Monday, November 30, 2009

"Tomorrow is a New Day With No Mistakes in it" (Yet! :)

Hi Everybody! I guess it would be no use to post about Advent since Daniel is doing such a good job! So anyway, today the younger ones are still down with what we are affectionately calling The Black Plague. But never fear! We are learned in the art of bleaching everything anyone could touch. I think I have wiped down the entire downstairs and upstairs in the space of about 15 minutes after people leave, or after we have had sickness! That is one area in the many undiscovered talents of our family! (Oh! The Black Plague I'm talking about is a cough/cold sort of thing. Thankfully it is not a stomach bug! :)
Anyway, today we were supposed to have that cooking day that I described and was in charge of planning! Well, anyone that would have come to help was sick too, or else busy! (Like the Walkers who are showing a house today- actually almost this very minute!) How did it go Matthew?
Anyway, Sarah made Norwegian crunch! Yum! And I was in charge of making Mrs. Chandra Christmas's really good macaroni. At least, um.... her's was really good. Here's what happened:
Among the many other things I had on my mind, was making the macaroni, which has a saucy sort of thing that must be made on the stove.
Well, I think we were using every burner- one was occupied by a tea kettle, the other by a makeshift double-boiler that was holding a strange-smelling garlic and olive-oil tincture we were brewing for Daniel's sinus infection he has. Then one pot was boiling my noodles, and the other one I was gleefully stirring while Sarah read Pride and Prejudice to me.
Believe what you will, but I was not that absorbed in Mr. Darcy's letter to Elizabeth, but I was listening, and saw that my noodles were boiling over. So I stopped stirring the macaroni brew, and dumped the noodles in a colander, only to come back and find that my mixture had started sticking a little. It kind of smelled funny, but as I had never made this recipe before, I hoped against hope that it was just me, and I proceeded with the recipe. Despite my cold I could smell it, but I finished baking some in the oven and let Mama taste it. Whereupon she informed me that it was scorched. I wished I could have sunk into the floor- wasting perfectly good ingredients?!? Now, I pride myself on knowing how to cook and being good at it. I am confident that I shall be a wife that her husband is proud of when she brings a meal to the table, so this scorching of a project, (especially since it was scorching two huge pans full of macaroni) was unacceptable to me. Mama was not worried about it, but still, I couldn't watch as she scraped the bad-smelling mixture into the trashcan. (Why did we have to go and butcher our pigs before this incident? I would have felt better feeding it to an animal) I despise wasting almost perfectly good food, and nearly had Mama convinced that we could bring it to the Wilsons and tell them what had happened, and since most of them have the Black Plague too, they could eat one pan, and we could eat the other. No one would notice the odd flavor since they all have stuffed-up noses! But we tossed that idea and I started over. Boo-hoo-hoo. Oh well. I'll chalk that one up as the first mistake in the graduation-preparations. Please pray for Mama and Dad that they keep healthy as we all get well, because I know they don't need a head-cold on top of plans! -Rachel (Now it is the long-lost-Sarah's turn!)

Hello to All Our Faithful Followers!!!!
This is me, Sarah who hasn't written for 4 whole days!!! (Oh,la!) Sorry I haven't posted much recently, but I've been sick, busy, and I think it's a little much for a blog to have 2 new posts in one day, and since Rachel's been posting almost daily, I haven't.
Anyhow, today, as was mentioned above, we were cooking some. The Norwegian crunch turned out well, although the insides of the Heath bars didn't melt so I had to remove them and chop them up. But, Hey!:) We've gotten the boxes of Christmas decorations down from the attic already and probably tomorrow or something, we'll decorate. We're waiting to put up our tree til after "The Graduation" so we can have as much room as we can inside. Our Christmas tree isn't what some might call traditional, in one sense, but I have and always will admire it for it's warmth and cheeriness! We don't put tinsel on ours and we usually use colored lights, along with a mixture of handmade ornaments or special ones that we've had for a long time. I enjoy reminiscing every Christmas season as we decorate the tree and see familiar ornaments that we've known since we were little! Last night was the first night of Advent and with Mom reading the story by the candle's light you would think it a pretty picture, but sadly I was busied in trying to unclog our vacuum's tube and changing overflowing filters,etc. while all this was going on! Hopefully tonight we'll all be able to keep a fine tune while we sing carols, as last night only a few of us could, due to our stuffy noses or tickley throats!!
I'll look forward to posting something more soonish, but for now I must bid you adieu!
-Sarah

Sunday, November 29, 2009

"Enter Bo-Peep!"

