enjoy the day and each other! Merry, merry Christmas!!!!

Waiting patiently

That's what Tom and I are doing.We're so looking forward to the children being with us again. This will probably not happen again for a year or more since Nathanael will be shipping out in the early spring and may be gone for a year. Hopefully, Aaron, is not called up to go!
Hannah, Andy and Chastity are to be arriving next Mon. eve. and should get to stay for the week. Nate won't be here til about the 10th--it's up in the air whether or not Hannah and Chastity stay on til he gets in, but we're hoping they do.At least Andy wants her to! Aaron isn't far so it should be no problem for him to be here.
It's a busy end of the year--lot's going on in our little part of the world. I hope all of you are enjoying the season and looking forward to spending it with family and good friends.
I'm sure I'll have pics and things to post once the kiddos arrive--how can a grandma not share her time with her grand-baby!?

Thanksgiving breakfast, dinner and Christmas lunch

Thanksgiving morning started pretty early for us. We were having our friends over for a breakfast of sausage gravy and biscuits, quiche, pumpkin scones, cinnamon rolls, fruit salad, hot choc. and tea. Tom's chef hat was essential for him to be able to work properly--or so he said! He helped me make the scones the night before then tended the sausage for me in the morning. Yes, I cooked in my robe! Not a flattering pic, to say the very least!! When I get up at 4:30 to cook, well--I stay in my robe!
Everything was enjoyed and the company was good. It's so very refreshing to meet safe, honest people who are genuine and also love God truely. These kids have really taken to Mr. Downer! He has so many fascinating stories to tell them and they seem to like them all. He and most of the boys did a major wood-splitting job a few weeks ago and they had such a great time.
There were 15 of us but we all fit very nicely into the new place.











Every year my family gets together and shares a potluck meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I believe if we were all there, there would be about 113. We don't seem to go a year without adding 1 or 2 -maybe more- to the family. So far, there are 3 new babies expected next year--one will be the first great-greeat for my folks! Dad stopped by on his way home from a hosp. stay!! that accounts for his worn look. The little guy was our littlest helper!






These are some pics from the lunch/exchange we have for the married and over 18 girls. It started out just mom and us girls but has grown quite a bit. It's always a lot of fun but, this year was very good!











Becky and her girls




Linda and her girls and 1 DIL




Mom and all us girls. Next we added one sis-in-law, Kollette



Mom, sister Gloria and daughter


Mom, sistr Christine and her girls and g-baby


After the party and Mom and my sister Mary



Tara just showing her real self!

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Old news- new news

For the old news first--when Hannah, Andy and Chastity were here a while back we went to the Creation Museum. It's a very interesting place and takes a while to go through if you're going to see, read and hear it all. The walking paths are very nice and there are plenty of photo ops. Chastity liked the little petting zoo-well-for the most part.
Tom and I are settling in to the new place. It's a mess right now as I go through boxes and decide what to keep and what to pitch. I wish my family were closer so they could help me out by taking some of the things-I know someone could use it!!

As for the new news-- Hannah found out they are having a BOY! She did't think to tell the Dr, she didn't want to know so the Dr. went to pointing things out before Hannah could tell her. She had an ultrsound because she and Chastity were in an accident the day before and she was just getting things checked out. Otherwise-she
wouldn't have had it because she really doesn't like to do it.

Now, this is only for you who are very interested in all things natural as far as birth--if you're not--just skip the next few sentences and go on to the pics!
I can now add a new skill to my resume'--placenta preparation--namely encapsulation of the dried placenta. I did this for my doula client this week. It's interesting but not so bad if you just do it. For all the benefits of the placenta I think it's a good thing for moms to at least consider. I'm learning a lot and I must say-it's a very fascinating new world of information.


The view of our new place. Our side is the brick side. Windows from left to right are dining area, kitchen sink and laundry room. The tree was just gorgeous! This is going to be a nice place to relax this spring and summer.



Model of the ark and flood





Checking the goats out on her own



This is kind of fun



Not liking this camel!




Beautiful water lily--the pond had lot's of them!



She enjoyed her mac & cheese!