Book Club 2013: My Reviews

I haven't read much besides our book club selections this year, so I thought I'd just review those for now.  The others will get their review at the end of the year.

 

MY RATING SCALE:

* Ehh. Didn't like it at all.

** Just okay.

*** Good. Borrow it from the library.

**** Really good. Well-written.

***** Excellent. One for your personal library. 

 

MARCH: The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani    (3 stars)

(Historical fiction, Italian immigrants)

I led the discussion on this one, and while it was an engaging story, it didn't naturally provoke a lot of questions for me.  So I found it hard to know what to ask the group.  Personally I found the heroine admirable, but sometimes hard to identify with because she was such a go-getter and rarely revealed her faults.   

 

APRIL: Peace Like A River by Leif Enger    (4 stars)

(American Midwest fiction, family searching for outlaw son)

I LOVED this book!  While the plot was somewhat interesting, the excellent writing and sheer wit made this book a thorough delight.  Enger captures the simple delights of family life, the imagination and innocence of childhood, and the powerful love story between parent and child. 

 

MAY: An Anthropologist on Mars: Seven Paradoxical Tales by Oliver Sacks    (2 stars)

(Case Studies, Neurology, Psychology, ie: Temple Grandin)

I wanted to like this one more, but I struggled to finish it.  Thankfully, my favorite chapter was the last one--Temple Grandin--and I was already familiar with her story due to the fabulous biographical film made in recent years starring Claire Danes.  The case studies were interesting, but the chapters were too long and detailed for my tastes...and I am a fan of detail.  I found the surgeon with Tourette's and the young man with Asberger's and a photographic memory that could draw a whole cityscape the most fascinating of the remaining cases.

JUNE: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien    (5 stars)

(Classic, young adult, adventure fiction)

I do not read sci-fi or fantasy, and steer clear of most young adult fiction.  However, I completely enjoyed this book!  I doubt I'll read The Lord of the Rings...I haven't completely been converted to the genre, but because this one was written for a younger audience I found it's scary/weird factor to be tame enough.  I won't be introducing it to my kiddos until they are at least tweens, but it will definitely find a home in our personal library.

 

JULY: What Is The What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng by Dave Eggers         (3 stars)

(Lost Boys of Sudan)

This was a long one, and a sobering story at that.  Eggers chronicles the story of Valentino, just one of many Sudanese boys who were torn from family and village by the terrors of civil war.  Their struggle to survive the long walk to a place of refuge, facing hungry lions, rebel groups, and death all around, was simply overwhelming.  The book also described the challenges of acclimating to the United States for those that were able to get refugee status and gain sponsorship here.  This one provoked a lot of discussion among our group.  The main critiques were that certain parts could have been condensed, and the lack of emotion/introspection from the main character.  Personally, I felt the latter criticism was due to a survival mindset that continued even after he left Africa...too much pain and he probably dissociated. 

 

AUGUST: My Antonia by Willa Cather    (3.5 stars)

(Classic American literature, Nebraska pioneers)

Slow-moving plot, but a rich, coming-of-age story of a young boy and his childhood friend.  An interesting look into the Mid-western immigrant experience.  Cather's writing is vibrant and descriptive and should be handled like a rich meal...slowly, bite by bite.  I now want to read "O Pioneers".

 

SEPTEMBER: The Testament by John Grisham    (3 stars)

(Legal thriller, inheritance, Brazilian missionary)

I've read this book at least 3 times already and it is an enjoyable ride.  I appreciate that of the Grisham titles I've read, this one has an obvious faith element and is cleaner than most.  While there are a few seedy characters, they are portrayed in a bad light and the language is very minimal.  (So much so that I had trouble remembering if there was any.)  All in all, it is a read that makes you think about wealth and how it influences your attitudes and choices, as well as faith and how it changes everything.
 

