tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963274107279624412024-03-17T00:16:37.707-07:00That Family BlogHi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.comBlogger417125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-56378335211507931892016-04-26T07:39:00.003-07:002016-04-26T07:39:54.824-07:00Spring '16<div style="text-align: center;">
2016 spring is full of projects and possibilities. </div>
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Looks like a beautiful day awaits, so I won't linger here.<br />
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Have a wonderful day!<br />
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<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-58468847256914732472016-04-22T09:25:00.002-07:002016-04-22T09:25:49.271-07:00Throwback PostTheresa came across this picture from '08 and it made me go back and <a href="http://www.thatfamilyblog.com/2008/09/5-year-old-slave-driver.html" target="_blank">read the blog post</a> that was attached to it. What a giggle!<br />
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Recently, a big thirteen year old Johnny and I have been hauling a lot of manure together... should write a part two? :)<br />
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Honestly, thirteen year old Johnny has traded a lot of his bossiness for random cooky-ness, that keeps me entertained, one spring chore after another. Whether he's dancing around, stabbing pretend aliens with his pitchfork or giving goofy voices to the chickens, he keeps me giggling. Plus, he's now big enough to do most of the heavy hauling for me, only rarely spilling a wheelbarrow. </div>
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He remains a good work buddy, these years later.<br />
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-65186567560988967532016-03-25T10:18:00.003-07:002016-03-25T10:18:54.282-07:002016 Snowboarding Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GMPO-RcRZ1g/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GMPO-RcRZ1g?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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My computerly talented brother made a video showcasing the fun we have at our snowboarding/ski hill. </div>
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Enjoy!<br />
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-22715071201957190692016-02-29T21:20:00.004-08:002016-03-01T16:26:54.633-08:00Cool Stuff!<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After the business of the fall harvest season, this family goes right into the holiday rush in our<a href="http://www.thatfamilyshop.com/" target="_blank"> shop</a>. We don our elf caps and work hard to get a lot of swords, chess sets and ponies to kids before Christmas. By the time Jan. rolls around, we're ready for a break. <a href="http://www.thatfamilyblog.com/2016/01/winter-time.html" target="_blank">This year,</a> we didn't do much but snowboard...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_zd7j9cZS0O_InW9vaOQM5zLABZccNmom4Qsz_JxjCh4mGnsor58vRbH-TRB0ZpRH6ghZixnSpxc5IcuoyXYCBdGYpo3Q5uxDJEPsLR4rfjL53-t8v4EKwI48Li_sLENXDLHJtehJC0/s1600/blog%252Cloveb003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_zd7j9cZS0O_InW9vaOQM5zLABZccNmom4Qsz_JxjCh4mGnsor58vRbH-TRB0ZpRH6ghZixnSpxc5IcuoyXYCBdGYpo3Q5uxDJEPsLR4rfjL53-t8v4EKwI48Li_sLENXDLHJtehJC0/s320/blog%252Cloveb003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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... and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/neverlund/?ref=bookmarks" target="_blank">play music</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQfchPCot-2twWjM9x6p6Oushm_8inu6zzgluRDR6dmOvItejKNeajdmsxWmsEkVsqaQIGFRBx_1JNjClfh77bApPZ8S07JJYoeFIsEQTn_DtXNTMULup-fbPT3yuKyZyWhp0mKXZvjw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-21+at+9.31.45+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQfchPCot-2twWjM9x6p6Oushm_8inu6zzgluRDR6dmOvItejKNeajdmsxWmsEkVsqaQIGFRBx_1JNjClfh77bApPZ8S07JJYoeFIsEQTn_DtXNTMULup-fbPT3yuKyZyWhp0mKXZvjw/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-02-21+at+9.31.45+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Admittedly, Feb wasn't <i>much</i> different, but as I stroll down our familiar ice packed road on my daily walk with Johnny, I find my mind coming back around to productivity again, as I contemplate spring. <br />
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I spend a lot of white, blizzardy afternoons researching the randomest things on the internet. Mom always says I have a healthy ability to multi task, and that would be proven by looking up the history on the computer after I've been on: Aquaponics, cold stratifying seed, composting toilets, civil war history, free motion quilting, rocket stoves and ram pumps, would be a start.<br />
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I thought I'd share some of the cool stuff I've been looking at and planning with you all (not the random stuff--the cool stuff!).<br />
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First of all, I found a beautiful, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCqG-Dmq0t0" target="_blank">inspiring youtube channel </a>where a single woman in Ireland flaunts her amazing permaculture gardens. It made me realize, despite our beautiful gardens, we're doing several things wrong.</div>
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Like our orchard for example: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2pvsDh3ylW57LhzL6iMrvutzqpSiDYf2YKOQ9cE25_yGhDowoAMFv5E4Q0aflLVAx-uV6GHsZnukJ_gWs-Mz_28qm663GZL72drJXVbKAuwJG7kCVeNjv96h644tqQxeqsoB_946UCE/s1600/gardenplans008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2pvsDh3ylW57LhzL6iMrvutzqpSiDYf2YKOQ9cE25_yGhDowoAMFv5E4Q0aflLVAx-uV6GHsZnukJ_gWs-Mz_28qm663GZL72drJXVbKAuwJG7kCVeNjv96h644tqQxeqsoB_946UCE/s320/gardenplans008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mowing a young orchard is a terrible idea--I've learned--since the clipped grass will fight back with a vengeance, robbing the soil's nutrients and stifling young roots. We always try to mulch the trees, but, as you can see, it's never enough. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzku1sftzWgWd0CMeHV4pHqZ9ny6kZDA76yXHcN6PuBO06HSYhLwm70Vv0cxzfruTNojxUYxRWP7tKeLm1ttUxfVSqu_rLZC8OWG7H9WH9btPLaHxt2YDDZxTdL1aj-FR7ZzjOMnwuwM/s1600/gardenplans006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzku1sftzWgWd0CMeHV4pHqZ9ny6kZDA76yXHcN6PuBO06HSYhLwm70Vv0cxzfruTNojxUYxRWP7tKeLm1ttUxfVSqu_rLZC8OWG7H9WH9btPLaHxt2YDDZxTdL1aj-FR7ZzjOMnwuwM/s320/gardenplans006.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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We're making a plan is to employ permaculture methods in our orchards. I hope to make beds around the trees the width of the tree's canopy, like this:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QtKamjrDJ_00I99akWZyjQoNGIHw9bw0Xl17vossBq1n48Kb6MPLhCiVU2v34ZxuCsX19gV3pkl6nPQElpqIrCIBhZkMwuLFyhyphenhyphenM37PQ9iBTuKO4u5Vz6GnsMZ46-Z2_jlNgO-vnLvk/s1600/Cardboard-mulch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QtKamjrDJ_00I99akWZyjQoNGIHw9bw0Xl17vossBq1n48Kb6MPLhCiVU2v34ZxuCsX19gV3pkl6nPQElpqIrCIBhZkMwuLFyhyphenhyphenM37PQ9iBTuKO4u5Vz6GnsMZ46-Z2_jlNgO-vnLvk/s320/Cardboard-mulch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://barbolian.com/convert-orchard-to-food-forest/" target="_blank">image source</a></td></tr>
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And then lots of mulch. Leaves, straw, manure, brush. </div>
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The idea is to suffocate the grass, but make an awesome, disney-world-like environment for the worms!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCYIULuuvPglEJ2FYF5poTtHHrVnkofbVNFja3RlOshW2fE4JOd8PA19AfXKJEhxrS_-91hLr6yI8aR6BpL1evb7-HLEzbWOGSX40ittYrLQKjfkeRZgtJk6YvQ9WTj5vgAOsvk3fB9k/s1600/permmikessheetmulch-1024x717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCYIULuuvPglEJ2FYF5poTtHHrVnkofbVNFja3RlOshW2fE4JOd8PA19AfXKJEhxrS_-91hLr6yI8aR6BpL1evb7-HLEzbWOGSX40ittYrLQKjfkeRZgtJk6YvQ9WTj5vgAOsvk3fB9k/s400/permmikessheetmulch-1024x717.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ecologiadesign.com/2013/04/05/food-forests/" target="_blank">image source </a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXPx6n8-BjjZ5Sel9v9rFJzr_b_7t5StJAuqG7AS9Hw4kckSIwn3VXL5qbjaWGMtPmGEBtzUww-0EOIU9wr8yWsBqu1dOUK86mg7aF9ohDZd7EBttaFbv7NAJ7tRD7cSUVdYy2jU1rJM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+8.40.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXPx6n8-BjjZ5Sel9v9rFJzr_b_7t5StJAuqG7AS9Hw4kckSIwn3VXL5qbjaWGMtPmGEBtzUww-0EOIU9wr8yWsBqu1dOUK86mg7aF9ohDZd7EBttaFbv7NAJ7tRD7cSUVdYy2jU1rJM/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+8.40.12+PM.png" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bcliving.ca/garden/seven-steps-to-building-a-lasagna-garden" target="_blank">lasanga garden </a></td></tr>
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And then plant all around with perennials that will compliment and correct soil instead of robbing from the trees. I'm still working on lists of everything I want to grow--there's never a lack of things we want to try growing! :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYys7Yb0m3F5mc1_DYUF_BF2VhWK-oc2fS3jce0BPVXTZf7bliq4pmZxyH5BgRS8jGNmWeh_hqTMwmiN605oqdwmexlbp9oC6A_OZ-XZIM_qVG0mwjdKuHjLFCGdVWxAqG4FVQr9l3Ro/s1600/permguildclr-e1385024111702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbYys7Yb0m3F5mc1_DYUF_BF2VhWK-oc2fS3jce0BPVXTZf7bliq4pmZxyH5BgRS8jGNmWeh_hqTMwmiN605oqdwmexlbp9oC6A_OZ-XZIM_qVG0mwjdKuHjLFCGdVWxAqG4FVQr9l3Ro/s400/permguildclr-e1385024111702.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ecologiadesign.com/2013/04/05/food-forests/" target="_blank">image source </a></td></tr>
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So here's our property (as seen by the friendly alien eyes from google space) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQJzsegHzBETLL1tpVYnaJzVhyphenhyphenuuWjQW_0P602gdKjHG7tar14ku03-F3hTIXCHH_AlOe-y2dSuFcFX8E7z3F72mcghDkoDLF-5-Klhz66uZKcxi0YBb1tWZztKaMgX-QgAbfGnZ1H4M/s1600/gardenplans001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQJzsegHzBETLL1tpVYnaJzVhyphenhyphenuuWjQW_0P602gdKjHG7tar14ku03-F3hTIXCHH_AlOe-y2dSuFcFX8E7z3F72mcghDkoDLF-5-Klhz66uZKcxi0YBb1tWZztKaMgX-QgAbfGnZ1H4M/s400/gardenplans001.jpg" width="336" /></a></div>
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The red areas are all orchard spaces that I hope to convert to garden with paths between. The boys might faint at the sight of this plan, but I can't wait to make a million-hundred (as Johnny would say) worms happy!! :)</div>
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The line jutting over to the cranberry is the shortest route to the creek. </div>
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The circle is an area of forest I want to clear for a nice sitting area, and the circle in front of the greenhouse is a 'maybe' site for a tiny acuaponics pond. More on that later...</div>
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(Theresa's round garden, lower left corner, looks so perfect from space...) </div>
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In a few years, I hope the orchards will all look the rest of the garden: crazy, wild and vigorous:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR88g9iXd4IqvVX_ilF3pwNrn0p_I7isk3OUey2Tswv7xU-wClbz9d01n_mZIkeTBbGu6xpa3QBD4dew9zhm32LIPpkYL4yBWUzBgr7zMkAVCTve7-yUPxt-aPpDDCvtB8VBJ5wRkFJOA/s1600/gardenplans007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR88g9iXd4IqvVX_ilF3pwNrn0p_I7isk3OUey2Tswv7xU-wClbz9d01n_mZIkeTBbGu6xpa3QBD4dew9zhm32LIPpkYL4yBWUzBgr7zMkAVCTve7-yUPxt-aPpDDCvtB8VBJ5wRkFJOA/s320/gardenplans007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_90LfDMSIIpMbmstuFYMiMwJ3ToFdIbyUWnOVQ97q43_8TSQj6AtxFET7C_gUIiZjy7dYuOsYEyYzeDBK4lWeWPq7qJoBGhwEmEo6800Csq7qwbprLVSEdfJnvp1_JrEWxYq0QjmeT74/s1600/gardenplans005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_90LfDMSIIpMbmstuFYMiMwJ3ToFdIbyUWnOVQ97q43_8TSQj6AtxFET7C_gUIiZjy7dYuOsYEyYzeDBK4lWeWPq7qJoBGhwEmEo6800Csq7qwbprLVSEdfJnvp1_JrEWxYq0QjmeT74/s320/gardenplans005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We do employ a lot of permaculture methods in our veggie garden. The raised beds are surrounded by wood and wood chip mulch, which retains water.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQvRlab9aq6rDU43hLtwTsQzjfikVtQ24VnZZUdwas54Y_D8IpTCOj_sqs8nE_FxDVv55i6kZlM0mXUK8dTtK_ykRz04QlG_jklz4yMGy1ClvGkbtcsaC928N74IBGgH3a7ufNmMAMYQ/s1600/gardenplans1002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQvRlab9aq6rDU43hLtwTsQzjfikVtQ24VnZZUdwas54Y_D8IpTCOj_sqs8nE_FxDVv55i6kZlM0mXUK8dTtK_ykRz04QlG_jklz4yMGy1ClvGkbtcsaC928N74IBGgH3a7ufNmMAMYQ/s320/gardenplans1002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfUSKuqmbxj5GDWWctGEDHaqK0wKKUYVBRGIZsk0yMR1VvFGpF1Z6Fp5_oj2T6_6F7tnBJCXShWYCsg58h0QOAbedWfB0tzuX3cbEPK8miA2ToHj1a1G76voMrUomFJ71-P6x375UQCg/s1600/gardenplans003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfUSKuqmbxj5GDWWctGEDHaqK0wKKUYVBRGIZsk0yMR1VvFGpF1Z6Fp5_oj2T6_6F7tnBJCXShWYCsg58h0QOAbedWfB0tzuX3cbEPK8miA2ToHj1a1G76voMrUomFJ71-P6x375UQCg/s320/gardenplans003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And it works. Our veggies seem to like their beds. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTKKNDbVjJK_zoe6PMfblD0_TcevOHPuvfzI0Isi3AR7qheqcQnhPRiOlMxJxE-cEyC9KZTLOJUHoIp5eRYe0Y_QhgnKLql4bvFgl_PnApgY-CvhnviNSzxeraNNyjcvU4fFMCmYXkr8/s1600/gardenplans004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTKKNDbVjJK_zoe6PMfblD0_TcevOHPuvfzI0Isi3AR7qheqcQnhPRiOlMxJxE-cEyC9KZTLOJUHoIp5eRYe0Y_QhgnKLql4bvFgl_PnApgY-CvhnviNSzxeraNNyjcvU4fFMCmYXkr8/s320/gardenplans004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But I want it all, orchards included, to look like a rad, awesome, wild food forest, like this: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_LwaXrgFqNCWwG68ilx-VQ5VrTC5Xk9anNJ4s3Yhyj0zuQG-fAkTvBs-MdLSIs0xpiUhD07x7l-ETCU7EWrIGibnfhkhhb1lVBKw47JlfK-1HIiA_akM411LC0El8msP2XEPjZMaktA/s1600/20121118forestgarden2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_LwaXrgFqNCWwG68ilx-VQ5VrTC5Xk9anNJ4s3Yhyj0zuQG-fAkTvBs-MdLSIs0xpiUhD07x7l-ETCU7EWrIGibnfhkhhb1lVBKw47JlfK-1HIiA_akM411LC0El8msP2XEPjZMaktA/s400/20121118forestgarden2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.waldeneffect.org/blog/How_to_start_a_forest_garden_from_scratch/" target="_blank">image source</a></td></tr>
