Some quick pics:
Sunday Best!



YUMMY!

The thinker...

Going to see Bailey tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. YAY!

News Story of the Day~
"Today the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) delivered its ruling on District of Columbia v. Heller. This case challenged Washington D.C.’s ban on the possession of handguns and its requirement that guns be stored locked or disassembled. In a 5-4 split decision the court affirmed Heller and ruled the ban unconstitutional. Justice Scalia delivered the court’s opinion which went on to clarify many disputed attributes of the Second Amendment while leaving others open to litigation. Justices Stevens and Breyer delivered separate dissenting opinions. The entire text of the opinion is available here.
This ruling is a huge victory for those who interpret the Second Amendment like the other nine in the Bill of Rights: an individual and inalienable right. Among other things the court held:
The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.
One of the few things the court clarified without room for interpretation is that the Second Amendment is an individual right. Justice Scalia delivered an impressive argument for the ruling consisting of textual criticism, historical precedent, and context within the Constitution.
Comparing the phrase “right of the people” to its usage in other parts of the Constitution, he writes
Nowhere else in the Constitution does a “right” attributed to “the people” refer to anything other than an individual right."

Hear, hear! Whatever else folks may say about George W's work as President of this great nation, his role in filling spots on The Big Bench has certainly been helpful here. And now, on to the....

Quote of the Day~ "Our unalterable resolution would be to be free. They have attempted to subdue us by force, but God be praised! in vain. Their arts may be more dangerous then their arms. Let us then renounce all treaty with them upon any score but that of total separation, and under God trust our cause to our swords."

Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren, April 16, 1776

Not only can he turn a nice phrase, but man, can he make beer!

Happy Fourth of July!

xoxo
~Joce

Well, I was planning on going to meet Bailey today, but his mommy is sick today and so we couldn't. To help myself get over the disappointment, I got a hair cut.

I didn't let Brilyn do it, although she obviously has talent in the cosmotology area.
The cool thing is, I went to Transformations in LeRoy like I always do, and who is there to cut my hair, but Heidi Kollarik! YAY! And, no offense to others who have cut my hair in the past, but, she did an absolutely fabulous job, really the best short hair cut I have ever had. I must recommend her.
My kids like to ride the vaccuum, and they are really cute, so here is a picture of that.

I love living on our little ten acre patch. There are so many really cool things about it. Here's a new one- we have black cherry trees. And they produced like crazy this year.

So, besides the gallons of cherry coridal we made (bet you want to come to my house around Christmas, don't ya?) I made a really quite beautiful cherry pie. I have never made one before in my life, so you have to understand how proud I am. And, it tasted as good as it looked.

And, I set it on the window sill to cool.

And then Joe took my picture. He didn't take it the way it appears here (ahem). I um, cropped it because my face didn't look very good. And that's the truth. So note to self and anyone else who has never pitted cherries by hand before...they spit at you. DON"T WEAR A WHITE SHIRT! Nasty little buggers.

Here's the recipe for the pie: Never mind, it was too good, I can't tell you.
And finally, please vote on Cade's hair...
Thanks folks!
XOXOX
Joce

This is fun...

This is what we are having for supper, except I will use fresh baby lettuce and baby beet greens instead of spinach.
Spinach Salad
3/4 c creamed cottage cheese
1/2 c sour cream
1 T sugar
5 t vinegar
2 t horseradish
1 t mustard power
1/4 t salt
Blend in mixer & toss with fresh spinach ( about 10 cups)
Add 1/2 c chopped pecans and a 1/2 c bacon pieces
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......................

