Things are rather busy around here and as much as I REALLY REALLY (you have to believe me when I say REALLY) hate to ‘whine’, I feel sometimes, we, as human’s, since we’re really NOT superhumans, need to share for others to understand our situations and… our limitations.

Right now is a VERY busy time. As I’ve shared, my husband is away. He’s working on the oil fields/sands and I’m home with our five children and our hometead.

As I’ve also shared, both our eldest kids have 2-3 jobs EACH, and neither of them have their drivers lisence, YET. Hopefully that WILL be rectified by the end of NEXT month.

However, until then, I honestly feel like a taxi and it’s starting to make my head spin. Not to mention my stomach. It dost protest too much… it’s not being very kind lately.

Trying to run this business as efficiently as I have become accustomed to, and as my customers have become accustomed to, is becoming increasingly difficult.

Sooo….

I’m asking for patience, and understanding.

Please.

This crazy-busy time won’t last for forever.

But, it never fails that the busier life gets, the busier that life continues to get. It feels as though suddenly my inbox has become increasingly fuller by the hour, and yet I do not have the time to spend on emails as I normally do. I TRY! I WANT TO!

Honestly!

But, I just have to admit that I can not be in two places at once, and right now, I’m having to be in THREE places at once. Normally it’s been my computer desk, and my machines. Now it’s my computer desk, my machines AND the car.

Not to mention my poor other three younger children, including one who reminds me daily with her own ‘ways’ & ‘issues’, that she needs more of me then she’s getting right now… (one more scream today and my head may have exploded, she doesn’t MEAN to be so loud here at home but sometimes, she can’t really help it… it’s at these times I remind myself I’m only living with someone with aspergers, she has to PERSONALLY live with it).

Maybe we should just take up car schooling.

I was SO relieved when I saw it’s spring break in the public school. When we drove by the school on Monday morning on our way to drop my son off at the barn he works at, after dropping my daughter off at the store she works at just one hour earlier… I saw there was NO cars in the parking lot and NO children playing in the playground! I had to investigate and yes, low and behold, TWO weeks of spring break had begun!

I immediately declared spring break for our homeschool.

Ok, deep breath. We can forget about the books for FOURTEEN days. QUILT free!

Anywho…

All that to say.

Please, be patient with me. It’s actually kind of tough trying to run a busy business, care for 5 kids, try to fit school in, spend some meaningful time with the kids, run a household and a homestead, all with my husband away. I’ve also had to go back to doing the majority of the biz work on my own. All the cutting, the listings, even the shipping. I do have some help, with the packaging and snaps, but everything else– it’s a one woman show once again. I wouldn’t trade it for anything though, but right now, I wouldn’t mind an extra set of hands or a personal driver for the kids, a maid, a cook? or… something? ha ha! But since that’s not happening, I’ll continue to just carry on! Hi ho Silver!

So… if I don’t get back to you within the usual 1-4 hours that I often do… you’ll understand why. 🙂

It may take 48 hours now, or… sometimes maybe even a little bit longer.

But, I will get back to you. I always do! And if I don’t, somehow your email got sent to my spam folder or lost in cyberspace because I ignore NO one! And even if it was in my spam, I check it at least every couple of days, so I’d still find it! So just shoot me another email if you haven’t heard back from me in 4 or 5 days because I’ll rarely ever take that long.

And if you’re waiting to hear about your order, trust me, it’s coming! We’re almost NEVER late, and IF we are, not more then a couple of days.

And even then, I’m usually in touch with you before that happens. 🙂

I do like to communicate! Right now, I just don’t have quite as much time to do so!

But I do appreciate you all, every one of you! Our whole family does! And we appreciate your kind words, the emails many of you have sent regarding prayers being said for our family with dear hubby away! You’re wonderful! YOU help us through!

And for that, I thank you. 🙂

Once upon a time, we had a rooster. Then one day he was killed. We have no idea what happened, we just found him dead one day. I suspected something had gotten after him though because all the hens were hiding in the hen house but there was no proof of an attack anywhere. I’m quite sure he was probably killed by a mink or something similar, while trying to protect his girls. He was a gorgeous rooster, very tame too.

Then, within a few days, all but one of our hens was found dead and we knew it must of been a mink who killed them. They are such nasty creatures that they leave tell tale evidence of who it was that came and killed the hens. I won’t go into details but I’d sure love to get my hands on that critter.

By the next morning, our last hen had died. I was worried about her and figured she wouldn’t make it all alone.

Amazingly, we’d had most of these hens since spring of 2006! My three youngest girls look SO young in this pic!

