Do you like yourself?

We all need encouragement from time to time. I am thinking today perhaps you need to hear some, I feel this is my blog message to YOU today.

Do you like yourself?
Most people don't really like themselves, did you know that?.
Most people are striving for wholeness. Emotionally, mentally, spiritually and socially.
I want to tell you some truths today.

You are chosen by God.
He Loves YOU,
He created YOU, because you are a special beautiful treasured gift.

Even if you don't know God or have left him because you feel he has abandoned you, he still loves you. Nothing and I mean nothing can separate you from his love.
He is there waiting for YOU, arms open wide love pouring out.
OK so you have done some really bad things in your life, well so has everyone else, we are all the same tattered and torn, scattered and scorned, we are all human, sinners and imperfect.

But Jesus changed that for us, he died for us, he took on that sin for himself. All we have to do is come to him, tell him we are sorry that we want to become a new person, a person who is still hurting and bruised but a person who can only become whole and complete with the love and acceptance of our father. It seems too simple eh?

Perhaps like me you have not had a great example of what parental care and love have looked like in your life, perhaps like me you have had trouble trusting the love of those close to you.

Well friend I am living proof of the love of our heavenly Father. He has changed me he has covered my hurts, and my painful past. I am a new creation basking in the love of our God.  So not perfect but accepted and loved.

We cannot trust unless we believe we are loved. To grow in God and be changed, we must trust him. Often He will lead us in ways that we cannot understand, and during that time we must have a tight grip on His love for us.

Accept God's love for you, and make that love the basis for your love and acceptance of yourself. Receive his affirmation, and know that you are changing and becoming all he desires you to be. then start enjoying yourself, and where you are in your journey. You are loved!
I am praying for you my friend!

Bible verse for you today:

For I am persuaded beyond a doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

My debut as the local chicken girl!

We have had a crazy busy couple of weeks here on the "farm". Tomorrow is my big debut as the local chicken girl. I am experiencing a range of emotions. Some of them go like this: fear ...will I permanently smell like a chicken. 
Anxiety: I get lost if you turn me around 5 times fast, OK ..once, real fast.
Doom: this is it no turning back, I am now a real live, flesh and blood farm girl.

Can I pull it off? That is yet to be seen. I am sure it couldn't be too hard, after all I did met my DH in a chicken barn. Our love is rooted in chicken manure, so like all well composted poo it will grow great things, right??

On other news our chicken shack is coming along nicely, since DH has been busy with work we have hired a local man who does amazing work. Our chicken shack can not be called a shack, as it is a very nice little abode, for our temporary feathered guests. Shall we say a poultry B and B?

 Hey I had such a fun idea the other day, my good friend A suggested it when we moved, but I like the thought. A farm stay. People pay you to "get away from the city" and help around the "farm" and you serve meals, and show them how to do odd things like canning, gardening, tending to animals and the like. This is the perfect setting nestled beside the river.....something to think on.

Quinoa Miost Chocolate Cake

Quinoa moist  chocolate cake!    You know me, I love cake, and this really tastes moist and delicious!                            

2/3-cup  quinoa
11/3- cup water   
1/3-cup milk           
4eggs  
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup soft butter 
1-cup sugar 
1-cup cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2tsp salt  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees  (bake 40 minutes)               

Cook Quina in water. Bring to boil and cover, simmer for 10 minutes.Let stand 10 minutes .Fluff with fork.Combine milk, eggs,and vanilla in blender. Add 2 cups cooked quinoa and butter. Blend.Combine sugar ,cocoa , baking powder, salt in a bowl. Add blended combo.Pour into 2 pans that are greased and lined with parchment paper. cool. frost, or top with whip cream


have a great time baking!!!:)

Nautical dreams

So what do you do when you have a HUGE boat in your front yard?

I have thought of several options, burn it, chop it up and haul it away, but today I made the executive decision to put it on Craigslist and give it away!

Some crafty person could turn it into a chicken coop, or kids play fort right??
No bites yet, darn

Any one have any ideas? I think the fiberglass content would not make a great environmental statement if we burnt it....ah but think of the satisfying  wiener roast we could have, did you catch the name of the boat?? LOL!!

