Synn

Is anyone familiar with this name?

Too cute... Did ya'll see the kewpie patterns? Talk about a childhood memory...

Mom is the count up to 11 now? How will we get everyones addresses?

Where did this newbie from Illinois go???

Dawn bows down to Westbrooks hubby!!!! Tell him thanks for sharing his computer so we could keep in touch with you!!!!

Hill, Thanks for sharing that with us. I lost my mom 4 years ago this month. She had written in a notebook her favorite recipes. I was fortunate enough to recieve this notebook after she died. I can remember nearly everything she wrote in that book with love. And everytime I get it out and try to make something like Mom those memories come flooding back. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I can't replicate her lemon pie, although I wish I could it's my favorite. Just something about hers that I loved. Maybe it was just Her...

Welcome back. We put on a metal roof in the last year also! I love it. Lois? Does your fridge have chocolate? Can I share?

No words could express how we all feel for you right now.. So I will just leave you with a hug.... {{{{{{{{Nana}}}}}}}}

Those are all great sites thank you for posting them. If I make big pots of soup like chili or chicken corn soup, that are already fully cooked, what's the pressured time on those? And your saying that those have to be pressured rather than water bathed? Again thanks for sharing with me. You've been really helpful to me Westbrook, on lots of things not just this! I just wanted to tell you that.

I didn't ever think of using it as a scouring powder, And had no idea it would melt ice. Thanks for the tips Hill! Snowmom? Did you get a chance to use it on your hair yet?

We reuse ours to start the fires in winter.. I have used them to clean windows they rally work well. I also use one on the table peeling potatoes, after I am done I just roll it up and take them (the peelings that is) out to the chickens

Wow I can't believe I am the first one to post this morning. Since I am up uncharacteristically early. The sun is coming up pretty clearly now. It was a bit foggy out earlier. It's 51 degrees but the humidity is at 96% My DS is at church camp this week. Yea!!! Which means it might be somewhat peaceful for a day anyway. Until I let the oldest dd know we are gonna clean house today! I might look and see if we have all that is needed for chili. Our temps will be back in the 90's by Thursday so we are gonna take advantage of this weather today! School will soon start and I may not have much help after that. Well everyone have a beautiful day!

Our winters are getting milder compared to what they used to be. Our house is 4 bedroom 2 story but relatively small. This will be our third winter here. We only heat with wood also. That was one thing I wanted when we bought our property. Independence from the propane man. I'd say we go through 7-8 cords in a winter. But if we burned the fireplace daily I am sure it would take several more. Last year we didn't get cut nearly what we should have. So we didn't burn the fireplace as often because it seems to just suck up the wood. It does add warmth to the dining room and kitchen area. So I am hoping to use it everyday this winter. Oh and the winds down here aren't that bad. Now for 2 years in a row maybe one or two nights we will get an easterly wind. Wow you talk about cold. We spent those two days cuddling with all 3 kids in one room! Have a great day everyone!

Do you think it would work on smart mouthed teenagers? How about another twist get the garbage can big enough to fit them in and everytime they get nasty make them sit in it? But since we all know that's not gonna happen.. What age group do you think that would work on Hillbillie? I also have a 6 year old , I can see it still working on her. But not the bigger ones.

On the average how many cords of wood does it take to heat the average home? We have a wood burner furnace plus a fireplace. We have a tree in the woods behind our house that has died and started to have limbs falling off. I think that will supply most of our winter fuel this year. We have a log splitter. But almost goodness. It takes the kids and me 20 minutes just to get it started. By then we are too tired to lift the logs up that high. This is one that is probably waist high where you need to put the log to be split. I don't think he used it last year at all. Mostly used the axe and splitting maul.. What does everyone else use?

well........ yes I am kidding.... But I haven't been to one in a very long time. Dawn

I could have sent you sites on Chicago. But........ I wanted you to see my neck of the woods down deep in Central Illinois. Did ya'll see the covered bridge? It's my favorite and just little piece up the road. If not here's another link and a little story to go with it..... http://www.lakeshelbyville.com/images/CoveredBridge.jpg THOMPSON MILL COVERED BRIDGE A braggart's confidence in his area led to the village of Cowden. Henry Marcus Cowden had settled on a farm in Southern Shelby County. When rumors of a railroad began in the 1870's, Cowden bragged to customers at his machine shop that it would cross his farm and a town would grow there. Others scoffed, but Cowden was right. When the railroad came through, early in 1872, the town site was surveyed and Henry Cowden and his wife, Susan, deeded land for the city. When you hear of Cowden you're sure to hear of the Thompson Mill Covered Bridge. Built in1868 to span the Kaskaskia River, the Thompson Mill Covered Bridge is the state's longest existing covered bridge. One of only five remaining in the state. Cowden is also near the site of the oldest pioneer settlement in Shelby County. A grave from that settlement is dated 1801. Cowden isn't a village to rest on its history. Every year, visitors come to the annual Cowden Pioneer Days. This three-day event in August celebrates the past, but also the present with food, fun and entertainment, including a nationally sanctioned rodeo.

Illinois the Land of Lincoln http://www.springfield-illinois.com/ http://www.lakeshelbyville.com/ http://www.shelbyville.net/attractions.htm http://www.arthuril.com/ http://www.siu.edu/~jadams/thumb1.html

oh no no no...... I classify myself as a big SISSY when it comes to snakes. Even the tiniest.. I tell you my skin crawls and legs get shaky. If I didn't think I would kill myself I would run for dear life when I saw one. But I am a bit on the chunky side I would do more harm to myself than any poor snake ever could... Well at least our snakes here in Illinois anyway.. And your talking cobras ......... Buttercup faints.......lol

ok! thanks!!!

Vanilla with chocolate syrup oh and orange sherbert OH YEAH!!!!!

If your chickens are left locked up in their coop for a week or so the will come back to that coop every night. I let mine out every morning and then close them up in the shed at night so the critters won't get them. Our chicken house is within 25 feet of our house. I have more problems with my own dogs then anything else. But now we lock the dog up during the day when we let the chickens out. Then when the chickens roost we let the dog back off her chain.

Can someone share with me ways to can meat raw and cooked? What I am needing to know is processing times? Can you water bath can them or do you need to pressure can them? Flavorings? Salt? Can vegetables be added with it? Hope you all are having a Blessed Lord's Day!!!

wow does that ever look good!

Thank you all for the birthday wishes for my kids. I think they had a good time. The boys were allowed to go to town and rent a couple of "manly" movies. And the girls made a fire outside and they all had hotdogs and smores. One of their friends dad's provided the makings for the smores. My daughter was happy she had her chocolate fix. They all left around 10 pm. Now tomorrow Aunt, and grandparents come. I am fixing creamed chicken and biscuits for lunch as well as a salad and corn. Then we will have cake and ice cream. Sometime before the night is over I will have to pack my sons clothing and things for Church camp which starts Monday. Thank you all for the great ideas. Have a blessed Sunday morning. Dawn