Appreciative of the kindness and love you offer.

I am sorry I am not commenting back as much as would be gracious. I am neglecting all of you a bit in that. I really am appreciative of the kindness and love you offer.
Often when I go visit I find my self speechless and just pray and then don't actually leave a comment. I am so sorry for being rude. These last two weeks have caught me up in doing all those things that summer defers for when the kids return to school.

Good Evening!
We had a nice sleep in this morning.
Daddy Man and the Children went to the picture show. I hung back due to a headache.
The thought of loud theater sounds did not amuse me.
I stayed mostly in my bedroom putting away my things from storage.
I matched all my earrings with my necklaces, I also color sorted all my earrings on the screens.
It was quiet and peaceful. I really enjoyed seeing my nice thing again.
After a while the Tylenol made my head feel much better.

I had my fill then took of with the list I had made of the seeds and plants I wanted to acquire at the garden center. I had a wonderful time there. I remembered to take my sun hat. A very sweet down to earth knowledgeable man helped me to make good choices between seed or started plants.
These are the seeds..

The tomato (for canning) is for the bails under my bedroom window, there are 4 inch and 6 pack as well of differing varieties. Under the tomatoes I will plant the dill in the rocks, and the flowers close to the sidewalk and patio. The bails near the plot will house the lettuce plants and then I will add other 4 inch ones that will come in the fall. The peas and blue lake beans will be trellised under the kitchen window. Root carrot, and beets will be near the house in the plot. Radish under the peas, broccoli and celery to the left of the center path in the plot.
The sweet pea flowers will go by the kitchen sink window in the bird habitat.

Here are the plant left to right. Sweet basil, oregano, tomatoes...early bird, 100's cherry, yellow pear, lemon ? an heirloom , ? and a grape type. Purple basil, zucchini and crock neck yellow summer squash

I have 6 days yet to plant the bails.
We are going to trellis the cantaloupe and the squash, growing it more vertically to conserve the plot space.

We all met at home and had some time together. Shared a cup of coffee and some u tube. Beloved and I went to the yard and the kids played in and out. Mr U. Made the perches in the attic of the coop and I cleaned it well and added more straw. We moved the coop tractor and mowed . I treated the bails with the 24-0-0 and watered it in real well being careful to educated the kids ammonium sulfate can burn.
We composted part of the lawn trimmings (not where the dog dung is we toss that out) where it is clean. Dove came and watered the plot with me and the children and I feed the chickens some greens and held them a while.

Daddy man is having the children watch "fiddler on the roof" and teaching them about culture and history. They are loving the song and dance. Laughter and questions are bubbling out of the room. Very cute.

Well I better go shower of this hot day.
I am so excited to get to plant the squash and herbs.

The week raps up with many tasks completed.

Yesterday Dove's Room bubbled up to the priority spot.
I spent several hours cleaning it.
she had told me Wednesday evening not to concern myself. She was concerned because I had a very bad back ache from bending at the hip sorting out Dashes stuff. I caught myself too late and paid dearly for it.


Same process.
I used the rake and cleared everything out into the hallway.
I so love my hard floors when it comes to cleaning.
Look at all the paper.
This is only two months of art and play and such.
I discovered many interesting things in nooks and crannies.
Lots of socks.
I cleared out a large kitchen trash bag of clothing out grown.
Ready for A little girl I know.

By using the stool I was able to sort all this. I was more careful to bring things up to my lap as to not bend too much.

I moved her bed like I did Dash as per her desire.
It was moved back after story time for the change was just too stimulating and she had a bit of panic. My Dove does not take to well to change. Routine is a must for her to not have to do medication for panic.

I went through every drawer and every item to make sure they all fit. I was able to do all her laundry and put it all away before they got home from school.

I laid short shorts in her drawer and then the long shorts in a pile in the drawer also.
I laid the 3/4 length Capri in the bottom drawer for this fall.

The barbie drawers are organized but not the tall ones. I did however clean out the many items of dirty clothing found in them. Those drawers are the perfect place to rat hole.:)

She came home from school joyful and grateful for her room.
She got her Viola Thursday and got to show us for the first time. I am so stunned at how grown up she is. Look at her beauty and maturity.

Today I began my day in full.
Once everyone was off fed, dressed and happy I walked them down to the bus stop and they asked me to hang out with them. Another child in 6th grade is at the stop and he is such a gentleman and well traveled.
When I got back home a call to the produce man left me with a schedule to work around. I got the dish washer going and did a bit in the kitchen. Then I was off to the school
I had to return the sand scoop to the custodian. Dash lost his Amplifier that attaches to his hearing aid Thursday and we were at the school (in the heat) digging through the playground sand looking for it until we all just could tack the 107* no longer.
I stopped by the nurse and asked her to check on Dash...
He was feeling left out at school and decided to DRINK MILK! with the other kids.
The child was sucking air all night.
I stopped by the cafeteria and set up a sting operation:)
Dash is still having breathing difficulties tonight. Please remember him in you prayers. He is allergic to milk (asthma and allergies).

I worked on my Friday fiction a bit.

