Chickens, Wings, and Steelers

Right now...it is 11:38am. I'm about to head to Adoration for the noon hour.

This weekend was... beset with awfulness, but ended with wonderfulness. The chickens are free!! I actually videotaped their liberation and will try to piece together a little vlog for later this week. But just about everything that could go wrong at the launch party, did. That's okay, though, 'cause the chickens are fat and happy now in their new pad, and I have my garage back.


On Sunday, after early Mass (hey, 9am is early on a Sunday!) I made guacamole, ten pounds of chicken wings and four dozen taquitos for the Steelers/Jets game. It was loads of fun to be in the kitchen working on a grand scale project, again, and the spoils were pretty stinkin' delicious. I really don't give a hoot about football, but I have lots of ties to Pittsburgh, so Go Steelers!

Some plans for this week: Actually, I haven't made any plans for this week! My husband and I are implementing a new evening prayer routine (so far so amazing), so I hope to keep that going.

There is some idle chatter going around about building a little greenhouse, now that the coop is finished.

Oh yes, I never made that beef jerky last week, so that's on the agenda for sure.

If I have some time to myself, I want to... learn how to edit videos.

Prayer intentions for this week: in thanksgiving that the domestic chicken saga is now over. In gratitude for my husband, whose boundless love never ceases to amaze, humble, and woo me. And for our baby nephew who is taking some intense life-threatening but hopefully life-saving medication.

Something that makes me smile: the fact that my husband left me a bunch of leftover chicken wings for lunch. What a man!

Get Back on Track

Right Now:  11:00am. I'm thinking I need to clean our bedroom. I've slipped a bit and the junk piles are slowly creeping back in. Let's nip this one in the bud.

This Weekend:  Was delightful! For the first time in a long time my husband took the Saturday off and spent it at home with me! It was an unexpected but utterly wonderful treat. We had some wonderful conversations, cleaned out the chicken brooder, peeled and froze a huge box of peaches, made pineapple ham pizza and watched The Two Towers.

We're also kicking our joint-prayer life up a notch. I'm so grateful he's taking the initiative to deepen our prayer as a couple. I feel so safe and loved.

Some Plans for the Week:  I ordered ooma (substantially cheaper on Amazon) but don't have a phone to use with it, so that should be bought. I also need to bake some bread and procure some milk jars and a milk fridge. Ofelia should calve within the next month or so and I don't want to be caught off guard. 

If I Find Some Time for Myself, I Would Like To: Work on Christmas presents for some of my family. I'd also like to go to the library and get some books for my husband and I to read aloud. It's a tradition we've let slide the last few months as we've filled our evenings with Sudoku puzzles and inane diversions. I much prefer reading.

Special Prayer Intentions:  For growth in virtue.

Something That Makes Me Smile: It's almost becoming a given to this question, but what else can I say? My husband.

Monday Musings

Right Now:  2:15pm. I'm listening to one niece timidly preparing a speech and another laboring and groaning over a book report. This is the onerous part of the day, but soon they will get to open their science sketchbooks and the humming and laughing will return.

This Weekend: was fantastic!


On Saturday, my sister-in-law and I canned 22 pints of stewed tomatoes and froze several pounds of peaches.


Yesterday was a glorious day with my husband, complete with Holy Mass, sudoku puzzles, peach pie and grilled beef tenderloin. My darling did the dishes all day without being asked. I really needed a day off from kitchen work and appreciated his unrequested support!

Some Plans for the Week:  Build a chicken coop. It must be done.

If I Can Find Some Time for Myself I Want To:  Go yard sale-ing. I'd really like a little kitchen table for the toaster oven and coffeemaker. I could use a rolling pin, too.

Special Prayer Intentions: For wisdom, prudence and peace in upcoming decisions regarding the cherry farm.

Something That Makes Me Smile: Sweet memories of a loving weekend with my beloved.

Monday Musings are hosted by Patch O' Dirt Farm.

Monday Musings

The lovely hostess of Monday Musings is taking a little blogging break, but hopefully she won't mind if I keep doing the meme in her absence. 

Right Now:  it is 12:17pm. I've eaten lunch, my house is clean, the chickens are fed, I've showered... life is great.

This weekend: was one of the most productive of my life. I cleaned almost every junk pile in our home (as I've adequately blogged about) and have managed to keep the house spotless for two days. I finally broke down and joined flylady.net. I am sincerely hoping to keep this leaf turned over for the rest of my life. My sink is shining.

On Sunday after Mass we were able to relax in a peaceful clean home and spend some amazing time together, catching up on the LA Times crossword puzzles we missed while out of town and beginning to read Brothers Karamazov aloud to each other. I love Sundays!

