It's Official

Carsyn's violin has been complete since June already, but with all the going's on around the farm there's been no time to post pictures etc.

Besides the finish was still curing ... and he hadn't slipped in to the city to get the official appraisal (for insurance purposes).

That happened last weekend.



The verdict is ... he has created an instrument with a $1,400.00 value. That is really pretty good for his first solo attempt as a Luthier!

He already had a buyer for the violin so it is sold and gone ... and he misses it dearly.

So do we 'cause Carsyn has played it a lot. It sings beautifully, easily.

He'll be making another one ... and another ... and another ...

He's good at it.

This is his passion.

This is his gift.

Way to go, Carsyn! We're so happy for you. Thanks for making the world a little sweeter!

Making Music

In some ways, I guess you could call us a musical family.

Singing in harmony is a recent favorite pastime slowly becoming a ministry. It is always a blessing to sing together. Our hearts are filled with praise to the Father!

Making instruments is another pass time. Our oldest two made their first violin at ages 14 and 11. Since then, Carsyn has had another in the making ... will this be the year that it is completed? Going it alone, without an instructor and in between summer farming seasons draws out the process, but progress is once again being made now that it is winter.


Mostly carved by hand, this project requires a lot of patience, precision and persistance.

Awesome flaming on this piece!


It is so good to see profitable & productive pass times.

The Winner Is ...

Corbyn's can crusher @ Rosehill won the contest -- $100.

Way to go, Corbyn!

Dream Dog

A boy's best friend is his dog, right? And every boy dreams of hooking his dog up to a wagon ... or a sleigh, right?

Our boys did! They have a dream dog!

Misty, willingly pulls firewood through the snow on the sleigh. She makes the job faster & funner!

After practice with the wood, Misty was "trained" and now gives 2 year old (tomorrow is her B-day)"Taya" fun, fast rides too... Faith Mattaya knows how to hang on really tight. She loves it!! It's one of the joys of living in a house full of boys!

Poplar Project Complete

Do you recall the poplar project that our young men started last spring? Well, the whole project took 9 months, but it is now complete & functional.


The feeling of accomplishment is so rewarding. A bunk bed for our six year old twins. They are thrilled with their new bed(s).

It was a long drawn out process. Cutting the trees ... peeling off the bark ... drying the logs took the longest though it was no work at all, lol! ... then cutting the tenons & putting the pieces together ... Corbyn did the lacquering after-hours at the cabinet shop where he works (added blessing) ... finally, assembly and testing was so good to see!





Along the way, the guys have found other uses for their tenon cutters:
... Corbyn designed a can crusher for a contest at his workplace. The boss challenged his workers to come up with something for the lunch room -- rather than purchasing a can crusher. Functional & fun though not at all like the other entries, lol!:


... a tree stand ladder that is both functional and camouflaged:

Poplar Prime Time

The oldest three of our young men have been busy felling & peeling poplar logs.

There is a small window of time in spring that is prime time for this project ... which will make it possible to finish the project later in the year. Grandpa told them they had to wait until just the right time to harvest the logs & peel them - in spring.

Throughout the summer, the logs will dry out & then they will be ready to be used.




It's a lot of work, but interesting and fun ... not to mention a great use of their time and a great productive way to enjoy the outdoors in early spring.


Can you guess what project they have in mind?

Steady Progress

... on Carsyn's violin!

Nativity Collection

Brayden made a lovely new nativity for me ...


Timothy had a new unique nativity idea ...


Corbyn etched a detailed little nativity with pyrography ...


Ken gave me a set of 12 stainless steel nativity cookie cutters -- I think I'll use them dual purpose by using a red ribbon to hang them as ornaments.

Thanks to my guys for indulging my collection.

A Luthier, Maker of Stringed Instruments

We have a luthier in our family. Carsyn is currently in the process of building his second violin.

It's taking shape ...



It takes incredible patience, perseverance and precision. Carsyn is a good match for this project which he had set on hold while he completed his high school studies last year.

Beauty in Burl

Our young men have taken an interest in wood. A few weeks ago they discovered a tree that had been dozed down along a fence line near the park which had an extraordinary amount of burl. Even the roots had burl.

They took some friends along when they showed their Dad the find:



Timothy sitting atop the biggest burl on the base of the fallen tree:



We're all left to wonder what the inside will look like and what could and/or will be created out of this natural blight...

Ready? ... Set? ... LAUNCH!

Click on the banner or click here to view our farm website.

Thanks to Corbyn for a job well done!

Sawmill Field Trip

Ken & the three oldest of our young men went on a field trip to see a circular sawmill in action.



There ... and back = a board!



This circular sawmill took them on a short day-trip up close to Dauphin, MB.
It was a good day. They saw a lot of good features of that type of mill.
They would also like to see a bandsaw mill in action ... a field trip for another day perhaps.

If we rate onto your prayer list, please pray for us as we seek God's will in this matter ... is this something that He wants us to venture into? We do not want to go where He would not have us.

Birthday Blessings

There were many blessings yesterday, but I'll just mention this one crafted by Carsyn ... it's it exquisite?

A Collection?

