Once a Month Blogger

It was never my intention to turn into a once-a-month-blogger, but seems that's what it has come to.  I would love to share with you all the stuff that is happening in my life, but it seems that something always comes up and gets in the way. 

Well, I have some very, very, happy news.  Little Norman is here.  My wonderful daughter Joanna has given birth to a 8.4lb 20" bouncing baby boy.  He's such a cute kid.  I am blessed now to have 2 superduper grandbabies... oops... grandboys can't say "baby" anymore for Brandon... he's almost as tall as his mom now. 

So let me tell the tale.....  not to put you to sleep necessarily, but to record these happenings for "posterity".

Joanna came to the house (camper) from her house (camper) 100 ft away... on Wednesday AM 6:30.  She had gotten up in about 1:30 AM and was spotting, so she drover herself to the local hospital to see what was going on.  They checked her all over and told her that they felt her water was broken and leaking and that she should go home and get some rest and call her Dr. in the morning.  She had tried to get some sleep and now she was at our camper calling her Dr.  They made an appointment right away and she went in to get checked yet again.  Her Dr. felt that she should probably check in since they were unable to confirm that her water had broken.  We got to the hospital about 8:30 AM and they started an IV with antibiotic and got her settled in her room.  It was clear that this was going to be a rather inactive day, so I went on to work.  Joanna got some rest that day and was still not in any great labor when I came back after work, so about 8 PM I went home and decided to get some rest myself.  I called work and took off Thursday and Friday since it was pretty sure something was going to happen on those two day or at least before the weekend.  The Dr. gave Joanna something to soften  the cervix and a few hours later... about 9 AM on Thursday they began a low dose of Pitocin.  Finally she was getting some significant contractions.  By noon the contractions were getting intense.  About 7:20 PM she was ready to push.  By 7:44 she was holding her little baby boy after giving 3 hard pushes he was here.  It was a good delivery and she is doing very well. 

Joanna came home on Monday (cause nothing happens in the hospital over the weekend ya know), and is quite the Mommy.  It's been amazing to me to see her thrive in her new roll even with less that 4 hours of sleep each night.  At Norman's first check up on Tuesday the Dr. thought he was doing very well.  He's gaining weight and his color is great and he's very alert. 

Now you know this is the Grammy talking, so you will understand that I am just a little prejudice, but we love him to death and think of course that he's the most special baby in all the world. 

Here's some pictures to confirm what I just said.

feeling a little miserable right now....

only an hour old... we suddenly thought to take a picture :)

at about 2 hours... Mom's up and running.... sorta

next day... getting his footprint taken...

here I am in all my glory... snoozing on Mommy's lap.

our little bundle... a cute little cowboy swaddler... gift from our friend Carrie...

Norman James Peel... first outing... to prayer meeting.

Everyone was so happy to meet you and Gramma was really proud.

more admirers at church... and a mommy admirer too.

So that's the story as best I can recall.  We've had some very happy days this past week.  Thank you for spending some time with us.

Happy 2nd week of March

Last couple of days I haven't felt too well... some sort of flu is roaming around at work and two coworkers have been out for the count... hope it doesn't get any worse for me 'cause there's so much to do this week.

fall 2009

We've lost a couple birds this month.  I think they are just getting weary of winter and the weakest are getting hulled out.  The two chickens we lost were of the original stock from way back in  2009.  Here they are as curious young hens peeking out of the back door of the coop.  It was quite an ordeal to get them trained to go in and out through the plastic flaps.

All of these little girls had chicks of their own and now they are senior citizens.

We have a whole new flock and this year will be the year they end up in the freezer.  Even though this is a farm and I try not to make "emotional" attachments to my hens... this is still not a pleasant job for me.  I don't name the livestock and most of the year I rarely even go into the coop unless compelled to help with some project.  This year I did a little helping with the banding and pinioning, but that's about it.  Otherwise it is Mr. D's project.  I leave for work in the dark and come home in the dark during the winter months.  I spread the straw since Mr. D is allergic and if he is not well, I will water, feed, collect eggs etc.  Thankfully this winter hasn't been too bad for either of us healthwise.

I'm not sure where I got this picture from, but it just reminds me of my sweetie so much.  I remember when we had a wild turkey chick and it looked as though it was going to die and he cradled it in his hand just like this little bunny.  He really is a gentle folk  (but you gotta add a little grease under the fingernails).

Starting to think of the garden.  I'll probably start my indoor planting this weekend.  We're looking ahead to a really great next few days.  Our driveway is like a quaking bog right now and we can't drive up.  Not too bad for Mr. D and I, but poor Joanna who is 9 months pregnant.  She's a little winded by the time she makes it to the top.  Thank the Lord it looks like an early spring, so when the baby comes we hope it will be dried out a little.  She's a hiker though still hiking parts of the AT on her days off... so she's in pretty good shape for "climbing"  (our driveway goes straight up).

