A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

A paper mache boot with original bow and ornaments. Filled with greens and berries.
Found at a tag sale a few years ago for $1.00!!!

Ho Ho Ho...an old plastic Santa, also found at a tag sale a few years ago. He is supposed to have a light bulb in his innerds to light him up, but I haven't done it. Kind of makes me nervous to have a bulb up his you know what.

A tiny elf holding packages and a candy cane. Found amongst my mom's stuff after she passed away.

The photo is fuzzy, but it is an old ornament found in a box of goodies at an estate sale for a couple of dollars. (the whole box, not just the ornament!) Looks like it was handmade by someones kindergartener!

A pair of wool baby mittens found 2 years ago at an estate sale. Not pictured is the matching scarf, hanging near by. (I like to have, shall we say, "unusual" ornaments on my tree!!!)

A snowman head made by one of my kids a few years ago. A craft project a friend thought of to keep the kids busy one Saturday evening after Thanksgiving.

A sleigh and Santa, handmade by a local man and his father back in the 50's. I bought it at his tag sale. He had a very hard time giving it up.
I had to wrestle him to the ground to get it in my van.
(the man, not the Santa!!)

Lastly...a nativity set, made by my grandmother back in the 80's, when those "ceramic' classes were so popular. She had given it to my mom for Christmas one year, and after my mom passed away I "inherited" it.
(actually, since I knew my stepdad would never set it out again, I "whisked" it away from the abyss of the basement.)
He never missed it, but it is really the most important of all the things I set out for Christmas.
What would CHRISTmas be without CHRIST?

HE IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM SHOULD NEVER PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.
JOHN 3:16

CYN FROM A THRU Z

CYN FROM A----Z

A--Available/single/married-----married, 35 years!!!

B--Best friend---I have many, many friends, but few "best"...would have to say Joy

C--Cake or pie?...Cake, chocolate mayo

D--Drink of choice?...Champagne, any Brut, any year, cheap or pricey

E--essential item used daily...Wustof knife, lipstick, corkscrew

F--Fav. color...pink

G--Gummy bears or worms...yuck to both

H--Home or homesick...home

I--Indulgence---perfume

J--Jan or Feb---Feb...closer to spring

K--Kids names...Giselle 33, Gina 30, Krys 25, Sam 17, Avery 14

L--Life incomplete w/o...JESUS CHRIST

M--Marriage date...Sept.18, 1971

N--Number of siblings...1, sis Elena passed away 4 years ago

O--Oranges or apples...oranges...apples give me a tummy ache

P--Phobia/fear...kids driving

Q--Favorite quote...John 3:16...says it all, doesn't it???

R--Reason to smile...my kids, grandson, pets, chickens

S--Season...spring

T--Truth or dare....truth

U--Unknown fact about me...I'd tell ya, but then I'd have to kill ya

V--Veg. I don't like...none, I think I like em all

W--Worst habit..procrastinating

X--X-rays I've had...does a mammogram count???

Y--Your fav food...shrimp/crab/lobster...actually any of the "bottom feeders"!!! (HOLD THE BUTTER)

Z--Zodiac...Leo, ..however, it means NOTHING to me

AFTERNOON PICK-ME-UP!

If you had ANY idea what Cyn has been dealing with in the last month, you would not begrudge me a touch of Argentinian "champagne"! (at 4pm)
Accompanying the sparkling wine is a Wasa Multi Grain cracker, covered in one teeny triangle of Laughing Cow LIGHT cheese, with a thin veil of Kalamata olive pesto spread atop.
I'd say it was the PERFECT afternoon snack!
(who needs Christmas cookies and milk, when you have "champagne"????)

OUT WITH THE OLD/IN WITH THE NEW

OLD ME....
BORING!!!!

NEW ME!!!
Not so much!!
Still the same Cyn with a new "Do"!

