The Curly Scarf

Good Wednesday morning, friends,

The fall chill has arrived in our neck of the woods, and with it, my desire to get back into one of my favorite cold weather hobbies: crocheting.

Now, I am no crochet expert, but I love to crochet the simple things like scarves, blankets, etc.

Last year, I made this curly scarf. It's such an easy pattern! My hubby got the beautiful yarn for me at Hobby Lobby. If you look closely, you can see the glitter thread in it. 

My hubby also got several other lovely colors, so I had to choose which color to use for my next scarf.

*Drum Roll*

I decided on red. And, when I am feeling extra co-ordinated (lol), I will be reading one of my favorite missionary books while I am stitching...

 Happy stitching, everyone!

Sharing today with Ginny

@

"She... worketh willingly with her hands." ~ Proverbs 31:13b

 

An Announcement

Hi friends,

For years, I have used the traditional hair barrettes and claws. The barrettes were hard on my hair because while taking them out, there was always a huge hunk of my hair stuck in the clasp. The claws weren't much better: I usually ended up with a headache after wearing one all day.

A couple of years ago, I saw the Lilla Rose hair products online and thought the design of the Flexi Clip was brilliant, so much so that I actually considered becoming a consultant. However, I eventually forgot about it. Every once in awhile, I would entertain the thought again. But it never went any farther than just thinking about it.

Well, last month, I didn't just entertain the thought; I acted on it. And I am now an Independent Consultant for Lilla Rose! Flexi Clips are made with piano wire, so they flexible and durable. They are so comfortable to wear, they stay put - all day -  and come with a guarantee. They have many beautiful and feminine styles to choose from.

I simply can't say enough about them. 

After seeing how a Flexi Clip works, even my hubby was amazed and called the design "ingenious". And he always comments about how pretty they look in my hair. :)

Now, I realize that some (or many) of you have never heard of Lilla Rose, so I encourage you to check out my website on the sidebar and take a look at the products. I promise, you won't be disappointed. 

Here is a photo of my granddaughter wearing a Flexi Clip. As you can see, the Flexi Clip can even hold long, thick hair like hers.

 And a close-up...

(Photos courtesy of my firstborn daughter, Nicole.)

But that's not all..today, Lilla Rose is having a 20% off everything sale until 2:00 pm (PST),

So head over to my website and snatch up some good deals!  :)

Thanks, friends!

"But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her..." ~ I Corinthians 11:15

Baby Goats part 2

To say that this post is long overdue is an understatement. But considering what's been going on in my life the past few months, you will forgive me, won't you?  ;)

As I said in my post about Fiona's kidding, she had an intervention-free delivery. Thankfully!  :)

So naturally, as I thought about Helena's impending delivery, I was hoping for the same: I watch; she delivers. And I won't have to get my hands dirty, so to speak. Ha! Not a chance.

Four days before Helena's actual due date, I noticed she was pawing at the ground, bleating nervously, and refusing to eat. She was also yawning. Alot. (Odd, I know, but a definite sign of labor.) She would lie die, get up again, lie down, get up again...over and over again.  This was about 10:00 am. We knew the signs - this was it! Since Fiona's labor was so fast, we decided to camp out in the barn so we wouldn't miss the big event.

11:00: She's was still in labor. We were still waiting.

12:00: Still no babies. We were hungry and wanting some lunch, so I stayed in the barn while the children went to the house and fixed lunch. We ate in the shade under the peach tree next to the barn...should anything happen.

12:30: Still no babies, and I am beginning to get concerned about how long this is going to take.

1:00: Labor is intensifying and I realize that Helena might actually give birth today.  ;)

1:20: Wow...she is working hard, and at this point we are official "goat doulas", cheering her on.  :)

1:30: She begins to push. We see hooves and a nose! She keeps on pushing. We keep on cheering. (I am pretty sure that neighbors within a 5-mile radius of our property can hear us by now. Lol.) But when she pushes, she doesn't progress...the baby seems stuck. So when she pushes, I gently pull on the hooves. (So much for not getting my hands dirty!) The baby slips out easily onto a towel and Helena starts cleaning him up. That's right - him. And we were hoping for at least one female! But he is healthy...and big. So we are thankful.