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The other thing Johnny and I talk about on our walks is water. Usually while hanging over the creek or stomping on thin ice (him, not me). Water is fun to play in and with, directing little run offs in the spring to drain puddles. I wish we could use our creeks to better potential, adding water to these food forest plans, with the nutrient rich water from our spring melt off. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nHA8N2flMF9NDJ1go-9yCT-F7K5Gpi06GAVGNhkM8GFCAKnEbIhKQX67VJZ1JUayMrDmZdws2nDBp1F0HzufPBI09A2IiSj42bWVjyU2D-9RJxIw-idQoA7UaFZR9Smr3h1BGX7abOQ/s1600/gardenplans1001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nHA8N2flMF9NDJ1go-9yCT-F7K5Gpi06GAVGNhkM8GFCAKnEbIhKQX67VJZ1JUayMrDmZdws2nDBp1F0HzufPBI09A2IiSj42bWVjyU2D-9RJxIw-idQoA7UaFZR9Smr3h1BGX7abOQ/s320/gardenplans1001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, there is a whole slew of legalities that keep those plans from firming up much, but they don't keep me from researching ideas. There are some amazing self perpetuating water pumps (like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk9zs0EQIQ8" target="_blank">the ram pump</a>) that you can build if you're handy with scrap (wish I was).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOfjxz3OlzFqXlikJ3MCCHWfD4qRvJ4cEJju5wgk7iRMnShjNPZlZPS58qK5JP9B0ObCGJXZjH7EU5POLLzlos88YWmKKccMf8hN08peD8knVSpcsgqiVjwIodjtvXfPTEoBHg9Geq50/s1600/hydraulic-ram-pump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOfjxz3OlzFqXlikJ3MCCHWfD4qRvJ4cEJju5wgk7iRMnShjNPZlZPS58qK5JP9B0ObCGJXZjH7EU5POLLzlos88YWmKKccMf8hN08peD8knVSpcsgqiVjwIodjtvXfPTEoBHg9Geq50/s400/hydraulic-ram-pump.jpg" width="377" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tinyhouselistings.com/a-centuries-old-off-the-grid-water-solution/" target="_blank">image source </a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8X2A4uiCig4ecszN1X8ku4LKOfHu_WYR5W32chpIRlumK0Q72p1NRhlqtbzV-Hfldtkdm5RuoKjG-MzYA6zsS6PPDFhSxyborDHyWx9SGLqZWFW8vrSpPn-Jk8uDrbnC0SWFs2bSo5O8/s1600/285712845.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8X2A4uiCig4ecszN1X8ku4LKOfHu_WYR5W32chpIRlumK0Q72p1NRhlqtbzV-Hfldtkdm5RuoKjG-MzYA6zsS6PPDFhSxyborDHyWx9SGLqZWFW8vrSpPn-Jk8uDrbnC0SWFs2bSo5O8/s400/285712845.3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lescoulissesdelaredaction.blogs.marieclairemaison.com/archive/2014/06/13/ces-piscines-qui-nous-font-voyager-et-rever.html" target="_blank">image source</a></td></tr>
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Johnny wants a fish and swimming pond, so we've been watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNCPA5PQpGA" target="_blank">cool inspiring videos</a> on that--how you keep a healthy pond chemical free. I don't know if this will happen this year or not (my projects plate is more than full!) but I hope it does. Seriously, watch that video. Neat-O stuff! </div>
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And then acuaponics combines these two things, water and plants, with the awesomeness of fish. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMOZQqyVMGkdd3g_DywrdHiTWIQJN7SuPEX3soMiUWjO5-Lf0HmTdJ8ZyZapCTUOp7vNasZdqJVQpnIDwR1hhPn6gD6s4fkdFq1FDs2Z2WDyjNV5mE_6EwXMY5wVVaOESl6ufdfOKc7I/s1600/photo-300x224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMOZQqyVMGkdd3g_DywrdHiTWIQJN7SuPEX3soMiUWjO5-Lf0HmTdJ8ZyZapCTUOp7vNasZdqJVQpnIDwR1hhPn6gD6s4fkdFq1FDs2Z2WDyjNV5mE_6EwXMY5wVVaOESl6ufdfOKc7I/s1600/photo-300x224.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://our.windowfarms.org/tag/hydroponic/" target="_blank">image source</a></td></tr>
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Mom experimented in aquaponics a bit two years ago. The results were
disappointing, but we still have faith in the principles and I'm itching
to try it again. My house plants want to drink fish poo water, and I want a fresh, nutrient rich salad bar in my living room--in the middle of winter--combined with the gurgle of running water and cool looking fish. <br />
I mean, who doesn't??</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WGEuluMhzBIkU6O0G41Vix5Uguth-OS-HOw_npIEwlbJDan8YknxSdZkNqm4ZlsdVKPsBCk-voW9LfNHDn4vupG3NbuoJ7M1qffXOM1Wg9dqrTOYQ3k0EiWAqrYZhUhj5MVYQHYLVJs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+11.11.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WGEuluMhzBIkU6O0G41Vix5Uguth-OS-HOw_npIEwlbJDan8YknxSdZkNqm4ZlsdVKPsBCk-voW9LfNHDn4vupG3NbuoJ7M1qffXOM1Wg9dqrTOYQ3k0EiWAqrYZhUhj5MVYQHYLVJs/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+11.11.54+PM.png" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.diyandmag.com/diy-dried-up-stream-beds/diy-dried-up-stream-beds-2/" target="_blank">image source</a></td></tr>
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This time of year, I appreciate the life in the greenness of my houseplants, especially in contrast when the weather is nasty. I think adding the life of little fishes swimming around would make that feeling even stronger!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QcO7gy7ANbZ2UXT3PKAzjhINhyphenhyphenqQyDwWVne3hUZ2Czhsx7J4cQwWzvp0VCa1hC-qXrAnPJ95pQ-AXJosHSQlCyaaXpE_m3r-QCh6hFw52mdEnAj4NuZ2bSOjFFfOLOGDnp6ll66AIqQ/s1600/gardenplans123001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QcO7gy7ANbZ2UXT3PKAzjhINhyphenhyphenqQyDwWVne3hUZ2Czhsx7J4cQwWzvp0VCa1hC-qXrAnPJ95pQ-AXJosHSQlCyaaXpE_m3r-QCh6hFw52mdEnAj4NuZ2bSOjFFfOLOGDnp6ll66AIqQ/s320/gardenplans123001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Oh and rocket stoves! </div>
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Obviously, we've been warming our butts on ours a lot this (and every) winter. </div>
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(BTW--the box on top of the barrel is a homemade dehydrator. On top of that, a broken snowboard is being repaired. And on the warm spot on the floor in front of the bench, those pvc molds are curing a batch of <a href="http://thatfamilyshop.com/handcrafted_probiotic_soap/" target="_blank">Mom's soap</a>.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhi8zulQYsq-67Ol-t7ehYdDlgVrz3O2cdzwWpR2XNhQbMbQrMwueoFjBQ7BzcRxmqwqpXTX8nYyvJMbQh1MW6DHccK3GaboIjP9WpO63MNeqX-W9rRukACS5kVzqeIfqSJQqFTEFIfs/s1600/gardenplans12002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhi8zulQYsq-67Ol-t7ehYdDlgVrz3O2cdzwWpR2XNhQbMbQrMwueoFjBQ7BzcRxmqwqpXTX8nYyvJMbQh1MW6DHccK3GaboIjP9WpO63MNeqX-W9rRukACS5kVzqeIfqSJQqFTEFIfs/s320/gardenplans12002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Though our poor stove does a lot for this family, I want to make a rocket stove that can be used to cook more efficiently, and have been looking at some pretty neat conceptual designs that people much smarter than I have come up with. </div>
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This one combines a pizza oven (which we made once) with rocket stove. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPg_vmK7hK1viDPpIDYKoFsExWEeL7xJdTH38E0vq8yYQz-5ChPATjBaTlTqQf_Je2JlQa-q-7i_rFVuHJeYNDpaGaQs4KjYIhXDByYzOs56lq5LyrNwKouDKUQ0Jn6YqjD7fpUF9YYc/s1600/424d46_1af417b25a4841d0bb4dca8a22b644ca.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPg_vmK7hK1viDPpIDYKoFsExWEeL7xJdTH38E0vq8yYQz-5ChPATjBaTlTqQf_Je2JlQa-q-7i_rFVuHJeYNDpaGaQs4KjYIhXDByYzOs56lq5LyrNwKouDKUQ0Jn6YqjD7fpUF9YYc/s400/424d46_1af417b25a4841d0bb4dca8a22b644ca.png" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lhalfo011.wix.com/rocket-vs-oven#!my-design/c1rk0" target="_blank">image source</a></td></tr>
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This one heats water with a slightly different design than ours (which also heats water, but we've had some problems with the design). I wonder if this idea would work better? <b>Andrew??</b> </div>
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(heehee!) ;)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpgy-UQcPWMWwEwuTrX17LoEVM1tIBZEdeKFAZOT5IROA7YLeMnF1iR2LxnJx6t-O-4QZPhlh_LvjLID7Q_QQMpJTxmMNCO0A6ecGgEvVkIbylAIBcCod8iMt4rsehxdiajccHFTtogY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+8.44.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpgy-UQcPWMWwEwuTrX17LoEVM1tIBZEdeKFAZOT5IROA7YLeMnF1iR2LxnJx6t-O-4QZPhlh_LvjLID7Q_QQMpJTxmMNCO0A6ecGgEvVkIbylAIBcCod8iMt4rsehxdiajccHFTtogY/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-02-29+at+8.44.05+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/cdanna/6737439005/" target="_blank">image source</a></td></tr>
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This one, the rocket bread oven, I found especially cool.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaaNhes2rx9MRv7G2G0_ddolHcL6feDMByMkoL8Pu9KIahZLwRXnfLE0equK30q1LdoeFkxcT88lEXL4hBgicH3Lp5xqbIQ64ZXgNL96LO_PX9sGqqK17v_MdAb7IJxqxkG7sur_mpAU/s1600/tmp190-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRaaNhes2rx9MRv7G2G0_ddolHcL6feDMByMkoL8Pu9KIahZLwRXnfLE0equK30q1LdoeFkxcT88lEXL4hBgicH3Lp5xqbIQ64ZXgNL96LO_PX9sGqqK17v_MdAb7IJxqxkG7sur_mpAU/s400/tmp190-4.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://weblife.org/capturing_heat/" target="_blank">image source</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBscF-Ywytm8lSWLI7RI_qWLCJArvYuWgAbpYh7WDmLgb-mdn2qyCP1bFbWco2R0HHqPaO8ykY3fn_jb0qmrX9F0xHQP9Hc0vYRG9AbMVoOAO5uGN5alPhd8K23WHrfFQSfuhmPE0u3-w/s1600/tmp190-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBscF-Ywytm8lSWLI7RI_qWLCJArvYuWgAbpYh7WDmLgb-mdn2qyCP1bFbWco2R0HHqPaO8ykY3fn_jb0qmrX9F0xHQP9Hc0vYRG9AbMVoOAO5uGN5alPhd8K23WHrfFQSfuhmPE0u3-w/s320/tmp190-39.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://weblife.org/capturing_heat/" target="_blank">image source (more pictures here)</a></td></tr>
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Make sure you check out the links to the original sources for any of the pictures you find cool. I tried to provide them all.</div>
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Theresa's doing her part to add life to the house and zest to our spring fever by growing wheat grass. She supplements it as feed to her bunnies, but also makes an energy green drink which she generously shares (sooo good! Makes you bounce off the walls with spring fever! :)) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFucPPFiEXkJEL4HC8YYZUW4zie3KCehLV41HfCjWL2XqSQIBV5ukwTlY2rzmk-WgStb2Yu_-NG53Px1k0sRk7VjREf-KKlO2F0qc_2DkaXqWzOmmMhmt9ry3EOIgvFQ7hAaEFxckNJc/s1600/gardenplans12003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFucPPFiEXkJEL4HC8YYZUW4zie3KCehLV41HfCjWL2XqSQIBV5ukwTlY2rzmk-WgStb2Yu_-NG53Px1k0sRk7VjREf-KKlO2F0qc_2DkaXqWzOmmMhmt9ry3EOIgvFQ7hAaEFxckNJc/s400/gardenplans12003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And Mom's doing her part by researching her own projects AND ordering seeds!! Our first lot came a few weeks ago. All these amazing new kinds of flowers--omg, I can't even! :D</div>
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And when the brain can't possibly absorb any more cool information without going gaga, there's always chess to recharge the mind (it doesn't work for me, but Mom, Dad and the boys seem to enjoy it).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS1EnNt0ZcNomCgFPoA1XGBBIcFzNgK0Ek_7gKMatFAbryZPSvWWGNLeYoOqrLNLW-gzRK83ZwtKTeqypTvF22yaBppu1xKx4U-hAj5RN3GU6ZSSgJAv3EhQn1dlIPr11i6tsLuo8LtA/s1600/gardenplans123002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMS1EnNt0ZcNomCgFPoA1XGBBIcFzNgK0Ek_7gKMatFAbryZPSvWWGNLeYoOqrLNLW-gzRK83ZwtKTeqypTvF22yaBppu1xKx4U-hAj5RN3GU6ZSSgJAv3EhQn1dlIPr11i6tsLuo8LtA/s400/gardenplans123002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I reset my brain with my foot to the peddle of my sewing machine. </div>
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A week, a garbage bag of jeans, and a new couch cover later: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNHCpiujLHfxRnXisgaIDw2nXee1Fb0pZ3YnjP63FJDPz2REcPxoLoNuL22kaH_bzcn746rbK39Gh4lzZ5s1Nd1qL5Dcxa9h5LQqom6Bb5ec9h668e1OCf-sUziK_rvixroClD4kmDmY/s1600/gardenplans12001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNHCpiujLHfxRnXisgaIDw2nXee1Fb0pZ3YnjP63FJDPz2REcPxoLoNuL22kaH_bzcn746rbK39Gh4lzZ5s1Nd1qL5Dcxa9h5LQqom6Bb5ec9h668e1OCf-sUziK_rvixroClD4kmDmY/s400/gardenplans12001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My crazy ambitions combined with the swiftness of the approaching spring never fail to overwhelm me at times, but I know even if it doesn't all get done, our garden will still look like a beautiful space of love... </div>
