Carnival of Family Life Before and After Portrait

The Carnival of Family Life THANKFULNESS EDITION will be hosted this coming
Monday, November 24, 2008, at On the Horizon. this link.

On the subject of Family Relationships and Self-Improvement:

"I believe in God,
It's time to believe in myself"

I recently wrote this on my big white dry erase board. I had overheard it at a meeting when a woman was sharing about her new perspective and the way it was making a difference in her life.
It was the week of my Jewelry Show and Social.
The children had heard me say this and saw it on the big board in the hall.
Dove my sweet Daughter found me the other day eating what I should not, and for reasons that were not hunger.
I am appreciative that, she confronted me with such loving boldness that I was startled into change.

She said..."I thought you said you were going to believe in your self Mom?"

A wake up call had I, to the importance of my witness, to her,
and to my Son as well.

What is the Christianity that I am introducing them into ?

Before
15 years or so ago

When I painted this years ago, I only thought of myself as long hair. As if a vale covered my view.
It did.
Pain dimmed my eye to the promise, the beauty that was and that is me.
I wore an adornment because I could not see that I WAS the adornment.
Life is a progression of discovery.
It may take us many years to see our self as we wish we were able.

I removed that flower, to be and became the bloom itself.
Yesterday as I again took the courage to face the power that has been placed within me.
With raised shoulder I pressed into a puffy dress.
Again needing to let go of the covering of hair.

Life is a journey of self discovery, of discovering who HE made us to become. Letting go of what our wounds create in us is hard.
Unashamed I am made of form female, and full of the joy found as woman.


My Daughter came in.
and said "she should have red lips mom, because they would be pretty."

After
this is today...

Well I have come a long way in how I perceive myself. I know I need a little tweak and a bit of a shine here and there. I have had to lower my shoulders and relax a bit.

We redefine and refine ourselves daily.

As we do our families watch our lead.
We are in a privileged position.
They look then at who they long to become, and reach farther to achieve the desired goal.
It is in each of as parents a great duty and privilege to Believe in ourselves.
If We believe in God...
Then it is time we believe in who HE created us each to be.
Our children need us to show them the way.

It is not for us to leave off in the begining, or in the middle of our journey.
We must each continue this life long task.

Learn something new today.

Take interest in your passions.
Gain understanding and knowledge.
We may have Raw talent,
but only need to give time to developing a skill.

We all Need each other to lean on.

Let's show each other some Gratitude

Portrait Painting

Painting skin tones in Portrait Painting is a fun avenue of expression. This was an interesting skin tone chart I found.

If your desire is to learn something new, GO FOR IT! So many folk say things like "I cant do that" or "I could never do that"
What a way to shut down the thrill of your own exploration.
We may never be great at something , but if we never try how can we ever know.
If there is something that you always wished you knew, Educate yourself.
We live in such a marvelous age of information.
Study to show yourself approved applies fully to every aspect of life. Not just or only the spiritual.
What do you want to learn to do? Is there a financial constraint? Well reading is often free. You never know when a mutually interested person might delight in a conversation with another of like mind, and share their own love of it by sharing their knowledge even their extra supplies. You with a skill... remember to pass it on. What you know may just be a longing you can fulfill for another.
Pass it on. Make this world a better place.
Share your knowledge.
That is what I love about blogging. All of you teach me .
Be open to the knowledge. Understanding is the beginning of it once you practice what you know then after many a moon wisdom begins to develop.
Wisdom is broad range including the spiritual the arts and the sciences, Languages , mathematics. The ability to appreciate culture will open you up to such great understandings that prejudice could just expire from your mind.
Home economics will give you a better place to live and a greater life to enjoy.

A Self Portrait in oil, my travel easel

Many years back I found this wonderful easel at Costco.
It was loaded with oils, water color pigment and a pamphlet on painting.
All for $20.

The retractable legs clip on to the side

This has rode with us camping a few times.
One of the many art forms I enjoy is painting.
I have a talent but very limited skill.
I did not have an education in a school.
Mr U.'s Mother however is a well known artist. This is her web site.

