Out my kitchen window, day 91

When I was 16, we moved from PA to Florida. Who wouldn't want to move to a place with year-round sunshine and 24/7 access to the beach? My sister, that's who. She doesn't like change. As a consolation prize, my parents bought Kenda a miniature daschund. They named her Dulcimer, or Dulci for short.

We had a great time teaching her all sorts of tricks and, like any pet, she became part of the family.
When Kenda moved out of my parents house after graduating from college and finding a job, Dulci stayed behind. She had a life of leisure that she wasn't about to give up--sunshine to bask in, lizards to chase, and two doting parents to rub her belly and feed her.

This past February, Dulci celebrated her 17th birthday (that's 120 in people years). That's quite a milestone for a mini-doxie--most suffer from back problems (for obvious reasons) and don't make it past 12 or 13 years. Of course, Dulci had her share of ailments--she's been deaf for the past 10 years and had a sensitive stomach. Lately, her ailments have been catching up to her more and more, making it more and more difficult for my parents to care for her. And so this morning, a little before the picture of my kitchen-window view was taken, my mom took Dulci to the vet and had her put to sleep. We'll miss her very much, but since Dulci didn't seem interested in stopping on her own, it was time to put her down. It's a sad day for all of us.

Update on Kenda: She now refuses to leave Florida with its year-round sunshine and 24/7 access to the beach. She doesn't like change.

Out my kitchen window, day 90

The UPS man came to the Holler today, bringing with him some TDI parts for both the Golf and the Jetta. I believe they may be rear brakes, which Seth will change himself. Scintillating, isn't it?

Out my kitchen window, day 89

Garbage day in the Holler.

Out my kitchen window, day 88

It was nap time in the Holler when I took this photo . . .

No, he doesn't sleep with his feet like that -- this is just during the "I'm on my way to sleep" stage.

Thanks to those of you who commented on the new blog header. Since the overwhelming majority of you (4 out of 4 people) like it, it will stay. I may even decide to experiment with other pictures. Oh the drama.

In still other news, for those who would like to keep up-to-date on the number of free range eggs I've retrieved from my free-ranging chickens in relation to the number of eggs I need to retrieve in order to recoup my cost, I've installed an egg counter to the right (see the section labeled "Egg Counter").

Out my kitchen window, day 87

It's blackberry season in the Holler!

Out my kitchen window, day 86

As the sun was shining in the Holler, I was inside watching Antiques Roadshow. And wishing we had an attic I could raid for valuable antiques. Or a basement. But we have neither. Just a spider-infested pole barn that has never even heard of an antique. And an old chicken coop which is itself an antique, although not of the Roadshow variety. Maybe that should be my next goal (since I've achieved the chicken goal)--find an antique, take it on the Roadshow, and learn that it's not even worth the $10 I paid for it.

Out my kitchen window, day 85

This was the view before I decided to experiment with a new blog header. What do you think? Too big? Too Hollerish?

And after Seth took his cherry pie out of the oven. Can you tell who was on his mind when he made it?

Out my kitchen window, day 84

This was the view at 10:45 this evening, when I used the night setting on my point-and-shoot camera to take a nighttime picture out my window. Avant-garde, don't you think? That's what I was going for.

This was also when I got home after grocery shopping at Kroger and saving $71 with coupons (did you know you can load coupons onto your Kroger card from Kroger.com and also from P&GeSaver? No more clipping coupons--brilliant!). I won't tell you how much I spent in order to save the $71, however. I also learned that shopping for groceries at Kroger on Friday evenings is

my new favorite time to grocery shop.

Out my kitchen window, day 83

This is a caption contest. What was I doing when I shot this view out my kitchen window?

Out my kitchen window, day 82

Because the cistern was getting low on water, we had a load of H2O delivered on Saturday. Today, with the rain, the cistern was filled (we got 1.5 inches, and 1 inch of rain falling on 1,000 square feet = 600 gallons of water; our roof, from which the water flows into the cistern, is about 1,000 square feet, so 600 gallons added to a mostly filled cistern = a lot of water). So, I did laundry all day--I stopped counting after the sixth load. How can a family of three create over six loads of laundry, you ask? Let me break them down for you:



Darks -- 2 loads

Whites -- 2 loads

Cloth diapers -- 1 soak followed by a wash

Baby clothes--1 load

Sheets and towels--1 load


Since it's sill raining, I may need to dig up some more things to throw in the washer . . .

Why I am not rowing across the Pacific Ocean

I enjoy browsing the Blogs of Note that pop up daily during the week. I find glimpses into the personal lives of other people fascinating, and in some cases, disturbing. In still other cases, I find the glimpses quite boring. I don't return to the majority of blogs beyond the first visit, but on occasion I find one I continue to frequent (e.g., Cake Wrecks). Recently, I stumbled upon a lady rowing across the Pacific Ocean by herself.

