Who’s wadded up over their New Year’s goals? Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not.
For years I never got a bang out of setting goals or making resolutions. The reason? Simply because I despise a broken track record. I like perfection; whatever the goal, I don’t want it messed up. Not one day missed or forgotten. No exceptions. When I mess up I get a mental black mark. I hate black marks.
So pessimistic me (I’d like to say practical me) predicts I’ll mess up months before another year ends. My goal is to save stress; don’t set New Year’s goals.
I have changed in this area to a certain extent. I acknowledge it’s a perfect time to analyze one’s life. Especially our spiritual life. Asking ourselves questions such as, “Am I growing stronger in my trust in God? Are there relationships I should be doing more to build up? Am I taking time to teach my children about God? What can I do to enhance our marriage?”
And it’s perfectly good and well to set some goals for the year ahead, be it physical or spiritual. If it pleases you, go right ahead and spell out your plans. Or, as some like to do, figure out your word for the year.
Diet and exercise plans are great ambitions for many. Putting organization dreams into action is a noteworthy goal. Limiting/disciplining ourselves on social media use is a very wise goal as well. Overall I lean more towards evaluating my spiritual life and looking at ways to grow. Yet at the same time, I don’t like to have such mountainous ambitions that it feels kin to impossible.
It’s also good to reflect on our past year, if we can reflect in a positive way. Don’t commiserate on how rough you’ve had it- it’s easier to do that but it’s not edifying. Focus on God’s faithfulness in supplying daily grace. When we felt we couldn’t take another step, God provided. When we prayed long and hard, God eventually answered. He gave us wisdom for that hard decision. Quietly, faithfully, He whispers grace upon our days. Reflect on that and know He will be there next year too.
The last number of years I’ve endeavored very small goals. About 4 years ago I aspired to memorize a small portion of scripture each month. The last 2 months of that year I spent refreshing myself on the earlier passages. (So I didn’t attain my goal 100% but at least I tried!) Since that year, some of those passages have become extra special to me.
This last year I went even smaller and tried one verse a week. For easy memorization, I posted it at my kitchen sink. Here again, I attained about 85 to 90% of the time. Maybe the mark is gray instead of black.
On this next year, I’m still swirling ideas. I’m late with the program I know; the New Year is already upon us! But December was just flat out hectic for me so I haven’t wrote up anything. Just thoughts to discuss with myself or my husband. I’m planning to do some of both. Perhaps next year I can fill you in on my goals. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t!
Most importantly, let’s be committed to stay strong in the Lord. Small, daily choices and duties make up our lives. It’s quite unlikely I’ll make groundbreaking headlines in the news this year. Can I be quietly steadfast in the mundane?
Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58
In a small saucepan, throw in 4 or 5 cinnamon sticks and those orange peelings from your breakfast citrus. Fill with water, and simmer on your stove all day. The aroma will fill your house with a spicy, cozy scent as you welcome the Year ahead!
Yes you read right. Coffee??? Is my spelling that bad? No. No? We’re not talking about coffee! I’ll explain in a moment; just hang on while I finish my mocha- I don’t drink coffee!
The sunshine spilling through the windshield, a white chocolate mocha in my hand and a quiet drive without my offspring interprets a rare day. I’ve taken the opportunity to type in silence while my husband drives. We’re headed to Kansas City for an appointment and a bit of shopping. We have a 2.5 hour drive one way, so that gives me plenty time to ramble.
This week I’m consumed with baking cinnamon rolls. There’s a Big Iron sales representative that asked me to bake approximately 120 8×8 pans of cinnamon rolls to give his customers for Christmas. I have a “from scratch” recipe that uses unique ingredients such as potato flakes, instant vanilla pudding and milk, resulting in a soft, scrumptious roll! This recipe is tops! One massive batch makes 23 pans. I made one batch yesterday and hope to make 2 batches tomorrow. It’s a mountainous undertaking to mix, roll, slice, bake and frost nearly 50 pans in a day’s time. In about a week’s time I’ll need to make six batches, so if I don’t get much else done, you know why. And you can also guess why it’s taking me so long to get this post ready- I’m now way past last Tuesday when I started it!
This was the last day’s double batch…. Josie loved helping!
I might add that this Big Iron Rep seems to like me and went with me shopping for cinnamon roll groceries. He also hung out with me now and then lending a hand where he could, plus I joined him one day when he delivered rolls to customers. Ain’t that romantic?! I do all this to support his business, because supporting a husband’s business is part of being a wife.
As much as I enjoy making cinnamon rolls, I was thrilled to finish up those last two batches, get my floor cleaned, and the kitchen in its usual order! I’m still basking in the feeling of satisfaction both of a job completed and my orderly kitchen.
What Jerald’s truck looks like when he delivers cinnamon rollsJerald in business
This farmer, Kevin Compton, that’s shaking hands with Jerald is retiring and selling all his equipment with BigIron. Some weeks ago when Jerald was listing his equipment he noticed an old runner sled in one of his sheds. Jerald knew I was wanting one so he asked Kevin if he would sell it. Kevin wasn’t sure as he had bought it around 1980 for his children and he wanted to check first with them if they wanted it. And can you believe it they did not?! So on the day I rode with Jerald, I met Kevin and he wanted to give me that sled! I was pleased as punch!! I’ve always thought an old sled would be perfect for porch decor but the price? Not so perfect. And now I’m simply given one!! That very evening I washed it up, trimmed the trees, gathered sticks and…. oh joy! I love it! Fresh cut greens are simply perfect for making large outdoor bouquets. I fixed three of them before I said “enough”. Tuck in some broken branches, a few pine cones and you have pretty decor that didn’t cost a penny. I rebuked myself for not garnishing my porch with greens weeks ago. Simple but beautiful! Especially with a free sled!!
Ok back to the coughy. Has your family been coughing this winter yet? These days any bug that flies is more than a potato bug. According to the news, it seems any kind of bug must be some sort of strain akin to Mr. Corona. I’m just sayin’ but I’m not sayin’ if I agree or not! 😝
I feel blessed that my children have been in good health! Reece and Josie both had a cough season maybe two months ago but have been doing good. I praise God for that! But currently the stomach flu is sailing to and fro in our community. My children haven’t got it but I’m holding my breath. I’m dosing them up aplenty but still. Watch them get sick the moment I post. Just because, well, you know what I just said.