OCTOBER: The Invisible Gorilla by Christopher F. Chabris and Daniel Simons    (4 stars)

(Cognitive Psychology, Memory, Perception)
I continue to think about the everyday illusions it turned upside down weeks and even months later.  Do you use a cell phone in the car?  Do you fancy that you are good at remembering details?  How confident are you and how much stock do we place in other's confidence?  There are 6 illusions the book addresses, and I must say that not only did it spur a great amount of conversation in our group, but it begged some serious questions.  If you aren't familiar with the basic premise of the book and want to try the experiment, check out this link.

NOVEMBER: Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali    (4 stars)

(Memoir, Africa, Women, Islam)

This was another sobering memoir, much like WHAT IS THE WHAT, but more enjoyable for me personally.  Not only was the writing great, but Hirsi Ali chronicles her life in a very purposeful way.  At times I wondered why she included a certain section, but afterward I understood.  She paints a compelling portrait of what it means to be a woman within a Muslim culture, and how we in the West are vastly ignorant of those implications.  While it is just one woman's testimony, you can't help but ask what she would gain from making any false claims--she's already sought asylum more than once due to attempted death threats.  A very relevant book and one I'd highly recommend.

Still to come...

 

DECEMBER: The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time by Mark Haddon

(Young adult fiction, mystery, autism, humor)

JANUARY (2014): Cleaning House: A Mom's 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma

(Christian living, parenting, organization, humor)

FEBRUARY: The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

(Historical fiction, American Civil War, Gettysburg)

Her Favorite Subject

Horses.  No matter the task, topic, or activity, Natalia will find a way to connect it to a horse. 

She talks about them during dinner time, she makes up songs and stories about them, she pretends her near-daily trips to the neighbor's farm are for her "riding lessons".  (In actuality, she pets them, or simply gazes into their empty stalls and daydreams.)

So when she was with Grandma recently she started a watercolor picture of...A HORSE, OF COURSE!
(Using her little horse "Patches" as a model.)

We now have a series to hang on her bedroom wall.  :-)

Gifts and Activities for the Kids

We've never been away from the kids for 10 days, and they are still fairly young--3 and 6.

So I had a little something for them to open each day while we were in POLAND.  Many times it was an activity that they could pull out again later if they wanted.

I found this awesome CD of silly kid songs online for a good deal. 



Randall Goodgame and Andrew Peterson have knocked another one outta' the park!
Take a listen to the song samples here.

I also wanted to find some inexpensive puzzles (around 60 pieces) because both my kids love them and it challenges them to concentrate on one thing for a good amount of time.  Adam does this automatically.  For Natalia it's a skill we're working on.  ;-)

Well, I wasn't finding what I wanted for the right price, so I was delighted to discover amazon sells blank puzzles to make your own!  I confess it made me alittle giddy!  Oh dear.

I bought a pack of 12 (with 63 pieces) for $14 and used the markers I already owned to make three for each of them.  And I have extra for a rainy day!



A big bag of farm foam stickers, regular stickers, hidden picture pages I pulled out of an old Highlights magazine, and an animal mask craft that I saw online and adapted were a few of their other surprises.  All they needed to do for the masks was color the animal cutout already drawn on the cardstock, cut it out, glue it to a paper plate, punch holes in the sides and tie a piece of elastic string through each hole.





Another idea I found online was to use a snack ziplock, partially fill it with small colorful snacks like multi-colored Goldfish crackers, pinch it in half with a wooden hinged clothespin with a smiley face drawn on the tip, and form antennae with half a length of black or brown pipecleaner.  Voila!  You have a butterfly snack.  (Sorry, no picture.)

Lastly I made a simple calendar for the duration of our trip, so they could mark off the days.

I think they enjoyed everything.  I certainly had fun making them!  It's been a week since our return home, and we're still working the puzzles and listening to those awesome and silly songs!

Spring Prep

The last few weeks have been busy as we've been making calls, gathering supplies, and preparing in general for our pastured poultry operation again this year.

In less than two weeks we pick up our first batch of baby chicks. This year we're trying out an even more local hatchery, so we'll get them hours after they're born instead of day-old, and cut out the middle man (post office). It'll save some money, decrease our carbon footprint, and make life as comfortable for our chicks as quickly as possible.

