Clouds and February 28th

Hooray we have clouds and it is the end of February!! I am hoping and praying that March will come in like a lion and go out like a lamb~~not sure one should put much faith in old time wive's tales but I still cling to this one. And here we have clouds what a blessing that is! The temperature has gone from so cold at minus 37 up to only -17 this morning and already it is minus 13 so warming. With the clouds there comes the odd snowflake slowly sifting its way to the ground.We have about three feet of snow~~my thought is that if March will come in like a lion we will get storms with snow or cold rains but the temperatures will warm up which ultimately means the snow and ice will blow away, wash away, and melt away reveling the earth. Mud would be a welcomed sight believe me.
I do enjoy the picturesque scenery right out my windows and doors~~no complaints there. My mind is getting anxious to play in the mud and see water running down the river again. The colour green on more than just snow-covered evergreens. Mosquitoes and blackflies~~and doing things in the ground. Like planting seeds~~It would be nice to get going on the pig pens and chicken coop needs to be set up for new chicks~~Just plain being outside without the extra 50 pounds of clothing. It has been a lond cold winter this year and although we rarely ever get icestorms like back east or down in the southern states we do get snow and ice and way low temperatures and this year the snow was here starting in October. So bring on the LION have us some good storms and maybe just maybe the going out like a lamb means the sunshine will shine and the water from melting snows will flow and the mud will show itself bringing with it the man-eating bugs!!


Where there is no vision,
the people perish...
Proverbs 29:18

God Bless you
with a wonderful week-end
Roxanne

The LOOOng Month

The north wind sweeps down around us over the hay fields down on towards the river. Taking with it the snow in wispy clouds off of the barn roof. Swirling white clouds rise up off the fields and off the river's mini icebergs. Fine snow sifts down from the grey sky filling in the porches. Many times having been pushed back with a broom. Only to fill in again.
A huge eagle drops down onto a branch outside my window. He balances himself there looking around with his keen eyes picking out the remains of the cow carcass.Before he decides to move on, the wind hits his branch almost upsetting him. He is really too big for the branch in this storm. Lifting himself and swooping down he skims across the ground over to the little log shed where little chickadees are feasting and cheeky whiskey jacks are sitting in a tree about to take their turn on the bones hanging from the eaves for them. Even a little sapsucker is there pecking away on the fat on a rib. Eagle takes it all in and disappears. He will be back one day not too far in the future. It is his habit to stop by ever so often.
I have made turkey soup from scratch for our meals today as neither one of us are super hungry and on a day like this soup and homemade biscuits seem to be just right.
I took out some wild blueberries from the freezer and cooked them up in to pie filling and made a batch of tarts out of them.
A friend gave me lard she had rendered down and had a surplus of. Beautiful lard so I made pastry out of some. I have lots so we can have bannocks anytime we want too. I love bannocks.
Our bible study has actually progressed to the 2nd chapter of 1 Peter. Kay Arthur's bible studies are definitely not light. But they are enlightening for sure.
With snow swirling and whirling and temperatures dropping steadily I will go off and do something for the evening like my dishes. Need to look like a dedicated housekeeper as you just never know when someone just may drop by. It has been some days since we have seen any other humans. But best to "be prepared" isn't that the old Brownie Motto?
Another day of this so-called shortest month is drawing to an end.

When a man is gloomy, everything seems to go wrong;
when he is cheerful, everything seems right!
Proverbs 15:15

