Steam Engine goes Through Scranton

Today we heard the "woo-woo-woo" of a steam whistle going through our busy little rural train town. Usually, every 15 minutes the Union Pacific is hauling through our town with grain, coal, and transportation of goods, but today it was the "Challenger" No. 3985. This was part of the 2008 tour. It will be on display in Boone, Iowa on Sept. 24 from 9:00-6:00pm if you want a up close and personal look at this vintage gem.

Union Pacific Railroad's "Challenger" No. 3985, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, will be on a five-state, 1,750-mile tour from Cheyenne, Wyo., to St. Paul, Minn., to celebrate railroad heritage.Union Pacific's No. 3985, an articulated locomotive with a "hinged" frame to allow it to negotiate curves, is 122 feet long. It weighs more than one million pounds, has six-foot diameter drive wheels and can reach a top speed of 70 miles per hour. No. 3985 was built in 1943 for fast freight service and was retired in 1959. In 1981, it was restored to running condition by UP employee volunteers for special service. The Challenger is based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This information was compliments of site: http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/heritage_and_steam/2008/0912_railfest.shtml

Highlight's of Pioneer Days

If only they could of parked this $4900.00 toy at home.
Checking out the antique tractor parade....and there is Papa John.
A pleasant day for going up ...I would of loved to take a ride!
The threshing was a hit to watch for all ages of boys.
Uncle Curt shows off the "United" from Allis.

Down at Papa Johns

Sweet Kylie turns 15!
Jaden can hardly contain himself....he is on a tractor and about to drive!
Drew's interest lies in fishing...he caught the uncle bass of the day!
What was most entertaining was how they got into this flat bottom boat.
Papa John giving Jaden a ride on the WC...always a thrill for him.

Nelson Pioneer Festival

This is the second year we've made it back to participate in the Nelson Pioneer Festival. The weather was beautiful out and the events were fun.
Kylie and I start with endless possibilities!
What should I make?
Kylie made something very WISE...can you see it?
The most darling "Owlbert" you ever saw.

Extended Hand for Harvesting

I do not know how I have ever lived without this fun little extended tool. This is a must for harvesting any kind of fruit....and for only $12.99 at my local Bomgaars, it found a new home.
Nature's gold, but a tad bit sweeter: PEARS!
A few of the required ingredients...not to mention my 25lb. bag of sugar.
Are these sweet? With a bit of help from Roger during the pressure cooker, we have 31 pints!
This is Pear Relish...12 Pints...different, but definately relish. Doing pears was alot of hard work, but very rewarding considering eating healthier requires knowing what is in your food. It sure is a great feeling to know when you are serving up something that it was preserved with your own two hands. I encourage everyone to find a mentor and learn how to preserve. You will not only preserve some great food, but most likely the memories of dear loved ones and the hours they toiled over the stove to give you those cherished gifts of yummies. After using my dear Grammie's recipe for apple butter, it was a walk down memory lane of prior years of her faithful labor of love to me and Roger. And yes, I did make a few phone calls to my dear Grammie while making it (afterall, it was me-Cooking!).

The Real Fortune

The real fortune of going out for a night of conversation is being able to sit at a table with some amazing women. You will never find these women on the evening news, nor will they take time for themselves to write a top 10 novel, they most likely would give the last of whatever is asked of them if it would benefit someone else. Women who choose everyday to pour all that they have out and into the beautiful gifts they have at home. Mothers who fight against the popular opinion and stay at home and yes, even homeschool their ever redefining-children. One doesn't have to crack open a fortune cookie and read a message to know that the greatest fortune of all is waiting at home for us when we open the door: our most precious, rare & unique family. I am blessed.

Full Moon!

Well, the cow didn't jump over the moon, but I felt like I did. I started with a leap out of bed to get a bit of 'me' time before the routine of boys, breakfast, & school. Then I found 8 cups of apple pulp in my refrigerator that needed to be made into my last of 'this round' apple butter...yes, while still homeschooling. Then after I finished my 7 pints of apple butter, 4 more loads of laundry to fold/put away....I realized it was 1:oo p.m. and ..."MOM!....I'm hungry!"...oh, yeah, lunch time! Another round of food and dishes....threw another load of laundry in and onto our last subject.....Spelling....2:00pm and it is time to mow the lawn! Yippee!!! While that wasn't enough...I believe some of my 3rd planting of sweetcorn is READY...So, Drew who was wanting to mow a little...took over for me....so I could pick, shuck, and cook about 2 quarts, because I wanted to see how LONG it could wait....finished that up and cleaned that mess...then, as if I should of sat down a bit...but ..NO...I decided to start on some pear butter?....Drew still mowing....until I was good and in the middle of pears...decided...he was done! So, set aside my pears shut off the burner...and outside to finish the lawn.....I felt very accomplished, because the lawn was DONE...can you say "Yippee!" three times? Back inside to work on the pears.....oh, my it's almost 7:00 p.m.......switch laundry.....more to fold and put away....it is DINNER time. Grill some burgers, have some sweet corn...more dishes....clean up mess....mill the pears....which actually turned out to be over 16 cups of pear pulp and juice! Tomorrow I will finish that pear butter.....just when I think ...maybe it is time to settle down...."MOM...the MOON, it's a FULL MOON!!!! It's so cool, it is a new moon...can we get the telescope out? Well, why not? So, at around 9:15 pm now, we go outside and take in the awesome closeup sight of the moon. Review some our Science facts that we learned last week....