Another change we're incorporating this year is a brooder box out in the pasture. A brooder is basically a transitional house for the first 2 weeks. It protects them while they're young and vulnerable, and gradually prepares them for the outdoors while their feathers grow in.

A few Saturday's ago my dad and Pete took advantage of the cold rainy weather and spent a number of hours in my parent's garage. They put some items from Dad's highly organized pack-rat collection to good use, did that male bonding thing, and at the end of the day we carted this behemoth home. I'm sure we drew a few glances driving through the square in Manheim.

The fiberglass roof allows for perpetual sunlight while the two screened doors allow for ventilation and protection from predators. And we can prop the fiberglass roof at different heights depending on how much ventilation we need.

We'll put 18" of bedding (fine wood shavings) down and use heat lamps to help maintain the warmth crucial for the chicks--they need a stable, dry, 90 degree environment for the first week especially.

Our little chickie loves the country life...so do we.  :)

This has been such a learning experience for us, and we're still learning. But it has been such a blessing to be able to grow our own meat birds. It's given us a much greater appreciation for how our food gets to the table each and every day, and deepened our respect for the animals too.

We look forward to what this year will bring...challenges and all.

Convalescing, Confetti, and Couture

We've been finding lots of ways to stay occupied this week.

Immediately, Natalia wanted to color--and she's been doing really well, considering she's a lefty and that arm is busy being elevated or iced. I am impressed by her steady concentration and neatness. We'll see when the novelty wears off...maybe it won't! :-)

The biggest challenge for me is keeping Adam from being too physical around Natalia and making sure he gets extra hugs and time with Mama. His latest fascination is making confetti. He seriously will sit at the table and quietly cut paper into tiny pieces for 1/2 hour. Not a peep outta' him! A lifesaver for the 4-5 o'clock hour when I'm preparing dinner and he typically is getting rammy. AND, he thinks it's fun to use the dustpan and brush to clean it up for Mama too! I think that's MARVELOUS!!!

Paper "doll" horses that were in a new coloring book from Grandma. (And I just had to join in on the fun with "Cousin Violet" from Downton Abbey! Who could resist?!?!)

And, finally...what to dress this girl in once we do need to leave our house, socialize, and return to our lives?!?!

Besides the fact that Natalia has been busy outgrowing her winter wardrobe already, and I didn't want to hack the left sleeve off of her shirts needlessly, here is what I did:

*Removed the seam attaching the left sleeve of the long-sleeved black, white, and brown T-shirts she already had to use for layering. (Will reattach later.)

*Purchased 3 teen XS short-sleeved T's on sale and made them into tunic tops. Rooted through my buttom and fabric stash for embellishments.

*Took in the underarm seams on 2 tank tops I had that didn't fit right to make 2 more tunic tops.

*Purchased a pair of navy leggings and a pair of dark blue jeggings also on sale. She already had brown and black leggings. (She typically wears jeans everyday, but buttons, zippers, and such are currently problematic, and all her shirts are suddenly getting shorter on her. Major growth spurts in this household.)

*Nothing wasted expense, and she now has a spring/summer warddrobe!

Oh, and I had an extra Youth T-shirt and black puffy paint on hand, so I copied one of the pictures out of her new horse coloring book, and voila! (She was wearing her favorite horse shirt when she arrived in the ER, and they had to cut the full length of the arm.)

Farm Show

I just love our local Farm Show...and that it is still all about farming.

I appreciate that each food stand sells a different thing, and that they and the carnival rides haven't taken over the feel of the place.

I enjoy being able to pick out familiar faces in the crowded streets, though it's been 16 years.

I take delight in the friendly but competitive fine arts contest...clearly I need to kick it into high gear though. My high school rival bested me!This was the first time I entered something in 16 years...you'd think he'd show some mercy. :-)

And I'm thrilled to see my kids enjoying the parade and the animals as much as I remember doing so.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This year, since Natalia had school, Adam and I met up with Melanie and her two youngest to enjoy a morning at the Farm Show. Melanie and I became friends way back in the first grade and it was a treat to spend time with her again.

A favorite every year is this table of corn and tractor toys.And of course there are lots of real tractors and things to climb on...till Mommy noticed the new sign that was up this year. :-(

The lawnmowers didn't have a sign on them. Yay!

