"Episode One"...ha. Anyway, these headlines may or may not be semi-frequent in future. Just sayin'.

I think, one upon a time, maybe people didn't feel like they had to do "quick meals" and thus recipes took longer to make and more dishes. I'm trying to think that way in my cooking rather than, "How fast can I slap something edible on the table?" Undoubtly, we all have those days when slapping something to eat on the table is necessary, or all we have to give, but in general--at least these days, I am trying to go at my culinary adventures with a mind for flavor and learning to not rush through things (as well as thinking ahead). 

Of late, with the cold weather, I've kind of gotten fond of different varieties of meat-pies. Last night's was some version of Shepherd's Pie.

My ingredients were:

• Lamb--chunked up leftovers from Sunday's leg o'lamb
• Peas--frozen kind
• Onion--if you know me very well at all, you know I can't cook without onion!
• Carrots--peeled and chopped 
• Potatoes--I used canned since we didn't have any other kind 

​Spice-wise, I used salt, pepper, garlic (I think I ended up using both powdered and fresh), rosemary, oragano, and probably paprika (I think I forgot to write down everything)​. I ended up putting a splash of milk over the whole shibang.

This concoction then went into my pie shell.

"Hold it there a sec", you may say..."PIE SHELL?"

Heehehh. Oh yeah. PIE SHELL. I have created a non-wheat pie shell that actually WORKS like a pie shell (when cooked). It doesn't roll out at all really, so it's a nice pressy, messy job, but as this kid never minded getting her hands into her food...who cares?

The recipe (to be cut in half, doubled, tripled, etc. to your heart's content) is as follows.

• 1/2 c. Banana Flour
• 1/4 c. chopped Rolled Oats
• 1/4 c. Coconut Flour
• 1 stick butter
• a pinch of salt
• splash of water

As I typed that up, I realized I forgot the water last night. Oh well. I guess it didn't need it. (I also forgot the salt, but I realized that about the time I popped the pan in the oven.) Because our food processor (in which I usually make the dough) is broken, I finger mixed it, then did my usual press into the pan routine. The glass pan needs zero greasing (just like a regular pie). No pre-baking necessary.

I guess it took around thirty to forty minutes to bake. I wasn't watching the clock that close (sorry! I bake by smell and color to a degree). The shell turns a nice shade darker or so when it is cooked. As the filling was more or less ready to eat before it went in the oven, that wasn't a consideration at all.

It was probably that splash of milk--and no binding material (like flour) in the filling--that made it rather "fall apart-ish", but with a side of sour kraut, my Lamb and Veggie Pie was, to all perception, enjoyed by all....

I doubt this will ever come out tasting the same twice, but the general principle is fun to make and good to the taste. I've made several different versions of this...and one day, I will REALLY make mincemeat (how I originally got started on "meat pies"--a off the cuff mimic off mincemeat). 

And that, my dear reader, is the end of Episode One. It's about time for me to go work on supper...

Is it January 2018 already? Good gracious! Did 2017 ever fly by in a blur or what? I'll be hitting the highlights here...and maybe with the pictures available, I'll be able to pull some extra memories for you. ;)

January 

Well, I don't remember too much from this month. We had our usual "Little" Christmas (Epiphany) on the 6th. The 17th or so, Katherine and I had an appointment with our Lyme doctor in Ohio. Sometime in the following two weeks, my parents loaded up with Grandma had headed to the deep South for a few months...which turned into a full five month stay in the Sunshine State.

February

There is really only one thing that stands out for me from February...a trip a little further north to attend/participate in a "Homeschool Show and Tell Day" put on by some friends. Now, neither Katherine or I are (or were) still in school, but we were still welcomed with open arms and presented. I gave a spiel on WWII B-17 bomber crews, with a special emphasis on 'Yahoodi'. Katherine spoke on the British Land Girls. The other "children" spoke on things from emergency shelters, rope ladders, family history,  gun safety, and clouds. (There was more, those are just the ones I'm remembering off hand.)

Glancing through my photos, I see this is also the month that I rag-curled (or sausage curled) Katherine's hair...and she finished her first 1860's dress.

