The Loveliest Couple

I met a couple today, through the sale of an item they purchased from me. They are of the Hutterite faith. I know very little of the people themselves within that faith base. I know some of how a colony works. I also know that within any group of people, you have the good eggs and the bad eggs. I was always taught that most Hutterites were of the bad egg ilk. Not so, people. This couple were the nicest and most down to earth people I have ever met. They had quite the sense of humour and it was such a blessing to see them interact as a couple. We spent about an hour and a half together. We shared many common interests. She is a great quilter, sewer, canner, gardener, just like I am. We shared some recipes for food and for healing oils and creams. She said her colony is just getting into more of the natural healing elements. They patiently explained about how their colony works - they each have their own home and look after that, they do their own families laundry and on occasion, they do their own cooking for their family. About the only things they do together is eat, the canning, gardening, the farm animals (in this case chickens and pigs), and the fields. They do have their own businesses - this couple have a cabinetry business that they share with two of their sons. She said that though they have teachers come in, the ladies over the age of 45 take turns teaching the kindergarten class and of course they share in looking after all the kids. They invited me to come visit whenever. I may take them up on it. We were able to share our faith, which when you think of it, there is no difference except what MAN has made of it. We will look for each other at the local Saskatoon farm. I truly hope I run into Mary and Levi again.

Today we have a melting pot - melting mud, melting snow, melting salt, melting snow. So nice except that I just washed my vehicle on Saturday. Oh, well I do have all those gift certificates for car washes to use up - so no worries. We will be into the plus side of temperatures by Wednesday and going further. That old Mr. Sun feels so wonderful on my winter dried out white skin. Maybe it will hit the magic +10C on the weekend. In which case, I will be sitting on my wicker chair, on the porch with a large glass of ice tea, watching the world go by. Oh joy! Life is good.

Nothing else new or newsworthy today. Did enjoy my dinner with my youngest son, my daughter and two of my grand kids. My middle grandson takes auntie out into the sun room and declares "Welcome to my summer home". He has such an imagination - gotta just love it. I wonder if he thinks he's moving in for the summer!

Take time to enjoy the weather and all that God has blessed you with.

Blessings to all

Jean

THE BIG NOTHING

Sorry, no posts this week. That stomach bug going around is to die for and I don't mean in a good way. I am told that some of us older folk will have lasting effects for a few weeks after. I thought I had protected myself pretty good. Wash hands - check, Use Hand Sanitizer - check, avoid people like the plague -- check --- NOT! My oldest son and family had it, I stayed away. They called for a babysitter, I thought they were over it until I got in their foyer and BOOOOOMMMM! Nicole says, Geoff got it back again this morning. I couldn't think of a polite way out of babysitting and by then I was in the contagious zone. Less than 24 hours later it was game over. I made it to work only one day last week. I still feel tired, and if I eat more than a few morsels at a time, my tummy gets quite bloated. I went to visit some friends yesterday and was so embarrassed as I could not quit burping. Enough sick talk.

Happy Palm Sunday. When I was small, some of the churches called it White Sunday and we all were to bring a tin of food. In those days we were told it would all go overseas to some needy country. Now, if churches still do that, I am certain it goes to the local food banks. I have always loved the story of Jesus riding a donkey. Was sort of disappointed this morning at church - no retelling of the Triumphant entry, no children waving palm branches and singing Hosanna. Just our regular service. Thinking about it, I think the little kids are too small and the medium size ones are too big now. If the parents took the little kids up front, there wouldn't be too many folk in the chairs. Yeah for growing churches. Now starts the march to Good Friday. I can hardly wait to read a bit every day this week, make notes and let the marvel of what God did for us sink in once again. This year I am working through a book by Kay Arthur called When The Hurt Runs Deep. It is one of the most awesome books I have ever studied.

We are going to get warmer temperatures this week - Yay - however, snow will accompany the warming trend three of the next four days. We really don't need more snow. As it is, the Weather guru's in the US have forecast another major flood for the Fargo ND area. If you live north of there you know that all rivers lead to Lake Winnipeg, then on out into James Bay. Needless to say all that water has to come our way and though a month ago, we had not a bad flood forecast, it will be interesting to hear what they say come the 1st of April. I really hope the folks in the western half of North Dakota won't have much flooding - they got hammered pretty good last year. I think it was Minot that most of the town was wiped out. It might be a good time to remind you all - DON'T BUILD WHERE IT USE TO BE A LAKE! Every year we get a bit of flooding. In the past it was usually a bit of over land flooding. It seems like the past 10 years or so, it is getting worse every year.