Here she is at her shower last month...

OK, Joanna... don't get mad at me... you can put it into the baby book.

Gotta love that girl.  She's so easy goin'.  I'm glad she's going to be a Mom.

I guess I'd better get home now and get some sleep.  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend if I don't get back here.  

Congrats to Connie and her son who have been in Germany enjoying family and friends and seeing all the old haunts.   And to Linda and her new little lambs they are incredibly cute!!

Interesting....

Hello from a snowy day in New England.  We had about 6" at our house this morning and it was snowing hard all the way into work this morning.  It's our first significant snowstorm all winter.  They are predicting 10" accumulation.  The wind was blowing briskly all night, so the roadways were a little treacherous with drifting this morning, but God kept me safe.

I wanted to take some pictures on my way to work, but had left the camera in my bag in the car overnight and it was too cold to take pictures this morning.  Soooo I added a picture from one of my favorite children's books.

Did you ever notice in your walk with the Lord that He will reinforce His message through many means?

Our pastor has been doing a series in Prayer meeting and the last couple Wednesdays he has opened to
I Kings 16 and 17... then this morning in one of the devotionals I get via email this is what showed up...

Title: On Ravens' Wings

Devotion: Lessons On Living
Scripture References:
1 Kings 17:2-5
Do you enjoy this devotional? Send it on to a friend!
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Title: On Ravens' Wings
Author: Woodrow Kroll
1 Kings 17:2-5
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.


On Ravens' Wings
A man wanted to buy a Rolls Royce. After thinking about it for several months, he contacted the automobile dealership to gather the pertinent facts about the model he was considering buying. He found out the price and then proceeded with some thorough questions about the automobile. Finally, only one question remained unanswered:


"What is the horsepower of this engine?" The salesman couldn't find that information in the brochures. Not knowing where else to look, he appealed to his sales manager, and the manager cabled the home office in England.  The answer came back with just one word: "Adequate."


After Elijah confronted King Ahab, God ordered him to go into hiding. The place chosen, the Brook Cherith, was a great place to hide. Ahab would never think of looking in such a forsaken area, but it was a challenge to survive there. Yet God proved Himself adequate. There was a brook for water, and at His command even the ravens helped provide for Elijah's needs.


No situation or circumstance is too difficult for God. When the world withholds its provision, He is adequate.  What God uses to provide for you may seem strange, but with all of creation willing to do His bidding, He will find a way.


Take heart. Those dark shadows on the horizon may well be God's ravens. Be assured that God will never forsake you nor fail you. Whatever your circumstances, you will always find Him adequate.


Others may fail you, but God never will.
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I guess God is trying to tell me something... or all of us something.  We have lots of new experiences heading our way very soon.  Joanna is expecting near the end of March.  We have a building project happening this summer, Lord Willing.  Yes, they don't seem like "dark shadows on the horizon", but they are major changes.  After digging up the front yard this past fall and all the dirt and dust from that... I'm not looking forward to keeping the place clean this summer, having a visiting grandson, and new baby grandson all at the same time.  I just need to remember God's promises to me and trust He will bring me through.  I know if I face it all with God's grace it can be a wonderful and fun summer.  It's all how I look at it.  I'll just need to ignore the dirt a little and be happy that change is taking place.
 
 
Have a happy "snowy" day... if it's snowing where you are.  If it's not, have a happy day anyway.



Life and Goals...

I've noticed that some of my friends are posting about goals.  Hey, I have goals too.  Though I don't usually write them down there are two main ones.  First, that I would grow closer to God, and Two, that I'd get stuff done in a timely manner.  I have many things to do, but mostly it's just everyday stuff and if it doesn't get done when it supposed to it throws the whole schedule off mightly. 

Some days I feel as though I am just sliding along on the surface... no real grip.  It's easy to get pushed around when life is like that.  I really want to dig deeper into my faith and family.  I've purchased a couple books that I hope to actually READ.  I think those along with my Bible time will help me to get a better hold on things. 

My schedule revolves around work, cleaning, cooking, and sleeping... anything else is an extra.   If I have a down time I've been knitting a sweater vest for the Grandboy coming in March.  I do try to reach out to others when the opportunities arrise.  For the most part, my world revolves around my home.  I like it there, but need to also be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I have found that just about the time I get comfortable someplace things begin to change.

