Help me! My Head Shall Explode! For Real! :(

Oh my stars and stockings. That is all I can say, and grasp my head with both hands to hold it on. I had written quite a long post detailing how nothing was going right AT ALLLLLL in the kitchen today, and then lo and behold, the internet disconnected, and the post was lost. Hadn't been saved. Hadn't been anything. Gone! I should make up some new word that expressly describes the frustration I am feeling. Rats! Grrrrr!!! Or, to be cheerful, and give you an idea, maybe the most appropriate word, for when you can't think of anything to say: (And I give a murderous glance kitchenward as I type in bold capslock: SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!!!!!! There. That seriously relieved me. Now to go deal with dinner. -Rachel

"The Ship's Cook" and a large Tussy Mussy

Hey guys! Last night we had so much fun! Matthew, Sarah, Anna, Emily, Leah, Aunt Christy, Daniel, and I all learned "The Town Square" and "The Ship's Cook" from the 2009 Emma! We just watched it on Youtube, and then I taught it to everyone else from there! It would have worked better if we had more couples, but it was a ton of fun! I love dancing! Yesterday, while at choir, I went on a walk with one of the King's Daughter's sisters. We took a nice stroll along the very picturesque pond near their home, and absolutely filled our arms with flowers! Gracie came with us and looked so sweet in her little lavender dress with her chubby hands full of half-wilted daffodils! I do not want a picture enough, to go upstairs, take a picture of my flowers, load them onto the computer, and then attatch it here, so you shall just have to imagine what a beauty it must have been- a whole quart canning jar bursting with peach blossoms, flowering quince, forsythia, daffodils, narcissus, white and purple violets, and the ever amazingly fragrant meadowseet. Well! Leah, my much-enduring sister, :) has gone up for me to take a picture so here it is! I was thinking once again how wonderful my Lord is to give me such flowers. I have always dreamed of the day when my husband will pick me a bouquet, but isn't it amazing that God actually created flowers just for my enjoyment? That is something an earthly husband will never quite be able to do! :)

Aren't they purty?

I see that Sarah's post raked in alot of comments! Some radio stations have pledge-drives in the spring- I think this blog needs a comment-drive! :) We should just have a post that says, "Leave a comment" and see where it gets us! (I'm half-way kidding!) Or maybe I just need to learn to love iTunes? Anyway, all you picture-people, enjoy Leah's heroic attempt to take a picture with an evil-minded camera! :) -Rachel

American Dream

Hey Guys! I decided to do this tag, because I thought it would be fun. I'm using Matthew's iPod, so I skipped ones that either I didn't know, or wouldn't have put on my playlist. Some of the answers are funny, some don't make much sense, and some are very random.:)


The iPod Playlist Shuffle Tag:

Put your iPod or iTunes on shuffle and write the name of the song as the answer to the question.

If someone says, "This is okay", you say: Lose My Soul

What would best describe your personality: Agnus Dei (I guess I dissin' ya'll in Latin;)

What do you like in a guy/girl: Fingerprints of God (Very true)

What is your life's purpose: By Your Side

What is your motto: Something Crazy (This one couldn't be better said:)

What do your friend's think of you: Free to be Me

What do you think about very often: Jesus, take the Wheel ( I don't think about this enough)

What is 2+2? Stained Glass Masquerade

What do you think of your best friend? The Great Adventure

What do you think of a person you like? I Will Not Be Moved (sounds sorta stiff)

What is your life story: By His Wounds

What do you want to be when you grow up? Riverdance (Ha, ha!! :)

What do you think when you see a person you like? Beauty will Rise

What do your parents think of you: The Song of the Cebu (I certainly hope not:)

What will you dance to at your wedding?: Be Unto Your Name (Interesting music, maybe we'll do a clog dance)

What will they play at your funeral? Revelation (Live)

What is your hobby/interests?: Lead Me to the Cross

What is your biggest secret? I Will Always be True

What do you think of your friends? I'm Letting Go

What's the worst thing that could happen? To Life

How will you die? Declaration of Dependence ( Wow! I must die from trying to do something by myself, and not heeding wise advice)

What's the one thing you regret? My Chains are Gone (Yeah, I'd always loved those chains)

What makes you laugh? How You Live (Turn up the Music)

What makes you cry? The Dream (Fiddler on the Roof)- It is a little disturbing ;)

Will you ever get married? I Will Not be Moved

What scares you the most? Alrightokuhhuhamen (Some Indian shouting that would scare me, I guess!:)

Does anyone like you? If I Were a Rich Man ( he,he!:)

If you could go back in time, what would you change? Legend of McBride

What hurts right now? Running Just to Catch Myself ( I can't stop!)

What do you most often exclaim? Help is on the way!!!

Where is a paradise? In the Light

What did you first say as a baby? Cartoons (Now I wasn't THAT hooked on the T.V.:)

If you had a pet, what would you name it? Got to B Tru (Maybe if it was a Rottweiler)

What is your favorite sight to see? East to West

What makes you gag? Draw Me Nearer

What are you best at? Miracle of the Moment

If you wrote a book, what would you call it? Magnificnet Obsession

What did you wish for last? Live out Loud

What would your superhero name be? Does Anybody Hear Her (Maybe I'd have a power that made me silent?)

How soon will this be over: In Christ Alone

Where are you sitting? You Are Being Loved

What do you most dislike? Somewhere in the Middle

What do you most love? Bring it On

What do you not care about? Give Me Your Eyes ( Yeah, you don't have to do that)

What is your secret name: Cinderella (Man! It's not secret anymore!)

What will you post this as? American Dream

-Sarah

Ennui- otherwise known as months of rain

Hello! How is everyone? I am doing well, but excessively tired of all this rain. Some mornings I wake up wondering if our home is just an island in a mucky sea of puddles! Very dull indeed. Okay! So, I have been reading "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens. Something I have noticed about his writing, and the writing of other great British authors like C.S. Lewis, is how well they can describe characters in very few words. I have been continually amused throughout the book by the way Dickens described various peculiarities in people- like Mr. Wemmick, who is said to have "a mouth that looked like a post-box" and from then on when speaking of it, he would say, "by now I could have posted an entire package in Mr. Wemmick's box" or something like that. It just amuses me. I consider it a mark of a fine author when they can make you form an exact picture in your mind of someone's build, or mouth, or clothes, or anything else without ever using words commonly associated with the object. That is something that I am not particularly wonderful at in my own writing. Another thing I have observed, is how you can turn your reader's mind to either like or dislike a person, merely by the way you describe them. Take anyone from a picture for example. I am sure that you could write two descriptions of them that equally represented the person: one favorable, and the other not. Well, this is not a very interesting post, and I have to do school! -Rachel

I Can't Even Imagine

I rediscovered how much I love journals today! I was writing in my journal and then flipped back through some of the pages from last year. I was struck over and over by how God has worked in my life, and changed me! (Not just last year, but continually!) Sometimes we can get bogged down in our trials and can't see the forest for the trees. I know that at times, I think: "I am no farther along in His kingdom than I was as a 12 year old!" and yet, in my journal is proof of His mighty hand in my personal life. He was wrought great changes in my life, He has tried the mettle of my heart, and helped me stay faithful to Him, He has blessed me again and again by working things out when I thought that surely it was the end of the world! ;) He is so great!
I was impressed once again to remember that I am merely a player in the best drama in history! And that being said, all will be worked out impressively and perfectly if I could remember to just act the part written for me to play! When I try to improvise....it doesn't work! I have a whole guide-book; a letter written to me to tell me how to walk through this life, and it reminds me constantly that I must trust to the Master to craft my story!



(Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.")

(Psalm 37:5-6 "Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.")

Those are just a couple of the verses that show me over and over, time and again that the One in whom I place my trust is the only One worth having! I will commit my way to Him, and He shall continue to put into place His plan. I'll keep on journaling, and who knows what my God may have done in my life by this time next year? Or the next? Certainly, in my wildest imaginations, I shan't be able to guess how marvelous it really will be! -Rachel

"Don't Lollygag!" (That's one too!) (doddling)

Hey~ I don't know about you guys, but one thing I love about different cultures, countries, and people, are the things they say! In my family, we are constantly using various sayings that would sound pretty strange to our own countryman, much less a foreigner. So below, are first, some strange things we say in our family, and then, things that I've heard some English people say in movies- (they caught my fancy)

Jack-bo-diddly: This is something that expresses the same idea as slim pickin's. Basically, when used in a sentence like, "There is Jack-bo-diddly growing out in the garden" that means: "nothing is growing out there." Chiefly used by Mama

Fiddlesticks! : An expression used when something goes wrong, to express irritation-"Blast!" "Wretch!" and "For Pity's sake!" are frequently used in addition.

You Can Teach a Monkey To Behave! : This is used when a young child is misbehaving, and someone says, "Aren't they too young to know what you're saying?" :) A pet-child-training-word in its second generation.

"If I don't see you in the future, I'll see you in the pasture!" : Need I explain? This is an amusing way of saying goodbye- put into use by one of the laundry fairies. (If you do not know who he is, click on the label and read.)

"Don't be a little peacock!": Of course, this is used when reprimanding vain little girls! :)

"Goodness-me-in-the-morning-john-henry!": A conglomeration of words meaning, "Oh my goodness!" same meaning as "Oh my stars and stockings!" or "My sainted Aunt Fanny!"

"For Pete's Sake!": same meaning as "Oh for Heaven's sake!", etc.

"Ding-dong": A term used in affiliation with a foolhardy person. Example: "They were just being a little ding-dong!" (No clue how that started! :)

"He was a little firecracker": a term used to describe a feisty person

Okay! Those were a few of our family's terms. Now the English ones! (I often use a few of these :)

"Put to the blush": Meaning: embarassed, ashamed, etc.

"Fair dinkum dolly":This is used when you are trying to say, "Everything is fine or great!"

"Constitutional": a walk

"Badly done!": A reprimand, very useful! It is general, and does not sound petty like, "You're mean!" or "That was rude!" you can simply say, "Badly done!"

Okay! That's all! Hope it was entertaining! -Rachel and Mama

Qjduicsl (Bless you!)

Made you look! :)
Here is a question: What do Sarah, Matthew, and I do with twelve young "childrens" in the house, while it rains outside, two dogs run in and up (one who keeps having an upset stomach) and the kids bounce all over (4 very energetic boys) and the moms are gone grocery shopping? I am wondering.....at times like this I begin to think of the Brown children in Nurse Matilda, or Jane and Michael Banks, or the Vontrapp Children with poor Maria. (And yes... frogs will be a part of today. Several of the kids spent a good part of the afternoon catching tadpoles. Actually, Anna was cleaning out the tadpole bowl over the pans of brownies on the counter....we didn't die yet.)
There are many ways it could go...I don't like to think of some of them. But we will press forward and assume the best. We could always send them outside to take showers in the rain? Or....pretend we worked in a brick factory and make squares of the abundant mud...or not.
Anyway, we'll hope and pray for the best, and I'm glad that moms can go out together without any children. The joys and amusements of two large families living in one large house!
With Slightly Great Trepidation,
Rachel (Agreed upon by Sarah and Matthew who witness my hands typing this.)

When Once I Catch The All-Illusive "Someday"

I thought that I (Rachel) would do a post about something that is not about our daily life. So, to entertain you, I thought that I'd tell you some of the traditions I am going to start, or continue with my family, once I am married. (Of course, if my husband agrees! :)

Name each and every house I live in- There is something so very quaint in naming houses! Who can resist being intrigued by the name "Gusty Gables" or "Brookdale" or "Allencroft"? So, each house I live in will have a name, and I shall refer to it by that name when speaking of home. We have not yet named our land or house. But I am determined to do it with my own someday. Old-fashioned? Yes. But I am an old-fashioned person!

Make sugar cookies for each season- Mama has instilled in us a great love for the many times we have made fall, spring, summer, or Christmas sugar cookies. We have so many cookie-cutters in every imaginable shape!

Read to my children- I greatly look forward to reading real books to my children! I can just imagine us all sitting by the fireside, several rosy children at my feet and a deliciously fat baby in my lap as I read them "The Little Princess" or "The Hobbit" or tell them a story I have made up! I am convinced that children will learn to listen to and enjoy whatever you read to them, as long as it is made interesting by changing your voice for each character, etc. I read Gracie (3 years old) chapter books all the time!

Sing all the time- This shouldn't be hard. I always do it naturally, but I want to teach my children to do it also!

Have frequent tea-times, and always have something in the pantry to have with the tea!- This shouldn't be hard either! I have lots of china I have collected!

Taking walks, and having picnics spontaneously- Is it really that stressful and difficult to throw the lunch in a basket and run out into the sunshine? I think not!

So anyway! These are just ideas I have had over the last year or two! Hope somebody enjoys reading about them! -Rachel

A Riddling Post

Hello! This is a post with pictures! Hooray for all those who've been wanting more pictures on our blog!;) Anyhow, I thought I'd take pictures of the progress on my riddle book. But first here's the part in Emma that inspired me to make this:

".....And the only literary pursuit which engaged Harriet at present, the only mental provision she was making for the evening of life, was the collecting and transcribing all the riddles of every sort that she could meet with, into a thin quarto of hot-pressed paper, made up by her friend, and ornamented with ciphers and trophies.

In this age of literature, such collections on a very grand scale are not uncommon. Miss Nash, head-teacher at Mrs. Goddard's, had written out at least three-hundred; and Harriet, who had taken the first hint of it from her, hoped, with Miss Woodhouse's help, to get a great many more. Emma assisted with her invention, memory and taste; and as Harriet wrote a very pretty hand, it was likely to be an arrangement of the first order, in form as well as quantity.

Mr. Woodhouse was almost as much interested in the business as the girls, and tried very often to recollect something worth their putting in. "So many clever riddles as there used to be when he was young- he wondered he could not remember them! but he hoped he should in time." And it always ended in "Kitty, a fair but frozen maid."