As you can see it simple slide open and screw nuts keep it togeather

Once the legs ate out , it just stand up

The easel then slide up into an open position.
The drawer holds paints, in my case the oils. I have yet to toy much with water color.
Under the drawer is a slot for brushes.
My precious brushes.
Now some 15+ years ago my MILove (she is a respected artist)spent some time with me and on a fine afternoon she gave me a lesson.
With brush in my hand at my first lesson this came out of my brush, out of me...

I was panic stricken with the power of it. I created something that looked like me. It was good and I just could not get over it. When I was painting I felt a power flow through my brush that just made me shake.
Dove confronted me the other night .
She said " Mom , I thought you were going to believe in yourself?"

I have set up the easel. It is time that I again touch this my self portrait. She deserves to be painted.
She deserves me to believe in her and in that power within my brush to create a finished painting.
I studied color a bit and will keep trying to find my wax paper palate pad, board and it just occurred to me what I am looking for . It is my wooden paints box. I forgot about that. That is where I will find the rest of my supplies. My mission is to find it.
To finish what HE started in me and through me.
To pick up the brush and trust that power that HE has placed within me.

Tapioca Pudding and knit wash clothes

Tapioca
1/3 c sugar
3 Tbsp Minute Tapioca
2-3/4 c milk
***my variation, I used chocolate soy milk***
1 egg
1tsp vanilla
***I omitted this***
Mix all and let set in a sauce pan for 5 minutes
Cook on medium heat , stirring constantly,until mixture comes to a full boil (pudding thickens as it cools) Remove from heat and cool. Place plastic wrap on surface of pudding while cooling for best results (it make it creamy)
Now if your wondering I made a triple batch. Wash the pan once and have enough for the week.

Tapioca is a nice thickener. I like to try other thickener than corn starch. There is a variety of choices Tapioca is one of them. It is also good for pie thickening.
My Sweet MILove had some yarn and used it up thoughtfully (Thank You) to make me some wash clothes. Her yard ran out and that is just fine because they work just as well and I truly do love these clothes.
I Love these in the kitchen!

Over at "Down to Earth" Rhonda has gifted us with a post an how to do it.
So as you see even if you are learning or your yarn runs out the usefulness is still there to appreciate and enjoy.
"Beaded creations" is making knit socks...too cute

Aphids! In the Garden

Although my garden gate and shovel lock keeps the dogs out , it did not help a bit when it came to aphids.

I have been spraying, but they too like my crop. I have shared enough with these little thief's!
Out they come. I had sprayed and done the things I knew to do. So I pulled the plants of choice. They had been weakened to the point of no return. Three zucchini and one crook neck yellow squash. the beans were the next target and I put a halt to that!

With the exception of the one yellow crook neck no more squash.
Mr U needs to get some trellis for me , but it is not happening. So I improvised for now but the next time the trellis will be ready before the seeds go in the ground. I was of a mind to do it then but was talked out of it. ARG> I was able to use these small stakes to start them. My concern is that the plants will have to be harassed when they out grow these stakes.

I have a good start on the snap and pea pods. They are so tender.
Just yummy.

The beans here are happy so I think that I will plant more along this wall. The whole family likes Beans. These are so much better than canned and I get about one meals worth a week now.

I took time to refill my medication case. I got off track this week and have been a bit off because of it. One of the medications is for a strange thing called angioderma (discovered the hard way when one half of my face swelled to the point of a fat tong ER was required), I am allergic to myself:) If I neglect this medication my body swells and everything from breathing to my joints are effected. I missed two doses this week. So I have to keep this filled so I know that I have taken my meds.

I started tinkering with some Christmas earrings.

The kids are going to a movie night tonight. The entry is a non perishable can good.
I pointed out to the children, yesterday how the big collection box is almost empty.
The children understand that things are becoming tight for a lot of folks.
Dash asked me if they could share a lot and so I set up a box for each of them to give tonight.

Remember your local Food banks this fall.
I know times are tight , but there will always be those with more than and with less than you.
When I was a child it was the Salvation Army that kept us from having to eat that oatmeal (often without milk) for each and every meal. Poverty strikes folks hard.
The children often are the ones who suffer for the parents intentional and unintentional mistakes. Often the folks did nothing wrong, and everything right, yet still they need help.
Please share generously.

