Birthdays!

Our family has been having birthdays lately...

Gabe

Dad

and

Mom

Window Seat

Here are some cushions and pillows my sister and I sewed for our aunt and uncle. (Our latest sewing job.) Isn't thier house lovely?

My latest dress.

This dress I made from a McCall's-Laura Ashley patttern. I really enjoy wearing this dress.

Everyday News!

http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/multimedia/enn/

This is what we kids used to do all of the time when we were smaller! We recorded ourselves on audio tapes and had a ball. This looks like it's going to be fun!

My favorite reports so far have been-

Daniel Christopher's Versatile Vertebrae

and

The Doughnut Boy's (a.k.a. Honor)

Grandpa's Cake~

This is the cake I made for my Grandpa's Birthday. I had no decorations, so I used these roses. He didn't mind in the least that his cake was 'girly'.

Life & Laundry

Last year the heating element in our dryer went out. Since then everything has bee fine and dandy... until a few days ago. The element went out again. I really don't mind, because I love hanging out laundry and I need some practice if that's how I'll be doing it when I grow up, you know, without electricity and all. The only hang up is that its raining out and will be for the next week or so. That won't stop me! Mom strung up one of the boys' cowboy ropes and I lassoed some laundry! It's drying quite nicely.

Ahhh...this is the life.

Scripture Signs

These are some Scripture signs my sister and I made and have placed throughout our property. We are planning on making more and putting them along our trail!

More Wildflowers...

I'm not sure what these are...I think they are something like "Fairy Bells".
I'll go look them up! Photo Courtesy of Mr. G.B.C.
Miner's Lettuce

Trillums

~Wildflowers~

Yesterday as I walked down our beautiful trails I took some pictures of the blooming wild flowers. The pictures cannot even hope to portray the actual gorgeousness!

Salmonberry blossoms

Wild Bleeding Heart

Wood Sorrel (aka Sour Grass)

Elderberry

GUEST ARTICLE-Rebuilding The Culture Of Home

The Victorian-era wife was often called "The Angel in the House". Glorification of home life and the belief that "little things in life" matter as much as "the great things" were typical for that epoch. Home was seen as an emotional refuge from the world of work and work itself was not elevated to the level of "career" and the most important thing in life. Far from it - work was viewed as a means to an end, something which enabled men to make enough money in order to enjoy the good things in life.

In fact, this attitude was not restricted to Victorian era only. The same glorification of little things in life is portrayed in the novels of Jane Austen. There are no heated political arguments in her novels, neither any romantic adventures, no crimes or scenes of violence. Her novels are not of a kind which could be described as thrillers. And yet they are amazingly popular nowadays. Can the reason be that we as a society have lost something precious during the last 40 years of radical feminism and now we are desperately longing for its return?

Yes, we did lose indeed, we lost or nearly lost the culture of home. It is the description of this culture which makes her novels and their adaptations so irresistible to modern audience. In fact, we can learn a lot from her novels. Take, for instance the novel "Emma". There is the character of Mr Weston, which is a perfect illustration to my first point. He went into trade to make money and when he earned enough, he retired, though he was quite young and healthy.

There is no mention in the novel that he ever regretted giving up his "career" or that he felt "unfulfilled", is there? Clearly, he saw his market activity as a means to an end, and not an objective in itself. Then we have the character of Jane Fairfax. This young lady, as you remember, was poor and everybody knew she would have to work to support herself. What was the reaction of those around her to this fact? Were other young ladies envious and dreaming they could change places with her so that they could pursue some glorious career?

Strange enough, everybody was feeling pity for her. All her friends were glad to know in the end that she had been engaged to Frank Churchill and would marry and become a homemaker. And then we have Emma herself. Emma was an unmarried daughter who stayed home with her father. Now, if it is difficult for wives and even mothers to explain what exactly they are doing home every day, it is twice as difficult for unmarried daughters who choose to stay home.

I must admit, when I was reading Emma for the first 4-5 times, I hardly could understand myself what Miss Woodhouse was doing at home. Surely there was little for her to do? She had no husband, no children, and plenty of servants. Then I actually started understanding the situation much better. Not only was Emma the mistress of the house and had to control the servants and arrange things, her presence was vital to the well-being of her father.

She gave him what nobody else could give, her attention and her love. She was determined to stay single if necessary so that she could take a better care of him.An unmarried daughter at home can bless her family in a lot of ways. While I don't believe it's a sin for an unmarried lady to work outside home, provided she has a feminine job (not a soldier or a prison guard in male prison or some such thing), I also don't think she must be under pressure to leave. As seen clearly by the example of Jane Fairfax, though young unmarried women used to work in the past, it was done out of economic necessity and not because work was seen as something glamorous.

I once mentioned a situation in one of my articles where an unmarried woman was keeping the house of her brother and how this brother was "caught" by a scheming young woman. We got a very scornful comment by one of our anonymous friends which stated that if the lady in question had some brains she would find a job instead of "wasting" her life. What this person didn't seem to understand is the fact that such a situation was not at all uncommon in the past. An unmarried woman would often stay with her parents and take care of them when they grew older or she would go and live by some relatives.

