just some images of what we have been up to

Creative Mind

It doesn't just take creativity but also much independence. This is Elli filling her water bottle. She puts the bottle on the head, props the bottle up against the spout and holds the button with her hand. Very fun to watch. Can't believe she is four and off to school in less than a year. Wow how time flies.

We have both been feeling a little under the weather but she has gotten over her flue bug but my sinuses have kept me up for about six nights in a row. I have no ideas left on what to do to make this go AWAY!!!!!!!

Fall Break

Now all the outside garden has been harvested
so I am crossing
my fingers I will get more
out of the greenhouse.
We have gotten quite a bit
of snow the last few days.
The girls have loved it.
Riding the little four wheeler
and making snow forts.
Even the dog has gotten a little
excited and had to sit in the
house because he was jumping and
chewing on Elli.
Time OUT for Ozzy

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Garden Is Harvested

The weather is getting colder and I know that the garden is showing signs of frost so it all came in yesterday.

The squash,turnips,tomatos,onions, basil and Kohlrabi are all in. Now I will straw the garden and get it ready to till for next spring. I feel so gratified when I see it all sitting in buckets and baskets, knowing the hard work paid off.

Fall work

I have been so grateful for all the beautiful days we have been enjoying. I do realize that all good things must come to an end. There is snow in this weeks forecast so the garden will be harvested completely today. I Canned dill pickles and got another batch of bread and butter pickles ready for tomorrow. I was not planning to do another batch but the pickles were a little big for dill pickles. they are exteremly hard to pack into the jars if they are too big so more bread and butter pickles to come. I don't know how much more I will be getting out of the greenhouse. When I check in the mornings, the temperature is sometimes down to the high forties. Not the ideal situation for tomatoes to ripen. But I will harvest until mother nature puts a hault to it's production.

Chickens are very happy little cluckers.....about 20 eggs a day. Needless to say we are giving eggs away and using eggs just about any way you can think of. It feels good to be almost self sufficient. No milk cow though. I will NOT milk a cow!


Friday morning I got a very somber phone call from my Mom. My Step Grandma passed away and her viewing would be that evening. Jared and I had already planned a weekend get-away but didn't really plan to go to Pocatello. Jared was a trooper and we hopped on the bike and went to the viewing. I had mixed emotions about going. Things were not always good between my aunts and uncles when it concerned my Grandma Vida, but I knew that she loved me and she was the only Grandma I have known. I was even planning a trip to visit her in the nursing home while my kids were home for fall break. The situation was very strange to me. Her family is not close and so there was no funeral, just a viewing and a graveside dedication where she was being burried. I know I don't want anything extravagant but at least a few words for those who are there. i was very touched by a few little love notes that were on display for the viewing. Sweet notes from my Grandpa just because. I come from good roots and I am very grateful for that. He was lucky to be in love with two great ladies. Both very different but he had plenty of love for the both of them.

September Morning

How amazing is that. This is the view I get to wake up to every morning. Beautiful fields and majestic mountains.

Not surprising that our kids love this place too. We have been planning a trip over fall break to go to Glacier Park. When our kids have the choice to go to Glacier or to stay around here and camp and ride horses, they choose to stay and enjoy our own back yard view. It is truly a magical place to live.

More canning

One of my memories of canning with my Mom is making cinnamon pickles,

never knowing how much hard work really went into them. They are about a 5 day process and take up a lot of room in the kitchen for that amount of time too.

They are well worth the effort and the much needed space in the kitchen.

I have also finished another batch of bread and butter pickles and a few more jars of dill pickles.

I sometimes think that time is just flying by. Kody is getting his drivers license and will now be able to do some of the running. It will be very nice to have a little more time to get things done. If I make a trip to town it seems like the day is half over and I don't feel like starting projects half way through the day. It will be stressfull but convienient at the same time.

The new business is doing well and Jared has a few chinking jobs that should keep him busy for a while. I know we are extrememly blessed to have work and be financially free. Makes the stress level somewhat bearable. I am very gratefull for a husband who gets his hands dirty and provides for his family.

More Summer pics

We have spent a lot of time with Hailey at Volleyball. The season only lasted about 5 weeks but it was a lot of fun watching these girls.