Well I better get to chores.

Educating Special Needs Kids Usher Syndrome

My children have the gift of an education.
Even though that is sometimes a battle to fight.
Today I spoke with two authority figures. The principle and Dash's teacher. Daddy Man and I are not thrilled or even particularly happy with the way this year has gone for our son. We have VERY little conversation with his teacher. Each time it is very closed off neutral not cold not hot not even very warm. After speaking with the principle today I felt that we would begin the process of rectifying the situation.
At 5:20 Dash gave me a form that told of his presence required at the play at 5:45!
I arrived shortly there after in the parking lot, just as his teacher pulled up beside us.
She mentioned the issue ( an event witnessed by dash in a bathroom) I had told her trainee about and I told her I needed to speak to her about a different issue when she has a moment. We were a bit early so I told the kids let's go play and let her have some privacy.
She offered to go to the other room and speak with me.
I began by telling her I did not want to see her blind sided. I told her that my husband and I were considering moving our son to another class.
She was polite but not compelling.
I asked her if the microphone was being worn and used during class.
Dash is hearing impaired she gave me the qualified uses of the unit. I was left a little dissatisfied and also understood why it was set aside at times. However for her to say when Dash "needed it or not",... is not her place.
At the beginning of the school year Dash was supposed to have been sent a packet of elevated curriculum (his IQ is WAY WAY off the bell curve) to keep him interested and learning.
This is a HIGHLY! intelligent child that faces the threat of Ushers syndrome.
This is the second reminder I have given her,... her response...they have not sent it..."oh I should give them a call again"... YA THINK!
This school can not offer the accelerated program until he is in third grade(next year or a year and a half if this is the case), They just tested the third graders apparently last week to see who qualifies! When Dash was 6 they(private sector) stopped testing him at the 6Th grade (12 yr old!) level because he was becoming annoyed (emotionally immature in comparison) with them.
This child could begin to go blind or deaf without very much warning.
He is board!
He sits there after he does his work for hours in a day UN challenged!
Apparently his teacher has never read his IEP (individual education programme for children with special needs).
She says she gave him a reading assignment with a couple other children. She spoke of how she also has children at the other end of the bell curve.
So the highly intelligent have to suffer so that she can pull up a child who is low in skill.
His last teacher was savvy enough to use this to her advantage and she would have kids offer each other their strengths.
I have to make a decision if we will be moving Dash. Now the other issue is that she is not wanting to receive any other volunteer until the teacher in training leaves in December. That is 6 more weeks (given the holiday break) and that was not an "I'd love to have you". It was a well you could possibly help out after Christmas. Dash suffers knowing that I am helping so many other children in his school. Yet I am not welcome in HIS class. He would like to see me once in a while. Dove sees me every Wednesday. The upcoming Art Master piece is said to be (she made available) only 10 minutes just before the kids walk out the door. My training said I am to have 15-20 (once every 2 weeks) to present the lesson. This teacher is like she is doing "Me" a favor to present. No show of appreciation for the service rendered. So she tells me we can start then at 2:30 and that she will give me 15 minutes just before the kids get ready to walk out the door. In this she will accommodate me. I told her that the interactions that I had had did not feel very welcoming.

Not real welcoming.
Receive me you receive my son, exclude me , you exclude my son.

Politics ! stinking politics!
My son needs his needs met.
I did not tell the teacher of the reports my son gives me.
I wanted to cover him.
I do need wisdom. Now Pandora's box has been opened. It seams there would be no turning back. Yet he now may desire to stay there so that he does not loose his friends. The Principal will be asking him about what he wants soon.
The big meeting is December 2, at 8 am. Daddy Man is actually thinking of taking off work to attend.

Thankful Thursday

In a moment in time a perspective can be altered or illuminated. How we see a thing can be changed in an instant.
It can simply be a movement to one side or a "light bulb moment".
We stand amazed.
such was the case with this image.

I am grateful that even if my view is foggy I can still enjoy the beauty.
This a gift, a a gift made transparent through beauty.

