Wednesday Chicken Giggles

Mayda is walking around the house with a Cornish chick on her shoulder, referring to him as her pet parrot. (privately she told me, "He's a Fryer, I feel bad for him")

Why my Mom is the most successful woman I know.

Mom,

Prov 31:10-31 

A good woman is hard to find,
   and worth far more than diamonds.

You are priceless!

Her husband trusts her without reserve,
   and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
   all her life long.

From the moment you met Dad, you have been a jewel in his crown (pardon the King pun). With your faithful witness you introduced him to Christ, and then you quietly supported his lead of our family. You have shown me how a wife should behave. 

She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
   and enjoys knitting and sewing.

The countless baby blankets you've made, or the kuspuk's you've sewn. There's no end to your talent!

She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
   and brings back exotic surprises.

With frozen delights from Glenwood's, or a special deal from Leah Martin. You know how to provide for your family, and make eating on a budget fun!

She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
   for her family and organizing her day.

You did plenty before dawn... besides getting us on our way, well fed and on time. What about the times you were watching the sunrise after delivering a sweet baby (two of mine came before the crack of dawn!) ? Your hands are a blessing to many a mom.

She looks over a field and buys it,
   then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.

<3 My favorite skill that I learned from you. ;)

First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
   rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.

Even now with your new job, I am SO proud of you! Even more proud, that you set aside your "career" to focus solely on the task of discipling your children for over 30 years!

She senses the worth of her work,
   is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.

You work circles around me, and your energy is astounding. You persevered through 27 years of homeschooling. There was no hurry or disdain, you knew it was worth your diligent effort.

She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
   diligent in homemaking.

Faithful to teach us cooking, canning, and more.

She's quick to assist anyone in need,
   reaches out to help the poor.

Your servant heart has changed me forever. This did not come naturally to me, but watching you... it has become a way of life. Serving and loving others. 

She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
   their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
   and dresses in colorful linens and silks.

Hours at the sewing machine, or crocheting penguin hats. :)

Her husband is greatly respected
   when he deliberates with the city fathers.

Especially the ones in Adamstown. ;) With your encouragement and support, our Dad is a respected man, in church and community.

She designs gowns and sells them,
   brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.

Your ingenuity is astounding!

Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
   and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
   and she always says it kindly.

Your view of life, tact, grace, and optimism have colored my world. I pray inherit your poise.


She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
   and keeps them all busy and productive.

You taught us about busy hands: making light work and staying out of trouble.

Her children respect and bless her;
   her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things,
   but you've outclassed them all!"


Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!


Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
   The woman to be admired and praised
   is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.

Christ in you has made you more beautiful every day. My husband has told me that he hopes I age like my mother. I pray I will also live in the fear of God, for which you are to be admired and praised.

Give her everything she deserves!
   Festoon her life with praises!

You deserve so much more than words, but here they are. I love you, Mom, Happy Mother's Day!

Love, Laura

This Mother's Day week, I want to join with 1,000 other women blessing our mothers, and in joining our voices to reach out to mothers in Haiti. I know this will be a blessing to my mother, since she has been in the world of maternity care for over 20 years now. Will you join the 1,000 Moms Project?

In the Garden

In the Garden 

Words & Music: C. Aus­tin Miles, March 1912

I come to the garden alone

While the dew is still on the roses

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him

Though the night around me be falling,

But He bids me go; through the voice of woe

His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

Chicken update - chicks are 19 days old

Yes, I know I post a lot about chickens. But they do represent 92% of the population on our farm right now... Soon we will be eating chicken and the numbers will fall in line a little better. :)

Here are a few of our older bunch:

our Black Australorp Rooster

The Rooster was showing off...

                   

dust baths are an important part of life

I'm out! nanner nanner!

checking for eggs

showing off the Rhode Is. Red wing feathers

And for the finale, remember these Cornish chicks from last week?

12 days old on the left, 5 days on the right

12 days old on the left, 19 days old on the right!

Related posts:

Chicken update - 12 days old
Chic Pic
Chicks are here!
Waiting on [chicken] Babies 

Spring has sprung!

flowers from my girls

Planting is underway around here. This evening the tractor headlights show through the picture windows as the neighbors are planting the corn across the road. The garden is coming up nicely:

potatoes

lettuce planted with radishes and cucumbers

mint

The old fallen branches and piles of corn husks have been burned off. The entire valley smells of smoke as the farmers burn the ditches clean so the water can flow again from the canal. With so little rain, the irrigation season is sure to begin soon.

 ...and the flowers are blooming...

4 O'clocks sprouting

Related posts:

Early April 2012 Spring Garden: Cabbage, Broccoli, Dill, and Radishes
2012 Garden, Part one: Cold Frames, lettuce, and potatoes

2011 Garden Overview 
2011 Cucumbers
2011 Spring Garden: Lettuce, Spinach, Onions, and Peas
2011 Green Beans

Home-Made Laundry Soap

My friend Rita shared her recipe with me for dry laundry detergent.

shred the soap and mix everything up in a food processor. I mixed up a batch this week, and it works great (even in my front loader, 1-2Tbs per load). Thanks Rita!

I tried it as a liquid recipe too, and it didn't turn out very well. My sister tells me it's the Zote bar soap that I used is the problem. She made it with ivory soap, (minus the oxy and baking soda) and says it is wonderful. Since she lives in the Alaskan bush, it is much easier for her to get the ingredients to make her own than to pay the price of shipping in liquid detergent. Thanks Michelle! <3

time to take down the laundry?

Related posts:
Easy Overnight Yogurt
Using Dry Beans
Leather Beaded Braid Bracelet
Dreaming of April


Linked:

May Joy Dare week one

Blessings counted #105-125







May 1: Three Gifts Tasted (1000 gifts Joy Dare)
#105 Sweet & Saltines
#106 Home made Yogurt and Granola
#107 Baby radish from the garden

May 2: Three Gifts Flat

#108 Card from a widow in our church, encouraging me!

#109 God's Word on the page: new discoveries in my Bible-in-a-year reading

#110 Grocery ads in the paper this morning; many good sales to help me with my meal planning tonight.

May 3: Three gifts found in difficult people

#111 Love perfected 1 Jn. 4:21 

#112 A greater understanding of God's grace for me Mt. 6:12

#113 Perseverance 1 Cor. 13:7

May 4: Three gifts before 9am

#114 girls up early doing chores before me

#115 kids doing Bible reading without reminders

#116 before breakfast stroll through the garden

May 5: A sign, a snack, a smile...
#117 The sign read "Happy Birthday!", #118 the snack was birthday cake, #119 and the smile had cake  smeared all over it... today was a friend's baby's first birthday. :)

May 6th, 3 gifts in Christ. "You... He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you #120 HOLY, and #121 BLAMELESS, and #122 ABOVE REPROACH" Col. 1:21-22

May 7: 3 gifts about my home:

#123 Baby chicks in a pack'N'play in the basement, 

#124 guests on the couch, 

#125 brownies in the oven.