Now on this thought perhaps this is where I could store my ducks, cut a hole in the hull for a door, fix up the roof...hey now I'm thinking, a boat coop Yes!
 Yes, it is going to be a long spring.....................

OK so I am totally uninspired as to a bible verse for this post...sorry..Ideas?? Anyone??

thoughts for today........

Spring is in the air, and as I contemplate the snow drops and their white buds hanging delicately from the bright green foliage, I am also apt to consider my growth these past few weeks.

I am learning a lot about my self and who I am and who I am not.....the fact is quite interesting really, kind of like an out of body experience, a scientist examining specimens under a microscope. Deep I know.....

I have learned that I do love nature, I do love this land, and the prospect of growing things and tending to more than just my faith and family. I have discovered I am not an activist, I am more of a passivist, really, and I kinda like that.
I don't particularly want to get all excited about a cause.

 But then, really every one has their cause or their passion don't they?.
This is the substance of a persons life.

What is your passion? Is it saving the world,  fitness, your kids, spouse, reading, your faith.

I guess I must admit I do have a cause, and while it isn't saving the world, it is a cause just the same, but I would rather call it my life passion.
I would sum it up to be, living each day simply, but to its fullest trying to be the best I can be. Living a life that is pleasing to no one else other than my God, so that one day I will be able to come before my daddy and he can say well done, my faithful, daughter.

So I guess I am no different than everyone else. We are all the same really, striving for what we feel is important in this world. I like that quote that says, what you spend most of your time doing is what you value most in your life...I think about that often.
I think about how I am sometimes just too busy cleaning to fully look at what my children are trying to show me, I think about all those lost opportunity's with my spouse, because I am just too tired, too grumpy or just too something...

It is no wonder that so many people have "their cause" Without it we could become shallow, and life may start to feel meaningless and mundane. So my friends fill your boots,
 fill someones life, fill your heart full of what you find important in this life and live it to the fullest, because you only have one life to live, one today and one yesterday, don't live with regrets, live with joy, peace and love~

Bible verse for today~ For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give -- large or small -- will be used to measure what is given back to you." (TLB, Luke 6:38)

Yummy GF nutty pumpkin treats

Gluten free has never tasted so good....I just whipped up a batch of these little melt in your mouth treats, and boy am I telling you they are something delicious!!

Here is the recipe
A moist and flavorful blend of pumpkin, spices, raisins, and nuts, these are easy to make, and keep and travel well. This recipe can easily be doubled.

1/2 c margarine
1 c brown sugar
1 c cooked pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla
1 c rice flour
1 c soy flour (I found this at Super Store in the health foods section. The packaging says- Purely Bulk Soya Protein Powder)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ginger
1 c raisins
1/2 c pecans

preheat oven to 350 deg. F
Beat together butter and sugar. add pumpkin and vanilla. Beat until well mixed.
add all other ingredients except raisins and nuts, blend well then add nuts and raisins.
drop by teaspoons (I use pampered Chefs cookie dropper med size) onto greased cookie sheet. (I used a non stick and didn't grease) bake 12-15 minutes until lightly browned. makes 4 1/2 dozen..no it doesn't....I like my cookies med sized LOL!! 

Taken from the Gluten-free Gourmet cook book

My Valentine is 11 years old!

I have the very sweetest boy in the whole world.

He is 11 years old, and he is my favorite Valentine today!