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Because it is. </div>
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(And besides, with this crew, we can get anything done, right? I mean, look at 'em!)</div>
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So many cool ideas! There's always more to learn, and March is the time for it.</div>
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<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-71206923542670586202016-02-27T13:11:00.000-08:002016-02-27T13:11:01.308-08:00Home<div style="text-align: center;">
Taking a moment to appreciate the four handmade walls that surround my family, in every season, throughout the years. </div>
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Home is where the heart is happiest. <3</div>
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Thanks for appreciating with me,<br />
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-44917606425974169652016-01-27T10:27:00.000-08:002016-01-27T14:01:29.680-08:00Winter Time<div style="text-align: center;">
What does a family of eleven, living in the snowy U.P. in their tiny handmade home do all winter?</div>
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The short answer: play!</div>
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... And the long answer would be this blog post. ;)</div>
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Morning.</div>
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Brr!</div>
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Heating up on the warm rocket stove bench before braving the weather for farm chores!<br />
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Once outside, it's often not as bad as the thermometer says, especially when the sun is out.</div>
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Fuzzy animals stay warm by staying ... fuzzy.</div>
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After a snowfall, there are impressive drifts hanging off the barn roof. </div>
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And a driveway that needs to be shoveled. </div>
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Laundry that needs to be brushed off. </div>
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And sparkly snowbanks that little brothers have to push their sisters into (...like,
constantly. Seriously, if Johnny asks you to go for a walk, just say
no. What he really means is: 'do you feel like being tackled into the
snowbank?') ;)</div>
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Theresa's been training these useless pups so that they're not so ...useless.</div>
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And Donna's sure enjoying the process! Yesterday they finally used <a href="http://www.thatfamilyblog.com/2012/02/handmade-dog-sled.html" target="_blank">our handmade dogsled</a>.</div>
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Once the driveway's shoveled, we can get our big van out...</div>
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...and go play hockey! </div>
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With our family, we're four on four (dodging Donna who skates around with a
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And on the weekends, it's snowboarding! Donna can't wait until she's old enough to come along. </div>
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Me sitting in the woods, taking it in.</div>
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Pretty sunsets, getting later all the time. </div>
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In the evening is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/neverlund" target="_blank">band practice</a>, </div>
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old movies, card games, puzzles, and finally, gloriously, after an active, playful day: bed!</div>
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-46139033598822792012016-01-13T09:31:00.001-08:002016-01-13T11:02:08.775-08:00A New Year<div style="text-align: center;">
It's now two thousand sixteen, and the biggest news I have for you, in this little update, is that our seven year old has lost most of her teeth. lol! </div>
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It seemed like they all fell out within a week, and now her nickname is toothless (which is perfect, since Annie's currently reading her the <u>How To Train Your Dragon</u> series, wherein the cute little dragon is named Toothless). </div>
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Other news includes Lizzy's completion to her 2015 art challenge. She created a piece of art <i>every day </i>last year and now has <a href="http://lizbeth-lund.deviantart.com/gallery/52649107/365-day-art-challenge-2015" target="_blank">365 pieces of art to show for it</a>. Because of that dedication, her skills have really grown. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LizEnchanted/" target="_blank">Follow her new facebook page</a> to keep an eye on where those skills go from here! </div>
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Other news: snow and snowboarding are now happening! </div>
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I feel so lucky to be able to play in the snow on a mountain that overlooks Lake Superior every weekend. </div>
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An afternoon spent up there is so exhilarating, good wintertime exercise and just dang fun. Our mountain is only twenty minutes away and the season pass is definitely worth the expense for how much time we spend there. </div>
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I brought my houseplants out on the porch for some sunshine and a good watering on the last warm day. Now it's turned good and cold--ridiculously. Just like us ridiculous northerners expect it. :)</div>
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Lizzy said riding and jumping in heavy falling snow is so much more fun (I don't know why--you'll have to ask her).</div>
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After a slight delay, the snow is being appreciated more now that's finally showed up.</div>
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Farm chores become tougher in the cold weather. </div>
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Lizzy and Andrew are working
on getting warm water to the animals this morning. Still, the kids come in
rosy cheeked and happy after visiting their furry friends, bringing in an arm
load of firewood or a pail of milk (frozen around the edges) and of course, trailing a whole bunch of snow for me to mop up. :)</div>
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The house feels cozier after having been out: shoveling, working or playing in the cold. The routine indoor chores are good for staying active, like drying our apple harvest over the stove. </div>
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Long evenings are for music practice, reading and puzzles.</div>
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And I love em! </div>
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This cozy down time is so welcomed after an active summer. I'm always so grateful for the simplicity of my life, with lots of leisure time to enjoy helping Donna to read, watch Johnny master a new yo-yo trick, or just observe a gently falling snow.</div>
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You know you have a good life when you hope the new year is just as perfect as the last one! :)</div>
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-32760382884990036322015-12-26T10:48:00.001-08:002015-12-26T10:48:38.445-08:00Handmade Christmas - 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's here!!</div>
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Probably my most anticipated blog of the year. </div>
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And it's long and full of pictures, so sit back with a hot drink and relax...</div>
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We have snow!</div>
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Not much, but more than most, so I'm going ahead and bragging about it. :) </div>
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This year, I kept a camera in our room (away from the boys) and we snapped pictures during the creation process, so you can see some of the crazy fun that goes on in our room in the days leading up to Christmas.</div>
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Because of the new movie, the boys revisited all the Star Wars movies this month and we decided to go with a Star Wars theme for their handmade gifts.</div>
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Wed the 23rd, I spent cutting out and stitching a death star. It took hours.</div>
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I took a break and made a Beatles chair cover (for dad), which I wore on my head while finishing the death star (getting late, getting giddy). </div>
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Meanwhile, Annie finished transforming a Stratego board game to Star Wars for Johnny and painted a baseball cap to look like the droid from the new Star Wars movie for Mike. Theresa sewed a drum stick case for Andrew's stocking and painted a garbage can to look like R2D2, also for Andrew. </div>
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From our window, we can see the shop were the boys are out working on our gifts. These last few days before Christmas are so much fun--with all the secretive smirks and playful guessing games between us when we interact outside of our work spaces. :)</div>
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We paused for a wolf sighting in the back pasture. Big fellow, he was!</div>
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Had to change hats to wrap Johnny's completed Stratego game. </div>
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First present is a wrap, yeah!</div>
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Lizzy's selfie in the girls room at 11pm. </div>
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Midnight! Finished hat, garbage can lid... </div>
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...And I finished attaching my death star to Steve's jean quilt (which I'd completed the previous day). </div>
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Wed night saw some good progress. Satisfied, we went to bed.</div>
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The next day was Christmas Eve. We always open our gifts Christmas Eve night. Now it was finish or die trying!</div>
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Save some coats of finish and wrapping, most of our main gifts were now complete. We were working on stocking stuffers.</div>
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Theresa sharpie free-handed some Star Wars coffee mugs for Dad and Luke's stockings. </div>
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She was quite happy with the results. :) </div>
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Bake at 425 for 30 min. for permanent results (or so pintrest told us). </div>
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Lizzy painted a phone stand for Steven's stocking. </div>
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I think this was Donna's favorite Christmas ever, since she was included in on all our handmade secrets and given jobs to help. She watched every step of each creation processes with such excitement!</div>
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With only a few hours left, Annie kicked Donna out of the room to make her a present, while I sewed a little bean bag version of the new Star Wars droid for Mike's stocking (just because we couldn't think of anything else) and Lizzy acted as a mannequin for the costume Annie was making. </div>
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On the desk is the droid phone stand that Lizzy painted and my bean bag in-progress while Annie finishes Donna's gift next to the garbage can R2D2 droid. </div>
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Lizzy trying to wrap a present and getting final fittings from Annie. </div>
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It's night! <br />We're wrapping droids!</div>
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<br />Downstairs, we were hearing giggles of excitement as the boys started bringing in their presents. </div>
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And then, with the magic of Christmas, something truly unexpected happened...</div>
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SANTA CAME! </div>
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Steven walked in wearing the beard and wig from our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geFBc5oe0RQ" target="_blank">Moses</a> movie and delivered a present! </div>
