It's 4:15 am...

Good morning everyone! Its early, but by the time I get done with this its going to be later.. does that make sense? I did'nt think so, so I will not delete it... make sense? Wha.... OK ..

Its early, I think I said that already but for good measure - ITS EARLY!!! The Milk Man had to be up a bit earlier today, because we have a couple of sick cows. Bad belly aches -SOOOO - he has to give them some soda water - yes soda water. When a cow gets a type of 'bloat' they need to release the gas before the stomach twists and the vet needs to be called. If you dont get the gas off, she will more than likely need surgury - can you say CHA-CHING.... Anyway - I usually set my alarm for 4am because I like to get up and get started on my day before I have to feed the ravenous hord. But, Milk Man got up right away too. 4:30 is his usuall rise and shine time - ok rise time the shining comes about 3 cups of coffee later.

Today we have our advent program at church and potluck after. I was going to make Lefse because its a bunch of Norwegians, but this prevented me from doing that....

It was a little chilly in the house this morning so we had to improvise, he looks like an Eskimo...

Yesterday after his nap, this is how he looked...

So I made pumpkin pies instead - they are in the oven now so I will take a picture of them before I leave for Sunday School with the boys...

I want to know how many of you put up your tree before Thanksgiving? This has bothered me all night, I was laying awake thinking about it - ok, not ALL night, but I did think about it - randomly like....

Lefse

Does anyone like Lefse? Do you know what Lefse is? I was thinking about doing a post about how to make it, but dont want to if no one is interested? Leave a comment either way... OH and I a few days there is going to be a contest...... not sure what the prize will be yet. Maybe a jar of home made saurkraut. How do you think it would do on a trip through the mail?!??!?

Happy Thanksgiving to you...

Just a quick post to tell you all HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Here on the farm we try to list at least 5 things that we are thankful for - specific things. So in the comments section I would like everyone to try to do that or at least name one. Here are my 5 things...

1. Jesus Christ - without him nothing else would be what it is for me.

2. My husband and his never ending devotion to our family and the way of life we have both been raised in.

3. Our Sons - all of them, even the ones who are not our flesh and blood. They are just as much ours as Big Son, Lispy and Milk Dud are. They work hard, love quickly and try thier best with all they do.

4. My health -Having been sick the last few weeks of pregnancy with Milk Dud I have realized how important health is, and I am SO thankful that God has blessed me with good health.

5. The abilty to be able to worship in the way that I choose without persicution. To be able to go to church on Sunday morning without fear of death or imprisonment.

I am always thankful for my family - mom, dad, inlaws, grandparents, sibling etc. but the only reason they are not listed in the top 5 is because there are certain things that have happened through the year that made choose like I did - not because I dont love them....well at least I love them most of the time!!! JUST KIDDING!!!

But this year I wanted to add 1 -

6. My blogging friends... I truley have been blessed by you guys and honored that you would choose to spend your time reading my jumbled thoughts on paper. I am SO thankful for you all - I wont even begin to name names because I dont want to overlook anyone - you are all very important to me. The first thing I do after getting everyone breakfast at 5am is to sit down and go through 'my blogs' list and see how you are all doing. Being on the farm, I dont get out much - except to the local farm stores and the grocery store. BUT, I love my life like that - so its great that I can have all of you. Thank you again for being part of my daily life - Blessings to you all...


Lord, so often times, as any other day
When we sit down to our meal and pray

We hurry along and make fast the blessing
Thanks, amen.Now please pass the dressing

We're slaves to the olfactory overload
We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minute more
To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed
My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those
Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure
Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place
And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided
And bless each and every person invited

Amen!

By Scott Wesemann

Happy Turkey Day!!!!!

Patching Pants..... do you?

I have question for all you gals that have children - do any of you still patch the kids pants when they get holes in them? I have often thought of this, only because - I do..... So many people throw out pants/jeans because they have a nick in them or a hole, but is it really so bad to patch them and use them for everyday? There is no right or wrong answer, I am just COMPLETLY curious. The Milk Man thought I should show you all how I do it, but I dont want to put it up here if no one will benefit from it. Also, does anyone keep the hand me downs or is that a thing of the past. I keep EVERYTHING, boots, shoes, cloths, toys - the whole 10 yards man. Milk Dud is wearing some of the cloths that Big Son wore 10 years ago - same blankets, sleepers, socks, cloth diapers - you name, Heidi still has it!!! Now I am a keeper , but NOT a pack rat. I dont just keep everything, but only things that I KNOW will be useful at some point in time. SO - how many of you are like me and how many say 'Ta heck with it' and give it a toss?