Last night son #1 asked me probing questions about cooking, this spiked my interest, as I don't usually hear son #1 talk that much about one subject, he is 11 remember. The yes, no, maybe stage has been firmly in place for quite some time now!
I tuck him in bed last night, say a prayer, and later...much, much later get to bed. At 2am I hear banging around, and since it is just me and the kids that particular night I get up to investigate....too loud to be a burglar, too big to be a small animal, so I grab the closest thing to me a slipper.....tippy toe down the hall and sneak by the creak in the floor. I slither down the stairway sticking tight to the wall, and jump out at the bottom, slipper firmly held high..Who do I spy but my dear p.J. clad son cutting up onions.
I recover quickly from my shock and say .."Um Son it is 2 am in the morning whatcha doing?" He say with a sly little smile "nothing" I say "well perhaps you should skidattle back to bed since it is still very early" He says "ya I kinda thought my alarm was not working right but I didn't want to sleep in"

Off to bed dear child goes. I fall back asleep, then DD #1's alarm goes off at 5 am.....ugh, I am loving the thought but my late night is quickly catching up to me and I mumble "DD you can sleep with me for another hour OK?" She hops in...I am hoping no more alarms go off, and that child #3 has nothing up her 4 year old sleeve.
I get up at 6 am and hear a clatter downstairs once more, knowing what and who is down there I shower and ready for my day.
I emerge from the shower to find a tray laden with omelet, tea, an orange and silverware at my door. My heart melts in a way that can only be described as utter and complete love.
My children are such a blessing, and on this Valentines day I am truly in love with each and every one of my sweet children! Thank you lord for this very special day, my heart is full.

Psalm 113:9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!  This was me 12 years ago...look at my life now, I am thankful for these three miracles in my life.

Doggy Do....

It all stared out like any other day, you know the kind that has you multitasking to the max. I got up put a load of laundry in, cleaned bathrooms..you get the picture.
Well as I was doing this then that and not really getting much accomplished. I put he dog out to pee, as she often dose, she took forever ...like.. the dog needs a catheter!
She came back in and proceeded to spread perfectly placed little paw prints all over my clean floor.

Since we moved the dog, who by the way is not the prettiest looking mutt in the world has not been to the groomer. Since we moved luxuries like "fancy dog do's"  are not in the budget.....
You know where this is going...

I thought to my self "well I am just a little tired of this dog and her dirty stringy paws, leaving tracks allover the floor"!
So I did what any farm girl would do and I pulled out the hair scissors, thinking I would just do a little trim around her paws....um....that looked ridiculous!! She looked as though she was two different dogs put together. Skinny legs and a huge puffy body, so I kept snipping, and snipping, until I had a pile of hair the same size as her. I forgot to mention that Little one was having a play date.
I looked at my self, looked at the dog, looked at the hair covering me and anything else close by and ran for the vacuum...I vacuumed my self,  I vacuumed the floor,  I even vacuumed the dog.

Poor pitiful thing, luckily she has all her body parts still...then I spy out the window our play date friends have arrived...Little one opens the door and yells "you can't come in we are cleaning up!" Then slams the door in our visitors faces.

Ugh, so much for having it all together....But the day went on..... I had the best time visiting, and the dog still looks pathetic...

My favorite GF cookies!

This cookie recipe is on the back of any Kraft peanut butter container but I have modified it somewhat, to its present awesomeness!

preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Mix 1 cup Peanut butter Crunchy or smooth (depending on if you want big nut pieces of not) 1/2 C sugar and 1 egg (now for my additions. Add 2 tbsp. of coca powder, blend this together then add 1/2 C pecans and 1/2 C of either chocolate chips or butterscotch chips..or both Yumm!
roll into 24 balls, place 2 inches apart. Bake 15 minutes, DO NOT OVER BAKE!

So simple so easy, so perfectly delicious ....Enjoy

Star Struck!

Funny story to share,
I recently went to "date night" at our new church. I have to laugh at my self sometimes, because I am sure others are laughing at me as well...and lets face it it is better to laugh with them right?
So we are sitting at these pretty tables candles, rose petals the whole bit...I am thinking wow I wonder if the band is going to be there. You see I am a fan of Switch foot, a Christian band. The invitations said they were going to be the featured guest.

