The gun has played a critical role in history. An invention that has been praised and denounced… Served both hero and villain alike… and carries with it moral responsibility. To better understand the gun is to better understand history.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Gun
The gun has played a critical role in history. An invention that has been praised and denounced… Served both hero and villain alike… and carries with it moral responsibility. To better understand the gun is to better understand history.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
PSALM 2009
Obama is the shepherd I did not want.
He leadeth me beside the still factories.
He restoreth my faith in the Republican party.
He guideth me in the path of unemployment for his party's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the bread line,
I shall fear no hunger, for his bailouts are with me.
He has anointed my income with taxes,
My expenses runneth over.
Surely, poverty and hard living will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will live in a mortgaged home forever.
He leadeth me beside the still factories.
He restoreth my faith in the Republican party.
He guideth me in the path of unemployment for his party's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the bread line,
I shall fear no hunger, for his bailouts are with me.
He has anointed my income with taxes,
My expenses runneth over.
Surely, poverty and hard living will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will live in a mortgaged home forever.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Ruger Vaquero .44 Mag 5 1/2" Stainless
Gun For Sale
Ruger Vaquero .44 Magnum. Old style with heavier frame will last a lifetime of heavy loads. All fixed cowboy sights. Stainless metal and rosewood handles. Less then 300 rounds through it. Clean gun in good condition. Only light scratches from normal handling, no deep scratches, dings, other marks. No box or papers. Hard to find gun. Feel free to ask questions. More pictures available on request. Happy bidding!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=162956444
Birthday Celebration
All I had on my wish list were books and I got most of them which I'm very excited about! With life getting busier I don't know when I'll get to reading them but I'll try to make some time. They were all either farming related or Christian literature.
Lydia made the crown for me out of pipe cleaners. There's a 22 on the front, a horse because I ride, an egg since I'm getting chickens, and a bow and arrow. Quite creative.
Concerts
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Videos on Honing a Straight Shaving Razor
For those of you who are interested I found these YouTube videos on honing a straight shaving razor. I learned quite a bit from them.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Bill Bryson
A computer is a stupid machine with the ability to do incredibly smart things, while computer programmers are smart people with the ability to do incredibly stupid things. They are, in short, a perfect match.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Thoughts of Judy
Aunt Judy's birthday was March 13. In memory of her grandma organized these thoughts of her.
Judy was easily teachable; she took any instructions seriously and tried her best to follow. As we all would agree that “Do unto others as you would have them do unto me” is a good rule to follow, but how many of us really do that? Example: As we were sightseeing recently, going through a crowd of people, I was walking ahead of Judy, sort of shoving my way, and when I looked back I couldn’t see her. She had stopped, holding the door open for others. That’s what I should have been doing!
At Darrell’s and Charlotte’s wedding, our little ring bearer got sick down at the front amidst the beautiful ceremony, even to the point of throwing up. My first thought was, “Oh yuk…..what’s going to happen now?” Before I knew it, Judy was down there with a handful of tissues and tactfully, inconspiculously, escorting him backstage. What a gal!
At Dean’s graduation from Western, we were in a heated auditorium, sitting on bleachers, when the woman behind us fainted. Again, I was thinking…..”O dear, someone ought to do something…but what?” Judy didn’t think twice, she was there, taking her pulse and giving instructions for someone to call 911.”
When Josh was in high school band, Judy was Band Mom, meaning she helped oversee the band when they performed, making sure they were properly taken care of when making out-of-town appearances, etc. I happened to be spending the weekend in Yakima when their band marched in the Ellensburg parade, prior to the rodeo. Judy asked me (no, she TOLD me) to walk with her & the band through downtown Ellensburg. That was difficult enough for me to do, but it so happened that a girl in the band got sick, and Judy immediately dropped out with her “patient,” telling me to go ahead with the band to the finish where you’ll all be given lunch. What trust!
Josh tells about the time his Dad was in a car accident (hit by an irresponsible driver). When Judy got to the scene, she went to the distraught woman who seemed to be having a rough time, to console and help her. Don’s thinking, “What are you doing? She’s the one who hit me!”
