Spaghetti and Memories

It's another cool morning. We didn't get much rain to speak of. It seems we are in a dry pattern. I have been watering my trees that we planted last and this year as well as the raspberry bushes and some garden plants. Other than the grass things still look pretty nice.

I picked off our first green beans this week. I cooked them and then forgot to have any with my meal. Daniel loves green beans. I forgot to give him any either. So Tim got them all. There weren't very many so I guess it was just as well.

I was hungry for pasta with fresh basil. As I have two basil plants in the garden I picked off a lot. I sauteed some fresh garlic in olive oil, poured it over the pasta, and added the fresh basil. Delicious!!! It's so wonderful to be able to eat the fruit of our labors!

Brandon finished putting his car back together last week. So he loaded the car he used for parts onto the trailer. When he got home from work yesterday afternoon he hooked the trailer to the van and we hauled the car to the junk yard. It was interesting for the little kids and me to see the man take the car off the trailer. Daniel wanted to go exploring in all the junk but I wouldn't let him. I was surprised they had everything so organized. The kids told Tim later that the motors stunk. I didn't explain to them that it was "Jamestown Hide and Fur" and that it wasn't the motors that were stinking!

After we got that job done we did a few other errands and went to see Dustin. He was getting ready for his softball game so we didn't stay long. We did get up to watch him play. They won their first game and were on their way to winning the second when we left. He thanked us for coming and gave the kids and me each a hug. He is such a nice big brother. Brandon stayed there as Jenn was coming up to town and he would ride back with her.

Daniel, Leah, and I stopped in to see Tim at work before we left town. As we see so little of him we all like doing that. He said that Whitney had stopped earlier as well. He so appreciates it. We did make it home before dark. I wasn't sure if the trailer had lights so I was glad to be home.

Brandon said he would unhook the trailer and put the van away when he got home. So I drove the trailer over to its spot and proceeded to order the children to what they each had to carry to the house. Daniel thought it too far to carry everything (I didn't buy much). He saw his wagon and thought he could load everything in that. I liked his ingenuity and agreed. While I went and opened the door he and Leah got everything to the house. Since there wasn't much I thought Daniel could handle carrying it in while I got the eggs and shut up the chicken coop. He did a good job and even put the milk away in the basement fridge. Leah was unpacking the other bags upstairs. It's nice to have good help.

Today I am going to clean house. I don't like that job but do like having a clean home. First I will give Sunny her weekly bath. Then I will scrub the bathroom really well. Once that is done the rest doesn't seem so bad. I won't have to make food for tomorrow so that is nice. I've got some nice steaks out for supper tonight. I like to buy the sirloin steaks when they are on sale. I can usually get them cheaper than the price of hamburger!

Tomorrow we get to go to Aunt LaVerne's house for dinner after church. She said she is making spaghetti. It is a comfort food for our family. My mother would make spaghetti almost every Sabbath. That aroma as I walk into the house takes me back to good feelings.

My mother and LaVerne were sisters, close sisters. As young girls they did almost everything together. I love listening to the stories of the old days. I heard many from my mother and now I hear the same stories from LaVerne. The different perspectives are interesting and give depth.

My mother's family were very hospitable. They would invite many people to their home. As Mother and LaVerne were two of the oldest in their large family much of the food preparation would fall to them. They did enjoy it, I think. Anyway it made them into wonderful hospitable cooks themselves. The spaghetti recipe came from an Italian friend that would stay with them. He showed their father how to make the delicious spaghetti sauce many in our extended family now enjoy in our own homes.

I remember the first time I brought Tim home to meet my parents. My mother made spaghetti. I don't think Tim was used to eating anything spicy and my mother's sauce could get a little spicy at times. It didn't taste spicy to us but I can still see the sweat breaking out on Tim's face as he ate it. He loved it though and still does.

I best get to my work now. Blessings and a restful Sabbath to each of you. And Happy Birthday, Bob!!!

My other Dad

I have wanted to write about my other dad, Bob Barthel for sometime. This week, July 31, is his birthday so I will share about him in this post.

My father passed away over 17 years ago. I was only 29 when he died! It was such a hard time as I loved him very much. Dad and I were so very much alike in many ways and shared a special bond.

