Thanks Mom!

So... when I was 4-H age I think my mom was worried that I wouldn't grow up to be a real girl! To be honest there was some cause for concern, this was not long after the summer I learned to aim my spit and did not learn how to pee standing up, but not for lack of trying! (what a mess!) So for the next two summers I was forced to take cooking and knitting in addition to 'Beef Breeding' (which I loved) in 4-H. I learned a very good taco recipe, developed a mental block against knitting needles and a lifelong conviction that Angus cattle were simply the best (I am still listed as a breeder in the American Angus Assn. breeding records!) I had made my career choice – professional football player (love football), and had decided that I would never get married or have children! Sigh...the funny thing was I don't remember either of my parents ever telling me my goals were unrealistic because I was a girl. (My dad the football coach did explain to me that I might never get big enough for the NFL). Mom always just said things “built character”. (I'm sure now and then she ruminates on how much of a character I actually became!)

Why am I thinking about this? Just thinking about how glad I am that I grew up with my conservative backward horrible parents and not some of those nitwits who think their grade school child is transgender and should be able to go in the other genders bathroom!

I really need to choke back my internet news feeds. Not sure I really need to be this well informed. The ignorant people seem to be fairly happy.....!

That was insensitive of me wasn't it?

Well as long as I got to this point.....Today's news is full of the SCOTUS cases. I am a Christian. Marriage is not a civil right, it was laid out by God. In making their argument many people use the slavery issue as an example of the courts having to do the right thing because it was the right thing. I agree with them, race, color, creed don't matter. I will share my personal view of when something rises to the exalted heights of a 'human or civil right' – When you can say ALL, as in all men are created equal and endowed ...etc. Let's see now – “all men have the right to marry whomever they love” (note I did not say whatever we will not go there at this time), is this a true statement? – NO, even the most liberal of the libs is not saying we should allow pedophiles to marry 4 year olds, should we allow plural marriages again (ok some are pushing for this – sister wives anyone?). So by my definition marriage is not a civil right - as it has limitations that are yet to be determined and can apparently change. Now why do I think this is important? Because of the 1^st amendment and my right to practice my religion, see - if something is a civil right then you have no right to refuse to serve, marry, bake a wedding cake with two grooms, take wedding photos of, have the ceremony in your church, or teach against it from the pulpit.

So now the truth is out there, I am intolerant as well as insensitive...Sigh!

I'm Baaaaack!

I've decided to try this blogging thing again, did a little more research, read a whole lot of other blogs, think I'm ready to make the commitment. We'll see. :)

Time away, and many projects done, handmade Christmas was a great success, everyone seemed to like their gifts and a great time was had by all (except for the terrible snowstorm we had to drive through to get there - take my advice - just pay the guy to put on the chains!)

Our January here was the 2^nd coldest on record, a real test of our winter preparations in the house. What did we learn?

A) We can heat the house with electric heaters but it is very expensive.

B) The wood stove we were not sure of (so many things in the house were substandard) was brand new and meets the new EPA guidelines, turned out to be awesome and capable of much more than we gave it credit for.

C) We need a lot more wood.

D) We had one small length of plumbing that missed being insulated and we had to find it! (of course)

E) Double layers of clothing are comfy once you get used to it.

F) You just get used to picking up the quilt, lap robe, blanket every time you sit down. (60° is just chilly!)

G) Our stocking up worked and we never felt the need to go to town in bad weather – we were able to wait for clear roads.

H) Our diy roof repairs got almost all the leaks...sigh!

I) We totally entertained ourselves with our planned projects and enjoyed the great indoors!

We were thinking winter was a success and behind us. spring was here and ...nope! It may say spring but it definitely looks and feels like winter! But we had that warm week and now I have spring fever...actually I had spring fever, now I have a cold...but the spring fever will be back again as soon as I can breathe. Garden planning is in full swing though, we have started some seedlings, laid out plans for the ground level part of the garden and for the raised bed part. Last summer we just had a few containers as it was get the house in shape for winter time. This summer it is work on the yard time. There is a lot to do – not just getting a garden in, there are several projects for just basic landscaping to do this year. There is landscaping here that just makes for more work (that has definitely gotta go!), and some that is neither functional nor pretty and I'm thinking everything eventually ought to be one or the other!

Not to say that there are no projects left inside but they do not have the urgency of last year's "can we get the hot water running before the first freeze".  I have covered the thrifted glider rocker and glider footstool that had no cushions (pics to follow), and we recently found a hide-a-bed at Savers! Cheap - as the legs were broken – but handy hubby is working on them today and we will have a couch and extra bed. The fabric is spotless and in good shape and it's an expensive brand, but not a fabric to go with my décor (ok it's not really a décor but I like to call it that) so I am deciding whether to slipcover or reupholster type cover, I am leaning toward a hybrid, sort of, thing, I'm thinking on it!

One thing I got to the giving stage for Christmas was the recipe book from the grandmas and favorites from the family so they are all on my computer so should be able to share more of them easier now.

Will close this first post back with a story and two pictures. The first picture is a Ziploc baggie of seeds, they are 'wonderberry' seeds (nightshade family, historic heirloom seeds, Volga German family thing) saved, cleaned and given to me by my Grandma, my dads mom, in 1989. She passed away in 1994. I have saved, lost, found, stored and found these silly things again and again over the past 24 years. Kept them in a special place when I found them as we were packing to move, grandma wrote a special note and stuck it inside, otherwise I might have thrown them away – they are so old now!

This second picture is the wonderberry seedlings! I planted them just to see if they would grow and there they are! They come back every year, so my garden will have children of Grandmas wonderberries in it, how cool is that?! My Garden is off to an awesome start!