tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85032389211031045662024-02-06T21:18:56.532-06:00The Grahn HomesteadThe life and times of a busy homeschooling mom to 11 earthly children and 3 waiting for us in heaven. Trying to balance God, family, work and everything that comes with it.Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-27879989773883529732014-11-05T10:20:00.000-06:002014-11-06T08:44:17.210-06:00My Thoughts on the Heels of the Election 2014 For the past few months we've had our candidates under the microscope. Trying to figure out who is the better person for the job. Yesterday, Nov. 4, we spoke. Many people are complaining slinging comments back and forth today. Today is a new day and now instead of looking at the candidates, it's time to look at ourselves.<br />
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<i> "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."~ John F. Kennedy. </i></div>
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Today, look in the mirror and ask what am "I" going to do today? How do you live your life to make the country better? Is your money spent on American made? Do you recycle or re-purpose? Ask your boss what you can do to get a higher wage. Don't just ask him/her about a raise....ask what YOU can do. Have you been to Church to thank God for what you do have and not ask him for what you want? Many times we confuse want and need.<br />
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Watch how you're acting today...your kids are watching you. Mark heard on the radio comparing mud slinging campaigns to kids bullying. When you think about it, where do these kids learn it from? Indirectly I've been called stupid and uneducated on recent facebook posts because of how I voted. Hmmm...something to ponder. <br />
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As a business owner I know if I slack at my work the orders slip. But if I'm working hard, the orders come in. So I know sitting around waiting for things to happen doesn't work. <br />
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We have 12-15 months before this all starts over again. Today is ours and decide what YOU are going to do today. <br />
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<br />Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-46883472214113643862014-09-13T10:59:00.000-05:002014-10-11T06:03:52.789-05:00Adolescent Eye Syndrome, A Saturday Morning Funny Let's talk mom to mom or mom to dad about a situation that I'm sure you've all had to deal with or maybe you're on the brink. Adolescent Eye Syndrome. I came up with the name because I've seen it so frequently in kids. From little on they watch you work around the house/yard/farm and as they age they'll start to help. Then they get to the age that they are finally able to work on their own doing certain tasks...that's when it strikes... adolescent eye syndrome. <br />
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You've had these conversations...<br />
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Mom: Please clean your room.<br />
Child: I did.<br />
Meanwhile you're looking around, knowing you've seen this child work next to you...they know how it's done. <br />
Mom: Are you blind? <br />
The child seems perfectly happy that they now have created a path to safely walk through their room. <br />
That night during your evening prayers you thank God for bedroom doors and the ability to close them. <sigh></sigh><br />
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Mom: Please wash the kitchen counter.<br />
Child: I did<br />
Meanwhile, again, you look around as see flour pushed under the mixer, scraps pushed from the counter onto the floor.<br />
Mom: I need to make an appointment to have your eyes checked.<br />
This child again seems perfectly happy that they now have created a space for them to immediately make a snack, there for leaving the counter a mess once again. <deep sigh=""> </deep><br />
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Only parent with children will know what I'm talking about BUT there is good news. Your child should outgrow this within 10 years. I've seen rare occasions taking 20 years or more but that's rare. <br />
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There are a few things that you can do as a parent to help your child through this stage in life. Don't do their work for them. This is very important and the ONLY way the child will see the errors of their way. Do it when they aren't looking. <wink> If they see you doing their work they will slowly start leaving you more and more to do. As hard as it may be...give them praise. I really struggle with this one. It's hard to overlook a messy area especially when the rest of the house is clean. And most of all pray for your kids. Because some day they may own their own home or have an apartment. </wink><br />
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So the next time you come to my house, remember I have kids that are struggling with Adolescent Eye Syndrome. Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-56657053703159447522014-09-12T09:00:00.000-05:002014-09-12T09:00:01.690-05:00Canning Barbecue Sauce Many times people ask me about how to can this or that, why do I do what I do, etc. This post is about barbecue sauce. I can give you 11 very good reasons I can many things myself...they are our children. My canned goods are no salt, no preservatives, no red #40, no sugar or very little and canned in glass not plastic. You know as well as I do when the big companies take all of that out the price of the product goes through the roof. So you can't compare my canning to the cheap things in the store. <br />
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This sauce comes from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Complete-Book-Home-Preserving/dp/0778801314/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410443068&sr=8-1&keywords=ball+book+of+canning" target="_blank">The Complete Ball Book of canning</a>...not the blue book. I multiplied it by 10 to fit in the nesko roaster. You'll need additional pans to keep cooking down the tomatoes. I started off with 2 bushels of roma tomatoes from our garden. The kids and I ran all the tomatoes through our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-1951-Original-Sauce-Master/dp/B0000DDVMQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1410443301&sr=1-1&keywords=sauce+master" target="_blank">sauce master</a> and poured the sauce into the waiting pans/nesko. <br />
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Sometimes things can get a little messy as you can see Karlie got a face full of tomato. :D Good times in the kitchen. Cooking down the tomatoes could take 24 hours. Please turn off burners and unplug the nesko if you are leaving the house or going to bed. You'll be amazed as to how much will "cook off" even when it's not cooking. Tomatoes stay HOT a long time. <br />
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I add the spices when cooking is getting closer to completion. I'll grind up the onions and garlic in a blender with the vinegar...makes life so much easier. Add any sugar at the very end. The sugar will make your tomato products burn easier so I wait until the end. With this recipe I only added 2 c. of brown sugar...not all 20 c.!!! Our family loves liquid smoke so I added some while cooking. The aroma that filled the house had all of us drooling. <br />
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So at the end of the day we just had to try our new sauce over meatballs. It is spicy as I dumped in 1/2 c. of red pepper flakes but the recipe called for more when multiplied by 10. It wasn't too bad and the taste was great. Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-19968954529789206762014-09-11T07:29:00.000-05:002014-09-11T09:48:46.109-05:003 College Girls in 3 Different Schools....What's a mom to do? This year we have 3 girls in college and they are at different schools. Each college does things a little different with "thinking of you" type boxes. One school does finals boxes which can get expensive but the girls say they are loaded with lots of goodies. That is twice a year. Another school does "occasion" boxes which are cheaper but we like to treat all of our kids the same. Last year to make things even this student got numerous boxes to even everything out. The final school is grad school...something new to us and we don't think they will do anything. <br />
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The younger kids and I thought about this and decided to do our own "thinking of you" box. We plan on doing it once a month and sending it out around the 10th. Last night the kids were writing letters to their big sisters and helping me shop for goodies. Using the <a href="https://store.usps.com/store/browse/uspsProductDetailMultiSkuDropDown.jsp?categoryNavIds=shipping-supplies%3apriority-mail&categoryNav=false&navAction=push&navCount=0&productId=P_RRB_A1&categoryId=priority-mail" target="_blank">USPS Priority Regional Rate A box</a> makes shipping very economical. Each of the 3 boxes cost me under $6 to send. I added a link to where you can get these boxes because not all post offices carry them.<br />
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This is our September box...2 packages of microwave popcorn, a package of cheesy broccoli soup, a can of instant flavored cappuccino and letters from home. We are already planning out the box to send in October. Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-12630728825920352282014-05-22T12:29:00.001-05:002014-05-22T12:29:27.485-05:00Hannah's Graduation from St. Norbert's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ah, graduation day only happens once unless you decide to go back to school. A special day that is celebrated with family and friends. Little did Hannah know was that I talked to her Auntie Heidi 3 days before only to find out they had a few days off and relaxing in WI. Through our talk she explained how they would go home right past St. Norbert's. So I brought up about surprising Hannah with a visit from them. Wasn't sure how things were going to unravel until that morning. Little did I know my mom and step dad were there too. I had brought up our Sunday dinner to have in Hannah's apartment so we had plenty of food for everyone. When they stopped in it surprised everyone and then it got loud. Meanwhile we were waiting for Jacque to come and bring her boyfriend, which we still needed to meet. When we saw them walking up to the apartment Mark and I hid. BIL Ed and Heidi introduced themselves as Jacque's mom and dad. I think Jacque was a little blown away because she had no idea that they were stopping by. Yeah, that poor boyfriend got a intro into the family he'll never forget. Ed, Heidi, Mom and Jeff all had to leave before the actual ceremony as they had a long drive across the state to get home. I think it's safe to say that was one of the best 30 minute parties ever. </div>
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The rest of this post is a pictorial of the day. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPuTIWSLfxaJeV9m2b9G6W6j-OV16fcZp8esh4FVnZWJ14lS5cFyO1QRoLT9oB6m5iS8JFqJ1fJzTkks1ZWpZf3e7LYEIbpr-Z4blB5r_2cLmHPwjp3RL9x5oZMiTF0TvmBP3QiUSms64/s1600/DSCN1926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPuTIWSLfxaJeV9m2b9G6W6j-OV16fcZp8esh4FVnZWJ14lS5cFyO1QRoLT9oB6m5iS8JFqJ1fJzTkks1ZWpZf3e7LYEIbpr-Z4blB5r_2cLmHPwjp3RL9x5oZMiTF0TvmBP3QiUSms64/s1600/DSCN1926.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone before Jacque and Rusty arrived.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVux3_ZjioHidjHMgKJgSJEQKoTPKF1Wb0agrvbRIfqeKcoOn_d-kwBi9Uv6Gf8V9URXPXADOTyhdIEz-4juuXPpVvuWSH-Von7FA8XV7yRAvfcVfS0mI3ezZeh6b7SlFXJPLWAp7NJuS3/s1600/DSCN4102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVux3_ZjioHidjHMgKJgSJEQKoTPKF1Wb0agrvbRIfqeKcoOn_d-kwBi9Uv6Gf8V9URXPXADOTyhdIEz-4juuXPpVvuWSH-Von7FA8XV7yRAvfcVfS0mI3ezZeh6b7SlFXJPLWAp7NJuS3/s1600/DSCN4102.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christopher Ayers gave the commencement address. He is a graduate of St. Norbert's and works as a freelance character designer in LA. He's worked on films like Star Trek, Austin Powers just to name a couple. Through his whole speech he had some of his artwork displayed on the big screen that correlated to everything he said....it was great.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Preston couldn't make it through graduation so the girls laid him down in the bleachers for a nap. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah receiving her "cover" from the President of St. Norbert's. This is when 12 Grahn's let loose with cow bells, whistles and voices...she heard us. :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final blessing on the graduating class (524 students). I thought this looked rather impressive as 4000 guests all had a hand up. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myself, Hannah and Mark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW598q0TWOwOW0eFiNK-4bVThwjN-wSlxyJKsRoy2PgIRVXCDLjHpy5zmXvAlbv4K2jnbR9pUhDbofADX_E2rZOHTJjLHd3frQ2AbVFONXaeUr6VVY-5ibOvTuA_1TZ4m3hxWyKhfHEmv0/s1600/DSCN4113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW598q0TWOwOW0eFiNK-4bVThwjN-wSlxyJKsRoy2PgIRVXCDLjHpy5zmXvAlbv4K2jnbR9pUhDbofADX_E2rZOHTJjLHd3frQ2AbVFONXaeUr6VVY-5ibOvTuA_1TZ4m3hxWyKhfHEmv0/s1600/DSCN4113.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 4 middle girls, Heather, Emily, Hannah and Angela</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our St. Norbert Alumni, Heather and Hannah</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dWLr2tBYX5cobh22_IUlYbxwB07qFmDTOPUn8b9qQbBSsa0dZlMRQDGrZlmLD3QKpjXmD1MLQibdMZMOOsfRO3g0_RcZo7nMVsUvD8HdTEYavQfkaHTzggW2kuDGYVoI9zHOvrxzqc64/s1600/DSCN4119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dWLr2tBYX5cobh22_IUlYbxwB07qFmDTOPUn8b9qQbBSsa0dZlMRQDGrZlmLD3QKpjXmD1MLQibdMZMOOsfRO3g0_RcZo7nMVsUvD8HdTEYavQfkaHTzggW2kuDGYVoI9zHOvrxzqc64/s1600/DSCN4119.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preston trying on the cap.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia giving it a whirl.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG6sYlV2CJe2MjdtzPPTJKXLIY90fmIYycCy-80O08y8dRQafLUk-ZzPCc8hHoT3kmzPsd5IjdjUfNL85_pzFyYbk2x77dsYPOrFKJHr2IPlVqAytELjlmWfvx38yjpJlcN_R-yu_SbEp/s1600/DSCN4125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG6sYlV2CJe2MjdtzPPTJKXLIY90fmIYycCy-80O08y8dRQafLUk-ZzPCc8hHoT3kmzPsd5IjdjUfNL85_pzFyYbk2x77dsYPOrFKJHr2IPlVqAytELjlmWfvx38yjpJlcN_R-yu_SbEp/s1600/DSCN4125.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karlie trying it on for size.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrdQ6TkfOyhyHwdVQUaL5qmXLdOHw1-WgpT1GqbIEmInQi87sMeqIOG3HMG2l7qggHBfIMotG_Q3lVzVT23-90ZfvVjsTK_sRPg8ejR6j8bpEUq0LN9MNqhTx1A-Nx014WFHZoGCnAJTx/s1600/DSCN4126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrdQ6TkfOyhyHwdVQUaL5qmXLdOHw1-WgpT1GqbIEmInQi87sMeqIOG3HMG2l7qggHBfIMotG_Q3lVzVT23-90ZfvVjsTK_sRPg8ejR6j8bpEUq0LN9MNqhTx1A-Nx014WFHZoGCnAJTx/s1600/DSCN4126.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Ethan who will probably spend the rest of his life in school...he loves learning.</td></tr>
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In the end looking back, it turned out to be a great day. The weather was very comfortable and traffic wasn't bad. Hannah received that day her BS in Biology and is on 2 waiting lists for Vet school. </div>
<br />Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-84045536092230907282014-05-16T11:30:00.000-05:002014-05-16T11:30:32.312-05:00It's My Opinion Recently I was called "opinionated" and at first it really bothered me but after thinking about it and about my life journey I have a right to my opinions. I'm 48 years old, have 11 kids and 1 grandchild, live on a farm, homeschool our kids, divorced parents and now step parents, own my own business so yes, I may have a few opinions. I don't know everything and keep trying to learn.<br />