So here I am sitting at the table with a few other couples and I am droning on about how I love the band and that I think I spy that they have CD's for sale. I am receiving some "blank" stares but hey I don't care I am caught up in the yippee I am going to see a "star" moment.
The evening starts and a guy takes the stage, he starts talking, and telling us about his counseling program. The merits of bringing the X's ( our hurts) to the frontal lobe of our brain, and not to let the thoughts we have be controlled by the back of our brain. (it was a little more involved, but I will let you take the class)  This is all very interesting and I am enjoying the program very much..but where is Switch Foot?......He then tells us that his program Switchback is very popular and that burly loggers have come to the end of themselves and have been healed by his program...Switchback.....LOL


Bible verse for today:
Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered and that my life is fleeing away. Psalm 39:4    
I love this one for today, it reminds me that I need to make every day count, no matter what I do, I am working for my daddy....My Lord....and I want to do the best job I can possibly do, be the best person I can be...even if I read too fast sometimes  :-)

Living off the land, yep, sure why not?

So today I have decided that I am going to become one of those people who live off their land. I know, me who buys chicken breast meat only because I can't stand the stringy things..we won't go there!
I bought some drumletts today as a start, because they were cheap!

But really how hard can it be? I know some of you have seen my city container garden in my old life.
Yes It was dry and withered, and very wild! But that was because I had 7 preschoolers helping...it was like a wedding party with confetti!
Tonight I got 3 books from the library and spent like seventy bucks on seeds!
Think of all the produce I could have bought??
But I am determined ..I am going to build a compost container instead of letting the deer get their morning jolt on coffee grounds I am going to use them for good...dirt! so no more chucking the compost on a heap in the back, I have plans for DH to build! I am sure he is going to so happy to spend quality time with me..perhaps for Valentine's day? I guess I need more of a plan then vegetables and compost..but hey one step at a time right? Hmm I hate bugs on my veggies......

Bible verse for today: From the NIV Bible
Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food......Yipee! I pray he helps it grow too!

I have a confession to make I think I love chickens...really!

Well after being here for almost 3 months I am starting to feel a little settled (depending on the day, and today's a good one)
It is poring here and as I write I can hear the drone of the tractor. DH is so sweet and cute. He is trying to fix up the road he put in to the back of the property. He looks the part of a true Farmer Brown..Oh what's that make me? The tractor is the smallest orange tractor I have ever seen, and he kinda looks like a kid with his new toy out there getting soaked....I married the best man in the whole world!
I have come to a realisation today, I think I am not only in love with my family, but I also love my chickens. Perhaps it was the near death experience the chickens had, or the way they cock their little feathered heads in confusion when you talk to them...or it could very well be their little blinky eyes. There are a few things I am learning about chickens, and believe me after hearing hours of DH drone on about them I pretty much thought I knew it all, here they are

Chickens make me smile! Just seeing their bottom heavy, lumbering bodies making a run at me when they see I'm bringing food is great comedy to me. To my chickens, I'm a Rock Star--who cares if my day was cruddy? :) Yes, they're a bit of work (checking on 'em twice a day to let them in and out, and feed and water them) but, it is worth it!

Chickens GRAZE--meaning, if you put 'em on a grass pasture or lawn, kiss it goodbye. They're not only great about ferreting out bugs, they'll be happy to eat down just about anything green as well. They are also a wonderful, natural leftover disposal! Being omnivores, they'll eat almost anything, including egg shells...ewww.

I am careful to feed them non-spoiled, healthy food. What you put into the chickens will make a difference in the quality of the eggs.

Chickens Crate dust! I mean what is all that? After a short while the whole hen house is covered in this fine baby powder dust that covers everything...OK so I knew this one as I have worked in chicken barns, that is where I met DH after all. But didn't know a few chickens could conger up so much so soon!  

Chickens are smart- Sometimes, I didn't tell you that all our chickens came back ...not the dead one...I mean I thought he was going to, with that death squawk...never mind...Any way they came back to their coop, eventually some of them took days to show up. And the Dog eaten gimpy legged chicken is now walking, supercalifragilistic cool hu?

Well that about sums up my mussing about my feather brained friends.... I will save you some farm fresh, organic eggs, for when you come on by and visit me! Although they have not started to lay yet, as the dog incident scared them so bad that every time they think of laying an egg they cross their skinny yellow legs, and shake!