We had collected our very first dozen eggs July 21st, 2006 and here it is!

Our homestead seemed so ‘empty’ without chickens. I truly mourned the loss of them. Not the loss of the chickens individually as we’ve lost one, two or even three here and there over the first 3.5 years to a mink, or hawk, or some other cause of death. For me the hen’s aren’t really ‘pets’ (although they are to the kids!), but I do truly enjoy them. Knowing that they were ALL gone, seeing the empty hen house and having NO clue when we’d ever be able to have chickens again, just seemed so sad.

We didn’t buy anymore while our home was still on the market. They don’t start laying right away so it just made no sense at that time. Yet, two years in a row we’ve put off getting pigs for this same reason, and now I wish we hadn’t. It was always such a tug of war between my heart and head! I’m so glad we have chickens again now, and I’m glad we added ducks to the mix too!

On my birthday the other week, I decided to spend the day keeping my camera close at hand so I’d remember what my 40th birthday consisted of.

It wasn’t an ‘out of the ordinary’ day. Dear hubby was away at work still, but soon coming home, in just two days, after 6 weeks away.

Both Alesia and Joshua had to work that day, so that meant lots of running around etc.. Really, a typical, normal, average day here on our little homestead.

But every day really is special, and I wanted to capture that.

When I looked on our deck that morning, this is what I found.

Footprints in the snow.

Not just any footprints however, BARE foot prints. Typical around here. It makes me smile and I’m reminded of why I love my kids so.

Time to fill up the bird feeder.

Also time to throw some wood on the fire.

Oh look, by golly, we do own shoes…

there they are by the fire, minus the bare feet that walked through the snow on our deck.

We own lots of shoes.

And mud. We also own lots and LOTS and LOTS of mud.

Shaylah brought her little wagon into the house.

To this day, I still don’t understand why it was sitting in my kitchen.

Bare feet are walked in snow, and wagons are brought in from the cold.

And coats are worn, in the house, while lounging in chairs, reading.

And dogs lounge on couches beside not-so-little-anymore girls.

Just another ordinary day around the home.

Where the barn cat resides on my upper balcony,

and 2 pound puppy dogs are dressed up in doll clothing.

Birthday cards created, and given.

Toys played with all over the floor.

Mother’s birthday thought of, and flowers purchased while at work by my eldest daughter.

Photos taken to last forever.

And yet another specially ordinary day is over.

This girl of mine,

used to hate it when I pulled out the camera,

but lately, not so much.

She’s always been ‘ok’ about it.

And willing to put up with my never ending ‘click click click’ of the camera.

And I’ve gotten some great shots.

But I don’t need to bribe her with great big suckers anymore.

I was pondering something this morning.

If a caterpillar changes into a butterfly, yet no one notices, is the beauty of this change truly magnificent?

If a loved one works hard to become the best they can be, and no one notices, does the change make a difference?

Do people really change, or do our eyes simply open to their true colors? Colors that were always there, yet simply hidden before?

Deep thoughts for so early in the morning, after less then 6 hours of sleep.

But these types of thoughts run through my head often. Call me weird, odd, abnormal, or normal. It doesn’t matter either way. I am who I am. Now, yesterday, and still tomorrow.

However…

Not everyone has always seen me, for me.

I have not always seen others, as they truly are, for I was too busy seeing what I wanted to see, or what I assumed to see.

Do you do this too?

About 6 years ago a woman friend said to me, “You are SO lucky to have such a wonderful husband so you can have such a great marriage!”

Have you done this? Have you thought this about another couple, wishing you had what they had? Thinking if only you had a spouse like that, your marriage would be so much better? If only ‘this’, or if only ‘that’, if only… if only…

Are you missing out on another’s true colors because you’re busy looking at “assumed” colors? Peering through rosy colored glasses as you look into other’s lives, yet not at your own?

Don’t do it.

That woman friend is no longer married.

My husband and I have been married 20 years. They have not been easy years. I won’t go into details, because the details don’t matter. You don’t need to know them.

All you need to know is that we hung in there. Through everything.

And it’s worth while. Life always is.

I told my eldest daughter this morning that if all couples hung in there just 20 years, they may find out that it was all very worth while.

But during those 20 years, you need to do just one thing.

Search for one another’s true colors.

If you do that…

You might just find them.

If you don’t search for them,

The true colors may be there anyways…

but you missed them…

While dear hubby was home for six days, there was LOTS to do. There were things within the home that needing doing, things for kids that needed to be taken care of, business to attend to, all sorts of different things.

