Day 221- Packing Up Camp! November 9, 2009

And moving to Nairobi, Kenya- AFRICA!!

Answered prayers have spurred blessings to fall down from the heavens upon us in the form of a work contract for Hubby to commence the end of November. I’ll follow mid to late December, once Hubby gives word all is on the up and up.

Prayer Requests:

1. Aunt’s Prayer: We will be dry and warm this winter. (Well- I think we may be overly dry and warm this winter…)
2. My prayer for Hubby: He’d be sent a job or contract that would take him away from a position forced upon him to do ethically and morally challenging things.
3. My prayer for Hubby: He’ll be given a job that will be challenging- mentally and physically for him.
4. Prayer for Me: I’d be sent a mission Hubby & I can both agree on. (There’s many missions there, and hubby has agreed it would be ok!)
5. Prayer for Us: We’d be blessed with an income that will help to make our homesteaders’ dream happen.

Ok. At least- 5 answered prayer requests off the top of my head to be answered in one foul swoop. There’s more!

1. I prayed that if we were to go that there would be not hurdles or challenged impeding on our path. (There hasn’t been one so far!)
2. I’ve been praying for God to show himself to Hubby in a real way. More real than anything he’s ever witnessed or could deny. (I believe this will happen here.)
3. It has always been a dream (for both of us) to walk and live among a good African tribe: Live as they live, dress as they dress, eat and gather as they do, learn their ways of survival in an unforgiving land. (That is a possibility.)
4. I’ve always wanted to see a big cat or giraffe, ride an elephant… Go on a safari! (These are all possibilities as well!)

In short- I believe that God is orchestrating all of this, and Praise HIM for doing so! What a wonderful God he is to take us on such grand adventures… all because of faith and love! I’m blown away!

THANK YOU, GOD!!!

For Betty: November 5, 2009

Dear Betty-

Hopefully by now you are somewhere in Minnesota. I hope and pray that you made it. I have been blessed by you and by meeting you, our discussions and Divine appointment.

You had asked me a question that I attempted to answer: “If there is a God, why doesn’t he take care of all the starving people in 3rd world countries, mostly Africa?”

I tried to answer with a religious response, failingly… I wish I could take back that moment, and answer correctly, in that the reason there are so many starving people is due to over population and corrupt governments.

Africa’s government in the 80’s made it illegal to be bush-tribes, i.e.- live off the land in remote areas… claiming that the presence of the tribes was killing off all the native animal species. Disregarding – of course – unregulated hunting and poaching.

So, these people forced into slums had no way of gathering their food and supporting themselves. Out in the bush, the land controlled their population for them. In the slums- there is no population control. Many die- yes. Die in vain- yes. It is unfortunate.

Some of the peoples have revolted and returned to the bush, relearning and reclaiming the land and ways of their ancestors- lost due to forced “civilization”. Similar to many other cultures of today. These people are called: Back to the Landers. I praise their attempts. If people lived off the land, as they did in early civilization- do you think our world would be in the state of catastrophe it’s in today?

Betty- I know you’re thinking now, “Well- Why isn’t God helping these people?” My response- Maybe he is, and we don’t know it. God works in incredible ways unfathomable to us humans. He weaves such intricate webs using many different people in ways unbeknowance to them to achieve incredible outcomes.

If I ever go to Africa- I’ll find out- for sure- why there are so many starving people there.

Day 216- First Frost November 4, 2009

Yesterday- bitter sweet. The day I say goodbye to my Hubby for a week or so is the morn of the first frost.

Thankfully I have plenty to do while he’s away… I intend to have a couple pair of sweats sewen up for him with fabric we purchased at a sale… and get a roof done. A ROOF! Bunny barn needs some touching up. We had just gotten one side of the roof done with tar paper, and the other side with a tarp, and the weather came up. Guess what it did? Tore the tar paper up to expose the particle board. I’m worried that the particle board has been damaged and weakened in result. Hopefully drying it out will restore it. Fingers are crossed, but breath is not being held.

We are not worried about the garden, as we’ve already planted our winter greens: Kale, Mustard, Endive, and Swiss Chard.

I like having a lot on my plate while Hubby’s away. Keeps me out of trouble- Scorpio’s love trouble! So, now the trouble is to keep the Bun’s water from being frozen at night.

Day 208- Winter Kitchen & Stranger November 2, 2009

We now have a winter kitchen, complete with floors and rugs. It is comprised of an army style canvas wall tent, 12′ x 14′ (which we soon found out were not thw actual dimensions, as we were hoisting it up on the wooden internal frame which quickly became the outer frame.) and tarps over the top to help with moisture control. We weren’t able to weather proof the fabric before the weather came in.

The floor is painted, and is similar to the floor in the tipi with the pallets below, and particle board on top. We have shelves with counter tops on top of them, a propane stove, ice box, and dining room table w/ chairs.

Stranger is a stray cat who lives in the woods. It is wild, but has befriended “Tipi Creeper”. Stranger has taken to our winter kitchen, and loves the delicacies left out for him to finish off: Carob brownies, potato salad- he ate everything but the green onions, and best of all- bacon grease!!! Oh, my- this kitty has it good! Every morning, when I come out to make coffee, there are patty paw prints all over the counters!

That’s the cost of living among wild creatures in the woods. Entertainment!