 March

I had to look at the pictures for this one...Apparently, the only thing of note was continued work on reenactor prep for later in the year. I took in one of my first ever 1860's outfits (the one which Katherine had worn for reenacting 2016) and was delighted with the outcome. (I sure look like it, right? :D)

In other news, Katherine is just so photogenic...

April

This month saw more 1860's clothing construction, the arrival of my new bees, and a road trip to Illinois to visit some friends and celebrate Katherine's birthday! All in all, I guess we were rather buzzy...

May

This whole month was leading up to the "Grand Finale" the Civil War Days reenactment in Coldwater! We did actually go to the Hartford City Civil War days as well--but just for one day--we cut it short because Katherine got to feeling lousy before the day was over. But taking care of one's health is far more important than gallivanting. The following shots are from Hartford City.

I'll leave you to read the Coldwater blog post if you want more details...but a picture or two are in order here.

June

There were two main events in June...Turkeyville and another doctor's appointment in Ohio. Honestly, I cannot remember which was first. We'll list Turkeyville as first though...

On our way home from our Dr.'s appointment, we stopped at some church friend's house to pick cherries! Another new experience.

Oh yes...the folks got back from Florida on the 28th, I believe...just in time for the scramble for our Independence Day party!

July

No doubt about it. July the 4th is probably my favorite holiday--I may love it more than Christmas. :D So, our now annual shindig with friends is a wonderful highlight of the year.

Also of note in July, I had my first ever honey harvest.

August

Hmm...August. We were supposed to start sewing for RWWII in August, but with the discovery of MOLD in the parent's closet, that was put on hold and the contents of said closet moved out while the remediation and renovation took place. Meanwhile, Katherine and I took a two day jaunt to go help some friends with their chicken butchering. They do things differently than we do, but new experiences aren't a bad thing. 

September 

As has become the norm over the past several years, September was RWWII from start to finish. Sewing. Sewing. Sewing. And more sewing. (No kidding, I finished four aprons the very morning we left for the event.) If you want to read all about it, go here. My parents and Grandma were going to come this year, but Hurricane Irma threw a monkey wrench into that, so we girls went off by ourselves again, collecting a few friends along the way.

Photos are either from our friends cameras or the RWWII FB page.

There really wasn't much else to September...we got home and crashed. Then picked up a new weekly routine as October arrived.

October

That new routine? Every Tuesday until the first week of December (minus one), found Katherine and I off on an evening excursion to practice Handel's "Messiah"! A new experience that I hope to repeat next year--only singing tenor rather than alto. ;)

Also in October, I hit 26. 

I've "missed" years before, but up until this year, I'd never had a "hard" birthday (I thought the idea simply silly). Turning twenty-six was hard for me, but I think I've moved past the emotional upheaval I went through at the realization I was closer to thirty than twenty and still single...and still fighting illness. Just ask the family. It was a rather rough couple of weeks for me. Sometimes, you really have to force yourself to stare into the fact that God is sovereign and works all things for your own good. Even if you are to stinkin' stubborn to acknowledge it. 

The end of October saw my older sister (pregnant with her first baby) going into early labor...so off the parents went to help out. They stayed til the baby was born...but that happened in November.

November 

Savannah just kept holding on...and ended up having the baby on her due date! Almost an entire month after she got put on bed rest.

I did the first stages of winterizing by myself:

This was my first Thanksgiving ever without my parents, but Katherine and I pulled together to make a traditional spread, hauled it out to Grandma's apartment and had a jolly enough time eating and gabbing. 

Of course, I know you want to know about the baby...

Mom and Dad got home with just a couple of days to spare before the end of November. 

December 

The month started out with a bang--the "Messiah" performance! (Photos courtesy of friends.) 

It was a two-day performance--Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. We left on Sunday (after showing baby pictures to the K's) and headed straight to Ohio for our Lyme doctor appointment. Dr. Ritchey thinks we are far enough along, and know enough how to keep fighting, that she told us she didn't think we really *needed* to come back, so we do not have a scheduled "next appointment". It's a little odd after three years. 

