Another Mystery November 22, 2011
I read another mystery today: Tinsley's Bones by Percival Wilde. The title sounds quite morbid, but I chuckled through the entire tale...the ending is unexpected and hilarious. The intelligent Greek/Latin teacher turns out to not be quite as smart as he thinks and the coroner he considers stupid is actually smarter than he's given credit to be! The following is a quote that I thought said a lot...
"The boy, as somebody has written, is the father of the man. The boy...is the ancestor of the adult he is presently to become. There is nothing in the male in his prime which did not first exist in the immature schoolboy..." Of course, this goes the same for girls, but I thought it was somewhat profound (besides being somewhat humorous due to the characters disposition.) The personalities and traits of a kid don't normally change that much when they grow up...Sure, you may learn to control an aspect of yourself (can anyone say "Temper!" *raises hand guiltily*) but it's still there. Somebody who's a sneak will always be better at keeping secrets than somebody who wears their heart on their sleeve. (Um, I'm not the sneaky one...a couple of years ago we got Katherine her second Vision Forum Doll for Christmas and for about 2 months I was walking around and grinning like a fool everytime I thought about it. K would ask, "What are you smiling about?" "Oh, nothing." (Grinning even worse.) I just cannot keep a straight face. Also, my family would tell you that they know when I'm grouchy, or don't feel good, or am stupidly happy for no reason whatsoever...)
Besides reading all day I also took care of the laundry (after Katherine put the first load in), washed the dishes, and moved computer files for Mom (not necessarily in that order)...so I am certainly not going to claim that I was very useful--but I did more than I did yesterday so I guess that's something.
Tomorrow we load the RV--Daddy is on his way home with it right this instant. I sure hope Grandma didn't make a scene about it not being ready when they initially said it would be. It wasn't their fault that the guy they fired didn't order the tires (good reason to fire him--you can tell that they aren't Unionized.) So ya'll this very likely will be the final post for several days. I'll probably break down my computer first thing in the morning...hopefully I won't have anything horrid to post once I'm back online again.
"The boy, as somebody has written, is the father of the man. The boy...is the ancestor of the adult he is presently to become. There is nothing in the male in his prime which did not first exist in the immature schoolboy..." Of course, this goes the same for girls, but I thought it was somewhat profound (besides being somewhat humorous due to the characters disposition.) The personalities and traits of a kid don't normally change that much when they grow up...Sure, you may learn to control an aspect of yourself (can anyone say "Temper!" *raises hand guiltily*) but it's still there. Somebody who's a sneak will always be better at keeping secrets than somebody who wears their heart on their sleeve. (Um, I'm not the sneaky one...a couple of years ago we got Katherine her second Vision Forum Doll for Christmas and for about 2 months I was walking around and grinning like a fool everytime I thought about it. K would ask, "What are you smiling about?" "Oh, nothing." (Grinning even worse.) I just cannot keep a straight face. Also, my family would tell you that they know when I'm grouchy, or don't feel good, or am stupidly happy for no reason whatsoever...)
Besides reading all day I also took care of the laundry (after Katherine put the first load in), washed the dishes, and moved computer files for Mom (not necessarily in that order)...so I am certainly not going to claim that I was very useful--but I did more than I did yesterday so I guess that's something.
Tomorrow we load the RV--Daddy is on his way home with it right this instant. I sure hope Grandma didn't make a scene about it not being ready when they initially said it would be. It wasn't their fault that the guy they fired didn't order the tires (good reason to fire him--you can tell that they aren't Unionized.) So ya'll this very likely will be the final post for several days. I'll probably break down my computer first thing in the morning...hopefully I won't have anything horrid to post once I'm back online again.
Racheal
P.S. I've heard from Katherine that my blog isn't popping up when she tries to access it...just a white screen. I hope that isn't being a problem elsewhere. If it is, I'm going to guess that it is because Weebly is updating again...
Readers Comments
Readers Comments
Day 7 of Packing... November 21, 2011
Not that I'm helping in the least. I'm not feeling the greatest so I spent a great deal of the day in bed--reading a mystery. I love mysteries and I never guess 'whodonit'. Never. (There might have been once, but I wouldn't guarantee it.) Agatha Christie and Ellis Peters are my favorite mystery authors; I read one by some fellow named Rex Stout today: Black Orchids. It's written in first person by a New Yorker, Archie Goodwin. He's quite a character. He's kind of an under-sleuth for Mr. Nero Wolfe, an fat man who does the thinking (not that Archie's a slouch). The relationship between the two men rather reminded me of Hercule Periot and Captain Hastings (though I like Periot much better that Wolfe and Archie Goodwin didn't seem to have a soft spot for red-heads like Capt. Hastings.) Anyway, Nero Wolfe figures out the mysteries (murders) mainly by listening to Archie's reports and thinking about them. Another quirk of Mr. Wolfe's--he's botanist of a sort...so there was some flower/plant lingo thrown it. All told, I really enjoyed the book (even though there was a number of characters who used the Lord's name in vain--which bothers me a whole lot worse than damn and hell.)
(By the way, this book was written 1942--I got a whole set of Detective Book Club books at the Library Sale last year--all of them from between 1940-43. I have a tendency to like the English authors better than the American authors...go figure.)
Savannah and Katherine are attempting to get the truck packed--at least the stuff that can go ahead and be loaded. The RV isn't going to be done today--maybe tomorrow around noon...I guess this means that we will be leaving Thursday (an interesting Thanksgiving--we moved into the house in Louisiana on Thanksgiving day...and then did it again in Arizona--that might have been the day before actaully). Mom doesn't want to travel on Wednesday, understandably. That's the biggest traveled day of the year (or so I hear).
I worked on the idea for another video project. Title (if it can be used): SPECTRUM. I have an idea for the subtitle; something like this: Autism in the Church. That right there gives the subject of the video. How should the church respond to autism (from severe cases to mild cases)? How can the church help those with autistic kids? In some places there is a mentality that denies that 'good, faithful Christian parents' can have kids that have problems. Spectrum disorders are real...we all know people who are on the specturm, even if we don't know it or recognize the symptoms. Some people on the spectrum are aware of the fact and others are not. So, what SPECTRUM is to address is autism and how the church ought to deal with it. I'm in the very beginning stages on this and I really need to sit down with my sketchy outline and talk to Mom--she knows a boatload more on this topic than I do (the idea was hers but I am quite willing to run with it). I do know how to recognize symptoms and I understand that diet plays a huge part in helping these kids. Mom told me I ought to go on-screen myself and talk about that issue--I have personal expirence with diet helping health issues. So, what do you think of this project? Understand, these are just some sketchy ideas that need filling out...no telling how the actual video will end up being structured.
My thumb is trying to go numb on me, so I think I need to stop typing...it feels really weird and I'm probably squashing some nerve the wrong way.
(By the way, this book was written 1942--I got a whole set of Detective Book Club books at the Library Sale last year--all of them from between 1940-43. I have a tendency to like the English authors better than the American authors...go figure.)
Savannah and Katherine are attempting to get the truck packed--at least the stuff that can go ahead and be loaded. The RV isn't going to be done today--maybe tomorrow around noon...I guess this means that we will be leaving Thursday (an interesting Thanksgiving--we moved into the house in Louisiana on Thanksgiving day...and then did it again in Arizona--that might have been the day before actaully). Mom doesn't want to travel on Wednesday, understandably. That's the biggest traveled day of the year (or so I hear).
