Planting Fall Garlic

 

 

 

Garlic is a wonder plant!

There's just SO much to enjoy.

 

 

 

Fry up some garlic and onions, and the taste buds

start working.

"What smells so good?" comes into the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

In the summer, snip off the scapes on the garlic

plant and you have the beginning of a great dip.  (This

also helps you get a much bigger bulb in the later summer months.)

Who can resist some scape pesto!?

 

 

 



 

Planting Your Garlic Patch

 

Break apart the bulbs of garlic.

Place each clove, root side down and point up about

5-6 inches in the ground.

Cover with dirt.  Plant next clove about 6 inches apart.

 

You will see the little shoots come up in the early spring months.

 

 

All tucked away for the winter months.

 

 

Some other links below to the health benefits of garlic.

Having garlic on hand is a huge advantage when a sickness

arises in your home.

 

http://www.tiredoflyme.com/10-foods-you-should-be-eating-if-youre-battling-lyme-disease.html#.VEVpqcJ0y_D

 

http://www.aboutnutritionfacts.com/the-health-benefits-of-garlic.html

 

 

 

Overcoming Wreath Fears

 

 

For as long as we've lived in our home, we've

never had a front door.

The door we used all the time was out back and inside

the porch.

But once the front porch was enclosed and made

into our main entryway, a new

found pleasure was found.

 

Decorating the front door.

 

 

I began looking on Pinterest for different

autumn wreaths.

 

This totally intimidated me.

Flowers, fresh and fake scare me.  I've

never mastered the look of arranging them!

 

While out with a friend, I mentioned making a wreath

to her.  I knew she did NICE work on wreaths, as

I saw some of her wreaths.

 

We went to the local craft stores and picked out

the supplies I needed.  HOW MUCH FUN!
But I thought I had it made as we were going to

work on the wreath

together.

 

Our schedules didn't work to get together this week.

I really wanted to get it done as I'm having some

ladies over Monday to sew and Bible study.

 

So I tackeld it today!

 

First I gathered my supplies and sent the boys

outside.  I wanted peace and quiet.

 

 

 

 

The first thing I did was to wire the garland of

leaves to the grape vine leave base.

 

 

So far it was pretty easy. 

I think I could do this!

 

I started to place the other fall decorations

on the wreath.

 

The two youngest boys and I went up the road

to a cemetary where there are tall pine trees.

We gathered some pinecones, but I also

had to buy some as there weren't enough.

 

 

 

 

Slowly I added more and more.

 

I really liked how it started to look.

Each time a boy would come in, they'd comment

how good it looked.

They really know how to make me more motivated!

 

Two hours later, it was done!

 

 

 

I just love it!

 

Stop in for a cup of tea.

 

 

 

Note:  The wreaths I was looking at were in

Hobby Lobby.  They ranged from

$50-199!  I had NO idea a wreath cost

that much.  The nice ones were not any better

than the one I made.

 

My supplies cost $25.  If you have

access to grapevine, you could save $5.

 

Thankyou, my friend, for the encouragement

and confidence you gave me,

  to try this project!

 

 



Birthday Blessing

 

As my Birthday was approaching, I commented

that I would like to get a fish tank for our

new family room.

 

We've been working on the additions alot lately.

Tile flooring in the front entryway, new drywall

on the walls, mudding and painting.

 

 

The family room gets the most traffic. It's

the middle room that leads to all the other rooms

on the first floor.

The woodstove is in this room.

So, I would like to make this room more cozy

and comfortable.

 

I picture warm evenings by the stove, the

fire crackling and my boys quietly reading

(HAH!!  Maybe one of them quietly reading!!!)

 

Fish tanks are always so cozy to me.  Gurgling water and

the dim light in the tank.

 

 

My fella and boys were helping an older man move last month.

He had oodles of stuff and was down sizing into a

smaller place.

The boys were beginning to bring home

piles and piles of "treasures."

My sweet fella saw a treasure he knew I would enjoy.

 

While I was away at the lake, he set it up for me.

I was SO happy when I came home to it!

He had cleaned it out

and it was peacefully gurgling when I

walked into the room.

 

Last night, my younger guys all picked out

some fish for my gift!

 

What fun and coziness!!!

 

God is so good with the special things He gives His

children.  A hard working, thoughtful fella is SUCH

a wonderful blessing too!

 



Blessings in Old Age

Children's children

are the crown of old men;

and the glory of children are their

fathers.  Proverbs 17:6

I've been thinking about this for some time.

Finally, I'm going to actually put this into words.

I'm in no way criticizing either situation,  it's just total

observation.

I've observed two widows.

One widow is a dear friend of mine. 

