tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84602012492936212192024-02-22T08:09:23.381-08:00Slaters' Funny FarmOur life is one of fun, but hard work on our hobby farm. Horses, chickens, dogs, cats, ducks, guineas, pigs, and many other animals can reside here and we love every minute of it! This blog will be a variety of things as well as my thoughts on current events. Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.comBlogger717125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-50287858146070394722024-01-31T06:33:00.000-08:002024-01-31T06:33:46.133-08:00Book Review - The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner<p> <a class="bookTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/297249.The_Boxcar_Children" itemprop="url" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3; text-decoration-line: none;">The Boxcar Children (The Boxcar Children, #1)</a></p><div class="hreview" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="by" style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><div class="authorName__container" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10665.Gertrude_Chandler_Warner" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span itemprop="name">Gertrude Chandler Warner</span></a>,</div> <div class="authorName__container" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/207860.L_Kate_Deal" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span itemprop="name">L. Kate Deal</span></a> <span class="authorName greyText smallText role" style="color: #999999; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">(Illustrator)</span></div></span><br /><div itemprop="reviews" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><div class="big450Box" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; float: left; width: 450px;"><div class="big450BoxBody" style="background-repeat: repeat-y;"><div class="big450BoxContent" style="overflow: hidden; width: 430px;"><a class="leftAlignedImage" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" style="color: #00635d; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="U 50x66" src="https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png" style="border: 0px;" /></a><div><span class="reviewer"><a class="userReview" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" itemprop="author" style="color: #382110; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Carol Slater</a></span>'s review<div class="right dtreviewed greyText smallText" style="color: #999999; float: right; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span itemprop="datePublished">Jan 31, 2024 </span><span class="greyText"> · </span> <a class="smallText greyText" href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/297249" style="color: #999999; line-height: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">edit</a><span class="value-title" title="2024-01-31"></span></div><br /><div style="clear: right;"></div><div class="rating" itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating"><span class="value-title" title="5"></span><span class=" staticStars notranslate" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; height: 15px; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: top; width: 75px;" title="it was amazing"><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;">it was amazing</span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span></span></div><div></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A Classic! I read this as part of a <a href="https://teaandinksociety.com/2024-classics-reading-challenge/">challenge</a> to read classical books and this month was to reread a classic. As a child and a teen, I loved the Boxcar Children series written by Gertrude Chandler Warner and could not wait to read this book again. I decided to start with the first book in the series and I will read the entire series again this month as long as time allows.</div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0YcMAwF_6DQFRY6YftaVWpMRrP-3RV5Xhuw676wvtb4lJnlymsDQsDqNd-tWLkqaVGbWVFDBZaUFVJwORma3g_H3rtz06WuwgQElZzf0iZTHOlV8yXw8TUN8ToJ1yaxLzWPpIYlt7RRYS0KlV5SMI7hC86rWo-aizV7M0nlAa4NCKFXKI0R6Z_iVsoVg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="318" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0YcMAwF_6DQFRY6YftaVWpMRrP-3RV5Xhuw676wvtb4lJnlymsDQsDqNd-tWLkqaVGbWVFDBZaUFVJwORma3g_H3rtz06WuwgQElZzf0iZTHOlV8yXw8TUN8ToJ1yaxLzWPpIYlt7RRYS0KlV5SMI7hC86rWo-aizV7M0nlAa4NCKFXKI0R6Z_iVsoVg" width="163" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />The Boxcar Children is about a group of 4 orphans that are siblings. They feel that they have to make it on their own to stay together. One day while walking in the woods, they discover an abandoned boxcar and decide that they will make it into their home. The children use items that the find at the local dump and in the woods to make items that they need for the home. The oldest brother does odd jobs to feed them and they make do with very little at times, but they are together.<br /><br />Once a gentleman that Henry is working for discovers that there is a grandfather that could help them, he creates a way for them to meet without telling either one. The children are scared of the grandfather, but truly for no reason. They discover that he is not as unfair and mean as they suspected and go to live with him, but they miss some of the things from the boxcar so at the end of the book, the grandfather brings the boxcar to his home.</div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I am happy to have finished my first Classic challenge and I am looking forward to reading my second one in February. It is to read a Nordic or Scandanavian classic and I have chosen to read Sunset Song.</div><div id="review-like" style="float: right; margin-top: 8px; text-align: right;"></div><div id="review-follow" style="margin-top: 8px;"></div></div></div><div class="big450BoxBottom" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 450px;"></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /></div><div itemprop="reviews" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><br /></div><div itemprop="reviews" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><br /></div><div itemprop="reviews" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><br /></div></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><div class=" clearFloats bigBox" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="h2Container gradientHeaderContainer" style="background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 28px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 10px; text-wrap: nowrap; width: 625px;"><h2 class="brownBackground" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); color: #382110; font-size: 12px; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; top: 0px; width: auto;">READING PROGRESS</h2></div><div class="bigBoxBody"><div class="bigBoxContent containerWithHeaderContent" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="readingTimeline"><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 3, 2024 – Started Reading</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 3, 2024 – Shelved</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 9, 2024 – <div class="u-inlineBlock" style="display: inline-block;">page 25</div> <div class="readingTimeline__progressContainer u-inlineBlock" style="background: rgb(214, 208, 196); display: inline-block; height: 12px; width: 50px;"><div class="readingTimeline__progress" style="background: rgb(146, 127, 100); height: 12px; width: 7.8125px;"></div></div> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/759475170" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">15.63%</a></div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 10, 2024 – <div class="u-inlineBlock" style="display: inline-block;">page 40</div> <div class="readingTimeline__progressContainer u-inlineBlock" style="background: rgb(214, 208, 196); display: inline-block; height: 12px; width: 50px;"><div class="readingTimeline__progress" style="background: rgb(146, 127, 100); height: 12px; width: 12.5px;"></div></div> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/760763983" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">25.0%</a></div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 15, 2024 – <div class="u-inlineBlock" style="display: inline-block;">page 82</div> <div class="readingTimeline__progressContainer u-inlineBlock" style="background: rgb(214, 208, 196); display: inline-block; height: 12px; width: 50px;"><div class="readingTimeline__progress" style="background: rgb(146, 127, 100); height: 12px; width: 25.625px;"></div></div> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/764485288" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">51.25%</a></div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 19, 2024 – <div class="u-inlineBlock" style="display: inline-block;">page 93</div> <div class="readingTimeline__progressContainer u-inlineBlock" style="background: rgb(214, 208, 196); display: inline-block; height: 12px; width: 50px;"><div class="readingTimeline__progress" style="background: rgb(146, 127, 100); height: 12px; width: 29.0625px;"></div></div> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/767431043" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">58.13%</a></div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 20, 2024 – Finished Reading</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 31, 2024 – <div class="u-inlineBlock" style="display: inline-block;">page 160</div> <div class="readingTimeline__progressContainer u-inlineBlock" style="background: rgb(214, 208, 196); display: inline-block; height: 12px; width: 50px;"><div class="readingTimeline__progress" style="background: rgb(146, 127, 100); height: 12px; width: 50px;"></div></div> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/776499666" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">100.0%</a></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="clear" style="clear: both; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;"></div></div></div><div class="bigBoxBottom"></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-58472347561747145072024-01-31T06:17:00.000-08:002024-01-31T06:17:47.638-08:00Book Review: Do It Anyway Girl by Michelle Cunningham<p>Network Marketing Read</p><div class="leftContainer" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Book" style="color: #181818; float: left; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="leftAlignedImage" style="float: left; margin-right: 35px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56922798-do-it-anyway-girl" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="Do It Anyway, Girl by Michelle Cunningham" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1612231104l/56922798._SY475_.jpg" style="border: 0px;" title="Do It Anyway, Girl by Michelle Cunningham" width="140" /></a></div><div class="hreview"><span class="item"><span class="fn"><a class="bookTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56922798-do-it-anyway-girl" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3; text-decoration-line: none;">Do It Anyway, Girl: A Playful, Simple, Unique Guide To Achieving Success In Network Marketing</a></span></span><br /><span class="by" style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><div class="authorName__container" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4453488.Michelle_Cunningham" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; text-decoration-line: none;">Michelle Cunningham</a></div></span><br /><div itemprop="reviews" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><div class="big450Box" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; float: left; width: 450px;"><div class="big450BoxBody" style="background-repeat: repeat-y;"><div class="big450BoxContent" style="overflow: hidden; width: 430px;"><a class="leftAlignedImage" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" style="color: #00635d; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="U 50x66" src="https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png" style="border: 0px;" /></a><div><span class="reviewer"><a class="userReview" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" itemprop="author" style="color: #382110; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Carol Slater</a></span>'s review<div class="right dtreviewed greyText smallText" style="color: #999999; float: right; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span itemprop="datePublished">Jan 31, 2024 </span><span class="greyText"> · </span> <a class="smallText greyText" href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/56922798" style="color: #999999; line-height: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">edit</a><span class="value-title" title="2024-01-31"></span></div><br /><div style="clear: right;"></div><div class="rating" itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating"><span class="value-title" title="3"></span><span class=" staticStars notranslate" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; height: 15px; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: top; width: 75px;" title="liked it"><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;">liked it</span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p0" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p0" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span></span></div><div></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Michelle Cunningham has created a life for herself by using the skills that she learned to be profitable in the direct sales industry. This book is a guide for anyone that is struggling with getting their business off the ground and running. Many of the ideas she offers can be used in just about any direct sales or any type of sales job. Well written and full of advice for those that want to take their business to the next level.<br /><br />For myself, I found the book to be the same information that I have been given over the multiple years that I have sold for direct sales. Many of her ideas seem to fit companies like Mary Kay and other make up or skin care companies than other direct sales companies, but you could use her ideas to create your own plan and ideas to do something similar to what she promotes in this book.<br /><br />She writes about how to create a consistent customer base, how to find customers, how to find referrals from customers, and how to sell to those customers. She talks about the struggles that she endured in her early years and how those struggles have led to her success. I believe the advice she gives is tried and true and will lead most sellers to success.