I finally got new glasses!

About 4 months ago my son broke my only pair of glasses.  I used them for reading and they were about 3 years old.  Unfortunately without them everything goes very blurry and I can't read right.  This may be one of the reasons my spelling and grammar are not the best on my blog.  After typing a while I can't SEE!  The other problem is I love to read.  I read probably 3 to 4 books a week if I can find anything worth reading, plus keeping up on at the doom and gloom on the Internet so you can see I have been very unhappy of late. 

Well I finally went in and had an eye exam and got not one, but two pairs of brand new glasses.  One with a warranty so that if Viking boy gets ahold of them again it wont matter so much.  When I went in the doc said I should try wearing them all the time first and see if it helps. I have astigmatism and a very small prescription. 

Well when I tried them on I was very surprised on how they helped.  I could still see just fine without them, but distance reading was very difficult.  I have been wearing them now for almost 2 days and have to say it is much nicer.  And now I can finally READ!  I still read before (bad me!) but it made me nauseous.

It's so easy to take for granted how lucky we are to live at a time when you can just go in and get a nice looking pair of glasses.  In other countries it is only for the rich. 

Pics of Buttercup

I finally got my camera to work so here are some nice pics of Buttercup and Eldest daughter.  Buttercup is still a little skittish, but follows us around and inspects everything we do.  She is pretty tame with me and lets me feel her legs and udders while she is eating, which will be very good when she starts milking.

Milk production and milk prices expected to be higher in 2011 - Latest

I just spotted this article and found it pretty timely as we just got our milk cow. With prices only going up and our family demand only going to get worse a milk cow will be a great asset. If you look at any wartime, hyperinflationary economy, or depression the first food product to become scarce and sky high in price is milk and butter.


Dairy Herd Network - Milk production and milk prices expected to be higher in 2011 - Latest

Buttercup the milk cow has arrived!!!

We now are the official owners of a purebred jersey milk cow!  And she is as sweet as she is beautiful.  At around 7:45 she arrived at the barn, came right out on the lead and walked right into her stall.  She was curious about her new home and spent the first half hour walking around checking out the fence.  We tempted her with a little sweet grain and she came right over to allow the kids to pet her and love her.  As soon as we left Princess in Waiting said "Mama I miss Buttercup."  Awwww!

Here she is happily eating hay in her manger.  She is shaved on the side because the previous owners kept her shaved for milking.  She's dry right now so she can build up her reserves for the new calf.  More pics to come but of course my camera died after just one shot!

She is due to freshen in about 2 weeks to a month.  She was bred and then re bred so we don't have an exact due date but we had her tested and know shes pregnant.  I cant wait to see the new baby.  Jersey calves are so sweet with those big eyes.  We already half the calf sold to someone if its a heifer.

Good books for boys (and girls)

One thing I think that can be difficult is finding books that are fun and interesting for boys. One series I highly recommend is the Little Britches series by Ralph Moody. 





It is very similar to the Little House books, but less well  known.  Like the Little House books these are the true stories.  It was written by a man chronicling his childhood homesteading with his mother and father.  In later books his father dies leaving his widowed mother to care for her large family in the American West.  From a boys perspective this is a great book.  The young boy shares his love of horses and farming, it shows him stepping into enormous responsibility after his father dies and how he thinks up many of ingenious ways to help support his mother and siblings.  It also concentrates on the amazing strength of his mother as she confronts a very difficult life.  These books are full of character affirming examples, and will probably bring home to your boy or girl how lucky they are to live in our modern age.

I read these books as an adult and found them fun as well as fascinating.  They are a detailed look at farm life before mechanization and an even more detailed look at homesteading and life at the turn of the century.  My eldest daughter loved these books and it started some very interesting conversations at the dinner table.  Boys will love the stories of Ralph and his learning how to tame horses and his adventures as a ranch hand.

Mr.  Moody wrote several books besides this series that are a good read.  These are a must on your book shelf because they will be read again and again!

Daisy the Cow... Dreams can come true!

We went to view a jersey milk cow yesterday and I have to say I think I'm in love.  This is a great little jersey.  She's 3 years old, due to freshen next month with a purebred jersey calf.  She is halter trained and followed my daughter and I like a well trained dog when we led her around the paddock.  For meeting new people she was incredibly calm and wasn't even scared of the kids.  She is used to hand milking and has good attachments.  On her first freshen she was giving about 4 gallons a day without grain.  I am so excited!  We put a deposit down on her and should have her within two weeks if everything works out.  I can't wait to start getting milk/butter/cream/cheese/yogurt from her.

Sorry about the picture, it was a cell phone pic.



The kids had a blast at this guys farm.  He has a very nice operation and has 7 children of his own so he didn't mind my kids at all.  As soon as they got out two of his boys ran out of the house to play and show the kids around.  Even Viking boy was good as he resolutely followed their chickens around trying to catch one.  The chickens being hip to this kind of game kept just ahead of him.  The older kids all ran out to a little forest the guy has next to his house and had a grand time playing.  Sigh... wish we lived in a place like that!

