I Shoulda Been A Farmer's Wife....

Wednesday I canned green beans. Isn't it amazing that just two plastic bags from Kroger full of string beans makes 8 quarts of beans I canned and still there is enough for supper tonight? I love canning. It is hard because I am working full time, but it is one of my favorite things to do.

Two weeks ago my Mom, Dad, #1 daughter, #1 son and I did 15 dozen ears of corn. That isn't that much when you realize that we usually do 30 dozen. I have a friend who always gives us great corn and we love it. We shuck it, use the turkey fryer to parboil it, and then plunge it in ice cold water in a cooler to cool the ears down. Then we take it out, cut and scrape it off the cob and bag it. We have fresh, frozen corn for months.

I am proud of the fact that of my farming grandparent's grandchildren (there were 9 in all) I am the only one that has kept canning alive. Some of my greatest memories are of us all gathering out at the farm and doing corn for 2 days. We kids would sneek some of the cut corn in our mouths, we would all shuck the ears and then we would go play by the pond or in the barn. We also would gather to dig up potatoes. I only remember doing that once or twice.

But the best thing was the sugar cane. My grandfather would grow it and my grandmother would "raise cane" because she always thought he grew too much. :) Any hoo, we would strip the cane of it's leaves, press it through and the juice would come out. Then we would cook the juice until it thickened and it made the best molasses ever. It happened in October and was the best time ever! I don't have enough land to raise cane, but my husband and I have a nice small garden where peppers, cukes, beans and 'maters rule. Now if only the weather would cooperate and dry out. I need the sun to poke it's hot head out from behind all these gray clouds and warm the earth and turn my 'maters. I have a lot of green ones, but they don't make for good juice and chili. We aren't a green 'mater family!

Farming is a noble and dying heritage. I love my heritage and love the little portion that I keep alive in gardening and canning and sharing with others.

TIT - Teen In Training

#1 Son came back from camp on Friday night. As a twelve year old, I was not worried that he would be homesick or be good, or even have fun. He has trouble (especially at school) keeping his mouth closed and his thoughts to himself. He has no problem telling people what he thinks, no matter the consequences. It's a gift and a curse.

Well, this year, he apparently was promoted. Being the oldest camper on his team, he was asked to step up to the challenge of helping as a "Teen faculty member". From what has been told to #1 Husband and I, #1 Son really did a great job. He helped lead his team, he talked with two boys who actually came forward and were to be baptized at their home church, he did an outstanding job! #1 Husband and I really proud of the job that he did. He was called to help and he met it head-on with no problem.

As a reward of being a "Teen", #1 Song got to stay up a little later a couple of nights. The best night was when all the faculty went out to the zip line and rode it at night. Now it gets pretty dark in the valley at Butler Springs. So going up into the woods, climbing up the stand and riding that little thin wire and harnesses at night would be a faith-builder. #1 Son said that all they had was a glow stick and you could see your objective, the circle at the other end. You push off and down you go, into the darkened night, not sure of where you are, what is below you, and wondering why you decided to do this crazy thing. Can't you just close your eyes and imagine gliding down at a very fast rate, the wind coming at you and then a sudden stop? It must be exhilarating!

#1 Son loved that he was called on to be a helper. I asked him if he now understood what it means to be a counsellor at camp. He said "I do and I am going back next year as a teen helper."

Maybe I will go with him next year. I want to see my children become courageous and faithful helpers, shining their light before God and men.

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

Laughing

Friday afternoon, I took Allie to the doctor for a physical for band. It was the usual physical. They weighed her, took her height, read her blood pressure. Then the doctor came in and asked his set of questions. He took the little hammer and started checking her knee reflexes. Her knees were not responding well and she was laughing. I told the doctor that my knees were the same. So he told her to put her hands together with palms facing each other, held up to her chest and elbows out. So she did that. He then checked her reflexes again. That satisfied him. Then he asked her to stand up and he checked her posture. He told her to turn around. Allie did a 360. The doctor rolled his eyes and said, "No, turn around." Then he stopped her when she was facing away from him. She laughed and said, "You said turn around." He told her to touch her toes. She bent down, touched the floor and stood back up. Doc said exasperated, "Slowly." So she went down again and he checked her spine as she stood up. By now I am just rolling with laughter. Next the doctor told her to squat down. She turned to him and said, "What does that mean?" He said squat down. So she tried to, but she ended up falling to her knees. By now this comedy was too funny for either of us to not be laughing. How the doctor was putting up with us is beyond me. He then asked her to squat and walk like a duck. Now can you see Allie doing that? She couldn't do it. So the doctor told me that he thinks she can't do that because of her knocked knees. She said, "I have a disability?" I told her, "Yeah, you do. A lot of them."

