LIving Off the Land . . .

This has to have been the coldest, wettest,
(with short, unexplained bursts of really warm days, just to tease and torture us)
longest spring that I have ever had the pleasure of living through (not!)
I guess our not-too terribly cold, hardly any snow winter had to have a downside, right?
Just when I was thinking the mild winter this year was a pleasant bonus earned by the two or three preceding winters of massive amounts of snow, starting in early November and not all gone til, say, April? 
Uh, no.

But anyway, now that I've gotten all my gripes about the weather out,

I am ready to celebrate the beauty that spring in north Idaho brings (finally)

I have a row of lilac and snowball bushes that separates my garden from my yard, and they are all in bloom!
(It's been a long time coming, because last year, we got a really cold snap just as the blossoms were about to burst, and it wiped out all of the blooms)

But who knew, 11 years ago when we planted them, that they'd be over 10 feet tall!

Yesterday, my hubby and I discovered that the lilac were completely full of:

Honey bees!

I mean, every lilac bloom/bunch had probably half a dozen on each. 

Here you can see only two for sure,

but they were thick on each and every bunch. 

And on each 10' bush - we have three of them - they were just as thick . . .

So, we got to thinking . . . we have 5 acres. 

We live in an area with lots of wide open fields where bees can collect pollen.

We have been trying to eat more natural and unprocessed foods,

and we think it's a good idea to actually use the land

for more than to just separate ourselves from our neighbors

(Not that we'd want to!)

As a child, my dad had several beehives and harvested the honey himself.

I can still recall the scent of the honey being cut off the comb

and the delicious flavor of it slathered on my mom's homemade whole wheat bread

Oh, what memories.

Thanks, Mom and Dad!

So this is what we are thinking of: 

Getting our own hives and harvesting the honey

for our food use/storage and maybe a lil' extra to sell.

This is really not a huge stretch for us. 

We garden, we have beef cattle,  calves, and chickens. 

We are "living off the land" already, at least for these few basic things,

so this is just another step in the progression. 

Never really thought I'd be a country girl.

But now that we're here

and it's all happening,

I wouldn't have it any other way.

So, thanks again, Mom and Dad,

 for raising me (with my brothers) the way you did.

It made me the person that I am,

and I know that living this way makes my hubby happy. 

It's all a win-win situation.

 all photos (other than the ones I obviously took) were found on Google Images....Thanks!

A Tribute to My Dad...

A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.
A dad is someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.
A dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail...
- Unknown

 
The greatest thing a FATHER can do to his children, is to love their mother.
- Anjaneth Garcia Untalan

(My love for gardening came from my dad...)

I've loved one person unconditionally. He's the most caring, and generous, and charming and flat out the funniest guy I'll ever know...he's my father.
- NL

Goodbye, Kindergarten

Yesterday, my youngest son graduated from Kindergarten

My baby

His teacher is also retiring this year 

She has taught almost every one of our seven children 

Tanner has more energy in his little body

than all of my other energetic children,

all put together

I wonder if that had anything to do with her retiring so young?

She can't be much older than I am

No, wait 

I am kinda getting old

His best buddy, Tate

For some reason, this photo is almost like looking into the future about 12 years. 

I can totally see him rolling up his diploma

and using it for a horn, even then 

That is so his personality

I completely adore this boy

Our youngest.  Our baby.  Where has the time gone?

When your kids are first born,

you can never imagine how quickly this day will come

You'd think I'd be used to it by now 

After all, I've already had 3 children graduate from high school  

One is off to college this fall

The other two have kids of their own

To all the young mothers of children -

Treasure each day they are little 

Find something special about each day, for each child

One day soon, they will be leaving "the nest" 

Sometimes you are so ready for that to happen

Other times, not ready at all

On better days, you dread that day

On stressful days, you think you are ready to see them go!

But that's sad - it's a wasted day

Because, you never really will be ready

That day - it always comes too soon

Backtracking a Little Here . . .

. . . to Prom night - Rachel and Conner . . .

(Don't let the hair scare you.  He is an awesome kid - with a great sense of humor about his hair!)
Wrestling match between my son Tanner (6 1/2 ) & my grandson Dillon (5)
I think these were taken on Mother's Day . . .

Not, this was not Halloween.  The kids all got out my big tubs of costumes, and this dinosaur costume is one that his daddy (Jake) wore back when he was Dillon's age.  Oh, memories!

(Dillon LOVES that tail!)

This is Dillon's little sister, Hannah

. 

     A couple random cute photos of Tanner and Noelle . . . from a couple of months ago.  When we had that heat wave in February. . .

Silly girl!

Hangin' out at Tanner's bus stop . . .

Mom Fail, my version . . .

A couple of weeks ago, a blog-friend of mine posted a story where she mentioned the "Fail Blog" .  Some funny stuff, on that there blog. 

She went on to post about how there are some things in life where she feels like she's failed.
(Who hasn't felt like that, once in a while -or more often- like I do almost every day...)

