Monday, July 28, 2008

Praise Report

Friday evening Hubby received a phone call from the doctor's office with the test results concerning the Lupus. It was NEGATIVE!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE are so blessed, God is so good!

We will go back to see the orthopedic doctor about the knee soon, when Hubby gets the appointment made. We are praying for a good outcome on that front as well.

Switching gears.............

Things are still hectic around here. I am working harder than ever and keeping the worst migraines this month (these are hormonal for me). We are harvesting lots of peaches (another month to two months of peach season yet) and apples are not far behind. The row crops (watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, eggplant, peppers, etc.) are pretty well finished. Blueberries are also on their way out. We have finished the plums and nectarines are ending quickly. Pears are yet to come.

I went to three markets this week (about 21 hours) and worked an additional 50 hours besides that.

My uncle brought 7 bushels of corn last week and I still have a bushel or so already shucked and silked waiting for me this morning to finish. WE made the plunge and bought a freezer (15 cubit foot) for us. We have no where to put one, so it's in my parents basement for now. I also have been working on canning peas and a few green beans. I have been cutting up bell peppers for the freezer and I did 15 #'s of peaches yesterday for the freezer. I hope to get a few blueberries up this week and can some more peach salsa as well. Hubby has requested peach jelly too. This is one of our favorites! There are so many things I want to get done canning wise. Well, it'll be there when I get to it.

The boys are loving school. They have not been crying at all when I drop them off of a morning and that is a real blessing to this Mama's heart. Their OT and ST sessions went well. There is much improvement.

My parents are stayed so tired these days and we have no help. IT is so hard to find good help these days. Most people want a job until they get it. WE had two guys helping us a couple days and didn't show up last week at all. It is almost sickening. We lost a lot of peaches last week, because we got behind picking. We are doing our best and I think the good Lord knows that.

Well, I suppose i should run. I've got to get ready to get my day started. Many blessings!!!!!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Paula Deen Winner

The winner of Paula Deen Celebrates is Nikki!!! Congratulations to you Nikki! I will mail it out Monday!

Thank you all for your great suggestions and comments! Look for another giveaway soon!

Many blessings for a terrific weekend!!!!!!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

$66!!!!

Monday as Hubby and I set at Cracker Barrel carefully examining our check, it hit us. What could we spend with $68?! No we did NOT spend the whole $66 there. But we spent it on three meals eating out Sunday after church (with the boys), Monday for breakfast (at Huddle House) and then lunch/supper Monday at Cracker Barrel. Let me break it down........

We ate at a local restaurant Sunday after church. I knew the boys would never last until we got home, since church was over late (12:45pm) and they had already eaten all of their snacks. We opted for this place since it was not crowded. You know what I'm talking about if you have/ever had small children (hungry children no less). Hubby had a hamburger steak and fries, tea. I had tea and a black/bleu salad. The boys shared a chicken finger plate and had water (they were out of milk). We ordered cheaper items on the menu. The total was about $28!

Monday morning at Huddle House we just hubby and I) each had coffee and an omlett. The total was about $16.

For lunch/supper Monday we had Cracker Barrel. I had the daily special (baked chicken, dressing and green beans) and tea. Hubby had the country fried steak cpmes with three sides and tea. The total was about $21.

With all that being said, according to the grocery and drugstore sales papers this is what I could have bought for that $66.

4 packs Huggies Pull-ups $8.99 minus $2 coupon on each
4 pk. Bryan juciy jumbos $.98- $.50 coupon on each
3 gallons of milk $1.99 at Aldi
3 bags of salad $.99 each
3 loaves of whole grain bread $1.29 each
1 # shaved deli ham $2.99 after $2 coupon
6 family size boxes of Red diamond tea $.99 each
4 - 12pk. Mtn. Dew at CVS $2 each after ECB back
2 -32 load bottles of ALL BOGO @ CVS $3.79 - $1 coupon on each
1 # bananas $.33
4 cans pork n beans $1
2# frozen veggies $1.25

Total $65.99................ Those are itmes I would stock up on, not necessarily make meals from for the week. A much better deal than what we spent the $66 on eating out.

So, what could you do with $66? Leave a comment and let us all know and Friday morning I will pick a name at random and you will win a prize! Let's just say the author is Paula Deen!

Blessings!!!!

Update on Hubby's Doctor Visit

Well, there was good news!!!!! YAY!

The doctor does NOT think hubby has Lupus. They did more extensive blood work and other testing to rule it out though. We should get the results back by next Tuesday at the latest.

This doctor was awesome. He also has twins and has had knee problems (just like hubby). MY husband really indentified with him on many levels. Hubby got some sample patches for his knee from the doctor, who thinks this might help the severe pain. He also found "a piece" of something loose coming from the knee cap, that has never been detected. This could be the problem. What an answer to prayer this could be.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers today (and always). We also got to spend a few hours together of quiet time (the kiddos were at preschool), it was so nice!

