Changes & Learning Curves

Whew, what a week!

Monday - Molly arrived and threw us into learning curves with milking by hand. Hey, we're not the only ones, she had to learn with the guys what hand milking is all about. Apparently the milker we have has issues - we're trying to get those resolved.
- Corbyn's ticket was bought for his trip to Cambodia, March 30-April 14, 2010. He's going with his Uncle Darryl on a ministry trip for Children's Camps International. Please pray with us for them & those they seek to serve through this great opportunity!

Tuesday - we finally located and brought home 50 new laying hens. They're as hard to find in Manitoba as the proverbial "hens teeth", lol! From now on, we may just hatch our own in an incubator. Wouldn't that be fun??

- Corbyn started part-time work @ Rosehill Woodcrafters Ltd., but when he came home after his first day he was already full-time. Having him gone all day everyday has really made a huge change in all of our lives!! Of course, he has learning curves to go through at work, but we do too ... changes in schedules & responsibilities etc.

Wednesday - made our first batch of yummy yogurt. Whoohoo!
- Faith Mattaya decided it was worth it to learn how to walk with boots on so that she can go outside, see the animals & play with the kitties.

Thursday - A Happy 6th Birthday for Benjamin & Bronlin. It is so hard to believe that they're already six!! We really celebrated their birthday already on Sunday when Grandpa & Grandma Wiebe were here for a wonderful visit.

again a long day of baking & preparing for Farmer's Market on Friday.
- we made our first butter ... with great success!

Friday - Farmer's Market & shopping in Brandon.
- failed our first attempt @ making cottage cheese ... much to the delight of the cats & dog!

Saturday - resting up and preparing for Sunday & company (house cleaning).
- made our second batch of cottage cheese with success! Yay!

Thank you, Lord, for creating a Day of Rest!

Meet Molly

Our new resident registered Brown Swiss. She's so gentle & patient. She makes this place a real farm!


... notice the llamas are "meeting" her too? They are very curious creatures -- and protective! They have lived here at Klasse Woods longer than we. I guess you could say we "inherited" them with the farm. It is taking a long time for us to win their confidence though, they are still very wary of us.

Health Habits - Oxygen

Oxygen is necessary for life - our life. In fact, without it we die! I know, that's not news to you ...

But did you know that cancer causing free radicals DIE in the presence of oxygen? Since every body has free-radicals, it is in our best interest to give our bodies the optimum edge in the battle to stay on top of that internal situation.


So, how can we get more oxygen into our bodies so that they can function with better efficiency, sustaining quality life and eradicating those pesky errant cells that threaten to take over?

One simple, inexpensive way to get more oxygen is to breathe deeply. Most of us use only about 10% of our lung capacity, there is lots of room to expand that:

- inhale a huge breath slowly through your nose. Let it fill your lungs and then take conscious note of filling your abdomen with air as well.
- exhale slowly, blowing through your mouth.
- try to exhale for longer than you inhaled.

Why? Because when we exhale we are not only releasing carbon dioxide, but also the extra, unused oxygen ... AND TOXINS. The toxins are what you really want to discard.

- once you've noticed how much more air you can get into your lungs try holding your breath for 10 seconds or so.
- when you've mastered that, try increasing the length of your hold.

Why? Because we breathe out so much unused oxygen - this is a conscious plan to use as much as you can. While you can't do this with every breath, the extra oxygen you do get each and every time you do this exercise will promote your good health.

Make your lungs work FOR you.

Do this exercise before you rise and when you retire - and whenever you think of it in-between.

Make it a daily health habit!

Spring?

About a month ago we saw robins already - yeah, I know it seems terribly early for that.

Today the guys spotted horned larks and bluebirds.

Add to that these warm temperatures that really do make it feel like spring. May be it is just around the corner -- it will likely get colder yet and a couple more storms may blow, but it is still a fact that we're almost through another winter.

Venture Advance

Our Beeswax Candle business has made strides this winter ... so much, in fact, that we are already marketing them at the Brandon Farmer's Market every Friday.

The sweet smell of beeswax fills our home as Brayden makes his creations in our basement work room. Many of the candle shapes are formed from molds we've made ourselves. The sense of accomplishment is just as sweet ...



As new things go, we've experienced some challenges in the learning curve - like using the correct wicking as well as the correct wick thickness for each candle - but now, some of those hurdles are behind us, the candles burn brightly clearing the air as only beeswax candles can do and adding much delight to our decor.

Delightful, beautiful, functional and healthful, these candles will make great gifts for anyone and everyone - I know I certainly feel like I've received a gift every time we get to do a trial burn test of one of the newest creations.

SWAGBUCKS Birthday

Do you search the web? Do you use Google when you're searching? Or some other search engine? Do they pay you to search? WHAT? They DON"T PAY YOU?

Well, then it's time you sign up with SWAGBUCKS! They pay you to do what you do anyway. I've been searching through SWAGBUCKS for about a year now -- just through my own searches I have gotten almost $40 ... and I honestly do not do a lot of searching, certainly no extra effort is put forth to get this.

Besides that, if I promote SWAGBUCKS here on my blog (like I'm doing now, smile) and any of you sign-up using the link from my blog I would also earn swagbucks everytime you do for the first while. So -- they pay me to advertise for them.

You can do the same ... and get swagbucks also! Go to SWAGBUCKS now to sign-up. Give yourself a gift, it's SWAGBUCKS' birthday.

Little Helpers

In the beginning, work was a pleasure. We know that God created it as a good thing since it was created before the fall of man.

Have you noticed how young children revel in "helping Daddy" or being "Mommy's helper"? Doing a job well or doing something without being told makes little ones stand tall ... then again, we all feel good after a job well done, don't we?

This struck me as being material for a blog post today when I was buying dishwasher soap -- I buy the dishwasher tablets. For two reasons:

1. In my opinion they do a better job getting the dishes clean.
2. Then my little helpers can do that extra little job too. It is a reward that makes filling the dishwasher worth their while!


The cashier that served me had never thought of letting little ones do this job, but she realized right away the value of the idea.

She was equally impressed with another idea that I shared with her - that of storing dishes in the lower cabinets in your kitchen. Again, so that little helpers can readily help to set the table and/or empty the dishwasher. Little ones as young as three and even younger can begin to help around the house. Everyone can earn their keep, so to speak -- after all, everyone likes to eat!

"If a man will not work, he shall not eat..."

These are just a couple ways that we can capitalize on the natural joy that our youngsters have when working. Making it fun and meaningful at that age builds in them the character quality of responsibility and establishes worth in the family.

It also prepares them for life ... and isn't that what parenting is all about?

Farm Fun

There is no end to fun on the farm ...



Like usual, if you click on the image you can get a close-up view of the boys having fun.

Walking with Mama

... makes me tired!

Growing Things

We grow things @ Klasse Woods Natural Farm. It's what we do.

The other day this is what we saw ...



... our little guys were busy planting ice cicles - upside down. Do you think they'll grow?