Back to church for a minute. We have a couple that if you didn't know they weren't related and married, you would think that they were brother and sister. They are married and have stair step boys. Six months, 1 1/2, 2 1/2, and 3 1/2. They all look identical. I don't know where she gets the outfits, but they all wear the same jeans, the same shirts and the same shoes - too cute. They are the best behaved little guys and such handsome little dudes. It will be interesting to watch them grow up. I think there may be quite a bit of mischief coming up. Mom is up to the challenge though.

Well, that was my week in a nut shell. Maybe some sewing or stitching may happen this week, if so good, if not well that will be okay too.

Enjoy the longer daylight hours, and the warmer temperatures. For you all in warmer climes that can be outside working in the yard - I am so jealous. Of course that jealousy will only last until the first couple of things I rake or dig and I realize just how out of shape I am.

Blessings

Jean

LUNCH

Taking a break and decided to make Hoisin Rolls for lunch. Very good, very healthy, and very low in calories, sugar, sodium, fat and the fiber you can make it as much as you wish. The calorie content is 16 each. Today I used 1/2 cup each celery, onion, red pepper, 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, 2 tablespoons of either sweet chili cause or the hot one, some garlic powder, ginger powder, left over roast beef, and butter lettuce leaves. With me using left over roast beef, the calorie count on each one went up to 20 calories. I made 5 for my lunch and I will be satisfied for the rest of the afternoon. My total lunch calories = 100.

Big doings today. Started my spring house cleaning. It is amazing how many places you find dust, that you were certain you cleaned. Oh, well. Some of my walls are red. Don't get me wrong, I grew up with a lot of red clothing so my parents could find me in the bush. In most of my other houses I have incorporated a bit of red. In the short time I had to look for my present abode, I decided no more red. So, what did I end up with? Four red walls. The thing I really dislike about red walls is that every speck of dust you will see on them. I do dust the walls about every month to six weeks, but after today's dust, me thinks I need to do them once a week. I use to take and wash all the walls, ceilings, take everything out of the cupboards, drawers, linen cupboards and wash everything. Now I try to do it as soon as I seen something that looks a bit grimy. As for the walls, I learned that if you dust them regularly, then are diligent with wiping the fingerprints etc., then tada no major clean job to be done. I am still out on the ceilings. I usually go over them every couple of months with a mop that looks like the ones the hospitals use. Mine is a Vileda (sp). I like it as I can easily change heads mid job if it becomes too grimy. Also it swivels, so can usually get the baseboards and corners of the walls and ceilings very well. I am not one to use commercially available cleaning products. Good old vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, laundry soda and borax are it for me. All very inexpensive ways to clean and work like gangbusters. I did learn a trick last week about cleaning mattresses or whatever have gotten kind of smelly. First wet the area with white vinegar - I used 1/4 cup. Then over that I spread baking soda and rubbed it in. I let it sit for about 15 minutes, then I added 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide (3%), and let it sit. Then I took my Little Green Machine carpet/upholstery cleaner and sucked it all up. Then I neutralized it with a bit of water and sucked it up again. I went over it a few times. Then I used my hair blower to dry it a bit faster. You could also use a fan on it. Smells wonderful now. I would test an area first. This will work on anything, mattresses, carpets, upholstery,car upholstery, but because you are using hydrogen peroxide - test first. I want to get my big cleaning out of the way before it gets nice. After it gets nice, I probably won't spend too much time inside. My last chore will be the windows, but have learned that those micro fiber cloths really are worth their weight in gold as far as cleaning any glass, mirrors etc. I haven't tested the Norwex ones that have silver in them. I wonder if they can make the silver fine enough so that they don't scratch, and then if they make the silver fine enough, how would it stay in the cloths. Must be an answer, but I am more than satisfied with what I do now. Do wish I had a man about the house though, some of the furniture is very heavy to move.