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Not gonna lie, this Santa swag sorta made my Christmas. ;)</div>
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Delivering finished handmade presents to tree.</div>
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Santa shaved and now it's party time! </div>
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Homemade (healthy-ish) treat table all sorted, with lots of dried and fresh fruits, homemade cookies, caramel corn and peanut butter fudge! </div>
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This is my favorite moment of the whole year, right here:</div>
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This excited, peaceful atmosphere as we sit around a tree full of homemade gifts and stuff our faces with tons of yum and appreciate each other. It's so fun and I'm so grateful I'm a part of this unique bunch!</div>
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When we can't eat another cookie, the treats are moved to the kitchen and we're on to gifts!<br />Dad goes first (and yes, he tried the chair cover on his head too, while trying to guess what it was).</div>
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Mom got spring loaded salad tongs from Mike. </div>
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Donna was super thrilled with her gift. She had no idea what it was, but her toothless smile was enormous. After a good amount of teasing, the boys finally revealed it was a snowball maker! </div>
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<br />Donna's gift to Mom <i>may</i> have topped them all this year. The Mushroom Book, fully illustrated, dictated and (copy) written by her 7yr.-old-mushroom-knowledgeable-self. </div>
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It reads:</div>
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"A Boletes is a very good mushroom. LOL!"</div>
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"Amanita. Very poisonous mushroom. LOL!"</div>
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"A Boletus Edulis. One of the biggest of the whole world. LOL!" </div>
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"Arists conk. A very okay mushroom. LOL!"</div>
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Needless to say, we LOLed a lot reading this book.</div>
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Turns out, Steve made my gift, a birch bark lamp shade and lamp, (which sounded like a very tough project) and I made his, so we exchanged gifts.</div>
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Of course, he liked his new quilt a lot. </div>
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Lizzy got a Wolf string art frame. </div>
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Donna loved her Ewok costume from Annie. Dad had to try it on too. </div>
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Annie got the boy's big box. </div>
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Another fabulously ingenious game from Andrew's brain.</div>
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The boys have to make one of these each year, so they have something to play with while they work on the rest of our gifts. :) </div>
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Here's a few gifts that didn't get photographed well in the unboxing:</div>
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My birch bark lamp from Steve: </div>
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Johnny's Star Wars Stratego game from Annie:</div>
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Dad's chair cover (the back of the chair was gouging up the wall. The padded cover should fix that). </div>
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Games, mess, laughter and treats late into the night.</div>
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<br />As we went to bed, Santa came and plumped up these stockings! </div>
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Christmas morning, Donna got up and ran outside to try her snowball maker. </div>
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(How cute is 7year old Christmas fashion? Seriously!)</div>
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It works! Watch out boys! </div>
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Stocking stuffers consisted of a lot of BB8 droids, goofy glasses and twig pencils for Lizzy, a cup and spoons for Mom, guitar pick holder/tray for dad, and homemade lip balms for everyone from Theresa. </div>
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Mini plant trellis and mushroom pegs for my indoor plants in my stocking! </div>
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Theresa made Lizzy and Annie bracelets from their horse's tail hair. </div>
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Lizzy made a crazy game for Johnny's stocking. It's played competitively, and you race to knock over one kind of bottle as the opponent goes for another. Amazingly, this game only broke one bulb on the Christmas tree (a success, really!).</div>
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Games on Christmas day. </div>
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Mike always figures out these complicated strategy games and teaches them to the rest. </div>
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Lists left over from the boy's shop and the girl's room. </div>
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Always amazed when everything gets done in time! </div>
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On Christmas day, there was only one thing left to do: the Christmas picture. After sitting around talking about it for awhile, we finally settled on a plan. The boys and I went out and shoveled a Christmas tree shape in the yard. We laid out some lights, donned some bright colors and waited for the perfect lighting. Steve flew his drone above us and... </div>
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Turned out better than we were hoping! </div>
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<i>Maybe</i> the best Christmas picture we've done so far?? </div>
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And a happy new year! </div>
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Another great handmade Christmas come and gone. I'm so glad to be a part of this each year.</div>
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Hope yours was as fabulous as ours! </div>
<br />
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-19574100950401235082015-12-20T19:58:00.004-08:002015-12-20T20:17:36.986-08:00All Is Calm, All Is Crazy...<div style="text-align: center;">
I think we're all getting really good at this Christmas business. </div>
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Despite an odd lack of snow, Donna wanted
to get the tree up on her birthday. Low and behold, as soon as it was
propped up on our porch, it started snowing. </div>
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Since he'd been telling me if we'd just get our decorating game on the snow would follow, Johnny enjoyed a great big "<i>I told you so!</i>" </div>
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Donna had a really sweet birthday, and all our minds were thoroughly blown by the fact that seven years have passed since her birth. </div>
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Lots of reminiscing. </div>
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Lots of Johnny pointing how much he's grown in seven years and how close he now is to being my height (a big accomplishment, that...*rolling eyes*) :) </div>
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Ah, and the Christmas rush in the shops. We're getting really good at that too. </div>
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Over sixty open orders at any given time, packaging late into the evening, customers begging expedited
shipping, Johnny literally chasing the mail lady
down the road to get another box in her crammed van, and big work days, especially for the wood burner and the shop dudes.<br />
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Signs and swords are the buzz this year. </div>
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The work shop is full of neat stuff in various stages of completion. </div>
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The daily fire in the shop's wood stove helps dry products faster. </div>
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Mike's swords gluing. </div>
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The doors on our shipping mail box rarely closed these past few weeks.</div>
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Those bulky sword and sign boxes...</div>
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This weekend, we're finishing up the last of the orders that could possibly get to customers in time for Christmas, and, with 4 days to Christmas, our thoughts turn to our own handmade Christmas gifts. I'm not even worried (you can tell because I'm sitting here chatting with you instead of in my room sewing like a mad woman). </div>
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Also this weekend, we lit the first fire in our rocket stove (yup, on Dec 19th!). We are a lot of people and do a lot of cooking, but I still think that's a testament to the insulation of our little natural handmade home. </div>
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I know I moan about snow a lot on here, but not having it mid Dec was just wrong. I couldn't think about Christmas when it smelled like spring outside and I had thoughts of gardening in my mind.</div>
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Now, going to bed in a nicely chilly bedroom and waking to the sound of Dad splitting kindling to start the morning fire, feels so cozily right. </div>
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I might not be ready for Christmas in a physical sense (four days, four handmade gifts--yeesh!), but I know that the handmade Christmases always works out and I'm <i>so </i>ready for it in a mental sense. I feel really relaxed, snug, and ready for my slippers, hot chocolate and Christmas cookies.</div>
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Bring it winter.</div>
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Merry early Christmas readers! </div>
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I'll be back with the results of our handmade Christmas in a few days. :) </div>
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-45933393402422958382015-12-12T09:00:00.000-08:002015-12-12T09:00:01.925-08:00Dreaming of a White Christmas...So, we had a classic, beautiful snowfall at the beginning of Dec. and I got all excited and put out a few Christmas decorations...<br />
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Biggest flakes ever. Catching one was a mouthful!</div>
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And everything was sooo purdy...</div>
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And then it all melted away and now my decorations are just sitting there like... </div>
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...And I'm feeling entirely unmotivated to get our tree and decorate further.</div>
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We've been working in the gardens and playing football in Tshirts. I put my houseplants out on the porch for some sun because it was over 50 degrees outside--on Dec 9th!</div>
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Last year, I whined on and on about all the snow and now we have none.</div>
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We're amusing ourselves with cards and silly hats as we wait.</div>
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And massive family monopoly games. </div>
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Ever wonder how long 12 person monopoly takes? Only 1.5 hours.</div>
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(Donna won, in case you were wondering... )</div>
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Actually, there's lots of stuff to keep us busy. </div>
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It's good horseback riding weather (not that the girl's need good weather, this animal is ridden every day regardless of the weather). </div>
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And Theresa got all her horses trimmed in one day, with help from this little farm girl.</div>
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The snowboarding hill is still closed, but the ice rink is open, so that's where we spend our weekend evenings. </div>
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Also, after my birthday, I discovered that Lizzy bakes an 'out-of-this-world' chocolate cake (especially otherworldly together with our Christmas coffee blend). So Dad requested it for his birthday too. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgin7QqQHVQI_qJstUFsKNkUsQVybc3O3xbKP1WvelfWCCXvgLRL_Hdnji28aPqgMRYhU0YjobAXlN0XQ562w6B23M7sujytHAZ1PynbWtrYYjZcNMPZpSj_rxhlcP3dWprcbkhBtEFhao/s1600/shopblog023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgin7QqQHVQI_qJstUFsKNkUsQVybc3O3xbKP1WvelfWCCXvgLRL_Hdnji28aPqgMRYhU0YjobAXlN0XQ562w6B23M7sujytHAZ1PynbWtrYYjZcNMPZpSj_rxhlcP3dWprcbkhBtEFhao/s400/shopblog023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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No snow, but we do have chocolate cake. </div>
