It's time for a change....

I'm post dating this, so scroll down for newest posts!!

We'll be moving soon (soon, I hope). Life will no longer be in Small Town Wyoming. So now I've got a decision to make. I plan on renaming the blog..... but I'm not sure what. I'm asking your help. Here is what I've come up with so far:

> Ms. Wicked With... (Spray Paint, a Pan & a Garden Spade) - I think this encompasses a lot of what I do- gardening, crafting, thrifting, cooking.

> Martha Stewart Who? - Sebastion said that to me yesterday morning. "Martha Stewart who? I just want to know why YOU'RE not famous, Mom???"

> Growing Kids, Food & Ideas - See description for Ms. Wicked With ^^

> Primitive Momma, Vintage Wife - Don't know.... Just came to me.

> Hippie Yuppie Earth Freak - Actually this is what I've been dubbed (though it's more like Hippieyuppieearthfreak), because I'm a creamy crunchy Momma. Not sure if I'm serious about this one, though, LOL

Any thoughts? I've made a poll to your left (<< That way :D ). PLEASE VOTE!!

Life Lately...

I wasn't sure what to title this post, but it's been several months in the making. We've been so busy around here lately, so many new things, so many changes. The end of last summer, I took on a very part time job. I also decided that when my daycare girl went to school, I would no longer be watching children on a long-term/permanent basis. School began the end of August & my hours at my job increased. In November I began another rep job. December brought an unpaid promotion to Hubba, where he took over the department in which I was working. Policy states that family cannot work directly for each other, so I put in my notice, and as of now, I am just working my rep jobs.

This is totally ok, though, as we also decided to put our house on the market. Repairing, redecorating & renovating a house to stage for market is a full-plus-overtime job, and it can be very overwhelming. By leaving my job, I have freed up 20 hours of my week. The kids are so happy to have me home again, too. It was surprising that even my teenage boy was unhappy with me working. He dealt with it, because he is old enough to understand, but he thinks me not working there anymore is like sliced bread, LOL.

I've been logging some of our progress on facebook, and you can view the pictures here.

Christmas was an amazing time. We spent it, just the 5 of us, at home. The boys were amazingly spoiled. We got a Wii for the family & 2 of the boys got a PSP & a Nintendo DS Lite. Keenan celebrated his birthday a week ago, & he also got a DS for his birthday.

This past Saturday I went to a freezer cooking class, aka Once-a-month-cooking (OAMC). Everyone I told about the class ahead of time laughed at me. Apparently I don't need cooking classes. I know I don't need it, but I had this fluky moment of "I WANT to do this." It was my first Saturday as a "free woman." I used the class for many reasons- weaning off of having something to do on Saturday, fellowship with like-minded people but mainly for inspiration. See, I love OAMC, but hadn't done it in a while. Knowing the overwhelming things happening in our lives right now, I went for inspiration. We need freezer meals right now. We need to know that there are meals ready for us just as quickly as pizza would arrive on our doorstep.

Sure enough, the inspiring part kicked in, and this past Tuesday I added 16 family meals to the freezer, along with 9 individual meals for Hubba to take to work. I love opening the freezer & seeing so many wonderful options in there. I love opening the freezer & thinking- tonight we will NOT order pizza.

So now I've freed up a couple of things to help with our transition- 20 hours a week & a few meals for the super busy days. We have so much to do. Some days I walk around in circles, because I don't know where to begin that day. One of our biggest issues is storage. When staging a house, you can't have boxes stacked everywhere. 2 of the storage properties I've called are full, and another hasn't returned my phone calls. Another place I was looking into, I found out, has horse stalls (more or less), so there's no privacy or security (yeah I thought "HUH?" too!). It's time to think outside the box on this one, and I have a couple plans.

So that's what's going on here in a very.small.nutshell. I don't have a lot of time, so I'll sign off with this for now, and I hope to "see" you all soon!

This Christmas....

Today I am an emotional wreck. There are many loved ones who are suffering this Christmas season. I am so sad that so many people are hurting today and during the season of Christ & the beginning of His sacrificial life. We've (my family & I) had such a rough year & I've actually been "in the spirit." After the year we've had, this is the first time this year I've REALLY had something to look forward to. Something big- family, food, giving. The only thing missing are those we've lost, and those we're not near right now.