I worked on the idea for another video project. Title (if it can be used): SPECTRUM. I have an idea for the subtitle; something like this: Autism in the Church. That right there gives the subject of the video. How should the church respond to autism (from severe cases to mild cases)? How can the church help those with autistic kids? In some places there is a mentality that denies that 'good, faithful Christian parents' can have kids that have problems. Spectrum disorders are real...we all know people who are on the specturm, even if we don't know it or recognize the symptoms. Some people on the spectrum are aware of the fact and others are not. So, what SPECTRUM is to address is autism and how the church ought to deal with it. I'm in the very beginning stages on this and I really need to sit down with my sketchy outline and talk to Mom--she knows a boatload more on this topic than I do (the idea was hers but I am quite willing to run with it). I do know how to recognize symptoms and I understand that diet plays a huge part in helping these kids. Mom told me I ought to go on-screen myself and talk about that issue--I have personal expirence with diet helping health issues. So, what do you think of this project? Understand, these are just some sketchy ideas that need filling out...no telling how the actual video will end up being structured.
My thumb is trying to go numb on me, so I think I need to stop typing...it feels really weird and I'm probably squashing some nerve the wrong way.
Racheal
Day 6 of Packing... November 19, 2011
A cup of coffee, a slice of chocolate bread, and a keyboard...my typing is kind of choppy because my fingers are still not 100% warmed up all the way from washing beets.
Mama pulled the turnips and beets this morning and Savannah and I topped them. Then Katherine and I did the cold part--the washing. Katherine, bless her heart, washed all the turnips. (I offered to switch off with her but she said no.) Then I washed the beets (of which there were not as many). We have a really great system for root crop washing. The person with her hands in the water gets the coldest and wettest while the other person who hold the hose only gets cool and damp. I think it speeds the process up and in the meantime you have a little company to whom you can complain that the back of your legs are cramping, your fingers are cold, your back is stiff, etc. :) (Neither one of us did much of that.) It was funny when Kt started humming something (one was 'Carol of the Bells') and I started tapping (make that splashing) the toe of my boot and bouncing the hose in rythem with her...I think I got her wet at that point.
Mama pulled the turnips and beets this morning and Savannah and I topped them. Then Katherine and I did the cold part--the washing. Katherine, bless her heart, washed all the turnips. (I offered to switch off with her but she said no.) Then I washed the beets (of which there were not as many). We have a really great system for root crop washing. The person with her hands in the water gets the coldest and wettest while the other person who hold the hose only gets cool and damp. I think it speeds the process up and in the meantime you have a little company to whom you can complain that the back of your legs are cramping, your fingers are cold, your back is stiff, etc. :) (Neither one of us did much of that.) It was funny when Kt started humming something (one was 'Carol of the Bells') and I started tapping (make that splashing) the toe of my boot and bouncing the hose in rythem with her...I think I got her wet at that point.
We are going to see if we can work really hard this afternoon and have everything ready (minus the RV packing of course) to leave. I'm ready!!
Racheal
Day 5 of Packing... November 18, 2011
Departure delayed...The motor home will not be ready til Monday, so we won't leave until at least Tuesday. Things left to do: pull (or dig) the beets and turnips; load the hard topper (clothes usually fill that one up--the soft topper contains sleeping bags and the foam pads the girls sleep on--I sleep in a chair); stuff things under the RV (includes food, files, and electronics).
We visited Mrs. Gee Gee in the hospital yesterday and she seemed to be feeling pretty good for having a bum arm and hip replacement surgery. I guess we stayed for 2-2 1/2 hours...talked and laughed the whole time. Mr. G (one of the elders) stopped in to see her too. Before he left, he prayed over her and tossed our trip in for good measure (I thought that was nice)! Anyway, we will show up for church Sunday because we'll still be here. That will make Pastor M. happy since he didn't get to say 'bye' to us all and tell the congregation to...he does that every year. "This is the last week we will have the P. family with us until next spring...make sure you tell them good-bye." I find it funny. It's thoughtful of him, but totally unnecessary :)
Grandma is going to be upset...she's going to miss Thanksgiving at Uncle L. and Aunt C.'s...we are going to be on the road if everything is normal. Sometimes, things just don't work out the way we like...
I think I will pass on this information. Parentalrights.org has made a documdrama that clearly points out the dangers of the UN Convension on the Rights of the Child; how it will enfringe on the rights of parents to make the best decisions for their childern. They also note the Marxist background of the treaty. Karl Marx believed that in order to form a truely Communistic (Marxist) society, the family structure (which is biblical) must be destroyed. The best place to start? Remove the right of parents to make decisions for their children...Watch this video and sign the petition at least.
We visited Mrs. Gee Gee in the hospital yesterday and she seemed to be feeling pretty good for having a bum arm and hip replacement surgery. I guess we stayed for 2-2 1/2 hours...talked and laughed the whole time. Mr. G (one of the elders) stopped in to see her too. Before he left, he prayed over her and tossed our trip in for good measure (I thought that was nice)! Anyway, we will show up for church Sunday because we'll still be here. That will make Pastor M. happy since he didn't get to say 'bye' to us all and tell the congregation to...he does that every year. "This is the last week we will have the P. family with us until next spring...make sure you tell them good-bye." I find it funny. It's thoughtful of him, but totally unnecessary :)
Grandma is going to be upset...she's going to miss Thanksgiving at Uncle L. and Aunt C.'s...we are going to be on the road if everything is normal. Sometimes, things just don't work out the way we like...
I think I will pass on this information. Parentalrights.org has made a documdrama that clearly points out the dangers of the UN Convension on the Rights of the Child; how it will enfringe on the rights of parents to make the best decisions for their childern. They also note the Marxist background of the treaty. Karl Marx believed that in order to form a truely Communistic (Marxist) society, the family structure (which is biblical) must be destroyed. The best place to start? Remove the right of parents to make decisions for their children...Watch this video and sign the petition at least.
Racheal
Day 4 of Packing... November 17, 2011
FIRE!!!
Daddy's cell phone started ringing towards the end of lunch...I think everyone was expecting it to be the guy from the RV place returning his call. It wasn't. It was Grandma...she'd set fire to her lower oven!! (She has two ovens.) So, up we all hopped and charged out to the apartment (until I got there I didn't know what was on fire). It stank like burning plastic out there because her plastic-wrap and paper plates were on fire. Grandma uses the lower oven for storage and so when she turned on the wrong oven to bake cookies (which she should not be eating anyway--she's diabetic) she lit the stuff up. That's about the extent of the excitment so far today...
I wasted my morning attempting to build up a couple of 'memorial pages' on Fold3...it's great site that focuses a lot on U.S. military history (I have a membership, but not a paying membership which would get me into all of the records). The pages I was working on were Grandpa's, his uncle, his second brother (Byron; Wilber [#3] doesn't have a page yet), his dad (Arba: pronounced Ar-bee), and a buddy of his. For the longest time now, I though that Harold (his uncle, but only a couple years older), was a ball turret gunner in a B-24 bomber that went down over the English Channel. Well, when talking to Grandpa about this this morning I found out that I was totally wrong. The B-24 fella was his buddy Shorty (also, he was a tail gunner, not a ball turret gunner). Harold was in either the Infantry or the Signal Corp (he couldn't remember) and was at the Battle of the Bulge (the conflict which produced one of my favorite answers a military commander ever gave the enemy: "Nuts.") Harold never made it home though...I believe Savannah said that he is buried in Normandy. (Let's see, the back of the picture says that he was killed in France on July 30, 1944...he went overseas May of that year.)
