This looks like the place....

**peering in through the cobwebs and dust bunnies**   I think this is the place?  Looks like it.  Same old blue "wallpaper" and photo of my flowerbed and look there's my list of wonderful followers and my list of favorite bloggers.  Yes, this is my Blog Home!

Ah Puffins... I hope you all found plenty to keep you occupied for the past 10 months while I was off being "too busy!"

I've missed you all so very much, but something had to give in my life and unfortunately it was this special place of writing and musing.  A girl can only do so much without imploding and I did plenty of that anyway.

I won't try to catch you all up on the past months today. Just wanted to come clean up the place a little and let you know I hope to be much more regular in my posting.
Instead I'll close with a note I wrote to my dear friend Terri (of Gentle Living blog fame) just today.  I think it sums up my life right now very well.

"Terri Dear,
I just now had time to read this message (Easter Sunday 2012) and you never cease to amaze me with your wisdom.  Through your revelation of how you had no more dreams anymore, I see myself and I am grieving.  I'm too busy, I'm too tired, somedays I barely am holding on-- it's only through the grace of God & the faith He gives me that I'm not a puddle on the floor.
I am looking ahead to a busy spring/summer/fall and even ahead to the holidays of 2012 and dread each and every "busy moment" that i know is coming.
All I want is time for myself to just 'be' and to recover from a past year of working full-time, peri-menopause, BIG stresses within my life and at work and cracks in my Christian walk.

But I have hope and faith.  I know I am not alone in this journey as a maturing woman.  I have my Heavenly Father and dear lady friends who truly understand.

And just as you saw the wisdom in writing again, I too, in the past few weeks, have missed my blogging days and plan to begin again.
Funny how God works things together like this...."

As always there is coffee in the maker and goodies on the counter.  Pour a cup and make yourself at home.  I hope this will be a cozy place for us all to rest and recharge.

Hugs
Kay~
**"You cannot persevere unless there is a trial in your life.  There can
be no victories without battles; there can be no peaks without valleys.
If you want the blessing, you must be prepared to carry the burden and
fight the battle."
~Warren W. Wiersbe~

She's Here!

Little Missie DGD3 has been borned and is a healthy 8lb 14.6oz, 22" long precious, beautiful little bundle of joy!  

Daddy says she is all about the nursing and sucking and is a very good baby.  The big sisters love her and want to hold her all the time.  Daddy tells them they will have her "forever" and they will get to hold her more.

Grammie and Pappo are desperately trying to get well (Grammie came down with congestion and coughing yesterday) and to figure out what the weather is doing where so we can either hop a plane or hop in the car and head east.  

As soon as I get the "ok" from Daddy to share photos, I will.  In the mean time, go hug on your special ones.  They'll wonder what you are up to...  ;o)

Hugs

K~

** "What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance.  They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life.  And, most importantly, cookies."  ~Rudolph Giuliani

It’s in the Small Things... Spring’s Coming

 Today I witnessed one of my favorite indictors of Spring.  

No, not the robins, although I do enjoy them.  
Not early budding flowers; it’s several weeks [months] too early for those. 
The peeper frogs are still hibernating on the pond bank.

No, this afternoon, I stood at my laundry room window and soaked in the sight of the small usually-dry creek/gully behind our house, sparkling and dancing with melting snow run-off.  **Very Big Grin**

The temps have been in the 60s this week.  The roads and driveways are all snuddy from the melting and thawing; sullen and messy.

Our little creek can be a roaring torrent later in the spring when the thunderstorms dump on us.
But in early spring, it eases my mid-winter depression with it’s joyful exuberance and reminds me once again, that my Heavenly Father’s mercies (and love) are new every morning. And winter will soon be over for another year.

(I have been praying lately for some relief from the “blahs.”  Thank you Father!) 

Sometimes you have to find the joy in the small things....

Hugs
K~

** "For every day that there is sunshine, there will be days of rain,
it's how we dance within them both that shows our love and pain."
~Joey Tolbert

Thankful Tuesday and a give-away

Thankful Tuesday--

Sunrise in October, (photo not "fixed" in anyway.)