I did my shopping and then went to get the box of scrap for the birds.
Last week I had stopped by the managers office and told him of the good employees in the produce. How they were men of good character. He assured me that they would be noticed for it.
Well today this is the box I came home with.

As I began to bag the scrap for the birds with the recycled bread bags, I noticed something large in the box. This is only half sorted and bagged.

Just under the thin layer of scrap of the top was several gifts of organic produce.
Beets, spinach and all I need to do was to open the wire and the center of the bunch was new and perfect tender leaves I snapped off the stems and kept going.
Several radish bunches were just needing the leaves removed of all the radish only maybe 10 were split all were fresh and crisp. There was a perfectly cleaned bunch of green onion ( I mean perfect). There were many , many broccoli stems (the dogs love them)..

Then as I continued...to discover these, several new organic lettuces bunches!

Organic! Perfect!
I had told the guys the other day how I favor organics.
I had told God how I should eat more salad ( I had salad three times this week).

Look at it , it is perfect!

By the end of the sorting and bagging I had all of this for the family and two large grocery plastic bags and three bread bags of scrap for the chickens.

So I cleaned and cut and prepared a large bowl of salad for lunch and for the evening meal.
Now I felt strange to tell ya all of this because some may thing it offensive or gross. The foods were not spoiled that were on top of these things just scraps of lettuce and radish leaves and such. It was moments before going to shopping that I was looking at my planting list. I though I would love to have some beets. I considered if my family might enjoy radish if I planted it.
So tell me...
for consider the lilies of the field...
are we not more precious than even the sparrow...
He knows.
I heard him say to my soul as I stood at my kitchen window with a hymn on my lip...
"well you feed them"...as I was watching His bird at my feeder.

I finished up my Friday Fiction feeling inspired and fell asleep in my chair for a half an hour waking as my head bobbed forward.
Kids came home moments later. Happy for Friday.

The recycled bread bags came from the kitchen freezer today. I save up all the heals from each loaf of bread. I needed to clear out some space...So these will be baked until crisp then crushed and run through the food processor with herbs for bread crumbs. I think I see Fried chicken in our future.:)
At the end of supper I went into the garden to do the garden chores.
I cleaned the coop and composted the chicken dung.

The black barrels are cut off trash dumpsters.
The left one is full. The right one is our working compost.
By placing them behind the bails I hope to keep it more presentable.
It you look off to the far right corner I have Black Gold!

I have planted my Cantaloupe tonight!
I was so thrilled to see the health of the soil!

I was able to crush any clods very easily and the rows are now in.

I covered it heavily with straw to conserve the water.
Watered all the bails and all the plot , turned the compost and watered both of them.
Now it is finished. I came in an hour ago. Now at 10 p.m.
Day is done.
Check out my cool gardening boots.
I got them on a clearance rack for $9.!
I just love them, too much character:)

good night.

Friday Fiction

Join in over at ver at Patterings


I wish I were a bird
A love story.

Preface
Sitting peacefully reading my North American field guide I found myself enveloped by the amazing diversity. Closing my eye and seeing the forms colors and feathers I found my self drifting off.

Chapter One

Formless I began just a thought a spark in the master design. Life, the living of it, through the ages is timeless and intense. The will to my form began. It began like all the others in my family of diversity. Yet we are not all the same. There are so many plans and so many purposes. I am but a spark in a moment’s time. My spark is like so many thousands before me. Our numbers are so many on this mass, this orb. The selection is endless,

Who will I be?
I'm told the story of it being in the spring. Mother said the air was filed with voices and then a singular one caught her ear. He was handsome and virile. Wanting nothing more, but to do the very thing that they were created for. I began a thought in the microscopic world. Once being laid onto a fine feathered bed for incubation I was to be before I knew of anything. Then slowly becoming aware I could feel. Feeling left wanting and wanting was filled by the presence of a formless love. It was not meant to me for making more of others. It was simply for making the most of who I was going to become. After hollow darkness the day began for me when it was to release me form my bonds. All that I had need of chipped away at the hardened encapsulating shell. I became and I am. It was fine. It was fine to stretch and to dry my damp and curled wing. I began to sing. My cry was one of hunger a song of a belly longing to burst with satisfaction of no longer having any want.

It was crowded and the loft was full jam-packed with others all teeming for space to perch and get up from the garret floor. The old attic was an abandoned place. In many of the corners were strange gadgets glistening in the streaks of light that flowed in staging all it lit upon. All I wanted was out. I wanted to shed the throng and to be free of the stench.

That spark inside me ignited the flame that lighted the path through the horde, and kicking up the dung I found myself stifled. I held my breadth as long as I was able then gasping. I inhaled the smut. Choking I decided then and there I wanted no part of it.

I found my way to the ledge and made my departure with haste. Looking back, only to remember. For I have chosen never to forget.

At the ledge I made a choice that was all too difficult. However I found myself able and closed my eyes free falling into the thin sweet air. I caught glide and was amazing at the strength. Then I caught the wind and learned of the wisdom held within flight. I know that it will be within me even if some human ever clips my wing. I will hold that choice to fly. I am a bird it is what I am, what I do.

To be continued…

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.