Wow.. it's been a tough couple of weeks. I was having a real hard time post treatment recovering and getting strength back. I had a headache that wouldn't give up. Today is the first day I feel like I'm almost kind of 'back'. My head feels like a toothache. It hurts all of the time, but unless it's pressured I've been able to deal with it. I've stayed awake all day. I feel like shouting. I'm a big girl now :-) So that's a biggie.
We've been dealing with winter storms for the past week.. An ice/snow storm of a couple of inches of ice that wasn't too horrible, that was last Wednesday. We got things taken care of and we were okay. The wind hit along with the ice so none stayed on the power lines. Then it got cold, very cold. Friday we were supposed to get a 'dusting' of snow. It snowed all day, about 4". For Arkansans, that's a snow storm. Now they say we are supposed to get more. I don't know. Sunday we were supposed to have an inch, it rained. I haven't a clue what it's going to do tomorrow night. Rob will be home, we will get feed tomorrow. So we'll ride :-)
Not a whole bunch has really been going on here. I did get some molds for my soaps. And went through some of the soap in the back room and gave a bunch to the ladies at church. It was stuff that wasn't curing right and I want to make some to get ready for flea markets in the spring. And I want to play with more soap making to be honest. I am feeling better. Hallelujah.
Other news. My brother, Jeff, asked me for my address tonight via Facebook. he's going to be interning and needs my address as a sibling. Glory be, I pray it's not political because we're probably about as far as the east is from the west politically, but I gave it to him. I have no problem. Poor guy... my legacy with twenty-something continues LOL.
Speaking of twenty-somethings. We got the older kids' insurance stuff straightened out. This is a good thing. Now they need to use it. I talked to them both today and they sounded okay. Betha is gripey, but such is Beth. Erich's Erich.. but such is Erich. I pray, I pray.. but such is me.
Tomorrow's goals. Be prepared for winter weather. As much as possible. Bake something from scratch. I'd like to make a batch of cold process soap. We'll see :-) Good night and God Bless
Monday, February 7, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Mercy, mercy
Trying to get to feeling better here and it's slow going! I'm not happy about it either. Today it was the big bad headache again and it gets so depressing. I'm going to go ahead and email the doc in Little Rock and talk to her about this; I don't like the over top side effects.
Today was a pretty day outside today. I have a chick order ready to go. I'm ready to begin spring. Next week will be a big week for us. Ginger takes her ACT and after that I want her to switch over to work on her GED stuff, get that taken care of and have it done. Then, she'll be through with homeschool. Wow.. that's very overwhelming in so many ways. She's wanting to build a big garden and have a big summer. I'm willing to let her do all of that. We'll lose money in May which is okay, we can deal. We'll figure it out. Not quite sure how, but we will :) I think that we're going to be able to start managing our $$ better, once again, I'm not sure how, but we've started working on it. This week I'm going to sit down and go through all of the receipts and see where the money is being spent. I would really like to get my soap business off the ground. I can make the soap, I can design the bars and work with the batches, but as far as the web site, the selling, I'm kind of stuck.
Okay, off that topic, it's too late at night and I've got to rest. Let's see. Tomorrow we have to go to town. Probably the library, DG, and maybe CV's.. whoo hooo. Not really looking forward to it, but it needs to be done. I'm going to work on a menu thingy for next week too, this week it went very well. Ginger did an awesome job in keeping up with things. Breakfasts were wonderful and every night supper has been outstanding. I'm spoiled. I need to do more cooking with the slow cooker and try to do my own cooking and let the kids clean up, because next year it's going to be Elijah and I having to do the majority of the chores on the days Rob works when Ging is at school. She's going to have to buckle down and do it. She'll do great though. I just have to get my stuff together so I can keep up with half of the stuff that she does around here!
