I found these while going through the Christmas decorations.  The younger set of twins did these when they were 3, in 2001. They are now 16.

This one, was done by Elizabeth.  I like the Angel flying overhead.

This one, was done by Rebecca.  She labeled hers so there would be no doubt as to who was Jesus and who was Mary.

Another favorite tool of mine

I was asked to share some of the antique tools that I use around the house.  So, I am starting with the kitchen.

Not sure if this actually qualifies as an antique or not....but, this oldie (from the 50's) gets used daily.  Often several times a day.  Its an old fashioned chopper. No electric needed, just some muscle.  I use it for olives, onions, nuts, peppers...about anything.

 I can use this, wash it and have it put back away in the amount of time it takes me to get out the electric food processor or the kitchen aid.

How to Carve a Turkey

 

Why do these things ONLY HAPPEN TO ME? Gate was open...everything ( livestock wise) was at the neighbors. As soon as the cows heard the diesel motor they came running back to the correct pasture. 

Not the horses. After running our horses back in, and closing the gate....I discover that our new neighbors also have 2 brown horses and a black horse, just as we do. Upon closer inspection....2 of the 3 horses I have are the wrong ones. I open the gate again, and after some time, manage to get the correct horses....Then I close the gate. Before I am even back in the truck....they are jumping the fence to play with the new horses...(actually, I think they are arguing over who the alpha is). So again, I sort horses and get them back. Then, over the fence comes the neighbors black horse. I moved the truck closer to him and he jumped back where he was supposed to be. I'll give it 15 minutes and they will be in the wrong pastures again. 

And, thank you Bandit for teaching the other 5 horses how to open the gate, which will now need to be wired shut. 

The weird thing, throughout the entire rodeo...birds were riding on some of the horses backs......

On the positive side, I have 4 cows who are definitely pregnant.

My head and chest cold/sinus infection is on the upswing, but chasing these guys down, as me back coughing again.

Notice this only happens when I am the only one home, or when the husband is on nights and sleeping or out of town.  Murphys law.

Atheist vs Christian

Missing boy from Independence MO

When the power goes out....

My neighbors get to go out to eat, or even stay in a hotel when the power goes out...Not us.

I have mentioned it on here several times before that we can go off grid, and keep on going (our biggest hangups right now are the fridge, freezer, and during the winter months keeping the stock tank from freezing).  Our kitchen is pretty much business as usual.  I can cook on my 1941 beauty, which requires no electric whatsoever.  (According to her manufacturing plate, she rolled off the factory floor just 3 weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor)

 I also have a version of the "early kitchen aid".  And, I use it every few weeks or so.  (actually I have probably 3 or 4 of these around).

Yep, its an old hand crack cast iron food and meat grinder.  Here it is getting a workout grinding up boiled chicken breast.  It seems to do better with chicken than my Kitchen Aid does--one blade will shred it, while the other makes the pieces smaller, which is good for chicken salad.

My kitchen contains more antiques I think, than modern items.  And I use a good deal of them, unless they contain lead or are made of uncoated galvanized metal.

This grinder normally is attached on the right side of my husbands McDougall cabinet.  (It was taken off to be washed when this picture was taken).  A McDougall cabinet is very similar to a Hoosier cabinet, and both were made in Indiana back in the 1800's .  This one has a flour bin and a sugar bin, and all the glass for the bins and spices are still intact (which is not the norm for most older kitchen cabinets)

This cabinet also holds all my dehydrated foods from the garden--including onions, peppers, mint, beans and tomatoes.  Notice none are stored in plastic.  I am trying to avoid plastic for our food storage when possible, due to the chemicals that often leach out of plastics-especially when they store acidic foods.   Another note about dehydrated foods--one large wagon-full of onions dehydrated down to 4 quarts.   I re-hydrate them by soaking in water about 30 minutes before use-or if in a crockpot or slow cooking item, I just throw them in from the jar.

As for the fridge and freezers and stock tank...I have been keeping an eye out for a used propane run fridge and freezer (used in RV's and also by the Amish) and also for a propane or solar heated stock tank.  It is hard to find either one of them used, but one day hopefully one will turn up.  The fridge and freezer probably would not be used unless a power outage occurs, then we could move food over  to it if need be.

New Research that Women Need to Know

The latest research studies now prove that the socks that disappear in the washer and dryer during laundry day, actually turn into Tupperware lids that fit no Tupperware containers in your kitchen.
That explains a lot.