For ten years I have wanted a milk cow.  I can't believe it might actually happen.  Eldest Daughter wants to rename her Buttercup.  What do you think?  I should do a poll.  How many for Daisy, how many for Buttercup?

Farm Wife Harvest Day Cake Recipe



This last summer Husband ended up working as a wheat truck driver to make ends meet after he lost his job.  This was brutal work.  He worked 14 to 18 hours a day out in the dry dusty hills in 90 to 100 degree weather in an old wheat truck or harvester with no air conditioning.  He left at dawn and we didn't see him until after sundown 6 days a week.  He came home with just enough energy to eat dinner, shower, and fall into bed.

One of the benefits of harvesting was that the farmers wife still held to the tradition of providing a hearty "dinner" for the crew (which consisted of my husband, one year round farm hand, and the farmers children).  This farmer has a relatively small operation as he leased out much of his land to other farmers.  He was getting on in years, close to 80, but still loved farming.

His wife made roasts, hearty noodle dishes, and fried chicken accompanied by tons of sides and ice cold drinks. She also always provided a dessert for the famished workers.

 

This in fact is a tradition that has been happening since the founding of America.  Farm workers would be hired for harvest, many times just local boys, to come and bring in the bounty.  When threshing and harvesting machines first were invented over 100 years ago area farmers would get together and rent them to harvest the whole area, traveling from farm to farm until all the farmers had the harvest in.  These machines were not powered by engines but by mule teams of up to 60 animals.



These crews always knew they would be amply fed by the farm wives, and the wives often worked out a system to help lighten the load.  Many times all the women in the area would make an agreement.  The farm wife where the harvesting was happening would provide the main dishes like fried chicken, corn bread, rolls, potato and pasta salads, meat loaf, pot roast, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, etc. (and all this in one sitting), and the other farm wives would bring out desserts.  That way it helped lighten the load somewhat for each wife.  I cannot imagine how busy a farm wife must have been not only cooking for the army of workers, but also trying to care for her own household and brood of children.  They were made of steel back then!

The work was backbreaking and dangerous with many men and boys dying or being horribly injured every year.  In fact this year a young high school boy from a nearby town ended up having his leg cut off in a harvester accident. Our church as well as probably every other church within 100 miles prayed for him.  It brought home how much risk is still involved in farming.  And since Husband is also a mechanic I knew he often helped do what repairs he could on the machinery.

One food Husband came home raving about was her Frosted Oatmeal Cake.  Now my loving man is not one to ever put himself forward with women, even family members.  He is endearingly shy with women, even though to look at him you would never think that. But he liked this cake so much that he actually asked this old farm wife for the recipe.  Unheard of!

It is one of the best cakes I have ever had, even though it is simple to make.  It turns out an unbelievably moist and tender cake of rich flavor, but the best part is the thick gooey topping.  It is rich like a pecan pie and has a wonderful texture.  The baking in the oven of the topping makes it crisp and chewy on top  with a melting in the middle.  While following her recipe I was a little doubtful when it said to put the cake back in the oven to cook the topping, but the cake is just a little underdone when you do that so it still is moist when the topping is done.

Frosted Oatmeal Cake

Cut 1 stick butter in small pieces in a large bowl.  Add 1/2 regular rolled oats and pour 1 1/2 cup boiling water.  Let stand for 30 minutes.  Add 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar, and 2 unbeaten eggs.  Mix well.  Stir into another bowl 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp soda, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp salt.  Add flour mixture to wet mixture and mix well.  Add 2 tsp vanilla, mix well and pour in a 9 by 13 greased pan.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

Frosting

1 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cups coconut

1 unbeaten egg

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup chopped nuts

3 tablespoons milk or cream

Mix all together and "pour' on cake as soon as baked.  Put back in oven to brown.  About 20 minutes.  Serve warm or cold.

President Reagan 1981 Inaugural Address

Ronald Reagan: Greater words were never spoken!

Happy 100th Birthday President Reagan!

We Americans admire people who have high ideals. We might not agree with them, but we admire the man or woman who stands by what they believe no matter what the cost and never compromises or backs down when it is politically expedient. I think this one thing was perhaps the most defining traits of Ronald Reagan.

He believed in American Exceptionalism. He believed that big government could not solve our problems but only make them worse. He believed that only a strong America could prosper. And if you look at history you see that every civilization falls when its people starts to think that there is no redeeming aspect of their culture.

But I think the most important belief President Reagan held was that freedom, true freedom, is not something that is given, but something that is defended. Our government does not "give" us the right of freedom. We are given that by our creator. Governments only true purpose is to defend that freedom from those who would take it away. Either through our laws, by violence, or by sneaking court rulings.

His words still inspire and are still and perhaps are even more relevant today!

