Hi everyone! Haven't had a chance to post much the last few days. So I thought I would catch you all up on happenings here in SE Ohio. We woke to some snow, and soon the ground was covered. We have about an inch or so. I think we are to get some more. It is not cold though probably about 30 degrees.

Thursday evening we went to the local Spelling Bee. Megan was in it, but she messed up an easy (to her) word. She gets so nervous and it really makes her mad that she missed the word! She doesn't like to miss anything! An 8th grader won, so she has a few more years to try for it.

Thursday evening we taped the last Survivor show. Once again I am so amazed that Frank is so much like Cale! When I saw him at his home splitting wood, and the way he talked and acted, it is like they could be twins!! It is so funny. Now I won't watch any TV for a month. That is pretty much the only show we watch, besides the news sometimes. Cale like the PBS news, I think it is Jim Lerher? I usually just read the paper.

Then Friday, Cale was off, he is going to start working only 4 days a week. He had some errands to run, and then he went shopping with me. He always wants everything! Hard to stay on budget with him around. We did manage to make it through the grocery store without buying one piece of junk food. The very first thing I saw was glazed doughnuts, which I haven't had for a year,and I almost picked them up, BUT was able to resist temptation. When I make my chocolate cake I wil use wheat flour, and fesh eggs, so I know it will be a little healthier than the store bought stuff!

We went to lunch at Cracker Barrel. I had chicken, and a salad, and a hash brown casserole, which was good. I am going to try to duplicate it. I also had cider to drink which was good!

It is so funny when you walk through the grocery store. I would say that 80% of it is just what I call gimmicky food. Mixes and pre-made stuff, and convenience/snack items. I like to buy the basics, Like if you have flour, eggs, and basic baking needs you can make so many things!

My pictures are on-line. Not that good, so I may try again. I am fiddling with the digital camera. All of this technology gives me a headache! I think I would rather just invite you all for dinner, and you can see the house in person! I would like that better!! So come on over and visit!!!

Today we have been cleaning house, scrubbing down all the walls for dust! With the wood heat it does get dusty. Cale is building a feed bin for the horse and dog feed. We decided against the freezer,and he is just making this instead.

Well I had better go start cooking. Tonight I am going to work on my quilt some more. Everyone have a good day!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 19, 2002

Answers

It's pretty chilly here in Central OK today, but we've had a "winter mix" of snow, sleet and rain the last couple of days, and it's about all melted off now, thank goodness.

Yesterday we had an owl down by the barn. I'm hoping it hangs around long enough to catch that #@*^$ rat that's messing up stuff down there! Lance spotted it through the bedroom window, and I went and got the binoculars (christmas gift from the company I used to work for -- pretty handy) so we could watch it. I think we watched it for about 15 minutes, they are so beautiful! It was large, brown with a creamy chest and brown feathers scattered throughout the cream.

If you are able to duplicate that Cracker Barrel casserole, PLEASE share the recipe! I love that stuff! I can also sympathize about the grocery store trip - before we had kids, Lance used to think I spent too much on food, so he was going to "help" me by going along to police what we bought. I think I ended up with $15 more worth of stuff than when I went alone! We need this, we need that, I like this, you don't need THAT, do you? Geez! I'm usually glad he stays home now!

I enjoyed your pictures, Melissa. Home-made furniture is the best stuff! Lance's grandfather makes furniture (used to, anyway). He made for us our coffee and end tables, entertainment center, dining room table, chairs and bench, barstools, china cabinet, pedestal table and chairs in child's size for the boys, and both boys a small rocking chair with woven seat (just like the dining chairs - ladder back). It is all solid oak, and will still be here when I die! He also made us -- for a wedding gift -- a cedar-lined walnut chest, about 20 inches deep, 2 foot tall and 3 foot long. It is beautiful! Everyone asks about my furniture, and I have to brag on him, of course! I'm sure yours is the same way, so much better built than you can buy at the furniture or any other store, solid wood instead of veneer, and cost a fraction of what you would have paid! (I'll get off the soapbox now)

I've been re-arranging kitchen cabinets and replacing shelf paper this morning, trying to fit some of this "stuff" in better, and maybe get a little better arrangement than just hapazardly stuck where I could find a spot at the time. It will probably take me another hour or two to finish up, so I'd better get back to it. Have a wonderful day, everyone!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), January 19, 2002.

We stayed in today-Well, Mark went over to help his dad do some stuff,I'm not feeling the best today-just kind of under the weather- the stair injury is still bothering me quite a bit. I tried to do some sewing but a half hour at my machine was all I could stand-I had a huge knot in my shoulder and my back really aches. I get down in the dumps when I can't do the things I want to, like needlework.

Hey, Melissa-what kind of quilt are you doing?

I love hand made furniture too. We have never bought a piece of furniture! Mark has made tons-our kitchen table, all the book cases Rachels bed, toyboxes, chests, cabinets. If all goes well, I think we might use some tax return money for a table saw for him. We have bartered or picked up at yard sales every thing else.

If the weather isn't too bad tomorrow, we may go up to Louisville for a couple of days-we all need a break around here!

-- Kelly in Ky (homearts@yahoo.com), January 19, 2002.

Rain, rain and more rain here in AL today....it never seems to rain gently here, mostly like a monsoon effect..I think I'd like it better if I were a child..so many DEEP puddles to romp in! Nearly needed a rowboat to put the chickens up tonight. I'm trying to knit pair of socks..that's my claim to domesticity today..did manage to clean the bathrooms and make a big breakfast, but that was enough standing and walking for me today...damp weather and I do NOT get along. Killer Sophie the Kuvasz brought me another present today..sigh...a few days ago it was a very dead rabbit..today the rabbit was joined by a martyred chipmunk. I feel badly when she looks so proudly at me, her dead things in her mouth (YUCK) and I have to tell her I would rather not have them in the house. LOL She just sighs and lays the thing down and comes on in....Neil said he was getting a little tired of disposing of her "presents". The highlight of my day was the football game..cheered and had a great time....we were so caught up in the game that we had a coffee table supper in the livingroom. Now I get to go watch New England play the Raiders..ah, bliss!

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), January 19, 2002.

Kelly, it is blue jean and flannel. I might have described it when you were off for the few days last week? I have most if it cut, now to the sewing. I am pretty slow, as I use scraps, and try to mark and cut so I can get the most out of each piece. Lindsey is using my scraps and cutting even smaller pieces for a little quilt for herself. She has been practicing sewing on the machine with paper that I draw lines on. This is a good way for kids to practice, no thread, just to learn how to manuever the machine.

Leslie, I know what you mean about rain and pain, they seem to go together don't they? I hope you are feeling better, and at least aren't as sick as you were previously.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 19, 2002.

Lesley, had to laugh at your post about the rain. In Texas, we said we didn't have seasons, we had spells: Rainy Spells, Dry Spells, Hot Spells, and Cold Spells. lol

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), January 20, 2002.

Mary, I had an e-mail funny recently about the seasons in Oklahoma. There are six: Winter, Spring, Summer, SUPER SUMMER, Summer, Fall. I bet coming from Texas, you can relate!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), January 20, 2002.