CALLING ALL BIRD-LOVERS

Just a short post...

check this out.  Fledging Red Tailed Hawks at Cornell.... live feed.  Might take a little time to start the live feed, but very interesting.  One took off this morning and is perched in some nearby oak trees.  Another is about to fly... sitting on an outside ledge.  Another is still in the nest eating meals that the mother is bringing.

Check it out if you can.

I'm going to do it!  Hodge Podge Wednesday and it's actually Wednesday.  I usually don't even get to read these till Thursday or Friday, but this week sounded like interesting questions.  I'm linking up to Conny's blog  and to Joyce's blog and will share my humble opinions:

1. My daughter2 is graduating from university this month and plans to teach elementary school. What are three qualities you most want to see evidenced in a teacher? 

I was a teacher at several different Christian schools for 15+ years, not counting the years I went to school and did student teaching.   I think a teacher should always seek to grow and update their own education.  They will be able to relate to what's going on in the world of the children they are responsible for.  Lead by example.  Always be ready to answer lots of questions and ask questions that will promote thoughtful answers.  Follow Christ's examples when He taught.  I had the privilege of teaching science and math in the 7th - 12th grades.  I wish often that I was still teaching.  My career change was based on our financial need more than anything else.

2. You can tell a lot about a person by_____________________.

... the way they treat others and how they react under stress.  ...for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.  Luke 6:45

3. What song makes you think spring?

Vivaldi - "Spring"  from "The Four Seasons" 

4. May 1st is Mother Goose Day...share your favorite nursery rhyme.

Who on earth comes up with this "Mother Goose Day"... I was never really that fond of "Mother Goose" stories.  I was more of a Dr Seuss kinda mom.  My girls remember those stories well and "The Hungry Thing".  I like SOME of the old Mother Goose illustrations though but others are just scary.



like this one is so warm and inviting...





but others are like this...  whoever came up with this evil looking Humpty Dumpty?  Yikes!



5. What makes someone unforgettable?

I'm sorry to say that I most often remember those who were hurtful.  I don't mean to do that and usually wish I could just forget, but those memories stick.  I do remember many who have been helpful and kind or just fun to be around.
6. Should music and/or art be part of a well rounded education?

Absolutely!!!  It has been studied and found that learning to read music or play an instrument excel in other academic areas as well.  My daughter the artist has a better frame of mind when she is doing art or creating.  She is more relaxed and easy going.  When she is kept from her creativity by work or other stuff going on in her life, she can get depressed and anxious.  I think some people are just hard-wired that way.
7. What social situations make you flustered or nervous?

I get really nervous and/or embarrassed when receiving recognition for something I've done whether it is good or bad.  I've been in both situations.  I don't like to go to the hairdressers, 'cause the focus is on me.  I don't like "awards" where the focus is on me.  I've been asked to speak at certain times and even though I spent all those years teaching and loved it so, I still get almost sick to my stomach when I have to get up in front of my peers.  It is getting better as I get older, but still panics me.
8. Insert your own random thought here.

My random thoughts at this time are really in the forms of prayers.  Prayers for a young girl who is practically homeless and I have no way of helping, prayers for a friend who just had surgery on her throat and I can't go visit till Thursday, prayers for my daughters and their boys, prayers for our house that it will somehow get together before next winter and I won't have to live in a camper unless I want to actually go camping.  My mind is flooded with thoughts, but no answers, so I just pray about them.  What else is there to do?  I'm waiting for clear direction which I know will come eventually, but the waiting is not fun.

Two Week update

Well, if I don't get this done, it will be a three week update.  Joanna and Norman are doing very well.  All good check-ups.  She's going through the nesting phase a little late..  I came home last night after work and she had the mattress off the bed and was condensing and storing winter stuff and putting things in order. Actually in a camper this needs to be done on a continual basis or there is no room for you to move. 

Mr. D was away for a couple days to the Middletown Bible Conf, in Middletown, CT.  I would have loved to go, but took two days off already for the birth of Norman.  It gave me some time to spend with Joanna so we went out to eat Monday.  We haven't been to a restaurant in a long time, so this was  a very special treat.  Then last night we had homemade bean/rice burritos together. 

The worst part of Mr. D being gone is of course I miss him.  The next worst thing is having to take care of the "stock" (chickens and ducks).  It's been raining for a few days and all around the coop is a greasy muddy mess.  I somehow avoided landing in it.  YEA!  Actually, taking care of the birds is not a bad thing, just getting up so early when I'd much rather be Z-z-z-z-z-z-z :)

from Google images... this is Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington State.
I've been to this park... when I was very young.  Scenes like this are common.  Isn't it beautiful with all the spring flower?

We are planning the garden.  I ordered a few seeds, but most likely we'll not plant too many new things this year.  Our garden is looking pretty good right now.  The chickens have been out there all fall/spring eating anything that's green and bugs and stuff.  It needs to be tilled, but otherwise the weeds are gone and it should be much easier to get ready.

Hmmmm... must have slept wrong on my wrist last night 'cause it's really achy this morning... hard to type.  Just took my watch off, maybe that will help.

Back to the garden.

I bought some different beans this year.  Mr. D loves the Romano pole beans, but they don't have fruit until late summer.  This year I want to supplement them with some "potash" to see if the vines will produce more and earlier.  We always add manure which is rich in nitrogen and the plants are lush and green usually, but the Romano beans don't produce a lot of fruit.  I think it'd be good to add some other nutrients to see if that will help.

So this year I'll plant Romano, asparagus beans, and Ruth Bible beans on the fencing and some half runner Amish Gnuddel beans.  I've heard good things about the Gnuddel and I'll grow them on the corn as the seller suggested.  I'm hoping they'll make good dry beans for winter soups.

We'll also have Jacob Cattle bush beans for shell type beans and dry.  I have eaten these as green beans, but they're sorta stringy. 

Other things we'll have are Lutz Winter Keeper beets, Amish Paste tomatoes, stakeless tomatoes, our own "Dan" squash which is a good hard winter variety, straight neck summer squash and zucchini.  There will also be spring peas, and parsnips that have overwintered.  The herb garden will have a few new things.  I'll try again to grow some lavender.  I'll also put in some Basil of a different variety. 
I think I bought some more strawberry chard seed too.

In the flower bed I hope to dig up and transplant a few items, making them more visable and improving the bed they are in.   Mr. D has put the chicken egg box right in front of the flower bed and I just think it needs some "shaping up".  I had originally just put that flower bed in quickly so that my flowers would survive when we moved.  Now it needs some help.

Gotta love spring.  It's been cold this week and rainy, but looks like the weekend will be glorious.  I'll post some pictures of the progress.

Happy Day to you!

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!
____________________________________________________________


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