Daddy's cell phone started ringing towards the end of lunch...I think everyone was expecting it to be the guy from the RV place returning his call. It wasn't. It was Grandma...she'd set fire to her lower oven!! (She has two ovens.) So, up we all hopped and charged out to the apartment (until I got there I didn't know what was on fire). It stank like burning plastic out there because her plastic-wrap and paper plates were on fire. Grandma uses the lower oven for storage and so when she turned on the wrong oven to bake cookies (which she should not be eating anyway--she's diabetic) she lit the stuff up. That's about the extent of the excitment so far today...
I wasted my morning attempting to build up a couple of 'memorial pages' on Fold3...it's great site that focuses a lot on U.S. military history (I have a membership, but not a paying membership which would get me into all of the records). The pages I was working on were Grandpa's, his uncle, his second brother (Byron; Wilber [#3] doesn't have a page yet), his dad (Arba: pronounced Ar-bee), and a buddy of his. For the longest time now, I though that Harold (his uncle, but only a couple years older), was a ball turret gunner in a B-24 bomber that went down over the English Channel. Well, when talking to Grandpa about this this morning I found out that I was totally wrong. The B-24 fella was his buddy Shorty (also, he was a tail gunner, not a ball turret gunner). Harold was in either the Infantry or the Signal Corp (he couldn't remember) and was at the Battle of the Bulge (the conflict which produced one of my favorite answers a military commander ever gave the enemy: "Nuts.") Harold never made it home though...I believe Savannah said that he is buried in Normandy. (Let's see, the back of the picture says that he was killed in France on July 30, 1944...he went overseas May of that year.)
Grandpa and Grandma...this picture was taken about three months after they were married; but it is sort of their 'Wedding Photo'--that's the dress Grandma got married in and Grandpa was married in uniform. Aren't they cute?
I hope that my family history research stuff doesn't bore anyone...I find it fascinating myself; particularly when there are pictures :)
I hope that my family history research stuff doesn't bore anyone...I find it fascinating myself; particularly when there are pictures :)
Racheal
P.S. I'm fully aware that none of that had anything to do with packing. Mom did tomatoes this morning and Daddy put the 'boots' (toppers: one hard, one soft) on the top of the truck and cleared off the red trailer (grandparent's). I think that's about the extent of the 'packing' that has been done today. We can't really finish til the motor home returns...
"Hurry up and wait"... (an old Army saying)
"Hurry up and wait"... (an old Army saying)
Day 3 of Packing... November 16, 2011
Food prep has been the main adventure today...Mama's been making sauerkraut, Savannah has been messing around with broth (as part of the GAPS diet we drink meat broths), and I did what I do best (other than making a mess), cleaning the kitchen up after them. I seem to spend a lot of time washing dishes and wiping down counters during move-time...it keeps me busy and ensures that I am not strolling about the house doing nothing. I also poked about in my room a little bit more (packed my laptop and my 'school' bag; grabbed my jewelry boxes--sometimes I wonder why I haul them back and forth, I don't wear any of it very often). I'm attempting to keep up with the laundry. I'd probably be helping Grandma with something if the RV were here, but as it is not, I'm not.
We got an e-mail that Mrs. Gee Gee fell last night and broke her hip...please pray for this darling little woman. She just had shoulder surgery a few weeks ago, too. Pastor M. said that they were going to try to get her into surgery between 3 and 5 today...I hope we go see her tomorrow.
I guest posted on Mom's blog today...take a peek :) She told me this morning at some point that she wanted me to sit down and do a blog post on GAPS bread for her; so I plopped down and took care of it. I probably ought to make another couple of loaves--one meal takes up about half a loaf. I may or may not get to that today. (It would taste better for the trip if I did it tomorrow.)
Maybe I ought to go help load the trailer...Savannah is always our Load Master (I reckon that ought to be Load Mistress), so I'll go report for duty now :)
We got an e-mail that Mrs. Gee Gee fell last night and broke her hip...please pray for this darling little woman. She just had shoulder surgery a few weeks ago, too. Pastor M. said that they were going to try to get her into surgery between 3 and 5 today...I hope we go see her tomorrow.
I guest posted on Mom's blog today...take a peek :) She told me this morning at some point that she wanted me to sit down and do a blog post on GAPS bread for her; so I plopped down and took care of it. I probably ought to make another couple of loaves--one meal takes up about half a loaf. I may or may not get to that today. (It would taste better for the trip if I did it tomorrow.)
Maybe I ought to go help load the trailer...Savannah is always our Load Master (I reckon that ought to be Load Mistress), so I'll go report for duty now :)
Racheal
Day 2 of Packing... November 15, 2011
Mmm, a nice cup of hot tea. Poor Katie needs it more than I do...she was the one with her hands in the cold water washing the carrots while I just stood there and held the hose (not always at the correct angle). We both have wet knees, but hers are down-right soppy. (Which reminds me of a random piece of Trivia--there is a town in Florida called Sopchoppy...)
I did several things today...peeled, chopped, and packed sweet potatoes into jars. Savannah did the same to some pork and they are both now steaming away in the Conservo. I also washed dishes, fetched mustard greens for lunch (I was going to cook them too, but Mom sent me out to see Grandpa since I neglected therapy this morning with no explanation...), finished packing my clothes, picked out which shoes I'm going to take with me (I normally take the same shoes back and forth), hauled nearly all my belts out and stuffed them into a bag, packed my red boots (I almost forgot them!!), hauled slop up the hill to the compost pile, ate lunch and a snack. After that snack, I went out and cut the bottoms off some cabbages, filled a wagon with them, and hauled them into the garage...repeat. Then I helped with the carrots. I loaned Katherine my knife to cut the tops off the carrots while I helped pull them out of the ground (Mom was on the shovel). We then carried the tub down the hill and filled it up with water and let the roots soak while we washed each other's mud boots off; then we washed the carrots.
Everyone else got a great deal of the trailer packing done this morning. After lunch Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa took the RV up state for the tires and stove. They were planning on staying in the motor home, but due to the fact that the guys who are going to do the work on it said it would be best if they didn't stay in it, that changed and now they are coming home tonight.
I have a few other things to do and my tea is all gone, so I'll scoot for now!
I did several things today...peeled, chopped, and packed sweet potatoes into jars. Savannah did the same to some pork and they are both now steaming away in the Conservo. I also washed dishes, fetched mustard greens for lunch (I was going to cook them too, but Mom sent me out to see Grandpa since I neglected therapy this morning with no explanation...), finished packing my clothes, picked out which shoes I'm going to take with me (I normally take the same shoes back and forth), hauled nearly all my belts out and stuffed them into a bag, packed my red boots (I almost forgot them!!), hauled slop up the hill to the compost pile, ate lunch and a snack. After that snack, I went out and cut the bottoms off some cabbages, filled a wagon with them, and hauled them into the garage...repeat. Then I helped with the carrots. I loaned Katherine my knife to cut the tops off the carrots while I helped pull them out of the ground (Mom was on the shovel). We then carried the tub down the hill and filled it up with water and let the roots soak while we washed each other's mud boots off; then we washed the carrots.
