CEO's of our homes

Over at Susie's Homemade
She has taken an idea I shared even farther, with some great ideas of her own.
CEO of our home.
Go give her and the "happy to be @ home" a visit.

Special Exposure Wednesday

Join us at

5 minutes for special needs

I love my husband, his humor keeps our hearts full and light.

Just imagine the sound effects as the battle ensues.
A fathers love.
Play
in abandon
pure beauty

Word Filled Wednesday

He answered Moses saying...

"I AM"

Wordless Wednesday

Tackle it Tuesday

Well today tackling getting up on my feet was the second challenge, that and after Dash coming in at 5 a.m.! I sent him out. So at six limping all the way ...into the kitchen after the dogs were put out I began the day. The piper required his due. After that long hard day of work and the head banging my knee took pain was raging in my body.

I got a load or two of laundry done and then off to class.

I was all but about to say home from Bible study and decided at the very last moment with a little invisible shove to attend. Got a good morsel
God<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. Error
Spirit<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Body
Soul<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Soul
Body<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Spirit

Good meat to chew on....

This was a real treat to me. I had the privilege to sit with two elder women who were sage in that they were one with Him. They knew and understood that it is not that God was, or will be ...It is that God IS...The I AM . an all encompassing of time and place. He is still at this moment.
He is making His will, in this moment. Through everything in and around. It is not about us.. it is about the I AM

I was then privileged to support a lonely teacher who was heart broken at the division of fellows around her. I was an outsider with an ear that was unbiased. God was with us and in us.

Stopped and got some produce scrap for the birds and a few groceries that were 41% off and stocked up on them.
Laundry and a play date.

The greatest tackle today is NO SLEEP only four hours no more, no caffeine. I have an EEG tomorrow at 9 am.

Gardening, bread, chickensmao and lemon aide!

Once the kids were off to school on the bus...Dove and I still walking the last few yards as the driver held the bus for her...
A fellow was tending the yard across the street as I was weeding the rocks.
He said that I needed to use a blower, I told him yes it is something I do myself.
He asked of the flowers I am growing in the yard and what they were.
I asked him what he would charge for the work, he asked how much I would pay...
I told him I had only $15 in my purse that was all I had.
He said he would do it for that...we are talking $50 worth of work!
Man he did a bang en up job!!!
The Kindness within me said to make him a sandwich and I gave that and another dollar bill I found in my jeans.
He thanked me and his elder partner thanked me.
I told him I grew the tomato, lettuce and made the bread.
It pleased him.

It was to the tending of the front of the house
Highlighted (:) is the plant I gave myself this last week.
It was the 10. one I found and fell in love with.
It looks like my lens was dirty, but it was not...
It was transplanted and the flowers all got fed as well.

I filled the highlighted pot and checked the others so as to use up the potting soil.
Funny the one I transplanted still aglow in the orb.

This is a sweet plant post in the pot on the ground.

The Lab reminded me about the shoes needing to be scrubbed of mu and worse
never did get to that today :(

Strawberries and onions ready to plant.
I had shared some of the onion plants with the fellow, and a few seed pods from my flowers too.
This before I hired him.

We moved the coop to the far south east corner.
The chicken mow the lawn and fertilize it at the same time.

Far north corner will be the bush beans, and along that north wall on trellis
far east row is the Chinese cabbage, center the Copenhagen cabbage, and the west row will be the berries or onions. Have not for sure decided. A little more research yet.

Snap peas and peas are in the sun.
That is a Simpson black seeded lettuce on the end of that row.

Girls said...
"hi, and what you up too, so you have anything for us..."

Prissy is so funny!
Her and Ruby were in the nest and as the girls came up to say hello, and get a pet.
There was an egg under my brooding Prissy.
I reached for it and set it by me to remove after I greeted them all.
Well Ruby came up and rolled that egg right back to Prissy. Prissy reached out for it and rolled it under herself.
It came along with me in the end.

Had to go back out and rub her chin a little later and again some other bird had laid and Prissy was sitting it.
I gave her a pet and got to thinking...

