1. Aloha! On August 21, 1959 Hawaii officially became a US state. Have you ever been? Upon arrival would you prefer an orchid or a hibiscus to tuck behind your ear?  No, I've never been to Hawaii.  I'd like to travel someday.  I'd like to see other places, Hawaii being one of them.  It's one of those dreams that I have a feeling will never come true, but my real home is in Heaven and I'll be content to go there.  I'm a flower fanatic, so either one would be just great but the orchid would probably last longer.

2. Since we're talking tropical...what's your favorite food or beverage made with pineapple?  Mmmmm I like pineapple.  I like fruit cake, but only if it has big chunks of pineapple.  I like pineapple coolers... chunks of ice (I brake mine up with a rolling pin - no wonder my pie crust has divits), plain yogurt (if you feel especially "sinful" get the whole milk yogurt), and crushed pineapple in a blender... I have an immersion type blender, so there is very little clean-up and lots of enjoyment.  I do like pineapple, but wild blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are even "yummier"!

some fresh wild blackberries and raspberries from around our property

3. Do you believe in soul mates? Explain.I'm assuming you mean as a mate for life kind of "soul mate" as opposed to a "kindred spirit".  I think there is the mate that God has chosen, but if you don't get it right, God can cause love to grow.  We often don't get it right in life and God comes to our rescue over and over.  If we wait on His guidance in our lives we will be in the right place at the right time.  If not we must settle for what we have and what we have can be sweet if we look to Jesus.

So I guess the answer is "yes", I believe there is a perfect mate if God intends for there to be a mate.

4. Share a memory about the house you grew up in. My brother and I grew up in a lot of different houses.  I guess the one I remember most vividly is a small trailer we had in Maine.  My brother probably remembers it better since he's 4 years older than me.  This was a trailer smaller than many modern camper trailers, in fact it was about the same size as the camper I live in right now.  The back room was divided in two with a partition.  My brother had one side and I had the other.  We both had a small closet with drawers under that my father had added.  My parents slept on a hide-a-bed in the front of the trailer.  It was VERY small, no indoor plumbing and wood heat, but it was also a wonderful home with lots of love.  I especially remember Christmases there.  My father loved to tease us about Santa Claus and we always got big boxes from our relatives far away.  My grandmother would sent the most delicious fruit cake (with whole cherries and big chunks of pineapple) all the way from Bellingham, WA to Alexandar, ME... check out a map... that about as far away as you can go east to west and still be in the USA.

5. Are you comfortable with silence? Yes!  I love it when I can think quietly or read quietly.  There are other times when I like noise.

6. You spot a giant spider on your bedroom wall...what's your next move? (all spiders are giant, right?) Funny you should ask... we have an abundance of giant barn spiders... I mean giant.  They live around our camper door and entry way and kill a huge number of flies and moths.  So I keep them.  I should name them since I talk to them frequently and tell them they better get busy reducing the fly population or their lives are in danger.

7. My idea of fun does NOT include the normal stuff that people think of as fun.  I would prefer to take a hike in the woods than go shopping.  I would prefer to spend time in the garden pulling weeds or picking veggies.  I would prefer to watch the ducks swimming in the pond and interacting or sit with a good book or do some cross stitch or sewing.  Those are my idea of fun.  I don't like to spend money at an amusement park, or go to a crowded place with lots of loud music etc.

8. Insert your own random thought here. I had a really grumpy night Monday night.  It was hot in the house and because of Mr. D's allergies we had to close up the house early in the evening.  I had not done all my cleaning on Saturday because of the "chicken swap" that ended up with no sales.  I can't believe no one wanted those beautiful Muscovy ducks.  We have 24 of them that hatched this spring and no one wants any of them which means we will be feeding them until butchering time and then have to kill them all **sniff** 



my sweetie at the "chicken swap" with all our little ducks


Then I thought how foolish it was to be ugly like that in my heart.  Think of all the blessings I have.  I have a wonderful husband who puts up with me when I'm grumpy and shouldn't have to.  I have a beautiful daughter living right next door with my very cute grandson (4 months old) who had for the past two weeks washed all my laundry and hung it out for me in the sun.  God had given us a beautiful piece of property to live on and a night sky filled with a "gazillion" stars.  I have so many blessings I don't even have time to list them all or do I have the space here or anywhere for that matter. 

Norman James Peel,  4 mos, 6 days

My grumpy evening was short-lived.  I would like to abolish all grumpiness but it seems to gradually creep up on me.  It's not invited and when it arrives I kick it out right away, but the damage it can do in that very short period of time is phenominal.

I would like to say "never again", but that would not be true.  I will strive for that though.

Hope you all have a wonderful day... no grumpiness allowed!