Everyone else got a great deal of the trailer packing done this morning. After lunch Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa took the RV up state for the tires and stove. They were planning on staying in the motor home, but due to the fact that the guys who are going to do the work on it said it would be best if they didn't stay in it, that changed and now they are coming home tonight.
I have a few other things to do and my tea is all gone, so I'll scoot for now!
Racheal
Day 1 of Packing... November 14, 2011
This first day of serious packing and prepartion has been comprised of everybody doing various tasks. While I don't necessarily know all of what everyone else has done; Savannah is working on food and packing books simulanteously, Katherine has done some room packing (we always kid her that she moves her entire room), Mama and Daddy went to town, and Mama did some room packing too.
Once I got in from my morning therapy session with Grandpa--loaded down with mustard greens, I pitched some boxes downs the attic ladder. Then I went upstairs and stared at my bookshelf and picked out which books on the War Between the States I wanted to take with me (I don't read as much I should or want to). After that I hauled those and my school books down stairs and piled them in the living room. The living room has always served as a staging ground for trips. By this time I was hungry so I plopped down in front of the computer to take care of address changes. Lunch was Mexican salad of a sort and was quite tasty :) After lunch I finished the address changes. Once done with that I filled jars with the salsa Mama made this morning and poked them into the Conservo. Washed the few dishes...then threw myself into making bread. I made three loaves of beet bread--one of them a chocolate bread. It takes some elbow grease to get the lumps out of that coconut flour and I know there are still some left. Oh well, it won't hurt anything :)
The weather looks ferocious toward the west...maybe I ought to shut my computer down; but either way, I am going to end here. I'm sure there is something useful I can be doing...
Once I got in from my morning therapy session with Grandpa--loaded down with mustard greens, I pitched some boxes downs the attic ladder. Then I went upstairs and stared at my bookshelf and picked out which books on the War Between the States I wanted to take with me (I don't read as much I should or want to). After that I hauled those and my school books down stairs and piled them in the living room. The living room has always served as a staging ground for trips. By this time I was hungry so I plopped down in front of the computer to take care of address changes. Lunch was Mexican salad of a sort and was quite tasty :) After lunch I finished the address changes. Once done with that I filled jars with the salsa Mama made this morning and poked them into the Conservo. Washed the few dishes...then threw myself into making bread. I made three loaves of beet bread--one of them a chocolate bread. It takes some elbow grease to get the lumps out of that coconut flour and I know there are still some left. Oh well, it won't hurt anything :)
The weather looks ferocious toward the west...maybe I ought to shut my computer down; but either way, I am going to end here. I'm sure there is something useful I can be doing...
Racheal
Wind! November 13, 2011
8:00 p.m.
Hardly anything else would serve as today the wind blew like a freight-train all day long. There were a couple of times today that it felt like you could lay down in the air and you wouldn't fall...However, I didn't put the theory to test because I do not see the sense in jeopardizing my head for no reason.
Today was Grandma's 88th birthday...
Pastor M. continued his series on the Prodigal Son today. His focus was on the Father: he was waiting for the son to return (in one sense this was a protectionary measure), he humbled himself (by running), and showed his compassionate and unconditional love (or 'ruth'--Pastor M. likes words:) ). He covered him with his robe (a sign of his restoration). Pastor M. pointed out the cultural background for the story, thus making it more clear in some ways. First off, to help us to understand the implications of what the father did, he reminded us of last weeks sermon: how when the son told his father to give him his part of the inheritance, he was in essence saying, "I wish you were dead." In a middle eastern culture, even today, the normal outcome would be at best a beating for such insolence. However, the graciousness of the father in shown time and time again. So, the father watched in expectation for the return of his wayward son, knowing that he would not return until he had reatched the epitome of degradation (feeding swine in this case). He ran to meet him, according to Pastor M. so that he would not come through the village in his rags (he would have been mocked and ridiculed). The 'ruth' of the father led the son to genuine repentance (which in the life of the believer leads to restoration which in turn leads to rejoicing.) He also noted that the father put the best robe on his son before he was cleaned up (this would mute all criticism).
The point of application was in many ways a challenge: How would the church (pick any church body) respond to the return of a wayward son (or daughter)? Would we bring them in with love and acceptance or would we force them to prove themselves; to merit our acceptance, as it were.
I believe that I could have put that out there a bit clearer, but I am having trouble concentrating for some reason...(something like a conversation going on in the other room is a good first guess.)
Hardly anything else would serve as today the wind blew like a freight-train all day long. There were a couple of times today that it felt like you could lay down in the air and you wouldn't fall...However, I didn't put the theory to test because I do not see the sense in jeopardizing my head for no reason.
Today was Grandma's 88th birthday...
Pastor M. continued his series on the Prodigal Son today. His focus was on the Father: he was waiting for the son to return (in one sense this was a protectionary measure), he humbled himself (by running), and showed his compassionate and unconditional love (or 'ruth'--Pastor M. likes words:) ). He covered him with his robe (a sign of his restoration). Pastor M. pointed out the cultural background for the story, thus making it more clear in some ways. First off, to help us to understand the implications of what the father did, he reminded us of last weeks sermon: how when the son told his father to give him his part of the inheritance, he was in essence saying, "I wish you were dead." In a middle eastern culture, even today, the normal outcome would be at best a beating for such insolence. However, the graciousness of the father in shown time and time again. So, the father watched in expectation for the return of his wayward son, knowing that he would not return until he had reatched the epitome of degradation (feeding swine in this case). He ran to meet him, according to Pastor M. so that he would not come through the village in his rags (he would have been mocked and ridiculed). The 'ruth' of the father led the son to genuine repentance (which in the life of the believer leads to restoration which in turn leads to rejoicing.) He also noted that the father put the best robe on his son before he was cleaned up (this would mute all criticism).
The point of application was in many ways a challenge: How would the church (pick any church body) respond to the return of a wayward son (or daughter)? Would we bring them in with love and acceptance or would we force them to prove themselves; to merit our acceptance, as it were.
I believe that I could have put that out there a bit clearer, but I am having trouble concentrating for some reason...(something like a conversation going on in the other room is a good first guess.)
Racheal
Have Blog, Will Write November 12, 2011
How's that for an adventurous title for a post covering several entirely unrelated topics?
We are expecting Aunt Celinda to arrive at any minute (Daddy and Savannah are not home from the market yet); Mom, Katherine, and I have been rushing around all morning trying to get all the last minute things done. I think we managed it. Right now, K is out helping Grandma and Mama is pulling beets in the garden. Me--well, I'm being lazy and tapping away at this here keyboard.
