Christmas Candy

Part of our family's Christmas tradition is to make hard candy. It is the recipe from the Lorann flavoring oils package- we have always made cinnamon, wintergreen (the kids say this tastes like toothpaste), peppermint, and spearmint in the past, but this year we thought we'd shake things up and go for the fruit flavors- grape, orange, watermelon, peach, strawberry and apple.

Getting the cookie sheets coated with powdered sugar ready while Daddy cooks the candy.

We make "tracks" in the sugar to keep the hot candy in lines- easier for cutting.

The more help, the better. Once the candy is ready to cut, you have to work fast before it gets too hard.

That sifter over by Abby?- you have to sift the candy after it's cut to get off the excess powdered sugar. The Lorann recipe says to pour the candy onto greased cookie sheets and to break the candy into pieces, but I think the way we do it works better - and gives you that extra dose of sugar we all need around the holidays...

The candy needs to reach 310 degrees before adding the food coloring and flavoring. This is the part that takes the longest. It's hard to wait until the first batch is ready.

Pouring the candy, dusting the top with more powdered sugar, then the cutting with scissors. The candy is VERY hot so we have to wait a few minutes until it is cool enough to handle.

First batch done! Repeat five more times. (Make that six- one batch burned).

Clean up (sigh).

Boxes and Cobwebs and Dust, Oh My! -Or- My Entire Life Has Flashed Before My Eyes This Week

I wish I could say that these two piles were all we threw away, but there was more that didn't get captured in a photo.
The stuff that made the first cut is in the garage, waiting for a second look before going back down into the basement in new plastic containers.

The boxes are so dusty and have mold spores on them, so we were careful to minimize our exposure.

Sorting through boxes in the snow! Nothing like an impending snowstorm to put a damper on any sentimental feelings towards the basement contents!

While most of my baby dolls had to be tossed, my troll collection appears to have survived the years intact.

I was amazed at all the things I came across. I made this mushroom looking thing as a child and my mother saved it. I also found my favorite pillowcase I used around the age of ten and thought- "Wow! I had forgotten about that!" Quickly followed by the thought "No one should have their old pillowcases, *every * single* toy, *bedding item* piece of paper they colored on* books *school notes * and more that *they* ever *had * languishing in their basement!!"

I found a book called "All About Me" that I had filled out. I realized that I was a terrible speller. I don't even know what I thought my favorite food was. Tumado soop doesn't even sound good. And I do like carets now. I eat them regularly.

Some things never change.

Dad admitted this week that he and Mom were both packrats, coming from a long line of packrats. My children get upset when I throw anything away, but as I told them this week, "I am giving you a gift- the gift of knowing how to throw things away when they are no longer useful."

I cannot express how freeing it is to throw this stuff away. I wish I could've done it under happier circumstances, but it was past time. I was waiting until Jon could go through these things with me and I have saved a few things he would want (along with "family heirloom" items).

I think I will throw away a lot more in the weeks to come.
Freedom!

Cleaning Up

We began removing boxes from the basement today. We had to take them out through the windows since to bring them through the house would allow the dust and other nasties to come into the main part of the house.

One box was still wet from the summer damage that came when we were on vacation in July. One box was stuck to the floor with mold.

We have about half of all the stuff out on the lawn now- I can only imagine what our neighbors are thinking.

I can't believe how much stuff we have down there. My mom saved (seems like) everything and she wasn't even from the Depression Era. Brian's folks have passed down things to us and of course we have all those baby and toddler toys too.

I bought a new vacuum online last night after doing some research. We need one with a HEPA filter so we can clean up any contaminated dust on our furniture and floors. I have been dreaming of a Dyson for a long time. My children even know how I long for one of those...and I didn't end up buying one! The Kenmore 35923 was rated by Consumer Reports to be very good - even better than Dyson at half the cost (or less- Sears was having a big sale). Christmas is coming early for me! Our current vacuum is a sorry excuse for a cleaning machine, so I can't tell you how exciting it will be to vacuum and have the floors/rugs look clean after running it. Up until now we didn't feel that a new vacuum was a priority since all our floors are hardwood and I always sweep the rugs with a broom or take them outside to shake. I think I'll do nothing else but vacuum for an entire week once it comes!