A few years back, my fella and I stopped at her home

for a visit.

It was right before she was going to have a surgery.

I volunteered to come clean for her during

her recovery.

During my visits cleaning, we became

friends.  I enjoyed sitting and listening

to her and she listened to me.

We'd laugh and cry together.

Recently another lady in our church became

a widow.  She lost her best friend after

many, many years of marriage.

I stopped over to visit her at her home

a few times.

I instantly noticed something about her home.

It was busy.

Although there was sadness for this widow,

her home seemed happy.

Siblings, children, and grandchildren filled

\each corner with memories, pictures and cards.

The second widow has five children and many

grandchildren.

She also has her siblings around her.

The first widow only has one child and one

grandchild and the grandchild is not on this earth anymore.

She has one brother.

Her home is cheerful with her neat, clean memories, but

there were no colorful drawings from young children.

No recent pictures on her frig.

There was no box in the corner, filled with

toys for the visits with the grandkids.

The only voice was from her television.

Quickly I noticed the very striking difference.

Children.

Even in older years, children continue to be a blessing

to one's home.

Each time I've visited my dear friend (the first widow),

she'd share how lonely she is.

How sad to see such sadness.

I stopped to visit the second widow, she was busy

packing up to spend the week with her youngest son

and his family.

Sometimes things in life can't be helped,

such as the amount of children you have or the

length of days you  spend on earth

with your spouse.

But I have noticed that one of the

biggest blessings in life, is the relationships

you have with people.

Parents, siblings, spouses and other loved ones

can fill the space around us with love and dear memories.



Changes

I can't believe it's been almost six months since

I've written.

I was thinking this morning of all the changes in that amount of time.

At Home

Yesterday I began Brendan's high

school scrapbook.

He will be graduating from high school next month.  Of course,

this brings lots of changes for him and our home.

How quickly time flies and brings changes into one's life.

Addan and Titus are now becoming better with their reading.

Addan has been a bit slower to catch on, but
Titus sure has made up for Addan's slower

pace.  In a way, this is nice, I can see days of doing

school together.  What joy each day bring

as I hear the two of them sounding words

out as they see words around them.

The additions slowly are becoming a cozy

part of our home.

I'm so very thankful for these. I never thought

these would ever happen.

God is so good!

Two "new" cars sit in the driveway.

Jordan purchased his first
"new" car and so did Brendan.  Our driveway is starting

to look more and more like a parking lot.

It's the little changes I notice each day that bring sadness

and smiles at the same time.

No more standing on tip toes to reach onto the counter.

No more booster seat at the kitchen table.

Huge grocery bills, huge laundry piles and

huge blessings!

I'm beginning to feel rather short!

At Church

Our church is a huge part of our lives.

I've seen some changes.

I teach a teen girl Sunday School class.

I've seen so many changes in the girls' lives.

One young lady had a prayer request that was very

important to her.  Each week we pray together

for special requests.  Together we

prayed for her request.

The Lord was very gracious in answering this request.

This past Sunday night, she gave testimony to the whole

church about God answering that request.

The Lord is so good and personal to us!

Our church just "hired" an assistant Pastor.

He and his family will be coming this weekend.

We are so excited about this change.  One of his main

responsibilities will be working with the music in our

church.  My fella and boys are involved with the music program.

They will soon have another good man in the lives!

Jordan continues to teach a young boy's Sunday

School class.  He is changing from one of the young

boys to leading the young boys.

Silas joined the men's softball team at church!

Hunter began helping with Jr Church the last few months.

*********

Hunter was just looking at the calendar of all the upcoming

events.  He commented, in his matter-of-fact way,

"Time is flying, this year is flying

already!"

It's so true.

Time flies and changes happen.

Some are good and some are unexpected,

but all are part of His plan.

I'm so thankful for the security of that.

For I am the LORD, I change not.

Malachi 3:6

For what is your life?  It is even a vapour,

that appeareth for a little time, and

then vanisheth away.

James 4:14

Through the Bible

It's the beginning of  another year.

Another year to begin again.

Another year to begin challenges.

One challenge we were given was to

read through our Bible this year.

Our older boys have read through the Bible each

year since joining the youth group at our church.

The church gives the teens devotion books

that go through the Bible; each day

giving them the chapters to read with a little

fun lesson, along with some questions.

I check the books each week at church to help

keep the teens accountable.  

Our bookstore at church also sells

the devotional books for kids.

All the books work together.

The adult, teen and kids each read the same chapters.

A friend suggested having the younger kids

listen and follow along to the Bible on CD.

What a great idea!
(Thanks Sam!)

Tim and Luke were excited to get new books but

I thought it might be too much for them.

But following along is perfect.

