Thursday Thirteen

1.Worked on Doves room today!
2. Dash lost his amplifier off of his hearing aide in the sand today at recess. We went over and dug for it and just could not find it.
3. I am thinking about writing a short story in a very strange genera to me. Romance, A name for it might be "the kindness that heals"
4. Daddy and Dash have been invited to a "Boy Scouts" meeting to see if they might like to join. Dash has a buddy there and the dads both really like each other. I think this sounds like a wonderful thing. It is through a Methodist church apparently and that sound like a good place.
5. I helped Dove with her math. She is so dyslexic that the < > is torture for her. I think I gave her different ways to see it.
6. She is doing her 30 minutes of reading and the house is so quiet with Dash gone. Having a hearing impaired kid makes for a very loud home. I think I will try to find a "girl scout" group for her and I to join.
7. I put some french fried potatoes and tatter tots in the oven for after homework. She had her evening meal. I think we will curl up for a little girl time and watch a chick flick.
8. I was able to kill 3 of the 4 flies that had managed to get into the house. Oh I hate flies! I hope that the bails of straw are not bringing them. I am thinking the neighbors dog may be a part of it.
I have been working to keep our dog stuff up. The chicken hutch will be swept out just incase. I am hopeful not to have a problem with that sort of thing.
9. I am so looking forward to Dove being done and having time alone with her. What a cool kid!
She is so loving and very atune to the hearts of others. She is really nice to be with. We are both distracted with counting the minutes. We are really funny I can so relate to er wanting to be done. You know there is something about special needs kids that is so delightful. Makes me think she is the normal one and the whole of the world is broken.
10. I'll do a post later on her bedroom chore. I started at 9 a.m. and finished at 3 p.m. except I still have sorting to help guied her through.
11. It really feels great to have both of the childrens rooms in order and the clothing gone through. I got a whole kitchen trash bag of clothing and shoes to pass on. I finished her laundry also. Now I have a real clear knowledge of what they have and if anything is needed.
12. I need t shirts for Dash and asked God, Today Michelle told me she has some things for Dash to pass on from her boys...T Shirts of course:) Looks like the kids are well set. I'll get a few sox for Dove but all in all they are living high on the hog (so to speak) My Mother used to say that.
13. My Sister who has knee replacement in 3 weeks got news that her husband who is being deported because of his English citezenship error (25 years ago he was told everything was fine) May get a presidencial parden! The president would want to meet him if so. So the FBI told her yesterday that if she has surgery the liklihood will be slim that he will be forced to leave. He will let her know any thing he learns next thrusday. This is an amazing testimony of courage and God's intervention.

Thankful Thursday

This day of presence began at 3:33 a.m. awaken to prayer and His presence. Hello, I told him here am I. At the ready wondering why He woke me and just prayed. Sleepy and fell back asleep after some time.
Thankful for the witness of the love that He has for those who are brought into intercession in the twilight hours.
I am charmed as I sit not 2 feet from the bird feeders just outside my window. The beauty of all that his heart has formed. White wing Morning dove and house sparrow.
Warmed as I see the witness of his heart for me as aprons are on the clothes line.
Grateful as I hear the sweet voices of my children gleefully enjoying Dash's clean room. They were up before the dawn playing happily together. They are singing and playing cooperatively.
I stopped and opened up to the memory of what I have experienced in him, opening up that place and sharing the walk through it with one who is suffering. I recalled the presence and the tools taught to me to endure and overcome during some difficult suffering.
I am reminded that all we go through is not about us but about Him , His purpose that Love and empathy would be gained . Walking love is what glorifies Him.
Love in action glorifies God.
Humbled that Love in action is gained through suffering. Empathy is gained in understanding. Knowledge is learned, that walking the road and then passing on that knowledge becomes our duty to Him to one another.
It is all so wonderful. It is the balm that removes the temptations of bitterness and those questions of "why me"...
Feeling Gods breadth on my skin That unmistakable peace on my mind. On my home and all who are in it.
Thinking of faces of those who I know and love. Seeing with new eyes beyond offensive annoying behaviors to the hearts of others. Hoping that others also might see me that way.
I am thankful to be made abreast of the ways I flee from the gifts and calling that are placed upon me. Whether my mind can understand it or not.
The children are singing. Making up new songs of the games that they playing. I am humbled at the lyrics. The sounds of conversational sound bantered back and forth. Glee. Glee both in them and within me. I stand set apart from cares this morning as if it is a different trail one just beside the path I stand upon. It is alright with my soul. I have a surgery next Friday and the bi-lateral injections coming up for my knees . Yet it is as if they are on this other trail the care of them are not on the path of this morning walk. It is good with my soul.
It is good ...It is good with my soul.
what greater thing can I say .