This is a different lifestyle for us. Ordinarily, he’s home when things need attending to. Of course there’s many things the kids and I simply take care of ourselves with him away, but then there’s other things that need both of us in attendance, or we simply want to do together. So while he was home, it was a JAM PACKED week!

Thursday night:
He arrived back home to the Island and I swept him away to the hotel where we enjoyed a quiet night, just the two of us.

Friday:
First order of the day was for him to get a hair cut, MUCH to my dismay! Ha! I practically begged him to leave it, said I could finally run my fingers through his hair and loved that… but… he’s got too much ‘military’ man in him and wouldn’t listen to me. I threatened all sorts of things, to no avail, and by the afternoon it was back to being super short again. Darn.

We then went on to an appointment I had made at the bank to take care of some business there. We stopped at the grocery store where our eldest daughter, Alesia, works to surprise her and say hello. On the way home we picked up some pizza for the family and enjoyed dinner together, minus Alesia. There are not too many days a week when EVERYONE is home for dinner anymore.

After dinner, dear hubby headed out for the evening. He’s rcmp auxiliary, and though he won’t be able to get out to volunteer near as often as he did before, he’s going to try and still get out each time he’s home.

While he was out, I did some catching up on work. One day off can put me behind, and I didn’t want to get too far behind while he was home!

Saturday:
On Saturday we had plans to take Alesia (and the three youngest girls too) to the local car auction while Joshua (son) was at work, to check things out. We went without any firm plans on whether she would buy something, or if we’d continue looking privately. All we knew was that Alesia needed a car, she had saved up some money, and we were really hoping she could get WHILE hubby was home. However, the idea of never ending trips to strangers driveways during his very short stay at home wasn’t exactly thrilling either and as we watched one car after another roll into the auction tent, and either not be what she was looking for, or have the price go waayyy out of her budget, I sat there wondering why this all had to be so darn difficult!

Just then, ‘it’ rolled in.

As you may recognize from the background that is indeed our driveway this little beauty is parked in. Hee hee.
Alesia got her first car. Yay!

By the time we were finished working out details on when we would pick it up, and taking Alesia to the bank, etc. it was time to go home and cook dinner and pick up Joshua from work, at the stables.

Amazingly, EVERYONE was home for dinner that night! What a treat! We had to put the leaf back in the dinning table!

Sunday:
We all got up in time to get ready and head to church. Afterwards we dropped Alesia off at work and then met friends for lunch. We stayed there, drinking coffee, catching up and chatting for THREE hours. It was such a nice leisurely visit.

Afterwards, we went home and watched nascar on tv. Part of the time on our bed with kids snuggling. That’s what home is for. Snuggles and time spent together. It was a nice, slow paced, kind of day. Perfect.

Monday:
Dear hubby was sweet enough to let me sleep in. Monday’s are my ‘favorite’ (read that VERY sarcastically, haha) day of the week. Alesia’s shift begins at 7am, so that means I have to get her there BEFORE 7am. This reformed (some what) night owl doesn’t ‘love’ early mornings yet. Plus, Monday’s mean taking her to work for 7am, coming home and then taking Joshua to work for 8am. It works out ‘ok’ because I usually have my coffee and my quiet morning reading time during that hour in between. However, it was very nice to sleep in, and much appreciated!

Graydon spent the morning running errands and I did some more catching up on work. We had to take care of some more business in town that afternoon. In the evening, him and I went out to dinner with friends to celebrate two birthdays, mine and hers. We had another long and leisurely visit and enjoyed the evening.

Tuesday:
Graydon wanted to take the children on a field trip, the younger three. Since we hadn’t done any schooling while he was home, we figured this would be a good way to combine learning with family time.

We took them to a local museum where we all learned about the mining industry that created our nearest city years ago.

It was good time spent together.

That evening Graydon and I spent some time visiting with a very sick friend and his wife. Then we picked Alesia up from work and called it a day.

Thursday:
Graydon’s final day at home before heading off yet again. Both Joshua and Alesia had to work, so he said his goodbyes at that time. He did some last minute things around the house, changing out lightbulbs that had died, filling up the wood box, filling my car up with wiper fluid, oil, and all that kind of manly stuff.
In the afternoon we stopped by to visit our sick friend breifly and then it was time for him to finish packing and head to the airport.

I fully intended on snapping some photos while there, and even brought my camera, but that was probably stupid on my part.

I wonder if saying goodbye ever gets any easier?