Roz Savage, the ocean rower, explains here why she feels the need to row, row, row her boat gently across the ocean--she's in search of her "own personal legend." I can think of easier ways to make my own legend--namely not rowing across the Pacific Ocean in a rowboat . . . by myself. For example, a personal legend I could get behind is running across Europe for four months (except for the running part, and the staying-with-people-I-don't-know part, and the not-knowing-where-I'm-going-to-get-my-next-meal part--but definitely the touring-Europe-for-four-months part).

Although I find Roz's blog interesting, I just can't wrap my mind around being out on the open ocean, thousands of miles from anywhere, in a small rowboat, eating sprouts and power bars, by myself for months on end, never knowing if I'll actually hit that small bit of land I'm aiming for, or row right by it, and be lost at sea. What happens if I capsize? What happens if I run out of food? What happens if I start talking to the sharks--and expect them to talk back to me? I can't say that I admire her because, quite frankly, I think she's crazy--or at least fool-hardy. What would possess someone to hop into a rowboat thinking they could make it solo across a huge body of water?

And I think there are other, less crazy, ways to create a personal legend. For example, I could get two chickens to provide eggs for me and my household (yes, Judi, I do like eggs). I could also take a picture out my kitchen window every day for a year. I could be married to a wonderful man and stay at home teaching our wonderful son to love God. I could enjoy fellowshipping with my wonderful family and friends. I could help other people see that the Bible is trustworthy. I could volunteer at a local crisis pregnancy center and save babies from being killed or volunteer at local food pantry (I haven't yet, but I could). I can "help the environment" (Roz is trying to raise awareness for environmentalism) by recycling, reusing, and reducing in my own house.

But, more power to her--I hope she finds the legend she's looking for, although if she's not searching for it in the Book of books, she'll miss the mark even if she makes it to land.

Out my kitchen window, day 81

Back by popular request (or maybe just the request of one particular aunt of Kieran), a video of Kieran. The was the view when Seth was feeding Kieran (aka "Little Bird") dinner.

Out my kitchen window, day 80

If I had been so inclined (and so monetarily endowed and so without a newborn son), I could have made it around the world in 80 days, rather than posting 80 days worth of views from my kitchen window. But instead, you're stuck with said views. And what a view today's was!

It was the view this afternoon when I went out to check on my chickens and found not one, but two eggs in the nesting box! Good chickens! It seems that the diatomaceous earth I've been shoving down their throats has worked, at least in one of the chickens, because one of the eggs had a nice, hard shell on it.

And so I took that one little egg, put it in my little frying pan . . .

. . . and made a little fried-egg sandwich out of it. Free-range chicken egg fresh from the free-ranging chicken--just as delicious as . . . ack . . . . . . . . . gag . . . . . . . . bleh . . . . . . . .

Just kidding--it didn't kill me . . . yet.

999 more eggs until I recoup the cost of the Eglu and chickens.

Out my kitchen window, day 79

79 straight days of blogging about my kitchen window view. That must be some kind of record.

Out my kitchen window, day 78

This was the view when . . .











. . . wait for it . . .










. . . keep waiting . . .











TA-DA!

I went out to check on the chickens this afternoon, and lo and behold, there was an egg in their Eglu! My first egg! Sadly, it was a soft-shell egg and had already broken, but at least I know they can produce the eggs I bought them to produce. The threats that I mentally threw their way must have worked. That, and keeping them cooped up for a day or two.

Now they just need to learn to lay the eggs in the nesting box, rather than under the roosting bars.

Sigh. My first egg. It's a momentous day in the Holler.

Out my kitchen window, day 77

The view as my husband took our son on a little jaunt down the lane. . .

Is there any better view?

Out my kitchen window, day 76

This was the view as I contemplated the fate of my two chickens who have still not given me any eggs.

Just look at them--laying around like they have nothing better to do, when, in fact, they do have something better to do--namely, give me an egg or two. I'm thinking about forbidding them to free range until there's an egg in the nesting box. If they don't lay an egg by the weekend, I'll . . . well, I don't know what I'll do because I can't very well threaten two birdbrains and expect them to comply.

For Andrea

My sister has had the same best friend since she was in kindergarten. Through our move to Florida, college in PA, and life in Florida again, she's stayed close friends with Andrea. When Andrea found out we were expecting Kieran, she so kindly and talentedly knitted a blanket and cap for him. As I was putting away his winter hats today, I realized I never took a picture with him wearing the cap to thank her. And so here it is. Thanks, Andrea!

Out my kitchen window, day 75

Egg update: None.

Out my kitchen window, day 74

I love days like this--when it's just the right temperature and the sun makes the green of the trees and grass so crisp and clear.

Kieran and I went for a walk down the lane.

We saw plenty of signs of Holler life.

At the end of the day, however, and no matter how Holler-ific it is, I always enjoy coming home to the Holler. Driving down the rocky lane beneath the verdant canopy of branches brings a certain calm, even on the worst of days. Welcome to the Holler.