We are all tired after working in the basement this afternoon. I have been reading my books from the library on mold and sick building syndrome. When I can post pictures again, I'll share some of this adventure...

Mold and Mildew on the Windswept Plains...

Our chip reader won't let me upload any pictures, so I'll just have to update with words for now.

We had an indoor air specialist come out to our house yesterday to see if we had any mold (or anything else) problems keeping our immune systems low. He looked through the ENTIRE house- closets, cupboards, under sinks, etc. This is the gentleman that helped us when we built the house nine years ago and he is excellent at what he does. He was made sick from mold exposure about twenty years ago and knows first hand how devastating it can be.

I found it interesting that he got out of breath walking up the stairs to the bedrooms. I get winded doing that too, and I know it's not because I'm out of shape. He commented that he was just at a high altitude and was fine, so his reaction was due to something in the house.

After checking out the rooms and making various suggestions and comments, he headed to the basement- and immediately knew there was something wrong. With his measuring devices, he determined that the moisture content of the basement cement is high and the humidity is high as well (but the humidity is still within acceptable limits). Dust and debris has settled into the cracks in the floor, causing mold and bacteria to breed and it is being released into the air (and then, through the upstairs as well). He feels this is the cause of the terrible musty smell and the source of our lowered immunity/worsening reactions.

The solution for this will be for us to move everything into sealed plastic storage containers and clean the basement floor very well (shop vac with hepa filter). Then all cracks need to be sealed (lots of cracks...). Hopefully in a few weeks we'll know if that was enough to help us.

A job I've been putting off for years- getting the basement organized. Well, I guess this is just the motivation we need to hurry up and get it done!

*Update on Hannah*

She is on her last day of antibiotics and feels the hearing in her "bad" ear has returned to about 50 percent (much better from zero percent hearing...). She is looking better, eating normally and is smiling more, so we continue to pray that her hearing will return 100 percent. We are grateful that she is feeling better and is up and about much more than last week.

I took Hannah to the chiropractor on Monday and she felt that was helpful for her ear- and as soon as we got home, her ear started to bother her again. So we knew something *is* most likely affecting her in her home environment. Also, Hope has been having some allergic reactions. Clean out the basement- quick!

Update on Hannah

Hannah begins antibiotics today for her ear infection. The doctor thinks she may lose hearing in her infected ear. Please pray that the antibiotics will cure this infection, that she will have a full restoration of her hearing and that she won't have any side effects from the medication (such as a systemic yeast infection).

Thank you!

*Sunday Morning Update*:

So far Hannah seems to be tolerating the antibiotics well. She feels the draining in her ear is going down. The doctor said that the infection is behind the eardrum and since the hole is up high, the infection cannot drain from the ear - the prescription ear drops, all that garlic and olive oil we've been putting in, hydrogen peroxide, heat to encourage draining, herbal antibiotics, etc. cannot touch the infection so deep inside.

I do think Hannah's immune system would have eventually conquered this, but the doctor felt the chance of permanent hearing loss was high due to the severity of the infection- and that the antibiotics offers us the best hope at preserving as much of her hearing as possible at this point.

Hannah has not noticed any improvement in her hearing today (she can't hear at all out of one ear), but we are praying the next few days might bring some encouragement in that area.

Around the House Today

Here is another blog header Hannah made for me this week. I think I'll save it for spring.

We are reading this book in our group reading time. Truly a life changing book for me.

Potato soup for lunch. We'll probably add some butter and cheese to it before eating. Because butter and cheese make the world go 'round- along with chocolate (which wouldn't taste good in potato soup, I don't think).

Yogurt made this morning should be ready tonight.

Lovely fall day- I love to have the windows open as I work in the kitchen!

Working on science (favorite subject).

Fall decorating.

Fall Carnival

While on their way home from Abby's dyslexia treatment, Brian, Abby, Jacob and Hope stopped by the college to see Doug.