So there you have it! Alright, when I would sit down to add to my riddle book the first thing I did was to take a full 8 1/2" x 11 " sheet of textured paper and cut it so it was a square:

Then I figured out which riddles I wanted to use on the page:

Next came the fun part: Designing the page! :) I had a lot of different styles and themes, and I liked to incorporate little old-fashioned clips from the Victorian Trading Post magazine, sometimes.

Then I would finish pasting on the pieces and write down the riddles!

I thought this looked a little plain(especially on the corners) so I did a little more with it..

And "Voila!" A finished page of my book!

Sorry that these pictures aren't the best!

Here are pictures of the other pages:

So there you have it!! I hope ya'll enjoyed this post!Oh, by the way, so far I have about 35-40 riddles in there, and I'm still going!! But I'm sure I won't get half as many as Harriet!:)

-Sarah

Revealing a Springtime Masterpiece! ;)

Hey guys! How are you this morning? I am well. I finally shook off this horrid cold I had had for a long time. I think it might have been allergies. Which leads me to the next part of this post. Ahem-ahem-ahem, it is my pleasure and amusement to present a slapped-together work entitled: "It Is In The Air" So without further ado....

"It is in The Air"

By Me

This is that special time of year

When people far and people near

Will feel quite calm and free of care

And say that "Love is in the air".

"Love", I think, there may well be,

But it has passed quite over me!

Love never makes her stricken wheeze,

And mine keeps comp'ny with a sneeze!

My nose is stuffed, my eyes are red,

If I cough more I'll lose my head!

If "Love" is there, it's surely stallin'

But in its place is nasty pollen!

Okay. So maybe slightly cheesy, but it amused me! :) I wrote it for our Girls' Gazette.

So, for a quick update on my authoring...the test families have almost all read my book and answered my questions. As soon as that is done, I shall make corrections, and then look for a publisher! I'm really excited about how the Lord is bringing this together, but I would appreciate your prayer concerning where to get my book published. I know self-publishing is an option but you have to front the money for that, whereas in traditional publishing, they pay you. You know? I also have a vision to publish it in a Christian company, and one that publishes books of good report. No sappy romance novels for me thankyou! :)

Most of you know that my vision for writing is not to become famous. (Not like I think I would or anything!) I am not doing this for a "career" or for my own glory. I have a vision to write books for families and girls that are wholesome, pure-hearted, written from a Biblical world-view, but are also amusing. The Elsie Dinsmore books didn't quite cut it for me as a youngun' because I was constantly feeling irritated by her refusal to say she didn't scribble in the book, because it would be tattling or something equally...excessive. (The stories were okay though)

Okay. So just a rambling writing post! Gotta go do the dishes! -Rach

Several Things. Just Come Read Them.

Hey guys! I had such fun doing the last post! Who would have thought that I'd be correct on most of the ones! (At least, the people that answered!) We may have to change our background for Mr. Alexander who feels he cannot be caught reading a blog decked out in flowers! ;)
Thanks for telling me if I was right or not! I really just guessed random things about each person, though for a couple like Anna's, it was an educated guess. (She takes such great pictures)
Okay. So. Does anyone, at some point, want to read the plot of my mystery novel I had been writing? I am under a solemn oath to finish it for Sarah, Daniel, and Alaina, but haven't picked it back up.
Yesterday after church, the new time got the better of us, and three families stayed till 7:00!! Gasp! We had alot of fun though! We did some Civil War dances, and the Virginia Reel. (All without music mind you!) I am afraid it was more like gallumphing than dancing!
Okay. So here is the verse the Lord showed me last night to take to heart for the week:

Psalm 27:13-14 " I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord!"

I just loved the victorious sound of those words, and the promise that goes with them. Isn't that what we all want? For Jesus to strengthen our hearts? That is what I want. And that is what my Lord has promised me! -Rachel

See If You're On This List! :)

Hey guys! This is Rachel. I bored myself almost to death this morning with that award post. Sounded so arrogant to do a whole post on that. So now I'm going to do something fun. I will guess one thing about each of our followers, and you each leave a comment and tell me if I'm right! :)

Leanna: You have never been to the West Coast
Micah: You don't like lemons or lemonade
Nana: Your first thought on seeing our blog was, "These girls are strange"
Jo March: You like to get dressed in a costume and wander about in the woods
Merriette: You often get writer's cramp
Ashley: You have never worn rubber boots under a hoopskirt
Brooke: You are more likely to read a blog post if it has an interesting title
Graham Donahue: You wish you knew how to play the banjo
Melissa Ozee: You don't think the color pink looks good on you
Miss Zara: You would rather watch a movie than read a book
The Butler Girls: You two would like to switch eye color
Maddie: You don't like the name "Eudora" ;)
Shaina: You sing in the shower
Anna: You take pictures with your camera every day
Jessica: You don't like leaving comments on blogs
Abigail: You would rather have a black horse than any cute donkey ;)
Hannah: You've never worn checkered converse shoes for 2 hours
Elizabeth: You would rather dance than sing
Elisa Abele: If you could play guitar or flute, you'd choose guitar
Oliver: You never did like the ducks you all released
Katie: If you were given a million dollars, you'd spend a bit to buy a mustang
Matthew: You were slightly sad about leaving your beach house
The King's Daughter: You would kill me if I named by daughter "Eileen" even though it's a pretty way to spell it
Elliott: You follow some blogs, but don't read them often
Morgan: You have held Peace Mary Adele Fuhrmann 3 times since going up there
Daniel: You like sharp things ;)
Bailey Rose: You would like to have a twin
Alaina: If you had to go bungee jumping or on the Griffin at Busch Gardens, you'd choose the Griffin.

Okay! There you go! Leave us a comment and tell us whether I was right or not! (I don't know what possessed me to do that! :) -Rachel

A Tag and Award, and Generalness

Hey guys! We were awarded two different things yesterday. The first, is sort of more of a tag. We have to tell you why we started our blog. That should be fairly easy I think! :) There wasn't any particular reason that we did start a blog, unless it was to keep family and friends updated on our busy life! I do think it was Sarah's idea though, or maybe Daniel's? As you can see, it was no earth-shattering decision. We asked Dad, and he said that as long as we didn't put pictures of ourselves on here for just anybody to see, that he was fine with it. From the beginning though, we have had a strong vision of the sort of things we want to post about: uplifting and amusing things that happen in our life, and that uphold our beliefs.