You know you live in a holler when . . .

. . . your neighbor's shed looks better than his mobile home.

You know you live in a holler when . . .

. . . of the six families that live off the half-mile lane to your house, two-thirds of them are involved in some type of feud.

Out my kitchen window, day 73

This was the view . . .

. . . when I went out to clean my chickens' coop after donning what I like to affectionately refer to as my "anti-chigger outfit": thick knee-high socks, rolled up capris, and my yellow duck shoes. Seth likes to affectionately refer to said outfit as "Sweetie, you're embarrassing me." Really, though, we live in a Holler--am I really expected to dress to the nines everytime I walk out the door?

Egg update: None yet.

Out my kitchen window, day 72

This was the view when I was reminded why I do what I do . . . or did what I did. Since we moved to the Holler about four years ago, we've been searching for a local Christian body to worship with. We're not tied to a particular denomination (we've been to Brethren, Baptist, Reformed Baptist . . .); our main criteria is that the church preaches the Word with an emphasis on grace, eschewing legalism.

In our search, for whatever reason, we've avoided attending the churches that are actually in our little town. A few weeks ago, we gave a local Baptist church a try. It's a small country church, with all the trappings that come with small country churches, but we decided to continue to give it a try. (The fact that the pastor was showing AiG videos during the evening Sunday service may have had something to do with our decision. And the fact that the pastor mentioned there was some in the church who didn't like the videos may have had even more to do with drawing Seth back. Who doesn't love a good controversy?)

This evening, we attended the video showing--it featured Ken Ham speaking on the connection between fossils and the Flood of Noah's day (Genesis 6-9). After the video was over, an older man indicated he disagreed with the message, and somehow Carbon-14 dating came up, along with "I don't believe that man evolved from monkeys, but I do think that evolution is occuring." I couldn't stay silent for long, and so a rather long discussion ensued between us and the elderly gentlemen on the age of the earth and Biblical authority.

Although I felt slightly like an interloper (after all, this was only the second time we'd been to the church) and a young whipper-snapper, I realized again why I appreciate being a part of the Answers in Genesis ministry (even though I'm no longer a full-time employee). Encouraging people to accept the authority of Scripture in every area and providing resources that do that in various ways is a joy for me.

If the Bible isn't true when it speaks of earthly things (such as the age of the earth--and it does speak about the age of the earth), then why should we trust it when it speaks on heavenly things--such as salvation through repentence and faith in Christ? And what happens to those around us when we teach them that the Bible doesn't speak the truth in all areas? The next generation pushes the truth boundary a bit further--even to denying the Biblical truth of the Resurrection of the God-Man Jesus Christ. How important it is that we embrace the totality of Scripture--every part and parcel of it.

At any rate, it was good to get out of the AiG-bubble and have a real-life encounter with the very people we're trying to reach. We'll see what the Lord has in store for us and this guy in future meetings.

You know you live in a holler when . . .

. . . your neighbor refers to the small town you live outside of (population 1,000--on a good day) as "uptown" (as in "I own another house uptown").

Out my kitchen window, day 71

This was the view when we gorged ourselves on more of Seth's delicious experiments:

Strawberry-cream-cheese-walnut-apricot-baklava-type-thing (made from the leftover filo dough from the baklava he made a few days ago);

Cherry and apricot scones (requested by my dad and delivered to my dad by my mom via airplane).

My mom returned to Flordia today (with scones in tow) after spending two weeks with us. It was so nice having her here to help with Kieran and to babysit this past week. Wish we lived closer so it could be a more common occurrence!

Out my kitchen window, day 70

Stinkin' succulent keeps worming its way into my kitchen window photos. I may need to resort to drastic measures in order to rid the top of my kitchen window from the likes of this succulent.

Out my kitchen window, day 69

My succulent refuses to stay out of the picture.

Out my kitchen window, day 68

This was the view while Seth spent some time with That Woman this evening. That Woman is Anne Burrell, host of the Foodnetwork's Secrets of a Restaurant Chef. I do not like her, Sam I Am. The way she talks drives me crazy and I find her accent a bit affected (she says things like "erl" for "oil"). But Seth enjoys her show which he has the DVR record so he can watch it at his convenience. And tonight he watched one of those shows. So I went out to check on my chickens while he watched her. Egg update: None yet.

Out my kitchen window, day 67

This was the view when I put some butternut squash in the blender and made some food for Kieran to chow down on at a later time.

Thanks to Jessie for giving us the freezer containers for a baby gift. They've been well used.

This was also about the time that we watched the International Space Station fly overhead.

Out my kitchen window, day 66

The view when we partook of some of the baklava that Seth made last night.

It was delicious--perhaps the best baklava I've ever tasted!

Kieran enjoyed the day with his Grandmom, who is here for the week to babysit while I'm out galavanting about working on a video project for AiG's next VBS program.