Today I am thankful for:

Friends at church who pray when they say they will and then check up on me to see how I'm doing.

A Heavenly Father who listens to our prayers about the mundane things of life.

New Twin Calves born healthy and hardy.

Fresh banana bread.

Beautiful sunshine and gentle breezes.

An old chair made "new" looking with just some paint.

Health and strength.

Fresh air to breath on my walk.

A 10-min. doze in the sunshine.

Freedom in this country to vote.

Encouragement and giggles via Texting with a dear friend.

A heater at my back on a chilly evening.

Supper out with my Blue-eyed Farmer.

I am a very blessed lady.

And now the give-away.... I was looking back and realized I started blogging on Nov. 8, 2006.  Almost 4 years ago!  I started on Zanga and came over to Blogger 2 years ago I think.  

Anyway.... to show my appreciation to all my loyal readers, I'll be giving away an Amazon Gift Card (denomination to be determined very soon).  Just Comment here between today and 11:59 p.m. CST Nov. 8th.  I'll randomly draw a name and send out the gift card via snailmail, so be sure to give me some way of contacting you for your address.

Tell me how you found my blog.  

And if you are curious to what I was thinking that first day, click the "Random Thoughts" button on the right hand side of the page and scroll down to Nov. 8, 2006.  

Hugs!

Kay~

** "Blogs seem to have two magnetic poles, one attracting friends, the other repulsing relatives."  ~Robert Brault

Another Blue Chair

 We'll just keep that spot of paint on the picnic table our little secret, ok?  Blue-eyed Farmer was not keen on my using the table as a painting station as it was.  Opps....  sorry Honey!

I started painting the final wicker chair yesterday.  I've given up on the loveseat.  It is in really, really bad shape and I would hate to have some unsuspecting guest fall through when sitting on it.  So it'll be hotdog roasting fodder sometime soon.  Ya'll Come!

And yes all of my wicker is frayed and shabby looking.  Hey!  I have yard/barn cats who do not understand that there is a whole farm of wood/trees/posts/etc... to sharpen their claws on...... just like they can't figure out that my lawn is NOT a litter box and they could use our entire 80 acres for a bathroom... just leave my lawn alone!!   

Oh sorry... what were we talking about??  Oh yes, my chairs... they are a bit frayed and tattered, but then 2 of them live outside for 3 seasons and this one did until we enclosed the porch.  They've had a hard life, but like all of us, a little "paint" and "color" hides a multitude of imperfections (I know... it's "sins." but I would rather confess my sins than hide them.)

 

As I was saying... I started painting the last chair.  This is the nicest of the three and obviously not a sibling to the other 2.  I got this at a yard sale long time ago.  It was painted tan once before when I was in denial about my love of color.  (Sorry Neutral Lovers, whose homes are mono-chromatic... it's soooo not me!  Makes me depressed, not calm and mellow.)

Anyway.... It was painted tan and since the other 2 are blue, this one had to be blue too.  It told me so.  What?!   Your furniture, quilts, walls, don't tell you what color they want to be?  That's a shame.  Life is much more fun that way.  And I can't be blamed if something clashes.  It wasn't MY idea...  

So.... even though these three "cousins' don't share the same space, they are now more closely related by color.  I think they harmonize very well, don't you?

I'm looking forward to next spring when I open the shed doors and reveal this surprise of BLUE!  For I know I'll forget I painted them and it'll be "WOW!  Lookie at these!"  My life is made up of these kinds of brain lapses turned into happy blessings!

So... what you are you painting today, Puffins?  Or are you one of those Mono-chromatic lovers... share your reasons/love.  Or maybe you listen to your possessions talk to you too... quilts and fabric seem to be the most talkative... share with us.  :o)

Happy Weekend!!

Hugs,

K~

** "I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colors.  I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns."  ~Winston Churchill

30 years ago today

Sweetie, I'd do all again in a heartbeat. 

I love you and can't wait to see what the next 30 years brings us.

