When girls get ahold of a camera...

Missing these two. Love them both so much!

Root chips! 

We made beet, potato, sweet potato (all from our garden) and yucca root. Yucca was yucka. The fall roots are bitter.oops

Thin and crispy. So yummy. Great dinner. ;) ok we added in leftovers too. But nearly free food! Bought the coconut oil and propane only. Love it!

Cedar cone fire starters.

I have started this...

http://omelay.blogspot.com/2010/03/sourdough-bread.html

Moving slow as I am pushing it to be enough starter. I need a larger crock. But we are excited. Soooo ready for yummy bread!

Getting sourdough going again

Oven is fixed and working well. So I started a nice sourdough a couple days ago. I will be making bread tomorrow if I can fit in. But I am so excited!

Great day today.

Long day too. But blessings in every corner. I need to start carrying my phone again. I don't use it as a phone. But I can take pics with it. Been saying for mths I need to do that though. 

   Took care of animals and got children ready for church. Forgot to get Patrick and I something to eat though. Oops. 

   Church was awesome. Zach's dad and several siblings made it to church. So we had a big prayer time for them. And then another prayer time for many other issues. With a little preaching in between. It was a great blessing. No one is going thru as much as Zach's family right now. Makes my heart ache. He moved out of the ICU today. Again. Praying it only gets better from here and he regains his weight, strength and mobility. Guillen barre is a nasty thing. And is terrifying. Watching this makes other issues seem so small. But they aren't too small to pray about. Church was just so encouraging. Wish I had been warned to bring more tissues. ;)  our God is mighty. And he cares for us. Hallelujah. 

    We also got to get hugs from some very special people I love. They are missionaries in Ecuador. I miss them so much. She is wonderful. And her wisdom and grace amazes me. She is gifted. And is someone I pray is blessed as much as she has blessed. A great woman to look up too. She points it all back to The Lord. She was only here for a week with her husband. But we saw them twice. I am grateful! 

    Then we met up with a dear sweet couple we call Uncle and Aunt. They are neighbors (yes they moved to Tennessee. BUT they still count as neighbors for us. Their house is still here and we love them too greatly not to call them neighbors... Rabbit trail...oops.)  anyways they are neighbors great uncle and aunt. And the drove in just to see us today. They are so sweet and we were so blessed to see them. So giving. She retired many years ago. Yet still works 50 hrs a week doing home health. They are a feisty couple. Married nearly forever. So wonderful. Wish you all could met them and get a hug from them. No one could not like them. No one. 

    From there we headed out to a birthday party. It was originally supposed to be a girl party. Then grew to be lots of families. It was so fun. We saw friends we rarely get to see. They had games. 3 headed race. ( like the three legged race. Only with 3 people. ) apple bobbing, wheelbarrow races, and more. Chili feed and western was the theme. So the night ended with a nice hay rack ride. 

   But once we got home our motion sick girl, Lil,  got sick. And our Judah had a fever. So we canceled our going outta town plans for tomorrow. Which is a bummer. But Mondays don't seem to be the best day of the week anyways. Plus friends are. Coming out to get the horses tomorrow also. So house cleaning, school and friends tomorrow. Maybe even some sewing. I need to get sewing done...

  Full full day. But so nice. Felt like a blessing allll day. Long. Thanks to Jesus who planned our footsteps. 

Our horses..

Once upon a time we decided to try and be horse people for our girl. But we aren't horse people at all. So thunder and lightening are moving out Monday. Poor thunder also loses his studlyness that day as well. Poor dude. 

   But we are thrilled. C is so excited to get them. And we are excited to put out less money in feed and hay. And the pasture will last longer for Fawn. Now to get the neighbors to remove their horse... And sell off the goats. 

   My homestead is shrinking all around. But we are cow and chicken people. I adore and love goats. But I love fruit trees more. ;) 

   It has been a good week. A bump in the road started it off. But it has been full of daily fellowship. Sometimes twice a day. So wonderful! 

Soft pretzel baking...

In crazy picture order. 

Momma! Take my picture doing this!

Always adorable he is. 

Truth. We all need to hear.

