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RSSArchive for the ‘holidays’ CategoryIndependence Day!Posted July 4th, 2008 by Jen in family life, holidays, the ranch4 Comments »
We enjoyed our hometown Independence Day parade this morning, and the girls got their fill of horses…and candy. I call them “professional parade goers” since they never forget to bring their candy bags, and beg to go to any parade within a hundred mile radius. At first, I thought they just loved parades. I’m a slow learner.
We talked about the first 4th of July and will be listening to this story today about George Washington. If you have young children, I highly recommend subscribing to You Need a Story, an outstanding weekly production from Robert Green that will show up in your inbox every Tuesday or so, always an exhilarating audio adventure, maybe a classic, maybe an unknown literary gem. Here is a photo of my kids’ favorite parade entry this year: They adore the miniature horses, and we pass the farm where they live nearly every day, so they said a friendly hello! And of course, our dear friends from Lone Pine Clydesdales were back at this parade, all rested from last week’s parade.
“Was it for a great and awesome destiny?” JJ prodded. “Or a miracle?” I loved her guesses! What a thoughtful and creative mind. I certainly have those wishes for our great nation!! Do you have a wish for America? And any parade pictures posted? Let me know, and enjoy a lovely Independence Day, my fellow Americans. Technorati Tags: Fourth of July, You Need a Story, American flag, Independence Day America: the good, the bad, and the uglyPosted June 29th, 2008 by Jen in family life, holidays, humor, politics/world news, the ranch18 Comments » This next weekend ushers in the birthday of the United States of America! Here are a few word pictures from this past week from me, in small town America, 232 years and still going. I’ve included the good, the bad, and the ugly, but as you’ll see, in America, we take the good with the bad and roll with it, and even the ugly - well, it’s a free country and we can call ugly if we want. Yesterday morning, at a local parade, celebrating that old west pastime called Rodeo, I was thrilled to see my friends’ Clydesdales in all their hugeness. This was GOOD.
And where else but Prineville could I find the Amazing Trash Can Marching Band? They dispose of garbage in step and in style. These guys were GOOD!
On to the BAD…look at the interesting mound I discovered on our property a few days ago.
Kids, do NOT jump in the pretty pile, because…take a closer look: Ooowwww. These are some aggressive ants, and I’ve been scrambling to find out what they are. Most notably, they have a red head and body and a shiny black behind. At first glance, they look and act just like the Allegheny Mound Ants. Build enormous piles. Have red head/thorax and black abdomen. But those mostly live in the upper Midwest to the New England states and south to Georgia. So, another possibility is the Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA). They also build mounds. Also have red forebody and black abdomen. But they live mostly in the southeast, however a few California counties have been infested, and there’s been suspected infestations in Oregon. I’m supposed to immediately contact the Oregon Department of Agriculture if I think I have these RIFAs, because they are considered an invasive species, and a serious health risk to pets and children, not to mention the damage that can be done to crops and other native plant life. A final suspect, perhaps the most likely, is the harvester ant. This is a common desert ant, which fits my habitat. Another aggressive mound-building ant. Someone wrote a whole thesis on the harvester ant and how it’s helpful in locating small artifacts in archaeological surveys. I think I’ll start digging for Paiute relics in this very spot. The only issue I’m trying to resolve with the harvester ants is whether it’s likely for them to have a red head/thorax and a black rear. This is the only photograph from the Oregon high desert (or anywhere) I can find that fits what I see here on my property; the rest are all red or all black. Anyone? I can’t live with these creatures. It’s summertime and they are seriously swarming. They inflict especially painful stings and bites. Enter the brave husband. With the poison. We are not poison-happy people, but there are limits to my consciousness. Don’t worry, my pretties, there’s enough here for everyone. Take this to your egg laying machine MOMMY!! But here’s a small problem. I went back to the mound yesterday, expecting it to be very quiet. But no. More activity and seemingly more ants than ever. I re-poisoned the area, and I’ll check again later.