Glee is a child in a tree

Cause ya know they just NEED to be climbed to be happy trees.

I did Not have to testify today the trial is postponed until the 9th of December.

Dove has set to create these pretty paper crafts. She learned this skill from another little girl in her class.

We attended the Grand parent/parents visitor day at her school for her class today. She had 4 family members show for her. Both grandparents and both parents. So many kids were so sad that there folks were not there.

Dash was awesome awesome yesterday.

He was so happy to have all of us there. Yes it does matter. As the Daddy man says..."A father matters". He took off time for each child both yesterday and today. We are able to do this for he has so many vacation hours that if he does not use them he will lose them.
What better way to use them than to be there for the kids.
Its the day to day not the Disneyland every year that gets our focus. Those trips would be great but I am so grateful to have those times of the day in day out availability for the kids.

Click to enlarge
Do you see him?
I was informed of his presence by beloved as he previewed the images of Dash. I did not even notice this litter guy.
I have hunted for him thrice and can not locate him.
These are my Early Girls

Over on this yard the Sweet peas are up

However they are suffering a bit for lack of water.
I do hope that they make it.

Too cute!

I am so delighted by the beauty of those things growing around my home.
Look at that color. I harvested all the spent flowers and split the dried bud for the seeds. I have a good cup of seeds. This crop of Marigolds have really enjoyed their time. I love the intense color. The size is huge for our area.

Now that's fall color!

This desert mallow? is flourishing.

The girls love to lay by the steps.
Today there was three. I have a new hen a laying.
Perspective...How we look at a thing.
His eyes have our best, view at heart

fun morning here.

Well you know the song "I put the Lime in the Coconut and shook it all up....Doctor is there nothing I can take ...Doctor to relieve this belly ache.

Well Dash was singing it this morning and got me singing it too. So I went into the bed room to get dressed and the song was running through my head . Well I have always thought that the words were.....Put the lion in the coconut.
I was trying to figure it out and had this profundity that the /"lion "/ must mean strong drink or alcohol.
So I, thinking a teaching moment at hand said...
" Hay Dash, you know what they mean about the Lion in the coconut...?" He said No mom...It's "Put the Lime IN the Coconut!" I laughed myself silly.
I always thought that it was lion. So much for hearing loss :)

Dash has his play today....
He is having a bit of stage fright so I spent a lot of one on one with him and tender time.
So he walks up to me and says...
" Mom, You know what I'll do if I get stage fright when I am performing?" "What's that?"... I ask?...
He said...

" I'll just pretend that everyone in the audience is you"

boo hoobie that is just so SWEET!


fun morning here.

Tackle It Tuesday

What's up?
Everything!:)

I just got home, I left at 8 it is now 2:30.
Took Dove her viola because she forgot it. As I was walking out the door got an intervention call from a mom who walked in on a young adult cutting.Then off to Bible study,
after that, a long drive to return a table.
Then a stop for a bite of lunch($5 for a cheep burger! Wow I can not believe how much it is now.) I know but I do not normally eat out
Then a longer drive to drop off the tree props I used.
Returning from the FAR>>> east I had to stop for the free produce the guy at Frys gives me. Then I got another call to manage and just now finished with a call on Dash's hearing testing being out of date (at least their record was) and I had then to call the children s clinic to get a current one faxed of course I still have to follow up because I had to leave a message.
Hows the garden?
I trellised up the snow peas, peas, and Green beans yesterday. While in the garden I munched on snap peas that I picked! It was so cool. My melon vine is suffering the aphids as is the squash. I washed them off and have yet to make the opportunity to go to the garden center for some organic spray


I had to go meet the bus . Dash has his first play "Johnny Apple seed" he plays the 70 year old johnny . Dove comes home on it but Dash had student council and I had to go get him with Dove just as she gets off the bus.
Got two more eggs today
We all cracked the eggs together last night it was so fun. Boy the eggs have a thick shell almost tough to break. We were amazed at how good they were they looked like I had put cheddar cheese in them they were so yellow