They're seeing it and hearing it!

The CD's we have are nice because they have a bit

of animation with great sound affects too!
What a fun challenge to do together and start out our
day with!


The devotion books we're using can be
ordered from,

Mercy and Truth Ministries
http://www.heritagebaptistchurch.cc/

Another friend of mine also infomed me
that you can find the Bible being read on Youtube.

Remembering

One thing I love about this time of year,

is all the memories!

I put up our Christmas decorations Monday.

It was a big job.

Usually Jordan does that for me the day after Thanksgiving.

I would go out shopping with my Aunt, sister,

and Mom and it would all be up

when we got back.

This year was different in many ways.

We, for the first time, didn't have Thankgiving here.

This year we went to Maine and celebrated

with Mark's parents.

It was a nice change.

Jordan also started working full time this year

so he wouldn't have had time to put them up, unless

he did them on Saturday.

Anyway, I ended up putting them up without much help

(although some tried!).

Each box I opened, memories came pouring out.

Painted gourds by my sister,

village pieces I've gathered over the years.

Many, many nativities- some made,

some given and some gathered from family and friends.

This is one of the nativities my father gave me.

I got the trees last year at an antique store with my Mom.

I love how they go with the wise men.

***************

I got this snowglobe while out with some friends in Maine.

We had just moved there and we went out to eat with

a couple from the church.

This one always reminds me of that night.

*************

Every year since it entered our home, this one has

been watched and touched endlessly!

There are four wisemen that circle

the manger scene.

**************

The boys like to collect nut crackers.

These are some of them on the piano.

*************

And this is the window over the kitchen sink.

Some of my favorites are here.

Snowmen I got on an outing with my Mom,

pine trees and a glass bird from friends from church

and other snowmen from our years in Maine.

One Christmas, I was out shopping with my sister.

She liked this ornament so I got

it for her.

Only, some how it got broken.

I glued to back together but didn't end up

giving it to her.

So now it sets by one of Addan's

lost teeth.

I think of her when I see it.

Tonight we start a new memory.

The guys have been so excited to start it!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Scrap Metal

Jordan took a load of scrap metal down

to the scrap yard Saturday morning.

Our property is about 30 acres.  It's in the shape

of a rectangle, the longer sides being the back

of the land and along the road front.

Way out back, along the edge of the land

is tons of junk.

All kinds of trash!

Old shoes, bottles, tires, and lots of metal.

Washing machines, refrigerators, tons of

car pieces and even way up, on the top of the

hill in the corner of the land, is an old school

bus. 

Jordan has been talking to his coworkers about

the scrap yard.  The men all gather

metal scraps for some extra money.

So he tried it this past Saturday. 

The scrap yard closed at 11:30am, and it

was 11 when he called, so he quickly loaded some brothers

 and headed down.

God is so good, the place is quite close by,

about 15 minutes away, on back roads.

When he got home, his younger brothers ran

inside, excited to tell us how much money

Jordan got! 
"He got a FIFTY dollar bill!"

They were so excited.

He actually got $56.

When Jordan came in, he opened my fella's

drawer in the kitchen and put the money inside.

I asked why he was putting it there.

He said it was Dad's since it's on his land.

My fella heard and told him to keep it, but he wouldn't.

So he kept the $6 for gas and we put

the rest of the money towards a mission's

trip the oldest two and my fella

are taking in January.

Well, this little trip, totaling $56 has stirred

up alot of commotion!

I can hear bangs of metal being thrown

around when I step outside.

Piles and wheel barrel loads of metal

are being pulled from the woods.

Stories of all that is found is excitedly told too!
Two car hoods, a Mustang hubcap, a

round washing machine, a huge ice

chest, car engines and tons of other metal objects.

Today Hunter had me take him down and bring

his finds to the scrap yard.

(This was NOT my thing, I could not back the trailor

up into this tiny spot where we were to unload!

Thankfully one of the workers did it for me.)

Hunter made $67 today.

Brendan is loading the trailor for the next

trip to be taken.

He's being a little more particular.

He's trying to find only aluminum, as you get more per

pound.  He checks with a magnet.

It's nice to have our land cleaned up

and a way for the boys to make some spending money.

The Trap

Today was a laid back Saturday.

We were all home most of the day together.

This evening, we were gathering cards

to play a game.

From somewhere, a mouse trap ended up

on the table.

Luke began setting and snapping it shut with

a pencil, card or other object.

Jordan challenged Luke to set it off with his finger.

"Watch, it's easy!"
Jordan said as he carefully set it off and
we watched nervously.

Luke reset it, with his older brothers challenging

him to touch it.

Luke would very cautiously start to touch it,

with them coaxing him to touch it.

