Little Adventures

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We've had commode repairs.





Nicely done, Michael!





Accidents, just waiting to happen... Yes, those are pockets full of eggs. About 4 in each one. How many of us as children experienced the thrill of running and tripping with pockets full of eggs?





Why did I never think of cutting watermelon this way before? I like it!





More neighborly cows.





And a hastily blockaded fence line until barbed wire can be found.





I baked shortbread cookies for my dad and Michael.





Oh, yes! I'm enjoying this watermelon IMMENSELY, thank you!





Some peas, Swiss chard, and Black Seeded Simpson lettuce to put into the garden.





Those went in this corner.





We attended a Republican meeting at which a gubernatorial candidate was coming to speak.




Does anyone else think that is just a very silly name for someone running for governor?

I attempted a different sort of sun tea.





Dropping a sprig of lemon mint and a sprig of stevia is going to influence this gallon of tea? Such was the premise of several online articles. I was willing to give it a try.





It didn't work. Do people get paid to write articles about things they've never done? Next time I'll do what should have been done in the first place; crush them and let the oils release into the tea as it soaks up that gorgeous sunlight!

About a dozen young adults all had another Airsoft war game. We enjoyed an afternoon and evening of conversation, eating, tours of the gardens, and later, us oldER folks sat around talking politics. Are your tables filled with this conversation more and more lately?

Here are some of our battle hardened troops below.





And here they are later with another creative game they came up with.





And when my head was about to fall on the table, we headed home. I'm looking forward to Michael getting his license so I can sleep while he drives!

~Faith

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Manic Busy Season is over.....?

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At least the one that is the holiday season, anyhow.

We've had snow a few times.





And strange visitors were coming in from the cold...





Someone has been giving a Clint Eastwood imitation with a blanket I made into a poncho for my dad...





Someone got his head shaved in the wee hours of the morning after a party...





With friends...





...who love posing with Pirouette cookies...





...In support of a friend who is undergoing chemo.





ooooooh.... shiny!





An annual Tacky Party.





An annual Gingerbread House Building Party. I'm not going to hide it. Ours had significant structural problems...





But so did others'...





We had our Christmas Ball. What fun! Caroling at the old Inn...





I better make that night a whole separate post. You've all trudged through my sewing for months, and you deserve better than a single photo of the evening!

So there are a few highlights.

We have been home for the majority of days the last week, and doing homey type things.

Well, sort of. We were gone for 10 hours today on a cleaning job, for which we are very grateful. Despite the season of ho-ho-ho, we still get people wanting money in the mail box-box-box.

We began the month with the mutual decision to not have any gifts this year at all. We were actually sort of looking forward to the novelty of it, and wondering what we were going to do - not doing gifts and not having much in the way of family activities. We were going to see about spending the Christmas holiday doing some sort of service work.

However, the generosity of people in our family and in our church made this Christmas a sudden surprise of shopping for gifts. I am always amazed at how kind and loving people are to us. We were given gift cards to spend on each other, people gave us cash gifts, and we got extra jobs as well - including the one today.

So it was a quiet Christmas, but not so different than we expected. We still wanted to do a day of service on Christmas eve, but it seemed that the wind -





removed a portion of our roof - didn't my dad do an incredible job of covering it for us?





and we spent Christmas Eve instead, waiting for the insurance man to show up, as well as working on the roof,





and Michael being blessed by a gift of a bass amp he'd been needing, including extra gear and a very nice bass as well.





I feel very spoiled, Michael does too. Now he not only has a practice bass that is very nice and can use anywhere, but he also has a very nice bass that will last him a lifetime and be good for even more situations he will come across.

I had to attend a contempt of court hearing against my dh. He was found guilty and ordered to pay support or go to jail, including back pay. He refused to answer questions on the stand three times, "On the grounds I might convict myself." He was also caught not being able to prove many things he said, and took them back when pressed. He submitted false evidence, then said it was a mistake. He at first denied unfaithfulness but, after questioning, admitted to it. The judge was not very sympathetic to him or his lawyer.

The Lord continues to watch over us and take care of us. We shall continue to wait on Him and see where it all goes.

We've been having a lot of adventures, but I needed a blogging break. However, I have noticed we are rapidly approaching the new year.

And you all know what that means! Planning for the coming year's projects! We've already begun making gardening plans.

Have you started already as well?

~Faith

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Herbal Medicine

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Yesterday dawned early as our long time friend, John, was going to stop by and see what was up with our tractor mower.

Michael brought the mower up from the field, where we'd left it in a rush to go do the dental office. The seat was wet with dew.









John arrived and we all had breakfast of farm fresh eggs on toast and some of that honeydew melon we picked, then we fixed the mower by turning it on and engaging the blades. Ta-Da! All fixed!





I felt badly that he had to stop by for nothing, but he enjoyed the breakfast and we got to chat awhile. He said the electric clutch likely was just too wet, slipping, and had to dry out.

Just before we left for my friend's herbal medicine class, I took this photo of our short grass by the house. It's already noon, the temperature is in the 80's - working it's way up to 92, and the grass is still wet with dew. I hoped you could see the pretty sparkles of light coming off the dew drops, but I don't think you can.





Anyway, it just doesn't dry out. This is going to be very challenging to get caught up. The tall grass just doesn't have a chance to dry. We have more rain coming on Tuesday...

We went to meet dear friends at Cheri's house for one of her Herbal Medicine classes. Cheri is way more knowledgeable about herbs than I am and I learned much. She sells some of her medicines and soaps and is busy trying to support herself and her children, so if you'd like to check out her wares, stop by her place. She also offers her class through the mail.





Here's some of our lovely gang.









Michael headed off with the boys and they found much to do in the way of chores and play while we were busy for 5 hours.

The table is full of herbal foods and drinks, as well as jars of medicinal herbs that we used to make salves, tinctures, poultices, syrups, etc. with.





My salve being filled. Now isn't this better than filling your prescription at the pharmacy? I hope to one day open a shop called Faith's Apothecary.





Showing her box of home made herbal medicines she uses for herself and her four boys.





Getting ready to make a tincture.





Here is mine.





I am working on lots of herbs in my garden, but I am not confident in harvesting and using them. I've been so focused on foods lately, that herbs have taken a back seat. So much to do... so much to DO!









We really had a great time. Here is another of the lovely young people, Ashlee, in our life. I just love this picture.





We made herbal supplement capsules as well.





Nice little contraption.









How to fold a poultice.





Making colloidal silver.









It was so great to spend time with friends and do some things I'd not done before. And Cheri kindly gave me some leftover herbs starts from her greenhouse, so I have 3 lavender plants! I'm so excited!

Dreaming of all the lavender things I can do...

~Faith

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