Wednesday's Warrior

     This week, we've processed 11 bushels of tomatoes into spaghetti sauce. It's been a while since I've done that many. The hardest part is boiling them down and having every large and small container in the house full of fresh squeezed tomatoes on counters waiting to be boiled to thicken. I finally resorted to a large, clear bin to keep filling.

     We've been picking and washing and peeling and freezing and canning. PHEW. t-i-r-e-d. When we pull into the you-pick fruit stand, the kids get scared that I'm going to make them pick tomatoes again. (Even though their mom picked most of them while they found bugs and picked flowers) We are picking up 10 dozen corn tomorrow and a half bushel of concord grapes. I can add that to my bushel of beans and hot peppers waiting on the porch. 

 This month, we've played out several times and it's been the busiest month of the entire year for us.  I've been trying to organize my house, but the laundry just never stops overflowing and the dishes are never ending. It gets frustrating, but it's ok. I'll be alright like every other woman who's ever done it before me. 

     I finally bought a Kitchen Aid 6 qt. commercial mixer. I had a smaller one about 5 years ago, but in my infinite wisdom and generosity, I gave it to my sister. I've been trying to get that darn thing back for about 2 years now, until I realized a few weeks ago, that I would just have to buy another one. Maria wanted lime green, so that's what we got. I'm still trying to get past the color, although I keep telling the kids that I love it. This week, we've been making bread. muffins and bagels each day testing it out. We also ordered a grain mill attachment and have already started grinding. (It came in today, along with the wheat berries) Although I had Leek soup on the stove tonite, we made pancakes too, just to try out the grinder. I'm just starting, but you wouldn't believe how easy it is to make your own bread. I am going to teach my two little boys and Lizzie tomorrow morning before the other kids get up.

     I've been tossing some idea's around regarding which direction that I want to take this blog. I see so many people in need of encouragement and a kind word, that I really want to lift people up through my writing and every day struggles of my own. Believe it or not, it will help me, helping you. I plan on writing every Wednesday, sharing things that I've been working on personally in my own life and things that I'm learning along the way. I think I will call it "Wednesday's Warrior."

Cold mornings

Pinky Promise

     Many of you may know this already, but as a family, the kids and I play music and sing. Today we had a show in Nunda with the happiest bunch of people. I must have talked over an hour after the show to people coming up to share something about our performance, something that touched them...a song that we sang or to encourage us to keep at it. 

     My husband was working and my mom couldn't go with us, so the kids and I went ourselves. The little kids were very well behaved and I was thankful for that. Sometimes the two little boys start fooling around, but they were good today. At one point, they started hitting each other with little sticks, but I gave them the beastly eyeballs, and they stopped.

     This week, we've been working on getting the house in order, putting together our schedules for the school year, and planning music lessons. I've been reading so many good books that I want to share, but just haven't had the time. I've been trying to go to bed earlier at night and today, I picked up my new day planner for the year. It's exciting starting fresh, isn't it? The girls even came home and cleaned their rooms...now that's excitement!

     In this last picture, this little girl made Michael pinky promise that he'll always play the banjo. In Japan, the "pinky promise" originally indicated that the person who breaks the promise must cut off their pinky finger. Hmmm...Pretty serious stuff.