I have had an idea for a blog post flitting around in the back of my head now for a week or more so I am finally going to put out there. It has to do with one four letter word: fool. What is the Biblical meaning of the word fool? Simply put--a man who acts as if there is no God. Forgive me, but I cannot remember where I got that exact wording--it isn't mine. I supose it might be Dr. Scott's (the lecturer for my Old Testament Survey course), but I wouldn't swear to it in a court of law. I never quite understood with the clarity that I do now that when the Bible speaks of a fool (pick a Proverb, any Proverb...) it is speaking of an unbeliever, heathen, non-God fearing person. I always got that the 'fool' wasn't just foolish in the modern sense of the word (stupid, dumb, etc.), but the clear fact that a fool is a God-hater never quite came across until recently. (It must have been Dr. Scott because I distinctly recall him talking about the David/Bathsheba/Uriah situtation and saying that David was acting as though there was no God--he used the same words to describe Balaam, Saul, and others.) Anyway, that was neither brilliant nor probably very enlightening; but I'd like to close this subject with a story. This is a true story demonstrating that we can learn things under the most unusual circumstances and not realize that we learned anything! Two years ago, I went with Daddy down to Florida during the summer. (I forget the exact reason I went down with him, but I do remember that we spent quite a bit of time trying to fix the electric fence around Granddaddy's runway.) My aunt and her three youngest kids (she has four) were down on vacation and I spent a lot of time with Joel (the youngest and 12 at the time). He's terribly cute, but never mind... Anyway, we were buzzing around all over the place on Granddad's golf cart (a ton of fun) and Joel jokingly called me "Fool". Naturally, I didn't like it and I guess I asked him how he defined the word or something like that and he basically said that a fool is an unbeliever. At that point I didn't know exactly what to make of it, but know I see that this 12-year-old boy (public-schooled and all) had a better understanding of the word 'fool' than I did. He did quit calling me fool though :) (I don't remember, but I might have threatened him (it wouldn't have been seriously)...though I don't think so:) )
I plan on going with Daddy later today to help in the process of castrating Miss Ruth's bull calf--steers put weight on faster than bulls. I've watched the process several time but never done it myself. (Not sure I'd want to.) Ruth doesn't have a squeeze chute so it's going to take some physical effort to hold down the calf while he gets cut. It is best to cut them when they are small...I've seen tiny little calves hardly seem to notice, but the big ones bawl and cry. (By the way, this is a beef animal.) [Also note, this is bound to be the first of many posts on cows...one of my favorite animals.] And now, my friends, I must go!
We are expecting Aunt Celinda to arrive at any minute (Daddy and Savannah are not home from the market yet); Mom, Katherine, and I have been rushing around all morning trying to get all the last minute things done. I think we managed it. Right now, K is out helping Grandma and Mama is pulling beets in the garden. Me--well, I'm being lazy and tapping away at this here keyboard.
I have had an idea for a blog post flitting around in the back of my head now for a week or more so I am finally going to put out there. It has to do with one four letter word: fool. What is the Biblical meaning of the word fool? Simply put--a man who acts as if there is no God. Forgive me, but I cannot remember where I got that exact wording--it isn't mine. I supose it might be Dr. Scott's (the lecturer for my Old Testament Survey course), but I wouldn't swear to it in a court of law. I never quite understood with the clarity that I do now that when the Bible speaks of a fool (pick a Proverb, any Proverb...) it is speaking of an unbeliever, heathen, non-God fearing person. I always got that the 'fool' wasn't just foolish in the modern sense of the word (stupid, dumb, etc.), but the clear fact that a fool is a God-hater never quite came across until recently. (It must have been Dr. Scott because I distinctly recall him talking about the David/Bathsheba/Uriah situtation and saying that David was acting as though there was no God--he used the same words to describe Balaam, Saul, and others.) Anyway, that was neither brilliant nor probably very enlightening; but I'd like to close this subject with a story. This is a true story demonstrating that we can learn things under the most unusual circumstances and not realize that we learned anything! Two years ago, I went with Daddy down to Florida during the summer. (I forget the exact reason I went down with him, but I do remember that we spent quite a bit of time trying to fix the electric fence around Granddaddy's runway.) My aunt and her three youngest kids (she has four) were down on vacation and I spent a lot of time with Joel (the youngest and 12 at the time). He's terribly cute, but never mind... Anyway, we were buzzing around all over the place on Granddad's golf cart (a ton of fun) and Joel jokingly called me "Fool". Naturally, I didn't like it and I guess I asked him how he defined the word or something like that and he basically said that a fool is an unbeliever. At that point I didn't know exactly what to make of it, but know I see that this 12-year-old boy (public-schooled and all) had a better understanding of the word 'fool' than I did. He did quit calling me fool though :) (I don't remember, but I might have threatened him (it wouldn't have been seriously)...though I don't think so:) )
I plan on going with Daddy later today to help in the process of castrating Miss Ruth's bull calf--steers put weight on faster than bulls. I've watched the process several time but never done it myself. (Not sure I'd want to.) Ruth doesn't have a squeeze chute so it's going to take some physical effort to hold down the calf while he gets cut. It is best to cut them when they are small...I've seen tiny little calves hardly seem to notice, but the big ones bawl and cry. (By the way, this is a beef animal.) [Also note, this is bound to be the first of many posts on cows...one of my favorite animals.] And now, my friends, I must go!
Racheal
Veterans, Snow...and Stuff November 11, 2011
Today is Veteran's Day. I have always wondered why stores have 'Veteran's Day' sales...I don't know, somehow it seems odd to me. Despite that fact however, we took advantage of Jo-Ann's Veteran's Day sale. I went to Jo-Ann's with Mom (I needed embroidery floss) and we bought a HUGE stack of fabric--half price (it was marked down anyway), plus the 20% military discount. Wow.
It 'flurried' yesterday afternoon; nothing stuck to the ground though. However, it snowed last night! Okay, so there's nothing particularly spectacular about the depth or breath of the snow, but the light dusting is pretty anyway. It didn't stick, so it's a good thing Katherine took some pictures earlier.
It 'flurried' yesterday afternoon; nothing stuck to the ground though. However, it snowed last night! Okay, so there's nothing particularly spectacular about the depth or breath of the snow, but the light dusting is pretty anyway. It didn't stick, so it's a good thing Katherine took some pictures earlier.
I really don't seem to be getting much done today...I picked out my next cross-stitch project since I'm almost done with my current one and I wanted to get that stuff ready to pack. I've also washed the dishes. I haven't done much, but I don't really feel like I've wasted too much time either (which I tend to do around moving time--I get lost and overwhelmed and end up doing nothing but wandering around in circles). Ah ha! I just had a brilliant idea...I could look at Mom's 'to-do' list.