The first day of school pic, of course.

This year the flowers have been beautiful. I still have some bed that are in need of some plants but I will seed them this fall and see what I come up with for next year.

I know this will not last long the leaves on the squash plants all got frosted last night.

This weeks project is cinnamon pickles and the craft room/exercise room/office. Sound like a big project. Believe me....it is HUGE!

Summer gardening

I am loving the great experience I have had gardening this year. I have canned beets and pickled, stewed and italian stewed tomatoes, hot and mild salsa, bread and butter, dill pickles, raspberry jam, pepper jelly, and relish. Still need to do green beans, cinnamon pickles and dill pickles but I am enjoying seeing all the pretty bottles of food going into the storage room.
Here is what the green house is looking like these days. I still have tomatoes that are rippening and the pickles are growing huge, for cinnamon pickles, and then some for dill pickles. The basil is ready to pick again to make pesto. The okra I am not sure what to do with but the flowers are pretty amazing. I am hoping to get enough peppers still to can some jalepenos and some chilis and possible make another couple of batches of salsa. The celery is turning out better than I expected. I asked around on the technique on how to grow celery and from what I understand people just don't grow it. I will be storing it in the dark storage room over the winter and hoping it will continue to grow next year.

The lady bugs have been a huge help this year. I had a pretty obnoxious aphid problem and brought in 5000 lady bugs. Problem solved! They have migrated outside and around the neighborhood but with so many of them around, when I see aphids on anything I pick up a handful of my little helpers and the problem is taken care of. The pepper plants and the brussel sprouts were the worst. I have learned a lot but feel like this years harvest is quite successful.

All in all I have no doubt in my mind everyone around this area needs a green house. Mine has made a huge difference. Never have I canned this much in one year. Hopefully more canning to come still. There are also a few things I won't be planting in the green house next year. #1 no zucchinni, melons or squash. they take over and have to be trimmed every couple of days just so they don't smother out other plants #2 I will start my corn in the green house but then I will transplant it outside. It is too hard for a shorty like me to polinate the plants so often and the corn dust was very harsh on the alergies.

Woops!

I sure have been a slacker at posting. I have loved all the warm weather we have enjoyed this summer. The green house has made a huge difference in the amount of food I have been able to can, compared to years in the past. We have played and worked hard. Here are a few pics to tell a little about what we have been up to.

Here are a few pictures of our Danielle, the cat and OZZY the pup. This was something Jared caught a glimps of while we were getting kids off to school this morning.

They were so cute. It looked like Danielle was giving Ozzy a massage as she was gently clawing at his back. He laid there like there was not a care in the world. They have a strange relationship. We have seen Ozzy carry Danielle in his mouth like she had hunted her down, carrying her off like a won prize. Isn't farm life exciting.

Today the older chickens go the boot from the chicken coop. they have stopped laying eggs so the got replaced by the cute little babies.

Growing flowers in the house

I have been feeling like getting my fingers in the dirt for a while and these are some of the pretties that I planted about a month ago. YES! They are in my living room waiting to be moved outside when the weather is a little less out of control.

Desperate Measures

I know it sounds like a broken record but I am sick of the snow. Jared is going to build me a green house but the snow is not leaving, especially in the spot where the green house is supposed to go. So when it warms up this morning I am taking matters in my own hands. I am going to get the back hoe out and push the snow out of MY way. I am pretty sure Jared regrets ever teaching me how to run any of the equipment because I am pretty strong willed and when I set my mind on something I cannot stay focused on anything else.
I have been working on some craft revamps this last week also so I will post some of those soon. I have to keep busy.
I am amazed how clean my house can stay with only one little one at home. It isn't perfect but we are happy and comfortable. Besides I get cranky when it gets even close to dirty so I like it tidy. We have fun in the day but she is a lot easier to clean up after than all 6 of them. (7 if you count Jared)

16 Years!!!

Had a great day with Jared yesterday. It was our 16 Year anniversary. We had to finish up a few things on the water trailer so it can head to the oil fields on Monday but the rest of the day we were able to spend together. We both were fitted for running shoes and then we picked out a tred mill that will be here in about a week. It will be great to be able to run anytime.