It is good.

Olympic Sport

You Are Archery

You are a bit of a traditionalist. You like old fashioned things with deep traditions. You also like to see the result of your accomplishments right in front of you. If practice makes perfect, that's fine by you. You like to practice a skill.

What Olympic Sport Are You?

I actually have my own compound bow that before kids beloved and I would go out and target shoot on a bowman's trail. Paper targets.

Wordless Wendsday

On cleaning a childs room

Do you ever just get a bee in your flowery bonnet and just have to do what you can to help him make some honey?
There was a break in the dam today, that said the reservoir of Dash's room needed to be drained. It was overflowing the banks with...

Upon closer inspection of the breach you may just notice a basket set aside for clean clothes that may somehow escape the flood.

However most of the clothing found in the mess was dirty and answered the question each morning begged of why the child had so few clean clothes to put on.

The largest most single thing in all of that is paper!
My children use a lot of paper!
They recycle boxes as well, making many cool toys, guns and swords.

I emptied everything!
The drawers were checked and all clothing that was too small was removed to pass on.

It was sorta funny when I discovered that one drawer was empty, anther was mostly empty with papers and colored pencils in it. I was humored and the feeling pleased me. I used to get rather bent out of shape and angry.

Yes...I really do use a rake to scoop it all up. I raked it all outside his door and then swept the floor. I removed every thing (except furnishings) and swept gathering all the small toys (Lego's)
and I moved the bed (sliding it on the carpet squares) and the dresser. Dash had spoken to me some time back about re arranging his room in this way.

The rake is a wonderful back saver. I use it upside down when getting all the little Lego things.
Half of this laundry was rat holed.
My family calls it that.
I coined it from my many desert walks where we admired the Pack Rat for the ingenuity and skill at the gathering of such abundant junk in one small place.
Dove is an expert at "Rat wholeing".
She has been lovingly helping Dash clean his room three times this month (she has been playing in there with him).
Her idea of cleaning the room is to make it look pretty.
Out of sight out of mind.
Until there are no socks and the t shirts have all vanished. Now mind you a room can be made to look good when you get rat holing down as a primary skill

Once in the hall I sat on a stool sorting the Lego's out of the mess (this is just a small bit of it).
Three large bags of papers were tossed.
Three boxes of varying sizes. A 90 gallon recycle bin is 2/3 of the way full!

I pulled the black floor matting out of the stored stuff out in the garage and made a nice play spot. This matting was found in the gym supplies at Target or any sporting good store.
The bin drawers are yet empty.
I hung the Linens on the line after the washer stopped.

From every corner of the house I gathered the Lego platforms.

By the end all the Laundry was hung and the closet was full of fresh t shirts.
Hung and awaiting the boy blue upon his arrival.
This job took me 6 hours to complete.

With clean linens and a quilt freshly laundered and hung in the breeze the stage was set.
He came home and after a moment or so we went to go into his room..
"what?" .... "Oh my goodness! Oh man... Dove come and see my room! Oh man! I love it! Oh Mom! Your the best!" ......

A happy boy!

A way over yonder...

Way over yonder
There a place that I know
where I can find shelter
from all suffering and woe
Now I know that when I get there

The first thing I'll see
Is the son shining golden
Shining right down on me.

And the sweet tasting good life
is so easily found
and I'll stand up proudly
with true peace of mind.
Carol King

Rise and shine!
This was the first thing to come into my song this day. Yesterday I was dancing in the living room taking pure delight in Him and in the provision of my books back. I so missed having all my books in boxes.

When I was a little girl my step dad would not allow me to touch his books or book case. I would get cussed out pretty bad if I got caught.
I love having lots of books to touch and read through. Most of them are all reference books about this world we live in and the life that is on it.

I have mostly all reference volumes.