Oh Yeah- I forgot to post the the pictures from Adam and Nicole's wedding.
Bridesmaids: Andrea, Sundi, Jocelyn, and RoseLynn
The Beautiful Bride Nicole and Jocelyn and Andrea
Jocelyn and Sundi
Roselynn, Jocelyn, and Sundi

Here's Bailey- A National English Shepherd Rescue dog that we are considering adopting. We are planning to go meet him next weekend! How fun that will be. I hope that he likes us and fits right into our family. I have been praying that God would send us just the right dog for our situation, and he just might be the one.
Here are a few more of the promised pictures:
Brilyn and Daddy on the Tractor
A few juvenile delinquents we found hiding out in our barn...
Cade acting as a puppy for me one day when I needed a puppy fix...
BIG egg from a previous post-
Tiny egg we recently found-
Love ya!
XOXOX
Joce

Good Friday Morning.
I recently finished the Anne of Green Gables series. I am a different person because of it. There are not too many books or book series about which you can say that. Like Harry Potter- I LOVE Harry Potter, but reading that series did not change me. Because I have read the Anne books I am more compassionate, am more likely to see the good in people, have more respect for myself and women everywhere who minister to those around them through cooking and cleaning and gardening and visiting and running commitees and helping others and kissing boo-boo's. Self sacrifice and getting through hard times are not opportunities for pissing and moaning, but for "being a brick" and doing your part bravely. Bravery and duty are themes in the books and I am better for having read them. I hope you read them too. I will be reading Christmas with Anne this coming December if anyone wants to do a little holiday book club. Also: (thanks for the heads-up Pam) Present Tense bookstore in Batavia, NY is hosting an Anne of Green Gables picnic on Saturday, August 16th, at 1:00 pm. You need to RSVP so visit the website if you are interested. We can go together!
Next up: some cute pics. Enjoy!
Brilyn and Felicity taking a ride on Penny
Princess Brilyn in Jammies
Family Camping Memorial Day Weekend
Cade Pimpin on Felicity

Brilyn and Cade's Birthday Party!

Waiting for Cake
Lighting the candles
Making a wish!
Let them eat cake!
Opening presents!
I will post more pics soon- I have a bunch stored up.
XOXO
Joce

I have always cherished a love for the antebellum south. (Not the slavery part, mind you. I think workers should be paid fairly for their labors and should have the right to unionize. I obviously have some beef with Walmart as well as slavery.)
So I was looking at a calendar in the work room of the church one day as I was waiting for copies to finish making themselves. One of the pictures was of Oak Alley Plantation. Located on the Mississippi River between the historic Louisiana cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Oak Alley Plantation has been called the "Grande Dame of the Great River Road". The picture is tiny! So just click on it to see the whole album.

That picture just inspires me with its romance and history and grandeur. My jaw just drops and I stare. And my imagination goes wild. So, I thought I would share it with you for one of two purposes. One, you will respond in a likewise manner. Two, it will at least give you a glimpse into my heart and mind. And perhaps explain why I forgot to staple whatever it was I was copying. I wasn't in the here or now! I was in the then and there. I was a beautiful daughter of a cotton mogul with strong Northern sympathies regarding slavery, but with a strong sense of state's rights as well.
Ah, well, that's all for now. I have to go make breakfast for this little mooing girl. She's mooing because she is a cow this morning, that's why. (That's for you Pamela.)
XOXOX
Joce

Okay, so I am just gonna post my curtains real quick for those interested- but it has to be quick cuz we are packing to go camping. Keuka Lake State Campground if you wanna visit us.
Thanks for the advice on my curtains mom and Kara- you guys rock!
XOXOX
Joce

Hello folks!
I am looking for a young dog or a puppy. Do you know where I might find a farm collie/ English Shepherd? Here is a picture of the kind of doggy I am looking for.

Let me know if you know where I can find one!
XOXO
Joce

Here's a quick little recipe I made up two nights ago.

