My Daddy...

Daddy had another heart cath done today and they had to put in another one, below the one they just put in a couple of months ago. Mom said they told her he came through it ok and they didn't have to shock him like they did last time. This is good! Hopefully, Daddy will feel much better this time. He is half way through his radiation treatments!!!! Wooo! Hooo! Only twenty more to go. They are going to keep him overnight, which is standard procedure. He will get to go home tomorrow, on his birthday. My sister-in-law said he only did this so he wouldn't have to have a party! Daddy just grinned. I love my dad!!

I start work on Tuesday as a temp for a company in Mt. Vernon, Fabral?

Another Win!!!

The Fredericktown Ladies Volleyball team won their game again tonight against the Johnstown team. They won all three games. It was good! There were lots of smiles going around the team.

Could you all pray for my dad? He has to go in again tomorrow morning for another heart cath. He has started having the same pain in his back and shoulders like he did a couple of months ago before they put the stent in. He has his radiation treatment then goes in for the cath.

Blessings....

More interviews...

Well I had my 1st interview for a second position yesterday at COTC and they also told me about a temporary job that they would be having as well. I should know something about both jobs at COTC by the end of the week. At least, that is what they told me. I had signed up with the staffing company of Acloche and they called me with a temporary job in Delaware. I have to go there at 2pm today for an interview with the Delaware branch manager of Acloche. We will have to see how that goes. I just wish I had gotten these calls before my unemployment ran out! My online business is starting to pick up so I won't have to work outside the home for long.

This weekend, Sunday, is our Anniverysary, 29 years, can you believe it? Daddy's birthday is Saturday. He will be 68 years young. Love you Daddy!!! Handsome, isn't he? Happy Birthday!

Blessings...

They won!!!!

The Freddies won tonight! The gym was like a sauna. Really made you appreciate the Freddies air conditioned gym! It was so cool in the hallways, but you walked into the gym and it almost took your breath away it was so hot! The varsity girls volleyball team won all three of the games tonight against Utica. They were all excited about that! Check out the video!

Blessings...

Game lost...

I have another interview tomorrow at 2:30 at COTC. Pray it goes well.

Highland beat the Freddies tonight. Three games to one. They were all close games. The Freddies did win the third game. Sarah was a bit upset because the team hasn't quite jelled yet. Hopefully they will all come together soon.

Do you think???

Do you sometimes wonder what God has in store for you when things are just not going right and things are falling apart around your ears? I have thought about this all year. Yes, this year has been a real stinker and the worst so far...in my short life of 47 years :-). I know adversity is supposed to make you stronger but there are times when I think, "Okay God....What gives????" I know God has a plan for my life and that I am to touch many lives in one way or another.

So far this year I have lost my job of 13 years, Sarah has been very ill, Daddy was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then had to have a stent put into a blocked artery then started radiation therapy, Ivan (father-in-law) was diagnosed with leukemia (which is in remission right now), Shirley (mother-in-law) is getting worse with her dementia, Tiffany (Missy's sister-in-law) passed away, along with a multitude of other problems....

But, things are looking up!!!! My online business has picked up and seems to be speeding along!!! To which I am extremely grateful! My coach, Scott, has given me many ideas to pursue to make my business grow even quicker. And it all involves photography! How cool is that?!?! One of my most favorite things to do!!! God is blessing........

Blessings to all....

Sarah's Scrimmage from the 21st

Check out Sarah's scrimmage from Tuesday the 21st.

Blessings....

COTC....volleyball

I had another interview, this time at COTC. I think it went well. I have another one at COTC on Tuesday for a different position in the same office as this last interview. I should know something by the end of the week about the interview I had at Kenyon College. Today was Sarah’s first day of school of her senior year. I can hardly believe my baby is a senior already! I took pictures!! She was like…”Jeesh mom!” I love my kids!! I pray that this year goes better for her than last year, healthwise that is. You should have seen her yesterday at her scrimmage. It was good to see her smile a lot. She really looked like she was having fun. I even took a funny picture of her…See!!


Blessings....

Rain, rain go away....

Wow! What a ton of rain! It can slow down anytime now. We have had about 4-5 inches of rain already. This is definitely not good for the crops. Hubby said if it doesn't slow down the soybeans will become diseased and that will not be good! Too much rain is just as bad as not enough.

Well, my unemployment runs out this week. My online business is growing, just wish it was faster. But, that takes dedication and being faithful to working it. I know God brought it to me for a reason. Many of my upline and team are Christians and have been very faithful in prayers for different requests I have sent out. They are there for each other and willing to help where they can.