Ten years later my mother rather nervously told me that she had met someone and was planning to get married again! It seemed a little too much for me to handle at that time. I think I reacted in a positive way. As we got to know Bob I realized that they really made a good couple. Both of them had their main focus on God as Lord of their lives and I saw my mother blossom in Bob's love. What I didn't realize at the time was how much we would grow to love him as well.

Mom and Bob got married on Thanksgiving Day 1999. They enjoyed too short a time together. In the spring of 2001 my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer. She underwent surgery and treatment but succumbed to it January 2002. We all still miss her so much.

Little did we know that our Bob would continue to want a relationship with us North Dakotans. He has faithfully come up to see us at least once a year and stays here at the farm in his RV. Our children have enjoyed having a Granddad who takes them fishing, out for lunch at Burger King where Mom and Dad never want to go, and is interested in spending time with them.

This past spring Bob even preformed the marriage ceremony of our daughter, Whitney to Ryan. Now that was really special! Words can not even express how much we love this man who has truly become our Dad and Granddad. We have missed him coming this summer as he has had to have several procedures done to fix things. I teased him that he is the "bionic man" now. He jokingly replied that he probably has shelled out $6 million.

This is our family at Mom and Bob's wedding. The wedding was held at my mother's home. Whitney and I were both bridesmaids.

This is Bob's Oklahoma family. His mother is on the left. Nancy and Robert, his oldest son, and their two children, Katie and Robbie are next. To the right of my mother are Randall, the middle son, and Roger, the youngest. Bob's three sons were his groomsmen.


Mom and Bob had their reception at Julie's Cafe in Gackle.

This was taken at the Senior Center where we had our Thanksgiving Dinner the day of their wedding.

The summer after they got married the three kids and I were able to go down to their Oklahoma home in August. Bob took us rafting on the White River (?). We had stopped to eat our lunch by the side of the river. Bob had sat on the edge of the raft when he slid in. He decided it was comfortable so he just stayed there.


I think this is my absolute favorite picture of Bob. Last September while he was here he gave Daniel a kite he had brought. As it is most frequently windy enough in ND to fly a kite we enjoyed our time doing that. He is so willing to play and interact with the children and truly seems to enjoy doing so. He is one of the most joyful people I know.

He is so patient with the little ones (and us older ones, too!)

Brandon and Granddad.

Leah can always get Granddad to read her a story. He will usually bring her some books, too.

We miss you! You truly are a Grand Dad!!!!

The Whittlers

It has been a couple of beautiful days although we could use some rain. I haven't been able to hang my laundry outside as the road is so dusty. Last week there were three semi trucks hauling grain past our place. As they go by they leave a thick cloud of dust that settles over our farm. Our grass is brown and crackly. I have been watering the trees we planted last and this year as well as somethings in my garden.

We had a beautiful restful Sabbath. We went to church and stayed for the potluck. There was so much food!! As Tim was really tired we didn't stay for the afternoon program but went home so he and we could get some much needed rest.

Tim has been working at least 12 hours a night, sometimes up to 17. Plus he is trying to take care of his dad's business. That doesn't leave much time to eat, sleep, and be with family. It makes Sabbath even more special.

After we all, except for Daniel, took a short nap we went to Shirley's place for the evening. It was such a beautiful evening for sitting outside. We did enjoy our time there. Shirley grilled some burgers and hotdogs and had plenty of other great food. Renee and Whitney made a bonn fire that we all enjoyed sitting around.

This morning I went outside to feed the chickens and water the cows. It was still early as I went out. The grass had a light dew on it. The chickens were happy to get outside to free range and were busy catching all the bugs that were in the grass. The cows were up by the water tank taking a drink. As I saw the beauty around me I expressed my thanks that I was able to witness and take part in it. Many times I am thankful that God created me and placed me in this time and place. Life can be hard at times but it is still good!

On Thursday Uncle Mike gave Daniel one of Dick's jack knives. Daniel had said something on the way up to town that Mike was planning on doing that. I could tell Daniel was a bit worried that Mike would forget. The knife he gave Daniel has a nice picture on it of two wolves. It is a bit fancy looking. Tim has told Daniel he can only use it if he is with him.

Tim has memories of his dad showing him how to use a knife and whittling. Friday night I came outside the house and saw this scene. I told them they looked like three old men sitting there whittling. We all laughed so hard.