1:35: Helena's starts pushing again, and this time when I see a nose coming out, there is only one hoof. Uh-oh....looks like I am going to have to find that other front hoof. I slide my hand in, but the baby's head is so big, there's only enough for me to get my hand in up to my  knuckles. (So much for not getting my hands dirty - again!) I didn't know what to do. I silently asked the Lord for wisdom, and then started to slowly pull on the one hoof as she pushed. A minute later, he (that's right - another male!) was out. And was he ever big! No wonder there was no room for my hand!

Helena cleaned the babies up and nursed them right away. Hurray for no bottle feeding this time around!

Mimi summed it all up very well by saying, "That was the most awesome experience ever!" Yes, I agree. It was nature study at its best.

And now may I introduce Emmett.....

And Emory...

As with Fiona, four males, no females. Oh well, maybe next year.  :)

"Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, 

And attend to your herds;

For riches are not forever,

Nor does a crown endure to all generations." ~ Proverbs 27:23,24

Have  fabulous Friday, friends!

Practical Ways To Minister To Those Who Are Grieving

Dear friends,

The whole situation of my Dad's passing has taught me so much.

As soon as word got around that the Lord had called him Home, we were literally inundated with visits, phone calls, and food at my Mom's house.  The outpouring of love and support was overwhelming to us.

But with the flood of visits and goodies that were coming into my Mom's, there were some very practical things that stand out in my mind; things that I will definitely remember when the tables are turned and it's my turn to reach out to someone who is grieving.

Someone set up chairs outside on the carport, and extra chairs in the living room, family room, and on the sun porch, so there was plenty of seating for the steady stream of visitors.

Someone brought huge stacks of paper plates and paper cups. Great! No dish washing!  :)

Someone brought (and a local business donated) bags of ice. Wonderful! With  the constant flow of people coming to visit Mom, there was no way her ice maker could keep up.

Someone brought large black trash cans with trash bags, and put them in the areas where people would be eating. No overflow of trash there!  :)

 Someone (actually 5 someones) prepared the after-funeral meal at Mom's house so that all the food would be ready when we got home from the funeral. And believe me, with three refrigerators packed full of food, that was no easy task.

I realize that these are simple things, but they meant so much to our family.

And one more thing: a tip or two about what to say or what not to say when someone you know  has lost a loved one (and again, I am speaking from experience here)...if you are uncomfortable about calling or visiting the grieving person, please, please do it anyway. Even if you don't know what to say, just being a good listener is a big help. Or a simple "I am so sorry for your loss" is very appropriate and means so much. The visits and phone calls meant more to us than we can even express! The huge crowd at the funeral was overwhelming, but when the graveside service was over and I turned around to find a dear friend  (who is going through some struggles of her own) waiting to talk to me, well, it was something I will never forget.  I can't even put into words what it meant to me to see her there. In spite of everything she's going through, she came. That's what I call the best of friends.

The Lord used all these people to help us through a very hard time. We will never forget the love and kindness they showed to our family. And next time, I will be better prepared to reach out to someone who is grieving.

Romans 12:15:  "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."

Have a terrific Tuesday, everyone!

The 7 Stages of Grief

Dear friends,

Since my Dad's recent Homecall, I have learned about the 7 Stages of Grief. I had heard something about these stages years ago, but never paid much attention. Until my Dad passed away.

About a week after my Dad's funeral, I decided to check it out and see if I am grieving "normally", by the standards of this website anyway.

 Stage one is shock and denial.

Ok, I was shocked when Dad went Home, even though the doctors tried to prepare us for the inevitable. But how do you prepare to tell your Dad good-bye? Maybe my mind was trying to protect me from the reality of it. And, almost 5 weeks later, the shock still hasn't worn off.