Enough of the BAD! But, remember, this is the United States, and I actually own this land of the mother-of-all-anthills (and have many ant poison options), God bless America! Would you like to see the UGLY from small town America?
Isn’t it great that a local fruit stand can sell delicious, sweet oranges, ugly and all? Great value, free from government imposed pricing, grown on fruitful land in a country where one can actually be a land-owner, we are so fortunate. If you really want ugly, you can read this supposed celebrate-America-Fourth-of-July-but-really-just-leftist-propaganda editorial, for which this newspaper should be ashamed. How about these berries? I feel some baking coming on. One aisle over from the ugly oranges, and as beautiful as they come. In closing, I hope you enjoy this lovely song, one of my very favorites, from that incredible musician, Rich Mullins. Here in America. Some of my favorite lyrics from this song: “…Once I went to Appalachia, for my father he was born there, and I saw the mountains waking with the innocence of children…and the Holy King of Israel loves me here, in America!” Do you have anything (good, bad, or ugly) to share from your slice of America? God Bless the U.S.A.
Technorati Tags: fruit stand, ants, July 4th Parade, Crooked River Roundup, Fourth of July, Clydesdales, Rich Mullins, Here in America Good Friday and Call for SubmissionsPosted March 21st, 2008 by Jen in blog stuff, carnivals, family life, holidays, religion1 Comment » I trust your Good Friday was good. This year, my little JoJo had her birthday on Good Friday. She enjoyed a happy celebration with many friends. As for me, I just loved all the moms who came and I basked in the rare opportunity to fellowship with all these ladies at once.
Here’s a verse that caught my eye as I thought about Good Friday, the day we commemorate the Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I thought this was an appropriate response for believers; as Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, we can respond with a sacrifice of thanks. What struck me about this scripture was that our thank offerings help pave the way for our salvation! Having a thankful heart, a constant spirit of gratitude, is honoring to God and critical to our eternity. I’m hosting the upcoming Christian Carnival, and I hope you’ll consider submitting an article. You can click here to submit your post. This carnival publishes on March 26, and I need your submissions by Midnight Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 25. Here are two past Christian Carnivals I have hosted, if you’d like to see the format: Christian Carnival 189: Dietrich Bonhoeffer Edition Have a blessed Easter.
Technorati Tags: birthday party, blog carnival, Good Friday, Christian Carnival St. Patrick’s Day Meal from my sisPosted March 17th, 2008 by Jen in family life, health/cooking/food, holidays5 Comments » Mondays are my busiest day of the week, and I had nothing prepared to post for St. Patrick’s Day. My sister Heather has bailed me out. She called earlier and was telling me about the Irish soda bread she was baking with dinner. I begged her to stop in her tracks and email me the recipe, along with commentary, so I’d have something to post! So, here’s her email, and Heather, it’s horribly unfair that you got all the craftiness in the family. My St. Patrick’s Day Menu: *A wonderfully traditional corned beef brisket that has been slow cooking all day in the crock pot- it is literally falling apart- yummy! Since we do not imbibe of the green beer- which I sincerely doubt is really very Irish anyway and likely an American adulteration- I’ll probably just make some green kool-aid to appease the kids who’ll want something green to drink! Do you remember Mom making that Irish Soda Bread? That is a fond memory of mine as she made it often when we were young, along with her Boston Brown Bread that she baked in those coffee cans. She was really a very good baker- I also recall her awesome cream puffs…. mmm- getting hungry here- it’s almost dinnertime. Mom really enjoyed baking when we were still quite small. But, back to the Day- St. Patrick’s! I could not make anything else but Corned Beef and Irish Soda Bread today- perhaps in honor of our Irish grandmother, Mary Kincaid- or just because that Irish Soda Bread is so very, very good, right out of the oven, with a crusty top split into a cross, soft and warm inside- sliced and slathered with butter! If you get a chance- you should make it again- here’s Mom’s recipe (culled from the old church cookbook I still have): 4 cups sifted flour