I’ve known for years that red raspberry leaf tea is beneficial for flu, hormones, pregnancy or general immune boosting. I drank this tea in both of my pregnancies. But it was only this Fall that I realized just how good it truly is for coughy spells!
After hearing a testimony of how it calms down a cough, I decided I must try it out. I had plenty on hand anyway. I was amazed at the results! Josie had been hacking around and sounding rather croupy one evening. I had her drink some at supper and then had more by her bed overnight. And what do ya know! She didn’t cough the whole night! I know it sounds like a windy tale but it’s not windy! It’s calming!
My in laws visited us in November. He seemingly has this perpetual cough. I promptly offered him a glass full of this tea I had in the fridge. And what do ya know! He barely coughed the rest of the evening! The remaining time they were at our house he drank a glass full whenever he got a spell. It’s not a joke or a hoax; it calms those croaks!
Reece drinks the tea too and I was amazed at how it even seemed to help loosen up the cough as well! Since then it’s one of my go to’s at the onset of any coughy situation! This tea and good old smelly garlic salve rubbed on the chest and feet through out the day often does wonders!
Reece drinking his tea 😍
Garlic salve is another subject to which some are strongly sensitive. I’m not here to argue. I know it stinks. I mean, who wouldn’t know that?! But this is my philosophy: Garlic salve works. It works amazing. If it keeps me and my children from getting very sick, sparing a trip to the Dr or perhaps out of the hospital, then I mean, get over the smell!! What is smell compared to that?! The hospital stinks too by the way.
All that said, I am not here to make anyone feel bad if your child has needed the hospital for croup or RSV or the like!! You’re the parent and must do what you think is best. If you feel your needing the ER, or a Dr appointment, then by all means go! Sometimes in spite of our best efforts at home remedies, professional help is needed.
Steeping my red raspberry brew
The tea I make is a mix of red raspberry, nettles and alfalfa. It’s called pregnancy tea but I call it red raspberry brew. Certain individuals may hoot about drinking pregnancy tea! But the scoop is, is that it’s for heaps more than pregnancy so just call it brew. Or a tea mix. I think if your drinking tea anyway why not drink a mix of teas/herbs and get added benefits?! Both nettles and alfalfa are rich in nutrients, besides the pop of nutrition in the raspberry leaves.
Here is how I make my red raspberry brew for that coughy spell!
Boil 1 quart water. Remove from heat and add 1/3 cup tea mix. Let it steep for 25-30 minutes or more. It’s not picky on time. Strain the tea and sweeten with stevia or honey. I just add stevia till it tastes good. I like a mix of the END stevia and Now stevia glycerite. Then I add a Tablespoon of baobab powder for extra vitamin C which is optional. It has a bit of a fruity twang which gives the tea a good flavor! Plus, it’s loaded with antioxidants. I stir it in when it’s warm so it dissolves better. Then add in a slice or two of fresh lemon and ice cubes to chill. Or you can drink it warm if you prefer but we drink ours cold and keep it refrigerated after making it.
I love my tea strainer that fits perfectly on a glass or jar for efficiency in tea straining!
This tea would be great to drink anytime just as an immune booster. Even for stomach flu or whatever ails you. I don’t think it would hurt anyone! But for sure, make it for your family who’s got a coughy spell!! And drink a glassful or more a day. Not just a sip or two because that won’t do.
My beloved red raspberry brew ready for drinking!
The most affordable place I have found to purchase raspberry tea leaves is Ann’s Naturals. You can contact her at (270)-524-4680 and be sure to ask for a catalog. She has the best prices I’ve found! She offers the straight raspberry or you can get the Pregnancy Mix which has alfalfa and nettles added; this is the mix I usually get. You can get 1 pound of this mix for only $9! I love Ann’s other products too and buy most of my herbal tinctures from her. She also carries the garlic salve I love and has lots of options for children’s tinctures. You can buy this tea elsewhere too. Most herb/health catalogs or health food stores would carry it.
So there you have it! Slather on the garlic and drink the tea. My sophisticated and unsolicited advice.
It’s getting that time of year when those yummy snacks and accessories of sweets begin to magically appear. Well, not quite magically but they do appear! Much as I love those party snacks, cookies, and candies, my body does not agree with me on the subject. So I’ve become a minimalist when it comes to Holiday goodies. Plus, I don’t get led into temptation when I don’t make the unhealthy goodies in the first place! But I do know how fun it is to spend time making treats that are holiday exclusives, and I’m not scolding anyone for doing that! 😁
I have fond memories of growing up, making Christmas candy on winter evenings. My older sister cooked up a batch of caramel candy while Mom made a grande size batch of buckeyes. Then we’d melt chocolate and everyone could help dip them. To this day, buckeyes are the one Christmas candy I always melt over. The peanut butter and chocolate sweetness speaks Christmastime to me!! And oh the days before I needed to concern myself on the complex health subject!
I still enjoy making special treats if they are “healthified” in some way. Some goodies might not be totally healthy but healthier would be the key!
One dreary evening this Fall, I enjoyed making a batch of this tasty popcorn and seeing my children’s delight. It’s still sweet but does not have that notorious corn syrup! I host a substantial grudge against it and all things containing it or high fructose corn syrup! There have been many times I check an ingredient list in the store to find that sneaky item hidden there…..and I huff and I puff about that stuff! Its plopped back on the shelf and I depart the aisle muttering. I wish the company that made it could see the scenario. And if you are like me and do the same thing, perhaps we could get the point across; We hate high fructose corn syrup and refuse to buy your products if it’s in there! Ok. Honest confession. I have bought things with it in or even corn syrup itself- horrors! but it’s far from being welcome and used much in my house! End of sticky subject. Now on to the popcorn!
Homemade Caramel Popcorn
Melt together 1 cup butter, 1 cup coconut sugar, and 1/2 cup honey. Bring to boil and boil for about 4 minutes, stirring now and then.