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One thing I've learned on our 17 year homeschooling journey is to READ. Read multiple books, articles on subjects. Many schools give you a textbook per subject. The problem there is you are reading one person's opinion and not allowed to form your own opinion. You are being taught to believe what the author wants you to believe. Our way of learning is more classical where you learn reading various book from various authors to form your own opinion. I'm not telling my kids how to think but teaching them to think. To form opinions on multiple things they've read pro and con. </div>
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The past few years I pick a subject and buy myself books to keep learning. One year it was homesteading, then onto various farm animals. Then that lead to herbs. I've gone so far as to read cookbooks. This past winter was religion and theology. Yeah, I kind of got deep this past winter. I even have a Protestant Bible and a Catholic Bible to be able to compare. I went so far as to visit with our Priest for a couple of hours to confirm what I was reading. Recently I saw on facebook an interesting quote...If you stop asking questions you stop learning. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXOArVgub8RHODxJRs4s9lsA41G3c1B6EKhKZ1uTF_hDntuJMRS-fBqkTTvVYoSTnkLUXfmpkyovrMO3h_3rdiPvKuyjm-fwHSeBLQo4t-Jsmz9-Up5Ygy5JDeI4pK_i5BZc6qgFv8v0K/s1600/DSCN1922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXOArVgub8RHODxJRs4s9lsA41G3c1B6EKhKZ1uTF_hDntuJMRS-fBqkTTvVYoSTnkLUXfmpkyovrMO3h_3rdiPvKuyjm-fwHSeBLQo4t-Jsmz9-Up5Ygy5JDeI4pK_i5BZc6qgFv8v0K/s1600/DSCN1922.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My thinking chair</td></tr>
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Opinions are not only formed by what you read but personal experience. My FIL would say "Experience is the best teacher." One winter we read a bunch of books on poultry, we read everything we could find. Then we bought chickens thinking we knew what we were doing. Then came time to butcher...we quickly discovered we knew nothing. So then we found a couple of neighbors that were able to teach us. That is a day our family will never forget. </div>
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Being a mom for 30 years with 11 kids I have seen changes all over the spectrum. Styles of cloth diapers have drastically changed then throw in the different fabrics. From a few vaccines to multiple vaccines within a short amount of time. When our oldest was born we read Dr. Spock and asked lots of questions. There was no internet. Our youngest is 5 and I find myself reading so much more. You'd think with my experience I wouldn't need to but things are changing and you get one shot at doing the right thing for your child. I asked my MIL advice all the time and she'd chuckle and say "you married my baby so it's been a long time since I had a baby"...LOL Never hurt to ask though. </div>
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Having seen divorce upfront at 17 years old is much different than 7 or not at all. So that has made some of my views on marriage probably different than yours. I actually thought that when you're married you need to fight. So I was always trying to fight with Mark and he'd never give in to me, which then made me madder...LOL I think back at that time and I'm very blessed that Mark taught me a new way of marriage. Since then we don't fight we talk things out. It was a very rough beginning that lasted about 10 years. Mark came from a strong marriage family and I grew up seeing things and hearing things that I probably shouldn't have, but that is what makes me who I am today. I put my energy now into fighting for our marriage and family and not against it. </div>
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Starting my own soap business began way back and I noticed all of our kids had sensitive skin. Plus, when our 2 and 3 year old fed our nine month old a half a bottle of shampoo and I called the poison control center and they didn't know if there was anything harmful in that shampoo...that doesn't sit too well with this mama. That's when I began my search with the ingredients in products. Which then lead to me making soap for the family. </div>
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So next time you hear someone's opinion or see it posted on facebook before you speak...think. Read the article that they posted. You need to gain information on both sides before you can make an educated comment. Think about how this affects you, future generations and all of mankind in general. Think about the morals you grew up with and if this goes with your upbringing. Finally, think about if this pleases God. When you're standing at the pearly gates will you be confident with how you lived your life or will you be the one shaking in your boots? </div>
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With so many "hot topics" in the world today and so many opinions I'd like to conclude with the poem <a href="http://www.linda-ellis.com/the-dash-the-dash-poem-by-linda-ellis-.html" target="_blank">The Dash</a> The first time I heard it was during a homily at our church last fall and it's still in my mind. Just because you have a diploma or degree doesn't mean you are done learning...you are just beginning. </div>
Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-86164991401640959842014-05-13T14:45:00.000-05:002014-05-13T14:46:06.887-05:00My Sister Makes me Laugh, Cry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There are 3 years between my sister, with myself being the oldest. As with many relationships we'd grow apart from time to time. Funny thing is as we get older our relationship has grown stronger. We both own our own businesses, me with a big family and her with a step child. She lives in the big city and I'm on a farm. So our worlds at times seem so different from each other but yet we never forget our bond. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjIprmuPqeRi39rJEV9pKX398Edmt1gHGPmcE2dFjgmp_joQLLfPRI7W7DLAA0MKJE_N9qDAacJEzgefXKDJAepb4LuQut-CyGdG2ws5BPvMcbLhRXUlxxAls1NVJ0Vf2KTK0iot4MikC/s1600/DSCN1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjIprmuPqeRi39rJEV9pKX398Edmt1gHGPmcE2dFjgmp_joQLLfPRI7W7DLAA0MKJE_N9qDAacJEzgefXKDJAepb4LuQut-CyGdG2ws5BPvMcbLhRXUlxxAls1NVJ0Vf2KTK0iot4MikC/s1600/DSCN1205.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidi on the right and myself on the left this past Christmas</td></tr>
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Today I received in the mail the most amazing gift from Heidi. It was so great that I decided to dust off this blog and share it with everyone. In the box were seeds and a poem she wrote for me. I asked her permission to share it. It would make the most amazing gift for any mom at any time of year. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDeTfm2mKb50WP4uRZO8hEtjG8P4oXV0r8P6wfdtW8cRuLmIWLJR-Vg9zXixkOIQGxwatX3J207ic1NYUVF1Znnx92KfEdEh2uzkX45HIisu1yzhxTYTy506MUg8Heh4N2c3pZ3q_vEU2/s1600/DSCN1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDeTfm2mKb50WP4uRZO8hEtjG8P4oXV0r8P6wfdtW8cRuLmIWLJR-Vg9zXixkOIQGxwatX3J207ic1NYUVF1Znnx92KfEdEh2uzkX45HIisu1yzhxTYTy506MUg8Heh4N2c3pZ3q_vEU2/s1600/DSCN1911.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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A Woman's Garden by Heidi </div>
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A woman's garden bed has all her flowers in it</div>
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Each planted with only the highest of hopes of what will be</div>
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She smiles...</div>
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All are tended to, nurtured and cared for</div>
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Growing strong, they can weather any storm</div>
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Each beautiful and special in their own unique way</div>
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She loves them all...</div>
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A Mother's bed has all her children in it</div>
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Each born with only her highest of hopes of what will be</div>
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She smiles...</div>
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All are tended to, nurtured and cared for</div>
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Growing strong, they can weather any storm</div>
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Each beautiful and special in their own unique way</div>
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She loves them all...</div>
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She included flower seeds/bulbs that correspond with each of our children's birthdays. I already have a plan going on in my head what I plan on doing...that will be another post. </div>
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Thanks so much Heidi, you made me cry today and it wasn't because I had more flowers to plant.</div>
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I Love You!</div>
<br />Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-45075771562477950952012-07-24T09:29:00.000-05:002012-07-26T12:10:50.222-05:00Soap Sale Part 2This is part 2 of my soap sale. Please read through <a href="http://thegrahnhomestead.blogspot.com/2012/07/country-soaps-sale-part-1.html">part 1</a> for details.<br />
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Group #7 $22.00 plus $5.30 shipping</div>
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Blackberry Apple</div>
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Cranberry</div>
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Blue Hawaiian</div>
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Beer</div>
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Apricot Freesia</div>
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Tomato leaf</div>
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Nature's Ambrosia</div>
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This group has soap that is fruity and woodsy. </div>
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Group #8 <span style="background-color: white;">$22.00 plus $5.30 shipping</span></div>
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Blackberry Apple</div>
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Country Bumpkin</div>
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Apple Jack Peel</div>
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Oatmeal Milk & Honey</div>
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Nature's Ambrosia</div>
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Beer</div>
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Tomato leaf</div>
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This is a great group of soap to get you ready for fall.</div>
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Group #9 <span style="background-color: white;">$22.00 plus $5.30 shipping </span></div>
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Apricot Freesia</div>
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Blackberry Apple</div>
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Apple Jack Peel</div>
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Oatmeal Milk & Honey</div>
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Tomato leaf</div>
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Beer</div>
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Nature's Ambrosia</div>
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Similar to the group above but more fruity.</div>
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Group #10 <span style="background-color: white;">$22.00 plus $5.30 shipping <span style="color: #990000;">SOLD</span></span></div>
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Hazelnut Coffee</div>
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Parsley Water</div>
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Bamboo Sugar Cane</div>
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Honey Almond</div>
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Black Amethyst</div>
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Enlighten</div>
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Oatmeal Milk & Honey</div>
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Great group for a guy/girl or possibly family. </div>
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Group #11 <span style="background-color: white;">$22.00 plus $5.30 shipping</span></div>
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Ginger Lime</div>
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Enlighten</div>
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Honey Almond</div>
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Sweet Pea</div>
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Black Amethyst</div>
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Hot Cocoa</div>
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New Born Baby</div>
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Perfect family group...have soaps for mom, dad and the kids.</div>
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Group #12 <span style="background-color: white;">$22.00 plus $5.30 shipping</span></div>
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Cappuccino</div>
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Parsley Water</div>
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Manly Man</div>
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Pineapple Mango</div>
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Ginger Lime</div>
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Lime</div>
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Cotton Candy</div>
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Another great family group. </div>
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Please contact me either via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CountrySoapsbyMarlene">facebook </a>or <a href="mailto:countrysoapbymarlene@yahoo.com">email</a>. Thanks!</div>
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<br /></div>Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-27337053528709995222012-07-23T13:44:00.001-05:002012-07-27T12:15:07.905-05:00Country Soaps Sale Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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July 25 I celebrate my 4 Etsy-versary. I'm offering these groups of soaps at 30% off. They are the last ones in batches, slow movers, old labels, best sellers or maybe I just made too many... definitely a mixture. I will let you know what is in each group. You might discover a new favorite. They will make for great gifts. The scents have held well. Each group will ship in a priority padded envelope for $5.30. (USA shipping, Canadian and International shoppers please get in touch with me) I put together groups of 7 making room for a couple of samples. You can opt out of the samples and for an additional $3 pick a soap from my regular line to make a full package. <br />
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Group #1 $22.00 plus $5.30 shipping. <span style="background-color: white; color: #990000;">SOLD</span></div>
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Apple Jack Peel</div>
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Tomato Leaf</div>
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Nature's Ambrosia</div>
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Apricot Freesia</div>
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Beer</div>
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Blackberry Apple</div>
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Country Bumpkin</div>