Well after this weekend I'll be milking for us again. I am stoked about that :) Sadie's finally milking milk now. But there's no way under heaven that I'm drinking anything that came off of that milk stand!!! Elijah Daniel is cleaning that stand.. with a shovel, then the pressure washer! Rob said that he'll complete the sides so the stupid chickens can't get in. I'm all for a ton of chickens, but hello.. get out of my milk shed! I'm fairly certain Sherry's going to kid, probably Izzy too, and possibly Jesse and Sassy. Then I have to work on breeding for next year... but that'll work out too. Right now, I'm just happy to about to have real milk again! And cheese.. yummmmmm. Milk and cheese! I want to learn how to make mozzarella this year and I'd also like to learn to make ricotta. .. yummmmmmm :)
Goals for tomorrow. Grocery, blah :).. pictures.. I know, I know.. ongoing goal. FEEL BETTER!!!!!!
Today was a pretty day outside today. I have a chick order ready to go. I'm ready to begin spring. Next week will be a big week for us. Ginger takes her ACT and after that I want her to switch over to work on her GED stuff, get that taken care of and have it done. Then, she'll be through with homeschool. Wow.. that's very overwhelming in so many ways. She's wanting to build a big garden and have a big summer. I'm willing to let her do all of that. We'll lose money in May which is okay, we can deal. We'll figure it out. Not quite sure how, but we will :) I think that we're going to be able to start managing our $$ better, once again, I'm not sure how, but we've started working on it. This week I'm going to sit down and go through all of the receipts and see where the money is being spent. I would really like to get my soap business off the ground. I can make the soap, I can design the bars and work with the batches, but as far as the web site, the selling, I'm kind of stuck.
Okay, off that topic, it's too late at night and I've got to rest. Let's see. Tomorrow we have to go to town. Probably the library, DG, and maybe CV's.. whoo hooo. Not really looking forward to it, but it needs to be done. I'm going to work on a menu thingy for next week too, this week it went very well. Ginger did an awesome job in keeping up with things. Breakfasts were wonderful and every night supper has been outstanding. I'm spoiled. I need to do more cooking with the slow cooker and try to do my own cooking and let the kids clean up, because next year it's going to be Elijah and I having to do the majority of the chores on the days Rob works when Ging is at school. She's going to have to buckle down and do it. She'll do great though. I just have to get my stuff together so I can keep up with half of the stuff that she does around here!
Well after this weekend I'll be milking for us again. I am stoked about that :) Sadie's finally milking milk now. But there's no way under heaven that I'm drinking anything that came off of that milk stand!!! Elijah Daniel is cleaning that stand.. with a shovel, then the pressure washer! Rob said that he'll complete the sides so the stupid chickens can't get in. I'm all for a ton of chickens, but hello.. get out of my milk shed! I'm fairly certain Sherry's going to kid, probably Izzy too, and possibly Jesse and Sassy. Then I have to work on breeding for next year... but that'll work out too. Right now, I'm just happy to about to have real milk again! And cheese.. yummmmmm. Milk and cheese! I want to learn how to make mozzarella this year and I'd also like to learn to make ricotta. .. yummmmmmm :)
Goals for tomorrow. Grocery, blah :).. pictures.. I know, I know.. ongoing goal. FEEL BETTER!!!!!!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Trying to stay awake
Well I'm going to try to stay awake to write tonight's entry.. I think I'll be able to do it since I've had my dose of St John's Wort tincture.. that will make you pick up and take notice of anything and leave a bad taste in your mouth for a while too. I also had some ever popular minced garlic and honey. I skipped the elderberry cordial tonight, but had about all of the home remedy I could take :)
Not a whole bunch has gone on here today. It has been better than yesterday, praise the Lord. My head is still hurting, but not quite as bad, I'm dizzy and dingy, but that can be said for me most of the time. I stayed up all day, whooo weeeee. LOL, I'll be glad when that's just a given.
I've got to figure out how to get pictures on here. Once I do that I'll invite people to start reading my blog and connecting with me. I'll do more with soap and such. I cut into my new shampoo bar tonight. It's not quite cured out, but oh heavens, it's wonderful, absolutely wonderful. My hair is 10 times softer than it was last night. and a lot less frizzy. I can't wait until it cures out. I have a lot of experimenting to do and I can't wait. I'd like to take pictures and post them on here, maybe do an Insanity Soaps blog, who knows. I'd like to do some step by step pictorials on soaping, because it's fun :)
Other news. I was messing around on FB (where else) and saw that Jeff (my half - bro) has a blog now. He's exploring different options for career choices in the military. I'm happy for him. I think it's awesome that he's doing all sorts of research and exploration into career choices. Smart move. Something that many Strohsahl's aren't known for. We tend to jump in and then baffle 'em with bull stuff. I began reading his blog from the beginning (he's got like three or four entries.. not too big of a feat) and it turns out that he's mortally afraid or offended by the TEA party. Hmmmm.. Kind of strange. It's the party I most affiliate myself with. I can't have a 'get your issues together and quit trying to take over mine' party, so the TEA party works. The Constitution works.. it's a neat little document, Anyhow, Jeff is afraid of us.. or offended by us.Hmmmm... go figure.