Many blessings!!!!!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Coupon Train Info

Hi all! Everyone that has checked in has me believing all is going well. It is on my part and I have gotten some really good coupons. I hope to be able to keep communication open and all chugging alone smoothly.

There is one tidbit that I forgot to mention though. Please do NOT send coupons that are going to expire with 7 days or LESS of the day you mail out. This puts a hardship on the one receiving them and either they do not get to use the coupon or only have a day or so to do so. Thank you in advance for your attention to this.

I mailed each of you a pack of coupons today. Yes, some of them expire soon and I should have mailed them sooner. It was hard dividing them up equally between the eight of you and remembering who wanted/used what, so that is why I was a little late with the mailing. I hope you all can use some of the those. I intend to make this a monthly project, just bare with me as I set it in motion.

Please feel free to comment/question anything. Any and all suggestions are ALWAYS welcome.

Thank you girls, I could not do this without you!

Blessings!!!!!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Here and Accounted For

Well........barely. It seems we are running at breakneck speed these days. Today is my first off day in 13 days. Hubby had to go with my Daddy to the market this morning before church though. It is wild here with all of the markets and the picking. Trying to keep up is really hard, BUT we are so blessed. I love this time of year!


The boys are getting use to preschool and seem to like it. They had the upper respiratory infections and then Tiger had the ear infection. He is still recovering from that. If not for the yuckies, I think the boys would be enjoying preschool better. They go about 10 hours, five days a week.


I was feeling better about them going until last Thursday, when we learned that lice had made an appearance at the preschool. Lovely.......just lovely. Thankfully, the boys are both clear so far. The learning center is being exterminated this weekend. The boys are growing and thriving and are just cute as buttons! They will get to see the ST and OT this week as well. Their speech is definitely improving! YAY!!! I hope to post some pictures soon!


As far as canning and freezing goes, I have canned a handful of green beans (7 quarts) and also a couple of canners of peas (14 pints). I have put a little corn in the freezer this week too. I cut it off and scrap the cob to make creamed corn (9 bags).

This coming week I hope to get some peaches in the freezer and can some peach salsa.

My CVS trips have been far and in between . I have been in a couple of weeks I know, maybe longer. The deals may have to fall by the wayside for another month or so.

We decided to go and see the rheumatologist that the orthopedic doctor wanted hubby to see in Huntsville, instead of waiting for the later appointment in Birmingham in September. Hubby is in so much pain. We go tomorrow at 11am. Please be in prayer for my husband. We are hoping that the original diagnosis (Lupus) is incorrect. We are hoping to find some form of relief for his knee problem as well.

I will be checking in from time to time, but not as often as I would like. I will definitely savor my winter a little more this year and blogging too. For now I am just doing what I can and praising God along the way! I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed week.

*******For those of you participating in the train******** Leave a comment or email please and let me know you have gotten and are mailing coupons please. Thanks girls!

Many blessings!!!!!!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Less Than You Are Thinking

I am a very busy person, espceially these days. Many of you think I get more done than the average person. That could be right or maybe wrong. This season of the year is filled with me working many hours outside of the home as well as canning and freezing for the long hard winter. Those two things along are quite time consuming.

Well, something has had to give, as I have learned over the last few weeks of this new "season" in my life. I am almost ashamed to admit (I am only human though) that my menu plan went out the door last month and i did not even post one for this month. I doubt very seriously that I will get one made for August. Most nights we have fruit, mainly peaches, cantaloupe and / or watermelon. The boys usually have a healthy veggie dinner with some type of meat. I cook 3 times a week for them and swap it all up throughlout the week. I cook one really elaborate (southern style veggie dinner for us and my parents each week. We have also eaten out a half dozen times the last 5 weeks or so.


As for my house we are doing the best we can, I have a housekeeper that comes bimonthly and I am so grateful for her. The laundry is another story all together. I cannot keep up. The boys have been sick and so have I so we are really going through the piles here. I can get it done, but not folded, put away and ironed. my nephew is dating a sweet young lady that needs some community service hours as coursework for college. She talked it over with her professor and she okayed her to use me for that. She will come in one day a week and help with the laundry and to get things caught back up for the week. Praise the Lord!


This past week I worked 87 hours. The boys stay with my Mother's helper or my mom when I have to work and they are not in preschool. Hubby worked 68 hours. We are both beat. I have had several emails about why do you work so much? The truth is that when you farm, you only have one season to harvest the yeild in. I will be home from November 1 until the end of May, before I have to go back to work. I am thankful we have Hubby's income to live off of. Just think if you were a fulltime farmer, you would need to make enough of money (income) during the 4-6 months of harvest to last for all 12 months. While it's good it's good, but you had beter get it while you can. That is why we work so hard. God has been so good to us though! Praise him!