Between that weekend and Christmas, it was life...prepping for Christmas. I have been dealing with a skin infection on my feet for over a month, and as December ended it was finally beginning to really look like it was actually going away. Thankfully, it quit being horribly red, swollen, and itchy!! early in December.

Then of course...Christmas!

We ended the year out with a weekend trip (which ended up with us staying an extra half day due to exhaustion) to ring in the New Year! The weekend was a blast--cold(!!), ice-skating, talking, music, Chinese Lanterns, ringing in the New Year (a day early, but who cares), a slight snow fight (started by your's truly), food and more fellowship. 

Katherine and I went by ourselves because Grandma couldn't go and Daddy didn't really want to leave Mom behind and Mom didn't want to go without him (and vice versa), so anyway, that's why the two gal's hit the road for an overnighter (which turned into a two-night stay) by themselves.

A small smattering of photos...I think we need to learn how to use our new camera a little better, but photos are still photos when they are grainy!

The long and short of the year 2017 is this: it went by fast and in a blur, but God's hand of grace and provision and healing can be seen at every turn looking back. In some ways it was a really hard year to me, but God used (and is still using) the bumps to turn my weak and sinful heart more to Him and to seek after Him more faithfully. I look forward to where my path is going to lead in this next year!

Happy New Year 2018!!

You may want to go and re-read it, if you haven't already.
Even though Katherine forgot her camera...I've been snitching photos from Facebook and for this first set credit must go to Jill for her photography!

Click on the pictures for larger copies...and captions!

This next batch of photos were sent to me by the photographer, Abigail...
​Saturday Morning: Breakfast

Saturday Morning: Train Ride

Saturday: Lunch

Abigail also got a few pictures of the battle:

And that is it on the photos. Hopefully, you all enjoyed them! Maybe next time Katherine will remember her camera so there will be a few more...

(Looks like my blog has been hacked today and we have a "guest" post... ;P ~~Racheal)

Aw, quit complaining Nathan! You're the one who hacked me!! Besides, you know you don't really mind--or why else would you write with an eye to the humorous??

Anyway, where have you been?

Rooster.

Don't I know it! :D 

Don't be gone so long next time, ya hear?

Nate?

Nathan??

NATHAN NATHANIEL??

Shucks. Gone. Just like that. Ornery stinker. Ol' cowlicked curly top gets harder to hang on to the older he gets. I wonder what kinds of adventures he'll get into between now and next time he pops up to scribble on my blog...he never does tell me much. Top Secret...bah. I think he likes to pretend he's a spook.

I have four friends with birthdays this week...somehow that amuses me. :) Three are, or are past, and one still to come. My brother-in-law's birthday is next week (if I'm right on the date), so it's a birthday-ish kind of month, it seems! Naturally, Katherine is our "Sunshine Lady" as Mom puts it, so any mailed out cards have passed through the adorable child's hands.

Speaking of adorable, here's her shop outfit for today. Ain't she just PURDY??

Back to this week so-far though. I can't exactly remember Monday...unless Monday was the day Katherine and I went to Jo-Ann's. If it wasn't Monday, it was Tuesday.

Well, anyway, we went to Jo-Ann's because I have a number of Civil War underpinnings to make for certain persons--preferably before next weekend which is our first reenactment of the season! I, being the entire doof that I am, misread the sale ad and thus was happily expecting the muslin to be 50% off. Oh. It doesn't start until THURSDAY, you say? Well...now that I feel stupid, I'll come back then and get my mass of yardage! (Which I did, this morning, in conjunction with a grocery run. I walked out with an entire bolt of muslin for just over $25.)

I was also pricing for possible other notions for an upcoming project, my "bother's" Confederate general's uniform! Tickles me pink, it does. :) I'm still not entirely settled on what I'm going to use for the "chicken guts" on the sleeves. I don't want anything that looks cheap and "costumy"; it would ruin the effect. But anyway--there will be more on that project in the future.

Yesterday, I cleaned the chicken coop before breakfast. (That 45 minute buffer on the "dirt" detoxer leaves me open time slots sometimes.) The morning was spent doing a little straightening up and the afternoon saw the staggering fact that we organized our yards and yards and yards of material!!!!