Why We Do What We Do--Part 2

This post will explain why we've chosen to raise pastured poultry, and to have our birds processed by hand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joel Salatin's book, PASTURED POULTRY PROFITS, does a great job of illustrating not only the practical steps to take when raising your own poultry, but also the health benefits and reasons for chosing a process that breaks the mold of bigger, faster, cheaper. He outlines a farming practice that models respect for the animal, respect for the Earth God has created, and quite frankly, a lot of good common sense.

LIVING ENVIRONMENT:
We built portable pens, like the one pictured below, according to the design that Salatin describes in his book. These 10' x 12' x 2' floorless structures are framed with lumber, enclosed with chicken wire and metal sheeting to allow for both sunshine and protection/shade, with an access door that flips open on top. Pete and my uncle fashioned a customized dolly to allow one person to move the cage, whereas before it took two people because of its weight and size. Some people use tractors , but because we raise our birds on our Amish neighbor's farm, a dolly was necessary.
Moved daily to a fresh section of pasture, these birds receive fresh air, exercise, sunshine, and all the genetically modified organism-free (GMO-Free) grain they want. We also want our birds to eat as much salad (green material) as their full genetic potential will allow. And knowing that chickens won't venture far for food if they don't have to, we ensure they have a nice saladbar at their fingertips, er, feet 24/7.

How is pastured poultry different from free range chickens? Well, chicken labeled "free range" means that they had some access to the outdoors during their life. That sounds kinder and gentler, but it only means that the animal had the option of going outside--there's no guarantee that it actually did. A chicken could still be raised in a confinement house with around 10,ooo others, with one door open to the outside that it may or may not use, and still be labeled "free range".

Even smaller chicken houses that provide greater access to the pasture aren't as effective as portable pens, because, if the structure is stationary, the birds eat/scratch up the area around it and venture no further. Eventually, their supplemental grain is closer and laziness wins the day.

A portable pen also provides a growing environment with the least amount of fecal contamination possible. The birds are not sitting in their own mess day after day (which burns their skin), they don't have to continually breathe in the fecal dust generated in a confinement house setting with even the best fans and bedding set-up, AND the light, even spread of droppings over the pasture actually fertilizes and promotes it's health.

The industry says Cornish Cross broilers cannot be raised without artificial vitamin packs and antibiotics. They are right, if the birds are raised in a confinement house setting. Disease is much harder to contain, therefore the entire house receives preventative antibiotics. We do not give our chickens any medication in their feed or otherwise. The sick ones are naturally eliminated.

HOW THEY ARE PROCESSED:
When it comes to processing meat birds, the traditional mass production method is done by machines. Even with the best technology, this approach breaks open the intestines and pours fecal material all over the carcass, inside the body cavity, thereby contaminating the birds. This is why mass processed birds receive as many as 40 chlorine baths.

Processing is an inherently filthy thing, but the larger, faster, and more automatic the system, the more filthy it is.

Our birds are killed and processed individually by hand at a local butcher shop. Our butcher says you can tell alot about the quality of an animal's life when you are processing it, and he has been very affirming of our practices. To which we turned around and quickly thanked him for still providing the service he does!

THEIR DIET:
We all know that green material (salad) is high in vitamins and minerals, but low in energy. It is good for us because of the chlorophyll, the vitamins, the minerals, and the fiber, but it doesn’t fill us up for long. In comparison, grains and especially corn, are high in energy but low in vitamins and minerals. When animals are fed a high energy, low vitamin/mineral diet, they tend to have more saturated fat (cholesterol) in their meat, milk or eggs. When these same animals consume a large percentage of green material, the saturated fat of their animal proteins diminishes.

If you have a cholesterol problem, your doctor will tell you to decrease your intake of animal proteins, exercise to metabolize excess calories, eat more “salad”, and reduce stress in your life. Current mainline livestock agriculture ensures the very elements that encourage saturated fat: high calorie/low vitamin-mineral rations, sedentary lifestyle, physical and emotional stress. Whereas, the yellow fat found in pastured poultry (and grass-fed beef), and extremely orange egg yolks in pastured layer hens, reflect high levels of chlorophyll in the diet and low levels of saturated fat. And that means good things for our bodies as well!