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This is a wonderful assortment as it has something in here for everyone. The apple jack peel and country bumpkin are spicy and would be wonderful for this fall. Apricot freesia and blackberry apple are fruity. Beer makes for a great novelty by any sink. And tomato leaf will probably surprise you. </div>
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Group #2 $22.00 plus $5.30 shipping</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Frankincense</span> & Myrrh</div>
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Cappuccino</div>
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Eternity for Men Type</div>
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Tomato leaf</div>
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Blackberry Apple</div>
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Beer</div>
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Ginger Lime</div>
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A great him/her mixture. Perfect for anytime of year this group is sure to please. </div>
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Group #3 $22.00 plus $5.30 shipping <span style="background-color: white; color: #990000;">SOLD</span></div>
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Tomato leaf</div>
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Blackberry Apple</div>
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Basmati Rice </div>
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Coriander Bergamot</div>
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Beer</div>
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Apricot Freesia</div>
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Nature's Ambrosia</div>
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Another wonderful mix of fruity, spicy and woodsy. </div>
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Group #4 $22.00 plus $5.30 shipping <span style="color: #cc0000;">SOLD</span></div>
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Ginger Lime</div>
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Hot Cocoa</div>
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Bay Rum</div>
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Sandalwood & Clary Sage</div>
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Pineapple Mango</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Frankincense</span> & Myrrh</div>
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New Born Baby</div>
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Perfect for the family. The kids can enjoy new born baby and hot cocoa. While Mom enjoys pineapple Mango and ginger lime. Don't forget Dad...bay rum, sandalwood and clary sage and frankincense & Myrrh. </div>
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Group # 5 $22.00 plus $5.30 shipping</div>
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Frankincense & Myrrh</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Parsley</span> Water</div>
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Wild Musk</div>
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Green Tweeds</div>
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Eternity for Men Type</div>
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Knock Out</div>
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Enlighten</div>
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Want to score some points with the man in your life? This is definitely a guy package...but some ladies might enjoy it too.</div>
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Group #6 $22.00 plus $5.30 shipping <span style="background-color: white; color: #990000;">SOLD</span></div>
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This group is 7 laundry bars. The scents are very faint and old labels. But you can still make great laundry soap for the whole family. There is room to add a couple of other bars if you wish for for go the samples at $3.00 each.</div>
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If you are interested in any of these groups please message me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CountrySoapsbyMarlene">Facebook</a>, <a href="mailto:countrysoapsbymarlene@yahoo.com">email</a> me or just yell across the road...hehe (that's for my neighbors)</div>
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Part 2 with more great deals will be posted soon. Anything not sold by Friday night (July 27) will get listed on Etsy at only 20% off instead of 30%. </div>
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<br />Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-7328594064275734292012-06-28T16:51:00.000-05:002012-06-28T16:51:32.465-05:00We Could Use a Little Rain on this Homestead<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=1630">O God, in Whom we live and move, and have our being, grant us rain, in due abundance, that, being sufficiently helped with temporal, we may the more confidently seek after eternal gifts. Through Christ, our Lord.</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJhhnG8QIXcH2kg5QtTjHIKVpo1EtWCzShyphenhyphenpzEhz5bjfkIIxUqwKFTvRgMS0W_XpXR-hGFSn01OG3yuU1xOTPBuLjZOApWF3WRJ6jXTi-kP_vm66Bi61C2N13q5Ys4ESJLTwaQwjVAeXp/s1600/DSCN7643.JPG" imageanchor="1"><br /></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJhhnG8QIXcH2kg5QtTjHIKVpo1EtWCzShyphenhyphenpzEhz5bjfkIIxUqwKFTvRgMS0W_XpXR-hGFSn01OG3yuU1xOTPBuLjZOApWF3WRJ6jXTi-kP_vm66Bi61C2N13q5Ys4ESJLTwaQwjVAeXp/s1600/DSCN7643.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLJhhnG8QIXcH2kg5QtTjHIKVpo1EtWCzShyphenhyphenpzEhz5bjfkIIxUqwKFTvRgMS0W_XpXR-hGFSn01OG3yuU1xOTPBuLjZOApWF3WRJ6jXTi-kP_vm66Bi61C2N13q5Ys4ESJLTwaQwjVAeXp/s320/DSCN7643.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of our hay fields. You can see the stress it's going through with the lack of rain. As you drive around you'll see lots of fields that look like this one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj-RT3iVGgIZxhy8QWvP9v0PkaaHtsfcoO8y4jrRswtjD6HEa-tvKRpWUI-CEQN56wDz9rEUzsfW24yb2LnxHNjGPrX3bn2Gy2zAXHtHFO88_qPWuj8MYIyInTZbD_ZPYNmNClYNI1nrp/s1600/DSCN7646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj-RT3iVGgIZxhy8QWvP9v0PkaaHtsfcoO8y4jrRswtjD6HEa-tvKRpWUI-CEQN56wDz9rEUzsfW24yb2LnxHNjGPrX3bn2Gy2zAXHtHFO88_qPWuj8MYIyInTZbD_ZPYNmNClYNI1nrp/s320/DSCN7646.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pigs had to come over to say "hi"...Hi Pigs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JYzWMZ__17dKPlBpGSv1p6bb8qu-_hdrTVEqW1-DEQA6yDiQGxTvYzyd99HQK-gDjfBWXd9qvAbEdjpxWWo-QIfA0URAu804OznPAO6ExQuwcGrrLJZB5tua3aYT-aToM9XLogw_BS6Z/s1600/DSCN7653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JYzWMZ__17dKPlBpGSv1p6bb8qu-_hdrTVEqW1-DEQA6yDiQGxTvYzyd99HQK-gDjfBWXd9qvAbEdjpxWWo-QIfA0URAu804OznPAO6ExQuwcGrrLJZB5tua3aYT-aToM9XLogw_BS6Z/s320/DSCN7653.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The squash and pumpkin patch had to get replanted because it didn't germinate well the first time. In a normal year these plants would all be touching by now. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKSpxWtfhZqtkky9_IDwGRUO-lF6kts33e1oD8yq5xa_rM4MUWMfVrjG5SdqM_uqQSpr7h-g8ESOTU7myCYxa2Ob913yT6FqUaGXtHX2-yNvsfRbxVaQ8cuIGpELC90E2tC6qC5-sZEsP/s1600/DSCN7655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKSpxWtfhZqtkky9_IDwGRUO-lF6kts33e1oD8yq5xa_rM4MUWMfVrjG5SdqM_uqQSpr7h-g8ESOTU7myCYxa2Ob913yT6FqUaGXtHX2-yNvsfRbxVaQ8cuIGpELC90E2tC6qC5-sZEsP/s320/DSCN7655.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beautiful brown lawn. Many people around here haven't mowed their grass for a month.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjSUuBxqCCZ0-8Oqiy9FuPyxBq4bnkH75ToXZBIzJ9MA7VChQkereTvqHzrSt3PmFcjx2HMDH9TIpVPjBg4vUm5NPkA68cGxoTaSdG_TgeUhz1m4wJ9yN_0wZROR_Ify9Bq5-YUm-r1Q4/s1600/dscn7644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjSUuBxqCCZ0-8Oqiy9FuPyxBq4bnkH75ToXZBIzJ9MA7VChQkereTvqHzrSt3PmFcjx2HMDH9TIpVPjBg4vUm5NPkA68cGxoTaSdG_TgeUhz1m4wJ9yN_0wZROR_Ify9Bq5-YUm-r1Q4/s320/dscn7644.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broccoli, Cabbage and Cauliflower...this patch we've been able to get water to but the harvest is very slow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWq8I1gPZmPBwOk_QxU4AlbE1hycRYZRKEp3eS3o9-uJQlzB1NKo-wuB1FY0rGA_5Up46s34vkxF9YAPaCffruPI6t5Yryn7H5gnprk7aLI8g3GVYI1Y1C4_6wmQmA4qrlspSrRHhPHe90/s1600/dscn7645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWq8I1gPZmPBwOk_QxU4AlbE1hycRYZRKEp3eS3o9-uJQlzB1NKo-wuB1FY0rGA_5Up46s34vkxF9YAPaCffruPI6t5Yryn7H5gnprk7aLI8g3GVYI1Y1C4_6wmQmA4qrlspSrRHhPHe90/s320/dscn7645.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomatoes...we've been able to get water to some of these and are watching them for early blight.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QdGgocVrYSwhpAvP4tiHq9B6K1y_UW-UvzLpOOJYtPpmSg4Yn-hrsItm44IVERMp4Rr2D_X9tBjy-jBZlMP-o3Xe6T-KfouI7EIKge1jgpl3jEpKp7aLmJGpP03oSFljICjM6t-l2kLu/s1600/DSCN7654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QdGgocVrYSwhpAvP4tiHq9B6K1y_UW-UvzLpOOJYtPpmSg4Yn-hrsItm44IVERMp4Rr2D_X9tBjy-jBZlMP-o3Xe6T-KfouI7EIKge1jgpl3jEpKp7aLmJGpP03oSFljICjM6t-l2kLu/s320/DSCN7654.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Mark's corn or one of the fields. You can see the leaves curling up looking for rain. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWCh2duCDSzvBzqSqE02oAug-YmpF5TLdknDoOQlO09mkYNka_AswwE0e-qE6zf0Xy9FuYqZiMbWhCimq4FdOptWi7sCtSZ04vayIKp3Ag36GMHlOI09VEBWON425SE5FJ6ikmCg-iknk/s1600/dscn7648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWCh2duCDSzvBzqSqE02oAug-YmpF5TLdknDoOQlO09mkYNka_AswwE0e-qE6zf0Xy9FuYqZiMbWhCimq4FdOptWi7sCtSZ04vayIKp3Ag36GMHlOI09VEBWON425SE5FJ6ikmCg-iknk/s320/dscn7648.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the sweet corn. It was planted before the previous picture and looks like this. I'm not even sure if we'll be able to get any corn this year. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRN2-Eu7KhqvWzurVzh2L2xBSETowLAcbzatcBUsypVi_mfR9mcfqdfWlaza9cseBB2FP1U0dX1jTxC6fcWNjewCigm59-IMNMz0AeRrdY08-KUullOlgtIqJOlEVvU2oPiD3ofe5DRQS/s1600/dscn7649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRN2-Eu7KhqvWzurVzh2L2xBSETowLAcbzatcBUsypVi_mfR9mcfqdfWlaza9cseBB2FP1U0dX1jTxC6fcWNjewCigm59-IMNMz0AeRrdY08-KUullOlgtIqJOlEVvU2oPiD3ofe5DRQS/s320/dscn7649.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the sweet corn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNO6Bds-DiH2oruSYHKxHkwc_qeuTNipU_1USt2nVkE7uyodv1lvyZ26odrOhXNnOwtSaiOoz-wBwlcwsqreP2nW1S0lDhSlkO1jifQ3UA0ANhGRLRmyeM17XlyO1dZwU-5mZLlKcbN_o/s1600/dscn7650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNO6Bds-DiH2oruSYHKxHkwc_qeuTNipU_1USt2nVkE7uyodv1lvyZ26odrOhXNnOwtSaiOoz-wBwlcwsqreP2nW1S0lDhSlkO1jifQ3UA0ANhGRLRmyeM17XlyO1dZwU-5mZLlKcbN_o/s320/dscn7650.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These plants are only about a foot high...should be up to our waist and starting to tassel. This part of the garden is too far away to get water to it. </td></tr>
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<br />Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-65380842885973909502012-06-22T16:19:00.001-05:002012-06-22T16:21:35.146-05:00Give a Man a Fish...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;">"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." ~ Chinese Proverb</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;">It has been 28 years since Mark and I have gone fishing so this is just as new to us as it is to our kids. So much has changed from different lures, floaters, weights, the strength of the line...we are really learning a lot. Armed with 10 fishing poles, 2 parents, 8 kids and an identification book we set out on our newest adventure. We feel like the best way to learn something new is to totally immerse yourself to gain as much knowledge as possible. Tonight we'll be going out again for the 8th time in 10 days. I think it is safe to say, we found a new hobby. Below you'll find pictures of the kids first catches and other awesome pictures. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLR2OS7bM9Xo6y9TpL2odNzC9_LRKQ8-2bNeXnikz613LgnS2ABQ8ITIHzcPmowB6B4F4n5Runt6Vn7u5922gwAKTwzPEmETSz1F4Odn2Bw_XT2CmpH28P58EW4A4Bl3HP_urwHjMBP1oG/s1600/DSCN0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLR2OS7bM9Xo6y9TpL2odNzC9_LRKQ8-2bNeXnikz613LgnS2ABQ8ITIHzcPmowB6B4F4n5Runt6Vn7u5922gwAKTwzPEmETSz1F4Odn2Bw_XT2CmpH28P58EW4A4Bl3HP_urwHjMBP1oG/s320/DSCN0054.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angie and Emily fishing while texting :o </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBQwwyRbeIuDmImaINqRYadZaZ6IICHyG9r4pUTadQLNH2SEmFJfVCpZM7X4jHAZIWjhnlbLDSG563NfMQrse7uT7roEJoiDkpjbuGMgztzQOoVMnMaQnSu0TXLUs93nun6n4Npuk3f7x/s1600/DSCN0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBQwwyRbeIuDmImaINqRYadZaZ6IICHyG9r4pUTadQLNH2SEmFJfVCpZM7X4jHAZIWjhnlbLDSG563NfMQrse7uT7roEJoiDkpjbuGMgztzQOoVMnMaQnSu0TXLUs93nun6n4Npuk3f7x/s320/DSCN0056.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Preston with the classic Forest Gump pose.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6brSrutxCxSfXsCGTG1qg7ovn9uABl5tZxat5Jhq6itpi63H8QmfBDG7sqi72qnVDBaqQ8Aw475uZJyD5WAcKyOIDKc54XF1OdhdTf85K2qkwL_vlcfWNaadEXlbiB6kdAAdMw_Y64Ifm/s1600/DSCN0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6brSrutxCxSfXsCGTG1qg7ovn9uABl5tZxat5Jhq6itpi63H8QmfBDG7sqi72qnVDBaqQ8Aw475uZJyD5WAcKyOIDKc54XF1OdhdTf85K2qkwL_vlcfWNaadEXlbiB6kdAAdMw_Y64Ifm/s320/DSCN0058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah's first fish</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mIZlP_RkYRVHU_JNHL-jQfq5Ixt747JhVqGky78C1WViX3CNWtAY78wtxnWNWevel7BS49zDbzT5Xo3W404XKi_XThXRs_66JYR_CpDGA_Bjhn6bFMUFdDJjvVl0SQAq4Yb1o1n3UcL-/s1600/DSCN0062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mIZlP_RkYRVHU_JNHL-jQfq5Ixt747JhVqGky78C1WViX3CNWtAY78wtxnWNWevel7BS49zDbzT5Xo3W404XKi_XThXRs_66JYR_CpDGA_Bjhn6bFMUFdDJjvVl0SQAq4Yb1o1n3UcL-/s320/DSCN0062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXijc5rvQYVtGHsh8HKuI9PDLMXfv5mOwv0dftar9QFIUmWRBPV5rkb_AqiG2xeqC_UkdLNX93J4GOAa28KzSdEDfqVgLet8OvAxCX7c5TOw-81G-OINp-fZYr6kXNbnj5Qg1zECS_G_J/s1600/dscn0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXijc5rvQYVtGHsh8HKuI9PDLMXfv5mOwv0dftar9QFIUmWRBPV5rkb_AqiG2xeqC_UkdLNX93J4GOAa28KzSdEDfqVgLet8OvAxCX7c5TOw-81G-OINp-fZYr6kXNbnj5Qg1zECS_G_J/s320/dscn0064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_LDoL3sc7RglwrAIO1mldtTXcnz_v82rxpJDH1gGV-HNLqPT81n5O5AW5iy852_YPBGfAeuDDP8-Lkma6CGEEvVk62UYbNCxNMHOHv_Z3jlAQ9xDeTlMBG9Dc0pA-BLedOWN0JgKLKw3/s1600/DSCN0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_LDoL3sc7RglwrAIO1mldtTXcnz_v82rxpJDH1gGV-HNLqPT81n5O5AW5iy852_YPBGfAeuDDP8-Lkma6CGEEvVk62UYbNCxNMHOHv_Z3jlAQ9xDeTlMBG9Dc0pA-BLedOWN0JgKLKw3/s320/DSCN0067.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As much fun as it is to fish, you need to learn how to clean them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVr19L7QiOUvBLbvtNK8AJn-6g3uKCgedZgAOAPdoUBnwQ_hDrOt7lGEI0bkhyzZAWKnE7kmx0j-OGKAWAgpubdOHyFR6_Fkhh8yt372NEJR3E86V5LXCZitqpBIjThscuykt0KqPRGNp/s1600/DSCN0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVr19L7QiOUvBLbvtNK8AJn-6g3uKCgedZgAOAPdoUBnwQ_hDrOt7lGEI0bkhyzZAWKnE7kmx0j-OGKAWAgpubdOHyFR6_Fkhh8yt372NEJR3E86V5LXCZitqpBIjThscuykt0KqPRGNp/s320/DSCN0070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this picture!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM8UnOTaCSdassDFR45Vk76fhMBoHoMHGSKC4liCD8JuyyB-AM_JNhfRicSi2nxLX_QuYxvJwOsy04Dgwk7HY5_CFDHANo6_-pvG2QI8v77QEYOi1HDOO8y6F2RDixK-W6qjIJlo6IR-K/s1600/DSCN0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM8UnOTaCSdassDFR45Vk76fhMBoHoMHGSKC4liCD8JuyyB-AM_JNhfRicSi2nxLX_QuYxvJwOsy04Dgwk7HY5_CFDHANo6_-pvG2QI8v77QEYOi1HDOO8y6F2RDixK-W6qjIJlo6IR-K/s320/DSCN0072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heather</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPdN_9Hpe6vJI2XkgRv6gqzQNb8eDQ0ULY5B3kX_0DRB3R7qihQ_zX8fdKqelpxpFRIRZEFtYNhYQzt82dpgNzr4Y0ZkO9B6fivnALssYQcqnrm_Jd2ZzxI8gn1TdgGVpNvz9E1GfhJpv/s1600/DSCN0075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPdN_9Hpe6vJI2XkgRv6gqzQNb8eDQ0ULY5B3kX_0DRB3R7qihQ_zX8fdKqelpxpFRIRZEFtYNhYQzt82dpgNzr4Y0ZkO9B6fivnALssYQcqnrm_Jd2ZzxI8gn1TdgGVpNvz9E1GfhJpv/s320/DSCN0075.