CAUTION

Mike, I was reading today and I found a little info on mulberries. "Warning: unripe fruit and raw shoots contain hallucinogens." Make sure your fruit is ripe! Also, not really on the same note, but, "sumac should be gathered before heavy rains wash out most of the acid"(not what your thinking) Collect entire fruit cluster, rub gently to bruise berries and soak in cold water for 10-15 min. Remove cluster, strain through cheese cloth, sweeten to taste, and chill, tastes like pink lemonade. Have a great weekend
love Sandi

Mom is Here

Mom is here we haven't done much but she is getting her fill of grandchildren hugs and kisses poopy diapers, screaming and tantrums. I hope the bathroom is going better I love you all and miss you so much!! I look forward to seeing more posts, we will have to get caught up on some of the pictures. So many zoo trips this year. This weekend we are going to Dinosaur expo. We can't wait.
Brandi

Blah Monday

Well the kids went back to school today. I think we had a good spring break , but not long enough. Its raining and kind of cool today. We all have some kind of sinus thing going on, stuffy, itchy noses, headaches,sinus pressure, blah.... I don't know if its something we caught in Michigan or if it has something to do with the bathroom construction going on. Maybe a little of both? I moved my living room into my kitchen and closed off the rest of the house, because the 3-4 day bathroom job, is turning into a month at least (that's how things roll around here, sometimes its good ,and sometimes its bad),and I'm tired of breathing and eating plaster, and saw dust. I like having the living room and kitchen in the smaller area. I figure anything we can't fit in is unnecessary stuff so we can get rid of it. (Ive been trying to convince other family members that living in a smaller space isn't so bad, maybe this will help get me into my cabin a little easier?) Ashley is working today and Wes and I went to breakfast with Mom. Timmy's last exam is May 4th so he'll be home soon, but he's taking a May term class so he'll only be home for a week before he goes back for 3 weeks. That's about it for today, a blah Monday. Love ya

Sandi
ps. have fun in Kansas!

Dan and Ashleys new apartment

Wes and I had coffee at Dan and Ashleys this morning. I took a few pictures with my phone.

The rest of Spring Break

Monday we went to Evangola
Thursday we went to Potter Park Zoo in Lansing
Friday we went to Greenfield Village in Detroit

We arrived home about 11:30 pm Friday night. Alyssa left for a math and science program at Cornell University at 6am Sat morn. Ashley and Dan went to a craft sale in Versailles. Wes went to mens breakfast at church. Kota went to a track meet in Olean, and Cam the little boys and myself are just lounging around. Dan and Ashley moved their things into their new apartment on Friday .
Well have a good weekend.
Love Sandi

Date Your Mate

Saturday morning before Phil and I flew to FL (we did get to fly there) we went to the Life Adventure Center for what they call date your mate. This month we got to play with the horses. The picture is of us grooming Doc. Doc is the horse I rode when I was part of the women's riding group at LAC. It was so fun! I actually got teary eyed when they told me I could get him out of his stall, it was like seeing a long lost friend. I didn't realize how much I missed riding until I got to see him. We had a great time! We got to do a little riding, played some team building games, had a picnic lunch. Lots of fun. Next month is fishing, I think Phil has drill so we will have to miss that one. They do have a Mother's Day Ride, if any of my children would like to take me (hint hint).

Family Visits!!

Well, Sandi, Wes and the kids (not all of them) arrived last night at about 9:45. We had a great time talking while the youngsters went upstairs and watched a movie in Daaron's room. This morning Sandi and I got up early and went out for breakfast at the Wooden Spoon. Then Sandi went to work with me for a little while. Now, everyone is at the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing while I am sitting in homework lunch, looking out the window, wishing I was with them. Oh well, seven more weeks of this. Tomorrow we will get up very early and get ready to go to Greenfield Village. I'm looking forward to that and will post any pictures I take while there. Love you all!!! Wish we could all be together!
Mike