Enjoy! Valentine’s Day: What NOT To DoPosted February 5th, 2008 by Jen in family life, holidays11 Comments »
2. It’s NOT about you. Ladies, this one is for you. We think Valentine’s Day is our day to be pampered, loved, admired, and put up on a pedestal. It’s great if that happens, but when your focus turns inward, you turn ugly. And who wants an ugly Valentine? Focus instead of loving others. 3. Do NOT drop hints. Oh, honey, Valentine’s Day is coming…have you made plans? No, no, no! If you followed tips #1 and #2, you won’t be dropping hints. This leaves your spouse feeling like a mouse in his hole with the cat’s paw coming at him. Trapped, cornered. Romance killer. 4. Do NOT have a “work spouse” and for Heaven’s sake, don’t give them a Valentine gift. I was shocked to read an article this morning in which some professor says having a “work spouse” can be a good thing. The term refers to a significant co-worker with whom you flirt, who provides you with mental and emotional support, but of course you draw the line. A 2007 study quoted in the article stated that 23 percent of employees had a “work husband” or “work wife.” No mention made of the fact that workplace affairs are a leading cause of divorce. 5. Do NOT compare your Valentine’s Day with anyone else’s. A wealthy friend receives a diamond pendant, another travels to a resort, another dines at the finest restaurant. You put the kids to bed early and have a homemade meal in your own kitchen with your beloved. We’re all at different places in life, have different priorities and tastes - it’s all okay. 6. Remember the all the “LOVE IS” parts, but also the NOTs of 1 Corinthians 13: Love does NOT envy, love does NOT boast, love is NOT proud, love is NOT rude, love is NOT self-seeking, love is NOT easily angered. Love keeps NO record of wrongs, love does NOT delight in evil. 7. Do NOT make excuses. For anything. There’s no place for “I’m tired, the kids wore me out, or I worked all day and I have a headache.” 8. Do NOT go into debt for Valentine’s Day. 9. Do NOT get sick by gorging on bad chocolate. 10. Do NOT rush something just because it’s Valentine’s Day. But everyone, please DO have a Happy Valentine’s Day!! Winter CarnivalsPosted January 3rd, 2008 by Jen in arts & crafts, carnivals, holidays3 Comments » I have a few blog carnivals to update here, but I also discovered several Winter Carnivals around the world that look fabulously winterish and I wish I could attend them all!
And there’s definitely a feeling of winter in the air at the Carnival of Family Life. You can enjoy a virtual visit to this carnival of wintery blog entries. St. Paul, Minnesota, is famous for its Winter Carnival, the oldest and largest winter festival in the United States. Unbelievable ice sculptures, fun parades, cultural celebrations, and even an elaborate treasure hunt. Back in 1885, a New York reporter wrote that winter in St. Paul was “another Siberia, unfit for human habitation.” St. Paul set out to prove him wrong, and the result was the first St. Paul Winter Carnival, full of life and activity. After a visit to St. Paul, you can head to the next carnival, The Carnival of Homeschooling, with many New Year and winter themes as well! It’s the second anniversary of this carnival, and the hosts are wanting a new look. If you can come up with a new graphic to represent the Homeschool Carnival, be sure to enter it in the contest at Why Homeschool.