SNAP,

it would go off with them yelling, "Chicken!"

as he set it off with his pencil again.

Jordan set it and touched it ever

so quickly again, making me get so nervous!

This would cause Luke to again, reset it and try to

muster up some courage.

I got so nervous watching Luke, I had to leave the room.

Boys are very strange creatures!

This to me was torture, yet the competitive

nature and being challenged by

your brothers was enough to

make you stick your finger onto a loaded trap.

Luke never set it off with his finger.

Maybe some time he'll be brave enough to

conquer the trap and then challenge

his younger brothers.

What fun memories we made as

we sat watching the antics, nervously

laughing at Luke!
There's a clown in every family, can you
guess who our's is???

Apple War

A couple weeks ago, the boys

and I joined my parents on our annual vacation

at Shiloh camp ground on Hatch Lake, NY.

Mark, Jordan, Uncle Al, Aunt Rosie,

Uncle Rich and Judy joined us too

later in the week.

It's always a highlight of the year for us.

The last day we were there, Dave,

the camp director

took us all hiking over the many acres

of woods to find apples.

We filled bags, coolers, buckets and pockets

with the many apples.

I spent many days putting the apples

away in the freezer and in jars on the shelves.

There were still 3 buckets on the back porch today.

I went outside and tossed one at Tim up by the shed.

That was all it took, a full hour long

apple war broke out.

"Teams" were formed, Luke and I together against

Brendan, Tim, Silas and Addan.

Luke and I were at a disadvantage of throwing up hill.

I used my hood for protection.

Hunter came and went as it was lunch time and food

seemed more important than dodging

fast whizzing apples.

What a fun lunch break!

Be sure to wear protection if you drop by for lunch :)

Getting Ready for Spring

This is the view from out the window above

the sink. 



I am so thankful for a window above the sink!

I often find myself just going to the window

and looking out.

Other times I'm there for the not so fun job of

conqering the pile of pots and pans

but being able to view the garden while I work is

so nice!

This little spot in front of the fence is

a perfect spot for herbs.

I used oodles of herbs this late summer while

making sauce.  It was handy having the boys

run down to the garden  and grab some but it would

of been better if the herbs were

closer to the house.

I also love, love, love tulips!

They bring so much sunshine and bright color in the

spring!

I grabbed a pack of 30 bulbs the last time I was

out shopping but they've been sitting

on the counter waiting for me to plant them.

Tim is a morning person.

He gets up with Mark, makes his breakfast

and then does school all by himself.

Tim is a very pokey person so I think he likes

the quiet and being able to set his own pace

to do things.

This morning, he finished school early so I gave him

the job of planting my tulips.

He enjoyed this job and did a great job.

It's such a blessing having so many different personalities

 in our home.

Now when the snow has melted and the days

begin to get warmer and the tulips

are in full bloom, I'll

think of Tim and remember his hard work for me.

Life Verse

Do you have a life verse?

I've often thought about that for myself.

What is my life verse?

The last few years, I Corinthians 10:31 has been

a verse I've thought about alot.

It gives me encouragement when I don't feel

like doing something.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink,

or whatsoever ye do,

do ALL to the glory of God."

The emphasis on "all" is mine.

Having eight sons and no daughters can get

overwhelming at times.

I try real hard not to focus on that or look

at other families that have daughters to help.

For awhile, we were watching the Duggar's shows.

They're a great family and a great testimony.

At times, though, I found myself comparing our lives.

This was VERY wrong of me!!!

It was mainly in one area of my life.

I often feel like my whole life is just doing this one thing

and I get little breaks from it to do other things.

Of course, that's not true but some times it

sure feels that way!!

Then I'd watch the Duggar's show or I read in her

book that she doesn't even do this job!

She has a daughter or two who do ALL this job for her!

Man, talk about nice!

(oops, my bad attitude is coming out! Sorry.)

So I had to change my focus.

I think about each person in our family as I do it.

Thinking and praying for them.

Or I'd remember the cause for using the item.

This is the task I'm talking about

The lovely task of keeping up with the laundry!

So I try to recruit help when I can but most days

the help is gone to work.

I'm noticing as the boys get older, they're home

less and less and I'm back to having

a house filled with young boys.

While I fold the table clothes,

I think of the fun memories we made

eating supper outside.

Hearing the young boys yell,

"Dad, we're eating out here!
Come! See.", as

he pulled up the driveway from work.

Things become a matter of focus for me.

Am I doing the task at hand to get it done,

am I having a bad attitude,

or can I do this to the glory of God?

I'm so thankful for God's Word and how it encourages me-

even with Monday's laundry!

It's so nice to look down the hall and see this.

An empty hamper!