First time ever

This is a first for me. I have never ever been on a diet. I have been told that what I will be doing isn't a diet but a lifestyle. Right now it is a diet. No Sugar No flour. I have never been one for sweets would rather have broccoli with cheese than a piece of cake. But right now I am craving brownies that are sitting in the pantry waiting for me to bake them and eat them all at one gulp.This is only our second day.

It's a snow day. One of those days when you are supposed to make comfort food and lay around and eat it all day. You can't make comfort food without flour. This may be one of the hardest things I have done in a long while. I even bought a avocado yesterday at the store. I have never ever eaten one, but plan on using it in a recipe. Maybe this will get me ready for our trip to Ecuador. If I can eat strange things here I will be fine there. Strange as in fish, vegetables besides carrots and lettuce.

So far I have had two real breakfasts in the morning, something I hardly ever do. It was hard going to the grocery store without my coupons. It was very hard passing up the free stuff my coupons would of gotten me. But alas most of the coupon stuff has flour and sugar in it. It was hard to go thru the register line and pay 37.00 for my stuff when I am used to paying 12.00 for 79.00 worth of stuff with my coupons. It was also strange that my cart didn't seem very full, but it was colorful. There were no boxes to fill the space just round and lumpy fruit and veggies. No more mother lodes like this one.


This is going to be an adventure.

Saying goodbye is hard to do

After nearly three years of preparation, Becca and family are now in Ecuador. We spent last Friday and Saturday with them to say our Goodbyes. We had a wonderful time with Lindsey and Nick and Becca's Church family as we gathered for a goodbye party-surprise birthday party. Saturday morning we went to Cracker-barrel to have breakfast together. Marcus bought a snake to take with him.

They had to pack two years worth of clothes and books. Esther is lost in the baggage.

Bad News in the Morning

Terry came into the room this morning along with Hiedi dog and told me some bad news. He started with "I have some bad news." That's when I knew it was bad news. Seems he got up this morning and looked out the window. A small white blob was outstretched on the lawn. It was a lamb and Hiedi dog was the culprit.



As he was telling me this news I was trying to understand how the dog got out of the fence and drug a small lamb into the yard. Terry said the lamb was mostly missing a eye, it was gouged out with the guts all over. He said the lamb could be fixed.

What, this wasn't making any sense. Than all of a sudden it dawned on me. Annalise, Hiedi got Annalise. My sweet sweet Annalise. She is only two years old and never been out in the cold, except for the day we bought her home. She has given me so much joy, building her homes and giving her gifts. Now Anna will be blind in one eye.



I immediately thought of Elaine, and ran to her sleeping place. Elaine was there sleeping peacefully. I will have to keep a better eye on my little lambs.

Christmas tidings

I had decided not to put up the tree and to leave all the decorations in storage. This morning I got up and thought, hey I have two trees that belong to the kids in the shed. We also have all their decorations.

Just because the kids can't be here doesn't mean I can't have part of them here. So Becca and Renee thanks for giving me some Christmas Spirit.

I also found all the decorations that the grandkids made last year. They are on my lovely tree along with many that Becca,Renee and Seth made when they were little.

Now I need to have some friends over for dinner and games,get some bread and cookies made, put on the Christmas music, and my Christmas will be perfect.

Thanksgiving and a new addition

The herd gathered here for Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful time together. Missing in action is Becca and Carrie and Me. Of course I am taking the picture. I wonder where Carrie is? Becca is in the kitchen making her special dessert.


Oh here Carrie is. Wake up you sleepy head








This is Heidi Dog. She has come to live with us for two years. Becca and Dustan are leaving in Jan. and the dog can't go with them. Heidi is part basset and part Australian cattle dog.

She really wants to go herd the goats and cows and what ever else she sees that need tending to, but she ends up just sitting and watching. She is a lot like me. We should get along well together.

Three of my lambs are flying away

Its been almost two years of getting ready. Three of my little lambs will be flying away to Ecuador in January for the field trip of their lives. Yes I am sad that I won't have them nearby to hug on, talk to and be silly with, but they are on a mission. God has called their family to serve him in another country with another language and culture. And when God calls you answer.

I am thankful for the internet because I will be able to see their faces and hear their voices while they are there. I will be able to hear all about how they are learning spanish faster than Marme. They will tell me all about the new things they are eating and seeing.

We will miss them at Marme camp, but maybe marme will be going there soon to visit and she can have marme camp in Ecuador. Pray for them as they make preparations to leave. Pray for Marme and Papa as we say our good-byes to them.

The finished redo

It has only taken a year but it's done. This whole bathroom was redone for almost nothing. Renee had left over flooring in her garage. I found towel bars at Lowes on clearance for a total of 12.00. The light fixture was left over from our house in Galesburg on Madison street that never got put up. That was also a gift from Renee one Christmas.

The paper illusion on the walls was on clearance for 3.00 and paint from walmart 14.oo The mirror was also from Renee and the faucet from lowes on discount for 29.00 The shower curtain donated to cause by Renee. The largest purchase was having the floor guy put floor down. 125.00.

All done for less than 200.00 Now all I need for Christmas is White towels

Bathroom redo

The before pictures

Terry and I are taking a spanish class together. First day of Spanish class I had second thoughts. Came home with the worst stomach problems ever. Second class, it was all I could do not to cry. I knew if I said anything I would. Teacher is having everyone share the new words they are learning. Nouns and articles, subject pronouns ect ect.

I am writing in notebook hoping she doesn't come near me. I feel like a third grade student who has just been placed in a physics class. Came home with a really bad headache and ate one chocolate bar, two pieces of cheese, one porkchop and a bowl of ice cream.

Not sure this is going to be a bonding experience. I will have to go out and buy more food.

Marme IT

Ok so I decided to color my hair because it was the first day of school. Nobody knows me there except my sweetheart, so I thought today would be a good day to do it. At first I thought it was a little tie dyed. It seems it turned out ok. I kind of look like cousin Its, cousin. Never took my own picture before.