I AM still alive!

Ah...its been a while, but lots has gone on - and what I really wanted to do was a pictoral guide to my excuses for not blogging...but since I have no patience for uploading on my slow speed 'net and I'm not sure how to link in pictures from any of my online albums, I guess I'll just be writing a bit...
So what HAVE I been doing with all the spare time I must have since I'm not blogging...

-Lorelei...besides the usual, feeding, diapering (and washing diapers) and carrying around - I've been playing piano with her, reading her books, tossing her around (she loves this, I think she's going to be an adrenaline junky!), having tickle time, enjoying bath time, and of course many miscellaneous adventures! She is almost 7 months old now, she can sit, does lots of rolling and wriggling around to get where she wants to go, and I'm sure she'll soon be crawling! She has two teeth now and loves to feed herself mum-mums.

-Garden...Well, truthfully, I haven't spent as much time on the garden as I should have, it ended up with a LOT more weeds in it then I had planned...but it has also produced well, so I can't complain...I have just a few carrots...they didn't germinate well; lots of lettuce and spinach...which I didn't use as much of as I had hoped/planned; a ton of beets...anyone want some? I can't eat THAT many red things!; Quite a fair number of beans...I just pulled out the plants and they're in the truck waiting for their trip to the horse pasture; a few peas...the most inefficient vegetable ever; a nice crop of onions; two very prolific zucchini plants; a very prolific spaghetti squash...it has over a dozen good sized fruit on it; a golden hubbard squash plant...not as prolific; some wonderful cucumbers; and last but not least a few lonely potatoes...I didn't have room for many...my garden was packed and planted too close together as it was! I did attempt to plant some in a strip of broken up ground across the yard, but the cow ate the tops off, and I think the competition from thistles and quack grass did them in. I am stil going to check and see if they happened to produce though!

-Canning & Freezing...Somewhat related to the above, but I have some pleasantly full shelves in the coldroom now and my freezers are filling up! I froze beans, peas, 20+ bags of raspberries, shredded zucchini and applesauce. I canned Apple Juice, apple butter, apple sauce, apple jelly, dill relish, zucchini relish, zucchini dill pickles, cucumber dills, sweet dilled cucumber slices and peach raspberry jam!

-Farm stuff...Milking the cow each morning (I've experimented with making some cheese, yogurt and cooking with lots of cream and milk!), tending to my declining flock of chickens...now down to 14.5 hens, and helping with fencing, checking cows and cleaning the barn.

-Projects...mostly of the sewing type of late...reparing diapers and mending clothes and making gifts.

-The Usual...of course there is the never-ending tasks such as laundry, cleaning, lawn mowing, dishes, cooking, grocery shopping and so on...but we find ways to make them at least bearable!

So, I guess thats my update for now, since LoLo is fussing and needs to have a nap! I'll be back...no telling when!

Life goes on!!

Yes, life goes on and it doesn't pause long enough for a person to blog about it sometimes...I just said to Trevor last night that I wish there were a couple more hours in the day for me to blog about my life...I'm constantly thinking of how I would write about the happenings of each day, from getting up in the morning to milk my cow and gather the eggs, putting in the garden, chasing cows, and of course, all of Lorelei's little antics. She is so big now - she'll be 4 months on friday, wow, how time flies!! She wants to sit and stand in our laps now, rather then being mostly in a laying down position, and when she's on the floor she wiggles herself around in circles and giggles and squeals in delight while pulling on the toys on her play-gym thing. She loves to crane her neck to see what is behind her and her other favorite game is looking in the mirror and laughing at our reflections. She is a menace in the bathtub now, kicking and splashing like a little duck! But, life doesn't leave me time to write about all the little things...I'll try to do better, but I'm not sure how that will work, especially since I plan to add "Trainig my 3 year old mare" to the list of daily tasks now that we have the round pen set up again! LoLo is fussing, saying its time for her nap, so I have to quit writing, I hope to go till my mother in law's garden while LoLo is sleeping this morning (yes I'm taking her with, don't worry :) It will be a nice surprise if I can get it done before my MIL gets home from town :) I hope you all are enjoying the begining of summer - its been so cold and wet here that I'm still waiting for my lilacs and irises to bloom - my peonies just started to bloom yesterday...ahh beautiful summer!

