Summer Forget-me-not...House Building

When Mike tells people that he built a house this summer his friends think it's cool. When I tell people that I worked construction this summer they stare at me in disbelief. But build a house we did, whether you think that's cool or you're wondering how in the world.... ;) (I will admit that I wasn't always the most valuable worker on the site...:/)

This is actually the second summer my family has done this together. It was my first summer doing it with the rest of them. And who knew such hard work could be so much fun!?!

It was a blessing having work lined up before Mike and I even arrived back in Canada. And it was such a blessing to get to spend the summer working alongside my husband and my family.

Rednek Piknik

This is what we do for fun around here. :) A little strange? Don't judge until you try a little bit of redneck yourself!

Credit for the planning of this party goes to Mitch who {very impressively} baked us chocolate cobbler {by himself & from scratch} just so we would all agree to get into Yoda {the much abused Toyota} and drive across the field to have a picnic by our own private lake {aka. the dugout}.

Conclusion to the Summer Building Project

Ten months & a lot of fond building memories later, that family project 

(mentioned in previous posts here, here, & here) is completed...

And what sweetens it all is that it is...

Here are some finished-project pictures:

*Photo Credits go to Mandy

The Front Entry

The Front Entry Railing

The Kitchen

The Fireplace in the Main Area

The Den

One of the Bathrooms

The Main Area in the Basement

The Outside (taken back in October)

Fonduing it up!

I think there's a new tradition starting up in my family's Christmas season - it involves a lot of food, a lot of grease, a lot of batter, a lot of time, and a lot of chatting and fun. It's an event, not just a meal...because it takes nearly 2 hours of cooking to get everyone fed. Last year was the first (Mike and I missed out because we spent Christmas in Ontario with his family) so this was the second time around but already Mom and Auntie seem to have it perfected to a "T." 

House Project : Christmas Edition

Are we spending time with family this break? Oh, yes, lots of time. Every day, in fact. What do we spend our time together doing? Construction, of course! Yes, that house project started way back there at the beginning of summer is still a very happening project, although it has come a long way over the months that we have been in Texas. We left with the roof just barely on and came back to painted walls and installed cabinets. But there is still much more to be done and that's what we've been busy at this past week.

dough-cooked-over-the-fire

Our family has started a little summer tradition in recent years - dough-cooked-over-the-fire (such an original name, I know). Actually, the first time Mike and I were introduced to this was when we went to Germany with Word of Life a few years ago. There, of course, we had it with bratwurst or Nutella. Here we've Canadianized it a bit and use plain old smokies...or Nutella. What is interesting about it is that while we learned it in Germany, Canadian history has a very similar traditional food called Bannock. Since I come from a German-Canadian family it seems very fitting, I suppose :).

It's fun! 

It tastes so yummy! 

And it's become a staple at our campfire cookouts.

So, I thought I would share it with y'all (as the Texans say). 

...so you can be as happy as Josh...

"mmm...sweet satisfaction"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DOUGH-COOKED-OVER-THE-FIRE Recipe

1/2 cup warm water

3/4 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp of yeast

Mix above ingredients together and let proof until doubled in size.

In a mixing bowl place:

1/4 cup cream 

1 1/2 cups warm water

1/8 cup of sugar

3/4 tsp salt

2 cups of flour

Mix together until spongy.

Add the yeast mixture to spongy mixture and blend together.

Add about 2-3 cups more of flour.

Mix until it makes a firm dough.

Kneed dough for about 10 minutes on a floured surface.

(if dough is still sticky add more flour)

Then place dough in a large oiled bowl.

And let rise until doubled in size.

Form dough into small individual-sized bun shapes and place on a pan.

Take small ball of dough and wrap around the end of a thick stick, sealing edges well (we usually take a knife and scrape all the bark off the end we are cooking on...unless you like to eat that sort of thing).

 Cook until well-done over an open fire. 

Enjoy with sausages, smokies, hot dog wieners, jam, honey or Nutella...

...and many, many friends

----------------------------------------------------------------------

(thanks to Mom and Auntie Doris for perfecting a recipe that works perfectly!)

Cool Beans!!!

Once upon a day last week we were driving through Red Deer when, lo and behold, we saw a...

...

...

...

...

...

...double-decker bus!

Of course we had to stop...

...and get some coffee too...:)

A Summer Project - Week # 2-3

 A POEM FOR THE HOME



There once was a crew with no clue;
They looked like they came from the zoo.
They wandered around
With thoughts so profound
Yet with no idea what to do.

The head-honcho came and did say
That this was no ordinary day
"I'll whip you into shape,
now pass me that tape
Let's see you work for your pay."*

The Pasload** it shot until hot
Then suddenly it stopped and would not.
Our tool may be neat
But Don's got us beat:
“Just give this here router a shot!”

First task was to pour the cement
Using many tools that were lent
Then putting up walls
And avoiding all falls
‘Cept Mitch who fell in the basement....***

*Disclaimer: my father is not a slave-driver. In this case, rythm and rhyme is more important than truth ;).
**Our handy dandy air-nailer...the much fought over tool...when it's in a working mood.
***True story. But he's okay...just a little sore. 




(C) Missy, Mandy, Sarah, Auntie Doris (with assistance from Mike, Josh, Ryan, Mitch and Uncle Miles)

Prairie Storm

This past Thursday evening the storm clouds were brewing. A glimpse of the awesome power and beauty of the clouds and seeing the effects of the wind puts life into perspective. How small we really are! Day to day we go about our lives thinking that we actually have some sort of control or security of our own making but one glimpse of a prairie storm in the distance is an awesome and humble reminder of our true place and of our dependence on the One who truly can control all things!

*photo credits go to my mom & mandy

  

Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know!  

- Proverbs 30:4 -

Out of all of this we got not even one drop of rain but only miles away the wind demonstrated its strength. The pictures below are from a farm about 5 minutes up the road from my parent's who told us that they suffered minor damages compared to farmers only a few more miles north of them.