Speaking of Mom, she just walked by and said, "We are doing tomatoes next; Daddy's bringing them up from the basement." So, I guess I'll be doing 'mater's here in a minute :)
Speaking of Mom, she just walked by and said, "We are doing tomatoes next; Daddy's bringing them up from the basement." So, I guess I'll be doing 'mater's here in a minute :)
Racheal
Prep Work November 9, 2011
I helped Mama in the kitchen all morning by washing dishes and the like while she picked chicken and filled jars and whatever else she did. (I also ran over to the Post Office with Daddy to mail the doll dress.) After lunch, the prep work began. I helped Grandma with pre-move stuff: shuttling clothes to the motor home and putting them away, putting stuff under the bed, making discisions on what stays in the RV and what gets taken in, emptying the oven (she's getting a new--non-gas--stove put in next week), poking the ever present cookies into the proper cabinet, stowing extra toilet paper under the bathroom sink...you get the idea. What still needs to be done: filling the fridge and freezer and putting in last minute things (like the pills, eyedrops, favorite knives,etc.) She's about ready to go. She wants to try to shift the table around, but I'm not sure she wants to do that before or after the trip...I guess I'll find out. I could have kept tootling along, but there really wasn't much more to do and Grandma's leg was hurting her--she has the one hip that she is constantly complaining about and no one seems to know what is wrong with it. If she sits down for a bit once it starts hurting she can get back up in a little bit without trouble. Anyway, the RV work is mostly done and it was not too chilly out there and Grandma was in a good mood, so I actually kind of enjoyed it. I'm finding that I sometimes can have a tiny bit of influence on what gets tossed. Or, sometimes, I just throw something out (for example, a plastic bag) without asking. Grandma has a tendency to not throw stuff out--even when it should be; perhaps that's due to her growing up during the Depression (though by those standards she wasn't badly off--Grandpa was the one who was poor...he says he was never full until he joined the Army, and then he put on about 30 lb.s!) However, the main thing is, if you want Grandma to do something, you have to make her think it was her idea :)
My aunt is coming for a visit this weekend, so we also made the bed...which we probably would have done even if she weren't coming. Before we actually leave, the water tank will be filled up--but that's not my job :) Daddy takes care of that kind of stuff. Right now we have no water in there so perhaps that should be done before Aunt Celinda gets here...she might like water in her 'sleeping quarters'.
My aunt is coming for a visit this weekend, so we also made the bed...which we probably would have done even if she weren't coming. Before we actually leave, the water tank will be filled up--but that's not my job :) Daddy takes care of that kind of stuff. Right now we have no water in there so perhaps that should be done before Aunt Celinda gets here...she might like water in her 'sleeping quarters'.
Racheal
Fowl Play November 8, 2011
At least, that is what the roosters would have said, if they could talk. As it was, they screeched and squawked as the biped with the braid lunged and grabbed a handful of feathers, or a leg, or a wing, etc. They continued to noise their discontent up until the time they finally passed into the 'final sleep'.
Alright, so we finished butchering all our chickens today. There were only 18...I miscounted last week; but I think I can be forgiven for that due to the nature of the animals. We did fifteen before lunch and the remaining three after lunch. I think Daddy wanted to go ahead and finish before lunch but I was hungry and when I get hungry...it's time to eat :) (Mom wanted to eat too.) Anyhow, I dressed a good many of the birds becuase Daddy was scalding and running the plucking machine while I cleaned the previous ones. I was getting between 2-3 done before he got done with the 5th bird. (We work in batches of five, since we only have five killing cones.) It is kind of funny, I clean the gizzards and Daddy does the livers--I busted a bile duct or two last time and Daddy doesn't, so we made the trade :)
The birds averaged about 4 pounds a peice. Currently the meat is still being prepared for the jars...Mom's cutting it into smaller pieces, Katherine is browning it (it's really good like that!), and Savannah is packing the jars. I think Mom said we were having chicken-wings for supper.
Speaking of foul play, what about this libel against Herman Cain? Personally, I don't believe the accusations. One lady called into Rush and posited the notion that if the allegations where true--these women would have come forward as soon as the candidacy was announced. Also, did anyone else notice that these attacks on his honor started right after he started airing campaign ads on the Rush Limbaugh program? Very interesting, I think.
Or what about Obama and the French President (I can't spell his name) talking bad about the Israeli Prime Minister (can't spell his name either!)? Mama remarked, "You'd think these politicans would learn not to say things like that when they're miked up."
Eh, WHAT!? We sold a doll dress off our WEBSITE!! Well now. That's the first one and it's one I made! What a lovely day...only the printer isn't working. *noises from the other room* I hear that it's working now. Daddy did know how to fix it after all.
Alright, so we finished butchering all our chickens today. There were only 18...I miscounted last week; but I think I can be forgiven for that due to the nature of the animals. We did fifteen before lunch and the remaining three after lunch. I think Daddy wanted to go ahead and finish before lunch but I was hungry and when I get hungry...it's time to eat :) (Mom wanted to eat too.) Anyhow, I dressed a good many of the birds becuase Daddy was scalding and running the plucking machine while I cleaned the previous ones. I was getting between 2-3 done before he got done with the 5th bird. (We work in batches of five, since we only have five killing cones.) It is kind of funny, I clean the gizzards and Daddy does the livers--I busted a bile duct or two last time and Daddy doesn't, so we made the trade :)
The birds averaged about 4 pounds a peice. Currently the meat is still being prepared for the jars...Mom's cutting it into smaller pieces, Katherine is browning it (it's really good like that!), and Savannah is packing the jars. I think Mom said we were having chicken-wings for supper.
Speaking of foul play, what about this libel against Herman Cain? Personally, I don't believe the accusations. One lady called into Rush and posited the notion that if the allegations where true--these women would have come forward as soon as the candidacy was announced. Also, did anyone else notice that these attacks on his honor started right after he started airing campaign ads on the Rush Limbaugh program? Very interesting, I think.
Or what about Obama and the French President (I can't spell his name) talking bad about the Israeli Prime Minister (can't spell his name either!)? Mama remarked, "You'd think these politicans would learn not to say things like that when they're miked up."
Eh, WHAT!? We sold a doll dress off our WEBSITE!! Well now. That's the first one and it's one I made! What a lovely day...only the printer isn't working. *noises from the other room* I hear that it's working now. Daddy did know how to fix it after all.
Racheal
Sunday Visitors November 7, 2011
Yes, we had company yesterday...the B. family. I wish that they lived closer to us. (This is the family with six boys...) Before lunch, right after they got here, Daniel asked me if I wanted to play football. Being myself, I said, "I don't know how, but sure!" Daniel is not necessarily the best instructor, but I got the gist well enough (coupled with my spotty knowledge from watching football with Grandpa) to get with it. I started as 'center' (the guy who passes the ball twixt his legs--my skirt was kind of a problem) with Joshua as my 'quarterback'. (For a good deal of the time it was really just Joshua and I against Daniel and the twins. Katherine and Christopher were in and out--as well as Benjamin who got stepped on at least once, poor baby.) I fumbled the ball, tackled, made one touchdown (I will never know how I outran Daniel), grass-stained my skirt (no, it was NOT a church skirt), grass-burned my knees, cut my ankle (don't ask how, I have no idea), minorly twisited both ankles at the same time, carried the baby out of the way, tried to keep the boys from shouting too loud, and had a regular jolly time (to quote Jo March: Little Women). Katherine twisted her knee, Christopher and I cracked heads (I beaned him in the nose--he cried for a little bit and let me hold him), and Joshua (who broke his neck this spring) landed hard a couple of times and let everyone know his neck had gotten 'cracked'. After the second time he sat out for a bit (wise, I think) and when he came back in he asked me if I'd be the quarterback and let him be center. (How we were playing, the quarterback was getting the most banging up.) So we changed places; that's when I scored the touchdown :) (By the way, I don't think anyone was keeping score, so I have no idea who won--not that it matters.) Somewhere during all this we came in and ate then went back out almost immediately.
