5 year goals.....

Well, I decided to look up my old abandoned blog and reactivate it, make some changes and publish it.  I had to try several times to get the password correct so I could access my account.

As I look over the pictures of the kids and life events, it makes me realize how fast time REALLY does go by.  In just a few short years, the kids have grown up so much, either in height or age.  One has started to drive and got a job during the fall at a local pumpkin patch, another is working on his college degree and working for the PO. and the youngest has started high school, still loves horses and is eligible to take the driving test for her learners.  Our pets have gotten older and several have passed on, and new ones have come to the farm. Several loved ones have passed on, as several new ones have been born.   I no longer have 2p's in town and I have moved on to new adventures.

Thinking back about the last few years, I realize I have dealt with a lot of health issues too.  I recovered from a bulging disc in my back after getting steroid shots in my spine, contracted Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever from an infected tick and recovered mostly, with a few issues still at hand, became anemic and froze all the time, but recovered from that after having a hysterectomy, along with some other things repaired during the surgery.

I was asked this week about what goals I have planned for 5 years from now.  I had to think about that, as in next 5 years things will be so different than today, or than 5 years ago.  If you asked my 5 years ago about it, I would have said things will be the same.  A kid in college and 2 in school.  But in the next 5 years,  Jeff and I will be starting our next chapter of life. All the kids will be in college or graduated and/or out of the house or staying at college.  The "empty nest" will be here by then.  There will be less dishes to wash, less clothes to sort and less meals to prepare.  The house will be quieter. No more electric guitars playing loudly, tv's at 2 am, ipod music blaring from a bedroom, or the arguing between siblings everyday. The bathrooms will be free each morning before work.  That is, until the weekend or holidays when they are home. In 5 years, I don't know what my goals will be.  Maybe go back to school and take a few classes, learn yoga, or finish all those scrapbooks I have been wanting to work on since I started having kids!
  
It can be 5 minutes, 5 days, 5 hours or 5 years, something is always changing.  It can be for the better or not. It can make you happy or sad.   Life IS always changing, make the most of it, you only have one chance.

Patty

Five eggs and six yolks

This week, my twelve year old daughter, Emma, went to the chicken coop to collect eggs for the day. When she came in she said, "well momma, we got five eggs and six yolks!" I thought for a moment and said, "huh?" When she showed me the eggs, I totally understood. We got a "double yolker" as we call it. All I can say is......POOR HEN!!!!!

Laundry soap recipe

Borax & washing soda about $3.00 a box, Fels Naptha $1.29 a bar. You will need a bar of soap each time you make it but the boxes last for many loads. I get my supplies at Kroger here.

I have been making this for about 2 or 3 years now. I got the recipe from my friend and we have tried many bar soaps, but Fels Naptha is the best.
You will need a five gallan bucket with a lid, a bar soap, a box of Arm & Hammer washing soda, a box of Borax and something to stir with.

First grate your bar of soap. I use an electric chese grater that I have had for many years.

Put on stove in a pot, cover with enough water to melt to a soupy consistancy.

After it has melted, pour in your five gallon bucket. Add 1/2 cupborax and 1 cup washing soda. Fill with warm water to about an inch below rim.

Continue to stir every 15-30 minutes for about an hour or two.

It will gel and can cause lumps if not stirred.

I use 1 cup per load. This is not a sudsy detergent. The cost is so cheap and it a great recipe.

This is what is looks like when cool and ready to use.

Snow cream

So many people have asked me about the snow creme, that I decided to post the "recipe." First gather a large bowl of fresh clean snow. I use a big clean bucket to gather it in. Then, sprinkle with vanilla and sugar. Pour milk over mixture and mix. I don't have an exact recipe, I just blend and taste. Make sure to not use too much milk at first, add it in small increments, so you won't over do it. You want it like a smoothie. I use skim milk too, but whole milk and half/half makes a really rich cream. You can put chocolate syrup on it too. We don't do too many extras because it takes away from the creme flavor. We cover it and sit it back in the snow where critters won't get into it. Then the children go out throughout the day and get helpings. Thanks to my Grandma Mae..........mmmmm......it's a good thing!

Snow at the farm

What a wonderful day here on the farm! I love waking up to snow! It is so quiet and peaceful. Snow has a way of making everything beautiful. We currently have about 10 inches and it is still lightly snowing.
The birds are enjoying their new feeders I put out this week. Millie loves to roll and run in the snow. She looks like she has a bad case of dandruff on her black coat. The goats don't really like the snow and all they want to do is get out of it!
The kids collected a large bowl of snow for me to make Grandma Mae's famous snow creme. My grandmas' rules are to never make creme with the first snow fall, because the first snow "cleans out" the pollution. I don't know if that's true, but grandma always knew best, so who am I to question her! We are so glad to finally have two snows in one winter that we could have enough to make creme. After everyone got a generous scoop, we put the covered bowl back in the snow to stay frozen for later. What a nice treat to the wonderful day!

Playing on Wilow Pond

Sunday, in celebration for Jeff's birthday, we had a family day on our frozen pond. Yes, we did make sure it was safe. This winter has been the first one, in 11 years to be cold long enough, for the pond to stay frozen and to be deep enough.

We got a nice fire going to warm up by, since the temp was 28 and there was a light wind blowing. We first played a game of "curling" with a small jug type cooler and 10 plastic drinking cups. I think the jug had rocks in it for weight. Dad won, mom came in second! Whew hooo, the old ones still have it!

We sipped hot cocoa, while the children roasted their hotdogs and brats over the fire, with the apple tree sticks Jeff cut for them. The hotdogs were great the buns were however, frozen! We had soda cans on ice (the pond) too. All the dogs came down for a chance to grab a bite that was dropped. I left Bellz at the house since she is too small for the cold temps.

After eating, Jeff and the kids went back out for a round of hockey with walking sticks and a leftover frozen pumpkin from our garden. I stayed by the fire. Needless to say the pumpkin spilled its insides all over the pond!

It was a wonderful family time and we all enjoyed the memories we created.