In a bit I am off to #1 son's to babysit. Everyone there has been sick for about three weeks. This past week it has been the stomach bug. Daughter-in-law is in a wedding party later this summer and the social is tonight, so she is off to help set up and then help run it. Son #1 will be home around 4:30 but has asked if I will stay and help until little P goes to bed. I am almost certain they are not contagious anymore, so will take the chance. They tend to eat very healthy, so will bring some of my Hoisin Rolls along to add to whatever else I will be making for supper. For those of you who have no idea what a Social is it is an evening where you buy tickets for the event. With your ticket you will get music, food and silent auction prizes. There is usually a bar and so much partying going on. The money collected from the social is used by the couple getting married to help pay for their wedding, honeymoon or help with a down payment on a house. Couples usually get anywhere from $7000 to upwards of $15000. Manitoba and a couple of other provinces are the only ones allow socials. Social season generally runs from the beginning of November until Mid April at which it turns into Cottage season and no one is around to attend socials. Just about every young person and some older ones also go to one or two socials a weekend. Good cheap fun, and you can get some wonderful prizes. For my #1 son's his boss donated a cruise as a prize, and a furniture manufacturer donated a recliner chair, so you can see where the majority of the money comes from. For the silent auction you buy tickets - by the arms length. So, you will probably pay $5.00 for a set of tickets and end up with three or four arms length of tickets. Most people set aside $20 for tickets. The food is the other big thing. Certain nationalities put on fabulous spreads, others use the standard "Social Food". This would be Kielbasa sausage, Rye Bread, Cheese, Pickles and lots and lots of pretzels. Some people go all out and will almost do a three course meal. Those socials are always really popular. Mommas sometimes use it to practice for the wedding or shower food.

Anyway, I better run. We are to get a mini blizzard today and tomorrow with up to 20cm (8 inches) of snow. Hope I get home for #1's before it starts.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Blessings to all

Jean

WILL ... IT ... EVER....END?

Our blasted winter will not give up. We are to get snow yet again and the temps. are back down in the -25C area again. I see though that Alberta has it much worse, so guess I should not grumble. A friend put on his Facebook page that he had started his tomatoes, peppers etc. I told him he had a lot of faith. Wes came back with "Jean, it is only eight weeks till planting season". Guess I better bite my tongue. Here in Manitoba, we can have snow banks so high you can't see across the road and the next week it will be flooding and you really cannot tell there is land under that sea. Like when I first came to Manitoba and all I could see was water, water every where water. But I still moved here. Must have been nuts - nuts in love with my hubby. Though I am sure that if I had of really wanted to stay in Alberta my Glenn would have said okay.

My family will be having a reunion this year - nothing big only about 65 people. It will be a practice run for the Big One that is next year. I hear tell it is our branch of the family that is to host that one - may be interesting, if we choose to take it on. However, here I was sitting in my snowdrift, writing a newsletter regarding our reunion for July. Quite the feat to do when you cannot fathom warm weather or that there will be a day when there isn't an eight foot snowdrift blocking your view. Did get it done and in the mail. Yes, I used snail mail. Everyone changes providers so fast, it it hard to keep up with all the email addresses, but I did put out a call for them as it would be so much easier sending it with a push of the computer button instead of the push of the copier button, then push of the debit card button as I mail them off. I don't mind really, I myself am rather addicted to paper print rather than e-print. Though I do appreciate both. Will be fun. The date is set, but not the location. I do have some ideas even if it rains. My parents lived all over the place in Alberta, will be interesting to see what other people think. I have so many ideas going through my head, I am sure I could fill two or three notebooks. Since I don't need that many ideas, I will write them down and at some future date they may be used. One thing for sure - after the day is done - the cousins will be having the "After Party". I have an idea of a place for it, but I am almost certain it will end up being at Dave and Michelle's as they host wonderful get togethers. They have a New Years Eve party each year and this last one went till 6:00 a.m. They sure can sit and tell stories, play cards and other games and generally have a great time. My kids missed the party this year and consensus was - Not Ever Again. They put all the kids down to sleep in one or two rooms . The kids love sleeping together and don't mind sleeping on the floor. An adventure to be had - for sure.

My house still has not sold and even though now is the time for "hot markets", in the country, not so much. I figure it will be a couple more months before I get an offer. In the country, it all gets backed up. I put my house up, someone puts an offer in, but then it is conditional to theirs being sold, then they get an offer and yup you guessed it another conditional offer. We might as well put our houses all in a draw and change place every two years, but continue to own our own. Would be cheaper and we would get a change of scenery and not have to wait.