As for everything else we are doing the best we can. I have laryngitis and I mean cannot even croak or make a sound. Kind of scary, especially considering how much i love to talk. I am finally getting over this awful summer cold though. The boys are still a little sick, more especially Tiger. He is cutting a molar tooth and feels plain rotten. His fever spiked last night and we called the nurse. She said he needed a recheck with the peds this morning. So he and I will be heading to the doctor.

Try going to a framer's market and selling peaches for a day not being able to talk. (Hubby went to pick up the slack). At least I can sign to the boys and they understand! I woke up Saturday morning and couldn't speak. I've had an awful cold and am sure that's the problem.


I hope you all have a great week and maqny blessings in it!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Farming Update

Things have been hectic lately and the work is seemingly never done.

We are picking peaches and lots of them right now. Some days as many as 600 baskets. My Dad (75 years young next month), my 44 year old brother and our 75 year old uncle are the ONLY pickers. Most day they start by daylight and are finished by noon. The varieties this week are Red Haven, Bellaire, Jim Dandy, Bounty and Flaming Fury. Some of these varieties we are finishing this week and some are just starting.

We also are picking a few apples called Lo-di. They are tart, green apples. We are still picking several varieties of plums and nectarines, as well as blueberries. Mom has also been picking in her personal blackberry field.

The first planting of squash has played out and we started the second planting last week. The broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower have all played out. The first planting of cantaloupes have played out with a total of over 7,000 being harvested this time. We will start the second planting of those within the next two weeks.

Eggplant, zucchini, roma, regular, heirloom and plum tomatoes, jalapeno, sweet banana, bell and cayenne peppers are all being harvested on a regular basis.

The hours are looonnnnnggggggggg these days. The market I do on Tuesday from 2-6pm was a sell out. We were out of peaches in just under 2 hours. That was a record for us. It was 102* though and so HOT! You could not even breath for all of the people gathered around waiting to be waited on. Glad it's over, but it was a great day.

So, how are your gardens coming? What are you cooking and canning?

I hope all is well! Blessings!!!!!

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Canned Squash Pickles

This is one my favorite things!!! I have won first place in the county fair the last 4years for this recipe. You can eat these with a vegetable dinner or just by themselves. Yum!

9 c. sliced (yellow) squash
2 med. onions, sliced
2 med. green bell peppers, cut into strips
2 med. red bell peppers, cut into strips
1/3 c. pickling salt
3 1/2 c. cider vinegar
3 q1/2 c. sugar
1 t. celery seeds
1 t. mustard seeds

In a 6-8 qt. stainless steel pan, combine all veggies and salt. Add water to cover. Cover and let stand two hours. Drain in a extra large colander. Rinse and drain again.

In the pan combine vinegar, sugar and both seeds. Heat to boiling, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add squash mixture. Boil for 5-7 minutes. Put into hot jars and cover with hot flats. Seal with bands and hot water bath for 10 minutes. Please use caution when canning. Refer to the Ball Blue Book of Canning for specific details about hot water bathing.

These are best when they sit for 2 or 3 days (after they seal). I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Blessings!!!!!! ENJOY!!!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Hubby's Lab Results

Well, it certainly was a shock and seems so wrong. John my Hubby (I know I used his real name), is only 32. It is not cancer, Praise the lord! It is Lupus though........seems it is anyhow.

We are hoping for a false positive. The quickest appointment with a rhuematlogist was September 19th. Crazy!!!! It is going to be hard to wait so long. All of your prayers are appreciated! i feel like God will be preform a miracle in the next 10 weeks. He is so good all of the time!

Blessings on you all and sweet dreams!

Is it Monday..........Already?

What a weekend........work, sick babies, hospital, laundry, homemade ice cream and more work.

So it's Monday. First and foremost, please take a moment to pray when you read this next statement. My hubby was sent for an RA panel two weeks ago when he went in to see the orthopedic doctor about his knee. They are referring him to a RA doctor. We will have more details tomorrow. I will post about the facts when we know. He was told by the nurse that his "levels were abnormally high". God is great and bigger than any disease and we will praise him through it all!

Hopefully I slept in until 5 or 5:30am this morning (I am writing this at 10 pm Sunday night).

Get hubby's lunch packed and him off to work. Ge the boys up, fed, dressed, beds made, laundry started tea made and letters addressed for the post office. I also hope to grab a bit of breakfast somewhere in there. I also need to freshen up and get ready for my day. Take meds and vitamins, as well as pray.

8am Drop the boys off at preschool, then go by the post office. We received a card in our box that we had too much mail for our box (we did not check it for 6 days last week).......so I need to get tthat picked up.