In a baking pan: (PAM it)
Bottom layer: sauerkraut
Next layer: cooked polish sausage sliced about 1/2 inch think(I used left over grilled sausages on Joe's half and left over grilled white hots on my half)
Next layer: uncooked egg noodles
Next layer: finely chopped onion
Pour a mix of milk, mayo, garlic, salt, pepper, mustard, and onion powder (make sure there is enough to cook the noodles)
Next layer: shredded swiss cheese
Sprinkle mix of melted butter and bread crumbs on top.
Cover tightly with tin foil, and bake at 350 till the noodles are done (about an hour)

Kitchen tip: Use a veggie peeler to "shred" your cheese.

XOXOX

My sister in law sent this to me as an email forward. I laughed out loud and re-read it and laughed again. I had to share it even though I don't know who wrote it or if it fiction or non. Enjoy.

So, we had this great 10 year old cat named Jack who just recently died.
Jack was a great cat and the kids would carry him around and sit on him and
nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap all day long on
this mat in our bathroom.

Well we have 3 kids and at the time of this story they were 4 years old,
3 years old and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really loves chapstick.
LOVES it. He kept asking to use my chapstick and then losing it. So finally
one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep my chapstick and how he
could use it whenever he wanted to but he needed to put it right back in the
drawer when he was done.

Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and
try to get ready for Church with everyone crying and carrying on. My two boys are
fighting over the toy in the cereal b ox. I am trying to nurse my little
one at the same time I am putting on my make-up. Everything is a mess and
everyone has long forgotten that this is a wonderful day to honor me and the
amazing job that is motherhood.

We finally have the older one and the baby loaded in the car and I
am looking for Eli. I have searched everywhere and I finally round the
corner to go into the bathroom. And there was Eli. He was applying my
chapstick very carefully to Jack's . . rear end. Eli looked right into my eyes
and said "chapped." Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right--their
little butts do look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack didn't seem to mind.
And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it was the
FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth.

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever because it reminds us
that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatur es,
there will always be that day when you realize they've been using your
chapstick on the cat's butt.

Hey! It's time for an interactive blogging session....
Looking forward to things is a great way to keep your spirits up during all the humdrum daily stuff.
Right now I am looking forward to a few things:
1. I am getting a goat really really soon.
2. Brilyn and Cade are turing 3 and 1 respectively, their b-day party is the 18th at 2:00 if you would like to drop in.
3. My garden is growing and we are putting in more stuff all the time.
4. My 8th anniversary is Tuesday.
5. My internship is done. (I have been looking forward to that for a while.) Now, I get to see what God has for me next.
6. Prince Caspian and Indiana Jones movies are both coming out this month.
7. Making new curtains.
8. Finishing up crocheted blanket that I started in 2004. (Talk about a UFO)
9. Irises coming up.
10. Parents' visiting next weekend.

Okay........Your turn (I told you this would be interative). Tell me what you are looking forward to.
XOXOXO
Joce

I have to say, this dude gives me an uneasy feeling in my spirit. My point in posting this clip is not to influence politics (I do not support any candidate thus far. They all fall very short.) Please ignore the stupid parts of this video and absorb only the factual statements. And then, please read the very energetic responses in the comments section, and leave a comment if you dare.
XOXO
Joce

I will take this opportunity to state my usually unspoken clause to anything I post on here that I don't personally write.
"I don't like the media. People throw ridiculous things together trying to make a (sometimes erroneous) point. My political views are mixed, but I usually vote based on my belief that abortion is very wrong and that anyone who doesn't see that must have something wrong with their vision. And that doesn't make for a good policy maker, in my opinion. I do everything within my power to change the world right where I am in regards to things that the government doesn't and shouldn't have to do. I give to the poor, reduce, reuse, recycle (more than anyone else I know), keep my footprint small, and spread God's love to others as often as I am able. I focus on my family, and then continue from there. And I pray."