</div><div id="review-like" style="float: right; margin-top: 8px; text-align: right;"></div><div id="review-follow" style="margin-top: 8px;"></div></div></div><div class="big450BoxBottom" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 450px;"></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /></div></div><br /><div class=" clearFloats bigBox" style="padding-bottom: 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="h2Container gradientHeaderContainer" style="background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 28px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 10px; text-wrap: nowrap; width: 625px;"><h2 class="brownBackground" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); color: #382110; font-size: 12px; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; top: 0px; width: auto;">READING PROGRESS</h2></div><div class="bigBoxBody"><div class="bigBoxContent containerWithHeaderContent" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="readingTimeline"><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 15, 2024 – Started Reading</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 15, 2024 – Shelved</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 15, 2024 – <div class="u-inlineBlock" style="display: inline-block;">page 61</div> <div class="readingTimeline__progressContainer u-inlineBlock" style="background: rgb(214, 208, 196); display: inline-block; height: 12px; width: 50px;"><div class="readingTimeline__progress" style="background: rgb(146, 127, 100); height: 12px; width: 15.25px;"></div></div> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/764485744" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">30.5%</a></div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 19, 2024 – <div class="u-inlineBlock" style="display: inline-block;">page 77</div> <div class="readingTimeline__progressContainer u-inlineBlock" style="background: rgb(214, 208, 196); display: inline-block; height: 12px; width: 50px;"><div class="readingTimeline__progress" style="background: rgb(146, 127, 100); height: 12px; width: 19.25px;"></div></div> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/767430965" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">38.5%</a></div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 31, 2024 – <div class="u-inlineBlock" style="display: inline-block;">page 200</div> <div class="readingTimeline__progressContainer u-inlineBlock" style="background: rgb(214, 208, 196); display: inline-block; height: 12px; width: 50px;"><div class="readingTimeline__progress" style="background: rgb(146, 127, 100); height: 12px; width: 50px;"></div></div> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/776499715" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">100.0%</a></div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 31, 2024 – Finished Reading</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-52589227989420235322024-01-28T08:11:00.000-08:002024-01-28T08:17:21.292-08:00Sunday Smiles #4 - January 28,2024<p> I always like to share a smile on Sunday and remind you that you are loved and cared for. Each Week, it might be one of my photos or a Google Image but it usually is a smile and a meme or quote about a smile. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjkQ0UfpVRJdqZe74aYNyvRfseomBEx9zL8vV3PTd7WjxxSYqXJveCeMGu5VV35NHFZ9gLykqEtzhQn0w300ryfa3DayL6Cz9rKfhNDTEDHB1kBVHCSrgOTrO7_NU4GCmb8ix19td3A3J5_HEecHGEqXdhWd_NLv2Hh3jWSKxIYdGtaB4DFmdBlShd5E/s1080/HA%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="486" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjkQ0UfpVRJdqZe74aYNyvRfseomBEx9zL8vV3PTd7WjxxSYqXJveCeMGu5VV35NHFZ9gLykqEtzhQn0w300ryfa3DayL6Cz9rKfhNDTEDHB1kBVHCSrgOTrO7_NU4GCmb8ix19td3A3J5_HEecHGEqXdhWd_NLv2Hh3jWSKxIYdGtaB4DFmdBlShd5E/s320/HA%202.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WBDugnvSwPBT6UfoQAzO0fAXrLWCTVncTe43KtrRvq8bDOGlh7R3N929tFnDo31GdeHFkTI5Yta05m1EXZJk5G6COsIbHq6O_SoopBK9ziU_j-B29ym5yiWEeqnue4b0R1VKwFqbZ4R0-qsaTgxxnwAMKTkSILDi6GuUEwUwMB4U1TEQUbXsqmUT4ec/s924/Helen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="416" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WBDugnvSwPBT6UfoQAzO0fAXrLWCTVncTe43KtrRvq8bDOGlh7R3N929tFnDo31GdeHFkTI5Yta05m1EXZJk5G6COsIbHq6O_SoopBK9ziU_j-B29ym5yiWEeqnue4b0R1VKwFqbZ4R0-qsaTgxxnwAMKTkSILDi6GuUEwUwMB4U1TEQUbXsqmUT4ec/s320/Helen.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJYhBhGjC4zRqTAiagutZ8v8xUYfVL9yo8ZJYen0If_9J5vV-Qa9JhXpjAwPsel4fISzyEpV8E_FlLhjq7XOseTJgQgFwEBizfGo7fOTST_pNDG0dv64Hn5itD03dwReBDE-HvCmb5mojY8RUubQ_LuCuZNhtwyOwPf3r5oUzWCd-cYhuKpc9UEkLLI0/s924/Helen%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="416" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJYhBhGjC4zRqTAiagutZ8v8xUYfVL9yo8ZJYen0If_9J5vV-Qa9JhXpjAwPsel4fISzyEpV8E_FlLhjq7XOseTJgQgFwEBizfGo7fOTST_pNDG0dv64Hn5itD03dwReBDE-HvCmb5mojY8RUubQ_LuCuZNhtwyOwPf3r5oUzWCd-cYhuKpc9UEkLLI0/s320/Helen%202.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/pw/ABLVV85x1JSB4U8nn6X_DAufLEp4lnNSVqtRU2fGblNSvuXEXRBpJBJPpIEQS_vJHofFPdVza75791gaMWWO-_6cyTKDlIfwqz34t2PHjcspE8VwMvNKm_gawd-cvKzRBFCHvnKSVTkWOClxlJJEMG35SMIHm-W_t8HVwQQaCPYk3ZqCWWsPQZTv6KA86SbPS2OS9a5qKXp7ph66uAHQ9TGAROmChNgtAwghDMnhZT8PujzXb81g7mwxHxRyuFO1YjRbNvWvw_lX8EcLhKLoIxTuP6w0PJmDuedf6aQLlxCNRRYQKY5zxjQOF9UTjxxGYROqSsTaBO3mXJu1iKDyLk0YOgrGvHZwmy6gnfELzfMkEdk94laf_5hd08VEorXBibDyHG9R6mlitRcU6EfHuTdvbzS9nhbJqK_OTVK1JZLCDaG4RF0KpNvKwfC8pZamHneWpAI9EyvOj4JaX4hwm6moy-BOr-cA6JaUjXqFOXxZnhb2qg7RV0Ei2HbG0ceZIroDRodNwXq6cdl-sc58L81aw2hb6l4nGtYq8qV6lW_Ve6opLkUgJ8iSRrGJkbw9ttyJvj_L3RdOe4dJNupr8UqaFTjywGucV3e6ee4CQPFVPclsZFxoVErnsU-L39utydCg6G0ztdKVxYwSeLwjADwjpnlS7cNyC31f4xMsBSK9FoRfg5eRsu_1ORb37o_PbtgBjJZYT7rPBcL_yeNmR9k3d4WdbfbPLVUvq0ykY7vlEXjgj0Ewobm9dW28VtldmiDOQ-HuNNRnMF52xe0pjVdInJcF-w7EWaJZWfFzFFsuuw_7ujxUr31zwdAkHlwPqt5M7iHREUELggkQiSu_S2LUuxCeXTEeMPra5fEJGzQ0YwSkcOBqQi2ZHsLHIaLXQ2rPf4FezxGXmRiEc4QcZmSX0CRYcw=s924-s-no-gm?authuser=0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="416" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/pw/ABLVV85x1JSB4U8nn6X_DAufLEp4lnNSVqtRU2fGblNSvuXEXRBpJBJPpIEQS_vJHofFPdVza75791gaMWWO-_6cyTKDlIfwqz34t2PHjcspE8VwMvNKm_gawd-cvKzRBFCHvnKSVTkWOClxlJJEMG35SMIHm-W_t8HVwQQaCPYk3ZqCWWsPQZTv6KA86SbPS2OS9a5qKXp7ph66uAHQ9TGAROmChNgtAwghDMnhZT8PujzXb81g7mwxHxRyuFO1YjRbNvWvw_lX8EcLhKLoIxTuP6w0PJmDuedf6aQLlxCNRRYQKY5zxjQOF9UTjxxGYROqSsTaBO3mXJu1iKDyLk0YOgrGvHZwmy6gnfELzfMkEdk94laf_5hd08VEorXBibDyHG9R6mlitRcU6EfHuTdvbzS9nhbJqK_OTVK1JZLCDaG4RF0KpNvKwfC8pZamHneWpAI9EyvOj4JaX4hwm6moy-BOr-cA6JaUjXqFOXxZnhb2qg7RV0Ei2HbG0ceZIroDRodNwXq6cdl-sc58L81aw2hb6l4nGtYq8qV6lW_Ve6opLkUgJ8iSRrGJkbw9ttyJvj_L3RdOe4dJNupr8UqaFTjywGucV3e6ee4CQPFVPclsZFxoVErnsU-L39utydCg6G0ztdKVxYwSeLwjADwjpnlS7cNyC31f4xMsBSK9FoRfg5eRsu_1ORb37o_PbtgBjJZYT7rPBcL_yeNmR9k3d4WdbfbPLVUvq0ykY7vlEXjgj0Ewobm9dW28VtldmiDOQ-HuNNRnMF52xe0pjVdInJcF-w7EWaJZWfFzFFsuuw_7ujxUr31zwdAkHlwPqt5M7iHREUELggkQiSu_S2LUuxCeXTEeMPra5fEJGzQ0YwSkcOBqQi2ZHsLHIaLXQ2rPf4FezxGXmRiEc4QcZmSX0CRYcw=s320-s-no-gm?authuser=0" width="144" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/pw/ABLVV85x1JSB4U8nn6X_DAufLEp4lnNSVqtRU2fGblNSvuXEXRBpJBJPpIEQS_vJHofFPdVza75791gaMWWO-_6cyTKDlIfwqz34t2PHjcspE8VwMvNKm_gawd-cvKzRBFCHvnKSVTkWOClxlJJEMG35SMIHm-W_t8HVwQQaCPYk3ZqCWWsPQZTv6KA86SbPS2OS9a5qKXp7ph66uAHQ9TGAROmChNgtAwghDMnhZT8PujzXb81g7mwxHxRyuFO1YjRbNvWvw_lX8EcLhKLoIxTuP6w0PJmDuedf6aQLlxCNRRYQKY5zxjQOF9UTjxxGYROqSsTaBO3mXJu1iKDyLk0YOgrGvHZwmy6gnfELzfMkEdk94laf_5hd08VEorXBibDyHG9R6mlitRcU6EfHuTdvbzS9nhbJqK_OTVK1JZLCDaG4RF0KpNvKwfC8pZamHneWpAI9EyvOj4JaX4hwm6moy-BOr-cA6JaUjXqFOXxZnhb2qg7RV0Ei2HbG0ceZIroDRodNwXq6cdl-sc58L81aw2hb6l4nGtYq8qV6lW_Ve6opLkUgJ8iSRrGJkbw9ttyJvj_L3RdOe4dJNupr8UqaFTjywGucV3e6ee4CQPFVPclsZFxoVErnsU-L39utydCg6G0ztdKVxYwSeLwjADwjpnlS7cNyC31f4xMsBSK9FoRfg5eRsu_1ORb37o_PbtgBjJZYT7rPBcL_yeNmR9k3d4WdbfbPLVUvq0ykY7vlEXjgj0Ewobm9dW28VtldmiDOQ-HuNNRnMF52xe0pjVdInJcF-w7EWaJZWfFzFFsuuw_7ujxUr31zwdAkHlwPqt5M7iHREUELggkQiSu_S2LUuxCeXTEeMPra5fEJGzQ0YwSkcOBqQi2ZHsLHIaLXQ2rPf4FezxGXmRiEc4QcZmSX0CRYcw=s924-s-no-gm?authuser=0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="416" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/pw/ABLVV85x1JSB4U8nn6X_DAufLEp4lnNSVqtRU2fGblNSvuXEXRBpJBJPpIEQS_vJHofFPdVza75791gaMWWO-_6cyTKDlIfwqz34t2PHjcspE8VwMvNKm_gawd-cvKzRBFCHvnKSVTkWOClxlJJEMG35SMIHm-W_t8HVwQQaCPYk3ZqCWWsPQZTv6KA86SbPS2OS9a5qKXp7ph66uAHQ9TGAROmChNgtAwghDMnhZT8PujzXb81g7mwxHxRyuFO1YjRbNvWvw_lX8EcLhKLoIxTuP6w0PJmDuedf6aQLlxCNRRYQKY5zxjQOF9UTjxxGYROqSsTaBO3mXJu1iKDyLk0YOgrGvHZwmy6gnfELzfMkEdk94laf_5hd08VEorXBibDyHG9R6mlitRcU6EfHuTdvbzS9nhbJqK_OTVK1JZLCDaG4RF0KpNvKwfC8pZamHneWpAI9EyvOj4JaX4hwm6moy-BOr-cA6JaUjXqFOXxZnhb2qg7RV0Ei2HbG0ceZIroDRodNwXq6cdl-sc58L81aw2hb6l4nGtYq8qV6lW_Ve6opLkUgJ8iSRrGJkbw9ttyJvj_L3RdOe4dJNupr8UqaFTjywGucV3e6ee4CQPFVPclsZFxoVErnsU-L39utydCg6G0ztdKVxYwSeLwjADwjpnlS7cNyC31f4xMsBSK9FoRfg5eRsu_1ORb37o_PbtgBjJZYT7rPBcL_yeNmR9k3d4WdbfbPLVUvq0ykY7vlEXjgj0Ewobm9dW28VtldmiDOQ-HuNNRnMF52xe0pjVdInJcF-w7EWaJZWfFzFFsuuw_7ujxUr31zwdAkHlwPqt5M7iHREUELggkQiSu_S2LUuxCeXTEeMPra5fEJGzQ0YwSkcOBqQi2ZHsLHIaLXQ2rPf4FezxGXmRiEc4QcZmSX0CRYcw=s320-s-no-gm?authuser=0" width="144" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Doesn't this just make your heart smile? A little girl with such a happy smile and enjoying a special time with her parents, grandparents? It does make me smile. <div>Enjoy your Sunday!<br /><p><br /></p></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-48333259042711476782024-01-26T04:30:00.000-08:002024-01-27T12:05:05.435-08:00Book Beginings and Friday 56- Jan. 26,2024<p> Good morning readers! Welcome to my Friday post where I link with Gilion at <a href="https://www.rosecityreader.com/">Rose City Reader</a> to share in the Book Beginnings challenge. To go along with this, I also link with Anne over at <a href="https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/">My Head Is Full Of Books</a> to participate in the Friday 56 Challenge. </p><p><br /></p><p>For the book beginnings challenge, readers e to put the first sentence or two of a book that they are reading or one that has caught their eye. This week, my book is <i>Love Finds You in Maiden, North Carolina</i> by Tamela Hancock Murray.</p><p>"Hestia Myatt paused before knocking on the door of her aunt's Victorian home situated in the foothills of the Appalachians in Maiden, North Carolina."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">💟</div><br /><p>For the Friday 56 challenge, readers share a snippet of page 56 or 56% of the book. I always choose page 56 if at all possible. </p><p>"It just means copacetic, Auntie," </p><p>Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but I had no idea as to what copacetic meant. This book is set in the 20's and I am not sure if that word was widely used then or not, but I don't believe that it is today.</p><p>I am not too far into this book yet, but I am willing to bet that it is well worth a read. I am sure that I will find it to be just as interesting as the other books that I have read in January. For all of the readers out there, I hope you find time this weekend to pick up a good book, your favorite drink and find a comfy chair to spend some time in to read a good book. </p><p><br /></p>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-42668320889116075622024-01-23T05:41:00.000-08:002024-01-23T05:41:17.293-08:00Rainy Tuesday<p> After the weatherman predicted us to have a bit of ice this morning, we woke to warmer temperatures and plenty of rain, which equals plenty of mud! The farm is completely a muddy, wet mess! With the snow that we had, which is now melted and the rain we are having, everywhere you step is mud.</p><p>I am thankful for the warmer weather, and we are supposed to see a break in the rain later today, which I am thankful for as well. I am sure that the animals will be more than glad to see their water bowls unfrozen and not waiting for me to bring fresh water out again. The cold caused us to lose a duck and a quail, but overall, I am impressed with the livestock. Truthfully, we are not sure what caused either one to pass, but we did lose them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ac3ce_cdf969e883cb42eeb47d4c0f334cf812~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_577,h_433,al_c,lg_1,q_80/8ac3ce_cdf969e883cb42eeb47d4c0f334cf812~mv2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="577" height="433" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/8ac3ce_cdf969e883cb42eeb47d4c0f334cf812~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_577,h_433,al_c,lg_1,q_80/8ac3ce_cdf969e883cb42eeb47d4c0f334cf812~mv2.jpg" width="577" /></a></div>This is a Google image, but it is how our yard looks. This is how the pastures, and the uncovered chicken runs look. We only have one uncovered, so that is something to be thankful for. <div><br /></div><div>I am glad that our Muscovy ducks are doing well. I really enjoy watching them throughout the day. I like watching them play in the water as we fill their pool when the weather is warmer. I hope to get more of these this spring.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.dartagnan.com/dw/image/v2/BJQL_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-dartagnan-Library/default/dw42752945/images/content/what-is-muscovy-duck.jpg?sw=1200&strip=false" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="800" height="485" src="https://www.dartagnan.com/dw/image/v2/BJQL_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-dartagnan-Library/default/dw42752945/images/content/what-is-muscovy-duck.jpg?sw=1200&strip=false" width="800" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><p>I want to wish each of you a warm and safe day. From our hobby farm to your home. </p></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-18514991015812468822024-01-22T04:00:00.000-08:002024-01-22T04:00:00.137-08:00Happy Homemaker - Jan. 21,2024<p> It's Monday again and it is still cold here, but a warmup is coming. We are to be above freezing this week most of the week. Lots of rain predicted, which we don't need. I will take it over the bitter cold though. I think it is predicted to be almost 50 degrees F this week for a day or two. </p><p>Each Monday, I link up with Sandra at <a href="https://familycorner.blogspot.com/">Diary of a Stay at Home Mom</a> to participate with other bloggers in her Happy Homemaker Monday. It is a place to share our week with other bloggers that are happy to be homemakers and enjoying the time they can care for the home and make it nice for their families. There is a stigma associated sometimes with women who choose to care for the home instead of working a job, but I am here to say it is one of the best choices anyone could make. It is a chance to care for your family and show your love for them in a way that many children know nothing about these days. </p><p><b>The Weather...</b></p><p>Like I said, it is getting warmer, and rain is predicted most of the week. It is nice to have warmer temperatures since life on the farm is much harder when it is below zero most mornings. </p><p><b>Right Now, I Am....</b></p><p>Sitting at my desk writing this blog post and drinking a cup of coffee. I am enjoying the Green Mountain Blueberry coffee. It is one of my favorites at the moment. </p><p><b>Thinking and Pondering...</b></p><p>How life takes such fast changes when it comes to the health of our parents, selves, and friends. I just recently learned that a friend had an abnormal mammogram, and she is due to have a biopsy next Monday. I have mine tomorrow and it makes it scarier to think that she seems very healthy and then gets hit with this news. Another friend has dealt with rectal cancer this year and she has struggled with treatment. It seems that health scares come at the times that you least expect them, and it is usually worse than you can ever imagine.</p><p><b>How I Am Feeling....</b></p><p>Rather nervous about my mammogram and bone density scan tomorrow. I am sure that they will be clear, but I am nervous. I am sure the arthritis in my neck is worse than it was 2 years ago. I am thankful that I know God is in control though. I am also thankful for the warmer weather. We have to be positive in our thoughts or life could be a very long, dark road. </p><p><b>On the Breakfast Plate ....