The 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.
These four girls seem to think that no one knows them or remembers them. Sandwiched between the older 3 and younger 4 is our "Forgotten Four". Even though they wear the same size clothes, almost the same size shoe...they are 5 years 5 months between them. Let me help you get to know these 4 girls a little more. Yes, they even have lyrics to a song about the "Forgotten Four"...ask them sometimes, if you remember. In the picture Heather, Hannah, Emily and Angie (left to right) Heather (middle of picture to the left) is in her 3rd year at St. Norberts in DePere, WI still majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry and looking into Veterinarian Schools to follow graduation spring of 2012. She stills plays piano at the Presbyterian Church in Fox Lake...just celebrated her 5th anniversary. This past spring she traveled to Mississippi for mission work, picture to the left.
Heather is our pie making expert of the family. When we need pies baked it is Heather who usually does them. Jason has already asked her to teach Katie.
Starting this past fall she doesn't need to travel back and forth to school alone, Hannah has joined her.
Speaking of Hannah, she graduated high school this past spring and started her college adventures majoring in biology. We held a party for her here on the farm the end of May. She seems to be really enjoying college life and has adjusted well. It helps that her and Heather come home every other weekend...to do laundry. While I'm typing this they will be gone the first 3 week stretch, Hannah's not sure if she'll be able to do it. I didn't realize it until this past summer but this is the first time she's been away from home. She is also part of the MC3 program that Heather was involved in. Basically she helps tutor elementary school kids after school. Plus they are involved in other community projects.
Hannah and Emily had a major mile stone this past summer...they BOTH got their braces removed!!! They had theirs on less than 2 years. These girls are very proud of their smiles and not afraid to share them.
That takes us to Emily...before Angie, a first in her life being 14 minutes apart. Emily is our "cop wanna-be" of the family. She is so into cop shows, investigating, evidence...you name it, Emily is there. She was so excited when Mark got pulled over after church one Sunday by "hot cop"...she came home looked him up on the internet. If you ever need info about someone, ask Emily. She knows the web sites to go to and find the information you need. Yes, she is seriously thinking law enforcement after school.
Heather has had Emily play piano in church with her and they want to work her into the schedule. When they play together it's usually duets.
Emily and Angie still feed calves around the corner for Kevin Schultz. Over the summer they bike back and forth their 2.14 miles. Both girls are excited to get their license so we don't have to drive them. They also still help the neighbor down the road clean house. They take turns every Thursday afternoon.
Angie, as I call her...Narg as everyone else calls her. Poor girl will have that nickname a long time. Grahn backwards for those of you trying to see how this fits in. Angie is a shop-a-holic...LOVES black friday shopping with me. Stalks the store ads and up at 4 ready to go!!! Do you remember seeing the Target Black Friday ads? That is Angie!!! Check these out and you'll see what I'm talking about target1target2target3 That is so Angie. If I ever need someone to go shopping with me, I ask her...it gets it out of her system.
Angie isn't sure about what to do just yet after school and is keeping her options open. She has considered photography/art or even small animal vet.
Ok, now you know these girls a little bit more as individuals. But many see them together...are you able to tell them apart? Answers are upside down under each picture...
ɹǝɥʇɐǝɥ 'ʎןıɯǝ 'ǝıbuɐ 'ɥɐuuɐɥ
ʎןıɯǝ 'ɥɐuuɐɥ 'ǝıbuɐ 'ɹǝɥʇɐǝɥ
Hannah, Angie and Emily participated in Solo & Ensemble this past spring. All 3 did solos on the piano and Hannah and Angie did a piano duet.
This year the Grahn Christmas newsletter is going green. It will save over 200 pieces of paper and $100 in ink. The kids had brought up about selling subscriptions but I didn't think that would go over well. This way I'll be able to share more pictures and go more in depth without worrying about how much this will cost. So grab your favorite beverage and enjoy part 1...
