Earthquake

We were shaken awake about 9 minutes ago. We couldn't figure out what it was, after checking we found out there was an earthquake up in Canada. It took about 3 minutes to get to us and it wasn't like the earth quakes we felt in California. In California the earthquakes felt like swaying or rocking. This was hard, shaking.
Scared the... Stuff out of me. I don't think I'll be sleeping for a while.

Monday Motivation the last Monday of 2015!

How is that even possible? This year has flown by!

This week I'm working on some goals for 2016, I've got a cost per dozen eggs coming up, and maybe that's it. We'll see.

Yesterday my vacuum bit the big one. I was not happy even though I hated that thing! A bit of research later, Scribs is going to scoop on up after work today. I'm hoping the new one will do a better job than the last.

I need to work on some kind of toy storage solution, the kid's have WAY too much and no where to put everything. Tough life, I know.

We have no rain projected for the next 10 days and the sun might even come out! I can't wait to get the kids outside!

What's your plan for the week?

Merry Christmas from Scribs farm!

I can't believe it's Christmas already! Yesterday for a shiny, glorious moment it snowed!
The kids are exciting and full of sugar. They're bouncy off the walls. Ellie (Our elf on a shelf) has gone home to the North Pole until next year, not without a big send-off.

why so sad, snowman?

It's funny how having kids changes everything, I was never big into Christmas after the age of about 12. Christmas music was a torture device and the whole charade seemed... well, a bit silly. And then came the babies, and everything changed. I want them to have great family memories, not just of opening present but of doing things together. Putting up the tree, baking cookies (followed up eating way too much frosting and running around yelling "We're full of sugar"), going to see Santa and taking a drive in the dark to see the lights. We've been listen to Christmas music for weeks and surprisingly I don't want to smash my face through a wall. Things change. The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear. And dancing around like an idiot!

LED lights are the best!

My favorite tradition that we've started with A is picking out a toy that he would like to have and donating it to Toys for Tots. I'm endlessly proud when he says "Mom, look at that cool toy. We should donate it!" He's 4, he certainly doesn't understand the how and why. He just thinks that some kids could use more toys and he wants to give them! I'm hoping they'll be ready to let go of the toys they no longer play with, they aren't there yet.

The tree skirt doubles as a cape!

We're also decided that having huge meal for Christmas isn't us. We're having snacks and cold appetizers all day with a few hot ones for dinner. I certainly don't want to spend the day in the kitchen. Maybe when the kids are older and want to hang out in their rooms, we'll do something. For now, with just the 4 of us this works best. I bought some cheese last week that I'm dying to eat. Every time I open the fridge it's screaming "EAT ME!"

One of these things is not like the others. I made 3 of the 4 stockings.

At this time of year, I can't help but think of how blessed we are and I am so overwhelmingly grateful for everything we have in life. My heart is full. I'm a sap I know, but it's true.

I hope your Christmas (or whatever you choose to celebrate) is full of joy and magic. And if that's not your thing, I hope you get to do whatever makes you happy and have a great relaxing day.

Christmas Traditions - Fruit Cake, yay or nay?

There are few things that make me feel like it's Christmas like food. Every year as a kid we'd have the staples - Sugar Cookies, butter tarts, chocolates wrapped in colorful foil, candy canes and fruit cake. Fruit cake is right up there with Egg Nog, you either love it or hate it with no middle ground.  I like it in small doses. One slice a year and I'm set. I haven't had any in at least 7 years, probably more.

My Nana and Poppa made the fruit cakes in our family. Their secret family recipe has been highly requested by those outside the limited few with a copy. No one has made the recipe in many years and I've decided to carry on the tradition.

This year was the first year I attempted to bake this beast. It was an expensive feat! I had very little idea how much work was involved! 1 recipe makes a lot, it would barely fit into my giant stand mixer bowl. There is a lot of chopping and mixing involved, definitely a work out! Baking seem to take forever. I really wasn't sure when it was done, so I guessed and it seemed to be right. I think I texted my mum about 30 times during the whole process.

So if I'm not a huge fan of fruit cake, why make it? Nostalgia? Maybe. Mostly it makes me sad to think that the fruit cake tradition wouldn't continue.

The smell brings me right back to being little and the excitement of Christmas. My first bite was exactly as I remember. Exactly!
I'll be taking some over to the neighbors, one recipe makes about 5 cakes. 5! I've wrapped it very simply in waxed paper and twine. I don't think everything has to be fanky-smancy. Simple is usually best. I certainly won't be offended if they don't like fruit cake.
I think my fruit cake would make my Nana and Poppa proud. And hungry.

And right now, it's snowing.

What are you favorite Christmas Traditions?

Day tripping to grouse mountain

This weekend we took the kids up to Grouse Mountain. They, nay, we had a great time. We strolled around in the snow. The kids had never played in snow until this week. They were bundled and light-up booted. They ran and fell, threw snowballs and ate snow. We had lunch, A. told The Big Guy what he'd like for Christmas, Naturebaby watched the reindeer.