Hugs,
K~

"Wasn't marriage, like life, unstimulating and unprofitable and somewhat empty when too well ordered and protected and guarded.  
Wasn't it finer, more splendid, more nourishing, when it was, like life itself, 
a mixture of the sordid and the magnificent; 
of mud and stars; 
of earth and flowers; 
of love and hate and laughter and tears and ugliness and beauty and hurt."  
~Edna Ferber, Show Boat, 1926

It was a Simple Pleasures Saturday.

Hi Puffins... how was your Saturday?  I hope you had a great one.  Here on the Prairie it was one of those far-too-few Absolutely Gorgeous Days!  Light breezes, sunshine, a few clouds rolling past, warm and it was Saturday, which is always nice.

After a very nice date-night with my Blue-eyed Farmer, it was nice to have a day to just be here and work.  (Date night?  Menards for chore gloves, garbage bags and 4/$1 reusable shopping bags.  Then Carlos O'Kelly's for nachos and a Gold Margarita.  Oh Yum Baby!)

After a slowish start (gotta have my coffee you know),  I decided I am tired of being tired and of course eating & drinking last night didn't help my outlook of my "Look."  With the pool being put away for the winter, I knew it was time to start a new exercise habit.  Hello Wii Fit!  :oD

It took me 30 mins to get going... with not being sure how to get the tv, satellite and Wii all coordinated, then the balance board had low batteries, the B-e F needed something... (AAAYYYyyyyy), but  once I did, it was great fun (mostly) again.  And I liked that my Wii Fit age is 38 yo.  Yeah baby!
I did a varied routine of some yoga, some strengthening/Pilates, the Hula Hoop game and a 3 min run (not my favorite).  Then I reprogrammed a yoga routine for weekdays when I'll be in more of a hurry.

After a shower, I did laundry, more deeply cleaned the bath (than I usually do), ran the dishwasher, hung out clothes, made lunch, made cookies, did "good" laundry and then I played.

I have 3 wicker chairs and 1 love seat in various stages of falling-apart-ness.  The best one is on my front porch and the rest have been languishing outside for the past few summers.  I finally decided to go with my muse and replicate this chair with what I had.

Here's the before:

And here is after: (they look a little unevenly painted as I ran out of each color.  Another can each and they'll be done.)

Now I need to find another shade of blue for the other two pieces.

I spray painted some smaller items too, but I can't show you or tell you about them just yet.  Soon.... (it's a secret.)

And after all that messy fun, I cleaned up (again) and helped Mr. Farmer with gates as he got hay for the calves.  Then I dug some Yukon Gold potatoes for dinner, pulled a few onions, picked my 2 ripening, volunteer Brandywine tomatoes, and picked some red Swiss Chard.  Grilled some steaks and acorn squash (yes, really... it was yum!).  Nuked the chard.  Cooked the potatoes and we were good as gold.  The Amish sugar cookies were dessert.

And now I'm relaxing with a glass of Merlot and enjoying the quiet breezes coming in the window.  A few blog posts to read and a shower and I'll be sleeping like a baby.

I hope you all are settled in and relaxing too.  And rejoice!  Tomorrow's Sunday!!

Hugs,

K~

** "We have worked at full speed since May. And that is I'm persuaded the root and source and origin of all health and happiness, provided of course that one rides work as a man rides a great horse, in a spirited and independent way; not a drudge, but a man with spurs to his heels." (Writing in her journal about her life as a publisher and writer.)-- Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) English Writer

Our Prairie

Did you notice I updated the look of my blog? The green & tan background were so 2009. lol

The photo is looking north from our "other" farm, which we call "The 80", because it is 80 acres of farm ground and some native prairie grasses and 2 creek/timber areas. You can see one of the prairie fields in the above photo.

Notice the rolling hills. We live on the western edge of the glacier till from the last ice age (if you believe that) or more likely, from the climate change after THE Flood (which is my chosen belief.)

"The thick green lines in the east mark the western limit of the great Pleistocene glaciers. In these areas glacial till overlies the old rock: blue clay, then thick beds of loose gravel and boulders, with occasional buried soils where once forests grew."
(Copyright [2010] by Andrew Alden, geology.about.com, reproduced under educational fair use.)

Anyway, we live in the rolling hills, with some clay soil, some good, dark bottom ground, LOTS of rocks in some areas, creeks and woodlands in the low areas, grass on the steep hill sides.