Florida

Well, we finally got home from FL last night. We got home on a bus, (yes we did buy a round trip plan ticket) but we got home. I used to ride the bus a lot, this time I got car sick, or maybe I should say bus sick. I'm not sure if it was the bus ride or the chicken I had while I was at the airport. Neeedless to say or trip was different than we had envisioned. It rained most of the time we were there, so we had a soggy day at Universal Studios. I have to take some of the credit for being soggy, the first ride we went on was a water ride and I got soaked! I loved Suessville! I forgot my camera so I didn't get too many pictures. I took several with my phone, but forgot to save most of them before I shut the phone, so . . . we did have a really good time there, we rode on rides and of course went to Hard Rock Cafe, dripping wet, I'm surprised they didn't make us eat on the patio! We did get to enjoy the hot tub at the hotel and played putt putt. Mostly just relaxed. On Monday Phil goes to Georgia and I go to Kansas to see Brandi and the kids, I can't wait!

Spring break day 1

Today is our first real day of spring break, the weekend doesn't count. Ashley had to work and Cameron got called into work mon tues and thurs, which makes him very happy because he just got a new phone that he has to pay for. We had lunch at McDs and then Alyssa, Ian , Lyle and myself went to Evangola. We walked on the beach and took pictures. I'll post some soon .( I just got a new phone also, but Alyssa has been texting and taking pictures for two days so I haven't been able to get my hands on it long enough to figure out how to get my pictures onto the computer) After the beach we went and got ice cream cones and ice capps. (fyi-if your in the area, Sunset Grill has 50 cent small ice cream cones from 5-8pm). Then we went to the library and checked out our regular 20+ books for the week. The kids are watching "Prom Night " now and were snacking on broccoli ,pears and apples, so I'm hoping that its enough and I don't have to cook any dinner. Wes has been working on the new bathroom for two days. (All I can say is please pray for patience for me)
Have a good day.
Love Sandi

DEXTER!!!

me and amy got a boxer his name is Dexter........it's pretty exciting!

Donut Day

Fridays are donut days around here. Today is also the last day of school before spring break! It was also Friday rec. and gum day for Lyle, Native American day for Alyssa and Ian, Gtown show down for Cam and Ko, and just another work day for Ash. Wes and I went to breakfast, then we went to Value and bought all the stuff for our new bathroom. Toilet, tub, surround, wall board, even a pedestal sink and a shower door! Were painting the top half of the walls herbal garden green! I'll post picts when were done. Hopefully by wed. Have a good weekend.
love Sandi

Gettin back to normal

Welll, this is my third day home from Ky and Im finally getting caught up. Mon. Wes and I went for a little walk back in the woods behind the house and took a look at the new beaver dam that will shortly flood out our back yard, amazing work those beavers do, to bad we have to break it. Yesterday we had to run stuff out to Timmy at school, on our way home we stopped at moss lake nature preserve, we ride past it all the time but we've never stopped. We walked around the lake , it was really cool, but a little eerie. There were hundreds of 4-5" cat fish all around the edge. We saw a huge blue heron. We saw some unrecognizable length of rotting meat with sucker marks on it? and a carcass of a deer with out its head, laying by the water like something reached out of the water and grabbed its head off as it drank from the water. We walked out onto the paths into the moss and water, it felt like we were in Jurassic park , and we enjoyed looking at things, but we had that creepy feeling that something was going to jump out of the water or out of the woods (Like big foot or moss man). We also ate some berries that Wes said were winter berries, and were still alive! Today I will probably stay home and clean , cause I'm a little creeped out , I caught 2 mice in the kitchen last night , so I'm sure there is probably more. Have a great day!
love Sandi

Check Us Out

Ok, do you think Daaron and I modeling Debra's clothing will sell? Probably not, which is why you all have these exclusive photos. However, if you know of anyone looking for unique, hand-made girls clothing have them take a look at http://www.michaeldaaron.etsy.com/. Family members who are interested, you don't pay, just ask and Debra will gladly send you out an outfit. (Hear that J? I think you ought to model for us.) Hope you all are doing well!

Love Mike, Debra, and Daaron

can't wait to 2-step home

So You Think You Can Dance - Week 1 from Southland Christian Church on Vimeo.

Toledo Zoo Trip II- Pictures and Video

Polar Bears and Birds, they don't seem to like me.

