Easter Eggs





A fun moment on Easter today as the girls colored a couple dozen of our eggs.  We don't have any white egg layers, they're all brown and green eggs, and when they're colored, they turn out the most beautiful deep shades. 

Our naturally colorful eggs

Today was a gorgeous sunny day, and I made a full on Easter meal, it was a kitchen day, full of cooking and baking.  I'm always happy to have a reason to celebrate, and the reason to celebrate today was His (Jesus) resurrection and Life, and the glory of His triumph!  We all had discussions about this as we colored eggs and cooked.  For our meal I made ham, scalloped potatoes, vegetables and homemade dinner rolls.  For dessert I made a pear and apple pie/crisp, and of course we had some ice cream to go with it.  

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter! 

Happiness!

My sister Joy

42 years ago today I was born and 4 minutes later my sister Joy came into the world, we're identical twins and today is our birthday.  I think I've mentioned my sister but have never officially talked about her and since I really miss  her today I wanted to tell you a little bit about her.

My sister Joy is like a part of me, we talk almost daily and I can't imagine life without her, she's always been there to encourage and support me and I've tried to do the same for her.  Growing up we moved every few years and I think it made us even closer as we only had each other when we didn't know another soul.   We shared rooms, slept in the same bed and talked until we fell asleep, we learned to cut hair on each other and talked about boys and friends and school. 

As adults we now share our children's lives with each other, their victories and challenges, and what we're proud of.  We endlessly rehash the past and know each other's strengths and weaknesses.  We have the same energy and enthusiasm for life and I've never met another who can compare to her.

I remember 8 years ago how hard it was when she moved across the mountains a couple hours away, I used to see her regularly and we usually got together on our birthday.  We'd bring each other primroses and daffodils and go out for lunch sometimes.  She has 4 boys similar in ages to my children and they've grown up getting together for special cousin time. 

She now works as an interior designer and sells interior finishes for homes (carpet, counter's, floor coverings, tile, etc.), it's a natural job for her and something she truly enjoys.  It's interesting how similar we both are, but also how different we are.   

Today for my birthday I talked with her on the phone and wished her a happy birthday, and then a couple of my friends took me out to lunch and we had a nice time visiting and catching up.  Later in the evening our family had ham and scalloped potatoes and salad for dinner.  I had made a german chocolate cake and we had Haagen Daz Java chip ice cream, yum.  My kids all blessed me with handmade cards, a couple books and art supplies, and I had a perfectly wonderful day, but I missed my sister Joy.

Just wanted to share with you who my sister is, and hopefully in the next couple days I'll find just the right picture to post here.

fun in the snow

Kaley having fun sledding on our first "Snow Day" of the year!

It snowed most of the day today and they say more is on the way, 

 it looks like there will be no school for the rest of the week... and all the kids say... Yay!!!

Golden Retrievers are like kids, they love to play in the snow.

Tessa heading down the hill!

Tessa with the male puppy Fatolini (aka, Bubs), well he has several names depending on who's talking to him. 

Summer wants to sled too!  She loves getting in on the action.

Jason with Josie, she is such a sweetheart.



"Snow Kisses" from Sierra

Tis the Season

Tis the season to reflect on the magic of the holidays, it's the time to be with family and good friends, and to be a little extra indulgent... like spicing up the coffee with a dash of Bailey's Irish Cream.  With the nights longer, we like to sit by the fire more than ever (dogs and puppies included).  There is a richness in just slowing down, eating good food, and being close together by the warmth of a wood stove. 

Tis the season to celebrate with our traditions, each of us in our own way.  We put up a tree, give a few gifts to each other, and the children get stockings filled with goodies and small gifts on Christmas morning.  Our tree is cut from home or we go to a tree farm, this year we have a Blue Spruce tree, and the needles bring the smell of Christmas to our home.  I like colored lights on our tree, and decorations made from the kids at school over the years, we also have glass balls, candy canes, and wooden ornaments. 

 

Tis the season for good food, on Christmas morning our tradition is to have a breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls, fruit, juice and coffee.  Then we have an early dinner with honey cured ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, homemade rolls, fresh vegetables, and for dessert I'm making a pumpkin and pecan pie.

