Monday, March 31, 2008

A Busy Weekend


This weekend was a busy one. Friday evening the girls went out to the parking lot. Lauren said she was going to teach Hannah had to ride a two wheeler. I didn't really believe her, since Hannah is 4. Saturday morning (early) they were back out there practicing. By 10:00 am, they called me to come outside and Hannah was riding up and down the parking lot across the street!

I could hardly believe it. Hannah looked so little! I wish I had my camera charged. Once I get it charged I will take a picture of her riding.

I called and told my mom, and "Grandma" said to go buy her a helmet. We managed to get a helmet, knee/elbow pads, gloves, a kickstand, a basket and a horn. Everything matches together and the bike too! She looks so cute, but the pads, gloves and helmet have come in handy. She has fallen several times, and would have skinned palms if not for the gloves. She hates the helmet, because it makes her sweat, but I told her she has to wear it.

Taylor and I headed to town after seeing Hannah. We stopped at a cake shop to purchase some empty food grade, five gallon buckets. I am using these to store food in. I have been putting flour, cornmeal, rice, beans, etc. in the freezer to kill any bugs or bug eggs that come in the food, then you let it return to room temperature before storing in the buckets. I am doing a variety of buckets, some will have only loose rice, cornmeal, or flour. Other buckets will have a mixture of things, like bags of rice, beans, lentils, chocolate chips, mac n cheese, sugar, flour, brown sugar, pasta, and such. I put a few bay leaves on the bottom, and a few on top of the stack of dried goods. Bay leaves repeal any other bugs from invading the food. (I also use these on my pantry shelves, cabinets, drawers.) The bay leaves really seem to work. Spent the afternoon, totally cleaning the house and doing laundry.

Last night, Rodney and Taylor worked at putting up corner posts for the fencing at the land. I left early with the girls because the lightening was geting bad. By the time we got home, the guys arrived shortly. Rodney said it got really bad so they headed home too. Last night the thunderstorms were bad. Hannah got scared around 2 a.m., and came and got in bed with us. She hates thunderstorms, and is always scared of tornadoes. We've had to many in her short life. She always wants to get in the bathtub with her pillow. (we plan to build a storm shelter at the land)

Put a ham in the crock pot this morning (was up early due to phone call Rodney received abotu storm damage at his work) so we'd have lunch ready when we arrived home from church. Today after church, Mary (Candi's oldest daughter) came home with us. She and Lauren get along really well. After lunch we headed to the land. It was 90 degrees and really hot! The girls all got in the water, and rode the four wheeler around the land. Lauren and Hannah fought all day today. Mary even told me that they were very mean to each other. Lauren too! I had to get after them several times today, and everyone went to bed early tonight.

Now, I am trying to wrap things up, and head for bed. It's almost 1 a.m.

Good morning everyone!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Which ones have you seen?

copy this list to your computer and highlight those you have seen, then add three movies to the end

1. CITIZEN KANE(1942)

2. CASABLANCA (1941)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

101. THE LITTLE REBEL - SHIRLEY TEMPLE
102. HEIDI- SHIRLEY TEMPLE
103. BRAVEHEART

Pictures for the Realtor








Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Good Morning!


It's a beautiful morning! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the swallows are dive bombing the front porch.

Today I have planned to make laundry soap, and to wash clothes. Once I make the kids breakfast, then we will pick up the house, and get started on our lessons.

I need to think of something for dinner, but just what escapes me at the moment. I would really like to get back to making my weekly menus, I just don't make the time, or have the energy.

Taylor's off to pick up the mail at the post office. He loves riding his bike. He will probably stop and get himself breakfast at the local taco house, since his money constantly burns a hole in his pocket.

I am expecting several book orders, and we received a notice that we had a package to pick up, I hope it's one of my books!

I hope everyone has a blessed day!

ETA: It's official! The For Sale sign is in the yard! The Realtor came by and picked up the paperwork, and will start showing house when she gets someone interested. Please pray it sells fast!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

A Great Article......Enjoy!

I enjoyed this article, makes you stop and think. Some of it maybe a little over the top, but he is right with a majority of the info he imparts here.

By Greg Evensen

March 15, 2008

NewsWithViews.com

For thirty years, I have been writing, speaking, imploring, and begging others to make rational, concrete plans for a time in life that would offer no quarter, give no mercy, and that would in a word be--catastrophic. We are coming face to face with that moment. You have so little time left to do anything that will give you a fighting chance. What are you doing?

National Guard units are training and preparing for urban combat. The United States has just reached an agreement with Canada’s armed forces to come in to this country and assume combat roles should they be needed in American cities and towns. The Federal Reserve’s last ditch effort to stem the “blood loss” in the sub-prime and other currency markets has failed. The dollar has been abandoned for Euros. The stock market can’t find its ass with both hands and a Chinese made, Wal-Mart sold ass finder. Israel has demanded that all of the financial aid it receives from Washington (that’s us) be paid for in Euros. The ultimate irony and slap in the face. Oil, dairy, wheat, wheat products, gold, silver, copper prices, the list goes on and on, are racing for the stratosphere with no end in sight. An implosion has begun and it has no known method of stopping or reversing until critical mass is reached. It will be followed by an explosion in the economy and the political realm unseen since the founding of this nation.

The ultimate tragedy is, this was preventable. It could have been slowed or reversed at any time if a courageous and morally upright Congress had revealed the root causes for the disaster. If the socialist “generals” in Congress had been defeated or at least their programs thrown out at the time of their introduction, billions would have been saved. If the truth and our first president, General George Washington’s advice had been followed, every conflict since WWII would have been avoided. During the past 60 years, 120,000 American soldiers would have survived, 500,000 would have been physically uninjured, and two trillion in direct costs and the rehabilitation money grants to former enemies would have been saved.

The size of the federal government would be less than half of what it is today, the budget of the US government would be about 500 billion as opposed to two and one half trillion on a yearly basis and we would most likely be at relative peace. Lack of foolish and unnecessary regulations, taxes, and frivolous lawsuits, would have allowed an explosion of small businesses to thrive. The lack of a Federal Reserve System would have allowed the United States to remain a creditor nation based on assets rather than suffering under a crushing debt imposed by the feds dictatorial control over the people’s treasury. There are so many reasons why we could have avoided all of this. Thousands of perfectly good reasons IF employed by thousands of honest, moral, representatives who simply could have done the citizen’s business the way God and sound governmental practices demanded ---would have, should have, and could have made the critical difference.

