Horses for Sale

We really need to find them a home before we have to buy hay over winter.
This is Michael's pony.




Here is the Filly.






Faith

Gettin' Figgy

Isn't it great when you first set the table for fall?

My six fig trees have struggled off and on since I planted them about 5 years ago or so. I think the worst thing that happened to them was the original mulch got pulled away by chickens, exposing the first flush of roots. They've not had enough care since then.

So the figs thus year were a little small, but delicious as usual.






Here's Michael, mowing out by the pool.







Faith

Low Country Shrimping and Crabbing

It was an amazing week! These four peds signify a sisterhood forged over the internet. The two bigger ones are mine, and the dainty ones belong to Keri, my dear friend whom I'd never met face to face until this week.

Keri, her husband, and their three children welcomed us with open arms, even paying for our gas to come and stay with them. Keri and I spent the first two days working on putting down on paper the agreement my husband and I had come to over the phone, then we spent the next few days just enjoying each other and the family, there near the Atlantic Ocean.

I will tell you up front that after putting in two weeks and incalcuable stress, not to mention hundreds of dollars, my husband emailed me afterwards and said he was changing his mind. He was no longer going to let us stay living there, he was going to force me to go to work, put our son in school, and he had no intention of supporting me beyond 3 years, despite the fact that I've been off the job market since I was 20 and have no ability to support us. LOL

So all that work, time and money was wasted, but the trip was a blessing.

The boys all went shrimping and crabbing several times. And we cooked them all. I learned hot to make crab cakes. How come I am the only one whose mouth ends up cut when eating them?

Here are a few of the shrimp. Apparently you behead them while alive. I'm glad that job was not mine!




The crabs...






Then putting into a pot of boiling water, setting them onto the deck for a cooling spray from the hose. The kids quickly got to work getting the meat off so we could enjoy dinner.



























Faith

Preparing for Reinforcements.

It has been more than a little stressful for me lately, trying to do an online divorce. My dear friend, who just relocated from upstate NY to next door to Hilton Head Island has graciously offered to help me get it all done.

IF Michael and I will come to their place for a week. LOL

SOLD!

So Michael and I needed to repair the van which we knew had a bad CV axle. My dad offered the use of his driveway which is flat and paved. Much better than my bumpy rock and dirt drive. Plus he has some tools that I lack. So off we went on a lovely Saturday morning for a day of fun and frolic under the frame!
















It took a bit of trial and error, running back to the parts store to rent tools and ask questions, and a much-needed break for BBQed burgers, but it got done.

We even had the tree-trimmer guys wander over from a job they were working on next door to see if they could lend a hand. A little extra muscle power was all it took. My dad was helping us, but he is disabled and I do my very best to hold him back. LOL

We put it back together and discovered there was still a major problem! The wheel would wiggle when you grabbed it. OK - even if you don't know much about cars, that's a dead give-away that something is not right.

So back under I went and found that my husband had not tightened a bolt on the steering arm the last time he'd been under there..... hmmmmmm. Well, needless to say, it was a very good thing we found that, or we'd have been in trouble.

And just then, a neighbor family stopped by to see what all the fuss in the driveway was about, and they laid down and quickly put an end to my labors. Very nice!

It was a great day. We learned a lot. We had a nice time with my mom and dad. We had some nice conversation with neighbors and townspeople, and were blessed to experience the kindness that exists in the human race once again.

Onward to Hilton Head!

Faith

Toward the end of the swimming season.

One of the best investments I ever made was making sure we had a simple swimming pool set up whenever we could. I have purchased them used, from the paper, and I have bought them from WalMart as well, like this one.

For an investment of 300 - 500 dollars, you have years of family fun, togetherness, exercise, laughter, and learning about responsibilities; not to mention a darn excellent way to cool off on hot summer days!

Michael and I cooled off on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. You can't see it, but this pool is on its last legs, so to speak. We have repaired so many holes with patches and there are even duct taped spots on the outside where the leaks rusted holes into the wall. But we will use it til it's used up, then hopefully find another good deal somewhere. It's worth it!

I also took a photo of a little 8 by 12 foot art studio I designed and built with the kids about 7 years ago. I love the bell and horse shoes decorating the front. The only part I could not so was the roofing. I have a fear of heights. LOL So my two older boys got up there and nailed on the tiles for me.






Faith

Faith Is...

Hi there!

This is me, but don't get used to seeing my face because this blog is not about me.

It's about you!

You, well OK, and me as well, but all of us ladies who are making lemonade out of the lemons life has dished out.

Good thing there are plenty of sweet things in life to add to those lemons so we can serve one another and enjoy the blessings we've been given, even in the middle of challenges we must face.

Briefly, I am a stay at home mom who married at 18, had four children, committed to staying home and raising them as well as home schooling them and being a great wife, mom, and live as naturally as possible on a little farm.

My husband however reneged on the deal and gathered several girlfriends over his years as a - SURPRISE! - long haul truck driver. A little career change he sort of sprung on me after we were married.

So I've raised four kids on my own, home schooled them, taken care of the place, remarried him after he 'changed' and now once again find myself alone with him off somewhere with another girlfriend, and me trying to figure out how I'm going to keep it all together, survive my second divorce from him, and take care of our last child without him having to suffer much more than he already has.

I've got to continue what I've been doing, plus try to earn money and buy my land back from my husband before he loses it to the IRS. I didn't mention that he's very bad with money? LOL It was land I purchased while divorced from him the first time and he used as a down payment on a home loan. I really would like to keep my home to raise my son in.

Once again I have a beautiful new beginning to experience. And this new beginning includes a hope that I might develop a blog that is more than a place to post my personal days and thoughts, but more a place to encourage others who are in difficult situations. Ladies, life is tough! Yes, it is full of blessings and fun and adventure, but it can surely hand you a box of lemons and tell you to deal with it at any given moment.

I know there are many of us out there. How do I know it? Because 4 of my dearest friends are in the same boat, and we are all creating a variety of lemonade recipes. Some of them say, "Faith can do ANYthing!" It's not true. But I will sure put out an effort to try anything I can. It saves money, keeps you from being at the mercy of many circumstances and makes lemonade a real adventure!

I am currently continuing to home school Michael. I am going to fight to my last breath to keep his life from changing any more than it already has. He didn't deserve any of this. We have lots of activities that are a part of that with our HS group. I am also trying to get my little farm back on its feet after years of not being able to work it due to my husband not wanting to put much money into it. I am working side jobs whenever I can.

I'm here to make lemonade, pass it around with love and laughter, and hopefully encourage you to come up with your own lemonade recipes as well. So grab your kids if you have them, they can play in the yard, and sit with me on my virtual veranda. I've got a glass of cold and sweet lemonade for you right here. Let’s have some fun while we take a break from work.

Faith