It may not be mile-long flat row-crop land, but I think it's wonderfully diverse and beautiful.

...says the Prairie Chick....

Hugs,
K~

"He best expressed his preference for his wild homestead by saying that his Bible seemed truer to him there.
"If one stood ... and looked off at the rough land, the smiling sky, the curly grass white in the hot sunlight;
"if one listened to the rapturous song of the lark, the drumming of the quail, the burr of the locust against that vast silence, one understood what Ivar mean." O Pioneers! Willa Cather

The good and the bad

Let's start with the bad.... Both the Farmer and his Wife battling head/chest colds.

Good.... We're slowly getting over them. Zicam is a very good thing.

Good.... First calves of the 2010 season.

Bad.... Born on a COLD evening.

Good.... Twins & easily gotten to the barn with mama.

Very bad.... both contracted something and have died. Second after spending 2.5 days in the mudroom and having scours.
Very bad.... cleaning up the scours mess on Valentine's morning while sick with a bad cold. (or maybe that's a "good" since I couldn't breath very well.)

More bad.... blizzard warnings for Valentine's Day morning.

Good.... we were stuck at home and were safe and sound.

Good.... Taxes are done and away.

Good.... The sun shone today.

Good.... Cinnamon rolls are on their final rise.

Bad... My rocker chick was not in the Final 24 on American Idol. (Yes, I know, I'm pathetic that way.)

Good... Found 4 old high school friends on Facebook and the wife of a fifth.

Very Good.... at least 6 new babies or pregnant mommys in my circle of friends.

Good... Packages of books, new shoes, a new LBD and a new eye-liner that advances and works great for me.

Bad (or not as good).... new shoes are not cute, but functional. Winter/mud/snow means warm, sturdy shoes, not cute shoes.

VERY Good... Almighty God is still on His Throne and I am still saved, forgiven and free!

'Nuff said!

K~

Day 3 of Winter Storm #3-- Getting Restless

Blog Jan 8

Day 3 of the January Blizzard/Snow-In.... The natives are getting restless. Going out into the frigid temperatures doesn’t faze the Farmer anymore. The Farmer’s Wife has even succumb to doing farm bookwork as a diversion from looking out at all the snow, all the same snow... that never melts.

Of course I’m just joking, mostly...

We are still snow-bound. Watching for the snowplow has become one of our new pass-times. We are also passing the time by catching up on projects. Farmer-dear continues to do all the chores alone. The ice on the pond is still 15” thick.

Today he tore out the old lazy susan from under the counter in the kitchen. The same cupboard that the mice use as their “condo.” He had given me a glide-out trash can for Christmas (I know. lol) to go in this cupboard. We’ll see how it works if (when) the mice get in again.

While he’s been busy with chores and tools, I’ve been catching up on the farm bookwork. I’m 90% done with 2009! As I’m filing receipts, I’ve been fine-tuning my files so we can find specific items more easily.

I also did a little sewing on the autumn table runner. It is my first Stash Busting project for 2010. My goal this year is to see how many projects I can complete or make entirely from my stash. I have enough fabric, patterns, books, batting, backing, embellishments, thread, rulers, and sewing machines, that I shouldn’t have to buy anything this year. That doesn’t mean, I won’t want to buy some new fabric. *grin*

I also tried a new whole grain bread recipe today from Cook’s Illustrated. It was not a success. I’m not sure if it’s because I got interrupted several times in the process of mixing up the dough or if my home-milled wheat flour absorbs more liquid than purchased whole wheat flour? The recipe made two loaves but the dough was very dense from the start, and the loaves never really raised well and baked into bricks. I guess the birds will be happy for a few days. I’ll try the recipe again when I get more 7-grain hot cereal.

Another diversion to the snow and cold has been the Wii. This evening I tried Bowling for the first time. I don’t want to brag, but let’s just say, in this household, Women Rule at Wii Bowling!

So I can’t say we’re bored, exactly; but we are getting a little stir-crazy. We are both so very thankful for our warm home, our shelter and refuge, heat, food and all the entertainment we have available. And we’ll be happy to see other real live people and do something besides chores, work, being home. The Big City calls loudly.