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I'll survive. :)</div>
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But we'd better have a white Christmas. I don't live in the U.P. for nothing!</div>
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-91471837065113083912015-12-11T13:04:00.000-08:002015-12-11T13:16:24.024-08:00Loving My Job<div style="text-align: center;">
This time of year is always a little crazy in the <a href="http://thatfamilyshop.com/" target="_blank">shops</a>, but it's a good kind of crazy that makes me really appreciate my job and my lifestyle. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZesv6bRx9YwvLfD527tFhvzv0BAD23iWagsyDXk7rmoUcRPtr5JcBYoo0JG_xZmij01L11HfCAlrQABZlOM1vKYbUJ2Ufi-qMJFi0d1ZAJ9PFRYT366HUHEhAlM4z-BXFQ-dMjeFVQFs/s1600/shopblog019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZesv6bRx9YwvLfD527tFhvzv0BAD23iWagsyDXk7rmoUcRPtr5JcBYoo0JG_xZmij01L11HfCAlrQABZlOM1vKYbUJ2Ufi-qMJFi0d1ZAJ9PFRYT366HUHEhAlM4z-BXFQ-dMjeFVQFs/s320/shopblog019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>New products are always being generated through fabulous custom requests! </i></div>
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(Swords have been craaaazy this year!)</div>
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(Custom name option on our <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/249899872/wooden-emma-swan-dagger-once-upon-time?ref=shop_home_active_5" target="_blank">Emma Swan daggers</a> has been a popular.) </div>
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I love Christmas, I love making toys, and I especially love making ponies.</div>
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This is my one of my favorite parts...</div>
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A couple simple stitches and you suddenly have a really cute face </div>
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(the pony's, not the kid's).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEy-oP6Hr2QsXt5U92g4IEw8ON4IeE01ZdigG77sbbvZYHXZie20-Ff0Sux9MvsRXxVdbJrb0cdi8cmZV3NQOb7e9j18VmDYf29UctLFBcJpPTedaL_7dNh2hiczJu3btg35kSAJywzU/s1600/shopblog016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEy-oP6Hr2QsXt5U92g4IEw8ON4IeE01ZdigG77sbbvZYHXZie20-Ff0Sux9MvsRXxVdbJrb0cdi8cmZV3NQOb7e9j18VmDYf29UctLFBcJpPTedaL_7dNh2hiczJu3btg35kSAJywzU/s320/shopblog016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love getting cozy with my knitting while it's snowing and thinking of the kiddo's who are going to unwrap a toy I made at Christmas. It's both relaxing and exciting and <i>so</i> much better than most jobs this time of year. I know I'm incredibly lucky!</div>
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Feedback is possibly the best part:<br />
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I love custom orders too. </div>
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Stitching me some red underwears...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStqRJNekm9iDt8qKV6vYeMT4ibxI-kL3fRVilRLcQ7Rw7f-LQBpetvUuZSvkXvewKiYGRc6YYHVwcEoKSa-_agcv380RZdDCfizwiNrLDnS7vZ1lSjc1g88vRTPZzrXD4KBDKlpaqGxg/s1600/shopblog027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStqRJNekm9iDt8qKV6vYeMT4ibxI-kL3fRVilRLcQ7Rw7f-LQBpetvUuZSvkXvewKiYGRc6YYHVwcEoKSa-_agcv380RZdDCfizwiNrLDnS7vZ1lSjc1g88vRTPZzrXD4KBDKlpaqGxg/s320/shopblog027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love how crafty talented our family is. We almost never turn down custom requests because someone in the family is capable of producing the kind of piece needed. Makes me proud. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXmvVEm_J6BWMjxsXW2iY-7pn4CnR-aNO8u9n__qy14vvT5X9ukc9c5CU1shYgEbgo7Fr2KjH-eHNVmunMydTRV_M4hOGiRIjue68Fe2qxlI97-DhyphenhyphenGpc0RxFZKbRHs-vg67cFUgvSOg/s1600/shopblog1002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXmvVEm_J6BWMjxsXW2iY-7pn4CnR-aNO8u9n__qy14vvT5X9ukc9c5CU1shYgEbgo7Fr2KjH-eHNVmunMydTRV_M4hOGiRIjue68Fe2qxlI97-DhyphenhyphenGpc0RxFZKbRHs-vg67cFUgvSOg/s320/shopblog1002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Custom sign request. A picture was sent for the background and Lizzy free hand painted it.</i> </div>
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This is what Dad's shipping table looks like in the morning: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQmhetm65RrEWRf9sW8s2aD8nmdgUG2w6vc-KfMOBPzfZ1soMczUWWWQ7a6J_3UULqSmOetxn46Rc96EFDP4GiiCvebC7s4jkHYemFyKfgClqTN5FOnmfLxK_ETS1aSbU9V2yivpiJEU/s1600/shopblog034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQmhetm65RrEWRf9sW8s2aD8nmdgUG2w6vc-KfMOBPzfZ1soMczUWWWQ7a6J_3UULqSmOetxn46Rc96EFDP4GiiCvebC7s4jkHYemFyKfgClqTN5FOnmfLxK_ETS1aSbU9V2yivpiJEU/s320/shopblog034.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRnR4GiIibog6dZqy_qnGDsCy18iJfoxhQutZgGCVQz2cI71lrRrGDNPpHHft0yuspgyuXuuua_1zo0ywUvcFff_JWUf1lEzqAWpLPB-pvz1C3Pbx3ZLvUyjtJp2T24AL2GPxjRbBrqI/s1600/shopblog021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRnR4GiIibog6dZqy_qnGDsCy18iJfoxhQutZgGCVQz2cI71lrRrGDNPpHHft0yuspgyuXuuua_1zo0ywUvcFff_JWUf1lEzqAWpLPB-pvz1C3Pbx3ZLvUyjtJp2T24AL2GPxjRbBrqI/s320/shopblog021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this is what Dad--the shipper--looks like! (note shadow on the wall).</div>
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Donna made this crown and necklace for Dad on his birthday from packaging peanuts. </div>
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We crowned him our packaging princess. :)</div>
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And this is what Donna looks like. At almost 7, her fashion style is quite good--intense--but good. </div>
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After Dad's tidy wrapping, the elves then run the packages out to the mail in every kind of weather. </div>
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Where they await our mail lady in Andrew's big dry mail box. </div>
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From there, we hope the mailmen get your sword or pony to you on time, eagerly watching our feedback to see what you think of your homemade gift.</div>
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Because you know, nothing quite tops the excitement of receiving handmade... </div>
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;)</div>
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(Picture from last year. We actually don't have our tree yet.)</div>
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Feeling thankful, proud and Christmasy... </div>
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This is the chief elf, signing off to go cast on stitches for a custom pony!</div>
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<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-44602459208349540302015-11-27T07:31:00.002-08:002015-11-27T07:31:55.758-08:00Family<br />Thank you, wonderful readers, for putting up with all my horn tooting this last week while I bragged about my awesome family. I didn’t really plan that, but the first few posts came organically and I realized I had the right amount of days remaining before thanksgiving, so I went with it. It feels really good to focus on gratitude, and I want to keep it up. So here’s another horn tooting post, (and no, I’m not going to promise this is the last one!), this time on what it’s like to belong to a gaggle like this one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xrfCBUsrkK_YKo4HmhMjut8Q9sMtrVJhgi_TX_udPE7f9BsOHvBlt1IbE3bNi0y699ztujWea4cjNEcLeCwolr15T_3eXAj56heueZAALR4akys8nxo_lALX6Jk3qydEmrC6jPDaSrs/s1600/familee1001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xrfCBUsrkK_YKo4HmhMjut8Q9sMtrVJhgi_TX_udPE7f9BsOHvBlt1IbE3bNi0y699ztujWea4cjNEcLeCwolr15T_3eXAj56heueZAALR4akys8nxo_lALX6Jk3qydEmrC6jPDaSrs/s400/familee1001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Clearly, not everything is awesome about it. </div>
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Obviously, you have to bare the whole matchy-matchy embarrassment when you're little.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLqMPFR3tyyWLIC45-RoJ_-T1z_ZwdByKYJDTUgmcTxpXsCXi4-A6_M9jyhcGH_7T1P_NdKDqLeraM1aWVJoR_iek1ieMRq6E54_EjtWgLCDSau2zdbIDANs2FRXw-YwY8qJLwUNzPNg/s1600/familee004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLqMPFR3tyyWLIC45-RoJ_-T1z_ZwdByKYJDTUgmcTxpXsCXi4-A6_M9jyhcGH_7T1P_NdKDqLeraM1aWVJoR_iek1ieMRq6E54_EjtWgLCDSau2zdbIDANs2FRXw-YwY8qJLwUNzPNg/s400/familee004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But it's been awhile since we've had to deal with that. ;)</div>
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The pros!</div>
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You have enough members for your own volley ball,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoRLeIf1_KD33uiZ0J6SeBlux9b2uaaGKSX42tB5Rp_zQN8cbbJukV9f1khHqyev-KTdjMg0ptq_poPJqzMw2cE7yrfH1FLRtJ7gY6o-_5m8ckg8xJbyA1XItuWDAcX8cSyUbwZ-1pjM/s1600/famiee009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoRLeIf1_KD33uiZ0J6SeBlux9b2uaaGKSX42tB5Rp_zQN8cbbJukV9f1khHqyev-KTdjMg0ptq_poPJqzMw2cE7yrfH1FLRtJ7gY6o-_5m8ckg8xJbyA1XItuWDAcX8cSyUbwZ-1pjM/s400/famiee009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
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...hockey,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_9mQyMzpFeZgQP46LKAf5rijT0WCu0JmAS7OyMFTitm8oAjnU_GIhOdtBy3xu045Cvrxu2CLauEiTARJx_nKfyIZt1nkvjlJA2_P54g_r9_5v1K9eTzsiBscUCHQpCsBgsBkKtpTTUU/s1600/familee006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_9mQyMzpFeZgQP46LKAf5rijT0WCu0JmAS7OyMFTitm8oAjnU_GIhOdtBy3xu045Cvrxu2CLauEiTARJx_nKfyIZt1nkvjlJA2_P54g_r9_5v1K9eTzsiBscUCHQpCsBgsBkKtpTTUU/s400/familee006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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...band, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VPOoUWtMCcucfAd2HaIwLr9zavHAn7BcmX2kaXEaUYWj_UzF8MSv4MqXvppHpEc3RGkeJrJMmEUIFSZvI0S21spiclByUSwBv7HrjMwLR6T7xsnKVmmcx89XV5iEBxFKBXg62DKcQjQ/s1600/IMG_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VPOoUWtMCcucfAd2HaIwLr9zavHAn7BcmX2kaXEaUYWj_UzF8MSv4MqXvppHpEc3RGkeJrJMmEUIFSZvI0S21spiclByUSwBv7HrjMwLR6T7xsnKVmmcx89XV5iEBxFKBXg62DKcQjQ/s400/IMG_0300.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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...swim, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylTTGH3s3ED9qpGR3tyB2Cjag_BsVP4D6vH0MLvaT4vOIlIP1QB3U9HFS9C8udXjGQ8wJZYSxSyJ0H6_4Hk483HxQko7CZp2MNbzU3WQB4rYTaooXP_cQY34ldvxqiP7tyYyzEn6MyeI/s1600/famiee010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylTTGH3s3ED9qpGR3tyB2Cjag_BsVP4D6vH0MLvaT4vOIlIP1QB3U9HFS9C8udXjGQ8wJZYSxSyJ0H6_4Hk483HxQko7CZp2MNbzU3WQB4rYTaooXP_cQY34ldvxqiP7tyYyzEn6MyeI/s400/famiee010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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...and snowboarding teams. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxYnUbDXBg2AVXGKN-DolwDEH52jLIunmEPqiCo3FiNg1rC7cJX5pX4R507UOpTbx3ez07pG722_npjdDCpZa2RjYxdGl2DUCOWwxEa0tAHtfOYazlCI0JpNiFmPw0qzYARZ750gXAZQ/s1600/familee002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxYnUbDXBg2AVXGKN-DolwDEH52jLIunmEPqiCo3FiNg1rC7cJX5pX4R507UOpTbx3ez07pG722_npjdDCpZa2RjYxdGl2DUCOWwxEa0tAHtfOYazlCI0JpNiFmPw0qzYARZ750gXAZQ/s400/familee002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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There's always someone around to go for a ride,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadEdarQu619g4DK9qUq7Qa30QJOxdVZVq8LMVbJFEtZs0ERF6tQkKPJuTc5NUf-c0tkiSJKSiNGUfD1nOUKbcagA-ugAbHIs1KoXwVX1Ll1W3jc2S8BKnsO6VM9DYVOJuLRDw1-vlv4k/s1600/famiee012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadEdarQu619g4DK9qUq7Qa30QJOxdVZVq8LMVbJFEtZs0ERF6tQkKPJuTc5NUf-c0tkiSJKSiNGUfD1nOUKbcagA-ugAbHIs1KoXwVX1Ll1W3jc2S8BKnsO6VM9DYVOJuLRDw1-vlv4k/s400/famiee012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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...or a walk,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj500MxiBqBjKSSaNsRZwqR27wMFla-R_TxmfkD9Skk6U40VoSIhoMdBCC23ds89V0h-bN1RivX8Pn1JspgpwmAbfmaSV2HSE65HFbiYQZ7M3G5xKEV3u0lOteEQdfpKijFZUCEQwuP4IE/s1600/famiee002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj500MxiBqBjKSSaNsRZwqR27wMFla-R_TxmfkD9Skk6U40VoSIhoMdBCC23ds89V0h-bN1RivX8Pn1JspgpwmAbfmaSV2HSE65HFbiYQZ7M3G5xKEV3u0lOteEQdfpKijFZUCEQwuP4IE/s400/famiee002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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...or read aloud with. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDti7J2v_8e1NWedn33j9wl4B4o_S-lLd8f3YOSaXKfr2lnuStjOd9lTSvfiggxj3o1zfCP8kw4PxSqr3YbKxkb2uLkB3rkBp_8wDA38NHLFDBeAGOnCxWOjlfSP0Um88iwVOqBnmoCg/s1600/famiee005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDti7J2v_8e1NWedn33j9wl4B4o_S-lLd8f3YOSaXKfr2lnuStjOd9lTSvfiggxj3o1zfCP8kw4PxSqr3YbKxkb2uLkB3rkBp_8wDA38NHLFDBeAGOnCxWOjlfSP0Um88iwVOqBnmoCg/s400/famiee005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You bring the party with you wherever you go. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMfyoppWq9_BFW9PsgyA7IK3AB05p_29ls2oZFvcWDXHTvp7tHMgPnfFnrImCXeF-NboUu92MP6vOFZS9561r1I31_luYOkOKoP5xAtvlBr0wdIUSx5VhFplekiyLySdKHseuiBuny_o/s1600/famiee008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMfyoppWq9_BFW9PsgyA7IK3AB05p_29ls2oZFvcWDXHTvp7tHMgPnfFnrImCXeF-NboUu92MP6vOFZS9561r1I31_luYOkOKoP5xAtvlBr0wdIUSx5VhFplekiyLySdKHseuiBuny_o/s400/famiee008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Brothers and friends that try hair-brained ideas for you to laugh at...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepdGH9hIv_ltY-62QyALJnXgTBfFZ69wZmfZMHqSCYgTUMsm3Ip5TndjWxsm1XpNArj7T3QICKsk5uJLCWfDiSGriGB-ZGueXOChyphenhyphend1xiRl6nZHf94K0-jATdudJnglslW-4NuCeGE2c/s1600/famiee007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhepdGH9hIv_ltY-62QyALJnXgTBfFZ69wZmfZMHqSCYgTUMsm3Ip5TndjWxsm1XpNArj7T3QICKsk5uJLCWfDiSGriGB-ZGueXOChyphenhyphend1xiRl6nZHf94K0-jATdudJnglslW-4NuCeGE2c/s400/famiee007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-NAA4a3td2taxozFZf7OGW97eLvCXdbQGQtlYla5L_lDbB4BV9plKXw7vvZBytk8WZZasm77H_kNfBPNQBVALu5GDZAkiN1ChGy_sMGWIY9EoXuBW6OIj446gvzaEP54pY5n17jA3nk/s1600/famiee001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-NAA4a3td2taxozFZf7OGW97eLvCXdbQGQtlYla5L_lDbB4BV9plKXw7vvZBytk8WZZasm77H_kNfBPNQBVALu5GDZAkiN1ChGy_sMGWIY9EoXuBW6OIj446gvzaEP54pY5n17jA3nk/s400/famiee001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTG3X7JePsn2J8rKp9tlWxoKXA8WBIbDpwwm42AZC-VeGR7gOahM01VbTeKfLT5QOZqk0VmGidWHpUl__5cF1mXSU7YNky-3vQww1plap5UwjpWEmQO4MpU6qPbVUKzJtIfujRvX3jVQ/s1600/famiee006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTG3X7JePsn2J8rKp9tlWxoKXA8WBIbDpwwm42AZC-VeGR7gOahM01VbTeKfLT5QOZqk0VmGidWHpUl__5cF1mXSU7YNky-3vQww1plap5UwjpWEmQO4MpU6qPbVUKzJtIfujRvX3jVQ/s400/famiee006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...And sensible sisters for you to laugh with.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM1UpnTBUFTPMNX1c1tZ3nLXxYj3GK7gYeDgJAcIsq6rruQpcDQ_XFe4ozg0kRzOimjkVLv1YkU4TFE-SrgucIISH1TX1rraixpukMQ06WNGG7Ta9syUUr5oDgBgAYz9hFyE2k0i9Ylk/s1600/famiee011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM1UpnTBUFTPMNX1c1tZ3nLXxYj3GK7gYeDgJAcIsq6rruQpcDQ_XFe4ozg0kRzOimjkVLv1YkU4TFE-SrgucIISH1TX1rraixpukMQ06WNGG7Ta9syUUr5oDgBgAYz9hFyE2k0i9Ylk/s400/famiee011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A team to push if you get the van stuck in a snowdrift (no! of course that's never happened to me... okay maybe once ;)). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVKJbbkLu20gMEWfWbuE1-kDutuG3yZYH7ozdh527day4gHVvE3KdPipqso5agL-CGPH_bRfEpEaGvLYJ3UXIMkeAIq8ce8Ci1cQ2Y-mpkuhRLAUMzOjnVN2-OVaSIrBQ7omzRL77JmQ/s1600/familee005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVKJbbkLu20gMEWfWbuE1-kDutuG3yZYH7ozdh527day4gHVvE3KdPipqso5agL-CGPH_bRfEpEaGvLYJ3UXIMkeAIq8ce8Ci1cQ2Y-mpkuhRLAUMzOjnVN2-OVaSIrBQ7omzRL77JmQ/s400/familee005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But <i>most</i> importantly, you have somebody to take a great selfie with! ;) <3</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguI7abLvJY8P2FEEZHe3-7OldHAkU-FMI5H0f-HGGJpukEgsB0vJ0Y-XWI_BHunVyMKjvs9C24vD9lijHAk5hvk2qseBCYdfhjpsPZGIiyyi0F4nLDJNg8mqC2KlIDtsqeHUqhgM2SLAU/s1600/familee003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguI7abLvJY8P2FEEZHe3-7OldHAkU-FMI5H0f-HGGJpukEgsB0vJ0Y-XWI_BHunVyMKjvs9C24vD9lijHAk5hvk2qseBCYdfhjpsPZGIiyyi0F4nLDJNg8mqC2KlIDtsqeHUqhgM2SLAU/s400/familee003.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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If you're waiting for some profound statement on why big families are awesome, I don't have one. </div>
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I'm simply expressing gratitude. </div>
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...Even though it's no longer Thanksgiving. </div>
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-16716064718533010732015-11-26T07:42:00.003-08:002015-11-26T08:11:41.159-08:00Thankful for Mom and Dad <div style="text-align: center;">
It’s raining today. And I’m thankful. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Twenty nine years and seven months ago, it also rained. </div>
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It was the fourth of July and the firework show in Eagle River Wi was cancelled. The tourists, to include a shaggy haired hick from Chicago and a cute blue eyed girl from Milwaukee, headed for the nearby corner bar. Trying to escape the stuffiness of the crowded room, our two aforementioned tourists met by the door. </div>
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Three weeks later they were engaged, and four months later eloped, twenty nine years ago today.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQEz01ek5ob5Xd3YHGAKsgI-v_0A_8ITpiXA-68VOF9TEeSam2rPLhsFayXQ6vKQIz8rJSXcZ4kMkbuRYyHCXY5G8aJbzCh-gVygurWXXbBGPw5ajIg2fK4Hp2p4y6GK4kZsYEh-LldI/s1600/momdad004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQEz01ek5ob5Xd3YHGAKsgI-v_0A_8ITpiXA-68VOF9TEeSam2rPLhsFayXQ6vKQIz8rJSXcZ4kMkbuRYyHCXY5G8aJbzCh-gVygurWXXbBGPw5ajIg2fK4Hp2p4y6GK4kZsYEh-LldI/s320/momdad004.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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<br />
They become closer friends every day, sharing in work, play and relaxation and setting a fantasful (yes, I’m inventing a word!) example of marriage goals for the rest of us. :o)<br />
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As we gather around our homegrown feast today, the nine young people that their love has added to this world are thankful for them... (and for that rainy fourth of July ;)).<br />
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<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-6687117024762103952015-11-25T12:42:00.002-08:002015-11-25T15:37:52.472-08:00Johnny: A Flaming Ball of Wild Energy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC9uaa6byRK21KOBMg9i4eeGa2Ksinx6CCPNkjro1vQAm2ArmMTTVuzxBFMlE5yWgRtroKFotUXWcf8RPL8upscaGA4nZF6GLedLq9dyQ0-5SB824lR3yOeRMjbX5PcT1znSL5KzLU3Y/s1600/john002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvC9uaa6byRK21KOBMg9i4eeGa2Ksinx6CCPNkjro1vQAm2ArmMTTVuzxBFMlE5yWgRtroKFotUXWcf8RPL8upscaGA4nZF6GLedLq9dyQ0-5SB824lR3yOeRMjbX5PcT1znSL5KzLU3Y/s400/john002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Despite all of our efforts to shape it, Johnny’s humor remains uniquely his own. Neither good nor bad, it's just guaranteed to be random and hit you out of left field with a kind of, “huh? why am I laughing right now?” moment.</div>
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I recently went on a trip to town with Johnny and Dad. We had to take out benches to pick up some large items and I ended up stuck in the back of the van with him for the ride home. …I think my ears are still on the floor somewhere under the backseat.</div>
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For all his gabbing, he remains really unique in his opinions and thoughts. I swear, the inner workings of his brain must operate like no other human being alive...<br />
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<i>(Well that didn't work...)</i></div>
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I can't believe he's almost as tall as me already! (<i>almost</i>, Johnny, I said <i>almost</i>. And no, I'm not measuring you again...)</div>
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He has a presence that can shine like the sun, or clap like thunder. Working with him a few minutes can either drive you insane or make your week. It’s a strong energy, his is, and as he grows up, I can really see the effort he’s made to rein it in and shape it.<br />
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And I’m proud. :)</div>
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<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-46022147082991269052015-11-24T16:09:00.000-08:002015-11-24T16:09:02.347-08:00Me, Myself and ...My sister<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So, I like myself...</div>
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I used to struggle with that, but in recent years I’ve really gotten over it, so I was like, hey, I’ll do a blog post on the awesomeness of me! yay!<br /> </div>
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I like how passionate I can get over the stupidest things. When I get ‘into’ something, I always fall in fast and deep. <br /> </div>
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Conversely, I also like my ability to multi task. I can usually juggle three or four vastly different projects/endeavors in a day.<br /> </div>
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I like how excited I still get about the holidays. The youngest kids and I always get the Christmas spirit so bad. I’m always trying to incorporate new family traditions. The problem with this is that Donna is old enough now to remember last years and hold me to them. It’s getting overwhelming: “When are we going to make Christmas ornaments? Aren’t you going to decorate the apple tree for the animals? When are we going to make the cards?”<br /> </div>
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I guess that’s where the ability to multi task comes in handy. ;) <br /><br />When I paused to consider the areas I’d like to improve, I realized Annie had all those traits I am missing, so then I thought, you know, we’re sister’s, we’ll always be sisters—maybe I’ll just continue sharing those qualities with her and make it easier for myself. ;) (And since we share everything else, mine as well share a blog posts with her as well!)</div>
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<br />Seriously though, Annie’s got so much discipline. Somehow her routines always stick without being overly dogmatic about it. <br /> </div>
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She always overly optimistic, even when we were fishtailing about to go off the road last year, she was in the passenger seat going, “it’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay!” <br /> </div>
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If there’s a short cut to be had, Annie won’t take it. If the guitar solo could be better with an extra riff, she’ll practice it all afternoon until she gets it.<br /> </div>
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We compliment each other so well, that when I find myself out and about without her, I’m lost (literally, since she normally does the directions).</div>
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<br />I love how she's always seeking adventure. New places, new people. Yet she doesn't seem to get bored with the same sights around here either. </div>
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This place, where a river enters Lake Superior, became one of Annie's favorite hang out places this summer, especially
after we discovered an eagles nest in the top of the pine tree! (look
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She's Donna's favorite sister, not for the least of which reasons are the recent string of books Annie's read to her. </div>
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(Remember this picture from <a href="http://www.thatfamilyblog.com/2014/01/the-donna-book.html" target="_blank">the Donna book</a>?) </div>
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The best is when we’re playing music. We communicate so easily with little glances and grins, the rest of the band can’t keep up with our telepathy. ;)</div>
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<br /><br />I guess what I’m saying is, two is—in this case—better than one. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0YnECTR7RwBEZtgM2UqbqpcMuLYnXIUnkg71fVLi4u2C9wxm3o0JBEQqi8gJ6Ak6V9b_xkjLAzKG-GnEKYJqU8BTF5UqgXULOj5-n3LC76rfbocSAJQL0sd8fF07ks3NV_ZzbVyTPQY/s1600/usgilrs001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0YnECTR7RwBEZtgM2UqbqpcMuLYnXIUnkg71fVLi4u2C9wxm3o0JBEQqi8gJ6Ak6V9b_xkjLAzKG-GnEKYJqU8BTF5UqgXULOj5-n3LC76rfbocSAJQL0sd8fF07ks3NV_ZzbVyTPQY/s400/usgilrs001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-27015306752690720022015-11-23T16:14:00.003-08:002015-11-23T16:14:49.257-08:00Lizzy: There's Nothing She Can't Do<div style="text-align: center;">
This post is so effortless, I’m half convinced that I could lift my fingers and it would type itself.</div>
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I walked past the computer today and thought Liz was looking at somebody else's art… </div>
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Nope, <a href="http://lizbeth-lund.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">it was hers</a>.</div>
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Then she goes out to the studio and drafts (what could be) a hit song.<br />
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Then she goes out and rides her horse.<br />
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Joins us for band practice, does her farm chores, plays some cards, and finally finishes the day by typing her story late into the night. <br />