I think Daniel got most of the bark off his stick. He said his knife is as sharp as Tim's hunting knife and is so proud of it.

Daniel is really missing his grandpa! It has been healing for both Tim and Daniel to share in these activities that Tim used to do with his father. As they do this they talk about Dick and keep the memories alive.

Joan's birthday

Yesterday was my mother-in-law, Joan's birthday. She has Lewy-Body Disease and has been in the nursing home for a year now. Previous to that she lived at an assisted living facility for a year. The disease has sure incapacitated her! The disease is sort of like having Alzhiemer's, Dementia, and Parkinson's all at once! It is so hard to see her suffering like this.

Each month the home has a birthday party for all the residents that have a birthday that month. There were so many of us that came for Joan that they put us in a separate room. Joan takes her medication shortly after noon. It makes her very sleepy. She tried to wake up but just couldn't and slept through the whole time we were there.

Here are some pictures of us all that were there to celebrate with her. The lady on the right is Joan's good friend, Dorothy who shares the same birthday. They would always go out to celebrate together. Dorothy and another friend, Irene got Joan the outfit she has on as well as another. My family is on the left, Tim, Brandon, Leah, Daniel, and I. Tim's brother, Mike is standing by Dorothy.

This picture has Joan's brother, Bernie in it. Bernie is Joan's only sibling. He has a wife, Vickie and three sons who are all grown and three grandchildren. Dick didn't have any siblings.

I think it a blessing that Joan can sleep as when she is awake she is quite frequently uncomfortable and frightened.



Mike had got such a nice ice cream cake as it is difficult for Joan to eat regular cake. She never did eat any of that cake. Joan knew that our kids all loved ice cream cakes. Whenever Dick and Joan would come out to our place for a meal she would love to bring one. In fact they all got sick of ice cream cakes and stopped asking for them for their birthdays!

Sometimes change is good and sometimes it is so hard. How we wish that somethings could stay the same.

School

While we have been taking the summer off from most of our studies we have tried to keep up with a few subjects 2-3 times a week. We do a Torah study story, some math facts, reading, and something fun. Leah will usually ask everyday if we can do school. I love her enthusiasm! She is a very willing pupil who knows most of her letter names and sounds. She can write her name and loves to do workbooks.

Daniel is less enthusiastic about school work. He would rather be outside. One thing I like about My Father's World is the curriculum choices, like Singapore Math, they recommend don't take as long to do as other ones, like Saxon, although we will most likely use Saxon in the later grades. I had already purchased Spelling Power and like the fact that it is non-consumable and can be used for all grades 3 on up when I read about All About Spelling. After reading more about it I decided Daniel would benefit from doing it even though it meant shelling out more money. It, too, is non-consumable so I will be able to use it for Leah, also. All About Spelling really stresses learning the phonograms which is so important in reading and spelling. We have done 4 lessons in it already this week and like the way it is presented and its ease of use. Here Daniel is doing some handwriting practice.

Sometimes it is challenging to find quiet things for Leah to do while I am helping Daniel. But she is usually good about keeping herself busy with the preschool toys and games we have in the schoolroom. This time of the year you can find such cheap crayons, markers, and such. They are always exciting for her as she loves to color and draw. Each of the kids has their own drawer with just "their" stuff. They can only use it during school time to keep it more interesting to them.

Yesterday we got a call from my friend, Renee, inviting us to go swimming at the pool. I hadn't planned on going up to town yesterday as I have to go today and tomorrow as well. Because it hasn't been warm enough or the kids were sick we haven't gone to the pool all summer. I made a quick decision to go. We did enjoy the pool and I was happy Daniel remembered how to swim as it had been awhile since his swimming lessons.

This evening I have an appointment to get my hair trimmed so we will go to the pool again this afternoon. It already feels hot out there. I guess I'm not used to it being in the 80's!

We were happy to get 20/100 of rain yesterday. I think it was the first time this year we heard thunder, loud thunder anyway. The children and I were out checking the garden and eating peas when we noticed the black clouds in the SW. We got into the house before it got too close. I love thunderstorms as long as there is not hail in them.

