It was time to take this elm tree down.  It didn't leaf last year or this year. Elm trees are gnarly hard wood-- a bit hard to cut. 

David Becker and David Bascom (a logger) came over with their chain saws to fell this big tree for us. (Notice the leaves behind the tree)

Once the tree was down, then the really hard work began.   Cutting in all into log lengths, cutting off the small branches.        Stacking and re-stacking.  The work began about 1:30 in the afternoon.  Steve was still out working about 6pm.  When I arrived home, I noticed the splitter in the field, so I guess that means we will be splitting wood during the week.

  Chain saw, Chain saw, Chain saw.

Cut, Cut, Cut!

 The tree lays up hill ready to be brought down to size.

 Such beautiful rings.

They were able to cut up some of the wood.

Some logs were brought to the top of the drive.

I'll go out tomorrow and take a few pictures of the logs, branches, and split wood. 

I am thankful that this will add to our firewood after it dries out.

Food for the Body

Our health is affected by so many things:

stress, sleep or lack of sleep, food or non-food, 

exercise  or the lack of movement, air, genetics, and the list goes on.

There are somethings we just can't change about our health--it is genetics.

But there is much we can do to improve our health.  

Food is something we all have control over. 

Food is the center of much of our social life.

Food is what builds and nourishes our bodies.

It effects how we feel, how we think, and how we sleep.

Steve is taking a good amount of higher education nutrition courses and 

we all have been delving into books and watching videos and webinars.

Slowly we have changed our diet.

We have taken on a very low grain, low carb, low sugar(or any sweetener)

and high quality fats, high vegetable, high quality grass-fed meats and dairy. 

We sit down to enjoy a dinner of wild caught salmon, buttered steamed broccoli, roasted cauliflower, and baked sweet potatoes. 

Filling and nourishing. 

Healthy.

Dessert is always so delicious.  Chocolate Avocado pudding.

Avocados, dates, raw cacao powder, coconut oil. -- Healthy!

Thankful for the foods that God has supplied!

Deer are all over the USA. But I rather think that we have a special viewing area to see deer. Since our house is high on the hill, we have a view all down around us. 

Early in the mornings we will often see a deer or two.  

There's times when we see more and even some young fawns. 

As I was getting breakfast going this morning, one of the girls called out to me that there were three deer in our field --two bucks.

With camera in hand (the zoom lens on), I propped up in front of the dining room window and began "shooting" a few shots.  

These pictures are not the best I have taken...

since it was early and I was shooting through the window.

But this was the first time I have see a deer fight in our field. 

They are real young bucks because they do not have any spots.

But I don't think they are real mature bucks either, because their racks are small.

We watched them until they were tired of playing this game.

 I am thankful for this five minute nature scene that we were able to witness. 

Somehow watching them, helped our day get started with 

a little extra enthusiasm.   

The Old and the New

We have had several different cars in our 36 years of marriage.

I brought a standard Toyota Corella (approx 6 years old) into our marriage and Steve brought a orange Maverick(approx 8 years old).

When Rebecca came along we sold the Maverick to buy a Green Dodge Aspen(newer?).

Then the Toyota died and the Dodge was disagreeable.

We sold them.

We bought a standard Datsun 510 (3 years old) with sunroof and nice trim package...

..9 months later we totaled the car in a major accident.

We bought a little Isuzu Sudan- diesel(4 years old) and standard to replace the Datsun. 

Tabitha was born.

We drove this little car to our new home in New Hampshire.

Susanna was born.  Car was a little squishy

We celebrate 10 years of marriage..

and were expecting Nathanael(4th child).

This little Isuzu wasn't going to be big enough-- we were ready for a mini-van. 

 Dodge Caravan -- nearly new --just 1 year old.

We also bought a rather old Renault --  problem car.

Nathanael was born 1989

Christianna was born 1991

That makes 5 children plus 2 adults.  

Time to look for a full size van.

Our first Ford Club Wagon(4 years old)-- 8 passenger.

Lydia was born.

We celebrated 20 years of marriage.

Deborah was born.

Mom and Dad Hillis sold us their Honda Accord(4 years old). We sold the Renault!!

We had a back seat put into the van so it would sit more people

Moriah was born.

Keziah was born.  

Now there was enough room to sit everyone...but no room to put groceries..we were squished once more.

In the spring of 1999 we bought our 1998  15-passenger Ford Club Wagon.

Just 1 year old and still under warranty.

The Honda was totaled.  We fixed it.

We Celebrated 30 years of marriage.

The Honda was totaled once again...

In 2006 we bought a 1999 Subaru Outback -- only 7 years old.

The year is 2014.

We have owned 11 vehicles over the pass 36 years. 

We have owned them for a very long time.

We have not been in a hurry to buy new--we take a long time to change.

The Van is 16 years old and the Outback is 15 years old.

It is time to update.

New Red 2015 Subaru Legacy comes into the picture on September 18, 2014.

We will still keep our old vehicles--

they have been in the family for a long time and they still work.

Steve will ride to work in style!