We'll start at the beginning with Jason, who had probably the most amazing year. We left off last year with his engagement announcement to Katie Buwalda. This was a first for this family. Jason and Katie made sure everyone in the family had a "job"...that alone was a major accomplishment. The wedding was beautiful with greens and pinks, the weather was perfect for their hay ride to the reception. They were blessed with over 150 family and friends join them for their special day.
The newlyweds have set up house in the house that Jason bought 4 years ago, in Cambria. Jason still works on a dairy farm and hopes some day to buy cows. Katie quit her job in Watertown at the photography studio. Getting paid just over minimum and having to drive an hour one way to work wasn't balancing the budget. It took her a few months to find another job but now she works in Beaver Dam at Recheck's Food Pride. They are already talking advancement with her position. She still does photography on the side and has started Grahn Photography...until that takes off the grocery store will have to pay the bills.
That brings us to Jacque...our award winning balcony vegetable gardener. You read that right...she took first place in balcony greenery and was able to deduct $100 off her rent. Her rain forest/eco-friendly habitat she created blessed her with fresh vegetables all season long. She still works in Waukesha as a nurse and has been known to take in her bountiful harvest to share with co-workers. I don't have a picture of the habitat she created at this time but just imagine tomato plants growing up into other residents balconies. Along with very large bean plants, flowers, lettuce...she did attempt zucchini but moved the pot and the plant wasn't pleased. The 20x6' balcony also was home to various flowers too.
This past year she has also rescued 2 cats from the local shelter that reside with her. I'll need to get pictures of them too. :o
A really big mile stone in Jacque's life happened when the braces came off her teeth!!!! She was so proud that she made it through the over 2 year ordeal!!!
Every other week Jacque still finds her way home. She likes the visit along with taking veggies from home that she can't grow in town.
Next is Aimee...Since last year she has moved into an apartment which I think she liked at first but is talking about a house. After 5 1/2 years at Marian she will graduate!!! Look for updates on this event to still happen in December. She's hoping to get yet more schooling and work as a pharmacy technician. She still is a manager at the Culver's on the East end of Johnson Street in Fond du Lac.
Having a new doctor working with her seizures has helped tremendously. What a difference a different med can do. With the seizures she has had, Aimee started noticing back troubles. Recently she started visiting a chiropractor in Waupun. A little hesitant at first but now is starting to see some relief.
Aimee is now the proud owner of her car...she sent in the final payment in October!!! This is the first time for her NOT to have a car payment!!! She hasn't had the best of luck in the vehicle department.
In October Aimee came along with us to Devil's Lake to hike the bluffs with us. It's not easy for the older kids to come along anymore so this was a treat.
This past Saturday I set up show for the 4th year in Randolph at the High School. This is my best show of the year. They know how to bring in the people and repeat customers can't be beat. One of the people going through was our postmaster. She thanked me for all the business I move through and I was able to show her what she's shipping in those boxes. Another person that caught my attention was an owner of a bed and breakfast in Randolph. She's looking for little soaps and lotions for her business. That got me excited! Below you'll see pictures of my set up. I've been in the same class room all 4 years.
There are only 3 of us vendors in this room...we've been together all 4 years and have gotten to know each other well. We all set up anyway we want and I like to set up in a straight line. It really helps with the flow of the customers.
For the past, I don't know how many years, I've always sat down at this time of year to write "The Grahn Family Newsletter"...not this year. Well, I kind of will be just not sending it. Everyone will be getting a link to this blog. This is where they will be able to read about us and see a whole lot more pictures. Last year I kept track and the newsletter costs us right around $100 to print and send.
Then comes the issue of which kind of format should I use...go month by month? or write about each person? We've come to the conclusion that I will write about each one of us...that way I can write a small amount each day.
So sit back and watch for the virtual unfolding of the 2010 Grahn Newsletter.
This past summer we've had our suspicions about a possible cougar living in our area. A week ago Sunday it was confirmed by 2 of our daughters as they headed back to college. They saw within 15' of their car a cougar walking down the road and cross in front of them.