Praying February isn't getting you down
Look up
God Bless
Roxanne

Sunday Morning Home Fire

The clouds have moved in streaking the sky this morning with different hues of grey-blue to lavendar. The little wood heater is crackling gaily away in the kitchen. The home fire what would we do without the sound of it let alone the cozy wonderful heat it pumps out for us. I reflect on the home fires over the years, you know there has been very few years in my life where there wasn't a "home fire". The cookstove was always my favourite home fire. I loved it in the early mornings as a child and my dad would get me putting the shavings and kindling into the firebox with the whole top side opened up. We would put in a few little pieces of wood and once the fire got going on would go the fittings and dad would leave the one spot open as we moved the kettle over the flames to start the water to boiling. It wouldn't be long and the oven could be opened up and dad would set a chunk of wood under the oven door so that you could put your feet up on it without the fear of breaking the door off its hinges. The smell of the burning wood and the smell of the cooking breakfast was alwasy my favourite part of the day it seems. Guess that might be why to this day I love the early mornings.
I have tried to post on here for a few days and gave up as it wouldn't post and wouldn't post my emails either but seems to be posting again so here is praying and I will try to get the posting done and prayerfully posted too.
Thanks for your comments everyone I tried to answer them but no go~~
I am sippingThis photo was sent to me by a friend from OOtsa Lake in northern BC Look close and you can see the four grizzlies swimming together tea and wondering what wonders will be brought forth this day!
We will not be attending our church service out here as we are down to the last of our gas and need to keep it for the day the LORD blesses us with a cheque so that we can go to town and spend said cheque. You know pay on bills buy more gas so we can get home and maybe even some groceries. That would be exciting. It has been awhile now since wehave bought any groceries so I can easily draw up a list just wish I knew how much I can afford then it is the old prioritize the list thing. That part I am not quite so fond of. Soooo~~the day will be spent here doing things that can be done. Reading our bibles together and praying together. Praying our one son's hand will heal quickly and well. It was cut at the meat-cutting course he is taking and severed the tendon(s) on the back of his hand. He has it all stitched up and in a cast and still plugging along on the course which he seems to be really enjoying.
His wife and family are holding down the fort while he is doing this. Not a small feat for a lady with five little ones. She is a homeschooler too. I am thankful they don't have to pack water and feed a bunch of livestock. That would be pretty much overwhelming with chores. Her older boys are a big help to her so that is good good.
Our one daughter is on her way to Hawaii with friends today for ten days. She has the time off of work. She is a public health nurse. Nice break for her.
Back here in the land of winter is a long ways from a Hawaiin vacation that is for sure. But if you are a coyote here chasing a huge moose out of the hayfield so you can have it all to yourself. Stretching out in the bright sunshine on top of the spakling white snow. Weeell now Hawaii is just at your finger tips. It is all a matter of perspective my dears!
Think I will leave off now and go make some breakfast and get on with the things of the day.


And thou shalt love the LORD thy God
with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command
thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto
thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou
sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by
way,amd when thou liest down, and when thou
risest up.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7

God bless you with
a wonder filled Sunday!
Roxanne

This is Wednesday!

So this is Wednesday. The temperature is warming up to -20 this morning! Praise the LORD! I have the fire stoked the highway truck has just gone by. Which it does four days a week at about this time each of those four days. Just clear and cold but not as chilly as it has been.
Yesterday I made the bread~~I make eight loaves in a batch. I also got a good start on the next quilt. I am not by any means a professional quilter just a self taught one. And still struggle with lots of the things to do with quilting but figure grandchildren are so appreciative and not very critical. It is good they do not know what to look for to know if it was a good job or not.
Good ego booster for me if they just like it and use it. Which so far they all have.
I followed one of the many moose trails yesterday on snowshoes. That was fun. Even when Sassy pup stepped on my one snowshoe and sent me flying into the snow. It took a bit to get untangled and get up as I was dumb enough to go out with out a walking stick so after a few tries of breaking through the snow( more like swimming in the snow) I finally got myself untangled enough that I could get my feet pointed back in the right direction. Both pointing forward at the same time and using the old tummy muscles pulled myself up into a standing position. Sort of like a big sit up but stand up you can not use your arms as you just break through the snow and your feet are on top and besides the dogs look at you real funny like~~what on earth is she doing this time???~~
Oh well I did make it back home and got my wood chopped and came in for tea.
Today will be more of the same so to speak. I have my bible study which we are still working on in 1 Peter, still chapter one. Kay Arthur analyzes the books she is teaching on so much. But it is good~~I am not sure how many times I have read chapter 1 now. Each time something new comes to light so guess even though it sounds boring if one is still learning it is worth the work.
Then there is house work of course. Today I should make some kind of cookies for when people drop in. Believe it or not even out here people drop in almost always unexpectedly and it is nice to offer something with their coffee or tea. I am thinking of peanut butter cookies and chocolate chip cookies as I haven't made these good old standbys for awhile. I had made a big batch of sugar cookies for Valentine's Day. Well between the family that was here all week-end and different people that dropped by on their way here or there. They are gone gone gone.
So with that in mind and washing up some fabric so I can cut out a shirt for my husband my day is pretty well summed up. The fabric is heavy grey denim. I make a heavy workshirt for him out of it. These shirts are so great and last a long long time. I use heavier snaps on them with the help of a son that usually puts them in for me as I have this nasty habit of making bit holes ~~not sure why I do that but now I just take them to him and he puts them on his little anvil and puts them in. Works for me. His wife is good at it too and she shows me everytime and I just keep giving it to them to do. I am an old dog who doesn't want to learn that new trick hahahaha