(Jon) A few of my favorite memories Aunt Judy are the times she saddled up her horses and let us all ride. It was great fun for us who never got the chance. I also remember one week Uncle Don and Aunt Judy were in Seattle. My Dad and I were there too attending the ATI seminar in the evenings. One day they took me salmon fishing in the sound. It was a first time for me and they made it really special. On our way home we stopped by a few fishing shops and they showed me around.
I remember her as always being very gentle and thoughtful. She tried to make the time we spent together extra special.
I’ve traveled through the airport a few times with her when she was on a feeding tube. Of course Airport Security makes a big thing of that. As she goes through the archway for metal detection, she always tells them about the pack she’s carrying and the purpose. We soon hear “Female Assist!” and she’s taken aside to be carefully checked. Even with being wiped down with a special material and it placed through a machine that will detect radioactivity, she’s thoroughly drilled with questions. Even a 2-page medical documentation provided by her doctor offers no help. Standing by watching this for 20 minutes, I’m the one getting impatient with all the prodding. I was even interrogated about hand-carrying an extra 2 cans of her nutrition. Later, when expressing my irritation to Judy, she says, “It’s okay Mom; they’re just doing their job.”
(Dean)….Since Judy was 10 years older than me, most of my memories of her were of her being a second mom to me. I’m sure Dwaine, Darrell and I must have exasperated her at times but I don’t ever remember her “losing her cool.” I remember her liking my snakes, lizards, frogs and bugs. I never knew the satisfaction of being able to scare my sister with a snake or a spider. Once, when one of my snakes died, she was excited to be able to dissect it. When I was a student at Western, I traveled with 2 friends to E. WA to see the total solar eclipse Feb 1979. We stopped by to visit Judy, and although she was battling morning sickness (with Josh), you would never know it. She was so gracious and happy to have us visit her. I remember hugging her and her holding on to me, barely able to stand up, weak as she was. I enjoyed getting to know Don as we went on hikes, played on the church softball team, and learned from him how to wrestle. But I especially enjoyed the experience of working with him in a fruit warehouse one summer and living with their family. I saw up close how they raised their children, were frugal with their money, and demonstrated such a tender love toward each other.
I’ve never seen the amount of love poured out on a person as I did on Judy during those last days in the hospital. Until she was kept totally sedated, she talked with visitors and there was good communication and encouragement given. When Dr. Lee, podiatrist, for whom Judy worked 8 yrs. visited, he told her she was definitely the best nurse he’d ever had! When the Hospice nurse came to explain the program, she cried, having worked with Judy for years. Every card, note, or spoken message was precious, knowing how much our Judy was truly loved and appreciated. Dr. Bracchi pushed all rules aside and allowed any number of visitors, even her 4-mo.-old Ian, to be with her. I later was telling Dr Bracchi how much I appreciated all he’d done for her, how I’d never known a doctor to give his patient his cell phone number and insisted she call anytime, day or night….and even to offer to take her into his own home during those last days. He looked at me and said, “She’s not my patient, she’s my friend.” He was the first to phone the home after her death to offer condolences. Super doctor and friend!
Her Dad and I paid very little towards her 4-year nurses training at the U.W. She worked one summer 7 days a week, finishing at 9 p.m., driving a Joe truck, selling ice cream bars. For a period of time during her college years, she took care of a quadpleghic man in his home. During the first 3 years of nursing she lived at home, riding to and from the U.W. with her Dad, then during her last year, she shared an apartment with a friend near the U. and rode her bicycle to class. She seldom asked for money. During one break, she went on a summer mission to Mangor, Maine, working with a home health nurse in a low-income area. The night before she was to fly home I talked to her by phone, asking the normal questions as to how she was and did she have enough money with her. She replied cheerfully, “Oh yes, I’m okay. I’ve got .30 and I shouldn’t need to buy anything til I get home.” When I showed some doubt, she ended up borrowing a dollar from the missionary she was with, but later said, “but I didn’t need it.”
Judy was easily teachable; she took any instructions seriously and tried her best to follow. As we all would agree that “Do unto others as you would have them do unto me” is a good rule to follow, but how many of us really do that? Example: As we were sightseeing recently, going through a crowd of people, I was walking ahead of Judy, sort of shoving my way, and when I looked back I couldn’t see her. She had stopped, holding the door open for others. That’s what I should have been doing!