Okay! I know Sarah hasn't written since Thanksgiving and I have, but I'm sure she'll trump this later today. The problem is, she likes to sleep in sometimes, and I don't as much so I have more time. We are sick so we're not going to go to church today. Neither are the Wilsons. 7 of `em down with the same thing. :(

But I thought I'd tell about a present I am making for someone for Christmas. I am not sure who it will be for though... probably Gracie, though I want to send it to the Fuhrmann kids. I love writing stories and sending them to children! I have a little line of books I make for Abby called the Bramblewood Hedge tales. (Little did I know when I began that there was already a published series called "Brambly Hedge". I assure you, the name was my own entirely!)

Anyway, they are about various and sundry small animals, and usually are based off of something I saw and wanted to make a story about. I love assigning them quaint names like the cardinal "Admiral Popepeak" or the mockingbird "Col. Matthew Mockah" and then the red squirrel named "Rumpleton Derrydock" and then the quail named "Mistress Quakergarb"! It is loads of fun!

I admit. I've read too much Beatrix Potter and Old Mother West Wind in my day, and this week:) Anyhow, we accidently brought home one of the Wilson's cats in the load of hay Dad bought! I'm so glad that it didn't jump out on the way! The younger girls discovered her when they got home! Last winter we had a stray cat that we affectionately called "Miss Muffet". So it stands to reason that for the little while we are in possession of this kitty, she needs a name too. Since Sarah was reading Pride and Prejudice for the first time and couldn't be bothered with other literary things, I took it upon myself to name this lovely pussy. If I were any sort of a bloggie person I would have a picture of her, but it is cold, our camera is tempermental, and I don't feel like leaving this spot to go find her and make her pose. Nevertheless, please meet Little Bo-Peep! She is a very elegant puss and doesn't seem extremely shy.

So immediately after putting Abby to bed last night, I decided that Bo-Peep needed a story of her own. I wrote one about her life before she came here, and her ride over, and how she met Miss Cricket, (my black cat) and all that is left to be done is to nicely illustrate it. I haven't the time for watercolor paintings for it like I did for "The Twinkletoes' Harvest" so I have decided that I shall slide by with pen and ink drawings for now. (The only thing is that Bo-Peep has such a lovely tumbleweed-tabby coat and a white bib that it would look so very sweet done as a watercolor.) But with Daniel's big shebang in 6 days and me wanting to keep progress on the book, I will just do the quickest route.

By the way, "The Twinkletoes' Harvest" is a Bramblewood Hedge story about a family of meadow-mice that I did for Abby last year. Here is an illustration from it! -Rachel

Saturday, November 28, 2009

A Very Quick Lesson I Learned

Warning: This will be a rambling sort of thing that I hope someone else relates to!

We have had a cough-cold-feverish sort of thing this past week going around the house. I finally caught it despite choking down echinacea tincture, elderberry syrup, and all a manner of other things to prevent it. So this morning I was standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes and grumbling to myself in my mind. "I am out of humor with the whole world in general and no one in particular. Why are there so many blasted dishes? Why do we have to declutter today!"
and on and on I went in my mind until I was cross as two sticks and wallowing in self-pity. Then the Lord's soft voice entered my mind countering every sour thought I had. "You have so many dishes because you had a fun time last night with your friends at Daniel's birthday party."
He said.
"But they are Sarah's dishes from last night!" I complained inwardly.
"You didn't do your chores last night. What is more, your mother kept house all day while you and Sarah were out with Daniel. She also took care of sick children and set up for a party and made dinner which was your responsibility."
The more I thought up something to gripe about the more He gently reminded me of all the blessings I had. And finally, when I weakly ended with a self-pitying, "Well, I have a cold!"
He reminded me of what I always tell everyone else and what I told Leah a couple days ago, "A merry heart doeth good like medicine".
So I decided that it was perfectly ridiculous to try to be morose on a day like today which is perfectly lovely and seasonably cold, and I am now trying to be cheerful I say with a stuffy nose,
"A berry heart doeth good like bedicine!" :) -Rachel

Friday, November 27, 2009

We're Wanted!