Instead, we saw year after year, decade after decade, and now century after century of greed, bring ultimate ruin to this marvelous nation called America. Although we did not want it, we have allowed it to happen. It resolves nothing and does not buy us a way out, but we must accept our responsibility for this debacle and now prepare for what is coming.

Friends, you must begin NOW if you have not done so, to protect yourselves and your family from this pending---as the disaster movies call it---“extinction level event” for our former way of life. If you hesitate, you will be caught in the maelstrom that is the next six months to five years of life in the US. Pick your poison. If you like global warming and believe that is going to do you in, well then, build a refrigerated secure basement. If you like the Planet X scenario, then prepare for 800 mph winds and basically a “pole shift” that will leave nothing at all. If you live in a nuclear target city, or worse yet (worse??) yes, in a sanctuary city, then get out and get out quickly. Here is what you must do.

Consider geography carefully. I don’t care where you live now, choose your “Ride & Hide” (ride it out and hide from the enemy—you pick ‘em) location with great wisdom. Coasts are bad, arid regions are bad, rural northern and mountainous regions are the best. Why? Fewer people mean fewer morons to deal with. Weather considerations, wild game availability, timber resources, fresh water, tillable soil, survival off the utility grid is doable, herding small numbers of livestock is possible, also grazing horses can be kept. Being at least 50 miles from the nearest interstate or major highway is preferable, the same with commercial airports and nuke plants. Holing up with really close friends or family is the ultimate best so that expenses, work loads and practical skills are shared to your best advantage. Be ready to leave your city home with only one or two hours alert time. You may not even have that. Practice getting home, loading, and leaving at least once. Notify only those in your group that would be affected. Tell no one else what you are doing. Keep your gas tank full and an extra 5-10 gallons.

Securing the land with a rugged structure(s) and reinforced underground shelter can be expensive, however; it is an absolute. Stocking that domicile with stores of enduring foods, food components (flour, raw sugar, yeast, salt, etc.) medicines or natural remedies (apple vinegar, honey, olive leaf extract, etc.) an electric generator and at least 500 gallons of diesel, 100 gallons of kerosene for lamps, tools-------you know the drill. There are many sites available to assist you in stockpiling long term necessities right at NWV.

You will be happy to know that your government in Washington has assisted these efforts to protect your family from ANY kind of disaster by making it a felony to harbor many items (as listed in the Patriot Act II). You know, be wise, be prepared, but if you go more than a week’s worth, we’ll put you in one of 800 non-existent Halliburton model “stay for a while, we’ll leave the lights on ” Washington style long term family “vacation” detention campsites built with illegal or prison labor, right here in the good old US of A.

Moving your money freely will become even more difficult as banks begin to restrict the amounts that can be transferred from savings accounts and other short-term investment vehicles under their immediate control. Using personal checks outside of your own community will become increasingly difficult, soon. Bank drafts or money orders will do for a while, but many real estate, large business or supply companies will require that you jump over difficult hurdles so that they are not left to chase you down for payment.

Securing advance amounts of medical supplies, especially prescriptions and antibiotics (Tami flu, Amoxicillin, Keflexin, etc.) will be very difficult as most insurance companies will only reimburse for 30 days or less. If you have any serious dental issues, (abscessed teeth), surgeries, glasses or other necessary medical needs, get them done, now.

Consider transferring available 401K, IRA accounts, or other liquid plans into gold or silver before their availability or price are literally beyond reach. A penalty for withdrawal is not desirable, but highly preferable to empty or inaccessible accounts next month or whenever.


Advertisement

Have GPS chips removed from your newer vehicles, laptops if possible, and prepare to leave your cell phones in the lake 100 miles from your retreat. Leave your ID chipped pets at the humane society and any animals you raise for food consumption must be newly born and chip free (many good patriots are telling the state and federal USDA to, well, you know, but that won’t last much longer as most states are going into compliance regardless of what the law says, the constitution says, common sense says or what God himself says. The same is true with the REAL ID. That card is also becoming, state by state, the final nail in the coffin of personal liberty. Consider it the mark of the beast (I don’t know if it is, but it could be). The personal ID chip is without a doubt that mark, I personally believe. I will not UNDER ANY CICUMSTANCES take that chip, no matter what it ultimately costs me. That is why, among many reasons listed here, common sense and the urgency that is coming at you like the freight train from Hell, you must complete your personal retreat plans, NOW.

Are you getting the picture dear friends? Laugh at me if you will. Marginalize me and others who are begging you to make this effort while you can, but hear this: IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A CITY OR WITHOUT THE MOST BASIC OF NEEDS, YOU WILL NOT SURVIVE A CRISES.

That is the absolute truth and the absolute facts of life. You will be among the first victims of the event or its immediate aftermath. Roving gangs of real pirates and sadistic tormentors will only seal your fate in a most cruel fashion.

Ask yourself this single question. What do you have now that is so worth keeping (suburb mortgaged home, SUV, boat, hockey equipment, a JOB that is killing you, etc.) over your life and that of your family? Is your morning cup of Starbucks worth this effort? For God’s sake, WAKE UP!! If you haven’t really cared who or what the Federal Reserve is, well, don’t worry about it now. Just get your money out and do something with it while you can. If you haven’t followed the presidential debates, then don’t watch them now, either. Decide for yourself what you are going to do for your family and this nation by becoming independent and “free” in spite of this and the world government’s absolute determination to rule you completely and forever. Can you let go of football and beer long enough to answer that single question? I’m ready, some of you are ready, many of you are not. If you refuse to get ready, then I bid you farewell. You were never my fellow countryman to begin with. God help you.

Your last consideration must be in terms of self-defense. This will draw the ire of many morons who were just waiting for this. To you, I say, don’t ever buy a gun. You would only eventually supply a criminal with one more weapon. To everyone else, think shotgun, first. A 12 gauge, 20 inch rifled barrel chambered for 3” shells. Buy at least 1000 rounds of OO Buckshot for defense, 1000 rounds of slugs for large game, and 1000 rounds of #6 shot for small game and birds. These are all round good loads for most situations. Professional hunters may argue a bit, but I tell you from experience hunting and in law enforcement, this will do it. The make of the weapon is your choice, but I would stick with Remington or Mossberg as my first pick. There are others, check with a reputable sporting store to assist you. A Ruger .22 rifle and a 1000 rounds will do for quieter small game. A .308 and 500 rounds will do for long range whatever you need to do shooting—if you get my drift.