TAGGED!!!!

My dear sistah from anotha motha tagged me to post 7 wierd things about me... as wierd as I am, this wont take long.

1. I cant grow fingernails. I scratch myself all the time, not to mention MIlk Dud has some funky claw marks oh him.

2. When I was younger I used to wear my undies and socks inside out because I hated the seams. SO, my dad was forever trying to get me to turn them around. The bargain was that if he quit smoking I would turn them around. :) Later in life I found out he had to quit smoking because my sister was on oxygen........

3. I only wear white socks because I know they are clean when I bleach them... goofy right..

4. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to garden, but HATE HATE HATE dirt under my 'no finger nails'. I have to wear gloves in the garden, cow crap on my hands dosnt bother me, but dirt does? NOW THATS WIERD PEOPLE!!!

5. I love to eat ketchup on my popcorn - I thought everyone one did it until a few years ago.

6. The dirtier the Milk Man is, the hotter I think he is... gross huh. :)

7. I have to do things in order, no matter what my task seems to be. Like laundry, all the jeans have to be done first, then colors, then sheets, then whites, then towels... goofy I know!

SO, thanks Mrs. Mom for making me show/prove what a freak of nature I truely am...... *grin*

Happy Birthday Milk Man....

Today is the day my lover turns *41*... the hottie that he is....

At least I think he is a hottie.. We met many years ago and his kiss still puts butterflys in my stomach. He is a great father, son and husband. ALWAYS doing his best to make our lives better and I am the luckiest woman in the world to have him to love. Yup, I am sappy....

The biggest reason I love him after all this time, he knows me and still loves me.... or is it puts up with me.... no, he loves me - I think, ya its love..

SO on your special day I try to thank your mother for all she did to help make you the man that you are. No one in the world could ever be all that you are to me and our family. Your a great dad to our boys by being the example that they need. You know when to have fun with the, hold them to comfort them and when they need a kick in the butt - you do it all well and I am so blessed to be married to you. I love you!
Now - I had other pictures of MM, but they were all of him bending over and such so I figured that you would'nt want to see my favorite view.

In other business, I recieved a package the other day that I have been mulling over posting about. Karen sent Milk Dud a darling little package of goodies, but I dont want to post it yet because part of it is going to be used for somthing special on Dec. 7th and I want her to see it for the first time then. SO - I will wait till then to post about it, but I had to tell you all about it and thank my dear friend for her thoughtfullness!!! LOVE YOU KAREN!!!

On to Lispy news:

He likes to take his baths after we all get in from the barn. So in the midst of trying to cook supper for 7 people, I have one of them evolving into a fish in the bathroom - and my bathroom turns into a swimming pool. The other night he came out of the bathroom and started to watch tv - I went in there to 'clean up the flood' and noticed somthing hanging from the wall...

Yup - its a washcloth... how did it get there - you find out and tell me ok???

Then, last night he came out of the bathroom - naked of course - except for a piece of toilet paper stuck to his chin....

Me : Lispy, what's on your face?

Lispy : nosthin...

Me: Lipsy, there is somthing on your face...

Lispy : No, you thust (just) teeing (seeing) thins (things)...

Me: Lispy, come here...

This is the point that he rolls his eyes and trys to play it all off as - well just play it all off. Milk Man is not paying much attention as he is filling his face with bbq spare ribs... I take off the toilet paper and this is what I see....

He had tryed to shave himself with my razor - so these


and this...

dont mix well.

But not to be out done - Milk Dud sends his love to all his online aunties...

I have a favor to ask....

Hey everyone - just a quick note to ask a HUGE favor. I have applied to get blogher ads on my blog and was wondering if you would all pass it onto others? I want to be able to make a little money so that I can do better give aways, etc. So the more traffic I get and maintain the better chance I have of getting them to advertise. I noticed that my comments have REALLY declined and I am hoping its just because everyone is busy and not that they no longer read me..... please read me.... Anyway - at the moment I am rendering some lard so I am taking pictures of it as I go - post will be up in the morning! Why are you looking at me in that tone of voice? I always come through right? right? anyone there?

