This summer is just flying by too fast. I've been taking several breaks from my computer, and limiting what I have been doing here to reading news and current events. Mentally my mind has been going in circles and wowed with all the natural instances of Gods power. It is so easy for me to turn into a crisis-watching-news-junkie, and all the mental stress that goes with it. Put that together with the fact that we live in coal country and have been watching the industry take a beating from our gov't and their pushy cronies (the EPA) and watching thousands of jobs get pulled from under the only real economic engine in the state. However I have had some good come of the spring and summer and I will squeeze as much in as possible to keep you updated. 

     First I was able to get a late start garden in. I have quite a small yard, and was able to put the biggest little garden plot yet ( the kids don't like having to play on only the slanty part of the yard lol). I was able to get tow rows of heirloom green beans in  and a row of heirloom yellow neck prolific summer squash, a row of heirloom straight eight cucumbers and half a row of heirloom butternut and zucchini. Also at the beginning of August I let the kids plant a small kiddo fall garden plot with some snow peas, broccoli and lettuce, although the lettuce is refusing to make an appearance. Except for the cucumbers and the broccoli and beans, the rest are new to me. Don't laugh but I have learned several things. One being that you don't plant yellow summer squash in the middle of the garden.2 Cucumbers planted that close together is possible, provided you train them up, and only if you have more supports than I do. Otherwise you have a viney, leafy mess that needs constant pruning. 3. No one in their right minds needs more than four squash plants. I have a 20 foot row of approx. 15 plants. 4. Because of the arrangement and spacing of the  yellow squash, I'm having quite a problem pruning back the leaves on all the plants with the powdery mildew.

Grace at the camping site with the Volcano

     Earlier this summer I received my Volcano Grill. Something I really want to show you. We got to take it camping when my BIL came in from the navy on leave. Unfortunetly we got rained out but I got to work with my Volcano some. I am still aiming to try an actual loaf pan of bread with it. As soon as I get some time I'd like to try it.

Nathans finger after 1.5 weeks with P.P.

     And again and again Ive gotten the chance to use my Peoples Paste formula. The most recent episodes were where Nathan sliced his finger if not all the way, nearly to the bone. The formula is also currently in the employ on Cecily's chin where it is healing up a nearly one inch gash on her chin from trying to walk across an unsecured board up on the stumps in the yard. OH. MY. There was blood every where.

     But perhaps the most engaging thing this summer has been learning about Hebrew Roots. I plan on having a whole separate series of posts on this soon. It has been literally  life changing. Suffice to say the Father has been leading me to the discovery of momentous things hidden in plain sight in His word. Things that I almost feel stupid for not seeing before. Among those things is the actual observance of Shabbat (seventh day) as he laid down in the beginning. I hope I can pull out some good elephants for this series of posts. I hope to be succinct in relaying to you the magnitude of what I have discovered. It has literally rocked my world, and continues to do so every week. Thanks to Passion For Truth (PFT) Ministries and a most helpful best friend, I've been able to see things as they really are. After all there are more areas to be prepared for than just food and water and such. The ultimate preparedness is our final destination. Knowing the Truth is what really matters in issues of the heart.
     Also I've been able to get the needles out again and start a couple new projects. I can hardly believe that I've kept my sanity over the last year, without having touched nary a thread. I've decided life isn't worth being THAT busy to leave knitting out. So I've put some leg warmers on the list for the girls and a nice cabled cowl on the needles for myself. I hope to have pictures soon.
     What has kept you busy?

The Buzz Around Here

Well haven't blogged the last week or two, as you have noticed. We had my BIL come in for his furlough from the Navy and we wanted to spend some time with him. We had a two day mini camp trip with him, and have been fighting a nasty little bug for the last two weeks, (thanks public school neighbor kid!)  

Some of the things I have learned over this last two weeks. 

1. I'm glad I at least try to teach my children some hygiene manners. Nothing beats seeing the neighbors grandson wipe snot all down his arm and continue to pass the toys around. Granted, kids will be kids, but moms also need to be moms too.