Tis the season to gather greens from around our property to bring inside and decorate with.  Just being outside gives me time to reflect on the true reason for the season... Celebrating the birth of our saviour, Jesus Christ.  I've been thanking Him extra this year for His many blessings.  He has taught us about walking in faith, sometimes not knowing how our needs would be met, but somehow He always provided a way, and gave us the strength and health to work hard.  For this reason I reflect upon Him more than ever over the holiday season, and say thank you.   I hope Christmas is special for you and your family and that your wishes come true... Tis the season for miracles, only believe!

farmer boy

Yesterday I took this candid shot of my son Jason, he's 16 years old and is truly a farmer boy, he enjoys the country, the animals, hunting and nature, a son after my own heart.  You'd be surprised how much he knows about survival and self sufficiency, I hope when he's older he pursues his dreams of living from the land.

One of my favorite all time books is also called Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  If you've never read it, you will enjoy it.  It was my favorite of all her books, and is about her husband Almonzo's childhood.

girls and horses

Do all girls love horses?  I remember being 10 and 11, and wanting a horse more than anything.  My parents sent my sister and I to a horse camp in Alabama, where we got to have our own horse for a week.  It was so much fun, I remember the happiness of riding and being with my horse I had for a week.  My daughter Kaley loved the horses where we went to get our Nigerian doe.  You can tell the horses loved the attention she gave them too.

family

In honor of Father's day yesterday, I want to to say how lucky I am to have my Dad as a Father, he worked hard all through the years.  He was an officer in the Coast Guard, so we moved every few years throughout my childhood.  He has always been a good provider for our family, and made sure we had our needs met, he loves my mom and all of us, how lucky we are.  He has 4 children and 12 grandchildren and has been a Godly man all through the years, he's given us a christian heritage to be proud of.  We're so blessed to have him as a Father and Grandfather.


For Father's Day, we had a delicious dinner made by my daughter Heather, she made steak, baked potatoes, a broccoli salad, french bread, and I made a green salad, my mom (Grandma)  made a strawberry rhubarb pie, plus we had ice cream and whip cream. 

My 4 daughters and Mom,  (Me, Tessa, Heather, my Mom, Christina, and Kaley)

finally home

Last week we spontaneously moved into our big house that has been unfinished for years, we are building it slowly with cash and the time to work on it.  If you read my post called waterlogged and sun starved, you'll understand why I finally made the decision to just do it.  I really have been sun starved and living in the barn, and the cabin we had most of our comfort and functional needs met, but the biggest drawback was the dark, windows were up high, and rooms were dark. 

So now our plan is to work on the big house while we live in it.  It's finished to the sheet rock stage, however, we do have a finished bathroom, a laundry room, electricity and just installed a wood stove.  There are windows that look out over my garden, and from our upstairs bedroom it's like a lighthouse looking over the entire property, North, South, East and West.  We've moved most of the furniture, and all the beds, and have set up home.  This week we'll be working on getting the sink and counters put in, and the stove all hooked up.  The other day I spent hours cleaning an old porcelain salvage sink that is deep on both sides, it must have been set up in a commercial kitchen, but it is cleaning up beautifully.  A good sink is very important, and is of utmost priority, the last couple of days I've been doing the dishes in the bathtub. 

I've been having fun nesting in my new home.  We'll be painting, laying stone and wood floors, finishing the wood trim around windows, taping, texturing and painting the walls, and mostly getting it all functional to start with.  At the same time I'm also going through everything we've had stashed away in the barn, and cleaning and organizing all the stuff that gets accumulated over years of raising children and having a business.  There will be many trips to get rid of stuff at Goodwill, and maybe save some stuff for a barn sale this summer.  In any event, it's a new chapter in our lives, one that will be filled with many happy work filled days.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's day to all the mother's out there, who mother children, animals, and all who are in your care.  There is a mothering spirit that is stronger than anything else in this world, it is the heartbeat of a true mother.  She wants to create a loving home, full of memories with her children, she wants to make good food to nourish them, give them Love and understanding to grow, make forgiveness and acceptance a priority throughout their lives.  Most importantly she wants to impart a Godly Spirit, and the knowledge of how to hear the voice of Wisdom, to help them make good choices in their lives.