Some plans for the week:  I want to get some final curriculum touches together before the school year begins for the girls. I'd like to shred and freeze the zucchini, bake some bread and work to keep my house spotless. There's also a parish picnic and sister-in-law's birthday party to attend, a parish meeting, and a car at the mechanic's in Nowheresville, Idaho left to pick up. It's going to be a busy week!

If I Can Find Some Time for Myself I Want To: start a needlework project... I need to earn some domesticity points.

Special Prayer Intentions:  For the repose of the souls of my Aunt Janice (who has already interceded so much for me!) and Aunt Penny who died this week, and comfort to their families. For the success of all of my husband's daily endeavors. For us to somehow afford all of the major calamities that have hit lately (why after I quit my job?). For our little domestic church.

Something That Makes Me Smile: Looking at the Catholic calendar this week. Seriously... St. Edith Stein, St. Clare, St. Philomena (ok, technically not on the calendar, but who cares?), St. Maximilian Kolbe?! Awesomeness.

I Want English Muffins

Right Now: It's 11am, I still haven't eaten breakfast but I'm really hungry. Despite the fact I haven't eaten one in at least 12 years (I'm not exaggerating, for once... it actually has been that long), I'm really craving an English Muffin and nothing else seems appetizing. Soon it'll be lunchtime and the craving will have passed.

This Past Weekend: Was crazy awesome. I got a lot accomplished.

On Saturday, I scored a triple! I 1) cleaned the house, 2) took a shower and 3) went to Confession. I like to have at least a double and preferably a triple or quadruple cleaning when I go to Confession. The quadruple would've been wearing freshly laundered English Muffin clothes. If I waited for all of those circumstances to align on a single day I'd rarely get to Confession, but it was nice to get a triple.

Anyway, I also made and canned blueberry butter! I basically followed this recipe except (not owning a crock pot) I used my dutch oven in the oven. It was so simple! Now I intend to make cherry, strawberry, English Muffin, peach, nectarine, apricot and pumpkin butters.

On Sunday, after Mass, I introduced my husband to the English Muffin cult classic movie "Princess Bride." I wasn't sure if he'd like it but he did, so I can now freely quote it and expect him to get the references. Then we went to the in-laws' to play Pinochle.

Wow, I really want an English Muffin.

Some Plans for the Week: I am going to make English Muffins. But I also intend to make and can cherry, apricot and strawberry butters, freeze ten pounds of blueberries, freeze 10 pounds of grapes, shape and freeze 12 pounds of hamburgers, debone and freeze 12 pounds of chicken breasts (they were on sale) and make and freeze chicken broth from the bones. Now that I have a freezer (yay!) I can actually do these projects I've dreamt of for months.

Non food-preserving plans: go to the doctor (yah, yah, I've still got that cotton in my ear), get my prescription refilled, English Muffin, and apply for a job.

If I Can Find Some Time for Myself I Want To: Eat an English Muffin.

Special Prayer Intentions: for the repose of the soul of my mom's hairdresser, Dottie, who died suddenly and unexpectedly. For my godbaby to keep growing healthy and strong in utero -- can't wait to meet him/her this December!

Something That Makes Me Smile: English Muffins.

Monday Musings are hosted by the lovely Nadja at Patch O' Dirt Farm.

Monday Musings

Right Now:  I slept in (by accident), missed Mass, lost my keys, had an unfriendly encounter with the scale, and have unpleasant duties to do for the rest of the day.

This Past Weekend:  My sister-in-law got married and moved far away! Oh how I miss her already.She looked radiantly beautiful and there were five priests concelebrating the Nuptial Mass. Quite a blessed day.

My darling husband had a birthday yesterday. Did I mention lately that the man is amazing?? Wow. He makes my heart happy. He makes my eyes brighten. He makes me a better person. And he's crazy in love with me! Wow! Sometimes it makes me so happy I cry. God is so good to have brought us together!

Some Plans for the Week: I have a five gallon bucket of peas that need to be washed, sorted, blanched and frozen. I also want to paint the wicker chairs we got. I'm not much of an interior designer and have done no decorating besides hanging some artwork we got as wedding presents... but I like these chairs and think they need to be beautified and utilized.

I'm babysitting my nephew tomorrow, and playing the piano for a children's choir rehearsal this Friday. It's kind of a random-event Summer week.

If I Can Find Some Time for Myself, I Want To: Find recipes for the zucchini that are plotting a coup d'état of our backyard.

Special Prayer Intentions: For restoration of peace in a sticky situation. For an increase in the virtues of humility, honesty, and prudence. And in thanksgiving for the wondrous gift of Sacramental Marriage!

Something That Makes Me Smile: I don't mean to keep gushing, but I can't help it!! I love my husband and I don't care who knows it. Just the thought of him makes me smile.

Thanks to Nadja at Patch O' Dirt Farm for hosting Monday Musings.