I do have a stitching finish for this week. See below. I almost had two, but then found I had used the wrong colour in a very large area. Now I am deciding to just scrap it or take it out and re-stitch. It is one of those beads and buttons ones that is done on paper. If it was done on fabric, certainly I would have taken it out, but paper is so much cheaper.

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Small piece only about 12 inches long and seven wide

Up close of the satin stitches

The hardanger section.

 

 

 This week was boring - just work, household chores, sleep and my family having first the cold then the stomach bug. Went to their house today and my daughter was right all you smell is sickness everywhere. They hope to feel well enough to do a major house clean this weekend. Yes, I offered, but as it is till an ongoing issue - no sense for a day or two. My son's administrative assistant said her class had 11 kids missing on Thursday with it. Good thing it is report card week and hardly anyone had school today. I really hope it doesn't hit the hospitals or the nursing homes.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Blessings to all

Jean

WEEK OF MARCH 4TH TO 10TH

I am going to try an idea that Ilene over at www.the sunroseandthewindblue.wordpress.com does. She write on her blog all week then posts it near the end of the week. I think I will join her. She actually has two blogs now. This one will more detail about their move to Oklahoma and the changes they are making to the house they bought. The other blog www.rockwhisperersgarden.wordpress.com is about the challenges of gardening in what I would assume is much like we have up here in parts of Manitoba sort of a desserty/hardpan/rocky type soil with lots and lots of wind. Hey that could also be like the place I grew up in.

When I was younger, I would think about God's creation and I imagined that each area of the earth would be different and within each country each area would be different. By different I mean that each area would be extremely different - guess I had a wild imagination. God did do that to some extent, but he in his infinite wisdom has areas around the world that are similar. I now understand it has to be this way because of the jet stream, weather patterns etc. I also have experienced many weather pattern changes over the years I have been alive and for a short period of time I fell for the Climate Change idea. Now, I see it fits in with all the other things; wars, disturbances etc. I now believe it is another way God is using to get our attention. I am not knocking the Climate Change thing, but I do firmly believe that God made this earth and because he knows the beginning to the end, he would have taken into account all that human's were going to do to the earth. I firmly believe that if God chooses for the earth to be here for another 1000 years, he is going to be taking care of it and all of our needs and we don't need to worry so much and fight so much over who is wrecking earth. God Is Good - All The Time! I do believe though that to show respect to my wonderful creator, I must take care of my little area and be mindful of what may or may not be a good thing. As he chooses to provide for me, I need to be aware and provide and look after what he has given me. So, if I was living on a farm I would certainly do the grain farming etc, but I would first take a good long look at what God put there and needs to be protected the most. I think that as the world got settled in that those people did this otherwise how would we see and know about all the beautiful flowers, streams, grasses. Yes, some are gone and that totally is human fault. I think we can get back to living in a more down to earth friendly way. Didn't mean to rant about climate change - sorry.

This week was a week of looking back and forward. God has been having me go through a very hard season for the past six months or so. I love Widow's Christian Place and how so often God uses the daily post. Usually they speak to me about whatever God has on my heart. So comforting to know that he uses others in this way and the magical part for me is that these people write these bits sometimes months in advance and don't even know who their writing will touch or how it will work, but as they write and pray God knows who will be touched by their words. God Is Good --All The Time.

I heard a sermon about a month ago speaking on how God works though our layers. These layers will be all the things he wants to either remove or change in our lives. Before I heard this sermon, I couldn't quite figure out why God would touch on one thing and then in rapid succession touch on so many others. After the sermon I realized that he is working on my layers. These layers for me often hinge on the next level and so it just seems like everything is all wrong. I was beginning to doubt God and my faith. That also is a place I did not want to go. However, I prayed that he would continue to work through the layers no matter how much I squirmed. One of the layers is family and how ours seems to not be doing so well. God has brought me to realize a couple of things. One is that we pussy-foot around how Glenn was the buffer in our family. My kids are much like me in ways and we rub each other the wrong way. We need to learn to talk things out and so we are starting to do that. With this we also need to forgive. Saying "Sorry" is not the same as forgiveness and we are slowly learning the difference. Praise God for his mercies. We will be whole again. Another thing is that I had given up on all my dreams. Dreams Glenn and I had together. God allowed me to make some decisions, that I thought were important because they were ones Glenn and I shared. Then everything went wrong - way wrong and I chose to give up. This week there was an awesome post on dreams and goals and not giving up - but allowing God to change them into what he wants. He does have plans for everyone of us. When I look back on our dreams, they just need an adjustment and that is what God is showing me. The journey will go on and it will be good.