I had plucked a stone in the garden a good shape I put it under the bird.
Wonder what will be the morrow if that rock will be adopted ?

This is a million dollar cherry tomato plant
good crop on it but it is hidden under all the leaf.

A few Roma are getting started.

This is brandy wine (I think)

Here are the cherry toms

This straw bailing is working out well.
It is just real hard to keep the dog out of it.
That Lab ate several plants (toms and all)

Strawberry plants are so pretty!

Beloved fetched me a 25 pound of bread flour.

Then I ground the winter wheat

In each bag is 4c of the bread flour

With 8 c of the Wheat added

Each bag is a good 4 loaf mix set,
just need to have a little set out of the kitchen flour and I am measured.
Some days it needs more some days it will take a bit less.

after all the math was done

.58 cents a loaf!

A nice rest for lunch called for a sandwich out of the last whole wheat loaf (from last week).
Bread at my hand
wheat ground by my hand
tomato grown by my hand
as is the lettuce.
Mayo was almost empty (the knife cleaned as I sliced there really is not that much on it).
Lemons juiced and lemon aide at my hand to quench my thirst.
This is living!!

Nice trick to rise your loaf
heat oven to 200 while kneading
place hot water in a dish in oven while bread rises with oven off.

The family loved the bread, it was "better than store bought...no offense mom" said Dash.

Alright after last weeks fiasco I will not be deterred!
I know I have done this before!
I was working the mix and it was about to curdle
I ran out grabbed two eggs under Prissy
Thanked her :)
cracked them and said fuey with this yoke only and added the white and all and it set!
Yes!
Homemade mayo!
A little onion powder, paprika salt and vinegar.
Walla!
I had rave reviews form the children and Mr U.
I was told I should sell the stuff.
Very good turn out.

I was almost out!
Now I do not HAVE to go shopping.
Pure fresh as it could possibly be...thanks to the hens.

At my own hand!!!!!!!!
I am a lovin it!!!!!!

baked egg shells ground for the chickens as grit.
This is a perfect way to give them the calcium they need.
It is free!
When the oven is hot I just place them in and collect them untill I have enough to make it worth the clean up to grind.

The mason jar had pure juice in it, the measure cup is where I cooked my 2 c sugar and 2 c water for the simple sryup. The big empty plastic held the mix as a consentrate.
It yeilded 1 and1/2 gallons of strong (able to be iced) lemon aid.
Enough!
Well not yet.
I had a roast in the crock pot all day.
I shredded it and made French dip with beef aju
and a quart of beef stock for a soup or rice broth later this week.

Now the dishes!
oiy...
Done all clean and just drip drying the rest.
It is 10: pm now and it is time to rest.
My Mr had to work his sweet skill for my pictures would not down load today.
It had to be reinstalled?
Sweet man, we have him to thank for the eye candy.

Kids got pretty crazy tonight and Dash acidently head butted me in the bad knee. Got a hitch in my gitty up now.
Ice and pain pill.

We are prayfully concidering if we want to take on the extra and if it is worth it for us to do.
The part time job we wold do would be from 7 am -10 am and then his regular job from 10:-30 to 7:30 pm .
This is a big undertaking for us to concider.
It will mean a lot more tasks for both of us.
His primary job is priority.
To go to a nother job earlier may not be appriciated so we must show greatest respect and conciderations to his main employer.
It would be different if he went to the second job at the end of the day.
We do desire Gods wisdom in this oppertunity.
We must concider a thing...
Take councle and pray.
It is a choice.
Knowing to whom much is given much is required.

I was having a blog withdrawl today , but I did get so much work done .
Well balence this hampster get going to fast on the wheel and I might just burn out andother bearing.
It just felt so nice to be home.
I have some things to tend too.
One being ...going to bed!
Good night!

The Simple Woman's Daybook...