</b></p><p>Probably toast with apple butter as I am going shopping with my daughter today. </p><p><b>On the Lunch Plate ...</b></p><p>Not sure, since we will be out, I am thinking it may be chicken nuggets from Chic- Fil-A as I have been craving them recently. </p><p><b>On the Dinner Plate ...</b></p><p>Cornish Hens with veggies and rolls</p><p><b>On The Menu ...</b></p><p>No idea as I have not worked on it yet this week. My husband does not like for me to plan meals, but I usually do anyway. I don't like the fly by the seat of your pants idea. </p><p><b>What I am Wearing ...</b></p><p>Jeans and a sweater. Since we are going grocery shopping, I decided I would wear a sweater today as they look nicer than a sweatshirt. </p><p><b>On My Reading Pile ...</b></p><p>1. Do It Anyway Girl by Michelle Cunningham. I am reading it as encouragement and ideas for my Pink Zebra business. </p><p>2. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner for the Classic Challenge at<a href="https://teaandinksociety.com/"> Tea and Ink Society</a>. </p><p>3. Love Finds you in Maiden North Carolina by Tamela Hancock Murray</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347385495i/6011602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="254" height="400" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347385495i/6011602.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>The roaring twenties come to a small town. At a time when most American girls are dreaming of bobbed hair and flapper dresses, Hestia Myatt dreams only of becoming a doctor. Stinging from a broken engagement, she heads for the quiet hills of Maiden, North Carolina, to care for an ailing aunt. While there, Hestia becomes reacquainted with her former childhood nemesis, the now - handsome Booth Barrington. Things are going well for her until a glamorous cousin, Selene, arrives from New York under mysterious circumstance and begins to make Hestia feel hopelessly behind the times. Will Hestia be tempted to embrace the lifestyle of her cousin, who can talk of nothing bur speakeasies and wild parties? Or will Hestia's maidenly influence convince Selene to give up her worldly ways?<div><br /></div><div>It is not the type of book, I would normally read, but I think it will be a good story. <br /><p><b>On My TV This Week ...</b></p><p>Tuesday we will watch Moonshiners as my husband likes it and I like to watch some episodes of Homestead Rescue.</p><p><b>Looking Around the House ...</b></p><p>Overall, not bad. There is mail that needs to be moved and looked at, but I will do that today. </p><p><b>To Do List ...</b></p><p>Laundry</p><p>Blog posts</p><p>Grocery</p><p>Work</p><p>Pink Zebra business</p><p>Post Office</p><p>Deliver PZ orders</p><p>Housework Daily</p><p><b>From Camera ....</b></p><p>none this week</p><p><b>Devotional Prayers, and Bible Verses ...</b></p><p><a class="red georgia" href="https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/verse-of-day.php" style="background-color: #f3f2ed; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: red; cursor: pointer; font-family: Georgia, "times new roman", Times, serif; font-size: 28px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Verse of the Day">“<span class="georgia" itemprop="description" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.</span>”<br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><small itemprop="name" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: cinzel, Georgia, "times new roman", Times, serif; font-size: 18px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Psalms 19:14 (KJV)</small></a></p><p>This spoke to me as I feel so many times our words that we speak to others is not acceptable to God. </p></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-108103376572717072024-01-21T04:30:00.000-08:002024-01-21T04:30:00.170-08:00Sunday Smiles #3 - Jan. 20<p> What brings a genuine smile to your face? The sight of your loved ones, a newborn baby, a friend, a special food? Many things bring smiles to different people. A certain picture might bring fond memories to you that make you smile, but not make the person next to you smile. That is just the way that we feel about things.</p><p>I always like to share a smile on Sunday and remind you that you are loved and cared for. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.happierhuman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/smile-quote-keep-smiling.jpg?ezimgfmt=rs:400x600/rscb1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="800" src="https://www.happierhuman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/smile-quote-keep-smiling.jpg?ezimgfmt=rs:400x600/rscb1" width="534" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSL8NKuxswdkZSbuo0LVGDDc09GULA7BMVGGw&usqp=CAU" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="237" height="212" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSL8NKuxswdkZSbuo0LVGDDc09GULA7BMVGGw&usqp=CAU" width="237" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.5111086190.8376/raf,360x360,075,t,fafafa:ca443f4786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="360" src="https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.5111086190.8376/raf,360x360,075,t,fafafa:ca443f4786.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have a blessed Sunday and keep smiling!!!</div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-79088117270965376792024-01-20T04:30:00.000-08:002024-01-20T04:30:00.132-08:00Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe - Keto Meal<p><b>HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN</b></p><p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As I was looking for Keto recipes, I came across one on Pinterest for Honey Garlic Chicken. I read the recipe and decided to try it, but to adjust the recipe a bit to make it more to our liking. I will say it was good, but not my favorite meal. My husband loved it though and it is going into our recipe collection of foods to work into our menu when we need something easy and a little different.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Most of the ingredients are items that most cooks will have in the kitchen pantry and so there is no real need to go to the store. I try to limit my trips to the grocery since we live farther away from the store. I try to limit recipes that involves ingredients that we would not normally have on hand as well. If those ingredients are items that are specialty for just one recipe, I will generally try to exchange them for something else or find a way to use them in more than one recipe.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">PREP TIME: </span>10 minutes</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">COOK TIME:</span> 30 MINUTES</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">INGREDIENTS:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 1/2 pounds cubed pork</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 1/2 teaspoon minced onion</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2 teaspoons of garlic powder</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3 teaspoons paprika</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2 teaspoons black pepper</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 teaspoon seasoned salt</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4 tablespoons sugar free honey</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4 tablespoons butter</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1/2 teaspoon lemon juice</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">nstructions</span></p><ol style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em 4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Season the pork with onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, pepper, and seasoned salt. I placed ingredients into a Ziplok bag and tossed to coat well.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Melt butter into large skillet over medium heat.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Add pork to skillet, and sear on all sides until nearly cooked.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mix in garlic, honey, and add lemon juice to pork.</li><li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stir, sauté, and let cook over medium heat about 10 minutes.</li></ol><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2 carbs per serving</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">195 calories</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I suggest serving this with cauliflower rice and a low carb vegetable. Delicious meal and a nice addition to the weekly menu plan.</p>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-79547913823604710622024-01-18T16:39:00.000-08:002024-01-18T16:43:33.669-08:00Book Beginnings and Friday 56- Jan. 19 - <p> Good morning readers! Welcome to my Friday post where I link with Gilion at <a href="https://www.rosecityreader.com/">Rose City Reader</a> to share in the Book Beginnings challenge. To go along with this, I also link with Anne over at <a href="https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/">My Head Is Full Of Books</a> to participate in the Friday 56 Challenge. </p><p><br /></p><p>This week I am reading<i> Lonestar Secrets</i> by Colleen Coble. You can purchase the book <a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Lonestar-Secrets-Book-2/dp/1595544879/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39K277ELHFH0M&amp;keywords=lonestar+secrets+colleen+coble&amp;qid=1705624219&amp;sprefix=Lonestar+Secrets%252Caps%252C149&amp;sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=funnyfarm08-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=172ed5ff0a271bdb49349e13e3fb66b4&camp=1789&creative=9325">Lonestar Secrets</a>">here</a>, if you would like to read it. ( I use the money I make from the Amazon affiliate program to purchase feed and other supplies for the animals we raise here. Any small purchase is a help.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/8128z87XhgL._SY466_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="302" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/8128z87XhgL._SY466_.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><div><br /></div>" Miles of empty road stretched ahead of her." This opening line could lead the story anywhere I guess, but Colleen does a great job with working it into a magnificent story. <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Friday 56</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">RULES:</span></b></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ff0077;"><b>*</b></span>Grab a book, any book</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #ff0077;">*</b>Turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">(If you want to improvise, go ahead!)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #ff0077;">*</b>Find a snippet, but no spoilers!</span></div><p>" She cringed at the thought of telling Jack about Tucker. There were enough wrinkles in this problem without the man adding another one."</p><p>It seems that Shannon's new life may be full of surprises and possibly a few people that she would rather never see again. </p><p><br /></p></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-51781926984004094822024-01-16T04:30:00.000-08:002024-01-16T04:30:00.128-08:00A Beacon of Light - An Amish Romance Review<p> <a class="bookTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60228631-beacon-of-light" itemprop="url" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3; text-decoration-line: none;">Beacon of Light: An Amish Romance (The Long Road Home)</a></p><div class="hreview" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="by" style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><div class="authorName__container" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1857478.Linda_Byler" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span itemprop="name">Linda Byler</span></a></div></span><br /><div itemprop="reviews" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><div class="big450Box" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; float: left; width: 450px;"><div class="big450BoxBody" style="background-repeat: repeat-y;"><div class="big450BoxContent" style="overflow: hidden; width: 430px;"><a class="leftAlignedImage" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" style="color: #00635d; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="U 50x66" src="https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png" style="border: 0px;" /></a><div><span class="reviewer"><a class="userReview" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" itemprop="author" style="color: #382110; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Carol Slater</a></span>'s review<div class="right dtreviewed greyText smallText" style="color: #999999; float: right; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span itemprop="datePublished">Jan 15, 2024 </span><span class="greyText"> · </span> <a class="smallText greyText" href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/60228631" style="color: #999999; line-height: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">edit</a><span class="value-title" title="2024-01-15"></span></div><br /><div style="clear: right;"></div><div class="rating" itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating"><span class="value-title" title="5"></span><span class=" staticStars notranslate" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; height: 15px; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: top; width: 75px;" title="it was amazing"><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;">it was amazing</span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span></span></div><div></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Well written story. The story switches between the life that May has found back in the Amish community that her and her brother knew well before their parents' death and the life that Oba is struggling with in thinking he is not good enough to be loved and longs to know what happened to May.<br /><br />After being sent to live with their aunt and uncle following their parents' death, this brother and sister have lived through things that no one understands and truly wants to believe. May finds herself shuffled around until she meets Clara, an Amish woman that truly does not care if the community agrees with her or not. Clara helps May and her child, whom May is certain will never be accepted, and expects nothing in return.<br /><br />When May meets Andy, she does not think that she could ever love anyone like she did Clinton. Will she discover another love can happen and can lead her to the life of happiness and a family that she longs for? Will Andy not be able to get beyond her past? May soon discovers a side to Clara that she never expected, jealousy.<br /><br />Oba discovers a life with a drifter and finds that he allows himself to follow the older man to the untamed wilderness of Canada, but life changes again when he is suddenly in a plane that is going down. Will he survive the crash, and will he ever see May again?