Gardening Update

Spring is fast winding up and summer is coming quickly. The garden is coming around! Looking good and growing!

The peas now have a fence for support and our growing up it. Most are about 12-18" high.

This tire was rescued off the neighbors dump pile. It is for a tractor. We placed it in the now sunny, side yard and have trimmed off the inside rim, filled it with dirt and have planted pole beans. If it works out, we will show you more pictures as it grows.

The weather has been so wet that we decided to plant the first opportunity we had. We had actually hit the average amount of rain for the month by May 5th. We had many big storms after that, so we have just about completed the wettest spring on record. After 1.5 days of sunshine and much rain in the forecast, we decided to get things in the ground. Of course it started sprinkling while we were working. Paul was busy turning over the soil, mixing in the sand into the root bed, and the manure into the other beds. That young man is a hard worker.

This year we had a friend who bought an old horse boarding stable. It had lots of well aged manure and he brought us a truck load full. It is great stuff. We are using it on all the beds and plants on the place, except the blueberries. They don't like manure, too alkaline.

These are the new beds in the side yard. It doesn't get totally full sun, so Michelle did a little research and found which veggies can handle less than full sun. Most of them are int he cruciferous family. We planted lots of broccoli, some brussel sprouts and kale. We put some onions in and some lettuce also. We are hoping to get a third bed in here soon. We just need the wood. We have ever bearing strawberries in the baskets. The children enjoy those more than flowers.
JoAn was planting the cukes and yellow cherry tomatoes in the 1x6 bed.

Michelle was helping Paul with the root bed. This was definitely a family project.

Elizabeth worked the umbrella and brought cold drinks out to whoever wanted them.

T-Bob spaded up the center beds.

Thomas ran the manure wagon. 'More poo for you' was the saying as we filled up the beds. Dallas loved the manure, He also liked to watch us work out front.

About the time we finished with all the gardening the sun came out and the rain stopped. Of course it came down again later, but if we had waited a little bit, we could have worked in the sunshine. Oh well. One never knows.

~Mom

Does anyone know What Kind of Plant This is?

This bush grows in out front yard. I don't remember planting it. Yet, it is growing where it must have been planted. I have never seen a bush like this. It has these reddish brown flowers with yellowish tips on the petals that almost look like they are carved out of wood.

The flowers bloom all summer. It sends these branches up and they stay there all winter, but in the spring it starts up all new foliage.

Here is a close-up of the flower and leaf. If you are the first person who can tell me about my plant, or at least tell me the name, I will send you a prize.

~Mom

Cedarville Speech and Debate Tournament Memories

The weekend of May 20,and 21 was the final tournament of the 2011 season. It was held at Cedarville University. It is a beautiful campus, and they ensure that their students get LOTS of exercise by having a lake in the middle of the campus buildings. There is no bridge across, you just gotta walk around it.

The children liked watching the fish. They have a huge carp in their, maybe 40 pounds, that swims with its fin out of the water most of the time. It looks like a shark fin.

This was the infamous weekend where the end of the world was predicted by Harold Camping. The youth all went outside by the lake to countdown to the appointed hour.

It was a beautiful day! After the appointed time, they all went in for the more earthly award ceremonies for the tournament.

Both boys met their personal goals for the tournament. Paul's goal was to win all his affirmative rounds, he did. He and his partner ended up 5-2. they did excellent, especially for their novice season. Thomas's goal was to make it to one final round for the tournament. He made it to TWO. This was really great.

Thomas placed in Prose Interpretation and Rhetorical Criticism. He got to spend quite a bit of time on stage.

Elizabeth did her Junior prose interpretation again. All Juniors get called up on stage to get their bag of candy and certificate.

Thomas completed the sweepstakes. All sweepstakes competitors get called on stage to receive their certificate and bag of candy. They have to complete three speeches all in different categories. It is not for the fainthearted.

Some old friends of Roger came to visit us at the tournament. Sandy taught a youth Bible Study while DH was in high school. They have kept in touch over the years. She brought her son along with her. We hadn't seen him since he was a teenager.

The highlight for the kids was playing in the pool after a long day of working hard at speech and debate.

Friday night, we didn't get back to the hotel until after 10 PM. The time the pool should close. Management was kind and let the kids use the pool an additional hour or so. That was a blessing as they all really needed to unwind.

Speech and Debate Tournament has been a real blessing to our family. The wonderful friends they have made and the experiences they have had has really resulted in a lot of growth in their lives, both spiritual and intellectual. We are looking forward to all getting to do it again next year. Thank goodness for January birthdays.