The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart:
and a good report maketh the bones fat.
Proverbs 15:30

Hoping all of you have fat bones today
God Bless
Roxanne

Ice Age

It is Sunday morning~~it is 30 below~~the dogs are hugging the heater~~everyone else in the house is still sleeping~~it is 30 below~~the logs are popping and banging~~the trees outside(yes I have been outside a bit this morning already to let dogs in and out) the trees outside are popping and making their shotgun shells~~Praise the LORD for the grown children that have come to visit~~the happy doggies~~a husband that loves me~~the joy of grandchildren~~and at 30 below there are no mosquitoes or blackflies!!
I am trying not to think of when spring will come. That could be a challenging thought or thoughts especially when you hear from people in the states and they are GARDENING!!We don't even know if we have earth!!I think that is what the trees are growing out of~~maybe they are just frozen sticks stuck into the snow with branches with green needles so that we know there is a different colour in the world besides beautiful sparkly white!!
Mud could be beautiful !
Anyhow I do have a big rice pudding to make up for breakfast and some muffins too. I think I will make cocoa oatmeal muffins and one other kind of muffins. Then there is the little retirement party all of us are heading off to this afternoon so I need to make some kind of finger food for that. Was thinking of cheese pinwheels and cinnamon pinwheels. They go over well in these kinds of things and I have the ingredients and they are cheap and easy to make.
Been teaching our Michelle to crochet.She is doing really well with that. Now to try and teach her to knit sometime today.
We will have to start our other wood heater this morning as it is just way to cold in here. The only warm room this morning is the kitchen. I want to have a shower and scared I will freeze to death if I stay long in the bathroom
hahaha
Think I should go and see if I can warm up as the computer is not in a warm room at present and although I am wrapped in a warm blankie my fingers and toes are going to break off soon.


Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart.
All you who hope in the LORD.
Psalm 31:24

God bless all of you
with a super wonderful
SUNDAY!
Roxanne ps I am also praising the LORD for INDOOR PLUMBING!!YES!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU!
The morning at Blackwater River Ranch on Valentine's Day~~~
Doggies everywhere. The part of the family that is here for the week-end till Monday also brought their two pups. There are seven dogs (I think LOL)
The morning is dawning grey but the spirits within are anything but grey!
Dad and his young son are playing "go fish" Granpa is tending to the coffee pot. Some are still sleeping~~horses are pawing at the last of that round bale. We are making them clean it up before the next bale gets put in. So far no moose can be sighted from the house. I think one can safely say it is a happy mellow morning!
Plans for the day are just hanging out and making meals. We were thinking of going to a community potluck that is an hour away but decided all of us are rather tight on the gas thing. Tomorrow is a retirement "party" thing for the busdrivers as the two~~a married couple~~ are retired now and they drove the school buses in this area for so many years they can drive this windy road with their eyes closed. Over 30 years. I would say that is an accomplishment and a half. They are still close to sane too with the wild bunch in this area. hahaha
This young grandson that is here is impressing all of us how well he can count and "Dad, I can count all the way to 20-10 now! hmmm pretty good huh?
Last night he won a card game by a million eleven. Must have inherited some of my genius genes!
It is -13 or so here this morning. No wind at no snow at the moment. All is well at the ranch and so~~
I had better go make some pancakes and eggs for the crew here and see what else we are going to do.

For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son that
whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

May the LORD bless you with
a great and happy safe Valentine's Day
Roxanne

It is only just past 7 a.m. and I can see outside. Yes, it is still a little darkish but it is a grey morning and thinking back to how dark it was at this time of the day just a short while ago. It is wow! The days are getting longer~~it is still light out at 5p.m. cool!
Father Winter is still blasting us with his cold breath although it is warmer this morning than it has been in the previous couple of mornings.
I can handle that. I love snow and winter especially how cozy the inside of the house is. With winter winds, snows, and not to forget the ice It is so wonderful and heartwarming to come into a cozy room that smells of woodfire and good food cooking. Even the lights give off a golden amber hue to the rooms. Cats and dogs sleeping stretched out by the stove. I love it all.
Our one grandson has finished the second book of the Eragon series~~life is full of dragons and magic right now. He told me the other day that he would like to write some kind of stories along this line using the people of his family in it and friends. I can hardly wait to see what he comes up with. I wonder if the horses will possess magical powers or lariats that come to life or hmmm It is going to be interesting.
another grandson phoned us the other night too. He and granpa had a nice long talk about wagons. This grandson loves his granpas wagon that is at his house and uses it everyday. So they talked of prices of them and places to buy them and what makes are the strongest etc. Maybe he will get one for his birthday his mom says.
We have company coming for the week-end ~~some of the family so my day will be spent doing some kind of baking and doing a little tidying~~like the upstairs beds are nicely made and ready set for to sleep in except for the boxes and tubs full of scraps of fabric piled on top of them. Think it would be very hospitable of me to tidy that up It is probably alot more comfortable to sleep in a bed with out boxes on it.Ha ha!
I am really frothing at the bit to start fixing up the greenhouse and getting it ready for to start seedlings in. It would need some kind of heat too. The old groundhog didn't help us out in that situation. Seeing as it is still very wintery out.
It would be nice to get the old chicken coop cleaned up and out and set it up with some kind of heat and get it ready for the future event of chicks. We would like both laying hens and meatbirds again.