On a side note:
My 2nd oldest daughter, Gina, is a cosmetologist.
We put her thru school 8 years ago.
She has MORE than paid us back with haircuts, highlights, lowlights, color,up-do's... etc.
(for 6 of us!!!)
SSSSHHHH
She thinks she still owes us!!!!
JUST KIDDING!!!
She knows how much we love her and appreciate her!!
(as do our friends savvycityfarmer and her hubby Don!!!)

3 FRENCH HENS

For the most part, I have vintage ornaments and kids creations hanging from my tree.
However...
This little number caught my eye last year at Macy's and I couldn't resist!
I had to have it.
Well, I AM French!

BOYS AND TREES

We all went "hunting" for the perfect tree last week.
This was it.
7 1/2 feet of Blue Spruce.

Sam and his cousin, Adam, took turns sawing, I mean "felling" the tree.
Since building our "little farmhouse on the prairie" 5 years ago, we have had a traditional, cut your own, real, live, Christmas tree.
And every year, by the day after Christmas, said tree has shed countless, pokey, prickly, sticky needles. And I am itching to take it down by Dec. 26.
Well, maybe we can wait till the 27th!!!

SNOW BIRDS! (and I don't mean Florida's!)

I am sick (and tired) of standing on my front porch, waiting for birds to land on my feeders so I can get a decent photo of them!
I have Red headed Peckers, Juncos, Goldfinch, House Finch, Common Sparrows, and my Black Capped Chickadees are back! Also I have spotted a Tufted Titmouse, which I have NEVER seen here! Do you think I can get a picture of them??? So far, the only ones to sit at the feeder long enough to get their pictures taken are the sparrows, and an occasional Goldfinch! Those dang chickadees are so fast...makes my head spin!!

Now these gals pretty much POSE for their photos!!

Here I am today with Pete's hunting hat on. It was so bitter outside, (wind chills below zero) I had to bundle up just to get the hens fresh food and water.

Albie Darn, I'm a Rooster, posing pretty atop the wheelbarrow.
Oh baby, it is cold outside!

SNOWBOYS!!!!

Our grandson Austin spent the night here on Friday after having a "Snow Day" declared at over 370 local schools. His uncle Sam took him outside to build the 1st snowman of the season.

Here they are, trying to get coal to stick to the snowmans face.

Snowman on the left: $5 at a tag sale a couple years ago
Snowman on the right: created with love by our 17 year old son Sam, with his nephew.
PRICELESS!!

Memories made that the two of them will never forget.

SNOWBOARD CHICKEN!!

With freezing rain since early A.M., the chooks refused to see the light of day.
UNTIL...
Around 4:45 P.M. when I went out to do my perfunctory locking of the henhouse door.
There he was,
Albie Darn, I'm a Rooster
Perched on the coop door.
I left him there for another 15 minutes and went back to try to lock him in.
Still perched.
This time, I physically lifted him off the door, hoping against hope he wasn't frozen to it.
Squawking, he resisted ever so slightly, and disappeared into the hen house.
Stay tuned.
I'm certain there's more.

Bits of Christmas

A close up of the mantle, still a work in progress.
I love the little elf, found at a tag sale a couple years ago.
The Santa is one of 2 Christmas items from the estate of my dad, who passed away this past March. Being a bachelor, he had very little in the way of holiday decor.

Typically, we have done the mantle in lots of greens with twinkly lights, and not much else.
This year, we have taken some of our funky trees and scattered them among the greens, and an old window we sprayed with a bit of fake snow.

This old church is actually up year round in our kitchen window. I leave it lit 24/7, as a tiny beacon of light to anyone in the kitchen after dark.
It actually is a music box, and plays "Silent Night."

To the right of our front door. Also a work in progress.
The tiny snowman in the basket is the other of dad's Christmas decor.
There typically is so much to do in December, that I like to get a bit of a jump start with my decorating.
Tomorrow I will try to get the Nativity set up on the buffet, and the other snowmen and santas out.
Can't wait to see what others are up to!!!