As far as denial, I am pretty sure that I am still in that stage. I just got home from visiting my Mom 30 minutes ago. And as I sat talking with her in the family room, I almost expected Dad to coming walking in from the kitchen after filling up his iced tea mug, even though I had just been in tears a few minutes before after seeing Dad's watch  on his table beside his recliner. And knowing he will never wear that watch again. I just can't seem to reconcile myself to the fact that he is gone. So yes, denial is my friend right now. It's helping me deal with all this.

Stage two is pain and guilt.

Oh, yes, the pain is horrific; physical pain, I mean. I am not sure where it comes from, but it is definitely real. The website says to "fully experience the pain, and not hide." Looks like I am right on track with this one because, believe me, I am doing that very thing. No hiding or repressing it here!

Guilt? Well, I can honestly say, I haven't experienced guilt - yet. Maybe that will come later. But I look back with wonderful memories of my Dad. And near the end of his earthly days, all the time I spent with him at his appointments and at the hospital; I am so thankful for all those special moments together.

Stage three is anger and bargaining.

I confess that I have been angry at some of the doctors at the hospital. As soon as my Dad was diagnosed with sepsis, he should have been started on Flagyl, the antibiotic specifically for sepsis.
But he wasn't given Flagyl until he was admitted to ICU. By then, he had already been exhibiting septic shock symptoms for 24 hours. Plain and simple, it was just too late.
 I have been told that I can't keep thinking about the "what ifs".
I know that. It was Dad's time to go and there was nothing I or anyone else could have done to stop it.
After 5 weeks, most of the anger has gone; I know that the Lord took Dad when it was his time to go, and it was His will to take Him. 

Bargaining. Well, there hasn't been any bargaining.
Dad can't come back, and even if he could, he wouldn't want to.
Why would he want to put on his sickly body and come back to this earth with all the sorrow and horrible things that are going on?
Nope...no bargaining.

Stage four is depression, reflection, and loneliness.
I am not really depressed. Just plain sad. Empty.
 Hollow inside.

I am doing alot of reflecting...starting with childhood memories and continuing to just before he passed. So many wonderful memories, but they are all a reminder that there will be no more memory-making with Dad. Then the sadness begins all over again.

Loneliness...yes, especially when I visit Mom. At her house, I am surrounded by Dad's things. He was a cabinet maker and wood worker. His beautiful furniture is in every room. His handmade frames are on the walls. He. is. everywhere.  Even though my Mom has been inundated with visits from all of us and other family members and friends, it is still lonely there. He absence can be felt physically. And when we have all gone home, I can't even begin to imagine how lonely Mom is without him.



Stage five is the upward turn, when I am supposed to be adjusting to life without Dad. Seriously??
When does this stage kick in??
Hopefully soon.


Stage six is reconstruction and working through.
Reconstructing my life without my Dad...well, I am not sure if that will happen any time this year.
The grief is still very raw, and certain reminders of him can start the tears flowing. And I turn into a basket case.


Stage seven is acceptance and hope.
Just when I think I have accepted his passing, something happens and I get thrown back into stage one again.

And hope? Well, my hope can only come from the fact that Dad was a Christian and I know that he is with the Lord right now. I have always had that hope....even while we were in the ICU with Dad, weeping and telling him goodbye (for now), and then watching him step into Heaven.
Without this hope, I would have nothing...and to know that I will see Dad again is such a wonderful comfort.

So from the looks of it, at any given time, I am apparently in several stages of grief at once. And I sometimes even bounce back to a previous stage. I have come to realize that there is no "normal" way to grieve.
The Lord created us all differently; so we will all grieve differently.
I hope this post is a help to others who might be grieving at this time.

 He is "the Father of mercies and God of all comfort"  (2 Corinthians 1:3)


Have a blessed day, friends.

Baby Goats! (part 1)

Hi friends!

Wow - it's been so long since my last post! Time has a way of slipping by and, to be completely honest, posting on this blog has been the last thing on my mind for the past several months. 

But I have been stopping by to visit you all, even though I  didn't leave many comments.

Well, we made it through a very icy,

snowy winter.

We even got to see hoar frost for the first time ever! 

And once spring finally arrived, new life began again...with the arrival of baby goats!