Dad had had 12 radiation treatments so far and is doing well. Mom said he is still working and doing everything he always does. He hasn't noticed any difference yet. Hopefully he won't have any side affects from the radiation. Hubby's dad, Ivan, his cancer is still in remission as far as we know. He is due to go back for a checkup soon. Mom-in-law's dementia is getting worse and Ivan is still in denial and won't seek help with her. She is still driving and taking care of their bills, although I am not sure how. Just pray for them that something will come along to help Ivan to see something has to be done and that there is help out there.
Blessings

Pickles...

Still canning! I did 11 quarts and 1 pint of sweet pickles today. I have to redo my hot pepper jelly because it did not set up. URGGGGG!! I just made the best soup! You will have to try it!

STUFFED CABBAGE ROLL SOUP
1 ½ lb. ground chuck
1/2 medium onion, diced
2 cups finely chopped bell peppers
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup chopped zucchini (small pieces)
2 cups diced cabbage
1 46 oz. can tomato juice
3 cups water or beef broth
1 14.5 oz. can diced or crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup rice
1-2 tsp. beef base
½ tsp dried marjoram
Celery salt and pepper to taste

Brown meat, drain. Sauté onion, peppers, zucchini, cabbage and garlic till tender. Mix all ingredients in soup pot and cook on low for 1 hour. This can be cooked in a crock-pot on low for 4-6 hours. Note: This soup freezes well in individual portion containers.

Disappointed...

Well, had my big, first time at the Farmers Market and I am very disappointed. I was surprised at how little I sold...but I guess I shouldn't be. Consumers can be a bit persnickity (that is how it is spelled...right?). I think I made about $28, a lot less than I had planned on. But it did give me some new ideas for next time. Missy said it normally is extremely busy. Oh, well! I guess I will try the Fredericktown Farmer's Market on Wednesday if it isn't... raining that is. I canned another 9 - 1/2 pints of hot pepper jelly tonight. I also picked a big dishpan full of cucumbers which need to be made into pickles or relish sometime tomorrow. I still have about 28 BIG bell peppers left that didn't sell at the market. They will either be frozen (chopped) or made into relish, not sure which one yet. Oh, some sad news....our black kitty (see picture below) went to kitty heaven today...she gave her 9 lives on the road. She had somehow climbed up inside the truck bed and when Hubby was driving up the road she jumped out and he accidentally ran over her. He felt really bad. Well, I can hardly keep my eyes open so I will talk to you all later!
Blessings...

I am totally beat!!!

Let's see, what have I canned today? I canned 8 quarts pickled banana peppers and 12 quarts tomato juice. I picked about a dozen bell peppers and that wasn't even half of them. I also have beans that need picked as well as more tomatoes!

So far this is my list of things canned and frozen in the past two weeks:
Green Beans 13 quarts canned, 4 quarts frozen
Tomato Juice 12 quarts canned
Pickled Pepper rings 5 quarts, 14 pints canned
Pickled Whole Peppers 3 quarts canned
Pickled beets 8 pints canned
Zucchini Relish 7 1/2 pints canned
Hot Pepper Jelly 8 - 1/2 pints canned
Corn 48 quarts frozen

Okay...now I am really tired! I can't believe I did all that! The only one I had help with was the corn, the rest I did on my own. I am going to take some of it to the Farmers Market and see how it goes. Goodnight!

Blessings....

Eventful week..

My interview today at MVNU in Polaris went well, only about 20 minutes, but it was also for a position that I have previously held before. I think it went well, but it is 40.2 miles one way and it is only part time, so I am not sure it is one I should persue. Well, I have to get busy as I have a ton of tomatoes to can today. Later...

Blessings...

Two Hour Interview...

I have never had an interview that lasted two hours before. It seemed to go well, but then I thought all of my others went well too and I didn't get those jobs. I have another one tomorrow with MVNU for AGS at the Polaris Campus. This is the program I worked for before. Only problem is that the job is only part-time. I have another interview next Wednesday at 11:00 at COTC. I was informed that it would be approximately two hours too. Hubby had an interview today as well. Get this! His interview lasted about 4 1/2 hours!!! And they didn't even talk wages... He is really debating on what to do. But it will be in an air conditioned shop building engines, which he loves to do. He won't have to work in this horrid heat, or hang upside-down inside a huge piece of equipment or be on his knees for hours working on equipment. The benefits look really good to. I guess we have to wait and see what they offer him for wages.
Blessings....

ARGGGGHHHHH!!!! CORN!!!!

We did 54 quarts of corn tonight! Actually with what Missy and Joe took home we did about 64 quarts of corn, that we cut off the cob, that is.. Don't ask how much we ate! Or how much found its way on the ground, the table, and pretty much all over us!! LOLOL I finally had to go and wash my glasses cause Missy was cutting (or should I say mashing) her corn off the cob with a dull knife and was spraying me constantly with corn juice! LOLOL We kept giving her a hard time! We ended up giving Missy a bunch of corn we had already "skinned" as Renee would call it. We finally finished up about 9:40, thank goodness.

