One thing we have been walking through as we work toward our goals, is the idea that nothing happens overnight. For every plan, there are preliminary steps that have to happen to make the end turn out properly. The bigger the plan, the more prerequisite steps.
In order to go to Israel, we have to first […]

Anybody else get this after asking, “Honey, will you please encourage the boys to get their morning chores done quickly?”

Who knew that an impromptu wrestling match was the proper response? Apparently these guys hear and speak a completely different language than us girls. (And Doodle just can’t resist a little danger.)
 
I think I’ve been schooled. […]

Whenever the children come to me wanting to tattle, I encourage them to try to motivate or encourage their sibling to do the right thing, before ever coming to Mom. “Don’t jump the gun on the Matthew 18 thing… go through step one before step two.” It seems like a good plan most of the […]

****Post edited ~ drastically. Please read the bottom paragraph.****
I’ve been tagged by Cheri. This is the first time I’ve ever “played” internet tag so this will could be fun. I am to list 7 random facts about myself. Let the record show that had this come from anyone else, I probably […]

When my girlfriend called to force me into submission blackmail me offer her family’s services in our preparations for some friends visiting, I caved willingly accepted their help. I know her family, and have seen them in action before… they work really hard. So when she and her four teen daughters […]

So, I took advantage of the half price sale over at Heart of Wisdom this week, and we seem to have some interesting results already. I just have one question…

Did your kids do this when YOU studied Egypt?

We recently have acquired an Indoor Village in the kitchen, courtesy of Mr. Visionary’s installing new cabinets. When I was unable to locate several of the older children this afternoon, I found them cozied up inside working on assignments.

So, is this “school”? Umm…an emphatic, “No”. (At least it isn’t like anything I ever saw in […]

When the clock read 9:21 this morning…
Flower Child: “It’s really 8:21 in the morning.”
Flower Child: “But it’s 9:21a.m. under Communism.”
The girl is right ~ I hate Daylight Saving Time, too.

I am quite sure it has gotten worse since we moved to the farm. In fact, I can hardly remember anything more than a rare occurence when we were city-folk. And it never happened at an innapropriate time…at least not often. Things are definitely regressing.

I am a very visual person. I can perfectly picture house […]

While I’ve never read the book or seen the movie, I am vaguely familliar with the story of The Horse Whisperer. Sounds like an interesting story, and I may read it someday (or perhaps not). But for now, our family has stumbled into the lead roles of a real-life version of the spin-off.  It has been given a working title of […]

Although Hillary Clinton and I are diametrically opposed on say, every issue under the sun, I do have one point of agreement with her book,  It Takes A Village.  I have not read the book due to this same circumstance of being opposed to her opinions,  but I have to be honest-I rather like the title. […]

The rules have changed. And no child in my family is the least bit disappointed. Under normal circumstances, the words, “OK kids, we have a new rule…” are met with groans and downcast faces. This new rule however, has been met with nothing short of elation.

In our family, Rule #146 has always been,

“No […]

I perhaps should have been a bit more specific in my prayers for labor to start.  Although this morning was a little too much excitement for me, the kids had a wonderful time.
I awoke to find tree guys from the power company limbing branches inside our second cow pasture. Concerned about this particular cow, who […]

He taught me a lot about men and women-even though he was neither. Male-yes, human-no. Mr. McGillicutty was my first experience with roosters. And he was my hero.
When we ordered our billion Buff Orpington hens and roosters from the hatchery, Mr. McGillicutty was the free exotic breed chick. Being much larger than the others, he […]

There’s a conspiracy going on around our farm. Somebody is holding out on me in the egg department. A lot of somebodies.
I got oh-so spoiled when our first group of hens started laying. I had billions of hens, and billions of eggs to go along. When you’re feeding a crew three meals a day […]

I was so inspired by JenIG’s recent post, The Inner Farmer Emerges Triumphant, that I thought I’d share our own gardening success.

Our very first squash of the season (and what we eat while waiting for our green beans to grow).

Thanks for the inspiration, Jen! I’m feeling veclempt.

Some unexpected company dropped in this afternoon.  (I’m glad we had some Toll House cookie bars left. Southern hospitality, you know.)

The Flower Child & The Engineer getting back to their branches roots.

Two year olds can make you quickly flip-flop back and forth between panicking because of their dare devil antics and melting because of their incredible cuteness.

                                           The Doodle & The Flower Child
 
 
Examples:

 1) We have recently been forced to install a cow bell on the front door, as the Doodle has taken up […]

I have at least one proof of my success in mothering. It happened tonight at dinner.

First, a little background. I am a crunchy type- you know, really into healthy eating: grain mill, Nourishing Traditions, raw milk and all that. I don’t hug trees, I just believe in good stewardship of our health. My kids have […]

These substances were never meant to be drunk. Gulped, guzzled or gargled, they miss their intended use. On the list of “Things-I-Never-Thought-I’d-Say”, is the frequent injunction to my children (namely those of the male persuasion), “It’s a condiment, not a beverage”.
I have never been a stickler for the purist mentality in feeding small children. […]