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karlie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VFwfKyS7yOLLHT_8jAtGL3F3FLcFLENGXt5OZvVtJQXqDdEK_VvaBIRn5hAokk_xKHwpY7YwGLy9lIbN-YaRUCOZKORbeagVnJQQsK1RHdE7FTeo-Wmk65IfIK3z9gd34WBsJJzZl_vm/s1600/DSCN0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9VFwfKyS7yOLLHT_8jAtGL3F3FLcFLENGXt5OZvVtJQXqDdEK_VvaBIRn5hAokk_xKHwpY7YwGLy9lIbN-YaRUCOZKORbeagVnJQQsK1RHdE7FTeo-Wmk65IfIK3z9gd34WBsJJzZl_vm/s320/DSCN0077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTUmurC0y7gAu5eAKHjouM8XHiOMHaGyozBKnz13p0SSXiXXY0-5nd5_v769fhybKkRjgq4QbatKx-pAFtuQTYTwfA07b16ut-fMJ2mKi3Z-lGV9kDQWNLY54x7l-5Qgj0yJPVjpM1hF1/s1600/101_1489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTUmurC0y7gAu5eAKHjouM8XHiOMHaGyozBKnz13p0SSXiXXY0-5nd5_v769fhybKkRjgq4QbatKx-pAFtuQTYTwfA07b16ut-fMJ2mKi3Z-lGV9kDQWNLY54x7l-5Qgj0yJPVjpM1hF1/s320/101_1489.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobO2g9c3e9LXetOlzB0XGr6NjRquXmczlOCOVEj9KeUlt2A-6SSHXUnY1X_C0ymnSN-u42BA2Z4X_OKdEzV_W1E0qG6Zh0tlWE9TPkp8WpAhmFMXhNIvSgCFFXwdsF5GJ3rs6k2Rp__XI/s1600/101_1491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobO2g9c3e9LXetOlzB0XGr6NjRquXmczlOCOVEj9KeUlt2A-6SSHXUnY1X_C0ymnSN-u42BA2Z4X_OKdEzV_W1E0qG6Zh0tlWE9TPkp8WpAhmFMXhNIvSgCFFXwdsF5GJ3rs6k2Rp__XI/s320/101_1491.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUoEXGBlCH4iW7pM6TGG8Kn4RxpaUdfcJx3gKIbiAE2mx-n4lHTM3UxeLnj-80dlUY78W6T-p4HHSGgWKcBDG4J69fOIRYojePQC0hWhyphenhyphenGI7nMWg2HnAEBqUQ69WqE0HU9dDGyqpoHfep/s1600/101_1492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUoEXGBlCH4iW7pM6TGG8Kn4RxpaUdfcJx3gKIbiAE2mx-n4lHTM3UxeLnj-80dlUY78W6T-p4HHSGgWKcBDG4J69fOIRYojePQC0hWhyphenhyphenGI7nMWg2HnAEBqUQ69WqE0HU9dDGyqpoHfep/s320/101_1492.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark with a 18.5" wide mouth bass</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJACgsCPyqP28DtA7K3tvrFQPmSVH2KOnhBu2V1pYvJMc__llgMHP0eU9zBMxUJRtV54Jo2UwLHN5TyXB4slrNd6qGrdA3Jvn2AnrHf7p3pc8L5HYhsrVaPY7a5lQE8dI4dXV0ODDmefl/s1600/101_1493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJACgsCPyqP28DtA7K3tvrFQPmSVH2KOnhBu2V1pYvJMc__llgMHP0eU9zBMxUJRtV54Jo2UwLHN5TyXB4slrNd6qGrdA3Jvn2AnrHf7p3pc8L5HYhsrVaPY7a5lQE8dI4dXV0ODDmefl/s320/101_1493.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Emily holding the biggest catch and the littlest.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span>Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-55505685588294863352012-05-28T12:12:00.000-05:002012-05-30T07:52:32.180-05:00Heather's Graduation from St. Norbert's<div style="text-align: center;">
Heather graduated from St. Norbert's in DePere WI on Mother's Day, May 13, 2012. Congratulations Heather!!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQuUNfZovEfXg2nVPzYeuVBATX1bcMecpgPFCsAQymrafYb5Sr4_r53I4RiwNgDsqq32qZ1r0vhyZEk1SeNhMqnNa4LpPlXbxL6pT_dyFqOAylMY1d-RfE-rqlk28UH9nbIare84E9aOD/s1600/DSCN7367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQuUNfZovEfXg2nVPzYeuVBATX1bcMecpgPFCsAQymrafYb5Sr4_r53I4RiwNgDsqq32qZ1r0vhyZEk1SeNhMqnNa4LpPlXbxL6pT_dyFqOAylMY1d-RfE-rqlk28UH9nbIare84E9aOD/s320/DSCN7367.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heather is in the center looking at the camera.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ESHi24Ht1V1rOmWtaZduN41Xtq0yeArWVYhaLg7ux6xqr4nweGdOv5XpuHr4HBKD6wGJQU1xnNjSzSafXk_4d3nsuWaxOxe_x76uKt8mYjlmQI4Oqml1ra_2jIWLWuBChHq3lrKV6Vbw/s1600/DSCN7383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ESHi24Ht1V1rOmWtaZduN41Xtq0yeArWVYhaLg7ux6xqr4nweGdOv5XpuHr4HBKD6wGJQU1xnNjSzSafXk_4d3nsuWaxOxe_x76uKt8mYjlmQI4Oqml1ra_2jIWLWuBChHq3lrKV6Vbw/s320/DSCN7383.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heather and Mark</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heather and Hannah</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsB8UBN9WSjG2q5fcnQH8Ea87SFkBiSUzsCV2LDrl9qWE8bhQUm4FP7Eb-mD9efe8WYi_YQiyhGVg5U6nSgfuTNmN9laKUyyNA7_K-6FmpnOZSdF5PLX2JtcHJAnTVhJE_BOJ9PUyLvHa/s1600/DSCN7386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsB8UBN9WSjG2q5fcnQH8Ea87SFkBiSUzsCV2LDrl9qWE8bhQUm4FP7Eb-mD9efe8WYi_YQiyhGVg5U6nSgfuTNmN9laKUyyNA7_K-6FmpnOZSdF5PLX2JtcHJAnTVhJE_BOJ9PUyLvHa/s320/DSCN7386.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heather with Ethan, Karlie, Livi and Preston</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angela, Heather and Emily</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRTlhHV8PpJYA5hX5YSZ4qJHvoG6Npj4yrADvOtbA83HzlO2rdC_SVX_4FYh-g7v_xKwAt3h6vZGG8SLVlGw628sm_NM_PlHgRvWRBnK76cORfwiqarFGDODG6MpnI1ZskkAw3VmN5qjn/s1600/DSCN7389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRTlhHV8PpJYA5hX5YSZ4qJHvoG6Npj4yrADvOtbA83HzlO2rdC_SVX_4FYh-g7v_xKwAt3h6vZGG8SLVlGw628sm_NM_PlHgRvWRBnK76cORfwiqarFGDODG6MpnI1ZskkAw3VmN5qjn/s320/DSCN7389.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heather and Aimee</td></tr>
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<br />Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-59301586880691496722012-05-17T14:31:00.002-05:002012-05-18T05:35:12.043-05:00Karlie's First Communion April 29, 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These are a bunch of pictures that capture Karlie's First Communion. She was looking forward to this day for a long time. </div>
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<br />Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-82792358671499200232012-05-14T11:14:00.000-05:002012-05-14T11:14:55.446-05:00You Were Closest to my Heart~ My Mother's Day Story In order for me to tell my story, I'll need to back up a bit. Right after Preston was born Mark and I weren't sure if we want to continue on with our family. Then we felt God working and opening our hearts for another one. We tried for over 1 1/2 years to conceive. Our ages were not in our favor, I had Preston when I was 43. This past winter we were getting very frustrated and started reading lots on the internet. There was one article that we read that said "once a woman gets to 45 there is only a 1% chance of her conceiving naturally and a 50% chance of keeping it." Not exactly what we wanted to read. <br />
Within 4 weeks we were looking at a positive pregnancy test!!! OMG!!! We kept grabbing it and looking at it for about 2 weeks, never thinking we'd see one of those again. Back in our thoughts now we were thinking about the 50% chance of not making it. We had gone through a traumatic miscarriage 4 years ago, something we didn't want to repeat. So I immediately started doing progesterone cream and had C&B around. (Things I bought from Mountain Meadow Herbs) Over the course of the next few weeks we kept our little secret. Behind the kids backs Mark would rub my tummy and smile at me. I printed off a few freezer meal recipes as this little one was due 12/6/12, right during a busy time for me and the holidays. <br />
So I started thinking business wise...how am I going to get through a busy holiday season with mail orders and craft shows. Many of my sales I'll run for a week, never ran one for a month. May is my anniversary for selling on line so I thought I'll try a month long sale. I wanted to see what the pattern was for buying. New labels also came into play something I pondered long enough. Looking for something easier for me to do either 9 months pregnant or new baby around. Fall soaps were already getting made, new system for curing in place. That 50% chance still hanging in the back of my mind, I kept thinking that these are things that can be done now and whether or not we have a baby it will still be for the good. <br />
The weekend of May 5th we started telling the kids. By this time Mark and I've talked so much about this baby it was starting to feel more real. We had a feeling it was a boy because of my cravings of protein and me falling asleep at random times. One thing the kids always liked about me being pregnant were my cravings...I seem to crave the best tasting food. Karlie's First Communion meal came about from my cravings. :) <br />
Then our week from hell starts it was a week of really high times and really low times. Early Tuesday morning Emily found our dog Lucy hit on the road and in the mean time I had chicks hatching. I commented on facebook that it was a roller coaster of feelings that day. That afternoon I pulled out all the maternity clothes washed them and put them away. And later that day our pigs came. I was happy because between the chicks and the pigs it took the little kids minds off of Lucy. Later that evening I started spotting. At first we thought I over did it that day. There was just too much that happened and I needed to rest. <br />
On Wednesday I called our midwife to check with her as to what might be going on. She told me to come in the next morning at 8 to do an ultra sound...I would be 10 weeks then and should see a heart beat. The next morning I woke up crying fearing the worse and found more blood than usual. Mark and I went alone to the ultrasound to find out that our baby had no heart beat. We were devastated to say the least. Now to come home and tell the kids. Four years ago we lost a baby at 10 weeks 3 days...10 weeks 3 days now lines up with Heather college graduation but what are the odds, right? We still had 2 of our older kids to tell and they were met with the high news and low new all at once. So the next couple of days I did lots of walking thinking that would help bring things on. I moved my jungle of plants outside, the kids and I planted the garden...I kept busy.<br />
Now we're at Sunday, Mother's Day, May 13...Heather's graduation and still no baby, what do we do now? Mark really wanted to stay home with me with the four younger kids but I really felt that he needed to be with Heather. She's only going to graduate college once and I'll have other Mother's Days in hopefully better circumstances. Plus, the younger ones were so excited to "go to college". We made the difficult decision for me to stay alone. Not the easiest decision to make but as my bother in law would say "it had to be done". I was literally a walking time bomb not know when this would take place. So off went Mark with 6 kids and picked up Aimee and up they went to St. Norbert's. <br />
So now here I am for the next 8-9 hours. I started doing some laundry, got 3 loads hung out. Watered some of the animals because it was getting warmer than they thought. Made 5 loaves of bread. Watched movies that the kids don't let me watch...like State Fair and Ma and Pa Kettle. I stayed busy, if I got idol I would cry because I would get thinking too much. About 2 in the afternoon I took a nice warm bath...I think this is what started things. Right after I went out to rewater the animals, came in to post to my friends, stood up and it was over. Nolan Aaron was taken from my womb at 2:42 that afternoon. At 3 Jason called to see if he and Katie could come over after milking and I told him what had just happened and said it should be ok. <br />
This paragraph might be a bit graphic. It was right after that call that every thing started to move. I had clots not at big at I was expecting and lots of blood. Every time someone called I tried to put on a happy face but in the meanwhile I was on the toilet with more blood and clots. I took some shepherd purse that the midwives sent back. My biggest fear was passing out so I kept moving and going to the bathroom. I was so scared. For the next 3 1/2 hours I felt so alone. Everyone kept calling to see how I was doing but the best thing was seeing Mark walk through that door. I hugged him so tight and just started crying. <br />
Shortly after that I felt faint and was laid out for a while. I felt bad because Jason, Katie and Aimee were all around too. By 8 that night the kids had left and I went to bed.<br />
Monday morning comes...new day...new week. My college girls come home for the summer. I think we're all ready for a fresh renewing start. We can spend time together and heal. My real Mother's Day is how the kids treat me throughout the year. The next few days I know I'll be pampered just having them close to me means more that anything.Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-70053983085243212522012-03-20T06:05:00.000-05:002012-03-20T06:05:16.076-05:00When Life gives you scraps...part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Part 2 brings you 3 more quilts that have recently gotten done. My scrap tote is actually getting down and I can get the cover on. :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdjToey-nEq_8ENLzg8_cmFqCGbr9qVMNXUX01DKmmC5EN4XH0HIK1xGbuM1dczzo96VRhksFBKs9NYgjuqDU3W3EkcgAZfBTx9Iq2ImAgtG9yMZdkcZsXoHNIpX1TuPtj1hKrweGbUrW/s1600/DSCN6935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdjToey-nEq_8ENLzg8_cmFqCGbr9qVMNXUX01DKmmC5EN4XH0HIK1xGbuM1dczzo96VRhksFBKs9NYgjuqDU3W3EkcgAZfBTx9Iq2ImAgtG9yMZdkcZsXoHNIpX1TuPtj1hKrweGbUrW/s320/DSCN6935.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another quilt using the pattern Going to Grandma's (link in part 1) A great pattern for using scraps of all sizes. The blue in this quilt is light weight denim left over from making some skirts. I thought it looked good and gave it a nice country appeal. This is a twin size quilt.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvIl5yONKvkMNWAflGXWxMWD7FG14BerwrxcIioc1lt-bgDdmeOFDjGiKLgjcWzbg_ghsC8wDW-h4UUdNTVCRb5vtHLILka-fw8Xu9bejdCauCQhvKLIX8MmNT7zzGDTzRkIcZ6yhJmQb/s1600/DSCN6939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvIl5yONKvkMNWAflGXWxMWD7FG14BerwrxcIioc1lt-bgDdmeOFDjGiKLgjcWzbg_ghsC8wDW-h4UUdNTVCRb5vtHLILka-fw8Xu9bejdCauCQhvKLIX8MmNT7zzGDTzRkIcZ6yhJmQb/s320/DSCN6939.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a kit from <a href="http://www.connectingthreads.com/collections/Charlottesville_Quilting_Fabrics__L160.html?show=all">Connecting Threads</a> and is no longer available. It is a lap size quilt. I ended up buying it so I could use the scraps because it is also part of the Charlottesville collection, because there is another quilt I'm working on from all the other scraps from this collection...LOL </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpf0qdilMDRNmyZANCG5LjsdO3E8-jiucLGIDbvoTMC2qpeiUNx-X5wzRF2Ornxa6mnvyrfGbwYHstenx8-I5L2vO21W63ebKRIoNI3moUgKGoj47GN9RkW2LTaDlu2MLhNKhLjlsG_5HE/s1600/DSCN6943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpf0qdilMDRNmyZANCG5LjsdO3E8-jiucLGIDbvoTMC2qpeiUNx-X5wzRF2Ornxa6mnvyrfGbwYHstenx8-I5L2vO21W63ebKRIoNI3moUgKGoj47GN9RkW2LTaDlu2MLhNKhLjlsG_5HE/s320/DSCN6943.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Switching gears a little bit...this is a twin size quilt that only took 3 hours to make the top!!! The pattern comes from the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Civil-War-Sewing-Circle-The/dp/1604680059/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332241230&sr=8-1">The Civil War Sewing Circle</a> and the pattern name is Soldier's Cot Quilt. Extremely easy to assemble I would highly recommend it to any beginner quilter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Part 3 will be shopping bags...another great project to use your scraps on. </div><br />