My brother, Michael had called me from The Black Hills yesterday. He always likes to know what the weather is like when he is away. Farmers have so much stress! I had forgotten that this past weekend was the Corvette Rally. He and his wife, Laura go every year and race. He told me that Laura won "Queen of The Hill." That means she was the top woman racer. Then she had to race the top man and won! My brother has won "King of the Hill" for several years. This year he lost the top man spot by one race. It would have been really neat if Michael and Laura would have had to race each other! He didn't sound regretful at all in not winning since he was so proud that Laura did.

This past Sabbath morning as we were getting ready for church Tim told me that Mario, our cat, had killed a weasel right south of the garden. Tim noticed the cat dragging something and thought it looked bigger than a gopher. He was quite surprised to find a big male weasel! We all went out to admire it and tell him he is a good "putty tat." He didn't eat it. Last winter he had killed a smaller one and didn't eat that either. They mustn't taste very good. Here's Mario with the weasel under the trailer.


I'm so happy that my children are interested in nature. Part of what we do in our homeschool is a Nature Notebook. The curriculum we use, My Father's World, strongly encourages lots of outdoor play. As Daniel doesn't like to draw or write much yet it can be a struggle to get anything entered into the notebook. So we haven't done much with it. I think if I would let him take pictures he might get into it more. Now Leah is bubbling with enthusiasm and will draw more than she needs to. It helps me to know that God is the creator and makes each of us the way we are for a reason.

Recently I came across this blogspot, http://handbookofnaturestudy.blospot.com/ , which uses the book "Handbook of Nature Study" that I got at a used book sale years ago. I had always wanted to use the book but was too overwhelmed by it. The lady with the blog site has a new lesson each week. She tells you what pages to read in the book that corresponds with the lesson. I read it and then condense that knowledge for the kids. We then go out and try to find what we are studying about.

Last week we learned about clover. Clover is an amazingly good plant and is so easy to identify. Last night as we were taking our evening walk we saw a big plant. Daniel wondered what it was so I showed him the leaves. He said with a knowing look on his face, "Ohhhh, it's clover." It was a bigger plant than we had previously studied. I love those moments!

On Sabbath while I was doing the dinner dishes I noticed out the window that Daniel was chasing a fledgling. Being the boy that he is he caught it.

Whitney and Ryan's

I had a request from Dawn for some pictures of Whitney and Ryan's place. This Sabbath afternoon we took our guests over to see Whitney's place as they had never seen it. It was such a gorgeous day with little wind. We enjoyed them seeing the house and different buildings. We walked through the pasture and some enjoyed a little fishing in the creek.

This is a picture of the west side of the house. They use this door that opens into a large entry with a big closet, a sink, their washer and dryer, and the basement stairway.

Whitney is pretending to cut bread. I love her kitchen and am a little envious of all her cupboards and counter space (and her dishwasher that Ryan got her as a wedding gift!)


This is the building they are making into a chicken coop. Ryan has the fence started on the side. They put in some windows and are planning to tin the roof and maybe put new siding on it.

Oops! I didn't mean to put this picture in here. I meant to put in one of the north side of the house where the rabbit cages are. Well...this is just north of the house looking down to the creek (to the NW) that runs through the pasture.

This picture is looking NE. Misty is that white spot on top of the hill in the center of the picture.

Whitney, Renee, and I enjoyed a walk through the pasture down to the creek. We did have to get our feet wet to get to the spot where some were fishing.

Here Leah is playing in the nice sand beside the creek where the road had washed away this spring. We enjoyed just sitting there a bit soaking up the peace.

They started working on the road Thursday and got a good portion filled in. Here Whitney and Brandon are looking at some tiny bullheads that Brandon scooped up in his cooler.

Brandon is trying his luck at the ole fishin hole!

Here is a bad picture of the south side of the house that I took out of my van window while we were leaving. The house doesn't look very big from the outside but is quite spacious inside. As I mentioned the east entry is large. The kitchen and dining room are roomy as is the living room. There are only two bedrooms but the basement is nice and could be finished with more rooms down there.

Fencing

I spent the morning cooking for Sabbath. I'm making a bunch of Mexican food. If I think of it I will take some pictures of the food tomorrow. We are having Aunt LaVerne, Shirley, and the Listuls over after church. I do like having company and cooking special things!