* Crater = a bowl-shaped hole on the surface of the moon

* phase = one of the different shapes in the monthly cycle of the moon

*ray = one of the lines extending out from a crater

*satellite= a heavenly body in orbit around a planet

*sea = one of the smooth, dark areas on the surface of the moon

*tide= the rise or fall of the ocean surface becasue of the gravity of the moon

Hard to believe the something that is 239,000 miles away can be seen so up close and personal. Well, we took it in and saw the rays from the craters, the texture of the moon from its sides, and saw that it was our brilliant 'nightlight' that God sat in the sky...time for bed! So, without further delay.....we headed to off to showers and the land of nod thinking again how miniscule we really are at times.....and I may not of leaped over the moon, but my day was from one leap to another...and a great finish!

One can Make a Difference

As we build forward, the history of our path will shape and mold our future. I want to pray a blessing over those who sacrifice and devote their freedoms away, so that we and others alike may enjoy our freedoms. One individual at a time, reaching out to our neighbors, strangers, and friends can and will make the world of difference. We do remember 9-11 and the other sacrifices that war brings to those who are oppressed and in bondage. May God continue to bless the Americans and our pledge for Freedom.

Get Your Target.....Aim....Release!

Roger and I just arrived back from a product premiere for Ascential with Steve Michael. It was very informative and enlightening. It has been our family goal this year to promote better life choices in a myriad of avenues within our family. The information that Steve shared with us will enable us to impact our health and wellness. The information will definately aid us in reaching that target we have set. Roger and I are totally jazzed about this steady elevation we are building on.
If you are interested in health and wellness...check it out...We really believe that Ascential is just one amazing tool to aid you in hitting that target. So, check us out at http://www.releasingarrows.com/ and let us help you in hitting your target!

The 2nd Annual Springbrook Gathering

Mckenzie, Avery, Autumn & Benjamin are smiling with the butterfly action.
Autumn and Avery take me on another trail....how many steps this time?
Sheryl and Jensen.....how precious is this?
I'm not sure what the story is here, but I'm sure it is a big one!
Rob attempts to make an apple tart.....can anyone say.....yummy?

From across the county and parts of central Iowa the Hoyt Clan meet at Springbrook state park for a breakfast gathering. This year was even more adventurous as we added a new level to our bike treks. Despite the life threatening treks, the day started off calm and cool with the wood fire smoking and producing sizzling bacon, eggs, and pancakes. No one left hungry, and if they did, it was not because there wasn't plenty of wonderful goods. Always a treat to see cousins that we don't see often and have new playmates for the day. A thumbs up kind of day!

At the Beginning there was Food!

The fire is awaiting the food.
The eggs are almost GONE!
Grandma's cinnamon rolls are a favorite of many.
Rick brings sample of beef bacon .
Roger takes the sample......"I like it".

No breakfast would be complete without homemade goodies from each of our homes. We had no shortage of good food. Let's see...there were bananas, coffee cakes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs over a wood fire, pancakes, sausage, bacon and good old coffee, milk and juice. It was a joint effort that countless families do when getting together to feed an army. All I can say is, " let the tradition continue!"

Mid-Day Action

The beauty of the lake is fantastic.
Josiah takes in the view and dreams of Colorado.
After the downhill trek...I'm ready to go AGAIN!
Despite my attached friends.....I had an inspiring ride!

This quiet little state park is nestled down in Guthrie County and is called Springbrook. This is the second year we have had a family breakfast at a shelter with a day filled of biking, trails, fishing, & food by the fire. Some of the family took short rides and some adventurous LONG, OFF-TRAIL, ACTION-PACKED-DOWN SLOPED FASSS-SSSSSSSSST trails! Blazing the trails was hard work on the up hill push, but exhilirating on the downhill. Along the way some extra passengers were picked up and attached rather aggressively to our clothes and shoes- not to mention the tree colliding visitors, scraps, scratches, and out right collisions. I participated in one really long and exherting trek, it was really addictive on the downhill treks...I can really understand the adrenliline that drives the X-treme Sports mania. However, at my current age...I must exercise extreme caution at my recovery of injuries when trying to keep up with the 'boys'.

The Journey to the Shelter

At the end of our mega bike trail blazing and serene fishing, we headed to a shelter for a fire to warm us up, food to fill us up, and fellowship to surround us. Nothing defines memories as riding on the tailgate of a truck with the giggling of nieces and the imagination of woodland fairies and sprites as we journey to the shelter. We sure were glad that we were riding on the tailgate and not pumping the pedals of our bikes again along the stretch of this Springbrook hill.