Good Book Reccomendation for Children

I am always in search of good books that my children will enjoy.  From the moment my eldest daughter could read she has devoured book insatiably.  As a result I am constantly looking for books that are not only entertaining, but compelling and appropriate for her age group.  When last she was tested for reading she was up at college level.  I think this is more a sad reflection on our college kids than a compliment to my daughter.  Any kid can read like her if kept away from the two fold threat of mindless t.v. and video/computer games.

Sadly I have had to search high and low for books that are not full of sexual messages or witchcraft.  The most popular books are vampire, zombie, witchcraft, or magic books.  Most contain a constant disrespect and disdain for adults, and since I was a prolific reader as a child as well, I know that what we take in as children influences how we view the world.

So I thought I'd share books that not only are fun and entertaining, but also contain good messages that we as Christians can approve of.  Many of the books are adventure books that boys would love as well.  So here is my first recommendation.  I think I'll do this every Friday.

Anne Of Green Gables Series by L. M. Montgomery



This is the best series for little girls and most of us remember it from the popular movie.  It follows Anne as she goes from a desolate childhood to be adopted by the strict Marilla and kind hearted Mathew.  These book are funny and exciting as Anne gets into all sorts of scrapes.  But it always has a good message and moral.  As Anne ages you see the blossoming of young womanhood and all that promises but still the books are funny and lighthearted.  I also like the books because they show the harder side of life in a way that teaches children that there are real consequences for our actions.

I discovered these books as an adult and really enjoy when Anne becomes a mother.  Instead of the snide and ambivalent slant most modern books give for motherhood the Anne Series show a mother who loves her children and loves being a mommy.  What an encouraging example for our girls!  Anne's children are not perfect and go through the usual highs and lows of growing up, but Anne and her husband show grace and understanding instead of the annoyance and teasing we see now as the norm. 

 I just love these books and they are perfect for ages 7 and up.  The books about Anne's adulthood tend to deal with more mature situations, in one book her first baby dies and it shows a young mother and father dealing with the grief of a child leaving too soon so that may need to wait until your kids are older.  But I think it is a good thing for children to learn empathy and an understanding that life is sometimes painful.  The book deals with that in a very intelligent way.

There are countless offshoots from the Anne Series and Montgomery wrote many other books.  All of them are excellent and my daughter loves them and re-reads them all the time.  There are many movies, cookbooks, and you can even visit Anne's Green Gables on Prince Edward Island and see the preserved home and farm.  I will warn you that the movies that are so popular veer from the books after the first Green Gables and put a much more feminist slant on it.

As Mark Twain put it:  " The most lovable childhood heroine since the immortal Alice“.

How To Get Free Fruit and Produce - Open Mic!

Before we moved into our home we rented houses that always were out in the country with a place for a garden.  However none of them had fruit trees.  And I couldn't very well plant fruit trees on someone elses property because we may have moved at any time and fruit trees need at least 3 years to produce.

I still wanted to can food, but buying large amounts of fruit, even directly from the farmer, made it more expensive than just buying canned fruit in the store.   So I had to come up with unique ways to get cheap or free fruit.  Obviously if you have family with fruit trees you can beg for any leftovers they have, but only one person in my family has a fruit tree (peach).  And we love pears, cherries, strawberries, etc.

Living in our area of Washington I am blessed in the fact that orchards abound and many people have fruit trees in their yards.  People of course think of apples in Washington, but we can also grow grapes, peaches, apricots, cherries, pears, and even figs.  One way I get free fruit ever year is post on Craigslist that I am searching for fruit to pick.  Many people don't want to bother with their fruit trees and are happy to have someone come and pick the fruit so it doesn't fall and cause flies to congregate.  I have gotten cherries, plums,  pears, and grapes this way.

Another way is to just keep your eyes open while driving around.  Do you see an overloaded apricot tree in someones yard dropping ripe fruit all over the ground?  If your brave enough go up and knock and ask if you can pick the fruit for the fee of picking up the stuff off the ground.  Many times I have done this and had it pay off.

Something that perhaps only would work here is that there is a certain trailer park (yes trailer park!) that was built on a old cherry orchard.  Many of the trees survived and in fact they called it Cherry Hill.  This park is right next to where my husbands grandparents live so when we visit during cherry season I always go over and ask to pick the cherries from the empty lots.  The park managers love it because then they don't have to clean up the rotting cherries.  I canned over 40 quarts of the biggest, juiciest cherries last summer (it was an amazing year for cherries) for free this way.

Getting on your local FreeCycle is a good idea too.  You can post that you are searching for any unwanted fruit or produce.  I have had many people contact me through this free service.

Make friends with a farmer!  Many farmers will let you glean fields or orchards if they know you and trust you.  A farmer next to our property had just harvested onions and invited us to come out and get any good ones left.  There were tons!

Now I'm going to open it up to my readers.  Please share your tips on how to get free fruits and veggies.

Open Mic Night!

Celtic Woman - You Raise Me Up

Today was just one of those days. I needed a song to remind me where my strength and solace is.