Well getting tired now, going to go to sleep before I crash on the computer!
Not a whole bunch has gone on here today. It has been better than yesterday, praise the Lord. My head is still hurting, but not quite as bad, I'm dizzy and dingy, but that can be said for me most of the time. I stayed up all day, whooo weeeee. LOL, I'll be glad when that's just a given.
I've got to figure out how to get pictures on here. Once I do that I'll invite people to start reading my blog and connecting with me. I'll do more with soap and such. I cut into my new shampoo bar tonight. It's not quite cured out, but oh heavens, it's wonderful, absolutely wonderful. My hair is 10 times softer than it was last night. and a lot less frizzy. I can't wait until it cures out. I have a lot of experimenting to do and I can't wait. I'd like to take pictures and post them on here, maybe do an Insanity Soaps blog, who knows. I'd like to do some step by step pictorials on soaping, because it's fun :)
Other news. I was messing around on FB (where else) and saw that Jeff (my half - bro) has a blog now. He's exploring different options for career choices in the military. I'm happy for him. I think it's awesome that he's doing all sorts of research and exploration into career choices. Smart move. Something that many Strohsahl's aren't known for. We tend to jump in and then baffle 'em with bull stuff. I began reading his blog from the beginning (he's got like three or four entries.. not too big of a feat) and it turns out that he's mortally afraid or offended by the TEA party. Hmmmm.. Kind of strange. It's the party I most affiliate myself with. I can't have a 'get your issues together and quit trying to take over mine' party, so the TEA party works. The Constitution works.. it's a neat little document, Anyhow, Jeff is afraid of us.. or offended by us.Hmmmm... go figure.
Well getting tired now, going to go to sleep before I crash on the computer!
Okay, that's what happens when you fall asleep at the computer
So I'll finish up my last night's post now :) I was tired last night. I'm tired now. Treatment was Monday. It knocked me for a loop. And the whole week has been kind of a hard one. The baby goats died in the cold Thursday and that was very sad. I hate it when I do something stupid, like think that somehow, someway Sadie should've kept them warm. Occasionally it happens, most of the time it doesn't. I should've taken them away from her and fed them on the bottle, should've, could've, would've... those things happen. I've kicked myself black and blue. Blech.
Then Saturday morning we found out that Barb's husband passed away. Another strange thing. I wouldn't know Barb if I passed by her on the street. But online, I know her. She's a member of the hscl group. I don't hear from her much, but I pray for her often. Her kids, her job, her mom, her life. I *know* her. And her beloved passed away, suddenly. Without too much notice. That scared me. That something like that could happen, out of the blue. Mercy. Mercy. And what a helpless feeling it is. I'm stuck out here, feeling like I need to *do* something, but there's nothing to do, expect pray.. and that's putting the saying to the test that prayer is the key. It feels insignificant in many ways though. I want to *do* Make a loaf of bread, take a casserole, give a hug, open a door.. do something, anything. To help. But just to pray.. that seems so little. But when I started to pray I felt it. I felt HIM, I felt the Lord taking my prayers and wrapping it around this woman and her kids that I wouldn't know from Adam if I crossed by them at Wal-Mart. I felt HIM. And in HIM there is everything. He's so much more. I pray that Barb can feel HIM right now, I pray that during these dark, lonely days that I have no inkling about, but can only glimpse through covered eyes (because I dare not even glance that hard at my own mortality or my husband's mortality).. I pray that Barb and her kids can feel HIM right now and feel His comforting touch the way I felt my prayers leave me the other day.
