Another great week

Good Morning. I can't believe it is Friday and already the middle of March! We have had a good week this week. Monday we got some much needed rain. Wednesday we had a good community work day. The men put up 4 walls on Josie's cabin. It looks great. I would bet she will post pictures on the blog titled "Irbs and Stuff." That night Michael did the first part of the headcoverings sermon. I am looking forward to the next part. Then on Thursday evening we had a visitor, Mark Contra. He is driving a truck now and still working towards getting off grid soon. It was great to see him. Now it's Friday and time to prepare for the Sabbath. I am looking forward to having a Sabbath with no driving or leaving town. Just rest and a time to read and study.

Also this week Michael got to enjoy some fresh lettuce, mustard greens, and green onions from the garden. One day he had them on a sandwich and the other he enjoyed a salad. It will be around 90 degrees today so maybe, Lord willing, we are done with the 20+ degree mornings.

Our chicks are still doing well. We are blessed to have not had any die. Tracy did lose 2 rabbits from her litter of 7 but we still have 5 and they are doing well.

We are starting to the preparations for Ranchfest too. It's hard to believe it has been almost 6 months since the last one. Lord willing, this will be another wonderful time of fellowship and work.

Shabot Shalom.
Danielle

Home Again

Michael picked up Jennifer, Robert, and me in Sweetwater. Then we went and got some chicks in Abiliene. We got 20 for us and 20 for the Antes. We drove home with the boxes of chicks in Robert and Jennifer's laps in the backseat. By the time we got home they had named a few and "claimed" them as their pets. They are all doing well, the chicks and the children.

For breakfast Sunday morning we just had oatmeal. Last time I left I learned not to try and cook in a kitchen when you have been gone awhile. I got up at 5:00 last time I returned and cooking was a huge chore because I could not find anything. The children are still working on putting things where mom wants them and usually has them. It is Tuesday and I think we have things organized again. We had a great fellowship on Sunday. It was good to see everyone again.

Today is beautiful and sunny. I have not gotten to do any laundry here at the ranch for almost two weeks now. So I will be doing a bunch of hand wash laundry loads today. We got a good amount of rain while I was gone and we caught plenty of water for laundry. When the water is scarce, I wash everything at a laundry mat. When water is not scarce, I hand wash some of the laundry to save money. I was able to get a nice new washboard a few months ago and try some homemade soap recipes recently. We also have a wringer to help squeeze out the water. Then on to the laundry line.

Lord willing, tomorrow will be community work day. We will be doing some work on Josie's cabin and other small jobs. Work day is usually the first Wednesday of the month but last Wednesday it was too muddy. I am hoping for another sunny and beautiful day tomorrow. Y'all have a good day today.

Reforming Daily,
Danielle

Ready to See the Rest of the Family

The week in Smyer is almost over. Michael's mom continues to improve and getting more independent every day. Her physical therapist told her she may not need to come for therapy very much longer. The first week I was here she was in a wheelchair part of the time and using a walker the rest. Now she walks with a cane and even does without it around the house sometimes.

Yesterday she got to return to her water aerobics class. While she was gone her maid was going to be cleaning her house so the children and I got to go visit a long time and very dear friend, Tonya. It was so great to get to see her again. And, of course, her two children had grown and were just as nice as ever. My children had a great time playing with them. I also had an opportunity to ask some quilting questions but mostly we just enjoyed a nice visit about how the Lord was working in our lives and perfecting us both. I met her way back in the mid nineties when I was attending church because that is what "good parents do for their children." We both have been through so many changes since then. I look forward to the next time we get to see each other.

My dad is driving down from Amarillo tomorrow. Jennifer, Robert and I are looking forward to seeing him and his wife, Judy. Then Michael's dad will get home tomorrow and on Saturday he will drive us to Sweetwater to meet Michael. I am looking forward to seeing everyone back home. I hope the mud dries up by then.

Reforming Daily,
Danielle

In Smyer Again

My solo blogging days begin with me away from the ranch and in Smyer taking care of my mother-in-law. I was hoping to be able to hide behind the children's blog and post occassionally. Michael mentioned I should have my own and he did a really great job designing it for me. He was the author of the first post as a joke but I fully agree with what he posted. Yay for Michael!

Robert and Jennifer are here with me this week and Tracy and Sarah stayed home with dad. It sounds like they had some rough weather last night. We had high winds here and woke up to snow on the ground. And it was in the 70's here on Sunday.

While I am here I plan on doing some quilting and reading. I am currently reading a book by Rev. William Jay called "Lectures on Female Scripture Characters." It is very good. I have read 6 lectures on the Shunamite woman, Mary Magdalene, and Hanna so far.

That's all for now. It's really sort of intimidating blogging and being linked to Michael's blog. He does such a wonderful job with his that it is hard to measure up and even compare. Good job honey. Opps, too mushy?