But in the mean time, we’ll just continue on. If you don’t see us by June, someone send in the Mounties!

Hugs!
K~

** Most people are about as happy
as they make their minds up to be.
- Abraham Lincoln

Winter Storm #3 report

Blog 1/6/10

Here we go again Dear Readers. Winter Storm #3! We received about 4” (guessing here, as _I’m_ not going out there to measure!) of new snow and now the howling winds of 30-40 mph have kicked in. We are being warned of dangerous wind-chill temperatures. As in -30° and lower. All the area schools are closed, the highways are closed and snowplows will not be out on the country roads until the wind dies down.

But on a happy note, my Farmer and I are safe and warm. Ds2 is safe in the city. The power is on and we have plenty of propane and the infrared heater is going. As a precaution, Farmer-dear had the generator fixed, we have kerosene and that heater in the garage nearby. We have 5 gal of drinking water in containers, and a 5-gal bucket of “flushing water” if needed.

I’m still doing the Pantry Challenge, so while I did get a very few groceries on Monday, I did not go into a panic yesterday to get ready for the storm. I sat and thought of what I could possibly need if we were home-bound for several days (which we will be).

I have on hand the following: Milk, Bread & the ingredients to make more, Coffee and Juice, Soup, at least 2 dozen Eggs, a variety of Meat in the freezers, lots of canned goods and pasta, cereals and dry goods in the pantry and prepared dessert items in the pantry & freezers.

We have some produce and I purposely did not buy more so we would eat up what we have in the fridge. The bag salad is about gone, but we have some shredded lettuce for tacos or sandwiches. There are carrots, and if they are too limp for raw eating, will be fine cooked or juiced. There is a pound each of apples and oranges. I need to check on the peppers and zucchini that are in there too. They were fine last weekend but now, who knows. I may be cooking them and pureeing to put into meatloaf or soup.

I thought about foods that we could eat if the power did go out, things like protein bars, canned soups and mixes we could heat over the heater. Nuts and the fruit also.

I also mentally double-checked on dish soap, laundry soap, toilet paper and other personal hygiene items.

And then I thought about how we will keep our minds and bodies occupied. Of course there are the twice (or more) daily chores that we have for the cattle and cats. That gets us outside whether we want to go or not.
Farmer-dear bought me/us a Wii for Christmas. He has been playing that in the evenings and I join in occasionally.
I also stopped by the public library on Tuesday and brought home 5 books for me. I have a large personal library here at home, but I also want to patronize the public library.

Also in the entertainment department, we have our satellite tv and several dvds. We normally have our internet connection but today we are experiencing “outages.” I still have over 1500 emails from my email groups to read (food groups that are timely whenever I read them) and many quilt/craft patterns and photos to organize.
And of course I have my HUGE fabric stash and sewing machines for quilting downstairs.

All in all, I don’t think we’ll starve or be bored.

So, dear Readers... if you were snow-bound for 3-4 days, right now; would you be prepared? For those of you in warm climates, (who I am trying to not envy too much today), are you ready for hurricane, wild fire evacuation or high smog alert season?

What are the top 5 items you have to have to be happy? (Besides family & pets, basic food/drink, heat/cool & shelter)

My top 5:
1. Coffee with half-n-half
2. Some kind of dessert or means to make it
3. SmartWool socks! (I hate cold feet.)
4. A book or two to read.
5. Some way to play cds or iTunes or the radio

Looking forward to reading your comments on how you are prepared and what would make you happy in a storm.

Hugs!
K~

** Bundle me up in an old, worn quilt with hand-sewn stitches,
and soft cotton batting. Place a book on my lap,
a cup of tea in my hand, a light by my side,
and leave me in a world of rest and delight.
~Roy Lessin

Sunday Stills

It was a foggy day. Now it's a freezing mist/drizzle evening. Winter in Nebraska....







But despite the cold and snow, there is still a little happiness and color in our lives.




Hugs
K~

I'm not giving up my

MERRY CHRISTMAS

joy to anyone.