Since I also attended this college for one semester, it was fun for me to see the pictures of the campus. It's hard to believe it's been twenty years since I'd been there...

The college was putting on a fall festival for the community, so since they were there, the kids helped Doug (just a little bit) with the set up.

Doug showed everyone around.

Making sure the games and activities are in working order.

It appears that the games are working just fine.

Bobbing for apples!

The college guys show how it's done.

Hope tries for the apples...

...and in the process loses the front tooth she's been working on all week!

Happy Fall!

Hannah saw the doctor this morning and he gave her antibiotic eardrops for her infection. We knew her eardrum had ruptured (due to the amount of drainage) which he confirmed. If this is a viral infection, the drops won't help, but if it is bacterial, the drops should take care of it.

Her pain level has been going down since yesterday afternoon (down to a "3" from a "6" on a scale from one to ten - it was a "9" at the worst) and we are grateful for that.

Our email account has not been letting us send emails, so for those of you who have written (you know who you are...!) please know that I am not ignoring you. I'm just dealing with flakey technology.

Fall Colors and an Update on Hannah

No one went to church yesterday as to avoid catching any germs that could be passed on to Hannah.

So Brian got up early on Sunday morning and took Abby and Jacob on a hike in the park.

They went on a four mile trail they had never taken before.

Brian said his goal is to walk every trail at least once...

all on the same day.

I let him know he'd be alone on this hike- probably thirty miles over rocky terrain. My knees hurt just thinking about that.


As for Hannah, her strength is getting better and she is eating more, but the severe ear pain continues. A heating pad helps, but please continue to pray that she will get well and that the pain will go away soon.

Prayer Request:

Although I try to keep things light around here on the windswept plains, today I am asking my dear friends and family to pray for Hannah. Last winter she caught the flu which weakened her immune system even further. She has struggled all this year for energy and strength.

Last week she developed a sore throat. After the birthday party, she developed an ear infection (hasn't had one of those since she was a baby). She hasn't been eating this week due to nausea and vomiting, so on her way to get a drink of water two nights ago, she fainted, the glass she was carrying shattered on the floor around her but thankfully she did not get hurt from that.

Please pray that her immune system will rally and that she will be able to fight off the infection. Please pray that the pain will go away and she will be able to eat again. She had a bad reaction the last time she took antibiotics, so we are doing everything we can to avoid those.

Thank you!

The girls filled pumpkins with flowers as one of the party activities. Now we will have cute fall decorations this week!

The girls had a wonderful time at the birthday party. They said the birthday girl was dressed from the colonial era, one girl from the victorian era, and another girl came dressed as a pirate. I'll have to ask what the other two girls wore as I think there were seven girls total. (I just used the word "girl" seven times in those last sentences!)

Dresses Finished, On To The Party!

Front View

Back View

The girls are at the party right now. I hope they are having a good time!

Skirt sewn, Bodice halfway done...

Abby needs to sew in the lining, then buttonholes and hemming the sleeves.

Next, sew on the skirt and hem it, make a longer belt and add the rick rack trim.

Whew!

Cutting The Dress Out

Friends from church loaned us their sewing machine for the week! Hopefully this dress *won't* be hand-sewn after all!

Sewing for a Birthday Party

Hannah and Abby are planning to attend a birthday party next weekend. The dress is "historical", so the girls have chosen to dress in a 1940's theme. They searched for reproduction feedsack fabric to be as accurate as possible. We could only get 4 1/2 yards of the above fabric for Abby, so we will need to cut carefully. It always boggles my mind just how much fabric these vintage dresses take- the skirts were so full.

To make this project even more fun, the sewing machine died after my last quilting experience, so we are hoping to get it fixed in time (we found our former repair shop had closed and now need to find another). This may end up being a hand-sewn dress (oh please, no).

When the fabric arrived in the mail it included a hand written note from the woman who runs the quilt shop- so friendly and sweet. I have always commented to the girls that the women who work in fabric stores are the nicest people ever.