I'm nodding YES to the coming spin!

The people that work for me (a.k.a. my teenagers) are slathering the thirsty deck with a long-overdue application of stain.  I’m way past the point of caring if it’s done proper and perfect, resting instead in the satisfaction of a job well done by hands-in-training that try their best.   The challenge lies in keeping my gaze on the beautiful wood that drinks deep, instead of allowing my eyes to wander up the house walls of cedar siding that tower overhead with parched envy.  We’ll save that project for another day (or perhaps another year) because the warm summer days are getting shorter and I can feel the approaching spin cycle also known as September coming on.

With the agitation of overlapping football, soccer and volleyball schedules heading my way, I guess I have no choice but to follow the snowbirds to Arizona...

Oh WAIT!  That won’t work.  I still have kids at home who need clean clothes, dinner, a prayer and a pep talk from time to time.  And oh how thankful I am for that!  Because, in a few years, this deck will be void of their chatter about football and overtime pay and the sprayer that keeps clogging.

And I'm gonna miss that.

And my deck won't be the only thing that's thirsting for their attention.  My heart will be too.   In fact, I can already feel my very central place in their universe shifting.  But as I move to a more peripheral orbit in their lives I'm also finding that the view is beautiful from here too.  

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”  Luke 11:13

Chillin' With My Peeps at the County Fair!

After the hogs were washed squeaky clean, the children had to wash the pig slop off their own selves and get fixed up for their showmanship class.  Bonus points were given to all cute little girls with braids!  Not really.

After the braids came the duds.  Do you know how many plastic garbage sacks it takes to keep each set of show clothes clean for the Peeps?  TOO MANY, that's what.

Just a little more primping so the hogs will look their best for the judge.  Wouldn't want any wild hairs to rob us of a blue ribbon.

Then, it's off to the show ring!  I won't share with you the details of what happens when a show hog gets nervous or stressed in the show ring.  Let's just say that it can be a little messy.  And...and...STINKY.

Sometimes there was the thrill of victory!

And other times there was the agony of defeat.

And then there was plenty of plain 'ol hangin' out and trying to beat the HEAT!

And THAT, my friends, concludes your pictoral tour of the County Fair.  See ya next year!!

How to wash a pig at the County Fair.

Okay!  We're here!  We all made it in one piece to the County Fair!  The pigs are still alive and settled into their cedar-lined pens at the fairgrounds.  Did I mention that it's hotter than blazes?  There's also a big forest fire raging somewhere nearby and the Department of Environmental Quality has issued a warning about the air quality.  I sincerely hope the DEQ doesn't send any of their marshals into the pig barn for heaven's sake.  They would shut this whole affair down in a New York minute!

Here's a few pictures-worth-a-thousand-words for your viewing pleasure:

First, you give your prize pig a bath!  And yes, this is DESTINY FREEZER making her debut on the world wide web.  'Aint she purty?!

Funny how the boys always seem to talk the girls into washing their pigs too.

Sometimes, even pigs forget to wash behind their ears.

But when they are all clean, they get a BIG HUG!

And sometimes a KISS!

Ten True Things About My Life On a Farm.

Here are a few things you need to know:

1.  We weighed one of the 4-H pigs today.  And, in case you're wondering, this is an essential part of raising livestock for the County Fair.  Because there are rules.  Like, for example, the market hog cannot weigh less than 220 pounds if the 4-H member who has worked their tail off all summer wants to sell said hog at the auction.  Seems fair doesn't it?.... NOT.

2.  SO, the pig weighs 230 pounds and we still have 12 days until the County Fair.  Whew!  The other two pigs are much larger so we aren't worried about them in the least.  Other than the fact that we want them to stay healthy and alive.

3.  Unlike pig #4 who has already gone to that great and glorious white air-conditioned box in the sky.  He had a hip condition that sometimes happens when pigs grow too fast.  Or something like that.  And anyway he didn't much care for walking and walking is sort of required when a pig is being shown at the County Fair.

4.  We shot the pig ourselves.  Well, actually our friend Jesus (pronounced: Hey-Seuss) did it for us.  And then we loaded that hog into the back of his Suburban so he could take it home to Mrs. Jesus who will make the most amazing tamales you've ever tasted!  But, don't worry, Jesus had a really big tarp in the back of his Suburban.  And we scrubbed that pig thoroughly before he was loaded.

5.  I wonder if the makers of the Suburban would like to feature our family in a commercial about how versatile and tough their vehicles are?

6.  Probably not.

7.  But, never fear!  Each kid still has a pig to take to the Fair.  When it comes to popsicles and 4-H animals, we've learned to always buy extra.

8.  Princess Peep's pig is named Destiny Freezer.

9.  The other two pigs are called Billy Bob Joe Pickles and Quagmire.

10.  A few months ago when it was still winter, Destiny Freezer took a gigantic bite out of the big red apple that, much to her surprise, turned out to be a heat lamp!  Thanks to her curiosity the entire pig shelter burned to the ground.  All of the pigs survived, but their heat lamp privileges were revoked.

11.  Bonus thought for the day:  Living on a farm is somewhat like the Garden of Eden.

So sweet I could eat them up!

We've had a few more visitors to the farm recently.   Some wee ones and their adorable Mama came bearing gifts of homemade granola and the most amazing muffins!  We, in turn, gave them the full farm experience; collecting eggs from the hen house, walking in grass up over their heads, gusty winds that sucked the breath right out of the baby's lungs, etc.  But somehow every time I mentioned mucking out the horse stalls or pig pen the three-year-old would just look at me and ask "But, why?"  Then the Mama would tell him to "Google it" and we'd move on to the next thing.