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</div>Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-35476956478283801932012-03-19T17:20:00.000-05:002012-03-19T17:20:50.615-05:00When Life gives you scraps...part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This past winter part of my goal is to use up some of my fabric scraps laying around or piled in totes. Shhhh...I keep telling Mark that I'm cleaning. Part 1 shows some of the quilts we made in early February with a couple of them made from kits. With the boring winter we had my daughters and I enjoyed working together on some of these projects. A couple will be gifts this Christmas and the rest will be ours. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjid7xhB340OvI2lW0sYcEJbxVC7OP-pHAaZcQP6s1VMWspYrxaHtTmKS35e76LYvpRX6QLj3iyNdOC534xdlx9ywogu6rrcajjRczvwZUAUyj6FZI-zLEbViV4W2eXEkUAckxAGCJ51g/s1600/DSCN6689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjid7xhB340OvI2lW0sYcEJbxVC7OP-pHAaZcQP6s1VMWspYrxaHtTmKS35e76LYvpRX6QLj3iyNdOC534xdlx9ywogu6rrcajjRczvwZUAUyj6FZI-zLEbViV4W2eXEkUAckxAGCJ51g/s320/DSCN6689.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The quilt above and the quilt below are 2 different quilts both are twin size. Using the same pattern but different fabrics. The pattern is called <a href="http://www.connectingthreads.com/patterns/Going_to_Grandmas_Pattern_Download__D10159D.html">Going to Grandma's</a> and is found on the <a href="http://www.connectingthreads.com/Quilting.cfm">Connecting Threads</a> web site. This is a great pattern if you have lots of small scraps laying around. It is made up of 2 different blocks that alternate. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_gQJFxYn2iX-L5GXFeA4C1EcsjxhTmRJ_REVGnn9IiCgt5PzSHf6MMzVoNNIog8lwS3gCfcPL4rrSSoxNjnRRnNARFDSo7SgnfVSIPbKRR6uRd-XMR-762y3HdKMBjMLRyQ2ino0KgC8/s1600/DSCN6695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_gQJFxYn2iX-L5GXFeA4C1EcsjxhTmRJ_REVGnn9IiCgt5PzSHf6MMzVoNNIog8lwS3gCfcPL4rrSSoxNjnRRnNARFDSo7SgnfVSIPbKRR6uRd-XMR-762y3HdKMBjMLRyQ2ino0KgC8/s320/DSCN6695.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnnl1fLK44YxI8weM0d-lf3KkqVbjwURlMrhHD-yucgleStLtXitiea7X-acGJs9EO5old1XdnIZ6Wrwsx3XsdHrKis3A04TOrHghFVBVsy6StgPl5Djvinqp9pdTlUGmumka70ZoXfAV/s1600/DSCN6691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnnl1fLK44YxI8weM0d-lf3KkqVbjwURlMrhHD-yucgleStLtXitiea7X-acGJs9EO5old1XdnIZ6Wrwsx3XsdHrKis3A04TOrHghFVBVsy6StgPl5Djvinqp9pdTlUGmumka70ZoXfAV/s320/DSCN6691.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Above is the <a href="http://www.connectingthreads.com/kits/Pinwheel_Stars_Queen_Quilt_Kit__D4670.html">Pinwheels and Stars</a> quilt that my daughters and I put together one weekend. This is part of their Charlottesville collection...Civil war period inspired fabrics. This is a queen size quilt. It was a little tricky at first keeping the different colors together but we soon found a rhythm that worked. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-wWND0badgjQx2S1Nj65NMGk-9pXSxVT99MmBLN3hMPpF2MLL8kD8EYTiul7CZrB8Qwmc9aL-SJdSvUDICpQtdF69gkQk9xs1gCyxKDdYiOGvsBWFlwQaOPw9oSRKisbc-ue6M_TBkvU/s1600/DSCN6697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-wWND0badgjQx2S1Nj65NMGk-9pXSxVT99MmBLN3hMPpF2MLL8kD8EYTiul7CZrB8Qwmc9aL-SJdSvUDICpQtdF69gkQk9xs1gCyxKDdYiOGvsBWFlwQaOPw9oSRKisbc-ue6M_TBkvU/s320/DSCN6697.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is also from the Charlottesville collection and is called a log cabin quilt. I love doing log cabins where you keep light fabrics on 2 sides and dark fabrics on the other 2 sides. This kit is no longer available from Connection Thread. It is also a queen size quilt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfKHrAIt_g2BPjSC4FlONd4CQRz-H6L9B4LOV1iQDgBQ6tKcujZMEkVsvKYJSr76ksJSBPCc7I07EtqTKeSruH8lTwkjV6l3qzAW2p12BybiB_dVpfj-S8fjLYQCZvGhPpeKgssI3RcP3/s1600/DSCN5181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfKHrAIt_g2BPjSC4FlONd4CQRz-H6L9B4LOV1iQDgBQ6tKcujZMEkVsvKYJSr76ksJSBPCc7I07EtqTKeSruH8lTwkjV6l3qzAW2p12BybiB_dVpfj-S8fjLYQCZvGhPpeKgssI3RcP3/s320/DSCN5181.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This last quilt was a thorn in my side for 2 years. After running into troubles I packed it away and thought some day I'd haul it back out. Little did I know I was only 6 hours away from finishing it. LOL I found this fabric on the web and is from the collection called Cider Mill Road by Nancy Halvorsen. Surprising 2 years later there are a few pieces around for sale yet. The pattern consists of star blocks in the middle of Irish chain blocks with a keyboard edge. This is a queen size quilt. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stay tuned for more of our scrappy projects. </div>Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-87614249953886275522011-12-24T17:07:00.000-06:002011-12-24T17:07:38.632-06:00Our first time making a cabinet <div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNzKAH23a0hXevCaFH_j9SD6RImMQ-UOF0waSHulOrsRnnwODiMAEUmEhm9ydqBJ2-ucMMG4QPp1hQtwUopMIP7lvmYfCZl1CDfmpTNqeslCOjPRQjTcsspZpjFPt_n1arX7iBldpUmr2/s1600/DSCN4613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNzKAH23a0hXevCaFH_j9SD6RImMQ-UOF0waSHulOrsRnnwODiMAEUmEhm9ydqBJ2-ucMMG4QPp1hQtwUopMIP7lvmYfCZl1CDfmpTNqeslCOjPRQjTcsspZpjFPt_n1arX7iBldpUmr2/s200/DSCN4613.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preston and the not that old TV.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>On Dec. 8 our 3 1/2 year old TV bought from a "Big Box Store" decided to die. We soon learned that the big box stores are able to sell cheap because they are made with cheap parts. Some time ago we had heard that with power tools so I guess it applies to everything. The more we think about things it does seem true. So, now what do we do...only 3 days away from a Packer game and no TV. Personally I don't like the looks of the flat screens never have and never will. I feel like you need to work with them to make them look like they belong wherever you decide to put them. This time we went to a TV shop where they can't even buy the TVs that the big box stores sell. We looked at 2 different ones, got measurements and then stopped by the lumber store. I had an idea in my head that I thought would work in our room. We have a large 24'x24' family room but the TV has to go into a corner and from what we've learned about flat screens is that when you are off to the side it looks foggy. So, are we going to be able to fit a 55" and still be able to view at all points in the room? <div><br />
</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16cbGDPQmIc_4KlDu7oZezG6quBjtRrt4AfqtqGoZNrSQrUW5GDDmd3V0o0mC9NivzawQ5qTycU2mIuwcweCv6eTBABWFEdABtqUU8ruoZY597csq6CozXz-Awfvb5bic6h6n9Gzfqsmm/s1600/DSCN4627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16cbGDPQmIc_4KlDu7oZezG6quBjtRrt4AfqtqGoZNrSQrUW5GDDmd3V0o0mC9NivzawQ5qTycU2mIuwcweCv6eTBABWFEdABtqUU8ruoZY597csq6CozXz-Awfvb5bic6h6n9Gzfqsmm/s200/DSCN4627.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcuuvMdMV8MWxiN1C2EP4lShtLS54nQUcKQ7g9Hsn-pkTu5zjFj7x_TTot6e3UMarp14hned1v8RGG54SVasU8DREamCb7PQ1MYEjnHOf9b6ZoTtcEDv_oggqifAttlNt-UXcklyDEE-t/s1600/DSCN4625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcuuvMdMV8MWxiN1C2EP4lShtLS54nQUcKQ7g9Hsn-pkTu5zjFj7x_TTot6e3UMarp14hned1v8RGG54SVasU8DREamCb7PQ1MYEjnHOf9b6ZoTtcEDv_oggqifAttlNt-UXcklyDEE-t/s200/DSCN4625.JPG" width="200" /></a>This is the corner that we had to work with...there is 3' from the corner to the window and 8' from the corner to the patio door on the right. So we ran 2x2"s along the walls where we wanted the shelves and this gives us the frame work that we need. <br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLDgg_UbyttipD5-x2e9xjhepgD94NAKruJ8S03YaJTIkKNJxud-wU61dpNwUG-z24DSxCE6Id85h4ZlmOlCBsmjQyl0jcWMSDDWtDCG2k0k5LKByRyXGX4Sxuu0rMbkqdMQ3SDo0MhGZ/s1600/DSCN4631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLDgg_UbyttipD5-x2e9xjhepgD94NAKruJ8S03YaJTIkKNJxud-wU61dpNwUG-z24DSxCE6Id85h4ZlmOlCBsmjQyl0jcWMSDDWtDCG2k0k5LKByRyXGX4Sxuu0rMbkqdMQ3SDo0MhGZ/s200/DSCN4631.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeux4s8wltP3QMTg_VWDRWQ9D0Vo2TpDIWp0xzea_LUg2r6h_iuN8IHoYdkVqC87MYWhURhT37iMg9_o4kVRLmvvh0g0IbfxQX124owRqBZSH_yPnRWpiCnVrAcTKPAULhgGiL4U-GpVqZ/s1600/DSCN4630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeux4s8wltP3QMTg_VWDRWQ9D0Vo2TpDIWp0xzea_LUg2r6h_iuN8IHoYdkVqC87MYWhURhT37iMg9_o4kVRLmvvh0g0IbfxQX124owRqBZSH_yPnRWpiCnVrAcTKPAULhgGiL4U-GpVqZ/s200/DSCN4630.JPG" width="200" /></a> Next came the oak plywood and with careful planning it was able to be cut diagonally with very little waste. The shelf for the new TV bows out slightly to accommodate the stand that the TV sits on. Little by little you can see this come to life. This is the end of Friday and the kids kept trying to visualize what this TV will look like so I took newspaper and laid it out, taped it and put it up on the wall to help them "see" it better. :) <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJsZ-LVjWxB3nzNqSJKybneK7_YxliRXXBdHupy4Be95p7bGYENoGrPPuTClS3TWGOWJCffusd-29H8oOz05yz5IW-pVxvPy0yJTsj3ANRu2FGK-nH-67RLJAA61aTrOvTWZ5v3nO6Ytt/s1600/DSCN4639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJsZ-LVjWxB3nzNqSJKybneK7_YxliRXXBdHupy4Be95p7bGYENoGrPPuTClS3TWGOWJCffusd-29H8oOz05yz5IW-pVxvPy0yJTsj3ANRu2FGK-nH-67RLJAA61aTrOvTWZ5v3nO6Ytt/s200/DSCN4639.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yH0dQpR-cRoDeM8pCFQCUA88aC6sX_YwrbziCQ6OvHFrV51Ihvq7FuovDzklzqcwo9c1XA6gvECX7l4V_NwXIU2ALOuX5X7KQoMRoxttD0zna684MaJNogzjIuX93N5MnDsFvaGZj8tv/s1600/DSCN4632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yH0dQpR-cRoDeM8pCFQCUA88aC6sX_YwrbziCQ6OvHFrV51Ihvq7FuovDzklzqcwo9c1XA6gvECX7l4V_NwXIU2ALOuX5X7KQoMRoxttD0zna684MaJNogzjIuX93N5MnDsFvaGZj8tv/s200/DSCN4632.JPG" width="200" /></a>On Saturday we continued because the TV was getting delivered that afternoon. We got the plywood screwed down and the sides then were put on. Meanwhile, I have this thing in my head all built. I guess that's what makes our 28+ year marriage work...Mark and I work very well together. I knew the next steps and Mark has the patients and skill to make detailed cuts. OK...so the TV comes and we are no wheres close to being done so it goes on the floor. Not something we really wanted to do but at this point we had no choice...the Packer game was the next day. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ_oXQOKHckPon88OHyCxhtq89a0KNrT1b_H4o8lgdT8OtClqHgg8mfbcUZakEzFvUyzSqoWBIlkyYTGpUpJjlu3jkhZAQotcFdAZ7o2Dq2ySTGsAWkibiR9mL21koLiJvf5A5uep4qyx/s1600/DSCN4642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ_oXQOKHckPon88OHyCxhtq89a0KNrT1b_H4o8lgdT8OtClqHgg8mfbcUZakEzFvUyzSqoWBIlkyYTGpUpJjlu3jkhZAQotcFdAZ7o2Dq2ySTGsAWkibiR9mL21koLiJvf5A5uep4qyx/s320/DSCN4642.JPG" width="320" /></a>Finally by game time the TV is resting on it's shelf. This thing weighs 77 pounds so we needed things to be secure before lifting it into place. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CefqCXuVVUDPexsmp13JAGN1egPydjEyM5xIcHCyXoLPlZcMR_GnDGaPO3z5ncXxoxs3DjcOKG_h7linRPEDwfLEC8rJRVbHzCQA0QXaUNbzntw00aCN0KeT1D0KltDBrVEbzNyF3jop/s1600/DSCN4664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CefqCXuVVUDPexsmp13JAGN1egPydjEyM5xIcHCyXoLPlZcMR_GnDGaPO3z5ncXxoxs3DjcOKG_h7linRPEDwfLEC8rJRVbHzCQA0QXaUNbzntw00aCN0KeT1D0KltDBrVEbzNyF3jop/s320/DSCN4664.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Day by day goes by...piece by piece gets added. It has been a slow process but definitely worth while. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWKTTICo2pDL6odLOrhGh3D67CpSt5ElUHPksIBc1CKMb-UGc0yCZ6nIWHMo-T6i-61DLUKXI-HAxlCTKZTjL-rRjykhFLqsrLxZxZpWo9Ajx0HDASYa0DLwa7BYX_Ct95xLTY_lODUz9/s1600/DSCN4907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWKTTICo2pDL6odLOrhGh3D67CpSt5ElUHPksIBc1CKMb-UGc0yCZ6nIWHMo-T6i-61DLUKXI-HAxlCTKZTjL-rRjykhFLqsrLxZxZpWo9Ajx0HDASYa0DLwa7BYX_Ct95xLTY_lODUz9/s200/DSCN4907.JPG" width="200" /></a> The following pictures show our work as of today...2 weeks after we started. We still need to add a little more trim and a door...but it is looking so good. Just as I visualized it and the best part...it looks like it belongs in this room. Enjoy the following pictures to show more details. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rvh3ugr1de5YOqvncTC5_9Sqs7Msj8GQQw7d-SlUBM9NByjeE5aRrdKOXvhpnIaim3MppL4RtLOEvNEWXZ6T6zaHXCRp0UbEw94Ozwd_R_XuKqZ8tqqnbmqrr1ogWSblAQWOfixR8Ilu/s1600/DSCN4909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rvh3ugr1de5YOqvncTC5_9Sqs7Msj8GQQw7d-SlUBM9NByjeE5aRrdKOXvhpnIaim3MppL4RtLOEvNEWXZ6T6zaHXCRp0UbEw94Ozwd_R_XuKqZ8tqqnbmqrr1ogWSblAQWOfixR8Ilu/s320/DSCN4909.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We added details trim on the doors to give it a "raised" look. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2i5mANgOC5To69MSlHMr3JCApVP6iM3E-C5fqIW79BBupAKM-nx6NhncYCY1u7FNNAt1vbdU4lhMB8OfyddfsPUOpZzG37XqKXsta3jSWW7NPkLYpCGFbQbRYtv4S6vlMzTaOhT0HG3kU/s1600/DSCN4910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2i5mANgOC5To69MSlHMr3JCApVP6iM3E-C5fqIW79BBupAKM-nx6NhncYCY1u7FNNAt1vbdU4lhMB8OfyddfsPUOpZzG37XqKXsta3jSWW7NPkLYpCGFbQbRYtv4S6vlMzTaOhT0HG3kU/s320/DSCN4910.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_3HVdGT-2hlLgoUghQVA2UnRVn0au9pzqu1UssM2HKYdfbTPSTVjhQOuHGDzmqZziWHN7T3LDFuQP5gaNCoqKEQJojy64CespVc3wvle570Ki0kQpqD2DDkuuoycXxTK1ZB5nk0_peud/s1600/DSCN4911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_3HVdGT-2hlLgoUghQVA2UnRVn0au9pzqu1UssM2HKYdfbTPSTVjhQOuHGDzmqZziWHN7T3LDFuQP5gaNCoqKEQJojy64CespVc3wvle570Ki0kQpqD2DDkuuoycXxTK1ZB5nk0_peud/s320/DSCN4911.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found these knobs that had the leaf pattern on them to match the trim. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf7W5wNYDqabwyq4cxdpN6r4LqxYuysJtb9fsxH42ax6_vrlsFQzJO2-v2J1R7yEwBrR1hTzLxlS8q-qI9zffczdqLoFnKs0uTO5Shsz_iPhN0ViExPweQBone9YCGjDmD8nCkmbahqnL/s1600/DSCN4915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf7W5wNYDqabwyq4cxdpN6r4LqxYuysJtb9fsxH42ax6_vrlsFQzJO2-v2J1R7yEwBrR1hTzLxlS8q-qI9zffczdqLoFnKs0uTO5Shsz_iPhN0ViExPweQBone9YCGjDmD8nCkmbahqnL/s320/DSCN4915.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This runs along the top of the TV...we made our own crown using picture frame wood and a larger piece of the leaf trim. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni65-ILdJzz7dtrJ0pM42LQnhbOIovx7i0Zc1O55E0weqml1g9amP6nGWjojFQU_A6s843-DNbvLmVGMELDr6VXdMykM1EgpQuTmjnBxFhPu6hQbEB3stM9tCRPT2MG3LkQ2C5VBck3pE/s1600/DSCN4917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjni65-ILdJzz7dtrJ0pM42LQnhbOIovx7i0Zc1O55E0weqml1g9amP6nGWjojFQU_A6s843-DNbvLmVGMELDr6VXdMykM1EgpQuTmjnBxFhPu6hQbEB3stM9tCRPT2MG3LkQ2C5VBck3pE/s320/DSCN4917.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing back</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8trYrY9TNGpFpQdkOHArEiD4Q0OOZ3CZTvhpMxke4jxbfv4ubjnIuYmGWAIdsP0UxPn5s8V8vp1aoRqeCQR7KqV8T_nID-i7KyYGtFANdRiy97zHP1bvBMV3al61DWVBW8uC3W_-bNbAH/s1600/DSCN4922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8trYrY9TNGpFpQdkOHArEiD4Q0OOZ3CZTvhpMxke4jxbfv4ubjnIuYmGWAIdsP0UxPn5s8V8vp1aoRqeCQR7KqV8T_nID-i7KyYGtFANdRiy97zHP1bvBMV3al61DWVBW8uC3W_-bNbAH/s320/DSCN4922.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from the kitchen. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div></div>Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-19986807797273389492011-12-14T11:36:00.002-06:002011-12-14T11:38:19.526-06:00Life LessonsAt this time we hear from friends and family via cards and letters. I opened one today from John and Sandy with a very meaningful story at the end. It goes like this...<br />
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A professor did an experiment for his class. He took a large jar and filled it with golf balls and asked the class if the jar was full. They said it was. He then poured some pebbles into the jar and shook the jar so the pebbles would fill the open areas. He then asked them again if the jar was full and they agreed that it was. Next he poured sand into the jar and it filled up everything else. Once more he asked if the jar was full and the class said "yes!" The professor then took a beer and poured the whole thing into the jar. The students laughed! The professor said, "This jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-family, friends, faith and health. The pebbles are other things that matter - job, home and car. The sand is the small stuff. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn. Set your priorities- the rest is just sand. Oh and the beer just shows that no matter how full your life may seem, there is always room for a couple of beers with a friend." Or as Jesus did- he always had time for a fish sandwich with a friend. <br />