Which leads us to our next award. We were awarded by Merriette. Thanks! This is the making-lemonade out of lemons award, given to those who practice looking on the brightside of things, and for people whose blog reflects that mindset. Now we award: Abigail, Anna, The Butler Girls, Leanna Ozee, (your sisters have already been awarded so I choose you!) and...well, Matthew, if you want it, take it, and ignore the pink stripe! :D

There you go everyone! It's moving day! By tonight this home will now be the H.Q. of three blogs! (Welcome home Oldest of Many! :) -Rachel and Sarah

My Lover

I have a lover. He is the most amazing man in the universe! My lover is ten times more of a gentleman than Mr. Knightley. He sends me gifts every day. He has written me dozens of loveletters. My lover's voice could cause mountains to shake with it's awesomeness. He is famous- most everyone has heard His name in some way or another, though some speak it lightly and try to degrade it. My lover is an artist, a farmer, a fisherman, a Prince. My lover is wiser than any man has ever been. And He is crazy about me- He has had His eye on my heart since before I was even born. He constantly seeks to win my heart, and He has. He writes me songs, and stories, and wishes to be with me whenever and wherever. He is never too busy to talk with me. In fact, He is delighted when I converse with Him about the simplest thing. He is rich, owning everything He lays eyes on. He is building me a mansion on a street paved of gold. His eyes gaze on me with perfect joy. He is the ultimate hero, gentleman, knight... you name it, He's better than anyone! He is more talented than any Olympian, He is more humble than any person on the face of the earth. He loves to hear me speak of Him to others. He has claim to more glory than any person on the earth. He loves me to death. Literally. I have ignored Him unintentionally sometimes, and yet, when I come back around to looking for my lover, I find He has been at my elbow the entire time. He would love me if I never spoke to Him. He sends me flowers, He paints me pictures, He sings me songs. There is no man greater than my lover. He could comman respect from President Obama, and any man throughout history if He had wanted. But no. My lover is tender-hearted, merciful. He will not force anyone to seek Him. He calls them, always, but never commands them to acknowledge His greatness. At least, not yet.
He is interested in every single detail of my life. He carries the lightest burdens for me, so that I need not be pained, or heavy-laden. He is my Prince! More lion-hearted than King Richard, wiser than Solomon, richer than Bill Gates, and He has chosen me! Can you imagine that? And to make sure that I could always live with him, forever, He gave His glorious life, for me.
I don't think I need to explain who my lover is, but I'll tell you anyway: JESUS CHRIST!!!
And even when my earthly husband appears, I don't think I could have a better lover than the One who has chosen me for all time! -Rachel

Our Wery First Award! :)

Hello! Real quickly, I just wanted to post an award we just won for correctly answering where select movie quotes were from, and who quoted them over at Scraps From My Workbasket. I really didn't expect that we'd win, since we didn't know several, but I guess two heads are better than one in the end of it all! :) -Rachel

Recipe For Foccacia Bread

Hey guys! I was making foccacia bread yesterday, and I thought I'd share the recipe with you guys! (I don't know if anyone pays attention to recipes anyway, but I'll try this time! ;)
Okay. So here is the basic recipe:

Rachel's Focaccia (foe-cotch-a) Bread Recipe:
4 1/2 tsp. yeast
4 cups warm water
4 tsp. natural cane sugar
5 tbs. plus 1 tsp. olive oil
4 tsp. sea salt
8-10 cups white-wheat flour
By the way, this makes enough focaccia bread that our family of 11 ate it for dinner last night with left-overs, and there is still a pan for lunch with my grandparents today. If you are a small family, just cut the recipe in half or so! :)

Okay. So I started by grinding out white spring wheat in our Whisper Mill. There's nothing like freshly ground wheat!

Then I combined the yeast and the sugar in one cup of the warm water. I let this proof for about 5 minutes. Think it's puffy enough? :)

I added the yeast mixture, along to the remaining water, oil, and salt in our mixer. Then I slowly added the flour until it formed a nice ball of dough. At this point I turned it out on the floured counter, and kneaded it till it was... well as we say, "smooth as a baby's bottom". :) I made a nice, smooth ball and put it in a greased bowl to rise on the warm front porch for an hour or so. Meanwhile, I crammed some more of Ivanhoe. (Still trying to finish it! :)

When the dough is done rising, you grease two pizza pans, and dust them with cornmeal. I didn't have any, so I used flour. It works the same way.

Here is the dough after it has risen!

You then divide the dough in half, and roll each piece out to roughly the size of your pan. Plop that in the pans, and cover it. Let rise again for about 1/2 hour or so. After that is done, comes the fun part! You get to poke a bunch of holes all over the top and dimple it. Brush the surface with olive oil.

Here's where I go off the recipe: I like making a mixture of dried herbs to go on the top. So I just grab whatever is in the cabinet, and make up a mixture that is spicy and tasty enough to suit Daniel and Dad! :) I think I used basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, onion powder, and garlic powder this time. Sprinkle whatever you decide to use on the top.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

So here it is when I took it out of the oven!

And here is a piece after it is cut! This has become a favorite recipe in our family! Hope you enjoy it! :) -Rachel

When I Consider The Heavens

I am often overwhelmed when I think of the blessing we have, in being made in the image of God. The Lord created so many amazing things, and yet only we are made in His image. Isn't that wonderful? The reason that thought came into my head, is because I was thinking of what a joy it is to be able to sing. I thought about the birds. They can sing alright! They can sing better than I, and yet, they can't enjoy it in the same way I can! A bird could not experience the same feeling that I do when I sing the last verse of "In Christ Alone":

"No guilt in life,

No fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me!

From life's first cry,

To final death

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell,

No scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand,

Till He returns, or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

Birds sing, because that is nearly the only noise they can make. I sing, because it gives me pleasure, and it is a way I can praise my Creator. And you know what? I think Jesus smiles when he sees me enjoying those sorts of things. I mean, singing is not necessary. He could just have easily left out whatever part of me it is that can sing. Smelling and tasting is not necessary. But He wanted me to be able to eat and enjoy His wonderful fruits and vegetables. Even seeing colors is not strictly necessary. I mean, couldn't God have just made the sky gray. And the trees black. And me a faded shade of brown. And the grass charcoal? But our Lord and Master is so awesome and tender and considerate, that He decided to paint the sky a glorious blue, and the grass an emerald green, and me several different colors! :) And God didn't stop there! He invented iridescent feathers on birds, so that everything would coordinate nicely! :) Bluebirds aren't really blue you know, but who can resist smiling when you see one swoop down like a shred of sky onto the lawn? I can't.

I guess this is sort of a strange post, with me digressing on rather small things, but....I do feel that it is dreadfully important to not take these small things for granted. I know, that one of my biggest fears would be to go blind. So I make up for that by absorbing and praising God for each and every shred of color I see! ;) But really, even though it sounds terribly trivial and trite, I see the wisdom in that old saying "take time to smell the roses". Or at least, to recognize the beauty of the dew on the grass, or the way the buttercup petals look like fans mined out of gold! -Rach

A Piece of Advice

"Always- no,no,- Never, stick a piece of tape on your tongue!!"