A Ruger Mini-14 rancher model chambering .223 with several 20 or 30 round clips and 1000 rounds will be good for when you are outnumbered, and a .45 Government model Kimber or Springfield Armory pistol with 10, 10 round clips and 1000 rounds will do you well. That’s roughly $4500 worth of weaponry. Cheap in defense of all that you have. A good four wheeled vehicle of any kind for off road use rounds you out. I’m pretty good at spending your money, hmm? Forget the vacation that would have cost you that anyway. Forget the new $50,000 truck that you just couldn’t live without. You will LIVE if you use that money wisely. You have just weeks or a few months—MAYBE—to be positioned for any possibility. Natural or manmade. If I am wrong, sell it in a couple of years to someone who still sees the need and you’ll be free to be at risk again.

This is the article that many of you have been pleading with me to write for over six months. I did not want to present it prematurely and yet it’s anybody’s guess as to when it will be too late. There is a risk for the writer of such messages. The risk is that many will still ignore it, stick their heads in a little deeper or laugh nervously as they dismiss the content with, “he’s a typical right-wing worrier, this just can’t happen.” Well, I pray to God Almighty you are right and I am wrong. But then again, no matter what happens, I’m ready, my family and I have a good chance………………..are you ready, do you have any chance at all?

© 2008 Greg Evensen - All Rights Reserved

Finally! A breath of fresh air...

While doing some reading and researching on the Internet tonight, I stumbled across this site

http://www.blessedquietness.com/journal/homemake/thepearls.htm

I have read quite a few books and articles by the Pearls, but have struggled with some of their concepts. I view them as a strangely disturbing cult. Some of their information is okay, and I even agree with a few of the articles they have written, but as a whole, I don't believe any born again Christian needs to follow their "teachings" too closely. If you read the Bible and have a personal relationship with Christ, you have all the answers you need. You don't need the Pearls.

I just wanted to thank the gentleman at the link above for someone finally injecting some sort of sanity into the Pearl craze.

Happy Easter!


Today was a wonderful day. We were up early and headed to church. Services started an hour earlier today (10am), and we were having brunch afterwards. Everyone brought a dish. I made a cinnamon coffee cake. There was fruit, muffins, quiche, sausage rolls, sausage biscuits, juice, milk, and coffee. After we ate, the kids had an egg hunt in Pastor Kelly's yard. Hannah really enjoyed herself, and jealously guarded her eggs the rest of the day. It is very hard to break her of the 4 year old "mine" syndrome.

Taylor helped out a neighbor in his greenhouse this afternoon. Taylor really likes working in the greenhouse and with plants.

We headed out to the land around 2pm for the girls (Lauren, my niece Leighann, and Hannah) to ride the 4 wheeler. Rodney said he wasn't going to cut the grass with his new tractor, but he did. He is like a little boy with a new toy with that new tractor. He was able to finish cutting the brush on the entire property this afternoon! He is so happy. The place looks so much better. All that greyish, brownish brush was covering the most beautiful green coastal grass, just beginning to poke through the grown. With the mesquite trees beginning to leaf out and the grass, it is really beautiful.

The sun glistens off the pond so beautifully! It turned chilly and drizzly this evening, and the wind was whipping up quite a bit when we left the land around 6 p.m. When we arrived home I dished up the dinner. I had put two pork loins with red potatoes, rosemary, thyme, garlic, pepper, salt in the Crockpot before church this morning. It was falling to pieces by this evening, and was wonderful! I made mac and cheese, corn and cornbread to go along with the pork loin. It was a nice Easter dinner.

Rodney headed to his parents around 7:00pm to say hello to them, and to talk to his dad about his new toys (tractor/shredder).

Shaina (other niece) and Taylor played on the PS2, while I ran LeighAnn home. She has school in the morning, otherwise she could have stayed the night.

Well, I just finished up the dishes, and everyone is laying down for the night, so I guess I will go to...

Happy Easter everyone!

ETA: we are all feeling better today. I haven't seen Candi, until today at church, because our families have been sick for two weeks. It started with her Mary, and has ended with my DH (hopefully it has ended). The kids have missed playing together, and I haven't been able to sit and talk to Candi in awhile. It feels really strange to not have seen her a couple of times a week, or at church.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Family

Family, what does it mean to you? Well, I'd like to think I was raised to actually be a family. I admit it is hard when you are an adult to still tolerate people in your life who are so different from you, but they are family.

When you are young and living with siblings and parents in one house, you learn how to get a long with each other pretty well, but once you are grown, you learn to value your independence, and the fact you can now just be "you".

I remember reading about families that live together (kids, parents, grandparents and such). This was the norm, no one moved away. Even the Amish do this on a regular basis. When a child gets married (normally the son), the parents may moved to a "Graus Daddy" house in the back. Normally, a smaller home behind the main house to allow the son and his new wife a home of their own, or they would just share if the other house was occupied by grandparents.

The English had a dower house, if wealthy enough, or they all just packed in together, all working together to care for the home, kids and provide food. I think that is great!

While I applaud technology, and the advances that we have made, it is also disheartening to see the affect this has had on the family in general. While I would consider my family once to be close, relationship wise, in the past 20 years that has changed. We are also scattered around the country. My maternal grandmother lives in VA, she always has....we lived in MD, so it was easy to go visit. My paternal grandmother lived in MD, we were really close in distance to her, now she lives in WV, her birthplace. My mom lives in FL, after moving from TX to VA, and then to FL. My parents moved me and my sisters to TX in the early 80s, and we have been here since, with the exception of my military brother. He was born here in TX, and has been to NY, Afghanistan, Iraq, and now AL, while being in the Army. My youngest sister still lives in VA, where my mom moved to several years ago. We are trying to talk her into moving back to TX, and then we will just have my mom and her husband to get here. ;-) All in the master plan! Shhh! And it's not that I don't love my grandparents, it's just I don't see them moving away from their children at this stage in their lives. And while I miss my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and sometimes the east coast, I would NEVER live their again..way too many people. I am not a big people person.

Now, with my sisters, we are in the same general area, but not in the same town. I am 30 minutes from April, who is about 30 minutes from Ann. I am about an hour away from Ann, depending on traffic. We are close enough to help out in an emergency, but not close enough to part of everyone's everyday life. I go to church with April, so usually see her once a week. Ann used to go to church with us, but she chose to stay closer to home, rather than drive into town. It'd be nice if we all went to church together, but I don't see that happening with Ann.