You are allowed to die with shock.

That concluded with 1 box (all units are rubbermaid, just so you know) of 1 yard pieces, 1 box of 2 yard pieces, 1 box mostly full of 3 yard pieces, 1 box mostly full of 4 yard pieces, and 1 box crammed full of 5, 6, and 7 yard pieces. Then, of course, is the scrappy stuff which is supposed to be made into quilts, Katherine's box of fabric, my comforter bag of fabric, two small rubbermaids of doll material, one BIG rubbermaid with the material still on bolts in it. So yeah. We still have some material all over the place to join the mess of unfinished projects, un-started projects, and clothing items to be re-purposed. Oh, and perhaps a mending job or two.

We like fabric. Just in case you didn't know.

I was completely wiped out by the end of the day, but surprisingly, don't seem to badly off today. Which brings me to my next subject: a Racheal Health Update.

The week after Savannah got married, the following Wednesday to be exact, I started my new killer/detox regimen. I won't give any dates for the following, because that would be too precise for my taste (or memory)...

Anyway, I have been having, get this, E-N-E-R-G-Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My brain may not still be working at capacity, but I have been able to move, energetically--all day long (or mostly all day long) in a way that I haven't for quite a long time. Gee. ONE DROP of that fungal killer is doing this to me?? (And I'm not kidding, most days it is only one drop, not two.) I had some headaches when I first went on it, but since leveling out on one drop, I haven't. I wonder how it'll do with two drops. Maybe I'll attempt two next week.....maybe. I like feeling good. :D

Evidence that my brain still isn't fully functioning...I forgot what else I was going to say. 

However, I probably should mosey off of here (coffee's gone) and get to my Thursday baking. I have to go get some rhubarb for pies...and I'll double check with Mom on what else she wants or does not want made. Either way, I'll try to get US some bread made. We have enough eggs now that it's not a strain on our breakfast to whip up some breads.

Nah. I'm not talking about that I'm the oldest youn'un at home now or anything like that. I'm talking about the new Farmer's Market season.

I haven't heard anything about our local one, so I'm not sure what's going on with that, but the other market we work in a town a couple miles north starts tomorrow.

We have very little by way of merchandise yet. I have however, prepped for in the inevitable sweet teeth at the market by baking a batch of rhubarb strawberry pies.

I decided that this year, I'm actually going to try and make the pies look pretty. Maybe they'll sell better--maybe not. Anyway, I didn't see any use in just shoving that little bit of scrap dough back in the freezer, so I went decoratorish. I'm tickled at how that big one came out. Hearts are easy enough, but the flower was a little trickier. 

As you can see, I bake pies on a cookie-sheet. We found that out fast the first year I started baking rhubarb-strawberry pies for the market. I don't know about you, but I'd rather scrape and scrub a cookie sheet than I would the oven itself. :D

In between checking on the pies, I got a couple "Wedding Music Videos" edited. My adopted brothers are rather talented, just so's you know. ;) I'll be putting them up on YouTube relatively soon...

Oh--and I also started back on more detoxers and a single killer today. We'll see if THAT kills any and all creativity I have in me.

Until next time, I remain none other than...

​Thursday: COOKING. 

On Thursday, Abigail and Grace K. came down--they spent the majority of the day over at the church helping with the decorations while I baked chicken and later potatoes and carrots. My knee was sooo sore from squatting down every fifteen minutes to turn and baste the chicken. So much so that I ended up wrapping it for the wedding. (I damaged that right knee several years ago.)
 
My Aunt Terry also flew in that night--but after I went to bed, so I didn't see her until the next morning.

Oh...and I nearly forgot! My bees arrived! So I got them installed into the hives before lunch.

Friday: SO MUCH STUFF

Finishing up cooking, decorating, etc. Katherine baked the wedding cake and afterwards I popped in carrots and potatoes. It took forever for the first batch of carrots and potatoes to cook because the oven does not like the temperature to be changed.....I burnt half of the second batch because I thought I turned both ovens off before I went to bed, but I only turned the top one off. *rolls eyes* Hey, give me a break--it was 1:30-2:00 am!!