It has been a lot of fun having my daughter living here.  She drops in after work and we chat about the day.  She's getting rounder and rounder and looking forward to when her little boy will be here. 
Feels like spring in the Nor'east.  The sugaring has actually started already in some places around the area.  Hard to believe, but I'm not sure we'll get any big snows this year.  After last year with snow storm after snow storm you'd think we'd be happy... I am :)

My mind is already turning to gardening.  I've gotta get the apple tree pruned before is starts setting buds.  It needs another spraying this spring too to keep all the bugs off.  As soon as the soil is thawed and dry enough I'll be able to go down and till it.  I want to plant some new herbs this year in the herb garden.  I have oregano established, also caraway and camomile and some wild flowers to attract the bees, but I want rosemary if I can find one that will take the hard winters up here and also lemon verbena.  I would like to get lavender started but none of my seeds germinated last year.  I'll try again this year.  If I can get it started, I'll pull up and get rid of the wildflowers and keep the lavendar.  The wildflowers want to take over the whole space.    Looking forward also to some parsnips this spring.

Pictures of our recent trip to Maine...

Mr. D and I with Mom and Dad (the birthday boy)

The birthday pie... my do we like to eat :)

The siblings... must have been tough to be the only boy :)

Taking a snooze with Spot... Spot's favorite lap

HODGE PODGE WEDNESDAY

I finally remembered to post this on Wednesday... usually I don't get to it till Thursday or Friday, but it's a little slower pace today so here I am :)

1. February 22nd is National Be Humble Day...what makes you proud? What keeps you humble?
I am humbled when I look about and see the accomplishments of many women who are working full-time and have children and families and then look at my own life and see the lack of accomplishment.  I'm having a hard time with the "proud" part... not that I don't feel pride in certain things from time-to-time.  When I see one of the beautiful paintings that Joanna has done, or see Heather standing tall and straight in her police uniform or I see the enthusiasm in the eyes of my grandson when he's talking about spiritual things... or when my husband stands firm on his beliefs even if there are many who would see it as foolishness.... those are times when I feel proud.


2. Where is the catch-all (aka dumping ground) in your house?
Any flat, vacant surface.  Nature abhors a void.

3. Do you make it a point to visit State/National Parks when you travel or even in your own hometown? What's your favorite?
We have many natural areas in our "neck-of-the-woods", my favorites all have rivers or waterfalls.  I like a small gorge in Reading, VT which is not a state or national park, but is beautiful and we've taken the kid hiking there several times.  Then there is Sculptured Rocks in Groton, NH which is a Geologic Site on the Cockermouth River.  As the name suggests it is an area where the water has eroded the rocks to form smooth rocky banks and bowls.  Local people like to swim up there in summer, but I just like to hike around in the area and admire the really beautiful creation of God.

4. How would you define honor?
Honor is what you give to someone who has done an heroic deed.  It could be a life of being consistently honorable which is even more heroic.  Honor belongs to the Lord first of all just for who He is, His life and His sacrifice to redeem us all from sin.   There are those who deserve honor these days as well for standing for what is right and doing the right thing in the face of adversity.   
5. Angel's food or Devil's food-which cake do you prefer?
My dad used to make a Strawberry Jello cake with Angel food Cake and it was delicious, but it's gotta be Devil's food...  dark chocolate cake with dark chocolate frosting... yum!

6. What's the most recent road trip you've taken? Where did you go and how many hours did you spend in the car? Do you like to zoom to your destination without stopping or leisurely wind your way there with stops along the way? What is your car snack of choice?
We just returned from a weekend trip to Maine which is a three hour trip for us.  We went to celebrate my Father-in-law's birthday.  It was a wonderful weekend filled with relatives and laughter and food and relaxation too.  We usually like to take our time traveling.  There is a wonderful quilt shop along the route.  We had planned to start early enough to take a few detours, but just as we were ready to drive out, a car was coming up the driveway... the tax assessor coming to measure stuff and look around.  Well, that took another hour out of our trip time.  It ended up the only place we stopped on our way was at the gas station.  I like to keep something to drink in the car... water or juice or soda, whatever.  When I'm traveling a very long distance something crunchy is good to have.  A cooler with celery sticks and carrot stick and maybe pretzels.  The crunchiness keeps me more alert when I'm driving. 

7. Recent headlines told how a preschool child in NC had their packed lunch from home taken away and a school lunch substituted by a school inspector who deemed the homemade lunch unhealthy. Reportedly the parent was then billed for the school lunch (chicken nugget meal) although an update to the story says the parent was not billed. The inspector was conducting a routine inspection of the classroom-he/she was not there solely to peek in the lunchboxes. The packed lunch contained a turkey and cheese sandwich, an apple juice box, a bag of chips, and a banana. You can read the story here. Your thoughts?
Just another example of  "BIG GOVERNMENT".  What a slap in the face to this mother who was trying to do the right thing and cared enough to pack a nutritious lunch for her daughter.  Yikes!  I think this story is just plain scary.  Next thing you know they'll be meal planning for us in our homes.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Random thoughts...hmmmm... my thoughts are just too scattered today to really buckle down to one subject.  I've tried several times to get a post together to put up on the blog... evidenced by the three posts still stuck in edit.

