Tuesday, January 22

Outside my window...

The world is frozen. An Arctic blast moved in and blew cold winds over us for hours. It pulled the heat right out of the house although the fire did wonders at fighting back. The ground is still white with snow. 

The pond is freezing enough that the boys are excited about skating. They would really like to go visit cousins in Maine this time of the year. They think that would mean lots of ice skating.

If the animals have extra fat they can surely use it now!

I am thinking…

Oh my! Do you want to know all my thoughts? Ha ha. Probably not.

We were to a seminar at Penn Valley a little over a week ago where we received encouragement in caring for parents. 

One of the speakers said how his mother-in-law is so lonely. People don't come visit her. Then he said she is very negative, very opinionated and has her own stories to tell. This just kind of shuts anyone up who comes to visit.

I've experienced people like that. Then I fear I'll become that way myself. I think a good way to combat that is to stay interested in others. 

A young man from our church is getting help for personal problems at Pure Life Ministries. We're told they emphasize working on pride and selfishness in one's life.

Two exercises one can do- 

1. Look for two people you can help in some way today.

2. Find five people you can pray for today.

In other words get the focus off yourself. So there are some of my thoughts.

I am thankful for…

...machines- dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer, wood furnace, cook stove and oven, slow cooker and waffle iron. So many time saving devices. That way I can sit down and write. Oh, I'm thankful for a computer too!

From the learning rooms…

Thomas, Austin and Matthew continue to learn the door trade. This past week there have been some learning curves and slides that involved trucks and trailers in snow and ice. I'm thankful no one was hurt and they were able to dig themselves out of their predicaments.

Melvin is reading and reading, every spare minute he has. It's like he's making up for lost time. It blesses my soul to watch him. He and Christopher are also working on preparing for a Bible Fair with the church school. They care for the animals, help me with meal prep, house cleaning and laundry.

One of their obsessions the last few days is paper airplanes. From zippy little ones that do loops to big cargo planes that lumber across the room. They have used lots of Scotch tape.

Thomas and I were gone two weekends in a row. The boys got into games while we were gone- Monopoly, Ticket to Ride, Score Four.

Thomas & Christopher in a Score Four match while Melvin looks on. Christopher looks beat.

Christopher has taken an interest in art with oil pastels. He also completed a couple of color by sticker projects. 

We dream of gardening as we sit on our couches with seed magazines. How could anyone think of hot summer days at the present?

From the kitchen…

I've done it. The Eat at Home meal plans were on sale and I bit. Bought a yearly subscription. This gives me four years worth of menus actually because there are four different types of plans I have access to.

This is only the main meal of the day but it is helpful. Sometimes I get to feeling like I'm in a rut and this helps me out. We really like the recipes and they're quite common. Not a lot of exotic ingredients.

I am wearing…

Blue sweatshirt. Pale blue dress. Shoes and socks. Head covering.

I am creating…

Hmmm. I guess I'm just not being very creative the last while. I cleaned out some closets and bins and sent a whole bunch of clothing to CAM. It feels good to have that stuff out of the house! Hopefully it will help someone somewhere.

I am going…

Oh wow. I'm done going for a bit Lord willing. It wears me out to go places.

I am reading…

The Phases of Learning by Oliver and Rachel DeMille. And oh yes, thinking about thinking, I think about education a lot and how broken our way of education is. Don't get me started!

I am hoping… 

...and praying for relief for my friends who suffer- in their marriages, with law suits, with health issues, with losses.

I am hearing…

...the dryer running. I picked up some dryer balls at Walmart last week. I'm pleased with their performance. I hear them plunking around and the zippers and metal buttons of the jeans hitting the sides

Around the house…

Melvin put up curtain rods for me in the "crazy room". Now we have a shield from the morning sun. He also put some lights above the one set of doors. I had gotten them, thinking I could replace some others we have, but they didn't work for that purpose.

Melvin and Christopher replaced light bulbs on the patio, giving us light again where darkness had reigned for too long. 

Melvin also got the dishwasher repaired when it broke down recently. He is such a handy person to have around!

One of my favorite things…

I still really enjoy snail mail. Of special interest are circle letters and yearly letters with photos.

A few plans for the rest of the week…

The men folk are all planning to be gone this evening. Work has begun on another Kid's Club building in Romney. They sold out from under us last year. Thomas is overseeing the building of rooms in another building. They started last week and got a good many walls framed up. 

I'm working on getting the last of the family photos mailed out. If you don't get one and want one, send me your address at t (dot) rie (dot) n (dot) sons at gmail.com. 

Thomas and a couple of the boys plan to go repair some plumbing on his mom's house in southern WV. There are potential buyers but repairs need to be done before the sale can happen. Poor Thomas is stretched almost beyond what he can manage.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing….

Pacific coast

Then it Snowed...and Iced

The view from my bedroom window this morning.
Sunlight was kissing the distant hill making it stand out.

