Christmas Every Day!

Boys and a "baby" moose.
Yep. We're in Idaho all right!


















I have a lovely new slab of granite for kneading my bread dough on!
I knew I'd want something of the sort because our counter tops (while finished) have some knots and old bug holes in them (being slabs of tree trunk). I love the counter; it has such character, but I could imagine the bread dough pushed into every little crevice.











Yesterday we had an "in town" day and one of the places we went was the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Hence my slab o' granite - get this - for eight bucks!
When we got home and set it in place it looked like it was made for my uneven counter! It's a thick piece of rock and sets the work surface higher than it already is. However, I am determined to make it work if it's necessary to use a step stool.

Okay. So you DO see what's sitting on my granite? THAT, my friends, is a loaf of bread baked SUCCESSFULLY (meaning it's pretty AND edible) in my gas barbecue. I BAKED BREAD IN MY BARBECUE!!

















I guess I don't need to say how proud I am. I couldn't help thinking of the frontier women of the wild west - not that they had the modern luxury of a gas barbecue...

And THESE are my book cases. Overlook my stacks of sheets and towels, and enjoy with me a real place for my books! This is as close a look as you get since my selection incriminates me as a terrorist - you know, gardening books, home birth books, homeschooling, composting toilet books, herb identification, do-it-yourself, and (gasp) Bibles!

















And yes, that is a bench under the window. Already getting so much use by my smaller readers (and myself when I need a sunny spot to repose;-)

My Idaho Skin

It's thickening. Slowly but surely.

Last night I walked (no), skipped (no), ran to the outhouse all by myself! (and I ran back too). In all fairness, AJ asked the outhouse guy (the fellow who is my secret hero for coming to pump and clean the potty every week. Ron is his name) to move it closer to the house.
I give credit where credit is due, and I just LOVE my husband for being such a great guy! (Thanks great guy O' mine!!!) Anyway. The outhouse is a bit closer now so if I can get over the yipping and howling wolves we've been hearing the last few evenings...

In the department of living without electricity and water in the house, that great guy for-mentioned volunteered to take on washing the dinner dishes every night. I can't say what a relief that is! It's just so nice not to have to anticipate that chore. I keep him company of course and even help rinse, but oh to not have the responsibility any longer!!

Cooking? It's been dandy using my triple burner gas stove. It sits a little tall on my already tall log counter tops, so stirring a tall pot of soup can be challenging, but get this gals... my great guy just bought us a commercial range complete with duel ovens, six burners, and a griddle!!!
It's not here or installed yet but I have high hopes of it being so within the month. Those of you with growing families can be extremely jealous now - it makes up for the lack of indoor loo;-P

(This picture gives you an idea of it - ours is a used one of course - I can't wait!)

Because I don't have an oven at present, some of you know that last Summer I experimented with the art of baking in a barbecue. I wondered if I would find my touch again without a lot of trial and error, but beating the odds, I successfully made a delicioso pan of brownies without under cooking the middle, or burning the bottom. I am so proud of that accomplishment!
Tonight I made a pan of scalloped potatoes in my BBQ "oven" which also turned out perfectly cooked through without being crunchy raw, or burned black.
I'm coming into my mountain womanly-ness. I tells ya!

The no light thing is alright so far. I find we get up a lot earlier and get our business done before dark when we go to bed. I bet that's how most of the world operates and it really makes sense when you think about it. We use oil lamps; and we get a lot of mileage from our head lamp type flash lights to see our way out to the potty and around the house for chores in the dark.
We have the luxury of generators when we really care, and one of these days we'll have some solar power to be a little more conventional as well.

For now, I really like the peace and quiet of no humming and whirring gadgets. And NOT having those said gadgets makes me REALLy reallyREALLY when I get them:-)

We've Landed...

...But hit the ground running!!