Remove from heat and add in:
1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter. Mix well and pour over 6-7 quarts of popped corn. (I used ladyfinger popcorn because it was the only I had on hand but I’d recommend using large kernels) Once well coated, spread on cookie sheets and bake at 225* for approximately 30 minutes. Stir once in between. As it cools on the counter it will become even more crunchy. Store in airtight container.
Party mixes always flock the holiday gatherings but I feel so bloated and trashy after eating it. There’s the high gluten content besides all the preservatives/additives. So here’s a suggestion for a healthier alternative.
Holiday Trail Mix
Mix together your choice of a variety of nuts. I would go light on the peanuts or omit completely. They can quickly flavor everything else. Add in craisins and a bag of sugar free or dark chocolate chips. This looks festive with the nuts and craisins. Chocolate chips, craisins and nuts are a perfect blend of sweet and salty. (You really do not need M&Ms in trail mix for it to be yummy- who wants all that food coloring and extra sugar anyway?!)
Store your “holiday mix” in a big glass jar on the counter and enjoy! I would still recommend not over indulging because nuts are a heavy food and harder to digest. But they still have health benefits that outweigh the usual mix of crackers, pretzels, cheesies and cereals.
Here’s one more recipe that is in fact, quite healthy! It’s a delicious way to get that good-for-you coconut oil in your body! They are rich.
Healthy Peppermints
3/4 cup virgin (unrefined) coconut oil, room temperature. Whisk until its fluffy. Add in: 1/2 teaspoon stevia- I used E.N.D stevia) and approximately 20 drops Peppermint essential oil or more to suit your taste- I used DoTERRA) Whisk everything till creamy. Use a teaspoon and drop into paper lined mini muffin pan. Chill until hardened.
Melt 1 cup sugar free or dark chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls of chocolate on top of coconut oil mixture. Chill again until chocolate is firm. Makes 1 dozen. These should be stored in the refrigerator or in a very cool place.
I’d love to know- what are your healthier holiday snacks?
The daily rhythm of Mom life can feel ever so mundane. Like, make food, wipe faces, load dishwasher, do laundry, read stories, clean house, go to bed. Get up and repeat. For days and months and years. An occasional break from the cycle refreshes the soul. I felt privileged to experience a delicious refresher in September.
How freeing to be responsible only for myself and my bags as I trotted through the airport. Only one plate to fill when I was in line for lunch. No hair to braid and shoes to tie before heading out the door. But wait. What’s the little ache in my heart? Being away from my family reminds me how much I love my Mom and wife career. How much I love my people. How much I love my home and housework. Am I boring? Maybe I am. But it’s my life and I love it.
September 16 I flew to Atlanta Ga where my longtime friend Valerie Miller picked me up. Together we drove to Hartwell to attend the annual ladies seminar that weekend. We’ve been besties since teenagers but now live miles apart. Quality time for just the two of us has not been reality for a lengthy stretch of years. It was a definite gift from the Lord who orchestrated all things so that we could enjoy an inspiring weekend together!! I wish more of my friends could have been there!
Decorations by the main door of the Seminar
Friday morning’s first session was by Jen Miller from Westcliffe, CO. Jen has had 3 daughters who all carried a genetic disease that caused them to be handicapped with a shorter life span. She has lost all 3 of her beautiful daughters. She spoke of her dreams being crushed. Her struggles in surrendering to God’s plan in her life. I was inspired all over again; I’d heard her story some years back. Seeing how God healed her broken heart. Hearing her testimony of His faithfulness. His supplying the little drops of grace moment by moment as she needed them. If you would like to read her storyyou can purchase her book, Life is a Gift. So heartbreaking. Here are some highlights of her sessions:
We all experience dark seasons of life, but God’s beauty can be seen in our life as we endeavor to learn what God is teaching us in that time. There’s beauty in the cross of Jesus. The cross teaches us brokenness and surrender. My sinless Savior surrendered himself to the cruel death of the cross. How can I not surrender my dreams to Him? Brokenness is rough. This journey to surrender is not silky with fragrant blooms to soothe our feet. It’s dark and jagged, but the beautiful peace at the end of our struggle to surrender is worth the rocky road. It leads to beauty! God may change us and our dreams but that is a surrendered lifestyle. We must remember He sees the whole picture. We do not. Only as we fully trust Him can we fully surrender.
“Control and fear go hand in hand. Surrender and peace go hand in hand.”
Jen also shared this quote– It’s not so much the giving up what we can’t have, as the embracing what we’ve been given.” -Trish Hostetler
God’s love does not depend on my performance for Him. This performance mentality is something I personally have struggled with much in my life, but slowly, at turtle speed, I’m learning. He loves me as much when I’ve failed a woeful amount as He does when I’m living in sweet victory. He loves a saint of 70 years no more than the poor sinner of 80 years.
Serve Christ because my heart is brimming with love for Him, not with a slave mentality. Be quietly confident God will supply my needs. Emotional needs. Physical needs. Grace needs. Whatever your need, know and trust He will supply!!
When we’ve been hurt it’s easier to build walls around us but that gets us nowhere. Lean back into God’s embrace and learn to embrace the seasons of life!
People like to talk about the hurts they have from what others have done to them. But we need to be talking about what God has done for us instead of what people did to us! Then we can go from being a victim to a victor. In John 5:1- 9 is the account of Jesus healing the lame man. Jesus asks him, “do you want to be healed”? (Wilt thou be made whole?) We tend to think, of course he wanted to be healed! But does everyone really want to be healed? This man was laying by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years! It had become his life. His response to Jesus’ question was not an excited “yes Jesus!” He simply stated how he’s never able to get to the pool in time. Was he complaining? I’m not judging him; I know how easy it is to get stuck in our ruts. All we can think of is the woeful circumstances we’ve been given and murmurings readily spring forth! Some people enjoy their “mat” of hurts so much and for so many years that they really don’t want to be healed! Get off your mat and Jesus will heal you- if you really want to be healed!