He who works his land will have abundant food,
but he who chases fantasies lacks judgement.
Proverbs 12:11 NIV

in KJV it say it like this
He that tilleth his land shall
be satisfied with bread:
but he that followeth vain persons
is void of understanding.
Proverbs 12:11

As you go about your day
may your fantasies turn into
worthwhile realities.
Roxanne

If it is at all possible the world is even whiter this morning than yesterday. More new beautiful white sparkly fresh snow covers our world. Our world that had just had the trails shovelled. So the aerobic arm muscle work out is on the agenda for me this morning. Cups of tea to booster my energy level. Have some breakfast quickly and do my bible study lesson and out the door I go. HI HO HI HO to shovel snow HI HO HI HO HI HO!!
I love how there is always always something to do. Talking about things to do I actually did figure out how to do a log cabin quilt square. Cool cool. And I finished reading my grandson's book "Eragon" now he can have it back so he can draw the cover dragon. Dragons are pretty cool. He does a really nice job of them. He likes to trace them and then finishes them up. Very nice.
Even in our snow-covered world the last couple of days we have had company from two different ranches. Some from down the road and some from up the road. What a special blessing that has been. They are all Christians too. The ones up the road from us even actually occasionally make it into town to the same church we go to if we go to town for church. They were dairy farmers from back east and are now learning to be beef ranchers. They are totally blown away with the difference between beef cattle and dairy cattle. Can't get over how the cattle here will stand around eating weeds and bark off of trees when their milk cows wouldn't even touch their water if there was some stray grain or grass floating on top of it. And the vastness of this country is something else they are trying to wrap their heads around. Thousands of acres is a lot bigger than 200 acres!!
All in all it has been a blessing and soon as the LORD blesses us with some gas money maybe we will get to do some visiting ourselves.
Meanwhile back at this ranch ~~Dennis has built me a fine set of "rustic" video shelves. It is so nice to get them out of boxes and the boxes out of here. We have a huge box of videos we are just going to take to town and trade.
Purrsha one of our cats has herself a very comfy bed on top of my sewing that is in a pile on top of our kitchen table. Hmmm! I guess I had better get that old Home Management Binder out and blow the dust off it and start reading again about how to keep house ~~I am sure there is a page in there about how to keep the top of thine table clear and cat beds are on a different page~~
My meat supply is down to pork and more pork, a beef heart, and two old chickens. I am tiring of pork so have to decide if I want the menu today to include beef heart or stewing chickens. Still have potatoes and rice etc. So no problem there just decisions and menu planning so that we do not have to eat the same thing day in and day out before there is some way provided for us to get some different meat. I really miss the reserve at times like this. I do not remember missing meat back home there. Always there was something whether it was game or beef or of course lots of salmon. Oh well so much for Egypt~~there is no cucumbers and garlic growing here either.


How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number
than the sand:
when I awake, I am still with thee.
Psalm 139:17 &18

Praying your day is full of adventures
even the ordinary adventures of life.
Roxanne