... of Nativities

To be honest, I've never considered myself a collector, but in all honesty again I'll have to admit I have a collection now ... thanks to a great friend I've left back in SK. who has a collection of more than 50 nativity sets of her own!

I know my favorites are the ones crafted by our own dear sons - and each year they come up with a new style ... or two ... or three. No, I don't tire of them, they'll always be special to me - probably gaining in their degree of sentimentality as the years go by. Indulge me in this, I've never considered myself to be sentimental this much before, but I guess time changes perspectives...?

These popsicle stick nativities made nice little gifts for teachers, family, missionary children, & friends a number of years back - doubling as an excellent craft idea that we enjoyed doing together. And ... having an entrepreneurial mindset, I've even sold some "kits" with instructions in the intervening years so that other children could enjoy them as well.

Here are the criteria that I find myself using to add to my collection (aside from what our sons make):

1. - price is a factor - I greatly enjoy finding a nativity at a garage sale, in a thrift store or in a post-Christmas sale. I always enjoy a good bargin, but to add to my collection makes it extra special.

2. - a splurge could be a consideration if it is a truly unique nativity.

3. - Unique is also one of my criteria.

Putting up nativities is an activity I enjoy also - along with my sons, but especially Brayden who is my budding creative interior decorator. This year, in a new home, it is an additional joy to find new placement for each set.

Would you like to join us as we browse our own Festival of the Nativity?

A new addition, a splurge from Christianbook.com, but now no longer available - this one uniquely tells the whole story of Christmas. Someday my boys may craft something like this out of wood ... ?










The last two can be played with:


Our tiniest nativity glows in the dark. It is plastic so I like to place it in the bedroom where the little guys are so they can see Baby Jesus with His mother & father when they are falling asleep. It adds a nice festive touch to their room:


Tip: Micheal's Craft Store, Peavy Mart and TSC stores here in Manitoba all carry great quality rubber animals. These are a great size to make additions to some nativity sets. My sheep for my porcelain set in the first picture went missing so I replaced it with one from Micheal's - I bought it using a 50% off coupon... and the donkey in the play set was a special request by one of our twins one year - bought at Peavy Mart on a deep after Christmas discount of course.

Those are a few of our nativities. For a complete tour, I invite you to our home - we'll add features like music, food & fellowship ... just be sure to call ahead to make your reservation. We'd love to have you!

In another post I'll have more wood art nativities that our boys have crafted - and are crafting ... watch for it.


To God be ALL glory!

Pictures of Wood Crafts & Gifts

A set of the cedar nativity ornaments made by our boys using a scroll saw. They are also nice as a holiday ornament hung in a vehicle on the rear-view mirror.


A testimony of Jesus, the Reason for this Season.


Pyrography, or better known as wood burning, has been a new interest this year and quite a common interest it is. We found that out when we went to purchase a quality "Razertip" wood burning tool at Lee Valley - they had sold 4 just that morning and we had to wait to get one ordered in. Wow!


For these frames, the boys have used character qualities, depicting animals that demonstrate them and a Bible verse that encourages us unto Godliness.











Gift tags cut from veneer business cards, pyrographed & cut (we cut the hole later with a hole punch). The business cards can be bought at Lee Valley as well, 50 for $3.25.

Handmade Gifts

My love of crafts has passed along to my ... boys?! Yes,BOYS! They do crafts their way ... mostly with sticks and stones, metals & ... bones? Yes, that too(Antlers etc.). They make me so proud! But, before I fall(Proverbs 16:18) I must redirect the glory for all ingenuity and talent back to their Father in Heaven Who has gifted them with everything, in fact their every breath. And I ... am blessed to be their mother.

In past years, wood has been their medium of design. Using a scroll saw they have cut many intricate nativity ornaments using teak. (Look for pictures - I'll post them another day). This year they are making more of those ornaments, this time out of aromatic cedar which has beautiful qualities of color and aroma, but the disadvantage of being a little more fragile. They are hoping to sell sets of these (in fives) nicely packaged in an organza sachet or as singles (the individual ornaments are also VERY nice to hang on the rear-view mirror in vehicles).

Which reminds me, they're also using the tiny scrap pieces to make aromatic cedar sachets - packaged in smaller organza bags.

A new interest for them this year is pyrography, better known as wood-burning. They have literally spent hours with this new hobby making beautiful picture frames, name frames, artfully decoating wooden spoons, transforming veneer business cards into holiday gift tags and gift cards ... the ideas are endless. The pleasures are worthy. The work is purposeful.

I'll let you know how their first sales transpire at my Craft Table on Saturday! Then we'll try other venues ... maybe an Esty shop?

In all we do, we try to honor our Lord - most often best done by quoting His Word in art as well as in voice. God's Word will not return void. We believe that and stand on that truth to send out His Word through the work of our hands.

Ah, the benefits abound: the boys are busy - purposefully, entrepreneurially occupied (hoping to pay off the wood-burning tool with their proceeds), the Word is being planted in their hearts first as they seek it out & then burn it into the wood and again as it goes forth through sales or as gifts.

This Mama heart is blessed, humbled, thankful,
Darlene