Long time Gone...

Its been a long time since I posted - and while I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, a lot has happened in the last few months!
The blessing of our daughter came into our life on the 19th of February at 12:40AM she weighed 8lbs 8ozs and it was a fairly easy and quick labour. I was induced, but everything went pretty well - I ended up taking an epidural because my blood pressure was going up too high with the pain. It was an amazing experience, but nothing prepared me for the changes in my life over the following few weeks. It really has been a difficult couple of months and we have had lots of growing and changing to do to keep up with the challenges.

It is very tempting to just put on a strong face and tell everyone that I'm doing wonderful and everything is great every day, but if I'm being truely honest I have definitely had some major struggles and am very thankful for the help that family and friends have extended to me. I have been learning many things about myself, about life and mostly about the Lord and His true care for me. The Lord is true to His word - "These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have a peace. In the wolrd ye SHALL have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

The Lord created us and gave us free will to make the decisions that we want to make- but He also provided us with a way of salvation because of His great Love by sending us His Son to die as a sacrifice for our sins. Even though we may take the free gift of salvation that He has provided for us - He still promises that we will have trouble - this is because of the evil that is in the world and the sin that is in each of us. Even though we have been saved from the eternal consequences of sin, we still must deal with it in our day to day lives because we are not yet perfected, but merely sinners who have been saved by grace. We look forward to the day when we will be perfected and will spend eternity with and like our Lord, but on this earth we must still face day to day life. We have a major advantage over those who have rejected or not yet accepted the truth of the Lord - we have His power in our lives to overcome the hardships day to day, we have the hope of His promises for eternal life and blessing and we have His presence and covering power available to us every day- "God is our refuce and strength, a very present help in trouble" Psalm 46:1

Even though I know the truth and the promises and wonderful Love that the Lord has for me - the sinner within me is easily distracted by the cares of this world, and I have to admit that I have definitely been dealing with the effects of this more since the birth of my daughter - it has made me more aware of the trouble that is present in this world, and unfortunately I have allowed myself to dwell too much on those things sometimes instead of looking at the hope the Lord has provided me. I am very thankful for His Word - I have often neglected the reading of my bible daily, but this is something that has been a very big encouragement to me in the last while.

I know that there is a reason for each thing that we go through, but it is hard to see that when we are going through the trouble - but I trust that the Lord will use this in my life, maybe it is my chance to be an encouragement to others who are going through this same difficulty someday or maybe it is just to teach me how to be a stronger person and encourage me to grow closer to the Lord.

I'm not saying that I've figured everything out and I'm on easy street now, but I feel like I have come a long way towards a better understanding and greater confidence in the Hope that He has given.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life: of whome shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart will not fear, though war should rise against me, in this will I have confidence." Psalm 27:1-3

I am so thankful for the all-powerful and all-loving God who is my creator and my strength each day - I don't know how I could continue each day without Him.

I ask that you pray for me if you will and want you to know that I pray for as many of you as I know and remember each day - another privilege that we have - to support each other not only physically but also in prayer.

Lorelei Virginia - April 9, 2009

A new year

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted yet this year - 6 weeks or so into 2009 already! Truthfully I was hoping I'd be posting baby news by now, but apparently that wasn't the Plan. Hopefully soon! To tide you all over until then, I've got a new belly picture and nursery pictures. I am a supremely spoiled sister these days - my sisters/aunts/etc went together and sent me a big box of baby stuff - a "Baby Shower in A Box" complete with video greetings from each of them and everything! I even got to see baby Luke and Sophie (my canine cousin). I'm nearly at the end of my second week of maternity leave now, and its been kind of nice to have some time to catch up on things around the house, be nice and lazy somedays and work on some hobbies (cross stitch, crochet and reading). I've also made several batches of bread, got sourdough starter working again and made lots of dinners - I think Trevor is enjoying coming home to supper rather then waiting for it to be made every night!