Potato Bacon and Ramp Soup

Ramps are wild leeks that taste like a mix between garlic and onions. They grown in the woods. Want some? We have lots.
Recipe:
Fry cubed potatoes, celery, and ramps in bacon grease in a cast iron skillet till ramps are cooked.
Transfer to big pot. Add 3 tablespoons flour, seasonings you like, and 6 pieces of bacon chopped up. Add 2 cups half and half and 2 cups beef (or chicken) broth. Simmer till thickened to your liking.
For a meatier variation, add barbequed pork rib meat cut off the bone.

Hyacinths in the Dining Room
Set a beautiful table using canning jars and multicolored hyacinth blooms.

My Beautiful Purple Flowering Tree


Fawn in Our Woods

Wild Turkey Nest in Our Woods
We went for a walk in the woods and found a turkey on her nest (she flew away so we could take a picture) and a newborn fawn. That's one AWESOME benefit of owning some woods.

Cade Stands Up
Cade has decided to stand up for himself. YAY!

www.knowthecause.com

Very interesting.
XOXOX
Joce

I am going to need three more people to comment before I can post a pic of my babies!
Thanks goes out to:
Carol, Courtney, Steph, Kara, Heather, and Pam; and a warm welcome to Marla.
Well, ya'll stalkers/lurkers will just have to step up to the plate, the ongoing success of this blog depends on you!
Love you!
XOXOXOXO
~Joce
PS My garden is growing, growing. Almost peas and lettuces.

On good faith for the three comments I have received so far, (that makes you number 2, Courtney) I will post a most delicious recipe.
Tangy Hawaiian Chicken
Chicken and Sauce:
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
1 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons barbeque sauce
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
Pieces of any ornery chicken
salt and pepper to taste
Rice:
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1 cup uncooked white rice
2 cups water
Directions:
Place all "Chicken and Sauce" ingredients in a large shallow pan. Cover and cook on low for a couple hours. (It should bubble a bit).
Place all "Rice" ingredients in medium saucepan and bring to a boil, then turn down and simmer for 20 minutes.
I cut the chicken off the bones and chopped it into 1 inch square pieces and put it back in the sauce to serve. (I don't like bones on my plate, I think it is morbid).
For those of you who have been reading lately, you may be wondering about the origin of the chicken used in this recipe. Your suspicions are confirmed.
And thus, Cornelius met a delicous end.
XOXOX
Joce

Hello!
I would like to request anyone who reads my blog to please leave comments for me!
If you are held back because they ask you to sign in- it's easy! All you need is a FREE google account. You do that by entering your email address as you user name, and then pick a password. It's that easy!
Now, I am not going to post any more pictures of my little cuties until I get at least 10 comments letting me know who is reading.
So, get a google account and leave me some comments!
XOXOXO
~Joce
PS I have said this before, but:
FYI- It is bad netiquette to read someone's blog without commenting, it's called "blog stalking" and is equivilant to eavesdropping on a party line. (If you don't know what a party line is, just ignore the analogy.) LOVE!

Cornelius is dead.

So, I am getting ready to go to the grocery store. As I am carrying the carseat out to install, Cornelius comes running over to attack me. I can't take this kind of stress! I can't even go to the grocery store! I feel kind of bad because he really is a beautiful rooster, but we're gonna have to chop his head off ASAP. It's NOT okay to chase the lady of the house around the yard. The worst part is, this is not my first experience being bullied by birds. When I was little, my sister had a boyfriend or something who's parents had a teepee. It was cool. But, they also had geese- and that stupid gander chased all around that yard while I screamed my fool head off before the boyfriend or whatever came and chased the goose away from me. And then, MY parents got geese and THAT stupid gander would chase me all over the yard. The worst part of my day would be after I got off the bus and I had to walk down our very long driveway knowing that at any second that gosh darn goose was gonna come out of nowhere at me.
My last point of safety was the buck barn. I would stand there and yell for my mom, but sometimes she wouldn't hear me! I would stand there and yell for my dog to come get me, but sometimes he didn't hear me. My heart would start to pound as I realized I was gonna have to get there all by myself.
Well, Cornelius must have fowl informants so he knows just how to intimidate me and bring back all those memories and feelings. Joe says I can take the 22 and shoot him so I can go to the grocery store, but that wouldn't really solve my dilemma. I need to kick his butt and get some self respect. But, I am too much of a wimp. I can't take the stress!
Well, I gotta go take care of these babies- they are crying like the world is about to end.
XOXO
Joce

