My solider is home on R&R

OK so things are a tad bit crazy right now in my life.....trying to settle the insurance drama on the house...I would not wish this task on anyone...we are all settled in our 32' rented self contained camper...its nice...2 weeks ago my daughter in law flew in with my 3 month old grand daughter ...and a week after she arrived we all went to the airport to pick up my son. It was a very emotional day...he got to hold his little baby girl for the first time...it was heart warming..as soon as I get the internet back up on my computer I will add pics...Enjoy your day

Fire update

Just a quick updateon our fire we will be getting settled soon in the 36' camper soon the power and water are just waiting to be connected, we have retained a lawyer to help us with the insurance negitions...first estimate was rather low and would not cover the costs of the materials we hope to start the domolition as soon but it looks like it will be the middle of May...just as my sone and wife will be here for a visit...which will be well deserved , he is in Iraq and she will be flying in from Missouir with my first grandchild Ava...who I cant wait to kiss a million times..I will try and get the pics posted for you all to see the progress, just not enought time in the day for things..

I have hit a slight speed bump

Hello readers...I just wanted to let everyone know that I have hit a slight speed bump in my life recently...well its was more like a sink hole...but we are getting things somewhat in order....On March 23,09 at 3:30 pm I was just getting ready to go outside when I looked up and there was somoke comming out of the wall.....we were on fire....I was and still am surprised at how well I did...I called 911 and reported the fire....I grabbed my cell phone car keys winter jackets and ran out side to gather up the little guy.....his dad was just getting home from work and we did the one thing they tell you not to do....we went back in the house.....with the 3 year old locked in the van with the dog...I went in to get shoes and some of my sons clothes....the other went in to save his hunting collection of rifles and deer mounts......I made 2 trips to save the clothes 1 for the TV and on the last on in I was able to save the computer.....the smoke and flames wereso far advanced we just waited for the fire dept.....who arrived 7 minutes after my call ....they were wonderful...
The house was gutted and most of the contents were lost....but we are all safe pets also survived and were all found.....I will keep this updated as much as possible to let all follow in the progress of the rebuild..

MV Fiber Farm another chance to win

She is having another chance to win some great books just pop on over and read the interesting post, pass the word, and leave a comment as to where you posted the info...simple as that
and don't forget to turn on the lamb cam as the new little ones are a week away from arriving
(ps I jacked her pic ) don't ya just want to kiss that nose!!

Sap update.....

To date I have boiled a total of 24 gallons of sap and have 8 pint jars on the back shelf........and the little 1/2 pint bottle along with some pre packaged pancakes (from Market Basket ) will be on their way to Iraq for my son who is currently on his second deployment....just a touch of home to remind him that we love him

I am thinking of giving candy a shot this year too....but that is still a thought in progress!!

I have entered a contest

I have entered a before and after contest at http://quiltotaku.blogspot.com/2009/03/quilterknitter-photo-contest-let-games.html
Before shot(left) was taken in the house on a white cloth....the after shot (right) was taken outside this morning on the snow...

so this is how it works I post my before pic then read her quick help guide she has written and take a second pic...the after shot..
the pic is of an item out of my pet line...its a door sack to hold all the treats and toys ($5.00+s/h)
fish shaped for the kitty and I also have bone shaped for the doggie of the house
I would love any and all feed back positive or negative

It's Boiling Time

Well the spare fridge is now stocked with 15 gallons of sap and the trees are being very kind with giving the sap so we started the boil process...mind you we are no large operation here....just 10 pails and a gas grill, but everyone likes to help..Jeremiah and dad get the sap Molly the dog,well she just likes to watch so at 11:30 sunday morning we are ready to start to boil I took 5 gallons of sap dumped it into the lobster pot turned on the grill, sat in the sun with my knitting..I had NO IDEA what was in store for the hours to come...at 12:30 Monday morning I could not take it any longer...I placed the less than 1/2 a gallon of syrup in a glass jar and went to bed...8:30 Monday morning I finished the first boil.. 5 gallons of sap produced a pint of very sweet syrup..

Another boil is in process as I type....I am cheating this time I am using thecook stove in the house with the windows open to help with the steam and the heat...Its going a lot quicker now that I kind of know what I am doing....

5 Gallons WOW

Well a cold night and a very warm day was a success for our sap project, we made the rounds today to the 10 buckets that we have hanging in our yard and we had to make a second run 2 hours later...we collected a total of 5+ gallons and today when I went out I gathered another 3 and once the rain stops and it warms up again today I think we should have enough to begin a trial run of boiling in the next few days...oh and yes that is a old wooden ladder in the way..the roof requires our company when it snows...(it leaks more than the running sap!!) but fear not a new standing seam metal roof is in the near future....