Beautiful snack tables at the Seminar Friday evening
I also thoroughly enjoyed the class; Cultivating a meek and quiet spirit amidst the challenges and demands of Motherhood, by Deborah Heatwole from Waynesboro GA. She is a homeschool Mom of ten. Here’s glimpses of her session:
My children’s attitudes are very closely tethered to my own.
We must prioritize God over phone time. Read your Bible before checking your phone. Put your phone down when your child is speaking to you. Look him/her in the eyes.
Listening to Bible audio is a great way to engrain scripture in our minds amidst our bustling Mama schedules. Pray out loud when you pray by yourself.
Everyday faithfulness is an act of worship, not just survival. (I heard this quote before and she also shared it, but I don’t know who to credit for it)
Cultivate your relationship with your husband! It’s hard to have a quiet heart if your not in tune with your husband.
Discouragement and Distractions are the Devil’s tools. Are you discouraged with your unending stack of jobs? Discouragement can creep in super easy and for a slew of reasons. Is your phone distracting you? Is it distracting you from more important relationships than those on social media?
If your workload is overwhelming, keep cutting back until it’s comfortable. This can be hard to know where to cut back! Ask your husband for his thoughts. Husbands can often give good advice. Also, Ask for and accept help. People are generally quite willing to lend a hand if we humble ourselves to ask.
The house may be falling apart but if organization and order are found in my heart, I’m doing fine. I love this! It’s ok when we’re not always on top of things. We can have peace in our hearts amidst the clamor of life. Having my heart in order is what really matters! – Much easier said than done.
Read read read to your children.
Listen to your children talk. Let them ramble on their day’s events. If we want them to ramble about their life when they’re teens, we better take an interest and listen to them now.
Apologizeto your child when you’ve been frustrated with them. Make sure they know they’re more important than the milk they just spilled.
Involve your children in service. No better way to teach them service to God and others than by your example.
Children have no time concept. Slow your speech and do not constantly rush them. Things really do go better if they have ample time to dress and do their jobs without us reminding them to hurry, every couple minutes.
We must take times to rest. Resting ourselves from the buzzing life around us. Rest is where we realize the time restraints and limitations God has given us. Rest by doing something to rejuvenate yourself. We can’t likely be in solitude for hours, but take the mini vacations when you’re feeling overworked and underpaid. Enjoy a walk in the crisp, autumn air or relax with your favorite magazine and don’t chide yourself. We need those moments.
Live a life of gratitude. Thank and praise God for His unnumbered blessings! Praise Him for all He’s done, is doing and will do!
We have a new addition in our backyard- a grain bin gazebo! Some years ago when my husband suggested it, I was skeptical. I thought we had plenty in our backyard already without placing yet another object back there! But this has turned out really pretty and we are looking forward to using it for many parties to come! In this post Jerald details the construction of this, so if you’re interested in erecting one, read on! If you would like to purchase a new grain bin gazebo kit you can do so through our business Creative Backyards.
They’re everywhere. Grain bins that is. At least here in Nebraska. You’re bound to see one on every farmstead. They’re part of the landscape. An integral part of agriculture. And over the decades there they have stood on the Great Plains marking each homestead. They each have a story to tell. Of the bountiful years with their timely rains causing the farmer to work late at night in the light of the Harvest Moon to bring in the copious amounts of grain before the first skiffs of snow feather the landscape. And of the paltry years where the corn was flattened by derechos and the beans were consumed by the locusts for a mid-day snack and the sorghum was stripped by the hail in a mere 60 seconds. There they’ve stood braving the strong thunderstorms and the occasional tornado, providing a safe haven for the trillions of harvested kernels. But alas with time they become weathered and worn and by and by they are replaced with a new shiny bin that is larger to accommodate the growing farmstead. Left alone in the corner of the farm yard they become mere icons of the days gone by and eventually are surrounded with trees or find a new home in the local scrap yard. Except for the few who are fortunate enough to be repurposed!
I’ve dreamed of having a grain bin gazebo for a long time. This fall it finally became a reality! So I decided to document the process and hopefully inspire someone else to save a relic from the past.
The first step of course would be to locate a bin. While there are scores of them around I had some criteria to meet. Most older bins are repainted with an aluminum looking paint. While this extends the life of the bin it causes it to lose it’s original look. I wanted a bin that was original and so that knocked out a lot bins. However when you do find an original bin they can often be totally rusted out. So that narrows the list even more. And then you have to find someone who is willing to part with theirs. Often if they are in good shape they are still in use but with the size of the average farm increasing the smaller bins will be easier to acquire as they become inconvenient to use. Bins come in a variety of sizes and the diameters are generally in increments of 3′. The smallest bins are 12′ and go up in size from there- 15′, 18′, 21′, 24′ and so on. The size of bin you need will vary based on the available space in your yard and the size of crowd you want to accommodate. I had decided to go with an 18′ and this has proved to be a good choice for us. An 18′ bin has a circumference of 56′. We have discovered this will comfortably seat around 15 people around the perimeter of the bin. A 15′ bin will have a circumference of 47′ and a 21′ bin will have a circumference of 66′. Suit yourself.
So after looking for several years for the perfect bin I was able to locate one that met all my criteria and was about 35 miles from us. The best part of it was that it was free! You can expect to pay anywhere from $500-$1,000 for a bin so I was thrilled to be able to get this one at no cost. I noticed the bin earlier this summer on one of my clients farms. After inquiring he told me it was coming down this fall and that if I would agree to have it completely removed by this winter I could have it for the taking!
The bin that I was able to get for the taking.
Now that I knew I could get a bin I started prepping for it in our backyard. We already have one nice structure back there, Violet’s Cabin, and we decided to erect it right beside the cabin. You will need to decide what type of base/floor you will want for you gazebo. Some options are sod, gravel, concrete, or pavers. I went with the concrete option as I wanted a nice level place that would be easy to keep clean. Pavers would have worked too but would’ve been more time consuming and would’ve cost more. So after figuring out the location I drove a stake in the center and then pulled from there in all directions to create a nice circle. I put a stake about every 3-4′ around the perimeter and then used 4″ steel forms to create a nice circle. I made the pad a 19′ circle which gives 6″ extra all the way around. If I would do it over I would make it a tad bigger as the way it’s setting right now the roof drip hits just outside the pad. And of course this could vary with the bin you get depending on how much overhang the roof has. We put a light broom finish on the concrete. Other options would be to use colored concrete and stamp it but this will increase the cost of project.