Toledo Zoo Trip

Well, we did one big day trip for my spring break and today was it. We went to the Toledo Zoo. We planned all week to go to Fort Wayne and right before we left today I got on their web-site to get directions and realized..... they weren't open until the 24th. Ooops! Good thing I checked. So.... we went to the Toledo Zoo. We had a great time and you'll be able to tell by the pictures it was very cold and windy. A great time to go because you have your pick of the exhibits with few people to push around to see. Amazingly, an hour and a half from home, I still managed to run into someone I knew. Usually its one of my students. This time, however, we were leaving the zoo and I thought "That's unusual, I usually see someone I know. It never fails." Then I walked in the bathroom and thought "Boy, he looks familiar." I just shook my head and kept walking. Then he looked at me, I looked back at him, and there was Rodney, one of my classmates in the counseling program. Anyway, we had a great time. I'll post some pictures as time allows. I'm still fighting with the blog thing too, Brandi, so we'll see how it goes. I also have some cool video clips. One is sideways, however, so you'll all have to tilt your head or pick up the screen and rotate the screen as my camera or computer won't let me change it. I'm probably just to non-computer savvy to figure it out. Anyway, it was great to read all the blogs when I got home. Hope you enjoy pictures and videos of our trip. Love Mike, Debra, and Daaron

Blogger hates me!

I think blogger hates me! I really think it's personal, no one else seems to have any trouble posting. I spent an hour earlier today telling you about my Easter, and posting pictures. First the pictures wouldn't show up, blogger kept saying it couldn't find the web site! What do you mean you can't find it!!!! It's right where it's always been! I started over 3 different times, started completely over, re-wrote my post and everything, finally the pictures showed up. I viewed the post looked good, hit "publish post" and away went my post, into cyber space apparently, because it's not on our blog, someone somewhere is looking at my Easter pictures wondering where in the world they came from. So, we'll just forget about my Easter and move on to other things. Other things like how much I enjoyed reading Ashley's post and how she reminded me of how much freedom I have and what a rare thing it is for women these days. I find myself over and over feeling the need to apologize my life, as if there is something wrong with it. I don't work, it's a choice, and I should not have to apologize for it. Is there anything wrong with working? NO! Will I work again some day? Probably. Will I enjoy it? Most likely. Sometimes I feel like I'm a kid in high school and all around me are the "It" crowd, and I'm not one of them, I don't want to be one of them, but I always apologize or justify for not being there. So what does that say about me? Do I love my life? YES! I've lived all over, city, country, dumps and palaces (ok - no palaces) Why do I feel the need to justify my life to the rest of the world? I'm not going to anymore, today I'm choosing to own my life. This is it. I don't work, I don't own my home, I don't have a television, I don't get my hair done every 8 weeks (But Phil does) I don't have a bachelor's degree and don't really want one, my husband does all the laundry and I let him, I like a good glass of wine and big margarita's (not at the same time) I have a great husband, and I know that not everyone has what we have, but I won't feel guilty about that anymore, I could go on, but this isn't really for you all, it's really for me and how I'm feeling today. Some day down the line I will need to be reminded that I chose this today, because somewhere, sometime, someone is going to make me feel bad about being me.

The other thing I wanted to talk about today is Brandi's post. I just want to say that it is always fun to try to read between the lines of her posts. She is going to be an awesome teacher! Seriously! Brandi - I love you and I will say it again- SPELL CHECK!!!

Love you all!

Thinking...