Those women did not think their life was wasted by the very reason that home life was seen as something superior to the world of work. They saw themselves saved from this world, liberated if you wish to use this word. Jane Austen herself, as you know, never married. Her brothers made what would be called nowadays good careers and after the death of her father they supported Jane, her sister Cassandra and their mother. It was perfectly normal in those times.

The truth is that our life in the recent years has become public-centered instead of home-centered. Making Powerpoint presentations in the office is seen as infinitely superior to baking cookies or reading to one's child. The only achievement that counts is when one makes more money than one's neighbour. Money-making is seen as a goal in itself. An average family in my country can buy or rent a house on one income, have a car, sometimes 2 and go once a year on vacation. And still many a woman chooses to work, not because they lack something, but because they want to have more.

Yet the home is the foundation of every society. When home life fails, the society fails, too. Homemakers should not be ashamed to stay home. Vice versa, they should get a broader perspective on things. We are not just cooking dinner or scrubbing the floors, we are rebuilding that essential what is lost in our society, but which is vital to any society's survival - the culture of home.

picture from the Miramax version of "Emma"
posted by Cinderella at http://homeliving.blogspot.com

Farmer's Market Spring Fling

Girl's Civil War Dress

I thought I'd share a few pictures of a Civil War dress I sewed for a little friend last year. :o)

(Make that two years ago! My, how time does fly!)

The Schoolmarm

Her name was invariably Grace, Charity, or Prudence; and if names had been always a descriptive of the personal qualities of those who bore them, she would have been enlightened to all three... She was somewhat angular and rather bony. Her eyes were usually blue, and, to speak with accuracy, a little cold and grayish in their expression- like the sky on a bleak morning in Autumn... In manners and bearing, she was brisk, prim, and sometimes a little "fidgety", as if she was conscious of sitting on a dusty chair... She was careful of three things- her clothes, her money, and her reputation... The man who courted her must do so in the most sober, staid, and regulated spirit.

-J.L. McConnel

Western Characters, 1853

Sissy's Spring Dress /*

Happy Spring!

What Type of Homeschooler?

What Type of Homeschooler Are You?

Swiss Family Robinson If you can grow it, pick it, preserve it, or butcher it, you own it. Otherwise, you do without. Youd prefer to live off-grid from the power company, since youre nearly self-sufficient already. You enjoy unit studies for the way they utilize all facets of life and truly incorporate life and education as a whole, not as separate entities. Visit my blog: http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com
Take this quiz!








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New baby

This is Pistol.

Babies!!!

Mama Ginger with Sweet Betsy and Ike. Sweet Betsy from Pike, she crossed the wide prairie whith her brother Ike.

Finished!

Doe's Secret Code

Doe's Secret Code of Honor

The doe's secret code of honor is as old as goats themselves and is ultimately the species best kept secret. No doe shall ever kid before its time. (Its time being determined by the following factors):

1- No kid shall be born until total chaos has been reached by all involved. Your owner's house must be a wreck, their family hungry and desperate for clean clothes, and their social life nonexistent.

2- "Midwives" must reach the babbling fool status before you kid out. Bloodshot eyes, tangled hair and the inability to form a sentence means the time is getting close.

3- For every bell, beeper, camera or whistle they attach to you, kidding must be delayed by at least one day for each item. If they use an audio monitor, one good yell per hour will keep things interesting.

4- If you hear the words, "She's nowhere near ready. She'll be fine while we're away for the weekend," Wait until they load the car, then begin pushing!

5- Owner stress must be at an all time high! If you are in the care of someone else, ten to fifteen phone calls a day is a sign you're getting close.

6- When you hear the words "I can't take it anymore!" wait at least three more days.

7 -You must keep this waiting game interesting. False alarms are mandatory! Little teasers such as looking at your stomach, pushing your food around in the bucket and then walking away from it, and nesting, are always good for a rise. Be creative and find new things to do to keep the adrenaline pumping in those who wait.

8- The honor of all goats is now in your hands. Use this time to avenge all of your barn mates. Think about your friend who had to wear that silly costume in front of those people. Hang onto that baby for another day. OH, they made him do tricks too! Three more days seems fair. Late feedings, the dreaded diet, bad haircuts, those awful wormings can also be avenged at this time.

9- If you have fulfilled all of the above and are still not sure when to have the kids, listen to the weather forecast on the radio that has been so generously provided by those who wait. Severe storm warning is what you're waiting for. In the heart of the storm jump into action!The power could go out and you could have the last laugh. You have a good chance of those who wait missing the whole thing while searching for a flashlight that works!

10- Make the most of your interrupted nights. Beg for food each timesomeone comes into the barn to check you. Your barn mates will loveyou as the extra goodies fall their way too.

Remember, this code of honor was designed to remind man of how truly special goats are. Do your best to reward those who wait with a beautiful doeling to carry on the Doe Code of Honor for the next generation of those who wait!

My Valentines

Look what I got from some very handsome young gentleman...



And from another...

My sweet brothers surprised and blessed me this Valentine's Day! They were so sweet to buy me these. (No, they didn't forget the dark chocolate! I just ate it all before I took these pictures! :o)