I am so thankful God gave me the Mother He did, I have been blessed my entire life to have a Mother that has loved me and my children unconditionally through all the mistakes, she still believed in me.  She gave me a foundation of Faith that has carried over into her grandchildren, and will carry over through the generations to come I believe.  My Mom has  always given me a hug and a smile, and good conversation. 

My parents will be up here soon, they live on the Oregon Coast, and like to come stay at their home away from home, that is not too far away from us.  We'll hopefully have a month or two with them in town.  We like to go to garage sales, and run around, we cook and eat together and generally get to spend time enjoying each other.  I wish I could be with my Mom today on Mother's Day, but we'll have a special Mother's Day lunch when she gets here. 

To all the mother's out there, enjoy your day today with your children and family.  For all that you give and do, you deserve to give yourself a special treat, buy yourself something nice, or do something nice just your yourself, today or this coming week :)  I'll let you know later this week what I did nice for myself.

warmth of the fire

,

We all gather around the fire for warmth and cooking on these snowy winter days.  I have soup, vegetables and grains cooking on the stove.  Bread is rising on the lower right of the fire, and kombucha tea and sourdough are staying warm on the mantle... A normal winter day  Of course even our dog Summer likes to stay warm by the fire.  Our woodstove is older and well used, it needs a good cleaning and repainting, along with a new damper, but it sure puts out the heat and does a great job cooking food.  This time of year we almost never let it go out, and bank it at night to easily start up in the morning. 

We live in the upstairs of the barn and use the cabin daily for showers and sometimes cooking, as we are still slowly building our big house, which is in the sheetrock stage and has been for a long time.  In the lower level of our barn is a woodshop, and has it's own woodstove.  The cats live in the lower portion, and enjoy the fire when it's going down there.  It's still snowing outside, and is starting to turn to rain a little today.  You can see Kaley in shorts (just in from sledding, and removed all her snow gear), the kids don't seem to feel the cold like adults, I will bundle up warm on these cold winter days.  March will be here this week, and I'm looking forward to Spring days in the garden full of sunshine and warmth, we're getting close, maybe this will be the last snow of the year.

I haven't been able to get in to Seattle to pick up the rest of my soap making supplies, namely the Lye (due to the weather).  I drove all over to every store I thought would have lye in our town, and no one had it, I guess lye is not a popular thing people buy these days.  I had no idea this would be such a hard item to find.  I know the store Zenith in Seattle will have it, so hopefully the snow will melt, and I can get down there on Tuesday or Wednesday.  I have everything else ready, and just need lye and cocoa butter.

Wherever you are, I hope you're warm and cozy too.

Snow Angels

Kaley has been having fun in the snow all morning, here she is making a snow angel.  The school district called for 2 hours late today, and since our roads are worse than most, I let the kids have a snow day, most of the kids on our hill will stay home too.  The district knows about our challenges when it snows,  the school bus hasn't been able to come up our hill for the last couple days because of all the snow and icy roads, this isn't just a hill, but a big 10 minute drive up our hill (mountain). 

Jason had to hold Summer so she wouldn't jump in on the snow angel action, she already did twice, and Kaley had to start over.  Golden Retriever's are like kids, they like to play and play, her favorite is to grab a hat and play chase. 

We've been bringing in the rabbit water bottles to thaw, every one's water has been freezing.  It's thawed a little and icicles are forming.  They're calling for cold weather over the next couple days.  After my walk around this morning feeding, watering and taking a few pictures, I've been inside making food, and have gotten the chicken soup stock going on the woodstove, and our weekly bread rising, I'm making 4 loaves of sourdough bread, and it's rising by the woodstove.  I'll be making chicken vegetable soup this afternoon, with barley, lentils, and rice.  The kids have been in and out, and we've been checking on the new baby bunnies, we're happy to report they're all doing wonderful, and are toasty and warm under their downy fur blanket, with the new moms feeding and tending to them. 