I’ve always loved blogs, and blogging. However, I don’t feel I’m a very ‘good’ blogger so I decided to get some help!

I’m reading a book right now called:

31 Days to Building a Better Blog by Darren Rowse and participating in a 31 days blog challenge put on by Lisbeth Tanz & Michelle Shaeffer.

In the first ‘lesson’, we learn how to write an elevator pitch. I actually found this to be quite difficult for a couple of reasons.

First off, it had to be short. Hee hee. I’m not always so great at keeping things short. I’m the type of person who likes to explain things. However, I do know this isn’t always the best thing for me, or for my business, so I was totally willing to give this ‘short’ thing a good try!

Secondly, it had to be to the point.

How does one summarize the life of 7 people, a business, a homestead, and everything else it all entails, briefly?

And especially, how does a wordy person, who likes to explain things, summarize all this, briefly?! At first, I thought it would prove to be impossible but as much as I like to be wordy, I also enjoy being challenged!

So here it is. Two elevator pitches. A one liner, and a slightly longer version.

Short pitch, will also serve as my tagline:

Our small homestead, the emporium, our life as a family of 7 & my ramblings about it all.
Longer pitch, will also be used on our “about page”:

Our family, and our business, reside on a small hobby farm on the west coast of Canada. Here we raise our children, raise animals, and we raise the bar on organic cloth products for you, your family and your home.
Homestead Mama does the majority of the writing & photography, but you’ll also find snippets from our five children who range from 11 to 19 years of age. Homestead Dad shares from time to time as he travels away from home in search of work.
To quote William Cowper, a well known poet from the 1700’s, “Variety’s the very spice of life…”
Variety is what you’ll find on our blog. Homesteading, homeschooling, home business & home sewing. Raising children, raising animals, growing vegetables & growing our faith. Living life with Homestead Dad away and learning how to cope with it all.It’s all here, and it’s all real. One day at a time.

So there you have my first lesson!

Tell me what you think. Tell me if you feel I added too much, or not enough.

Does that pitch tell you just what you’d want to know when landing on the blog?

Does it leave you wanting to read more? I’d love to hear your comments. Feel free to leave a link to your own pitch, or about page!

Isn’t that the way life goes. It simply goes, it goes on, it goes fast, it goes by when you think you’re looking but realized you just blinked and almost missed it!

That’s life here at the Homestead right now.

There’s so much to share, but so little time, so I’m going to share what I can now and save the rest for later.

Dear hubby came home on Thursday, Feb. 24th for six glorious days! Certainly not long enough, but I wasn’t going to complain after not seeing him at all for 39 days and 23 hours!

We had decided that since it had been SO long, and since we had never been apart for any great length of time before, we’d splurge and stay at a hotel the night I picked him up from the airport. Even though we knew the children would want to see Daddy as much as Mommy wanted to see him, we felt it was important to have some one on one time. We also know how important it is for our children to see that Mom and Dad WANT to be with one another. That we missed each other, and desired to have that time together, just the two of us. We may be parents, but we’re also a couple. They may be our children, but they will also be one half of a couple one day, for many more days then they will be young children at home. We want them to grow up realizing how important that is.

So we spent one wonderfully quiet night, just the two of us, locked up in a hotel room. Catching up on all the time we lost while he was away. Feeling like newlyweds on our honeymoon.

I got to the hotel room a couple of hours before I had to pick Graydon up at the airport. This gave me a bit of quiet time to relax, enjoy the quiet of the room and even have a bubble bath. Hee hee. Life is all about enjoying those short small moments while you have them!

The room was quite nice. Nothing overly fancy, but fairly spacious. I only had my little point and shoot camera with me but I snapped a few photos anways.

As much as I hate taking crappy photos, I hate missing memories even more, so I’m learning to just be happy with the crappy point and shoot photos, and be glad I still have the memory, even if it’s not preserved for all time the way my Nikon D300 may preserve them!

I got myself all dressed up and ready to go to greet dear hubby. Snapped a quick photo on my way out the door.

These point and shoots don’t do any justice when the lighting isn’t quite right. I sorely wished I had brought along my other camera when I saw my only photo, a blurry photo, of dear hubby finally home.

But, it is a memory none-the-less, and I do have it, so again, I need to be happy about that rather then the lack of a clear and perfect photo. Such a hard lesson to learn!

It was so wonderful to see Graydon again after such a long time. To have him home, with me, then with all of us, where he belongs. Time apart certainly does make the heart grow fonder, but as William Cowper says, “Absence from whom we love is worse than death, and frustrates hope severer than despair”