Anyway, several persons of our "house party" spent most of the day over at the church again. Aunt Terry, who played the organ for the wedding went over to make sure she got some practice. 

Someplace during the afternoon, I was peeping out the window and noticed this green car slowing down and pulling in. I went out, not sure who it was--and then I yelped, "It's Erik!!!!" (And then I remembered that car from before. :D)

Just in case you don't know--Erik was Savannah's first suitor. It didn't "work", but ended with a lasting, family-wide friendship. Erik, indeed, is the first and eldest of our adopted brothers. The beautiful happy lady next to him is his wife of two years--Allie. She's also now officially family. What a gal! :) We'll visit with them a little more here in a paragraph or so....

Sometime in along in here, the R brothers' also arrived, but they went straight to the church, so I really have no idea when they showed up. 

The rehearsal was supposed to be at 5:30, but I think it came off a little later. :D I *think* it went off well, but I've never been to a wedding rehearsal before, so I don't know. I don't have any pictures of that--or after when we were at the rehearsal dinner--but that was fun. Within earshot and with whom conversation was engaged with was, clockwise: Erik, Allie, Grace, Me, Abigail, Aunt Terry, Dan, Andy, and Katherine. I'm not quite sure of the rest of the seating waay up the table...
 
The conversation ranged from firearms (I think that was Dan and I mostly :D), music, history, family stories, reenacting, to coffee vs. tea (or both!)...and whatever. After laughing ourselves silly, various persons drifted away to hotels and our house. The House Party was all of us, Aunt Terry, Abigail and Grace, Erik and Allie, and Dan and Andy. I actually rode home with Dan and Andy--thanks to them tossing Andy's guitar (!!) and the suitcase in the bed of the pick-up. I expected to ride in the back of the cab, but I got to ride shotgun instead. :) Night air, music blaring, and brothers. :) It was a good ride...even with the wet, cool air-induced coughing fit. :D 

Anyway, when the House Party arrived, I went pretty much straight into pin-curling my hair. I think I got it up in record time...

In the meantime, Andy pulled out his guitar and jammed away. In my own opinion, I think he kept us all going. :D Before I got back into the kitchen, the rest of the the party started shredding cabbage, making salads, slicing ham, washing dishes, etc. It was so...awesome. It's what family is supposed to be like. Music, laughter, singing, talking, cooking--all way into the night. Or rather, into Saturday morning.  We finally all either, left to go to a hotel or crawl into bed, at about 1:30. I think I only got about two hours of sleep, so I did pretty decently the day after.

Saturday: THE WEDDING

Well, before we got there, we ate breakfast, goofed a little bit, and then rolled into last minute "stuff". That 'goofed a little bit' included a minor jam session of two guitarist (Andy and I).

Abigail and Savannah  went over earlier than anyone else while the rest of us concentrated on having coffee, tea, and breakfast....

At some point, I had to jump into the car and run into town to to pick-up Grandpa's suit from the cleaners. I drove WAY faster than I usually do....the three cups of strong coffee  I had had didn't help that race any. 

When I got back I kept right on running. We finally got out at almost 1:15 (we were supposed to be at the church at 11:30!), I think, and I RAN some more, rushing stuff in from the car...

​I finally managed to get around to getting into my bridesmaid dress, hurrying my make-up job, and taking my hair out of the "dew-rag" and un-pinning it. I was responsible for Scott's ring, so I stuffed it onto my thumb. Hannah, our photographer (and friend!) was in and out taking pictures. I think we all looked nice--I might have even attained what I was aiming at when I told Hannah's mom the night before, "I will try to look beautiful..." and then nearly fell out of my chair as I spoke! :D (I was leaning off to the side, in that half-dumb fake-confidential style that I have fun with from time to time.) Believe me, people were laughing...........

No matter what, I felt like I looked pretty, even though I was HOT (I mean temperature-wise!!!) when I got changed. It took me a while to cool down after all that sprinting up and down stairs.