I also have two books that I have written. However those were some time back let go of. I am a writer. Yet I thought that perhaps that just might be a bad thing to be. For there is a huge risk in it and there are so many confusing messages about being an author. I wrote a novel a few years ago with a dear friend. I thought that perhaps I was just trying on a suit (of writer) like playing a role. When I heard so much negativity from so many judgmental folks (regarding other writers) that I cowered away.

Writing is a very vulnerable craft. It is also one that takes such great responsibility. It is sorta like being a teacher in that it should not be taken lightly.
Yesterday holding and touching my lovely books I woke up. I saw my manuscript and the forgotten story within it and I sang like a lone song bird on a mountain top looking to find one to sing with. I had such a one and then thinking I had not the right or e the desire to follow that dream I bolted. So sorry to her my dear friend . She published, and became so consumed, that the struggle she then encountered with the mews frightened me away into other pursues. I do not want the torment of "writer" and thought perhaps it would be inevitable if I continued. Fear caused me to bolt and to dis-allow the flow. The duty of tending to the housekeeping of the story was a big task too. I have never read many novels .My heart has always been for the reference volumes.

For me to be a novelist...well, I did not feel worthy.
I did not want to take away the glory of another. I did not want to be ashamed of doing it wrong. I got the notion that being a writer would be looked down on spoken down on and demised. So rather than that I simply let go of it. Yesterday however it reached out to me. Silently from the dusty shelf and the dog eared page and invited me home for a feast.

Saying come bring home all your dirty laundry and all your wows, joys thoughts and experiences. Come home and rest a while, return to me for I am a friend.
How a task can become of a thing of passion...call it editing. Editing is a task master that suffers so many writers. I did not want to endure the pains of it. It is not really worth it... I justified. I can not really call myself a writer. I tried on the suit and did not enjoy the fit at that editing stage. So I took it off put it first on the shelf ,...then packed it away with the moth balls of hope that some day it may fit me better. Some garments need alterations or they will never fit. I suppose that is where the editor comes in.
Well I am dusting off the suit and reclaiming its value. If anyone can,... by taking it in at the seams, or let it out to fit better....well may it me me.

Tackle It Tuesday

Such a full day today. I have so many things I want to do. My husband if off with his lunch in hand. The children are yet asleep.( that was then) They will have a privilege to eat lunch at school today ( I normally make it) this is a treat for them.It also reminds them how good home foods are, funny but that is often the outcome. Dove will come home and say "yuk" mom, I'd rather have your food. I just love that! HA! There is the master bedroom linens Laundry to put away in the heat of the day. My jewelry to unpack. Now remember I make this stuff. the box of self care items to unpack. I really missed this stuff. I have the living room shelves now and want to unpack my beautiful long missed books really like the new placement In the garden I have the coop to finish painting. The dogs scared them upstairs I need to clean it out. These are the girls. Mable is black and white, I really think she will be my best laying hen. We delayed the re location a bit too long. The straw bail process to begin. I have to water the bails thoroughly for three days, as well as the compost and it needs to be turned. I soaked them and raked the grass up and cleaned up. After the compost is turned, watered and gated (of sorts) Bird feeders to be filled and the porch has to be cleaned up. Funny how the messes are just left for the mess fairy to clean up. Before Have you ever noticed that before before, poor things. My chair is on the other side of the window. I am so enjoying the dove , sparrow and tanagers. I have had a few thrashers and a red crested wood pecker was on the tree out front while I was sweeping the walk. After After The wild birds are fed both here and in the kitchen window feeders too. Chickens need scrap. Toys are put away! Me first! I finished the outside chores at 10 A.M. This is the hour of rest and cool down. after an orange to rehydrate I made a salad! This is the best protein for me. Wild caught matters to me, I'll pass on the farm raised ink died infested netted things that suffer life...and pollute the wild harvest ...yuk For dressing I use this wonderful tool. I used some organic ketchup, Worchester sauce a dash and olive oil with a bit of horse radish that gives it a bite. Organic Romain , grape tomato and salmon. Yes with the encouragement of Dear Rhonda over at Down to Earth I remembered to plan a lunch for myself. I need to shop for 34-0-0 for the straw bails to be treated , that begins after three days of heavy watering. The 34-0-0 is no longer available , it appears folks like making bombs out of it...so, I am going to try 21-0-0 it is so warm here it may work well. I also want to shop for rain barrels to do my rain harvesting for the garden. Once the weather cools I have rye grass that will need to be thrown. If I throw the rye before the nights become too cool I will not need to spread the manure. With the dogs and kids I do not want that in the house. My kitchen is caught up. Bread baking is on my mind. I got yeast and yesterday Beloved bought me a 5 gallon bucket of hard white winter wheat. I want to learn this skill for the family. Bread often pulls me out to the grocery store. The kids rooms are well.... If I go in there you may need to send rescuers if you don't hear back from me.:) I have some items that I made last year that I need to card properly. They were in the gallery and the last show I did. I need to get them all consistently packaged. I may be doing a show in November. I can rent a booth for $25 for a one day show. The black cards will be replacing all the white earring cards. I have been doing some repair work. When the things got packed up some were broken. Thought I would fix it all before I made anymore new. I will do this in the heat of the day. I was able to get into the box (I should say Mr Uncommon) was able to go through the knits and Dove chose these fabrics. They were all purchased at 90% off or given to me by my sister. Dove wants some skirts, shorts, and tops. She is so sweet about it. Well my hour and a half cool down, break, lunch while I post ...Is over. Time for the inside tasks. :) I took the kids to the music stor to get Doves books for the orchistra meeting tonight. We all had a lot of fun Dash loved this and Dove and I loved this. YAMAHA DT EXPLORER The DT EXPLORER is Yamahas lowest-priced professional-grade 5-piece electroni The kids finished there homework and now we are all at rest. We had a simple supper. Off to Orchestra meeting tonight when Daddy gets home and eats. Beading and sewing tonight in the evening hours. I want to go unpack my jewelry too. I got the boxes in the living room undone and the one in my bathroom. It is so hot out now 107* It is even hot inside here.