I'm not kidding! Two times recently, I've been wrapping a box up or taping something up and stuck a little piece of Scotch tape on my tongue to hold it there, and ripped it off along with a flap of skin from my tongue!!!
Wow... That was really random!:) It's just that it happened today and I thought I'd share my random injuries!
-The Slightly Crazy,
Sarah

The Name

Hey guys! I just started a really great book by Franklin Graham called "The Name". It attempts to explain the great and awesome power behind the name of Jesus Christ. One part I especially liked in the opening chapter reminded us that (roughly) "when someone uses His name to curse, no one thinks twice about it, but when it is used in a respectful, reverent way, you suddenly offend many." One true story he told brought tears to my eyes, as it illustrated what the Lord has done for us all.
Here it is roughly: "In a county in the middle east, there were two boys. One day, they got into a heated arugument while on a rocky hillside, and Abdul pushed Mohammed down the mountain, accidently killing him. Of course, he was horrified that he had killed his best friend, and scared, for in his culture, the rule still was "A life for a life". Abdul ran to the first tent he saw and threw himself down beside it, grabbing the tent peg. In that culture, if you held onto the peg of a tent, the person inside would offer you protection. In response to Abdul's cries, an old, respected man came to the door of the tent, and told the boy to go inside. He swore he would protect him. A few moments later some men who had witnessed the murder ran up, demanding that Abdul be brought outside and punished by being put to death. The old man stood firmly in the doorway and told them, "I have promised to protect this boy."
"But he's a murderer!" one man cried.
"Nevertheless, I have sworn that I will protect him. If you want the boy, you must come past me first!"
The men looked at eachother. "Do you know who he killed?"
The man shook his head.
One of the witnesses said in a very somber voice, "The boy you now protect killed your one and only son. You are harboring and protecting the murderer that killed your only child!"
The old man's face went pale. He set his mouth determinedly and said, looking steadily at the men, "It would do me no good to give him up to you to be killed. I will adopt this boy. He shall live with me in my tent, and be my son. When I die, he shall inherit all I have."

Isn't that amazing? It really made me look at God's love for us in a different light: My despicable sin cause Christ to have to die on the cross in order for me to be with Him in Heaven. My flesh and the flesh of each of us, killed the most noble, courageous, perfect hero of all time. He could have looked at my miserable sin and condemned me. Instead, he layed down his life for me, for He loved me so much. And then, God, having such mercy, looked at the sacrifice His son had made, and chose to adopt me, that I may have a place in His home beside Jesus, who was so powerful that no evil could hold him in the grave. Isn't that amazing? I'm afraid I sometimes take the whole ingenious plan for granted, and never stop to think of what an ironic thing it really was! Anyway, hope that made someone think, and, though I am only part-way through the book, I suggest you read it! -Rachel

Now It Has To Be Underland??? Creeps!

Okay. I may make some people mad here. But I have a big question, that has been stewing around in my mind for about a week: Wasn't the Disney Alice In Wonderland weird enough?
I am plagued by dozy, smoky, creepy catipillars and grinning cats that won't go away when I think of that movie. Also those very strange twins "tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum"
I met those creeps at Disneyland as an innocent 9 year old. They stole our hats. They ran around and wouldn't give it back. They demanded a hug from Sarah. They are crazy.
Then, wasn't that pinch-faced, flamingo-wielding queen of hearts angry enough in the cartoon version? For pity's sake! Now they make her a cross between a clown and a dwarf! And, nothing can displace the really strange fact that you are stuck in a stinkin' dream, that is creepier than any of your nightmares you've ever had. The confusing thing, is that you would willingly get stuck in someone else's nightmare for 2 hours! That you'd pay money to get scared out of your wits by real looking mad-hatters, and cats, and.... oh yeah! What is up with that white rabbit? During the whole movie I had an urgent desire to pick him up by his ugly ears and make him wait for whatever he was in a hurry for. He must have been rabid, because he had pink eyes! Anyway! That is my opinion of the whole "Alice In Wonderland" thing. And one last thing, why did the new version have to make Alice kill the "jabberwocky" from the poem? I can't even understand the words in the poem! How can anyone kill something that no one is sure what it is?
Creeps. -Rachel

`Ello! I'm Nurse Rachel. Me job is Sanitizing an' all that!

Oh my stars and stockings! Yesterday I had the opportunity of bringing sunshine indoors when there was none outdoors. Here's what happened: we have a veritable sick-house this weekend with Gracie down with a fever for the third day, Daniel with an unsettled stomach, and the rest of us in various stages of consumption. ;) (Just kidding, we just have coughs) So. Mama had been up all night with Gracie who was terribly restless, and had to go grocery shopping for the better part of the day. The girls had been doing deep-cleaning, which as most of you know, ends up with the house looking worse than it did before in most cases. I had been occupied all day with auditing all Dad's contracts, (office work on a rainy day- not a good combination :) and tag-teaming with Sarah on sitting with poor little Gracie. It was raining and terribly muddy, and the younger kids couldn't go out to play. Sound depressing? Yep. I was feeling rather as if I lived in a hospital ward, only, a very cluttery one. But instead of being down in the mouth, the Lord gave me an idea: why couldn't I make sunshine? So. Without further ado, Leah and I bleached every blessed surface of the house, including salt and pepper shakers, backs of chairs, and appliance buttons, to give us a fresh start. Then, we cleaned up the house. I turned on all the lights. I started laundry. I sent the younger ones outside to stomp in puddles. I sat with Gracie on the porch to give her a breath of fresh air. I told she and Abby a "Luke and Liza" story, which the latter had been begging for for days... we all worked together to make the house a pleasant place.
The fresh air revived Gracie enough that she even asked to stomp in puddles too! So we did. Then, with everyone in a much better humor, Mama came home, and we restocked our barren wasteland of a pantry. Anyway, although this was probably not the most interesting post ever, I thought I'd just tell you how we rescued ourselves from the fate of spending the evening in a dim, dusty, sick-house. So, although it is raining today for the third day in a row, even though there are puddles enough to make me dream that a dolphin was stranded in our front yard, even though Gracie is still sick and we are expecting at least Abby to fall prey to the germ, a merry heart truly doeth good like medicine. -Rachel