Now, I know you are DYING to see the bride's dress:

Anyway, the ceremony was not overly long--but it was nice. Musically, Andy sang "O God Beyond All Praising"...the S's sang Psalm 46 in harmony...and there was the congregational hymn "All Creatures of Our God and King". I faked most of it, but kept my lips moving so I looked like I knew all the words! :D

The Pastor's message was not long but it was good (though please don't ask me to repeat any of it--remember, I only had two hours of sleep Saturday morning)...I had my camera set up in the balcony, so I'll be able to hear it again. :) Vows and rings were exchanged...and IT WAS DONE. 

Sorry I haven't any more pictures at this point...but I hope to put some more up eventually when Hannah gets done processing them.

However, during the wedding, our friend Ruth had a seizure! I had no idea what was going on and I did not look. If I had, I probably would have dropped my armload of flowers and charged over just like Mom and Dad and Erik and Beth (my cousin who is a nurse). At any rate, later I was able to go to GeeGee (Ruth's mom) and hold on to her until Mrs. M took her to the hospital where Ruth was being taken. I couldn't do anything else. Poor GeeGee was fighting tears and I knew that I had better not start bawling or she really wouldn't be able to hold it together, so I just kept my arm around her shoulder and said whatever that fell out of my mouth. I feel, while sad that Ruth had to be ill, that I was yet honored to be the family representative there at that moment. I just love both of them...

I bounced between the upstairs and the downstairs talking until it was time for pictures.

After pictures, Dan on his fiddle and Andy on the bodhran led the wedding party down into the fellowship hall. I really should have been directly behind Savannah, but because I was filming it, I followed on the very end, behind the groomsmen. Whenever I get the videos off the camera, I may get around to getting them on here....(and for my filmmaking friends, I think that I probably got the smoothest walking shot I have ever managed! I wonder if wearing heels helped??)

I tell you...the guests were so good about helping clean up. Though really, I think Miss K (remember this sweetheart?) and Allie did more than their fair share of the dish-washing! 

Between us, Miss K, the R's, the K's, and Erik and Allie, the rest of the clean up was executed pretty snappily. I was really starting to droop, so I'm afraid I was not in an awful lot of help.

It was told us that the relatives were coming over and I warned the brothers--knowing it would be a long evening and that they would be getting a little wound up. :D

Anyway, I hope they didn't think us rude, but Katherine and I spent the majority of our time out in the back room playing music. Dan looked about dead, though he did perk up for a bit once he got his fiddle out--after "fiddling" around on my cello. By the way--I think I've found my new "jam with R's" instrument--the cello. I can just find the drone note.........

At about two o'clock, I decided that I had better go to bed, so I went around and told everyone "Good-night", took a shower, and slipped upstairs.

I woke up at about 7 and snuck around trying to let everyone sleep while I readied things to go to church. I think Mom got the fellas and Katherine up around 8:45--giving them 30 minutes to get up, dressed, fed, packed, and out the door. We all swung it more or less. 

I ended up crying on and off all through the first service; I was just exhausted and the whole everything just caught up with me. I considered getting up and going to the bathroom and actually bawling, but I kept my seat and tried to be quiet. As the final hymn was being sung, I leaned over to Katherine and whispered to her to please get me a cup of coffee as soon as the service ended--which being an absolute doll, she did. It helped and I was able to smile sheepishly and semi-engage in conversation while wondering how red and puffy my eyes looked...It's very odd, but crying in public is not nearly as humiliating as I once would have thought it. Or maybe it's just because the people I was crying around are trustworthy?

Oh well, enough waxing philosophical about tears.

Savannah and Scott didn't make it to the first service (naughty young un's ;D) but they showed for lunch and the second service--only they didn't eat lunch since they had just had "breakfast". I had remembered to bring the camera.....

The R brother's left after lunch so they could get home in time for Andy to tickle the keys for their church's evening service. Glad to say, they got home safely! 

Savannah and Scott hit the road after the second service:

Erik and Allie likewise left--but to come to our place to see Mama and Daddy a little more before they left. So...while we got pictures with them before they drove off--we got to see them again at home as they ate supper with us!