Eventually, we went in and proceeded to watch the entire first disk (of three) of the 1950's British TV show 'Robin Hood' (starring Richard Green). We enjoy these so much...what I particularly like about them is that Robin, in this version, is a nobleman--Robin of Loxley--who is actually the Forest Warden, so he isn't actually stealing the deer...neat twist to make the story more moral :) Richard Green as Robin Hood is supposed to be a Saxon--however, the Saxon's were notable for both their hieght and their blonde hair--however, as you can see, Richard Green is very definetly not blonde. (I wonder if the actor was actually any good with a bow--it wouldn't take much to be better than I am! Of course, it doesn't help that I'm somewhat double jointed in the elbows and I have to literally curve my bow arm to keep the string and arrow from hitting my elbow and throwing everything out of kilter.)
Eventually, we went in and proceeded to watch the entire first disk (of three) of the 1950's British TV show 'Robin Hood' (starring Richard Green). We enjoy these so much...what I particularly like about them is that Robin, in this version, is a nobleman--Robin of Loxley--who is actually the Forest Warden, so he isn't actually stealing the deer...neat twist to make the story more moral :) Richard Green as Robin Hood is supposed to be a Saxon--however, the Saxon's were notable for both their hieght and their blonde hair--however, as you can see, Richard Green is very definetly not blonde. (I wonder if the actor was actually any good with a bow--it wouldn't take much to be better than I am! Of course, it doesn't help that I'm somewhat double jointed in the elbows and I have to literally curve my bow arm to keep the string and arrow from hitting my elbow and throwing everything out of kilter.)
So, our visitors left aroung 11:30 or so and I'm sure the boys (or most of them) went to sleep before they got home. I forgot to mention, but we gave them our two hens. I caught them and put them into the cat kennal...that little brown hen is a clever little lady; she skirted me very nicely til she flew onto the roost where I caught her before she had her balance completely back.
Racheal
Saturday: Workday November 5, 2011
I spent a good deal of the morning rustling up jars and washing them. I had to dump out some spoiled beets from last year, so I really washed those jars good. I don't like washing jars but it seems like most of the time I end up doing it. (It's not so much the washing that I mind, as it is that my hands get dried out really bad from the soap. That and I have trouble getting my hand in and out of the old mason jars...Sometimes I wonder if I'm going to have to break them to get my hand out!)
I also folded some clothes and put away some fabric that I had left sprawled all over the floor Thursday morning when I picked out the patterns and material that I was going to use for the dresses. (By the way, I did it...I made a record number of doll dresses (for one day) yesterday--five (I could say six since the pinafore for the one dress takes as long as a 'real' dress).)
After lunch I retagged our doll dress inventory. Previously we have used printed labels that we pin on with a straight pin; but Mama bought some tags with a string on them that you have to pin on with a safety pin. They certainly look more professional.
Among the other things I did today was help gather up spoiled tomatoes (Daddy took them out), cut out another doll pattern (aprons mostly--there is a kitty in the pattern too), did some miniscule straightening, and I also vacuumed the floor (after I cleaned it out again; with all the long hair in the house the vacuum's beater bar gets clogged up really easy.) I like vacuuming. Around the fireplace it might not really show:) I probably need to go get some more wood here before it gets dark.
During some of the above I was doing my evening routine of running in and out of the house every fifteen minutes to put eye-drops in Grandpas's eyes. He was watching football, as usual. (If there is one sport that I would voluntarily turn on and watch--other than ice-skating--it would be football; partially because Grandpa loves it.) The game was between West Point and the Air Force Academy. The first time I went out, the score was 14-0 in favor of the Army. The second time I went out, the Air Force had gained 3 points. The next time I went out, they were even. When I left after the last round of eye-drops, at the end of the 3rd quarter, the score was 14-21, in favor of the Air Force! I told Grandpa that he'll have to tell me later (tomorrow) who won. I defitely don't want the Air Force to whoop the Army!! (Okay, so it's just a game and so is the interservice rivalry...I don't actually dislike the Air Force--far from it; but it sure is fun to rib them.) Be assured that all my 'ranting' at the Air Force is done in good sport and with a twinkle in my eye. (I wonder, how do one's eyes 'twinkle'? I've seen eyes twinkle...but still, it's strange when you stop and think about it.)
Alright, so that was my day...busy and perhaps constructive. I hope you all had a peaceful day--even if you were working hard!
I also folded some clothes and put away some fabric that I had left sprawled all over the floor Thursday morning when I picked out the patterns and material that I was going to use for the dresses. (By the way, I did it...I made a record number of doll dresses (for one day) yesterday--five (I could say six since the pinafore for the one dress takes as long as a 'real' dress).)
After lunch I retagged our doll dress inventory. Previously we have used printed labels that we pin on with a straight pin; but Mama bought some tags with a string on them that you have to pin on with a safety pin. They certainly look more professional.
Among the other things I did today was help gather up spoiled tomatoes (Daddy took them out), cut out another doll pattern (aprons mostly--there is a kitty in the pattern too), did some miniscule straightening, and I also vacuumed the floor (after I cleaned it out again; with all the long hair in the house the vacuum's beater bar gets clogged up really easy.) I like vacuuming. Around the fireplace it might not really show:) I probably need to go get some more wood here before it gets dark.
During some of the above I was doing my evening routine of running in and out of the house every fifteen minutes to put eye-drops in Grandpas's eyes. He was watching football, as usual. (If there is one sport that I would voluntarily turn on and watch--other than ice-skating--it would be football; partially because Grandpa loves it.) The game was between West Point and the Air Force Academy. The first time I went out, the score was 14-0 in favor of the Army. The second time I went out, the Air Force had gained 3 points. The next time I went out, they were even. When I left after the last round of eye-drops, at the end of the 3rd quarter, the score was 14-21, in favor of the Air Force! I told Grandpa that he'll have to tell me later (tomorrow) who won. I defitely don't want the Air Force to whoop the Army!! (Okay, so it's just a game and so is the interservice rivalry...I don't actually dislike the Air Force--far from it; but it sure is fun to rib them.) Be assured that all my 'ranting' at the Air Force is done in good sport and with a twinkle in my eye. (I wonder, how do one's eyes 'twinkle'? I've seen eyes twinkle...but still, it's strange when you stop and think about it.)
Alright, so that was my day...busy and perhaps constructive. I hope you all had a peaceful day--even if you were working hard!
Racheal
Hurry Up and Post November 4, 2011
Yes, Racheal, hurry up and post! You have to run in just a minute! True, true...therapy time is almost here.
I didn't post yesterday for two reasons: 1) I was in the basement working on doll dresses all day and 2) the computer was not turned on.
I am going to repeat point 1 today. I cut out at least seven outfits yesterday and got two completed...maybe I'll put up some pictures once they get photographed. I really am hard pressed to get more than two or three outfits done in one day, but I sure am going to try to break the record today. Tomorrow is the first of the Kokomo winter Farmer's Markets and the doll dress rack needs more dresses on it. (We will only work the first two of these markets.)
But now I really must run, even though the possiblity of Grandpa's not being ready is 50-50...I like to keep on schedule for both our sakes.
I didn't post yesterday for two reasons: 1) I was in the basement working on doll dresses all day and 2) the computer was not turned on.
I am going to repeat point 1 today. I cut out at least seven outfits yesterday and got two completed...maybe I'll put up some pictures once they get photographed. I really am hard pressed to get more than two or three outfits done in one day, but I sure am going to try to break the record today. Tomorrow is the first of the Kokomo winter Farmer's Markets and the doll dress rack needs more dresses on it. (We will only work the first two of these markets.)