I am starting to freak out over my interview tomorrow...I hate interviews with four or more people who give you situations and you have to tell them how you would handle it. urgh! It is a necessary evil I guess....

Blessings...

WOW!!! Another call for an interview!

I just had a message on the phone for another interview...at COTC. I left a message and will be waiting on the call tomorrow! Cool Beans!!!!

Blessings...

Corn....Corn....And MORE Corn!!!

We cooked and cut off 22 quarts of corn last night over at a friend's house and are going back to do A LOT MORE tonight! We only went through about four rows and there are about 26 rows altogether... Doesn't that sound like a lot of fun? ARGHHHHHHHHHH!!! I think corn is the only vegetable I absolute HATE to do! And hate is not a strong enough word! We have a large crew coming over tonight and we are going to get an assembly line going. We will then divide the spoils when we are done. Well, I had better get all my stuff together so I can get to work.

Blessings....

Another Interview!

I have another interview on Thursday with MVNU at the Polaris campus for a part-time secretary/receptionist...I know, I know...been there done that and moved on up, but now I have been dropped and need to pick myself back up and pull myself up by the bootstraps and keep going! Hubby has an interview on Wednesday too! We will have to wait and see what they offer him whether or not he takes it. Just pray it will be good!! He really needs a break. This heat has been killing him! He comes in just completely exhausted. Sarah came in today from practice with a migraine and had it all day. She is feeling a bit better now and was able to go to bed without it. She is supposed to hang out with some of her friends tomorrow night. Her one friend just had an accident a couple of weeks ago where one of his relatives was killed when his motorcycle hit his truck at a high speed after he had pulled out of his driveway. He was pretty devistated. I just hope and pray that they don't actually pursue charges. The poor guy is a senior in high school and going to have to live with that the rest of his life. It would be bad enough if it had been a stranger, but his own relative! I can only imagine how hard that is to live with. Pray for him if you will please.

Blessings....

Interview!!

Kenyon called me back for a second interview! They just left a message and I need to call them back. I am up to my neck in Amish Friendship Bread! You know when you get a start of it sometimes it takes on a life of its own! I am in the process of making little pans of it to sell at the Farmers Market. I am into my second batch and have four more to go of one bag. I have another bag that has to be divided into five more batches. See what I mean? LOLOL Mighty tasty stuff though! Hubby takes it to work and it is gone in less than 10 minutes and they are always asking for it. I told him to take orders! I might be able to make some money that way.

Blessings...

Break time...

It was nice to not really do anything today other than cooking. Hubby and I went over to Mike and Renee's and went swimming. It was so nice...expecially the exercise. The water was nice and warm...80 degrees. Hubby saw a huge meteor this evening when he was out putting wood in the stove (outside stove we heat our water with it). I think I will go out and check out the meteor shower later, it is supposed to peak after 12:00am. Too cool!! I love this kind of stuff!

Blessings...

Salsa, salsa and more salsa!

Today I canned 18 pints of salsa, Sharoni's Peach-Corn-Black Bean Salsa!! I had two pints that wouldn't fit into the canner, so I guess we will have to eat them!!! LOLOLOL Oh what a problem.... I also broke a huge bowl of beans that I will be freezing and cut up most of my green bell peppers and will be making more hot pepper jelly with those. I am thinking I might try and sell it at the Farmer's Market....what do you think?

Sarah had a scrimmage today and said it didn't go well...it was at Amanda Clearcreek (?). She no sooner got home and had to take her shower and leave for work. She didn't get back home till almost 10pm. She was one tired puppy!

I have been working on my own web page for my pictures, cards, posters, calendars, and etc. "Treasures from Heaven's Country". I also want to start writing again...maybe finish my novel "Spirit Wind." I also want to finish my book on butterflies of Knox County. I need to keep dreaming and staying positive...I know God has a plan for me...I just need to keep the faith and keep going and keep giving Him the glory...

Blessings

Another one...

Hmmm...I think the interview went well...I guess I will find out next week when I either get the call for another interview or I get the "sorry Charlie" letter. At this point I don't know what to believe because I thought all of my interviews so far went very well. I am totally stumped! McDonalds and Walmart are both looking kind of good at this point.

I picked one row of beans and had an overflowing bowl. I still need to get the rest of them picked and then check out my other two rows. I picked some tomatoes...some weighing about 2 lbs!!! They were huge! Just look at it compared to my one cup measuring cup!

Here are some pics of my kitties.

Blessings...

Canning and Disappointed....

Thursday, I am still canning. I did 7-1/2 pints of zucchini relish this evening. More to do tomorrow. Probably will do salsa and beans. Hopefully it will be much cooler tomorow. We had a doozie of a storm this afternoon, but it cooled it down a bit.