My cousin spent Sunday night with us and Daddy took her to the airport about mid-afternoon Monday so she could catch her 5:30 flight. It was good to see her, even if I didn't spend a huge amount of time with her.

Monday, Robert and Lessie came to spend the day. :) They brought Mama a present....

While we would go out for supper, we fed them lunch...

Like I said, we went out for supper. We went to Red Lobster and I ate and ate. Scallops. :) Anyway, I ended up dopey. Hardly surprising, really. 

They came over for breakfast this morning before hitting the road again.

And now we have clean-up, re-organization to do, and I need to get the wedding videos off my camera. At present, I think every female in the house is just vegging in front of a computer. Daddy just got back from taking Grandpa to a doctor's appointment. And I'm not sure that I don't have a little meningitis prodding me in the neck. Bah. 

It was just wonderful and awesome to see so many people... :) 

Have a great Tuesday, y'all! I'm just relaxin' today...

Busyness has defined this week. I cannot remember what I did on Monday--other than dishes--and singing for 45 minutes at the top of my lungs. No one else was home, that's how come I got away with that. ;)

Yesterday saw a whole slew of things being done: Mom got the Tandoori chicken marinating, I peeled 12 pounds of carrots and stuffed them in ziploc bags and jammed them back into the fridge. I washed dishes once or twice (or more). I did laundry; a little abstract "straightening" in the living room. I ironed both mine and Katherine's bridesmaid dresses (THAT's what I did on Monday--I stitched up the sashes!) I cooked two meals. I cleaned the bathroom (I just realized I forgot to scrub the floor........) I baked some bacon and managed to burn some of it. 

I readied my beehives--I thought the buzzers should be arriving today, but it looks like probably Thursday.

I was in and out of the house several time and actually spent some time in the bright sunshine and wind--and farm chemicals.

Now, I know better than to dance around in herbicides and insecticides. I got a whiff of "something" at some point while in the middle of messing with my hive and just kept right on doing whatever it was I was doing. I was literally in and out of the house all day and Savannah says 'everyone was spraying' yesterday though I only saw one--the jerk who really should have only sprayed Helen's field (right next to ours). However, he did our field as well (couldn't he see the boundary??)...and he was real sloppy about it too. Davy is always very respectful around our property, but this guy wasn't. I was kinda hoppin' indignant, but none of us wanted to go out into the spray and give the dope a piece of their mind. (Daddy was up state under a dentist's fist at the time.) Well, Mom had had the windows open some and they didn't get closed immediately. Even closed up though, some of that stuff still seeps through the cracks.

I kind of feel bad about not going out and trying to get that guy to cut it out, spraying our land and all, for two reasons: 1) we already have corn planted and I suppose it's quite possible that whatever he was spraying, which would be for beans, may damage our crop--or kill it completely and 2) he wasted his employers money! But I didn't want to go out--but I guess I might have well as gone out, I got sick from it anyway!! 

That explains why I've spent the last couple of hours in my chair in the living room, vaguely paying attention to the cleaning Mum is doing in the next room. I have done a little laundry today as well as dishes--and I DID get the roasters washed this morning and I made lunch! So, I guess I haven't been one-hundred percent useless. Still, I don't feel good and I have the random aches and pains in addition to the meningitis. 

I hope I feel A LOT better in the morning because Abigail and Grace come in tomorrow as well as Aunt Terry. 

I can't claim to have done anything overly exciting today...just the usual hum-drum...but I thought I'd tell you a tale of a 24-year-old and a pot of soup.

Savannah and I had just come back from the shop and I asked if she or I were going to make the soup for supper. She, being rather exhausted, was on her way to a refreshing shower...and didn't exactly give any answer.

Of course, one could argue that I didn't give her time to answer the question.

I blurted out some nonsense like this: *in a normal voice* "I don't make very good soup..." *then in a mock horrified tone* "Ah...I've sealed my own fate!!"

Then I promptly clattered down the stairs to go take dominion of that area of my life called "Soup Making". I really am trying to show a little more initiative in the kitchen. Honestly, I'm 24 and I know how to cook, but I too frequently let someone else deal with it. I'm not talking about those days when I wander in circles because my brain is about as smart as a pile of cotton balls, but those days like today when I feel pretty good (if one ignores the low-grade Mollart's Meningitis that has been plaguing me on and off for close to two weeks now). 

