"These happy golden years are passing by, these happy golden years." Laura Ingalls Wilder

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

This & That


Inquiring minds want to know ;) ... what has Mrs. Mac been doing for the past few weeks to keep her from posting regularly?

  1. canning
  2. cleaning
  3. baby sitting
  4. knitting
  5. baking
  6. visiting
  7. canning
  8. cleaning
  9. knitting
  10. baking
  11. baby sitting
  12. cleaning
  13. canning
  14. garden work
  15. garden work
  16. knitting
Now aren't you sorry you asked ;)?

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!

It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,

yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Proverbs 6:6-8


Wednesday, September 23, 2009

A Message


I'm writing this journal entry in response to Dr. Boucher's request. She is a gifted occupational therapist that has given me much encouragement over the past year in regard to my son, Nathan, the possessor of an extra chromosome.

This post is stretching the limits of my brain power having to think so far back. But with a little quite time, I am going to recall a most interesting period in my life.

I had been married to the Mr. for about eleven years; had three beautiful children being home schooled ... all was well. One day I perceived (I assume from the Lord) that there was yet one more child for us to raise. Specifically, a boy with special needs. Not knowing what to do with this so called enlightened information, I mentioned it a few times to a select few and tucked the message away in my heart.

When you are a Christian home schooling family, prayer time can be very spontaneous having everyone's attention all day. My children were no different from other kids in asking for us to add another child to our family. Hubby dear was not too keen. The children became rather pesky about the topic so I mentioned that Dad's heart was closed to the idea. Perhaps they should pray that God would soften his heart.

Fast forward five years: Now I'm hear to warn you, don't assign prayers to children unless you expect them to be answered!" Pray and pray they did. And guess what! God answered their prayers. We were expecting our fourth child .. me being 38 and hubby 45; not exactly spring chickens, eh?

The blessed day arrived and our son, Nathan, was born. Off in the corner of the delivery room I overheard a nurse mention something about Down syndrome. Being groggy I pushed the notion out the window. However, the truth of the matter he has down syndrome. I immediately had a flashback to the day I had a (message) notion about being the mom of a boy with special needs.

If you're wondering why I did not know our son had DS before he was born, here's my response. Children are a great heritage from the Lord; all children, not just some children. Each has worth. I did not have any invasive genetic testing done during my pregnancy. If children are a gift from God, then why on earth would I jeopardize a life. We'll take what we get was our view about being pregnant later in life.

Would I change anything today? Is life easy for our family? To these two questions I'll answer NO.

Is our life enriched and blessed? Do we as a family have more empathy for the afflicted? Has God used our son as a witness that all human life has value? Our resounding answer is YES!

(Photos: top ~ Nathan age 3, bottom ~ Nathan age 13)

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16 NIV

Swimming in Tomatoes


OK, OK, I'm up to my eyeballs canning tomatoes :) And going on dates with the Mr. .. and frying chicken dinners for my kids .. and sending daughter to college this week .. and putting the garden to bed .. and looking for my paper to send to Dr. B. The sky is falling, it just hit me on the head ;)

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Five Words


OK ... this blog is being neglected as I try to keep up the the Scarf Sisters .. and now Cooking With The Scarf Sisters. So to fill in a few posts, I'm playing a five word meme that Pat posted a few days ago. If you want to play along with five random words, just leave me a comment. I'm taking five days to stretch this meme out. Today's word is:

Idaho

As a relatively new transplant to this state, I've come to think of no other place as home (except for a vision of heaven down the road :) Having lived east, west and in between, the north has exceptional beauty. Hubby and I have pioneer spirit and have moved to quite a few states. Now Idaho is home sweet home to us. We have our names written in the soil so to speak. When I think of Idaho I think of: Potatoes, huckleberries, streams teaming with fish, hunting, wild animals, thick forests, alpine lakes, wild flowers, volcanic deserts, ghost towns, and culture mixed with a wild west flavor. From my front porch rocker I can watch the sun rise over a tree covered mountaintop .. and in the evening, I can watch the sun drop behind another ridge from my backyard patio. There are so many places to explore within an hours drive that living here seems like a permanent vacation.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Becoming a Garden Seed Saver

Last post I wrote about the importance of knowing about open pollinated/heirloom seeds. My lack of knowledge in the matter has given me a new area to study and a place to start from scratch. Here is a good post from a well seasoned gardener that will help explain the difference in seeds and the importance of heirloom seeds.

Down to Earth .. Raising open pollinated seeds. Consider this a 'jumping off place' as there are other links worth visiting here as well.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Biggest Garden Flop




... this summer: planting seeds saved from store bought winter squash last year. When did science mess with God's creation to produce fruit/veggies with sterile seeds? Now I'm on to the importance of heirloom and open pollinated seeds that you can save yourself year after year. More on that topic later on my garden blog. Needless to say, the 'seeds' produced lots of blossoms and leaves ... and took up considerable valuable property in my garden! Thank goodness I planted some winter squash from a seed packet as well ... although these seeds are probably not open pollinated or heirloom so I will need to buy more next year. Am I the only clueless gardener on this topic? Things will be planted a bit differently next year, Lord willing. Let's see: Plants that produce sterile seeds equals more money to the seed vendors, duh! Let's see: planting heirloom seeds that eventually adapt to the growing conditions in your area, can be harvested and planted again year after year. Our forefathers knew this procedure; why on earth has our generation become so inept at the cycle of our food supply? I actually had a young person visit this summer that asked if you stored corn stalks in the garage in the winter and replant them in the spring! And also told me it was such a lot of work to plan, plant, and tend to a garden if you had to start over each year. What a sad scenario. Too many days spent playing video games instead of playing in the dirt as a child, eh?

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
Genesis 1:29-30 (NIV)

Photos: Mrs. Mac's backyard rock wall, a sunflower ` mid size, you should see the largest!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Remembering


The following comment was posted earlier this summer. I leave you with these words to ponder as we remember the suffering and destruction .. and rising up from the ashes of a dark day in history.

"Oh, and the constitution... indeed there is move all over the world to weaken the spiritual fiber holding the world together, but special prayers are needed for your country. The USA has been such a strong bastion of democracy, and Christianity... and we need to pool our prayers together so that her flame will not be snuffed out. Praying for you and for your country..."

Thank you Lidj for your well spoken words.


Thursday, September 10, 2009

Biggest Garden Surprise



Growing watermelon in the North Woods. I planted the seeds directly in the soil mid May and picked some sweet eight pound melons by the first of September. Yummy. Now they are gone (sad sigh) .. but we're enjoying some cantaloupe and Tuscan melon.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Goodbye Summer

School started yesterday for Nathan. I'm readjusting from summer to autumn mode. Will be back when I catch up on my sleep.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

It's Late .. It's Late ...


I have lots to do in preparation for the newest Scarf Sister's adventure. Something to do with cooking and a traveling apron this year. Now I'm off to gather my items to make a heritage meal for my family.