But now I really must run, even though the possiblity of Grandpa's not being ready is 50-50...I like to keep on schedule for both our sakes.
Racheal
Magic... November 2, 2011
Not really, but it sure works faster than I do. And it does a better job. What on earth am I talking about? Well, the chicken plucker Daddy built of course! Yes, we butchered chickens again today. Fifteen roosters down and nineteen to go. I think there's nineteen left anyway--it's kind of hard to count moving birds who are scared of you (particularly since you've been in their coop three times and took away some of their fellows!) The second time in the coop I forgot to roll my sleeves back down (it really is easier to clean a bird without a long sleeve getting in the way) and got a dandy scratch on my arm from squawking rooster who was bound and determined that he was not going to be next. I rolled my sleeves down after that...I don't really want to get chicken filth in me.
Anyway, back to the plucker. Drop the bird into the whirling keg with the rubber 'fingers' and in a matter of seconds the chicken is ready to be dressed. It is totally amazing. This contraption is the only reason we managed to get 15 roosters done.
Daddy and I dressed them all and then the scene in the kitchen was something else (I kind of stayed out of the way mostly). Mama was cutting the chickens up (Daddy started helping once we came in), Katherine (she told me I could use her name now!) was briefly browning the pieces, and Savannah was filling the jars. Like I said, I was mostly just hanging around. I did sharpen a knife or two and toss a few gizzards into the skillet. I cleaned the bathroom sink too...it had chicken in it.
I probably ought to go peel beets now. We are having beets for supper. Actually, before I do that I had probably better go do Grandpa's eyes again...
Anyway, back to the plucker. Drop the bird into the whirling keg with the rubber 'fingers' and in a matter of seconds the chicken is ready to be dressed. It is totally amazing. This contraption is the only reason we managed to get 15 roosters done.
Daddy and I dressed them all and then the scene in the kitchen was something else (I kind of stayed out of the way mostly). Mama was cutting the chickens up (Daddy started helping once we came in), Katherine (she told me I could use her name now!) was briefly browning the pieces, and Savannah was filling the jars. Like I said, I was mostly just hanging around. I did sharpen a knife or two and toss a few gizzards into the skillet. I cleaned the bathroom sink too...it had chicken in it.
I probably ought to go peel beets now. We are having beets for supper. Actually, before I do that I had probably better go do Grandpa's eyes again...
Racheal
Tuesday Madness November 1, 2011
Okay, so the day wasn't really 'mad'; it was really just one of those days that didn't go as I had planned. Instead of doing school like I meant to, I did other things. First, I was told by Mama, as I was fixing to go out to the apartment, that I was supposed to make lunch (she was going to town and I need the practice in the kitchen anyway). Fine and dandy...well, I got out to the barn and Grandpa hadn't had his breakfast yet. So I came back in and read the second chapter from A.W. Pink's The Sovereignty of God ( so far I am really enjoying it). Then I went back out at around 10:30 and while Grandpa was done eating, he was still drinking his milk. Anyway, I ended up coming back in sometime after 11:30 (I picked some mustard greens for lunch before coming in). Then I made lunch--salmon mousse (of a sort) and mustard greens. We also had some cold baked beans (GAPS approved), but as I didn't fix those I won't take credit for them.
I washed a pile of dishes after lunch and after a bit the 'gals' started working on ideas for our Christmas recital/program for the Seminoles/CD. (The Seminole are a Florida Motor Coach Association Group that Grandpa and Grandma have been members of for years.) We sang a bit--I am attempting to learn the alto for 'Angels We Have Heard on High'. I really would like to be able to sing alto. I mean, I can sing alto--I sing that range best--but I would like to be able to sing alto with other people singing different lines. That is terribly hard for me and I have a tendency to get too low in an attempt to sing the alto note pattern. When I can't do it I tend to get frustrated and so can only work on it for so long without losing my firecracker temper and/or crying...silly of me, I know. Anyhow, the afternoon ended rather abruptly after only half a dozen songs...
I forgot to mention what I did yesterday...I raked leaves. They were mainly Lindon leaves, but there were some apple tree leaves in the mix as well as some short pine needles. Then Daddy and I put them into the wheelbarrow and the little green trailer on the back of the lawn mower and hauled them up to the garden (we are soil building). We kind of got a pattern established...We'd head up the hill about the same time, but because I was using the wheelbarrow I would get back down the hill sooner and by the time Daddy got back with the mower, I'd have the wheelbarrow about filled up again. Then we'd fill up the trailer and start all over again. (I was using a big scoop shovel--I was reminded of cleaning up in the oak hammock at Granddaddy's with a manure fork...basically like a scoop shovel only wider and with prongs like a pitch-fork--and heavier, particularly when full of cow manure.) I'm a bit stiff today...but not overly so. That spot in my back which I twisited when ol' Snippy hit me with the saddle last winter was stiff when I got out of bed, but it didn't jab me like it does sometimes out of the clear blue, so I didn't mind. It was actually kind of funny, because I was telling Daddy about it and showing him that binding over seemed to help. So, both of us were out there in the kitchen attempting to touch our toes (something neither one of us is very good at)! (Later I told Grandpa and he said, "I could touch my toes when I was 60!" I believe him becuase he used to be really spry--I hear he could wrap his legs around his neck when he was young!)
I washed a pile of dishes after lunch and after a bit the 'gals' started working on ideas for our Christmas recital/program for the Seminoles/CD. (The Seminole are a Florida Motor Coach Association Group that Grandpa and Grandma have been members of for years.) We sang a bit--I am attempting to learn the alto for 'Angels We Have Heard on High'. I really would like to be able to sing alto. I mean, I can sing alto--I sing that range best--but I would like to be able to sing alto with other people singing different lines. That is terribly hard for me and I have a tendency to get too low in an attempt to sing the alto note pattern. When I can't do it I tend to get frustrated and so can only work on it for so long without losing my firecracker temper and/or crying...silly of me, I know. Anyhow, the afternoon ended rather abruptly after only half a dozen songs...
I forgot to mention what I did yesterday...I raked leaves. They were mainly Lindon leaves, but there were some apple tree leaves in the mix as well as some short pine needles. Then Daddy and I put them into the wheelbarrow and the little green trailer on the back of the lawn mower and hauled them up to the garden (we are soil building). We kind of got a pattern established...We'd head up the hill about the same time, but because I was using the wheelbarrow I would get back down the hill sooner and by the time Daddy got back with the mower, I'd have the wheelbarrow about filled up again. Then we'd fill up the trailer and start all over again. (I was using a big scoop shovel--I was reminded of cleaning up in the oak hammock at Granddaddy's with a manure fork...basically like a scoop shovel only wider and with prongs like a pitch-fork--and heavier, particularly when full of cow manure.) I'm a bit stiff today...but not overly so. That spot in my back which I twisited when ol' Snippy hit me with the saddle last winter was stiff when I got out of bed, but it didn't jab me like it does sometimes out of the clear blue, so I didn't mind. It was actually kind of funny, because I was telling Daddy about it and showing him that binding over seemed to help. So, both of us were out there in the kitchen attempting to touch our toes (something neither one of us is very good at)! (Later I told Grandpa and he said, "I could touch my toes when I was 60!" I believe him becuase he used to be really spry--I hear he could wrap his legs around his neck when he was young!)