Now, the jury's out on the taste quality of that there pot of soup simmering on the stove. We haven't eaten yet....

I have sad news...this will probably be the last installment of the Chicken Chronicles for the rest of the year. I am no longer the happy owner of ANY living chickens.

The story goes like this:

I closed the birds in last night, nice and snug so I thought. Alack and alas! I went out this morning to feed my dozen feathered creatures only to find all but one of them laid about in various positions of rigor mortus. The living bird was clucking incessantly, distressed. She even let me pick her up without any fuss.

I quickly spotted the entry (and likely exit) of the evil, marauding mink . It was up high in the southwest corner. The chicken wire, which never was secured overly well in that position (from the outside it's at least four feet up) was pushed in. The overall consensus is that the nasty varmint was so irritated at being foiled in his plans to get at the birds since Wednesday that he took his revenge. (I don't know if we're the only ones, but we have gathered that mink are rather nasty creatures like that.) Only one bird had had any consumption done on it. Head and neck. That is all that these dirty mink eat--the head and neck down to the shoulders. At least coons eat drumsticks and thighs and more. It's not such a wanton "waste" of meat that way.

Daddy feels really bad about it because he had given brief thought to that upper wire and decided to do nothing. I hadn't really even given it any thought at all...but one must remember that it was cold and after 9 pm when we came in the other night. Besides, who would have thought that a mink would be so determined that he'd climb the side of the coop?? Not I. Especially when there are fat mice and voles around all over the place. 

Well, anyway, I sadly hauled my dead birds off and tossed them into the field. Neither one of us felt like butchering cold stiff birds. The pitiful clucking of the remaining hen was about to make me cry so I went in. Funny thing is, I wasn't mad. I got mad the last time the mink got into them, but I think I was almost in shock this time...

Anyway, I said I didn't have any birds left in the beginning, didn't I? Well, it's true.

I was busy washing the lunch dishes when I happened to look out of the window and see...a blame mink trying to pull my LAST bird through the fencing!!!!!!!!

She was already dead. I knew that. But I started spluttering (more or less) and my heart rate went right through the roof. I dried my hands in a flash and lunged for my revolver (I keep it rather handy frequently). I didn't take time to put on a jacket and barely took the time to shove my feet into my boots.

I barreled out the door, screaming, "DADDDEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!" (He was in the shop.) "He's there!!!"

Or something to that effect. I never let up my sprint until I got to the corner of the barn where I ripped my .22 out of it's holster, just in time to hand it to Daddy, who'd come running right behind me. He had his semi-auto out. We switched guns since his was a little excessive for the skinny rat which had lifted it's head to observe us calmly. I wanted Daddy to shoot it since he's a better shot than I am, besides which I was shaking so bad that I wasn't sure I would have been able to control my breathing well enough for a good shot placement. However, if Daddy hadn't come up when he had, that dirty animal would have found himself staring down a .22 barrel held by a very irate female...

As it is, at least one of Daddy's two shots hit him (I didn't exactly see it because I had stepped away...my .22 is pretty loud and I had no earplugs in). Daddy and I re-exchanged guns again and Daddy told me to go around to the back of the barn. The mink had gone inside (there are tunnels under the barn walls into the back portion of the barn. We had a rabbit die in there last year...but that's another story.)

Anyway to shorten this story, we discovered that the mink (or minks) have been living in the barn this whole time. We found the nest and burrowings...but no mink, dead or alive. However, we did smell the musk. That dirty rat was probably cowered underneath something within pistol range the whole time. Anyway, I hope that a stench arises back there very soon. Still, I may go "hunting" once a day for a while after this...as is, we placed one of the snap traps in what appears to be the main entrance and then I brazenly put the live trap directly in front of it. I would take a great deal of satisfaction in drilling a mink after this...

And that, my friends, is how I am now no longer head dominionist over a flock of fluff brained birds. I think I'll rather miss the silly things. Yup...there went the egg bill back up a notch or two again...