But if I know of someone that celebrates another holiday
during this time of year, I will be glad to wish them
whatever holiday they want.
Just tell me what it is and I'll shout it to the world
and wish you a grand celebration.

Wordless Wednesday & Harvest update

We finished Harvest 2009 this evening. Thank you Father, for the bountiful harvest, with which You blessed us!

Hugs,
Kay~

** "Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
ALL Is Safely Gathered In, ere the winter storms begin."

I love Red & White!

Is this not just the cutest thing?!! My dear, sweet, much-loved "Cyber-cousin" Maggie & dh Bill repainted and reupholstered this adorable rocking chair pin cushion for me. And then sent it here all the way from their home on an island off the coast of Maine.

Thank you, Thank You, Thank YOU! dear Maggie-Mine. I squealed with delight when I first saw it and I can't stop grinning. Now I'm gonna go cry some happy, "I'm loved" tears.

K~


** "It is a good thing to be rich,
it is a good thing to be strong,
but it is a better thing to be beloved of many friends."
~~Euripides (480-406 BC) Greek Playwright

In my Kitchen today....

Any guesses what I'm doing today?

I have a draft entru waiting for me to edit and post. Hopefully this week. After I sing the "Ode to Sweet Corn." ;o)


".... Sweet corn: the best thing in life. I grew up in a house about a hundred feet from a cornfield, and every evening we'd put the water on to boil, then pick the corn and husk it as we walked rapidly toward the house and chuck it in and dish up the chicken and say a prayer and out came the corn, on went the butter and salt, eight minutes flat from stalk to mouth, and when you ate sweet corn, life had nothing better to offer. You'd been to the top. That's how it'll be in heaven, I'm sure. But I'm not sure we'll have chicken.

We praise you Lord for this good good life
And praise for the day we were born
And the gifts you have given including this heaven-Ly fresh sweet corn. "

**Garrison Keillor May, 2007


Hugs
Kay~

God works

It is an amazing thing to see God working.


It is astonishing to be in the midst of God's working.

It is humbling to have God work in your own life,

that the Creator of the Universe,

the Almighty God

would hear our prayers and answer them in a loving, wonderful way.


What Satan meant to wound and defeat me, God used to comfort and love me.

I am humbled and amazed.

K~


** Psalm 121 (my life verse)

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

when it happens

This has been my life this week. Alot of face-first into the emotional brickwall.

It smarts!


But I am not defeated, I will not despair and my soul will not shrink. I'm being tested and tried and I hope I am not found wanting.

The evil one always knows our weak parts and he knows mine is relationships. I am remembering my greatest Friend and my dearest Love will never leave me nor forsake me. As long as I keep my eyes & heart on Him, I can withstand everything thrown at me.

I need to remember I'm being molded and crafted and I cannot blame and I have to take my eyes off me and my pain. I need to look past the immediate and try to be who Christ would have me be, if I truly am His follower.

But, it's still painful to be thrown against that wall time and time again.

Looking forward to worshiping tomorrow!

Hugs,
Kay~

PS Just so no-one misinterprets this.... Farmer-dear and I are fine! It's other things.

Longing.....

This touched me deeply today. Thank you Pastor! ( http://aaronhouseholder.blogspot.com/ )

"You yearn for a holy place because the stench of your unholiness, your un-separateness, your common, petty guile and smallness, is sometimes so stark that you would sooner go without air than breathe it in. You yearn for a holy place even if you think you may be damned, because to be in it is to know, only fleetingly, only with darkened gaze, that there is something more than you and the things that are so very much like you.

Your heart and flesh cry out for a space that is more than just a meeting house for commemoration and remembrance and symbols. You are desperate for a space where the God who is a love you can scarcely think on waits to commune with your pale, quavering soul. A place that is holy because it embraces the great mystery of death begetting life, of the tomb containing joy, of sorrow and hope intertwined in a world that would deny you your full portion of both.

You are desperate for the soft spilling light of sun pouring through stained glass, for the rustle of your clothes as you kneel, for the cross by which even someone like you might be healed, for the trembling prayer, the whispered blessing. You cry out for a place that will remain holy even after you have been in it. A place so holy that you pose no threat to it, so holy that it can embrace you in all your smallness and be no smaller itself, no less clean nor true nor solid."

