As many of you know, I spent many hours trying to figure out how to do a lot of this on my own. I stumbled around trying to get a three column layout on my own by adjusting the HTML. I am not HTML knowledgeable, and it was OBVIOUS. So, the hunt was on to find a free template to get that layout, nothing seemed to be working well or really “fit” me. I had come to the conclusion that if I was going to continue this blog, that I wanted it to look like me. It needed to fit. I am a country gal on the prairie. I like flowers, and that picture in the header has a TON of sentimental value. IT HAD TO BE IN THE HEADER!!!
Those are my children, and that tractor is a 1952 John Deere G-my husband bought it back into our family summer of 2008. It was originally bought in 1952 by my grandpa, and then in 1983 my dad purchased it from him. When my dad quit farming in 1992, it was sold to a friend of our family, Delmar. In 2003 or 2004, that Delmar contacted me, wanting to know if I was interested in buying it back. I didn’t even ask my husband, Brad, just told Delmar yes, and that it would be a while before I had the money to buy it. I asked if he would mind holding onto it. He told me sure. I hung up, and prayed that Brad would not be too mad.
I called Brad, and told him that I just bought a tractor. He was a bit shocked and told me that he was kind of the one that should be buying the tractors. HEHE. So, I explained that it was this G, and the history behind it. We started saving and now it is our “family mascot” so to say. I honestly have no idea how to run it. lol I can say that it will be the backdrop of many family pictures to come. The history behind it is just to meaningful not to use it. It is a good thing Brad would rather have old farm equipment with family history then a brand new tractor with GPS. We still in 2009 don’t own one tractor with a cab. (we own 7 tractors, his dad has 4, and his uncle have 2). Out of those one has a cab and air conditioning (uncle), and one has a cab (dad), if you want to call it that. lol Brad would rather have something that he can work on and play with, and that he does. He just put a new clutch in the G and new brakes. He drives a 1965 GMC pickup-the flat bed on it is worth more then the pickup, but it is a fun thing to drive as long as you are prepared for take off, as YOU will SLAM your head against the back window. I like knowing that he is headed home from his shop, 1.5 miles from our home. I can hear him coming from a mile away. lol Gives us a chance to hurry and pick up the house. Here in our neck of the woods, it is said that Brad and I drive the two most unique vehicles in the county. His 65 GMC and my 2003 Chevy Express 15 passenger van.
So, as you can see, a fancy girlly blog is not fitting for me. I needed something that showed who I am, and where I come from. For now, this fits.
There was one morning that I was up with Hannah from 2:30 until sometime after 6 am. I decided to start searching on my phone (it has internet on it), as it was irritating me that I couldn’t find the perfect stuff for my blog, and I didn’t have the know how of how to build it myself. So, in the wee hours, I am searching and looking over things, that never came up on my computer. I had prayed that if I was to continue blogging, that I needed something that fit me, and I had to find it that day as I had spent too much time already. So, at about 5:45, I found it. I then just laid back with Hannah and we dosed for awhile. Later that day, I got it up, but not the header.
As I was setting it all up, and so forth, I had to add my picture to the header. It was not going well. So, I called my sister, Elaine, and asked if she had any ideas. Guess what, she has this really cool son, Vincent who is all over the techie stuff. So, after school she sat down with him and my email full of requests (sorry about that), and they got it all put together. Then the bonus-They installed it for me. Doesn’t get much better, now does it?
I also had some advice from another mom from a large homeschooling family, Amy at Raising Arrows, who was able to see some stuff that didn’t show up on my screen, and let me know that it was not a pretty thing and clashed with everything else. She also, gave me the advice to follow what my heart said I wanted for my blog and to follow God’s lead.
Thank You to Vincent, Elaine, and Amy for your help and advice.