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...
The sun is shining and the children are eating apples and playing on the lawn. It is in the low 70*'s. Rock , Paper , Scissors shoot! and the dog is barking in the play....
I am thinking...
Wow I made mayonnaise today! That was so cool. It looked like it was going to curdle. I ran out to the hen house and grabbed two eggs out from under my broody hen. They were nice to room temperature and I decided to put the white in also and YE PEE it set! Woo Hoo! I do not have to go to the store!!!!!!!!
I am thankful for...
Happy jousting children who are healthy and having a grand time of it in the warm sunshine.
From the learning rooms...
(if this applies) Many gardening sessions for myself. Dash is self motivated and doing extra work for benefits at his class room at school. I have my Bible lesson to finish for tomorrow.
From the kitchen...
Beef roast has been in the crock pot all day, four loaves bread baked, 6 mixes prepped for the next batch of loaves. Mayo is jared and in the refer, egg shells are ground and given to the chickens for calcium. one and a half gallons of lemon aide was prepared from the juice and a simple sugar syrup made today. After grinding the winter wheat and bagging up the 25 pounds of bread flour the 6 bagged mixes for the future bread batches were set into the whole wheat berry drum for room temp keeping and two of the mixes deep froozen to be set out in the future when I make bread. Jasmine loose leaf tea was steeped and enjoyed as well. The breakfast cookies I made and baked over the weekend were put up into serving size baggies and froozen.
Dishes ................oh ya! The dishwasher will need to be emptied from this morning and reloaded as well as the hand dishes. It does not look like it snowed there any more (all the flour is cleaned up).
I am wearing...
Blue jeans. white ankle sox, cloud walker black leather shoes and a royal blue turtle neck. My hair is tied into bands and pulled up and back.
I am creating...
a blog post...haha, a birthday gift for a friend.
I am going...
to enjoy a rest.
I am reading...
Some beading books, gardening information on soil preperations.
I am hoping...
That if my Husband gets the new part time extra job that his health maintains and that we can do this thing with grace and little effect on the childrens stability. I hope that it is not an issue to being his day at 10:30 at his regular job and then have the mornings open to do the part time job. It would be wonderful to be able to keep up the savings to recover our losses in our retirement and emergency fund. We are so blessed, but to whom much is given much is required.
I am hearing...
fiction flowing from the very imaginitve daughter who is directing the play outside with her brother.
Around the house...
It smells of fresh baked bread! although the counters are clean the dirty dishes are high, baking pans and cookie sheets and lots of things like blender jar and food processor parts.
One of my favorite things...
The safety of the children hearing them home. Although it is my heart to home school out of obedience I have them in school. It is always such a good feeling to have them home, safe and sound.
A few plans for the rest of the week:
Bible study in the morning, a girls night out to celebrate an old friend and the EEG study on my brain on Wednesday morning. Time at home on Thursday and Friday is a delight for I desire to garden.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...When Dash was asked to tell me about this he said...
"this is a hotel for homeless people, mom...they can sleep here and get some food for free"

Come join us over at the "Simple Woman"

Studing about gardening.

Bonnie plants

I have been reading this site and all of it's extended articles to improve my knowledge in hope for the best success I can achieve.


A girl can dream :)

Wow have I been in a gardeners stupor. My brain is full. I have been reading so many informative tutorials.

We have had a very nice week end here.
I had a nice date with my Sweet Love today.
When asked my hearts desire I asked him what he thought of forgoing our idea to eat at my favorite restaurant and going to buy some strawberry plants for the garden.
Our dear friends had the children for a couple of hours.
We went and gained the plants that I saw earlier in the week.
My heart leaped at the idea of growing berries.
I know that may seam odd to some.
This gardening and bringing to our table the things grown has met a life long desire.
I have always dreamed of doing so.
So we got the things that we needed, the amendments for the earth.
Then brought all of those things to the house.
I offered to make my thoughtful husband a nice grilled cheese.
We said no, let get out.
I thought we were heading to a taco bell for I received the berries and that was a budget hit.

He pulls out of the neighborhood and said forget that we need to be celebrating life today. We spend to much time waiting. He reminded me that tomorrow he may well be hired to become a part time employee to a company that makes those secret rooms and panic rooms.
He reminded me that a season may be coming upon us where God has provided a way for us to gain a savings account through long hours and sacrifice of our time together.
This only for a season.
We had a wonderful lunch and a day together filled with good humor and many good laughs.
Lots of hugs and smiles.