Jumping ship. I've watched it happen several times. People I know and love walking away. Spouses leaving each other. Parents leaving children. Children leaving parents.friends leaving friends.  Why? Why do we not truly love? Why do we all care more for ourselves over God and others? I've been the cause and the victim in several cases. And both sides pay bitterly. 

    I talked to a girl the other day. She is young. But was fully rejected by her dad at 6 years old. And since has been rejected by dear friends. Some on purpose. Some by default. But they all hurt. She has scars. She was really hurt this week by a friend. But said she was ok. She was ok because she had just experienced 3 restored friendships last week. So she knows healing can come. She prays it does. She needs it too. Piles of rejection can kill. I've seen this girl grow. Over the last year I have gone from not really liking her for being immature. To really caring for and liking her. She is growing up. And makes me proud. I see good things for her future. She truly is a gem. 

   I found this saying a month ago. And have shared it with many. It has blessed me. I pray it blesses you.  I want so much to see friendships and families restored. And pray that God uses me to bless others. 

    Years ago we had problems with a family member. We chose to part ways. To stay away to protect our children. But it DIdNT last long. For many reasons. 1 we were wrong. Yes we felt it was best. We were tired of telling the children all we saw wrong. And having to correct untruths being told to them etc. but since then I know I wouldn't cut ties there. Ever again. They would pretty well have to threaten death or something. I cherish people more as I've gotten older. I hate division. I hate people giving up. I hate selfishness. I hate pride. I hate that I am these things more than I want to be. 

    Our God is greater. Awesome in power. He knows. He heals. He cares. For that. I. Am. Thankful. 

    

Upcoming wedding!!

Our Grammy is getting married. So these are signs we are making to get people to the wedding and reception places. 

We can't wait! It is Saturday. And will be great fun. Can't wait to see family and friends from other states! 

   Tomorrow we are having friends over to sew. And the plan is also pumpkin cheesecake. And jalapeño popper pizza. With these friends jalapeño is a must. Bacon is good too. 

   This has been a relaxed yet very busy season. Friends the next two days. Then the wedding. I am praying we can find time to get to KSC to see a boy from our church. He is at children's mercy. Currently doing better. But a long ways to go yet. And Friday night  will deliver a new baby meal to sweet friends. 

    I just helped finish a big project. Which ill reveal later. And I have started a quilt with my girls. That I really really hope to finish this week. Got 2 blocks done on it today. So I might make it. 

    W are not horse people. So we have been able to gift our horses to a family that will love and cherish them. And work hard with them. So soon Thunder will go off to be fixed and Lightening will also head to their house. Without getting torchered at the vets first. ;)  this will be our lowest hay buying year in a long time. I am excited! Now to sell off the goats...butcher a few chickens... And get the gardens bedded down for winter...

Sleeping beauty...

No flash on the iPad. But she looks so sweet here beside me. 

I had a good relaxing day with the youngest 6 children. The kitchen needs love. But I gave it to the children instead. Tomorrow I'll chore with them. Today. We rested. And celebrated a friends birth of a daughter this morning.  A whole weekend of celebrating babies. We had a surprise shower for other friends yesterday. It is exciting. 

   We deliver two meals this coming weekend. I can't wait! Oh and a wedding! This the season right now!

Strip quilt. Quilt as you go.

Saw this idea on pinterest. You quilt as you sew the strips on. It was fast and easy. Less than 3 hrs to make. Including shopping for fabric. It is baby sized. So fast. 

But since I cut one day. Sewed the next. I was in a hurry and wanted to finish it while Patrick was outta town. I made myself dizzy watching it go thru the sewing machine. ;) if I make another one it won't be striped fabric. I'm too old for that. Dizzy. Crazy. 

But I like how it turned out. It was fun to make and try out a new method. I have a small quilt I want to get made as soon as I can. And I want to make a few more cloth pads. After that I am not sure what my craft plans are. But it has been fun. Success in sewing is the best. Several finished projects is so encouraging. :)

Sewing

Judah and wisdom wanted to sew. I was working on a secret project for a friend. And they wanted my scraps. 

Wisdom wanted to make a headband. ;) 

Pinning her headband. With her concentrating face. ;)

Judah is sewing a quilt.  So far he hasn't added more fabric. But I'm sure it will be perfect.  

Everyone has the sewing bug. And I like it that way. Mostly. It does mean I have to share my stuff. ;) 

Sewing list...