It all began this fall. When the leaves began to change and the nuts began to ripen, then They awoke. With stealthy feet and masks of innocence they sent their spies into our woods. Four-legged creatures that bayed and ran across our fields and sent terror into the very soul of our dog Licorice. But Dad was staunch and refused Them what They wanted. We are now on Their "wanted" list. They enjoy free reign over all the land on either side, and wait with greedy eyes until we are caught off guard to grab our land from us. We are safe nowhere. At the gas station their minions are found. Everywhere we go They know us. Alright, maybe the fact that we drive a beaten up blue 15-passenger, and that we have so many girls and we all wear skirts helps distinguish us, but it is scary. Yesterday we were walking down the road and one of Them asked, "Ya'll those people in the big house down Garrison?"
What could we answer but a meek, "Yes."?
Last week They gave us a venison ham and tenderloin. Although the picture of neighborliness was perfect, we were not fooled. Their spies were swarming through our woods yesterday: along the edge and deep inside, their howls rising to terrorize the prey They are after. And last night, They tried a most desperate measure: In the middle of our Thanksgiving dinner They dropped off two deer's worth of meat for us! Now I am no longer sure if They just want our land. Perhaps they are after something more- our dog, our hens? Maybe even a bride? ;) (I was totally kidding about the latter)
Maybe I'm just nervous because of all Their gunfire. Maybe I don't like venison? Maybe They are in reality just being kind? I don't know, but I have a feeling that until They have persuaded Dad to let Them run their spies across our land, it won't get any better.

(Dramatized by Rachel)

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Today's Thanksgiving!


Hello!

We all know that today is Thanksgiving. I just wanted to give you a quick reminder of the history and all that was behind the making of this holiday.

The group of English Separatists had for years been trying to find a place where they would have religious freedom. They'd just left Holland after deciding that they wanted their children to grow up with their parents beliefs, standards, etc. So North America was chosen for the place the Separatists wanted to live; where everyone obeyed God and the land was beautiful. On September 6, 1620 they set sail. After many days on the sea, the whole group (The Saints(Separatists) or Strangers, all together they were called pilgrims) arrived in North America! Now I know I wouldn't think a long voyage across the ocean particularly comfortable and pleasant! But the joy they must have had when finally reaching land and after scouting around find a whole deserted Indian village already set up that they could inhabit must have been really encouraging! But when the winter came, and the pilgrims were working hard at building log cabins for the whole colony, there was a lot of sickness going around. Fever, Scurvy, and also starvation were sometimes taking 3 people's lives a day! So everyone knows how that winter was. But the nearby Indian tribe, the Wamponaogs, were willing to be civil and their chief, Massasoit, even let a warrior named Squanto, help and guide the pilgrims the first year they had come. He taught them a lot of tips and tools for agriculture and the pilgrims had a bountiful harvest in the autumn of 1621. So in gratitude of the Wamponoag tribe and all the help they'd been, the pilgrims hosted a feast. Their were 91 Indians present and some of the foods they ate were clams, venison, fish, berries, and lobster. Yum! The Pilgrims were very thankful to the Lord for getting them through their first year in the new land and their wonderful harvest that He had given them!

We should all be thankful to him for His works in our lives and His love for us.


1 Thessalonians 5:18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.


Psalm 136

Give thanks to the Lord , for he is good.

His love endures forever

Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,

His love endures forever.

who by his understanding made the heavens,

His love endures forever.

who spread out the earth upon the waters,

His love endures forever.

who made the great lights-

His love endures forever.

the sun to govern the day,

His love endures forever.

the moon and the stars to govern the night;

His love endures forever.

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt

His love endures forever.

and brought Israel out from among them

His love endures forever.

with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;

His love endures forever.

to him who divided the Red Sea asunder

His love endures forever.

and brought Israel through the midst of it,

His love endures forever.

but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;

His love endures forever.

to him who led his people through the desert,

His love endures forever.

who struck down great kings,

His love endures forever.

and killed mighty kings-

His love endures forever.

Sihon king of the Amorites

His love endures forever.

And Og king of Bashan-

His love endures forever.

and gave their land as an inheritance,

His love endures forever.

an inheritance to his servant Israel;

His love endures forever.

to the One who remembered us in our low estate

His love endures forever.

and freed us from our enemies,

His love endures forever.

and who gives food to every creature.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven.

His love endures forever.
Happy Thanksgiving!
-Sarah