The children each had a party to go to yesterday.

It was an education for Dove.
I was an odd man out.
No head of the house, no reason, no standard or rule of kindness. A full house of dysfunctional friends called family lead by a matriarch that found it necessary to keep introducing me by telling each person where I lived and then I was summarily snubbed.
There was a sweet young woman there who had many major body piercings and tattoos on her face as well as all over her chest and back. I introduced Dove to her, and she was polite. This child was so mortally wounded of spirit. I grieved her, she at least bore her wounds of heart exposed. She so grieved getting the tats on her face. Fire tracks on each side of her nose and dots all around the arch of her brows. Oh the wounds to a heart that might cause that girl those deep regrets.

The birthday child was an after thought. I was stunned how they all, a pack of jackals, egged her on to just ripping open in a frenzied manner her gifts , that after she was taking her time. Poor kid. I am still troubled. I think that perhaps Dove may learn from these things how and what not to chose.
I was so glad to drive off.
Dove and I spoke of my thoughts. How people have free choice. If folk do not make good choices then bad things are very likely to occur, as in bad consequences.
If your there the consequence of those folk will and can come upon you.
Poverty of means and of soul and of spirit. Kindness an absent factor in all things. Not just a seaming few. Wow I am really glad we did not move into the other neighborhood because over and over we are finding it to repeat. Weird. Dove will not be going over to their house as you can imagine! Daddy Man said "just lay it on me babe". He lets me use him as the heavy. Gotta love that covering.
Daddy said no...end of argument.

Dash and Daddy Man had a different type time.
More of a circus of sorts and many dollars spent on animal (petting zoo), bounce house and all the amenities.
Everyone except My Mr. and the friend of ours neglected an over run flood of too many kids all left unattended . Some on a computer in the house doing no good. My Mr. stood guard over Dash.
He was also so glad to be home.

This morning while doing my Bible reading Dash invited me to lay in his bed . I continued to read where I was in the Proverbs.
We spoke of the things Dove and I talked about.
It was a good morning.

Man I can still smell cigarette smoke in my nose! yuk

My love using his strength helped me to move the compost pile and also the coop this evening while I dug in the sand and the compost into the earth. I also dug in a bag of peat moss, while he poured it along the row for me. Tired back tonight.

It is good to be home.

A giant of a man

amazing

click above

Take courage it is better than you may think

fearless

Your Word is "Fearless"

You see life as your one chance to experience everything, and you just go for it! You believe the biggest risk is being afraid and missing out on something amazing. Sometimes your fearlessness means you're daring. You enjoy risky activities. And sometimes your fearlessness means you're courageous. You're brave enough to do the right thing, even when it's scary.

What's Your Word?

This was so unexpected! I showed My Beloved and he said"I'm not surprised, I have always thought of you as fearless"
I never thought of myself that way.

MeMe To The 5th

Mary at Denise at Samaritan Woman, has tagged me for a meme. Here are the rules:
Open a document or photo folder

Choose the fifth folder and then the fifth photo in that folder.

Do a post describing the photo.

Tag five friends to do the Meme.

This is what turned up.
True to the MEME I did not even know what was being down loaded until I saw it.
This is Dove She is three years old , it is may of 2001.
Dove is slicing a banana for a bowl of cheerios.

A simpler time.
We were awaiting the adoption of Dash.
At this time Dove was our only child.
We had started and stopped Dash's adoption.
It was a time where we were finally settled.
Dove's therapy was easing off.
She had gained her health.
She was only doing therapy one time per week (15 miles one way), as opposed to three times per week all three disciplines.