Marvel Hill is every bit as beautiful and wonderful as we remember it, and the work that's been accomplished by our amazing contractors is superb!
Amongst my favorites are the carpet upstairs in the bedrooms, and the bookcase surrounding our living room window.
I've succeeded in unpacking all our books (which have NEVER had a real home before this) and carefully placed each in its new home. Believe it or not all our books put together didn't fill our new book case, but I'll tell you... it was wonderful to empty eight or ten rubber maid bins that we've been storing!!! I think the books were glad to get back into the open air too;-)

This week as I have been unburying stuff and finding homes for dear things I haven't seen in a while, the contractors have been quickly framing up the "bath" room, the "toilet" room, and the new pantry (for dry goods, washing machine, and sink vanity). On top of that is an upstairs deck that we walk out on from our bedroom! Ooh la la!! Such luxury!

The children have been working and playing so hard that I don't hear a peep out of them once they fall asleep.
We've seen the mama moose and her calf and I think the calf (or perhaps it is a new one) resides on the fringes of Marvel Hill most of the time. He's been lingering where we see him fairly often.
Add to that the neighbors horses that thundered through the yard today and I don't even think of bears as being a real threat. I just hope my babies don't get caught in a stampede!

As to "have we settled in"?
Lets just say the last seven months in more modern dwellings has sissified me. The first night we were here I woke in the night and need the loo (badly!). I reconsidered upon gazing out into the dark, and even got so far as to set foot off the porch when I turned back.
I just couldn't do it! Too dark. Too quiet. (did I mention dark and quiet?) Dark and quiet isn't bad unless you hear a twig snap!
Anyhoo... You get the idea. I need to thicken my skin some.

All in all we are in love all over again - with the place, with the beauty, with the cabin, with the dark and quiet even.

Now for a Colman camp-style shower under the stars and then sleep.
And yes. We brought in the port-a-potty hassock in. Just in case!

In Response to Comments...

Mama K - Your McKenna will be most sorely missed by this crew. Give her a huge hug for me from Susanna, Olivia, Zack, and Clay! You never know...
You might want to visit Idaho;-)
We sure enjoyed your little girlie's while we were here and can't wait for the next opportunity to get reacquainted. Love you!

Jana, I feel for you! Can't wait to visit with you as well:-)

Gals of Chico - I was sorry to miss seeing or meeting several of you, but I guess I was a bit of a homebody and just relished watching the children play in the yard, sipping iced tea, and doing... nothing. It was very nice, and that pace has officially come to an end!

Heather, I'm sure my day was better than that. I watched seven road construction workers remove our piano from Gramsie's porch using a zoom boom. It was entertaining to say the least!
I look forward to hearing your wonderful voice soon at any rate.

Mother Hen-of-many-cowpokes...
I think you're right, it's high time I use post space to explain our gypsy-ish life. I guess I started blogging just as our life on the go began. It is very strange - this traveling here and there - even (or maybe especially) for me. I am a homebody too, but this is an adventure I wouldn't miss! Anyway, I've discovered the obvious: Home is where my husband and chiluns are. THAT is a wonderfully comforting thing to remember:-)

Thanks all for your prayers. I look forward to actually getting on the road (in a while - we still have some loading details).
I like traveling.
It means SITTING for a while;-P

Love,
-me

Moving Onward

Time for me to pack up the Gypsy wagon.
That means wash and fold laundry; search every nook and cranny of Gramsie's house for stray socks Lego's and toys; repack our clothes, books, and toiletries; wash bedding; de-catostro-fy (trust me, that IS a word.) Gramsie's house a bit.
All these amongst other things (such as blogging and quilting) while I breath deeply and remind myself "it will all get done... it will all get done" (or not, as AJ is quick to remind me. But we'll leave anyway!)

Last week I finished the quilt I pieced for Zack two years ago. He is just thrilled to have it finally!
































As soon as that was wrapped up, I started on Clayton's quilt which he's been anticipating these last two years while waiting for me to complete his brothers. He's been very patient and I desperately wanted to NOT take years making this one!!
If you can believe it, I am at the quilting stage (sewing the back, batting, and front all together) and stand a fair chance of achieving my goal. Blog post tonight will have to be short:-)

So onward and upward!
Here we come Idaho and beautiful Marvel Hill!!!