My point in talking about all this is because of the article I read this morning on older children (in their 50s) moving back in with their parents during this worsening economy. Evidently, a financial planner didn't think it was a good idea, as we, as a culture, have never learned to tell our children NO, and that the potential for diminishing your wealth exists when this happens. I am not advocating in anyway that parents fork over money to their kids, quite the contrary. But allowing someone to live with you because they can't afford a place of their own due to the economy, is what family should be all about. In lieu of accepting money, help with household duties (cleaning, mowing) should be accepted. Family needs to take care of family period. Set clear guidelines and rules for everyone to learn to co-exist peacefully, again, but don't enable people to just be couch potatoes.

Our neighbor just had one of his daughters, her husband and three children move in with him. I don't know the details, we just saw them show up, with furniture, and began to unload. They are there every evening now, and their car is parked over there all night (no we aren't that nosy, they just right across the street, and it's fairly obvious.)

I am trying to scale down myself and get prepared for a tightening economy, and would like to be able to offer assistance to my family when and if they need it, in the form of a place to stay, and food to eat, and on their part, if no job to contribute, then I will accept their help on the farm growing the food we eat. To me that's a fair exchange of labor. Now DH doesn't like this plan, but he wouldn't turn away his family during a time of need, and I won't do the same, no matter how hard I tried to get them to wake up and prepare for the eventuality.

So, here is the link that upset me a tad this morning.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080321/ap_on_bi_ge/living_with_parents

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Realtor comes todays


Well, the day is finally here, the day the Realtor comes to talk to me. I have been trying to get her here since Christmas, but something always pops up, either for me or her. I am not quite sure we are going to list the house with a Realtor, but I will listen to her, and we will decide this weekend, what to do. I am just anxious for someone to buy the house. I won't go on my tirade about the economy today, and while the Fed did drop the interest rate by.75%, I hope that it is enough to encourage someone to purchase now.

Yesterday, I cleaned so much, I was in physical pain by 8 p.m. I stopped and took a shower, and a Naproxen (wanted to take the Darvocet, but I still had more to do). I felt better after the shower, and between both Taylor and I we cleaned the carpets. I have boxes of stuff, half packed in the corner of the bedroom, and the walls in all the bedrooms need to be painted. You don't notice some of these things, until all the furniture is gone, and you can see how dirty you actually are. I clean EVERY day, but the more I clean, the more I find. I absolutely hate cleaning, and then come back and the kids have cracker crumbs on the table, or colors everywhere. Very frustrating, when you are trying to get ready for someone to come view the house.

Rodney arrived home late with the tractor. He and his dad spent 12 hours driving yesterday to get it. We had checked around our area, and there was absolutely nothing "used" for sale. He will look at getting a shredder, disc, and plow next. His dad did say we could borrow the disc and plow, but we need a bigger, bulkier shredder for the brush at the land.

We attend the horse seminar tonight. I am looking forward to it, because it will mean I will get a little break, and be able to eat by myself, without taking someone to the potty.

Not that I don't love my kids, but everyone needs a little time to themselves, if even just to think or pee in peace! LOL!

ETA: the horse feed seminar tonight was very informative. It was sponsored by a local feed store for Acco Feeds owned by Cargill. Logical information on feeding horses by their weight, and not feeding more than 0.5% of their body weight at one time (i.e., 1000 lbs horse would get 10 lbs feed a day, but no more than 5 lbs at each feeding, spaced ideally at 12 hour intervals. 7:30 a.m. t0 7:3o p.m. to 7:30 a.m. and so on). This is supposed to maintain them, if they are at their ideal body score (another topic, I found interesting). All the information will come in handy when we get our horses.

Another topic they discussed was their reasoning behind increasing feed costs across the U.S. Ethanol production is evidently increasing, which is taking a large supply of corn to produce, which leaves less for the agricultural community. Simple supply and demand.

The dinner provided was good. The seminar was at a local steakhouse, and they served chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, cream gravy, green beans, corn, rolls, and iced tea.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

It's a Wonderful Day In the Neighborhood....

It's a beautiful day today! the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the swallows are back! I sure will miss them! That is how I tell Spring is truly here, when the swallows arrive. Your first indication that they are here is the dive bombing of the front porch, and their chirping calls. Unfortunately, most of their nests fell down through the winter, so they will have to build new ones this year.

Rodney and his dad left for College Station this morning to pick up the tractor. I pray they will make it back safely, and that the tractor meets their expectations.

Lauren and I are coming down with a sinus infection, or allergies, or something. We are both congested, with slight coughs and headaches. I think it may be a result of the illness we experienced this past weekend. Hannah, Taylor and Rodney seem fine. I need to break out the Echinacea, and cut back on the Elderberry to help get rid of the infection. I hate sinus infections!

Shaina, our niece came over this morning to help pack up Taylor's room, and to load up the truck. We took a load down to storage, it took a good two hours out of the day to get down there and back. We have taken a break for lunch, and the kids (Taylor and Shaina included though they are 19 and 21) are eating on the back porch. The puppy went too....

I need to get back on schedule packing and getting ready for the Realtor tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 80's, and I'd love to go to the land for lunch, but it will have to wait, since she will be here. Rodney and I will also be attending a horse seminar at a local steakhouse. The topic is how to feed your horse on a diminished budget, and still keep the horse healthy. We don't have horses yet, but we will, and the seminar and dinner are FREE.

Hannah is having a hard time, as the "big kids" are being mean to her. I think it is time for her nap.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Bats in the Belfry

No, I am not admitting I am crazy, so get a grip! LOL!

There was a bat in the house tonight! I was washing dishes and I was attacked by three little girls (Lauren, Hannah, and Lauren's friend, Cheyenne) screaming in only the way that little girls can. They knocked me down to the kitchen floor, and I called for Rodney to come get the bat out. Well, he saw it as no big deal, and wouldn't come, so he got Taylor to do it. For those of you who don't know Taylor, well, he's a bigger "weenie" than the girls. I had to tell him to open the front door, and close the rest of the doors to the rooms. The bat flew to the living room, then his dad told him to close the dining room double doors, and then Taylor stood in the doorway to the hallway waving his arms, the bat flew out the front door. Taylor's first instinct was to hit it with a BIG stick, but I wouldn't let him. It wasn't the bat's fault, it was mine. I left my bedroom window open, and it doesn't have a screen on it.

The girls finally calmed down, and played hide and go seek in the house, which is stressful, for me. I am always worried they will slip on the wood floor in their socks and knock their head into a corner. I absolutely can't stand running in the house. Rodney went to bed around 10 p.m., and I made the girls settle down in the living room. They are playing Monopoly and watching the Disney Channel right now, but I am getting ready to send them to bed, because I am tired!