 The chickens are hanging out indoors, with sunshine coming through to warm them a little.  We've been getting 6 or 7 eggs a day, and our family eats them all.  We make scrambled eggs, poached eggs, tapioca pudding (from Bobs' Red Mill tapioca)  custards,  and many other things.  We missed eggs through the winter and simply cut back, hopefully we'll soon have a couple hens go broody, and will have spring chicks.

"mama" one of our mini rex does resting a day after giving birth. 

 This is her first litter, she is tired but  doing well.

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day to you! I hope this is a day filled with love for you and your family. It's a day to do something extra special, I am pulling out a heart shaped cake pan this morning, and making a chocolate cake, along with a special dinner for the family.

Above was written in the morning, this is what we made this evening.

For dessert we made a couple of simple chocolate cakes out of the Bob's Red Mill cookbook.  The one I chose was a yogurt chocolate cake, that I had never made before.  It called for half whole wheat, and half white, I used our fresh eggs from today, and of course yogurt, which added a nice tang.  We pulled out a couple decorative cake pans that are fun to use, and will make a simple cake a little more special.  I didn't use any frosting because it was delicious and moist without adding anything.

For dinner we ended up having a huge salad feast, with leafy greens and raw vegetables, which we all crave this time of year, we included carrots, beets, red chesnock garlic (we still have a lot from the garden) radishes, celery, and parmesan cheese.  My kids love salads, they've grown up on them, and a meal just isn't the same to me without some raw vegetables for enzymes.  We also made brown rice and poached eggs, I was going to make something more, but everyone was just happy with this simple meal.  We were going to sit at the table, but ended up all sitting around the fire happily eating and talking about our day.  Kaley always has fun stories to tell, and when you're in 4th grade, Valentines Day is the best, getting all the cards and candy, she said "it's kind of like a mini halloween".  I remember as a child how much fun it was, definitely one of the best days of the year.

I don't know why I always take a picture of baked goods, and not all the healthy stuff I make, you guys are going to start thinking I'm a real carb junkie... sometimes I am, but I also have balance, and crave healthy things I know my body needs.  I do love to bake though, and I have the mouths to help eat it, so I don't have temptation for long.

 

A New Chapter

This morning my son Jason and I drove to the Smokey Point Department of Licensing, he was going to take his driving test for getting his first license.  He turned 16 a week ago, and has been anxious to get his license and car.  We got there a half hour early so he could practise one more time, stuff like parallel parking and backing around a corner.  I was nervous enough for both of us as he drove off with the instructor.  When he got back and walked in the door where I was waiting, I could tell by the look on his face that he had passed.  This is a memorable happy moment for every new driver, after all the practise and classes over the last six months, it was a relief to both of us. I told him to smile for his picture, of course it was a half grin, too cool to do a full on smile like my first drivers license picture at 16.

After that we went to meet my daughter Heather in Lynnwood at the DMV to transfer her title from my name to hers.  She is selling her car, and buying a newer one today, all on her own at 18, I am very proud of her.

When we got home, Jason and I spent about an hour looking on craigslist for a car or truck for him.  He has been looking for the last month, and narrowing down what he can afford and what make and model he likes.  He has some money to find an inexpensive starter car, and we are hoping to find something soon.

And the final thing... this is my last night being a mother of 4 teenagers, my oldest daughter Christina is turning 20 tomorrow, and we are celebrating her birthday this weekend.  So a happy and tiring day full of big events in my children's lives.  I have been a mother for 20 years now, and am entering a new chapter of my life.

The Photo Journalist

Just me... taking a picture of myself on the last day of 2010 in the mirror of the cabin.  Adorned in winter attire, my dad's old wool coat that my mom accidentally shrunk in the dryer years ago.  She gave me a blue and red wool coat, she shrunk both of them in the same load.  I have worn them for years, and remember my Dad in Alaska wearing them when I was a little girl.

Country Kids

It's been snowing all day, we woke up this morning to a couple inches.  The kids are all having fun playing in the snow and being outside!  We have 3 cousins visiting from Wenatchee, so it's double the fun.

Jason and Jeremy the "Mountain Men"

Tessa practising with her new guitar she got for Christmas. 

Happiness Over The Holidays

At my daughter Christina's having a Christmas time dinner, our first ever at her home.