Thanksgiving Family Photos

These certainly are NOT photos of a beautifully set table. (which there was)
Nor are they photos of a picture perfect turkey, all crusty brown and tender. (which it was)
They are not even photos of the aftermath: destruction of the kitchen with dishes piled willy nilly. (most certainly THIS happened!!)
These are photos of what Thanksgiving is really all about:
FAMILY
Above is my sweet sis in law Camille and hubby Chris.

Our oldest daughter, Giselle, with her boyfriend John.
I must say: He is a good sport. He had NO idea what he was getting into by acceptng Giselle's invitation! We are hoping he comes back!

My sis in law Margie, with her hubby Tommy.
They flew up from Texas for the holiday.
The family is so large, that we all kind of divide and conquer.
We were able to see them later at Leigh's, another sis in law.
(Pete has 7 sisters and 2 brothers. Gotta love those big Catholic families!!!)

Camille and Cyn, out on the deck. I believe it got close to 60 degrees Thanksgiving!
Far cry from last years blizzard, and high of 11.
And that, my dear friends, is what Thanksgiving truly is all about.
I am SO thankful for my family.

GIVING THANKS

I will enter His gates with Thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say, "This is the day that the Lord has made."
I will rejoice for He has made me glad

May all who come across my little blog, know the only reason I am who I am is because of what Jesus Christ has done for me.
And for that, I am eternally grateful.

May you and yours have the most blessed of Thanksgivings as we give thanks with a grateful heart.

As always,
Cyn

WINDOW PEEKIN'

So, here I was, folding socks in my bedroom this morning, when I looked up and saw this!
Perched on my windowbox, peeking in my bedroom window!
WHO NEEDS OPRAH????

A GLIMPSE OF CYN'S HOME

I'm not really sure if I have ever invited you into my home before!
Here is my fireplace, created, with love, by my husband.
The greens pretty much stay up all year round, with the twinkly white lights in place.

This sets on one side of our dining roopm table, changing with the seasons.
Any day now, it will be filled with snowmen of every shape and size.

This is to the left of our front door as you enter. It will be filled with old santas and snowmen as soon as I get a free afternoon.
I am SO thankful the lighting has disguised the dust bunnies!!!

This is a bookcase to the right of our front door. Old family photos usually fill this spot.
At Christmas, the current photos will be replaced with photos of Cyn and Santa, and the kids with Santa. I think we might even have one of Pete with the bearded man!

WHAT'S UP WITH THIS??

The teeny egg on the left was laid by one of the 7 Isa Browns a couple of days ago. The egg on the right was laid by one of them today. They have been laying steadily for a few weeks now, with "normal" size (large/extra large) eggs. Then out of the blue comes the teeny egg. Then today...mongo size. It will not even fit in the egg carton!!!
I'm bettin' it's a triple yolker!

WHERE WOULD WE BE...W/O FAMILY

Sunday...a day of rest.
NOT!
Especially NOT when some of the children are around to celebrate birthdays! Above is myself and my grandson, Austin, who will be six years old next month. We were able to spend a very few moments praying together.
Lots of serious stuff on his mind.

Daughters Krystal, just turned 25 last week, and her little sis, Avery, 14, hamming it up for the camera.

My beloved, Pete, with Austin.

We have 5 children.
Coming from a family with only one sibling, my sister Elena, who passed away suddenly 4 years ago, I was hungry for a large family. Enter my husband, Pete, who comes from a family of 9 other siblings. NOT so anxious for a large family! We compromised with 5.
I am ever so thankful for my children.
SO alike, yet so very different.
They are, indeed, a blessing from the Lord.
And I love them.
Happy birthday Gina....31.
Happy birthday Krystal...25.
We are family.

CLOSE TO HOME--VETERANS DAY

Both of my parents served in the U.S. military in the early 1950's. They met while in the Army, both stationed in Texas, and married soon after. I have always been especially proud of my mom, who joined the army at 17 years of age, mostly to get away from a not-so-good family situation.
On Veterans Day, we remember my parents and the thousands upon thousands of others who have served our country well.