Back from the Dead

Right Now:  8:45pm. I'm still full from the lunch I made/had with my husband and sister (homemade hoagies, sauteed mushrooms and green peppers, Italian sausages and whole seed mustard). I also just woke up from an obscenely long nap.

This Past Weekend: is kind of a blur. I hadn't taken an obscenely long nap before today!

On Saturday I made a chocolate cream pie and a sweet potato pie for Sunday's "Harvest Party." Sunday, after Mass, was spent writing a "harvest song," compiling a slideshow and making employee awards. The party itself was great; a cookout with volleyball, a fiddler, and great company (best employees ever this year!).

Some Plans for the Week: We scored some free wicker chairs (with a sign "free") off the side of the road. I want to give them a fresh coat of paint and either buy or make some deep cushions for them. I also want to (finally) try my hand at making bagels, and start job hunting in earnest.

If I Can Find Time for Myself, I Want To: Exercise. Even if I can't find time, I should make it. I've been too sedentary too long.

Special Prayer Intentions: In thanksgiving for a friend from college who was ordained a priest this weekend, and for all of my old seminarian friends. In sincere thanksgiving for an unexpectedly successful cherry harvest -- we'll live to farm another year. And in gratitude for my husband; the most amazing man alive.

Something That Makes Me Smile: The many stages of an exquisite sunrise over the river during a cherry harvest morning. Getting up at 3:30am does, occasionally, have its advantages.

Monday Morning Musings are hosted by Patch o' Dirt Farm.

Monday Morning Musings Vol. V

Right now... it's almost noon. I'm mulling over whether I should fight for my job at the parish or resign quietly.

This past weekend... was interesting. On Saturday I was called and informed that my husband was in the emergency room from a "farming accident." How's that to make your knees go weak and your heart completely stop? As it turned out, he'd caught his little finger on the baler and nicked the end of the bone, requiring stitches and a splint. By the time I got to the hospital (mind you, they waited 45 minutes to call me!) he had already been discharged. I knew it was a "minor injury," but we both joked later that our hopes of a distraught-adoring-wife-racing-into-the-hospital-and-ignoring-the-nurse's-cries-that-no-visitors-are-allowed-so-she-could-race-to-his-side-and-wipe-his-brow scene were dashed by the quick turnover time.

My poor darling. He's such an example to me. An injury like that would've sidelined me for a month; I've got such a low pain tolerance and high sympathy garnering needs. He hasn't muttered so much as an "ouch" and besides requesting BBQ and homemade ice cream, he hasn't hammed this up at all! It's expected that he will have a full recovery.

On Sunday we went to the park at the river, got snowballs, and um... OH YEAH, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!  Our baby chicks have arrived!

Some plans for this week:  Keep the chicks alive. Cherry harvest (starts tomorrow or Wednesday) and all the prep-work that entails.

If I can find some time for myself, I want to... there won't be any time for myself this week.

Special prayer intentions: For a smooth cherry harvest (and in thanksgiving for the miraculous cessation of rain). For the meeting on Wednesday at the church. For my husband's finger, and for my friend in the Holy Land to continue there in safety.

Something that makes me smile: Howard, the baby dark brown chick (below) with the fuzzy head.

This post is graciously hosted by Patch O' Dirt Farm.

Monday Morning Musings

Right now... it's 8:30am. It's sunny and beautiful outside. I'm supposed to be taking a shower and heading to the airport (which is a few hours away) to pick up my sister. Oops.

This past weekend... was scary. On Saturday my sister-in-law had a 4-wheeler accident at the farm. She broke her arm in two places, broke her nose and three bones in her face, ruptured a sinus, lost her big toenail, and is covered in lacerations and road burn. My father-in-law, who saw the accident, thought she was dead when he ran to her limp body, face down on the road. Her fingers were touching her elbow. After one arm surgery she's still in the hospital awaiting reconstruction of her sinus.

Sunday was a long day. It wasn't the usual blissful day with my husband. We were both on edge and didn't even do the LA Times. I didn't make dinner (though we had sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns and waffles for brunch). I'm more in awe of my husband than ever before, he's such a good man, but it's hard to have a sweet blissful day when someone in your family has narrowly avoided death and is in great pain.

Some plans for this week: My sister is coming in today to spend the next three weeks! We don't have plans yet (besides cherry harvest), but I'm sure we'll get plenty done and have fun doing it.

I really want to make bread, bagels, English muffins, banana bread, and waffles for the freezer. I also want to make ice cream and granola.

Oh yeah, WE GOT A FREEZER! I'm so excited. Now the possibility of raising some porkers is real.

If I can find some time for myself, I want to... see above.