Yesterday was a beautiful winter day in the fall. Is it a foretaste of what's to come? We have had so much rain this summer. Will we get a lot of snow this winter? Only God knows! 

Following is a pictorial progression-

This tree still has green leaves- in the snow.
This photo was taken on the 12th of Nov.

Leaves from the tree above

The first white coating in the morning

Awhile later

Even later

This morning.... Matthew returning from a hunt.

Everything got coated with ice overnight

Melvin coming in from the hunt also.

While I don't enjoy snow per se, I do really enjoy the beauty. There's something really exciting about watching snow come down too. What is it about snow?

Why don't I enjoy snow? Hmm. 1. Snowy roads are just plain scary. 2. Being a barefoot girl, it just doesn't mesh with snow. 3. Cold? No thank you! 4. Wet, messy floors? Not in my book. I'll focus on the beauty outside my window. Thank you Jesus.

Clarification-
Yesterday I posted a picture of Christopher holding a woodpecker. It flew into the glass door and was badly stunned so the boys were excited to hold it for a bit. It recovered enough to fly away then.

Snow, Errands and Peanut Butter

This week has ended, with all its idiosyncrasies. (That word took me down in a spelling bee once. Had never heard of it before.) The weather has been up and down, quite literally. Temperatures up in the 70s and down in the 20s. Clouds up in the sky and clouds coming down, in the form of rain, sleet or snow. 

Today it is snow. The forecast is for 2-6 inches. This evening it is maybe an inch and a half deep. It's been warm enough to keep it from sticking and also it is a very wet snow. You might know how that kind is. It snows more than you can really measure.

Stephen returned from his trip to Honduras and reported a relaxing vacation. He worked and lived alongside his cousins while there. They went to a waterfall one day and did some climbing. He says he has lots of photos so we look forward to seeing them. 

He had booked their (his and Sylvia's) tickets to and from San Pedro Sula. That's where they flew into for the Bible school but I think he could have gotten return tickets from Teguc if he would have thought that far. The trip back to San Pedro Sula was made by bus with two cousins to help along. 

They spent Monday night in Siguatepeque at a Mennonite children's home. An interesting connection was made at the airport when David Bercot came up and introduced himself to them. He was on their flight from San Pedro Sula to Atlanta. He was also bound for Dulles but they didn't see him after Atlanta and worried that he missed his flight. They were the last ones on the plane, coming after everyone else had boarded.

Today was a full day. I worked on selling some things around here (online, through Facebook & OfferUp). Then Christopher and I ran some errands that have been on my mind. The more I stay home, the more things pile up on me.

We stopped at the ATM first to get some cash, then went to Food Lion. While puzzling over the long lines there, it dawned on me that there is snow in the forecast. It will be warm in a day or two so there's really no need to worry but maybe some folks can't live two days without going to the grocery store?

Next we picked up apples at the farmer's market, picked up a bulk order from my sister, got some pork that was on sale at County Pride (which I grind to make sausage), grabbed a stack of books from the library, and unloaded a stash of unneeded items at the thrift store. Wow. Now my brain feels cleaner. 

My parents had a nice surprise today when someone offered to bring them a Meals on Wheels dinner. A full meal of grilled chicken, mac n cheese, baked beans, coleslaw and cake.

Recently a friend gave me a nice big food processor. She had gotten it for a wedding present but hasn't used it to speak of in almost ten years. So she wisely passed it on to me. Since I've had it I got to thinking that we could surely be more frugal by getting a case of peanuts and making our own peanut butter. 

We usually buy the Smuckers brand that has no junk in it (only peanuts and salt) and I am always limiting the boys' intake as it is so costly. They eat so much of it at one sitting! First thing I know, the peanut butter is no more.

My first attempt at peanut butter turned out well. We got a 30 lb case of blanched and salted peanuts. I'm dreaming of different ways to make the butter; roast the peanuts, add honey, molasses or maple syrup. Do tell me of a flavor you like.

Melvin used some peanut butter and whole peanuts in a batch of no-bake bars he made. Christopher added whole peanuts to the granola he made. I have a squeaky feeling this 30 lb case of peanuts might not last very long either.

Thomas and all the boys besides Christopher went to sand the walls in a house that they finished drywall in this week. They got done in a couple of hours. 

The three older boys went to play volleyball with some friends this evening but some of their friends couldn't get there because of the snow and the others were in an accident that prevented their coming. So two of the boys came home and the other stayed with his friend for the evening.

Melvin and Christopher received their periodic shearing from my hand this evening. They balk about it (and so do I) but I said we need to just get it done! Christopher was looking especially shaggy. Now that's off my mind (and their heads) until the next time.

I've actually read a few books this week! I finished Trees Tall as Mountains, read Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, and Little Lord Fauntleroy and began Great Expectations. I will try to report on them later.

