Living Hazzardously

Little pieces of our journey with Jesus

Pages

If I Could Put Time in a Bottle

by

Two story hen houses and things that go bump in the night are normal topics of conversation around our dinner table, but that’s not until after we have spent the day working. I just wanted to give you a quick update on what we are doing, have done and will do:

We are continuing to acquire implements for farming as planned. We have a disc, spring tine rake, mower, one bottom “sod buster” plow, spring tine digger (I’ve heard this called by many names), and my own invention to install wire and pipe underground. (It won’t reach below the frost line, as that’s about 8’ deep.) We continue to upgrade the property, and that keeps us going day after day. With winter just around the corner, we have much preparation to do! We dug 18 holes that are 12” diameter the other day and mixed 3200# of concrete mix for adding on a porch, mud room, equipment shelter, greenhouse and a new outhouse hole. We built a shelter on top of the chicken run for the guineas to perch in at night, and keep them safe from the “things that go bump in the night”. The bobcat has become one of my best friends, as we change the grade in the front of the house to obtain positive drainage away from the house, rather than pooling it against the foundation.

We started fence line repairs and determined it’s a lot of work. Just clearing the old fence line is a ton of work, years of neglect have caught up to the property and fallen onto my shoulders. I’m not convinced we will achieve completion of fence repairs in the time frame I was hoping for. This will delay our plans considerably, but we will push on.

The house still needs to be trimmed out.  We have the trim and just need the time to paint it. This has been assigned to “winter projects” now. Jess maintains a healthy list of projects, and I am sure we will not lack anything this winter to keep us busy. Also on the winter list is the great car repair parade… brakes, 02 sensors, u-joints, electric wiring repairs and so much more! About a month ago, I bought a tire changing contraption that has already been put to good use. Out here, a man needs to be self sufficient. It’s a long drive to town for a valve stem replacement.

But, don’t get me wrong, it’s not all work and no play! We started this thing we call “Family Fun Day.” Each of us gets a turn choosing an outing like a hike, visiting a local (or not so local) historic site or just going to town for an event. Keeping a balanced diet of work and play is healthy. Jess helps me remember it can’t be all work all the time.

There is so much to tell, so much going on every day. I don’t want this to be all about “us”. Maybe you can tell us about how things are going for you? Drop us an email or a comment and tell us how we can pray for you, or just a note to say hello. Maybe go old school and write a letter?  We would love to hear from you.

Anyway, we are blessed beyond measure and hope to see you all again soon. Btw, my big, smelly German Shepherd loves to share with us all the great stuff he finds to roll in! Yes, you guessed it, dogs can be gross!

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

 

Bamboo

by

I heard about a bamboo tree that was planted, cared for every day, watered, fertilized and protected… For about four years this went on daily, until one day, from the ground that had not even produced a small shoot, a tree emerged.  That’s right, 4-years of constant care and nothing to show for it but dirt. Yet from that patch of dirt, at the end of the 5th year, a 90 foot tall tree appeared. Four years of nothing and in one year it’s 90 feet tall?

For us it’s been only months! I’ve been asked frequently “how’s it going up there?” To which I reply “really well” …. I feel like the bamboo farmer, planting, watering, fertilizing and caring for a patch of dirt that I hope one day to see growth on. The Lord is teaching me patience and some times I think, “Lord, can you just hurry up?” But I do see His mighty hand at work in our daily battles, blessings that come from only a God that cares.

Our fence line needs to be repaired, trees and tree tops, swamps and bushes. I can see remnants of what appears to be just years of neglecting a great area. Our focus is preparing for next years agricultural endeavors while moving ever forward to our other goals. My shop is a rainy day project that needs hours of sorting and putting away, as I have only been in survivor mode. It looks more like a dumping ground for miscellaneous “guy stuff”.  But slowly as time goes on, I will water this patch of ground and fertilize it as needed, in hopes that one day I will see a 90 foot tall bamboo tree.

We have no shortage of projects. Projects of every type. I wonder if our neighbors drive by and think “why are they watering a patch of dirt, again? Seems like every time we drive by, they are watering a patch of dirt.” One day? Well, one day as the Lord sees fit.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as winter starts to regain its firm grip, and projects outside will come to a pause and frost will again be our daily companion.

Whistle While You Work

by

Progress is being made but not at breakneck speeds!

I hear whistles from the moaning Allis Chalmers, as I drag the driveway, out to the pavement, turn around, drag it back… over and over grading gravel from the edges to the middle, heaping it up and creating a crown. Whistles from the spring tine rake, as we pull it around digging and scratching. Whistles from the brush hog, as it beats and spits the saplings and grass around the edges of overgrown fields.

I hear whistles from the toilet as it refills, just after I notice the water running down the foundation due to a toilet flange that was installed with nails. Whistles from the new discovery of water from our now “off limits” bathroom in the basement due to a leak that requires a complete demo of the basement bathroom to fix it.

I hear whistles from the truck as we travel into Duluth to pick agates from the shore. Whistles from the car’s brakes, as they remind me the time draws near to make them new again. Whistles from the trailer, as we cruise home with a load of insulated glass doors for a future green house.

I hear whistles from the bobcat as it scrapes the ground in a nearly feeble attempt to move the dirt I am commanding it to move when I move the pedals and levers.

Yes, whistles while you work. This takes me back in time to my youth when I would do my father’s will every summer by “building, rebuilding and un-building” the patio. Fixing, replacing and building new fences to block the neighborhood from my father’s piles of “stuff” in our back yard, so the city inspector doesn’t write us up again. Mowing, gardening, shoveling dirt through the sifter screens. Stacking, re-stacking and moving granite blocks… again and again! All the while, I would WHISTLE, every tune I could remember, some I made up and some just to be annoying to my work partner and younger brother, Sam. My father would yell at me with colorful expletives to shut up (I was never allowed to whistle when he was around), but my mind would wander to some far away place filled with mystery and wonder! A place with trees, rivers, camping and beauty beyond measure! Never in my life would I have thought my dreams would come true… to live in this magical place with such a great help-mate as Jess. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my father and he loved me, but the way his love was shown me did not resemble love to most people when seen, BUT I know his back story, I know from whence he came . The horrible world of his youth that brought him to where he was and how much worse it could have been for me. My father made leaps and bounds to “man-up” and be a better dad. So much more than that which was his. My father gave me more than he had and in turn, I give more to my boys. I hope these young men I call “sons” can see they have so much more than what was even available to be given to my father and in turn to me. My hope is they can continue this pattern for their children. Yes, my childhood was difficult, hard and even tragic! But my childhood is not my excuse, nor is it “more than I could bear” because God had plans for me. So I would whistle, all the time I would whistle.

The next time you hear a whistle, remember : God’s love is bigger than our circumstances, Bigger than our problems and better than what we can do for ourselves.

So, today, WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK! Give thanks in ALL things because this is God’s plan for you… To bless you, we just don’t know how the story ends, but neither did Job, and in all this, Job remained faithful.

I covet your prayers in this Area: wisdom and strength to continue doing God’s will and to sing a new song (or whistle a new song).