Well, considering it's been, like A YEAR since I wrote in this I'll make it short...I am bound and DETERMINED to start writing at least once per week!

We just got our first bottle fed lamb of the season, her mama rejected her (she accepted her sister) and we found her in the snow by the fence. She's doing really well now, and is a sweetie, though a little bit of a whiner.

Off to bed, sweet dreams!

So Behind!

Oh my, I can't believe how behind I am on this.

Anyhow, I am going to try to keep it up, starting today (famous last words!)

To recap, my reasons to start this blog have been to share what I do, my work, but also about our family, and my beliefs. Although we are not close to being rich, we are VERY blessed and I'm so thankful for my life, my family, my friends, and my faith.

Today I laid down to take a quick nap at about 6:00 pm, and slept till almost midnight! My goodness...this has been such a busy week, I just needed the rest I guess. We are trying to get the garden ready for planting, and I have planted a lot of seeds indoors to get them started. Our hopes are to sell at the farmer's market this year.

I'm so thankful each week for Shabbat...if we didn't have the commandment to rest on this day I think I'd be so burnt out I would have crashed long ago. It is a commandment I've had to fight hard not to break, it is so not in me to just rest. I am the type of person who has to be doing 3 things at once or I feel I'm wasting time.

I wanted to report, that since January 1st, I have lost 44 pounds!! It has been a long struggle, but I am so thankful that I was able to do it. I would still like to lose about 25 more, and as I get closer to my goal it is getting harder and harder...I only lost 1 pound this week. But more importantly, I'm getting healthier, feeling better, and eating foods that are so much beneficial to me.

Also, our family each have a "YahSpace" page now. Here's the link to mine: http://yahspace.ning.com/profile/NancyB

Not much there yet, but I am enjoying talking with other people who have similar beliefs, and there are a few groups about healthy eating, gardening, etc, which I have joined that are really interesting.

Well, hope to pop in here once every couple of days to update! Will write more soon!

I'm so horrible at keeping this thing up! Shame on me!

We're in the midst of Chanukah...got the family Rosetta Stone Hebrew, haven't started it yet (just got it today) but thought it'd make a pretty nice present for everyone. Had a very busy day, I really don't like running errands on preparation day. I end up so behind for the Sabbath. Today was the same...*sigh*

I usually do pretty well getting ready for Shabbat, but the past month or so, I've been floundering. It means a lot to me to have a very nice meal, extra special, the house all clean and ready for a day of no work. I think I need to get everything done on Thursdays from now on and stay home on preparation day. I know many women struggle with this in our busy world. Any ideas other have would help! - Nancy

Extreme Close Up

Here's our homestead, in the hills of WV. This is the view from the bottom of our driveway.

It's another Sabbath, a time in our family when we MAKE ourselves rest, relax, enjoy each other's company, and ponder the creator's awesome work. We have a big candle lit dinner friday night. We cook all our food for the next day, or prepare it, friday afternoon, then use paper plates the rest of the time. We tell our family members how much they mean to us. I try and either write to or call my extended family. We stay at home. We don't get the mail. We enjoy the outdoors and take a walk in the woods sometimes. We try and avoid the TV and outside influences, especially news or anything that would take away our focus. We don't do any online business or bill keeping. Most of all we pray for each other, our family, friends, neighbors. We have so much to be thankful for. Since we started observing the Sabbath our family has gotten so much closer, and we now realize how important it is to shut down for 24 hours. You should give it a try!

Tomorrow night is Yom Kippur, the day of attonement. We have to fast and think about the previous year, how we can improve ourselves, how we can make amends for wrongs we've done to others. We have friends visiting, and although the fasting part will be hard, we are looking forward to reflecting and being together.

Peace to everyone! - Nancy

This is horrible, I'm doing really bad on this blog! But I hope to get going and keep a log of weekly life on the MotleyMutton Farm. Today is the Sabbath, and I have been way too busy...so I am going to spend the rest of the day in quiet contemplation.

Let me introduce my family - My husband and I have been married 24 years. Between us, we brought 4 kids into this world; Amanda - 23, Charlotte - 21, Charles III (CJ) - 19, and Kelsey - 17.

We are foster parents, and have adopted 4 of our foster children; Travis - 17, Justin - 15, Michael - 14, and Brittany - 12. We also currently have a 5 year old developmentally delayed foster son, Robby. He is so silly, and keeps life in our house VERY busy and hectic at times, but he also keeps us laughing, so we're very blessed to have him added to our family. We are not sure if he will stay here, there are a lot of issues, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

The school year is starting, and with that we'll probably start our homeschooling routine again. We just had a very nice time last week at the Game farm (nature center) here in Buckhannon with other local homeschool families. We look forward to having a good year!

I just listed some new felted creatures on the PFATT website (it will be there on the 10th of Sept) Hope you enjoy the pictures!! Shabbat Shalom!

Hi all! This is my first post....hmmmmm....I started this because I wanted to copy my sister. Except she's a younger sister. But I admire her. She's very funny and witty and I love her.

So, I thought this might be a nice place to explain more about the things that are most on my heart...homeschooling, foster care/adoption, family closeness, home business/fiber art, simple living, and faith! I also love my parents, I am so blessed to have such wonderful, generous, loving parents.

I know more will come to me later...(I'm really just doing this to see how it will look ...hee hee) Take care all!