At Darrell’s and Charlotte’s wedding, our little ring bearer got sick down at the front amidst the beautiful ceremony, even to the point of throwing up. My first thought was, “Oh yuk…..what’s going to happen now?” Before I knew it, Judy was down there with a handful of tissues and tactfully, inconspiculously, escorting him backstage. What a gal!
At Dean’s graduation from Western, we were in a heated auditorium, sitting on bleachers, when the woman behind us fainted. Again, I was thinking…..”O dear, someone ought to do something…but what?” Judy didn’t think twice, she was there, taking her pulse and giving instructions for someone to call 911.”
When Josh was in high school band, Judy was Band Mom, meaning she helped oversee the band when they performed, making sure they were properly taken care of when making out-of-town appearances, etc. I happened to be spending the weekend in Yakima when their band marched in the Ellensburg parade, prior to the rodeo. Judy asked me (no, she TOLD me) to walk with her & the band through downtown Ellensburg. That was difficult enough for me to do, but it so happened that a girl in the band got sick, and Judy immediately dropped out with her “patient,” telling me to go ahead with the band to the finish where you’ll all be given lunch. What trust!
Josh tells about the time his Dad was in a car accident (hit by an irresponsible driver). When Judy got to the scene, she went to the distraught woman who seemed to be having a rough time, to console and help her. Don’s thinking, “What are you doing? She’s the one who hit me!”
(Jon) A few of my favorite memories Aunt Judy are the times she saddled up her horses and let us all ride. It was great fun for us who never got the chance. I also remember one week Uncle Don and Aunt Judy were in Seattle. My Dad and I were there too attending the ATI seminar in the evenings. One day they took me salmon fishing in the sound. It was a first time for me and they made it really special. On our way home we stopped by a few fishing shops and they showed me around.
I remember her as always being very gentle and thoughtful. She tried to make the time we spent together extra special.
I’ve traveled through the airport a few times with her when she was on a feeding tube. Of course Airport Security makes a big thing of that. As she goes through the archway for metal detection, she always tells them about the pack she’s carrying and the purpose. We soon hear “Female Assist!” and she’s taken aside to be carefully checked. Even with being wiped down with a special material and it placed through a machine that will detect radioactivity, she’s thoroughly drilled with questions. Even a 2-page medical documentation provided by her doctor offers no help. Standing by watching this for 20 minutes, I’m the one getting impatient with all the prodding. I was even interrogated about hand-carrying an extra 2 cans of her nutrition. Later, when expressing my irritation to Judy, she says, “It’s okay Mom; they’re just doing their job.”
(Dean)….Since Judy was 10 years older than me, most of my memories of her were of her being a second mom to me. I’m sure Dwaine, Darrell and I must have exasperated her at times but I don’t ever remember her “losing her cool.” I remember her liking my snakes, lizards, frogs and bugs. I never knew the satisfaction of being able to scare my sister with a snake or a spider. Once, when one of my snakes died, she was excited to be able to dissect it. When I was a student at Western, I traveled with 2 friends to E. WA to see the total solar eclipse Feb 1979. We stopped by to visit Judy, and although she was battling morning sickness (with Josh), you would never know it. She was so gracious and happy to have us visit her. I remember hugging her and her holding on to me, barely able to stand up, weak as she was. I enjoyed getting to know Don as we went on hikes, played on the church softball team, and learned from him how to wrestle. But I especially enjoyed the experience of working with him in a fruit warehouse one summer and living with their family. I saw up close how they raised their children, were frugal with their money, and demonstrated such a tender love toward each other.
I’ve never seen the amount of love poured out on a person as I did on Judy during those last days in the hospital. Until she was kept totally sedated, she talked with visitors and there was good communication and encouragement given. When Dr. Lee, podiatrist, for whom Judy worked 8 yrs. visited, he told her she was definitely the best nurse he’d ever had! When the Hospice nurse came to explain the program, she cried, having worked with Judy for years. Every card, note, or spoken message was precious, knowing how much our Judy was truly loved and appreciated. Dr. Bracchi pushed all rules aside and allowed any number of visitors, even her 4-mo.-old Ian, to be with her. I later was telling Dr Bracchi how much I appreciated all he’d done for her, how I’d never known a doctor to give his patient his cell phone number and insisted she call anytime, day or night….and even to offer to take her into his own home during those last days. He looked at me and said, “She’s not my patient, she’s my friend.” He was the first to phone the home after her death to offer condolences. Super doctor and friend!