I woke this morning long before light,and lay in bed reminiscing about the holidays and how much fun it's been with family and friends.  I'm lucky to have my husband, and children, our home, and all the menagerie that is Applegarth Farm.  We are all blessed to be healthy and happy, and feel warm and safe.

Jarin got up early this morning and put on the coffee, I heard the bell ring and knew I had to get up and get dressed, pull on the rubber boots, and walk over in the dark from the barn to the little house.  We're not on our normal routine with school out for the Christmas Break.  The kids all sleep in 2 or 3 hours later than we do, and stay up a couple hours later, they're on holiday hours.  So our mornings begin with starting the  fire, coffee and chatting about what we're doing that day, then I feed the chickens, rabbits, and cats.  Jarin always takes Sierra and Summer for their morning walk, then puts them in the pasture to eat their breakfast and  play for a couple hours. 

Over the holidays it's been warm here in the NW, the moisture is thick, and it has rained lightly for days.  They're predicting Snow for Wednesday and Thursday, we have cold air coming today, and they're forecasting snow in the foothills and lowlands.  The kids, especially Kaley want it to snow.  Over Thanksgiving the snow we had was really fun to sled and play in.  Plus today 3 cousins are coming to stay for a couple days,  it would be fun to have snow so they could all play together.  I'm hoping for it too!  I love for winter to be Winter, I say... Let It Snow!

With Christmas over, we're onward to 2011.  I have big plans for Applegarth Farm this year.  This spring will be exciting,  we are planning to get a couple Nigerian Dwarf goats, they will be does to milk, sometime I'm hoping in March or April.  We'll be getting their area ready over the next few months.  The new year will bring work on the nursery part of the farm.  I will be grafting apples, pears, plums, and cherries, January through March.  Some work in the garden will also begin around the end of January.  I have several new beds planned, and will be planting more espaliered fruit trees around the garden.   I am also planting several rows of fruit trees I grafted a couple years ago in the new upper meadow orchard.

Over the next few days and weeks we at Applegarth will be reflecting on what we've accomplished over the last year, and what will be priority and desire to work on this year.    I encourage you also to take the time to reflect and write out your dreams for the coming year.  If self sufficiency is important to you, take some positive steps like planning now for your garden, look at seed catalogs, and study books from the library about vegetables, fruits and berries. You will want to dig your beds, and amend them with aged manure first of all.  If  you are interested in bees, January is the time to order them, and get your hives ready before they arrive in April.  If you want fruit trees, plant them over the next few months, order them now.  I have bought mine through Raintree Nursery and Burnt Ridge Nursery, both are in Washington, and do mail order.  If you want Chickens, rabbits, or goats., they all provide self sufficiency for families with food, and compost for enriching your garden.  Begin to think about getting ready for them come Spring.    The thought of all the new life in Spring brings me happiness now in the darkest days of the year.  Onward to longer days and a bright shiny New Year!

Sledding Fun

Decorating the Tree

Kaley helping decorate the tree, she is my best little helper with the holiday preparations and placing all the special ornaments in just the right spot.  We listened to Christmas music, and got into the holiday spirit.  We were busy all evening putting the final touches on.

Cutting down the Christmas Tree

Yesterday was the day we decided to cut down our Christmas tree.  Since we live in an old Christmas tree farm we just go out in the forest and  look for a great tree at the top, the trees are rather large so taking off the top portion is the right size for a large tree.  We had to fill in the gaps between some of the branches that were sparse by drilling holes and placing the branches to look fuller.  We are in frugal mode, so it  feels good to save the money on buying a tree.  We have gone to u cut lots, and spent $35-50 on a nice tree.   This year is different...neither one of us have a formal job, we are having to be very scrappy to survive the winter, and the holidays.   This will be a handmade Christmas like no other. 

We all pulled out the tupperware boxes of Christmas decorations from the basement, and began setting the memorabilia out.  Some things have been with us for a long long time, and are like old friends when you pull them out of the boxes.  We will be putting on the lights and decorating the tree tonight.  I have planned turkey noodle soup for dinner, with homemade noodles.  I also have the movie "The Santa Claus" pulled out to watch as a family.