Inside my heart was another child.
Although I tried to stop the longing and be content with Dove as an only child I could not do it.
We began the adoption of Dash again.
This was a time when all centered around Dove.
I had all my time and attentions devoted to her alone.
There were plenty of patient moments where I could teach and instruct her.
It appears that in the image I was showing her how to cut with her little bear Knife (we had to use special large handled tools for her to be able to grasp).
She had pretty severe fine motor issues and every day we would do things to strengthen her sweet little hands.
She is on a foot stool I no longer have.
These days were much less stressful times.
See the glue and the polish on the counter.
Most likely we were also doing an art project (getting her to squeeze the bottle) and painting nails.
I also see a yellow vial of bubbles, these were part of the home therapy for her speech therapy.
See she had to learn how to suck and to purser her lips to blow.
When she was in orphanage the bottle had a 2" nipple that she would swallow
Her mouth never really had the suckle response that is so important to later speech development.
The toys in the background were when the studio was the teaching room.
It was set up like a nursery school.
My experience at early motherhood was almost more like a career.
I had to take my baby to constant therapy and doctors appointments.
Endless evaluations and instruction.
Becoming an advocate was thrust upon me.
I had to understand clearly her special needs so that I could educated Daddy Man and the others around us.
Often at the ridicule and doubt of those involved around us.
It was the hardest job that I have ever loved!
She had gained so much ground by this image that she was almost congruant, only 6 months behind developmentally.

The Black Pearl
In the life of a child
Daughter of the King
Yesu garden
The open window

In the Garden

Good Evening!
Thought I would show you the harvest of the day/week.
I got up the gumption and went out to the store today.
Mr and I were able to save over budget $500. this month!
So I got a forked hoe to tend the earth.
Been out in the garden all evening.
The Chinese cabbage is in as are the pole beans, radishes, and Copenhagen Cabbage.
There are three 16' furrow's worked now.
The cabbage is in two of them and the other one will have the carrots.
The carrots will go in the next time I am in the garden.
Got dark on me and I just needed to stop.
The sugar snap and peas are surprising me , I thought for sure I lost them.
They had so much on them I can make a nice meal out of them.
The tomatoes are reddening too.
The Simpson black seed is still given me lettuce leaf.

The million dollars cherry tomatoes are loaded with young fruit.
I was able to get three tomato cages today and placed them on the three plants in the bail. One of the plants has Roma, and another has a nice round slicing variety.
My Dog (the Lab) keeps trying to eat those plants also.
I am guarding them with chicken wire.

The Egg count is rising and this keeps the family well in eggs and as it turns out just the perfect amount. Have not purchased eggs seance Christmas (baking).

I purchased a nice asparagus fern for the entry way. It is my gift to me for this month. So pretty ! There was a nice plant stand for free on the curb last week, that and an empty pot that I had. Need a little potting soil and I'm set It is huge , I found it for 10.88! too cool!
That was my big splurge.
It felt real nice.

I'll have a gift to make for my dear friend. We are going to get together next Tuesday.
I look real forward to an evening out with the girls.
That is the night before my sleep deprived EEG test.
If I am going to be sleepless there is no better way!
Spending time having fun.

If you recall My Sweet Mr gave me a Camera thing to Skipe, that is to have a talk over the computer like your on the phone ,but ya can see each other.
This day and age is so amazing. Dove and Dash are getting to know their aunt from a distance. Yet they still get the bennefet of another known adult in their lives.
My sister two years elder has been calling me several times.
Each morning she calls.
Funny how life travels by.
Here we are middle aged women and becoming friends.
Who would of thought it.
I really care about her.
She and her husband have just lost everything with the deportation threat.
He is a Brittish citizen and 25 years ago was told he had no need to get American citizenship.
Well they sold the house in bad times thinking that they would be kicked out and then got a stay.
Have now been in limbo for several years .
Like a prisoner in her own country.
She stands by her husband and will continue to fight.
They laywers are the only ones who really bennifet.

Well tired girl with earth in my hair and soil in my nails.
I need a good hot shower with a nice soak for my tired back.
I love it when I garden, I saw a rainbow all 7 colors dome the sky for a good half an hour over me today while I gardend in the light rain. It was in the mid 70*'s.

Time flys...