Then, Matt, my 5th kid, Erich's best friend.. the other half of dumb and dumber. Is being sent to a hot spot in Afghanistan. That weighs heavily on my heart, so so heavily on my heart. This kid is such a special kid. He's a goof ball. A nut, a bozo. I half way expect at some point he may be a son-in-law, though I have no idea which of my daughter's would marry their brother because that is what he amounts to. He's always been around. He's been Erich's best friend since we moved up here 13 years ago. He walked into Marvin Elementary school and met Matt and Denver. Matt has stuck around forever. And Matt asked me for prayer.. whoa.. who.. me?!?!?! prayer.. why??? Why me?? But no, me. Okay.. So I asked him if he was right with the Lord, he had to go. That scares me. So I'm praying and praying and praying. And I'll not cease. I'm finally growing into a woman of prayer. Scary. Scary.
Like I said. Treatment was Monday. It bit.. badly, still biting .. badly. Yesterday the headache was so bad I couldn't leave my room. Today my arm is super swollen.. my head hurts, but not horribly bad.. hydrocodone bad, but not horribly, horribly. Can't think really good at all, can't deal with loud noises. Praying this upping the treatment is worth it. Cause if it isn't I don't know what's going to happen.. As I'm listening to a song saying "My Help Come From the Lord" Amen and Amen.
So with that, I'll close for a bit, I may be back later tonight.. who knows :) I'll try not to fall asleep on my blog again, bad form I know LOL
Then Saturday morning we found out that Barb's husband passed away. Another strange thing. I wouldn't know Barb if I passed by her on the street. But online, I know her. She's a member of the hscl group. I don't hear from her much, but I pray for her often. Her kids, her job, her mom, her life. I *know* her. And her beloved passed away, suddenly. Without too much notice. That scared me. That something like that could happen, out of the blue. Mercy. Mercy. And what a helpless feeling it is. I'm stuck out here, feeling like I need to *do* something, but there's nothing to do, expect pray.. and that's putting the saying to the test that prayer is the key. It feels insignificant in many ways though. I want to *do* Make a loaf of bread, take a casserole, give a hug, open a door.. do something, anything. To help. But just to pray.. that seems so little. But when I started to pray I felt it. I felt HIM, I felt the Lord taking my prayers and wrapping it around this woman and her kids that I wouldn't know from Adam if I crossed by them at Wal-Mart. I felt HIM. And in HIM there is everything. He's so much more. I pray that Barb can feel HIM right now, I pray that during these dark, lonely days that I have no inkling about, but can only glimpse through covered eyes (because I dare not even glance that hard at my own mortality or my husband's mortality).. I pray that Barb and her kids can feel HIM right now and feel His comforting touch the way I felt my prayers leave me the other day.
Then, Matt, my 5th kid, Erich's best friend.. the other half of dumb and dumber. Is being sent to a hot spot in Afghanistan. That weighs heavily on my heart, so so heavily on my heart. This kid is such a special kid. He's a goof ball. A nut, a bozo. I half way expect at some point he may be a son-in-law, though I have no idea which of my daughter's would marry their brother because that is what he amounts to. He's always been around. He's been Erich's best friend since we moved up here 13 years ago. He walked into Marvin Elementary school and met Matt and Denver. Matt has stuck around forever. And Matt asked me for prayer.. whoa.. who.. me?!?!?! prayer.. why??? Why me?? But no, me. Okay.. So I asked him if he was right with the Lord, he had to go. That scares me. So I'm praying and praying and praying. And I'll not cease. I'm finally growing into a woman of prayer. Scary. Scary.
Like I said. Treatment was Monday. It bit.. badly, still biting .. badly. Yesterday the headache was so bad I couldn't leave my room. Today my arm is super swollen.. my head hurts, but not horribly bad.. hydrocodone bad, but not horribly, horribly. Can't think really good at all, can't deal with loud noises. Praying this upping the treatment is worth it. Cause if it isn't I don't know what's going to happen.. As I'm listening to a song saying "My Help Come From the Lord" Amen and Amen.