This week was also Glenn's birthday. What to do - so we all did nothing, choosing instead to reflect on him and his life. At some point we will all come together with our stories and it will be a wonderful time of sharing.

Back in mid December, I had to put my little buddy down. Roscoe had been with us for 13 years, but his kidneys were failing and he wasn't able to hold it very long. It was time. It was hard. It was a Glenn thing. We all remember him walking the dog, playing catch with him and on occasion taking him for rides. The biggest one was him walking Roscoe and taking the littles to the park. Such hard memories but so gentle at the same time. Fast forward to about six weeks ago, when I decided to get another dog - a puppy. A cute little Shi tzu cross Sheltie. Duncan is a wonderful little dog, so playful, so smart, so good. I was really hoping his fur would be hair and not fur. He got the Sheltie fur-not good for me. I starting getting the allergies right away and kept thinking, I will adjust. But I didn't, so then I took more asthma meds, more nasal spray, more eye drops then added the Reactine. By this last Wednesday, I felt pretty bad and by Friday I knew something was wrong besides the obvious. I checked my blood pressure and it was through the roof and my throat was feeling thick. So, it became my health or the dog. Yesterday, I gave him to his new forever family and I know they will love him to bits. I on the other hand will miss him, but have learned an important lesson and that is listen to what the spirit is saying and God was really telling me to not get a dog. Today I am starting to feel better. This week will be better and hard just as each week has been since Glenn went to his new abode in heaven. I need to remember God Is Good -- All The Time.

May God Bless you all this week.

Jean

I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME

get this blogging thing down to every day or every week. I think I would be satisfied if it was twice a month, but this every few month thing has got to stop.

I am so, so tired of winter. Here in the peg, we have finally reached the point where the residential roads are melting and today I heard some hot bye byes as my darling daughter use to say to her daddy. Hot bye byes are hot cars. There is still far too much snow to hear the motorcycles out just yet. Motorcycle licenses don't take into effect till the end of this month. The way it works is that you pay a bazillion dollars to be able to ride from April 1st till the end of October. If the weather is good before that or after October, then I believe you pay an extra premium, from there you still pay insurance, but it is cut down somewhat cause the machines are in "storage" for the winter. These guys and gals pay a very high price for their insurance. Manitoba Public Insurance says it is because the amount of motorcycle accidents, but I am sure there are far fewer bike accidents than car accidents in Manitoba and I feel it is unfair to penalize them for the choice of transportation.

Birds - we don't have any yet, mind you the magpies were making some nests today as were the crows. In addition to those birds the majority of over winter birds are chickadees and sparrows. They tell us there are some thirty species that over winter - in my neck of the woods I do get to see the odd cedar wax wing and blue jays but that is it. As I live in a new condo development, we will not be getting very many birds here for a few years. There is bush near by, but they like some shelter and our trees aren't very big yet. I do love to hear the meadow larks, the Robins and the other birds sing and so end up going for a long walk to the older area of my community or to the provincial park that is only a couple of miles away.

Tonight though it is to go down to -20C with a windchill of -27C. For you in the US that is a bit colder than your 0F.  It won't stay like that only for the night and tomorrow and then we will get back up to -4 or -5C. Up until a few years ago, we usually got one day in March where we would reach the magic number +10C - 50F and then that meant that we wouldn't get temps. like we will have tonight. Now it is usually middle April or so before we get that high. The sun is warm though and I have been able to sit in my three-season sun room since the beginning of February - but only if it is sunny out.

Stitching- I have a few things almost finished, but started back at my bobbin lace class, so for the next eight weeks that will take all my free time. There are actually only two stitches in bobbin lace, but there is a myriad of ways to put the stitches together. It is very easy to get lost and this is only my third piece and the first time where I am using a cloth stitch, a whole stitch with twist and a half stitch. The half stitch is just half of the cloth stitch so not considered a stitch on its own. I need much practice. I need to take frequent breaks, not just for my eyes but also for my concentration. I concentrate so hard that I forget what I am doing and end up having to backtrack a lot. I am told this is the hardest lesson of all and after this it will get easier. I hope so, I have loved lace all my life - even if I don't wear it much, and I would like to be able to learn as many different kinds as I can.

Well I just wanted you all to know that I am still stitching and life goes on. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Blessings

Jean