Medical Mystery and the field trip

written last night

Here is the scoop.
The fax to the lab for the dna draw was not received so that work is now delayed . I got the calls in and the orders re faxed and such. So I called the fellow who will be doing the dementia testing and I am not sure the scoop, but either he is giving me favor or perhaps something is up. His office girl said they got the reports on the other blood work and the history of the test from four years ago. The Doctor does not usually work on Fridays , but on February 9 th he will so that I come in to do the testing. A 2-3 hour run of cognitive functioning tests.
I got the MRI'S and the films even from my eye are showing the white spots clearly. If I am not mistaken larger than four years ago.
That is just my eye I am not skilled so I am not sure what any of that might mean.
The EEG is set for the 28th. I called the neurologist back and they will have me see him on ?February 3rd. Funny all appointments are at 9a.m.
Then on the 15 I go back to the psychiatrist for his end of the aftercare. There will be the neurologist, the Psychiatrist. and my regular MD to do the aftercare. I am still a two-three weeks out to knowledge.

Migraines continue I had a two day break and now this morning once again I am made a war that tiny little soldiers are battling in my brain to see who can inflict more discomfort or pain. Little buggers!
This whole thing started almost 15 years ago while standing at the kitchen sink...I was talking with Mr. U. and everything started to go black and next thing I was in an ambulance with a terrified husband looking at me. Mayo Clinic found three lesions on my brain. Over the years bizarre events left us tending appointments doing studies to no avail. Four years ago I went down to my knees at the kitchen sink, I could hear and see, but my body would not respond to me thoughts or commands and Dove had to call the paramedics. They found then several white leisions on my brain. Two years ago I was losing memorie and funny things like my gait would mess up. They tested me for MS and no not MS. Thank God! So here I am now with cognitive and memory issues. tired and sore mussels and joints. The MRI shows the white spot now plainly. We can easily see them on the films. Migrains now have continued to change over the years where once just a numb right side of my face has turned into full blown pain and irritablity.

anyway...
Had a field trip with my boy today. I was concerned about the migraine and going on the bus. Funny thing a few minutes after the bus ride began the pain stopped and diminished enough the pulsing that I actually did not suffe at the play YA!

We met the class on the play ground and Dash's teacher (the one who has the strange shell around her),,,satched with gaping mouth as over 15 kids came running at the sight of me shouting my name and lining up for their turn to be hugged. It was so amazingly rich a moment in time. The teacher had a funny responce to me like she was struck with something.

Thats the teacher nearer the bus the other two women were mothers along to assist.

Dash was different than Dove. He wanted me there, but at a distance so as to hang with his buddies. He was gratefull I took the time to join him.
The play was "repunzell". The acting troup was from Kansas, they were amazing and professional. The play...well I absolutly HATED IT! For content it was terrible for a bunch of second graters. I did not know the story (I had no chidhood). It was violent a witch taking a baby then locking it as a child up in a tower. Then cutting her hair off voilently. Gouging out the eyes of the husband. Then both banished into a forest .He blind and her alond and aperantly pregnant with twins...who she gave birth too.
HATED IT! DID I SAY I HATED IT!
Oh for homeschool!
The kids were frightend and my spirit so disturbed at times all I could do was not walk out!

I had a wonderful visit however with the nurse who found it her desire to attend. When I boarded the bus she said to me" Oh I have Dash's inhailer with me"...
I felt so lightened a load to see her caring so for my child and the 3 others who have medical needs.
That was so cool!

I left them at the curb and came home for a late lunch and an hour or so rest before school was out.

Got to hold two of my chickens today .
One is a bit broody (Prissy). She is sitting the nest all day.
So sweet aI tell you that bird rubbed her little head against my hand in a return gesture of affection.
Mae Bell then while I was holding her seamed to stretch out her neck and press her head into my arm. It was much like the other recipritive in action. Man it was so cool!

Kids are a sleep Dove is coughing. Oh man... she is in need. I tink it might be sinus drip. I'll sign off and go tend to her.

Daddy man and I think alike we met at the counter to get the medication.
I got the dose and he just went in to give it to her. I love co parenting with him.

Well I am off to go visit all of you.