Tour of the "Blogosphere"

Had a little time today to swing around the blogosphere.  It's great to see you are all busy and happy and productive and it's great to drop in and visit for a couple minutes from Australia, to Pennylvania, to Kansas, to Missouri, and back to New Hampshire.  Isn't it amazing?  What a difference from just a few years back when the only way to communicate economically was to mail a letter.  It took some time to write the letter and then to get it from the desk to the mailbox with postage, then sometimes you'd get a return letter, sometimes not. 

I went to visit my friend Sharmayne from Australia.  It's fun to see the changing seasons for her.  Right now she's in the midst of the winter season and we're in the midst of summer.  She makes soaps and is very talented with yarn.  Stop in and see some of her handiwork.  She also sells her soap, but not sure what the postage would be like to get it to the states.  Unfortunately the internet has it's limitations.

Then there's my blogging friend Gina from Pennsylvania  who is also very talented and a great mom with a wonderful family who all get together for fun events like butchering, canning, and just plain good fun.  Her latest post was about their new chickens.  We have that in common and gardening... I love to hear about her garden.  She also has the most adorable children.  Gina's a reader, who often gives book reviews.  I've ordered a few of the books she has recommended.

Then I get to visit with my friend Connie from Missouri.  She has such encouraging posts.  It's fun to get those in my email box nearly every day.  She also has a wonderful family with three adorable children.  She will be homeschooling this year, so pray for her as she takes this on as well as caring for a toddler.  Lots of you moms out there know what that's going to be like.
She shared this gem the other day and it made me laugh outloud!!!

Then there's my Kansas buddy Linda who is the bestest cooker.  I love to hear about her yummy recipes and what a talent she is with a needle in hand.  She lives on a farm with horses, sheep, chickens and kitties.  I also get her posts via email and it's always such an encouragement to hear all about her family and job and farm life and crafts and cooking adventures.  Hey, Linda, do any of your recipes fail???

Finally back home to our "neck of the woods".  I love my friend Mrs. T's  blog.  She always has something encouraging to say in her posts.  She puts me to shame with my measily few posts over this past year.  She also has many adventures and many yummy recipes to share.  Even though I get to see Mrs T often and get to taste some of those yummy recipes, I still like reading her blog when I have opportunity.

You all encourage me and inspire me to get going and get things done and get creative.  Love ya all even if I don't comment all the time... I'm lurking. 

This is only a sampling of the blogs that I visit, but ones I highly recommend for others to read and follow as well.  If I could give them all an award, I would.

Hello From the Millett Farm

The garden is growing and producing and we are thankful.  We've had beans, peas, and cucumber so far, but lots more on the way.  Joanna's nasturtium are drawing in the hummingbirds and the sunflowers are drawing in the bumblebees.  My grandson was here through the month of July and we had loads of fun and he was able to go to camp at The Wilds of New England for two weeks through the grace of God.  We sent him home exhausted and in the middle of a crazy rain storm. 

It has been a great summer so far with many blessings and work to do.  My job has been extremely busy... good for job security, but exhausting too.  We've been enjoying the new deck and the outdoor fireplace.  We've had numerous visit from bear but not pictures since they like to visit at night and no one wants to go be too friendly with them. 

The 28 little ducklings are growing up and now go out and enjoying the duck yard.  Here they are going on a "playdate" under all the momma's watchful eyes.  They really didn't want me out there taking pictures of them. 

Our meat birds are getting "meaty".  I gotta get busy and use up last year's chickens before we put in this years.  Won't be long till butchering day arrives.  They seem to be quite healthy.

They are "waddling" well. - * 3steps, plop * 3 steps, plop* -  That's how they get around.

More pictures later so that you can see more of what's happening on the farm.

Just a word about the grace of God. I Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."  God's grace is something I do not deserve and certainly is not something I can earn.  In fact the more I lean on the Lord, the more grace he shows.  The more I try to do things on my own the more challenging life becomes.  I know in my head that God has my times in his hands and that the more time I spend with Him the more precious He is to me, but life just seems to crowd out these thoughts and I find myself floundering, like Peter on the stormy sea.  I wonder what I'm going to do about this or that and don't think so much about when I'll get to spend some more time with God in prayer or in the Word.  God seems to always catch me when I'm falling and bring me back to that place where I am listening to Him again.  Oh foolish human that I am.  When will I ever learn that without God I can do nothing.  Unless He is the builder there is no soundness to the structure.  Unless I abide in Him my life will be fruitless.  I wonder how many others struggle with this very thing.  I'm sure there are other's out there who get into this vicious cycle.  If you have any helpful hints, let me know.  

It's a beautiful sunny day out there today.  Even though I woke up with a terrific headache, the pain is easing up and I'm at work with a full staff today, so it won't be too crazy.  God is good to me again.

Have a great day!