The baby's room is all set up and ready for baby - the only thing I have to do is put a sheet on the crib - I thought I had everything done the other day, but I realized there was a big spot on the sheet, looking up I saw a spot on the ceiling and thought "uh oh". We had 3 days of freezing rain and above freezing temperatures and I was worried that the roof was leaking - it seems that the high humidity caused a buildup of condensation in the attic and it just happened to leak through in that spot, we'll have to look into the attic venting once it gets a little warmer! So now, the sheet is waiting for its turn in the washer...maybe the baby knows that I'm not COMPLETELY ready so its holding of making its appearance...I better get that done today! Anyways, not a whole lot else to say - so enjoy some pictures!
....Or not...since I've just wasted and hour and a half trying desperately to make them upload...I knew this would likely happen...hence why I haven't posted in quite some time. Someday I'll get pictures up, for now check out Facebook if you have it- as they usually load easier on there then here...

Pictures

This post is somewhat in reverse chronological order so to get things straight, go to the bottom and scroll up....sorry I'm too lazy to move ALL the pictures!



If we had a crane and a few hundred lights, this could be one enormous and beautiful christmas tree - but we'll just leave it to its natural snow covered beauty.

The front yard, a little more currently - taken Dec. 20th, Temp about -27C with windchill -37C or so...snow falling and north-west wind blowing....ahh, Christmas in Manitoba!

Another view...from the doorway.

The North wall of the bedroom - the accent wall I guess you'd call it, it all actually turned out quite well, its the nicest master bedroom we've ever had, what with the ensuite and lighted walk in closet its almost like a luxury house!! :D

I even have a mirror and lots of light!! Yay - its finished. We still have to build/find a cupboard to put beside the sink and cover up the pipes, but I am just happy that it all works!

Some shelving installed, and holders for towels, TP, etc installed.

The bedroom, complete, painted and moved in!! Hurray! Don't mind the spots on the camera lense...I don't know what happened really...

Cootie - the cute and mysterious and often crazy house cat.

Er, one pipe short of being fully installed that is!

The bathroom - primed, painted, flooring down, trim down, fixtures installed, yay!

Yes, I do have a baby belly, though it is somewhat easily disguised...thanks (or no thanks) to the ample bosom...I have choose to make it show for pictures :P

"Oh No, I've lost sight of my fellow herdmates, I must rush around like an idiot and make a lot of noise until I locate them...." The hardship of being more then 100yards from another horse...

Good to see them out stretching their legs...there goes Guthrie, with Riata close behind...as the sun is setting...

I really do hate this horse...Apache...but he's almost graceful when he gets into a lope....almost...as close as a gangly, long necked thoroughbred can be...its a good thing he's pretty quiet, or his other qualities...like being a major jerk to the other horses would have made him a goner long ago.

Then they decided to kick up their heels a bit.

Munch, Munch, mmmm frozen grass...

Sneef and Trevor looking out over the ravine.

After hunting season we let the horses out into the pasture rather then keeping them in the corral - of course the first thing they did was clean up any grass that was still sticking out of the snow...This is Riata.

Notice who's working and guess who is snapping pictures, can you guess who wanted this bathroom more badly!

Self taught plastering....nobody look to close when you come to visit!

Work in progress, drywall on in the bathroom, but no plaster yet...

The bedroom during construction in the bathroom....disaster area!

Not the prettiest site on a dull fall day, this is the barnyard with the few years of manure build up that was left behind, now nicely piled thanks to Pinky... notice the row of horse feed along the fence, within forking distance, but hopefully beyond reaching for the long necked thoroughbred...