Praying for Revival!
K~

The Revival Hymn
**"The world out there is not waiting for a new definition of Christianity,
it's waiting for a new DEMONSTRATION of Christianity!" -Paris Reidhead, preacher from the 30s-40s
The Revival Hymn Video Created by Host at Sermonindex.ne

Frugal Friday

Happy First Day of Spring, Dear Readers,
I hope it is springing wherever you are (ok- falling into Autumn for any "down-under." )

In the Prairie Garden:
Plants are popping up all over on the Farm. Iris, day lilies, Surprise Lilies (which really are a surprise, because I thought they died last winter!), chives and leaves on some of the trees.
When the weather forecasters start saying "thunderstorms" instead of blizzards, I get hopeful. But I haven't heard the peeper frogs yet, so it's not really Spring to me.

In the Farm Barnyard:
There are still baby calves being born here. Another heifer just 2 days ago and 4 new mamas in a temporary pen by the south barn are very close. They are sequestered off from the rest until after they calve, to avoid injury while everyone reestablishes the herd pecking order. And to keep an eye on them when they calve. Since they are new to us, we want to be sure they do alright and have an easy time during delivery.

In the Farm Kitchen
There have been a lot of good sales & discontinued bargains in the past several weeks.

Last week I went to the thrift store, the farm store and took advantage of sales on kitchen staples.

My latest Thrift Store finds. (See the photo above.)

• 2 long-sleeved work shirts for Farmer-dear. 50% tag price: $1.50 & $1
• 3 name brand-tops for me: $1.75, $3, $2.50
• 1 Modular Mate Tuppeware™ container with a pour spout lid: $1 (apprx. $11 new)!
• 1 dvd "A Prairie Home Companion": $2.50
• 4 zippers (for making more Humbug Bags): 40¢
• 1 woven leather purse: $3.50

Total: $17.25 before tax. (savings: $21 on just the things I knew the original prices or the percentage off at the thrift store. I'm not sure what the original price would have been on the tops for me & the purse, so the savings should be even more.)

City Grocery Store Sales

• 2 packages of discontinued coffee pods $2 from $4.89
• 2 packages Farmland Bacon, $2.50 each, normally over $4
• 3 each of Mozzarella, Cheddar & Parmesan store-brand, 8oz Shredded Cheese, .99!!! Typical sale price is around $1.69. Even the parmesan was on sale. I have never seen that variety on this kind of sale. :o)
• 4 avocados .99 each, normally $1.34
• Store-brand face cleanser on clearance for $2, normal price $3.58 and national brand over $6. I bought all 5 on the shelf.

Total: $29 (savings: $22.58)

From there it was to Wal-mart to price match and I found some clearance bargains.

• 3 twill pillows on clearance for the front porch chairs: $2 each (were $7)
• 2 tops for me, on clearence: $3 & $4 (notice this is about what I paid at the thrift store; original prices were $11 and $8)
• 2 Shout Color Catchers (clearance) $3.50 ea (were $4.32 ea, saving 82¢ x 2)
• 4- 2 litre bottles, Pepsi products: 88¢ each (were $1.48, savings 60¢ x 4)
• 1- 1/2-gal milk: 99¢, (apprx savings - 50¢)
• 1 Barefoot wine: $3.99 (apprx savings $2.)

Total: $28.50 (savings $33.54)

Then to the local Farm Store where they were having 13% off everything in the store to "celebrate" Friday the 13th, in addition to their in-store sale of 20%-off seeds.
I got my early Spring garden seeds:

• 2 kinds of radishes,
• 2 kinds of lettuce,
• 2 Swiss chard and
• 2 spinach.

Total: $12.46 (savings: $4.74)


Other stocking-up sales at the City Grocery Store were:

• Name brand Sour Cream: 98¢ (2)
• Name brand Butter: $1.48 (4)
• Store brand soda: $2.50 (2)

Total: $12.88 (~savings: $5.40)

And at our local Grocery Store:

• Store brand Half & half: 79¢ (2)
• Store brand Whipped Topping: 59¢ (1 case - 18 ct)
• Store brand Chili Beans & Kidney Beans: 60¢ (9 total)
• Scallions: 2 bunches/79¢
• Bagged Radishes: 99¢
• Frozen French Fries: $1.79 (2)

Total: $25.29 (~savings: $15.)