I'll leave you with some new (to me) words and see if they're new to you too.

Burgoo
Dearborn
Execrate

Please let me know in the comments (or reply to me in a new email) if you find/know the meanings.

Taffy Pull

Friday evening we gathered with the young people at Wanda Eash's house. We had a bit of difficulty getting there because of snowy roads. It hadn't snowed just a whole lot but because of the cold it all stuck. The van spun up the hill and onto the paved road but then it spun even more, so we turned around, came home and piled into the truck.

Traffic was slow. We stopped at the gas station on the way over and one fellow there said he had seen some wrecks on his way in from Winchester on Route 50. We arrived at our destination without incident. These guys of mine are all in awe when the vehicle "drifts" -while my heart lurches and I try to keep it all inside, knowing I am majorly in the minority.

Wanda and Martha Wengerd had taffy cooked and ready to pull once we got there. I think this was only the second time in my life that I pulled taffy. With 20/20 hindsight I wish I would have just watched. It was interesting to watch but kinda much hard work to pull. I guess I'm lazy. Thomas' and my taffy just didn't want to go like it should. I think we finally got the hang of it a little.

I got curious about taffy and wondered whoever figured out how to do that. The Bulk Candy Store blog has an interesting write-up about it. Machines do the pulling nowadays. Someone made the remark the other evening, "Imagine what the health department would say if they saw what we are doing." We sure get our hands all over the stuff. At least it isn't for public distribution.

A few photos from the evening...

Sisters

Brothers

7th grade student with 1st grade teacher
(while big cousin of student supervises)

Youth girls

The finished packaged product

The little boys found treasure, I got a sweet smile from a little girl, the men visit while the ladies set out a snack

Clockwise from top left- Vegetable Pizza, Taco chip dip, Fruit, Rice Crispy Chocolate Pinwheels

Have you ever pulled taffy?

Did it give you blistered hands?

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day has interested me for many years. My father entered the world on this unique holiday. He filled us children in on this fact when we were quite young. Thus was born the intrigue.

                                 

What is this day all about? Folklore has it that if a groundhog emerges from his burrow, following his long winter sleep, on this particular day and sees his shadow he will make a hasty retreat back into his den. Consequently we know there will be six more weeks of winter.

                        

If his appearance brings no frightening shadow, he is happy to stay out of his abode and we are certain spring is just around the corner.

                         

On this day last week we had a sunny morning and a cloudy afternoon. So when did Mr Groundhog come out to see what the day was like?

                            

Really, I don't put any stock whatsoever in these signs. But maybe you do. Starting from Feb 2 you could count the weeks until spring and then you'll know how long it really is. Mr Groundhog has less than 40% accuracy anyway. Although Groundhog Day organizers will tell you the rodent is correct 75 - 90% of the time.

                                 

We humans like to know what's going to happen. We want to be in control. So we come up with ways to try to accomplish that. It can be quite hilarious at times what stock we put in the hearsay around us. Or the Almanac.

“It's going to be one heck of a winter!” we hear. So we prepare for it. Or, “The acorns aren't very thick this year. It will be a mild winter”. So we prepare for that.

I think God likes to “knock our socks off”. Give us stuff we never dreamed of. Never planned for. Maybe a bit difficult in this day and age when forecasters have gotten so good with weather predictions. But it does still happen!

When winter storm Jonas came they said we'd get 12-24 inches of snow. Of course, they really don't know what will happen! We were blessed with 30 inches. And no wind. They said there would be blizzard winds. It was both a good and bad thing to be minus the wind. Good because our dwellings stayed warmer. Good because drifts can be a problem. Bad because some roofs went down.

I like to take life as it comes and enjoy the moment.

Beauty this morning

How about you?

Javita coffee can help you enjoy the moment!

But don't stress if you don't have it. You can relax once you get some.

Click here to read more about Groundhog Day and the unique ways it is celebrated.

The End of Winter Storm Jonas

I left you with four inches of snow on Friday evening. Saturday morning we measured 24 inches.

Thomas on the Grasshopper, pushing snow

The vehicles buried alive

Austin wanted to make donuts. Somehow that seemed to the boys to be the thing to do on a snowy day. I didn't have the heart to deny them. After all it is a very unusual thing to do something so unhealthy at our house. On Sunday he regretted it. He got pretty sick. Today he didn't feel too great either. He thought we'd better just not make donuts next time. Live and learn.

I took a few photos after dark Saturday. The measurement here on the front porch after it stopped snowing was 30 inches.

Nearly full moon- makes a bright night along with snow on the ground

The cows are hard to see- they had a very difficult time walking in that deep stuff!

View out the back door

View of the front porch in the daylight

Melvin and Christopher stand on top

I am intrigued with bird tracks in the snow

Coffee is always good on a cold day. Want to make yours weight loss coffee?

What do you drink when the weather is cold? 

Or hot?