Yes, I can milk a goat...

and here's the proof:)

A couple of weekends ago hubby and I went to Missouri to keep the Schubert gkids while their mom and dad went on a short fun trip. The gkids all showed us how they milk their goat.

This brought back memories of going to my Grandmother Ingram's farm in McCool, Mississippi as a child. My sister and I would rise early with grandmother and go with her to:
--pick the eggs (and hope we did not find a snake in the nest!)
--throwing out feed for the chickens
--herding (walking) the cows to the pasture
--try to milk a cow
--ride their mule, Ole Blue (loved this)
--slop the pigs
--make homemade banana ice cream turning the crank by hand
--try to drink raw milk (I don't like raw milk to this day)
--eat the best home cooking you can imagine
--watch grandmother ring a chicken's neck & pluck it so we could have the best fried chicken for supper or lunch or breakfast!
--walk to the spring & dip up a large bucket of water to carry back to the house (she had no running water in the house at this time)
--use the bathroom in the out house with Sears & Robuck as toilet paper (really)
--playing the old foot pump organ
--sweeping the floor with her homemade straw broom
--watching grandmother quilt & when finished for the day raising the quilt frame back up to the ceiling of the big bedroom to keep it out of the way
--playing checkers with grandmother by the big fire place in her and granddad's bed room (the only souce of heat in the house, except for the kitchen when she cooked on the wood stove
--walking through the woods to the pond to go fishing or swim
--taking a bath in a large black kettle that sat on firewood - that's how the water was heated by a fire underneath the kettle - yes, the fire was put out before we got in to take a bath - which was not that often!
--chasing the wild farm cats
--help pick veggies out of her garden
--making mud pies by the BIG stump with my cousins
-- picking musketimes...mmmmmmmm so good!
-- smelling the good country air
-- grandmother's homemade snickerdoodle cookies -- the best!
-- left over from scratch biscuits from breakfast - we made peanut butter sandwiches out of them for a snack -- the best!

Then there were the chuch socials - we would walk down the gravel, dirt road to the church and gather for a group pot luck meal - talk about delicious home cooking - you can only imagine!

Ahhhhh...so many good memories...I could keep going...but I will stop for now. Childhood is such a special time in our lives.

Okay, back to milking a goat...to see more pics and a video click on this link:
http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025996&id=1343844913&l=42bb44c664

To find the video you might have to click on the video icon to see my videos. Enjoy and sit back and think about all your good childhood memories.

Cuz'n Camp 2009

This year's Cuz'n Camp was a little different since it was planned at the spur of the moment so to speak:) I had made a few plans, knew the theme, bought some crafts early when on sale, but had not been able to nail down a date for when to have camp and really was not ready to have it when we did...or so I thought:)

The Lord showed me that He had it ALL in control and He provided us with ALL that we needed to have a GREAT Cuz'n Camp 2009. I have learned over the years also "to be flexible or you will break"!

Now if you know me I am a very well organized planner...having every detail in place:) Well, not so for this year's camp. It was decided in just a couple of days the week it was to be. Since we were gkid sitting the Schubert 5 at our house for the weekend of the 19th - it seemed as good of a time as any to go ahead and have Cuz'n Camp the following Monday (22nd)...whether I was ready or not (as far a planning goes)!! Five of the oldest Bledsoe gkids came over and four of the Schubert gkids stayed...making nine gkids in all attending Cuz'n Camp 2009.

I chose to remain flexible and layed back as not to be frustrated with my lack of detailed planning. God showed me that He had already prompted me weeks ahead to purchase needed snacks & food, craft items, pool toys, etc. And of course, God had already given me my best earthly helper, granddad, to run errands and get what we needed for the week! I knew well in advance that we where going to study and learn the 10 Commandments, but I had not yet put anything together like visuals etc. So I got on the internet the night before camp to began my search of "The 10 Commandments". Yes, it was a late night but there is so much good stuff, visuals, etc on the 10 Commandments for teaching children. By 1 a.m. I had all the visuals I needed and the teaching planned. I was thanking the Lord for His goodness toward me. There was even a site where if you recited the 10 Commandments to an adult you could sign up to receive a free 10 Commandment magnet. I even found sheet music to a 10 Commandment song that gdaughter, K. played and taught us to sing. Yeah for the internet:) The gkids loved it and our camp couldn't have been better:)

Once again the Lord showed me that He has it ALL in His good Hands!

It always amazing me too how well the 9 cousins get along for a week together. They truly love being and playing together. What a BLESSING they are to us and to each other!

Check out and enjoy all the Cuz'n Camp 2009 pics at:

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025335&id=1343844913&l=626768a856

Smiles, Prayers, Friends...

A smile...

makes us look younger...

While prayers...

make us feel stronger...

and friends...

They make us enjoy life!

The Wooden Bowl

You will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess "We must do something about father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"

Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. " The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.

For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

The mercy you show will be the mercy you receive!

Mother's Hands...

In this restless realm can there be any greater demands,

Than those entrusted to a Mother's affectionate hands?

Upon her, the destiny of humankind certainly depends,

As her love and tenderness, all adversity transcends.

From the moment of birth and upon hearing that lusty squall,

Tender hands caress her precious little ones so very small.

Caring hands that are just beginning a life of devotion,

Praising the Creator with a heart filled with emotion!

Steadying hands will guide the tentative steps of little feet;

Loving hands will prepare nutritious foods to eat;

Healing hands will tend each bruised elbow and knee;

Happy hands will clap when sharing moments of glee!

Guiding hands will help to avoid life's treacherous shoals;

Teaching hands will assist to ever strive for noble goals;

Praying hands will keep the focus on worthy things above;

Molding hands will develop character, integrity and love.

Her aged hands now fragile and small;

Have done their life-work in raising us all.

Beautiful hands that rest on her knee;

Time-worn hands that have written her legacy!

Written by Robert L. Hinshaw

(Last verse by kathylove)

Life is Busy...

One thing I know: Life is going by fast...too fast!

Where does all my time go??

And I'm retired, already!!!

Our Mother's 80th Birthday Celebration...

What a WONDERFUL weekend for honoring our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother!
If I have counted correctly there were 57 family members who gathered to celebrate with mom.

Thank you each one SO MUCH for making the effort to make this a "miracle" weekend as mom called it...to have the family together in one place at one time! We had families from Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Missouri...some traveled a long way by car to be here for such a short weekend too.

Check out all the pics of this eventfull weekend by clicking HERE.