Yesterday's bargains were nothing to scoff at either:

These were all price matched at Wal-mart as I don't get to Walgreens, CVS, Pamida or Target all that often. It means an extra trip to the city for me. I don't like Wal-mart, but I do like their price-matching. (hypocritical, isn't it? lol)

• Yoplait yogurt: 50¢ (20- 10 for a friend)
• Pantene Expressions Shampoo & Conditioner: $4.50 each (1 each) & $1.00-off coupon
• Bic Soleil Razors 4-pack: 2/$8 (2 packs) & $2.00-off coupon
• Opti-Free Replenish Contact Solution: 2/$14 (2 packages) & $1.00-off coupon
• Neosporin Ointment: $3.50 (1) & $1.00-off coupon
• Band-aids: $3.50 (1) & $1.00-off coupon

Total: $58 (~savings: $14.50 with coupons)

Total so far for the month: $183.38 (~savings: $116.77) Wow!! I didn't realize it was so much!

I'm sure some of you are looking at that list and wondering why in the world I need 18 containers of whipped topping or 10+ Yoplait yogurts or 4 pounds of butter (& actually I bought more in the last month, that isn't recorded here.)

One reason, I live in the country. 10 miles from the nearest grocery store &/or Wal-mart. If I run out an ingredient in the middle of a recipe, I have to make-do or borrow from a neighbor. My mother-in-law taught me the wisdom in keeping a well-stocked pantry & freezer.

Another reason, it just makes good economic sense. I would much rather spend a bit and stock up on sale items, than have to pay full-price later on.
I watch and compare prices on tolietries & first aid items; cheese, butter, yogurt; canned goods; flour, sugar & spices; bacon and produce. These are all on my regular grocery list. I don't have a comparison price book like some do. I know 8oz of cheese is a good sale at $1.60 or less and that yogurt goes to 50¢ each quite often. I also know that there will be case-lot sales on canned veggies & fruits, twice a year; spring and fall and that baking items will go on a deep price reduction right before Thanksgiving.

With all these sales, and with butchering a beef & hog in the next 2 months; we should not have to buy much for staples until late summer. I'm keeping my eyes open for pasta sales and some summer salad ingredients. Also, I'll be buying organic chickens again in either June or September.
That leaves just weekly dairy and produce specials to watch (mostly fruit once my garden starts producing). It's going to be interesting to see how low my food totals can go.

And another 6 weeks and we won't have anymore propane fills. I'll be able to calculate how much our infrared heater saved us in propane costs and compare that to the difference in our electric bills from last year.

Every extra penny saved helps in these tough times. We are so blessed here on the Prairie Farm.

How is your grocery buying being affected these days? What are some of your recent savings? I'd love to hear about them. Leave me a comment about that or anything you are doing to be frugal.

And now I'm off to find some breakfast,
Hugs!
Kay~

** "With rushing winds and gloomy skies;

The dark and stubborn Winter dies.

Far-off, unseen, Spring faintly cries;

Bidding her earliest child arise;
March!"
~~ Bayard Taylor

Blessings

Season of Peace



Random Thoughts on Blessings....

We have "enough"...
more than enough, in fact.

God has blessed us....
so much....

...too much?

Who are we to question God's blessings?
The Bible tells us God loves us as a Daddy loves His children.
Who of us doesn't want to bless our children?


Christmas Robin and Friends



We wonder still...
why us...

so much...

and some others,
not so much?

Why Lord?



And so, we say....


"Thank You Father,
for blessing us....

every day....

all the time...

in every way.

Never failing.


Christmas Tree



Please show us how we can bless others.
Help us to follow Your example."


Children Take Christmas Gifts to Underprivileged Villagers



We pray blessings on you, my Dear Readers,
this holiday season
and every day throughout the year.



Merry Christmas.


The Nativity





Kay, Farmer-Man and the Family


Christmas Carolers