Fiona was first: she had 2 baby boys on March 24th. And thankfully, I didn't need to assist with the births. She did it all by herself, and had her babies before we even knew it! We discovered them a few minutes after they were born. 

(Not so for Helena, but more on that in part 2.)

Titus was born first, healthy and thriving.

Then Toby arrived. He was very weak and couldn't stand up to nurse.

So we brought him into the house near the woodstove, and our daughter and son-in-law literally saved Toby's life by patiently working with the little guy, teaching him to take a bottle.

Toby is still bottle feeding twice aday, which is wonderful for the children; they love to give him his bottle!  And bottle feeding has made him more of a pet than one of the herd.  :)

Titus spends his spare time chewing on his mom's beard. :)

And Toby thinks the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. ;)

 Since Toby is a bottle baby, I'm pretty sure he thinks he's human, and he and Mimi are the best of friends. Can you see the smile on his face? ;)

 

Stay tuned...part 2 is coming soon!

"To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:"

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

 

Fall Photos

Hi friends,

I hope you're having a lovely autumn. We have been our usual busy selves around here.

Here's what's been happening in our neck of the woods...

Last month, on October 3rd, my parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, only the celebrating had to be postponed. Because unfortunately, on October 1st, my dad had a heart condition that required him to be airlifted to a hospital north of us for pacemaker implant surgery on the morning of October 2nd.

While in the hospital, he very seriously told the nurses, doctors, etc. that they could do the surgery, but they had better release him on the 3rd because he wanted to be home on their anniversary. The family was wondering, "Come home the day after pacemaker surgery???"

Guess what?

He was released on the 3rd!!
Oh, we of little faith!

God is good, isn't He?!

Here's a pic of my parents at their belated anniversary dinner on October 12th:

They are such a wonderful example to family and friends of honoring their marriage covenant.  :)

Meet Raj, the Toggenberg buck...

Our breeder, Mary, brought  him to our property on October 19th. He is one massive goat and is here til he breeds with our does, which hopefully isn't too much longer because he's an eating machine! 

Mary described him as a "gentle giant", and he is...until one of the does goes into heat. Then he morphs into a bull-like, pawing-at-the-ground, head-throwing, furry maniac! That's when we leave the 2 "love birds" alone and let nature take its course.  ;)

As you can see, compared to Helena, he is one big boy!

He has a very interesting curly horn, with a second horn growing up through the middle..

And his beard reminds us of a mane..

We are hoping and praying for baby goats in the spring!  :)

We're still getting plenty of milk from our goats; enough to make raw yogurt..

and ricotta cheese, too. (Sorry! I didn't take a pic of that!)


Our Rouen ducks are getting fattened up for winter. Not that we want to butcher them, because that isn't the plan;  but we are eager to have some duck eggs for baking. And ducklings in the spring would be wonderful, too. They love grazing in the yard and always roost at night close to the goats. They must be thinking that Raj will protect them from predators.  ;)  Here they are foraging near the barnyard as usual, with Helena lounging in the background.

 School days are rolling right along. We have just finished our first term. The children are loving the AO curriculum even more this year than last.
We are enjoying  nature sketching in the beautiful fall colors.
Aaron is sketching under one of our Scarlet oak trees..

Natty is sketching on the rope swing platform.

After sketching, Mimi found some catnip leaves for Kim.

And there is always time for a break from lessons for a basketball game, right?  :)
(Notice Aaron's red boots. He always grabs the shoes/boots closest to the door, no matter who they belong to, since "I don't have time to find my own!"  He's wearing Natty's boots in this photo- lol)

Lately, there has been little time in my life for sewing and crafting. But I was able to squeeze in a few minutes this week to make Natty this skirt from a jumper I got at a thrift store.

But the girls and I have a big sewing project planned for this winter:
making curtains out of this beautiful material that my oldest daughter, Nicole, got for me.
(She lives really close to a Joann's Fabric store and I am soooo jealous! haha!)

I can hardly wait to get started. Come on, winter!  :)

Until next time, my friends.

"To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1