Wheat flour substitutes for GF living

Wheat flour substitutes

There are so many excellent substitutes for wheat flour that it is hard to know where to start. Try these first:

1. For flouring or breading meats: Omit; or try cornmeal, potato flakes, almost any mixture of rice, bean or sorghum flours you normally use; crushed potato chips, crushed riceworks chips, gluten-free cereal or gluten-free bread crumbs. Choose a product similar to what it replaces.
2. For gravies and sauces: Sweet rice flour or cornstarch. See product boxes for proportions of liquid or thickener and cooking instructions. Remember starches break down and get thin under high heat or long cooking times.
3. For pudding and pie fillings: Cornstarch, potato starch, tapioca or arrowroot. Since starches get watery after a day or so, a mild flavoured gluten-free flour may be used. Look for a gluten-free flour combination with the least “gritty feel” such as sweet rice flour or a general rice flour and starch mixture.

Generic Gluten-Free Flour Mixture

Yield 6 1/3 cups
4 cups white rice flour
1 1/3 cup potato starch
1 cup tapioca flour
Sift ingredients together and store in plastic containers. Refrigerate for longer storage periods.
Source: Gluten-Free Diet
Shelley Case
www.glutenfreediet.ca

Sunny days!

How was the weather? Sunny?
I am happy to say today was a wonderful, peppy, zippedy do dah day!
A little smidgen of stress, but nifty just the same. Let me tell you about it K?
First thing this morning the drudgery of clean up, but we will skip that part for now. In the afternoon I had an interview. The cute little church I am attending had a position for a daycare worker, so I went. Now how long has it been since I had a real live sit down and ask you revealing questions about your self interview? Oh lets see at least 10 years? No more than that....I was a bucket of nerves, too funny really I mean how do you forget to string together perfectly normal sentences, I ask you?
The interviewers were so sweet and nice that I soon relaxed a tad and was able to form somewhat reasonable answers.
After I returned home we had a impromptu trip to the Beach. It was a pro D day.
I so love the Ocean and the serf, the smell of salt air and playing with the kids in the sand...It was a tad chilly though, and after the Little one walked through the water in her shoes, when she got stuck in the returning tide, we decided it time to go home.
After returning I made a quick supper prep and deemed it bike ride time. I tried to get the thingamijigger installed on my bike so the little one could ride with me...Challenging I tell you as some of the parts were missing. So I thought like a true thrifty farm girl and left the parts that were missing out. Heck I am right there right?
Off we went , cool air chilling us to the bone, but you've never seen bigger smiles than our family had cycling down the road. Even did the country wave to a passerby... until I realised because I put the seat up to get the bike carrier thingy on I could not reach the ground, also little one was in the front of me not in the back so I had no room to get off. Not the best design for midgets! .....had to think quick....threw myself off the bike and quickly caught little one before she flipped, good thing I am a speedy little thing!
Loved today a little excitement, a little adventure, a little exercise and a little country!

Peace and quiet??!!

Today was another busy day!
We went to church, I am loving the little church with the bell that tolls, in the salty air. I am loving the tall lush beauty of the trees, I am loving the quiet and the tranquility...but I am missing my old life. In my old life there were sirens at night, a train that went by probably 2 to 3 times a day. People were always heard talking in the street, and it was comforting having my community where I knew where I belonged.
Here people all seem nice, but I am finding it hard to fit in, who knew...me the bubbly, crazy one..finding it hard to fit in Ha!
I know what you are thinking it takes time but what exactly does a person do until that time passes?
But on a silly note about quiet, last night I just could not sleep! The noise was unbearable...there was none! How does quiet keep a person up? LOL..Oh my friends that is funny..I can't wait for the frogs to start their croaking
Verse for today:
Enter and posses the good land the Lord your God swore to give your fathers.
Deuteronomy 6:18       I know I was placed here for a reason and I will be content to wait it out.

Hey don't forget I am thinking of you and praying for you today...Love you!

Gluten free Granola Bars

Granola Bars From my good friend B.G.