Here is a random shot from the farm....

The Lispy picture is from the 'old' part of the barn - it has since been white washed and looks like a picture perfect barn. This is what lispy wears most of the summer - he feels the need to be 'free'....

Milk Dud's feet are sticking out the bottom of his 'dress' as the Milk Man calls it. He sleeps in little moo-moo's or sacks as some people call them. Milk Man was holding him and his feet were just perfectly sticking out the bottom... dont they look tasty? SO I hop you all have a great night and I am off to finish my lard..... till later, dont let the milk sour.

Lispy unplugged...

So many of you have commented that I must be so busy, truth be told that - I am - however... you must see how I get things done. Lispy is a GREAT helper as long as Milk Dud is no where to be found. Lispy is fasinated with the little pooper and I cant get him to keep his hands of off him wether he is sleeping or not, Lispy is FOREVER trying to 'just love' him..... anyway, back to the great lisping helper that I have....

Lispy loves to vacum.... He would vacum the curtains if he could - he also loves to help put dish's away, but the silver ware at times ends up in the garbage because he gets sick of seperating them all into the silverware organizer, so he throw them hoping they will never be found...

What you expected there would be cloths on him....have you been drinking?

Aside from his love of vacuming, tossing silverware and Milk Dud harasment - Lispy loves 'sthips' - chips for all you non Lispy speakers. He will eat potato chips ALL DAY if I would allow it, however I dont - to his sha-grin. Here are a few Lispy/Milk Dud pictures and the last one is how he came out from his bedroom for breakfast a few days ago - because he was hot.....

In closing I must relay a conversation that Lispy and I had last night..

To set the stage, I must inform you that I have NO privacy what so ever in this house. I dont lock the bathroom door for the simple fact that someone may to get in becuase of profuse blood loss, swollen facial features, severed limps - you get the picture.... here is the conversation...

Me: Lispy, would you please go out and shut the door behind you?

Lispy: Why?

Me: Because I would like some privacy while I use the bathroom.

Lispy: Why?

Me: Because it would be nice to be alone while I am on the potty. SO please go out and shut the door..

Lispy then turns to go..and shuts the light off.

Me: LISPY! would you please turn the light back on?

Lispy: Why? Do you see a pattern here?

Me: Becuase I would like to be able to see so I can wipe my Hiney...

Lispy: Why, you know where it is....... *insert crickets here*

He left me in the dark with my dirty hiney....

Thank you Grandpa.....

Being it is Vetrans Day and so many of you did such a nice job at posting about your familys... I want to be a copy cat - is that ok? Can I be a copy cat for this post?? Thanks, I'll pay you back with dirty diapers ok?!

My grandpa is the most loveing, self sacrificing, dedicated, under appreciated, hard working, dependable, never thinks of himself man that I have ever met. Grandpa was born in a farm house outside of a small town of less than 200 people. He farmed with his folks until WWII and then he enlisted. When the war was over, he returned to work in the box factory that was the life of this small town. Grandpa was a sergant in the US Army and was one of the famous Jungleers division of the war. He served in the Pacific theater and saw so much that it was always hard for him to talk about it. He was the leader of his platoon, self apointed medic, grave digger and point man. My grandma told me that he apointed himself to dig the graves because he was responsible for his men.... He was also the medic in his unit, he is the most comforting man you could ever meet. When I was little you always went to grandpa when you got hurt, he carried bandaids in his wallet - a far cry from the pack he used to help his boys on the battlefield. Not until later in my life have I realized why he was the one that we would go to, he knew what to do. He also would scout for the platoon and put himself in danger before he put his men out there - he is just that kind of person. Some of the battles he fought in were - Quadal canal, Biak, the Phillipean Islands, Japan, New Guine and several others. He had Malaria, jungle rot on his feet, fly bites, disintary and they still fought for thier lives.

My grandpa is one of the most important people in my life. He is not a loud man nor is he arrogant, nor boastful. He is quiet, yet fun loving and is always there if you need him - without fail. Grandpa has a type of dimentia now, not alzheimers because he does remember us when he feels like talking. He keeps his eyes closed most of the time and will only answer questions, but can not carry on a conversation. My granny takes complete care of him, she is 81 and he is 84. We all pitch in as much as we can to help her, but she is just a BIT independant. She doesnt want us to see grandpy unclothed, for fear of his dignity - that is love.