I Associate With Miss Righty

Hullo Everybody! How are you all? We are well...sort of. We aren't sure if we can host church this week because some of the younger ones fell prey to a sort of fever/cough thing yesterday. But it is too early to tell if we shall be well by then. I hope so! I love hosting church! So, how is everyone loving this weather? I do pity you poor Northerners (Yankees ;) who still have snow! I am sitting in the office typing this with the door wide open. Yesterday we planted our spring garden! Yay! Glad to have that over with! Oh! Do you remember that camp we went to in the fall? Well, yesterday we got the D.V.D. from the week! (Actually 3!) It is alot of fun to watch everything we did all over again!
So. I just finished a full day of school-work and working as office manager. I had quite an "officy job" today too: auditing contracts. Yep. So for anyone who is wondering, here is how it goes: I go through each contract and total the man hours, then the amount of each material we used, (mulch, plants, herbicides and pesticides, fertilizers, seed, etc.) and total each of those things up. Then I leave it for Dad, who will show me (or do it himself) how to check the contract and see if we are making a good profit, and then we will adjust accordingly, print off a new contract, and then we are back in business!
(Mama just came back from sending my books off to test families!) Sorry you guys, we've been really busy!
I have been given something rather in the spirit of a death-sentence. I suppose none of you have ever felt the sinking feeling when a judge tells you that you have 24 hours to live? Neither have I. But...I have been told, by my teacher, my principle, my head, that I must... *quivering lips* finish the last 3 booklets of my algebra by June 11. AAAAAAAHHH!!! I'm panicking! (Just kidding. It isn't that bad. I do promise to dance a jig on its head when I am done!) I will be so heartily glad to be done with that most vile, evil, sorry excuse for academics! ;)
I told Daniel recently, that all my everything goes into the right side of my brain. I can easily imagine what the poor left side of my brain must look like.....the right side is swollen to a very strange proportion, squashing poor little leftie. The left side is shrivelled and dry like an old leaf, or a rotten pecan.... but if Mr. Lefty would be as pleasant and easy-going and interesting as the cosmopolitan Miss Righty, than, I'd pay him mind too. But Mr. Lefty insists on picking crumbs of dusty, ancient, dull, hideously tangled subjects to satisfy his miserable existance, and I leave him alone when at all possible. In fact, I think that it is probably a good thing that I do some math and science, for otherwise, I would have to go around with earplugs in, lest some well meaning person ask me what 2x2 is; for then, shrivelled, old Mr. Lefty would suddenly swell, and send out a very quick answer (like a person being awakened in church) and then I'd say, "2x2 is 5!" very loudly and blush a very deep shade of red. Oh well.
Left-brained things are not my forte. Why is it that people are always considered clever when they can do things easily like 7 digit math problems in their heads, and know off the cuff what the Cel. version of the temperature in Farhenheit is? I'm afraid not many people care how quickly I can make a pretty good poem about the awfullness of algebra.! ;)
But all's well that ends well, and, as someone said, (I can't remember who! :) in answer to a different question (but it can be applied nicely) "There's somes as is and somes as isn't!"

-Rachel

P.S. Just to let those of you who are interested know, we have named the goat kids!!!
The girl is Lizzie (after you-know-who) and the boy is Chocolate Chip (Chip for short:)
I felt sorry for those poor little animals goin' around for a week without a name to their person ;).
-Sarah

A Poem In Sympathy With Other Gardeners

"Made Up While Planting The Garden"

By Rachel

Oh I'm marking out the rows

With my heels and with my toes,

It'll be a garden of prodigious size,

But I must forget I'm treading

In manure Dad's been spreading,

For I'm stamping down and squishing old cow pies.

Oh it's good for its nutrition,

I've no doubt of that position,

But the mucky brown just doesn't smell like dirt,

So I try to think of seeds,

But I just envision weeds,

And I breathe with nose quite under my own shirt.

Oh they call it "Garden Gold"

"Your increase is double-fold!"

And a host of other dubious things beside,

But I still am stomping here,

With aroma rather queer,

And if I said "I love it!", I'd have lied!

In Which We Open A Boarding House

This spring weather is not good for me! ;) I find myself in a very lackadaisical mood, little prone to turn to anything productive, and perfectly content to sit out in the bright sun or wander on a little walk. Indeed, I'd turn into the "Wandering Jew" (only I'm a Christian) if I wasn't quite so scared of the dogs at the next farm over! :) They are awful beasties! Which leads me to my next rambling thought: Licorice, our blasted dog ate a whole chicken breast off the counter, leaving us with almost-not-enough for dinner! If dogs didn't have such short memories, I would have cuffed her on the head next time she came inside! ;)
We are entering cleaning projects, because starting on the 19 or 20 of this month, our cousins, The Walkers are moving in with us temporarily. We are living together until they get a septic system and well, and can move their new mobile home onto this land, while they build their final house! Exciting forward motion! So, please pray that all the details will fall nicely into place. There will be 16 children and 5 adults, including Grandma June, so rather a full house! (12 kids under the age of 12 by the bye!) But I have, over and over seen God using our big house for exercising hospitality! Since moving in, we have had a family of 6, twice living with us for a week, then in the summer hosted a reunion with 4 different couples staying a week, The Laundry Fairies and 4 nieces and nephews for a few days, (twice) our attic used for 4 different family's storage, and hosting our homechurch of 100 or so all through the winter. (Among various other things) I love all the ministry we've been able to have! But the Walkers and our family would appreciate prayer for working out details and merging two hectic family-schedules into one home for 4-6 weeks! Thanky Kindly! -Rachel

Yet Another Tag. Ho-hum-bon-hommy

Hi Everybody! This is Rachel. I must be well-loved or something....this is like my 5th time being tagged with the same tag, so...even though everyone is probably tired of reading about books we'd love to live in, I must do my duty to Shaina, Hannah, Sarah, Graham, and Matthew, and do it! Here goes nothing!

Eight Books I'd Love To Live In:

1.Little Women

2.Anne of Green Gables

3.The Scarlet Pimpernel (Well. If I knew I wasn't in any danger. I'd stay home with Lady Blakeney and enjoy fancy parties! :)

4. Farmer Boy

5. To Have and To Hold (Scoot over Lady Jocelyn! Capt. Percy is MINE! ;) (He is an impeccably godly gentleman. A rarity these days! Excusing Daniel and Matthew and a select few others)

6. Hind's Feet On The High Places (Wouldn't we all love to go on a journey with the King Of Love?)

7. Pride and Prejudice (Though I'd be scared I'd be snubbed by Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley's sisters!)

8. Winnie-the-pooh (A.A. Milne was brilliant! Those books are so funny!!)

On anothher note, I am beginning to think I am rather a heartless wretch- I am reading "The Wide, Wide, World" which I have heard from everyone is heartbreakingly sad, and so far, half-way through the book, I am rather amused than sorrowful! Oh well. -Rachel

My Review of "Pride and Prejudice"

Hello Everyone!(My word, I always seem to start off that way!) Okay, so this past weekend I watched the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice for the first time. I absolutely loved it!!!

I thought it might be interesting to give my thoughts on each character. (Not every one, but the main ones)

Lizzy Bennett:

I thought that BBC did a great job casting Lizzy. She is very pretty, but not in that make-uppy way, she just has naturally pretty features. The way Jennifer Ehle did the job, was great and I believe it captured the attitude and character of the heroine perfectly.I love the relationship between Lizzy and Jane, because it is exactly the way that sisters are in the "real world" ! ;)

Lizzy's faults of being prejudice and sometimes prideful, are very noticeable, and I love how her character develops when she realizes how unfeeling she's been.

Jane Bennett:

Jane is described in the book as being the prettiest of all the Bennett girls, and in my opinion, this production didn't really count that in. (Lizzy is prettier, I think. Though, I know the casting directors picked her out on purpose) I've always loved this character, because she is an oldest sister, who tries to forget about her troubles in order to be encouraging and helpful to the rest of her family. You can tell that the character is a great friend for Lizzy, and her over-all attitude is meek and and she has cheerful countenance.

Mr. Bingley:

Where shall I start- Mr. Bingley is the perfect gentleman, though, he's easily influenced by those he looks up to. He's always friendly and jovial, and makes sure to look into the needs of others.

I think he and Jane make a great match, in the end!!