I've been thinking a lot about being a grandmother again soon.  I ordered some cloth diapers for Joanna today along with pins and pants.  I've also been thinking about what needs to be done next... picking up produce after work and stopping by the drugstore and getting home in time for prayer meeting.  This is generally the way my brain functions... just getting things done.  I have a post on goals which I'll put up today... maybe... or tomorrow.  I've wanted to add some pictures, but haven't really taken any recently.  Well, that's not really true, I did take some in Maine so I guess I could put those up here.  I'm thinking about what I might make for supper tonight.  I have hamburger meat and fish and lots of veggies.  I'm wondering if Joanna is going to get off early tonight.  She said she wasn't feeling well, with a sore throat, and had an important task to do too... so I'll find out when I get home.  If she's home I might make a big chicken soup.  

Well, is that random enough for ya?  Crazy isn't it how our minds float from one thing to the next. 

My lunch is about over, so I'll try to post here this afternoon if there's time.

Have a wonderful day!

Whataday... so far

This day actually started yesterday.  Mr. D had changed the oil in my car but found he had the wrong size filter.  He put the old one back on and came to pick me up at work, then he got the right filter.  So after we got home last night he went out in the dark and storm and changed the filter and noticed that one of the tires was low in air.  He went to fill the tire with air and acutally let more air out, 'cause the air compressor was frozen.  The bead broke and the tire went flat, so he fiddled with it a little and got it to take air and thought it was probably OK. 

This morning I got up a bit early because I wanted allow a little more time to get to work because of the storm.  We got about 4-5" of wet snow last night and then on top of that is was sleeting/raining this morning.  Went out to the car... now 6:30am... and the tire was flat.  Mr. D got up and changed it (thankfully we have extra studded snow tires around), and I got going.  Part way into my commute the oil light came on.  I think it's the first time that oil light has ever come on.  I pulled over in the sleet/rain and checked the oil and it was empty.  So I got out the oil and put some in (keep a good supply in the car).  I started out again. and the oil light came back on.  I pulled off the road again and started walking toward the house I had just come by.  Cell phones don't work in our neck of the woods, so no sense in having one.  I had just started out when some very nice folks stopped and picked me up.  They took me back home (to the end of the driveway) and I walked up to let Mr. D know what had happened.  On my way up the driveway I noticed a line of oil between my tire tracks in the new snow.  Guess something didn't get put on right.  Mr. D gathered up his tools and off we went to rescue the Neon.  We used the Blazer to pull the car up onto ramps.  What had happened was in the dark last night he had taken the old filter off, but the gasket was left behind and caused the new filter not to seat well, so the oil was leaking around the seal.

Took just a couple minutes and I was on my way to work again.  I was glad that I had started early this morning, 'cause after all that I was only an hour and a half late. 

Thankful it was an easy fix and the roads were not so bad.  Thankful for good neighbors who took me home.  Thankful for God who took good care of me and for giving me a husband who knows what to do when the car needs fixin'.  And right now I'm thankful for a warm office and a little extra heat.

Joanna starts work tonight in the kitchen at her new job. 

It's not and uneventful day...  and I'm hoping for no more challenges,  but if there are I know God will help me through.

Hope you have a great day!

Photos old and new

As promised, here's a few photos.  Heather is was sorting through family photos and came across a few "dinosaurs" I'd though you'd enjoy seeing too.

My handsome young man, Brandon.

Joanna, Me, Heather,and Brandon on Joanna's birthday hike near Mt. Cardigan

I received some photos on FB from Heather and thought I'd share.

It looks from the way everyone is bundled up that it was a really cold day, but was in the mid to upper 30s... a real heat wave after two very cold days.

Part of the trail followed along a river.  Very pretty.  Here's Pedro... Joanna's boxer.  He loves hiking with his "mom"

Flash back.  They we soooo cute when they were little.  What happened?  Joanna looks like she's afraid I might let go.

Add caption

Flash back even further.  This was while we still lived in Colorado.  L-R.. me, Joanna, in front of Joanna is her great grandmother Ruth, my dad, and he's holding Heather.

It was my delight to have the whole family stay with us in our little apartment in Littleton, CO.  My dad and Gramma are now gone, but Praise God we'll not be separated forever, this group will meet again in Glory.

Flash back even further to the late 60's/early 70's.  I can't remember exactly.  This is our family.  Myself, Dad, Mom and Brother Paul.  Mom has gone to glory now too.  She and Dad are enjoying the glory of Heaven together.  

Thank you Heather for scanning these pictures for me to share.  Love ya.