There really is truth in the saying that, "you are what you eat."

The food in this country is shipped hundreds of miles (if not more) until it reaches our grocery store shelves, where it then sits for another week or so until it goes on sale to make room for the next truckload of stock. For us, there is just something great about eating a flavorful, juicy piece of chicken that you know is so fresh it was running around the pasture that morning!

Why We Do What We Do--Part 1

We are not purists, here at the Winkler household.

When it comes to food sources and products we use, our efforts to go green and natural have happened very gradually over the last 5 years. Slowly but surely, change has come, and hopefully we've maintained a healthy attitude of balance throughout.

Before all of this began, I confess that when I heard the word "organic" I immediately thought "food snob", and mentally dismissed the issue with a "what's the big deal anyway". My husband was the first to look into the matter, and when he said he'd like to find a source for hormone-free beef I just went along with it.

Later, we began watching documentaries and films like SUPER-SIZE ME, FOOD INC., and THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MONSANTO, reading books like PASTURED POULTRY PROFITS, and THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA, and asking questions of our farmer friends.

We learned what certain labels on our food meant, and which claims were misleading. (For example: "Hormone-Free" really only applies to beef, because, by law, poultry and pigs are not allowed to receive hormones. So when you see this claim on a package of chicken, it means absolutely nothing.)

We learned about the digestive systems of animals, the importance of "salad" in their diet, the value of certain grains, and just as important if not moreso, the way the animals are processed.

Along with all of this information, we have been conscious of the natural tendency we all have to drift to extremes. To fear, disallusionment, obsessiveness, and self-suffiency. "Self-sufficiency?" you ask. Yes. Because when we are dependant solely on ourselves for our health and well-being, we will be frustrated. Being wise stewards of our physical bodies needs to flow out of trust in our True Sustainer. Even the most healthy body is still a finite body that will fail. But, neither is that an excuse to toss the issue aside, as if the physical condition of our body and what we choose to put into it isn't also a spiritual issue.

This article, CAN NATURAL LIVING BECOME AN IDOL, addresses what TRULY is most important if you too are pursuing this kind of lifestyle. My husband and I have been conscious that our children are taking their cues from us. So how we talk about certain foods will be repeated. The challenge is to use words that truthfully and adequately explain why some foods are better for our bodies, without giving our children "ammunition" to (knowingly or unknowingly) blast others who choose differently. We want them to appreciate natural, healthy foods without a superiority complex. (We want this for ourselves!)

Things we've wrestled with:
1. When given the opportunity to host or provide a meal for someone, are we tempted to keep our "good" meat for ourselves, or do we wish to bless our friends with our best?
2. When discussing our food choices with others, do we model humility, or do we hinder fellowship because we are consciously or unconsciously forcing our views on them?
3. Are we tempted to buy "organic" at the expense of our budget? Are we tithing regularly and giving generously to those in need, or have we elevated our food budget beyond what it should be?
4. When eating a meal that someone else has provided, do we model thankfulness and tact, or do we turn up our nose and slight them by refusing what they've prepared?
5. Are we prone to fear? Has "healthy food" become our highest goal and gospel?

Some of you will read these posts and struggle with frustration, because you desire to make changes, but for whatever reason you cannot. For others, it's TOO MUCH INFORMATION--and not knowing feels better. I understand. I've been in all of these positions.

I urge you to press on. To continue to trust in God's provision, in all seasons. To be content where He has you. Natural Living will look different for all of us. We have varying bank accounts, geographical demographics, possibilities and priorities, but I hope these posts inform and encourage you.

A How-To Kind Of Post

First of all, let me offer this disclaimer. Not because I feel the need to apologize, but because I want to be sensitive to your level of...sensitivity. :-)


***The slideshow in this post has lots of pictures of raw chicken. It's an instructional post, but knowing how I felt about looking at, much less handling, raw meat before our "buying meat in bulk" journey began 5 years ago, I won't hold it against you if you decide to skip this one. I WILL whole-heartedly encourage you NOT to skip it though. I still don't enjoy the task of cutting up whole birds, but it no longer bothers me in the slightest!