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS AMERICA

CYN'S PROVERB FOR TODAY

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

We are having our share of battles this week. A lot going on at Farmgirl Cyn's. We have to always remember:

THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S.

"Be anxious for NOTHING, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And (THEN) the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7

BE A BLESSING TODAY. NOT A BURDEN.

As always,

Cyn

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE...

CHRISTMAS????

We are barely into November, and today we are expecting anywhere from a "dusting" to 2" of snow.
Once we are done with October, it's no holds barred.
I am in the holiday mood!
No, my tree doesn't go up till after the 1st week of December, but...soon my snowmen collection will make it's way up from the "abyss". My greens will be peeking out of the window boxes, stairway, and mantle.
And Bing will be crooning "White Christmas".
Cause around here...
IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!!

MY HIPS DON'T LIE!!!

It's true...my hips don't lie! And when my pants start feeling even a teeny bit snug, I know it's time to do some cuttin' back.
One of the first things I begin doing is cooking up some fish. And one of favorites is:
TUNA!
And I don't mean that mushy mess in a can.
I mean a fine filet of Yellow Fin Tuna!
Usually very pricey, especially here in the mid-west! So...I wait for a fish sale, and can find frozen tuna steaks for around $6 a pound.
I take a tuna filet and marinate it for maybe 20 minutes in a teriyaki sauce, or Dales steak seasoning, which is mostly soy sauce. I heat up my tiny cast iron skillet with a drizzle of olive oil, till nearly smokin', then add my tuna steak. Sear on one side, then flip and sear on the other. I like my tuna med/rare, and on the rare occasion I have cooked it beyond that point, it has pretty much destroyed it. Dry and tasteless. I serve it with a fresh romaine, tomato and cuke salad, and a glass of dry chardonnay. One of my all-time favorite Chards is an Australian wine from Lindeman's...Bin 65. Usually I can find it on sale for around $6 a bottle.
If I have this meal for lunch a couple of times in a week, (and been watchful for my other meals) I have ALWAYS dropped the extra couple of pounds that have crept up.
Because,
Like Shakira

"MY HIPS DON'T LIE"!!!

IT'S TWINS!!!

This mornings egg count was 7, with one being a blue egg, and one a double yolker! These girls have only been laying about 3 weeks, and so far we have had 2 of these!
Count me blessed!!!

BLUE EGG SPOTTED!

FINALLY!
One of our 2 Aracauna hens has laid us an egg!
I fell in love with the idea of blue/green eggs after my friend, homemakerang,
showed me her pretty "Easter" eggs!
When we got our chickens in July, there were 3 out of the 10 that were the Aracaunas, and one of them turned out to be a rooster!
So, our hope for the pretty eggs was up to the two remaining Aracaunas. The 7 Isa Browns began laying 2 weeks ago, but the Aracaunas have a delayed puberty, so....today was our first!
Wouldn't it be lovely to bless someone with a dozen eggs, and have one out of the 12 be a beautiful blue egg???

MITTEN ACCOMPLISHED!!!

I DID IT!
I actually finished a knitting project that involved more than just a straight line!
Took a class last week, (see previous post) and had to go back to the shop twice for a knitting intervention, but finally finished my project. I felted them last evening and set them on the front porch to dry overnight. I am thrilled to have learned something new. Keeps my mind active and thinking. So many new things to try, so little time.
I am setting my hand to another pair this evening, as once I learn something new, I want to do it again as soon as possible, so as not to lose the groove. Don't think I will felt the new pair, though I love the fact that I can make some really major mistakes and felting covers them up!

HOMECOMING!

Ave (on the left) was invited to the local Homecoming dance by her best friend, Kearstin.
A first for Ave, as we have always homeschooled.
She has been so excited the past few weeks, as we shopped for dress and shoes.
Her sister Gina did her hair this afternoon, then off to Kearstins to get ready for the big night!

These two have been friends for the past 12 years or so.
Even after we moved about 10 miles from the old neighborhood, these two have remained best buddies.