~Mom

Joey's Adoption

Adoption Day had finally arrived. After having Joey for almost two years He was about to become a permanent part of the Morris household. It was time to make it official and then to celebrate!

The judge said that this was the biggest turnout for an adoption she had ever had. The courtroom was full! There were only about twenty seats, but all those and more were full.

The courtroom was very child friendly. The green grass colored carpeting looked like a putting green. Apparently the judge thought so also as she provided little plastic golf clubs and golf clubs for the children to play with as they waited.

They hit the balls all over. They were pretty contained by the walls. There was nothing to wreck. All the little ones went out and 'hit a few rounds' while the final paperwork was gone over.

There were some neat side stories. One was that a half brother of Joey's came to his adoption. His adoptive mother is working at maintaining the biological sibling relationships. He was adopted when he was five and didn't have a real clear memory of it, so he wanted to see Joey's.

Joey was so excited. He was the star of the show! He was finally being ADOPTED. Of course he only has a three year old's understanding of it, but he knew it was a big deal.

The judge asked Joey who was here to see him be adopted and so Joey got up and asked everyone in the room their name for her, even his brothers. When she asked Joey what time it was and he said "fiveteenish" . She said, "yes, It's time for you to be adopted." He just grinned bigger!

Joey's great uncle and his wife drove from Missouri to come to the adoption. He had adopted all three of his children and they have also adopted children and he wanted to join in the celebration.

Here is the family with all it's members, including the newest official one. The judge even let the little boys try out her chair. (I love this picture of Gabe putting his arm around Joey).

Thank-you judge, for making this an extra special event!

Joey then spent the rest of the day celebrating. First he went to the zoo and then home for his big "gotcha" party! There was quite a turnout for that. What a wonderful Day!

~Mom

Happy Birthday Darling!

The above sentiment rang through our house on Saturday. My DH finally made it home from New Mexico a day late. The original plane he and the girls took off on developed engine trouble and had to return to the airport. By the time they were re-ticketed they couldn't make it home on Friday.

We did have a lovely dinner as a family. I'd tell you the menu, but I don't want you to drool on your keyboard.

His present came in a BIG box. It was filled with all kinds of treats to go in his work truck. My DH was very pleased with them.

The candle was a bit problematic as it was one of those silly ones that relights.

There was much to visit and talk about, after a return from visiting family far away. Everybody was well, and they got to see his sister Becky who was also helping with the move. His parents moved from AZ to NM.

My DH was relaxed and happy.

My parents had returned from the Philippines last week. They joined us for the birthday dinner. It was fun to hear all their stories also. They had a great time. Dad seems to be fully recovered from his pneumonia that he had while travelling.

Here is the requested carrot cake that Michelle made and decorated for our beloved Dad.

~Mom

How BAD is SUGAR for you?!!

78 Reasons to Avoid Sugar

Straight from the writings of Dr. Victor Frank, founder/creator of Total Body Modification, here are 78 reasons to avoid sugar.

1. Sugar can suppress the immune system.
2. Sugar can upset the body's mineral balance.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, concentration difficulties, and crankiness in children.
4. Sugar can drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
5. Sugar can adversely affect children's school grades.
6. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
7. Sugar contributes to a weakened defense against bacterial infection.
8. Sugar can cause kidney damage.
9. Sugar can reduce helpful high density cholesterol.
10. Sugar can promote an elevation of harmful cholesterol.
11. Sugar may lead to chromium deficiency.
12. Sugar may cause copper deficiency.
13. Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
14. Sugar may lead to cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, and rectum.
15. Sugar can cause colon cancer with an increased risk in women.
16. Sugar can be a risk factor in gall bladder cancer.
17. Sugar can increase fasting levels of blood glucose.
18. Sugar can weaken eyesight.
19. Sugar raises the level of a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which can narrow blood vessels.
20. Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
21. Sugar can produce acidic stomach.
22. Sugar can raise adrenaline levels in children.
23. Sugar can increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
24. Sugar can speed the aging process, causing wrinkles and gray hair.
25. Sugar can lead to alcoholism.
26. Sugar can produce tooth decay.
27. Sugar can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
28. High intake of sugar increases the risk of Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
29. Sugar can case a raw, inflamed intestinal tract in person with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
30. Sugar can cause arthritis.
31. Sugar can cause asthma.
32. Sugar can cause candidiasis (yeast infection).
33. Sugar can lead to the formation of gallstones.
34. Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
35. Sugar can cause ischemic heart disease.
36. Sugar can cause appendicitis.
37. Sugar can exacerbate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
38. Sugar can indirectly cause hemorrhoids.
39. Sugar can cause varicose veins.
40. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraception users.
41. Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.
42. Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.
43. Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.
44. Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
45. Sugar leads to a decreased glucose tolerance.
46. Sugar can decrease growth hormone.
47. Sugar can increase total cholesterol.
48. Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure.
49. Sugar can change the structure of protein causing interference with protein absorption.
50. Sugar causes food allergies.
51. Sugar can contribute to diabetes.
52. Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.
53. Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.
54. Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
55. Sugar can impair the structure of DNA.
56. Sugar can cause cataracts.
57. Sugar can cause emphysema.
58. Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.
59. Sugar can cause free radical formation in the bloodstream.
60. Sugar lowers the enzymes' abilities to function.
61. Sugar can cause the loss of tissue elasticity and function.
62. Sugar can cause liver cells to divide, increasing the size of the liver.
63. Sugar can increase the amount of fat in the liver.
64. Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
65. Sugar can overstress the pancreas, causing damage.
66. Sugar can increase the body's fluid retention.
67. Sugar can cause constipation.
68. Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).
69. Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.
70. Sugar can cause hypertension.
71. Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.
72. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves, which can alter the mind's ability to think clearly.
73. Sugar can cause depression.
74. Sugar can increase insulin responses in those consuming high-sugar diets compared to low-sugar diets.
75. Sugar increases bacterial fermentation in the colon.
76. Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance.
77. Sugar can increase blood platelet adhesiveness, which increases risk of blood clots.
78. Sugar can increase the risk of Alzheimer's Disease.