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Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did....Merry Christmas!Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-5048090384946736052011-12-09T08:13:00.001-06:002011-12-09T08:16:06.291-06:00Our Online Christmas LetterEveryone has been on my case about writing this and I just haven't found the time. For me to write a good Christmas letter with the usual flare it takes me about a month...so we'll see how this goes early in the morning.<br />
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I'm going to pull names out of a hat and do things not in order like I've done in the past.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPRQUGEZ4GvSGK7sYbOvrESX6wQQSd-Fy44ZDREid1yGKZWXWwP9KfZGdIBiVG9BIqYQSlzLcGEFk3WKKkShaTjEtBSBhoVwDwhTzZ5cQk3dAkhsoS6kJ3YrHJsrGj28k545DocZMB-N8/s1600/jacques+garden2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPRQUGEZ4GvSGK7sYbOvrESX6wQQSd-Fy44ZDREid1yGKZWXWwP9KfZGdIBiVG9BIqYQSlzLcGEFk3WKKkShaTjEtBSBhoVwDwhTzZ5cQk3dAkhsoS6kJ3YrHJsrGj28k545DocZMB-N8/s1600/jacques+garden2011.jpg" /></a>Jacque bought herself a house in Hartford this past spring and is enjoying life as a home owner. Her biggest accomplishment was her 4'x4' garden. I explained to her about square foot gardening and she was intrigued since her backyard we could fit in our kitchen...but hey, remember...she's a land owner now. Might not be much land but it's hers. She's currently working on adding more letters behind her name. You'd have to ask her what it's all about because she lost me when I asked her. If I have this figured right within 24 years she'll have every letter of the alphabet. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6JoE5xsdxRr2Dy1jn5NnGEBmcz0InjAcZZvHnLY0_S8J_EqUWpV-tDcP_790JcQxJVEnbJt9l5l5yBXtnMin155J7DGbqrg9EzBYyjcO3pCw5erRv02gLWmDWQINtrboRG9uIYCQ8Fz3/s1600/karlie+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6JoE5xsdxRr2Dy1jn5NnGEBmcz0InjAcZZvHnLY0_S8J_EqUWpV-tDcP_790JcQxJVEnbJt9l5l5yBXtnMin155J7DGbqrg9EzBYyjcO3pCw5erRv02gLWmDWQINtrboRG9uIYCQ8Fz3/s320/karlie+2011.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>Ah Karlie, our 7 year old with a heart of gold. Recently you can find her outside with the chickens. Her favorite is a buff hen that you'll find her carrying around the door yard or giving wagon rides to. This past spring the girls were playing with the calves and Karlie stepped on a nail that resulted in a ER visit. Later this past September she started piano lessons and is already excited to play at the nursing home with her older sisters and brother. She's in the 2nd grade and will be celebrating her first communion this spring. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScTnCcbIQcS1sBhfT3B_pE4Kxj2qQXTFV2I4ME3tKhfWJMGfrRU1iRIdjaxC3WW5ul1O_6eJpvXT8Z54XxpqxDv6dfdiqKgMav8WZlXjiU60qwHLyGl3owi-546M8MGejo4V0obwJhp69/s1600/livi2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScTnCcbIQcS1sBhfT3B_pE4Kxj2qQXTFV2I4ME3tKhfWJMGfrRU1iRIdjaxC3WW5ul1O_6eJpvXT8Z54XxpqxDv6dfdiqKgMav8WZlXjiU60qwHLyGl3owi-546M8MGejo4V0obwJhp69/s320/livi2011.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Next out of the hat is Olivia...our 5 year old bouncing blonde. She's usually found 3 steps behind Karlie if not in front of her. It's not unusual for her to come into the house all out of breath telling me about them playing with the calves or chickens. We are trying kindergarten with her and not pushing it. The biggest challenge with her is trying to get her to hold the pencil the right way...this makes 2 years now. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-IIrDt60jecS7rMR-mFesn6yWOfLauVjimAFfVmi01UTGqw89jgx2E1oIfxqpFGqRnqOXfJPnak7ta2xk8ZWT9MwkERH4gKg2J-PyHvp2vUD21HGVGBFKBZ_jYbTGeUqXJDB0tN7UlVi/s1600/heather+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-IIrDt60jecS7rMR-mFesn6yWOfLauVjimAFfVmi01UTGqw89jgx2E1oIfxqpFGqRnqOXfJPnak7ta2xk8ZWT9MwkERH4gKg2J-PyHvp2vUD21HGVGBFKBZ_jYbTGeUqXJDB0tN7UlVi/s320/heather+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a>Heather...she won't tell you unless you ask her but she's applied at grad schools. (Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota) She took her GRE this past summer which was an experience trying to make it through all the road construction in Oshkosh. This spring she'll be graduating from St. Norbert's with a BS in Biology (and I think in Chemistry too) This year she is sharing a dorm room with Hannah...so far so good, I think. Heather keeps the room more serious making sure they keep to their studies. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKdqGQpkId8JidcvB-W0b_zbYf42urf5sTPhXZ4dG1kSInqtRnuWK_RdrRtisAsNkKhnseuZjt4NTwn0DjtThYVYbjvpEhfqGIoaekjIMTFK_TPy3P4nvoQarnRwVxHv50RDjaz4LrBLw/s1600/jason+and+katie+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKdqGQpkId8JidcvB-W0b_zbYf42urf5sTPhXZ4dG1kSInqtRnuWK_RdrRtisAsNkKhnseuZjt4NTwn0DjtThYVYbjvpEhfqGIoaekjIMTFK_TPy3P4nvoQarnRwVxHv50RDjaz4LrBLw/s1600/jason+and+katie+2011.jpg" /></a></div>Jason and Katie add something different to the family...they know that they can create a stir just by kissing. Jason still works for Brad Kemink and does his wood business on he side. He has piles of firewood on the farm that can be seen from the road. Katie switched jobs and now works at the bank in Fox Lake. It's closer to home. She seems to enjoy it from what we see...it's one of those "hush-hush" types of jobs. These 2 kept out of trouble with their garden this past summer and plans are already being made for a larger one this next year. Katie also added a flower bed to the front lawn and Jason's talking about taking down some trees on their lawn...does that surprise you??? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuSUFZYea1TXDUm2QuMwcYZ7bkwBYEsINEMSp5-UlwjNcO5nzER9bVgTyD3HIjgOlf9b3e5Mr5I-2oh30n0uyPMZA9PvdcIYfo7TNhSj0HH9x3Rxa9hI7Ocm4fuD1Ps7DBUB4YLvCWbxZ/s1600/preston2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuSUFZYea1TXDUm2QuMwcYZ7bkwBYEsINEMSp5-UlwjNcO5nzER9bVgTyD3HIjgOlf9b3e5Mr5I-2oh30n0uyPMZA9PvdcIYfo7TNhSj0HH9x3Rxa9hI7Ocm4fuD1Ps7DBUB4YLvCWbxZ/s320/preston2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Preston our Jason wanna-be...likes dressing in jeans and a flannel shirt. Loves the farm and everything about it. If the weather isn't nice you'll find him inside playing with Jason's old farm set. His favorite Christmas music is "Little Drummer Kid" and "Frosting the snowman". For only being 2 he knows a lot and is very smart. If you compliment him on his smile he'll continue smiling and it will get cheesier as the compliments keep coming. Maybe we'll be potty training next year...I don't want to have to say that too many times.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufDZmVTknKUc_1nkJQOGH8Nmu2YF8wL1L6mPep-PQUloPG3yY3i6Qz_iApG5ZS9B7oi8vbrRWEu1pfY_aSFe1Q1gGXKfiFDpZ3wmnmDHGlEhiwE9qVY81ZkCOGGNlsCyndWL9b33CE0Yi/s1600/hannah2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufDZmVTknKUc_1nkJQOGH8Nmu2YF8wL1L6mPep-PQUloPG3yY3i6Qz_iApG5ZS9B7oi8vbrRWEu1pfY_aSFe1Q1gGXKfiFDpZ3wmnmDHGlEhiwE9qVY81ZkCOGGNlsCyndWL9b33CE0Yi/s320/hannah2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>If Hannah gets a chance you can find her at Lambeau field wearing her boots but she needs to dress a little warmer. She is in her second year at St. Norbert's and is planning on going on her first mission trip the first of the year. Leaving home is still a struggle for her as she hugs the younger ones and you can see tears welling up. Her studies are going well and everything is on track. This past summer she started a new job...she milks cows south of Randolph when she comes home. This is a new experience since it's in a parlor. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVedxJRGwMD8-FVyHNoB3G4sTzAVz4ejecnr2VIsLrAj44eJjy-elGGWSo1wFv_xc1k56QH-zmCwiKjFTSaIggIwqWP_mSWUmp9Bmv7eE_L7eJIVXODVRgrF4yQjF-FpSmPJwMqyoDKgd9/s1600/aimee2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVedxJRGwMD8-FVyHNoB3G4sTzAVz4ejecnr2VIsLrAj44eJjy-elGGWSo1wFv_xc1k56QH-zmCwiKjFTSaIggIwqWP_mSWUmp9Bmv7eE_L7eJIVXODVRgrF4yQjF-FpSmPJwMqyoDKgd9/s320/aimee2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Being in the top 60 Culver's grill master teams in the country is an accomplishment of Aimee's this year. She'll laugh and giggle about this but no one else can say that. Last Dec. she graduated from Marian. Her job search is sluggish so she continues on at Culver's where she is a manager. Her and a friend still live in Fond du Lac where they share an apartment...a nice apartment for FDL. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoU94tIOscAOfPv1DjMqEIx6oGANmSPclWhcMxKF2Uw5TAnL5j1bfbbD7lxd9j2H1x2gWZXoG7KJjGnj1HpAtviboY-OUEEo7S3AA7xG4kpiD1-DxM1efYjcqWS4grK6EH2l947rcW2Bz/s1600/angie2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoU94tIOscAOfPv1DjMqEIx6oGANmSPclWhcMxKF2Uw5TAnL5j1bfbbD7lxd9j2H1x2gWZXoG7KJjGnj1HpAtviboY-OUEEo7S3AA7xG4kpiD1-DxM1efYjcqWS4grK6EH2l947rcW2Bz/s320/angie2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Angie has had more of an eventful year...took the ACTs for the first time, got her drivers license, got her hunting license and a third job. Being a junior in high school she's keeping her eyes open for colleges...St. Norbert's might be the top this week. The new job includes baby sitting a 3 year old little boy on Tuesdays. Having a drivers license really helps around here. This past spring she competed in the Solo & Ensemble contest in Beaver Dam and got a first on her class B piano solo. And a class C duet with Emily won a first also.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5iiGKN40Bq0YnxH4fEVRqGrKN5zBE6UghaaCPwFrAwSyR5uEw5QwQ-KvgM9yWXmipw_2FM9TwGLFDJ0asbn4LOLJsDEbETkJZC2P9cVZQmAOWUOHFgi2z4TnJtWQFJwJWKmfsINLZEsw/s1600/emily2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5iiGKN40Bq0YnxH4fEVRqGrKN5zBE6UghaaCPwFrAwSyR5uEw5QwQ-KvgM9yWXmipw_2FM9TwGLFDJ0asbn4LOLJsDEbETkJZC2P9cVZQmAOWUOHFgi2z4TnJtWQFJwJWKmfsINLZEsw/s320/emily2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Emily has had just as an eventful year...got her drivers license 20 minutes before Angie, took the ACTs for the first time, got her hunting license and took on a third job. She babysits on Fridays for the same little boy. Her college choice this week looks like Edgewood in Madison. I still question these girls if they want to be separated. Emily's Solo and Ensemble class C piano solo also won a first...clean sweep for the Grahn's! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvp1iKyclkXLS3tjkj-exYHmgSB1O5R60q6XChBROP0diFew61at0z4EAPIwLvy15j0ijOjL41vDrgjXCL5qbAEp90hJNeHL2eZ4GS2jEnNS04CGSI1dRezF0LKB-j5yRC_rhv5idpKuq/s1600/ethan2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvp1iKyclkXLS3tjkj-exYHmgSB1O5R60q6XChBROP0diFew61at0z4EAPIwLvy15j0ijOjL41vDrgjXCL5qbAEp90hJNeHL2eZ4GS2jEnNS04CGSI1dRezF0LKB-j5yRC_rhv5idpKuq/s320/ethan2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Finally we come to Ethan a.k.a. Mozart. He has troubles sticking to what is assigned to him for piano lessons because he likes to compose his own music. He's really good at driving the older ones nuts and annoys them continuously. What do you expect from a 9 year old brother? Goosebump books are the ultimate for him as he always is adding to his collection. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_9zwJ0VZlqzDH7D12vB_Pug7LgHYDogoyqDTYwSAGXX0WAiLxTZn4ZeAewlxNyKqLgiUwY3DflLnltgTmquiPNPygHhp157_eKJr_JvJeEWz1_yAgIZlo7EhDaQYxfSMthOI-NfzYG_S/s1600/DSCN4678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_9zwJ0VZlqzDH7D12vB_Pug7LgHYDogoyqDTYwSAGXX0WAiLxTZn4ZeAewlxNyKqLgiUwY3DflLnltgTmquiPNPygHhp157_eKJr_JvJeEWz1_yAgIZlo7EhDaQYxfSMthOI-NfzYG_S/s320/DSCN4678.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This concludes the kids...now Mark and I. Mark seems to be getting banged up more this year. If a heifer isn't rolling onto his legs a cow is stepping on his foot. This year we remodeled half of the old barn and put in new stalls and add 30 cows to the herd. We did the work ourselves even mixing the cement by hand. The kids all got an education in barn remodeling, hanging stalls and mixing and pouring cement. This makes chores much easier and better for Mark. <br />
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As for myself, my business keeps me hopping. I have a fan page on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CountrySoapsbyMarlene">facebook</a> for those of you who want to see my creations and stay up to speed on new developments. Juggling a business and a family for the past 4 years is not easy but I think I've found my way. Our garden did well and we grew celery for the first time. I don't think this family will ever buy celery again. The flavor is incredible. I even sold tomatoes on craig's list...LOL <br />
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Don't think this family is all about work...All work and no play makes for a dull family. We took a vacation out east in May. It definitely made for some memories but not the kind you'd write home about. We haven't even talked about going on vacation again and we're usually planning the next one by now. You can read about it <a href="http://thegrahnhomestead.blogspot.com/2011/05/on-road-again-road-trip-2011.html">here</a>. We got down to the Henry Villas Zoo in July. In August we took the kids to the Dells and took the upper boat tour and the hidden canyon tour.<br />
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So this concludes our 2011 year in review. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-12325548420844874362011-12-05T11:49:00.003-06:002011-12-06T08:12:12.284-06:00An Online Cookie Swap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/ZN_TtQczgZA/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZN_TtQczgZA&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZN_TtQczgZA&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
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On Dec. 5 my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CountrySoapsbyMarlene">fans from my soap page</a> helped come up with this great list of baking ideas for the holidays. I announced the week before that we'd do this on this day so they had time to prepare some ideas. <br />
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Nancy was the first to submit a recipe. This <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sugar-cookies/detail.aspx">sugar cookie</a> looks great. She said, "I made this one for my kids. We didn't roll them, but made a tube, sliced the tube, then used press cookie cutters to emboss them with animal shapes. Easy, clean, with a playdoh like consistency. Irresistable, both raw and cooked." <br />
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Judy commented that this recipe for <a href="http://allrecipes.com/personalrecipe/62515147/pumpkin-pie-cake/detail.aspx">Pumpkin Pie Cake</a> has become a family favorite. After looking at the recipe I think my aunt has made something similar to this. <br />
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Tiffany then stepped up to the plate (sorry for the pun) and suggested this recipe for making <a href="http://oldrecipebook.com/caramels.shtml">home made caramels</a>. Funny thing is, my daughter Jacque and I were just talking about making caramels. Her and a friend made some this past weekend. :) <br />
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</div><div>I've actually met the next participant, Patti owner of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/GrammasGifts?ref=seller_info">Grammas Gifts</a> on Etsy and her <a href="http://grammasgifts.blogspot.com/">blog</a>. <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/chocolate-peppermint-pinwheel-cookies-recipe2/index.html">Chocolate peppermint pin wheel cookies</a>....another thing I want to try. They look so yummy!!!</div><div><br />