<br /><br />Linda Byler has written several books about the Amish and this book is a standalone read in a trilogy, although, I feel that a reader should read the first book before reading this one to learn the history or May and Oba. I will be looking for the third book of this series and hope that it finalizes the story and allows May and Oba the endings that they deserve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1643343927l/60228631._SY475_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="475" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1643343927l/60228631._SY475_.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><br /><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /><br /></div><div id="review-like" style="float: right; margin-top: 8px; text-align: right;"></div><div id="review-follow" style="margin-top: 8px;"></div></div></div><div class="big450BoxBottom" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 450px;"></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /></div></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><div class=" clearFloats bigBox" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="h2Container gradientHeaderContainer" style="background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 28px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 10px; text-wrap: nowrap; width: 625px;"><h2 class="brownBackground" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); color: #382110; font-size: 12px; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; top: 0px; width: auto;">READING PROGRESS</h2></div><div class="bigBoxBody"><div class="bigBoxContent containerWithHeaderContent" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="readingTimeline"><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 10, 2024 – Started Reading</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 10, 2024 – Shelved</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 15, 2024 – Finished Reading</div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-42814315642934075412024-01-15T05:52:00.000-08:002024-01-15T05:52:55.624-08:00Happy Homemaker Monday - Jan. 15,2024<p> Good Monday morning ladies, how are you? It is super cold here, but I am thankful for our wood stove and plenty of good heat. I am joining Sandra over at <a href="https://familycorner.blogspot.com/">Diary of a Stay At Home Mom</a> for the Happy Homemaker Monday link up party. She is so kind to host this weekly and there are many of us bloggers that enjoy this weekly post. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v08N3CyU7qw/TfYok6eahjI/AAAAAAAAMUc/O1mD11jgCnM/s320/HHM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="320" height="288" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v08N3CyU7qw/TfYok6eahjI/AAAAAAAAMUc/O1mD11jgCnM/s320/HHM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b>The Weather:</b></p><p>Cold, snowy, below zero wind chills and temperatures of a night. I believe our high for the day is to be 7 degrees F. BRR!!!!!! I hate winter when it is like this. I don't mind cold, but I don't like Artic cold. I am not a fan of the ice that occurs when we have temperatures like this. </p><p><b>Right Now, I Am:</b></p><p>Sitting at my desk drinking coffee. As I look out the window, I see a bit of snow and maybe a bit of a sunrise. It is about -18 degrees with the windchill and so it looks cold! I am listening to the news that my husband left on when he went out. It is not something I care to do, but I just haven't gotten up yet, to change it. </p><p><b>Thinking and Pondering:</b></p><p>What plans I have for the week. Pondering what we can do to keep the animals a little warmer in cold temperatures like this. Thinking of Dr. Martin Luther King today as well. As I think about what he wanted for our country, I feel that we are not much better off these days. There is still so much division in our country due to race. It really is sad that as humans, we can't treat each other better and be kinder to one another. </p><p><b>How I am Feeling:</b></p><p>As I said, cold but thankful! I am thankful for wood heat and plenty of good food. We have not had to go out in this artic cold as I was well prepared for the weather. It's nice to know that I only have to go out to take care of the animals and carry wood in. </p><p><b>On The Breakfast Plate:</b></p><p>As it is national bagel day, I wish I had a bagel. I do not so I will probably have toast with jelly. I might have an egg sandwich. All I have had so far is my coffee. </p><p><b>On The Lunch Plate:</b></p><p>I believe I will make a casserole since it is so cold. I will probably make tuna casserole, or I will make soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, whichever my husband would like. He will be around for lunch, and I will be sure he eats. </p><p><b>On the Menu:</b></p><p>Monday - Fried Chicken Leg Quarters, Fresh Sweet Corn, Potatoes</p><p>Tuesday - Rib Eye Steaks, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans</p><p>Wednesday - Stir Fry, Rice</p><p>Thursday - Bourbon BBQ pork Loin, oven roasted potatoes, spinach</p><p>Friday - Not sure</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>What I Am Wearing:</b></p><p>I am still in pajamas. I don't know that I will truly get dressed today. My warm pajama pants will feel nice all day since I don't have to go out. Of course, when I shower, I will change into a different pair and a tee shirt. I am enjoying the Fireside brand socks that I got for Christmas as they are so warm and comfortable. </p><p><b>On My Reading Pile:</b></p><p>1. The Boxcar Children - reading this for the <a href="https://teaandinksociety.com/">Tea and Ink Society</a> Classic Challenge for the year. </p><p>2. Do It Anyway Girl by Michelle Cunningham - I am reading this as a business aid. She gives great advice to those of us in the direct sales industry and I am enjoying it. Lots of helpful ideas in it. </p><p>3. Lonestar Secrets by Colleen Cobble. I just started reading this yesterday as I finished A Beacon of Light. I am enjoying it so far and read about 4 chapters yesterday after beginning it. </p><p>I am enjoying the time that I have to read now. It seems summer is always so busy that I don't have time to read, but winter chores are much less and gives me time to do things like read. I enjoy my books and I am thankful that I like to read. Reading can let you travel, when life doesn't allow it. </p><p><b>On My TV This Week:</b></p><p>I will try to catch up on anything that I have on the DVR. I know I have several episodes of Welcome to Plathville to watch. I also still have some Christmas movies that I want to watch as well. </p><p><b>Looking Around the House:</b></p><p>Things look pretty good. I need to sweep and mop of course, but that is my Monday chore anyway. I have a kitchen cabinet that I would like to clean as well. I might work on that later today. I have some mail that I need to look at too. </p><p><b>To Do List:</b></p><p>1. Sweep and Mop</p><p>2.Mail</p><p>3. Get Pink Zebra orders packaged and mailed</p><p>4. Do some team training for Pink Zebra</p><p><b>From Camera:</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qpgutFWmdjXFRzmi1tfErnKty7euV6yE9tBSiLxB8mQB5Qt_NqlCwo_V9tS_49FGzGS6yYSzmu7oOPc2zRFNVyfyiUFz0B_Lr_bvlKHQnzKfCVYbpWoejGiEiEzW8A8NODCYRIYpg2EIE9HT3c-wXrnLxm7zp5TZV6oELDVlsXoV3d4lxHVitdolnag/s935/Megan%20and%20Grady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6qpgutFWmdjXFRzmi1tfErnKty7euV6yE9tBSiLxB8mQB5Qt_NqlCwo_V9tS_49FGzGS6yYSzmu7oOPc2zRFNVyfyiUFz0B_Lr_bvlKHQnzKfCVYbpWoejGiEiEzW8A8NODCYRIYpg2EIE9HT3c-wXrnLxm7zp5TZV6oELDVlsXoV3d4lxHVitdolnag/s320/Megan%20and%20Grady.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>A cute pair- don't you think? Does anyone think that this little fellow looks like his momma? I see so much of her in him. She does not think so at all. <br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b>Devotional, Prayers, Bible Verses:</b></p><p>God Hears Her is the next devotional that I want to study from. I will be ordering it later today. Here is the Amazon link to it if you would like to join me and help me earn a bit of money to aid with farm feed and animal care. <a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/God-Hears-Her-Devotions-Women/dp/1627078711/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2YVLBY0PJMGV2&amp;keywords=daily+devotionals+for+women+2024&amp;qid=1705326498&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=daily+devotionals+for+women%252Cstripbooks%252C203&amp;sr=1-9&_encoding=UTF8&tag=funnyfarm08-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=edfb7a3bcc65a270d2d6db75c5d948e0&camp=1789&creative=9325">Daily Devotional</a>">God Hears Her</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/7103t0I+wOL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="318" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/7103t0I+wOL._SY466_.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I pray that each of you have a wonderful Monday and that each of you stay safe and warm wherever you are. <br /><p><br /></p>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-35376640964837617802024-01-14T04:30:00.000-08:002024-01-14T04:30:00.136-08:00Anything Sweeter Than a Baby's Smile? - Sunday Smiles #2<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.motivationformom.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/5-2-683x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="534" height="800" src="https://www.motivationformom.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/5-2-683x1024.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Is there anything sweeter than a baby's smile? I don't think so! I know that when my grandchildren were babies, I loved to see them smile. Enjoy today's smile! </p>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-67662378219936885072024-01-13T08:05:00.000-08:002024-01-13T08:05:25.685-08:00Cold Morning on the Farm<p> Whew! It is a cold, windy morning on the farm. With a bit of snow on the ground, and winds of 30+ mph it is certainly cold. Many parts of the United States have more snow and cold than we do, but it is brutal when you have to be out for any length of time. Tomorrow is supposed to be worse as wind chills are to be -20 to -30 F. </p><p>I am thankful that we did not lose power, due to the winds, as our heat lamp stayed on in the chicken coop. Not all of our chickens have heat lamps, but the main coop does. The chickens in the barn and other coops are protected the best we can against the wind and cold. Each coop has straw in them in order to allow the chickens to stay a bit warmer. Each coop has an area that they are able to get into that is similar to a house that will block the wind and snow. I spent one whole day preparing coops for the cold weather and I am thankful that I did. </p><p>I put plenty of hay in for the goat and she has a warm bed area that will help her as well. She can be in the barn away from most of the weather. The geese are always outside, and it doesn't matter what we do, they won't stay in. I have clean water containers in the house so that we can take fresh water out a few times a day as they will freeze in the smaller coops. We have a heated bowl for the chicken coop and a trough heater for the barn. Winter is a chore for farmers with animals, but I can't imagine a different life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0c2a4b8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x1067+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2Fde%2F92e94cbc4f44ba3c7e57a87ea61a%2Furban-chickens021223-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="534" src="https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0c2a4b8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x1067+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fdb%2Fde%2F92e94cbc4f44ba3c7e57a87ea61a%2Furban-chickens021223-24.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><p>We have a couple of breeds of chickens that I worry about since they are not cold hardy birds, but we will do our best to protect them. I don't worry about most of them as they are made to survive cold. Many people do not understand that animals like these are used to being in the cold and are made to survive the weather and most are smart enough to know where to go to stay warm. So many animal activists seem to think that animals should never be outside in severe weather, but even horses are accustomed to being in the cold. </p><p>Most Plymouth Rock, Orpington, Amerucana, and Wyandotte breeds do well in winter as they are rather weather hardy breeds. I highly recommend that you add plenty of feed to their schedule as well. Chickens will eat up to 25% more feed in the cold weather, so it is always best to have plenty of feed on hand. Keeping coops clean and well-ventilated will help as well. </p><p>Were you aware that using petroleum jelly in the winter on the combs and wattles will help prevent frostbite? It will not treat it but will help them from getting frostbit in the winter. I always keep a container of it at home. I have used it for a couple of years, and it works well. Some home items are necessities on a farm. I always keep extra peroxide, petroleum jelly, and spices as basil and garlic are great additions to water for helping with certain issues in chickens. </p><p>Keping the coop under control in winter will help keep your flock safe. Predators are a threat in the winter as well, but the weather can be an even bigger issue that farmers must deal with early and continue through the winter months. </p>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-52740774671465577092024-01-12T05:38:00.000-08:002024-01-12T05:38:56.389-08:00Book Beginnings and The Friday 56 - A Beacon of Light by Linda Byler<p> Book Beginnings hosted by <a href="https://www.rosecityreader.com/">Rose City Reader</a> is a Friday link up party where you post the first line of a book that you are reading or that has interested you if you aren't currently reading something. </p><p><i>To approach the home of her childhood after all these years was no small thing. </i></p><p>I have read books by Linda Byler before. This is book two of a trilogy and although I have not read book one, I am enjoying this book so far. May has suffered much of her life since her parents were killed in an accident and now, she is returning to a society that is much different from the life she has been living. Will she be accepted? Will she be reunited with her brother? </p><p>Here is a <a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Beacon-Light-Amish-Romance-Long-ebook/dp/B098BNDTLL?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=funnyfarm08-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=46b51c58da053175c996ed82b9eeee8d&camp=1789&creative=9325">Beacon Of Light</a>">link</a> if you happen to want to purchase a copy or read on your kindle. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71RJJAurJUL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="302" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71RJJAurJUL._SY466_.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I also have joined Anne over at <a href="https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/">Head Full Of Books</a> to participate in the Friday 56. Here are the rules for it. </p><div style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">RULES:</span></b></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ff0077;"><b>*</b></span>Grab a book, any book</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #ff0077;">*</b>Turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">(If you want to improvise, go ahead!)