2011 Seeding

On May 6th we were finally able to start seeding. Thus far it has been going relatively well with only a few mishaps (getting stuck, having things break etc.). This year we are growing: canola, wheat, flax, lentils, and alfalfa. There is a buddy seat in one of the tractors and Abigail and I have enjoyed riding with Graham.

Inside the tactor.

Looking behind us from inside the tractor.
Here we are stopped to add canola seed to the tank.

Some of the unseeded acres.

The tractor.

Acres already seeded with Canola.

Behind the drill.

Rock Paintings

I thought it would be fun to do a little rock painting, and so, after I found some smooth rocks at my in-laws, I had fun painting the below animals. :) Around a month ago I was able to get a bunch of acrylic paint for 40% off at a craft store so that's is what I used for these.

What I've done so far.

A little piglet, I think this one is my favorite:).

Lion.

Hamster.

Rabbit.

Bird Watching

It has finally warmed up enough to go outdoors without freezing:). A few days back, while talking a walk around the property, I spotted two Great Horned Owls perched together in a tree. I had my camera and was able to take few pictures. I looked them up in my bird book when I got back inside and found that they are the top predators in their food chain, and will often kill and eat other owls and even skunks! Maybe that is where half the cats on the farm have disappeared too!

Right as I was taking this picture the other owl flew away and just missed being in the shot.

Close up. They have incredible hearing as I was quite a distance from it when I made a small noise and it immediately turned to look at me.
Bird Facts:

Voice: Series of hoots, also screams, barks, and hisses; female higher pitched.

Nesting: Old stick nest, in tree, exposed cavity, cliff, human structure, or on the ground; 1-5 eggs; 1 brood; January-April

Feeding: Hunts mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects; mostly nocturnal.

The Neatest High Chair

We were in need of a high chair so a few days ago my husband brought home this one which he bought at a Amish furniture store. I think he did a great job picking it out:)! I had never seen one quite like it and because it's solid wood it should hopefully last for years. Isn't it neat?

It scoots right up to the table instead of having a tray.

When the little one is done eating, you can turn the chair onto

it's back and it becomes a rocking horse for them to play in. :)

Or, if you turn it the other way it becomes a child's desk:).

I think it's a pretty neat high chair, and am thankful to have it!

Flour Tortillas

I wanted to try making tortillas for awhile and finally did it a few nights ago. It was simple and they turned out good:). I did find that they should be rolled quite thin before cooking otherwise they tended to be a touch "doughy".

Flour Tortillas

3 ½ cups flour

1 tsp salt

½ tsp baking powder

½ shortening

1 cup hot water

Mix together the flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in the shortening.

Slowly add the hot water until you get a dough like consistency.

Knead dough for three minutes.

Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.

Take a piece of dough (how much depends on how big you want your tortilla) and roll into a circle.

Place in a hot pan and flip when you see small air pockets form. Keep a eye on it as it can burn quite fast. Flip one more time when it starts to puff up. Enjoy with your favorite fillings:).

Bless the Lord My Soul!

"What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?"~Psa. 116:12

"Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing."~Psa. 107:22

He loads us with His benefits

Until no want we know,

And then He sends a little more

That makes our cup o' erflow;

He opens wide His hand of love

He gives no stingy dole

His tender mercies crown our days

Oh bless the Lord, my soul!

Cars vs. Computers

For those who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives. This is an old joke (Bill Gates actually never said this), but I thought it was humorous.

At a computer expo, Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and said:

‘If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon.’

In response to the comments, General Motors issued a press release stating: If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:

1. For no reason whatsoever, you car would crash…. Twice a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive, but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by single ‘This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation’ warning light.

7. The airbag system would ask ‘Are you sure?’ before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9. You would have to press the ‘Start’ button to turn the engine off.

10. When all else fails, you could call ‘customer service’ in some foreign country and be instructed in a foreign language how to fix your car yourself.

Abigail In Concert

Beethoven's piano concerto no. 4

Mozart's piano sonata C major


This child is amazing :). Actually, we had fun taking these pictures at my in-law's place. It was cute; she looked so small compared to the piano:).

Northwest Salmon Chowder

My sister told me about this yummy recipe and since then I've made it several times. I love the flavor of salmon, and this chowder has lots of other great ingredients besides. It has become a favorite of mine! The leftovers taste almost better the second day:). Hope you enjoy!

Northwest Salmon Chowder

1/2 cup each celery, and onion

3 Tbsp. butter

1 clove garlic

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup uncooked diced potatoes

1 cup shredded carrots

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

3/4 tsp. dill weed

1 can cream corn

2 cups half-and-half cream

1 can salmon

A bowl of hot delicious soup:)

Shredded carrot, and chopped celery, potato, onion and garlic.

Gather your ingredients

Combine the cream corn, chicken broth, salt, pepper, dill weed, cream and salmon.

Cook garlic, onion and celery in the butter. Meanwhile have the potatoes and carrots boiling together until done. Add everything together and enjoy!

Makes about 8 servings.

::Announcing:::

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." ~Psalm

We are thankful and excited to say another little blessing from God is on the way. Lord Willing, we will meet our newest little baby in August. :)