Made a trip into town today to the credit union and bank to withdraw some money. I am only keeping a bare minimum in the bank/cu due to all these bank failures, I'd rather have access to my money, which you potential thieves out there, isn't much. We are a one income family here, so don't get any ideas (plus we have the Castle Law here in TEXAS, read it, learn it, live it). LOL!

Had two families look through the house tonight, hopefully SOMEBODY buys it. Are ya'll praying out there?

And for the BIG, SHOCKING NEWS OF THE DAY! (drum roll please)

No, I am not pregnant! Sheesh!

RODNEY HAS SOLD HIS DIRT BIKE AND HIS HYABUSA MOTORCYCLE TO BUY.....A TRACTOR! He picks it up Wednesday in College Station!

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Out of the Storm?

After several doses of Elderberry, Echinacea and Goldenseal tinctures, plenty of juice, vitamins and chicken noodle soup (which Hannah claims gets rid of "seases" right?) What!? you don't know that "seases" means diseases LOL! - the girls are better. I felt a little blech last night, but feel much better tonight. I think taking the Rezist may have helped me avoid getting as sick as Hannah. She was the sickest, which is probably because her first dose of Elderberry was hit or miss, since it was fight to get her to take it and she spilled some of it.

I went to the grocery store and spent $260.00 on dried goods (flour, cornmeal, grits, oatmeal, salt, etc.) Tomorrow, I will go and spend around the same and stock up on meats for the freezer.

I also went to the Academy, and with the exception of the ammunition for the 30-30, finished purchasing the number of rounds I feel is a safe bet to have. Ammunition has gone up so high! A 20 cartridge package of 30-30 ammunition is $10.99! I bought five boxes, to give me 100 rounds. I need 900 rounds more to finish out my inventory. The 9mm and .22LR was available at a good price, so I was able to get what I had planned. The 30-30 will have to wait, and I will have to only buy a few boxes at a time. I don't want to spend $1,000 at one time on ammunition. I cringe at the thought.

We stopped by Lowe's to pick up some paint rollers for Rodney to finish the bedroom. He also replaced the light switches and outlets in the foyer, and will work on the living room tomorrow.

After Lowe's I stopped at the Dollar Tree to get a few items on my list that could be picked up there for cheap (dish cloths, masking tape, toothbrushes).

Came home and cleaned out the refrigerator, washed out the drawers, threw a trash bag full of yucky stuff away (I hate cleaning the fridge). I have a wash tub of old veggies that I will take out to the chickens. I then spent about two hours, organizing the pantry with all the new items I bought. I have several bags of beans, rice, egg noodles and a variety of pastas to find containers for...for now, I just double bagged and tossed in a handful of bay leaves to keep the ants and other crawlies out.

These are then stacked in my empty kitchen cabinets, because I have packed almost all of my dishes. So, now every cabinet in the kitchen has food in it, with a shelf in the bedroom, and a 5 gallon bucket of wheat berries in the kitchen floor. I feel a little better, but would still prefer to have a year's worth of food on hand. I "think" I have about 6 months now, but I could be wrong.

We missed church this morning because the girls were sick, but they stayed home with their dad while I ran around getting things done. Tomorrow we will hit Sun Harvest for a few more herbal tinctures for my medicine chest. Lauren's friend, Cheyenne, will also be coming over to spend the night tomorrow, as it is Spring Break for the public school system.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Flu Season?

I was pretty proud that we made it through the winter without anyone getting sick. I felt, well smug, that my theory of keeping the kids out of school would avoid 99% of illnesses. Well, it has, but that nagging little 1% has bit us in the posterior.

Hannah and Lauren are sick. Hannah started with a sore throat yesterday evening, then Lauren. I gave them both Elderberry tincture mixed in some Cranberry Grape juice, along with Echinacea-Goldenseal Antibiotic. Actually, Lauren drank it without problem, but Hannah, well, she would only take a few sips. Lauren was find today, except for a headache. Hannah had full blown fever, headache, body aches, and smells make her nauseous, plus she wouldn't eat much. I have been dosing her with Motrin every now and then, but I want the fever to burn out the virus/bacteria. I did give her more Elderberry tincture in about 2 tsps of cran-grape juice, so she could swallow it at one time. She did fine, so I will use this method in the future. She is sleeping now, Lauren too. I have a sore throat and have been taking Rezist ( a immune supplement from Watkins) plus drinking plenty of o.j. I feel much better. It has also just occurred to me that my perpetual sore throat that I have had since I was 14, has been absent for a long time! Noticing my sore throat for the first time in a long time was surprising to me, I was used to it hurting every day! I am hoping to beat this illness due to better eating, vitamins, herbal medicine, lots of sunshine, etc.

Rodney spent the entire day painting something. Early this morning he painted the polyurethane on the dining room floor. Then he painted the trim in the foyer. Next is the hallway.

I need to help Taylor pack his room, and then I need to totally finish my room and the kitchen. The last thing I want to get done is get the carpets professionally cleaned. I have a carpet cleaner, but it doesn't work as good as the professional steam cleaners.

I really want to get the painting done, so we can put the For Sale sign in the yard. I have been procrastinating on that, because the house hasn't been ready to show yet, we are almost there...I hope this week will do it. Please pray for us that we get motivated and stay that way.

I found the following Bible verse this evening, and it about summed up my feelings on advising people on food preparation. I thought I would share it here.

"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"
Gal 4:16

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that we have a home, food, and that Rodney has a job.

I wanted to share with everyone that Watkins is having a Clearance sale on several items: 1) is the cranberry mustard ($2.49) 2) facial cleanser and 3) facial moisturizer are the most popular at $1.49 each. These are Associate only items, so if you are interested in these items, just send me an email at queensedgefarm@yahoo.com and I will order them for you. Normal postal shipping costs will apply (U.S. Post Office not UPS).

Today was a busy day for us. Lauren and I painted the foyer, leaving the edges near the ceiling for Rodney to do when he came home from work.

We stayed home today, no rush trips to the land, which was nice. Lauren went with her friend to karate practice, and I did have to go into town and drop Taylor off at school. So, after Rodney was done painting he went riding his motorcycle, so it was just me and Hannah.

I swept and mopped the foyer, and moved the furniture pack into place.

Well, I am off to get Taylor from school, and stop at Starbucks (shhh, don't tell).

Food Storage for Beginners

Food Storage for Beginners
Develop a Home Storage Mindset

If you're new to food storage, first prepare by developing a food storage mindset. It's easy to think of lots of reasons why we can't get our food storage started; but we have to remind ourselves that ANY food item that is stored for later use (tomorrow, next week, next year, or years from now) is food storage. In that context, the canned vegetables and packages of pasta in your kitchen cupboard are part of your food storage.