2. One can always use more camping gear. Like umbrellas. Lots of umbrellas, or better yet a canopy. 

3. I can't stand the rain in this state. It ruins everything.

4. A wheel plow is not a good tool to tear up 2 year old grass with. Dirt is great, grass- no good. I've literally had to rip it up with my hands. And as of writing this I'm still not completely done. :-/

5. An allergy to a bee sting can come out of nowhere. Grace had to be taken to the ER because of a bad reaction to a sting. Makes me certain that I'll have to do a liver cleanse for her at least twice a year since her OD on the Tylenol PM a couple years ago. Thankfully it wasn't anaphylaxis, but there was a reaction there that I will ever have to be mindful of. So much for my idea of an apiary.  Nathan also got two stings this week, thinking he'd be a tough guy and not let me put anything on it. The swellings are finally starting to go away.

6. Never let an 8 year old tell you that "it doesn't hurt" and "I can handle it". :-/

7. Sick husbands whine. A lot. 

Other than that I've also gone out and picked up some material with the kids to make this years wipes up. I'm doubling them this time, and am using my White sewing machine on the treadle, as it has the built in zig zag cams. I still need to replace the zig zag attachment for my Singer. Got those finished up tonight. Had to give my shoulders a rest today. Have been trying to attack my garden spot grass the last two days, and needed to take a break. I'll be able to finish it up tomorrow and finally get the dirt broke up.

I am really at the latest I would like to plant over here. Since we are still waiting for the opening for the place we are moving into (did you know that a tenant can file for three, yes THREE extensions for an eviction in WV?), a garden is going to have to be split up into long term plants and short term. The longer growing varieties like my tomatoes and squash and watermelon will be planted over at my in-laws house, while the fast producing will be in my little garden plot here at our house. Things like cucumbers, zucchini, and beans and some kitchen herbs as well. By the time we get into the house we are waiting for it will be the end of August. I am still praying that we will get it, because I would love to have a basement and two bathrooms, room for a large garden and fruit trees, which would be getting ripe right about that time. If wishes were horses!

Tonight I also put in an add over at the local radio station for their Trading Post feature that they have every morning. I'm advertising for a non working chest or upright freezer so I can store my grain in. All you have to do is cut the cord off and stuff the opening with Brillo pads and foam. Voila! You have a critter proof storage container! Even better if it has a lock on it, otherwise I'll put one on it myself. Also advertising for used canning jars of which I'll pay $.25 for every useable one. So If you hear my add, and have some handy, write my number down.

Until next time - which should be a lot sooner than last time!

MYO Home Made Laundry Products

Ok, So Ive got my never fail small batches of home made laundry soap. But there are those of you out there who have been holding back because they don't have or want to sit and grate soap bars for a half hour (you know who you are). So here to throw before you is an offering of something even simpler. Granted if you are looking for a sulfate free version this probably won't work for you, but It might be the tightwads saving grace for those who happen to be lazy energetically and/or motivationally challenged. This woman is a genius.

Also I have to admit that I am terribly lazy motivationally challenged when it comes to stain removal on childrens' clothes. I mean really why bother removing the stains out of play clothes to have them muddied, hand wiped, dripped and otherwise icked on at the very next wearing? Don't get me wrong, I take care of the nice clothes, and I teach my children to eat over their plates and use napkins. I am not one of the moms that put down drop cloths for the babies to encourage throwing food (babies can be taught to eat neatly too! Ive proven it with 5 of them!). But for me stain removal is about as abhorrent as making ice cubes. (yes really I hate making ice!) So when I saw a link on face book to this womans' blog I really reconsidered my challenges.

Submitted for your approval are three recipes from a site called One Good Thing by Jillee.

Home Made Laundry Detergent (superfast for those who don't do grate!)

Home Made 'Shout' Stain Remover (will be trying this one this week)

and Home Made 'Oxi-Clean' (not something I use much, but hey I have the ingredients so we'll try)

If you try them before I can report back- speak up and tell us how they work!

--Jamie