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In the last few years, this middle-child introvert blossomed from the shy little girl who <a href="http://www.thatfamilyblog.com/2010/10/lil-prairie-princess.html" target="_blank">danced in the pasture</a> to the most creatively talented child you’ll ever meet. I’m convinced there’s nothing she can’t do.<br />
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Actually, there is something she can’t do. She can’t be taught. </div>
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But that’s okay because she has the discipline to teach herself. Piano, guitar, art, baking, writing, horsemanship, photography, whatever it is, she’ll figure it out. On her own. ;)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg080erNfwn5llYbui9w5N6kvzQDvnohqssue8PvmETKAW_L2d6ZVe8kZ-um-Wv2BSdJoSXwsTCDmYj0TmCLXwpqHoQ0RYwP1LVmw7q9faeyljgleDI1pyNddddjF1W5Fw-2x-inUajaXg/s1600/lissa002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg080erNfwn5llYbui9w5N6kvzQDvnohqssue8PvmETKAW_L2d6ZVe8kZ-um-Wv2BSdJoSXwsTCDmYj0TmCLXwpqHoQ0RYwP1LVmw7q9faeyljgleDI1pyNddddjF1W5Fw-2x-inUajaXg/s320/lissa002.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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If only puberty worked this kind of sorcery on every teenager. ;)<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-71159806064410190682015-11-22T13:44:00.002-08:002015-11-23T16:14:59.290-08:00Mike: He Cleans ;)<div style="text-align: center;">
Look at what my crazy brothers were up to this afternoon...</div>
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Andrew got off the snowboard (a cheap one because we wouldn't risk damaging a good one in this wee bit of snow) and said "that board was terrifying". </div>
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So, naturally, Mike hops on next. *eye roll*</div>
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And no, I didn't take a turn. </div>
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Too busy freezing fingers off snapping pictures. :) </div>
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So, Mike bottle feeds/raises the calves...</div>
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And I think our full grown, sweet, long eyelash-ed, gentle milk cows are completely attributable to his rearing as babes. Yes, even the long eyelashes.</div>
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Nobody criticizes as well as Mike. Whether it's band practice and he's telling Lizzy her piano timing is off, or explaining to Johnny that he needs to toughen up, somehow it never sounds as mean coming from him. </div>
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Sometimes<i> I</i> even<i> </i>listen to him. ;)</div>
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But hands down, the best thing about Mike is that he's a neat freak. Whether it's the barnyard or the back hall or just his room, he'll randomly undertake a big cleaning project and make our lives all that much better for it.</div>
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Hear that girls? Biceps <i>and cleans</i>.</div>
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;)</div>
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(I'm sorry Mike--don't hate me)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-31116628192701967192015-11-20T12:13:00.000-08:002015-11-20T12:15:39.637-08:00Andrew: Somebody's Gotta Do It<div style="text-align: center;">
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I can’t tell you how many times in the last twenty four hours Johnny’s reported the percentage of snow in the forecast to me.</div>
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Having filled our root cellar and firewood shed, we’re now sitting around buzzing with anticipation, waiting for the snow to arrive, and the reason can be summed up in one word. Surprisingly, it isn’t Christmas but… </div>
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Snowboarding! :D</div>
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With a fifteen passenger van that needs to be prepped for winter, nine snowboards that need to be waxed, tickets to be purchased and all those other details that see us safety on the hill, someone has to take charge of this winter hobby. Like so many other things, I barely notice, but Andrew is always filling that role.</div>
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Technically, he’s not the leader of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/neverlund" target="_blank">our band</a>—I am—but that’s hilarious because he’s our technical leader, always showing the rest of us which dial to turn and why in the studio. I can barely tune my own guitar, while our background drummer manages to oversee all the other elements to the band in addition to his own.</div>
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Whether we’re painting the garage, filming a movie, managing an online business, or just playing football, Andrew can pick up the leadership slack in such a casual way that you don’t even realize he’s doing it. But you notice real quick, if a buckle on your snowboard were to break on the hill.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of his latest jobs was this lovely wood sign.</td></tr>
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Feeling grateful that I don’t have to worry about all the dials on our new PA system and appreciative that Andrew’s always quietly picking up the leadership slack whenever it’s needed.</div>
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I mean with this gaggle, you know, <i>somebody's</i> gotta do it. He just does it well. :)</div>
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-30673673397702984272015-11-19T14:07:00.001-08:002015-11-19T14:07:10.098-08:00Steve: He's A Punk<div style="text-align: center;">
I recently had a big project that I had to finish before winter. Andrew and Mike being busy with a recent increase in shop sales (yay!) left only Steve.</div>
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I'm just going to come right out and admit that I was a stressed, emotional, and just all around rather unpleasant female those days. :-/</div>
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It's been awhile since I worked on a project one on one with Steve, but I'd sort of forgotten how easy going and unphased he is, whistling right through the tough parts and seemingly oblivious to my poor mood, his humor still coming even when the conditions were unpleasent. I completed the project in a third of the time and felt so much better after a day of working with him. Seriously, I owe that boy a pan of cookies (someday, Steve, promise!). </div>
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This year, all the hard work he's put into <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Blenderfan93" target="_blank">his youtube tutorial channel</a> started to (literally) pay off and he decided to buy himself a car and got his license (in that order). </div>
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He also got a four wheeler, (because he's a punk!) which ended up being a huge learning curve after he had to repair nearly everything on it.</div>
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Every family needs the easy going jokester. <a href="http://www.thatfamilyblog.com/2011/02/i-laughed-today-because.html" target="_blank">Annie's laugh today book</a> is half Steve's wittisisms (seriously, gotta publish that book!). Anyway, I just wanted to say how grateful I am for that punk.<br />
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-79055772048797602462015-11-18T11:09:00.000-08:002015-11-18T11:27:38.789-08:00Theresa: Why Every Farm Needs One<div style="text-align: center;">
Looks like winter is officially starting tomorrow. With this last warm day, I spent the morning bringing in half the garden in pots.</div>
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As I was doing this, I was feeling a lot of gratitude towards Theresa for the beautiful gardens we've enjoyed this summer. </div>
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The wheel barrels of manure and mulch that were hauled into this space would make your head spin. Stubbornness at its finest! </div>
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In her element.</div>
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... And proud of the results! </div>
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Her passions don't end in the garden, however. </div>
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As sisters, Theresa and I haven't always gotten along fabulously, but it's the same stubbornness we butt heads over that I also admire most about her. If she sets a goal, I have every confidence that it will be met. </div>
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When she decided to sell Frysta this summer, every step of that process was above and beyond, from the finishing training, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWcise6Qnn0" target="_blank">to the show-off video</a>, to how much friendship she's developed with Frysta's new owners helping them settle in with their new pony. </div>
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The things that get Theresa the most excited are passions and hobbies every family needs. I'm always so pleased when I see that same enthusiasm being picked up in Donna, from horse back riding, to harvesting, and just all around animal loving.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CQSOCQRmTCVj5-fpMw9ZtRENq9PluJ1yJKSmXNAOTW2TpspX7GR-Ge14LwrmAV2jh-0kCqMlNdzGW5Chv-B1dqQJ_QB5zqqyATDc2_rIuYZ_D4BU6G-7Vo0LROv8zgb2G65lg10IA5Y/s1600/tesa009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CQSOCQRmTCVj5-fpMw9ZtRENq9PluJ1yJKSmXNAOTW2TpspX7GR-Ge14LwrmAV2jh-0kCqMlNdzGW5Chv-B1dqQJ_QB5zqqyATDc2_rIuYZ_D4BU6G-7Vo0LROv8zgb2G65lg10IA5Y/s400/tesa009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbdidR0PllMJ1NXqYPBcJ1qiVczMScaQLeYu7EKy5ck1e9f7L4smwYwOZmMCVdJKEpJsibybJdiMM1mKEvDxDIXTEnjEHVAaIodKb0fXmaVX66iNl67eg7tx-7i70_aQoA3jKBw9BWoM/s1600/tesa007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbdidR0PllMJ1NXqYPBcJ1qiVczMScaQLeYu7EKy5ck1e9f7L4smwYwOZmMCVdJKEpJsibybJdiMM1mKEvDxDIXTEnjEHVAaIodKb0fXmaVX66iNl67eg7tx-7i70_aQoA3jKBw9BWoM/s400/tesa007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm convinced every farm needs a Theresa. :)<br />
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<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-78236584154672226372015-11-17T11:29:00.000-08:002015-11-17T11:29:04.279-08:00Donna: She's a Funny Kid<div style="text-align: center;">
When Donna was younger, she used to get loads of posts where I'd gush about how cute she was. </div>
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Well, it's occurred to me that she still is. </div>
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As she nears her 7th birthday, we're laughing every day over the sense of humor she's developing and marveling over how mature and helpful she's become. </div>
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Seriously, <a href="http://www.thatfamilyblog.com/2011/03/its-babys-life.html" target="_blank">where has the time gone? </a></div>
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Yesterday, she helped Mom out by labeling all these jars of salsa. Note how some of them are oddly, adorably, backwards. (I don't even know how she does that??)</div>
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On Andrew's birthday, she made him this card, depicting the face he makes while drumming--ha!</div>
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Theresa's been teaching her how to ride on our gentle Missy. </div>
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She loves being one of the 'big girls' taking care of her own horse, even though she has to climb a ladder to reach her. :) </div>
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Since <a href="http://www.thatfamilyblog.com/2015/11/snow-it-begins.html" target="_blank">the snow the other day</a>, she's SOO excited about Christmas, but not about getting. She wants to do crafts with me for gifting to others. She has all these wild ideas, my head spins trying to keep up with her. Here's a painting she did for Mom last night, with a Christmas tree and snoopy Santa. </div>
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This morning, I was laughing at the paper hats she made for her toys. </div>
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She cleared up my confusion right up, by explaining that they're getting married. lol!</div>
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Lately, her normal bow headdress has been updated with an orange hat becuase of hunting season.</div>
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You know, safety first! ;)</div>
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Don't grow up too fast. Love you kiddo. :)</div>
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Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-66848606128352542812015-11-13T07:56:00.003-08:002015-11-13T07:56:31.577-08:00Snow It Begins <div style="text-align: center;">
Woke up to some gently falling snow.</div>
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Our youngest dog and our youngest child were the most excited, running around, chasing and throwing snowballs, like they'd entirely forgotten what this white stuff was after one summer!</div>