Today was my Mom's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!! I called my brothers to see if they remembered and they hadn't, so it was a good thing I called them!! Dad had his fourth radiation treatment today and is still feeling ok. I am glad for that. With this heat he said he walked over and fed the cows and was wringing wet with sweat before he got back across the hill to the house.
Well, I am very disappointed. I didn't get either of the jobs I interviewed for this past week. I received both "sorry Charlie" letters today. Man, I just don't get it! I am either under qualified or over qualified. I do have another interview tomorrow, via telephone, with Kenyon College. We will have to wait and see if this one will pan out. I sure hope so! All this rejection is starting to weigh me down....Please keep praying that God will provide....I know He will...

Blessings....

Job Interview....More veggies!!!

Well, I had my job interview today in Mount Vernon. I think it went well. They will look over all the interview they are doing today, Thursday and Friday and then call a few back in next week for a second interview and decide from those and the person they hire will start after Labor Day. The only problem with that, is if they hire me, I will be two weeks without any pay of any kind because my unemployment runs out in two weeks. That is NOT good! I hope that Manpower calls me and hires me then I would start next Monday. I just have to learn to be a bit more patient and let God do His thing.....

I chopped up my zucchini and onions and have them sitting in a brine. Tomorrow I will rinse them and chop the peppers to go into it and make my zucchini relish. I also shredded two quarts of zucchini for the freezer to make zucchini bread. I picked almost a dozen cucumbers tonight. That is about all I could handle because of the heat. I will have to go out tomorrow and pick my tomatoes and beans. I might be able to make some salsa tomorrow too. I will have to get busy really early though.

I talked to mom today and she said dad had completed his 3rd radiation treatment and just 37 more to go. He said he is feeling ok, just a bit tired, but that may be because of the heat. He said he wasn't doing too much since they are under a heat advisory.

Hubby is getting a bit anxious about the weather and lack of rain. He is constant checking his cell phone...he is technically challenged but someone showed him how to put it on his phone and now he has the weather on it. I don't know which is worse...watching the weather channel all the time or him checking his cell phone!! I guess you will have that when you are married to a farmer!!

I will have to take some pictures of our little kittens to post. If anyone wants one or more...please let me know!! LOLOL There are 5 of them....

Blessings.

The garden is overflowin'!!

I canned 8 half pints of hot pepper jelly today. I may have gotten too much hot pepper in it! I licked the spatula and boy the afterburner kicked in after I swallowed!!! Whooooooeeeeeee! It is really good on crackers and cream cheese. I still haven't figured out what I am going to do with all the bell peppers I picked last night. I might make some pepper relish and zucchini relish with them. I will have to go cut some cabbage tomorrow. I have about half a dozen ready to cut.

It is too freaking hot out to do much gardening! I was out there today for about 15 minutes and thought I was going to die. I have no idea how hubby can stand it out in the shop with no air blowing and the humidity so high. It is like a sauna. Poor Cookie (my 6 year old beagle) stayed inside most of the day. She would go out for a short time and then would be at the door wanting back in.

Hubby and I went over to Mike's house and swam this evening...cooled off!! They have a really nice above ground pool. Jack, Mike and Renee's Labradoodle, was his regular roudy self. He is so funny! Hubby gets on the floor and romps with him and Jack just loves it!

We have been blessed with an abundance of kittens this year and here is one peaking from behind the bannister of the deck. Isn't she pretty? She has two other siblings, a calico and a solid black one. Their mother is tortoise colored.

Well, say a prayer for the job interview tomorrow. It is at 2:00 and I am not sure how much it pays yet. It figures that everything in the garden is starting to get ready to can and I may get a job. I need to go and search for more jobs to apply to....Later

Blessings!

Canning anyone????

Okay....I am totally whipped. I just finished canning 8 pints of pickled pepper rings and 7 pints of pickled beets. Tomorrow I will do my green beens and maybe some cabbage (sauerkraut). I had to look up a recipe for pickled beets on the internet...I couldn't find my old faithful recipe that used honey.

I got a call today for another interview. WoooHooo!! Wednesday at 2:00 in Mount Vernon. I also received my testing packet for the post office in Mount Vernon. I applied for this job way back in May. I should know, hopefully sometime this week if I got the job in Mansfield. I hope and pray something comes up soon as I only have three more weeks (including this one) of unemployment left.

Sarah has started volleyball tryouts this week...very hard workouts. She came home and crashed today after her practice. Her boyfriend, Taylor, came over Monday evening and pigged out on fried donuts before dinner...I think it kind of slowed him down a bit for dinner...He is an absolute bottomless pit!! I sent him home with one of my pints of pickled pepper rings that had popped open. Okay...it is still good...I didn't send him home with something spoiled!

Okay...I have been up way too late again and need to high tail it to bed...tomorrow will be another long day of canning....

Blessings!