I am very lucky to have a great man who still adores me and treats me like his girlfriend, most of the time. I have not held a full time job for over 14 years. He is a amazing provider and a hard worker. I know he would do anything to take care of his family. I love him more now than I did 16 years ago.

Our New Adventure

Last winter we were given the opportunity to sell our investment property. We had dreams of building a house there but knew we should probably take the offer, even knowing we would be losing a huge chunk of money. Our reasoning was that we would get ourselves completely out of debt. With the economy down and building was close to non-existant we decided to cut our losses and sell.

The building business has picked up quite a bit but nothing like we were used to so we decided to take our extra money and invest in a semi and water trailer and put it to work in the oil fields.

Today I am headed to Idaho Falls to pay the final bill on the trailer. Everything has been gone through and all of the parts that could be possible headaches are replaced. We want our drivers to be in a reliable work truck, not one that is breaking down all the time. That is the least we can do for them. They will be working 10-12 hours from home, two weeks on, two weeks off, in the Dakota's or in Wyoming. The money is good so it is worth the inconvienience but still not the ideal situation.

Hopefully the money spent will pay off quickly. Jared and I have been so blessed. Hopefully this will bless the lives of others who have been struggling also. I feel blessings are given to those who give and Jared has a huge heart when it comes to giving. He is a good man and I am grateful he is always giving.

Favorite Homemade Bread

So I have been making homemeade bread for about 2 years now.  I bake 5 loaves once a week and more if I give any away. I am sure I have saved thousands of dollars with the amount of bread our family of 8 goes through.

Here is the recipe:
6 cups warm water
3 T yeast
3 T salt
2 eggs
2 T dough enhancer
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup powdered milk
12-14 cups flour
3/4 c vegetable oil

Mix all ingredients except flour and vegetable oil in mixer ( mine is a bosch) adding 8 cups of flour till sticky then add vegetable oil. Add remaining dough till the dough no longer sticks to sides of the bowl. Mix for 6 minutes on med speed. Let raise for 1 hour. Punch down and divide into 5 loaves. place in greased pans and let raise another 30 minutes or until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and butter tops.

It doesn't last long around here but I know what is in it and that my kids aren't going to go hungry any time soon. Too bad I am on no sugar still and bread is off my menu.

Girls camp fundraiser

Hailey had a great time at the girls camp fundraiser.  Her dessert made the most money $75.  She was so happy.  Hailey had to be there early and set up.  I helped in the kitchen and watched to serving food to make sure nothing ran out.  I know that she will love girls camp this year.  She has great leaders with strong testimonies.  What an exciting way to build the testimonies of the girls.  I think every girls should get to go to girls camp.  Some of my most spiritual moments while I was young were at girls camp.

Heaven is freezing over! St George is calling my name.

I want to jump back in the car and head South.  It snowed again last night. 

I was hoping that Jared would be able to start on my green house

this weekend but it will be put on the back burner.

I am back on the no sugar diet to see if I can get my sinuses in check.  I am feeling great

and I am down 8 pounds since starting at the beginning of the month.  I am getting a double

bonus out of this one.

We had an awesome time in St. George and learned a lot about some of the

church history. Went camping and caught lizards.  We hiked and biked a ton

while we were down there.  Kody had a spill and the bike got

the best of him.  We all got a little too much sun

but I can honestly say that I loved the feel of a 

slight sun burn.  I was sweet bliss to feel the heat of the sun beating

down on my pastey white skin.  I feel that I can see myself

moving to warmer weather

in the future.

 My Great,(who knows how many times) Grandfather was

Anson Call, (a very close friend to Joseph Smith) and our family has a lot of connections

in the St. George area.  I really love hearing about how strong

our ancestors were.  I love them for their unwavering spirits.

I hope they have passed a little of that down to me.

I am very blessed to have prayers answered.  Tyler has been

 going out with the missionaries a couple of times in the last few weeks.

He is feeling the spirit and I have heard him mention going on a mission

more lately than we have heard in a long time.  He also likes a sweet, fun girl

who would like him to go on a mission.  I can only pray that he will make that decision and

serve.  I know he would love it and grow so much.