Hello! What a fine Friday it is today!
We went on a walk in LeRoy and had lots of fun as a family.
We also stopped to look at a woodstove, we would really like to buy it. Do any of you know someone who does masonry work around here?
We also planted 5 things in our garden today. Beets, peas, carrots, radishes, and mixed lettuce. some things will be ready in as few as 25 days, whereas the carrots are gonna be a while. But, I am definitely looking forward to the abundance.
We are really going to have to kill the rooster, or more colorfully, "We're gonna chop his bloody head off." He is a real jerk, or more appropriately, He is a real cock. He runs around beating everybody up, which includes us human residents of Tillaboro Orchard. He even tries to sneak attack Joe, which never turns out very well for Cornelius (yeah, I named him when I liked him).
We will hopefully be getting a different type of chicken that is a bit more docile, although I don't think white leghorns are known for being rambunctious. Anyway, what I really want are some Brahma chickens. They are HUGE! and lay through the winter.
Back to Cornelius, we are gonna chop him up and eat him with dumplings.
Hmmm, well that's about all for now, the house is quiet (Joe is outside, hahaha) and I want to read a bit more of Anne of the Island. She is a junior at Redmond now, and she has just met "Prince Charming." So, I wanna see how that goes for her. By the way, Ruby Gillis dies in this book and I cried for like 15 minutes. I would start to calm down and then I would think all these sad thoughts about the reality of people dying and I would start crying all over again. Joe thought I was a nut (well, probably thinks I am still a nut) but, I like a good cry every now and then. It's good for your back. (Maybe I should explain that?) I put my stress in my back and if I have a good cry, my stress is reduced and thus, my back should be better off.
Love ya!
XOXO
Joce

Looking forward to this!

I guess I am stuck in negative blogging rut- but I watched the most awfulest movie last night and I thought I would tell everyone I know not to watch it unless you want to a) waste two and half hours of your life, and b) be disturbed to a level where you find it impossible to sleep.
WARNING! PLOT SPOILER!
It's pretty much about a kid who has a terrible childhood and then runs away to the Alskan wilderness where he eventually discovers that people are important, but when he tries to return to civilization, he can't recross the river and then dies of eating a poisonous plant that shuts down his digestive system so he dies of starvation.
So, unless you like being depressed and disturbed, avoid this movie like the plague.
On a brighter note- the sun is shining and Anne of Avonlea is quite the opposite of Into the Wild, bright, cheerful, uplifting, and inspiring.
XOXOX
~Joce

Here's my seed list for Garden 2008!
From Jung:
H Rainbow Heirloom Mix Tomato Royal Burgundy Purple Pod Bush Bean
Ruby Queen Beet
H Nantes Or Coreless Carrot
H Straight Eight Cucumber
H Long Island Mammoth Dill
Catnip
Lavender Munstead
H Jungs Heritage Mesclun Mix H Ailsa Craig Exhibition Onion Seed
Sugar Ann Snap Pea
H Sparkler Radish
H Early Golden Bantam
Bohemian Horseradish Sets
Kennebec Potato
Fancy Mix Morning Glory Single Old Fashioned Mix Hollyhock Seed Heritage Everbearing Raspberry
Latham Summer Bearing Raspberry

(The red H's stand for heirloom seed varieties.)
Would like to get from friends and neighbors:

Rhubarb, lemon balm, spearmint, chamomile.

I really love planning a garden and choosing varieties. And, what a good year to plant a garden with food prices rising like they are.

That's all for today, Cade needs some mommy time.

XOXO

~Joce