My sewing list has been so long. But other things have taken priority too often also. 

I just finished quilt blocks for community wedding quilts. 2 of them took forever and a day. I want to say blocks so themed again are not happening again for me. But really can I turn down something like a wedding quilt? I just hope we get a little break before doing more. I have one more too do. A embroidery square. Not too bad. 

   Then I have 2 quilts I want to do for friends. I need to get a move on it. One is a new baby quilt. I have no certain plans for it yet... But I have 2 weeks... The other one is for a friend who's son is in need of surgery. But he is still in the test running phase. But I don't think I have much time to do it either. But I want to do them both so that helps. 

  And I never made the cloth pads. I was all ready to then realized I needed to wash my fabric yet. Oops. So it is currently just waiting on me...

  And I want to make myself clothing. I never really like what I see in the store. So I hope to make a few things I like. But other things are more important. 

Hard time...

I am having a hard time dealing with my girl being gone. I finally went to the pasture to get the buckets and supplies we had left out there yesterday. And cuddled with Fawn while I was there. 

   My family doesn't drink any other milk. We use other dairy things like sour cream and cream cheese. But as far as milk... That is gone. And fawn is 18 months out. Provided she carries her moms great milk. :) I hope and pray. 

   I have always had a fear of losing Jocelyn.  It was irrational. And uncalled for for a long time. We had been planning a vacation. But I backed out. Scared to leave her. And at the time she was in great health. No need to worry. But I hated to leave her in someone else's care. She was my girl. 

   Now I am checking on fawn. Too much likely. I am scared to have another cow in milk and pregnancy. But I am also terrified to not have good raw milk for our family. So hopefully we have a great option in a bull when the time comes. 

    We fed her great feed. Almost 100% free of GMOs. Great minerals. Treats. She loved watermelon and oranges. <3 

    Yestday I got up and saw the clock. I had a little panic of 'junk! I need to get out to the pasture before church!' Then the big bummer of 'never mind, what was I thinking'. 

   She is gone. My girl is gone. Never to have again. And I cry often. Over a cow. Not any cow. My cow. My friend. Hard times stink. No milk stinks. :( 

    Now to figure out Fawns favorite treats. I have her halter broke. But want to train her to go on walks with me. And I have started to brush her and touch her udder. I want her to be as great as her mother. And she has great potential. 

   Chester was sold to my Pastor on Friday. And he said on Sunday when we saw him that his nurse cow took him instantly. So he has a new momma. And gets real milk. :) I am so thankful!

Long couple weeks.

It has been a really rough couple weeks. Hard to deal with. Hard to understand. Hard to be ok with. 

But our Lord is good. He cares for us. Hard times help us grow. Or they harden us. I had to choose to let it grow me. This has been a time of loss for us. Loss of one of my best friends. Jocelyn. My beautiful dairy cow.  She loved me. And I loved her. She was my quiet time. She was my rest. I spent a hr a day with her for 10 months of the year. 

   

   She blessed our family with calves. And milk. And fellowship for me. It was so hard to lose her. So hard. I tried everything I could. But in the end it wasn't enough. I disagreed with the vet. But my lack of experience made me listen to him. And in the end I think my diagnosis was right. But I'll never know. 

   What I do know is my heart hurts. She really was a great friend. I'll never forget her scent. I'll never forget her kisses. Her head nuzzles. Her stepping on my foot. ;) her tail knocking my glasses off while milking. Her perfect tasting milk. Her soft hide. Her curly hair on her head. Her running to me through the pasture when I called her. Her skipping around when she was extra happy. Her love of treats. Her cuddles in the pasture as we laid there together. And being with her nearly constantly for almost 2 weeks as I tried to save her life. 

    

I miss having her. She was more than a pet and friend. She provided us with rich wonderful milk. And can't be fully replaced in any way. 

The night before she calved this time I moved her to a smaller paddock. My Wisdom was standing on the gate as I moved her and fixed the fence. I walked over to her and smiled. She smiled back. Looked to Jocelyn and said "momma, Jocelyn is your baby, and I is your girl" 

   She melted my heart. She understood my love for my cow. And I'll never forget that moment. As the sun was going down. And we were admiring my Jocelyn.