1cup butter
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1 1/2 tbs vanilla
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup corn syrup
6 cups oats (GF)
1 cup each: coconut, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds (all toasted)
2 cups choco chips (or 1 cup craisins & 1 cup choco chips)

In a skillet toast the coconut, sunflower seeds & sesame seeds & set a side to cool.

In large mixing bowl cream together butter, peanut butter, vanilla & brown sugar.

Add corn syrup & then mix remaining ingredients. Press into a greased cookie sheet.

Bake @350 for 14 - 20 minutes. Let cool slightly & cut while still warm.

Oh Deer ~Vote!

Don't forget to vote, on the bottom of the page there is a fun question for you to ponder!

Today was pretty relaxed here on the farm...I am now going to call it a farm, hey I have um lets see 11 chickens now! I think that classifies!?
 We traveled to "town" Did some much needed shopping and got supplies for that fence, for the coop.

So what kind of animals do you think we should get...hey I'm Thinking that will be.. a new poll for next week!

So you know when we moved here we had deer in our back yard all the time, now there are none, I found this strange until I came upon a strange sight.
You see we are trying to be great country folk and compost.
Our skills are lacking and we need to build a proper box but for now we are just throwing it in a pile in the back field.
Well yesterday I go out for a walk and see coffee filters all over the field? Strange round discs scattered all over the entire field.  I think what on earth are all these doing here? I take a closer look and they are completely clean? Strange very very strange!
I am thinking that our friendly deer are coming by early in the morning to get their "fix". Then happily prance away, eyes bulging, minds a buzzing....Who knew ?

Today's verse:
There will be times of security for you-a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.
Isaiah 33:6      ~Something to look forward to!

Gluten free bolg spot

This morning I had the most yummy breakfast! French toast! If you are Gluten free like me you know this is not a reality.....unless you use gluten free bread! I love Udis (you can get this in the freezer isle at Super Store)
If you have any recipes that you could share I would love to post them here!


I want to try this new recipe I found for Gluten free white bread, here it is, If anyone wants to change the measurements to standard I would love you!!!  :-)



4 tsp soya flour
50 g potato starch
300g cornflour
1 tsp xanthan gum
25g spyllium husk powder
2 tsp instant yeast
1tsp salt
1tbs sugar
2tsp Vinegar
15 ml sunflower oil, plus extra for brushing
2tbsp yogurt
325 ml warm water
30ml milk

put the dry ing in bowl, whisk the liquid separately, then mix the two really well for a minute, until they come together into a soft dough. Leave for an hour, then using a lightly oiled worktop and hands, shape into rolls or into a baton or a tin loaf. Cover and leave for an hour and a half, until almost doubled.

Gluten-free dough doesn't have spring, so a very hot oven helps 245c (220C fan assisted) 475F gas mark 9
Brush the top of the dough with oil and bake for 25 minutes (rolls) or 50 minutes (large tin loaf). Remove from the oven, and from the tin or tray, and leave to cool on a wire rack, cover with a cloth-this helps keep the bread soft. This recipe is from Dan Lepard

One persons junk is another person's treasure

Life is funny sometimes, don't you think?
I mean when you should be happy your not and when you shouldn't be happy you are?
Today proved to be one of those days...I encountered a felling of emptiness so great it seemed to swallow me up, I should have been joyful, and satisfied, after all I went out this morning with a wonderful lady I met on one of my Church tours.
We had a nice swim and daughter #1 did what she does best tried to dominate every second of my visit, with mom lets do this, and mom I don't want to do that.
It was hard and embarrassing visit (I mean let's face it I was in my bathing suit!).
After the swim I did what I usually do when feeling down I go do some retail therapy. Since I am not suppose to spend any money (Our new budget is in the red) I do what any thrifty person would do I go looking at second hand stores. This is my De-stressor..to look around at peoples unwanted junk.
Sometimes you can find a treasure.
Then I thought about how God usually uses our junk to make us his treasure. Our ugliness our sadness our disappointment our emptiness all are for a reason. It points us in the right direction..up.
I realised today that I need to fill that emptiness with God, as his love and comfort are all I truly need. My good friend E said something to this last night on the phone and really she is brilliant, she was absolutely right I am here for a reason I am lonely for a purpose. I would definitely not be writing this blog if I were not living in the middle of no where with not a friend in sight. So my friend this is not a funny, silly blog day but a deep reflective day where good things will grow eventually it just will take awhile for the roots to find some good soil.
My Bible verse today is:
My body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water. Psalm 63:1
Treasure has a nice ring to don't you think?