To get to the top of the mountain there's a sky-train. The ride was nice, took about 10 minutes and the operator pointed out peaks, and wild life below. Whoo boy it's nice. Get ready for pictures of trees and snow.

It was a few degrees above freezing, snow was melting off the trees like rain that sparkled in the sun, it was magical. 

Want to test your aim? Take a toss! 

We went hiking, the kids climbed and rolled around. All they wanted to do was eat snow and throw snow balls. 

Snow slides!

Prancer and Dancer were hanging out outside Santa's workshop. 

Views of mountains from the top of mountains. Delightful! It was so pretty, not at all busy and most important the kids had a great time. The kids would have been happy just to have played in the snow. This may not become and annual event but it's worth doing if you're in the area.

Monday Motivation

last year's tree

We had a great weekend, we took a day trip coming up next and this week a certain little boy turns 4.

This week I'm starting my Christmas baking with the kids. Today I'm making Fruit Cake, it's a secret family recipe (obviously I won't be sharing it). This is an annual tradition that I'll be starting. I don't think anyone has made this recipe in years, at least since my Nana was sick. I bringing it back in full swing. I'm waiting for a few hard-to-find ingredients to be delivered.

I'm also baking sugar cookies, using Martha Stewart's recipe. The kids and I will decorate later this week or next week. Then we will watch elf and run around yelling "We're full of sugar!"

I'm bring back the Christmas Crack too. You should probably make it too.

We also need to get and decorate a tree.

What are your favorite holiday recipes?

Photo Friday

I know,  it's been a while since I did a photo Friday. Truth is I haven't really found too much that I've been interested in or had the energy to photograph. So it goes.

A few weeks ago, during the full moon in November we have a great sunset with a giant moon rising over the mountains.

This weekend we're headed up North to Santa's village. It's been a rough few weeks and I'm glad to get out of the house and have a distraction that isn't work. I know that kids will have a great time. I'm looking forward to having some Tim's and getting outside. Especially outside that isn't covered in dirt.

Can you believe that Christmas is right around the corner?

wip wednesday toddler hoodie

I've started working on this raglan toddler hoodie  for Nature Baby. I needed something simple to work on while my stress level was through the roof. Nature Baby could always use another hoodie, those kids get so dirty! 

I cast on using left over KnitPicks Brava and decided to double up Cherry Tree Hill's supersock DK in For The King for the ribbing. I am not crazy about the color way of the ribbing. Nature Baby loves it so I can't complain. I've been sitting on two hanks for years, I wanted some color, so why not! I don't think I'll have enough yarn left to make the hood, we'll see! I'm using slightly larger needles to make the size slightly larger than the 24 months size. I'm using size 9s for the body and 7s for the ribbing. Nature baby isn't wearing 24 months/2T, she'll be able wear this sweater next year too. She knows the sweater is for her, any time I pull it out to do some work she says "Sweatshirt, for me?" and she tries to help. She'll be picking up stitches before she's 5, I'm sure.

I'm not usually one to have more than one project on the go, when I look at other people's multiple WIPs I think "How? Why?" but now I get it. I see the light! Check out my other WIP!

What are you working on?

wip Wednesday denali Sweater part 3

Here we are, for the third installment of WIP the Denali Sweater. I've actually made some progress despite having a ridiculously crazy, stressful month. 

As you can see I've nearly finished the front (on the left beside the blocked back). You can see the difference blocking makes, for you non-knitters I might as well be speaking Mandarin. 

I'm still really enjoying this sweater! It's simple enough that I don't have to pay too much attention, thanks in part to using 35 stitch markers. The next row is dividing for the collar and shoulders. I even did all the proper decreases like a big girl. If I have the energy I should be able to finish the front before next weekend. I hope. We'll see, we have a ton going on in the next few weeks. 

I was so excited to be finished one of the sleeves. I worked on it while I was away but in the process I guess I wasn't measuring properly and it was about 4" too long. Good job dumb dumb. I'll have to rip it back once it has dried. At least it's easy to get straight stocking stitches back on the needles. 

For once, I've been keeping track on ravelry and I've used over 1100 yards of yarn. Scribs jokes that he'll unravel the whole thing at which point I may or may not use a knitting needle as a weapon. 

In case you're wondering, here's part 1 and 2. This may be my last WIP for this project!

The second flood

As you may remember we had some flooding a few weeks back, the first flood was on a Friday and the Wednesday after we had more flooding. The water is now gone, just in time for another flood watch, and I've been working on the clean up. The dirt that was washed in is heavy clay. I sprayed, shoveled and swept what I could and the rest will just have to stay for now.