Start Simply

Don't begin your food storage focus with the compulsion to obtain a year's supply of food storage immediately. Start your food storage plan by determining what food items you use regularly that could be bought ahead and stored for future use.

Store What You Will Use

Examine the shelf life of food items your family uses. That will help you to estimate how much you can store. You can only store as much as your family will use before the shelflife of the food item runs out (stored at proper temperature and under proper circumstances in adequate food grade containers, without oxygen if appropriate.)

Back to Basics

You may be able to save money with your food storage by using "back to basics" techniques such as grinding your own grains, sprouting seeds, growing garden vegetables, home canning, etc. Whole grains store well for many years and can be purchased inexpensively in bulk. If your family is not accustomed to eating whole-grain foods, you will need to increase the amount of whole-grains in your diet slowly to allow the body to adjust to the fiber increase. Whole dried herbs can also be purchased in bulk inexpensively. You can grind your herbs with a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle.

Label Carefully

As you package a food item for storage, be sure to label the container plainly with the name of the food item and date it is packed. Place your labels so that you will still be able to see them when containers are stacked or shelved.

Rotate, Rotate, ROTATE!

The MOST IMPORTANT thing I can tell you about food storage is that it is necessary to ROTATE your storage. That means that you use the container that's been stored the longest and replace it with newer stored containers behind the older ones. If you are storing items that you never use, you are wasting space that could be used for food items you need. Food storage that spoils or lies untouched is garbage. Don't fill your home with garbage. Fill your home with precious healthy food storage that will be a blessing to you and your family on a regular basis and in times of need.

Food Storage is NOT Just for Emergencies

Food storage is not something we set aside for an emergency, although it is a great blessing in such a time. Food storage is a plan for living better, buying less expensively, preserving foods we grow ourselves, developing a healthier lifestyle, and learning ways to use our storage for household uses and natural healing.

Keep Food Storage on Your Mind

As you begin to focus on your home storage, keep your storage in mind as you shop, clip coupons, and browse newspapers for sales. When you find tomato sauce on sale, stock up on enough for a month or two. When canned vegetables are on sale, buy enough for a variety of canned goods in your storage. Pasta, oil, and beans keep well; so store enough for two or three months. As your pantry fills, you will begin to develop an idea of what you want to add to your storage, and you'll keep that in mind as you shop and plan your gardening.

Plan Ahead When Buying in Bulk

When you begin to buy in bulk, you will need to plan ahead to make sure that you have all the containers and equipment you will need for your storage. Reusable containers can be a blessing for those who plan to continue their storage as a way of life.

Tailor Guides for Short-Term Basic Storage and Long-Term Extended Storage

As you develop a home storage mindset, you can devise a plan for short-term basic storage and for long-term extended storage. Food storage guides are meant to be used as general guidelines that can be tailored to your family's needs that serve to give you a better overall picture of home storage. Food storage buying guides generally lay out a plan to obtain a year's supply of food storage with monthly or weekly goals; but these, too, should be tailored to your family's needs. For example, if everyone in your family is allergic to oats, a large supply of oats would be a waste for you. Substitute a similar food item that your family could put to use; such as barley, rice, or quinoa.

Set a Goal, Devise a Plan, and Obtain Your Storage

Set a goal, devise a plan, and obtain the storage you desire. For example, you might begin with a goal to obtain a month's supply of food storage. You might plan to purchase items such as staples, canned goods, dry milk, and pasta, making a chart of how much of each item you will need to store. As you make your grocery purchases over the next month, buy twice the amount you need of each item (one for this month's use, and another for next month's storage.) Buying on sale, using coupons, and growing your own foods can help to reduce the initial cost of storing foods. You might have to make some adjustments to find money for your storage by cutting back on fast food, eating a "cheap" meal once a week, or fasting for one day a month or more and saving the money you would have spent on food for your storage. You may examine your expenses and find other ways to trim your budget to allow for home storage; such as going out for entertainment one less time a month, giving your own haircuts instead of going to the salon, calling less long-distance, etc. After a few months of storing a month ahead and living off your storage, you will begin to see other ways in which you can obtain your food storage in greater bulk less expensively. You may devise a plan for a 3-month supply, a 6-month supply, a year's supply, etc. as your needs and means permit.

Find Space for Your Storage

As your storage grows, finding storage space can be a challenge. If you are lucky enough to have a root cellar, basement, or spare room with temperature control, you are very blessed. If space is a problem, get creative. Build shelves, store under beds, use an unused corner of a room, store under decorative tables, or store behind couches and other furniture. If you truly have a desire to set aside home storage, there will be a place for your storage.

Make Use of Your Storage

Make use of your food storage and find new uses for it. For example, learn how to use the same herbs as spices for cooking, formulas for healing, and household cleaning. Use salt, vinegar, and baking soda for cooking, healing, and household uses. Learn to grind whole grains and to sprout your grains for fresh sprouts, juices, essene bread, salads, and wheat grass. Proper use of your food storage can help to simplify your life, improve your health, extend your budget, and enlighten your soul.

Put Your Home Storage to the Test

Once you feel confident that your home storage pantry is well-stocked, plan a weekend for your family to put your home storage to the test. Use only your storage to live on for the weekend. For a real emergency preparedness test, turn off the electricity and water, and survive using your alternate sources of heating, cooling, cooking, water, etc. Within the first hour you will think of many things you should have in storage that never occurred to you before. When you live on your food storage, you will become personally aware of the need for a variety of herbs, butter powder, mayonnaise, and a number of things that will make your food storage tastier, more palatable, healthier, and more interesting.

Storage is a Blessing

As you become accustomed to using, rotating, and extending your home storage, you will find that it is a blessing to you and others in many ways. Your home storage is a blessing when your neighbor who has lost a paycheck is in need of groceries, when your loved one who has taken ill needs meals taken to his or her home, when you've run out of commercial cleaners so make your own, when a flood destroys all foods not stored in waterproof containers, when one of the ladies from Church asks if you wouldn't mind making homemade bread for something special, when your friend is in need of a poultice for an insect sting or wound, when power lines are down and refrigerated items spoil, when your father needs an herbal tea for headache or upset stomach, when a natural disaster destroys homes and food, when your child needs a homemade game to keep him occupied through an emergency situation, and, REGULARLY, every time you prepare a meal for yourself or your family using your home storage. Keep the faith, and always move forward prayerfully.

Here We Go......