Her Dad and I paid very little towards her 4-year nurses training at the U.W. She worked one summer 7 days a week, finishing at 9 p.m., driving a Joe truck, selling ice cream bars. For a period of time during her college years, she took care of a quadpleghic man in his home. During the first 3 years of nursing she lived at home, riding to and from the U.W. with her Dad, then during her last year, she shared an apartment with a friend near the U. and rode her bicycle to class. She seldom asked for money. During one break, she went on a summer mission to Mangor, Maine, working with a home health nurse in a low-income area. The night before she was to fly home I talked to her by phone, asking the normal questions as to how she was and did she have enough money with her. She replied cheerfully, “Oh yes, I’m okay. I’ve got .30 and I shouldn’t need to buy anything til I get home.” When I showed some doubt, she ended up borrowing a dollar from the missionary she was with, but later said, “but I didn’t need it.”
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Hand Pump Installation
One thing that disappointed me was the only two options for piping are PVC or galvanized metal, two things I wanted to stay away from.
I wonder if there is a better way... a bucket?
Inherit the Land: Adventures on the Agrarian Journey
This DVD will cast a vision for your family by providing an introductory look at the blessings found when families work in an agrarian lifestyle. Franklin Springs Media has traveled across the US and captured stories of families experiencing the joy of working in God’s creation. From a simple garden in a suburban backyard, to a full-fledged multi-thousand acre farm, or something in between, these stories will not only bless those that are contemplating an agrarian path, but all families that have a heart turned toward home and enjoy seeing a beautiful picture of family life.
Inherit the Land features families from across the nation, including the wonderful West ladies from the Homestead Blessings series, the Michael and Susan Bradrick family in gorgeous Washington state, the Houk family in central Illinois — who’ve been farming for three generations — the Wilson family in Virginia, and many more! Hosted by Jim Bob Howard, this DVD is beautifully filmed to capture the true essence of family life on a farm.
Monday, March 15, 2010
A Journey Home
I just watched this movie and really appreciated it. I enjoyed learning about the way they live, something that really interests me, and the way God used them to serve Him. It's a good movie for the family to see.
Winner of the Jubilee Award for Best Documentary at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, A Journey Home tells the story of the extraordinary path traveled by Tommy Waller, his wife Sherri, and their 11 children.
“The story of Tommy’s magnificent family captured my heart and demanded that we make this film,” said Ken Carpenter, producer/director of A Journey Home.
The story of the Waller family was filmed over an 18 month period, and includes scenes in Russell Creek (an Amish/Mennonite community), and the historic communities of Franklin and Leipers Fork, Tennessee. The film also travels with the Wallers as their current work unfolds in Jerusalem and in the West Bank areas of Israel.
“Although the Wallers essentially strip away all of the conveniences most of us equate with contentment and happiness, they possess a joy and contentment quite unlike the average American family,” explained Carpenter.
“It’s very gratifying to now see audiences being challenged and encouraged by Tommy’s commitment to his wife and children. We live in a world where television and films almost always portray the normal family as largely dysfunctional. The story of the Wallers gives us hope and a wonderful vision of what family life can really mean,” added Carpenter.
The Journey Home DVD is packed with Bonus Features that will enhance your experience with this inspiring family.
A Journey Home features music by The Peasall Sisters, Marty Goetz, and Stacy Jagger.
Winner of the Jubilee Award for Best Documentary at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, A Journey Home tells the story of the extraordinary path traveled by Tommy Waller, his wife Sherri, and their 11 children.
“The story of Tommy’s magnificent family captured my heart and demanded that we make this film,” said Ken Carpenter, producer/director of A Journey Home.
The story of the Waller family was filmed over an 18 month period, and includes scenes in Russell Creek (an Amish/Mennonite community), and the historic communities of Franklin and Leipers Fork, Tennessee. The film also travels with the Wallers as their current work unfolds in Jerusalem and in the West Bank areas of Israel.
“Although the Wallers essentially strip away all of the conveniences most of us equate with contentment and happiness, they possess a joy and contentment quite unlike the average American family,” explained Carpenter.