There is a lot of mulch from the berry fields, stuff from the compost (chicken coop bedding, vegetables), sticks and branches and even a dead bird that all needs to be cleaned up. I haven't been in the garden to pull everything that's left. There is a water line in the trees that doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

By the time I was able to get out there to take photos, that water had already started going down and had dropped by about a foot. I wasn't about to wade around in above the ankle deep flood water with my camera! I will say some of the photos are beautiful and quite dramatic. The above photos are pretty close to what I woke up to, the tire swing was partially submerged, as was the step to the deck and the boot scrubber. Below is once the sun came up.

Every time we have a flood warning or watch, this is what I'm going to expect to happen. This way there will be no surprises. Our road was closed for almost 2 days, that didn't stop vehicles from going through. On the other side of the river (which also flooded) the sheriff was pulling anyone over that dared ignore the signs.

Even though we didn't have any damage or loss it is still an incredibly stressful situation to deal with. Last year, we had only a tiny bit of flooding, no where even close to what we just had. With every potential disaster I feel better equipped to deal with the next. Now I understand why my neighbors don't worry about the river. That isn't to say that I will become complacent. Everyday is one day closer to the end of the rainy season, only 3 more months to go.

Getting back to normal

I've been home for a week, our guests left this morning and the water is gone from the yard. There is still a bit of the lake in the field but that's in the ghost river. I'm not worrying about it. We're starting to get back to normal after the week that would cause some to throw a toaster in the bath tub. We're all still sick, various antibiotics are running their course but it's exhausting.
I accomplished nothing in the last two weeks, I had big plans but then life happened. No painting, no finishing the garden. It was underwater after all. Our hose exploded - trying to find a 100 plus hose in November isn't working, Amazon to the rescue.

I haven't been keeping good of track of the egg count for the past two months, we've decided not to force light into the coop to keep up the girls laying and most are having a hard molt. I think we're lucky if we're getting 5 eggs a day, thats down from almost a dozen. The costs have been about the same 2 bags of feed and shavings a month.

The other day, in an attempt to return to the normal routine of things, I emptied the fridge and made turkey soup. It took all day but it was delicious. And bread, I made bread. That's obviously all gone now. I could bake bread all day, everyday, and eat it all resulting in me weighing 7000 lbs.

This week I'm working on a mountain of laundry, dirty house and deck that looks like a hoarder lives here. And it's raining. Hopefully the rain will wash away some of the 4 foot high water line, but I'm not counting on it. Or counting on it not coming back.

This week at A.'s school, they're having a mitten tree. There is a tree in the class room and I assume they kids are going to fill it with mittens that will be donated to kids without. I would have loved to have knit a pair or seven but realistically I won't get them done in time. So again, Amazon to the rescue.

So that's most of what's going on around here.

At the airport

I arrived at 5:15 am, nothing is opened. I bought my $37 bottle of water and $8 muffin and am waiting to board. It seems like everyone is miserable. I'm sitting watch awful Tv with the posture of a teenager listen to people. It's always entertaining. A woman is speaking loudly on her phone complain about her need of wine.
I'm headed to a small town, the last time I was there, the current technology is stuck in 1963. I'm not hopeful for wifi.
I've got some sleeves to work on, on the plane. I hope I brought enough yarn. See you later Internet.

When it rains it pours.

We still have standing water, there is another flood coming today and my grandpa died this morning. I don't have much us to say other then my plate is full, I'm trying my best to keep it together. I can't handle anything else.

Nothing last forever, even cold November rain.

The sun has come up, the water has begun receding and soon we can begin the clean up. There is still a few feet of water in the yard, but the grass is becoming visible in spots, most of the water has drained from the barn. It has since started raining again. We're expecting around half an inch. My neighbor just let me know that the foldaway is already over flowing. It's going to be a long night. Again. I had 3 hours of sleep last night.

Here's what we're dealing with less than 24 hours later.

The view from out neighbor's driveway

Everything is covered in grey-brown dirt, beetles included.

right in the center is water spewing from the ground.

The water was up to the top of the second tread.

This debris is mulch washed in from the berry fields. It is everywhere.

A lot of the water has receded but there is still a lot left.

I have no idea how this flower isn't grey. It is surprisingly inspiring. 

The kid's sandbox washed across the yard, cover and brick along with it. 

There is tiny bubbles all over.

I assume the helicopter is checking extent of the flood.

what's left behind as the water recedes. 

worm tracks

there's my garden and my brussel sprouts I was planing on having for thanksgiving.

water lines in the barn

water lines in the barn

water line on the house and left over flood water.

We have another flood watch until Wednesday. I'm hoping most of the water is gone tomorrow. We also have a lot of cleaning to do but that isn't going to happen until the flood watch is over. I was pretty calm yesterday, now I'm getting pretty anxious. I haven't decided yet if I need to start moving furniture to the upstairs yet. I am going to get all the laundry done before Wednesday.

Here's the aftermath from last year's flood.