Mr. Darcy:

This young, English gentleman is very prideful and totally the opposite of Mr. Bingley at the beginning of the story. As the story progresses, he notices how repulsive his actions and attitude are. The last bit of the book, he tries to improve his outlook of everybody or everything, and repents of all his old self. Though he still has a bit of pride in him at the end, I believe that he and Lizzy are perfect for each other! And Colin Firth was the best man for the job, I think!:)

Well, I may do more later.... I don't know, but Anna is needing to get on her for her math, so I'd better be going! Please leave a comment on your opinions or thoughts of this movie!

Thanks for reading this!

-Sarah

Just Come Read This. (please?)

Hello! If you live in Va or NC, haven't these past few days been glorious? I feel quite spring-y, and I am extremely ready for flowers! I found a few pansies and wore them in my hair during church, but... like an analogy of how we feel about winter...they wilted. :) Some of my goals for this week are: keep working as Dad's office manager, WORK ON MY STINKIN' SCOTTISH DRESS, and read some of the nine books I am in the middle of! There you have it: Quite enough for one week besides school work and household things, don't you think? You may ask why I am in the middle of so many books? A simple answer: I love to read! The other answer? I kept losing the book I was in the middle of and so I'd start a new one! :)
The little goats are doing well- still name less! Please pray for Daniel this Tuesday (I think?) because he is addressing our county's G.O.P about Generation Joshua with another boy. They are the official speakers, so a bit nervous, also because Randy Forbes's wife might be there!
Do you ever imagine out conversations with yourself? I do. And I make the most witty and sparklings repartees, only to find myself in a similiar conversation with a real person, and make commonplace remarks about the weather, and Great Aunt Fanny's old milk cow! ;)
Well, hope you all have a great week! -Rachel

Goaties!

Hey Everbody! I was just gonna post some pics of the new baby goats! There is a boy and a girl(as Rachel said) and they're adorable!!! The boy got his longer hair from his dad and his "prettiness" from his mom, and the girl is black and tan on her face and legs and is black with a white splotch on her back!!

Do you like em? I sure do!! :) :)

Okay, well I've gotta go, but I just watched Pride and Prejudice last night and I absolutely loved it!!! Mr. Darcy and Lizzy are my favorite!

Gotta go!(matthew says hi)

-Sarah

The World's Youngest Grandmother!

Hey everybody! My nine year old sister Anna is the world's youngest grandmother! (Finally!)
Her La Mancha goat, Daisy Sofia, had twin kids! They were born about an hour ago! As of yet, we don't know whether they are bucklings or does... or both! We are just letting Daisy get used to them. She's being the perfect mother and licking both of them. One is a bit bigger than the other, and I'm guessing it's a male. Maryanna and I (a friend) were going out to feed her, and saw 3 goats in the pen! :) The principle people interested are both absent. (Sarah and Anna) so they were slightly outraged that after tarrying two weeks, Daisy had her kids without them!
Well, pictures will come soon! -Rachel

Can I Turn Him Into A Mr. Knightley? I Wonder.....

Yesterday my lovely grandmother saved my hide by lending me a sewing machine! Yay! *great big sigh of relief*! Now I can finally start sewing for real on my Scottish dress. Grandmama is a seamstress, and sews for local theatres, ballet studios, etc. She used to own the ballet studio that she sews at, and I took lessons there as a really little girl! Anyway, it is undoubtedly a handy thing to have a grandmother who can make wedding dresses, chinese dragon costumes, and reenacting clothes! ;) We were over her house for lunch yesterday. Nobody makes meatloaf like Grandmama! Here is a tradition that is in it's second generation at least: whenever the grandkids come over, you serve them vanilla bean icecream with chocolate syrup. That has been going on for so long (With Mama, Uncle Lon, and Uncle David, and now us) that I can remember the chocolate syrup coming out of a can! :)
All this to say, thank you Grandmama for lending me the machine! I have it up my sleeve, (if Daniel pays for the materials) to make him a period costume. I'm thinking one like Mr. Darcy's or Mr. Knightleys, because we already have the pattern for his size in that. I can just see him in a navy-blue or brown coat. Then he'd only need high-top boots and a top-hat to make the ideal "Gentleman From Virginia". Or change it to be "The Gentleman from The Colonies" to sound more British! ;) So I'm thinking I'll make him either that, or, if he insists, I think we may have one that is rather Pirate-y. I'm not sure.
I'm slightly frightened at the idea of one of those tailored coats.....hmmmm....well, we'll see how far my creative-streak takes me, and whether I get my nerve up!
We girls are comissioned by Mama to make our swim-suits from a pattern The King's Daughter made her's from this spring! It is really neat, because while very modest, it is also stylish! I'm excited, but wondering about the slippery material.....? Anyway, just some sewing ideas!

"A Duel"

"A Duel"

Long ago in a valley green,

Where a thriving hamlet once had been

Was a rubb-ly castle, hidden well

By maples tall, in a shady dell.

The penants, fluttery once, and gay,

Now hung in shreds- a faded gray;

The tower was crumbly, the dias leaked,

And in the dungeon the mouses squeaked.

Now, Squire Cliff and Baron Bim,

(Both plum full of peppery vim)

Engaged in a duel on the weedy lawn

As the edge of night gave way to dawn.

The Baron, (insulted) and the Squire (quite red

With anger) their stout hearts quivered with dread.

None wanted to fight, they dallied and stalled,

"3 Paces!" which words their courage dulled.

But neither would give it up as a joke-

"What we need s'for Bim (th'old Baron) to choke!"

The sun had climbed higher, now quite in the sky,

They drew swords and poised, "Hark! Where comes that cry?!?!"

Repeated! And from the dell came a maid,

With basket and blanket, their arms she stayed-

"Kind Squire! Good Baron! You mustn't fast!

Come, bury the hatchet, enjoy this repast!

Reluctant, but grateful, each laid down his arms,

Exploring instead, a beef-pasty's charms.

They kissed and made up o'er a cup o' darjeeling,

And surely there was quite a brotherly feeling.

And so the adage shall henceforth be,

"All's well that ends with a cup of tea!"

That poem, though not at all perfect in the sense of poetry, was made up by something Leah said while we were taking our "constitutional". (a walk- English wot-wot?)

All she said, in talking about Mama or something, was the last line of the poem. It struck my fancy, and I decided to make an overly-dramatic poem about two cowardly men. It worked out quite nicely, though not the best example of my poetry! -Rachel

How Are Riddles and Tea-Sets Connected?

They aren't. ;) Hello! Okay this will sorta be a catch-all sort of post. Rachel and I have had a lot of fun these past two days, searching for and making up rhyming riddles! Some of them are very ingenious, if we do say so ourselves.;) I think this collection of riddles will be a fun addition to my hope chest.

Now, the tea set right here is one that I am going to get very soon!!! Mom and Dad have started a tradition where when the girls in our family turn 13 they get a tea set. Well, on my 13th birthday, they told me that they had ordered a tea set for me. When it arrived the next week, I opened the case to find.... That almost every single piece was broken and shattered!! :0

That was very disappointing, but I knew we would replace it. After contacting the eBay store we'd bought it from, the lady said that she wasn't selling that pattern anymore, mainly because it didn't ship well!