Formed for concrete with 4” steel forms that were about an 1/8” thick.Freshly poured
After pouring the concrete I then mounted my posts. I chose 5X5 (true 5X5) Eastern Red Cedar as my posts and was able to source them from native trees here in Nebraska. I have seen some designs that use 6X6 posts and that gives a nice look as well however that comes with an increased cost. I do not recommend going with anything smaller than 5X5. A smaller post is probably fine structurally as a bin is not that heavy but it doesn’t provide the aesthetics that a 5X5 or 6X6 would give. Another option would be to use steel posts but I think the cedar gives a nice accent.
Next you will want to determine how many posts you would like to have. As I already mentioned a bin is not that heavy however they are a bit flimsy so you don’t want to have to big of a span between your posts. I decided on 6 posts which gives a span of just over 9′ between each post (on an 18′ bin). This worked but if I would do it over I would probably go with 7 posts which would give a span of 8′. One thing I did that makes placement of the posts easier was to cut the concrete according to the number of posts I was going to use. So since I was going with 6 posts we wanted to have 6 cuts from the center to the perimeter. After the pad was poured we pulled a tape around the perimeter and divided the measurement by six and marked each of the six points. With six points around a circle every third one will match with the point on the opposite side. We then chalked 3 lines across the pad which resulted in all three lines crossing exactly in the center providing a center point. This will work with an even number of posts but if you go with an odd number of posts you will first have to find the center and then chalk lines from there out to the perimeter.
The three cuts provided a center point.
I purchased the cedar posts from Sunshine Cedar Co., a family owned business located here in Nebraska. I wanted to have one ring around the gazebo with about 90″ of headroom under that. Each ring will measure about 34″ so this required 10′ posts. The post were rough cut so after getting them home I sanded them with 60 grit sandpaper. This did a nice job of removing the roughness and splinters but still gave somewhat of an authentic look. I then gave them 2 coats of Cabot Clear Exterior Weather Protector. I was hoping this would retain some of the pink/purple strands in the wood but they did fade after several days of sunlight. However this did give it just a bit of sheen. And of course with cedar you could always leave it alone as it is naturally resistant to rot.
There are several ways to fasten your posts down. If you go with a gravel pad or with pavers you could just get longer posts and put them in the ground. And you could also do this with a concrete pad but then you would have to pour around the posts creating a little more work when finishing the concrete. I chose to go with mounting brackets on top of the pad. I wanted a nice clean look so I went with brackets that use a hidden fastener system. One thing I discovered after having my posts ordered was that it’s hard to locate a bracket that’s designed for true 5X5’s. I finally sourced some from Menards but they had to be special ordered and they didn’t have any photo’s of them so I took a shot in the dark and ordered them. They turned out to be a bit flimsier than I anticipated which resulted in some movement within the bracket. Going with an exposed fastener bracket with the feet out on all sides of the posts would’ve provided a stronger mount but then you have to contend with bolt heads sticking up that someone might trip over. That being said I would probably consider this type of bracket if I were to do it again as I feel it would give a stronger mounting point.
The brackets I used.
Determining where to mount the posts was very easy. Enter the cut concrete. I put a pin in the center of the pad where the cuts crossed and then pulled from there on each cut. You will need to measure the interior of your bin to determine where to mount the posts. The bin I was getting was exactly 18′ on the interior. I wanted to make sure it would slide easily down over the post so I positioned my posts a 1/2″ under. This proved to be a perfect match for the bin.
Fastening the posts fully to the brackets allowed them to stand on their own but I wanted to tie them all together. So I put a center mark on the inside of each post down at the floor. I then measured from center to center between each posts and cut a 2X4 that length to mount on the top of the post. The 2X4’s needed to be cut on an angle. To determine the angle I simply divided the circle (360 degrees) by six which results in 60 degrees. Subtract that from 90 degrees and you come up with 30 degrees which is what I cut on the 2X4’s. (The measurement at the bottom inside of the posts that you use will be the short of the 30 degree angle that you put on each end of the 2X4.) I also put a 2X4 across the pad at the top tying each post together that sit opposite of each other. I cut these a 1/2″ under 18′ to match the bottom. I had put all the perimeter 2X4’s up first and then the cross pieces. Since the post were rough cut they weren’t all exactly 5X5 so a few of the angle cuts had to be revisited and shortened. Next time I would probably put up the 3 cross pieces since they are what determine the circumference of your bin and then put in the perimeter 2X4’s. After I had all the posts tied together I leveled the entire structure and put in some braces to hold it in place until the bin was mounted.
All braced and ready for the bin.
The next step was to formulate a removal plan for the bin. There are 2 ways to move a bin. You can completely disassemble it which requires a set of bin jacks. The bin jacks allow you to lift up the entire bin and to remove each panel starting from the bottom and working your way up to the roof. The entire bin can be lowered after each round is removed so you’ll always be working down on the ground. Another method is to use a crane or telehandler and lift up the bin and move it in one piece. This is the method I chose to use. Depending where you live an 18′ bin may not be feasible to move down the road. Around here the roads are fairly wide and traffic is minimal. The bin was located 35 miles from our place and we were able to travel all back roads except for about 2 miles where we had to use the highway. I think we met a total of 3 vehicles in the 35 miles so it was a pretty low stress move.