Dear Family and Friends,

I wanted to share with everyone a post I read today from a reliable economist friend. I have known this guy for over 2 years, and he is very savvy, and usually right on the money when it comes to the economy. I urge everyone to take note, and please prepare now. Here's a reliable news article to help back up what I am telling everyone. http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article3542775.ece

So, without further ado, here's JohnG.....

"For years I have warned of the consequence of a dollar collapse, the bond market shenanigans, the credit rating agencies lies and the consequences.

My friends, welcome to the consequences. You have less than 30 to 60 days to get your house in order.When I say 30-60 days, I mean 30-60 days. While many do not take Benron Bernanke at his word, trust me, I do. He said he would NEVER allow a deflationary depression to happen on his watch.

Thus far he's injected $1 TRILLION to support the bankters.

I look for $3 to $5 TRILLION more. This is a $20 trillion plus problem and they know it. They were trying to ease the pain into play, but it's falling apart faster than they thought (and I thought). If Bear fails, you are talking about opening up over $10 trillion in possible derivatives exposure to hedge funds, pension funds and banksters worldwide, mainly in the U.S.

When I say get it in order I mean it.

Do you think you can afford new debt? Uh, no, you can't.
Do you think you can afford silver at $20 per oz.? Try $50...
Do you think you can afford Freeze Dried foods at $16.95 per can? Try $35 per can
Do you think can can afford 9mm at $14.95 per box of 50? Try $35

That's real inflation. Real pain. Real deterioration of purchasing power. You'll hear screams for "price controls" by the election. So what are we supposed to do, kill the farmers again? "Make" China play nice (they have bigger problems)?

When I say get it in order, I mean it. There is a short time horizon for the banksters to bail this situation out and they have said how they would do it.

And they mean it. They do not care if you, your parents, your children, your friends at church, or anyone else can not afford groceries or gas, as long as they are bailed out.

This will be short term stagflation, then hyperinflation the hyperdeflation in less than a 5 year period.

America is in huge trouble.

Ye have been warned (for years) and this is it. This is what all the years of stocking, storing and prepping are for.

My prep schedule now?

I'm low on popcorn. That's about it.....

Good luck and God Bless to everyone."

Please take this warning seriously, and get to buying groceries in the very least, at this point it is too late to pay down any debt, save that money for necessities!

Love,

Amy

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Wednesday

What a beautiful day! I woke up to bright sunshine and warm weather. We are expected to reach 82 today. I have the front door open, and have been trying to clean. I was interrupted by a neighbor wanting to look at the house. I was embarrassed, but she said she was the "world's worst housekeeper" so I felt better. Being in the process of packing and decluttering doesn't make for the best showing of the house. The one thing that has put off my listing the house with a Realtor, I just can't show it right now. I have listed it on craigslist, and posted pictures, and have received calls from those, but everyone wants me to owner finance. I hope Mrs. V, who stopped by today will buy the house/ or rather her daughter. I want to move!

We took another load down to the land last night. Rodney burned some brush, and I lit a small fire in the fire pit, and Lauren and I cooked dinner over the fire. Spam sandwiches and Ramen noodle soup....yum! LOL! The kids fished for a little, and I made more lists.

Today, I am doing laundry and trying to clean, so will get off the computer now.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

The Weekend is Over

I just wanted to jot down some notes from this past weekend. We received 1/2 inch of rain on Thursday, I know this because of the rain gauge we hung up LOL! I want to try and keep a record of the annual rain fall, so I know what to expect.

We spent yesterday afternoon out at the land. Rodney burned a large brush pile, while I read the newsletter I received from Voice of the Martyrs. Later I ran into town to pick up dinner, and we sat around the fire pit eating dinner, and listening to the coyotes yip and yowl.

The wind picked up, so we put the fire out and went home before it got too chilly. Today after church, while Rodney was staining the dining room floor, the kids and I ran to the land to feed the catfish and check on the chickens. It's amazing how much windier it is at the land! The weather here today was grey and drizzly. But once we got to the land! Man! I didn't want to stay too late, it seemed as if a major storm was coming! I wonder if it is always going to be so windy out there? If so, my laundry should dry really fast!

We received one egg yesterday. It's frustrating...with four hens I should be getting 28 eggs a week, maximum, but I am getting 2! I sure hope as we get longer days, the egg production picks up......eggs are $1.89 a dozen, and I want to avoid buying any for awhile.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Economy Problems

http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=918803

The more I read, the more worried I get. I am praying constantly for God to show me what he wants me to do. So far, I am steadily working on the house, though I feel this great urgency to get the heck out of this house and to the land. I need to continue stocking my food supply, and have no room left in this house. We are trying to move everything to the storage at the land, and it kind of defeats the purpose to fill this house with food.

Unemployment is projected to increase significantly this year. With the current housing woes, a credit card problem is being forecast for September.

I strongly urge anyone reading this to start stocking up on food, prices are projected to go up too! I am worried about losing this house if Rodney loses his job. I'd rather give up this house than the land though I don't have a building to live in at the land.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Updated pictures of the house


These first two pictures were taken too late in the day I guess, I will have to go out tomorrow morning and take a few. I took these because a potential investor was interested in purchasing the house. He only offered $80,000 in CASH, and we need at LEAST $110K to pay off the mortgage and build the cabin, plus put in the septic tank. It looks as if we will be here until God sends the right buyer.

Side of the house

Back of House

Pictures of Hannah and Lauren

Here is a picture of the girls in early February, when we attended the Hannah Montana 3-D movie. I really enjoyed the movie and so did the girls. I admit that the 3-D effects made me a little "seasick" for awhile.




After the movie, we went to lunch, and stopped at Lowe's to do the girls' favorite thing, to look at all the storage buildings in the parking lot. They like them and think they are play houses. It's cheap entertainment. LOL! Hannah is a ham too, she loves her picture being taken.

Jericho

Bonnie from Jericho


Okay, I have been hooked on this show since last year. It is extremely good! It is also controversial, and while I know that it is only t.v., I believe it displays a good view of what could happen. This isn't science fiction. In today's world of terrorism, at home and abroad, it is a good glimpse of possible life during situations that could alter the world as we know it. If you haven't seen it I suggest you go to http://www.cbs.com/primetime/jericho

Watch it from the beginning of the series, they have them on the CBS website for viewing. Watch out, you will probably get hooked if you view with an open mind. I have had one person tell me it is depressing! Depressing!? I was totally shocked at this viewpoint. I understand not liking survivalist type movies like Red Dawn, etc., but depressing! I find this show extremely thought provoking and EXCITING! It is definitely not like the rest of the junk on tv. I used to only watch one show on tv and that was the Stargate series on the Sci-Fi channel, now I have added Jericho to my short list. It comes on here in TEXAS at 9 p.m., Tuesdays on CBS.