So with that, I'll close for a bit, I may be back later tonight.. who knows :) I'll try not to fall asleep on my blog again, bad form I know LOL
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Been a rough few days
It's been a rough couple of days here. None of it really in my control, but I know Who controls the seas and Who controls what happens here on this earth. And my trust is in the Lord Jesus who is my strength, my shield, and my fortress. He is my ever present help in time of trouble and in time of need, and in time of joy. Jesus Christ is my Lord in every situation,
So, with that being said. We lost our baby goats last Thursday night:( major bummer.They froze to death, That was sad. Very very sad, Then found out a frend's hubby passed away :(
And I wrote a ton more and it got lost.. grrrr. I'm going to end this and go to sleep.
So, with that being said. We lost our baby goats last Thursday night:( major bummer.They froze to death, That was sad. Very very sad, Then found out a frend's hubby passed away :(
And I wrote a ton more and it got lost.. grrrr. I'm going to end this and go to sleep.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
It snowed again!
And guess what... Sadie kidded!!!! We knew it would happen and yup, it did. She had a beautiful doeling that looks exactly like Sebastian and a buckling that looks exactly like his mama. They're cute and healthy and Sadie is being a good mama.. so I'm happy. And in 2 weeks we'll start milking and have fresh milk!!! Yipppeeeee!!!!
Yesterday was a pretty good day. I let the kids go to band by themselves because I had been feeling cruddy and I didn't want to crash out and have to go home early. So, off they went. I ended up feeling half-way decent (praise the Lord!) and made a batch of soap.
I can't wait to try it, I went ahead and hot processed it, even though I'm not as wild about the hot processed soap colors. I love the light color of the goat's milk cold process soap. Hot process makes the soap darker, between the oils cooking and the milk cooking more past the lye, it just makes the bar darker. I honestly like the feeling of the bar better. I am going to make a batch of soap with the exact same recipe using cold process and see if there's a dramatic difference, but I honestly think part of the smoothness will be because of the hot process. I'm going to have to experiment some more (awww shucks) Anyhow, this shampoo bar I made yesterday I'm super excited to try out. It's a 3 lb recipe, I don't have the recipe right in front of me, so I won't even attempt to type it out just in case I ever get followers on this. I needed to post pictures of it to. The ingredients I used were different from my 'normal' oils. I used calendula infused olive oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, 3 oz of beeswax and jojoba oil. I also used some rosemary mint fragrance oil. Man it smells awesome. I can't wait to try it. It was awesome to mix up. It literally traced in about 2 minutes, so I didn't turn the crockpot on low, I just turned it on warm and it was ready in about an hour and a half, well within the 'normal' range of hot process. It's a tad lighter than some of the other hot process soaps I made during Christmas too. I've got to get rid of some of the soap I have in the back room before I experiment too much more though! I have a couple of ideas, I may email a couple of ppl and see if they want to buy a few bars for 2 dollars a bar as an introductory type thingy. I don't know. Gotta think.
But yesterday was a pretty good day. For the most part. I did a couple of loads of laundry. And tried watering. Then fell, hard. And it hurt. Still hurts. But I'm okay. Tried to wrestle the hose and the hose won. Felt foolish. Those things happen. Today has been okay too. Did more laundry. Goal is to get it all done before Monday. Also have bathroom cleaned before Monday and email to Great Lakes before Monday. Rob was able to get to work tonight. That's the goals for this weekend. There's another storm supposed to hit Sunday. I pray it hits Sunday day. I really want the treatment. I love church and want to be at church. But really want to go ahead with the treatment.
Well it's almost 1 am.. I'm tired and Loki is wanting to go to bed, so I think I'll quit.
Yesterday was a pretty good day. I let the kids go to band by themselves because I had been feeling cruddy and I didn't want to crash out and have to go home early. So, off they went. I ended up feeling half-way decent (praise the Lord!) and made a batch of soap.