I was able to solicit some help from Bender Farms (Merlyn and Tyler) who are church friends to help with moving the bin. They had moved various bins in the past so their help was invaluable. They had a lowboy trailer that was 9′ wide that we decided to use to haul the bin. While I only wanted one ring on the bin for the finished product we decided to retain 2 rings on the bin for moving to help keep it more stable. I was able to locate a crane service that was based 5 miles from the bin site to lift the bin and set it on the trailer. To prepare for the lift we had to remove the door of the bin and then removed a majority of the bolts between the 2nd and 3rd ring. We then took a tire mounted on a rim that was similar in size to the roof hole at the top. We put a strap through the center of the rim and wrapped it around a 2″ pipe that ran parallel with the tire. The crane lowered his cable through the roof hole and we attached it to the strap going through the tire. He then lifted the tire up to the hole and put just a bit of pressure on it and held it there. We quickly removed the remaining bolts between the 2nd and 3rd rings. The upper section of the bin that we wanted was now loose and was swung over onto the trailer. We then chained the bin at the 4 points where the perimeter of the bin met the edge of the trailer and we were ready to roll! As was required in the deal we had to dismantle the remaining 2 rings and the drying floor before leaving. With 4 fellows the entire tear down and removal took a little over 2 hours. The remaining rings and drying floor I loaded up later and hauled home, using more of the rings for the finished product and selling the drying floor on BigIron. The remaining miscellaneous pieces will be hauled off for scrap.
The crane putting some tension on the lift so we could finish removing the bolts.The bin top loose and ready to load.Loading onto the lowboy.
Moving the bin home 35 miles was pretty much uneventful. The trailer was pulled by Bender’s Challenger tractor that could do 33 MPH and we ran an escort in front (escort was provided by a Bender Farms employee, Seth Steria.) The trip home took a little over an hour.
Ready to roll!
Headed out!Most Nebraska county roads are wide which made the trek very easy.
Upon arriving here at home I had a telehandler onsite to lift off the bin. For this phase of the project I had the help again of Fred Halteman and his employee Chris Charlton. We used the same tire/rim setup to help lift off the bin. We then removed the 2nd ring and set it up on the posts. The bin slid fairly easily over the posts. We then got it leveled and used three 1/2″ bolts spaced symmetrically on each post.
Setting the bin in place with a telehandler.
My original plan was to only use the top ring and leave the bottom entirely open. However after removing the external bracing the structure was a bit shaky. I decided then to run panels down to the ground on 2 sections of posts (around 18′). This firmed things up quite a bit however on the opposite side it is still a bit shaky so I may put in some more permanent bracing. I think if I would have used a stronger post bracket would’ve helped this problem.
While the gazebo turned out a bit differently than planned (somewhat closed in instead of entirely open) I actually like the finished product better than my original plan. So, scout out your neighborhood, find a grain bin, and erect it in your back yard!
It may be something to do with the way my brain is wired, but I have always hated flies for as long as I can remember. Their annoying, buzzing sound irritates me to substantial degrees. When there’s a few that manage to get in my house, I hound them until they’re dead or gone. If they’re buzzing like mad by a window, I’ll crank open the window real fast like, just to get them out of my hair. I use my swatter, but am also able to kill flies with my bare hand when needed. Or crunch them dead against a window.
Saturday night two grand daddies managed to land in my house at bedtime. They follow the light. As we entered the bedroom to retire, there they were, buzzing like wild. It seemed they were saying, “haha, you were gonna go to bed but we’re here to make more work for you. We know you won’t rest as long as we’re here!” While my man lay blissfully in bed, unruffled by the bothersome creatures, I marched right out for my trusty fly swatter and war began. I normally notify them of their coming death as they swirl around me. “Say your last words; your gonna die!” If you can’t get them to sit long enough to swat, just swat to derail them out of the air; you can finish them off on the floor when they’re still stumbling in a stooper. There’s a satisfactory crunch at the end. And peace reigns!
Many years ago when I was just a young girl I wrote this poem in Pennsylvania Dutch. It rhymes superbly well in Dutch and I’m very sorry for those of you who can’t read it. While I am fluent in speaking Pennsylvania Dutch, I never learned to write it, so the following words are written as they would sound. I will then translate it to English the best I can but the humor will be missing because it simply doesn’t flow and rhyme! Raise your hand if you despise flies with me!!
Mookuh
Aw, ih hos anihi mookuh room Si sin all soo shrecklih doom! Si fleu doo un fleu dot. Ih hof si fleu atsvoo fot Uddu bassu noh- si vaddu doot Un kendu net fleu do oos broot! Van si sih mul anlih anu hawcku Noo shwat ih dih doomih mookuh! Si acttu van si minuh si sin shmat Novuh su mih sin si gwah nix vat! Alzumul is shee shtil in maa shtoop, Noo al ooh un mul haddih un mook! Ih shtee mul ooh un shwat sting hot Bin soo frohu us ahs nihmih dot! Aw, ih hos annihi sot mookuh Ih hos even vee si gooku! Si rilli sin un drooval su mih Sin sih net aw un drooval su dih?
– Violet Rhodes
Translation:
Aw, ih hos anihi mookuh room Oh, I hate any flies around Si sin all soo shrecklih doom! They are all so terrible dumb! Si fleu doo un fleu dot. They fly here and they fly there. Ih hof si fleu atsvoo fot I hope they fly somewhere away Uddu bassu noh- si vaddu doot Or better yet- they would be dead Un kendu net fleu do oos broot. And couldn’t fly here on the bread Van si sih mul anlih anu hawcku When they finally sit themselves down Noo shwat ih dih doomih mookuh! Then I swat those dumb flies! Si acttu van si minuh si sin shmat They act like they think they’re smart Novuh su mih sin si gwah nix vat! But to me they are not worth a thing! Alzumul is shee shtil in maa shtoop, Sometimes it’s nice and quiet in my room, Noo al ooh un mul haddih un mook! Then all of a sudden I hear a fly! Ih shtee mul ooh un shwat sting hot I stand right up and swat that thing hard Bin soo frohu us ahs nihmih dot! I’m so glad he’s not there anymore! Aw, ih hos annihi sot mookuh Oh, I hate any kind of flies Ih hos even vee si gooku. I hate even how they look. Si rilli sin un drooval su mih They really are a trouble to me
Sin sih net aw un drooval su dih? Are they not also a trouble to you?