</div><div>I also met the next person, Peggy with a fun personality it didn't surprise me one bit that this recipe is one of her favorites...<a href="http://www.pillsbury.com/Products/Cookies/Refrigerated-Cookies">Pillsbury Refrigerator Cookies</a>. Don't believe be about her fun personality just take a look at her shop on <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/goodgosh?ref=seller_info">Etsy</a>. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I've known Kelly online for many years, enough to know she's in love with Pink sugar and her family. She blogged about her favorite recipes <a href="http://godblesskellyshome.blogspot.com/2011/12/tis-season-to-be-jolly.html">hot chocolate cookies and cherry white chocolate shortbread</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sevensavvysisters?ref=seller_info">Seven Savvy Sisters</a> from Etsy submitted this recipe they like to call <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chow-mein-noodle-cookie/detail.aspx">Reindeer cookies</a>...they omit the peanuts. We've made them too and used a mixture of chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Gotta love the drop and leave types of goodies...so simple.<br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePamperedTush">The Pampered Tush</a> submitted the recipe <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2011/01/17/cranberry-white-chocolate-chip-cookies/">Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies</a> ...I love anything white chocolate. Thanks Wendy for making me drool. <br />
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Julie from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DoodleBeaGreetingCards">Doodle Bea Greeting Cards</a> on Etsy submitted this <a href="http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,2310,154177-234202,00.html">chocolate no bake cookie recipe. </a> Julie makes my reindeer poo cards and other occasional cards for me to send with packages. <br />
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Rebekah of <a href="http://hooverfarms.weebly.com/">Hoover Farms</a> made these just today and said they are yummy. <a href="http://family.go.com/food/recipe-639377-cookie-dough-bites-t/">Cookie dough bites</a> ....almost sounds like something we've make called cookie dough truffles. If they are anything like them you can't go wrong. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_m9FyJAgB8Z3OHQQopkryZ2Ap5pA_e45PWE2TwWMUqwyqqAAkwZcUHXEOoDFpw_QQIdV8-pzJiXuyEM6gGgFoZUF6g8sGtbxdNhvX4qvaFgvweRKNzgn8FUqNERzAyGee1qViaPRBolMa/s1600/DSCN4606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_m9FyJAgB8Z3OHQQopkryZ2Ap5pA_e45PWE2TwWMUqwyqqAAkwZcUHXEOoDFpw_QQIdV8-pzJiXuyEM6gGgFoZUF6g8sGtbxdNhvX4qvaFgvweRKNzgn8FUqNERzAyGee1qViaPRBolMa/s200/DSCN4606.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies</div><div style="text-align: center;">11 1/4 flour</div><div style="text-align: center;">5 t. baking powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 1/2 t. baking soda</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 1/4 t. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 1/4 t. nutmeg</div><div style="text-align: center;">3 1/8 c. shortening (I use butter)</div><div style="text-align: center;">5 c. sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">5 eggs</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 1/2 t. vanilla</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 1/4 t. lemon extract</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 1/2 c. buttermilk or sour milk</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. In a large mixer bowl beat shortening for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat till fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, and lemon extract and beat well. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to shortening mixture, beating till well mixed. Divide in half. Cover and chill at least 3 hours or till easy to handle. ( my notes: this is a very soft and sticky dough...don't over do the flour)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For large cookies, roll dough 1/2 inch thick. Cut into rounds with a 3 inch cookie cutter. For small cookies, roll dough 3/8 inch thick and cut into rounds with a 2 inch cookie cutter. Place 2 1/2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with additional sugar. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes or till done. Remove and cool. (My notes: I've altered this recipe and it does make many cookies but they do freeze well. This recipe the way it is written fits in a bosch mixer) This recipe has been made every year in this house. The recipe comes from a 1985 Better Homes and Gardens Cookies for Christmas cookbook. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The final recipe comes from a cookbook that my sisters in law put together from my late MIL's recipe files. Every Christmas she'd make these wonderful bars and now have become fond memories for us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Butterscotch Bars</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2 eggs, beaten</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 c. sugar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1/8 t. salt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3/4 c. butter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1/2 t. vanilla</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2 c. miniature marshmallows</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 c. butterscotch chips</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3 T. chunk style peanut butter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In a glass bowl, combine eggs, sugar, salt and butter. Microwave on high for 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 min. until mixture comes to a boil, stirring twice. Microwave boil for 2 min., stirring once. Cool. Stir in marshmallows and cracker crumbs. Spread into foil lined 9x9x2" pan. Chill. In small glass bowl, microwave butterscotch chips and peanut butter on high for 1-1 1/2 min. or until chips are shiny and soft. Stir. Blend in vanilla. Spread over crumb mixture. Refrigerate. Cut into bars. Makes 3 dozen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope everyone enjoyed this cookie swap. </div><br />
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</div>Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-87396136033051368602011-11-08T16:58:00.000-06:002011-11-08T16:58:00.620-06:00Busy day of a soap maker right before Christmas! We are just days before Christmas and I make cold processed goats milk soap. It takes 4 weeks for it to cure so this week is my last rush to get soap made before the big day. I decided to take some pictures while I was working to give you an idea of my day. One thing the pictures don't show are me helping the kids with their homeschooling and reading stories to them. I was thankful for left overs so I didn't have to worry about stopping to make meals. From start to finish this is roughly a 12 hour day. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiBNPaouOlaxnqQe9IS2yXDbbIqZcZ7YxXKdFMSt5Xp-EgB3W96s446gapnJsiaZ-nMOkeb3e19FRZyunLVKypZOIjb3l3sDKtDDk8OoEF2LftTmrlLzcqe9s8yRYBDkkCW72EQvrridS/s1600/DSCN6095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiBNPaouOlaxnqQe9IS2yXDbbIqZcZ7YxXKdFMSt5Xp-EgB3W96s446gapnJsiaZ-nMOkeb3e19FRZyunLVKypZOIjb3l3sDKtDDk8OoEF2LftTmrlLzcqe9s8yRYBDkkCW72EQvrridS/s320/DSCN6095.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lye on the frozen milk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYMeyubeYI4hkaai_ITlel1tA5AsH16K9LIv8uqGWT6H0mC9GMIGcPxbyOHnHSe-g0_oZDUhmFfekcpB0s1O0lKKBNNscBV4wFrBnKFFmw9fEhpqS_FOS4rMTaRLxgGz-x1-mn9v1fwp7/s1600/DSCN6113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYMeyubeYI4hkaai_ITlel1tA5AsH16K9LIv8uqGWT6H0mC9GMIGcPxbyOHnHSe-g0_oZDUhmFfekcpB0s1O0lKKBNNscBV4wFrBnKFFmw9fEhpqS_FOS4rMTaRLxgGz-x1-mn9v1fwp7/s320/DSCN6113.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I melt all my solid oils first then I add my liquid oils.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFIKKwzMB7gKTZsMUY4_w1ybtjg4xh0EbRKxq3GDReu3M6LABSMkSwIa5-SX-NGc00_Ym5373ezsnv4azGNMSb8iIuF8k4qU_KPqjKbP5QWq9xHw6yjz3qfwsTPrdFsMnAdYcOXDOjnN1/s1600/DSCN6101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFIKKwzMB7gKTZsMUY4_w1ybtjg4xh0EbRKxq3GDReu3M6LABSMkSwIa5-SX-NGc00_Ym5373ezsnv4azGNMSb8iIuF8k4qU_KPqjKbP5QWq9xHw6yjz3qfwsTPrdFsMnAdYcOXDOjnN1/s320/DSCN6101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything gets weighed, you don't use the measurements on the measuring cups. So this worn out pyrex measuring cup works perfectly for this job.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ_lrFvUBz_F_LB0Nh0uyKjvv7oIrW-RPkuSwCszHZy0RhxQTUG-9QQScuSsLSW4zYDtyHQiURlfbzyhetCEob2iUueuSXJWbnMBwC30KOe-GhEsezXKmsKA54mm0LqYQ4O-zyL-Ih7d6/s1600/DSCN6103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ_lrFvUBz_F_LB0Nh0uyKjvv7oIrW-RPkuSwCszHZy0RhxQTUG-9QQScuSsLSW4zYDtyHQiURlfbzyhetCEob2iUueuSXJWbnMBwC30KOe-GhEsezXKmsKA54mm0LqYQ4O-zyL-Ih7d6/s320/DSCN6103.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add the liquid oils after the solid oils have melted. This also helps cool the oils down quicker. :) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF49WIM7T6b93eqO1htWvYnVVwQnllY8BrP-o-0rH4CaZwwGmjhw0ir4D0fdj-y_WHcXlRGxCuGkzXomWouQqtWgYeD-Ao-PCw1ogYmn81CQySdsLNJOK9vLVXLw59r5wMuDiBb06lGAx/s1600/DSCN6109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF49WIM7T6b93eqO1htWvYnVVwQnllY8BrP-o-0rH4CaZwwGmjhw0ir4D0fdj-y_WHcXlRGxCuGkzXomWouQqtWgYeD-Ao-PCw1ogYmn81CQySdsLNJOK9vLVXLw59r5wMuDiBb06lGAx/s320/DSCN6109.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prepare the mold...I screwed the end on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVe5s0xQH6kh3Wj6zqYWi5tOz-b-S3DGdbvILD2Vce4tVq39mfxcWJZvHfvYjCdjoFCyAOlgq0qkRlzN3dH_Xr8-UTx05BPY55iM1ALEXEGbgtJKk_UgagwZgQUCkBEbwhWPnktMg3bU3o/s1600/DSCN6110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVe5s0xQH6kh3Wj6zqYWi5tOz-b-S3DGdbvILD2Vce4tVq39mfxcWJZvHfvYjCdjoFCyAOlgq0qkRlzN3dH_Xr8-UTx05BPY55iM1ALEXEGbgtJKk_UgagwZgQUCkBEbwhWPnktMg3bU3o/s320/DSCN6110.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then I line with cling wrap and set my plexi-glass sides in.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2L7Pbv9IUlIvR5Lsewkm2EshxpDxGbQG-2frMgo-T0YNze9jTqFJvwkBiRKf9BDKaRq6nlkQXULHGV0puiF5OQRRLa6ExwGQAPf77OSVAARNBoljO11QcojfGjfOzHYa63den728T0xG/s1600/DSCN6115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2L7Pbv9IUlIvR5Lsewkm2EshxpDxGbQG-2frMgo-T0YNze9jTqFJvwkBiRKf9BDKaRq6nlkQXULHGV0puiF5OQRRLa6ExwGQAPf77OSVAARNBoljO11QcojfGjfOzHYa63den728T0xG/s320/DSCN6115.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't have someone around to take pictures of me mixing everything together but this is the soap in the mold when finished. It gets covered with cling wrap. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8b4xrlSUJjFK3_Uexh8nMHp5taGrBe5PXlrHZRhiPtjnMC6GJwHBaDhUf7Qp5Nt_ThV6vWrFD-pJ_Cu6OqgNBuxx1UNrFseiA4o5RD2Zz0dW7hDcUR3uANyyz1XKdSn2BkehYUU_BASL/s1600/DSCN6124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8b4xrlSUJjFK3_Uexh8nMHp5taGrBe5PXlrHZRhiPtjnMC6GJwHBaDhUf7Qp5Nt_ThV6vWrFD-pJ_Cu6OqgNBuxx1UNrFseiA4o5RD2Zz0dW7hDcUR3uANyyz1XKdSn2BkehYUU_BASL/s320/DSCN6124.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wish this part happened every time I make soap...a friend sent this beautiful bouquet to me. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDV_s-fD4jAZPNbmpepnbig_0wgMkh2WQoZoLkyaO5G7LzpGVFP9HkRi2nwR_wg2pEIFx9iGwqwEol9SxWcaXysxMuUzM4J0qDFQBdlfUlDzyJMFk6778pISfqwMgPmn11iktrU5d0boU/s1600/DSCN6141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDV_s-fD4jAZPNbmpepnbig_0wgMkh2WQoZoLkyaO5G7LzpGVFP9HkRi2nwR_wg2pEIFx9iGwqwEol9SxWcaXysxMuUzM4J0qDFQBdlfUlDzyJMFk6778pISfqwMgPmn11iktrU5d0boU/s320/DSCN6141.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Repeat all those soap making steps 6 times and you have my day. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-18747611955511807052011-10-16T08:36:00.000-05:002011-10-16T08:36:25.744-05:00I'm on Youtube!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LgoNOBGtIMg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or at least my soaps are....enjoy!</div>Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-68877437625058563552011-10-09T21:57:00.001-05:002011-10-09T22:05:47.213-05:00Which one do we choose???<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrvupww3y044ydZBDHGQiEcZ1poBT8T-GksFpa6I-yltG6sGn94xkqtO_-V3ih__DiqEswEjKisKzA_wCrgaEsNAEMbzrDMx44AygJvI9IwleftEhq7k1hTQURwmLhuTLlAfQwsHRMQhe/s1600/DSCN5640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrvupww3y044ydZBDHGQiEcZ1poBT8T-GksFpa6I-yltG6sGn94xkqtO_-V3ih__DiqEswEjKisKzA_wCrgaEsNAEMbzrDMx44AygJvI9IwleftEhq7k1hTQURwmLhuTLlAfQwsHRMQhe/s320/DSCN5640.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This time of year comes and we just have to take a picture of the whole crew for our Christmas card. At one point this past summer Hannah thought it would be neat to do a vintage one at a studio. Then Ethan brought up about doing a 50's picture. These pictures are the result of both ideas combined. But what do we choose? The 50's ones are cool but do are the ones that aren't...LOL</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjB4FaowQY3N0UFKwEISC9oOOOv8X38utTn2o5KEYnl1an8pvgow8e7i3ehKUZaWEaZfLADPqBoshxS-azJPjnDHz5_2FTtdkib9HxKsCVja-OX_MPNLDeb0n73ILdqK9ng7XBE76sDCa/s1600/DSCN5641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjB4FaowQY3N0UFKwEISC9oOOOv8X38utTn2o5KEYnl1an8pvgow8e7i3ehKUZaWEaZfLADPqBoshxS-azJPjnDHz5_2FTtdkib9HxKsCVja-OX_MPNLDeb0n73ILdqK9ng7XBE76sDCa/s320/DSCN5641.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OmP6Wux711K0WIgnGeledZVrPmYmml1taY5L8_fdCWHyunQ1w6scxjxZCfRfYohSlYx4TUJOMGXF20kcqiS1S3T9INgIdzNDzZ94za8xe_V7vrEQz6FiMvGf7b3KY_ZNdhth_TjGJt8l/s1600/DSCN5642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OmP6Wux711K0WIgnGeledZVrPmYmml1taY5L8_fdCWHyunQ1w6scxjxZCfRfYohSlYx4TUJOMGXF20kcqiS1S3T9INgIdzNDzZ94za8xe_V7vrEQz6FiMvGf7b3KY_ZNdhth_TjGJt8l/s320/DSCN5642.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#3</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGir2mo6mtP-hfTvHrtj8A9zOkv8vvNrSiJSUVaFQLjmM2Qv4GsiIWaRTTQ2s2VOP_ZHXFKbC2mYKH-WiE46lMajmp92HxAcDN1pR-fpADsjc2T1xzSzNlYEah7wylQlWfvq48UZ802bBH/s1600/DSCN5643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGir2mo6mtP-hfTvHrtj8A9zOkv8vvNrSiJSUVaFQLjmM2Qv4GsiIWaRTTQ2s2VOP_ZHXFKbC2mYKH-WiE46lMajmp92HxAcDN1pR-fpADsjc2T1xzSzNlYEah7wylQlWfvq48UZ802bBH/s320/DSCN5643.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#4</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQsXc0uAI4hlBtO_yzYR9gTWYovClUS6__V-cebg6P2N3ZrCfDjBJfWzDILwSVoxlmeRsEvQYzf52LU9IbQxef1Av3l3Fvpz1cPCsgf4JJbT5hMjMZMJq0oYpSfyr9LO0fQmrhR8ke_wZ/s1600/DSCN5644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQsXc0uAI4hlBtO_yzYR9gTWYovClUS6__V-cebg6P2N3ZrCfDjBJfWzDILwSVoxlmeRsEvQYzf52LU9IbQxef1Av3l3Fvpz1cPCsgf4JJbT5hMjMZMJq0oYpSfyr9LO0fQmrhR8ke_wZ/s320/DSCN5644.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#5</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDOKxIn1V8YvH3Vj-Tx_Nzd1yfa14P8EENl2oRitlHIQF1hCFLU76G7KAGayM8V8URX_GxttjrqU9wAqXvdi1SN0I8QV_xngf5zuWE-ZX6eF94GkvZUpZvkN5cVLvGzFEax9UF6zvUi90/s1600/DSCN5645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDOKxIn1V8YvH3Vj-Tx_Nzd1yfa14P8EENl2oRitlHIQF1hCFLU76G7KAGayM8V8URX_GxttjrqU9wAqXvdi1SN0I8QV_xngf5zuWE-ZX6eF94GkvZUpZvkN5cVLvGzFEax9UF6zvUi90/s320/DSCN5645.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#6</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2MegPIgyEi8mAF2fEQdCV-SY7c4a3bkPdi9KoCvfI0-0eb77q0VzjOJkHjRPyGprikGihgZbIExTKdiSvwJ_Q6SLo7dSE62F4-feIh5lyV6yPS-IAvG7oUzA4s8QWAl_HebZpGw1Il1y/s1600/DSCN5646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2MegPIgyEi8mAF2fEQdCV-SY7c4a3bkPdi9KoCvfI0-0eb77q0VzjOJkHjRPyGprikGihgZbIExTKdiSvwJ_Q6SLo7dSE62F4-feIh5lyV6yPS-IAvG7oUzA4s8QWAl_HebZpGw1Il1y/s320/DSCN5646.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#7</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwsK8TsU6DsbLgDd89xUD5SSL_EPSNLFdruMrJTYqnqassDxiFRLRfyVohbQPxatToBeVhavkOEn-Ly9HxXV-cqgHtSHoDfZsm4Nk7TNg_OfHKabcF5YiTSM7cwpIFVRN9S26arsE-Ybc/s1600/DSCN5647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwsK8TsU6DsbLgDd89xUD5SSL_EPSNLFdruMrJTYqnqassDxiFRLRfyVohbQPxatToBeVhavkOEn-Ly9HxXV-cqgHtSHoDfZsm4Nk7TNg_OfHKabcF5YiTSM7cwpIFVRN9S26arsE-Ybc/s320/DSCN5647.