Looking from the north side of the house to the east towards the garage. Off the the left you can see the edge of the flower garden that is between the house and the vegetable garden (which is further north)

The north/west side of the house...not the prettiest angle...

Looking southwest from the north side of the house, the little white building is kind of a chicken coop and then there is the barn beyond.

Looking south towards the loose housing shed/barnyard from the sidewalk up to the front door.

The front of the house, before the snow fell.

This is the living room with our new-to-us livingroom set and a view of the yard through the window.

This is just a random picture of the house - I figured I'd put up some pictures of what it looks like with our stuff in it... This is the bathroom, looking through the laundry room from the kitchen door.

Trevor with his favorite big toy - changing the drainage paths on the yard before the ground froze. We're still trying to sell this piece of iron...if anyone wants to push some trees/dirt/snow, etc, I'll cut you a deal! She's completely rebuilt and ready to go!

OK, so to begin with, this is sort of a before picture of the area that we turned into an ensuite half bath in our new house - except when this picture was taken we'd already stripped up the flooring and dad had done his part of the magic. This is what the bathroom looked like when dad left...plumbing roughed in...Mid October

A Long Time Gone.....But, Not Forgotten...

You know its been a long time since you wrote on your blog when you have to go back and see when and what you last wrote about....man, almost 3 months since my last post!! I can't believe it, but its been a really busy three months! We moved into our new place on the 27th of September (I had to look that up on the calendar too - time really flies - I can't believe we've been here two months now!!) We spent the first few weeks in a flurry of activity - with winter being just around the corner there was much to do inside and out. The last owners had left us a corral and barn full of a few years worth of manure, so that was high on Trevor's list of things to get taken care of before freeze up, along with some dirt work in the yard (changing the slope and filling in a low spot), a bigger garage door on his shop (so Pinky would fit in) and generally getting all of our stuff settled in and ready for winter - moving the horses, getting the dog house set up, moving hay, etc etc. Inside, I was busy too - unpacking, trying to find a place for things, scheming about renovations, etc - not to mention work for both of us and our normal commitments.
Dad and Diane came to visit for a few days in October and helped immensely with the one major renovation project that we wanted to do - a bathroom upstairs. Dad ran the plumbing from the basement up to the bathroom including finding the proper route and cutting holes in the floor/ceiling all the way to the top of the house and the vent stack on the roof. He did the major part of the work and we've been very slow getting the rest done. We finished the plumbing except for connecting to the drain downstairs - which we will do once all the fixtures are in place. We did a little wiring, put up the drywall and plastered, currently the plaster is waiting for a final sanding. The primer is sitting patiently on the stairs and the paint is resting in the bedroom. The sink and toilet are counting their blessed days of rest and the linoleum is hiding in a roll beside the bedroom door....now we just need the time to put it all together!
Besides renovations, we spent a good part of two saturdays in Prenatal classes - which were good for both of us - a chance to learn and discuss things is always good. Baby and I are doing well. The little one kicks and I smile...most of the time, now and then it gets a little uncomfortable and for the last few days something has been pushing on my sciatic nerve which is very uncomfortable, hopefully my chiropractor appointment will help tomorrow!
We had a nice weekend relaxing together, Trevor and I that is, as my work christmas party was in Brandon last night. The company pays for hotel rooms for all of the out of towners, so we took full advantage of the mini vacation - who knows when that my happen again. We slept in on Saturday, and got to Brandon just after lunch and did some shopping. I was hoping to get lots of Christmas shopping done, but not too much got done yesterday afternoon - I actually spent way more money on myself...unfortunately...being pregnant has been very frusterating for me in the clothes department - it was ok to begin with, some friends loaned me lots of stuff, but they're both shorter then me and not nearly as busty as I was even before I got pregnant - now that I've added almost 3 cup sizes to that, nothing goes around me - and even most maternity shirts look crazy because the empire waistline cuts across in the middle of the bust instead of below. I bit the bullet and went to Stages - a very nice little independent maternity/nursing/kids clothing shop in downtown Brandon. I've never spent money on clothes like this before....ack, almost $200.... I got a dress ( I desperately needed something to wear to the christmas party and any other occasion I go to between now and valentines day), and one nice top - which actually I am not that terribly crazy about, but everyone else says it looks good and it actualy fits, so I'm happy! I also got one bra and ordered a bra/nursing tank top - after much frusteration with bras I'm so glad to have one that actually fits - even if I have to face the depressing truth that its the largest size that company even makes!! The tank top is the most amazing piece of clothing I've ever put on - it actualy had support and looked pretty good, not to mention being my size and made for nursing - its going to get used a ton underneath lots of other things I think!! Too bad I had to pay $60 for it....I almost choked when I saw the price....but I think it will be totally worth it, and plus, since its white I can claim it for work I think! Anyways...a quick web search shows my bust size is bigger then many famous celeberties - including dolly parton....that is somewhat alarming....or depressing depending on what mood I'm in... Anyways I think its getting to be too late for me to write any more without risking some crazy rant so I shall head for bed...I'll be back sooner then three months this time I hope, and with pictures!