</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #ff0077;">*</b>Find a snippet, but no spoilers!</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><b style="color: #ff0077; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">*</b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: inherit;">Post it to your blog and add your </span><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">URL</span><span style="color: #292929;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> to the Linky below. If you do not add the specific </span>URL<span style="font-family: inherit;"> for your post, we may miss it!</span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">As she walked, her legs began to ache, and her back felt as if the muscles were all drawing into a tight band. The back of her heel was being rubbed </span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">raw</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by the ill-fitting shoes for a moment' </span>respite<span style="font-family: inherit;">, then </span>continued<span style="font-family: inherit;"> on her way before realizing a painful blister had developed.</span></span></i></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-19884994247017521322024-01-11T04:30:00.000-08:002024-01-11T04:30:00.141-08:00Book Review: Frontier Follies: Adventures in Marriage and Motherhood in the Middle of Nowhere<p> <a class="bookTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51195557-frontier-follies" itemprop="url" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3;">Frontier Follies: Adventures in Marriage & Motherhood in the Middle of Nowhere</a></p><div class="hreview" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="by" style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><div class="authorName__container" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2884275.Ree_Drummond" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; text-decoration-line: none;">Ree Drummond</a></div></span><br /><div itemprop="reviews" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><div class="big450Box" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; float: left; width: 450px;"><div class="big450BoxBody" style="background-repeat: repeat-y;"><div class="big450BoxContent" style="overflow: hidden; width: 430px;"><a class="leftAlignedImage" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" style="color: #00635d; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="U 50x66" src="https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png" style="border: 0px;" /></a><div><span class="reviewer"><a class="userReview" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" itemprop="author" style="color: #382110; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Carol Slater</a></span>'s review<div class="right dtreviewed greyText smallText" style="color: #999999; float: right; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span itemprop="datePublished">Jan 10, 2024 </span><span class="greyText"> · </span> <a class="smallText greyText" href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/51195557" style="color: #999999; line-height: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">edit</a><span class="value-title" title="2024-01-10"></span></div><br /><div style="clear: right;"></div><div class="rating" itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating"><span class="value-title" title="5"></span><span class=" staticStars notranslate" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; height: 15px; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: top; width: 75px;" title="it was amazing"><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;">it was amazing</span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); 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background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span></span></div><div></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Ree Drummond, known to most of us as The Pioneer Woman offers a look into her family and life on the ranch. Born and raised in the city, life is now much different than it was as she was growing up. She lives about an hour drive from any major store and has raised children as her husband, Ladd, raised cattle.<br /><br />Ree offers a rather humor filled look into her life as a young wife, an older wife, and a mom as well all while talking about her life on a ranch with cowboys and cattle. She shares some embarrassing moments as well as just a look into exactly how she lives her life outside of filming her TV cooking show, writing cookbooks, and all the other projects she has in the works.<br /><br />She talks about kids, her husband, animals, cowboys, food, and many other subjects that many of us women deal with in our lifetime.<br /><br />I feel that this book was 5 stars because it kept me interested and it was easy to read. I would recommend it to any wife, mom, or female.</div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWiH-ujNFswmeED2isy4Ako3D0Oacjz76joggaK-gcCEPGr-1l4fHCOUlanrfh_BxvWF8UeFvgG5-kc1mjI5qrhmpr8KAatbSOX2InV6j-4ksN-8hp5tiZxkflYeutrTChxXi9XczaS_Oo9tL0VidNc1TAhjFLnpp4hzZ053VrWM3AaW8phdLNK9yAxs/s1284/51195557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWiH-ujNFswmeED2isy4Ako3D0Oacjz76joggaK-gcCEPGr-1l4fHCOUlanrfh_BxvWF8UeFvgG5-kc1mjI5qrhmpr8KAatbSOX2InV6j-4ksN-8hp5tiZxkflYeutrTChxXi9XczaS_Oo9tL0VidNc1TAhjFLnpp4hzZ053VrWM3AaW8phdLNK9yAxs/s320/51195557.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div class="hreview" style="font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /><div itemprop="reviews" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><div class="big450Box" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; float: left; width: 450px;"><div class="big450BoxBody" style="background-repeat: repeat-y;"><div class="big450BoxContent" style="overflow: hidden; width: 430px;"><div id="review-like" style="float: right; margin-top: 8px; text-align: right;"></div><div id="review-follow" style="margin-top: 8px;"></div></div></div><div class="big450BoxBottom" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 450px;"></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /></div></div><br style="font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><div class=" clearFloats bigBox" style="font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="h2Container gradientHeaderContainer" style="background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 28px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 10px; text-wrap: nowrap; width: 625px;"><h2 class="brownBackground" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); color: #382110; font-size: 12px; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; top: 0px; width: auto;">READING PROGRESS</h2></div><div class="bigBoxBody"><div class="bigBoxContent containerWithHeaderContent" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="readingTimeline"><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 9, 2024 – Started Reading</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 9, 2024 – Shelved</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 9, 2024 – <div class="u-inlineBlock" style="display: inline-block;">page 182</div> <div class="readingTimeline__progressContainer u-inlineBlock" style="background: rgb(214, 208, 196); display: inline-block; height: 12px; width: 50px;"><div class="readingTimeline__progress" style="background: rgb(146, 127, 100); height: 12px; width: 25.8523px;"></div></div> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/759475447" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">51.7%</a></div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 10, 2024 – Finished Reading</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="review-like" style="float: right; margin-top: 8px; text-align: right;"></div><div id="review-follow" style="margin-top: 8px;"></div></div></div><div class="big450BoxBottom" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 450px;"></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /></div></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><div class=" clearFloats bigBox" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="h2Container gradientHeaderContainer" style="background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 28px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 10px; text-wrap: nowrap; width: 625px;"><h2 class="brownBackground" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); color: #382110; font-size: 12px; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; top: 0px; width: auto;"><br /></h2></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-5172629287363497842024-01-09T04:30:00.000-08:002024-01-09T04:30:00.138-08:00<div class="hreview" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="item"><span class="fn"><a class="bookTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58438444-just-once" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3; text-decoration-line: none;">Just Once</a></span></span><br /><span class="by" style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><div class="authorName__container" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3159984.Karen_Kingsbury" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span itemprop="name">Karen Kingsbury</span></a> <span class="greyText" style="color: #999999;">(Goodreads Author)</span></div></span><br /><div itemprop="reviews" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><div class="big450Box" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; float: left; width: 450px;"><div class="big450BoxBody" style="background-repeat: repeat-y;"><div class="big450BoxContent" style="overflow: hidden; width: 430px;"><a class="leftAlignedImage" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" style="color: #00635d; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="U 50x66" src="https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png" style="border: 0px;" /></a><div><span class="reviewer"><a class="userReview" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" itemprop="author" style="color: #382110; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Carol Slater</a></span>'s review<div class="right dtreviewed greyText smallText" style="color: #999999; float: right; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span itemprop="datePublished">Jan 08, 2024 </span><span class="greyText"> · </span> <a class="smallText greyText" href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/58438444" style="color: #999999; line-height: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">edit</a><span class="value-title" title="2024-01-08"></span></div><br /><div style="clear: right;"></div><div class="rating" itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating"><span class="value-title" title="5"></span><span class=" staticStars notranslate" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; height: 15px; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: top; width: 75px;" title="it was amazing"><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;">it was amazing</span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAB4AAAAeCAYAAAA7MK6iAAABvUlEQVR4Ab2WNZDXQBTGcWtxd+173PYFh5bJ5uBK3B0q3N3d3RvkoMalb6hw6DY5yQ8np5v8s5l5sfe+7zezXi/tVa7HDSDqub5CX60knIONlleEU2h58Zh+xlflBO/umlmrZb/BvDsDx8AXv8G8u2nm6RP6APw3+OdgNMuSJJh/DppZniXB/Mu3mYvG9gJUVZDLr5kDtag6MDkrsyjwpka+bI+07DVaDhnfO260OhtquRRqdSN+3o3jfhyP4++P1YHJUUMtGrR44IUn3jBgwWQxaGF8OYPYRcCC+U8zytzQlygvIN4wqu7DIm9oXPAhB+gHvGsZuaqr0eppoaB44Vm3aTN7SnOj5URWKB542S8WgcwKtQptgWjQZlwixw63BaPJvmhM8wbZgtEUYu9dZwtGU5gjjiU465GIk2TntCMabWqwCaS4OuMokF1EdXm0GfpXrlaxCn2KAm/C7xre+ZesQ5uumVdNaRKLvyfMHlfVhPwjl6j9joc1mLX1H5PS0Jc15eenNKyunhw11P7W4ZFm09/0C/rOZl5SiwYtHmmm0Vs283jvbGWrRYMWD0vhxPbG92bWy3jhgVdVuQp3XI5mu1kSTwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg=="); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAB4AAAAeCAYAAAA7MK6iAAABvUlEQVR4Ab2WNZDXQBTGcWtxd+173PYFh5bJ5uBK3B0q3N3d3RvkoMalb6hw6DY5yQ8np5v8s5l5sfe+7zezXi/tVa7HDSDqub5CX60knIONlleEU2h58Zh+xlflBO/umlmrZb/BvDsDx8AXv8G8u2nm6RP6APw3+OdgNMuSJJh/DppZniXB/Mu3mYvG9gJUVZDLr5kDtag6MDkrsyjwpka+bI+07DVaDhnfO260OhtquRRqdSN+3o3jfhyP4++P1YHJUUMtGrR44IUn3jBgwWQxaGF8OYPYRcCC+U8zytzQlygvIN4wqu7DIm9oXPAhB+gHvGsZuaqr0eppoaB44Vm3aTN7SnOj5URWKB542S8WgcwKtQptgWjQZlwixw63BaPJvmhM8wbZgtEUYu9dZwtGU5gjjiU465GIk2TntCMabWqwCaS4OuMokF1EdXm0GfpXrlaxCn2KAm/C7xre+ZesQ5uumVdNaRKLvyfMHlfVhPwjl6j9joc1mLX1H5PS0Jc15eenNKyunhw11P7W4ZFm09/0C/rOZl5SiwYtHmmm0Vs283jvbGWrRYMWD0vhxPbG92bWy3jhgVdVuQp3XI5mu1kSTwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg=="); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span></span></div><div></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Karen Kingsbury outdid herself on this book. I have read many of her books and this is by far my absolute favorite book by her so far. An excellent love story told in a way that does not make it seem like your typical romance book. The way she has woven characters from her Baxter's series to this story is amazing and many will not realize that she has mentioned these characters before until the end of this book.<br /><br />Here's the blurb about this story:<br /><br />In 1941, beautiful Irvel Holland is too focused on her secret to take much notice of the war raging overseas. She’s dating Sam but in love with his younger brother, Hank—her longtime best friend—and Irvel has no idea how to break the news. Then the unthinkable happens—Pearl Harbor is attacked. With their lives turned upside down overnight, Sam is drafted and convinces Hank to remain in Indiana, where he and Irvel take up the battle on the home front.<br /><br />While Sam fights in Europe, an undeniable chemistry builds between Irvel and Hank but neither would dare cross that line. Then, two military leaders pay Irvel a visit at the classroom where she teaches. The men have plans for her, a proposition to join a new spy network. One catch: She can tell no one.<br /><br />With Irvel caught between two brothers thousands of miles apart, can love find a way, even from the ashes of the greatest heartbreak?<br /><br />The focus on the history of WW11 in this book is just as amazing as the love story itself. Irvel is a woman torn between two loves, but her love for her country is what seems most important, and it seems that all will fall into place in her life, until suddenly things change and life as she knows it will never be the same.</div><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><div class="hreview" style="font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="by" style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><div class="authorName__container" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3159984.Karen_Kingsbury" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span itemprop="name">Karen Kingsbury</span></a> <span class="greyText" style="color: #999999;">(Goodreads Author)</span></div></span><br /></div><div class="hreview" style="font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div><div class="hreview" style="font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><div class="authorName__container" style="display: inline-block;"><span class="greyText" style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-keT3U4rHSP2CcxNLTeGu1c_aWtnZZ0eMW6dVAAraw_dyhKJWRbfWseo1VQRRgP9MtOWVGBg4p8X3_Hara75DJ9QFRqpeDjNEzRmIv-eJ6QSZWijGje7KIs8vd-Fl1YlaE_dlIkMkiMh438JED06yYgj9xxppj6_w9_zabVgui962_X7g94LA9oX-1uU/s466/Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="303" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-keT3U4rHSP2CcxNLTeGu1c_aWtnZZ0eMW6dVAAraw_dyhKJWRbfWseo1VQRRgP9MtOWVGBg4p8X3_Hara75DJ9QFRqpeDjNEzRmIv-eJ6QSZWijGje7KIs8vd-Fl1YlaE_dlIkMkiMh438JED06yYgj9xxppj6_w9_zabVgui962_X7g94LA9oX-1uU/s320/Book.