So today i went for the ride, while Dan did his dough deliveries. Which has become a normal for me on Thursdays. I enjoy these rides very much, because it gives me a chance to think, to wonder, to hope, to dream, and to see the many parts of WNY that i have never seen before, even though i've lived here my whole life. Its kinda funny like that. Lately we have been driving to a few places in Hamburg, then in Buffalo, and then a few places in Amish country. Its such a variety of places too, that is so exciting. I love riding through the city, it makes me so excited. I like to think about what the city used to be, and to see all the history its just so cool! On the other hand it makes me sad because so much of the city is going to waste, it shouldn't be like that. I was also thinking that i woul dlike to live in the city sometime, in a cute little apartment. To have the chance to see new places, to explore all the small businesses their are that too excites me, because i want to start my own business some day. But i also love the country i love to ride through Amish country and see all the empty land. I would also love to live in a cute little country house that would be ideal for when i start my own family i guess. I also did some thinking about my life and how i have so much freedom and i never really realized it. I have the cahnce to eat out with my mom and wuzzy on most days, to go shopping , to go to the market, to visit places in buff, to ride in the truck with Dan, to go to my siblings concerts and musicals and events, to spent time with people and not really worry that i am wasting time, i get to plan lessons for daycare, and to make my crafts. I wouldn;t get the chance to do that if i worked 40hrs a week, and i know that most people who do dont really love life. I feel like i don't want to give that up, but on the other hand now that Dan and I are looking for apartments and stuff like that its starting to look like i'm going to have to give that up, but i'm still hoping i can find things to add to our income that i enjoy doing and that still allow me to have the freedom that i have. I know people do, i just don;t know how i will do it. we will see.
Anyways that is what i was thinking about today as i rode in the truck. I thought i'd just share that with all of you, since i haven't been on in a long while. I hope you are all well and can;t wait to see most of you in a little over a month!!
Love,
Ash

5 more weeks

till summer vacation. School is going great I am in a brain storming creative mood so I am adding all sorts of fun new stuff to our room to make the last weeks go by a little faster. I learned how to use the book binder today so that will open up tons of new stuff to do. Yeahh I was excited, The kids are doing great Gwen is counting to 7 and saying lets go and I want so that is exciting we just signed her up for summer school so she gets to cone for a whole day all by herself. Addi is getting teeth no fun at night but she is sleeping better now that we have her off milk and on soy. Ruben is growing his hair out long and is a great puzzle doer we have found out.
J and Amy sorry about the accident I ant some of that cheese now. Well I have to get my kids home we have been at school for a whole extra hour and they are destroying my classroom We love you all.
Brandi

They're here, they're here!!!

Ian came running in the house yesterday all excited. "Guess what I found ", he said. "One violet, do you want me to pick it?" Also to our excitement,the dandelions are popping up. Around here,violets and dandelions = fritters, tea jelly and syrup!

Dandelion fritters: pick:only the flowers of dandelions on a bright sunny day when they are full and open
mix:1 c flour, 1 c milk, 1/4 c oil, 1 tea bk powder, 1/2 tea salt,and 1 egg.
Coat: flowers with batter and fry in hot oil till brown
serve: with ketsup, mustard,or ranch dressing
(I think they taste similar to fried mushrooms)

Dandelion tea: pull just the yellow part off of the flower and steep in boiling water
strain and add sugar or honey to taste.
(I think it taste like corn silk tea)

violet jelly:
fill a jar with violet blossoms, cover blossoms with boiling water, put lid back on
let blossoms infuse for 24 hrs, then strain
use 1 cup of violet liquid, add juice of 1/2 lemon + 1/2 pk powdered pectin.
Bring to a boil
Add 2 c sugar boil hard for 1 min
pour into jar and seal
(to make syrup instead of jelly leave out the pectin, and boil till thickens a little. can be used on toast , biscuits, pancakes and even eaten by the tbsp for coughs and colds , loads of vit c)

I found your post , its great,Sandi

Our Easter was different this year. No coloring eggs, no special dinner, it was nice, very relaxing. We went to the late service at church, came home and had lunch, then back to church to sit on the bank of the pond and watch baptisims. We didn't know anyone, and got there an hour after they had started, so most people had left, but it was good. People brought their lunches and their pets and just sat by the water in the sun - doesn't get much better!

Gettin excited!