Grandpy always took care of us kids. He ran us to school functions, rollar skating ( he would bring along a Lois Lamour book, sit and wait for us 4hrs till skating was over) shopping, work and anywhere else we needed to be. I am going to put a video on here for you to see that even in his failing state he is still trying to comfort those in need. Milk Dud was fussing and we set him in grandpys lap - the ever giving man that he is tryed to reach through his clouded mind and tried to gently shush him....

I hope you all have a person in your life like my grandpy - He is a wonderful man and I miss him terribly. Thank all of those vetrans who so deserve our respect and most of all our time to care for them after all they have done for us.

Happy Vetrans Day

My New Award and random stuff...

First I have to apologize to my dear friend The Farmers Wife for not doing this sooner. Sorry Sue!!! I have to say how blessed I feel about what this award stands for and being thought worthy of it. So thank you for all the kind things you said about me and our life here on the Funny Farm - and my curtains are from Menards..... I know you are wondering!!





Kari & Kijsa describe the award as follows:

And that is our goal and purpose behind this blog...to inspire others to join us on the exciting, thrilling journey ahead. We want to succeed in sparking creativity in the lives of others for that is how we measure our success. In short...we try to each and every minute of every wonderful day be "Designing for Life."

Cool huh!! So thank you again Suzanne - I truely covet this.

Now for the rest of the stuff....

I am going to try to post a little later today - I mean it this time.... why are you looking at me like that? Milk Dud has a cold and has been up a LOT the last few days so I have not had enough sleep, I can go without a lot of sleep, but its been rough for even me. Milk Man, he hardly notices that I am sitting on the edge of the bed with my 'titty' exposed trying to quiet this little muffin. He has had some wicked tummy issues and now is getting a little bit stuffy...Milk Dud not Milk Man.. I make him leave the bedroom when he has tummy issues - enough said right? So I promise a post later today. Being Sunday, I get a little break in the afternoon when dinner is over with. SO - till then - dont let the bull get ya.

A praise to God is in order!!!

Yesterday Lispy went to the farm, which is not a new thing. BUT, they are combining corn for 'high moisture' for the silo for feed for the winter. I was not at the farm much yesterday, becuase I was busier than a one armed paper hanger... the washing machine is trying to kill me - I SWEAR it is! Anyway, Milk Man, Lispy and Grandpa Chuck were in the yard talking about filling the silo. The 4020 JD was hooked to a gravity box, those are the box's I showed you in my unfinished oats post, and it was FULL of corn. They weigh some over a ton when filled with shelled corn. As a rule, we dont let the kids play on the machinery because you NEVER know what may happen. However, we do give them rides from time to time - go ahead and admonish me if you need to. This particular day the tractor was parked on a slant with a full gravity box hooked behind. For some unknown reason, Lispy got onto the tractor and started to fiddle with the gear leaver..... yes, the brake was on - but as we all know, things dont always work as they should. We do keep our machinery WELL MAINTAINED - but it got a wild hair and decided not to work. Lispy was on the tractor, it was shut off, and pulled on the lever and it started to roll. My father in law, Grandpa Chuck, saw it and bolted as fast as a 74 year old man with artheritis, bad legs and a heart problem can run. He grabbed Lispy, who at this time was coming down the steps on the tractor, and literaly THREW him from the tractor steps and he landed 7 feet away. Dad was able to get the tractor and wagon stopped and Lispy was not hurt, except his pride. Poor dad was shaking, yelling, smiling and swearing all at the same time from fear of what may have happened had he not seen what was going on... I just thank God that his angels were watching out for my Lispy... Lispy told me later that he was praying to Jesus for his safty earlier in the morning. God is good and has once again blessed our family with life. We pray every morning and night for safety and mercy - its paying off!!

Now I am sure there are going to be comments about - you should keep better track of your kids, you shouldnt let them be on ANY machinery etc.... This is understandable, and at times would agree - but, this is our way of life and fewer children are hurt or killed on farms than they are in thier own homes by parents, friends etc. Do I think that even one life lost is to many, yes!
Yet, this is our way of life and there are dangerous things that can happend. I often think of people who let thier young children race 4-wheelers, dirt bikes etc.... that is just, if not more dangerous than living on a farm. Yet it seems acceptiable that there is a large amount of danger involved. It is also dangerous to ride in a car - more can happen in a vehicle than it can on a farm and again seems to be an acceptable amount of danger. SO, I hope that you all continue to visit me here even though I put my kids in danger daily!