So later, when we were driving home, I asked her if she realized why the doctor made her put her hands together when he checked her reflexes. She said, "No, why?"

"Because he wanted you to concentrate on something other than your legs."

"He did? Oh, I thought he was checking my hands or arms. I thought it was scientific!" She said in wonderment. I laughed and told her, "Oh I am going to blog this!" So I did.

Some days it's an adventure to be with Allie. God gives us laughter because he loves that musical ringing in our voices.

15 and Counting

Today, my oldest daughter turned 15. Unfortunately I am here at work most of the day, as is her dad. Her best friend is on vacation and she as opted to spend the morning through lunch with a group from church that have all younger kids. They are going to a place called Bananas!. This place has a bunch of inflatables that the kids can jump, slide, run and do whatever they want to get some energy out. Oldest is happy going and playing with the 2 and 3 year olds. She is going to be a great preschool teacher and baby sitter someday.

Her favorite shows on television (right now) are So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars. She is beyond happy that tonight is SYTYCD's 100th episode and they are bringing back dances from the first 5 seasons. It is a FOX channel show, and if you love choreography and dance, you will really like this. Infact, I think I will get her tickets to go see the tour when it comes close to our area.

We usually make a special meal or take the kids out for their b-day. She has opted to wait to go out until this weekend when her brother comes back from camp. She is so thoughtful to want to include him. She could have decided to be selfish and we just do it now. I am going to get her some cheesecake so she can at least have a bday dessert.

Just so you don't think we are heartless parents, next weekend, we are planning a party for her. She wants to just sit around the fire pit with friends, listening to music or jumping on the trampoline, having snacks and smores. She is a simple girl with simple tastes. She is worried that her friends won't come. That is her biggest fear. Ahh to only have that simple worry.

Her favorite things are purses and shoes, and she has an Aunt who loves to spoil her with Vera Bradley. She loves any kind of shoes, especially Converse and heels. She is taller than me (which is not hard to be) and about as tall as her daddy. She is going into 9th grade and is on the drill team in the high school's marching band. That starts in full force next week.

Happy Birthday Darling. Hope your day is a good one!

I have been reading and researching blogs for the past year and finally decided to take the plunge. Yesterday I started with a devotional blog that I started in April. I started it because my wonderful father started chemo and radiation treatments for throat cancer. I wanted to keep our family and friends updated daily. This quickly turned into an 80+ member devotion and I have come to love. But I want to do something more. I don't know if I am in the right area, but I am going to start here and see what I can do. Whether I am interesting to anyone but myself is really not important because I like this outlet.

I am a wife of almost 19 years, a mom of a 15 year old girl and a 12 year old boyand mama to Josie Belle, our Chow-chow/Shepherd mix.. We love our city, school, and friends. We love hanging out in the backyard grilling, gardening, making smores and sitting around the fire pit. We love entertaining and enjoying life! I work as a receptionist full time.

I live in SW Ohio and today it is raining. This is a good thing, because that means we don't have to worry about watering the garden. I am excited about the garden because the beans are coming along wonderfully and I have already started getting cucumbers and various peppers coming in. Yummy! My mom, dad and I put up 15 dozen ears of corn for the winter (bought from a fabulous friend, Thanks Michael!) and will be doing more in a few weeks.

This week, my son is at church camp, having a wonderful time. At least, I think he is. He will come back on Friday and then daughter starts pre-band camp on Monday. She's on the drill team and learning the ropes of the flags and pom-poms. So life as a mother of a teenager and pre-teen goes on.

That is enough of an intro. I hope that someone out there will take an interest in my little corner of blogger.