After browsing a lot of websites looking for a different set, we finally found one that I liked and was within our price range. Well, at that time we were in the middle of building our house and our finances weren't in the best condition, so it had to get set on the back burner for a little while. (wow! I didn't mean to tell the whole story, but I might as well finish it:)

When all the busyness had died down some, I realized that my preferences had changed since I was 13. The set was more whimsical, and I thought that I would probably want a more formal one, that I could use in my future home.

So, we found the tea set (pictured above) and I really loved the pattern and size, and price of it!!! A couple of weeks ago our good friend was showing us this website called the English Tea Store.

And on it we found the exact pattern (Lydia) of the set I'd picked out and it was sold as a dinner set for 8 people! It includes dinner plates, dessert plates, salt&pepper shakers, platter, vegetable bowl, and soup saucer things, along with the whole tea set! So that is what we should be purchasing soon! I'm really excited, because it's been 2 1/2 years that I've been waiting.

Well, anyway, I hope ya'll weren't too, too, too, terribly bored by that, but I thought I should finish the story I started. So have any of you guys thought of any riddles that you know of?

I Give Full Permission For Sarah To Trump This

Hey guys! This is really short, and slightly random- you know what I am fascinated by right now, and that I'd almost give my liver to procure? Antique butter molds!!! They are all over Ebay, and for pretty good prices! I have always wanted to make butter, and I found one that has a strawberry and leaves on it, just like Caroline Ingalls! So, if you are looking for something to give me for my much-distant birthday.... ;) Sarah will probably do a post later! This was just really quick! :) -Rachel

By Abigail's Request

Hey! Here is the "Companion Post" to the one below. This is the topic Abigail chose for me to post about. Her question: How do you come up with the story lines for your books and stories? Do you have them made up before you start writing?

I have to tell you- there really is little method to my madness! Usually, the topics are suggested by something I've been randomly thinking: take A Mother For The Seasonings: I was doing dishes or something and thinking, "Wouldn't it be cool if there was a family of children who were all named after herbs?" And immediately, the characters in my story were born. (Oh! You test people, we ran out of ink, so I'll be a tad late sending you your copy! Sorry!)
For my mystery I am attempting to write...it is turning out rather tragically. I don't mean the story-line itself- I mean, I am no mystery writer! For pity's sake! Everyone likes this story the best, and I can't keep track of all the details myself!
For that story, I wrote out a story-line. The problem? I made the villain a man who was pretending to be a man who was pretending to be a man. Note to other authors: NEVER DO THAT TO YOURSELF!!!!!!! My head spins every time I try to pick it back up. But I have made a promise to Sarah to finish it!
So basically, I model my stories after real life usually. Things I know about, and love.
It also helps that I am constantly observing people. Ask anyone in my family- when I go to a concert, I spend half the time looking at the people around me. So when we come home I'll say to Sarah, "You know that girl with the red dress and shiny black shoes with the scarf around her neck and the white purse? She kept smiling at us." Or something of that sort. I am a fairly observant person. Therefore, before I had ever heard Tim Hawkins mention this fact, I had found out that when people are gossiping, they always say, "Bless her heart" immediately after as if that makes it okay.
Another fun thing I have done is look in the phone book when choosing names for a character. They have the best ones! Some I've pieced together (last names from one person, first from another) are: Raleigh McBride, Bardwolf Becker, (doesn't that sound like a banker?) Opal McCain, Katherine Durrant, etc. (Isn't the last one perfect for a beautiful heroine? Don't go and steal it! :)
Anyway, hope that satisfies you Miss Abigail! ;) -Rachel

By Leanna's Request

Hey guys! Leanna won our contest earlier this weekend, so she asked me to post about Scotland. As most of you know, I love that country! (Although I have small hopes of ever getting there! :)

She entreated me not to do any research though, so I have compiled a list of the to 10 reasons I love Scotland....



1. The Accent! I can think of no accent I would rather listen to! So eloquent and lilting! I think of Rashleigh Osbaldistone in Sir Walter Scott's Rob Roy who was ugly, but they said that a girl could fall in love with his voice if she had never seen him. I would love to marry someone who, if not Scottish could at least do a fine impression of the accent for me! :)



2. Their vocabulary- who can resist smiling at expressions like "ding me daft", "bonny lass" "gang gyte" "wee bairn" and so many others!



3. The history! So many, many things have happened on Scottish soil! And they have the best names for their historical people! Bonny Prince Charlie, Mary: Queen of Scots, etc.



4. The spiritual heritage: Have any of you read about the Scottish Covenanters! I am fascinated by that group of hard-headed faithful men!



5. The heroes: Who needs a better role-model for men than William Wallace? (Unless you wanted to imitate John Smith or someone equally as great and godly!) William Wallace was a giant literally and morally! If a young man wants someone to be challenged by, just look him up, and listen to the talk Little Bear Wheeler does on him! But watch out! He had the worst death I've heard of in many a day! :( Very sad. I think I almost cried when I listened to the story of it!



6.The landscape: Have you ever wanted to see heather? I do! I echo Emily Dickenson's idea that though she had never seen the moor, she knew just what heather looked like. I've never seen a picture of it, but I can nearly smell it in my imagination I have such a clear mental idea of it! :)

Then the highlands! Such a wild and romantic landscape, if rather foreboding in places!



7. The national costume. Who can beat plaid? I find it very pretty, though, if you are to wear a kilt, be sure you are a VERY manly looking man, like Angus Buchan or someone of that sort! :)



8. Shortbread and tea! I like shortbread, and I wonder if they invented the pretty shortbread pan I have?



9. The names of places there: all over Great Britain they have the most poetic names for places!

Like Stratton-upon-Avon (or something equally cute like that)



10. Their names: I have grown to have a great fondness for Scottish names like Ian, Angus, Duncan, Mary, Jenny, Elana, Fiona, Ellen, etc. (And according to my Baby name book Rachel is a favorite in that wonderful country! :)



Oh! I have a numer 11: Their music!!!! The old ballads and songs are the most beautiful imaginable I feel! And the dancing! That makes 12 I guess!!! Sorry! :)



So now, I hope you know why I am so intrigued by Scotland! The only thing that would slightly frighten me would to swim in Loch Ness! ;)

Who knows but there might be some lone Pleseasaurus (sp?) left in there or something!

Okay! So much for my part of this post! Now Sarah wants to post something!



Hey Everybody! Sorry I haven't been posting stuff recently.
Okay, as some of you know, we've been watching Emma (and even since before that,) I've been wanting to make a book for my hopechest of a collection of riddles! So, I don't really want to surf the internet for riddles, I would much rather do it in a more quaint, and old-fashioned way.
Now, if any of you can contribute one of these puzzling rhymes, I would appreciate it. So just leave a comment if you can, and I'll use it in my book! :)
Thanks! I just thought this would be a fun and interesting collection to do!
-Sarah