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#8</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83ls8ENGQu8iBJHlWxvMijMa8L7TdM0sIuIqirz50hLGfqhA50LFE4wKf9uPZwNc1BcUV7fuOsyc6Vr8-4Upy4cBR3MEM5fXSSWWrR678aBQbj-Xi1V3ueQCmuZR1AwxuTFVWhR2kqkx-/s1600/DSCN5648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83ls8ENGQu8iBJHlWxvMijMa8L7TdM0sIuIqirz50hLGfqhA50LFE4wKf9uPZwNc1BcUV7fuOsyc6Vr8-4Upy4cBR3MEM5fXSSWWrR678aBQbj-Xi1V3ueQCmuZR1AwxuTFVWhR2kqkx-/s320/DSCN5648.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#9</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87avCKb_GMnOyuJZKghlvcbZkuVYbA6s68U6JoiGPDA191kkEHgZZW7QJzgM1lOPsl4sVnmUsSJVktXMFm2v2_e03tlE5WdcQxMtc3F3h9jK2r2JBjmELtinBtLoa9xbGUMUVDl0UYjij/s1600/DSCN5649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87avCKb_GMnOyuJZKghlvcbZkuVYbA6s68U6JoiGPDA191kkEHgZZW7QJzgM1lOPsl4sVnmUsSJVktXMFm2v2_e03tlE5WdcQxMtc3F3h9jK2r2JBjmELtinBtLoa9xbGUMUVDl0UYjij/s320/DSCN5649.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#10</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSkolLIs1h4S1GKx2lS2IaooQe6-UnRLG4dMp7DW3yTvb4lt8xKe6O03mtWv3eLz-YI0oXhPfH535rELf5m-jcqjMKvCthkKqWV13EBqgU0YKd0LC27DvUoZd_JhaLqC2NszqdR_2G-xL/s1600/DSCN5650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSkolLIs1h4S1GKx2lS2IaooQe6-UnRLG4dMp7DW3yTvb4lt8xKe6O03mtWv3eLz-YI0oXhPfH535rELf5m-jcqjMKvCthkKqWV13EBqgU0YKd0LC27DvUoZd_JhaLqC2NszqdR_2G-xL/s320/DSCN5650.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#11</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfOTbp_t1vF5z1KFmaSp5V6afBAGMQyOIe_Q9arfjXrMfYkh6HNKCh4Q_Sw2-Y7MLoXnNAlMVpqc1q9Z-wAeqmXMw32Ge_DW394CdiZWjCwT7iQ_jJDffqpDtm8MTTu47R20SRsjMwWED/s1600/DSCN5651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfOTbp_t1vF5z1KFmaSp5V6afBAGMQyOIe_Q9arfjXrMfYkh6HNKCh4Q_Sw2-Y7MLoXnNAlMVpqc1q9Z-wAeqmXMw32Ge_DW394CdiZWjCwT7iQ_jJDffqpDtm8MTTu47R20SRsjMwWED/s320/DSCN5651.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#12</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6bx2vNC9myHqKuEuUgKZhiQ1ie0nakdyuBkT3w0_3suaGfQz86oxVHsrcByzY4wZHLVbE82tnRYdwKt1xzjqmoUEO8lKjW-b5DVA-4UrtBYzgfLRMfazTe53IP597YOvl0Ao5NtlhFTR/s1600/DSCN5652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6bx2vNC9myHqKuEuUgKZhiQ1ie0nakdyuBkT3w0_3suaGfQz86oxVHsrcByzY4wZHLVbE82tnRYdwKt1xzjqmoUEO8lKjW-b5DVA-4UrtBYzgfLRMfazTe53IP597YOvl0Ao5NtlhFTR/s320/DSCN5652.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#13</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4OUOaqmNwKpd-HyLH8WJrtPxCFHBm8bJQitfbUpnn6Du74VAPU9H37-VqaiuW_X-ay_qhj35eY92ncAMjSEqhgN2PMn8eDDCZaybeutsEkcyULEz5vsMUQoETjCuPVGxcl9IwrroNBYe/s1600/DSCN5653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4OUOaqmNwKpd-HyLH8WJrtPxCFHBm8bJQitfbUpnn6Du74VAPU9H37-VqaiuW_X-ay_qhj35eY92ncAMjSEqhgN2PMn8eDDCZaybeutsEkcyULEz5vsMUQoETjCuPVGxcl9IwrroNBYe/s320/DSCN5653.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#14</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv93wm8yDxcBFM15-FHHNmyOP74-467eYdmlhHPOmh0en94srVys5tWEjDZIUJwUlxC2dDyt5jCWSclZDea601ezvzA7MLmYSbfZO-AxAdm4sOlJG3fsYMJTe1E5529OkxpbzTbhEZh5b/s1600/DSCN5654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv93wm8yDxcBFM15-FHHNmyOP74-467eYdmlhHPOmh0en94srVys5tWEjDZIUJwUlxC2dDyt5jCWSclZDea601ezvzA7MLmYSbfZO-AxAdm4sOlJG3fsYMJTe1E5529OkxpbzTbhEZh5b/s320/DSCN5654.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#15</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIs3fk2inpr_huwJULqazmDj_Uq6C3umvyfCqllht0qYSON_kzwkDl0eePpjzNsQ_WeLkrVgYouqn9Q2ui8wTAkFGxtvIsHel4wxF1G62BZsSbtdKmmg6q9Bmvp2UDnXFJ98wbTQtSKjm/s1600/DSCN5655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIs3fk2inpr_huwJULqazmDj_Uq6C3umvyfCqllht0qYSON_kzwkDl0eePpjzNsQ_WeLkrVgYouqn9Q2ui8wTAkFGxtvIsHel4wxF1G62BZsSbtdKmmg6q9Bmvp2UDnXFJ98wbTQtSKjm/s320/DSCN5655.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#16</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvB_6FZTDS-yk5Xfxid-7Hja40Mlwq4sKvgvfm7bo0q3eYbC-AHp0inoVtPXq6tWoPpxK6SuGPKueva0Uu3K7NakIsaZb4AcifStWvDyeOG1XSlnt1-Gslg0OOLIpI_ypsXAJKVzxRIpe/s1600/DSCN5656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvB_6FZTDS-yk5Xfxid-7Hja40Mlwq4sKvgvfm7bo0q3eYbC-AHp0inoVtPXq6tWoPpxK6SuGPKueva0Uu3K7NakIsaZb4AcifStWvDyeOG1XSlnt1-Gslg0OOLIpI_ypsXAJKVzxRIpe/s320/DSCN5656.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#17</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqKA1Gxs7yOidhsYDS7yHNOeLBNSJQgjdTHhal9Y5Fdpp4Ue1PtN-KUdMxK-XHd7ZsIH-N0OtAm1xsspkAKeCVJ63EMhd-uJoLxmwaCb43fg7odN6gIXrgklUsjw4Yv3sr1WYiiKdt3w6/s1600/DSCN5657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqKA1Gxs7yOidhsYDS7yHNOeLBNSJQgjdTHhal9Y5Fdpp4Ue1PtN-KUdMxK-XHd7ZsIH-N0OtAm1xsspkAKeCVJ63EMhd-uJoLxmwaCb43fg7odN6gIXrgklUsjw4Yv3sr1WYiiKdt3w6/s320/DSCN5657.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#18</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgza7xmKuEb4bbLVEPc1iQgSuRKeoGngYsgSC-wagFLyo6Xluy0yODEQBAeyPFVfzmZO19YpkEUmpzn6WgL6cnPSxtyCqbCvdidxi9uYC2ANG70-Z8ArXw-JTqt7e3O5W0gIeSHyx8qQVro/s1600/DSCN5659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgza7xmKuEb4bbLVEPc1iQgSuRKeoGngYsgSC-wagFLyo6Xluy0yODEQBAeyPFVfzmZO19YpkEUmpzn6WgL6cnPSxtyCqbCvdidxi9uYC2ANG70-Z8ArXw-JTqt7e3O5W0gIeSHyx8qQVro/s320/DSCN5659.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#19</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TZNl9gUbY5etcB1_st3F1T6k-8UNRe1rOKJcQO2c1ZsHGXHVFSSKySlOd4Xg2jb6Il5gmzv3VQyYGKcsCZzm8OP38PwjH9lfnMWRx-jFoS0XJuyx54pJrHP7QY44WeOD-0-6CSdiAlTu/s1600/DSCN5660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TZNl9gUbY5etcB1_st3F1T6k-8UNRe1rOKJcQO2c1ZsHGXHVFSSKySlOd4Xg2jb6Il5gmzv3VQyYGKcsCZzm8OP38PwjH9lfnMWRx-jFoS0XJuyx54pJrHP7QY44WeOD-0-6CSdiAlTu/s320/DSCN5660.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#20</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWykCIJpEyV8Zs_F6EZCif6ebHb_JZfibt_QM-RsVpgAF-Jh_SEejQcHI5DRpzZlc_a-84UMeyZKMt46K3QydQ1qpFbN0tlXHxVfltWiWInbUi7E6CIjaBeCqVJFwrDlsLGtwpnBva95C/s1600/DSCN5661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWykCIJpEyV8Zs_F6EZCif6ebHb_JZfibt_QM-RsVpgAF-Jh_SEejQcHI5DRpzZlc_a-84UMeyZKMt46K3QydQ1qpFbN0tlXHxVfltWiWInbUi7E6CIjaBeCqVJFwrDlsLGtwpnBva95C/s320/DSCN5661.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#21</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIvSPQEZJoxNeOSmohskRHRxwgIK_aIQSnCBKCZcOhASw3HNfKCzy2ccSOaPMGYItNE9FqzT8dg2DqJxw6zmesYzVAr-lHoMhrw0WhYkSV1Zu8HNmse2tsbew4RcKMrOs7MDAH6mnayx_/s1600/fam+pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIvSPQEZJoxNeOSmohskRHRxwgIK_aIQSnCBKCZcOhASw3HNfKCzy2ccSOaPMGYItNE9FqzT8dg2DqJxw6zmesYzVAr-lHoMhrw0WhYkSV1Zu8HNmse2tsbew4RcKMrOs7MDAH6mnayx_/s320/fam+pic+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#22</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-89682632777575711652011-09-02T15:59:00.000-05:002011-09-02T15:59:24.553-05:00Our Barnyard Love Story I've always had a fascination with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscovy_Duck">Muscovy Ducks</a> or as they are called around here "turkey ducks". A while back, like 5 years ago, I had bought some fertile eggs and hatched them out. The hatch wasn't that great but I did get a drake and a hen and that's all I needed. They grew and the next spring they hatched 12 little ones. I was so proud! It was fun watching them scurry around with their mom until one night...a predator had viciously attacked both the mom and all 12 babies. I was devastated. After that we didn't have the heart to add him to the freezer. So, for the past 5 years he's been wandering the farm, living off the land and minding his own business. We've always called him "duck". <br />
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This past winter we got a call from a neighbor who found a duck and asked if we wanted it. Never took in a stray duck before but what the heck. Maybe "duck" will have a friend. LOL So our girls went over to retrieve the duck and brought it home where it stayed with the chickens. The girls said it was a dark colored duck and we soon found out it was a hen. I personally never saw it until this spring when I opened up the door to the chickens. Out came this beautiful duck...I was excited but "duck" was REALLY excited. He would wiggle his tail feathers and showing off to her, showing her where his favorite mud puddle was...OMG, I never thought I'd see such a happy duck. He would watch her as she bathed in a puddle, never taking his eyes off of her...Duck, was in love. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSzk_fnmoIX0dJc7DwwDKzLrc6jfKt4xFv6oOvD2dOyzoyK_rR44BS9sLNr1LuK3_ztnZVrrlcpY7g3PMlio33EN1qBg2Mw2YrKXHfIUw1Br0CtaFH4ybDk-UgEXWDSPIlNq4uvKZPP7B/s1600/DSCN0884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSzk_fnmoIX0dJc7DwwDKzLrc6jfKt4xFv6oOvD2dOyzoyK_rR44BS9sLNr1LuK3_ztnZVrrlcpY7g3PMlio33EN1qBg2Mw2YrKXHfIUw1Br0CtaFH4ybDk-UgEXWDSPIlNq4uvKZPP7B/s320/DSCN0884.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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She turned out to be another Muscovy!!!! They "bonded" immediatly and the end of July produced 5 little ducklings, of which 3 survived.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgZ6SV5iz1G26t9fbSXxQzRMQ7PStASkAMAATClWxyh2oGezFPWgb49FJC2c5NJ7HsN5eYZg_srsTnFdhQz3yFZg-hw-eCMwUM5shcoUs_q0j_9GcyFJZicY4ObDXz0S5IJdvO4BW-uNt/s1600/DSCN4528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgZ6SV5iz1G26t9fbSXxQzRMQ7PStASkAMAATClWxyh2oGezFPWgb49FJC2c5NJ7HsN5eYZg_srsTnFdhQz3yFZg-hw-eCMwUM5shcoUs_q0j_9GcyFJZicY4ObDXz0S5IJdvO4BW-uNt/s320/DSCN4528.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
We've referred now to our pair as "Romeo & Juliet"...but this story has a little more of a happy ending. <br />
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Moral of the story...Good things come to those who wait. :) Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503238921103104566.post-8563657097889644322011-08-30T15:33:00.000-05:002011-08-30T15:33:38.114-05:00Homemade Ketchup I've been making my own ketchup for years and so many have asked for the recipe. It really isn't that hard and once you do it, your kids won't let you buy store bought again. Trust me, one year we actually ran out and the kids would rather put nothing on their hot dogs if they didn't have the homemade. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_OMs-pZ_9sBhfVCZrO9-7XppcdACXEKZeZ2ly7owTEQVPIwamybvL3Yuaq7SmYlIVwZ68zcJSEd0NvapjbimW5aev0F7tQrRwoKoCv5cKd6G_1Rli53v-eq6Saq6-6uh-S3rfLbXvsFu/s1600/DSCN4513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_OMs-pZ_9sBhfVCZrO9-7XppcdACXEKZeZ2ly7owTEQVPIwamybvL3Yuaq7SmYlIVwZ68zcJSEd0NvapjbimW5aev0F7tQrRwoKoCv5cKd6G_1Rli53v-eq6Saq6-6uh-S3rfLbXvsFu/s320/DSCN4513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This morning while making ketchup I grabbed the camera to take some pictures so you can see how it's done. I have this unique contraption called the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-The-Original-Sauce-Master/dp/B0000DDVMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314732737&sr=8-1">"Sauce Master"</a> which separates the skins and seeds from the pulp. (The kids "squished" 1 1/2 bushels of roma tomatoes and I got 20 quarts from them.) I divided up the pulp into 2 stock pots on the stove, one was a 8 quart and the other a 12 quart. Keep some pulp set aside for use later on in the recipe. Get your pulp boiling, you want it to boil for about 1 hour. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6CHOwzEJ_uMpld309mCdluTYJ6ack3-PhL4uUI9UcNl5weX8Zq808rrL-z7sSjj0VP1hil5_j61IbGZ6xGTRb8bh6vv4OyYvdLCw93lRMeX4jImBDZexNN7LVuCQh3J4IQA9fu2RpG4F/s1600/DSCN4514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6CHOwzEJ_uMpld309mCdluTYJ6ack3-PhL4uUI9UcNl5weX8Zq808rrL-z7sSjj0VP1hil5_j61IbGZ6xGTRb8bh6vv4OyYvdLCw93lRMeX4jImBDZexNN7LVuCQh3J4IQA9fu2RpG4F/s320/DSCN4514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>A word of caution when cooking tomato pulp: Before you have a nice rolling boil, ALWAYS have 1-2" of room left in your pan. DO NOT over fill!!!! I can't stress this enough!!! What happens when you cook the pulp is the heat pushes up the pulp while heating and you could end up with a really big mess!!! Once it gets to a rolling boil, you'll notice a "hole" in the pulp and steam coming out...this is good. Now the chances of it boiling over has decreased drastically. If using other tomatoes rather than romas, you'll need to boil a little longer and add some more pulp. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaXSwjVr56ogAxVfPwQTmnkWs_ouHgR6iIp25IndQGCnoa2NiRmGmjjzJ3Mo8tPCIOi8KLo1YtFMyaC4FAq8BwlV8iFKBjp0g50gGx1tc_1tJkwxbpCIEqINtlpk1nIU0dSg_dUvP2s09/s1600/DSCN4516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaXSwjVr56ogAxVfPwQTmnkWs_ouHgR6iIp25IndQGCnoa2NiRmGmjjzJ3Mo8tPCIOi8KLo1YtFMyaC4FAq8BwlV8iFKBjp0g50gGx1tc_1tJkwxbpCIEqINtlpk1nIU0dSg_dUvP2s09/s320/DSCN4516.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div> You'll notice that you are getting a little room in your stock pot to add some more ingredients...add 1/4 c. pickling spice, 2 T. cinnamon, 1 T. allspice and 1 T. cloves. I add the spices right to the pot...some recipes tell you to make a spice bag for the pickling spice. It's a matter of choice and later on you'll see how I "dissolve" the pickling spice. :) You'll also want to take 2 c. vinegar and put into your blender and add 3 large onions. Blend really well so no chunks are visible. If you are having some troubles you can add some of your reserved pulp so blending goes easier. </div><div><br />
</div><div> Pour this into your cooking pulp. Add 2 c. sugar also to your pulp. About now the kitchen smells really good. Cook for about another hour. Take your reserved pulp and put into your blender, add 1 c. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Krafts-ClearJel-Starch-lb/dp/B00024WPSE/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1314735128&sr=1-1">clear jel</a> or perma flo. I personally like clear jel but not the instant. This is also the thickener that manufacturers use. Perma flo is used more in pie fillings but it does work in ketchup. :) DO NOT use corn starch!!! Corn starch is for gravy not canning. If you've ever made gravy using corn starch you'll know what I'm talking about when you get the left overs out of the fridge it just doesn't look right anymore...you don't want that in your canning. Also, do not use flour! Same type of situation. Slowly add the clear jel mixture into the ketchup while stirring. If you see that you're ending up with "dumplings" grab a stick blender and start blending. If you don't have a stick blender your counter top blender will work but be careful of adding hot liquid to your blender. Also, blend if you see some spices or lumps that you aren't happy with. You'll need to boil a little while longer to get the clear jel to work, just remember...it will thicken as it cools. Now ladle into clean hot canning jars. Process in a hot water bath for 30 minutes for pints and 40 minutes for quarts. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicF23wV4W3FOMsBc-uNhrIfHOWhq3O1RCSg674J0ZM5DEF4aG-HtUIv-USuKREjJdlLIR0XGKnBtvRlFNEi7n0yvPdigVQrIdLob4e0UJcpXOSnta0valskl-Ry4tdwTGzm0l4-s1o_cVU/s1600/DSCN4519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicF23wV4W3FOMsBc-uNhrIfHOWhq3O1RCSg674J0ZM5DEF4aG-HtUIv-USuKREjJdlLIR0XGKnBtvRlFNEi7n0yvPdigVQrIdLob4e0UJcpXOSnta0valskl-Ry4tdwTGzm0l4-s1o_cVU/s320/DSCN4519.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div> Congratulations!!!! You just made the best ketchup for your family. </div><div><br />
</div><div>NOTE: the measurements used are for the 8 quart stock pot when adding the spices, vinegar and sugar. You'll need more for a 12 quart stock pot. I just had a bunch of tomatoes to do this morning so I had both going. So for the tomatoes you'll need a little more than a 1/2 bushel of romas for the 8 quart pot. </div><div><br />
</div><div>When reading ketchup recipes they vary a lot. I've seen some with more sugar and more vinegar, less spices...it really matters as to what your family likes and eats. </div>Marlenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09594054345837039036noreply@blogger.com5