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><div class=" clearFloats bigBox" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="h2Container gradientHeaderContainer" style="background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 28px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 10px; text-wrap: nowrap; width: 625px;"><h2 class="brownBackground" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); color: #382110; font-size: 12px; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; top: 0px; width: auto;">READING PROGRESS</h2></div><div class="bigBoxBody"><div class="bigBoxContent containerWithHeaderContent" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="readingTimeline"><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 3, 2024 – Started Reading</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 3, 2024 – Shelved</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 3, 2024 – <div class="u-inlineBlock" style="display: inline-block;">page 93</div> <div class="readingTimeline__progressContainer u-inlineBlock" style="background: rgb(214, 208, 196); display: inline-block; height: 12px; width: 50px;"><div class="readingTimeline__progress" style="background: rgb(146, 127, 100); height: 12px; width: 13.8393px;"></div></div> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/754365019" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">27.68%</a></div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">January 8, 2024 – <div class="u-inlineBlock" style="display: inline-block;">page 336</div> <div class="readingTimeline__progressContainer u-inlineBlock" style="background: rgb(214, 208, 196); display: inline-block; height: 12px; width: 50px;"><div class="readingTimeline__progress" style="background: rgb(146, 127, 100); height: 12px; width: 50px;"></div></div> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/758961911" style="color: #00635d; text-decoration-line: none;">100.0%</a></div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div></div></div></div></div></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #767676; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">January 8, 2024 –</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #767676; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #767676; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Finished Reading</span> <a class="bookTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58438444-just-once" itemprop="url" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3; text-decoration-line: none;">Just Once</a></p><div class="hreview" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-22923127950562538382024-01-08T05:41:00.000-08:002024-01-08T05:41:35.427-08:00Happy Homemaker Monday - 1/8/24<p> Hello! Welcome to my first Happy Homemaker Monday post for 2024. I am happy to join Sandra at <a href="https://familycorner.blogspot.com/">Diary of A Stay At Home Mom</a> to participate in this series.</p><p>How has everyone's Monday morning been so far? Mine is slow as most Mondays, but I will be busy later. I really need to work on my direct sales business and get my inventory done for the year. Taxes will be soon and I need that information. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZM7WJUBD7auiKQtvM9pGWm41_NBRwnhAFilG9kQdhH2y4yDW9ySsjIMJVxA2i6HhSV-X7hR_KjAoYve33oKYA7OgXVPolKq1ZuvLWB6pbttP0zCmQltDgLnF1_tIRwp4bGfR6M09fpKRy4w-s1ye8FD3d-1AgUHuxnJ04DGCaHMOGVnemYOPYgicUEFE/s400/HHM%20WINTER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="400" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZM7WJUBD7auiKQtvM9pGWm41_NBRwnhAFilG9kQdhH2y4yDW9ySsjIMJVxA2i6HhSV-X7hR_KjAoYve33oKYA7OgXVPolKq1ZuvLWB6pbttP0zCmQltDgLnF1_tIRwp4bGfR6M09fpKRy4w-s1ye8FD3d-1AgUHuxnJ04DGCaHMOGVnemYOPYgicUEFE/s320/HHM%20WINTER.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><b>The Weather:</b></p><p>The weather is predicted to be a little unsettled this week with periods of rain and snow throughout the week. Daytime highs in the 30's and 40's, which is a bit above average with lows in the upper 20's and lower 30's. Not too bad for this time of the year. I hate the rain as it just makes the farm a muddy, sloppy mess. </p><p><b>Right Now I Am:</b></p><p>Sitting at my desk listening to the news and writing this post. My daughter just came over for coffee and to chat a bit. </p><p><b>Thinking and Pondering:</b></p><p>What I will get accomplished this week and where I want to start for chores. I am trying to purge a bit and clean some of the clutter that we have accumulated the past year. I feel that our closet and our bedroom need to be the first places that I purge. </p><p><b>How I am Feeling:</b></p><p>Tired, but that seems to be a given recently. I tend to overdo daily and that makes me more tired that I would be if I would just slow down a bit. </p><p><b>On the Breakfast Plate:</b></p><p>Two cups of coffee. I will probably eat a sausage biscuit later so that I can take my meds and be ready for the day. I am not much of a breakfast eater, but with the meds, I need to eat something. Usually a banana is a good choice. </p><p><b>On the Lunch Plate:</b></p><p>Not really sure what lunch will be. It depends on what I am doing. Probably a turkey sandwich. </p><p><b>On the Dinner Plate:</b></p><p>I believe we will have turkey manhattan, as long as my husband is feeling better. His Ozempic is making him very nauseous. If he does not feel better, I will probably just have potato soup. </p><p><b>On The Menu:</b></p><p>I don't have a menu planned for the week. We will just probably plan it daily. My husband usually has a request of something. He says we are in a food rut and eat the same things all the time so he wants different meals. I guess I will search for ideas this week. </p><p><b>What I am Wearing:</b></p><p>It has been a lazy morning, so I am still in my pajamas. I don't usually get dressed until my husband is out the door and he was not moving fast this morning. It will be jeans and a sweatshirt as I have plenty to do today. </p><p><b>On My Reading Pile:</b></p><p>Just finished reading <i>Just Once </i>by Karen Kingsbury and I must say it was one of the best books I have ever read. I will be updating Good Reads later and I will be posting that review later as well. I have started reading <i>Frontier Follies</i> by Ree Drummond. I am also reading <i>The Boxcar Children</i> by Gertrude Chandler Warner as part of the <a href="https://teaandinksociety.com/2024-classics-reading-challenge/">Tea and Ink Society 2024 Classics Reading Challenge.</a> For January, the challenge is to read a classic that you have previously read. I chose a lighthearted book that I loved as a child. </p><p><b>On My TV This Week:</b></p><p>I usually don't watch much, but I have a couple of movies saved on the DVR that I hope to watch this week. </p><p><b>Looking Around the House:</b></p><p>I see Christmas that needs put away, a floor that is scheduled to be swept and mopped today, and a load of laundry waiting for me. Overall, it is not too bad as I done some major cleaning this weekend. </p><p><b>To Do List:</b></p><p>Inventory my Pink Zebra</p><p>Bills</p><p>Call nursing home to talk about mom going to assisted living</p><p>Pick up prescriptions</p><p>Purge closet and bedroom</p><p>Farm Chores</p><p><b>From Camera:</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfn9avBuB9y3A_oROzM7BvZX_DeNPc-_F-YTb2BYWWgIovy6McXNeycEhrqtdQSdo7-O5NV6UIxFwaJhSPtToOpDUQw-0IxR7jI52LE0WeTIZuXP7wd8CAdjk5m_Xm158W8ROHUPWTirbVW5O82r-O0dyGN2oYLACjo5RHUPWV_HzHNlOjd-vGvdv-ps/s4032/20231021_101503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="1816" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfn9avBuB9y3A_oROzM7BvZX_DeNPc-_F-YTb2BYWWgIovy6McXNeycEhrqtdQSdo7-O5NV6UIxFwaJhSPtToOpDUQw-0IxR7jI52LE0WeTIZuXP7wd8CAdjk5m_Xm158W8ROHUPWTirbVW5O82r-O0dyGN2oYLACjo5RHUPWV_HzHNlOjd-vGvdv-ps/s320/20231021_101503.jpg" width="144" /></a></div> <p></p><p> Our Black Egg. I am not sure which chicken laid this, but it is cool to see a black egg in the coop. We are getting black and beautiful blue eggs. It makes a colorful basket of eggs. </p><p><b>Devotional, Prayers, and Bible Verses:</b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizfcw8zAw-nX_PG73V5Q9dAy0-XkQhbrK-YkIvh47K7z8OGAPKnATlU3IG1LYXGGXYd7CtpC3wIWHT45KktXuzz8DujK5J3VeWSd5iVycS7ToGWK0bogBJI-LRlC3BTi3ZL4hrFC8b3HlefFBFu1YEqujkxsaVSs3um__XOsLmlJsJn1CjYVP0ofF09ws" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1961" data-original-width="1748" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizfcw8zAw-nX_PG73V5Q9dAy0-XkQhbrK-YkIvh47K7z8OGAPKnATlU3IG1LYXGGXYd7CtpC3wIWHT45KktXuzz8DujK5J3VeWSd5iVycS7ToGWK0bogBJI-LRlC3BTi3ZL4hrFC8b3HlefFBFu1YEqujkxsaVSs3um__XOsLmlJsJn1CjYVP0ofF09ws" width="214" /></a></b></div><b><br /><br /><br /></b><p></p>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-89572472130835331882024-01-07T07:24:00.000-08:002024-01-07T07:24:07.353-08:00Sunday Smiles - #1 Jan. 2024<p> There is a lot to be said for a smile. It can portray an image of someone very happy and confident in themselves, it can welcome someone to your home or business, or it can just brighten someone's day. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7CiexQM4iqkSqYPiyxrRYnG-nrBlq3kSUiQhD_aZooHv6pnCL6gWq4zM0c6cvgRucvY3cK1R-FkHgP8pC3Ivi9lgdSr1UVsaQ5UlQ6Cp4m-UNU0Jp7353Wv1MgZVA8gJhKV0QdeKakJwp9fvm7KFhnLl2noqVHXK_baMuMobvnJPHDk6HYJ1_KLBG-d4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh7CiexQM4iqkSqYPiyxrRYnG-nrBlq3kSUiQhD_aZooHv6pnCL6gWq4zM0c6cvgRucvY3cK1R-FkHgP8pC3Ivi9lgdSr1UVsaQ5UlQ6Cp4m-UNU0Jp7353Wv1MgZVA8gJhKV0QdeKakJwp9fvm7KFhnLl2noqVHXK_baMuMobvnJPHDk6HYJ1_KLBG-d4" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>An old adage that I have heard all of my life is smile and the world smiles with you! Do you agree?<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXQBjqcDF8tGdNvtU0j2g7kJQCoFxS-6nFYZ7TXLHHe5RpkLGeiDckv0eJi_qqP22YVoP0uiysFaZZSPLjtbM5COe2ffDvCl_t3KtnATGjYzDpFUs2LHxqS2jJjUBu_84W0vdlIiXsHAcrvBF_EXrATuiRCV00vXzkxNniK-U-7qMaMK5IYCMNDtn-FIQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXQBjqcDF8tGdNvtU0j2g7kJQCoFxS-6nFYZ7TXLHHe5RpkLGeiDckv0eJi_qqP22YVoP0uiysFaZZSPLjtbM5COe2ffDvCl_t3KtnATGjYzDpFUs2LHxqS2jJjUBu_84W0vdlIiXsHAcrvBF_EXrATuiRCV00vXzkxNniK-U-7qMaMK5IYCMNDtn-FIQ" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is amazing to me that a smile can say more than words at times. A smile could be worth a million dollars to someone that has suffered a loss or had a really bad day. I try to remind my children and grandchildren often to smile to anyone that they pass as it is always a bright spot in their day. Someone might be feeling very low, and your smile might be the only nice thing to happen to them that day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLKsdBi-h3xE-9sUWG5Vgz-7HWp8aj0hx47sYOxRTWDH9_DfNBzlDap0E1UreJ9YZT1RZOEbfla1lSzTXqGurHWZR9G4si4S-oCIbTnwEVhX8zh63pHNKu3Tahtihz8W9zw_iU_cmtM6ZEyKdzq530hQa2o9iFrVk1WC60F6uEclGMRog4FFjwnAnw7H0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLKsdBi-h3xE-9sUWG5Vgz-7HWp8aj0hx47sYOxRTWDH9_DfNBzlDap0E1UreJ9YZT1RZOEbfla1lSzTXqGurHWZR9G4si4S-oCIbTnwEVhX8zh63pHNKu3Tahtihz8W9zw_iU_cmtM6ZEyKdzq530hQa2o9iFrVk1WC60F6uEclGMRog4FFjwnAnw7H0" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I challenge each of you to smile at a stranger that you come into contact with today and see what happens. The world just might be a little better if everyone would just make an effort to smile a little more!<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-74171565501958405572024-01-05T06:55:00.000-08:002024-01-05T06:55:51.458-08:00Book Beginnings and Some Random Reading Updates<p> I have been reading many blogs that are participating in the Book Beginnings by <a href="https://www.rosecityreader.com/">Rose City Reader</a> and I have decided that I will do the same here and I will try my best to remember to do this every Friday. This challenge is that you post the first line of a book, along with title and author and your first thoughts about the book. </p><p><b>Red was the last color, the very last. That's what Dr. Edmonds was saying. </b> This line comes from <i>Just Once</i> by Karen Kingsbury. <i>Here is an affiliate <a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Once-Novel-Karen-Kingsbury/dp/1982104449/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2VAQ6TUFWJ36J&amp;keywords=just+once+karen+kingsbury&amp;qid=1704465875&amp;sprefix=Just+once+%252Caps%252C147&amp;sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=funnyfarm08-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=63e58addaa8ca2325c6b586ab8673b27&camp=1789&creative=9325">Just Once</a>">link</a> in case you want to purchase the book and aid our family just a bit in the process. </i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR4UgjjzMB8iENRRl255IqKSVMCDExnAKNwiGvVKAWFDJe1rQAnaB_2cErSkWfqyRIVIHYtBk_dtH6oFxF7HYZeyranAum5TQn7KY7s23T35KRQPiKgbgFB1r0-KuIJ_4VaFkxVhFSfo5Nmh1cdyaJlLnsGluo3ZnRHarr0_yUOkso4bkc-zRlWtaJehQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="303" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjR4UgjjzMB8iENRRl255IqKSVMCDExnAKNwiGvVKAWFDJe1rQAnaB_2cErSkWfqyRIVIHYtBk_dtH6oFxF7HYZeyranAum5TQn7KY7s23T35KRQPiKgbgFB1r0-KuIJ_4VaFkxVhFSfo5Nmh1cdyaJlLnsGluo3ZnRHarr0_yUOkso4bkc-zRlWtaJehQ" width="156" /></a></div><br />Karen is my favorite author and I have read most of her books, but with the title of the book and this first line, I would truly wonder how it fit into the story. Knowing what the book is about though, the first line says a lot. It truly is part of a diagnosis that many people hear in a years' time. <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2vEInOkPmU_HTfaTmlT8SxpEYDAUxHxf_q_vt-zy_jIw5MWQM_1Rs-Z855GenlHhejzqc-bp6-Dox___qZHvgR5vqbFgDarjPuNFOs7k6DN5clifjGlfwQOqMAaHp5FcF_Ox8_GgbnLYqR7XNqo86wkEPc5icddkzb6yrj1z_N59eKreq1AgWJ7poR0c" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="144" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2vEInOkPmU_HTfaTmlT8SxpEYDAUxHxf_q_vt-zy_jIw5MWQM_1Rs-Z855GenlHhejzqc-bp6-Dox___qZHvgR5vqbFgDarjPuNFOs7k6DN5clifjGlfwQOqMAaHp5FcF_Ox8_GgbnLYqR7XNqo86wkEPc5icddkzb6yrj1z_N59eKreq1AgWJ7poR0c" width="173" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">The Friday 56 is a natural tie-in with Book Beginnings. The idea is to share a two-sentence teaser from page 56 of your featured book. If you are reading an ebook or audiobook, find your teaser from the 56% mark.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Anne over at <a href="https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/">My Head Is Full Of Books</a> is the host of this and such it fits so well with the Book Beginnings, I will share this as well today. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b>" Speaking of Irvel" ..., A nervous look came over Sam. He wrung his hands together for a moment. " She, us .. she and I have a few classes together." </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">Of course, from the same book. I am greatly enjoying this book and I am now on page 125. I hope to be able to finish it this weekend and move onto my next book. </span></span></p>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-47755928682395409862024-01-05T06:14:00.000-08:002024-01-05T06:14:31.810-08:00Chili For A Cold Day<p> I am sharing the post that I made for my WordPress blog today as I feel that it is a nice addition to the farmhouse blog as well. </p><header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; color: #375362; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; position: relative;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="border-bottom-style: dotted; border-color: rgb(110, 83, 114); border-image: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 2.4rem; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 0.542em; max-width: 99%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.3em; vertical-align: baseline;">Chili For A Cold Day</h1><span class="edit-link" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0.8em; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="post-edit-link" href="https://wordpress.com/post/farmerscookery.wordpress.com/65" style="border: 0px; color: #675521; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">Edit</a></span><div class="entry-meta" style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 1.1rem; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://farmerscookery.wordpress.com/2024/01/05/chili-for-a-cold-day/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1rem; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2:11 pm"><time class="entry-date" datetime="2024-01-05T14:11:57+00:00" style="padding-right: 0.583em;">JANUARY 5, 2024</time></a><span class="byline" style="border: 0px; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0.583em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="author vcard" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="https://farmerscookery.wordpress.com/author/carolscash/" rel="author" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1rem; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts by carolscash">CAROLSCASH</a></span></span> <span class="cat-links" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0.583em 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://farmerscookery.wordpress.com/category/recipe/" rel="category tag" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1rem; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">RECIPE</a> </span><span class="comments-link" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://farmerscookery.wordpress.com/2024/01/05/chili-for-a-cold-day/#respond" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.1rem; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;">LEAVE A COMMENT</a></span></div></header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #375362; counter-reset: footnotes 0; font-family: Verdana, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.667em 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My husband has many food ideas and there are certain foods that he only wants when it is cold and many of those are what most people consider comfort foods. Foods like chili, roast, beef stew, and many soups are generally considered comfort foods and many people eat these year-round, but not in our household. These foods are winter, cold day foods to him. So, with a forecast of snow in the air tonight and the fact that he wants left-overs for tomorrow, as I won’t be home, he wants chili tonight.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chili can be made many different ways and with many different ingredients. I chose a very simple recipe today and I will share it with you as my cold day chili. I prefer to use deer burger in ours as we have it readily available in our freezer and we like the flavor it adds to the chili. I also like to add home canned tomato juice, if possible, which was not in this case. I intended to use home canned diced tomatoes but was given some store-bought diced chili ready tomatoes so that is what I used for today’s meal.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I am fortunate that we heat with wood most of the winter and so my woodstove can double as my stove this time of the year for foods like this. I enjoy the meals that are cooking while I am busy with other work. It also makes the day feel as though I have accomplished a bit more when dinner is already on cooking by 9 a.m. Many people do not have the luxury in doing that, but that is part of what I truly love about our life here on our small farm in the country.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Here is the recipe for my chili. Please know that you can make many adjustments to what you do with this recipe, but I prefer this one for today.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cold Day Chili</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 pound of deer burger, fried and drained of any grease</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 small onion, diced</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 8 oz can of tomato sauce</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 8 oz can of chili ready diced tomatoes, although I prefer my own canned ones</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2 15 oz cans of chili beans, I prefer to use the mild</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2 tsp chili powder</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 tsp cumin</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 cup of water</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.667em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mix all ingredients together and let simmer most of the day. I never bring to a boil as I just want the flavors to simmer together and heat all of the ingredients. I cook macaroni separately and we each add what we want to our bowls, as well as crackers. I also always serve with a peanut butter sandwich, as it is the perfect addition to the meal and complements the flavor of the chili quite nicely.</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-large" style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://farmerscookery.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/image.png" style="border: 0px; color: #675521; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s linear 0s; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-73" data-attachment-id="73" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="image" data-large-file="https://farmerscookery.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/image.png?w=183" data-medium-file="https://farmerscookery.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/image.png?w=183" data-orig-file="https://farmerscookery.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/image.png" data-orig-size="183,275" data-permalink="https://farmerscookery.wordpress.com/2024/01/05/chili-for-a-cold-day/image/#main" height="275" sizes="(max-width: 183px) 100vw, 183px" src="https://farmerscookery.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/image.png?w=183" srcset="https://farmerscookery.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/image.png 183w, https://farmerscookery.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/image.png?w=100 100w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: bottom;" width="183" /></a></figure></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-2347171208091260062024-01-04T14:51:00.000-08:002024-01-04T14:51:54.406-08:00A Gray Day and A Reading Update<p> Today has been a very gray day here and that makes me just not want to do anything. It looks as though we may have snow, with very little accumulation tonight or tomorrow. There could be another weak system coming through that will just barely hit our area over the weekend. As long as it is not slick, I am fine with a bit of snow. I wish the sun would shine as that is the worst part of the winter season for me. I truly don't mind the snow or even the cold.</p><p>My kids made it home safely from Florida yesterday and a good time seemed to be had by all. I am thankful that they are home and safe. I love to travel, but with the way people drive these days, it always makes me worry when they are on the road. Our son-in-law is a truck driver, so he is much more aware of what occurs on the road. My daughter is an excellent driver, but I worry about the other drivers and not her. </p><p>Our chicken coop needs a good cleaning so I am hoping that tomorrow, I can manage to get out there and clean it. We need new bedding put in as well and the barn still needs straw. I might get both completed tomorrow if it doesn't snow or get too cold. It seems that the work is harder in the winter. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdq3-QQEA9wpyIXYLKUTPQsxPMMcZN4zdvkST_xJSExr3G8N6U_bdsxPlUNp2046zsY8QJmGOihXMTuwkniXAK9pbtSOsB7Jo_BXlMd2kg6BlzgzRaxPQdoPofMi-G4qQDfqi_AHL_mAFhUUS36JCQ5IOjXxBCcoKmTWpNZq_xERkIttNMHOfjXuXS8Xk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="234" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhdq3-QQEA9wpyIXYLKUTPQsxPMMcZN4zdvkST_xJSExr3G8N6U_bdsxPlUNp2046zsY8QJmGOihXMTuwkniXAK9pbtSOsB7Jo_BXlMd2kg6BlzgzRaxPQdoPofMi-G4qQDfqi_AHL_mAFhUUS36JCQ5IOjXxBCcoKmTWpNZq_xERkIttNMHOfjXuXS8Xk" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chickens still require as much work in the winter as in the summer. The water can become more of an issue at times and cleaning the coop certainly becomes more of a chore. We leave a light on for part of the day for them, so it seems that they stay in the coop longer and that makes a bigger mess to be cleaned. Our egg production is still great though, so the light must be helping with that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> In other news, I am happy to say that I am on page 100 of <i>Just Once</i> by Karen Kingsbury. I have also started the <i>Boxcar Children</i> by Gertrude Chandler Warner for the reading challenge that <a href="https://teaandinksociety.com/">Tea and Ink</a> Society is hosting. I love the idea of reading classics through the year and the fact that this month is a book that you have previously read makes it even better. I promised that I would write an update and so I have just included it with today's post.</div><br /><br /><p></p>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-20862809650542328412024-01-02T04:30:00.000-08:002024-01-02T04:30:00.131-08:00Farm Predators<p> Farm predators are a part of any farm life. Animals like hawks, owls, raccoon, opossums, snakes, coyotes, and a fox are especially a huge threat to a flock of chickens. Just about a week ago, I heard a commotion outside and when we looked around, we found 6 or 7 of our free-range chickens had been killed by something. We suspected a coyote, but instead discovered a fox near the chicken coop. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6sdxSrK04Cp0Ks5FYHAHrJ98i8HswnfGCNqwrnVmU28qAx5a13eLzVe_YGH07yWaKfyznOL-rLrxvzG66LHi3HY9aNy_lKjzN8PSFYXrDHEQ8Zs_YbjfKKAC1GtauHCeVUWyLKOJ4I76bF8dPGbyj-DaSbEf-sgmTE0mp38i5W5e7SSiduFms9iSAtu0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6sdxSrK04Cp0Ks5FYHAHrJ98i8HswnfGCNqwrnVmU28qAx5a13eLzVe_YGH07yWaKfyznOL-rLrxvzG66LHi3HY9aNy_lKjzN8PSFYXrDHEQ8Zs_YbjfKKAC1GtauHCeVUWyLKOJ4I76bF8dPGbyj-DaSbEf-sgmTE0mp38i5W5e7SSiduFms9iSAtu0" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>This morning as I went to the barn to feed, I found a dead chicken in the barn with no head and part of it's body eaten. As I showed my husband, he said he was sure that a raccoon or opossum had gotten into the barn and somehow into the chicken coop there. I only found one dead, but I will be setting trap for whatever got into it. We do live traps and replace the animal into a spot that is better for it to live than in our backyard with our chickens being his nightly meal. </p><p>Hawks have been a real issue this year as well. We had one fly into our chicken run and kill several of our chickens before my husband could get him out of the run. It is sad, but a part of the food chain, nevertheless. With so many homes being built and so many farms and wooded areas being destroyed, the wild animals are finding it harder to find food without attacking flocks like ours. I understand that they are hungry, but our chickens are part of our livelihood, so back off!!!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid7dlAr9SvSX7FB-y6O7r5JmIaQ1a4qlOsitX11Edk03FC60gJAjTphUPJ2OBghMyl911fEaYD9NyYLLOkfKonkicoq9T7YfczEdNd3D1m4qcZJSch_d0Xh3hk-vJ_P5HAEvNvsdWN5cd9ARt2tjkhOMYtQuorGozoXWzXKGkKxCnGGoTf43QGbQQAvw8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid7dlAr9SvSX7FB-y6O7r5JmIaQ1a4qlOsitX11Edk03FC60gJAjTphUPJ2OBghMyl911fEaYD9NyYLLOkfKonkicoq9T7YfczEdNd3D1m4qcZJSch_d0Xh3hk-vJ_P5HAEvNvsdWN5cd9ARt2tjkhOMYtQuorGozoXWzXKGkKxCnGGoTf43QGbQQAvw8" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>Weasels can also be a problem, but thankfully we don't see many of them near us. Dogs can be a problem, but we rarely have problems with them. One neighbor had a dog that liked to kill our rabbits, but after speaking to the neighbor multiple times, I believe he finally figured a way to keep them away. Many times, these animals' prey during the dark and nighttime hours, so it is hard to catch them in the act. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRLoNyoOt-I-c68QMp3ZDEQPcw3hjFtYbBGGiZ_HVuqnIYVhmkAK1krKZmbao0GoP9rcU3nzcrLMUOGlfRlYQ_jBymeMHEnJ4dWBjcpcsGOfVBHdfDBiLG3DoRf3Q3X96ZuQwRJ1vkQdEL8gj0U2AJyYBXFpBwmVHmbsO8ZlbjzyfueRMyUwwh6ZY15hQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRLoNyoOt-I-c68QMp3ZDEQPcw3hjFtYbBGGiZ_HVuqnIYVhmkAK1krKZmbao0GoP9rcU3nzcrLMUOGlfRlYQ_jBymeMHEnJ4dWBjcpcsGOfVBHdfDBiLG3DoRf3Q3X96ZuQwRJ1vkQdEL8gj0U2AJyYBXFpBwmVHmbsO8ZlbjzyfueRMyUwwh6ZY15hQ" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>Some of these animal predators cannot be killed and I don't like to kill an animal just doing what it is bred to do, but we have had to put some raccoons down as they were attacking. It is not what our first choice is, but sometimes we just have to do what is necessary to protect our flock. These animals can be dangerous due to rabies and other diseases that they carry. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3HdHAOrGlzrzKyQpT8gCTH4FSnhsmOzqZGsd-EwTQTkg9DSIj7gmmtwfVVkafVAEfrZdX9Z9pEzRkRxLpeCrfBvLFjqOkzESpOEY82QUnRPeVcjrl76sEQYwzGcBAK0BAg7dnXCBI3ULJnucilav1y6aM3W84Tf82JWWAPabeu7nU6vVW9ZbTOBBpmrM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3HdHAOrGlzrzKyQpT8gCTH4FSnhsmOzqZGsd-EwTQTkg9DSIj7gmmtwfVVkafVAEfrZdX9Z9pEzRkRxLpeCrfBvLFjqOkzESpOEY82QUnRPeVcjrl76sEQYwzGcBAK0BAg7dnXCBI3ULJnucilav1y6aM3W84Tf82JWWAPabeu7nU6vVW9ZbTOBBpmrM" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Farmers do what they can to protect their animals and our chicken coops are as predator proof as we can make them, but occasionally, a predator makes our chicken their prey. <br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-3810470493855532212024-01-01T04:30:00.000-08:002024-01-01T04:30:00.131-08:00To Be Read January 2024<p> As I promised my readers yesterday, I am here today with one of my goals for the new year. I want more peace in my home and life and part of what brings me peace is reading so I intend to do more of it and hold myself accountable here. So I plan to write a post once a month to share what I intend to read each month and then share my progress weekly. </p><p>For January, I am planning small with only four books on my list. This reading will be on top of my Bible Study for the month. I may share that at times as well, but I am unsure yet what I will be doing this month for that. I am thinking just a random reading and study for January. I have also decided to add some classic reading to my list for the year, so I have joined <a href="https://teaandinksociety.com/2024-classics-reading-challenge/">the reading challenge</a> at Tea and Ink Society. My classic for this month's theme is to read a book that you have read in the past and I have chosen The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. I chose this as it was one of my favorite series to read as a child and even as a teenager, I read it multiple times. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqFnCQgMk59GmFrpqGrNxpDF6KtWXg-ULIKlq0xopmKA2TqvGtBfGQrf9YiFLMDcpW61WxQP_I0_bIvQOUKecnfn6iB4uj9aDuR-AaNIfqJQfrDmnt32fnrloACzW2UJ8iXj-Zvyr_ATHM1QAV6fz11CqUBlDJsBnZ62Lx4AJrULsy7TjXxvOqRApsJmY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="150" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqFnCQgMk59GmFrpqGrNxpDF6KtWXg-ULIKlq0xopmKA2TqvGtBfGQrf9YiFLMDcpW61WxQP_I0_bIvQOUKecnfn6iB4uj9aDuR-AaNIfqJQfrDmnt32fnrloACzW2UJ8iXj-Zvyr_ATHM1QAV6fz11CqUBlDJsBnZ62Lx4AJrULsy7TjXxvOqRApsJmY" width="165" /></a></div><br />If you are interested in reading this, you can find it on <a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&tag=funnyfarm08-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=2ead67b0458b7408d3afa97c9d05c3f0&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=books&keywords=The Boxcar Children">Boxcar Children</a>">Amazon</a>. By using that link and purchasing the book, you will be helping aid my family in keeping farm life in the hearts of children. I appreciate it more than you will ever know. <p></p><p>My other books that I intend to read are:</p><p>1<i>. Just Once</i> by Karen Kingsbury. Karen is my favorite author and I am anxiously wanting to read this. It was a gift for Christmas from my daughter and I am looking forward to it. Here is a <a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Just-Once-Novel-Karen-Kingsbury/dp/1982104457/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=&_encoding=UTF8&tag=funnyfarm08-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=99a46d24df41bd4345229fd2560f4895&camp=1789&creative=9325">Just Once</a>">link</a> to this book. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T1/images/I/812sm6sqArL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="303" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T1/images/I/812sm6sqArL._SY466_.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>2.<i> Frontier Follies</i> by Ree Drummond. Yes, as in the Pioneer Woman. <a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Follies/dp/0062962752?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=funnyfarm08-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=e87efaecdb00e593bc0ff5715c9f7439&camp=1789&creative=9325">Frontier Follies</a>">Here</a> is the link to it. I am sure it will be a fun and easy read. I have read other books by her and enjoyed them a great deal. She is such a hardworking woman and cares deeply for her family and her frontier. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T1/images/I/91N1lFXT3bL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="307" height="466" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T1/images/I/91N1lFXT3bL._SY466_.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>3.<i> Four Friends </i>by Robynn Carr. This is a book that my mom was given and has passed it to me as she thinks that I will enjoy it. It is an older book, but I am sure it will be a pleasant and light read. I will include the <a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=four+friends+robyn+carr&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;crid=2HIU7R3NC5G77&amp;sprefix=Four+Friends+Ro%252Cstripbooks%252C138&amp;ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_15&_encoding=UTF8&tag=funnyfarm08-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=e578ec670750c79220c0c91e7aade93e&camp=1789&creative=9325">Four Friends</a>">link</a> in case anyone is interested in reading it as well. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T1/images/I/81WgCQN1UlL._AC_UY218_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="218" height="218" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_792452-T1/images/I/81WgCQN1UlL._AC_UY218_.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I hope to read this all four in the month of January and I will weekly give an update as to where I am in my journey. Please let me know if you choose to read any of these as well. <div><br /></div><div>Happy New Year!!!!<br /><p><br /></p></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-89046054875745651482023-12-31T08:11:00.000-08:002023-12-31T08:11:16.137-08:00Christmas in Mustang Creek Book Review<p> For some reason, I can't get my Goodreads reviews to post from that site to here, so I am going to do my own copy and paste from there. I don't want to write two reviews for each book so if anyone can help please do! Let me know how to do the post from there to here.</p><p><a href="<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Mustang-Creek-Brides-County/dp/0373779089/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2XPN45QKS4FX8&amp;keywords=christmas+in+mustang+creek&amp;qid=1704038901&amp;sprefix=Christmas+in+Mustang%252Caps%252C173&amp;sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=funnyfarm08-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=119d448f2efa557381345ac9e86cca2d&camp=1789&creative=9325">Mustang Creek</a>">Purchase Here</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiGbwDiqQB_onhTOgQR0Uc5s0NjB_LIElSHEk_1NeyRs1lSeeRBapiQzyhyohyrx9tezrpoxX_IGkT2tWSP-7h8ZHkzii_zv-FzyvhMZNJoo9GiuihS_qdaRcjAMHoTns3hV5oMpSGzAJdVUVr4rnuCLHbO7LEcyEleKWbxs4_z-KnQCz4FLodhVdgjeI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="318" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiGbwDiqQB_onhTOgQR0Uc5s0NjB_LIElSHEk_1NeyRs1lSeeRBapiQzyhyohyrx9tezrpoxX_IGkT2tWSP-7h8ZHkzii_zv-FzyvhMZNJoo9GiuihS_qdaRcjAMHoTns3hV5oMpSGzAJdVUVr4rnuCLHbO7LEcyEleKWbxs4_z-KnQCz4FLodhVdgjeI" width="173" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="hreview" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="item"><span class="fn"><a class="bookTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20579278-christmas-in-mustang-creek" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.3; text-decoration-line: none;">Christmas in Mustang Creek (The Brides of Bliss County, #4)</a></span></span><br /><span class="by" style="color: black; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">by</span> <span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><div class="authorName__container" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6223.Linda_Lael_Miller" itemprop="url" style="color: #333333; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 18px; text-decoration-line: none;">Linda Lael Miller</a> <span class="greyText" style="color: #999999;">(Goodreads Author)</span></div></span><br /><div itemprop="reviews" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Review"><div class="big450Box" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; float: left; width: 450px;"><div class="big450BoxBody" style="background-repeat: repeat-y;"><div class="big450BoxContent" style="overflow: hidden; width: 430px;"><a class="leftAlignedImage" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" style="color: #00635d; float: left; margin-right: 10px; padding-top: 2px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="U 50x66" src="https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png" style="border: 0px;" /></a><div><span class="reviewer"><a class="userReview" href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/149034860-carol-slater" itemprop="author" style="color: #382110; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Carol Slater</a></span>'s review<div class="right dtreviewed greyText smallText" style="color: #999999; float: right; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><span itemprop="datePublished">Dec 31, 2023 </span><span class="greyText"> · </span> <a class="smallText greyText" href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/20579278" style="color: #999999; line-height: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">edit</a><span class="value-title" title="2023-12-31"></span></div><br /><div style="clear: right;"></div><div class="rating" itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating"><span class="value-title" title="5"></span><span class=" staticStars notranslate" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; display: inline-block; font-size: 0px; height: 15px; text-wrap: nowrap; vertical-align: top; width: 75px;" title="it was amazing"><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;">it was amazing</span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span><span class="staticStar p10" size="15x15" style="background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,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"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 15px; float: left; height: 15px; width: 15px;"></span></span></div><div></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /><div class="reviewText mediumText description readable" itemprop="reviewBody" style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">What a delightful Christmas read! I truly enjoyed this book. I felt as though Linda Lael Miller had created a story that I was actually a part of. The characters were more like friends than just characters in a book. Mrs. Klozz, a rather mysterious woman that seems to know everything that is happening in town and in the relationship between Charlotte and Jaxon, is such a pleasant addition to the story.<br /><br />Charlotte has returned to her childhood home to help care for her great aunt, who raised her most of her life. Mustang Creek is the one place she worked to escape from and head to the big city to work and she has a successful life in New York, except for her love life. On her return to Mustang Creek, she discovers her ex-boyfriend, Jaxson Locke, has followed her back. Jax, has come to work for a local veterinarian and dear friend.<br /><br />Will sparks fly when Mrs. Klozz invites Jaxson to stay at Aunt Geneva's house without Charlottes' knowledge or does the older lady know it is exactly what it will take to make Charlotte realize that Jaxson is exactly who she needs in her life? Read the book just to discover that like her name sounds, Mrs. Klozz , might fully know the true meaning of Christmas and what Charlotte needs in her life.<br /><br />A Christmas cookie and a dog are the true heroes in the book as they are exactly what makes Charlotte realize that Jaxson will support all of her dreams and maybe a baby born at Christmas is the beginning to a bright new life!</div><div id="review-like" style="float: right; margin-top: 8px; text-align: right;"></div><div id="review-follow" style="margin-top: 8px;"></div></div></div><div class="big450BoxBottom" style="background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 450px;"></div></div><br class="clear" style="clear: both; display: block; font-size: 1px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px;" /></div></div><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /></p><div class=" clearFloats bigBox" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="h2Container gradientHeaderContainer" style="background-position: right top; background-repeat: no-repeat; height: 28px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 10px; text-wrap: nowrap; width: 625px;"><h2 class="brownBackground" style="background: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); color: #382110; font-size: 12px; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase; top: 0px; width: auto;">READING PROGRESS</h2></div><div class="bigBoxBody"><div class="bigBoxContent containerWithHeaderContent" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; width: 625px;"><div class="readingTimeline"><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">December 2, 2023 – Started Reading</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(216, 216, 216); line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">December 30, 2023 – Finished Reading</div></div><div class="readingTimeline__row" style="color: #767676; position: relative;"><div class="readingTimeline__bullet" style="background: rgb(216, 216, 216); border-radius: 50%; height: 14px; left: 4px; position: absolute; width: 14px;"></div><div class="readingTimeline__text" style="border-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5; margin-left: 11px; min-height: 24px; padding-left: 24px;">December 31, 2023 – Shelved</div></div></div></div></div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8460201249293621219.post-67278909272605847062023-12-31T04:30:00.000-08:002023-12-31T04:30:00.131-08:00New Years' Eve 2023<p> The final day of 2023 is upon us and as I sit here and reflect on what the year has been for us, I feel blessed. We welcomed our first grandson into our family, my mother recovered from another near-death experience, my husband and I survived a tough year in our marriage, and my best friend has battled cancer. Many bad things have come our way, but I am thankful to say that God has brought us through them and has made a way for me to still see the blessings He has for me and my family. </p><p>The farm has changed quite a bit this year and we have lost some dear animals to us, but we still have plenty to care for and love and many will find their way into our hearts again this spring. Lessons have been learned about what direction we intend to go with the farm and I know many ways I want to change the way we do things in the next year. I learned to can this year and I must say that I greatly enjoyed it and will be doing more of it in the future. With food costs constantly rising, it is something small I can do to make sure that we are well cared for as a family. I intend to do many more homesteading things this year as well and I plan to do much more bartering with local sales people this year to showcase the handiwork of others and to allow my family more money to live on without my husband having to work more hours. </p><p>I have set some personal goals for myself as well and one of those will be to truly dedicate time to my blogs and I have let them fall by the wayside so much this year. I intend to continue my Pink Zebra business and help my girls both thrive in that business as well. It is time to show the world that I can shine in business and this is the year. I will be in Texas in July for reunion and I will do my best to be on that stage in one way or another. </p><p>Another goal for the year for me is to bring much more peace to my home and my life. One way I intend to do that is to read more and make sure my Bible Study is completed on a daily basis and I will do my best to hold myself accountable here. I am going to start a To Be Read post here each month and I will post my first one tomorrow. I intend to hold myself to a list of books for each month and share with you all each week how that list is coming along. I hope others will join me in sharing their love of reading as well. </p><p>I wish you all the best in the new year and I will talk to you all tomorrow! </p>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15151837626884862299noreply@blogger.com0