I get a great deal of satisfaction in restoring order from chaos. My laundry room is a small narrow room with one gigantic shelf across the whole wall. It’s great having plenty of space for shelving items. But the disorganized mess appears like magic. Just shove it on the shelf, for now. I’ll deal with it later. And just like that, there’s half empty bottles, dust and clutter reigning!
Some weeks ago I was inspired to tackle this room. No, I wasn’t moving around the appliances for a scenery change or anything like that. I changed up the bit of decor in there but mostly, I decluttered the shelf and organized things into tidy, see through organizing boxes. I debated about the see through part, because that can still host a cluttered look. But these are the boxes I found and it was exactly the type I was looking for, so I went with them, despite the see through factor. I thought the gray plastic helped a little, plus, I figured it might just be a good thing to easily see what’s where. I then also opted not to label, despite being a big fan of labeling!
A disclaimer here: Please, don’t think that I have my whole house in meticulous order just because I love and talk about organizing. Much as I enjoy organizing, it has had to slide down the ladder of importance since I became a Mom. Many are the times I glare and despair at the muddle found in various spots of my house! It seems by the time I get one spot organized, there’s 3 or more that beg my attention!
The cluttered shelf that haunted meI found these baskets at TargetThe laundry decor before….…And after. I like the fresh look. A friend gave me the chicken wire basket for my birthday and the motto was one I had and thot it was a perfect reminder for laundry room moods.
So first off, I removed things from the shelf and wiped it down. Then I sorted through the baskets I had on the shelf, wiped the items, and found new spots for them in my new baskets. The lids are vital! We get an abundance of dust in our house… I’ve finally concluded its simply Nebraska, because I’m not the only lady who notices considerable dust levels in this area. Maybe it’s the gravel roads and massive fields?! Whatever it is, I decided these new baskets must have lids to keep things clean! One swipe of a rag gets the lid clean and no worries on the inside items.
Looking much better! The white bucket with an S hook, holds my clothes pins. Hanging out wash is one aspect of laundry I enjoy.
As with any organizing procedure, I’m always amazed at the amount of trash I find. What a clean feeling to rid all that! I also found items to place in my yard sale boxes. It feels like you can take a deep breath and go “aahhh” after you’ve cleaned and purged! It was so rewarding staring at my shelf afterwards!
I don’t really enjoy doing laundry. It’s more like just another job to get over with for another day. But having a neat looking room helps. I would also encourage anyone to keep a laundry day schedule. I find it so luxurious to not worry one bit about laundry on my non-washing laundry days!! I love tackling other bigger projects on those days, when I’m not hampered by bins of soiled garments. I wash clothes Monday and Thursday and then again on Friday. The reason I wash on Thursday is because it helps to not have so much on my cleaning day on Friday. It really does help the overall work load. Also by washing again on Friday it keeps from a mountainous pile up for Monday. But if you have a large household you likely find it best to wash everyday and that’s fine too if you prefer that. Just find a schedule and stick to it.
Laundry room in reality. And in case your curious, we use a Waterwise distiller for drinking water. This room is also home to it, and therefore the jugs and pitchers for water .
The black wire basket is easy to grab. I got it to host my laundry soap, baking soda, spot spray, brush etc. On laundry days I have one basket to get down and I have it all at my level, easy to use. The rest of the baskets hold things that I don’t use much on a regular basis.
I like adding baking soda to loads that are extra dirty or smelly. I think it adds extra punch, besides helping stretch my laundry soap. I use a powdered all natural soap. I do not use fabric softener but will often add white vinegar to my load.
I would encourage anyone to switch to nontoxic products! I have been away from chemicals for about ten years now and absolutely cannot handle ‘normal’ laundry soaps, body and cleaning products! These are very toxic products and many laundry soaps have filler in them yet too. More money for them and more junk for you! You need to be pretty picky if you want a truly non toxic product. Many are the companies that claim their products are healthy but I’ve found you must research or read ingredient lists to be sure. Too often they’re not 100% pure, which greatly annoys me!
The place I get my laundry soap does not ship otherwise I would share their info. Charlie’s Soap is a powdered, good clean brand that’s available in some grocery stores or Amazon. I have used it with good results. Another one I would very highly recommend is the Branch Basics Company. You get one bottle of liquid concentrate and then dilute it to different levels for laundry, cleaning or hand soap! I love it especially for cleaning! They also have a powder called Oxygen Boost that is great for adding in to loads of laundry as well as for cleaning use. This company is set up for self serve online ordering.
I beg your pardon for running off on a bunny trail…. I was only chasing those dust bunnies! This was about organizing and I got sidetracked about non toxic products! Can you forgive me? It simply came out because it’s one of those things I’m passionate about. Thank you for still reading!!😍 I hope you were inspired to tackle one of “those” spots we all have somewhere!
If your an avid sweet tea drinker like my man is, you really ought to try it with peaches! Maybe you love Lipton’s brand of peach tea, but with the second ingredient being high fructose corn syrup, it’s just not legal in my book. So read on if you want a better alternative.
After seeing a recipe for peach tea and trying it out, I recreated it to suit our tastes. We absolutely love this tea! Fresh peaches aren’t always available but that’s the key to this tea!! Don’t despair at the number of steps…..it’ll be worth the effort!
🍑 Sweet Peach Tea 🍑
6 peaches, 4 cups water, 2 family size Lipton tea bags, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 1/2 to 2 cups sugar, or stevia to taste. Note- I use 1 1/2 cups raw sugar and 1 teaspoon stevia glycerite. Jerald doesn’t really care for only stevia sweetened tea but I hate adding a ton of sugar, but yet it really needs to be nice and sweet! So topping it off with stevia helps out and you’d never know the difference!
*Halve and slice two unpeeled peaches, laying on parchment paper lined pan. Freeze overnight or at least four hours.
*Bring water to a boil, add tea bags and steep for 12 minutes. Remove tea bags and add sugar. Peel and dice four peaches and add to the brew. Let it set for 1 to 3 hours.
*Using a slotted spoon, dip out the peach chunks and place in blender along with the lemon juice. Blend and add back into the tea brew. Stir well.