It is lovely here rather warn yet. A light jacket in the morning at 8 does fine.
I have been up to my ears! I have not found all the kids numbers from where I had noted them down and not transferred them to the master computer list. Now I have to go dig through my notes to find them. I may still do Thanksgiving for them it is up in the air yet.
The kids are doing home work with much tears for Dove can not accept that I do not know how to answer her question. She is very upset and I sit and await her ride. She is regrouping and moving on. Fractions how fun...:) So she gets it and now is off happily on her way to finishing her math page. Dash finished his work no issue and has been much easier to work with today. He began his day by asking me to join him in his room. Where he proceeded to say " now mom, I know you know I do not want to go to school. So I wont keep telling you. I know I have to go cause that is just the right thing to do. WOW what a difference a day can make.

Oh things only get more thrilling this week. I serve in the 4th grade class tomorrow. 10-noon then at noon Dash has his play. Chores in the afternoon all 1 1/2 hours of it that will be left. I got to try to get to the garden center. Kids have early release tomorrow.
Thursday... Well something NEW. I have been subpoenaed to testify for the state against a DUI by drug/or medically whatever ? I stumbled upon her last year crashed on the sidewalk near the other BUS STOP FOR THE KIDS just before they were all to gather. God watches over kids! Well I typed it all out that day as a blog post. Come to discover her car unsecured after my return from the school I took all of the valuables out of it and called the mesa pd. I could not get it to lock. She had been stealing id's.

Friday the kids have a movie night fund raiser at the school for the food banks. I will be watching an extra boy. The son of a good friend of mine. she is an adoptive mom too. Her three year old will stay home with its dad while she attends a class. My kids want to adopt her son as their bother (he is also adopted) . Well the kids are snacked and resting a bit before homework. Dash is on the phone to a friend. Being silly. Dove is watching PBS.
I , well I got to figure out a way to use up a LOT of cut veggies. Me thinks chicken soup via canned chicken. I am so tired today!
I really need to do my master bedroom yet, and once again the dishes are growing.
life is good.

Dash's Individual education program is up for review on 12-3 I got to get a current hearing test via a fax if one is available of by going into the city if I get and appointment for it. Last resort the school audiologist will do it for free.
She was real nice to me and very helpful. Just got to await the call from the clinic.
I have been longing for a pot of coffee from the 8 o clock hour that I had to run out the door , I brewed some at 2 and have yet to pour the cup. I am so sleepy me thinks I'll go pour a cup and get cooking supper.
Boring life isn't it ? NOT!
Loving you.

The Simple woman's daybook

November 17th 2008


Outside my window...My son is coming in for a piece of paper as the children have leave to do their homework out on the play structure. The feeders are empty calling me to fill them. The sun is tilting low on the horizon. Shadows ebb and flow over the porch. The golden retriever is getting a drink. My children run in and out for paper and pencil. The Lab is sniffing the ground where the chicken tractor last rested before we moved it this weekend. Baby Rye grass is emerging into an emerald patchy field of a promised lawn of sorts. I can hear my chickens cluck as night fall approaches.

I am thinking...How relaxing it is to write this afternoon. Wondering if my Son is going to behave or pitch a fit for he just bit his poor little tongue.

I am thankful for...The lives of my children. How they have been spared from child labor and a life as someones property. That I could give them knowledge of salvation and of Gods love for them. Also for the gift of America as their country. That they will have a hope and a promise.

From the learning rooms...(if this applies) I read a chapter on gardening in my area. It spoke in detail of soil and compose preparations. I learned that I need to not let anyone walk in the garden even if no plant is there. For it compacts the soil and makes it harder for the deep root formation. If the plants do not have deep root formation here in this desert they will be made vulnerable to the dry weather should it get hot.

From the kitchen...The smell of marigolds is strong. I harvested seed today and they smell very strong. The dishes from the event this weekend are piled up and they have drip dried. It is semi dark for the lights are off. I will make scrambled eggs of my chickens gifts to me over the last week. I have collected 13 of them that makes about 6 normal sized eggs. I am excited about it.

I am wearing...Jeans with a bit of mud on them from watering the tomatoes today. a t-shirt that has a saying on it that says "Behold I make all things new. God himself will be with them, and he himself will be their God." on it and a castle with dogs running along side horses mounted with a regal clothed man and woman. No shoes My glasses and no earrings only my wedding ring .