And boy am I glad they brought their Mama!  Because, I think I have completely forgotten how to take care of babies!  For starters, they get up really early.  Of course, I'm all for getting up early, but I've become accustomed to being able to do so BY MYSELF these last ten years.  The good news is, they drug their Mama down to the barn at least three times before the crack of dawn to do chores and bring just seventeen more carrots to the horses...all before the coffee pot even clicked on!  The farm animals must have thought they'd hit the Breakfast Diner jackpot!  And, let me tell you, that Mama is made of some hardy stock to be able to perform at such a high level, sans caffeine.

Next, I was shocked by how many times a three-year-old can ask "but why?" in the span of a minute.  I have a vague memory of my own babies  doing that too, but now I'm the one who is asking the teenager "Why?" and "Who is that pretty girl you were talking to?" and "When can I expect you home?" as I hang on his every one-word answer.

Lastly, I was again reminded of what a blessing children are.  To watch my young eleven-year-old interact with and help our wee visitors was delightful.  It came to her naturally, as if she was created to care for and nurture those younger than herself, instead of texting or surfing the world-wide-web.  Funny thing is, she was wiped out by the time our guests went home!  I guess her stamina needs a bit of tuning before her own journey into Motherhood begins.

The bottom line is this.  We are blessed beyond measure to live in this place.  Sharing it with others is the icing on the cake.  And every time we do so I'm reminded that THIS is why we keep that sweet, fat pony around that no one else can ride but the visiting babies.  Perhaps Little Big Fat Pony would be a tad slimmer if she ate like her wee riders do.

Banana Peanut Butter Muffins (gluten free)
4 very ripe bananas
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla
1/2 cup coconut flour, sifted
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt

In mixer bowl, beat together the wet ingredients.In another bowl, mix together dry ingredients.


Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well.  Coconut flour absorbs a lot of liquid, it may take a couple of minutes to do so.


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Use a silicon 12 muffin pan, or put liners into regular 12 muffin pan.  Bake for about 30 minutes - check at 25 mins, they get overdone rather quickly.  Store in refrigerator if will eat within a few days, otherwise freeze some of them.



But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."  Luke 18:16

Weathering Change the Cowboy Way.

You think I’d know better than to write about something as controversial as the Central Oregon weather right now.  But June-uary or not, here it goes!

Folks who live where I live for very long soon figure out that it’s breezy here; sort of like camping in a wind tunnel most days.  I used to think it was only gusty when the weather was changing, but the last few wet and wild months have blown my theory to bits because the wind continues to howl, as if purely for its own amusement.  And, as much as I try to become accustomed to the hair-raising mistrals, I am NOT amused.

One of my neighbors appears to be embracing the gale because he’s erected one of those wind turbines to generate electricity for his home - the opportunist.  But WAIT!  If you’re partial to caffeine and whip cream like me, then you NEED to know that the merciful tempests have seen fit to blow the long-overdue Sippin’ Sams Espresso Hut into our little town!  And, although I can’t quite picture my good friend and long time resident in these parts, Cowboy Bill, sidling up to the drive-thru window to order a venti-nonfat-no-foam-no-water-six-pump-extra-hot-chai-tea-latte, I just might wrangle his hide out of his favorite booth at the Country Store and make him take his sweetie Marcella there for a date!  Because he’s always telling me what an adventurous bunch he and his posse of cowboys are!  When you see him there, Stetson in hand, studying the vast and colorful menu, you’ll know for certain that a new wind is a-blowin’ here!  And see him you will, because I’ve been working on my goat-tying techniques!

In reality though, my friend Bill is about as easy-going as they come, but I’d venture to say he’s spent years perfecting his roll-with-the-punches demeanor.  Would that we could all do the same, because you and I both know “other” people who worry too much, don’t we?  And these “other” people, young and old alike, fight like the dickens against any winds of change that ruffle their feathers, don’t we? I mean, don’t they?

Of course it’s not pleasant when friends are moving away to find work, or when stock prices fall, or the creature comforts that once brought contentment no longer satisfy our searching souls, and the church of the American Dream runs headlong into our Creator’s original intent.  Almost daily, my own doubting heart threatens to be blown and tossed like a wave at sea rather than press into the work of believing for which I was put upon this earth to do.  Which has me thinking it may be high time we tack our headstrong sails windward instead of jeopardizing the mainmast, my friends.

People like Cowboy Bill make it look easy, with no dramatic flailing about when the winds whip unexpectedly and un-beckoned.  But he probably didn’t get that way over night.  Journeys like his are marked by the day-in-and-day-out decision to practice “unity in the essentials, freedom in the non-essentials and love over all” (Augustine).

So, if you’re paying attention when that blowing-in-the-wind moment comes, and you see the veil lift and catch a glimpse of the saving answer that lies behind a life like his, grab it!  Hold on tight and never let go!

When Family Comes A-Calling.

A few weeks ago I got a phone call from some darling relatives from My Man's side of the family tree.  They were going to be traveling through our neck-of-the-woods and were hoping to stop for a visit.  When I suggested meeting them somewhere for lunch, they politely asked if they could just come on out to the farm because apparently they are faithful readers of this here blog!  And, could they please come and see the set and the stunt doubles and the burn barrels and, of course, the pigs?!


What a delightful reunion we had!  Even though I'd never met them and My Man and Sis-in-Law hadn't seen them since they were youngsters.  It was a bittersweet and healing visit all at the same time.  Because Papa and The Grammy should have been there visiting with us and in a way it felt like they were.  Our new best friends looked through old photo albums with us and shared stories from back in the day.

We were instantly long-lost Cousins who hadn't seen each other in an age and the sting of being too young to have lost two parents was soothed for a moment by the reminder that we will all be together again in heaven for eternity!

Where I plan on sitting The Grammy down with a fresh pot of coffee and forcing her to fill in all the dates, names and places in all her photo albums!!