And I started to leave a comment  . . .
but it got so long that it inspired a post of my own.

I started thinking about a Major Fail I recently had as a mom.

My boys. Isaac and Tanner, participated this spring in our grade school's cross-country program (which happened to be organized and coached by two good friends of mine)

Each Tuesday and Thursday they looked forward to going to practice, especially my kindergartner, Tanner. 

Every day he'd ask,
"Mom, do I get to go to Cross-Country today?"

Then at the end of the season, about a half-dozen of the local grade schools got together to give the kids a chance to compete.

The Big Cross-Country meet!

Kindergartners at the starting line...

Tanner was so excited.  He had done well on his time trials with his kindergarten classmates, and now he'd get to run with a whole bunch of kids his age!   He got a name tag pinned to his shirt that the official at the finish line could grab and write his finish results on. 

This is where I Mom-Failed.

This tag was on the front of his shirt, and since he kept messing with it, I thought it would be a good idea to put it on his back.  Out of sight out of mind, right?

The problem with what I did was exactly where I pinned it on his back.  As he ran around the field, the wind was at his back, and the tag kept blowing up and hitting him in the ear.  He kept batting it away, and was getting really mad at it, all the while doing really well in the race, in a cluster of 3 kids or so at the front of the  pack. 

The really bad thing was, that while he was batting it away and being distracted and running really fast, this half-mile track was unfamiliar and had trees in one section.  Add to that the fact that he's nearly blind in one eye. 

Anyway, as he was batting and getting mad and running, he didn't see what was in the way, and ran BAM SMACK into a dang tree. 

And he was so upset that it took a couple people to convince him to get going again...and he finished. But later, when he found out that only the kids who placed got a ribbon, and not everyone like he thought, he said "all that practicing and running, all of that was just for NOTHING!"

My heart just br-o-ke.   (who knew how important that little ribbon was to him?)

Because I had pinned the tag on his back.

And I wanted him to love to run, because he loves sports and that is one that he really could be successful at, given his peripheral-vision challenge and all. 

Mom Fail. 

But, as a lot of things that we've failed at on one day, by the next, they can be forgotten, and we can move on.

Because the next day, I heard the much-repeated phrase from my little guy.

"Mom, do I get to go to Cross-Country today?"

Isaac - almost at the finish line....

The New Arizona Immigration Law

(a) Every law enforcement agency in California shall fully cooperate with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding any person who is arrested if he or she is suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws.

Wait - did you think that I somehow accidentally copied and pasted the wrong state's name in the statute above?

No. . .

Because this really IS the first paragraph of the California Illegal Immigration law, California Penal Code 834B.

So, not only have California officials NOT fully read the new AZ Ilegal Immigration law, but they are shamefully and completely ignorant of their own law!

Am I crazy, or is this totally hypocritical and beyond ridiculous?  Boycotting a state because of a law that is remarkably close to their own?

I wonder if they will back off with their boycotts now???

*******************************************

P.S. - Further investigation that I failed to do previous to posting the article above found that CA Penal Code 834B was rendered unenforceable by the judiciary process.    This penal code was a provision attached to Prop 187, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 1994.  A restraining order was issued by Fed Judge Matthew Byrne only days after it was passed, and  Judge Marianna Pfaelzer later made the injuction permanent.

So much for the will of the people, right?

Today's My Birthday - Shout HOOO-Ray!!!

Update Alert!
Scroll to the bottom . . .

I was thinking about my upcoming birthday, and how as I have gotten older, that the gifts aren't really what I look forward to. 
Instead, I like to set goals to reach before my upcoming birthday, and last year the goal in the fitness category that I set was to run nine miles. 
Well, I did that, and more. 
(Go here if you want to read what I mean about the "more").

This year, due to a pulled muscle last fall that set me back training time and instantly added 10 pounds, I knew that even reaching that goal, much less exceeding it as I would like to this year, was a real long shot.    If I could just run 10 miles again, I would feel successful for my birthday fitness goal. 

So Tuesday night, I posted on Facebook my outlook about it all:

I ran 8 miles yesterday...I thought I was gonna die. I was hoping to do 10 miles on Thursday to celebrate my birthday. Can I do It? Should I try? Or am I risking my early death!?

Here are some of the awesome comments that I got: (I removed last names to protect the innocent - and not-so-innocent, haha!)

Tuesday at 10:37pm

Rebecca  - early death. most definitely. are you running away from something? hmmm? because what if ten is just too much...and it catches you. you'll be too tired to get away from whatever animal is that scary.

Tuesday at 10:43pm · .Jenni - go loralee go!!!

i miss running...

Tuesday at 11:24pm · .
Jenny - go....go....go....go....go....go....go.... :)

Tuesday at 11:48pm · .Jennifer -Take a running buddy the miles will fly by!

Yesterday at 6:12am · .Melissa-You can do it!

Yesterday at 6:57am · .Hillevi -YOU ROCK!!!