I am creating...Patience for a child who is testing mine to the limit. So far my example has maintained a level of character that I can be proud of. I just hope I can hang in there he is really a challenge right now.

I am going...To love my children for ever with all that I have. I am going to put away all of the serving dishes that are dried so my life can feel normal again. I am going to consider some earrings for the teacher who asked me to bring specific types. Maybe I'll regroup and bead tonight. I just might overcome this temptation to stop beading except just for myself.

I am reading..." A plan for eating, Energy savings guide, What every 2nd grader should know" and "What every fourth grader should know"

I am hoping...My sons behavior improves or he faces what ever it is that is troubling him so we can work through it. My other chickens start laying soon. My garden survives the aphids that are attacking it.

I am hearing...Concentrated breathing from Dove as she is doing her school work. Silence from Dash as he is giving it a rest. I had to speak my boundaries more firmly. His spoon is rubbing against a bowl as he is hungry and does not want to wait for supper. Sparrows are landing on the feeder and then moving onto the ground as the feeder is empty. A dove just flew close by the screen and it felt as if it could of touched me were there no screen there.

Around the house... My master bedroom is wanting attention. The garden is now in better standing because I made some trellis of string for the beans and peas. The kitchen is nice and all clean. The house in general is in nice shape. It is dim due to the evening hour and we have not turned on the lights yet.

One of my favorite things...is the thrill of moments before my Man walks through I get a racing in my heart. An anticipation of his arrival. Longing to be in his arms I await his presence.
It will be nice to have a happy home, however Dash just keeps it up. Fussing and fitting over every last thing! He does not want to do his homework Me thinks he is trying for the hunnymoon effect where mom loses her temper and says there there and he can get out of it. I am standing strong. Firm but hanging in there, getting flustered.
I really love it when the kids and I are happy when My Man comes home. It is looking more promising now. Home work is almost done.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Tomorrow I have Bible study and work on the master bed room, Wednesday I work in the class with the 4th graders from 10-noon and the Grandparents are coming to lunch with Dash, Thursday I have been subpoenaed to testify in court as a witness for the state, Beloved stays home to see the kids off to the bus and then will join Dove for her lunch visit. In the early evening my son has his first performance as Johnny apple seed in his 70's. Friday I have the master bed room, chicken coup and what not. I need to throw more rye seed.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...(add your picture here)

Our chickens now have laid 15 eggs In just over a weeks time. I think just two bird of the 6 are laying. We made dinner.

This is the first eggs Of my venture in Chicken rearing!
It is so exciting to me to grow our own food!

Come join us over here at "The simple womans day book"

These Dusty Boots.

Set aside there awaiting to be washed
Those dusty boots that tromped awhile
Through the laughter of the trail
The wonder and beauty of sunlight upon the palms
Dancing eucalyptus high upon the blue sky.
My lovers hand in mine.

Those dusty boots
beside the dog once a puppy beloved by all.
Souls of youth delighting in his age
yet now bemoaning,"duty " tasks now that he is home,charm is fleeting appreciation fades.
Moments remind me of days gone under that bridge

Those dusty boots muddied only by my tears.
knowing one day they shall be clean
as only the passing years.
Children grow and time is still for non
These days will be memory
A story retold

Blue boots with a blacken sole
laces lax as now I rest a while
as I reflect on the life of each child
The sullen face of this soon to be a teen.
The grumpy little man with feet in forbidden waters.
Will one day be grown and sorrow will take me

Oh these muddy boots have walked a mile.
They were laced in Russia and saw the toil.
Felt the lack of a people with out hope
They tramped in the desert and on the mountain side
with those that I loved around me
With those who God loves before me

Oh those muddy boots sitting there
wrap up for me all these cares
Dusty and dirty they sit in
utter beauty upon my floor.
They are calling to me to walk another mile.
They remind me to softly smile

Slip them on
Those dusty boots
Lace them up into a half hitch bow.
prepare my wherry soul for my next path.
To earn the mile, views there of.
So at that next days end I can pull them off once again.