I also am no expert. I know my home economics teacher had us cut up a whole chicken way back when, but I had no clue when I started this venture. Really, no clue. Now, with lots of practice under my belt, I'll share some tips I've gleaned along the way, and in a future post, share a few of the reasons why we've chosen this food source route.


I hope these posts educate and inspire you to give pastured poultry a try...or to at least buy chicken whole and fresh and local. It's alittle more work upfront, but the monetary savings can be substantial, even if you just buy what is available at your local grocery store.


Double click on the slideshow below. Captions will accompany each picture. You can adjust the speed or click pause to view frame by frame. You may also view the slideshow larger by clicking on the full screen option.

Wordless Wednesday

Goodbye Holes, Divots, and Scuffmarks!

We had just signed all the paperwork making it ours. As I walked into the kitchen of our new place 3 years ago, my eye immediately zeroed in on the grapefruit-sized, paper-bag-brown spot in the middle of the floor. The previous owner had disguised it well under a small rug during showing. Her chocolate lab apparently didn't lose sleep over such silly things as holes in flooring.



Even though the vinyl linoleum was on the thin side, throughout moving day as I was unpacking the kitchen, I found myself sidestepped the hole--my peripheral vision and the slight unevenness of the floor enough to make me feel off-balance. I've since then added to my list of things that make me feel off-kilter, but that's a whole other post and not what you signed on to read today, is it?



I've made patches to no avail. I've tried everything on the scuffmarks. The divots were beyond my control. And then I just had to make my peace with it. It was going to look ugly until we had the funds to replace it.

3 years later...


BEFORE:




Is there something wrong with me? I'm alittle giddy because of a piece of linoleum.
AFTER:




It is obvious that the kitchen walls have not been painted since the house was built 12 years ago. Now I just need to find a nice, light, neutral color to offset the white trim, backsplash, and shutters.

Almost There

As if you needed any more proof that time flies!

Less than two weeks before we start group #2.

Our Experiment

It all started with a conversation after church.

Our friends, the Kanes, recommended this book to Pete after learning he was interested in organic/grow-your-own-food types of things.

And now, it has culminated into this.

My Wordless Wednesday post gave you the first glimpse.

Yes, I did pick up a crate of baby 50 (1 day old) chicks at the post office last Wednesday. As soon as I walked in with the kids we heard the cheeping and chirping. The lady in front of us in line exclaimed, "I hear baby chickens!" I chuckled and said, "Um, those would be ours."

We are, in fact, raising chickens for the next 6 weeks. And yet, technically, we're not.

I've written before about our Amish friends who live a stone's throw away. We've made weekly visits to their farm over the last year to buy eggs (and our very own Wilbur). Well, Pete and Chris often talk about farming projects and we've enjoyed getting to know their young family.

They decided they wanted to enter into this experiment with us. We would share the cost of supplies, they would provide the pasture, we would help feed, water, and move the chicks every day, and in 6 weeks...VOILA! Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

[Know where that saying originated? The story goes that in Las Vegas
for many years the chicken dinner special was $1.79. With the standard bet being
$2, a winning bet would be enough money to buy dinner. Hence the phrase,
"Winner, winner, chicken dinner".]

But I digress...

I don't really want to think about the butchering part. I'm already contemplating what illness I can feign when that day comes. Just give it to me dead, clean, and dressed and I'll cut it up. Easy shmeezy.

For now I'd rather look at these cute little things and not think about what's down the road.

Pretty soon we can take their pen out to pasture. More pictures will follow. (Only happy ones, I promise.)

Grunt Work

My biggest project this past month was creating a new 8' x 12' flowerbed in our backyard. I use the word "our" loosely, as I've mentioned before that all of the grass/yard in our neighborhood is considered common area...no fences. Not so nice if your children are wanderers, but nice because we don't have to mow. Not so nice if you have ugly utilities right behind you, but nice if your association will let you make a pretty flowerbed to disguise said ugly utilities. (AND agree to pay for the topsoil, edging materials, and mushroom soil mulch!)