*Pour brew mix into a gallon pitcher and add enough cold water to make about a gallon. Add in about half of the frozen peach slices, but save enough for each glass of tea when serving. Chill the tea for several hours. I do not like to add a lot of ice because it dilutes the peach flavor. Also, the peach flavor becomes stronger the longer the tea sits. So if you really want a strong flavor, make it a day before you actually want to serve it!
* Just before serving, strain tea through a sieve and pour back into the pitcher. When ready to serve, place several frozen peach slices in each glass and fill with tea. Garnish the cups with a slice as well. Enjoy a glass of real peach tea without those junky ingredients! Note- if you don’t mind the peach cooties, you can totally drink it unstrained. It just looks prettier if it’s strained.
I’m decidedly partial to this gorgeous cutting board Jerald gifted me last year
This tea always looks stunning served in pretty glasses with the peach slices! It’s delicious anytime but we love it with a grilled summer supper.
Do you enjoy grocery shopping? It’s not my favorite thing, but as Moms we get used to it whether we like it or not. Maybe your one of those people who orders your groceries online and just drives to pick them up. If that’s you, read no further. This is for those of us who still would rather do our own in person shopping. Here’s a number of things that help make the shopping experience more enjoyable.
1. Shop as early in the day as possible.
There’s less shoppers. The store is better stocked. You have more energy. And in the Summer, it’s not as hot to be in town. Maybe I’m a bit odd but I detest shopping in the hottest part of the day! It takes an hour in the store; you get out to load the groceries and the car is just beatin’ hot, my energy levels are nearly depleted, the children are cranky and I’m fast getting there myself. I find it much more manageable to go in the morning because not only are you shopping for a whole cart of groceries, there’s the loading up, the unloading and the putting away once you get home. If I’m tired before I start out I will certainly be out of steam before the groceries are put away! It takes time, but I also like to wash and prep some of my produce items right away, before refrigerating them. Then their ready for eating/making salad at a moment’s grab.
Neither do I recommend shopping on Friday or Saturday. Those are the busiest days for most people to do their shopping, and I prefer not being one of them. It simply adds to the stress of shopping when the aisles are clogged with humans and their carts! There are times I need to pick up a few things on those days but if at all possible I do my main shopping on another day of the week.
2. Organize your list according to the store’s layout.
You know your most frequented grocery store quite well. Ahead of time, set up your list as to what aisles/section you’ll be in first as you walk into the store. This saves definite steps, but I still find myself retracing now and then, which always distresses me considerably. I shop most often at Walmart or Aldi. For Walmart, this is how my list runs. I enter the produce section first; therefore all my fruits and vegetables are written on the top left hand part of my sheet of paper. Items like Mayo, salad dressings and vinegar are written a bit further down the list, the baking items further down, and dairy items at the bottom because they’re at the back of the store. Frozen items are at the top right hand corner. I get those last, but don’t want them forgotten way down at the bottom of the list.
Fill in anything as best you can, as you think of your store’s layout. You may need to reorganize your grocery list just before you go shopping, rather than taking the list that has everything jotted down in order of remembering it. Is this making sense or confusing you more? By the way, forget long, thin note pads for grocery lists. Unless, perhaps, your shopping for a one person household! I have a big, spiral tablet that flips open at the top. It gives me ample space, plus, I have something hard to write on as I shop. It’s of utmost importance to cross off each item as I place it in my cart. If I only have a sheet of paper, I’m like trying to hold my paper on the cart handle, scribbling out my purchases…..It just doesn’t work well!
Example of how my list is laid out
3. Write non-household items at a different spot on your list.
I like being able to see at a glance what I need that may be in the Health and Beauty section or clothing etc. Then I can target those items first or last, whichever works out most conveniently. It also helps eliminate the wasted steps of being in the furthest section of the store from where the next item on your list is located.
4. Take coolers along to keep your perishable itemscold.
If you live ten minutes from your favorite store, this would be nonsense. That’s not the case for me. Besides keeping things chill, I also like how coolers help keep things organized! When you get home, you already know where all those refrigerator items are, and you can get those purchases put away immediately. I really really like to have coolers along for when I shop at Aldi! I still use my own bags there but sometimes I’ll just go straight out to the vehicle and bag/load everything right there. Cold items stack better if there not already bagged. And you can easily see what’s what when your ready to transfer everything to your refrigerator. Using coolers also offers stability to the congregation of back sliding groceries. Explanation- I despise having groceries sliding hither and yon in the back of our Yukon as I brake and make turns driving around town! Thinkrolling watermelon. With these heavy coolers, you can place them in front of the other bags and make a wall so you don’t have that “backsliding” going on.
5. Don’t rush through the store, even though you may be in a hurry.
Several reasons here. If I’m threatening the speed limit of indoor shopping, I’m shopping too fast! Sometimes I need to force myself to just slow down! Quite likely I’ll roar right past an item I needed, or then miss something I would have noticed if I was taking a bit more time. Also, people will be much more likely to stop us to ask a question about our dress or faith if they sense an unhurried spirit in us. It also helps me to remember to reach out to others where I can, if I’m not zooming around.
6. Be courteous and wear a smile.
To be honest, there’s times I’m shopping and feel grouchy. I force myself to still smile and act pleasant. Sometimes I feel a little better by the time I’m finished, because I acted cheerful, even though I didn’t feel like it. We are Christ’s witnesses and we ought to portray His Spirit to the world around us. Also, there’s plenty of rude people already and if we are followers of Christ, we ought to act like it. Using “excuse me,” “pardon me,” or “Thank you,” freely. It does take patience when there’s an elderly person on their scooter, stopped exactly where we need that canister of oatmeal. Instead of stewing, we can offer to reach something for them if they need help. And hello, someday we may be the old lady on the scooter. It also takes patience when the check out lines are full. But it’s considerate to let someone else with only a few items go ahead of you, when you have a bulging cart. I like to do that frequently because I simply enjoy making someone else’s day just a wee bit better. And sometimes, the same favor is returned to me when I’m the one with five items! I always appreciate that too. Not saying you have to keep doing that all day or you’d never get home! But remember to practice the Golden Rule.
of windowsills and breezy hills 