I've been doing lots of reading about them since we live on a farm and have small children. This is what I came up with from the state DNR site....
"Cougars (Puma concolor) also known as puma, mountain lion, panther, catamount, American lion, and mishibijn (Ojibwa), once roamed throughout the state of Wisconsin. It was one of three wild cats native to the state, along with the bobcat (Lynx rufus) and the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). Currently bobcats are the only known breeding wild cat in the state, with a fall population of about 3000 in northern Wisconsin, and lower numbers in other portions of the state. Canada lynx do not appear to breed in Wisconsin, but rare visits are made to the state from this northern wildcat. Wild cougars probably disappeared from the state by about 1910, but reports again began to surface in the 1940s of possible cougars in the state. These were probably of escaped captive cougars or misidentifications. Since the 1940s various naturalists and wildlife biologists collected reports of cougar observations.
Since 1991, the Wisconsin DNR has conducted a standardized system of collecting reports of cougars and other rare mammals. On January 18, 2008 a cougar was sighted near Milton, in Rock County, Wisconsin. The sighting was verified as 'cougar' from the tracks and DNA from a small drop of blood from a cut on the foot. Tracks were also found near Elkhorn, about 23 miles southeast of the Milton sighting. In early 2009, a cougar was sighted in Burnett County. Then in late 2009, a cougar was confirmed via tracks and photos travelling from St. Croix into Dunn County. Tracks and other sightings have also been confirmed in northern Wisconsin in 2010. For more details or to report a cougar observation, visit the DNR's "Cougar Sighting"
page."
This is a picture of one I found on the DNR web site.
I'm really excited that we are going to be able to set up a trail camera to see if we'll see anything like the above picture. Please, if anyone sees one in the area please report it.
Through the whole month of November with every $15 purchase you'll receive a FREE lip balm!!!! order $30 get 2 free, order $45 get 3 free...see where I'm going?
As I was thinking about making supper... Reuben sandwiches came to mind. It feels like forever since we've had them and before the girls head back to college it would be a nice home cooked meal. A couple of days ago I made bran pumpernickel bread that is wonderful!!!
Bran Pumpernickel Bread
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 tablespoon instant coffee
2 1/2 cups whole bran cereal
1/2 cup molasses
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons caraway
2 packages yeast active dry
3/4 cup water warm (105° to 115° f)
3 cups flour 1 cup rye flour In a medium saucepan, heat milk, butter or margarine and coffee powder until melted and dissolved. Add next four ingredients and blend well. Let set 5 minutes. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water; let set until foamy, 5 to 10 minutes. Add milk mixture and rye flour; stir in enough all-purpose flour to make a stiff dough. Knead on a floured surface until smooth and elastic, 5 to 7 minutes. Place in a greased bowl; turn dough to coat surface. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled, 60 to 75 minutes. Punch down dough and form into two loaves. Slash tops several times. Place on a greased baking sheet, cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, until doubled, 40 to 50 minutes. Brush with cold water; bake in a preheated 350° F oven, for 35 to 40 minutes or until tests done. Remove from baking sheets; cool on wire racks.
Then it dawned on me that we didn't have thousand island salad dressing. Then I wondered if I could make my own. To the computer I went and this is what I found...
Thousand Island Salad Dressing
Ingredients
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chili sauce
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
2 tablespoons chopped celery
4-1/2 teaspoons finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
Salad greens
Directions
In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Serve with salad greens. Yield: 1-1/2 cups. So it looks like we'll have Reuben sandwiches afterall!
Heather (middle of picture to the left) is in her 3rd year at St. Norberts in DePere, WI still majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry and looking into Veterinarian Schools to follow graduation spring of 2012. She stills plays piano at the Presbyterian Church in Fox Lake...just celebrated her 5th anniversary. This past spring she traveled to Mississippi for mission work, picture to the left.
Hannah, Angie and Emily participated in Solo & Ensemble this past spring. All 3 did solos on the piano and Hannah and Angie did a piano duet. 