First I needed a plan. (Those of you who know me well won't be surprised that this was my favorite part. Any excuse to draw a diagram and make a list--I'm a happy girl!)


Now, I'm a novice gardener. So I also needed a good resource to help me figure out the kind of plants that would do well in full morning sun, partial/full afternoon shade, heat zone 5/6.



A couple of weeks ago I was perusing online and found this.




PERENNIALS FOR EVERY PURPOSE by Larry Hodgson



I can't say enough about this book. I found it in the used books section on amazon.com, in new condition, and I think I paid $12 with S&H. It had the information I needed, was straighforward and organized, and the author didn't shy away from saying things like, "this plant is commonly pushed in your box stores, and it has some merits, but it'll completely invade your space, so just beware." And at 502 pages this book will be something I pull out often, especially during those long winter months when I need some inspiration.



Because this project was my baby and not my hubby's, I was the "grunt". (He has had plenty else on his plate.) This meant using the claw of a hammer to remove the grass (no digging because of buried lines), corraling my youngest in a playyard when he wasn't napping, keeping my 4 yr. old from digging up everyone else's grass, muscling 50 (40 lb.) bags of topsoil, and attempting to keep the sweat out of my eyes. It was...an undertaking.



In keeping with my thrifty heritage I was delighted by friends and neighbors who shared plants with me, and by the wonderfully low prices at a local plant sale Memorial weekend. After reimbursement I will have only paid for the plants--a whoppin' $35. Not too shabby!



BEFORE:


AFTER:

(I planted: Echinacea, Shasta Daisies, Rudbeckia, Russian Sage, Liriope, Old-fashioned Primrose, Coral Bells, Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass, Maiden Grass, and 2 kinds of Hosta.)




I still need to haul some small river rocks from our neighbor's creek to put around the outside edge.

I'm looking forward to seeing everything fill in and bloom.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to prop up my feet and enjoy a glass of iced coffee.

Leaves of Change

The biggest change came a few days ago. My grandpa said goodbye to his earthly body and is now experiencing glory. I can only imagine what heaven must be like, while I cry tears of sorrow and joy.

I'm anticipating sweet time with family this weekend as we gather, both far and near, to celebrate his life and mourn the hole he's leaving behind. He used to always say, "be sweet" as we'd say goodbye after a visit. And he gave the biggest of bear hugs that left you with the lingering smell of his spicy cologne. I could always count on his regular prayers for me, for Pete, and our children. And I loved the sound of his laugh.

In the midst of my sadness though I've been enjoying the beautiful colors of autumn in our area.

The other morning the kids and I took a walk (it was 70 degrees afterall) and collected some leaves. I love decorating with natural things, and got the idea last year to preserve some leaves by dipping them in parafin wax.

If you're interested in doing the same, here is what I did.

MATERIALS:

about 30 leaves (make sure they aren't dried out and crumbly, or wet)
24 tealights
a clean, empty coffee can
a small saucepan
wax paper


DIRECTIONS:

1. Remove tealights from their tins and pull out wicks.
2. Place coffee can in saucepan, load with tealights (as many will fit), then add 1 inch of water to the pan. ***If you add the empty can to the pan of water before adding the tealights, you'll create a pocket of air underneath the can. Not what you want.
3. Use medium heat to gradually melt wax. (About 10 mins. to melt all of the tealights.) Do not boil.
4. Then, holding leaves by their stem, dip just the leaf portion in the wax, let excess drip off, then lay on wax paper until dry (about 10 mins.).

***You can also use a black permanent marker to write things you are thankful for on the leaves prior to dipping and later clip to a string with tiny clothespins to display.

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Welcome to our home.

Today I am thankful for...

...my husband and children, our home, family and friends, the sunshine and bright blue skies, the free gift of salvation and grace for each day, my heritage, that I can be a stay-at-home mommy, my husband's stable job, good nutricious food to eat, the many years and memories I had with my grandpa, and the hope of heaven.