Country Family

Merry Christmas Everyone!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:47:00 +0000

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I plan to get back to blogging after the new year. Seems like this time of year not much is going on. Today I am getting ready for our Christmas Eve Open House. Lots of good food, family, and friends. Have a great day!!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:32:00 +0000

Forum Quilt #3 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:10:00 +0000

The photos are finally here, sorry but I don't have the names.

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:08:00 +0000

Sorry to have not been posting much here. I do have loads of pictures to post. Not much going on around here lately, just cooking, cleaning, gone away from home too much, and trying to get better from being sick a few weeks ago. I still feel pretty tired and drained. Football is over, Brady's team ended up 6-4. Will post quilt pictures soon, maybe later today.

Issue 2 Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:53:00 +0000

I am urging all Ohioans to Vote NO on Issue 2. This constitutional amendment gives great control- with very little oversight to an appointed board of only 13 members. The amendment is very broadly worded without much detail into the actual authority this board will have. Ohio farmers do not need more regulation!

The following is from:
http://www.ohioact.org/

Issue 2 is an inappropriate use of the Ohio constitution, and would set a dangerous precedent by creating a permanent place for special interests in the constitution.
On November 3rd, Vote NO:
NO to Corporate and Special interest takeover of our Ohio constitution
NO to Unchecked power and new layers of unaccountable bureaucracy over our livestock farmers
NO to A new board acting as judge, jury and executioner of all animal agriculture policies in Ohio
NO to Expanded state government
NO to An appointed board of political cronies who could radically shift livestock standards in any direction
NO to Giveaways for factory farms in the Ohio constitution.
Don’t allow special interests to hijack the state constitution: Vote NO on ISSUE 2

Homesteading Today

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:48:00 +0000

If you are checking in and wondering about Homesteading Today- yes, it is broken, there is nothing wrong with your computer. I don't know the technical details, but I have heard that it could be the end of the week before it is fixed. Guess that will take care of all of those pesky Halloween debates.... LOL

back up board: http://melissanorris.proboards.com/index.cgi?

Creek Baptism 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:28:00 +0000

house pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:38:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:20:00 +0000

The winning pumpkin was HUGE this year. I guess all the rain we had was good for pumpkin growing.

I said it was a really cool car~

Lindsey with Sam and Brady with his friend Kelsie- yes, they are 'just' friends.

With a group of their friends at a local park.

Brady and Lindsey, they look so grown up!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:50:00 +0000

Lindsey with Sam (she is not dating anyone right now and went with Brady's friend Sam) in his Mom's midlife crisis car- a cool Ford Mustang! She laughs and says it was cheaper than a divorce.

Brady and Lindsey all dressed up for homecoming. Do not even ask how many hours we spent looking for the perfect tie...

Kadia trying to tie the tie by looking at pictures on the internet. It is not a skill that any of us have!

At least there are pictures and step-by step directions!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:22:00 +0000

Good grief what a cold, rainy week- and there is snow in the forecast for the next few days. I have not been doing much, just hanging out here cooking, cleaning, reading, started working on a quilt, and watching Cale work on Kadia's house. He is putting windows in now. He needs to run some wiring so he can have some lights and outlets in there.

Today I took Roy some buttermilk and apple cake I had made using buttermilk. He milks the cow- every once in a while I do, and then I make stuff and give it to him! Spent a few hours visiting with him, we both talk a lot I guess and never run out of something to talk about. Our friend Bob is on his way over to visit. Survivor is on tonight. Tomorrow we have to run some errands and go pay some bills. Will be posting some pictures soon, I always have so many pictures on my camera!

Lindsey's Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:13:00 +0000

Gracie- she is such a little doll.

Lindsey and Jessica

Megan, Brady, Lindsey and Kadia

The girls with Taylor

Roasting hot dogs

Setting Trusses

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:49:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:27:00 +0000

Standing up the front wall- with friends and neighbors helping.

Cale working

Melvin and Brady working on the ditch for the drains and waterlines.

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:22:00 +0000

Lindsey had a nice 18th birthday celebration. Lots of family and friends showed up. It was a cool day so very nice for a fire. We had plenty of food and the gummi worm cake was a hit. This week I have not done a whole lot. I had to get new glasses and my eyes are not adjusting too well to those. Cale and Kadia put half the sheeting on the roof of the house. Now it is raining so the other half will have to wait.

I have been digging potatoes, need to pick my pumpkins and butternut squash. The garden is winding down-sadly... I do not feel like I had enough summer this year. Today I am making cheese, first I have to go out in the rain and take care of the animals. I have been waiting hoping that it would stop. Took Brady shopping for his homecoming outfit, that was a challenge. He is so picky about his clothes. Even the clerks were laughing at him analyzing every little detail of the shirts and the ties.