Yep, Im getting excited about fri. Had to do my laundry today cause I didnt have any traveling clothes. I was afraid I wouldnt be able to get them dry because its supposed to rain from today thru fri, but I just took them off the line dry! I went to lunch with Ash and Wes this afternoon and, Wes and I built our first rocket stove. Its just a small one about 12" high and 8" diameter, We tested it out and heated 1/2 gal water in about 20 min, with just a small hand full of twigs. With practice Im sure I can heat it in 10 min or so. The real point of a rocket stove is the extremely small amount of fuel needed to run it. Ive been wanting to build one for a long time finally got to it today, we will do a larger one eventually. I also cooked up 4 lbs of dry beans and about 15 lbs of meat , cut it up and put it in sandwich bags in the freezer. That helps me make fast dinners, I just have to grab a thing of already cooked meat , and /or beans, open a couple cans of vegs, and add it to pasta, rice, potatoes, or in soup. With cooked seasoned hamb Ill cook up some rice and make rice bowls, a scoop of rice a scoop of beans a scoop of meat , some stewed tomatoes and shredded cheese, or cook some macaroni, throw in the meat a can of corn , a can of stewed tom, tom sauce, tom soup and seasonings, for goulash. Hamburger soup , just put meat in water, with some beef boullin add mixed vegs, then rice or egg noodles. I have cooked seasoned hamb, chicken, turkey, beef, and ham in my freezer so I have tons of easy combos. Besides that, Steves been camping at the creek all week ,so weve been bad parents and let our kids stay up past their bed time running around at the creek, catching crayfish , climbing trees, building sand forts and fishing. Have a great night
Love Sandi

scottish guy again

Good Monday Morning

We had an absolutely beautiful holiday weekend. Yesterday afternoon I spent sitting in the sun by the creek, listening to the water, and Wes, Steve, and Rich tell their fishing and camping stories. The kids caught frogs and crayfish , ran up and down the beach , climbed, and fished. It was a great day! My camera batteries died just after we got there , so I missed all the really good pictures.

Sandi

Easter in LA

I got a call from Jon today saying Happy Easter. He had a birthday party last night, and today they are in LA for a Clippers game. He's a very happy kid! 3 hours later I got a call saying, "Mom, I just survived my first earthquake!" I guess they were in the movie theater when it happened. Google April 4th 2010 earthquake and check it out!

Happy Easter

PS. Tami your pictures make me think violet jelly!

Happy Easter!!!

He is Risen! He is Risen! He is Risen! He is Risen!He is Risen! HE IS RISEN!
So I'm sitting here yesterday thinking "I'm not ready for Easter." It sort of snuck up on me. Then I was sitting here thinking about its meaning and last night I was praying and asking God to breathe new life into us (me); And then my family, my home, my house, my life. His resurrection means all of that is possible. So this morning I wake up and I have "Easter Song" by Keith Green running through my head (One of my favorite songs of all time). Now I'm listening to it on Rhapsody.com. If you get a chance, it'll put you in the Easter Spirit if you aren't already.

Another thought I had about Easter sneaking up on me. I bet it snuck up on the disciples too, ya think!? Wow!! What a shock that must have been?! HE IS RISEN!!!! HAPPY EASTER!
MIKE

almost missed it

Yesterday was beautiful and I spent all day outside. Today it rained until late afternoon , I was so busy inside that I almost missed what was happening in my own yard. Everything is blooming!

I drove by a tree today that all of the limbs and branches had been cut off, but the tree was so full of life, that it couldn't help but blooming, there were blossoms blooming right from the trunk. I wonder if that is how we are supposed to be, so full of life that even if parts of us were cut off, we would still blossom?

Good Friday on the beach

Wow, three posts in one day. I must be bored.

It was 85 at our house today.(a good reason to go to the beach). It was 65 at the beach, but still beautiful weather for April 2 in NY. I had a great idea for a photo project "Good Friday on the beach". As I searched the beach for the perfect pictures, I became discouraged, because I wasn't finding what I was looking for(like some cool cross shaped rock formations, shell designs,or wave patterns.) Then I thought that the beauty of Good Friday is not the cross itself, its the action on the cross. Then my idea for the perfect photo changed. It was hard to find my ideal cross, but it was easy to see the love of God in the beauty of his creation

Sandi

We're On!!!

3-D Journey to the Center of theEarthKids at Cabellas and Sandi and Debra playing Air Hockey
Finally, I've taken care of things with my filter and am able to get on the blog. Now you should be hearing from us lots more. Not sure that excites anyone, but I know Debra will be happy. Sandi, that's awesome and so true (Your last Post). I'm glad you are having fun. It has been great seeing everyone and traveling and making memories over the last couple years. It is 83 degrees here right now and we are cleaning house and doing bills so we can enjoy my spring break. Hope that goes well. Love you all. I'll work on the pictures, but for now some pictures to remember our February visit with Sandi, Wes, Alyssa, Ian, Lyle
Mike, Debra, and Daaron