Then today comes & I keep welling up in tears. It dawned on me a few minutes ago why. I'm excited about Christmas this year, but at the same rate, I feel bad because I know my parents are having a hard time, and at the same time, I'm homesick today. I miss our families.

This year, we've tried to do for others. We've plucked paper angels off the trees at the stores in hopes that a child with little or nothing would smile on Christmas morning. We took food on Thanksgiving to an exchange student (that is now here on a work visa) from Brazil. He hasn't been home, nor has he seen his family in almost 2 years. We're planning on taking him breakfast on Christmas morning as well.

I wish everyone could feel the Joy I have had in my heart, yet I wish the roller coaster I'm on would come to a stop, so that *I* can be Joyful again. I'm praying for those that are hurting.

I pray that all of you that read this, for all those that we love- you have a very blessed Christmas. Know that I am praying for you.

Life these days

Still haven't found my camera cord, but I'm hoping that will change soon :D I've got the primer coat done on the downstairs, and that means I'm ready for the top coat. Once I get that done, we'll begin setting up one end of the big room as our homeschool area. The other end will likely still be empty. We're hoping to get flooring in the next 1-2 months max. We'll floor the empty end of the room, then move the HS stuff to that end & finish in the other end.Tomorrow, I start my new again job. Last year I worked for the same company as Hubba. It was just a couple of hours a night, a few nights a week. It was more or less on my own schedule. I basically just stocked shelves, faced & fronted the store & did the merchandising. I enjoyed that it was in the evenings, and I didn't have to leave my kids home all day. I was presented with the same opportunity again a couple of weeks ago, but this time in a different dept. I'll have the same "hours," the same boss, the same job. I decided that when the girls started school, I'd no longer be watching children. It's going to be less than time & cost effective.

Now, don't get me wrong. If a daycare charge fell into my lap that was under school age, I'd likely care for them. I don't see that happening. One of my stipulations, and the one everyone seems to have a problem with, is that I no longer wait until the end of the week, pay period or month. I've been ripped off 3 times by 3 different families, and I'm out over $100. I figure if they're not willing to pay me up front, they're not willing o pay me at all. I say this because it's not like they have to have $200 up front for a full week or 2. I am ok with them paying up front on a DAILY basis. That typically only runs $20-25 at the most.So, anyway, it will be nice to work for this lady again. I did the math. I can earn more after taxes in less then 1/4th of the time that I do with one daycare charge.

Seb & Hubba have spent this past week in hunter safety classes. They were going from 6-9 M-F & then they did the shooting range Sat. morning 8:30-11:30. They are both now certified to "hunt safely." I'm so proud of both of them. Hubba got 100% on his final test. The instructor said that he's only the 2nd *man* that has scored 100%. Women apparently breeze through the test & scoree 100, but men don't typically score 100. Seb on the other hand got a 96%. PHENOM for a boy his age (even if that's only MY mom opinion, LOL). Next year, we want to sign Tris up for the classes & Kee the following year.

I asked Hubba to get a couple pics at the range. These are taken under a cover with a cell, so the picture quality isn't great (ok, it downright sucks). Here are a couple of Seb:



A friend of ours will be taking Seb hunting this year, even if Hubba can't always go. We're all pretty excited about this new chapter in our life.

I'm also praying for a HARD freeze in our bodies of water here. This past winter, we were supposed to go ice fishing (myself & aforementioned friend), but the water didn't freeze hard enough. If we get a hard freeze, we're aiming to do it this year!

Otherwise, life is good. The animals are doing well, the garden is ding well, all things considered.

God is a wonderful God!!

A little update

Still can't find the camera cord, but lately we have been so busy. We've been gardening, raising chickens & rabbits and doing all sorts of other things around the mini-stead. Since May 23rd, our downstairs still hasn't been the same. Most of our things from down there are still in the garage. Instead of bringing it in, we decided this would be a good opportunity to finish it. It's been drywall since we moved in almost 2 years ago. We've had a friend over showing us how to properly drywall & tomorrow we are hoping to get the bulk of it done. Today was spent moving things from the big room, hanging plastic & removing hardware from the walls.