I can't wait to try it, I went ahead and hot processed it, even though I'm not as wild about the hot processed soap colors. I love the light color of the goat's milk cold process soap. Hot process makes the soap darker, between the oils cooking and the milk cooking more past the lye, it just makes the bar darker. I honestly like the feeling of the bar better. I am going to make a batch of soap with the exact same recipe using cold process and see if there's a dramatic difference, but I honestly think part of the smoothness will be because of the hot process. I'm going to have to experiment some more (awww shucks) Anyhow, this shampoo bar I made yesterday I'm super excited to try out. It's a 3 lb recipe, I don't have the recipe right in front of me, so I won't even attempt to type it out just in case I ever get followers on this. I needed to post pictures of it to. The ingredients I used were different from my 'normal' oils. I used calendula infused olive oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, 3 oz of beeswax and jojoba oil. I also used some rosemary mint fragrance oil. Man it smells awesome. I can't wait to try it. It was awesome to mix up. It literally traced in about 2 minutes, so I didn't turn the crockpot on low, I just turned it on warm and it was ready in about an hour and a half, well within the 'normal' range of hot process. It's a tad lighter than some of the other hot process soaps I made during Christmas too. I've got to get rid of some of the soap I have in the back room before I experiment too much more though! I have a couple of ideas, I may email a couple of ppl and see if they want to buy a few bars for 2 dollars a bar as an introductory type thingy. I don't know. Gotta think.
But yesterday was a pretty good day. For the most part. I did a couple of loads of laundry. And tried watering. Then fell, hard. And it hurt. Still hurts. But I'm okay. Tried to wrestle the hose and the hose won. Felt foolish. Those things happen. Today has been okay too. Did more laundry. Goal is to get it all done before Monday. Also have bathroom cleaned before Monday and email to Great Lakes before Monday. Rob was able to get to work tonight. That's the goals for this weekend. There's another storm supposed to hit Sunday. I pray it hits Sunday day. I really want the treatment. I love church and want to be at church. But really want to go ahead with the treatment.
Well it's almost 1 am.. I'm tired and Loki is wanting to go to bed, so I think I'll quit.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
It's midnight Cinderella
Well actually 12:30ish... and the leg cramps are hitting hard. But such is life. These things happen. Treatment day is Monday. I'm ready. But I'm glad it's being held off until then so Rob can get his workweek in. It's an 8 day check, we need that. We need to get bills caught up. He might be working an extra day next week, which would be awesome, two 8 day checks in a row, which would mean we could order chicks!
I'm ready for spring, ready for chicks, kids.. kids.. kids!!! If Sadie and Sherry don't kid soon I'm going to go nuts! I miss kids! But Rob and I are talking about re-vamping our hen population and adding some more pullets. I want some sweet pretty chickens, so I'm thinking of ordering 10 buff orphingtons and he wants egg laying machines, so it'll be 10 rhodeisland reds or production reds.
Today was kind of a low-key day. I couldn't wake up again. It's going to be kind of hard until I get the treatment on-board. Then I'll start to feeling better. I get tired of having to build my life around things, but so be. It'll work. I have a date when I start to get to feeling better.Tomorrow is band for the kids. I am seeing if Connie can come and visit with Elijah while Ginger does cello. If she can, I'm staying home. I can do that. I'll throw something in the crockpot and allow myself to veg. That is allowable. If she can't, we'll figure it out from there. I'm not going to have them miss another week.
We also have snow predicted for Thursday.. probably when Sadie'll kid. Sigh.. go figure. Well it's now 1 am.. I'm feeling sleepy from the meds, so I think I'll go to sleep.
I'm ready for spring, ready for chicks, kids.. kids.. kids!!! If Sadie and Sherry don't kid soon I'm going to go nuts! I miss kids! But Rob and I are talking about re-vamping our hen population and adding some more pullets. I want some sweet pretty chickens, so I'm thinking of ordering 10 buff orphingtons and he wants egg laying machines, so it'll be 10 rhodeisland reds or production reds.
Today was kind of a low-key day. I couldn't wake up again. It's going to be kind of hard until I get the treatment on-board. Then I'll start to feeling better. I get tired of having to build my life around things, but so be. It'll work. I have a date when I start to get to feeling better.Tomorrow is band for the kids. I am seeing if Connie can come and visit with Elijah while Ginger does cello. If she can, I'm staying home. I can do that. I'll throw something in the crockpot and allow myself to veg. That is allowable. If she can't, we'll figure it out from there. I'm not going to have them miss another week.
We also have snow predicted for Thursday.. probably when Sadie'll kid. Sigh.. go figure. Well it's now 1 am.. I'm feeling sleepy from the meds, so I think I'll go to sleep.
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