Moonshine Morning

The sweet breeze wafted over my face as I lay semi-asleep or semi-awake whatever you call that at 4:30a.m. I looked up to the window sill to see one of the cats sitting very still looking out at the wondrous world outside our bedroom window. An owl be heard off in the distance. The cat knew she was safe on her perch.We both looked now at a world full of new-fallen snow and moonshine. Clouds hung over the horizon. Little twinkles of stars pierced the early morning sky. This dead of the winter early morning sky! I felt I had been specially honoured by God to be able to just enjoy.
Our snow is getting fairly deep now and the temperatures have dropped again but not to very cold as it is only -10c or for those of you on the farenheit scale it is somewhere around 5 above.
Yesterday in the late afternoon I was upstairs doing some mending for a friend when the dogs started to bark. Then the sound of a vehicle!! Shock it is coming down our driveway. It is something to hear a vehicle here but when you do they are usually going to go by on the snow-covered dirt road not come in our driveway. It was neighbours from a ranch down the road about 11 miles away. What a pleasant surprise. They told us the little old general store has actually been leased or something and is open for business. They are getting the cafe going too even looking into getting the gas pumps going. ~~Oh my we will be thinking we are right uptown pretty darn quick here.
But now if you need a can of milk or some tea and of course the dreaded cigarettes will be available, never fear. I am hoping they won't sell liquor.
It is such a privilege to live here and experience the daily life of just living here I can only Praise my LORD!
My day today is shaping up in my head: there is a bible study lesson to do, mending and cutting out log cabin square pieces that I am experimenting with. Probably make potholders out of them. I have to make bread today too. There is snow to shovel and I would like to clean up my porches. The male cat we are babysitting has sprayed on an old wood cookstove on the main porch. when the temperature is a little warm it smells like cat pee. Not a pleasant smell for to have greet folks or ourselves. I will have to wait for it to warm up a little before I can do anything about that at the moment.
I think I can keep myself occupied though no fear of getting bored.
I have been pretty sick so this is just a little howdy doody to all of you. Letting you know I am on the mend and so glad I so rarely do get sick because blaaaah.

and whatsoever ye do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the LORD JESUS,
giving thanks to God and the Father
by him.
Colossians 3:17

Have a Bright and Cheery day
Roxanne

Chills.fever,and another Day of Warm Temps

I sit here at the computer wishing so much that I could just put drainpipes in my sinuses. I have not had a cold like this for many years now. I guess I should get it once in awhile. Sipping teas, drinking juices,slurping homemade soups, snorting salty water, showering for the moisture(I never stink lol)wanting to sleep but can't. If I am not shivering I am burning up. Well~~that about sums up the state of my health at this present moment in time.
Outside of that I am trying to get some hand embroidering done on a stuffed toy I am making for a little grandson but can't seem to stay focused on anything for very long.I want to try to cut out squares for log cabin quilt square patterns maybe make them up into potholders cause I could use some new ones. It would be nice to try it out but we will have to see how I am feeling by later today.
There is always more snow to shovel which I am going to have to do today whether I like it or not.It is only zero here or maybe -1. Incredibly warm which I am not at all complaining about just stating the facts of life here.
All the animals are enjoying this nice break from the cold. Lots of snow though. One of our son's and family live a ways away from us but they REALLY have the snow.
I also have some bible study work to do if I can muster the energy to think which will be a challenge to me this morning.

A mans heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9


Have a great Day
Roxanne

Rockabilly Saturday Night

The music from the CBC radio stationed blasted away bringing with it the nostalgia of years gone by. Back home on the reserve Dennis and I were quite the dancers by the elders opinions. So back to the present we danced together around the kitchen trying not to trip over the woodpile and managing to scare the tar out of the dogs. They found hiding places under chairs and tables. We had fun.Rocking the night away at Blackwater River Ranch. Stiff drinks of tea in our cups and laughing and dancing and thinking this is the life. Oh by the way both of us are kind of sick with a cold thing that blaaah but that did not dampen our spirits just didn't go to the gospel sing we were invited to. I wonder if maybe we are getting bushed.
This morning the snow is really coming down. We will not go out to church at our pastor's house this evening. Don't think they want us to share our bug.Have lots to do here to keep ourselves occupied so we won't get bored or anything.
Breakfast is out of the way and think it is time for a shower. Then I will start on my day of what I have not fully decided. There is the usual and still have more mending to do for my friend. Should work out a menu now that I have some groceries to choose from. There is this lovely kitty litter box to clean. YUK!! But it is not pleasant smelling so better be done soon today.I would like to keep sewing. I tried cutting the pieces for a log cabin square by scissors as my quilting rolling cutter is not working. It is broken. It is hard to keep everything really straight. but am thinking I will cut long strips and then just measure the lenghts I need and cut them that way. Have to remember my colour scheme too. which piece goes in which place. Shouldn't get alzheimers doing this. Man oh man my poor widdle brain is being pressure

The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of
illness;
You will sustain him on his sickbed.
Psalm 41:3

In Christ
Roxanne