14 Chicken scramble

OK,
so after years of my husband working with chickens I now own them, OK I had 15. Had did you get that? We started our chicken adventure two weeks ago, and you know the saying about the mechanic with the broken car....well we were the chicken expert with the broken down coop!
Our chicken gate was a old glass door, we were in the process of making a very nice wire one, until the fateful day arrived...
This fateful day was yesterday. DH and I were just sitting down to lunch when we heard fretful squawking in the general direction of the coop. DH bless his heart bolts out the door before I even have a chance to inquire about the noise. I can hear yelling and banging around, but was quite content to eat my grilled cheese, thank you very much. Little daughter #2 says mommy, Daddy's yelling! and I nod umhmm. Dh arrives a short time later looking a little mifed and says "didn't you hear me yelling"?  I reply with a smile and a big mouthful of cookie.
So we both head down to "the coop" to take stock. The chickens (the 4 left) are all pressed against the wire looking as though they would rather be anywhere but there.
Chicken feathers are strewn all over the outer enclosure and in the middle lays a plump beautiful ....dead....hen!
DH tells me that he had the neighbors dog cornered, contemplated  hitting it on the head with the shovel he had raised above his head, but seems how I took so long to respond to his murderous cries, thought better of the plan. He let the dog go growling at it the whole time, I guess the dog went from the hunter to the hunted!
So you see my friends, this is how I spent the rest of my day, looking for the rest of the chickens that "flew the coop".
I didn't find any yesterday but today when Daughter #1 went to feed and water the leftovers, there was Henny Penny The only smart chicken to come back to the free food, circus. On our way to the bus we spotted another one and all piled out of the van to try and capture this stray foul. I don't know who looked crazier the chicken flailing around or us driving to the bus stop with feathers in our hair!

OK almost at the end of our story but it would not be finished until I tell you of the burial. I thinking like a true farm girl was going to show DH what kind of grit this girl was made of, I, yes me... was going to bury my feathered friend. So I think to myself, where would a good site be? And trying to be the naturalist I choose the garden....#1 the soil is easy to dig, #2 it will make great compost right? So I did the hole pretty deep, I am congratulating my self...what's God say......Pride comes before a fall......I pick up poor dead bird with shovel...no way in this green swampy land I'm touching that! And I plunk him into the hole..thud..Yes my measurements are a little off...who knew she was so big? So I think well, I will just push him down a smidgen and as I pushed a great squawwwk erupts from the beak of the dead bird......I scream and jump backward throwing the shovel...so much for the pluck of a farm girl! After looking around to see that no one was looking I pick up my shovel and quickly finish the job! You know those rubber chickens are quite realistic!

What is a country girl anyhow?

A country girl is said to have grace and determination, her natural looks are radiant and fresh, without the use of makeup. (something I would never go any where without it in my old life)
She exudes down home charm. She does things city girls outsource, like cooking, cleaning and sewing.
(No not sewing!!)
She is not afraid of hard work or manure, and is proud of the blisters she receives cutting wood. She loves her family, and believes sit down meals, and prayer, can work miracles!
Hmm we shall see if I can pull this one off...this is the new me!

A new chapter

Here I am a self proclaimed city girl, who has been transplanted to the country. My roots are dangling out in the open, they are dry and shriveled, but I am learning with God's help to find some dirt to stick them in! My adventures and heartaches will be posted here as way of reflecting on my life and the beautiful dance of growth and maturation. This journey has just begun, a new chapter not yet written, I am excited to see what God has in store for my life.
Jeremiah 29:11 

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.