Yesterday at 7:07am · .Missy -DO IT! You know you can!

Yesterday at 8:41am · .Kristina -DO IT!

Yesterday at 9:18am · .Chad Carey ill do it with ya if you need support.

Yesterday at 9:20am · .Missy -if it weren't pouring down rain tomorrow I'd do it with ya...

Yesterday at 9:22am · .Tammy -Build up to it. You CAN do it though! Go Loralee! ♥

Yesterday at 9:52am · .Wes -"women are more likely to die in the week following their birthdays than in any other week of the year." - Dr. David Phillips, professor of sociology at the UC San Diego. Maybe related to running 10 miles on their birthday? ;-)

Yesterday at 10:04am · .Tammy -NO more b-days for me then! ♥

Yesterday at 10:08am · .Janice -Just get in the car and drive...!!!

Yesterday at 3:57pm · .Loralee -My dilemma is that I am STILL sore from my 8 mile on Tues...don't bounce back like I used to. Might put it off til Friday...

Yesterday at 6:29pm · .Janice  :)) Drive :))

Yesterday at 8:45pm · .Michelle -You're crazy! I'd rather ride a bike than run - too many things jiggle - but if that's what floats your boat - go for it!

Yesterday at 9:26pm · .Heather -go u i think u can:}

Yesterday at 9:38pm · .Mary -You're such a funny guy, Wes.

So, thanks to all of you who provided such great encouragement, how could I not try?   It seemed like if I didn't do it, I would be letting you all down,  as well as myself.  And that was exactly the type of encouragement that I needed.  I still wasn't even sure this morning when I got up if I was really going to do it, but I made a plan, got my head together
(ANY runner - I mean jogger....you can even call me a wogger - will tell you that it's about 80% mental)
and went for it! 
So, thank you, everyone!

Pretty slow time, but here it is:
10.2 miles, 1 hour, 47 minutes, 51 seconds

Yes, I exceeded my goal of 10 miles - by two-tenths of a mile. 
Hey, every little bit, ya know?   

And what a great feeling.

If only I could accomplish my other goals. . . but I still have the rest of the day!

Update:

So later, after my birthday nap and extra blog and FB time, (courtesy of my wonderful hubby who works from home and spoils me whenever he can)

. . . .all of a sudden my good friend and neighbor suddenly just walks in the door!

and right behind her were a bunch of my other good friends.

She had arranged via my wonderful hubby (again!) to kidnapp me.

Where did we go?

Where else, the place that for any special occasion you can get the absolute best desserts in the world, but Gooey's at Dockside, in Coeur d'Alene.

These are some of the desserts that we ate:

And these are the greatest friends in the world!  (My daughter and daughter-in-law included, of course)

Thanks, guys.  Because of you all, it was the perfect ending to a really great day!

WHY GOD MADE MOMS (better late than never!)

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world, and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1.. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

 3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
 What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them..

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you   got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter.. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

     all photos courtesy of GoogleImages

THE NEXT "SURVIVOR" SERIES . . .

Six married men will be dropped on an island

with one car
and 3 kids each
for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports
and take either music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must
take care of his 3 kids;
keep his assigned house clean,
correct all homework,
complete science projects,
cook,

do laundry,
and pay a list of 'pretend' bills
with not enough money.

In addition,
each man
will have to budget enough money
for groceries each week.

Each man
must remember the birthdays
of all their friends and relatives,
and send cards out on time--no emailing.

Each man must also take each child
to a doctor's appointment,
a dentist appointment
and a haircut appointment.

He must make one unscheduled and
inconvenient visit per child to the Emergency Room.

He must also make cookies or cupcakes
for a school function.

Each man will be responsible for
decorating his own assigned house,
planting flowers outside, and keeping it
presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television
when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

The men must shave their legs,
wear makeup daily,

adorn themselves with jewelry,
wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes,
keep fingernails polished,
and eyebrows groomed

During one of the six weeks,
the men will have to endure severe
abdominal cramps, backaches, headaches,
have extreme, unexplained mood swings
but never once complain or slow down
from other duties.

They must attend weekly school meetings

and find time at least once to spend

the afternoon at the park
or a similar setting.
They will need to read a book to the kids each night
and in the morning,
feed them,
dress them,
brush their teeth and
comb their hair
by 7:30 am.


A test will be given
at the end of the six weeks,
and each father will be required to know
all of the following information:
each child's
birthday,
height, weight,
shoe size, clothes size,
doctor's name,
the child's weight at birth,
length, time of birth,
and length of labor,
each child's favorite color,
middle name,

favorite snack,
favorite song,
favorite drink,
favorite toy,
biggest fear,
and what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.

The last man wins only if...
he still
has enough energy
to be intimate with his spouse
at a moment's notice.


If the last man does win,
he can play the game over and over and over
again for the next 18-25 years,
eventually earning the right
to be called -
Mother!

pictures courtesy of google images/unknown author