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And building snowmen, of course. </div>
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So far, winter and I are off to a much better start than this same time last year, when I slid off the road during the first snowfall/blizzard. Let's see if that record holds this whole season.<br /><br />
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Dare I say, Merry Christmas everyone?! :)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-64059355974705630412015-11-10T06:51:00.001-08:002015-11-10T06:51:14.905-08:00Lizzy's Morning<div style="text-align: center;">
Lizzy took her camera on her morning farm chore walk around the farm.</div>
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Because I know she won't mind, I copied her pictures and captions from facebook. </div>
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Fuzzy ponies! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnKAvmJNwolqKoTqYNwmjZZ5yeowlF1oVgMklDyvrrhKC5i0vYz6OhOmNEIMRahuwVlZmb5I0i-IIQTJUNmj6hzIxJ_2hiiolWdWnsc_XGPohMkkuFRPQmB2kBzcKFczUTW0l3jMMXPk/s1600/morning001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnKAvmJNwolqKoTqYNwmjZZ5yeowlF1oVgMklDyvrrhKC5i0vYz6OhOmNEIMRahuwVlZmb5I0i-IIQTJUNmj6hzIxJ_2hiiolWdWnsc_XGPohMkkuFRPQmB2kBzcKFczUTW0l3jMMXPk/s400/morning001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Missy ;) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcOeJftACksCVXFMc1XhEs_xu8RQKGuSjbcO2KS-5SgFrojv_5WB4ml8i3xls1LWfMy7wIQWul1IKr6_A2giSf2ZIFcgG-IWSBGFYxFATxEeYqUtQiSYfjNJZI0o2Y-Sr9DpV0TwHxU4/s1600/morning002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcOeJftACksCVXFMc1XhEs_xu8RQKGuSjbcO2KS-5SgFrojv_5WB4ml8i3xls1LWfMy7wIQWul1IKr6_A2giSf2ZIFcgG-IWSBGFYxFATxEeYqUtQiSYfjNJZI0o2Y-Sr9DpV0TwHxU4/s400/morning002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My black beauty! <3 </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqb4sGBc75YpJZ-3eiU68b58n2fJSfnRdHXKOXq7KLqnrtSgTSmSzPUlzUfMETngHUkELmRRHVzUUg49I0UgUwKjsaVyBTUpruZehvg1Lhq4p_m1Z0mZmL7_gJJFimwettOyDU_4ADZog/s1600/morning003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqb4sGBc75YpJZ-3eiU68b58n2fJSfnRdHXKOXq7KLqnrtSgTSmSzPUlzUfMETngHUkELmRRHVzUUg49I0UgUwKjsaVyBTUpruZehvg1Lhq4p_m1Z0mZmL7_gJJFimwettOyDU_4ADZog/s400/morning003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The cutest calf ever ;) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L2QBPE4lsut0U2eRE6pCyUJU12onumFm5U5bJt1lgUf87yGLSPlaqF1Bsb9aVgv8gW4eLPvja0KIeQ1N-LmXS1llQvQcMnnRXIbWW_ztiFkkvuMzaAyFRxzhRb3_jakdKEfcKvW18cE/s1600/morning004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1L2QBPE4lsut0U2eRE6pCyUJU12onumFm5U5bJt1lgUf87yGLSPlaqF1Bsb9aVgv8gW4eLPvja0KIeQ1N-LmXS1llQvQcMnnRXIbWW_ztiFkkvuMzaAyFRxzhRb3_jakdKEfcKvW18cE/s400/morning004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Steven, your horse is pretty! ;) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzP43MhSkH_r2PuAK_4xUtgYGT9bUtYc2XOFZvh0AaHIS19Pxj6T9m3E-IxC3foXMzD4xe-0tuJ-JsD6-duPL1KyV5LJ7iIWvXuIf7WeduseLm8r7Kab192-v0jfDdKpexNqQHTw2hqA/s1600/morning005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzP43MhSkH_r2PuAK_4xUtgYGT9bUtYc2XOFZvh0AaHIS19Pxj6T9m3E-IxC3foXMzD4xe-0tuJ-JsD6-duPL1KyV5LJ7iIWvXuIf7WeduseLm8r7Kab192-v0jfDdKpexNqQHTw2hqA/s400/morning005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<3 </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9zjMxXZO-OQwPeS-qOjefkiu07VOFSEttILhggB8nbblSoPSW6zMA-6b9RzcuQE44d0l_2GrlbEmwhB_LXd11Za5ZhRQo13PGCQvt_Wkjfo996_aZWC4PlfBwWPi-D4bOH7bpzU1ntE/s1600/morning006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9zjMxXZO-OQwPeS-qOjefkiu07VOFSEttILhggB8nbblSoPSW6zMA-6b9RzcuQE44d0l_2GrlbEmwhB_LXd11Za5ZhRQo13PGCQvt_Wkjfo996_aZWC4PlfBwWPi-D4bOH7bpzU1ntE/s400/morning006.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIb6CFMpp93U01fQli8iUPee9hWZUjolbSkyJ0rcF736yAf9OMA2jKUKIB8edpY0ts8wE1CwToY_3Un_YZIeyD_cOPFIwJd4OajZy_mit1mGgGodYvRTFwYYl-P7O7zcjEdtdGn_V-dM/s1600/morning009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIb6CFMpp93U01fQli8iUPee9hWZUjolbSkyJ0rcF736yAf9OMA2jKUKIB8edpY0ts8wE1CwToY_3Un_YZIeyD_cOPFIwJd4OajZy_mit1mGgGodYvRTFwYYl-P7O7zcjEdtdGn_V-dM/s400/morning009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jVI0gTo33Rw4xXAirDJqqv1st50WzSKXxmcgNkfg9sV42KBolwLVB6OAhHUvlOKkxJ-CKUrss33c7t_0zRYrdUgCptf4kW-NiZev6m0thhPbdqbOTZMti_3NI97brIjxiERVN1Gw4-4/s1600/morning007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jVI0gTo33Rw4xXAirDJqqv1st50WzSKXxmcgNkfg9sV42KBolwLVB6OAhHUvlOKkxJ-CKUrss33c7t_0zRYrdUgCptf4kW-NiZev6m0thhPbdqbOTZMti_3NI97brIjxiERVN1Gw4-4/s400/morning007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Our cute ol' farm doggy! </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1o7MddDJfMPJDfrELmyCxDcdDxY_SQ-kVlhsdyB3BIm5aochSL-YZfTXFR2K2M7Q9zf24vZOW88PXSXYoABS-2sEa9ouHjunwmgpTloIcaQ9X7ycWS_ebAasM0DJ_jAgzTyHhFQOwT0/s1600/morning008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1o7MddDJfMPJDfrELmyCxDcdDxY_SQ-kVlhsdyB3BIm5aochSL-YZfTXFR2K2M7Q9zf24vZOW88PXSXYoABS-2sEa9ouHjunwmgpTloIcaQ9X7ycWS_ebAasM0DJ_jAgzTyHhFQOwT0/s400/morning008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Dude get's the calf's leftovers</span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZJpYCURkZ9L3X2BMuwRVopVBjztbJdTVpAHg4Jy4UWpC5_MHt8j6K_nAAOOXmcQpHLc6nCPLY5S_C76AA1erlJayATyiETQiFJI-nS0wRzJRFqQh-FncyPvqNCzNvtHQIoUpqfuwQVI/s1600/morning010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZJpYCURkZ9L3X2BMuwRVopVBjztbJdTVpAHg4Jy4UWpC5_MHt8j6K_nAAOOXmcQpHLc6nCPLY5S_C76AA1erlJayATyiETQiFJI-nS0wRzJRFqQh-FncyPvqNCzNvtHQIoUpqfuwQVI/s400/morning010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A morning around the farm <span style="color: black;"><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/thebestkind?source=feed_text&story_id=498568966970981"><span class="_58cl">#</span><span class="_58cm">thebestkind</span></a></span> </div>
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Lizzy, a.k.a, <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-75533845984950872562015-11-08T09:26:00.003-08:002015-11-08T09:26:42.079-08:00Good Morning<div style="text-align: center;">
Half hour after I got up this morning, I noticed the moon and it's little star friend looking very cute. </div>
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So I took a picture: (7am) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TTiW0NWx6iEFTSmh945b_u7amztSxck9UtpiJUpf0Ytz58qlG-Xdcdq_DVaB9y2EKAiMrZnGKuAB9HN5MD1gxKmlA9j-YETFzNv505oJ7D4_y9t8pCA4yvZOd1LpKvKZ7186OY0Ab3o/s1600/morningNOV8th001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TTiW0NWx6iEFTSmh945b_u7amztSxck9UtpiJUpf0Ytz58qlG-Xdcdq_DVaB9y2EKAiMrZnGKuAB9HN5MD1gxKmlA9j-YETFzNv505oJ7D4_y9t8pCA4yvZOd1LpKvKZ7186OY0Ab3o/s400/morningNOV8th001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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10 minutes later: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMq2oP8Nb5d8upfUlu8-yv2feSwLlOLFZB5iU5oTe2q_dLieGS3a4Hdz3kCG_uwX_gMorvZuYMcfL2eXpL5uBBDY5y7cCOWv8t1zgBZ7WABuEGnK-P4NdqPDSjvQsgimH5aYrpZxQ914/s1600/morningNOV8th002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMq2oP8Nb5d8upfUlu8-yv2feSwLlOLFZB5iU5oTe2q_dLieGS3a4Hdz3kCG_uwX_gMorvZuYMcfL2eXpL5uBBDY5y7cCOWv8t1zgBZ7WABuEGnK-P4NdqPDSjvQsgimH5aYrpZxQ914/s400/morningNOV8th002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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20 minutes and the moon and star were fading: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWx2F8PUlz1NZI0sxrt0gQ37Flhip7RGIS7cOCLDK1M768OzKY_7wtoJk1zLZT0sWdUxUR-cBqug-GNRNiXUFjIEBNMecGweV0zieOqw1EkSxpv9Dbw_hNrgd9Z-IyIbpZDeIhfdchvG4/s1600/morningNOV8th003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWx2F8PUlz1NZI0sxrt0gQ37Flhip7RGIS7cOCLDK1M768OzKY_7wtoJk1zLZT0sWdUxUR-cBqug-GNRNiXUFjIEBNMecGweV0zieOqw1EkSxpv9Dbw_hNrgd9Z-IyIbpZDeIhfdchvG4/s400/morningNOV8th003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dawn is about 20 to 8am here: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KDLqgM0ndJUah4r3Zz1FJlQV8jGv0g1mDM1mZj4L5vfSAPC5LXZOgj4u3NSH1vpDQ9BfslCByvItiNoguPsN6mlhpmcWQjsD5mIq9hyphenhyphenl296sjBm_xvHgNYeuS_hmyYNlInTXXp1JKWU/s1600/morningNOV8th004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KDLqgM0ndJUah4r3Zz1FJlQV8jGv0g1mDM1mZj4L5vfSAPC5LXZOgj4u3NSH1vpDQ9BfslCByvItiNoguPsN6mlhpmcWQjsD5mIq9hyphenhyphenl296sjBm_xvHgNYeuS_hmyYNlInTXXp1JKWU/s400/morningNOV8th004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But the sun doesn't show until more like ten to 8: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0sRx4-eO63ZTxtuHaWEbA05WEnyVz2m8ZcMSvSg0gSLBjKwJc7lkylMHJRfogdqBCeKNu6QjNPD1gPWqBadneDra-vdU2D2bJ44zK5tFuoAGrH7KGcF8OaGhUBypZj29MjuJgcTv448/s1600/morningNOV8th005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0sRx4-eO63ZTxtuHaWEbA05WEnyVz2m8ZcMSvSg0gSLBjKwJc7lkylMHJRfogdqBCeKNu6QjNPD1gPWqBadneDra-vdU2D2bJ44zK5tFuoAGrH7KGcF8OaGhUBypZj29MjuJgcTv448/s400/morningNOV8th005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A little after 8am you can tell it's going to be a beautiful day. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFIa-Ce-9acAPFs41Up3avbCeRCIOHE5ZWdYb5hu_DqlFTBzNGvQWxPknVVpo75H2NDT6XlEg4TOZH4eEBnj9DXcHk0fISpEpxUZ6x9yH7z30SVu-V4rOrE5rodz4EG6uF5TnL2nkbGU/s1600/morningNOV8th006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFIa-Ce-9acAPFs41Up3avbCeRCIOHE5ZWdYb5hu_DqlFTBzNGvQWxPknVVpo75H2NDT6XlEg4TOZH4eEBnj9DXcHk0fISpEpxUZ6x9yH7z30SVu-V4rOrE5rodz4EG6uF5TnL2nkbGU/s400/morningNOV8th006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Twenty after and it<i> is</i> a beautiful day! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-G8Xxov_JEpvjl0SbK01nBP7dmsrKV7-_SSmx4pjArCXhnbUEqbE34SlAwiv6f0WYs4dmyT7lOmyLqU87AmVuMiTasbuPVtky1og2Csk3S4mjElhRjBrH2tx_qW4ykyDgpmNGm1u2pU/s1600/morningNOV8th009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-G8Xxov_JEpvjl0SbK01nBP7dmsrKV7-_SSmx4pjArCXhnbUEqbE34SlAwiv6f0WYs4dmyT7lOmyLqU87AmVuMiTasbuPVtky1og2Csk3S4mjElhRjBrH2tx_qW4ykyDgpmNGm1u2pU/s400/morningNOV8th009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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At nine, it's finally warm enough (50 degrees) to go out on the porch for a picture and discover that those splotches in the pictures weren't coming from the window but the camera lens. Oops. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjsTgXQ5HpAfZG8xsnj4Bc4gS8QxCm5-_D-PcOKpbd3r4R4G1EGSL5kKZvww2w9cMNLt9nuY9r-rcW2wD_LQilUil_JuO3pUkHAdSEkffxBWSrspGftVFTdkggSKLah_gd3MFicIXXok/s1600/morningNOV8th007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjsTgXQ5HpAfZG8xsnj4Bc4gS8QxCm5-_D-PcOKpbd3r4R4G1EGSL5kKZvww2w9cMNLt9nuY9r-rcW2wD_LQilUil_JuO3pUkHAdSEkffxBWSrspGftVFTdkggSKLah_gd3MFicIXXok/s400/morningNOV8th007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here they are all together.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfduFtdNgV36BWo0Fp7FvLMY653mcXsKKiTkhEkifd0hv0ByE98TnxwHB8Y_rDnXG7OQlSaO2PPBC40UXUqQOiXiUEVYqyA5M1AFW5TCMVb0tE-BHJcjc-ENhTDRF6CvJ4NlIYTUcDjro/s1600/morningNOV8th008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfduFtdNgV36BWo0Fp7FvLMY653mcXsKKiTkhEkifd0hv0ByE98TnxwHB8Y_rDnXG7OQlSaO2PPBC40UXUqQOiXiUEVYqyA5M1AFW5TCMVb0tE-BHJcjc-ENhTDRF6CvJ4NlIYTUcDjro/s640/morningNOV8th008.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not bad for Nov. 8th! </div>
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Next time I'll try to remember to clean my camera lens.<br />
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<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-296327410727962441.post-15174179662784348072015-10-30T09:35:00.000-07:002015-10-30T09:43:06.392-07:00Processing... processing... <div style="text-align: center;">
We're finally getting a grasp on the harvesting. </div>
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Which translates to a kitchen buried in produce and lots and lots of processing.</div>
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Anyone want Jerusalem artichokes? </div>
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Shredding and pounding cabbage into sour kraut.</div>
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Seeding hot peppers. </div>
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Grinding meat for freezer.</div>
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Canning applesauce past 8pm.</div>
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Weekends are for exploring and enjoying the color in the Porkies. It's been one amazing fall!</div>
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And rainy days are for carving pumpkins! </div>
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Johnny's:</div>
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Lizzy's: </div>
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Mine (Toothless from my favorite movie: How to train your dragon): </div>
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And Donna's: </div>
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Happy harvesting! </div>
<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/?action=view&current=MARYSIG.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/JandMfan/MARYSIG.gif" /></a>Hi, I'm Mary...http://www.blogger.com/profile/16758482073069308204noreply@blogger.com0