“It’s very gratifying to now see audiences being challenged and encouraged by Tommy’s commitment to his wife and children. We live in a world where television and films almost always portray the normal family as largely dysfunctional. The story of the Wallers gives us hope and a wonderful vision of what family life can really mean,” added Carpenter.
The Journey Home DVD is packed with Bonus Features that will enhance your experience with this inspiring family.
A Journey Home features music by The Peasall Sisters, Marty Goetz, and Stacy Jagger.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Horse Show
Friday, March 12, 2010
Funston House Fire
For those of you who haven't heard: On March 9th, 2010, Craig and Gwynne Funston watched their family home burn to the ground. Living at home are daughter Kendra (20's), sons Layne - 19, Drew - 17, Seth - 15, Kyle - 12, Abel - 10, Silas - 7. They are located in southern Alberta near Foremost. This is the second fire to destroy their family home in 5 years.
Message from eldest daughter, Kendra:
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Under the circumstances we are doing well, friends have taken us in for now - the same ones that kept us after the last one. We so appreciate everyone's prayers, it is wonderful to see the rallying of God's people to our need. We are thankful that it happened while we were all together and not asleep in our beds; and thankful that all of our lives were spared. Drew, Seth, and I were even able to rescue a few things before it was too dangerous to be in the house. If we had realized sooner that the whole house would go, we would have grabbed more (hindsight is always clearer). Layne called 911 immediately and the volunteer fire fighters came within half an hour. There are many what ifs we can think of but God allowed things to happen the way they did for his purposes.
We were eating supper together when it started. One of my brothers had an old woodstove that he was using to work with metal (heating and pounding - blacksmith type work, a wonderful hobby it seemed). Sometimes he smells of smoke when he comes in but Tuesday night Dad and Mom suddenly smelled a stronger smoke smell - Dad got up to look out the computer room window to check on the old garage and at that moment the flames burst above the roof. The guys all raced outside to see what they could do - pull some things out, throw water on it... Mom has always been sensitive to fires and when she saw the flames she went weak and wasn't able to do anything. We tried to get the garden hose going but it was frozen, so we tried dumping buckets out the upstairs windows to protect the house siding but that was ineffectual. (The "old garage" is only 10 feet from the house, it was a garage for the other "dead" house).
Shortly before the fire trucks arrived the roof of our house caught fire. They almost got the fire out while it was only in the top story but ran out of water before it could be completely contained and put out. By the time the empty water truck had refilled and returned the main floor was engulfed and the whole house was doomed. It was a horrible feeling to see that the flames had reached by bedroom on the other side of the house, and then a horrible feeling to see that the main floor was also gone.
That night the Collins took the three youngest boys home, and Josts have had the three older boys for the last several nights, and Mom and Dad and I are at the Roberts' home (the same place we all stayed at for a week after our last fire). There are two possibilities for a temporary/rental home near Foremost. We are hoping to decide on one of them soon and move to it early next week. Weekend in the Word is scheduled for next weekend and we are continuing with that plan. It is going to be our biggest WW yet with 140 people. Everyone in the church has been so good about opening their homes to the young people, and even more generous now that we are unable to take any ourselves and have much more to think about.
I was able to rescue our computers, photo albums, and some files/papers (coincidentally including the insurance claim file from last time - it will be a huge help in remembering what we had). We all feel more equipped to deal with life having a few of our own things. But there is still much we will need to get once we have a place to live in. Through friends and the Red Cross we have our material needs taken care of for the next week or so (clothing, housing).
Thank you so much for your prayers. They have helped us get through these last couple days.
Kendra
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
2nd Riding
This evening I road for the second time on Playboy again. He's an amazing horse! Allison is a good trainer and I've learned a lot in the little time I've been there. I saddled up by myself and worked most of the evening on getting a feeling for steering.
We had another lecture this time on using the round pen working with 2 year olds. I'm catching up online with the lectures I've missed. Last night I watched one on horse behavior and I have another to watch on tack and equipment.
No pictures of me yet. I'll ask Allison to take some. Here's one of her and Playboy.
We had another lecture this time on using the round pen working with 2 year olds. I'm catching up online with the lectures I've missed. Last night I watched one on horse behavior and I have another to watch on tack and equipment.
No pictures of me yet. I'll ask Allison to take some. Here's one of her and Playboy.
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