Then I will mow our yard. Hubby will have to weedeat later. I have not mowed the grass since I found out i was expecting the boys in August of '05. That'll be a shocker for my system. It takes over an hour using a 46" deck John Deere mower. My parents yards take over 6 hours (straight mowing). I'll take ours anytime. Then I am going to clean the front porch and water all of the plants.

I also need to call the doctor for hubby and call and cancel an appointment.

I need to bathe then, run to CVS if time permits, catch up on some ironing, plan supper (as my monthly menu plans got lost in the peach orchard in May!;)

On to lunch and work by 12pm. I do not get off until 6pm. Monday morning is my off time for the whole next 7 days.YUCK!

I hope to get a lot accomplished today! Hope you all have a Marvelous Monday!

Blessings!!!!!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

The Week in Review

For those of you involved in the coupon train, I did NOT get to mail out this week. I will have them out next week. Also, we will be welcoming Vanessa to the train this weekend. Watch for details via email.

Tuesday I worked, went to the market and was just plain tired. I also lost part of my load of peaches (first time in 16 years). A tow truck pulling a big rig almost hit us in the tail end. As I was turning (a bit quicker than usual), the peaches went sliding off of the boards. We had to pick them up......in the middle of a busy highway, thankfully some of the other farmers came out and helped.

Wednesday I worked all day. I also shelled peas (they were given to me).
I also had a surprise visitor at my parents. I had not seen him in 8 or 9 years. Monkey started with a bad cold.

Thursday I worked all day and also went to a new market and love it! Tiger started with a bad cold.

Friday at 5am we had the boys at the er at Children's Hospital. I had slept in the floor all night and Tiger could not breath well laying down. They are home and now I have the cold as well as them. We all just have Upper Respiratory infections.......aka bad colds. We stayed home and hubby went to the VFW and brought home bbq. He also helped my parents out at their work.

Today I am here and we are all a little better. Off work again and trying to rest.

The boys have done well with preschool and are making great friends. We can already tell a great improvement in Monkey's speech. Both the boys are going potty on a regular basis (school and home). They have been rather clingy when I leave them at school, but I think it would be better if they were not sick.

I hope you all had a great Fourth and Happy belated Fourth of July to you! God Bless us and this wonderful country!!!

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Not Forgotten

Hi!!!! I just wanted everyone to know that this week will be incredibly hectic around here and I have not forgotten about my wonderful bloggy firiends! I hope to get to read your posts and stay all caught up with you, but not have time to comment. I hope you all understand.

Here's a glimpse of yesterday.................

Got up at 3;30 am got hubby off to work after I made his lunch. Went back to bed for 1 hour and Tiger was up, got him settled and I laid on the bed til 5am.
Got up, got ready, made bed, folded 6 loads of laundry.
Straightened master bath and bedroom.
6:30 am woke the boys, got them ready, loaded all of their things for first day at preschool. Got them loaded and arrived at school at 7:05am.
Came back to fruit market and picked up my truck and baskets, went to orchard and packaged 58 special order baskets.
8:20 drive the hour to deliver them. Unload those. Got o Sam's Aldi and CVS. Drive the hour back. By then it is 12:00pm. Unload everything from truck. Go home and unload our few things.
Come back to fruit market, eat lunch (squash casserole). Answer phone numerous times and take orders.
It is now 1pm. I work on stamping vouchers and checks and figuring the banking. While doing this I help wait on customers.
Then I pay the bills and write out checks for the week, while answering phones and waiting on customers. I take my truck and gas it up.
Then I load two trucks with over 200 baskets of peaches for markets today.
By then it is 4pm. My Aunt and I get all of the small cups and baskets ready for my Mom's market truck, then my Dad takes me to my house to get the car (it has the carseats for the boys and I need to pick them up).
I run to the school at 5pm to pick up the boys and back to work it is.
My 10 year old nephew, brother and parents (and I, along witht he boys) finish loading trucks and waiting on customers.
They picked over 400 baskets of peaches yesterday and then 15 bushels of cantaloupes, over 10 (3/4 bushel) boxes of yellow squash, tomatoes, cukes, zuchinni and I don't even know what else. My Mom was still in the plum orchard at 8pm last night.
I made it home at 6:15pm finally (with the boys in tow). Cooked supper, fed them and me. Hubby stopped by the parents (on his way in from work) and moved trucks around (so they would be covered for the night and the dew would not get on the peaches.He ate supper after he finally got home at 7pm. We then loaded the dw (after unloading it), cleaned up, took out the garbage, vacuumed, wiped counters and table, and will do 3 loads of laundry, picked up toys.
8pm gave the boys bathes, pottyed, brushed teeth, read stories and prayed.
8:50pm hubby showers, I read my emails and caught up reading blogs.
9:15pm I bathe and we go to bed..........at 9:45pm...........Finally!

I hope you all had a great day and I'm off to another busy day on the farm. I promise to catch up with you all soon!

Many blessings!!!!!!