I guess other than the above, it's OK.

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk

We had a long day in Amish country on Friday. Saturday morning we woke up and the phone was working and the power was on. The sun was even shining sporadically. We got up and made breakfast.We get our milk from a dairy farm and we fill our half gallon jugs from the milk tank. One of the boys got a jar out and set it on the table a little hard. Somebody else had noticed the beginning of a crack in the jar, but we hadn't done anything to take care of it. Alas, when the jar banged the table, the crack became a wide crevice. Actually, it became several pieces!

The milk, with all it's yummy cream went running off the table and on to the floor. How sad!! But we didn't allow any crying, Because you mustn't cry over spilled milk, right?!!

Dear Dallas was happy to come to our rescue and work on floor clean up. He thought that performing this duty gave him house dog status. Anytime he was let in the back hall, he would try and come into the rest of the house. Something he knows he is not allowed to do. Silly dog! I guess dog's have sin natures too. He forgets he is an outside dog, just because we have grace and let him sleep in the back hall.

Dallas loves people. He runs around the house and watches in the windows to see us. It is a little unnerving for some of my patients to see a big black dog staring in at them in the basement. We do enjoy him though.

~Mom

The Big Wind Storm

It seems like, often when my DH goes away we have major or minor crises here at home. This year he went and helped his parents move from Arizona to New Mexico, to live with one of his sisters. And what happened here on the home front? A big time wind storm! It kept most everyone awake all night as winds of 60-70 MPH buffeted the houses and trees. We have lots of big trees in our area, and now we have a few less. The house seemed to vibrate in the wind. Things were hitting against the siding and things were bouncing around in the yard. We couldn't wait for the morning. What had happened during the night ....?

The story I heard was that the night before a police car hit this telephone pole. Nothing seemed to be wrong so they didn't do anything with the pole. Then the wind hit... and the pole bent over in the middle. The only thing that kept it up were the wires. It was suspended over the road. The police directed the cars around it all day. As evening came, a concerned neighbor started worrying about what would happen if it started blowing again or if the wires broke.

So they closed our BUSY road! It was really nice to have a quiet street. The children went out and played in the middle of the road just to say they had done it. T-Bob and his friend were even doing chalk drawings in the turn lane.

The police stayed around until they turned our electric OFF. Then it was very dark and quiet. No street lights or cars. It felt like we lived out in the country. Pretty nice.

We had our power and phone off until Saturday morning. Fortunately, it wasn't real warm outside and we had a generator to power the fridges and freezers. In the evening we went over to the neighbors and enjoyed a bonfire. It was the only light in the area. It is always good to meet up with the neighbors after a winter's seclusion. Even on a busy city street, We have a neighborhood and watch out for each other.

Here is some of the other things that happened in our yard from the wind storm. This relatively big branch broke out of a tree and just missed my DH work truck when it fell. It also missed my blueberry bush. This was less significant, but I still appreciated it. During the wind storm I really did pray that nothing would hit the truck.

We also had a long section of downspout blow off the side of the house. Paul put it back up immediately. He is Mr. Handy for sure. No waiting around for his Dad to come home.

Nothing like a good adventure to make life interesting.

~Mom