Special prayer intentions: For my sister-in-law to have a full and speedy recovery. For a happy visit with my sister. In thanksgiving for the miraculous avoidance of all forecasted rain these last few days, and for NO RAIN these next three weeks (for the cherries). And for guidance, wisdom, and prudence about a job opportunity I've been given to teach at a local Catholic high school.

Something that makes me smile: I was able to do a little watercolor painting for my older sister's birthday card.

Monday Morning Musings are graciously hosted by Patch o' Dirt Farm.

Monday Musings

It's not morning anymore, but I was working this morning.

Right now... it's 4:45 in the afternoon. I'm in the midst of updating the cherry harvest computer program. I've hit a wall and can go no further. So I'm dreaming up meal plans for this week instead.

This past weekend... was spontaneous but amazing. During Mass the (visiting) priest said he'd give a steak dinner to anyone who could stand up and recite the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit. My husband starting poking me in the ribs, elbowing me and loud-whisper chanting "do it, do it, do it." Amongst the 700+ people in attendance, no one else would (I certainly hope I wasn't the only one in the congregation who knew them!) so I volunteered. After Mass we went out to dinner, complete with appetizer, drinks, steak and dessert! If my Theology degree has done nothing else (but it has), at least I got an amazing dinner amidst delightful company.

Afterwards my husband surprised me with a trip to a secluded hill in the area that overlooks the whole region. It's a notorious teenager make-out place, but no one was there! The view is quite breathtaking. The plan was to stay until sunrise, but spontaneity met reality when, at 2:30am, we were freezing and quite uncomfortable due to lack of pillows and blankets. But it will be remembered as one of the dearest, sweetest, most lovely evenings of my life.

Some plans for this week:  I will go grocery shopping. I will. I must. Running out of food is one thing. Running out of toilet paper is another.

If I can find some time for myself, I want to... paint. It's a skill every accomplished young woman should possess. I don't have talent but if I keep working it might become a skill.

Special prayer intentions: For my sister-in-law's woes. And for a glorious and profitable cherry harvest.
 
Something that makes me smile: Sweet memories. And steakhouse leftovers for lunch.

This post is graciously hosted by Patch O' Dirt Farm.

It Has Begun

Right now... It's 8:38am. It's overcast and threatening to rain. Today is the beginning of hay baling. I'm praying, for the crop and my husband's sake, that it doesn't rain. I'm also bracing myself for the long days (beginning at midnight and ending around 10pm some days) without a husband. This morning he snuck out before I was awake.

This past weekend... I bought plane tickets to go home for a visit!!

We went to the feed store. We bought brooder supplies for the baby chicks set to arrive next month. My husband also gave me permission to get replacement plants for my epic fail seedlings. I was like a kid in a candy store... besides tomato plants I ended up scoring some squash, okra, basil, oregano, cilantro, strawberry, and parsley plants too.

Yesterday was arguably the happiest day of my married life so far (and that's saying a lot). It was just a beautiful day with no distractions and nowhere (besides holy Mass) to go. It was truly a day of rest, and a beautiful respite before the busy season begins.

Some plans for this week: I want to assemble the brooder so everything is ready for the chicks. I also need to keep re-vamping the computer program for the impending fast approaching cherry harvest.

If I can find some time for myself, I want to... exercise. I'm boundin' with energy and rarin' to go!

Special prayer intentions: That everything will go smoothly (no baler breakdowns, no heavy rain) for the hay harvest. For my dear friend who's going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. For my mom's job. And for a great youth group meeting this week.

Something that makes me smile: My husband's goodness. (Wow. Seriously... just... wow). And the possibility that my younger SISTER might be coming for a 3 week visit!!

More Monday Morning Musings at Patch O' Dirt Farm.

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Monday Musings

Right now... It's 10:41am. Overcast outside, a little gloomy. I'm at the school table with my nieces. The fourth grader is furiously working on a Saxon math problem set with a half broken pencil. My second grade niece is writing 25 times, in cursive, "I will bring my books tomorrow." Happy Monday!

This past weekend... I baked bread, made granola, made a coconut cream pie for my mother-in-law, watched as my husband fixed an electric fence where the calves were getting out (we have beef cattle again!). I had a glorious conversation with my mother on Mother's Day. We went for a Sunday morning country drive and stopped by a place we saw with draft horse stallions and rodeo bulls. The guy put them through the paces and showed them off for us. Beautiful, massive, powerful animals!
   

Some plans for this week: I want to start building a chicken coop, weed the garden, and order supplies for milking Ofelia. I've started calling "Lia" or "Leah", which means "cow," after all.

If I can find some time for myself, I want to... sketch or use watercolors.

Special prayer intentions: That I can celebrate Mother's Day next year.

Something that makes me smile: Wild yellow roses from my husband.

More Monday Morning Musings at Patch O' Dirt Farm.