I have a cousin who lives in Sapporo, and he used to tell me about having snow up to his rooftop. All that snow gets turned into hundreds of gorgeous snow sculptures, lit up at night in brilliant light. It’s a wintery fantasy land. Are you feeling cold yet? Keep those gloves on, there’s a long winter ahead! It’s not so chilly over at the Christian Carnival, so stop in there and warm your soul. I’d also like to tell you that Diary of 1 will be hosting two different carnivals in January, 2008. The Christian Carnival will be right here on January 16, and the Carnival of Family Life will be presented here on January 21. Prepare those entries, I’m ready for some more fabulous winter carnivals! The week preceding each carnival, you are invited to submit your entry here for the Christian Carnival, and here for the Carnival of Family Life. Winter FunPosted December 29th, 2007 by Jen in family life, holidays, parenting, poetry10 Comments »
My husband and I took our kids and a few of the cousins ice skating on Christmas Eve. We survived with only a few bumps and bruises, remarkable considering that between just the two of us, we managed seven children under the age of 10 on the ice. I must admit that my husband was not overjoyed when I suggested ice skating! I only bring this up because I want to encourage you to push past the common hindrance to enjoying winter sports: BBRRRR!!! He actually was so happy in the end that we went ice skating, mostly because the kids had beaming faces and have talked about it for days. As you can see from the pictures, this was an indoor ice rink, and really not that cold. Just bundle up and do it! A quick note on ice skating safety. One of the skate guards noticed my four year old daughter, pictured above with me, and commented on how she was gaining courage and wanting to go faster, even though this was her first time ice skating. A Canadian, he said, “You Americans have a lot to learn! In Canada, the little children have to wear helmets on the ice.” He recommended putting a regular bike helmet on the littler ones at least. Think about it, a hard fall on the ice is no more forgiving than a hard fall on concrete. There is a winter wonderland across much of the country and so much fun to be had! One of my sisters in Michigan just took her family on a skiing vacation to Boyne Mountain and, living in Oregon, I worked hard to resist the temptation to poke fun at Michigan’s mountains. They all had a fantastic time even without supersized mountains. Now, if you do happen to be in Oregon and want to ski, be sure to visit my friends at Berg’s Ski Shop for all your gear, and go experience some real altitude. And don’t forget about snowshoeing, sledding, and snowboarding. Or just building a snowman! My kids’ personal favorite is a good old fashioned snowball fight. I am definitely in the winter mood, and if I don’t get myself and the kids out despite the weather, we all get cabin fever. My rule of thumb is that if it’s above freezing, (32 degrees Fahrenheit), out we go. An investment in high quality gloves, hats, coats, and boots is well worth it, especially if it means the whole family can play outside in winter weather for at least an hour at a time. I know many of you are either stuck inside because it’s truly treacherous outside, or at the other extreme, you live in a location where it simply doesn’t get wintery. I found a great website, Apples4theteacher.com, with a slew of winter games and activities for kids that can be done indoors and still give your kids some winter fun. You’ll find winter crafts, stories, puzzles, coloring pages, and more. If your family has a favorite winter past-time, would you share it with me? I’ll leave you with a wintery poem by that classic Scottish writer, Robert Louis Stevenson.
Happy New Year!Posted December 28th, 2007 by Jen in family life, holidays, religion2 Comments » Since I missed wishing you all a Merry Christmas, here’s a Happy New Year wish! My family and I have returned from being out of town for five days, celebrating Christmas with family.
I wish for you a new year full of peace, love, joy and good health. I wish for you to meet some goals, climb new mountains, courageously cross some valleys, and enjoy quiet moments of solitude. I wish for you to strengthen your family ties, find new ways to support your loved ones, and most of all, to honor God in everything you do. Did you have a joyful Christmas? I hope so. I know Christmas can be a difficult time for many people. Perhaps you’re away from your family, perhaps estranged, perhaps separated by war or death or disease. No matter what the circumstances, the bottom line of Christmas is about the birth of a Savior, the amazing Christ, who at the end of it all, brings victory over every single situation. I trust that you’ll allow Him to bring you victory in the coming year. Wordless Wednesday: Gingerbread MenPosted December 19th, 2007 by Jen in family life, holidays10 Comments »
You Know the Holidays are HerePosted December 1st, 2007 by Jen in holidays12 Comments »