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:26:00 +0000

Spent the day cleaning up around the yard and house and cooking for Lindsey's 18th birthday tomorrow. We are having a weiner roast and have invited a bunch of people. We are having hot dogs- of course, with coney sauce, dill relish, hot pepper sauce, homemade mustard and ketchup, cheese, and sauerkraut. They can fix their own however they like it. Along with that will be chili-simmering in the slow cooker right now, roasted buttered potatoes, salad, mixed fruit, rotini pasta with tomato sauce, and corn. I also made a really big cake in a roaster pan with chocolate mousse topping. It looks pretty awesome. I will try to get a picture of it.

What's for supper?

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:54:00 +0000

It's a cool rainy day here in SE Ohio so I was thinking about making macaroni and cheese for supper. I have several odds and ends of homemade cheese that need to be used. I will make a nice creamy cheese sauce, add some chopped onions, fresh chives, crispy pieces of black pepper bacon and serve it with the last of the fresh tomatoes, pickled beets and homemade chunky applesauce.

What I am reading today~

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:32:00 +0000

Faith Like Potatoes
http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Like-Potatoes-Frank-Rautenbach/dp/B001QB5SS6

Sleeping Naked is Green
http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Naked-Green-Eco-Cynic-Unplugged/dp/0547073283

And the May issue of Acres Magazine
http://www.acresusa.com/magazines/magazine.htm

October 2nd

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:22:00 +0000

I used to really love October. The month begins with the leaves still being mostly green and then a wonderful transition occurs as the leaves change to gorgeous oranges, reds, and yellows. I take my camera and walk the back roads looking for the perfect fall scenery. There are plenty of apples, cider, pumpkins, fall festivals, weiner roasts, piles of leaves, it is just a great time of year. BUT when it is over winter is here. Yes, winter lasts from November until about mid- April. The calendar may suggest a three month winter period, but whoever invented that concept did not live in my area. Oh well, we'll just have to enjoy this month and hope that winter holds off a little bit.

What's up around here? I worked in the yard yesterday afternoon. Roy stopped by early yesterday with milk so I made yougurt, today I will make cheese. I am making some great blocks of cheese lately. Cale is busy working on the house project. It is moving along pretty well, not as fast as we had thought, but that is OK for now. It is bigger than we had thought so that is why it is taking longer. Had eye doctor appointments on Wednesday and went out to Longhorn restaurant. I thought I would have gained five pounds, but it was only three!

Having a weiner roast here Sunday after church to celebrate Lindsey's 18th birthday. I am laying out lots of hot dogs and making a pot of chili and a pot of potato soup. Along with that I will most likely have some salad and fruit. I am making two cakes and homemade ice cream and a bit pot of hot chocolate. It is supposed to be about 60 degrees so I think warm food will be nice.

"Seasons" a great book series

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:12:00 +0000

http://www.amazon.com/Seasons-Under-Heaven-1/dp/0310235197/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Check out these four awesome Christian novels:

Seasons Under Heaven
Showers in Season
Times and Seasons
Seasons of Blessing

Follow the lives of four neighborhood women and their families. You will laugh and cry, and learn a lot about people from this wonderful series of books.

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:42:00 +0000

The engine that powered the sawmill.

That big blade is scary. Cale and I actually cut the logs for our house on a sawmill similiar to this one.

I loved this turkey made completely with a chainsaw.

Chainsaw artist. He does a great job.

Let's try this photo right side up- the sideways view was making me dizzy!

Stumptown Festival 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:19:00 +0000

This man attends our church. He is 91 years old and rebuilt this tractor completely several years back. Actually his very first tractor was this model, but he sold it and then found this one years later and bought it to restore. Antique tractor people always have a story to tell!

Here is Roy getting his plaque. His grandfather bought this Sheppard tractor new back in the late 40's I think, or maybe 1950.

Roy's uncle and Roy

Fresh corn meal. I buy my year's supply here every year. It is so good. Makes the best corn bread I have ever had.

Just $1 for those brown paper bags of corn meal.

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:52:00 +0000

John and Cale, it was John's 20th b-day

Megan and John

The football team, band, and cheerleaders

Brady is #16

Brady

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:40:00 +0000

Lindsey with her 3rd place lamb. Elizabeth is beside her showing her other lamb which ended up with 5th place. As you can see he was not cooperating very well!

Bella is a nice looking lamb. Lindsey kept her to keep for breeding.

Cleaning the lambs up before the show.

Not sure why this photo is not rotated. One of these days I am going to get a nice picture of Roy's face and not just his wrangler's!

Shearing the market lambs.

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:12:00 +0000

I have been promising photos and will still load some on here, but I just loaded an entire album on my facebook page. This is supposed to be a public link that anyone can look at, you don't have to be a member:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023732&id=1028397067&l=76e5181eea