Later today, I hope, I will posting an award that I recieved from a very special person. So stay tuned!!

Times up!!! The Winner is...

Well, you all had great answers that were mostly all the right ones too!! LOL

They are both turd wagons!! They haul it all over, where ever they go!! So to be fair I randomly picked from everyone because - I like you all and could not have picked if I had to.....


SO.... WILLOW WITCH you win!! I stuck all of your names in a hat and pulled one out - it was you! You are the proud new owner of 2 bars of hand made goat milk soap. SO I will contact you and get your address so I can send them for ya!!

Thanks everyone for playing. I am going to do this again shortly - but next time the prize may indead be a 'turd wagon'...

My first CONTEST!!!

Well everyone, I am going to have my first contest.....

Name what these 2 things have in common and win a prize... winner will be announced tonight - all entry's must be before 5 pm...

and this.....

use your imagination!

Polock-tics.... no offense...

Well everyone - we vote tommorow!! Raise your hand if you are done with the PO-LOCKtics. When I say Polock- please dont take offense to that word. I use it because I have a bit of polock in me, so it is a self demeaming term, therefore ok for me to use - right? What I am trying to get at is, that EVERYONE acts like a bunch of IDIOTS about all of this stuff. I feel that its one of the most important things we MUST do to keep our country from becoming comunist, socialist, totalitarian or anything else but democratic!!! If the candidates want to impress me, STOP talking about why you should not vote for the oposite candidate!!!!!!!!!!! Tell me why I should vote for you! It should be up to us and IS up to us to find out about a candidate BEFORE we vote for them! What they stand for, against and what good things they want to do for our country. I am sick of Obama being called "The one" - I am tired of hearing about McCain being a 'Mavrick'.... on and on and on. I am tired of hearing how Obama is more experienced than Palin... last I knew, she was running for VP not President - what does her ability have to do with his? Becuase McCain may die during his presidency? Well, if thats the case she has at least run a governing body in her life. Obama is a senator that has little public exposure as a senator.... Senators legislate, somthing that Democrats seem to think is more note worthy than actually running a governing body... To me someone who votes yes or no in a matter is less 'in touch' with what the public really wants. Its no differant with McCain, except one thing - he has been in the public eye for MUCH longer than Obama. I think that they BOTH have good ideas, however they both have large faults. I dont like Obamas record of voting, or lack of and I dont like McCains health care proposal..... I think there are so many things that we dont know about, I am sure of it! One thing that really disturbed me is the fact that Obama wants to take Military recruiters out of the schools - therfore causing a large number of loss of enlistments in our military. Now dont jump all over me, I didnt say I suported all aspects of our military or what they are made to do - I am just saying that by doing this it could move us to being a non-military nation in the long run. THAT would scare me - this is why - China will NEVER not bear arms. They still kill their own, directly or indirectly. I did NOT watch the Olympics because of the persicution in China of thier own people... anyway - If we dont have a strong military do you really think that anyone is going to 'just be friends' with us? HECK NO!! Learning by example is a great thing, but does not work when it comes to defending our country against attack.... We have resources that the rest of the world COVETS all the time....
Now for McCain - he is rich and helps the rich. That scares me as well - for the simple fact that it makes people believe that ONLY the rich have rights. This kind of thinking may push poor folks to think that socialism, the redistribution of wealth, is a good thing! This is just voting for the less of 2 evils instead of voting for a good, solid president.

As far as the economy, thats our fault and no one elses. Blame who you want, but when your expense's excede your income that is YOUR choice to go into debt. If you go to a bank and they lend you money that you dont have, that is thier problem, if you accept it - thats yours! People are not living within thier means - that is thier own fault. I get SO SO SO tired of people blaming others for the short comings of thier decisions. If you have $300 and $275 is need for rent, you dont go spend it on new cloths - PAY YOUR RENT!!!

This is the only political post I will probably ever right... If I have offended anyone, I cant say that I am sorry because these are my opinions and I am not sorry for how I feel. Feel free to leave me a comment - I dont do the anon thing becuase if you want to say it, stand behind it people. Grow a pair!!! Milk Dud is!!! LOL