Eberhard’s is my local dairy and the only milk products I buy - unless the organic milk is on sale, at which point I upgrade. This is not a paid advertisement, I just really love Eberhard’s! Even the coffee stand where I get my occasional egg nog latte uses Eberhard’s Dairy milk. I avoid the ones that don’t. I drive by Eberhard’s cows every day (they seem quite contented) and I like to buy local - it pleases me very much to know that my food didn’t travel 2,000 miles to get here. And there’s just something about egg nog. Here’s a wonderful article by Kevin Weeks on the egg nog tradition in his family. Here’s a sampling:
Weeks also reveals the secret family recipe, which you’ll have to begin in the next few days to allow for the nearly month-long mellowing - the secret is the aging. My friends who refuse to drink egg nog usually are afraid of raw eggs. Weeks address the raw egg issue:
Mmm, does your family have an egg nog tradition? I didn’t grow up with one, but I hope to create one for my own family, and so far, it starts with Eberhard’s! The roots of the American egg nog tradition appear to come from England, as noted in this Christmas lore site:
Merry Christmas and Happy Egg Nog to all!! Veterans History ProjectPosted November 11th, 2007 by Jen in education, history, holidays3 Comments »
My family is participating in the Veterans History Project as part of a homeschool history project. We will be interviewing a family friend who is a Vietnam veteran. You don’t have to submit the oral history you collect to the Project, but it’s really simple and would benefit us all if you’d be willing to contribute and help preserve these stories as part of America’s folklife. The Veterans History Project is primarily focused on first-hand accounts of U.S. veterans from the following wars:
The Project also invites U.S. civilians to share their stories of their active support of the war efforts, such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, and medical volunteers. The participation guidelines are straightforward, and includes a Veteran’s Release Form, which is included in the Project Kit. Only one interview, between 25-90 minutes long, is allowed per veteran or civilian interviewee. Sample interview questions for veterans are available at the Project website, and are an invaluable resource! The questions are divided into segments, making it easy to conduct interviews in sessions if required: Jogging Memory, Experiences, Life, After Service, and Later Years and Closing. “Do you recall the day your service ended?” is a question I’m sure all veterans will have no trouble recollecting. This weekend my children were in two different Veterans Day parades. My son, who is a Cub Scout, marched with his troop in the neighboring town on Saturday, and my daughter, who is a Brownie (Girl Scout), marched with her troop on Sunday in our town. I took several photos of veterans who lined the streets with the other parade watchers, and I so wish I could have sat down with them all right there and heard their stories! Here are some of my favorite shots: A World War II veteran: Two Vietnam veterans: Navy Lieutenant Commander, veteran of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War: Since I walked the parade route, I only had time to stop and ask permission to take a photo, and thank these men for their service to our country. From this last fellow, though, I had the privilege of hearing a snippet about his thirty year military career. No matter where your politics lie in regard to war, please be pro-veteran. Someone handed my husband a card which said Pro-Troop. War-Neutral. That’s a nice non-partisan way to honor our military men and women. Please let me know if you participate in the Veterans History Project! Ode to VeteransPosted November 10th, 2007 by Jen in family life, holidays, poetry6 Comments » November 11, 2007. Thank you, all veterans of all times. I remembered an old poem my mom wrote, and rummaged around this morning and thankfully found it. Her father was a WWI veteran. He spent the last decade of his life confined to a wheelchair, the result of mustard gas from the war. My grandpa died before I had the chance to meet him. But, thanks, Grandpa. ODE TO VETERANS Have you survived the overflowing banks Then I salute you, veteran of earth’s day. |
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JoJo and JJ would like to wish you all a Happy 4th of July! They say “We love America” and hope you do, too.
Dear children! I had had to say more than once. This holiday is about FREEDOM not candy! I don’t recall this inundation with treats at my childhood 4th of July parades. It’s all in good fun, but for kids the age of mine, it can be…distracting!
We stopped at our property on the way back to our rental house, and Big L took a moment to make a wish. “What did you wish for?” inquired JJ. “I can’t tell you!” he says.
America is soooo great, that even our “ugly” isn’t that bad. Okay, that is not true, there are truly horrific things going on in America, just as there are around the world. We all need Jesus! But, with our great nation’s birthday upon us, I’d rather find a bit of humor, a bit of appreciation for our free country.
There are many 
There’s the oldest running winter carnival in the Eastern United States, in its 111th year, the 
Any list of Winter Festivals would be incomplete without the 
Oh yes, I must have my Eberhard’s old fashion egg or it just isn’t Christmas! I had my first egg nog latte of the season last week, and we’d already gone through about two gallons of this creamy, spicy holiday drink before December 1 hit.