So Dear To My Heart

This picture was taken late several nights ago. As you see, it is a row of sleeping children. Five to be exact; and even though it looks like a spotlight is on in the room it's actually dark there except for my camera flash.

















We have been "camping out" at Gramsie and Pop's these past weeks and having a marvelous time in every way.
Sharing a room in this fashion might not be considered "marvelous" by most folks - especially when you imagine how long it often takes to get everyone sleeping in sinc. I'm sure you don't have to have first-hand experience for your imagination to make an accurate guess at the noise, games, and shenanigans that go on after all five have been tucked in!

As much as possible I ignore it because... because hey, what a party - and every night too!!
With ignorance comes bliss. For a time. But usually my powers of persuasion are called upon to intervene before the room stays silent.

These children do EXTREMELY well sharing such tight quarters and as I was telling a friend of mine, it has increased camaraderie significantly more than if they were all divided up into their own conveniently separated spaces.
But... it hasn't come naturally. . . . .

This night I went in to check on things because I had listened to Susanna sniveling and carrying on for a while.
It was the usual ailments. You know, her knee hurt from when she-tripped-over-the-stick-that-so-and-so-left-in-the-path.... etc. etc. etc. that AND Zachary wouldn't let her move the corner of her sleeping bag towards his own and she couldn't sleep because... etc. etc. etc.

I just grinned at them.
I did - really!

I looked at Zachary and said
"Com-mon Buddy! Seriously? You have the most space of anybody!"

And then I looked at Susanna.
"Susanna. This is silliness! This is a party in here! Even when you're supposed to be still and quiet, you can still wink at each other and give secret smiles and grins - like this: ;-) ;-) ENJOY each other!!

And to them both:
Guys, you're sleeping arrangements won't always be like this. One day soon you'll be in your own bunk beds and will remember what a privilege it was to share this time together.

Now. Is there a REAL problem? Or do you just need me to pick your noses?"

We laughed some, woke up Carolina, gave more hugs, picked some noses...
and that happened to be one of those times when my "powers of persuasion" were a pleasure to wield. No serious action was needed or taken to get things back in order, and so far it has been quiet since I left. All very very good things!
It doesn't always go just like that, but always with the same outcome: they know what dad and I expect of them; and they know that life's not fair so they may as well get comfortable with that idea now.
It's a hard lesson to learn, but the sooner the better. Often the glass that appears half empty, is actually half full. It all depends on ones decision toward a thankful and grateful heart which creates contentment - no matter the circumstances.

And when I finish my own bedtime chores and climb into bed I can't help but smile - every night, and even in the darkness - at the soundly sleeping "party" at the foot of my bed. I smile because they look so amazingly sweet while they sleep. And because I made it through the black room without stepping on anyone! I smile because they are my treasures, and all within arms reach - literally.
And I smile mostly because one day they will look back on this season of their lives with great fondness.
I AM sure of it! Fondness for the memories, and a fondness for each other that comes only from being "stuck - unfairly, and at times uncomfortably" together, and choosing to make it a party.
Life will be good to them if they have that perspective.
And contentment belongs to those with a heart gratefully thanking the Lord God for everything He gives them!

What I LOVE About Girls...

...They've got style (And boldness)! Not just anyone could pull off these daring feats of fashion!

Susanna gets her fashion sense from me I think; but like me, she seems to be happy wearing what she likes:-)
















Olivia finds a new use for a shawl and makes us all wish we had one!

















Aren't girls fun?

The Day We Made Charlotte Mason Proud

(glad she rinsed her feet off!)

Startling Blue!

If It Were MY Choice...

"Momma I hope we're going to have another GIRL baby."

"That would be lovely Susanna. I just love each of my girl babies! ...And each of my boy babies are wonderful too.
But you'd like another little girl, huh?"

"Yes. Girls are nice.
Boys... they just antagonize you and stuff."