Day 206- Super Sube! October 23, 2009

My little car- Ford Focus ZX3, has had a pounding! The daily drive over our little “off road” path to get to camp has taken its toll on my little girl car. Not to mention- becoming a farm car was not her idea of being cute and pretty!

She didn’t realize that hauling chicken compost, hay, tools were in the works for her. She didn’t mind getting muddy or going off road, because she’s a tom-boy car, and likes to challenge herself. But her aching joints are getting the best of her and need replacements.

Unfortunately, those replacements are about as much as she’s worth (to us anyways). So, we’ve bucked up and got a boy car! Super Sube!  A ‘94 Subaru Loyale with 4wd. So far, it is eating up the muddy roads, and we’ve taken it on 4wd roads, and it’s done well! Doesn’t particularly care for going up hill… but we’re going to try and work on that.

Super Sube w/ Chantrelle’s on hood

Like it? We do too…

Our new family car! We’re intending to put a body lift on it, bigger all terrain tires as well. A brush guard, and lights! We intend to use our Subaru the way it was intended. Once it’s lifted, it will have the same ground clearance as a stock Jeep Wranger! 

Oh, did I mention- It gets over 30 mpg!!! Better gas mileage than our girly girl car…

“The Shack” October 5, 2009

A book I picked up and read the back of a month ago, decided it looked good, but couldn’t justify the expense to purchase it.

Thursday, a neighbor friend lent it to me with high regard to its content.

A thriller! Page turner! Conviction, love, forgiveness, hurt, pain, etc.. You just have to read it!

I have some hurt that I haven’t been able to forgive yet, and through that book, it was made aware to me that it is something I must do. If I don’t, the pain will haunt all of my days and cause conflict in my marriage.

I forgive you. I forgive you. I forgive you. I forgive you. I forgive you…

Not easy words to think, let alone say. The more they’re said, the more effect they have on you and  the perpetrator. Doesn’t mean the act has been forgotten, but healing is taking place with those words.

If you like this book, you’ll love  the New Testemant of the Bible!

Day 190- A Slower Pace. October 5, 2009

As the chill air of Fall and soon to come Winter sets in, with temperatures dipping below the 40F Deg. mark last night, our days become shorter and nights become longer.

Our days are focused on working our wood for winter stores as well as staying warm during the day. The evenings and nights are spent under wool blankets cuddling Tipi Creeper while working on crafts and reading.

A time of educating ourselves as well as preparing for hybernation. Our creaking joints ache from the effects of the cold nagging at our cramping muscles attempting to stay warm. Another reason to stay active with that wood!

It’s time to focus on the expansion of our garden. Preparing the soil and tilling it. Our intent is to double its size- at least! This year, we’ve had a nice bounty, but not enough to last until spring. In fact, it’s been gobbled up as soon as it was ripe! Hopefully, next year we can remedy some of that.

Day 183- Buns in the Oven September 28, 2009

I sit here, anxious, nervous & a bit scared. Our first kindle of baby bunnies is to arrive this week, and there’ s much to do still!

We’ve got to make the box, harvest more hair from our molting male, and I don’t know what else… but it’s exciting!

I’ve never seen baby bunnies- I mean freshly born bunnies. I hear their ugly, unsightly creatures with no hair! I’ll know soon enough, but the aniticipation is going to get the best of me, I just know it!

(Squeals)

On another note, we were able to get some sunflower heads for the bunnies. It turns out they love them! Whole (smaller) mature heads with the seeds in them. They eat them complete & gone!

Day 175- Shale Rock Gas Drilling?!?!?! September 22, 2009

It has been discovered that Shale Rock, 6000 Feet underneath the Earth’s surface contains Natural Gas inside it. The gas is released when the rock is cracked or shattered. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113043935

They access the rock by drilling. It seems as though, the only concern about the process proposed is the safe extraction of the fuel. It is very attractive to environmentalists because of the CO2 emmissions are so low when the fuel is burned.

I am worried, and would like to make this point known to whoever is of status in this propeganda: Has anyone considered the effects to the earth’s core and rotational pull should all of this gas-holding rock become destroyed???

Also- this drilling only buys time. Then what? Why isn’t there a governmental focus to educate people to live self-sustainably, without oil or gas of any kind?!?

Money & greed fuels all… I’m sure that is the only reason, but you know- there is money to be had in renewable energies. Why isn’t the primary focus there?

I am interested in any arguments, thoughts, insite or evidence prooving my convictions wrong.

Day 174- Changes… September 22, 2009

Changes, changes.. Oh! Changes..

In the weather, in our garden, in our bunnies, in my duties..

The daylight is less and less with every day. It is very cold at night- bone chilling at times. Our garden is always in transition and changing, but we’re gearing more towards next year now, and the building up & tilling of the soil. Our bunnies are continually changing colors- bit by bit- but are at a stand-still as far as growth.

We are working on my Winter kitchen, in a wall tent complete with wood stove & counters (free from a neighbor who was remodeling). I am most excited about it, because not only will I be able to be warm while I’m working, it will free up some muchly needed space in Tipi. I will have the room needed to continue to learning all the in’s & out’s of being completely self-sustainable. I.E. Soap & candle making, bread & pastries, canning, etc… Exciting thoughts!

My duties have gone from tending to the woods & garden to tending to “be prepared for Winter”. Anything & everything you can think of- blankets, sealing tipi, wood harvesting, and canning. The pressure is on, and it is felt. By my birthday on Haloween, we should be there.