Pictures!!!

Since Andrew and Jamie are being very nice and letting me borrow their high speed internet I decided I should upload some pictures of our new place - I don't have all that many - I just took pictures of the places that needed help mostly - like this first picture of the beautiful front stairs - this is the view when you come in the front door - the 27" wide stairwell in all its 70's rug glory! I hope we can change this rug in the near future and also remove the wall on the left and put in a railing to open it up a bit more!

This is the front entrance - in all its glory too! I think we may end up with a freezer in the corner by the front door as there is no way we can fit it down the stairway to the basement and no other place to put it!
Besides needing a light fixture and a different color of paint (tis like a light minty/teal green right now) The living room is quite nice - with laminate floors it should be easy to keep clean! I plan to put my piano against the wall on the left - and hopefuly build a window seat in the alcove in the middle.
The bathroom is a room that will someday need some work - but at least its useable right now - its not rotten or moldy or falling apart but it is somewhat outdated and maybe a big worn as well as being cramped and lacking in the storage department. The bathroom sink is located in the laundry room, outside the room where the toilet and shower are - so someday we'd like to expand the bathroom enough to put the sink inside and add some cupboards for towels, etc.
This is the "Master" bedroom - its not very large - none of the bedrooms are - but it does presently have two closets - one of which has been wired for a bathroom and we would like to finish that bathroom right away as the thought of rushing down the stairs in the middle of a cold winter night all the way to the other end of the house while the baby is kicking me in the bladder doesn't sound very appealing to me!! I also think that potty training will be much easier with a bathroom on each level! This bedroom is also the only room in the house besides the stairway that has carpet. The other two bedrooms have linoleum as well as most of the downstairs.

This is the second bedroom - presently occupied by two girls - I haven't yet decided which room I want as the baby's room yet - this one is long and narrow and has a full sized closet with mirrored doors at one end.

Bedroom number three is definitely a boys bedroom - so it will work good if we have a baby boy- but it might be the spare bedroom for now as which ever room has the crib in it will also have an extra bed and I think this room may be two small for both!

On my way home from looking at the house the other night this is what I watched (and drove toward) my whole way home! I had never seen a funnel cloud so this one was quite interesting - watching it go up and down and change shape all the time. I was just hoping and praying the whole time taht I would get home before it turned into something big - thankfully it never did - it just petered out into nothing!

Trevor has been cleaning up the yard around here a bit - sometimes I think its just an excuse to use his big machinery and make fires- but the yard is begining to look much better! I guess its just a pass time for now knowing we'll only be here for another month or so! Practicing for his own place I hope!

Here is a picture of Riata - my two year old - she's starting to fill out quite nicely and her head is actually kinda nice I think - despite my earlier worries that she might be somewhat ugly....Don't worry - I never told her that!