After I had cleaned my house I was going to sit outside and paint my toenails while Leah swam in the little pool. It has been a little cool here so she didn't even stay in the pool long enough for me to get a first coat on my nails. While I was sitting there I noticed a pickup coming from the east. My first thought that it was Whitney.

Well, it was Whitney and Ryan. They came to tighten the fence where the cows are. We visited a bit and they should finish with the fence in time to have supper with us. So I don't have long to write. I posted a bunch of pictures though so I hope you enjoy them.

Here's the grandmother cows with their heifer calves chewing their cuds.





Daniel is talking Ryan's ear off!

Whitney taking the clips off the fence.

She's quite the farm girl.

Another picture of the girls.

Cora, after I watered in my garden I took some pictures. Here's some of my lettuce and the potatoes.

My corn.

Here I've got the water on my peas. I planted 4 varieties. Two are doing well and two aren't. I will have to make note of that so I know what to plant next year.

The tomatoes and peppers.

My anaheim chili peppers. No peppers on there yet.

The little bell pepper I've been watching.

A few of the tomatoes

A beautiful flower arrangement that Russ Davis had sent to the funeral home. I had it in the house but Daniel and I both were getting stuffed up from it. It looks nice outside, too.

Some of my flowers.

Whitney's Birthday

Last Wednesday, the 8th, my daughter, Whitney, turned 23! She, Daniel, Leah, and I made a trip to Fargo for the day. We had already planned it a month ago. Whitney had got a gift certificate from her good friend, Janelle, for a pedicure and a facial that Whitney needed to use before Janelle was finished with school in August. Janelle is going to Josef's School of Hair Design in Fargo.

Whitney's appointment was at 10:00 but we went to the wrong school. We didn't know there were two, one on Main Street and one by the new Scheel's. The address on the certificate was for the school on main so that's where we went. By the time we got to the other school it was 10:30. But Janelle said she just got out of class so it all worked out.

The little kids and I did some shopping at places I knew Whitney wouldn't want to go while she was at her appointment...like Menard's and Sam's. After we picked her up I took them all out for lunch. Whitney wanted to go to The Olive Garden. When she was little my mom used to take us there. Whitney could always eat alot of breadsticks. She and I got the all you can eat soup and salad. It is so good!!

Whitney had a few places she needed to go. So did I. I found a shirt and tie for Tim that he wore at the funeral. Bullington Coat Factory has great deals on nice clothes. I found a name brand white dress shirt for $9.99 and a black tie for $7! At the Dressbarn I found myself a black and white top to go with a black skirt I already had. All the children had nice things to wear. It's a good thing we had bought the guys black suits for Whitney's wedding.

One of our last stops is always the mall. We love to look at the pet shop there. Of course Whitney fell in love with a puppy, a Old English Bulldog. They don't look like the typical bulldog, more like a Boxer or Pitbull. She was so cute and needy looking. The price is always a deterrent there as dogs typically run over a $1000!!! They have alot of puppies that they call "Designer Breeds" which are two different breeds mixed. They are the most expensive of all as they are most in demand right now.

We didn't get home until late but it was good to get away last week. On Sabbath I made her birthday dinner. I know she probably would have picked knipfle but I told her I wouldn't have time to make it this year. When I had time I had put some chicken breasts in a sesame ginger marinate I had made and mixed up some cheesey potatoes out of frozen hashbrowns. I bought a cake!! Tim grilled the chicken after church and I made a salad and cut up some bread. It was a good simple meal. We all spent the aftenoon napping. We were all so drained.

Here Whitney is ready to blow out her 23 candles!

Thought I'd put in some pictures of Whitney thoughout the years. Dustin is getting a first look at his new baby sister. Look at all that black hair she had!!

Whitney always did love her animals! Here she is surrounded by them in her crib. She was about 2 at the time. From the time she was a little over 1 year old I couldn't keep her in her crib. She would climb out. So I put the mattress at it's lowest and kept the rail down. She would willingly climb in when it was time for bed and get back out when she woke. She just liked doing things for herself!

Here's a picture of my "Three Stooges.". Isn't there a strong family resemblence?

Here Whitney is holding her cat, Peachy Bumm, shortly after we moved out to the farm. She was 10 or 11 then.

Here she is with Ryan before they were married. I wonder if he still helps her with dishes? My guess is that he does.



I love you, Whitney. You are a great daughter.