Many of us live in different parts of the country. My mother lives in FL and is of course hurricane prone. Here in South TEXAS we get flooding, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, power outages, toxic waste spills via the railroad (this is frequent). (One of my reasons for moving away from a railroad when we bought our new site. Now I can see the train from my front porch.)

So, to encourage everyone to prepare for the disasters that typically hit your area I am supplying the link to the FEMA web page (I don't normally support FEMA, but for "newbies" it is a good place to start. Most people feel comfortable with the "government's" ideas instead of someone often viewed as crazy LOL!) I figure if the government is asking all citizens to be prepared for three days, I can't be all that crazy. I just take it further and am prepared for longer, because I absolutely don't want to be in a FEMA shelter (you don't either).

http://www.fema.gov/plan/index.shtm

Having a case of water in your pantry isn't enough. Thing the top three: 1) Food 2) Water and 3) Shelter. What would you do if you had to leave your home at the last minute? Do you have all your important papers in one place that you could just grab? Where would you stay? Do you have enough cash on hand to get out of the area, for food, lodging, etc.? Keep in mind many others may be evacuating with you, and as evidenced during Hurricane Katrina and Rita in TEXAS you can be trapped on the highway for over 8 hours with no bathroom, no food, no fuel. Keep an eye on the weather and leave BEFORE it hits please, or be prepared to buckle down where you are to wait it out, if possible.

Severe storm season is just beginning here in South TEXAS, and I believe hurricane season starts in June. Now is the time to get prepared before all those "last minute" shoppers. You want to be safe and secure in your home, instead of running around with all the other crazies clearing the shelves off at Wal-Mart.

I have been preparing since Hurricane Katrina, so may have a lead time on many of you, so feel free to send me an email and ask me a question. My email address is queensedgefarm@yahoo.com

The Thunder Rolls......

It's raining this morning! Praise God, we needed some.. I hope it rains stead all day. We have had so many grass fires around here, and across the state that rain is welcome.

The thunder was loud this morning and scared Hannah who always wonders if we are getting a tornado. She has seen and heard too many in her short life. We have had so many around here, that we are building a tornado shelter at the new home site.

Well, I am glad that election day is over until November. It was a very stressful time for me. I didn't get to make it to the caucus, which I really wanted to attend. I got sidetracked making dinner and before I knew it it was 7:30 p.m.

I see from my blog that I made laundry soap last Wednesday. I had to make more yesterday morning before I could wash anything. I am down to manageable loads, only current laundry and a couple of blankets. I have been able to sort through clothing and get rid of what doesn't fit, and what was too worn. I have packed up most of the blankets and comforters and put in storage, which doesn't go over well today. It is in the 30's, chilly and rainy, and everyone wants their own blanket. I told them to get dressed and they would be just fine.

On the agenda today is to pack and paint.

I better get busy.....

Have a good day everyone!

ETA: yesterday we drove to the county seat to pick up water and soil testing kits from the extension office. We drove straight to the land to take a water sample of the well. I rushed to the post office to mail the water sample, as it had to reach the laboratory within 30 hours of being removed from the well. I should get the results by Monday. We still need to do the soil test, that is more intensive and requires 10-20 core samples from different parts of the land.

I also joined for $10.00, the National Arbor Day Foundation. I did this because I received 10 FREE trees. I chose the Live Oak trees. I am on the look out for nice shade trees, that will one day be firewood. We don't have much of a wood lot now, a few scrub mesquite bushes, a couple of dead mesquite trees, and a line of mature, healthy looking mesquite trees. The 21 black walnut trees are on their way, as well as, these 10 live oak. I have two peach, two nectarine and two apple trees to plant also. I will be placing an order in the fall for 1,000 Afghan pine seedlings to plant. These will be future Christmas trees.

I was able to finish up the last piece of my dad's estate, and am just waiting for the disbursement from his 401K. It took his employer since September to file the paperwork, and that was only after getting touch with them. I can't say as I am surprised. My dad worked for them for 18 years, and they didn't treat him very nice, in my opinion.

Hey! Marie, if you are reading this, please call me or send me an email. I don't go to the homestead forum much anymore, not enough time, as you can tell from my activity.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Primary Election 2008

The girls and I walked to the firehouse today. It was the first time that we had the Democrat and Republican primaries in the same room???? very strange...

There were only a handful of people voting, and no line at all. I only had to vote for two offices, everyone else was unopposed, so I didn't even bother marking their boxes. What's the point?
There were also three resolutions to vote for....

This afternoon, Rodney went to vote, and then after dinner we went out to the land to feed the chickens and give them fresh water. Rodney fished while the kids and I took care of the chickens. Then I sat down to read on the bank of the pond, while the girls played and Taylor fished too.

When it got darker we lit a fire in the fire pit for the first time and sat around the fire for awhile. It was very nice.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

And the decision is in....

well for me anyway. I can no longer justify the voting of the "lesser of the evils". I am voting the way I believe God wants me to, I am 95% sure of that......LOL....

I will be voting for Dr. Ron Paul in the TEXAS primaries on March 4th. Here is a link to his stance on the "issues" http://ontheissues.org/Ron_Paul.htm#Civil_Rights.

I have also renounced my membership in the Republican Party and have affiliated myself with the Constitution Party, but will from here on out vote as an Independent. The state of the Democrat and Republican parties is dismal. There is virtually zero difference in the two. Be honest with yourself and at least admit it, if only to yourself. Politicians are primarily out for themselves, unless you can find one who strictly adheres to both the Bible and the Constitution.

I am very much for a limited federal and state government, but will start with the federal government's role being downsized.

Are you aware that the infractions made by our government today are actually WORSE than those made in 1776 by King George when we were just a colony?

A good resource to read is "Can America Be Saved From Stupid People" by D. Duffy. If you can't find it on the bookshelf, try ordering from www.backwoodshome.com.

I am sure my party affiliation switch is not going to go over too well with family and friends, but frankly I don't care. I no longer want to be considered part of the herd of "sheeple", and choose to use the mind that God gave me. I denounce all mainstream media for contributing to the misinformation conspiracy used so often by our government. While I will continue to pray for those in authority over me, whether I voted for them or not, it doesn't mean I condone their stupidity, or crimes.

Please get our there on Tuesday, and if you don't vote God's will or your conscience, at least vote while you still have this right available.