Why?

Dash..."Why are we doing all this gardening and growing chickens all all that stuff like that, are we farmers or something'?"...
Me..."because the food you can grow your self is so much better and the price of food is getting higher and higher"...

Dad...lovingly...
"Because Dash...
this is her dream"

Moved to the core.
Living my dream.
It is in the city, no forest or picked fence.
A home that is one of grandeur.
Beautiful walls and love filling every room.

No Home Owners Association,
to hinder me.
The smell of straw takes me to the prairie
The rich soil made as dust turns to dust.
The circle begins with never an end.

Visions life long
hands in the earth, soil black with life
rich with all that sustains.
Visions of my hand picking the food to table then to my hearth
Feeding my husband, children, and self.

This is my dream
from many years ago. I have sustained me with hopes that were so long defrayed
This is my vision, this is my passion.
I have made it a financial excuse and a budgetary gain.

This is my dream
I need no excuse.
Beloved and I living my dream.
My dream.

To be a wife, with a home of my own...
To be a mother with children to rear.
To tend the life and the soil around me.
To grow those foods to the storehouse.
Sufficient for self , life and family.
I am alive.
I am truly living!

Why?
"because...it is my dream."
:)
I just love it that he said that.
I just love him, that he makes a way for my dreams to come true,
and to share them with me.
We are each others.
Everything else is just icing!

Straw Bail Gardening

Wow!
I am so blessed!
I saw myself calling and asking the fellow at the feed store if they deliver?
I just called the feed store and they are going to be so kind as to deliver 7 bails of straw for me! He has a truck coming this way in just a few moments.
Knowing who I was, for I have given them 4 roosters recently, he said he will not surcharge me for delivery or fuel!
Free delivery! I have been driving up and getting one by one.
It is gas cost and great effort to do do.
This is terrific!
I will be able to shut off the garden plot (using bails to keep the dogs out) and start the process on all the bails at once.
Sheldon (isn't that the perfect name for a man who works at a feed store!) will be coming in 45 minutes to deliver.

I am out of here before 9:30 a.m.
Got to take Dash his hearing aides and Dove her lunch:)

Well here it is delivered and I was not even charged full price.
It was around $3 less a bail!

Left the street a little messy, I'll need to sweep it up later (I have to go for the x rays).

This is the one I got on Friday, up on end and it will be a 10 day process to get it ready.

I will be using the bails to close off this area so the dogs stay out. I will also be planting the bails and the earth.

The compost is growing and doing well.
I love being in the earth again!
Have a Great day!
I'll get my menu done in the heat of the day.