Anyhoo, I'm hoping my cord shows up soon, so I can show you all the neat things we've been doing.

Be blessed!

Seminoe Reservoir, N Platte arm & beautiful Wyoming scenery & sky

My week long "internet sabbatical" in review

"A sabbatical is a period away from your normal routine - a time to immerse yourself in a different environment, a chance to see your life from a different perspective"

This past week I have taken time away from the internet to refocus & play a little game of catch up. I did get online each day to check emails, as that's how my jobs are doled out & how I head up the food co-op & homeschool group. I went into this week knowing that there was no way I could catch up 100%, but I wanted to begin.This is only part of the week. I have another post lined up with more pics & more stuff that we did. I also plan on catching up on more stuff over the weekend & & next week.

After the year I've had, I have gotten so far behind in...... well, everything. My home has taken a hit. Our homeschooling has taken a hit. The garden, the animals & "homestead" projects.... all have taken a hit. As a friend of mine said "it's been an armpit of a year."

So, I decided to shower my year, add some deodorant & pray for the best......Here is my week in review:

We spent Monday at the lake with some people we know. I think I found a true & good friend. They also helped BIG time when we had the sewage flood. I got burned horribly on my lower shins. We had fried chicken & chips & cake, and we fished. The kids got to go 4-wheelin'! It was a blast!



I got my bathroom back on Tuesday..... The sanitation crew came & took their last 3 fans & the dehumidifier



More importantly, I got my bedroom back!!! I love my bed!

I made another batch of mayo. This stuff is the bestest!

I used the delicious mayo to make a batch of coleslaw

I made a batch of homemade spaghetti sauce

We enjoyed that sauce with pasta, spinach salads & watermelon....

I started a batch of kraut in my new-to-me glazed crock. I got it for 2 bucks at a yard sale last weekend!

I made time to enjoy some hot tea. Mmmm.... Madagascar Vanilla Red.....

We played Uno

I did lots & lots of laundry. The good news is- I caught up from the sewage flood we had.

I fixed the gate to the chicken run

We enjoyed some DELICIOUS hard boiled eggs from the backyard. Oh.my.yum!

We watched the puppy play. We played with the puppy. We laughed at the puppy. We even had to get on to the naughty puppy some.

The joys of having a St. Bernard..... We vacuumed lots of fur..... lots.

I got sunburned twice. In the same place on my body..... YOUCH!

The bestest..... We had brotherly love.

We enjoyed many breakfasts & lunches together. Usually, I don't eat at the same time as the kids, so we tend to miss out eating together (except at dinner). This was one of the best parts of my week


I made kefir cheese

We had BBQ ribs in the crockpot


We did a lot of dishes..... A.lot.

I got to go to a "pre-yard sale" sale at a friend's house. We got some books & a rug, and a pair of shoes for Kee to grow into, and this (I have wanted one of these for ages!):


I made chocolate syrup


And I rescued my dairy kefir grains from the fridge


I rescued my sourdough starter from moldy neglect, only to find out..... it didn't work :-(


I made Amish Friendship Bread. Instead of mixing & baking, I allowed it to soak for 7 hours, just to see if it's work. I didn't get a pic because it went that quickly. Oops. Yeah, it worked!


I enforced some child labour


But we got the walkways dug & the garden beds raised. That aforementioned boy ROCKED!!!




I finished 2 of my recycled lilac limbs trellises


We planted bean plants & bean seeds, pepper seeds, squash plants & seeds, carrot seeds & I covered the corn plants again.

After going to the lake, the poor Uplander was in dire need of some TLC. We vacced & wiped & scrubbed the inside of that baby..... Sand, dirt, puppy fur be gone!

We tormented the poor little kitty. OK, no we didn't.


We fed the puppy a.lot. Another joy of having a Saint puppy.

I finally filled the pepper shakers. No more pinching it from the tub & then **OOPS** touching our noses. HAHA!!!


We tried a new recipe for pancakes..... RYE pancakes. Oh yummy!

I'm hoping to get back to blogging more. I'm aiming for at least once a week for now, so if I do that, expect longer picture-heavy posts. I hope you've enjoyed this one!