Ave and me. Yes, she really is that tall.
I am 5'(on a good day).
She is 5'7".
Put her in 2" heels, and well...you see what you get!

KNIT WIT

What do you call someone who knows EVERYTHING there is to know about knitting???
A KNIT WIT!!!
With that said, let me assure you...I am not a knit wit!
I learned from my grandmother probably 45 years ago, how to knit one, purl one.
And until last year, that was pretty much the extent of my knitting knowledge.
I hadn't picked up knitting needles in over 40 years, when a new knitting shop opened here in my small midwest town, and a love had been rekindled.
I took a basic knitting course last year, where I was taught some simple stitches, and created several handmade scarves and dishrags for Christmas gifts.
I am up for a bit more of a challenge this year, so signed up for a felted mitten class which I took last evening. I finished the right mitten this afternoon, with a bit of help from the shop owner, Phyllis. Tomorrow I begin the left mitten, then will "felt" them.
I can't really say that it is a relaxing hobby, as more often than not, I am poring over what looks to me like Greek instructions, and tearing out row after row of my hard work as I find I have missed a stitch, or slipped one, or purled when I should have knit. I CAN say that it is rewarding to look at something I have created with my very own hands, knowing there isn't another one like it in the entire world! And it most certainly keeps my mind sharp, as I interpret the intricate instruction booklets.
Stay tuned for an update when I get them both completed and felted.

Albie Darn!!!

GUESS WHAT?????????
Formerly known
Albie Mae West...
is no longer.
Now to be known as:

ALBIE DARN, I'M A ROOSTER!!!!!!

She/he is a guy chicken.

We shoulda seen it comin.
Bigger.
Meaner.
Cockier.
Plus, the jumpin on the girls backs and peckin at their heads.
And today we heard him crow.
YUP!
We got ourselves a man!!!

And isn't the Lord good???
My hearts desire was for one rooster and 9 hens.
The later it got in the summer, the more I knew I would have to get my chicks from a local farmer, who was certain all of the 10 I picked out were hens, as that is what he ordered.
Go figure.
God knew.
And He LOVES to bless His kids!!!

EGG-CITING NEWS AT THE FARM!

LOOK! LOOK!
THIS is the day I have been anticipating for months, yea, even years!
All of my TLC has finally paid off!
All right...it is only one egg. BUT...there is more to come!
I have desired chickens for years. And living on my little 1 1/2 acre plot of land, (with the driveway taking up far more room than it should,) I finally got my hearts desire!
Pete built me a little hen house. Giselle bought me 10 girls for my 53rd birthday in August. And the rest is history.
When they hadn't begun laying at the age appropriate timetable, I took matters into my own hands and began praying over them, commanding those eggs to come forth, in the name of Jesus.
"Blessed shall be the offspring of your body (my kids), and the produce of your ground, (my tomatoes, squash, and basil, etc) and the offspring of your beasts (OK, technically, an unfertilized egg is not the offspring of my beasts), the increase of your herd, and the young of your flock." Deut. 28:4
I AM EGG-CITED!!!
Isn't our daddy a good God???

To be a mom

THESE ARE NOT MY WORDS. I FOUND THEM ELSEWHERE AND WAS TOLD TO SHARE THEM. i WOULD LOVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE AUTHOR, BUT HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS IN FINDING HER.

I WISH I COULD SAY I WROTE THIS. WHAT I CAN SAY IS THIS IS HOW I FEEL. I BET YOU DO, TOO.

We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions that she and her husband are thinking of "starting a family."

"We're taking a survey," she says half-joking. "Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.

"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous vacations..."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes.

I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal, but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking, "What if that had been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub. That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moment's hesitation.

I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood.

She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home, just to make sure her baby is all right.

I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine. That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess herself constantly as a mother. Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself. That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child. That she would give it up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years-not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor. My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child. I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving. I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues, but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children's future.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts. My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret it," I finally said.

Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings. This blessed gift... that of being a Mother.

Please share this with a Mom that you know or all of your girlfriends who may someday be moms.